All posts by h716a5.icu

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According to Football Insider, Aston Villa are planning a summer move for Rangers right-back James Tavernier.

By sealing a deal, it could give Dean Smith’s side a frightening new method of attack.

What’s the word?

Tavernier has become a major force in Scotland over the last few years and, despite being a right back, he boasts an incredible goal-scoring and assist-providing record, making him one of the most dangerous players in the SPFL.

This term he’s scored 11 goals and claimed a further 14 assists from 33 league outings, proving vital to Steven Gerrard’s outfit.

And that record seems to have taken the interest of Aston Villa who, according to Football Insider, are planning on making an attempt to bring him back to England.

The full-back has played for Newcastle and Wigan on a permanent basis whilst also having various loan spells throughout the EFL.

New method of attack

Given Ahmed Elmohamady and Alan Hutton aren’t getting any younger, a new right-back – regardless of whether the club achieve promotion – will surely be a top priority for Villa this summer.

Tavernier is the very definition of a modern-day full-back and would be a tremendous replacement for the pair of them.

He’s only just entering his prime now at the age of 27 and his record in Scotland speaks for itself.

Should Villa get promoted, the Premier League would obviously be a significant step up but he could provide the club with a frightening new form of attack.

Despite being a defender his outstanding qualities lie in the final third of the pitch and, given the majority of the Villans’ creative play comes from central areas, he could be of huge benefit out wide.

Wingers Ahmed El Ghazi, Albert Adomah and Andre Green have claimed just nine assists between them in 2018/19. On the other hand, Elmohamady has assisted seven goals.

It’s still an impressive record but he doesn’t bolster the pace or finesse that Tavernier does. If that wasn’t enough, then he’s also a cool head from the penalty spot.

Tavernier’s speed can be a handful for any defence and he’s matured significantly since his last spell in the Premier League.

This is a deal that Smith needs to make happen.

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In the buildup to Aston Villa’s final league outing of the season against Norwich, The Mirror reported a staggering piece of transfer news, claiming that Jack Grealish has a £60m buyout clause in his current contract.

It’s news that will come as a huge relief to the Villa Park faithful after the 23-year-old had attracted the eyes of both Tottenham and Crystal Palace in recent months.

Grealish signed a new deal last September after the club fought off initial interest from Spurs but they may now be put off entirely after his remarkable clause was revealed.

Reacting on Twitter, the response was rather split. Some Villa supporters were stunned, as one called it an incredible development. A further fan joked that it would now soften the blow of him leaving from 100% to 99.9%.

Other individuals chose to focus on the board, appearing delighted that the club’s top officials finally had some business nouse whilst another was relieved at the level of competency.

The Villa skipper has had a superb season, being named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year after scoring six goals and claiming a further six assists in the league this term.

Here’s the best of the reaction.

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West Ham United defender Reece Oxford is set to leave the club this summer, per Ex-West Ham United Employee.

The centre-back has struggled for minutes at the club in recent seasons, playing just 17 times in total.

He made his debut at the age of 16 in 2014, turning in an exceptional performance as the Hammers beat Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

But his career has stalled since then and he last played for the Irons in January of 2018, playing four minutes in a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.

He has taken in a number of loan spells, too, playing for Borussia Monchengladbach and Augsburg in the Bundesliga.

And it now appears that he will be the first player to leave the Irons in the summer transfer window, with a move to Germany in the offing. Football.London report that Augsburg are poised to take him on a permanent basis.

And fans have been left disappointed at the waste of the 20-year-old’s potential. Take a look at the best of the reaction below!

What a truly incredible season it has been for Wolves, one surely no one could have seriously predicted. Yes, there will be regrets upon failing to reach the FA Cup final, but perhaps they were spared the embarrassment of a thumping at the hands of Manchester City. Regardless, Wolves have defied the odds and will be remarkably rewarded with a place in the Europa League.

Great stuff.

Indeed, while there are many from which to choose, a player that has stood out for the West Midlands side is Joao Moutinho. The 32-year-old has rolled back the years, seemingly slotting into the heart of the midfield with ease – one that has received such widespread praise, and rightly so.

Moutinho signed in the summer for just £5m (per BBC Sport) and has shone ever since, featuring in all 38 of Wolves’ Premier League games this season. The veteran simply displays such calm on the ball, capable of any pass in the book. He also chipped in with a goal and eight league assists – not a bad return at all for a central midfielder at all.

The midfielder was handed the fans’ player of the season which is a statement in itself. The likes of Diogo Jota, Ruben Nevez and Raul Jiminez have all been superb, but at such a low transfer fee, Moutinho has been nothing short of a revelation.

At 32-years-old, Moutinho is still valued at £9m (as per TransferMarkt), but an offer of that amount would surely be instantly laughed off by the Wolves hierarchy. He is utterly integral to the quick, dynamic, attacking football that we’ve become accustomed to viewing with Wolves.

Moutinho was once heavily linked with Tottenham, who actually agreed a deal with the midfielder in 2012 (as per Sky Sports). Yet, a staggering seven years later, the midfield maestro is showing them what they’ve missed out on. In fact, with the injury’s they’ve had this season, on top of Mousa Dembele’s January departure, he would have been a hugely important player.

Alas, it is Wolves that captured the services of the wonderfully talented midfielder – and he’s been worth every penny and more.

Wolves fans, just how good is Joao Moutinho? Would he get into a top four team? Should he be regarded as one of the bargains of the season? Comment below. 

The actor –  who is best known for his role as DS Steve Arnott in BBC crime drama ‘Line of Duty’ – is a huge Hoops fan and he took full advantage of the opportunity to join his heroes in the Celtic dressing room.

He also responded to Sinclair’s post.

The 35-year-old, who was born in Greenock, joined the Hoops stars as they revelled in their incredible achievements.

Celtic secured the treble treble thanks to a double from Odisonne Edouard after they had fallen behind at Hampden Park to a Ryan Edwards goal in the 53rd minute.

Neil Lennon was also offered the full-time job after the historic achievement – one which he naturally accepted – and attention will now turn to winning another treble.

Compston, as well as all the other Celtic fans, will be hoping their club’s dominance continues.

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According to Sky Sports, Crystal Palace are among the clubs considering signing Everton right-back Jonjoe Kenny on loan, and the arrival of the 22-year-old at Selhurst Park could help Aaron Wan-Bissaka get even better.

What’s the word, then?

Well, Sky Sports report that the Eagles, along with Schalke and Burnley, are all keen on bringing the England U21 international in on a temporary basis.

Sky Sports report that the Toffees are open to letting the 5 ft 9 star leave with his first-team chances continuing to be limited at Goodison Park, where Seamus Coleman is Marco Silva’s first choice in that position.

Palace are clearly keen to add a new right-back to their squad, with a separate Sky Sports report last week saying they are also interested in re-signing Nathaniel Clyne.

The effect on Wan-Bissaka

The natural assumption about the south London outfit targeting a right-back is that it means the highly-rated 21-year-old is on his way during the summer transfer window.

However, the addition of Kenny could work in a different way entirely, and could be a message from Roy Hodgson that he won’t accept any complacency.

Wan-Bissaka has very little competition for his spot in the starting XI right now, but that could all change should the Everton man make the long journey south.

Despite his struggles under Silva, he has shown glimpses of the quality he does have when he has been on the pitch, and with a consistent run in the Premier League he could easily prove himself at this level.

Having Kenny pushing Wan-Bissaka in training would ensure that the much-coveted starlet doesn’t get complacent and let his performances drop, and that should help improve his all-round game.

Are Crystal Palace right to slap a £100m valuation on Wilfried Zaha’s head? Check out the video below to see why they are…

Palace won’t want to lose any of their star men in the next couple of months, but adding Kenny to their squad could allow them to ask even more for the youngster in the future, and also potentially ensure they have a potential replacement ready to be signed on a permanent deal in a year’s time.

Clearly, Leeds United need a 20-goal-a-season striker to ensure their promotion to the Premier League next season. Frankly, Eamonn Brophy isn’t that and he’ll just become another Patrick Bamford. Harsh, we know, but true in our opinion.

Team Talk have reported Rangers, Derby and Leeds are all after the 23-year-old’s signature this summer. Currently, he plays for Kilmarnock, but he’s only scored nine times in the league after making 24 appearances. Barely thrilling stuff and that’s just not good enough for Leeds.

Patrick Bamford has looked the man to lead the Whites up at times this season, but he’s far too inconsistent and that’s cost the club promotion, with Bielsa publicly ruining the club’s inability to finish chances. Obviously, Bamford needs to make way for a far more prolific striker, but Brophy isn’t that man either.

Yes, he’s still young and is rated at just £450,000 on Transfermarkt, but Leeds can’t afford to be cutting corners and going for bargains. They need to make an investment that would see them reap the rewards of the Premier League in the long term.

Surely, after the protracted saga that saw him finally agree to stay, Marcelo Bielsa is likely to leave if Leeds don’t earn promotion this season, so the board need to back him with the players to carry out his attacking intent. Merely bringing in a young lad with average form from Scotland just won’t cut it at all.

The club must avoid any more heartbreak, so signing Eamonn Brophy would be a turn in the wrong direction. He’d be another Bamford and no Leeds supporter wants another of those.

Leeds fans, who do you think your club should sign up front this summer? Join the discussion by commenting below…

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In an interview with French website Festival Foot Espoirs, Aston Villa recruiter Olivier Monterrubio has laid down hints over where the club may find another player with Tammy Abraham’s qualities this summer.

What’s the word?

Abraham was sensational for the Villans in 2018/19, scoring 26 goals as he helped his loan side back to the Premier League.

The Chelsea man had struggled in the top-flight with Swansea but after returning to the Championship, he found the back of the net on a regular basis.

He was crucial to their promotion charge but it remains to be seen whether he’ll return to the club. Considering Chelsea are under a transfer embargo it could be hard to prise him away on a permanent basis.

Villa scout Monterubbio, who was employed by the club last season, has been keeping a close eye on players in France and was important in bringing Frederic Guilbert to the Midlands.

When questioned about whether he’s trying to find someone like Abraham at the prestigious Toulon tournament, a competition he’s now scouting, he told Festival Foot Espoirs:

“Yes. There are also several other posts to find. For the moment, I’m looking at all the numbers and then I’ll sort on the second and third day.”

Between the lines

It’s been difficult to work out Dean Smith’s transfer policy since achieving promotion given the sheer volume of players that seem to have been targeted.

Outfield players Joe Lolley, Neal Maupay and Gary Cahill could all join, whilst Neil Etheridge has also been the subject of interest.

However, reading between the lines of what Monterubbio has said, it’s clear that Villa are still after players they can develop following comments made by the manager in January.

The Toulon tournament has been highly regarded for a while now and is used as a platform for some of the best young players around to display their talents.

It’s intriguing to note that the Frenchman could be trying to find a player in the mould of Villa’s star striker from last term, but being able to actually discover someone as talented as that could be a challenge.

Monterubbio looks as though he’s already done some encouraging work in France but if he can find someone to match Abraham or mimic his profile in terms of ability and further potential, it would surely represent his finest discovery to date.

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It goes without saying that Jurgen Klopp is a charismatic, passionate figure who most players would run through a brick wall for.

The German can always be seen giving his players bear hugs after the final whistle – win, lose or draw – and makes it his goal to address the Kop end of Anfield in appreciation of their support; he is simply loved by everyone at Liverpool right now, especially after making them European champions.

Whilst it will be simple for the club to lure top players this summer after a sixth major European Cup win, it wasn’t always like this.

You can relive Liverpool’s Champions League celebrations in glorious 2D thanks to the guys at 442oons in the video below…

When Klopp first arrived on Merseyside, Liverpool were languishing outside the top six and had little pulling power other than their rich history. So, how did the former Borussia Dortmund boss manage to convince so many players to join his Anfield revolution?

Let’s hear from the players themselves…

Fabinho

Arguably the most important signing for Liverpool last summer was the deal to bring Fabinho to Anfield, a destructive midfield presence but one with the technical skills to match his teammates’ ability.

When signing for the Merseysiders, the Brazil international cited Klopp’s impact in the deal as a pivotal factor, saying:

“It’s been a few weeks [since Liverpool first got in touch]. I spoke with people from the club, with the coach (Klopp), which gave me a lot of confidence.

“I wanted to go to a club that really wanted me, which showed great interest. With all that, it was easy to say yes.”

Alisson Becker

The No.13, who was instrumental in the Reds winning a sixth major European Cup last season, had an offer to join Chelsea last summer as Liverpool also competed with the Blues.

It must’ve been a tough choice, but the Brazil international revealed that a chat with the German boss helped convince him.

Alisson said:

“[Klopp] is a person who gives himself 100 percent to what he is doing. The chat I had with him [before joining Liverpool] is one of the things that left me more calm.

“He showed his interest in having me, not only the club’s interest but also his. It was a long interview despite my staggered English, but we understood each other well.”

Sadio Mane

Back in 2016, both Manchester United and Liverpool – two fierce rivals – were vying for Sadio Mane’s signature, although the Senegalese forward eventually signed for the Reds due to one factor; Klopp.

A £34m deal was agreed with Southampton, and upon signing for the Merseysiders, Mane said:

“I spoke with [Klopp] and I think he played a big role in me coming to Liverpool and I want to thank him for all the confidence.

“He said he wanted me to come and I didn’t try to ask myself questions as I was convinced Liverpool was the right club for me. It is the right club, right coach and right moment to change.”

Georginio Wijnaldum

Perhaps not one of the most in-demand footballers that Klopp has signed, Wijnaldum was still convinced by Klopp’s words when discussing a potential move to Anfield after Newcastle were relegated.

The Dutchman revealed all about how the former Mainz boss chatted to him about his football on a personal level, which appears to have been key in luring him to Merseyside.

Wijnaldum said:

“We talked about football and how he wants to play, how he sees me in his team. And also that he can make me a much better player because he said: ‘You can develop much more than you have now.

“I also had it in my head that I can be much better than right now and I had a feeling that he was the right man to help me with that.”

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Celtic have walked away from the deal that would see Motherwell midfielder David Turnbull arrive at the club, according to The Scottish Sun.

The paper say that “Parkhead insiders” have told them negotiations are over and that the Hoops will now move on to other targets, with a transfer to England now likely for the 19-year-old.

Leigh Griffiths is ready and raring to go for Celtic next season. One fan discusses what we can expect from him in the video below…

It comes after Motherwell themselves announced last week they would be in receipt of a record fee for an outgoing player should Turnbull have agreed personal terms with the Scottish champions.

The teenager was a big player in the Scottish Premiership last season, netting 15 times and assisting seven more.

It would have been very interesting to see if he could make the step up to performing on a consistent basis with Celtic, but it now seems another young Scottish talent will be heading down south to test himself in England.

Fans of the Glasgow outfit don’t seem too bothered to hear he won’t be making the switch, with some feeling the delay in negotiations was proof enough his heart wasn’t in playing for the club.

These supporters have taken to Twitter to share their thoughts on it all…