All posts by z3u9t.icu

Liverpool have already been linked with a number of midfielders this summer and even reportedly agreed personal terms with Aurelien Tchouameni before he committed to a move to Real Madrid, so the Reds are clearly open to bolstering the midfield at Anfield this summer.

With Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara and James Milner all went into their 30s at this point, it would seem likely that the club are looking at reinforcements to cover their positions in the future, but they could also look at replacing the role that Georginio Wijnaldum fulfilled before he left on a free transfer last summer.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-liverpool-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-salah-gnabry-isak-romano” title= “Read the latest Liverpool news!”]

Carlos Soler has been linked with a move to Anfield on more than one occasion over the last 12 months, and it was reported in April that Liverpool may take a look at the Valencia player again after an impressive season in La Liga.

The £33m-valued midfielder – who was dubbed “special” by journalist Dermot Corrigan – scored 11 goals, contributed five assists and created five big chances in 32 La Liga appearances this season. He made 1.7 key passes and took 1.3 shots on goal per game, also winning the majority of his ground and aerial duels combined (52%).

According to FBRef, when it comes to footballers who are comparable to Soler, Wijnaldum ranks in the top 10 players over the last 12 months due to their similar attacking output and style of play.

Soler has scored more goals and contributed more assists than the Dutchman, but when it comes to their passing attributes, the midfielders are much closer in comparison. In 2021/22, the Spaniard completed 680 passes with a success rate of 69.1%, with Wijnaldum completing 683 at a much better pass accuracy of 90.5%.

Jurgen Klopp currently uses Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliot and Naby Keita in the most advanced role in the midfield three, but Soler has scored seven more goals and completed the same number of assists as all three combined.

If the German is looking to add more goal contributions from the midfield, then Soler would be the perfect fit for Liverpool next season. If he could emulate his output at Valencia, he could be more effective in the role than all three of the aforementioned players put together, giving the Anfield faithful a throwback to what Wijnaldum once brought to the team.

AND in other news – “LFC want…”: Fabrizio Romano drops huge transfer update, supporters will be buzzing

Manchester United are interested in signing Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain according to journalist Alex Crook for talkSPORT.

The lowdown: A series of unfortunate events

Signed for £35million from Arsenal in 2017 (BBC), Oxlade-Chamberlain arrived at Liverpool with anticipation of a fruitful career. After ten direct goal involvements in an opening Premier League campaign on Merseyside, it appeared as though the dynamic Englishman was going to live up to those expectations.

However, numerous injury issues have hampered the 28-year-old since and it now seems inevitable that a move will come this summer having added two more domestic cups to an impressive trophy cabinet last term.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-man-utd-updates-3/” title=”Latest Man Utd updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

As new manager Erik ten Hag attempts to add options to the Old Trafford ranks, United could be plotting an audacious attempt to make Oxlade-Chamberlain one of only a handful of players to represent both North West powerhouses.

The latest: ‘Surprise raid’

As per transfer insider Crook for the talkSPORT notebook, the Red Devils are believed to be ‘contemplating a surprise raid’ for the 35-cap England man this summer.

It’s claimed that Oxlade-Chamberlain is ‘desperate to leave Anfield’ having fallen down the pecking order once again in Jurgen Klopp’s plans and Liverpool could be looking for just £10million.

The report states that United are ‘seriously interested’ in signing the man once lauded as being like ‘dynamite’ by Klopp amidst a stellar spell of form in November 2017.

The verdict: No deal

Albeit adding Oxlade-Chamberlain to Michael Owen and Paul Ince as only the third player to play for both clubs in the Premier League era is a tempting proposition as Ten Hag plots a much-needed rebuild, the persistent injury woes mean that alternative options should be sought.

Despite remaining relatively issue-free last term whilst scoring three times and registering three assists in 29 appearances across all competitions, much of that prolonged fitness could be put down to a managed workload that saw the former Arsenal man only complete 90 minutes on just five occasions.

That lack of durability is a huge negative when looking at potential signings and even with the addition of five substitutes next season, United could certainly find a more reliable option to add to the squad, even at the mooted low asking price.

In other news, Erik ten Hag could be key in luring this star to Old Trafford

Manchester United are reportedly keeping tabs on Villarreal attacker Arnaut Danjuma ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from the Manchester Evening News, the Red Devils “are still fond admirers of the Dutch winger a year after he was considered as an alternative to Jadon Sancho”.

After scoring 17 goals and delivering eight assists in 52 appearances for Bournemouth, Danjuma joined the La Liga club last August in a deal worth a reported £21.3m.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-man-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-more-nunez-ten-hag-nkunku-richarlison” title=”Read the latest Man United news!”]

The 25-year-old has since enjoyed an impressive debut season with Unai Emery’s side as he racked up 16 goals and four assists in 34 appearances across La Liga and the Champions League.

Having scored against the likes of Juventus, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid this season, this shows just how capable the attacker is at performing against some of the top clubs in Europe and making himself a real threat in front of goal.

Better than Rashford

While the versatile attacker was once reportedly seen as a transfer alternative to Sancho last summer, Danjuma could now be a better option for Erik ten Hag at United than another attacking figure at Old Trafford, namely Marcus Rashford.

To compare the two players from their latest individual league campaigns, the Villarreal star totalled more goals, assists, dribbles and crosses than his Red Devils counterpart. This suggests that the former Bournemouth attacker could be a better attacking option for Ten Hag than the Englishman.

It also backs up what Kevin Phillips had to say about the Dutchman when he spoke about him earlier this year, saying: “On his day he is a nightmare for defenders. He can create and score goals. He can hurt any defence with his pace and directness.”

To further highlight his attacking prowess, no other player in Villarreal’s squad could match the number of shots (59) or shots on target (25) that Danjuma racked up in La Liga this season.

With a reported price tag of £50m on the 25-year-old, the Villarreal hotshot could be just what Ten Hag needs to freshen up the United squad and add a bit of life to their attack ahead of his debut season in charge of the Red Devils.

In other news: MUFC now want £54m-rated “phenomenon” as Ten Hag’s first signing, imagine him and Timber

Former Glasgow Rangers manager Alex McLeish has claimed that Joe Aribo could now leave Ibrox this summer.

The Lowdown: Mass exodus?

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team could be looking at a mass exodus this summer, given the number of players running down their contract.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/rangers-news-4/” title=”Rangers news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The likes of Ryan Kent and Calvin Bassey have also been linked with moves to the Premier League, which could spell trouble for the Dutch coach in terms of trying to keep his squad together.

The Latest: Aribo claim

Speaking to Football Insider, McLeish, who also contributes for Sky Sports, has claimed that ‘it’s a worry’ for the Gers when the English top flight come calling for their key players, and believes that Aribo could be another one that could be tempted by the switch:

“It’s a worry, isn’t it?

“The lure of the Premier League is very real. The main example of that is Steven Gerrard leaving Rangers to go to Aston Villa.

“It’s the strongest and richest league in the world.

“These Premier League clubs are like birds of prey circling. If they can’t land their targets in the Spanish or Italian leagues, they know there are always bargains to be had in Scotland.

“Rangers are one of the biggest clubs in the world. However, the ambition of most players means they will almost always choose to move to England.

“Aribo will be no different.”

The Verdict: Tricky position

The Teddy Bears will certainly find themselves in a tricky position if big offers start to come in from the Premier League.

Aribo himself has been linked with a move to Crystal Palace, among other clubs in the division, and the Light Blues will not want to let everyone go in one window.

Thus, they need to be demanding high transfer fees for all of these stars, and only sell if the price is right.

Nonetheless, they will be hoping that their hands will not be tied by the players themselves, in case they try and force their way out of the club.

In other news, find out which ‘magnificent’ leader could now join Gers here!

Recent reports have seen Newcastle United linked with a move for Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio, with the 20-year-old potentially set to be available for £38m owing to a release clause in his existing contract.

The Magpies are believed to have seen a €30m (£25.3m) bid for the Portuguese starlet rebuffed by the Primeira Liga club in January, although they are seemingly set to re-enter the market for the youngster in the upcoming transfer window.

The £16.2m-rated gem – who has also been linked with a move to Manchester United – only made his senior debut in October 2020, although he featured heavily for the remainder of that campaign as Ruben Amorim’s side claimed the league title.

He has kicked on again this term, making 45 appearances in all competitions, including seven outings during the club’s run to the Champions League round of 16, and it is no surprise that transfer interest is starting to flood in.

A highly-rated young prospect, the 6 foot 1 centre-back has received particularly glowing reports from playmakerstats.com’s Portuguese expert Daniel Oliveira, who has compared him favourably to current Manchester City captain Ruben Dias.

Asked about the Portuguese duo, Oliveira stated: “It’s always difficult to compare players. One obvious difference is that Dias joined Manchester City when he was 23, so he was further along in his development than Inacio, who is still only 20. It is unlikely, therefore, that Inácio could have the same impact as Dias, who was crowned the Premier League’s best player at the end of his first season.

“Dias was always a natural leader and Inácio’s communication may be one area in which he can improve. Physically-speaking, I believe the young Sporting defender would be able to handle the Premier League, as he is very strong in the tackle and in the air.

“He’s also smart in his defending, as just two bookings all season will tell you. In terms of his quality on the ball, I would probably rate Inácio higher than Dias – he’s very good on the deck and has a 91% pass completion rate in the Primeira Liga this term.

“Like I say, it’s hard to make comparisons. I’m 100% sure about one thing: the 20-year-old Inacio is a better player than Ruben Dias was at the same age.”

That final statement will have particularly caught the eye of those at Newcastle, and it is high praise indeed to suggest that Inacio is already considered to be ahead of where the City star was at the same age.

Dias has proven an influential figure in Pep Guardiola’s side, taking on the captaincy this season after a fine debut campaign in England last term, with his performances in that title-winning year seeing him crowned the Premier League Player of the Season.

Should Inacio reach such heights, he could help to propel Eddie Howe’s men towards the upper echelons of the English top flight, with European qualification likely to be the ambition for the mega-rich new owners.

The £9.2k-per-week gem’s statistics this season further illustrate what a colossal talent he is, as he averaged 2.4 clearances, 1.4 tackles and 0.9 interceptions per game in the league, along with helping his team to keep 14 clean sheets.

By contrast, Dias has averaged 0.8 interceptions, 0.9 tackles and 2.2 clearances per game and has kept 12 clean sheets in the Premier League thus far, albeit while forming part of a backline which has conceded just 24 goals this season, the fewest in the division.

Of course, it is hard to know how smoothly Inacio would find the transition from Portugal to England if he comes to Newcastle, although all the signs are pointing towards him reaching the same heights – or even bettering – those of his compatriot at the Etihad Stadium.

IN other news, Eddie Howe can now help NUFC sign “spectacular” £64m “nightmare”, he’s better than Saint-Maximin

West Ham United are reportedly closing in on a deal for Rennes defender Nayef Aguerd, with the Hammers currently engaged in talks with the Ligue 1 outfit.

What’s the word?

As per 90min, the east Londoners are ‘continuing to hold talks’ with the French club in the hope of coming to an agreement for the Morocco international, with David Moyes ‘close to agreeing a fee’ for the 26-year-old.

The report suggests that the centre-back has emerged as West Ham’s ‘primary target’ to solve their defensive woes, having been caught short this season due to a lack of depth in the centre of defence.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-this-weeks-latest-west-ham-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-more” title= “Read the latest West Ham news!”]

Nonetheless, it is believed that one of the club’s current options will still be moved on in order to accommodate the arrival of the 19-cap colossus, with previous reports suggesting that a fee of around £20m could be enough for the Irons to get their man.

West Ham’s own Pique

The arrival of the former Dijon player would no doubt be a major coup for GSB, with the £8.1m-rated defender having been dubbed a “real boss” by the French media earlier this season for his impressive form, having helped his current side secure an impressive fourth-place finish in the league.

The £8.9k-per-week gem netted twice and registered two assists in 31 league outings in the most recent campaign, while also averaging four clearances per game and winning 62% of his total duels.

His ability in possession could also prove hugely beneficial to Moyes’ side, as he ranks in the top 10% for passes attempted and in the top 16% for pass completion among those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues.

That ball-playing ability could mean that the east Londoners may well have their own Gerard Pique on their hands, with the pair noted as similar players by FBRef due to their closely mirrored statistical profiles.

While at 34 the Barcelona icon may no longer be quite at his peak, it is Aguerd (30) who made more tackles than the Spaniard (22) in the league in 2021/22, while the Rennes defender has also come out on top for interceptions made (54 to 35).

If the West Ham target can enjoy even a fraction of the success that the Spanish legend has had, then the Premier League side will be in for a treat with Aguerd, with it rare that such a commodity comes available for what is seemingly a relative bargain price.

IN other news, Cost £1.5m per goal: GSB made a colossal blunder on “strong” £40k-p/w West Ham flop 

Celtic are ‘desperate’ to make Cameron Carter-Vickers’ loan move a permanent one this summer, journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed.

The Lowdown: Carter-Vickers colossal for Celtic

The American has been one of the Hoops’ star performers throughout the season, playing a major role in them regaining the Premiership title.

Carter-Vickers has won a monstrous 4.2 aerial duels per game in 2021/22, and his performances saw him nominated for the SFWA Player of the Year award.

The 24-year-old is only on loan from Tottenham, though, and the hope is that Celtic can snap him up on a permanent basis this summer.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/key-latest-celtic-updates-6/” title=”Key latest Celtic updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=“none”]

The Latest: Celtic will be ‘desperate’ to sign Carter-Vickers

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke claimed that the Hoops see Carter-Vickers as one of their most important pieces of business:

“He’s been really impressive at Celtic, slotted straight into the team under Ange Postecoglou and been among the top performers for the club.

“I think they will be desperate to get this deal done, but I’m sure Celtic’s scouting and recruitment team have got other options on the table if they aren’t able to sign the USA international.”

The Verdict: Surely it happens

Sometimes a prospective transfer comes along which looks like a no-brainer for all concerned, and that certainly applies to Carter-Vickers and nailing him down to a permanent deal a Celtic.

He is at an ideal age for a centre-back in terms of his long-term development and also having experience of European and international football, while he now knows the Hoops inside out as a club.

Furthermore, Spurs are reportedly willing to sell the USA international, given how rarely he featured in north London; and with Champions League football secured for Celtic, where he has finally secured a sustained run of first-team action, he will surely decide that a permanent move to Parkhead is the right one.

In other news, James Pearce has dropped a Liverpool injury claim. Read more here.

Liverpool are long-term admirers of Roma’s Nicolo Zaniolo and could make a move for him this summer, according to Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown

Zaniolo, 22, is predominantly a right winger but he’s also played 17 matches this season in a second striker role. That means he could provide cover and competition for Mohamed Salah, but may also be able to operate as a false nine in the manner of Roberto Firmino, for example.

Liverpool, of course, signed both Salah and Alisson from Roma in 2017 and 2018 for fees of £34million and £67million respectively.

And it seems Julian Ward, taking over as sporting director from Michael Edwards, could look to find more success by shopping in the Italian capital.

Zaniolo has just over two years remaining on his deal at the Stadio Olimpico, though his current focus may be on preparations for the Europa Conference League final against Feyenoord on 25 May.

His hat-trick against Bodo/Glimt last month helped steer Jose Mourinho’s side into the semifinals.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-32/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The latest

The Italian press claim Zaniolo has been a Liverpool target for some time, so this is seemingly an Edwards target being carried over into Ward’s new role.

If the player is to extend his stay at Roma, he wants a contract worth €4million per year, which equates to about £65,000 per week, says the report. But if he’s to leave, he won’t be short of suitors, either domestically or abroad.

Juventus and AC Milan are waiting in the wings, and the player’s first instinct is apparently to remain in Italy.

He would apparently find it difficult to turn down a ‘super offer’ from overseas though, as Liverpool and Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur ‘have continued to monitor him for some time’.

It’s thought that he would cost somewhere between €65million and €70million (£55.3million-£59.5million).

The verdict

Is Zaniolo good enough for Liverpool? His goals/assists record this season is good without being spectacular – seven scored, eight assisted in 39 appearances across all competitions.

But it’s important to remember that he’s still a young player and that his development has badly affected by injury. The Italian suffered two anterior cruciate ligament injuries in the space of a year, so patience may be required.

What’s more, some of Zaniolo’s underlying numbers are strong. He records a high volume of dribbles (81st percentile), touches in the attacking penalty area and progressive passes received (both 80th), highlighting his technical proficiency and intelligent movement.

This is the former Serie A Young Player of the Year, and Klopp may believe he can unlock his potential.

In other news, Liverpool may have found a Jordan Henderson replacement.

Elia Caprile’s agent has admitted he will talk with Leeds United chiefs at the end of the season regarding the goalkeeper’s future.

The Lowdown: Raphinha and Phillips links

The Whites are seriously flirting with relegation back to the Championship with just four Premier League games remaining with Jesse Marsch’s side sitting just two points above Everton, who have a game in hand.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-updates-2/” title=”Latest Leeds United updates!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Should the unthinkable happen, the likes of Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips, who have been heavily linked with Elland Road exits, will more than likely depart.

Raphinha is wanted at Barcelona, while Phillips has attracted interest from Aston Villa, Manchester United, Newcastle United and West Ham.

Could Caprile follow suit?

The Latest: Caprile’s agent speaks out

Caprile is yet to make a senior appearance for Leeds after joining back in 2020 and is currently out on loan at Serie C side Pro Patria, where he has made 38 appearances.

He recently admitted it is his dream to play for Napoli, and Caprile’s agent, Graziano Battistini, has now addressed the goalkeeper’s future.

Relayed by Sports Witness, Battistini said he is set to talk with Leeds chiefs – presumably Victor Orta and Andrea Radrizzani – at the end of the season regarding Caprile’s future, with the possibility of relegation for the Whites changing all scenarios.

The Verdict: Exit make sense?

Providing Leeds keep hold of Illan Meslier, a permanent exit for Caprile this summer could make sense for all involved.

Alongside Meslier, Leeds also have Kristoffer Klaesson and Dani van den Heuvel on the books at Elland Road, meaning Caprile could be fourth choice ahead of Marsch’s first full season in charge.

Following this update, an exit for the Italian could be one to keep an eye on over the coming months, but Leeds have bigger problems to worry about over the next three weeks on the pitch.

In other news: Radz, Orta and Marsch now want to bring ‘X-factor’ attacker to Leeds despite possible relegation

With something of a rebuild on the cards for Jesse Marsch and Leeds United this summer, one would expect a number of the 48-year-old’s first-team players to be moved onto pastures new in the upcoming window – in order for the American to raise funds for his own signings ahead of 2022/23.

One such player who looks certain to depart Elland Road is Helder Costa, the winger currently on loan at Valencia.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-marsch-raphinha-dest-philhay” title=”Read the latest Leeds news!”]

The LaLiga side are reported to have a €20m (£16.5m) option to buy the Angola international, however, disappointing performances coupled with the January arrival of Tottenham Hotspur’s Bryan Gil have seen the £7.2m-rated forward’s minutes become extremely limited, with the latest updates from Spain suggesting that Los Che will not be taking up the purchase clause of the 28-year-old.

And, considering the fact that the player who Noel Whelan dubbed “negative” is reported to be earning a whopping £70k-per-week at Elland Road, in addition to the fact that Costa has ranked as the club’s second-worst and 10th-worst performer in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 Premier League campaigns respectively, it is unsurprising that reports are suggesting the Whites could look to move the player on permanently this summer.

Indeed, with an extremely inflated wage and failing to live up to his £16m fee, it would appear a wise move for Marsch to finally call time on the Angolan’s career at Elland Road.

Another player whose head could be on the chopping block at the end of the season is Robin Koch, the £13m 2020 signing from SC Freiburg.

The £15.3m-rated centre-back has struggled with both form and injury in 2021/22, making just 15 Premier League appearances, over which he has averaged a well below-par SofaScore match rating of just 6.54 – ranking him as Marsch’s sixth-worst player in the division.

These returns have seen the Germany international come in for criticism, with Danny Mills stating his belief that the 25-year-old could well find himself on the unwanted list as a result of failing to stake a claim in the starting XI:

“He hasn’t really found a position. He’s OK here, he’s OK there and he’s decent there. You don’t look at it and go, ‘he is playing centre-half’ or ‘he’s playing defensive midfield.’

“That is difficult for a player and also for a manager. Where does he fit in? Can the manager get somebody to do a specific job in that position who is maybe a little bit better?

“Sometimes being a utility player is great but it often means you are on the fringes. You are often second-choice in six or seven different positions.”

“The new manager will be looking to bring in two or three of his own players, players that he wants. If that means you have to get a couple out then so be it.”

And, with Koch also earning a quite considerable £46k-per-week at Elland Road, from his performances this season, it would not appear as if the player who Beren Cross dubbed both “horrible to watch” and “not good enough” is worth this outlay.

As such, it would seem as if moving Koch on – alongside Costa – could also be a smart move by Marsch, as not only would these exits free up room in the 48-year-old’s first-team squad, but it would also save Leeds a colossal £116k-per-week in wages.

AND in other news: Orta now plotting £20m Leeds bid for “unbelievable” talent, he’s better than Aaronson