Tag Futebol

David Moyes led West Ham United to just their second Premier League win of the season with a 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday evening.

It was a solid performance by Moyes’ team and should give them confidence going forward into a busy October.

One player in particular that stood out for West Ham, even more so considering he was playing at right-back instead of his usual centre-back spot, was summer arrival Thilo Kehrer, and he could well be one of the best signings of the transfer window.

West Ham have struck gold

The German defender was excellent against Wolves, making five tackles, four clearances, and winning five out of his eight duels as the Old Gold couldn’t find a way beyond the solid West Ham backline.

Since joining the club from PSG in the summer for a fee of just £10.1m, which was described by Roshane Thomas as a “brilliant addition” to the team, he has settled in extremely well.

Kehrer ranks third in the West Ham side for pass success rate (87.2%) and he has taken on average, 54.3 touches per match, proving he is always keen to get involved and keep the ball circulating. That element of composure is hugely important to Moyes who will no doubt value calm build up play from the back.

In the West Ham squad, Kehrer also ranks second for clearances per game (3.7), proving he he can also be no-nonsense in his approach. He ranks fourth for interceptions (1.5), and seventh for tackles per game (1.2), suggesting that he has eased into Premier League life and is adding some quality to Moyes’ backline.

With those numbers in mind, it’s hardly a surprise that Hansi Flick dubbed the versatile ace a “complete” player.

Further praise was forthcoming after the Europa Conference League win against Silkeborg, with writer Craig Morrison lavishing praise upon Kehrer, claiming he “is going to prove the bargain of the year”. Certainly, with his initial performances, this prophecy could well be spot on by the end of the season.

Indeed, the German defender is already valued at a whopping £26m by Football Observatory, a 157% increase on their initial investment.

The most remarkable thing about the move for the German, however, was Moyes selling Issa Diop for £15m and bringing the 26-year-old in as a replacement while still having the best part of £5m in the bank.

Getting rid of a player whose contract was set to expire next season and then signing a proven Germany international, is simply excellent business by Moyes and it could well be the deal of the summer.

Medical expert Ben Dinnery has been left wowed by the appointment of Jack Nayler as Everton’s new Head of Sports Science.

The Lowdown: Nayler appointed

The Goodison Park outfit confirmed last week that Nayler has been appointed as the new Head of Sports Science for the Men’s First Team.

He has extensive experience in elite-level sport and joins them after 15 months with established Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

He also has five years of experience in the same role for reigning Scottish Premiership champions Celtic, and has also been First-Team Sports Scientist/Conditioning Coach at UEFA Champions League champions Real Madrid.

Nayler has also worked with both PSG and Chelsea, and has a Masters degree in strength and conditioning and a degree in sports and exercise science, physiology, nutrition, pedagogy, psychology, biomechanics and sports medicine.

The Latest: Dinnery wowed

Speaking to Football Insider, Dinnery, who also contributes for Sky Sports, has claimed that hiring Nayler appears to be a ‘major coup’ for the Merseyside club, adding that he has an ‘impressive’ resume:

“It’s an impressive resume.

“You don’t get an opportunity to work at so many top clubs without picking up some real good habits and knowledge.

“We know that football is a results-based business. On paper, it appears to be a major coup for Everton, but the ultimate litmus test will be how the backroom staff goes on to take them to the next level.

“But, yes, it looks like a really good recruit for them. Hopefully, for supporters, he is another piece of the jigsaw to help Frank Lampard realise his Everton dream.”

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The Verdict: Inspired appointment

Given the number of high-profile clubs that Neyler has worked with, this looks to be a really inspired appointment.

His expertise in strength and conditioning will be music to the ears of the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has suffered from injury problems over the last two seasons.

It shows a step in the right direction for the Toffees, who will now look to kick on after their 1-0 at home to West Ham United in the Premier League before the international break.

Aston Villa have started this season off poorly in terms of what Steven Gerrard was initially hoping for before the campaign kicked off.

With just one win from three matches in the Premier League, a drastic upturn in fortunes is required otherwise the pressure will quickly descend upon him.

The 42-year-old has added some quality during the summer transfer window, signing Diego Carlos, Boubacar Kamara and making Philippe Coutinho’s move permanent and they all add that extra bit of class to the Villa side.

Gerrard will have to make do without Carlos for a large chunk of the season, however, with the Brazilian suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon in the match against Everton, and his thoughts now turn to a replacement.

There is one defender that has been linked who could be a like-for-like alternative to the former Sevilla centre back and that is Jason Denayer.

The 27-year-old is currently a free agent following his release from Ligue 1 side Lyon, where he enjoyed the most fruitful spell of his career, racking up 139 appearances in a four-year spell.

He joined the French side for €10m (£8.5m) in 2018 but a recent dispute over his contract now means he is available for nothing, something that might give Gerrard some serious food for thought.

With the club seeking a replacement for the injured Carlos, the 35-capped Belgian could fit the bill perfectly. FB Ref’s similar player model has ranked the defender as the seventh most comparable player to the injured Brazilian.

In terms of passing, both players had an excellent pass completion percentage last season as Denayer (94.2%) and Carlos (88.6%) demonstrated their ability to move the ball effectively from the defence in order to start attacks.

The 27-year-old Belgium international appears to be the more mature one out of the two, receiving only two cautions last season, with Carlos being cautioned eight times plus one sending off, although he did play 25 more games.

Both players were similarly strong in the tackle, however, with the former winning 0.54 per 90 minutes compared to the latter’s 0.50. They also apply successful pressures at a comparable rate, with Denayer amassing a success percentage of 32.1 to Carlos’ 31.3.

When joining Lyon, he was described as “powerful” by Florian Maurice, Lyon’s recruitment chief at the time, and if he showcases the ability he did in France upon potentially signing for Villa, Gerrard will certainly have an excellent Carlos replacement on his hands.

One of Fulham’s summer signings has taken to Twitter to issue his own injury update…

What’s the latest?

In his pursuit of full fitness, Manor Solomon has suffered a serious setback and will now be missing for the foreseeable future.

He tweeted: “The last few days have been difficult for me. I injured my knee in a friendly game which caused me to have a surgery and miss the next few months. Thank you for your messages and support, I’ll be back stronger and better, see you soon.”

Based on his verdict of a “few months”, the winger will probably not feature again for the Cottagers until after the World Cup in the winter.

Silva will be gutted

Having been given the freedom to leave Shakhtar Donetsk on loan, it seemed that Marco Silva had landed something of a coup to bolster his squad with the 23-year-old.

However, the Cottagers are now back at square one with cover in the wide attacking areas. The club’s continued interest in Justin Kluivert could be indicative of how important it was to get in a winger of Solomon’s quality.

Last season for Shakhtar, he managed four goals and one assist in just 16 league outings, but with eight of those being substitute appearances, it actually makes for a very impressive return. The Israel international also has earned invaluable experience playing in the Champions League across multiple seasons.

He came to Craven Cottage having played at a higher level than many in Silva’s squad, which could have been instrumental in his performances against some of the Premier League’s leading lights.

In fact, the forward actually claimed in 2020 that Manchester City had made an attempt to purchase him, which suggests that Silva was shopping off the top shelf with this deal. Indeed, the Israeli gem scored against City in a 1-1 draw the previous year, which shows that he can make his mark against some of the best teams in Europe.

To lose a player of such ability and experience for so long will be gutting for Silva, who will hope to have him back for the second half of the season to potentially steer them away from the relegation battle that some have predicted for the Cottagers.

Former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan has thanked Raphinha for his role in helping the Whites to retain their Premier League status for the upcoming season. 

The lowdown: Pastures new

Signed in October 2020 from Ligue 1 outfit Rennes, the talented Brazilian recently completed a £55m switch to Barcelona (BBC), the most lucrative player sale in Elland Road history.

The 25-year-old directly contributed to 29 goals in 67 outings during his time at Leeds and was a key figure as Jesse Marsch’s side avoided relegation on the final day, scoring in the 2-1 victory over Brentford to ensure top-flight safety.

Despite moving on so soon after having played an integral role in the Whites’ cause, one heavily invested figure has lauded Raphinha for his time at Elland Road…

The latest: Whelan praises Raphinha

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan – who works as a club ambassador/employee for Leeds – heralded the impact of the nine-cap Brazil star, who he believes will forever remain a fan favourite at Elland Road.

The 47-year-old said of Raphinha: “He gave everything to keep Leeds United in the Premier League. Even if he knew that if we went down, the fee would have been a lot more acceptable and affordable for Barcelona.

“I think he proved to everyone his commitment to Leeds United. He was a massive, pivotal part of us staying up. For that, I think he’ll always be welcomed by the fans and by the football club for that honesty and leaving everything out there on the field.

“It was a great pleasure to watch him, even if it was for such a small amount of time. He can leave now with his head held high.”

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The verdict: Raphinha has been ‘phenomenal’

While it’s never nice to lose such a key part of the squad (Raphinha was Leeds’ highest-rated first-team regular last season by WhoScored), fending off the advances of Barcelona with all the lure and lustre of the Catalan giants was always going to prove difficult for Leeds and the Brazilian.

Ultimately, despite the debt-ridden La Liga club struggling to make their finances work, Victor Orta and Andrea Radrizanni managed to recoup a healthy sum up front for the balletic 25-year-old, who was recently dubbed ‘phenomenal’ by Tim Sherwood.

Last season, Raphinha scored 11 times and provided three assists in 35 Premier League outings, earning a superb 6.97 Sofascore rating. He won 5.2 duels, made 1.9 key passes and completed 1.8 successful dribbles per game to showcase a penchant for the spectacular which was apparent throughout his time in Yorkshire.

There is no doubt that the skillset and output of the versatile attacker will be sorely missed, but Marsch has already proven to be an astute operator in the transfer market, and there remains optimism that the 2022/23 season can be a positive one at Elland Road.

Rangers saw one of their most important players leave Ibrox earlier in the current transfer window as Joe Aribo waved goodbye to club.

The midfielder moved to the English Premier League earlier this month in a deal worth up to a reported £10m, bringing an end to his three years with the Light Blues.

Another significant player in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s squad who has been linked with an Ibrox exit this summer is Borna Barisic. In June, it was reported that the full-back had attracted interest from Turkish club Trabzonspor.

Should the 29-year-old find himself following in the footsteps of Aribo and leave Rangers this summer or in the near future, the club will need to ensure that they have a suitable replacement for the Croatian.

One man who has been linked with a move to Ibrox and who could fit this particular bill is Stoke City full-back Josh Tymon.

With 114 appearances to his name for the Potters across their senior and under-23 teams, the 23-year-old has scored four goals and delivered eight assists along the way.

Last season saw the Englishman make 44 Championship appearances for his current club and play more minutes than any other player in Michael O’Neill’s squad, highlighting just how important he is to them.

Tymon ended the campaign with more crosses delivered (201) than any of his team-mates and also posted the second-highest number of successful tackles (40) at the club. This highlights just how capable he is of getting up and down the pitch with and without the ball.

Bearing in mind how Barisic racked up the second-highest number of crosses (158) and the third-most tackles won (33) in Rangers’ squad for their previous Premiership campaign, it’s easy to see the similarities between the two players, and why the Stoke gem would be an ideal heir for the 29-year-old at Ibrox.

Hailed as an “outstanding” talent by his former Hull manager Steve Bruce in the past, Tymon would certainly be a useful addition to Van Bronckhorst’s side, especially if Barisic ends up leaving the club in the near future.

With a reported price tag of £6m, securing a deal for the Stoke full-back would be an investment worth making for the Gers this summer.

AND in other news – Deal close: Rangers set to land “dynamic” £1.6m-rated “beast”, it’s great news for Van Bronckhorst

Former Premier League striker Kevin Campbell has backed Liverpool to win the race to sign Borussia Dortmund wonderkid Jude Bellingham. 

The lowdown: Big admirers

Signed as a 17 year-old for £30million in 2020 (BBC), Bellingham had already made 44 senior outings for Birmingham before making the switch to Germany.

Since arriving in the Bundesliga the mercurial youngster has been a smash hit for Jurgen Klopp’s former side, making 89 senior showings and already becoming a fully-fledged England international.

Given the ever-burgeoning reputation, the Reds, alongside other potential suitors, have been perennially credited with a long-standing admiration for the 19-year-old midfielder and are expected to step up their pursuit next summer…

The latest: Pulling power

Speaking to Football Insider, former Everton frontman and regular talkSPORT contributor Campbell has suggested that Liverpool have the wherewithal to fend off interest from all comers for Bellingham.

He said: “Listen, to come back to England for a club like Liverpool would appeal to Jude Bellingham I’m sure.

“The question is, what kind of feeling does he have towards Real Madrid. Real Madrid has that mystery. They are a juggernaut of a club. When a Real Madrid comes in, it is very difficult for players to turn them down.

“Bellingham might want to come back. If he wants to come back to England I’m sure there will be a lot of clubs interested. Liverpool would be in pole position if he does. There is only a few teams he could come back to. It would be a good move for Liverpool. It has been talked about for 18 months or so now.

“Bellingham is at Dortmund as well, Klopp has very good links there. I’m sure he has been well studied.”

The verdict: Marquee signing

Truly a transformational signing for almost any team in world football for potentially the next decade, any European superpower worth its salt will be interested in signing the 15-cap revelation when the time arises.

Last season, Bellingham – who was branded a ‘generational talent’ by journalist Darren Lewis earlier this year – scored six times and provided 14 assists in 43 appearances across all competitions, once again showcasing an ability to influence games at the highest level.

Whilst Jurgen Klopp is currently relatively well-stocked in terms of midfield options, Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Thiago are all either in or approaching the twilight of their respective careers and therefore the next major expenditure from FSG, spearheaded by Julian Ward, should be on the £72million valued English teenager.

Albeit often labelled as frugal operators in the market, the Anfield ownership group have been winning to splash out on eye-watering outlays such as the £76.19million for Virgil van Dijk and the recent £67million expenditure to bring Darwin Nunez from Benfica, a category of deal Bellingham would certainly justify being involved in.

Manchester United are said to have joined the race for Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from The Sun, who claimed that Erik ten Hag and co are keeping a close eye on the England international, with the Red Devils manager said to be desperate to bolster his midfield after the departures of Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata.

The Saints captain is rated at £28.8m by Transfermarkt, with his contract expiring in June 2026, having agreed a new deal just last year.

Ten Hag’s dream player

The latest news surrounding Southampton’s dead-ball specialist will be refreshing, considering the rumours around Frenkie de Jong, as United supporters will surely be elated at the prospect of a classy and respectful midfielder joining their beloved club.

The 27-year-old’s leadership qualities and ability to dictate play through mastering the basics make him a sure-fire signing who would slot right into Ten Hag’s mass-possession system.

There is also an apparent lack of leadership on the pitch at the club – something that the 11-cap England international could remedy, having shone in a captaincy role under Ralph Hasenhuttl at St Mary’s.

Dubbed a “machine” by his boss in 2020, the Southampton skipper had yet another stellar season on a personal level, bagging ten goals and chipping in with a further five assists in 36 appearances for the Saints.

Now in the prime of his career and gaining acknowledgement on the international stage, the 27-year-old could be looking to take the next step of his career in joining a club who will, at the very least, challenge for the European places every year.

Also, with Ward-Prowse renowned for his extreme professionalism, in stark contrast to some of the less than cerebral reports which have emerged about some United players’ attitudes in recent months, the Englishman could well be a dream prospective signing for Ten Hag at Old Trafford.

In other news – “Keen to sign…”: Transfer insider drops Man Utd claim that’ll have supporters buzzing

Aston Villa have reached an agreement with Sevilla for the transfer of centre-back Diego Carlos, with Sky Sports sharing the development live on air.

The Lowdown: Quick start

NSWE and Steven Gerrard have made a head start on their summer business and have already secured permanent moves for Philippe Coutinho and Boubacar Kamara.

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Villa have turned Coutinho’s loan move into a full-time deal, while Kamara will officially be on the books in the Midlands from July 1 when his Marseille contract expires.

It now looks as if Carlos will be the next to officially sign despite links only first emerging on Wednesday morning.

The Latest: Carlos agreement

Villa confirmed on their official website on Thursday evening that they have reached an agreement with Sevilla for Carlos.

The Brazilian still needs to complete a medical and finalise personal terms though, and Sky Sports shared live on air that Villa are ‘on the verge’ of completing those finer details.

The Verdict: Big

Carlos is valued at £40.5m by Transfermarkt, but it looks as if Villa will pay just £26m for his services in what appears to be another big coup and a huge £14.5m saved.

Gerrard is clearly now at the heart of a major Villa Park rebuild, and it seems as if Carlos will have a big role to play in his first full season. The 29-year-old has bundles of experience at the top level in France and Spain as well as in the Champions League and Europa League.

His arrival could spell trouble for either Ezri Konsa or Tyrone Mings, with their futures thought to be up in the air, so Villa’s focus could soon be on exits before any more signings.

In other news: After Carlos: Sky Sports journo reacts as Villa close in on ‘phenomenal’ star; Gerrard’s ‘a fan’. 

Manchester United have been handed a boost over the potential signing of Benfica’s Uruguayan goal machine, Darwin Nunez.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from The Mirror, who state that the 22-year-old has decided that he wants a move to the Premier League.

As per the report, Nunez’s advisors have given a positive indication on where his future may lie and believe his style could be well suited to English football. And United clearly think so too, with the Old Trafford side now monitoring developments around the 22-year-old.

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There is both a positive and a negative to come out of this report though.

On one hand, Man United should not suffer any threat for the Uruguayan’s signature from the likes of Manchester City, having just agreed to sign Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund.

Though, there is a potential sticking point that could make life difficult for United, and that is the lack of Champions League football for next season.

It is said that Nunez, who has a £130m buy-out clause could be prised from the clutches of Benfica for a figure of around £70m, and his reported ambition of playing Premier League football of course serves as a major boost for United.

Imagine Nunez & CR7

Whilst the lack of top European football for next season is annoying, if “Mr. Champions League” Cristiano Ronaldo can put up with it, then so can Nunez.

With Ronaldo looking as though he may stay at United for at least another year if Ten Hag confirms that he is in his plans, the partnership between Nunez and the great Portuguese forward could be unstoppable.

He may already be testing the efficiency of this system with the idea of putting both Nunez and Ronaldo up top in what would make for an unplayable strike partnership.

Having just won the Eredivisie title for the third time with Ajax, the last three games saw him deploy a 4-1-2-1-2 system and a 4-3-1-2 variation also. What’s the relevance you may ask?

The Dutchman has veered away from his usual 4-3-3 over the last three matches and has opted for two formations that utilise two strikers up-top.

With a combined domestic goals total of 44 – 26 goals for Nunez and 18 goals for Ronaldo – they could take the Premier League by storm, and with the latter’s underrated creative ability, we could well see a playmaking side to the Portuguese veteran that Nunez would most certainly benefit from.

The centre-forward has been described as a “diamond” by Steve McManaman, and indeed, that’s exactly what he’d be if he signed for United; a precious entity who can blossom next to Ronaldo.

In other news: Better than Pogba: MUFC can land dream Rice alternative in “exceptional” £50m monster