All posts by z3u9t.icu

Taking to Twitter, Sky Sports reporter Angelo Mangiante has made a West Ham United transfer claim involving Borussia Monchengladbach powerhouse Denis Zakaria.

The Lowdown: West Ham in 2022 free agent tussles?

The Switzerland midfielder isn’t the first potential 2022 free agent to be linked with a move to the London Stadium in recent weeks, with head of recruitment Rob Newman seemingly eyeing a plethora of pre-contract swoops.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-updates/” title=”West Ham latest updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Indeed, Burnley defender James Tarkowski and Napoli winger Lorenzo Insigne are other names on the West Ham agenda, with their deals also set to expire at the end of this season.

Newman was brought in to help David Moyes in the transfer market and is gearing up for his first transfer window in his new role in east London after leaving his post as chief scout at Manchester City (The Athletic).

Making a claim on West Ham’s transfer plans, and by extension Newman’s, Mangiante has some news for Hammers fans.

The Latest: Newman eyeing Zakaria swoop…

As per the Sky journalist, writing on his personal Twitter feed, West Ham and Newman are now eyeing a swoop for Zakaria, with his contract at Monchengladbach running out next year.

It is believed that the Switzerland international is now attracting the Irons’ interest alongside the likes of Liverpool and Everton.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Despite the presence of Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek and Alex Kral in the defensive midfield roles, we believe that Zakaria could be a rather shrewd addition from West Ham’s perspective.

Whether it be for a small transfer fee in January or as a free agent next summer, the 40-cap international would come with a plethora of experience on the biggest stages in football already, not to mention sell-on potential given he is still just 25 years old.

He has received no shortage of praise in the past either, with Gladbach legend Gunter Netzer previously calling him ‘enormously valuable’ to the Bundesliga side (Planet Football). Meanwhile, Germany hero Lothar Matthaus once likened Zakaria to Real Madrid star Toni Kroos, highlighting his obvious ability (Planet Football).

Also capable of playing as a centre-half, the 6 foot 3 powerhouse could tick many boxes for West Ham, and it is feasible that they could give him a new lease of life in the Premier League.

In other news: West Ham could already back Moyes with £17.1m bid to sign another 6 foot 3 colossus in January, find out more here.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United’s attempts to add further signings to their ranks in January…

What’s the talk?

Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope has revealed that the Magpies are unlikely to sign Divock Origi or Dominic Solanke this month as they go in search of a striker to bolster their squad.

He tweeted: “Understand Newcastle haven’t gone in for Burnley’s Chris Wood, as it stands, but he has been put to them (same agents as Trippier). One of several striking options being considered. Azmoun of Zenit among them but Origi/Solanke unlikely, I’m told. Either way, NUFC need to act fast.”

Howe will be gutted

This update will surely leave Newcastle manager Eddie Howe feeling gutted, as both Origi and Solanke are strikers who could come in and make an impact at St James’ Park in the second half of the campaign.

The Belgian is a proven Premier League performer and the Englishman is a player who the 44-year-old knows well from his time at Bournemouth in the top flight.

Upon signing him for the Cherries in 2019, Howe said this about the ex-Liverpool man: “Dominic is technically gifted, very athletic and has the physical profile that will give us something different in our front line.

“He has done very well for England at various age groups, has a huge amount of potential and I’m really excited about working with him.”

This shows that he rates Solanke highly, which is why he will be gutted a deal now appears to be off the cards this month, especially given the striker’s form this season. The 24-year-old has scored 18 goals in 25 Championship matches for Bournemouth, after managing 15 last term, and this suggests that he could be ready for another shot at the top flight.

Meanwhile, Origi has won the Premier League and Champions League for Liverpool, scoring in the final of the latter. He has found the back of the net 40 times in 167 matches for the Merseyside club, showing that he knows how to score at the very top level.

This is another reason why Howe will be gutted with this update from Hope, as the Belgian could have come in and scored vital goals for Newcastle. The ex-Bournemouth boss will now be hoping that quality alternatives are identified and brought in as quickly as possible to bolster his attacking options, especially with injured top scorer Callum Wilson facing several weeks on the sidelines.

AND in other news, “We understand”: Keith Downie drops big NUFC transfer claim which will leave fans gutted…

When it became apparent that Celtic were going to completely renovate the top officials at Parkhead, one member of the Hoops team will have been fretting the most.

That will have been Nick Hammond. Celtic’s head of recruitment was reportedly facing the sack earlier this year but he has now left of his own admission. The thought process is that the Bhoys will hire a new director of football.

They should be fortunate that he’s departing too. After all, the business he helped the club conclude last summer was rather abject.

Hammond helped to bring Albian Ajeti to Paradise in a deal worth £5m. Since signing, he has found the back of the net on just six occasions.

A deal to bring the calamitous Vasilis Barkas to Celtic has hardly gone down well either. He cost £4.5m but has been rather error-prone and now can’t even get in the team.

The goalkeeper was particularly bad against AC Milan in the Europa League and he has cost his team dearly in the league as well.

Scott Bain has also been guilty of mistakes this term while Conor Hazard, the hero on penalties in the Scottish Cup final back in December, was incredibly poor during normal time in that game.

Therefore, Celtic have every right to regret signing an adept stopper last summer. They tried to bring Fraser Forster back to Glasgow after his successful loan spell in 2019/20.

He is a man mountain between the sticks and standing at 6 foot 7, covers plenty of the goal. Unfortunately for Hammond and co, Southampton wanted him to fight for the number one jersey south of the border.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-celtic-manager-and-transfer-news-howe-favre-edouard-desmond” title= “Read the latest Celtic manager and transfer news!”]

Forster has played on only ten occasions for the Saints this term but would have been a valuable asset for Celtic.

The £70k-per-week earner was a stalwart under Neil Lennon last season and earned them points on his own. Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast a few weeks ago, Frank McAvennie claimed:

“Forster won the league for Celtic last season, he won the cup – they were battered by Rangers and Celtic won it 1-0. When you have got a good goalkeeper, that’s what happens. He was worth the money, I don’t know why they didn’t spend it.”

Dubbed an “exceptional goalkeeper” by Kevin Campbell, a player of Forster’s capabilities could have lifted Celtic to a far greater season than they’ve endured.

He saved no fewer than four penalties in the 2019/20 campaign and made 11 stops – including one from the spot – in the League Cup final against Rangers that same season.

Forster made an immense impact at Celtic and as we’ve seen with Allan McGregor at Rangers this term, those between the sticks are often key.

Speaking to FFC, McAvennie added: “He’s (McGregor) basically won the league for them, and I’m not being disrespectful to the rest of the players.”

In a season where defensive and goalkeeping errors have been rife for the Hoops, Forster could have made an enormous difference.

It’s a huge shame they didn’t bring him back to Glasgow.

AND in other news, Celtic may be on the verge of repeating Deila’s costly blunder, fans should be fuming…

Journalist and transfer ‘insider’ Dean Jones has made a behind-the-scenes West Ham United claim on midfield star Declan Rice’s future at the club.

The Lowdown: Rice rumours emerge…

A plethora of rumours surrounding Rice have come to light in the last week with big name transfer source Fabrizio Romano claiming he is ‘open’ to leaving this summer and has turned down a third new deal offer.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-newest-updates/” title=”West Ham newest updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

This comes after both Jones and 90min reporter Scott Saunders first said he is more open than ever to a Rush Green exit, yet according to Claret & Hugh, there have been claims to the contrary.

The insider believes that Rice is committed to West Ham for 2022/2023 at the very least, though if there isn’t any sign of competing for silverware, he could consider his future next year.

The Latest: Jones shares update…

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones claimed that the 23-year-old is set for a ‘big’ conversation with West Ham behind-the-scenes and there is ‘no doubt’ clubs will be knocking on the door.

He explained: “Declan Rice is going to have to have a big conversation with West Ham at the end of the season, no matter what happens.

“There’s no doubt that there’s going to be two or three clubs asking the question of how much would you actually sell this guy for?”

The Verdict: Interesting summer ahead…

There is little danger of manager David Moyes losing his superstar player this window given West Ham’s hard-line sale stance and the fact GSB have an option to extend his contract by a further year.

However, if Rice pushes for a possible move away, West Ham may be pressured somewhat to entertain interested clubs as to not disrupt the harmony of Moyes’ squad.

That being said, any price below £100 million simply shouldn’t be considered given his obvious quality, the fact Rice is homegrown and may only get better.

According to WhoScored, the colossal Three Lions international has averaged a fifth-best passing accuracy per game on average out of every Premier League player in the division (91.6%) – backing his composure and assurance at an impressively young age.

He’s also in high demand, putting West Ham in a position of strength to command a justifiable fee for his services.

Ideally, Moyes will have another season or two with Rice in his squad, but this summer could be a very interesting one nonetheless.

In other news: ExWHUemployee shares major West Ham player update with deal agreed! Find out more here.

Former England midfielder Rob Lee has called for Thiago to be given time at Liverpool in an exclusive interview with Football FanCast.

Thiago, who joined the Reds from Bayern Munich in the last summer transfer window, has faced criticism for his lack of impact at Anfield since arriving. Speaking on talkSPORT back in January, host Adrian Durham described the 29-year-old as a “luxury player” in a scathing attack.

Lee, however, is refusing to be as critical, suggesting that Thiago needs time as he continues to adapt to English football.

On the topic of the Spain international, former Newcastle United star Lee exclusively told FFC:

“I think you look at Thiago and think, that was a good signing, that was a great signing. He plays differently. Liverpool will always press – Jordan Henderson and the other players, they’re always pressing.

“Maybe Klopp thought ‘there’s a different way we have to play. We have the ball the majority of the time, we need to retain the ball’.

“Thiago does that, he passes well. So, you just have to give him time. He’s certainly not a bad player.”

Thiago could not be blamed for feeling if he did feel like a bit of a scapegoat right now. Liverpool, as a whole unit, have simply not been performing well and it’s unfair to point fingers at just one man.

The Merseyside club have failed to score in any of their last three Premier League fixtures at home, succumbing to defeats against Fulham, Chelsea and Everton. Considering that, their issues may be further up the pitch, rather than in midfield.

Ultimately, with this being Thiago’s first season in English football, there is probably no reason for manager Jurgen Klopp to hit the panic button yet regarding the former Bayern Munich and Barcelona midfielder. As Lee suggested, he just needs more time.

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 

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.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-spurs-news-manager-gossip-transfer-rumours-team-and-injury-updates-and-much-more” title= “Read the latest Spurs news, manager gossip, transfer rumours, team and injury updates and more!”]

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…

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Premier League midfielder Carlton Palmer is adamant Carlo Ancelotti has no intention of catering to Alex Iwobi’s desire to play in his preferred position at Everton.

Iwobi recently posted a story on Instagram that was interpreted by some as a dig at his club manager for not always utilising him efficiently. Ancelotti has since responded, stating he is willing to play Iwobi in a position he feels more comfortable in if the player speaks to him about the issue.

Palmer, however, doubts the three-time Champions League winning-manager will go through with his words, especially with Everton doing so well in English football’s top flight this season.

Discussing the matter in an exclusive interview with FFC, Palmer said:

“Maybe he’s just saying that for the public. I don’t believe for one minute Carlo Ancelotti would do that, I don’t believe for one minute. I think he’s just trying to deal with it in the press and in the media, defusing the situation by saying that. He’s never going to change the system to suit one player.”

£50,000-a-week man Iwobi has been used in various positions this term, including at left and right wing-back.

As an attacker, naturally, it can be expected that the Nigeria international wants to play further forward. However, at present, there is a lot of competition in that area of the pitch at Goodison Park.

Richarlison and James Rodriguez are just a couple of players Ancelotti can call upon when fielding his forward line, making things a bit difficult for Iwobi in regards to his desire to play in attack regularly.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Tottenham Hotspur legend, Graham Roberts, has revealed that he doesn’t want to see Graham Potter appointed as the club’s next manager.

Potter has been linked with the job at Spurs after impressing since being appointed as Brighton’s manager in 2019, having turned them into one of the most attacking and enjoyable sides to watch in the Premier League.

Steve Hitchen, Spurs’s chief scout, is reportedly set to recommend Potter as a good candidate for Daniel Levy to consider appointing as Jose Mourinho’s replacement at the end of the season.

Speaking on if he would like to see Potter as Spurs’ next manager and what his time at Brighton has proved, Roberts exclusively told FFC:

“No, not for me. I think he’s done okay at Brighton, they beat Liverpool, but then lost to West Brom and Sheffield United, so to me that shows there’s something not right there.”

Levy has put Ryan Mason in temporary charge until the end of the season, as they look to take their time in appointing Mourinho’s successor.

Spurs will now be onto their third manager since November 2019, which was when Mauricio Pochettino was sacked, leading the way for Mourinho to be appointed.

Former Tottenham captain Graham Roberts has told Nuno Espirito Santo to play Harry Kane or let him go.

Kane made his long-awaited return to competitive action at Wolves on Sunday – replacing Heung-min Son off the bench for the final 18 minutes at Molineux.

His late cameo appearance came just days after the striker was overlooked for the victory against Manchester City and UEFA Conference League tie against Pacos de Ferreira four days later.

But Santo ignored the ongoing links with Pep Guardiola’s side and cited Kane’s lack of match fitness as the reason for his absence for the opening two games of the season.

It’s unclear whether Kane will start the second leg tie on Thursday evening or the Premier League clash with Watford on Sunday. He has, however, stated that his intention is now to stay at Tottenham.

Santo may not want to change a winning team against the Hornets, but Roberts exclusively told Football FanCast that Kane must return to the starting XI as quickly as possible:

“Harry Kane is a Tottenham player so he should play him. If we’re not going to pick him, then you might as well let him go. He’s the best striker in the world, so play him.

“Don’t keep putting him on the bench, saying he’s unfit, he isn’t going to get fit coming on for 10 minutes.”