All posts by z3u9t.icu

Tottenham Hotspur could be a potential destination for Goncalo Guedes this summer…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Sphera Sports editor and RadioESport Valencia host Domingo Ortiz, who claimed on Twitter that if Nuno Espirito Santo were hired as Spurs’ next boss, the north London outfit may then emerge as contenders for the 24-year-old’s signature.

The 47-year-old has since been appointed, which makes this claim a little more intriguing, especially as it seems that the Valencia winger is a man in demand across Europe.

O Jogo suggested earlier in the year that Guedes could be on the chopping block this summer due to the La Liga outfit’s finances and since then, Nuno’s former club Wolves, fellow Premier League rivals West Ham and Everton, as well as Fiorentina, have all been linked with a move for him.

Bale replacement

Nuno certainly has a lot on his plate in north London and, with pre-season training just days away, he and the club’s decision-makers – namely Fabio Paratici and Daniel Levy – will need to get a move on.

There is, of course, the future of Harry Kane to resolve but the playing squad is in dire need of an overhaul right across the pitch, too.

It has been revealed recently that Spurs do not have a second-season option as part of their loan agreement with Real Madrid over Gareth Bale, which means the Welsh superstar is currently set to return to the Bernabeu to see out his contract.

That leaves a gigantic hole in the squad, as aside from Kane and Heung-min Son, the 31-year-old attacker proved to be a valuable source of goals, registering 11 goals and two assists in the league despite a comparative lack of playing time.

Guedes is an interesting candidate the fill that void, particularly as he’s able to play anywhere across the front three, so not only can he fill that gap on the right but also provide backup to Spurs’ other deadly duo.

Across 34 appearances in all competitions, the 23-cap Portugal international directly contributed to 14 goals, whilst in La Liga alone he ranked as Valencia’s third-best regular (6.83) and recorded an average of 2.1 dribbles, 1.6 shots and 1.1 key passes per game, which was either first or second in the whole team, as per WhoScored.

Spurs could win the race to secure him thanks to super-agent Jorge Mendes, who helped Nuno land many a top-quality player at Molineux. He’s someone with whom Levy has frequently worked, too, bringing Matt Doherty and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to the club as recently as last summer.

The £22.5m-rated Guedes has just been knocked out of Euro 2020 and in the past has earned praise from Portugal legend Luis Figo, who told Foot Mercato (via Tribal Football): “Guedes is a fast, irreverent and unpredictable player, who himself builds actions for his teammates and is also able to finish well.”

Guedes has even earned lofty comparisons to one of the greatest to ever play the game, Cristiano Ronaldo, whilst his old Benfica coach Rui Vitoria has also dubbed him a “quality player.”

Furthermore, the 5 foot 10 forward has been described as a “special talent” and a physical “animal” too, perhaps backing up that likeness to the Juventus star.

It remains to be seen how much the Portuguese winger would cost but, with Bale unlikely to return as of right now, you’d surely have to consider Guedes a viable target considering his ties to Gestifute.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano drops exciting Spurs transfer claim…

A much-changed Manchester United secured a 1-1 draw with BSC Young Boys at Old Trafford in their final Champions League encounter in Group F.

Ralf Rangnick made a full 11 changes to the side that featured from the off in the victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday, handing first starts of the season to teenagers Anthony Elanga and Amad Diallo.

And it was a fast start from the hosts, with Mason Greenwood finishing in spectacular style within the opening ten minutes following Luke Shaw’s measured cutback.

United continuously won the ball back high up the pitch at the start of proceedings as Rangnick slowly implements his Gegenpressing style, but Diallo and Juan Mata both failed to finish off promising attacking moves.

However, the Red Devils were unable to sustain their pressing game and their Swiss opposition clawed themselves back into the tie on the stroke of half-time.

Fabian Reider won the ball back following some sloppy play on the edge of United’s area before bending in an unstoppable strike, leaving Dean Henderson helpless between the sticks.

An uneventful second half saw Rangnick hand first-team debuts to Tom Heaton, Charlie Savage and Zidane Iqbal, while Shola Shoretire also made his first appearance of the campaign, but it was perhaps a more experienced head who really took his chance.

Donny van de Beek controlled proceedings in the middle of the park and put his name firmly in the hat for more consistent outings under the new regime.

As per SofaScore, the Netherlands international had a whopping 92 touches throughout the 90 minutes, won nine of his 11 duels (82%) and picked out a teammate with three of his four attempted long balls.

The 24-year-old finished the game with a passing accuracy of 84% and successfully completed both of his dribbles, yet it was defensive contribution that really caught the eye.

Van de Beek made six tackles – at least two more than any of his teammates – pulled off three interceptions, two clearances and one block, highlighting his hugely effective display at both ends of the pitch.

His part in Young Boys’ equaliser was the only blot on the former Ajax ace’s copybook, and he’ll be hoping Rangnick can look past his single error as he bids to become a regular fixture in the starting lineup.

And, in other news…Rangnick lines up move for “unbelievable” £100k-p/w “animal”, he’s what Man Utd need

West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Bruce has provided an update on the fitness of long-term absentees Kean Bryan and Kenneth Zohore as the Baggies approach the conclusion of their campaign.

What’s the story?

Speaking to the media ahead of today’s Championship clash against Stoke City at The Hawthorns, the Albion boss revealed that the duo are working hard to be fit in time for pre-season training in the summer, but has effectively ruled out any hope of either player featuring for the remainder of 2021/22.

Bryan required knee surgery after damaging his ACL in November, having played just 49 minutes of league action across three appearances after joining the West Midlands club on a free transfer from Sheffield United.

On the 25-year-old defender, the Albion manager said: “That’s a hard thing to deal with, especially when you’re a new player at a club and you do your ACL.

“I spoke to him the other day – his knee resembles a knee again, which three months ago it didn’t. He’s working extremely hard. It’s a big summer for him, too. He’s on track.

“I think it’s a crucial time, pre-season. Every club have had a struggle with it, because of the pandemic.”

As for Zohore, the striker has been limited to just two Championship appearances this term, featuring seven times in Premier League 2 for the under-23s.

A nightmare season was made even worse when he picked up a thigh injury and then got injured again upon returning to training.

Bruce stated of the Dane: “It was a bad couple of days for us, because unfortunately he broke down. It’s a reset for him, as well. He got a thigh injury, a muscle injury, and he’d been six weeks out. He got re-injured. It was horrible. He’d only trained for 20 minutes and then he broke down again. It’s a reset for him. I would think that’s his season.”

Bruce will be gutted

Having been in the job for just two months, the 61-year-old is still yet to be able to fully witness the capabilities of both Zohore and Bryan, a development which will no doubt leave the West Brom boss feeling gutted.

The West Midlands outfit have endured a tricky campaign after being relegated from the Premier League last term, with Bruce’s team sat in 11th going into Saturday’s meeting with the Potters.

With just six games to go and the play-offs seemingly beyond Albion this year, Baggies supporters will be keen to see the back end of a difficult season. They will also be keen to have as many players as possible available for the new campaign, as will Bruce, who might then be able to make a proper assessment of the squad at his disposal.

It’s vital that Bryan and Zohore ensure that they are fit in time for pre-season in order to make an impression on the manager in order to reignite their respective West Brom careers. Otherwise they may have to seek moves elsewhere.

In other news: West Brom now set for big disaster over “unbelievable” £7.2m-rated gem

A journalist has claimed that Ralf Rangnick and Paulo Fonseca are both now ‘out of the picture’ for the Newcastle United manager job.

The Lowdown: Manager hunt continues

The St. James’ Park faithful have been linked with a number of different managers to take over from Steve Bruce on a permanent basis, including most recently Lucien Favre and Rafa Benitez.

Fonseca had been heavily linked with the role, with reports even suggesting he was Amanda Staveley’s preferred candidate, but Craig Hope claimed this week the former Roma boss arriving looks unlikely.

While the hunt continues, Graeme Jones will remain in temporary charge in the North East for now.

The Latest: No Rangnick or Fonseca?

Speaking to BILD (via Sport Witness), Bundesliga journalist Christian Falk has claimed that both Rangnick and Fonseca are currently ‘out of the picture’ in terms of becoming the next coach on Tyneside.

However, he also added that they are still ‘candidates’, meaning that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium could still turn to them to fill the vacancy.

The Verdict: Not much between them

There is certainly not much between Rangnick and Fonseca, with the former having eight trophies to his name with three different clubs (Transfermarkt), while the latter boasts nine major honours.

They both have an attractive playing style, as Fonseca has been described as ‘similar’ to Chelsea and UEFA Champions League winning-boss Thomas Tuchel by his former player at Roma Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Football London), while Roma chief executive Tiago Pinto believes that he is an ‘international class‘ tactician.

Rangnick is famous for his team’s gegenpressing, an attack-minded tactic based on making chances by winning the ball back high up the pitch (ESPN), while Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp claimed that he is ‘one of the best, if not the best German coach’ (ESPN), ahead of the likes of Tuchel and Julian Nagelsmann.

Nonetheless, both would be excellent choices by the new owners, should they come back into the equation.

In other news, find out what conversations Craig Hope has revealed about Fonseca and the Magpies job here!

Newcastle United fans have been handed an exciting twist in their club’s chase to sign Lille defender Sven Botman this summer.

What’s the story?

Fabrizio Romano had recently suggested that Serie A giants Milan were virtually nailed-on to sign the Netherlands international, but it seems that the Magpies have come in at the 11th hour to throw a spanner in the works.

Posting initially on Twitter, Football Insider revealed that both Eddie Howe’s side and Milan have “verbally agreed personal terms” and that the Magpies have held “extensive negotiations” with the defender since January.

In a follow-up article, it was added that a Newcastle source had told them the Tyneside club “have not given up hope of landing Botman after extensive negotiations over a potential deal both in January and subsequently… They will now try to negotiate a fee with Lille, who have held out for a £30m fee.”

Game-changer for Newcastle

If Newcastle can manage to pull off a last-minute heist for Botman, it really would be the biggest statement of the new PIF era thus far.

Never mind that the Magpies are competing with a club like Milan, who are rich in footballing history and playing some kind of European football almost annually.

The idea that Newcastle could come in and blow the Rossoneri out of the water with an offer and convince a player to join them so soon after they had basically been out of the running is a telling sign of the massive impact that the Toon Army could have in the future.

It’s a worrying sign for the rest of Europe that, even at this early stage of their revolution, that Newcastle are already beginning to throw their weight around behind closed doors and putting their money where their mouth is.

They already managed to beat Arsenal to the signing of Bruno Guimaraes, and muscling out Milan to Botman would be another significant coup.

Described by his former Lille boss Christophe Galiter as someone who is emerging as a “leader”, and valued at £40m by CIES, Botman could be another game-changing signing for Newcastle if they pull it off.

AND in other news – Sold for just £100k, now a two-time title winner: NUFC flop has delivered huge payback

West Bromwich Albion are set to have a fight on their hands to keep goalkeeper Sam Johnstone at the club over the January transfer window.

What’s the story?

The 28-year-old has entered the final year of his current contract at the Hawthorns and has already reportedly attracted the attention of West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur.

And now, according to The Sun’s Alan Nixon, fellow Premier League outfit Southampton have joined the race for Johnstone’s signature, with the Saints keen to secure his services over the winter window.

The report states that: “They (Southampton) are willing to pay rather than wait until he becomes a free agent in the summer. But Johnstone, 28, is settled at the Championship Baggies and looks ready to wait until the end of his contract to decide on his next move.

“And the fact he is now No. 2 in the international squad while playing in the second tier means there is no need for him to jump ship sooner. Both West Ham and Tottenham have pencilled in offers for Johnstone if he leaves, while West Brom have let him know there will be a lucrative deal to stay.”

Ismael concerned

Despite the report stating that Johnstone is likely to remain at West Brom for the remainder of the campaign, Baggie’s boss Valerien Ismael will still be concerned at this latest revelation.

Johnstone has started ten of Albion’s 11 Championship fixtures so far this season, keeping four clean sheets and conceding just seven goals.

But perhaps more importantly, the Manchester United academy graduate has adapted to Ismael’s style of play with relative ease.

A recent article published by The Atheltic revealed Johnstone has completed 31 keeper-sweepings and has made six-headed clearances already, which is the same as his last three campaigns combined.

Alongside this, he is also down on saves per game and catches per game as he has been forced to become a more modern goalkeeper and appears to be coping well with the change.

Therefore, Ismael will be worried that Johnstone’s potential departure could derail West Brom’s promotion push, condemning them to another campaign in the second tier of English football.

After all, he is one of their most important players and is now a prominent member of the England set up too.

And, in other news…West Brom set for big injury boost ahead of Birmingham, Ismael will be buzzing

A number of Liverpool supporters are unhappy after an update regarding Xherdan Shaqiri, Harvey Elliott and the Reds’ transfer business emerged.

It has been a quiet summer at Anfield to date, with Ibrahima Konate the only player to arrive at Anfield.

Liverpool have been doing their best to offload some of the deadwood, however, with Shaqiri one of those individuals, having only made five Premier League starts last season.

[freshpress-quiz id=“359326”]

The 29-year-old has been linked with a move to Lyon recently, but as things stand, he remains a Reds player.

According to The Daily Mail‘s Dominic King, Elliott’s rise at Liverpool this summer means Liverpool are unlikely to sign a replacement for Shaqiri, with the teenager deemed a good enough player to fill in.

This has naturally led to some frustration surrounding the Reds’ continued lack of spending, with many still wanting another attacking player brought in.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/the-latest-liverpool-transfer-news-copy-4/” title=”The latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Liverpool fans unhappy at Shaqiri update

These Liverpool fans have taken to Twitter to show their anger at the update.

“Clowns, don’t want to hear any complaints when we start falling apart next season”

Credit: @SnowHalliburton

“This club kills me man”

Credit: @bayowaaaa

“You see how as Shaqiri is about to be sold it’s no longer we have to sell to buy? FSG are a disgrace”

Credit: @agyeitah

“No way are FSG using an 18 YEAR OLD to be the Gini replacement AND our attacking depth???”

Credit: @VirgilLFC

“This club isn’t serious”

Credit: @SoLockedIn

“Why did my dad have to support this team man”

Credit: @kany3west3_

In other news, some Liverpool fans have also fumed at another transfer update. Read more here.

Manchester United’s attempts to secure a replacement for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have taken a significant blow after both Luis Enrique and Julen Lopetegui were ruled out of the running. 

What’s the story?

The Spanish pair were believed to be part of an extensive list of managerial targets being considered by the Old Trafford hierarchy, but it appears as though they will now have to turn their attention to alternative targets.

According to well-known journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, neither Enrique or Lopetegui are interested in joining United, with both men focussed on their current positions.

He tweeted: “Luis Enrique won’t be involved in any talk with Manchester United. He’s only planning for the World Cup with Spain and he’s not gonna change his mind. #MUFC Sevilla manager Jules Lopetegui also denied Man Utd job chance: ‘It seems absurd to me’.”

Man Utd fans will be gutted

News that both the Spanish national team manager and Sevilla boss aren’t interested in taking charge of the Red Devils will leave large sections of the club’s fanbase feeling wounded.

Enrique and Lopetegui have cultivated enviable reputations as highly-regarded tacticians for their impressive work in their homeland, but the lure of Manchester isn’t what it once was.

The duo join Ajax boss Erik ten Hag in exiting the race to become Solsskjaer’s successor, with the whole affair threatening to turn into a rather embarrassing circus for the Glazers and co.

It was recently reported by ESPN that United have had an initial approach rebuffed by Paris Saint-Germain as they attempt to prize Mauricio Pochettino away from the French capital, meaning an interim manager is now likely to take the reins.

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Several intriguing candidates such as Ralf Rangnick, Ernesto Valverde and Rudi Garcia have emerged as favourites for that particular role, but that approach is unlikely to go down well with the supporters.

Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired back in 2013, the 20-time English champions have been through six temporary and permanent managers. The time for stability and long-term planning has now arrived.

Therefore, Romano’s latest revelation regarding Enrique and Lopetegui will be hugely disappointing for everyone associated with United, and they’ll be hoping for a quick resolution to their managerial conundrum.

And, in other news…Big Man United manager update issued live on Sky Sports, fans will be concerned 

Manchester United have approached former Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde as they look to appoint an interim manager following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal. 

What’s the story?

The Red Devils have been linked with several star names as they search for Solskjaer’s successor gathers pace, but a first-choice candidate appears to have been chosen.

According to news relayed by well-known journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, United chiefs have made contact with Valverde as they look for a short-term solution to their managerial vacancy.

He tweeted: “Manchester United board had a direct contact with former Barça manager Ernesto Valverde today, as per @JamieJackson___#MUFC. No decision made yet – he’s one of the five candidates in the list in case Mauricio Pochettino won’t be allowed to leave Paris Saint-Germain.”

Man Utd fans should be pleased

Although the prospect of another interim manager is not something that will get too many United fans off their seats, the idea that such a well-respected and proven tactician is being lined up as his alternative should at least provide some form of comfort.

In fact, after hearing of the big twist that Pochettino might be more difficult to lure away from PSG, seeing Valverde linked with the club should have supporters rather pleased.

Considering Valverde’s success, he certainly seems like a very good option if the Red Devils cannot lure the Argentine back to England as feared. After claiming three league titles and two Greek Cups across two spells with Olympiacos and taking charge of over 300 games in the Athletic Bilbao dugout over two separate stints, Valverde got his big break as Barca boss back in 2017.

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During his time in Catalonia, the 57-year-old guided the Blaugrana to consecutive La Liga titles and a Copa del Rey crown before being sacked in January 2020, but he’s been out of work ever since.

In Jamie Jackson’s original report, it’s claimed that Valverde has already held talks with football director John Murtough and that the Spaniard has begun identifying transfer targets ahead of the January window.

“It is understood Valverde has discussed with John Murtough, United’s football director, taking over on a temporary basis, with the club conscious that having worked with Lionel Messi at Barcelona he would be at ease managing Cristiano Ronaldo,” wrote Jackson.

“Valverde has started sounding out potential players he could add to strengthen the squad should he be appointed.”

Only time will tell if United and Valverde can agree terms on his temporary appointment, but supporters should view his arrival as the best of a bad situation.

And, in other news…Fabrizio Romano drops big Man Utd manager update that’ll surely leave fans gutted

Manchester City are said to be really confident of signing Aston Villa star Jack Grealish this summer, as their summer recruitment drive intensifies [Pete O’Rourke via Football Terrace].

Enjoying a superb 2020/21 campaign, the 25-year-old registered an incredible 19 goal contributions in 27 fixtures for the Villains; seven goals and 12 assists [Transfermarkt].

Having been heavily linked with a move to the Etihad this window, the Sky Blues could be about to accelerate the process following recent reports.

O’Rourke, who was speaking in the latest issue of The Football Terrace podcast, claimed that City are ‘really confident’ of striking an agreement for the England international, which would cost around £100 million [City Xtra].

In light of this news, loads of Manchester City fans flocked to Twitter to share their opinions on the recent reports.

Manchester City FC fans react:

Replying to popular Manchester City fan outlet City Xtra, here is what some fans had to say about the update, and they don’t seem particularly confident…

“Next week: Man City are even more confident of signing Jack grealish The week after: BREAKING Jack grealish signs villa extension”

Credit: @7Mcfcmax

“Different day, same story”

Credit: @MB264738

“really confident FC now”Credit: @dekmcfc”BRUV YOU SAY THE SAME THING EVERY DAY ARE WE EVER GONNA SIGN HIM”Credit: @philgoatden3″Just get it done, Damn it man”Credit: @Ziniology”Confidence ain’t enough”Credit: @fredijeh2In other news, Manchester City fans react to a transfer update.