All posts by h716a5.icu

Leeds United’s fate has come down to the final day of the Premier League season.

The Yorkshire giants have to better Burnley’s result today to remain a top-flight outfit and that’s no easy task as they head to west London to face Brentford, whilst the Clarets face Newcastle United at Turf Moor.

Jesse Marsch’s side have stuttered in recent outings, picking up only two points from a possible 15, though the American has been boosted by the potential return of last season’s leading talisman, Patrick Bamford.

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As relayed by The Athletic’s Phil Hay, the England striker is expected to be involved in some form this afternoon. And whilst his presence will certainly bolster their fortunes in the final third, where they have struggled all season, he will not fix their defensive issues.

Indeed, the Whites have one of the worst backlines in the division, having leaked a whopping 78 goals from 37 outings. Only rock-bottom Norwich City (79) have conceded more.

Their opposition today have been in fine form, losing only one of their last five matches, and with the likes of Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo and Christian Eriksen available, they could do Leeds plenty of damage.

As such, Marsch will need to make a bold call with his defence. It could be wise to bring Pascal Struijk back into the fold as the versatile colossus can play in the middle, on the left or in defensive midfield.

Once described as a “monster” by journalist Daniel Fraiz-Martinez, the Belgian-born defender has proven to be one of Leeds’ more busy and solid options, having averaged 2.2 tackles per game, a feat that neither Liam Cooper nor Diego Llorente can match.

Whilst a further average of 1.2 interceptions and a squad-best passing accuracy of 85.1%, via WhoScored, only further builds his claims to start in Norfolk today.

If anything, the 6 foot 3 titan should be rewarded for his injury-time equaliser last weekend, another fine reason why he should be in the starting lineup as he also provides threat from set-pieces – at both ends of the pitch.

“He’s going to become a supreme centre-back,” once suggested LeedsLive reporter Beren Cross.

“It’s all about Raphinha, it’s all about Joe Gelhardt. But Pascal is the future. And the longer he stays under the radar, the better, because he’s got the lot, to be honest.”

The £13.5m-rated man-mountain could be the one to guide Leeds towards safety and whilst Bamford’s return is encouraging, there’s no way of knowing just how much game time he can manage after playing only 100 competitive minutes since early December.

Struijk’s presence in the backline should, at least, help Leeds defensively and if they are keeping the Bees out, then they’ll only need to score to boost their bid to stay in the big time.

He simply must start in Marsch’s backline today.

AND in other news, Marsch must axe Leeds’ £55k-p/w “schoolboy” today, he’s a big “liability” to the team…

To suggest that affairs at Manchester United over the last year have been a mess would be putting it lightly.

Fortunately for those of a United persuasion, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

What’s the word?

When the going gets tough, the Red Devils’ hierarchy tends to look into their bank account and find the largest sum available to spend on new players.

It’s unsurprising, therefore, that another spending spree looks set to be sanctioned this summer.

One of the club’s targets in Darwin Nunez looks likely to arrive in the Premier League this summer and according to Dean Jones’ sources, a deal is close.

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Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the transfer insider said: “One source described this deal to United to me as being ‘extremely close’.

“They consider Atletico Madrid as their main rivals to sign him, from what I hear, but obviously, loads around Europe are looking. If Darwin does move to Old Trafford, it will be a brilliant signing for the Ten Hag era.”

Previous reports suggest he could cost the new manager around £50.6m.

The new Forlan?

Last summer’s business from Man United was incredibly impressive with Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane all arriving in the northwest of England.

However, judging by their dreadfully frantic season in 2021/22, supporters may well have to be a little more reserved when assessing ten Hag’s first signings at Old Trafford.

Yet, in Nunez, he’d surely uncover a gem for the Red Devils.

In fact, the Benfica striker has already been dubbed a “diamond” by Steve McManaman, and it’s clear to see why.

This is one of the most clinical forwards in world football at the moment, scoring 34 In 41 appearances across all competitions this term.

Based on that scoring record and his Uruguayan nationality, he could well become the club’s next Diego Forlan.

The veteran never really lit up Old Trafford but after leaving United behind he became one of the most feared and rampant attacking products around.

Ten Hag and the club’s supporters would certainly hope he betters Forlan’s record of 17 goals in 96 matches for the Premier League outfit but his record later on in his career is comparable to Nunez, an offensive revelation capable of bullying goalkeepers around the world.

A special talent with speed, robustness and confident finishing ability, Nunez really does feel like the type of player who could inspire United back to greatness.

He is bang in form, relatively cheap in today’s market for his goal tally and he’s still very young at 22.

It would take some player to live up to Forlan but at the same age, you sense that the Benfica star has a much higher ceiling.

It would mark ten Hag’s first major move of the window but there would be no real greater statement of intent than by signing the Uruguay international.

AND in other news, Man United now closing in on “sensational” £50m signing, he’s the next Paul Scholes…

Celtic are interested in signing Aberdeen youngster Connor Barron in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh transfer rumour.

The Lowdown: Big summer ahead

It was a superb 2021/22 season for the Hoops, with Ange Postecoglou guiding his team to Premiership and Scottish League Cup glory.

The key thing now is to build on that success, with funds available for new signings after sealing Champions League group stage qualification for next season.

While established names may be required in order to make Postecoglou’s squad stronger, it could be that emerging young talent also comes in at Parkhead.

The Latest: Hoops keen on Barron signing

According to The Scottish Daily Express, Celtic have ‘run the rule’ over Aberdeen midfielder Barron, having sent scouts to watch him in action for Scotland’s under-21s.

Postecoglou is believed to have been ‘impressed’ with the 19-year-old in the past 12 months, having made a total of 15 appearances for the Dons.

The Verdict: Building for the future

Barron has been hailed as a ‘brilliant’ and ‘brave’ player by his manager Jim Goodwin, and he is someone who could be an exciting prospective signing for Celtic.

Having young homegrown talent in the squad is always something which should be the case at Parkhead, and the 19-year-old could come in as a future midfield star, initially a fringe player to provide backup before growing into a crucial first-team figure over the years.

It is vital that Postecoglou sees this as a long-term project over many years, and signing players of Barron’s ilk could play a big role in ensuring that Celtic have a core group who could form the backbone of the team well into the future.

In other news, Celtic have reportedly ‘set their sights’ on one player. Find out who it is here.

A big update has emerged on Newcastle United’s pursuit of Dean Henderson heading into the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to 90Min, the Magpies have reached an agreement with the England international over personal terms as they attempt to bring him to St. James’ Park.

The report claims that talks are ongoing with Manchester United over whether the deal would be a permanent one or on loan for the 2022/23 campaign, with a fee in the region of £20m touted.

This comes after Fabrizio Romano revealed that the club have agreed on a fee with Stade Reims for 19-year-old French striker Hugo Ekitike.

He’ll leave Eddie Howe speechless

Forget the Ligue 1 centre-forward for now… the Magpies head coach will be buzzing with a potential deal for Henderson as he would love the shot-stopper to be on Tyneside next season.

The Red Devils gem is an exciting prospect who has the potential to leave Howe speechless with his ability between the sticks.

He is a proven Premier League performer as he has enjoyed two excellent seasons in the top-flight for two different teams. In the 2020/21 campaign – for his parent club – Henderson averaged a superb SofaScore rating of 6.94 in 14 appearances as he saved a whopping 77% of the shots against him.

The ‘keeper also impressed at Bramall Lane on loan, with his former Sheffield United teammate Sander Berge previously showering him in praise, saying: “He’s insane. I’ve never been with such a good goalkeeper. One thing in matches, he is almost a defence alone at times, and you feel so secure with him.

“But people have to see him at training. It’s crazy. He saves balls from one yard. Sometimes I am completely speechless by how good he is. It’s like having two goalkeepers in goal with him. He’s awesome.”

In the 2020/21 campaign for Chris Wilder’s side, Henderson averaged a sublime score of 7.00 and saved 75% of the shots against him as he kept 13 clean sheets in 36 games.

His statistics are outstanding and Berge’s inside insight backs up that the Englishman is a top-quality goalkeeper, whilst he still has plenty of time left to develop at the age of 25.

He can be a player Howe works with at Newcastle for a number of seasons, given his quality and age, and that is why he would love to work with him.

Hopefully, PIF and Dan Ashworth can now reach an agreement with Manchester United to make this a permanent move so that Henderson can make the Toon head coach speechless with his stunning displays between the sticks for many years to come.

AND in other news, “In talks…”: Fabrizio Romano delivers NUFC transfer claim that’ll delight supporters…

Gian Luca Rossi has dropped an update on the future of reported Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Gleison Bremer.

What’s the talk?

In a recent interview with Milan-based television network Telelombardia (via Sport Witness), the Italian journalist revealed that – following Alessandro Bastoni’s agent, Tulio Tinti, revealing the 23-year-old will remain at Inter Milan this summer – Antonio Conte will now turn his focus in the summer transfer market towards the Torino centre-back.

Previous reports had claimed that Simone Inzaghi’s side have already agreed a four-year deal with the 25-year-old ahead of a summer switch from Turin to Milan, however, with Fabio Paratici now set to launch a €50m (£43m) bid for the Brazilian, Inter’s move for Bremer now appears to be in doubt.

Regarding Tottenham’s interest in the defender, Rossi said: “It is no mystery that Antonio Conte likes Bastoni. Indeed, from the information I have gathered, Conte is ready to put a spoke in the wheel at Inter. The message that Conte sent to Inter is more or less: if you don’t leave Bastoni with me, I’ll go to Bremer.”

Inzaghi will be livid

Considering just how impressive Bremer was for Torino this season, in addition to the fact that Inter previously looked to have all but confirmed the centre-back’s arrival at the San Siro this summer, the news that Spurs are now set to make their own move for the 25-year-old is sure to have left Inzaghi livid.

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Indeed, over his 33 Serie A appearances this season, the £31.5m-rated talent was imperious in the heart of Ivan Juric’s defence, helping Il Toro keep eight clean sheets, as well as making an average of 3.2 interceptions, 1.5 tackles, 4.0 clearances and winning 6.6 duels per game.

The £18k-per-week left-footer also impressed in an attacking capacity, scoring three goals and registering one assist, in addition to taking an average of 0.8 shots, making 35.3 passes and completing 0.5 dribbles per fixture.

These returns saw the player who Ryan Taylor dubbed both “unbelievable” and “faultless” average a quite remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.13, not only ranking him as Juric’s best performing outfielder in the league but also as the fifth-best defender in Serie A as a whole.

As such, should Paratici manage to steal Bremer from under the noses of Inzaghi and Inter this summer, it would undoubtedly come as a huge blow to the Nerazzurri, while also providing Conte with an excellent alternative to Bastoni on the left of his three-man backline at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

AND in other news: Paratici can seal huge Bastoni upgrade as Spurs now eye “extraordinary” £50m signing

There is another name that Tottenham Hotspur are “looking at” if they cannot seal a sensational return for Christian Eriksen, according to football.london’s Alasdair Gold…

What’s the word?

In a recent Q&A with supporters, the ever-reliable reporter claimed that Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta was someone Spurs had been monitoring ahead of the summer transfer window.

“If he [Eriksen] decides against Spurs then, among others, the club have also been looking at Lyon’s Brazil international Lucas Paqueta, a player Newcastle tried to sign earlier this year,” he revealed.

“The versatile 24-year-old can play in an attacking midfield role, centrally or on the right and can also play up front when required.”

Eriksen is thought to be weighing up “multiple offers” following his impressive comeback at Brentford during the second half of the 2021/22 campaign, with the Bees, Spurs and Manchester United all keen on sealing his signature on a free transfer.

Perfect Eriksen alternative

The Dane enjoyed a remarkable return to professional football this year and played a big part in Brentford remaining a top-flight outfit heading into next season.

Across ten appearances, he provided one goal and four assists, also averaging an xG+A of 0.48 and 6.25 progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

Compared to his positional peers in the Premier League, Eriksen ranked inside the top 2% for assists and key passes per 90, the top 6% for shots on target, and the top 1% for dead-ball goal-creating actions (set-pieces).

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It’s no wonder Conte is keen to bring him back to Hotspur Way this off-season. However, if he re-signs with Brentford or goes to Manchester United, then Spurs will need a solid alternative, and there won’t be many better than the Lyon maestro.

Paqueta delivered nine goals and six assists across 35 appearances in Ligue 1 last term. He also averaged more xG+A than the Denmark international, registering 0.56 per 90.

When comparing his exploits to the rest of Europe’s elite divisions and his general midfield peers, the 24-year-old dynamo ranks inside the top 1% for shots on target (1.07 per 90), the top 2% for expected assists (0.25 per 90) and the top 2% for shot-creating actions (3.99 per 90), also via FBRef.

Lyon team-mate Jerome Boateng waxed lyrical about the Brazil international, claiming: “He brings so much to our team. He’s running a lot, his skills of course, his technique, his creating chances, his passing, his fighting for the ball, he helps us a lot. And I think he has a big potential to be really a world star in football.”

Also lauded as “amazing” and “extraordinary” by his manager Peter Bosz, the £31.5m-rated star could be the ideal alternative, if not a much better option considering his age and long-term potential, to Eriksen – the only problem would be the fact that a transfer fee would need to be paid.

On the above evidence, though, he would surely be worth every penny, thus making him the perfect signing this summer.

AND in other news, Paratici eyeing Spurs deal for “unstoppable” £17m wizard, could be Conte’s own Dybala…

West Bromwich Albion have suffered a setback in their pursuit of Hamza Choudhury after Leicester have issued a new wage demand.

The Lowdown: Baggies facing competition

The 24-year-old looks set to leave the King Power on loan having only made six Premier League appearances for the Foxes last season.

The Baggies are just one of the Championship clubs to have been strongly linked with a move for the midfielder in recent weeks, with Middlesbrough also said to be interested in securing his services, but after a fresh update, it appears as though it won’t be an easy task for the Hawthorns side to complete a deal for the maestro.

The Latest: Leicester issue Choudhury wage demand

In a new article published by the Express and Star, it’s claimed Leicester would want ‘80%’ of Choudhury’s wages to be paid by West Brom if he made the switch across the Midlands.

The source states that the two parties have been ‘in talks’ over a potential deal, with the Loughborough-born talent said to have ‘long been admired’ by Steve Bruce.

The Verdict: Just pay it?

Bruce will be wanting to complete his transfer business as early as possible so that all of his new additions can be integrated into the squad in time for pre-season, and Choudhury would be a brilliant signing to get in the building.

Despite only clocking up 287 minutes of action in the top flight last term, the midfield destroyer recorded an 82.6% pass success rate when on the field, and averaged 1.5 tackles per league game, via WhoScored.

Someone who has the ability to tighten up a midfield and control a game from the central area is something that West Brom have been crying out for as Jake Livermore ages, and  there’s a solid chance that they would receive exactly what they have been looking for in Choudhury if they stump up the cash this summer.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been dealt a major blow in their pursuit of Sporting CP midfielder Matheus Nunes, according to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown: Slow-moving

Despite ongoing speculation linking Nunes with a move to Molineux, the protracted transfer deal is proving to be a drawn-out process as Bruno Lage attempts to strengthen his squad.

The 23-year-old is clearly a top target for the Wanderers having performed beyond his years for some time now, amassing 99 first-team outings for the Lisbon-based giants and earning senior international recognition in the process.

Whilst all roads have seemingly pointed towards the arrival of Nunes, a fresh report emerging from Portugal has thrown a potential spanner in the works…

The latest: ‘Some resistance’

As per O Jogo, transcribed by SW, Wolves are facing ‘some resistance’ from the player regarding the mooted switch to the Midlands.

It’s claimed that the eight-cap Portugal star wants a Premier League club ‘of a superior level’ to the Old Gold and super-agent Jorge Mendes is still working on ‘the best solution’ for his client this summer.

The report also states that Sporting manager Ruben Amorim would like to see the sale ‘aborted’ in order to keep the midfielder hailed for a host of ‘exceptional’ performances in 2021 by journalist Patrick Ribeiro.

The verdict: Plan ahead

Given Nunes’ ever-rising stock, admiration from Pep Guardiola and previous links to Manchester United and Manchester City, it’s no surprise that the cultured Portuguese ace would be potentially holding out hope for a move to a top-drawer club with the offer of Champions League football on the table.

However, as things stand it’s Wolves who are pushing hardest for the £31.5million valued starlet, who scored four times and provided five assists from 50 appearances across all competitions last season, predominantly operating as a box-to-box midfielder.

Albeit the speculation surrounding Ruben Neves has subsided somewhat and there will be hope that silence is indeed golden, should the Wanderers’ favourite move on as had been expected this summer then Lage and executive chairman Jeff Shi need to act fast and the arrival of Nunes would be the ideal reaction to such an eventuality.

Richarlison has been speculated to make a move away from Everton for a couple of months now, and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the player’s future.

What’s the latest?

Everton reporter for The Athletic Patrick Boyland joined Greg O’Keeffe in writing an article for the publication to reveal further details about Richarlison’s potential exit this summer.

As per the report, no club has followed up on their interest by putting in an official offer for the Brazilian winger so far, however, The Athletic claims to understand that the player is in no rush to make a decision and is open to many options.

These options include remaining in the Premier League upon his Goodison Park exit with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur named as clubs remaining interested in Richarlison.

Supporters will be worried

There is no doubt that Everton supporters will be worried about the potential loss of Richarlison this summer, especially since the player played an important part in the club’s relegation survival in the Premier League last season.

The 25-year-old forward scored 11 goals and delivered five assists in all competitions for the Toffees, making him the top scorer in the team this season, and six of his goals came at the most crucial point in the Premier League.

Everton were saved from a spell in the Championship in the penultimate game of the season against Brentford, but Richarlison’s consistency over his last 10 appearances in the league campaign, scoring six goals and delivering two assists to guide his side out of trouble and cement himself as a favourite amongst supporters.

As a result of his game-changing performances and goal contributions for the Merseyside club, it would be a massive loss in the team should he secure a move and Farhad Moshiri will have to work hard to find a like-for-like replacement to ensure that the side do not further decline and face a worse outcome next season.

With that being said, Lampard and the powers at Goodison Park must come to a decision on Richarlison’s future as they will need to make at least one signing to replace the Brazilian before the transfer window shuts.

AND in other news: Lampard could land his own Jude Bellingham in Everton swoop for “special” £50m dynamo

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot recently, but the Frenchman could be a disastrous addition to Jurgen Klopp’s side.

According to reports from Italy, the Reds are considering a swap deal for the France international this summer which could include either Naby Keita or Roberto Firmino.

While midfield reinforcements should arguably be a priority for Klopp this summer, especially if Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ends up leaving Anfield, the club should avoid a move for the 27-year-old at all costs.

One of the main reasons for Liverpool’s success in recent years is the morale and atmosphere that Klopp has established both on and off the pitch, and Rabiot’s history suggests that he could well disturb the harmonious vibe.

During his time at Paris Saint-Germain, the 27-year-old was heavily criticised by sporting director Antero Henrique, as he was spotted partying just hours after their Champions League exit to Manchester United in 2019.

Henrique said of the now-Juventus player: “I find his attitude and lack of professionalism towards the club, his teammates and supporters unacceptable.”

The midfielder was also cited as one of the key issues in France’s Euro 2020 squad, while he also refused to go on a standby list for the 2018 World Cup after being left out of Didier Deschamps’ squad.

Surely Klopp would not want to have a player with this sort of attitude at Anfield, as his lack of professionalism and inflated ego may well remind Liverpool fans of a certain Mario Balotelli, who managed just four goals in 28 appearances for the Reds in the 2014/15 campaign.

The Italian – who had a reputation for poor discipline – would later described joining Liverpool as “the worst mistake of my life”.

With a 6.82 WhoScored rating last season – lower than many Reds midfielders – there is little to suggest that the £15.3m-rated midfielder is better than any of the options that Klopp already has available to him, and we have already seen that he doesn’t react well to being overlooked by managers.

Last season emphasised the importance of Liverpool having a strong squad on whom Klopp could rely, as his side played every possible fixture, and the last thing the German needs is someone like Rabiot disrupting the squad harmony that he has developed in his time at Anfield.

In other news… Forget Salah: FSG can solve key LFC issue with bid for “top-class” gem loved by Klopp