All posts by z3u9t.icu

Leeds presenter Joe Wainman believes that Dan James was always destined to sign for the club, even suggesting he is like a son to Marcelo Bielsa.

The Lowdown: Leeds finally capture James

Leeds signing of £16.2m-valued James (Transfermarkt) had been two years in the making. The Whites had been close to capturing the Wales international in 2019, but the move from Swansea City fell apart on deadline day.

He of course moved to Manchester United before finally switching to Elland Road in the summer for a fee of £25m (BBC).

The Latest: Wainman makes James claim

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Wainman believes James was always going to end up with the Whites. He said:

“I just felt that it was always going to be Leeds United’s deal because they were so big on him. Victor Orta very big on him. Of course, Bielsa, he’s like Bielsa’s son, I think. It was always going to happen.”

The Verdict: Finally

It is hard to understate just how close James was close to moving to Yorkshire – he was even pictured holding up a Leeds shirt before the transfer fell apart (inews). Two years later, the Whites finally have their man, and he has already made five appearances in all competitions for the club (Transfermarkt).

How much of an impact he has remains to be seen – he is yet to score or provide an assist as of yet – but if Bielsa was that desperate to capture him, he clearly has a certain ability. After all, the Argentinian is a hero in Leeds and, so far, the vast majority of his decisions have paid off.

In other news, Noel Whelan is delighted with these club plans.

Celtic have had a remarkably positive and an incredibly busy last few weeks.

The Hoops have signed two players in the transfer market and have recorded three consecutive victories, ensuring Ange Postecoglou’s pathway to regular continental football grows closer.

What’s the word?

The Bhoys continue to be active in the transfer window and are closing in on the signing of a right-back according to various sources.

Celtic are hoping to convince Manchester City’s Yan Couto to sign on loan with the Brazilian even being invited to watch them play at Parkhead.

However, at the top of the pile appears to be Legia Warsaw’s Josip Juranovic.

Croatian journalist Izak Ante Sucic was one of the first to report the news but a fresh update emerged on Friday suggesting a move was completely off the table due to Celtic’s finances.

Though, Sucic rebuffed those claims with the following six-word update: “Everything seems to be just fine.”

Exciting news

If Celtic do end up concluding a deal for Juranovic, it can only be good news for the club who will surely elate their supporters with this acquisition.

Although Couto has been compared to Dani Alves and is a fine prospect at the age of 19, the Bhoys need a more seasoned and proven player to become their mainstay at right-back.

Furthermore, it would be a permanent move as opposed to the temporary swoop mooted for Couto.

Signing Juranovic may mean Celtic have to spend a bit more but he’d certainly be worth it. After all, he looks perfect for Postecoglou.

Anthony Ralston has been fantastic in the early weeks of the season, scoring twice from full-back, but in terms of overall quality, the Croat would be a massive upgrade.

He completes a whopping 40% of his crosses and gives away very few fouls. In fact, he committed the fewest fouls of anyone in the entire Polish top-flight last season at only 0.21 per 90 minutes.

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Furthermore, Juranovic is a physical presence too. Despite standing at just 5 foot 8 he wins 67.6% of his ground duels.

A full international, there are plenty of positives of bringing him to Parkhead this summer. Celtic must ensure they pay Legia’s asking price.

AND in other news, Celtic open talks to sign 6ft1 gem who’s “one of the very best”, he could be Kyogo 2.0…

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” 

The previous summer transfer window saw a number of players leave Liverpool, including Harry Wilson, Xherdan Shaqiri and Marko Grujic among others.

One other man who departed Anfield over the summer after making 237 appearances for the Reds across all competitions was Georginio Wijnaldum, who joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer.

Looking ahead to the January and summer transfer windows, it seems as though the Merseyside club could be in the running to sign a potential replacement for the 31-year-old.

What’s the news?

It has recently been reported by International Business Times that Liverpool are interested in making a move to sign Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, with the Catalan club apparently willing to cash in on the Dutchman to raise funds.

Since joining the La Liga giants in the 2019 summer transfer window in a deal worth a reported fee of £65m, De Jong has made 106 appearances for the Blaugrana across all competitions, scoring nine goals and providing 14 assists in the process, prior to their league match against Espanyol this weekend.

His nine appearances in La Liga so far this season have seen the 24-year-old, who is currently valued at £81m by Transfermarkt, prove himself a useful midfield option in a creative and defensive regard. He has racked up a passing accuracy percentage of 92%, with an average of 1.2 key passes and two tackles per game according to SofaScore.

De Jong, who has been called an “extraordinary” player in the past by current Barcelona manager Xavi, has also shown how impressive he can be on the international stage. He completed 78 out of his 80 passes in Netherlands’ recent 2-0 win over Norway, as well as winning eight of his 11 duels. He duly earned an overall match rating of 7.5/10 from SofaScore, which was higher than the rating given to Wijnaldum (7.1/10).

In terms of a potential move to Liverpool, if Barcelona are willing to let De Jong leave the club, then FSG should be all over it trying to bring him to Anfield and add him to Jurgen Klopp’s squad as Wijnaldum’s long-term heir given his talent and relatively young age.

In other news: “Incredible” Liverpool ace with 2.2 shots PG has been Klopp’s unsung hero this season

A number of Liverpool supporters have bemoaned Fabrizio Romano’s update on the Reds’ hopes of signing Italy star Federico Chiesa.

Jurgen Klopp is hopefully eyeing up another attacking signing this summer, in order to make his squad even more formidable.

Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino will all be vying for regular starts next season, but an additional top-class option wouldn’t go amiss, with the former two set to be absent for AFCON 2022 in January.

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One player who Liverpool have been linked with is Chiesa, who enjoyed an outstanding Euro 2020 campaign with Italy, winning the competition and scoring twice.

According to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, however, the Reds will not be signing the on-loan Juventus winger.

He is deemed ‘untouchable’ at the Serie A club and there ‘no chance’ of Liverpool bringing him to the club this summer.

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Liverpool fans react to disappointing Chiesa update

These Reds fans took to Twitter to provide their thoughts on the update, reacting negatively to it.

“No one asked”

Credit: @sxlang_

“Fabrizio is becoming the Italian James Pearce at this rate”

Credit: @LFCJadenV2

“Pain and suffering”

Credit: @LFC_fam

“What a bummer”

Credit @kevspionkop

“This is just depressing now”

Credit: @f1kopite

“Yeah we know that we are broke man”

Credit: @svkShailendra

“Ahh Fabrizio breaking my heart at 4am”

Credit: @stufz123

In other news, some Liverpool fans are delighted with an update regarding one Reds player. Read more here.

Wolves have given the ‘green light’ for Dion Sanderson to make a permanent exit in the summer transfer window, according to Football Insider.

Former boss Nuno Espirito Santo apparently doubted the defender’s Premier League prospects and reckoned he was better suited to the Championship.

The Portuguese manager left the club at the end of the season, perhaps raising hopes that the Sunderland loanee would be given a chance in 2021/22, but the report claimed that the change in the dugout will make little difference to Sanderson’s situation.

It’s claimed that Wolves value at him at just over £2m, with only a year remaining on his contract. Sunderland are looking to strike a permanent deal for the 21-year-old, but there is competition from clubs in the Championship after a campaign in which he won the admiration of numerous Black Cats supporters for his fine performances.

Sanderson has played one game for Wolves’ senior side, featuring in a 2-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Reading in October 2019.

Fan feed Talking Wolves relayed the report, and here’s what some supporters made of it, with a few urging likely new manager Bruno Lage to “have a look” at the defender before sanctioning his exit from Molineux.

Wolves fans bemoan potential departure of Sanderson

“This is good management isn’t it….loan a player out to get experience, they win young player of the year at that club and get glowing feedback, so we decide to sell him instead of having a look at him to see how much he has developed! Ridiculous.”

Credit: @dtoe1984

“Another mistake, I swear this club at the moment is just sending us bad news 24/7.”

Credit: @cpj93070

“I hope this isn’t true. Surely it would be wise for Lage to have a look at Dion before any decision is made. Given how good he is working with and bringing through young players, it would seem to make sense.”

Credit: @PaulAston6

“That just about sums us up at the moment, I thought we were supposed to be developing young players for the future, Jeff Shi. He was one of the players that I thought could have made the grade, shame that if it’s true”

Credit: @wayneedoodle

“We seem to be happy to flog anyone now, what happened to us becoming a top 6 team?”

Credit: @AlanDavis1983

“Is there ever any good news?”

Credit: @OldManWolves

In other news, these fans reacted to a report linking another Wolves defender with a move away. 

Former Leicester City defender Steve Howey is not surprised that Liverpool took an interest in Foxes winger Harvey Barnes during the transfer window.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has admired Barnes for some time, with reports suggesting the then-Premier League champions were mulling over a move last year.

Following a disappointing campaign which saw the Reds relinquish their hold on the title, Liverpool were linked with the 23-year-old once again this summer.

It came after Barnes scored 13 goals before a knee injury halted his progress last season.

But the winger, who boasts one England cap, ended speculation over his future by penning a new four-year deal with Leicester last month.

Having returned from injury, Barnes has started all four of the Foxes’ fixtures so far this season, including the Community Shield triumph over Manchester City.

Howey believes Liverpool will keep tabs on Barnes despite extending his contract and has claimed he would be an exciting signing for the Reds.

He exclusively told The Transfer Tavern: “Their interest doesn’t surprise me. Without a doubt, Jurgen Klopp would have been looking around to see what he could do to add to his squad.

“I think Harvey Barnes would have been a good acquisition.”

Everton’s transfer window has been a rather downplayed affair with the Toffees lacking the necessary finances to spend large sums.

An accumulative sum of £1.7m has been spent on four new players and it feels unlikely that they’ll broaden their horizons too much beyond that.

What’s the word?

Everton are still planning on making a few signings before the deadline closes in just under a week’s time.

One of those acquisitions could be a player they had on a trial basis a few years ago; Daniel Jebbison.

The Merseyside outfit were interested in signing the teenager a few months ago and it now looks as though they’re ramping up their pursuit.

According to TEAMtalk, they have made a bid to sign Jebbison who is valued at around £5m.

However, that offer has sadly been rejected.

Their new DCL

Back in 2016 Everton signed a certain Dominic Calvert-Lewin from Sheffield United.

It took a while for the striker to find his feet at Goodison Park but he was in electric form last season, starring in a central role on his way to scoring 21 goals in all competitions.

After being signed for a mere £1.5m, he has proven to be an absolute bargain.

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He is now a full England international and has started this term as he ended the last; in the goals.

Calvert-Lewin has two in two games and although he’s a unique talent, Jebbison would be looking to follow in his footsteps.

The Canada international burst onto the scene last season in a struggling Sheffield United side, scoring on his first start for the club at Goodison Park.

Described as a “shining light” by Micah Richards, Jebbison has played on six occasions for the Blades despite only turning 18 back in July.

It remains to be seen just how much potential the striker has in his locker but Everton have already enjoyed enormous success by recruiting from Bramall Lane.

This would be a low-risk addition and one that would prove that Finch Farm is still a place to learn your trade after the loss of Thierry Small.

AND in other news, Worse than Kenny: £69k-p/w Everton liability who lost possession 17x let Rafa down…

Plenty of Crystal Palace fans have been reacting to an update regarding defender Nathan Ferguson on social media.

According to the Daily Mail, the 20-year-old tore his achilles in training just days after Eberechi Eze suffered the same injury.

Ferguson, who is yet to play for Palace after signing from West Brom last summer, was thought to be approaching full fitness.

He’s suffered a number of setbacks during his time at Selhurst Park but was thought to be under consideration by Roy Hodgson to face Liverpool on the weekend.

However, Ferguson, who can play anywhere across the backline, is now likely to be out for a number of months, with the report claiming he is hoping to be back before the end of the year.

Palace fans react

@cpfc_xtra shared the news on Ferguson on Monday lunchtime on Twitter. This is what these Palace supporters had to say in reply, with one describing it as ‘heartbreaking’.

“Honestly what is going on … This rebuild had become a total catastrophe”Credit: @BenRich27″I swear Palace must have been cursed…this is getting ridiculous now!”Credit: @JMac00027″This is worse than Eze. Poor Ferguson. Will probably never play again. Absolutely heartbreaking for the lad. God whoever our new manager is they absolutely have to hit the ground running. No pressure!!”Credit: @audreysprayer”What the hell is going on at the training ground ???”Credit: @BenIAgbaimoni”Are we doing WWE style training ?”Credit: @CalumCPFC”Just need Zaha to leave now and I think we can confidently say we’re finishing 20th.”Credit: @JA9baller

In other news: Many CPFC fans unimpressed with what Wilfried Zaha has had to say, find out more here. 

Sky Sports journalist and North East reporter Keith Downie has now dropped some news on Newcastle United’s transfer plans for the summer.

The Lowdown: Busy summer

After all but securing their safety in the Premier League, the summer transfer window now looks set to be a busy one for the St. James’ Park faithful.

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It is expected that they will make the loan move for Matt Targett a permanent one from Aston Villa, while they have also been recently linked to the likes of Evan Ndicka, Victor Osimhen and Hugo Ekitike, suggesting that they will be looking to strengthen in quite a few areas of the pitch.

The Latest: Five signings

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Downie has said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) will now look to sign a central defender, a playmaking forward, a striker and a goalkeeper as well as Targett, and could bring in even more players if others were to leave:

“I think they’ll bring in a centre-back, a forward, like a playmaker, and a striker. They’re also looking at the goalkeeping department, and then it all depends on players going.

“If they lost a centre midfielder or they don’t manage to sign Matt Targett, then they’ll look to bring in more on top of that.”

The Verdict: Exciting

It certainly is exciting for the Toon Army to see so many quality players linked to the Magpies, and in so many different positions on the pitch, as PIF look to take them to the next level.

Money should not be too much of a problem for the mega-rich owners, and so providing that they can ship out a few and comply with Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, they should be able to bring in plenty of fresh faces.

Nonetheless, Eddie Howe will need time to get them all to gel, but the future is certainly looking bright.

In other news, find out who could now be first to leave NUFC this summer here!