All posts by z3u9t.icu

Everton are now preparing an offer for Genk striker Paul Onuachu, but they will face competition from Southampton, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: Everton targeting a striker

Sean Dyche wants to bolster his options in attacking areas before close of play today, with it being reported yesterday that they are ‘in talks’ over the signing of Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres.

Other options include Andre Ayew, who the Toffees are said to be in direct contact with, and Sheraldo Becker, after reporter Florian Plettenberg claimed that an offer could be tabled today.

The Latest: Preparing offer…

According to a report from Foot Mercato, offers from both Everton and Southampton are about to arrive on the desk of Genk, as they look to conclude a deal before the transfer deadline.

It is detailed that the Toffees are ready to put an offer of between €15m (£13.2m) – €20m (£17.6m) on the table, although it is also added that this may not be enough to tempt the Belgian club into the sale of a player with 18 months left on his contract.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Hailed as ‘crazy good at football’ by Genk defender Rasmus Carstensen (via SoccerNet), Onuachu is 6 foot 7, which could indicate that he is best suited to the role of a target man, but his finishing ability is also very much up to scratch.

The giant has an incredible 16 goals to his name in the Belgian top flight this season, the highest amount of any player, matching the amount scored by the entire Everton squad in the Premier League this season.

The Toffees are desperate for goals, and the Nigerian’s recent track record indicates he would be able to provide them, however the Jupiler Pro League is much weaker than the English top flight, and it would still be a risk for Sean Dyche to put all his eggs in a rather inexperienced basket.

Malik Tillman has been hailed as perfect for Scottish football following yet another top performance for Rangers by journalist Jonny McFarlane.

What’s the word?

The American winger produced a stunning performance as Rangers cruised to an impressive win away at Hearts and doubled the visitors’ lead in the first half.

Tillman is on loan from Bayern Munich with an option to buy, and given his current form, the expectation is that Rangers will keep the 21-year-old beyond the end of the season.

Speaking on The Rangers Review YouTube channel, McFarlane praised Tillman’s progress since the appointment of Michael Beale and hailed his skillset.

He said: “He’s been absolutely superb under Michael Beale – another one who’s just completely taken his game to another level.

“It’s obvious. You don’t even really have to discuss it – Rangers are going to sign Malik Tlllman unless Tillman himself decides that he doesn’t want to make the move.

“One thing about Malik Tillman that’s marked his recent performances is a real quality in terms of turning over the ball; the guy can tackle.

“He’s got those telescopic limbs; he’s a big, tall, strong lad. And he’s just got the ability to nick the ball away and act as a kind of brick wall. No one’s running past him, no one’s running around him because he’s as strong as an ox.

“In many ways, if you can get him really, really firing to his level, he’s actually built for Scottish football. It’s very rare that you find a player who’s got the physical stature to cope with the rigours of our game and the skills to deal with it.”

Rangers must keep him

With six goals and four assists in his debut season so far, Tillman is finally coming into his own under Beale, and at just 20 years of age, he has plenty of time to develop.

We think keeping him is a must, as he can be one of the team’s main starters for the next few seasons and help Beale build a young, exciting team full of attacking talent.

Rangers were magnificent in their victory over Hearts in what was arguably their best performance under Beale, and Tillman’s dynamism going forward played a huge part in the win.

Not only did he get on the scoresheet, but Michael Beale was left discussing his future following what was a ‘starring role’ at Tynecastle.

If he continues this form, he will prove to be a very dangerous asset for the club.

Leeds United go in search of their first win in the Premier League since November as they travel away from Yorkshire to face Nottingham Forest this afternoon.

Jesse Marsch’s side have not managed to pick up three points from a match since they beat Bournemouth 4-3 before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and are only above the relegation zone on goal difference as it stands.

However, the Whites did enjoy a victory in their last competitive outing as they beat Accrington Stanley 3-1 away from Elland Road in the FA Cup last weekend.

Jack Harrison, Luis Sinisterra, and Junior Firpo all found the back of the net as Marsch’s team progressed through to the fifth round of the competition but the American head coach may not want to go with the same starting XI.

One player, who was not involved in the match, who must now be unleashed against Nottingham Forest today is wide forward Wilfried Gnonto.

The Italy international was rested for the cup clash and new signing Georginio Rutter was offered the chance to feature at the top end of the pitch alongside Patrick Bamford.

However, the French youngster endured a difficult debut as he struggled at times. As per Sofascore, Rutter missed two ‘big chances’ and only completed 60% of his attempted passes during his 76 minutes on the pitch, which shows that the attacker was wasteful in possession with both his passing and his finishing.

The 20-year-old did show lightning pace and a few neat touches but his lack of cutting edge on the ball, against lower-league opposition, suggests that the gem needs more time to settle into life in England before earning himself a place in the starting XI.

Marsch should unleash him off the bench in the next few Premier League matches to ease him into life in the English top flight, with Gnonto starting ahead of him in the immediate term.

Writer Tom Carnduff recently hailed the Italian dynamo as “an absolute star” and talent scout Jacek Kulig once described the former Inter marksman as a “real diamond”, which shows how much the young attacker has caught the eye in recent times and over the last few years in Europe.

The 19-year-old has plundered three goals in his last five competitive appearances for Leeds and has created nine chances for his teammates in six Premier League starts this season, which shows that the teen has the quality to make a big impact at the top end of the pitch.

Gnonto has been electric in the final third of late, as evidenced by his impressive statistics, and that is why Marsch must unleash the £20k-per-week maestro ahead of Rutter, after the new arrival’s struggles last time out.

Liverpool midfielder James Milner will hold talks with Jurgen Klopp over his future in the coming months, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Milner into final year

The 37-year-old has been a magnificent servant for the Reds since joining back in 2015, winning every elite club trophy there is to win.

Milner has made a total of 314 appearances for Liverpool, with his vast experience and impressive versatility playing huge roles in their success under Jurgen Klopp.

The Englishman’s current deal expires at the end of this season, however, and a big decision must now be made regarding his future.

The Latest: Romano drops update

Speaking to Caught Offside, Romano said that Milner will have talks with Klopp in the near future, with nothing decided yet:

“Liverpool are super happy with his involvement but the player and Klopp will speak in the next months, not now.”

The Verdict: Time to say goodbye?

Milner should be viewed as a Liverpool legend because of the success he has enjoyed, but this summer feels like the most natural time to part ways with him, despite being hailed as ‘incredibly important’ by Klopp just last year.

[freshpress-quiz id=“419074″]

The Reds’ midfield needs a major overhaul and makes complete sense for him to be shown the exit door, in order to get him off their wage bill – he is earning £60,000 per week – and bring in younger alternatives.

Milner has looked off the pace at times this season, much like Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, and he has contributed no goals and two assists in 25 appearances.

Should he decide to retire this summer, keeping him on as a coach would be a shrewd decision, but at his age, he is no longer good enough to consistently perform at this level.

Chelsea have held internal negotiations regarding a potential permanent deal for Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix, according to reports.

The Lowdown: £85m required?

The Portuguese international arrived at Stamford Bridge in January on loan for the remainder of the season but there is no option or obligation to buy included in his move to the Premier League.

The forward was sent off on his debut under Graham Potter but has since shown what he’s capable of, and reports have suggested that the club are willing to offer Mason Mount to the La Liga giants in a swap deal for the 23-year-old.

Reporters have claimed that a fee of £85m could be enough for Todd Boehly to complete the switch at the end of the term, and it sounds like he’s keen to get it wrapped up.

The Latest: Chelsea hold negotiations

According to 90min, Chelsea are ‘looking’ to make Felix’s stay in SW6 permanent with the hierarchy having been hugely ‘impressed’ by what they have seen on offer so far.

The Blues have already held ‘negotiations’ with Atletico regarding signing him for good, with the player even having hinted that he would be open to staying.

The Verdict: Take the opportunity

Felix may have only made three appearances across all competitions but his talent is clear to see so Chelsea should grab the opportunity to secure his permanent services with both hands.

The Adidas-sponsored ace already has an assist and man-of-the-match award to his name and is currently averaging over 4 shots per top-flight 90 minutes (WhoScored).

The Viseu native would also provide the boss with plenty of versatility where he’s operated in four different positions over the course of this season.

Finally, Felix has been dubbed a ‘nightmare for defenders’ by talent scout Jacek Kulig which he’s already proven with the level of his performances in the capital.

Jose Mourinho is a beloved and coveted name in west London, with the legendary Portuguese manager leading Chelsea to abundant success across two tenures, but signing the 60-year-old for a third spell would be a detrimental failure for owner Todd Boehly’s Blues project.

After taking ownership of the club last year and pumping incredible sums of cash into the transfer department, looking to reshape and remould a Blues outfit that fell to Liverpool at the final stage of both domestic cup competitions last term, but progress has plummeted to depths unforeseen at the season’s inception.

Languishing in tenth place in the Premier League, 11 points adrift of top-four, out of both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup and trailing Borussia Dortmund following the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie, Boehly will be highly disconcerted by the trajectory his affluent project has taken, and despite replacing Thomas Tuchel with Graham Potter in the early phases of the campaign, a second managerial change might now be necessary.

An emergency board meeting was held earlier this week to get to the bottom of the strife, with the club winning just one solitary match from the past ten contests, and a host of managerial replacements have subsequently been circulating.

On this list is none other than Mourinho, who led Chelsea to a wealth of silverware multiple times across his two times at the head of the table, but returning for the manager once again would be a calamitous move for the club.

Would signing Mourinho spell disaster?

Mourinho’s total time spent leading the ranks in west London totals over five years, taking charge for 184 matches during his first tenure and then 136 games over his second; for his labours, he has clinched gold in a plethora of tournaments, notably winning three Premier League titles, the FA Cup and two League Cup trophies with Chelsea.

In his first spell, his average PPM (points-per-match) was an incredible 2.23, before his second stay was marred by a dreadful final season that saw him sacked in December 2015 and lowered his average to a still impressive 1.94.

However, if Chelsea made a move for the icon once again, it might well echo that of another manager who endured multiple stints at the Bridge, that of Guus Hiddink, who was in fact brought in to replace Mourinho over seven years ago.

Hiddink won just ten of his 27 matches at the helm in his second spell at Chelsea as he attempted to dig the Blues out of their rut, and there will indeed be fears that the past might poignantly repeat itself if Boehly does not stick to his guns and look to wipe a new, fresh sheen over Stamford Bridge.

Indeed, making a move for Mourinho would be nothing more than “nostalgia repackaged”, according to journalist Daniel Childs, with the manager’s move to Chelsea’s heated rivals Tottenham Hotspur an indication that the relationship might now be closer to acrimonious than harmonious for the demanding support. 

Now managing AS Roma in Serie A, the footballing boss has won the UEFA Conference League with his outfit and now seeks to return the club to their rightful place in the Champions League, but a return to Chelsea could indeed hamper all three parties involved.

Despite the nature of his previous exit from Stamford Bridge, Mourinho, hailed as “incredible” by John Terry, will be eternally endeared by the swathes of Chelsea support, but that is how it should remain.

Given the flow of the river that currently dictates the west London club’s new era, the Blues must target a fresh approach, and not rehash old tricks.

Journalist Andrew Musgrove believes Alexander Isak should start for Newcastle United on Sunday ahead of Callum Wilson.

The Lowdown: Striker decision looms for Howe

It will be one of the biggest decisions facing Howe this weekend as to who gets the nod to lead the line at Wembley for Newcastle, with neither Wilson nor Isak in the richest vein of form.

Wilson’s only goal since October came against West Ham United earlier this month, whereas Isak has just three goals to his name all season, with his most recent strike coming in Newcastle’s last win against Fulham.

Therefore, it would appear that Howe has a tough decision to make. Does he go for someone who’s started the last two games for Newcastle and cost the club £60m, or opt for his tried-and-tested striker in the form of Wilson who he’s worked with for a number of years at Bournemouth and Newcastle.

The Latest: Isak may be handed a start

Musgrove has insisted on the Loaded Mag YouTube channel that Isak could be handed a start in the cup final due to Wilson simply not looking himself as of late.

He said: “This is one chance to win a cup, so I do wonder whether the decision-making, if everyone is fit, is slightly different just because, like I say, this is one chance.

“That being said, I could see Isak starting because he looks more lively than Callum Wilson.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/newcastle-news-7/” title=”Newcastle news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

“Callum Wilson just hasn’t looked himself since the World Cup, I know he scored against West Ham and then he picked up that injury which was unfortunate so he missed the Bournemouth game, but Isak and Maxi seem to be on the same wavelength.

“And he just looks a bit more threatening, I think, and given that he’s got the minutes under his belt of late as well – and again, it just rolls into the fact this is just 90 minutes of football – I could see Isak playing up top; Maxi on the left is what I’d do; and then Joelinton, Bruno and Longstaff across the middle with, of course, Miggy over on the other side.”

The Verdict: Neither striker in great form

In Newcastle’s last four Carabao Cup fixtures, Wilson has been tasked with leading the line, so for him to be dropped in the final would be a huge kick in the teeth, but Howe must not leave any room for sentiment, and pick the team that can give Newcastle the best chance of winning.

It will be an incredibly tough fixture for Newcastle on Sunday, but Manchester United face Barcelona in a crunch Europa League tie, so goals could be on the cards if the Red Devils’ fitness is tested.

However, not everyone has been impressed by what they’ve seen from Isak since he joined in the summer for a club-record fee of £60m as former Toon midfielder Kieron Dyer insisted he has been ‘the one dodgy signing’ under PIF, although his youthfulness could well see him start ahead of 30-year old Wilson, who himself has admitted that he won’t play matches if he’s not fully fit.

Insider ExWHUemployee has revealed that West Ham United are “really keen” on signing youngster Luca Fletcher who is currently on trial with the club.

What’s the latest on Luca Fletcher and his West Ham injury?

While the January transfer window has come and gone this season and we are still many months away from the summer market, it seems as though the Premier League club are still eyeing up some new arrivals.

However, the latest linked names won’t be players to come in and sign for the first team. Instead, the Hammers have been tipped to hand 15-year-old Fletcher an offer to come in and play for the club’s academy whilst he is on trial having been with Reading earlier on in the season.

Indeed, while speaking about the situation, Ex told The West Ham Way podcast, that the teenager has impressed the club and seems to be the standout trialist.

He said (5:39): “So we’ve got two players, former Reading players, currently on trial.

“Apparently, Luca Fletcher is the one they really really like and so they’re tempted to bring him in soon.”

Who is Luca Fletcher and will he end up at West Ham?

Still only 15 years of age, it’s hard to know the full potential of the young centre-forward but the talent spotters at West Ham clearly feel as though he might be worth taking a punt on.

To be fair, he has impressed at international level with the England U16 side. Indeed, earlier on this season, he scored three goals in two games against Turkey’s U16 as the youth teams met twice in the space of a week.

Seeing as he’s in the Three Lions’ academy setup already, he must be fairly highly rated and so perhaps it would be a good move for West Ham to get him swiftly confirmed as one of their own.

Taking it all into account, Fletcher certainly looks like a name to keep an eye out for in the future.

Everton twice squandered the lead today, as they were forced to settle for a draw on the road to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest.

It was a fine opportunity to make huge strides up the Premier League table, and when Demarai Gray dispatched an early penalty to see the Toffees’ pressure bear fruit, it seemed like they might be set to earn just their second away win of the season.

However, they could not account for the stellar performance of Brennan Johnson, who proved to be a constant threat throughout which culminated in his two goals.

His second, to cancel out Abdoulaye Doucoure’s deft header, was the pick of the bunch, as he drove into space and then fired a return pass into the top left corner with his weaker foot.

Whilst the hosts seemed the more likely to push on for that winner, in the end, the points were shared. 

However, it noted yet another anonymous display for a few of Sean Dyche’s men, most notably Amadou Onana.

How did Amadou Onana play vs Forest?

The Belgian started yet again alongside Doucoure and Idrissa Gueye, and whilst the scrutiny was initially focused around the Senegalese stalwart given his recent displays, it quickly shifted after the full-time whistle had gone today.

He arguably only retained his place throughout the game due to a lack of alternative options, with his performances having waned since the World Cup. During the competition, he also drew scorn from journalist James Smart, who branded him “clumsy” for the Red Devils.

This was another display to support such a claim, as the £100k-per-week earner offered little throughout in the way of going forward.

The 21-year-old could only muster 31 touches all game and converted that into just 12 completed passes. For comparison, even goalkeeper Jordan Pickford managed more touches (34).

Defensively he was at least present, but he hardly had the desired influence given his distinct lack of offensive contribution. He mustered three interceptions and two tackles, but of his 11 competed duels he could only win five, via Sofascore.

Dyche will have expected more from his young hulking maestro and will demand more as they enter the business end of this league season.

Today marked a wholly winnable game, and arguably a huge chance missed to move out of the relegation zone.

Manchester United will be holding further discussions this week with the interested parties over the potential takeover with the next step looking to finalise the possible deal.

Will Man United be taken over soon?

The Glazer family made it apparent they would be open to the idea of selling the club late last year and since they have seen bids arrive at the table.

However, there are still reports suggesting a sale is not necessarily the only outcome with investment also believed to be in place to support the current owner if they choose to remain at the helm.

United currently have offers to potentially take over from the Glazers, but further talks are expected this week to see whether these bids meet the expectation of the current owners.

Speaking to NBC Sports, reliable journalist David Ornstein has claimed presentations are expected to take place this week with the next step looking to complete a deal if they meet the requirements of the Glazer family:

(4:15) "Now we're going on to meetings and presentations. Some happened last week with Elliott [Management], the hedge fund who have offered their services to help finance any potential deal for the club or if the Glazers are going to stay.

"And then we will go [this] week into presentations with representations of the interested parties here in Manchester, where I speak to you, and also from London as well.

"The next stage after that would be a favoured bidder going on to a period of exclusivity and potentially trying to finalise the deal which they would want to do as soon as possible to get in in time for the transfer window."

Could a takeover happen before the summer?

As Ornstein mentioned, the parties who have put forward bids to potentially take over the club would be keen to get a potential deal over the line in time for the summer.

This would obviously be the case so they could be involved over the summer transfer window and provide Erik ten Hag with the tools he feels he needs to take the club forward.

However, it is also important to note that Ornstein suggested the bids which have landed on the Glazer's table to do not actually meet their valuation of the club.

And this is certainly something which could prove a huge issue for the possibility of a takeover let alone getting one done by the summer.

The Glazers reportedly value the club in the region of £6 billion but the offers which have landed are believed to be well short of that asking price.

With this in mind, there could certainly be a situation where the current owners refuse to sell the club when their valuation is so much higher than what is being offered.

And with reports of funding being in place to potentially see them continue at the helm of the club, that may be a worry for some fans.