All posts by z3u9t.icu

Manchester City are now the ‘favourite’ to sign Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland, after news emerged claiming that Pep Guardiola’s side sit in ‘pole position’ for the striker.

The Lowdown: Interest in Haaland

City’s interest in the 21-year-old has been widely reported for the past few months after the club failed to secure the signing of Tottenham star Harry Kane. The Sky Blues have reportedly joined Real Madrid as the frontrunners in the race for the youngster’s signature.

Last month, Dortmund advisor Matthias Sammer admitted that he is aware that the Citizens are closely monitoring the Norwegian. He even revealed that he ‘fainted’ after hearing about the proposal that the Premier League champions are plotting.

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The Latest: City’s huge boost

According to a report from Sky Sports Deutschland (via Sport Witness), Guardiola’s side have emerged as the ‘favourite’ in ‘recent weeks’ to sign the Norway international, and they are currently in ‘pole position’ to complete the transfer in the summer.

Sebastian Kehl, who is set to become Dortmund’s new sporting director, has ruled out renewal talks with the striker, although Sky have claimed that Real Madrid are still in the picture for a move for Haaland.

The Verdict: Exceptional signing

Since bursting onto the scene as a teenager after joining from Red Bull Salzburg, Haaland has gone on to attract international attention due to his emphatic goalscoring record. In just 83 matches for Dortmund, the 21-year-old has netted a sensational 80 goals.

As a result, he ranks in the 99th percentile for non-penalty goals, non-penalty expected goals and non-penalty expected goals plus expected assists among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues (via FBRef), so it is easy to see why the likes of Arsene Wenger have labelled him a “super talent”.

Therefore, if City can get this deal over the line, it will be an exceptional signing for Guardiola’s side.

In other news: £36m-rated star who Zabaleta absolutely loves could now join Man City

Journalist James Pearce has explained Harvey Elliott’s recent omissions from Liverpool senior matchday squads, having spoken to Jurgen Klopp about the situation.

The Lowdown: Elliott axed for City clash

The Reds drew 2-2 away to Manchester City on Sunday afternoon as another thrilling Premier League clash between the pair took place at the Etihad Stadium.

Elliott wasn’t part of the occasion, though, with the 19-year-old left out of the squad entirely, despite being hailed as ‘fantastic’ by Ian Wright after his goalscoring return to action in February.

It isn’t the first time that the teenager has been snubbed by Klopp in recent weeks – his last appearance came against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup last month, while he hasn’t been in a league matchday squad since 12 March – and even though the midfielder has enjoyed a breakthrough season at Anfield, this omission may still have raised some eyebrows.

The Latest: Pearce explains Elliott situation

Writing in a Q&A for The Athletic before Sunday’s game, Pearce provided his thoughts on the situation, playing down any kind of potential issue between player and manager:

“I asked Klopp recently and he said it was just down to the sheer competition for places. Origi and Minamino not on the bench either.

“Plus, quite common for someone coming back from a bad injury to have a lively initial period back, adrenaline pumping etc, but then experience a lull. Elliott still has a big future at LFC.”

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The Verdict: Completely understandable

There is no need for this to be made into a bigger deal than it is, with Liverpool having no current injuries and therefore arguably the most impressive squad in the club’s history.

It is simply a case of Elliott not quite being deemed good enough to get into the matchday squad for a huge encounter – the same applies to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Divock Origi, for example – which is no great surprise, given his inexperience.

As Pearce has referenced, the teenager also suffered a dislocated ankle earlier this season and needs to be managed carefully, so there should be no concern over his future at the club whatsoever.

In other news, Liverpool are ‘convinced’ they should sign one player. Find out who it is here.

[ad_pod ]Earlier this month, Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech announced that he hasÂdecided to call time on his career and will no longer represent the North London club – as a player, at least – when he hangs up his gloves at the end of the season.

The former Chelsea shot-stopper will go down as a Premier League legend but under Unai Emery, Cech has lost his starting spot to summer signing Bernd Leno and featured just seven times in the Premier League this season.

Without his services to bank on for much longer, Arsenal will have to start plotting potential additions to fill Cech’s void next season. With that in mind, Football FanCast provide four suggestions on who should become Cech’s successor at the Emirates Stadium.

Pl>ymaker FC believes Arsenal fans won’t have to wait long to see Unai Emery’s long-term ambitions for the club come to fruition. Watch the video below to find out why…

Radoslaw Majecki

Legia Warsaw’s Radoslaw Majecki may be a fairly unheard of name but not amongst the scouts at Arsenal, with the Gunners sending their men to watch the teenager’s progress throughout the current campaign – as reported by London Evening Standard in December.

The 19-year-old only broke into the senior side this year in Poland, but is currently being assessed to determine his suitability to the English game. He would certainly need further time to develop, but with Leno the current number one Arsenal are able to afford him it.

Jan Oblak

While Leno may be the first choice at the moment, the summer signing has not been a terrific acquisition. In fact, the 26-year-old has only managed three Premier League clean sheets so far.

An option to consider if Emery wishes to bring in an immediate first-choice goalkeeper is Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak.

A move for the 26-year-old would be expensive, to say the least, with the Slovenian unlikely to leave the Spanish capital for anything less than his £90millionÂrelease clause – as documented by FourFourTwo. After that, Arsenal would have to impress Oblak enough to convince him to join.

Thomas Strakosha

Given the Gunners’ need to strengthen across the pitch, Emery will likely shy away from splurging the budget on one marquee addition this summer.

Albanian international Thomas Strakosha, however, would unlikely break the bank but still offer a decent alternative to Leno, provided Lazio remain willing to sell as Calcio Mercato claimed during the summer.

The 23-year-old has been the established first choice for Lazio since the 2016/17 season, and has made 20 Serie A appearances already this term.

Emiliano Martinez

There may be a magnitude of potential goalkeepers in world football that could be brought to North London to fill Cech’s void, but one man already at the club will certainly be hoping the veteran’s retirement gives him the chance to become a first-team regular.

Emiliano Martinez joined Arsenal back in 2010 and has been on the fringes of the first-team ever since his debut in the League Cup two years later.

Unfortunately for the Argentine, he has never featured in more than six games in a single season for the Gunners, yet has kept a clean sheet on seven occasions, including against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

So, Arsenal fans, who do you see as the perfect Cech successor? Let us know by commenting below…

An update has emerged on both Trincao and Adama Traore’s future at Wolves.

What’s the news?

According to a number of reports in Spain, Barcelona will only sign Adama Traore permanently if Wolves sign the Portuguese winger permanently – leading to the La Liga giants’ club president Joan Laporta claiming that a deal could be completed if Trincao is used as a makeweight.

“I think a swap deal with Wolves between Francisco Trincao and Adama Traore could be a very good option,” said Laporta.

Must avoid for Wolves

Wolves’ woes in front of goal have continued on from Nuno Santo’s time in charge of the team, into the Bruno Lage era – having scored the fifth-lowest amount of goals in the Premier League this campaign.

Not helped by Raul Jimenez and Hwang Hee-chan’s total goal haul of 11 for the season so far between them, as well as £36m signing Fabio Silva failing to add any at all in the top flight – Lage will likely be looking to overhaul his attack in the summer – or at least improve it.

With Pedro Neto returning from injury, he can finally replace loanee Trincao as the starting inverted right winger in the team, after the Barcelona-owned youngster has failed to establish himself as a Premier League quality forward since joining last summer.

As a result, signing Trincao permanently next summer would not make much sense with the forward, who was dubbed “toothless” by Nathan Judah, scoring just one goal and assisting only one more in 22 appearances for the West Midlands side.

If they are to have European ambitions, the £19.8m-rated flop is not the player to take them forward and must be axed this summer. There is simply no point in bringing a player who is on £131k per week to the club to play back-up.

Instead, Lage would benefit more from spending the Adama money on other positions in the squad, and promoting one of the exciting young prospects in the academy – like left-footed Canada international Theo Corbeanu.

In other news: £1.35m-rated Wolves flop who has “developed in every way” now proving Lage very wrong

Sunderland travel down south this afternoon to take on Oxford United in a crucial clash to try and bolster their play-off chances in League One, with three points today potentially taking Alex Neil’s men into the top six if Wycombe were to slip up.

With Oxford only one point behind the Wearsiders in eighth, the game will be equally important for both teams, and Sunderland will need to ensure that they can capitalise on their better form compared to the U’s, who have lost their last two games.

In terms of injury news, the Black Cats remain unchanged from last week, with the long-term absences of Aiden McGeady (knee), Jordan Willis (ruptured patella) and Niall Huggins (stressy fracture) all leaving them out of contention.

With that in mind, this is how Football FanCast anticipate Sunderland to line up against Oxford United this afternoon…

Predicted XI: Patterson; Winchester, Wright, Batth, Cirkin; Neil, Evans; Roberts, Pritchard, Broadhead; Stewart

We expect to see two changes to the team which won against Gillingham last weekend, and a 4-2-3-1 formation deployed by 40-year-old Neil.

The first change we predict to see in the Sunderland starting XI today is Daniel Neil coming back into the side to replace Luke O’Nien in midfield alongside Corry Evans, who will maintain his place in the line-up.

Neil has made 35 appearances this season, scoring three goals and contributing seven assists so far; and with the Black Cats desperately needing to take all the points from today’s match, having the attacking output of the 20-year-old back in the team would surely give them the best opportunity to achieve that.

The second change we expect to see this afternoon is the axing of £25k-p/w Spurs loanee Jack Clarke, who was dubbed “talented” by Noel Whelan, to be replaced with Nathan Broadhead.

The 24 year old forward, who was hailed as “fantastic” by former Sunderland manager Lee Johnson, scored the last-minute winner against Gillingham after coming on for Alex Pritchard last weekend and Neil could give Broadhead, who has scored nine goals so far this season, the deserved nod in the starting XI today.

Sunderland are in a good position to gain a spot for potential promotion to the Championship this year, and with only six games left in the current campaign, there is little room for error in the race to secure a play-off position.

In other news: Alex Neil handed Sunderland injury lift which will leave Wearside faithful buzzing 

An exciting Sunderland transfer update has emerged regarding veteran striker Jermain Defoe…

What’s the talk?

Journalist Dharmesh Sheth has revealed that the Black Cats are among a number of clubs keen on a short-term deal for the forward after his departure from Rangers, with the 39-year-old also interested in taking up a coaching role further down the line.

He told Sky Sports News’ The Transfer Show, via This is Futbol: “He said on the show last week that his phone was red-hot, it wouldn’t stop ringing – lots of interest in Jermain Defoe. We’re told today, Sunderland, Ipswich, Charlton Athletic and Oxford all interested in signing Jermain Defoe on a short-term deal that will take him until the end of the season.

“Now, he’s also got coaching offers as well, which is why he hasn’t fully made his mind up whether he’ll continue playing until the end of the season. I think that would be his preference, but if a coaching offer came along that he couldn’t refuse, it would be something that he would definitely have to think about.”

Delight for Lee Johnson

Lee Johnson will be delighted with this news for several reasons. Firstly, it shows that Sunderland are right in the mix for his signature as a player alongside other League One clubs who do not have a pre-existing relationship with him heading into this transfer window.

This means that the Black Cats could have a slight edge over the likes of Charlton, Ipswich and Oxford, as Defoe has already played at the Stadium of Light and knows his way around the area. The striker could find this appealing if this is to be his final season of playing, so being in a position where he can hit the ground running instead of needing time to settle in could be a key factor in deciding his next move.

The England international scored an impressive 37 goals in 94 games for Sunderland during his time at the club previously. This included 30 Premier League goals in his final two seasons on Wearside, illustrating how enjoyable a spell he had at the club from 2014 to 2017.

Johnson will also be buzzing with this update, as it suggests that Defoe could be willing to take on a coaching role from next season. The 39-year-old has more than 200 career goals to his name, along with 57 caps for England, and his experience could make him a valuable addition to the head coach’s backroom staff from the start of the 2022/23 campaign.

Whilst he could offer quality on the pitch in the short-term, having scored 32 goals in 74 games for Rangers in recent years, the coaching he could provide Sunderland moving forward is another reason why this could be a fantastic signing for the club if they can fend off their League One competitors.

AND in other news, Sunderland training ground development emerges which will leave fans buzzing…

Manchester United have appointed Erik ten Hag as their new manager to join Old Trafford this summer, and it is now reported he has his eye on a Premier League player he would like to join with him.

What’s the latest?

According to the Daily Star, Manchester United are plotting a move for former Spurs star, Christian Eriksen, who is currently on a six-month contract with Brentford and is set to become a free agent at the end of the season.

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The report suggests that it is the new manager who has identified the player as a target, with Ten Hag believing that the 30-year-old would be the perfect signing to launch his revolution at the club after working with him at Ajax when he joined their training outfit following his cardiac arrest last summer.

Instant masterclass

There is no doubt that Ten Hag could make an instant impact and get Old Trafford rocking if he can convince Christian Eriksen to join the side, following his impressive performances in Thomas Frank’s side since his return to professional football and the Premier League.

The £13.5m-rated ace who was hailed “top class” by teammate Pontus Jansson, has made a huge improvement to Brentford’s form after the side went into freefall when they lost seven out of nine league games in January and February.

Since his first Premier League start this season against Norwich City on the 5th of March, Brentford have not lost a single game the Danish star has played in, picking up five wins and one draw when he has played the full 90 minutes in the team, scoring one goal already in seven appearances from his central midfield position.

That has taken his top-flight goal tally in England to a whopping 52, something that provides evidence of his important knowledge of the division.

There is no coincidence that the side have regained their winning form and saved themselves from a relegation fight this season following Eriksen’s influence and inclusion in the team, and that kind of positive influence and presence on the pitch is exactly what Ten Hag will be looking to bring to Old Trafford next season.

Described as “special” by Mauricio Pochettino and as a “wizard” by reporter Josh Wright, he’d certainly be a fantastic first acquisition in the new era at Old Trafford.

Manchester United are not the only ones desperate to snap up the phenomenal free agent this summer with Antonio Conte also planning to make a move to bring him back to Tottenham Hotspur, so Ten Hag will have to offer Eriksen a role in his new-look team that he won’t be able to refuse this summer if he stands any chance of signing him.

AND in other news: Forget Varane: “Embarrassing” 22-pass passenger cost Man United dearly vs Arsenal

Tottenham target Franck Kessie has reportedly snubbed a January move to north London, according to Calciomercato, cited by Inside Futbol.

The Lowdown: Kessie a long-term target

Kessie has been on Spurs’ radar for some time now and Antonio Conte is allegedly a big fan after giving the green light to a transfer back in November.

The 25-year-old’s contract with AC Milan is set to expire at the end of June, meaning he could pen pre-contract terms with Spurs right now.

However, Tottenham seemingly want Kessie, who is currently away with the Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations, in the final days of the January window rather than the summer, and a key update has now emerged.

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The Latest: Agreement reached, but there’s a twist

Inside Futbol relayed an update from Calciomercato on Sunday evening.

They claim that Fabio Paratici finally reached an agreement with AC Milan to sign Kessie immediately, but the midfielder, labelled as ‘devastating’ by Antonio Cassano, has turned down a January transfer.

He wants to see out his contract with the Italian giants and is focused on helping the club push for the Serie A title in the second half of the season.

The Verdict: Pre-contract terms required

If Kessie isn’t willing to join in the final days of the winter window, then Paratici should now be after the next best thing and look to seal a pre-contract agreement ahead of the summer.

That way, Spurs would be getting hold of an experienced and versatile midfielder who is valued at a whopping £43.2m – without spending a penny on a transfer fee – before what would be Conte’s first full season in charge.

Of course, that would mean Conte having to make do with what he has got for the remainder of the season, and the risk may be missing out on top four, but Kessie could be worth the wait. He has scored five times in 13 Serie A starts this term and shone for his nation at AFCON, scoring in a 3-1 win over holders Algeria last week.

In other news: Fabrizio Romano – Morning transfer development with Spurs now ‘confident to complete’ key signing.

Crystal Palace correspondent Matt Woosnam has been reacting to the ‘surprising’ news that the club’s FA Cup meeting with Hartlepool next month has sold out.

The Lowdown: Some fans not happy

The Eagles were drawn at home against the League Two side in the fourth round after they came from behind to beat rivals Millwall earlier this month.

Patrick Vieira’s side will host Hartlepool on Saturday, February 5 at 3pm, and initially, some Palace supporters were unhappy at the ticket prices.

Many felt that £20 for an adult was too much, with one labelling it as ‘a disgrace’, however, that hasn’t stopped thousands of other supporters from securing their seat.

The Latest: Woosnam reacts

The game is now officially a sell-out, with Woosnam taking to Twitter on Wednesday when there were around 21 seats remaining at Selhurst Park.

He admitted he was ‘surprised’ but labelled it as ‘great’ news.

The Verdict: Brilliant

This is a strong show of support to Vieira and his side to sell out a cup game against fourth-tier opposition.

Palace’s last FA Cup game at home with supporters in attendance came back in January 2020, with just 15,507 turning up in a shock 1-0 defeat to Championship side Derby County.

However, fast forward two years and the feel-good factor seems to be back at Selhurst Park following plenty of changes, and this latest off-field update just goes to show that.

In other news: ‘Beautiful’ – Some Palace fans can’t believe who Vieira wants to sign now.Â

Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman is poised to endure a busy summer of work at the Stadium of Light at the end of the season.

Irrespective of what division the Black Cats are competing in next term, he will be tasked with putting together a squad for Alex Neil to work with – either to stay in the Championship or fight for promotion out of League One.

Speakman will also need to keep hold of the club’s talented young players to give Neil a pool of academy prospects to nurture with a view to them making their way through to the first team in the future.

One such gem who they are in danger of losing is 14-year-old Chris Rigg as Newcastle and Everton are reportedly keen on a deal for him this summer.

Rigg is already playing for the U18’s at the age of 14 and Sunderland are said to want £1m from any interested parties.

They must now avoid repeating the brutal disasterclass they endured when they sold teenager Joe Hugill to Manchester United for £300k. The striker has since been compared to England captain Harry Kane and is progressing through the ranks at Old Trafford.

Sky Sports News reporter James Cooper said this about the youngster: “Joe Hugill’s progress has come as a pleasant surprise to the coaching staff at Manchester United who recognised his potential when they brought him in from Sunderland.

“But the speed of that progress has exceeded expectations, bearing in mind he’s only been at the club for three months.

“Hugill was part of a recruitment drive that has seen some of Europe’s best young talent arrive at Manchester United in recent weeks to not only bolster the club’s Academy but also provide Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with more options further down the line.”

These quotes and the comparisons to Kane suggest that Sunderland dropped a clanger by allowing him to leave for £300k.

Speakman must now ensure that they do not repeat that mistake with Rigg. He cannot allow the talented youngster to leave the Stadium of Light and must do everything in his power to convince the teenager that staying at the club is the best option for him.

Sunderland fans do not want to be sat on their sofas in six years watching Rigg dominating in the Premier League and wondering how they only got £1m for him in 2022.

AND in other news, Fewer touches than Patterson: £2.7k-p/w SAFC gem with 87.5% duels lost flopped…