All posts by z3u9t.icu

An update has emerged over Burnley winger Dwight McNeil, regarding Aston Villa’s pursuit of the forward.

What’s the talk?

According to the Echo, Aston Villa are currently in pole position to land Burnley winger Dwight McNeil before the end of the transfer window.

The report claims that Everton have now joined the race for his services, with Rafa Benitez a fan of the England U21 international. It is said that a fee in the region of £25m could seal a deal.

Smith will be over the moon

Johan Lange must ensure that he can get a deal over the line for McNeil. This update is promising in regards to their chances of bringing him to the club, with Villa seemingly leading Everton in the race for his signature and Lange now knows exactly how much he needs to pay to sign him; £25m.

Dean Smith will be over the moon with this news as McNeil would be an excellent addition to his evolving squad and further strengthen his attacking options. Along with the signing of Emi Buendia and potentially keeping Jack Grealish, Smith could have a terrific set of forwards if the Englishman walks through the door this summer.

Burnley central midfielder Ashley Westwood lauded the “special” talent and admitted that teams will be interested in signing the winger if he continues to catch the eye in the Premier League for the Clarets.

He said:

“He’s really mature. I think the world of him, he’s a special talent. It’s been good to see him grow up because when he first came training with us, he was really quiet.

“He’s already racked up more than 50 games in the Premier League now, which at his age is phenomenal. He’s producing as well so if he keeps doing that and we all keep doing what we’re doing then there will be teams circulating.”

The 21-year-old has scored seven goals and provided 17 assists in the Premier League – averaging 1.3 key passes per game throughout his career. This shows that he has been a consistent threat for Sean Dyche in recent seasons, despite his young age. Instead of going in and out of form, he has been a regular for Burnley and shown that he can play at the top level.

Therefore, he could be a superb signing for Villa at £25m. Hopefully, they will be able to get the deal over the line and Smith will be left delighted that he has another talented attacker to work with heading into the 2021/22 campaign.

AND in other news, Lange must avoid AVFC error amid enquiry for “exceptional” £35m gem, fans surely livid…

A major update has emerged in Crystal Palace’s pursuit of FC Cologne defender Sebastiaan Bornauw ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

What’s the story?

The Eagles have been linked with the 6 ft 2 beast in recent weeks as chairman Steve Parish plots a major squad overhaul, but a new development has now emerged.

According to German outlet Bild, the Bundesliga outfit have set an asking price of just £13m for Bornauw after he impressed throughout last season.

Fans will be buzzing

As things stand, Palace are currently set to lose three first-team centre-backs in the shape of Gary Cahill, Mamadou Sakho and Scott Dann when their contracts expire at the end of the month.

It means that replacements are being targeted by the capital club’s hierarchy, with Victor Nelsson and Joe Worrall the latest players reportedly lined up.

Bornauw is another intriguing option for the south London outfit, though, and the 22-year-old has already attracted the attention of several sides across the continent.

Cologne have rejected a £9m offer from fellow Bundesliga side Wolfsburg for their prized assets services, while Premier League newcomers Norwich City are also thought to be keen on his signature.

It’s little surprise that the youngster is capturing the interest of so many clubs, thanks to a string of magnificent displays in his two years at the RheinEnergieStadion.

Bornauw uses his sizeable physique and stature to dominate opponents in the air, bagging seven goals in 57 appearances for the Billy Goats.

But, as all good defenders should do, he also excels at the back. His 1.7 interceptions per league game was the third-highest tally amongst his teammates, while Bornauw’s total of 4.2 clearances and 1.1 blocks bettered that of anyone in the Cologne first-team squad.

Seeing off competition for the Anderlecht academy graduate may be hard as Wolfsburg can offer Champions League football, but his arrival at Selhurst Park would solve multiple problems.

The holes in the heart of defence would be plugged, and the major issue regarding Palace’s ageing squad would, at least in part, begin to be addressed.

An average age of 28.8 last season meant the Eagles had the oldest side in the top-flight last season, and news that one of the club’s top targets is available at a very reasonable price will surely have Parish buzzing.

And, in other news…Worse than Nuno: Palace must avoid potential Hodgson successor with 46.2% win record 

Leicester City narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification following a final day defeat at home to Tottenham Hotspur.

The Foxes were trailing fifth-placed Liverpool on goal difference and third-placed Chelsea by a point heading into the last round of Premier League fixtures, but despite Aston Villa’s 2-1 win over the Blues, Leicester couldn’t capitalise.

Two late Gareth Bale goals sealed all three points for Spurs in what was likely to be the Welshman’s last ever game for the capital club and it ensured that the Midlands outfit will be playing Europa League football next term.

It was a poor display all round for Brendan Rodgers’ men, especially in the second half, however, one man, in particular, let the Northern Irish manager down.

As per SofaScore, Timothy Castagne received a miserly rating of 6.1/10, the joint-second lowest score of any player on the King Power Stadium pitch.

The Belgium international has adapted to the English top-flight well since a summer move from Atalanta, but he certainly fell short when Leicester and Rodgers needed him most.

Castagne won just two of his five duels on Sunday afternoon, and the £21.6m-rated full-back (as per Transfermarkt) was also unable to find a teammate with either of his two long balls.

In a must-win game, players need to be strong in the tackle and be good on the ball, Castagne was neither.

His below-par performance summed up a bitterly disappointing final day for the FA Cup champions, who were hoping to return to Europe’s elite cup competition following a five-year absence.

It’s the second consecutive season where Rodgers’ side have missed out on a place in the top four on the last day of the campaign, although the former Celtic boss can still be incredibly proud of what his team have achieved in 2020/21.

And, in other news…Rodgers masterstroke: Leicester must swoop for “superb” £9m-rated workhorse

According to TuttoMercatoWeb, Tottenham are among a number of clubs interested in recently-freed up manager Christophe Galtier this summer.

The Lowdown: The search goes on

Tottenham’s search for a new manager continues as they remain without a permanent boss following the sacking of Jose Mourinho in April.

In recent weeks, Mauricio Pochettino has been heavily linked with a return to north London (football.london). However, if they aren’t able to persuade him to leave Paris Saint-Germain, they may have already lined up an alternative.

The Latest: Spurs eye Galtier

It is being reported that Galtier is on Spurs’ radar. He has left Lille despite winning the Ligue 1 title with the club this season.

Along with Tottenham, Real Madrid and Lazio are also believed to be in pursuit.

The Verdict: Top target

Galtier has achieved unexpected success with Lille. PSG’s billions meant they had won the league in seven of the previous eight seasons prior to this one, and the only side to break that run, AS Monaco, have also received heavy investment over the past decade.

Les Dogues, on the other hands, have sold top talents such as Nicolas Pepe and used the funds from such sales wisely. Galtier and his side won 24 out of 38 matches on the way to the title and conceded just 23 goals in the league, less than any other team (Sky Sports).

What he has achieved is hugely impressive, and now he is a free agent. If they are unable to secure Pochettino’s return, Spurs should not pass up on the opportunity to lure the Frenchman to N17.

In other news, Tottenham eye this Bundesliga midfielder.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly entered talks to sign Marcus Thuram…

What’s the word?

According to RMC Sport journalist Mohamed Bouhafsi, the 23-year-old is set to leave Borussia Monchengladbach this summer and discussions with the Premier League outfit have advanced in recent days.

He tweeted:

“Marcus Thuram will leave Borussia Monchengladbach this summer. The player is in talks with Tottenham. It is a priority of the club. Sources close to the English club explain that the discussions have advanced in recent days.”

It remains to be seen how much the Bundesliga side will command for their first-choice winger but Transfermarkt currently values him at around £31.5m.

Bye-bye Moura

With the future of Lucas Moura up in the air, the North Londoners could already be preparing for life after the Brazilian, who would leave renowned for his come-from-behind hat-trick against Ajax in the Champions League final.

As per Goal.com, the 28-year-old has been subject to interest from Saudi Arabia, with rivals Al Hilal and Al Nassr thought to be considering a move for him in the transfer window.

If the new director of football, Fabio Paratici, wants to find an instant replacement, then perhaps he’ll find it in the Gladbach sensation.

The three-cap France international has enjoyed a phenomenal campaign at Borussia-Park, where he has delivered 11 goals and 12 assists in 40 appearances across all competitions, via Transfermarkt.

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That included a brace against Real Madrid, whilst he has also found the net against big league rivals RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund.

Thuram is described as a sharpshooter by the official Bundesliga website and they also liken him to Manchester United’s fellow Frenchman, Anthony Martial.

At 6 foot 4, he’s certainly bigger in stature and is a tad bit more stockier than the Premier League marksman but his quick, direct and strong capabilities have made him a left-winger to be feared.

“I believe that Marcus is far from the end of his development. There’s a lot more to come from him,” claimed his former boss Marco Rose. “Marcus is a footballer who benefits greatly from his physique and stature. He’s also a fine technician, who can always deal with situations in tight spaces.”

Thuram has also been described as “fast, robust and dangerous” by sporting director Max Eberl and lauded as someone who is going to have a “great future” by former coach Jean-Louis Gasset.

Paratici must look to make the towering speed demon one of his first signings at the club. He’d be a perfect replacement for Moura, even based on his goal record alone but it’s evident that he’d offer the Premier League side so much more.

AND in other news, No Dier or Alli, Roma sensation & £25m beast signed: Predicted Spurs XI under Fonseca…

According to The Daily Express, Southampton are interested in signing Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek this summer.

The Lowdown: Busy summer ahead

This campaign has been a mixed one for the Saints. It started positively – they were top of the Premier League at one point – and they also reached the FA Cup semi-final. However, they underperformed against Leicester City at Wembley as they lost 1-0, while they have dropped into the bottom half of the league table and were very much looking like they could be in relegation trouble until recent weeks.

With Ryan Bertrand confirmed to be leaving (southamptonfc.com) and Danny Ings linked with a move away (Sky Sports), there could be plenty of transfer business conducted at St. Mary’s Stadium this summer.

The Latest: Saints eye Loftus-Cheek

In terms of arrivals, it is being reported that Ralph Hasenhuttl and co are interested in midfielder Loftus-Cheek, who has spent the season on loan at relegated Fulham.

The Saints are said to be eager to sign him on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent deal if the agreement is a success. He is believed to be valued by the Blues at £20m and earns £120,000 a week.

The Verdict: Unfulfilled potential

Loftus-Cheek, it feels, has been around for years, yet he is still to fulfil his undoubtedly huge potential. He has made 82 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 12 goals and providing 11 assists (Transfermarkt), while he also has 10 England caps to his name. Yet, at the age of 25, he has just spent the season at a side who will be dropping back down to the Championship at the first time of asking.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel recently compared him to Michael Ballack, who scored 151 goals throughout an illustrious career. That suggests he may have a chance of making it at Stamford Bridge, but with the plethora of options available to Tuchel, there is no guarantee. A switch to Southampton could be a fantastic move for all involved.

In other news, Southampton are interested in this striker.

Tottenham Hotspur could bring another former Chelsea manager to N17, according to emerging reports…

What’s the word?

Italian news outlet Calciomercato claim that Maurizio Sarri is high on their wishlist to replace the recently sacked Jose Mourinho in north London.

In fact, they suggest that talks between the Spurs hierarchy and the 62-year-old have already gotten underway and that the ex-Juventus title-winner is keen to return to London.

Although, he has also been linked to AS Roma, where Paulo Fonseca’s job appears to be under threat.

Mourinho 2.0

This could well have disaster written all over it for Spurs.

Despite winning the Europa League at Stamford Bridge, Sarri’s stock hardly rose and he was sacked by Juve ahead of this current campaign having failed dismally in Europe, with the inexperienced Andrea Pirlo taking over, which speaks volumes in itself.

The former Napoli man earned a bit of a negative reputation at Spurs’ rivals, particularly for the brand of football on offer and that would go against one of Levy’s key aims – to find an attack-minded coach next.

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After Chelsea were dumped out of the FA Cup by Manchester United, ex-Blues defender Mario Melchiot lambasted his tactics to talkSPORT, he said:

“You’re losing the game and you bring on a full-back for a full-back? He needed to make a change and bring on a more attacking minded player,” before going onto add: “Sarri is very stubborn, everybody knows that. He has this way of playing and I think everybody should be stubborn when you’re a manager, but you also have to have common sense and be logical about what works and what doesn’t work.”

Towards the end of his time at the club, fans were often heard chanting against ‘Sarri-ball’ but in far more colourful language.

He was also shamed for publically criticising his players after he was claimed that “this group of players is extremely difficult to motivate” following defeat to Arsenal.

All of these factors bear similarities to the Mourinho reign at Spurs.

It is thought that Levy pulled the trigger on the Portuguese after effectively losing the dressing room. According to The Athletic, Mourinho “sucked the culture out of the club” and many at the club were unhappy with how he threw his players under the bus in recent months.

As another former rival boss, you’d imagine this would go down like a led balloon, too.

By appointing Sarri, the Spurs chairman could well be about to repeat the same mistake. If he wants to go down a different path this time, then he must avoid appointing the out-of-work Italian.

AND in other news, Exclusive: Spurs legend makes big claim about Mourinho pay-off…

Celtic and Newcastle United are both reported to be keen on signing Crystal Palace midfielder James McCarthy over the coming months.  

As to be expected, plenty of Eagles fans have been reacting to the two club’s reported interest in the 30-year-old.

According to TEAMtalk, Newcastle are looking to pip Celtic to a deal for the Irishman, with the Scottish giants coming close to landing the player on a pre-contract agreement back in January.

McCarthy, who is on £50,000-a-week at Selhurst Park, is out of contract in a matter of months. He has made just 49 appearances since joining in 2019, with 14 of those coming this season.

The midfielder began the campaign as a regular under Roy Hodgson, but he has since fallen out of favour and a Palace exit appears to be on the cards.

Palace fans react

@CPFCtransfersHQ shared TEAMtalk’s claims on McCarthy on social media on Friday evening.

Here is what some Palace fans had to say in reply. A few praised the player, whereas others want to see the back of the midfielder over the coming months.

“Get rid. Please”Credit: @stuartAchalmers”A fit James McCarthy is one of our most solid players.”Credit: @Padraic_McG”Move him on”Credit: @Steve_CPFC”I like him, prepared to fight for the team”Credit: @JimRuss1980″Good when he plays but he doesn’t often.”Credit: @Georgiecpfc”Need to get younger players in”Credit: @AdamNye1

In other news: Many Palace fans fume at Hodgson’s recent comments regarding his future, find out more here. 

PSV Eindhoven have asked Aston Villa for information on striker Wesley Moraes ahead of a possible swoop.

The Lowdown: Wesley’s Villa Park struggles

It’s safe to say Wesley hasn’t exactly made the impact he would’ve hoped after joining from Club Brugge in 2019 for £22.5m.

He scored just six goals in 22 appearances before suffering a serious injury against Burnley on New Year’s Day 2020.

The Brazilian missed the rest of the 2020/21 season and the majority of the current campaign, making three brief substitute appearances in recent weeks.

Villa are looking to loan out the 24-year-old in the summer, and it seems as if they have a potential suitor for the £35,000-a-week man.

The Latest: Source shares update

According to Football Insider, who have been informed by a Dutch source, PSV have made an enquiry and are looking at a year-long loan.

The Dutch heavyweights, who have two European Cup triumphs in their history, want to be sure Wesley is over his injury issues before committing to a possible deal.

The Verdict: A good move for all involved?

Should guaranteed game time be offered by PSV, we feel as if a temporary move to the Netherlands would be good for Wesley.

It would give him the chance to get back to his best in a competitive league, while also possibly playing Champions League football.

PSV will be getting a forward capable of scoring plenty of goals, with Wesley netting 17 times in Belgium in the 2018/19 campaign prior to his move to the Midlands.

Rivals Ajax have scored 28 more goals than PSV this season, so the acquisition of Wesley could help them table a stronger challenge next season.

As for Villa, should things go well, they would then be getting a forward back full of confidence for the 2022/23 season, which may prove to be a shrewd move by Villa officials.

In other news: Villa linked with move for £5.1m-rated defender, many AVFC fans happy, find out more here. 

It would’ve been a hard decision to make at the time, but Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy played a blinder in selling Mousa Dembele when he did.

The Belgian midfield enforcer joined Spurs from Fulham in 2012 after the north Londoners activated his £15m release clause, and it’s fair to suggest that they got plenty of value for their money.

Levy would go onto cash in on Dembele six-and-a-half seasons later, managing to secure a whopping £11m, meaning that Spurs only lost out on £4m.

It can be argued that the 33-year-old was one of Spurs’ greatest-ever midfielders of the Premier League era, as he was a colossal presence in the middle and came on leaps and bounds under Mauricio Pochettino.

Plenty of managers have lavished high praise on him in the past. Martin Jol, the ex-Spurs boss who managed him at the Cottagers, claimed he was among the finest players he’s ever coached. He said back in 2012:

“We’ve had a few players over the last few years who are a class above. Dembele is probably the best player on the ball I’ve ever seen.”

These words echo comments from Pochettino several years later, who wrote in his book that the Belgian was one of the “genius” players he has been lucky enough to meet, as he said [via talkSPORT]:

“I always tell him, ‘Mousa, when I write a book, you’ll be one of my genius players I have been lucky to meet,” before adding: “One was [Diego] Maradona, then Ronaldinho, [Jay-Jay] Okocha and [Ivan] De La Pena. He is a genius too, Mousa Dembele. We always told him, ‘If we had taken you at 18 or 19 years old, you would have become one of the best players in the world.’ I would have loved to have taken him on at 18.”

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Across those six-and-a-bit seasons, Dembele regularly ranked amongst Spurs’ best-performing players. The only two occasions he dipped below a 6.9 WhoScored rating were in 2014/15 – a season riddled by injury – and 2018/19 – his final six months in the capital.

That’s when Levy delivered a masterstroke once again. He knew exactly when it was time to move on from the long-serving Hotspur favourite. Once averaging over 2.5 tackles and dribbles per game across multiple seasons, his final season saw him regress to just 1.3 tackles and 0.7 dribbles per match, via WhoScored.

Perhaps injuries took a toll, perhaps it was an age thing, but either way, the box-to-box beast hadn’t been the same player that year and, aged just 31, he was moved on.

It would have been far too easy to let Dembele see out his career in N17, where he was simply adored by the Tottenham faithful.

That decision is looking more and more justified by the day, even if it did take until this summer to finally replace him (Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg). Still in the money-laden Chinese Super League, Dembele is now worth just £1.35m, as per Transfermarkt.

AND in other news, Levy’s fury: Spurs passenger continues to crash under Jose, his value has dropped 45%…