All posts by z3u9t.icu

Southampton have been linked with West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone recently and he would solve a key issue in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side if he did move to St Mary’s.

According to The Athletic, Southampton will prioritise bringing in a new goalkeeper next summer and have already begun looking at potential options, with Johnstone high up on their list of targets.

It is no surprise that he is being considered by the Saints, who are outsiders for the drop with bembybet.com this year, as he has plenty of Premier League experience with West Brom, with whom he was relegated last season, and he will potentially be looking for a move back to the top-flight should Albion fail to earn promotion this season.

At 28, he is a good age for a goalkeeper, and his performances last season were extremely impressive and earned him his first England caps, with Micah Richards suggesting that he enjoyed an “outstanding” season.

He will also, as it stands, be available on a free transfer due to his contract at the Hawthorns expiring in 2022, so it would make a huge amount of sense for Southampton to consider signing him, especially considering their current goalkeeping situation.

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Hasenhuttl alternated between Alex McCarthy and Fraser Forster in the second half of last season after the former seemed to suffer a crisis of confidence following the 9-0 thrashing against Manchester United, whilst Forster’s impressive FA Cup form allowed him to come in for some Premier League games.

However, it is the former QPR man who has been preferred so far this season and he was handed a new three-year contract recently, which all but confirms his spot as the first-choice this season, whereas Forster looks set to depart at the end of the campaign when his contract expires.

It seems strange that the Saints weren’t keen on bringing in a new goalkeeper this summer as they conceded the second-most goals in the Premier League last season, despite only having the seventh-worst xGA, which emphasises that some of the blame must be attributed to their goalkeepers.

You could argue that neither McCarthy nor Forster are the ideal long-term options for Southampton and a new, younger, better shot-stopper such as Johnstone could solve a key issue for Hasenhuttl, so Martin Semmens should do everything he can to sign him.

And, in other news… 4 shots on target: Southampton ace continued his fine form with superb international display

Arsenal got their first goal and their first win of the new Premier League season as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s strike proved enough to beat Norwich on Saturday afternoon.

Mikel Arteta’s side didn’t produce a vintage display by any stretch of the imagination, but wore the Canaries down until their club captain pounced on basically the goal-line to give the north Londoners all three points.

However, while Aubameyang got the decisive goal, it was new signing and debutant Takehiro Tomiyasu who was arguably Arteta’s real unsung hero of the day.

The Japan international showed exactly why the Gunners decided to seal a deadline day move for him from Serie A side Bologna, showing real power and purpose with everything that he did.

With his natural physical frame and height, it was no surprise that he looked imperious in the air, winning seven out of eight duels in the air and another three on the ground too.

Tomiyasu also looked a threat going forward, timing his runs well and giving fellow new signing Ben White an interesting runner to aim for – he had two shots, completed one dribble and found the target with his only cross of the game.

As per Football.London’s post-match player ratings, Kaya Kaynak gave him a seven, saying: ” A very promising debut from the Japanese international who often stayed deep as Arsenal attacked. Won plenty of aerial duels and looked tidy enough in possession, despite the occasional loose touch which we’ll put down to nerves. A nice volleyed effort on the stroke of half time showed some attacking threat too.”

Mitchell Dijks, his former teammate at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, dubbed him “very strong” and a “true Japanese warrior” at a press conference, via Tuttosport.

Speaking after confirmation of the 22-year-old’s signing, Arteta himself said: “Takehiro is a strong defender with good experience in Serie A and at international level. He’s a versatile defender with great defensive qualities, high technical ability and composure on the ball. He will be an important member of our squad. We look forward to Takehiro joining up with us when he returns from international duty.”

It’s no surprise the Arsenal boss was delighted to get his man, and while Aubameyang may get the headlines for scoring the winner, it was the Japanese ace who today showed Gunners fans what he could bring to the table.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are eyeing a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang successor in this star…

As per Italian news outlet JuveLive.it, there may have been a big development involving Tottenham Hotspur and their chase for AC Milan star Franck Kessie.

The Lowdown: Paratici in Kessie hunt…

Amid his ongoing contract saga, the 24-year-old has been linked with a Premier League swap to Spurs as Milan face losing one of their key players on a free transfer next summer.

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Indeed, the Ivory Coast international could even be free to negotiate a free agent summer transfer as early as, January with managing director Fabio Paratici taking firm note of the situation.

A fresh development has now emerged as the Italian transfer chief eyes a possible coup for Spurs.

The Latest: Paratici ‘ready to satisfy’ Kessie and Milan…

As per Juve Live, Spurs and Paratici have ‘moved eagerly’ for Kessie and their request is ‘already advanced’.

In another enticing claim, it is believed that Tottenham’s new transfer chief is ‘ready to satisfy’ both the player’s and Milan’s demands in the winter market, potentially meaning they could even pay a fee.

It it also believed that Kessie is ready to leave the San Siro ‘immediately’ as Tottenham potentially jump ahead of Spurs in the race for his signature.

The Verdict: Get it done…

Lauded as ‘invaluable’ to Milan by Serie A writer Chloe Beresford, we believe that signing him in the winter market for a fee could be a great bit of business by Paratici.

Even though they could secure him on a free next summer as it stands, Spurs will arguably be paying a lot less in January given his contract situation.

The Rossoneri will want to make every penny they can from Kessie if they’re resigned to losing him, potentially putting Paratici in a very strong negotiating position.

In other news: Levy could now agree blockbuster new deal for another ‘magnificent’ Spurs player…find out more here.

Alexandre Lacazette could join Crystal Palace on a free transfer come the summer, 90Min claim. 

The lowdown

Lacazette’s contract is due to expire at the end of this season, and as it stands, neither the club nor the player are said to be particularly keen on an extension.

If the Frenchman’s situation remains the same in January, he’ll be free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with an overseas club.

Lacazette has made 173 appearances for Arsenal since he joined in 2017, scoring 67 goals and providing 29 assists (via Transfermarkt).

Manager Mikel Arteta hailed him as a manager’s ‘dream’ last December after he came off the bench to score the winning goal away to Brighton and Hove Albion.

The latest

Lacazette is apparently ‘open to the idea’ of staying in London, with Selhurst Park a possible destination. West Ham United have also emerged as admirers.

The duo from the capital face significant competition from abroad, though. Ligue 1 outfit Lyon would like bring Lacazette back, while clubs in La Liga, Bundesliga and Serie A are also said to be in the frame.

The verdict

Lacazette would in theory represent a real coup for Palace given his CV, but there are reasons to doubt the wisdom of the deal.

First of all, his wages. He takes home in excess of £180,000 per week at present, and you’d imagine that would be a far greater burden for the Eagles.

And then there’s the fact that Palace have only just signed a striker in the form of Odsonne Edouard. If he lives up to his potential, he could be the answer to the club’s no. 9 problem.

He’s only 23 years old, so more additions at the top end of the pitch may simply be unnecessary in the short-term.

In other news, Palace fans react as this blow emerges.

An update has emerged regarding Roma’s interest in Rangers midfielder Ianis Hagi.

What’s the talk?

According to Romanian outlet Sport, the Serie A giants are closing in on a €20m (£17m) deal to sign the 22-year-old from the Scottish champions in the January transfer window.

The report claims that Giallorossi manager Jose Mourinho is keen to add the attacking midfielder to his squad, with both clubs now working to complete a big-money transfer ahead of the winter market opening.

Gerrard will be furious

Ross Wilson is heading for a Rangers disaster following this update on the Romania international’s future. Steven Gerrard, who once called Hagi an “outstanding talent”, would surely be fuming if one of his key players is sold midway through the campaign with the Gers chasing a second successive Premiership title.

Losing a crucial part of the squad with a large chunk of the season left to play would be disruptive to Gerrard’s plans and could force Rangers into the market themselves for a replacement. However, there is no guarantee that anyone they bring in will be able to make the step up and provide that quality that Hagi has shown on a weekly basis.

Last season, the 22-year-old managed seven goals and 11 assists in 23 Premiership starts for Rangers as they clinched their first title under Gerrard’s management. He averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.02 and created six ‘big chances’ during the season, highlighting the quality that he brought to the team consistently throughout the campaign.

That is why it would be a disaster for Wilson to sanction a deal for Hagi, as Rangers would be losing a top-quality player who could contribute massively to the team’s chances of retaining the league title. However, it must also be stressed that there is a modicum of logic in selling him, as £17m would be a club-record sale for Rangers.

If the Gers are keen to bring in the money, though, they should wait until the end of the season to cash in on him or agree a deal which sees him return to Ibrox on loan for the rest of the campaign. This would enable them to get their club-record fee whilst also maintaining the strength of their squad until next summer.

AND in other news, Gerrard drops fresh update on “phenomenal” wizard that’ll leave Rangers fans gutted…

Manchester United have been linked with a move for Benfica striker Darwin Nunez as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to add further reinforcements to his forward line.

What’s the story?

According to the Daily Star, United are one of four Premier League clubs interested in the 22-year-old, with Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea also listed as potential suitors while German giants Bayern Munich are believed to be tracking the youngster as well.

However, it’s City who are at the front of the queue thanks to their healthy relationship with Benfica in recent years.

The reigning English champions have picked up defensive duo Ederson and Ruben Dias from the Lisbon-based side, with centre-back Nicolas Otamendi moving in the opposite direction last summer following a successful spell at the Etihad Stadium.

It’s claimed that although Nunez has an astronomical £125m buyout clause in his contract, Benfica would be willing to sell their prized asset for a reduced fee of £70m next summer, meaning an imminent exit could be on the cards.

John Murtough must swoop

The Uruguay international only joined Jorge Jesus’s charges 12 months ago and enjoyed a fabulous maiden season for the Eagles, scoring 14 goals and providing 12 assists in 44 appearances.

And Nunez has started the current campaign in equally impressive fashion, bagging six goals in just eight outings, including a brace against Barcelona in a memorable 3-0 Champions League victory.

Now the player’s agent, Edgardo Lasalvia, has spoken publicly about the South American’s development and plans for a move in the near future.

Lasalvia told FC Inter News (as relayed by the Manchester Evening News): “Darwin is ready to play in any team on the globe.

“Various top-level teams have contacted us, but for the moment the head is on continuing and growing with Benfica and with the Uruguayan national team: this is how important things will come.”

Commenting on Nunez’s similarity with his compatriot and current United star Edinson Cavani, he added: “They have a lot of things in common. We’re convinced that Darwin is destined for great things.

“The important thing is that he is happy now and wants to repay the trust of Benfica and the affection of the people by winning a title.

“We’ll discuss the transfer possibilities with the club executives if necessary, as it should be. For the moment, we’re calm and happy to see him on the pitch.”

With Cavani’s contract set to expire at the end of the season, Anthony Martial struggling for form and Cristiano Ronaldo deep into the twilight zone of his career, a new striker is believed to be high up on the Red Devils wishlist for next summer.

Therefore, if football director John Murtough is unable to land Erling Haaland, Solskjaer’s first-choice target, then he must move for Nunez, providing the Norwegian tactician with the firepower he needs to secure a major trophy.

And, in other news…Murtough must avoid Man Utd nightmare over £27m-rated maestro, Ole would be gutted 

Flocking to Twitter, many West Ham United fans have erupted over more news involving defender Vladimir Coufal in what has been an eventful week for the 29-year-old. 

As first reported by journalist Roshane Thomas of The Athletic, Coufal has put pen to paper on a new deal at the London Stadium and one which will extend his stay by a further three years.

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The Czech Republic international was arguably one of West Ham’s standout performers last year, finishing the 2020/2021 Premier League season with 2.1 tackles per 90 on average – the joint-highest number in David Moyes’ squad (WhoScored).

He has been rewarded with his start to life in east London with a bumper new contract, and now more news has emerged on Coufal in what could be a boost for West Ham over the international break.

As relayed by football.london, the ace has decided to withdraw from his national side’s upcoming World Cup Qualifiers – prioritising recovery given he has been struggling with a recent groin problem.

Coufal will now gain some rest over the next fortnight with the hope of returning for West Ham on October 17 fit and firing ahead a congested schedule.

Upon hearing that he won’t link up with the Czech Republic after all, many Irons supporters are thrilled and believe it will come as a boost for Moyes.

Find all of their verdicts on the news down below.

West Ham fans erupt over Coufal news…

“Quality.”

Credit: @Smacker62

“Great news for us”

Credit: @redgewd

“What a superstar – a real Hammer! Well done, Coufi, and thank you! “

Credit: @MaryFirth5

“I love this from Vlad”

Credit: @1bbyWHU

“myyyy mannn”

Credit: @UnitedConnor

“Get in”

Credit: @samwhu1

“Good news for West Ham, hope it doesn’t affect Czech Republic too much. Could tell he was struggling on Sunday and the break will do him a world of good. Just wish we could do the same for Antonio, Rice, Soucek and Fornals”

Credit: @MichaelZdenek

In other news: ‘Yessss’, ‘Beautiful’, ‘This is massive’…West Ham fans erupt as ‘actually brilliant news’ confirmed, find out more here.

Liverpool currently have their fair share of midfield options in their senior squad with the likes of Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Naby Keita, Thiago Alcantara, Curtis Jones, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Fabinho.

One man who is currently spending time away from the club is 21-year-old attacking midfielder Ben Woodburn, who this season is on loan with Scottish club Hearts.

As a product of Liverpool’s youth academy, he has been on previous loan spells with clubs such as Sheffield United, Oxford United and Blackpool. However, nearly five years since his Anfield debut, he has made just 11 senior appearances for Liverpool, scoring one history-making goal.

Unfortunately, Woodburn’s current loan spell with Hearts has not got off to the greatest of starts, with the midfielder failing to score a goal or provide an assist for the club in five league appearances, each of those coming as a starter.

Furthermore, he has only managed to win 39% of the duels in which he has been involved so far this season, which isn’t a great return for a midfielder, especially given the experience he has playing elsewhere.

Even though it’s still early in the season and Woodburn has at least been getting a decent amount of game-time under his belt, his lack of goals and assists will surely be rather disappointing to Reds manager Jurgen Klopp, especially if he had any thoughts of including the 21-year-old in his Liverpool squad at any point in the future.

In our view, if Woodburn can continue playing regularly for Hearts, he has enough time to grab a few goals or assists before his latest loan spell comes to an end.

However, if he fails to end his spell on a high, then he could potentially see his time as a Liverpool player coming to an end if they don’t think he has what it takes in terms of quality on the pitch to become a regular first team player for the Reds. That would have echoes of Harry Wilson, who had been on a number of loan spells away from Anfield before they sold him to Championship side Fulham during the summer transfer window after just two competitive Reds appearances by the age of 24.

In other news: Klopp could seal Wijnaldum replacement at LFC with “sublime” £49.5m-rated ace

As per SofaScore, Tottenham Hotspur trio Ben Davies, Steven Bergwijn and Giovani Lo Celso struggled for Nuno Espirito’s Santo’s side as we analyse the number’s from their 1-0 Carabao Cup victory over Burnley.

Spurs edge into quarter-finals…

Lucas Moura bagged the eventual winner as Spurs edged into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday evening, easing some pressure off the under-fire Nuno following a regrettable week of action.

Defeats to both Vitesse and bitter London rivals West Ham had attracted heavy fire but the Lilywhites’ victory against Burnley ensures they remain fighting on all fronts for now.

Here, we take a take a statistical look at Tottenham’s three worst players from the night with the trio of Davies, Bergwijn and Lo Celso sticking out in particular.

Giving away the ball 50 times, losing 19 duels and spurning one big chance in total, it’s safe to say they didn’t enjoy the best outings.

Steven Bergwijn: 6.4/10

The Dutchman had been one of the Spurs players actually looking revitalised under Nuno at the start of the season, attracting praise from the Portuguese in particular as a ‘very talented’ and ‘unique’ asset.

However, since returning from his injury lay-off, you could make an argument that he hasn’t hit those same heights and it showed against the Clarets last night.

Coming in as Tottenham’s worst player on the night to start and play the majority of the game, being hauled off after 66 minutes, Bergwijn was handed a 6.4/10 match rating having lost possession 17 times whilst losing half of his duels and three in total (SofaScore).

Giovani Lo Celso: 6.7/10

Lo Celso is one player who has attracted criticism over the beginning of 2021/2022 and it’s safe to say his performance was once again in question last night.

The 25-year-old hasn’t evolved into that Christian Eriksen-type creative figure badly needed by Spurs and Nuno with Lo Celso’s numbers, again, hardly worthy of celebration.

He ranked in as Tottenham’s second-worst performer behind Bergwijn, again having started and played the majority against Burnley.

While he did make two key passes in the final third, Lo Celso also spurned a big chance to get on the scoresheet – giving away possession 16 times and losing the vast majority of his duels, seven out of nine to be exact (SofaScore).

 Ben Davies: 6.8/10

The best of the worst, Davies still didn’t particularly enjoy a great evening against Sean Dyche’s men and it would have done little to silence his critics.

The Wales international, being ranked a 6.8/10 and playing the whole game for Tottenham, was dribbled past twice on that flank and lost nine of his duels.

As well as this, Davies gave away the ball 17 times and recorded no accurate long balls or crosses from out wide (SofaScore).

In other news: Talks ongoing…Sky Sports journalist makes exciting Spurs transfer claim involving ‘phenomenal’ star, find out more here.

Speaking to Football Insider, former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie has had his say on the future of Mikey Johnston and insists he needs to leave Parkhead.

The Lowdown: Bit part figure…

The 22-year-old has cut a very bit-part figure over the last few seasons and that doesn’t seem to be changing under new boss Ange Postecoglou.

Indeed, Johnston has managed a small handful of minutes so far this campaign and made just eight SPFL appearances in total over 2020/2021.

Since bursting on to the scene three years ago, it appears there has been little progression in terms of his Celtic career and McAvennie has explained what he needs to do.

The Latest: McAvennie sends Johnston message…

Speaking to FI, the Scottish football pundit has sent a message to Johnston amid his lack of opportunities at Parkhead – insisting there is no hope if he wants regular game time.

“I think he’s been here too long,”

“He’s got to go. He’s not the kind of player Celtic want or need at the moment. Basically, he’s a part-timer.

“He doesn’t suit the style. Johnston has fallen even further down the pecking order now.

“That means he probably won’t get to play where he wants to play, which means he won’t perform as well.

“It’s bad now but Forrest is injury. When he comes back Johnston has absolutely no chance.

“There are a lot of games and maybe he can be useful from the bench. I just see the new players coming in this January and I don’t see a place for him.

“I want him to go and find somewhere he can play week in week out. He deserves that.”

The Verdict: Time to go…

For the sake of his career, we believe McAvennie may be correct and Johnston’s time at Celtic could well be up if he doesn’t get more chances on a consistent basis.

The Scotsman could well benefit from either leaving permanently or going on a season-long loan to reignite his form and attract attention from potential suitors.

In other news: Reliable reporter: Celtic ‘step up efforts’ to sign ‘another’ star for Ange in ‘stone cold killer’, find out more here.