All posts by h716a5.icu

Manchester City are readying an unexpected swoop for West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice, according to a recent report from Football Insider.

What's the latest Declan Rice transfer news?

According to one report, Arsenal have now dropped out of the race for Rice, despite the fact the player himself is keen on a move to north London, as they believe the £120m price tag West Ham are demanding is too high and unreasonable.

At one stage, the Gunners were said to be leading the race for the Englishman, but he may now have to move elsewhere, with Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United all registering their interest, as per a report from Sky Sports.

Although Pep Guardiola is adamant about keeping Ilkay Gundogan, with talks ongoing about a new deal, the German's future remains up in the air, and the West Ham captain could now be targeted as a replacement.

According to a report from Football Insider, the Sky Blues are readying an unexpected swoop for the 24-year-old, laying the groundwork for a deal, with it now looking likely they will miss out on Jude Bellingham, who is close to joining Real Madrid.

City are monitoring the situation of the central midfielder, despite interest from Arsenal, as they are one of the only clubs that would be able to commit to spending over £100m.

With the summer window approaching, Guardiola could formalise his long-term interest in the England international, who has spoken about his desire to play in the Champions League on several occasions.

Should Man City sign Declan Rice?

With Man City set to miss out on Bellingham, signing the West Ham midfielder would be the next best thing, given that he has proven himself at Premier League level over a number of seasons.

Hailed as "world class" by former Huddersfield boss Danny Cowley, the maestro has made 201 appearances in the English top flight, making his name as a box-to-box midfielder, with a keen eye for cutting out opposition attacks.

That is demonstrated by the fact he ranks in the 86th percentile for progressive carries, and in the 97th for interceptions per 90 in the past year, displaying both his attacking and defensive qualities.

One minor criticism that could be made is that Rice does not score enough goals, however he has played in a deep role for the vast majority of his career, and he more than makes up for his lack of threat going forward with his defensive capability.

Liverpool have a 'very genuine' interest in Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount heading into this summer, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest transfer news involving Mason Mount?

As per Football Insider, Liverpool and Arsenal are set to go toe-to-toe in an attempt to try and entice Mount away from Stamford Bridge in the forthcoming transfer window.

The report states that Mount wants to be among the highest earners at Chelsea, which has proved to be a roadblock in contract negotiations, sparking both Liverpool and Arsenal into life as they look to strengthen their respective midfield departments. Bayern Munich are also said to be keen to offer the 24-year-old a new challenge.

Mount is believed to be interested in moving to Bayern Munich in the off-season and the German giants may hold a significant card in their pursuit as they are managed by former Blues manager Thomas Tuchel, as per The Guardian.

With his £80k-a-week deal in west London set to expire in 2024, Chelsea are fearful that they may have to cash in on Mount sooner rather than later unless progress can be made regarding potential fresh terms.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs thinks that Liverpool hold a 'strong' level of interest in Mount and will be at the front of the queue to try and sign him this summer.

Jacobs said: "From Liverpool's perspective, they see a real window of opportunity; the interest is very genuine and relatively strong and they also have to understand what Chelsea are going to counter with and whether or not Mount truly wants to leave the football club.

"Then you've got to factor in a new manager into all of this and also consider other outgoings because Mount will want to understand, by the time the first game of next season comes around, who else is going to be there in his position? How much competition will [there be] and what role does the new manager think that he has to play at the football club."

Would Mason Mount be a good signing for Liverpool?

Mount is a player who could be set to enter his prime in the not-too-distant future and would add another dimension to Liverpool's midfield if Jurgen Klopp could sanction a deal for him this summer.

In 2022/23, the 24-year-old – hailed a "superstar" previously by journalist Rob Guest – has made 35 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea, registering three goals and assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Despite Chelsea's poor form this term, Mount has still provided a regular supply of chances, successfully performing 83 shot-creating actions in his time on the pitch, as shown on FBRef.

With Liverpool known to want to add midfield reinforcements in the off-season, Mount could definitely freshen up the Reds' engine room heading into 2023/24.

Leeds United find themselves in yet another desperate battle for survival, and thus cannot afford to give any opposition even a slight advantage at a time every marginal gain counts.

That therefore made Patrick Bamford’s miss against Leicester City in midweek even more damning, as the game finished 1-1 when it so easily could have been 2-1.

With the final minutes of this relegation six-pointer playing out, the Whites floated a late corner in that was glanced on at the near post. Falling kindly to the 29-year-old at the back stick, it seemed harder to miss. But miss he did.

The former Chelsea marksman boasts a strong reputation in West Yorkshire, yet with each passing season where his numbers dwindle and injury woes increase, that reverence diminishes.

If Javi Gracia is truly keen on retaining this infamous club’s status in the Premier League, just as Jesse Marsch did by the skin of his teeth last year, perhaps dropping the forward could be a necessary evil to allow some fresh and energetic legs to take his place.

Of those around the club, we think few are more deserving of this potential promotion than Sonny Perkins, who continues to shine at youth level.

Who is Sonny Perkins?

Having moved to Elland Road from West Ham United, the 19-year-old starlet has been proving with each passing week that he knows exactly where the back of the net is.

In fact, the teenage sensation has scored ten goals in just 17 Premier League 2 games this season, assisting a further three. This even culminated in his first senior goal in their FA Cup draw with Cardiff City.

This has been far from a fluke campaign either, as the former Hammers star would notch four in four U18s Premier League games last season, and a further 12 for the U23s too.

Such imperious form in front of goal even led his boss Michael Skubala to claim: “He's a goal machine, he loves scoring goals.”

To compare this kind of proficiency with their current English forward – who has just two league goals in his last 13 games – Bamford has proved something of a nightmare for Gracia in front of goal.

Perhaps employing an academy graduate, who will be keen to take his big chance with both hands, could either spark Bamford back into life or allow Perkins to truly make a name for himself on the biggest stage.

Either way, something has to change as this struggling side are staring down the barrel of the gun with a despicable run-in looming.

Aston Villa would be a good fit for Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker this summer, according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook.

Will Walker leave Man City?

The 32-year-old has enjoyed a stellar career at club level, winning four Premier League titles during his time at City and arguably becoming one of the best players in his position in the competition's history. This season has been a harder one for him, however, and it has become increasingly apparent that he is no longer a key starter.

Only 15 league starts have come Walkers's way in 2022/23 to date, but a lot of those were earlier in the campaign and he has not often featured in recent weeks, even though he played all 90 minutes against Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi-final last weekend.

With the £160,000-a-week Englishman's current deal expiring in 2024, this summer could be the last opportunity for City to get good money for him, or risk losing him on a free transfer next year. He has been linked with a move to Villa, as Unai Emery eyes up strong summer signings.

Are Villa the ideal club for Walker?

Reacting to the rumours in a chat with Give Me Sport, Crooks talked up the idea of Walker moving to Villa Park at the end of the season, saying it would be a good fit:

"Sheffield United might be an interesting one for him. He started there, didn't he? And if they come into the Premier League, I wonder if they might try and have a go.

"But Villa would be a good move because I think they're going to back (Unai) Emery in the summer. They might well manage to sneak into a European place, too."

Walker could be a brilliant signing by Villa in the summer transfer window, possessing a winning mentality that is outlined by his aforementioned Premier League trophy tally, not to mention having a wealth of experience at this point in his career, racking up 75 caps for England.

There is an argument to say that the defender's best days may just be behind him, hence him losing his place in City's team, but he remains a top-level footballer – one who has been lauded as "frighteningly quick" by Troy Deeney in the past. Emery will want experience and nous in his squad this summer and Walker could be the man to provide it, lifting players around him and putting his combination of pace and power to good use.

Southampton striker Che Adams will be “available” for the Premier League game against Bournemouth tonight, according to Ruben Selles.

What's the latest injury news on Adams?

The St Mary’s outfit secured a 3-3 draw against Arsenal during their last game so will be heading into this evening’s home fixture full of confidence that they can gain a result following a much-improved performance at the Emirates Stadium.

Scotland international Adams, however, hasn’t featured in the top flight since the draw against Tottenham Hotspur on 18th March, having sustained a calf injury during international duty last month, where he was forced off the pitch after 58 minutes against Cyprus. The Saints boss had revealed that he was expecting the 26-year-old to be targeting a return at the end of April, and it sounds like his timeframe was spot on.

Speaking during his Wednesday pre-match press conference, Selles confirmed that Adams is firmly in contention to face the Cherries after returning to training, whilst also providing an update on four other players.

As quoted by Southampton’s official website, he said: “We have Juan Larios, Mohammed Salisu and Tino Livramento who are not selectable. Che Adams is selectable and available for the game tomorrow. We have Jan Bednarek who has followed concussion protocol and that will end tonight at midnight, tomorrow we’ll re-evaluate him.”

Will Adams returning be a positive for Southampton?

Southampton have had an extremely disappointing season, but Adams has been one of the standout stars, ranking as Selles’ second-best-performing offensive player, so it will be a huge boost for the boss to have him at his disposal once again.

The Unique Sports Group client has posted 13 goal contributions (ten goals and three assists) in 32 appearances across all competitions this season, with a similar vein of prolific form having seen him previously lauded a “phenomenon” by ex-manager Ralph Hasenhuttl.

The £30k-per-week forward has also recorded 42 shots since the start of the term which is higher than any other member of the squad, and 54 shot-creating actions, placing him second behind captain James Ward-Prowse, as per FBref.

Finally, Adams provides Selles with wonderful versatility with his ability to operate out wide on both flanks, as a second striker and in attacking midfield alongside his natural centre-forward role so the chances of the Saints picking up all three points against the Cherries will only increase with the striker leading the line.

Journalist Charles Watts has slammed the media “pile-on” after Arsenal players were criticised for their lack of interaction with a young fan.

What happened between Arsenal players and the young fan?

The Gunners found themselves in the middle of an unexpected social media storm this week after behind scenes footage emerged from their recent trip to West Ham United.

The Premier League encounter did not end well for Mikel Arteta’s team as they went 2-0 up but then conceded twice to draw the game, losing two vital points in their push for the title.

Even so, for one young fan, it was a great opportunity to meet the whole squad and get a shirt signed – as shown in this clip shared by the club’s official Twitter account.

While it seemed like a fairly innocuous video, some people online were disappointed that the Arsenal players didn’t engage with the supporters enough.

For instance, TV presenter Nick Knowles wrote: “I suggest Arsenal you get her and her family back and give your players another go at being decent human beings – admittedly they’d have to be coached into it but it might be something that sticks with some of them if it’s pointed out.”

It developed into a major story – as outlined in the Daily Mail – but journalist Charles Watts has slammed it all as “utterly bonkers”.

Indeed, he took to Twitter to say: “This is so utterly bonkers. A totally unnecessary social media pile-on about a situation no-one had a clue about has created this sh*t show. Such a shame.”

How did this Arsenal social media fiasco end?

Backing up Watts’ point, the father of the young girl has since had to issue a response, saying that his daughter actually really enjoyed the experience.

To make things worse, he later explained that reporters had actually turned up at his house, which has now left him worried about his daughters’ enjoyment of football.

He said: “Thanks everyone for their kind messages today. We’ve tried to explain to my daughter what all the noise is about. Was mostly fine until we had reporters knock on the door. Hoping this doesn’t ruin her interest in Arsenal.”

The damage done by those reporters door-stepping the family home of this young child is no doubt far worse than what was initially causing concern.

It seems as though this has all been a bit of a storm in a teacup and the people online who opted to get offended on behalf of somebody else have actually caused more damage to this unfortunate young supporter than anything the Arsenal players actually did.

Newcastle United have received an approach from Jorge Mendes regarding a deal to bring Ansu Fati to the Premier League, according to reports.

What's the latest on Fati's future?

The Barcelona winger’s contract at Camp Nou isn’t set to expire until 2027, but in recent months he’s been facing an uncertain future having made just nine league starts this season, having fallen down the pecking order under manager Xavi. The Spaniard’s father, Bori Fati, has recently publicly hit out at the La Liga giants for how they have treated his 20-year-old son. During an interview with Cope, as quoted by ESPN, he said:

"If it carries on like this, I will go [back] to [the family home in] Seville and that's that. I didn't go to the game against [Real] Madrid. I won't go to the stadium anymore. The other day Ansu asked me why I didn't go, he thought I was there. I told him I didn't fancy it."

According to Sport (via Sport Witness), Fati’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has “been in contact” with Newcastle to discuss the possibility of a move to St. James’ Park. The Magpies and Eddie Howe have reportedly “listened carefully” to what his representative had to say and are “convinced of the attraction”, something that would mean they are “ready” to splash the cash.

Mendes has been “probing the market” to find a new destination for his client which led him to the northeast outfit, who are “very attentive” to his transfer situation. For now, PIF are “waiting for events to transpire” before making their official move, much like his other unnamed potential suitors.

Should Newcastle sign Fati?

Fati has been dubbed “Messi-esque” by talent scout Jacek Kulig as a result of the quality he produces in the final third, and Newcastle should definitely act fast to get this deal over the line ahead of their fellow competitors later in the summer.

The Nike-sponsored star has scored 25 senior goals and provided nine assists for Barcelona despite only just coming out of his teenage years, which shows he’s got bags of potential and is already showing the footballing world what he’s capable of (Transfermarkt).

The £199K-p/w talent also ranks in the 99th percentile for shots and number of touches in the attacking penalty area, highlighting his desire to create chances even if he isn’t always on the scoresheet, whilst also being strong in his link-up play ranking in the 96th percentile for pass completion (FBRef).

The Spain World Cup participant has previously operated in five various positions throughout his career, including out wide on both flanks and as a centre-forward, so would additionally add plenty of versatility to Howe’s squad at St. James’ Park.

Frank Lampard may have overseen a successful survival bid last season, but it quickly became apparent that he would be dragging the Toffees into another. Step forward Sean Dyche as the man to breathe new life into an inconsistent outfit that was crying out for stability.

Anxious

Progress under a new management team is steady, rather than spectacular, and it won’t have gone unnoticed to those betting on Premier League markets that those on the blue half of Merseyside are shooting anxious glances over collective shoulders.

The battle to avoid tumbling through a trapdoor into the Championship has become tighter than ever, with Everton priced at 2/1 in Premier League relegation odds to slip out of English football’s top flight for the first time since 1951.

If they are to avoid suffering that fate, then Dyche will need to build on solid foundations. He is famed for making his teams tough to break down, and he currently has the perfect last line of defence at his disposal.

Jordan Pickford is an established England international and a man that would not look out of place as the first name on any team sheet.

Fortunately for Toffees fans, he has committed to a new contract that is due to take him through to 2027. He has said of those terms: “Everton is a massive club. The past few seasons have not been what we wanted but we now have a manager who I believe will point us in the right direction and get us up the table. It’s definitely my aim to be successful at this club.”

Pickford has been a mainstay at Goodison since 2017, becoming the most expensive goalkeeper in British history when a move from Sunderland was made, and he remains fully committed to the cause despite obvious difficulties.

Pickford added on future ambitions: “This contract will take me to more than 10 years at Everton and I want to build a legacy here to put myself up there with the likes of Neville Southall to be one of the best keepers to have played for Everton.”

That will be music to the ears of Toffees followers everywhere, but it remains to be seen whether such dreams become a reality. If Everton were to lose their Premier League status in 2023, would Pickford stick around to help them bounce back?

Transfer

Hugo Lloris is slowly edging his way towards the exits at Tottenham, and there has been plenty of speculation to suggest that Pickford figures prominently on recruitment radars in north London and may become the subject of another big-money transfer at some stage.

Spurs’ cause would certainly be aided if they were trying to do business with a second-tier club. Everton supporters will, as they continue to clutch at any straw which falls within reach, want to give no thought to losing their No.1, but will Pickford’s new deal end up lasting four years as intended or a mere four months?

Photo by Unsplash

TalkSport pundit Carlton Palmer has slammed "poor" Manchester United defender Luke Shaw, claiming that Erik ten Hag will look to replace him in the summer.

What's the latest on Luke Shaw and Manchester United?

It's safe to say the left-back didn't have the best of time earlier this week when he lined up for England in their Euro 2024 qualifying match against Italy.

Indeed, while his teammates managed to pick up a 2-1 win thanks to goals from Declan Rice and Harry Kane, they had to finish the last 10 minutes of the match a player down after Shaw picked up two bookings in as many minutes.

And despite Shaw – who earns a reported £150,000 a week – being a regular under Ten Hag this term having started 21 Premier League games, Palmer seems to think he'll be less relied upon in the future.

Speaking on TalkSport, the pundit said: “The one player I want to bring up, though, I've got to be honest with you – I don't know how Luke Shaw gets away with it. I really don't.

"I think he's a poor, poor defender. I think he's had a decent season at Manchester United, but I think he's a poor defender.

"Every time he comes up and is asked a question about defending, he can't, he fails. How he doesn't get sent off more often, I don't know.

"And I hear all the arguments about Trent Alexander [Arnold], and I see that he has some defensive frailties, but I think he's a terrific player and offers a lot going forward.

Jim White then butted in saying: "But it looks like Ten Hag swears by him?"

Palmer replied: “No, Ten Hag hasn't got any other alternatives at the moment. I think next season when they will be genuinely going to have a tilt to the title, I think they'll have brought in another left-back."

Why would Man Utd want to sell Luke Shaw?

Seeing as Ten Hag made Tyrell Malacia his first-ever Man Utd signing – joining in a £14.7m deal from Feyenoord – Shaw must have impressed on the training pitch to retain his spot as the club's first-choice left-back.

What's more, the 27-year-old Englishman has shown his defensive qualities by filling in at centre-back for the Red Devils in recent times, with Shaw starting four of the last 11 league games in that position and winning all of those games.

With all that in mind, it's frankly ridiculous to say that Shaw only plays at Man Utd as Ten Hag doesn't have any other options within the squad.

In general, Palmer's opinion seems to be based on the brief two-minute spell he had for England against Italy where the defender was rather poor. Other than that, though, his argument seems pretty baseless.

Tottenham Hotspur managerial target Luis Enrique is ‘keen’ on a move to the Premier League and could now be Fabio Paratici’s first choice.

The Lowdown: Conte quitting?

Spurs head coach Antonio Conte is set to dominate the headlines over these next few months with the Italian heavily linked to leaving north London.

Conte’s current deal expires at the end of the 2022/2023 season, and while chairman Daniel Levy can extend his stay by a further 12 months, reports claim this is growing more and more unlikely.

Paratici and co have already drawn a managerial shortlist for if Conte does depart, with former fan favourite Mauricio Pochettino among the prime contenders.

In terms of other targets, Sky share that Roberto De Zerbi, Enrique, Thomas Tuchel, Marco Silva and Thomas Frank are also of interest to Spurs.

Enrique is an interesting and potentially enticing option, especially when taking into account his illustrious CV and status as a free agent.

The Latest: Paratici ‘first choice’ for Spurs…

According to journalist John Cross, writing in a column for The Mirror, the 52-year-old could well’ be Paratici’s ‘first choice’ for the job.

He is apparently ‘keen’ on a move to England and the top flight, but in a twist, Levy may actually disagree with the Italian club chief.

Cross states that Levy wants managers with Premier League experience, something that could count against Enrique in the race to be Spurs’ next boss.

The Verdict: Go for him?

Bar Pochettino, who we believe is the standout candidate to succeed Conte, Enrique could also be a sound option.

The former Spain boss has enjoyed a decorated managerial career, clinching nine pieces of silverware in total, which includes a Champions League at former club Barcelona.

Enrique encourages a more forward-thinking style of football than Conte and could steer Spurs away from their pragmatic style of the last two seasons.

Even though Spain eventually went out in the Last 16 of their World Cup campaign, Enrique attracted praise from some members of the media for his decisions during the tournament.

Juan Ignacio G-Ochoa, via Sam Leveridge, said this about the ex-Catalans head coach:

“He’s not crazy, he’s a genius.

“Luis Enrique was criticised for his squad, for dropping Gayà, for playing a midfielder in defence, for streaming… the World Cup debut, however, has shown the reality: Spain has a great team and his ideas work.”

Able to sign for Spurs at no cost, Enrique is a name who could be linked with the job right until a coach is formally announced.