All posts by h716a5.icu

Chelsea may have spent millions in the transfer market over the previous few windows, however, this doesn’t always guarantee success.

Having spent close to £200m on Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk during January, the Blues find themselves on their fourth manager of the season and are currently outside the top half of the Premier League table.

It’s not just incoming transfers that the Stamford Bridge outfit have had problems with over the previous few years either, with a succession of managers selling players far too soon.

The likes of Tammy Abraham, Timo Werner and Billy Gilmour were perhaps sold a little too hasty by Thomas Tuchel; however, it was the sale of Fikayo Tomori which has turned into a particular head-scratcher, especially considering his success in Serie A.

What is Fikayo Tomori up to now?

The Englishman emerged through the Chelsea academy before making his first team debut in the 2015/16 campaign and this was followed by a series of loan moves to Championship clubs, with his most productive stint coming at Derby County under Frank Lampard in 2018/19.

The former Blues midfielder took over the club the following summer and Tomori enjoyed moderate success under him, featuring in 22 matches that term, although he would soon fall out of favour.

He secured a surprising loan move to AC Milan in January 2021 and this soon turned permanent for a fee of £25m that summer, as new manager Tuchel clearly didn’t envision the defender in his future plans.

Selling him two years ago was arguably his biggest mistake during his time managing the club, with Tomori going from strength to strength in Italy over the previous two seasons.

He played an integral part in Milan winning the Scudetto for the first time in 11 years last term with GOAL even claiming that the defender was “living the dream” out in Italy.

He has continued his rich vein of form into this season, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.17/10 across 26 league appearances which ranks him as their second-best player in Serie A.

In the squad, Tomori ranks in the top five for tackles, interceptions and clearances made per game while he has also won a staggering 68% of his total duels, clearly proving that he is one of their best defenders.

Tuchel had a major blunder in selling the defender when he did, especially when he failed to even give him a chance in the team and the 25-year-old is currently proving him wrong.

Arsenal are believed to be one of the clubs who are eyeing the possibility of signing Declan Rice in the summer and it is said he would be keen on a move to north London.

Will Rice leave West Ham in the summer?

The future of the England international has been up in the air for a number of months now with the midfielder having reportedly turned down a number of contract offers.

Indeed, it is believed the 24-year-old has snubbed three improved deals to remain at the London Stadium as the club's relegation woes continue into the business end of the campaign.

And reports would suggest the midfielder is not short of potential suitors ahead of the summer window with the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea offering him the chance to stay in London.

Whereas, a move up north could potentially be on the table for him with the likes of Manchester United and Newcastle United both credited with interest.

However, speaking on the Chasing Green Arrows show, insider Dean Jones has suggested the London-born midfielder would be keen to join the league leaders over the summer:

(31:10) "Declan Rice, obviously the big name they want to check out early in the window to see what the pricing is going to be around that.

"They're not just going to pay whatever it takes to get Declan Rice, but they do want him and he's very interested in going there."

Would Rice be a good fit for Arsenal?

Rice has established himself as one of the standout midfielders in the Premier League over the years and has received a lot of praise in doing so.

ESPN writer David Cartlidge took to Twitter back in 2019 to praise the £60k-per-week ace as an "absolute monster" and that can be seen through his number of interceptions made which has him ranked inside the top fourth percentile (via FBref).

Another midfielder in which the Gunners have been linked with is Moises Caicedo of Brighton & Hove Albion after a failed pursuit of the Ecuadorian in the January window.

In comparison to the Brighton ace (3.07), Rice has provided fewer tackles (2.21) per 90 minutes but he has been able to tackle a higher percentage of opposition dribbles (via FBref).

Mikel Arteta's side will also have to contend with Champions League football next season and will, therefore, be forced to meet a homegrown quota which Rice would contribute towards.

Having also offered more progressive yards per game, it could be argued Rice may provide Arsneal with a more dynamic option to Caicedo who has scored one goal fewer than the Englishman this season (via FBref).

But the money involved is likely to be significant with David Moyes already telling the media that the Irons will be looking for in excess of £100m for their prized asset.

Journalist Ryan Taylor of The Daily Express has shared his own update on Tottenham Hotspur and their links to Eintracht Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner.

What's the latest on Glasner to Spurs?

The Austrian is one of many names to have been mentioned as a possible Antonio Conte replacement at Spurs. Indeed, Glasner comes as another managerial candidate who is reportedly attracting chairman Daniel Levy's interest.

The 48-year-old joins many prestigious coaches currently on the Lilywhites' managerial wishlist, with Mauricio Pochettino, Luis Enrique, Julian Nagelsmann, Zinedine Zidane and even Brendan Rodgers among those wanted in north London.

Levy has many pressing issues to contend with at the club – most notably their hunt for a new boss, sporting director Fabio Paratici's worldwide footballing ban and star striker Harry Kane's contract situation. It is the job of Spurs' eventual next manager to steady the ship and potentially sway the likes of Kane to commit themselves – a tall order given the situation at Hotspur Way right now.

Glasner, according to recent reports, may well be a possible nomination to help move Tottenham forward – with reporter Taylor now sharing what he knows about the former Wolfsburg manager.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, backing other claims, the Express journalist says Spurs admire him and is one of a few 'interesting' names to have emerged. This comes after reliable reporter Alasdair Gold reported that Tottenham actually interviewed Glasner to replace Jose Mourinho in 2021.

Taylor said:

"You've got Oliver Glasner at Frankfurt, who seems to be admired by the club. Even Ange Postecoglou as well at Celtic. I think he deserves a crack at a job in the Premier League.

"But yeah, there are some interesting names out there. So it's certainly something for Tottenham to get stuck into because there are so many candidates."

Could Glasner get the Spurs job?

While big-name options like Pochettino and Enrique come as, arguably, far more tantalising given their status – we believe Glasner could also be a fairly solid move.

Having guided Frankfurt to a Europa League triumph last year, the 3-4-2-1 manager has been praised for his pre-game preparation and attention to detail.

Niko Kovac, speaking to the Frankfurt Allgemeine Zeitung (via Bundesliga.com), shared his opinion on Glasner whilst seriously endorsing him, explaining:

“He’s very structured, very well organised, meticulous, observes the opposition very closely and prepares the team very well for them."

This could be music to the ears of Tottenham chiefs who must weigh their next manager carefully, and if they decide to formally move, there is apparently an exit clause in Glasner's current contract.

Liverpool were thrashed 4-1 in their Premier League clash with Manchester City at the Etihad stadium earlier today and Jurgen Klopp will surely be massively disappointed with the performance his team put on.

The Reds looked uninspired and at times, uninterested in the meeting with their former title rivals, but the scoreline would've come as no surprise to the Anfield faithful following a season full of lacklustre displays from the Merseysiders.

Liverpool's lack of effort was reflected massively in their overall statistics throughout the game with just 31% possession, one shot on target, over 400 fewer accurate passes completed, and zero big chances created which ultimately led to the visitors being punished by Pep Guardiola's title-chasing side.

Indeed, the inevitable goal machine Mohamed Salah did secure the lead in the 17th minute with his sublime finish, however, the rest of his team did not look to be up to the occasion and carelessly allowed the Egyptian's strike to become a consolation prize when the final whistle was blown.

It way one-way traffic as Manchester City cut through Liverpool's midfield and defence like butter on many occasions with Trent Alexander-Arnold's position, in particular, being exploited over and over again which led to BT Sport commentator Darren Fletcher claiming that the right-back was "dominated" by Jack Grealish.

However, luckily for the boyhood Liverpool ace there weren't many other players who offered much better over their individual performances, with midfielder Fabinho also struggling to make a positive impact and ultimately became the villain at the Etihad.

How did Fabinho get on vs Manchester City?

The £180k-per-week midfielder has been a shadow of his former self over the season so far and has often come under scrutiny for his drop-off in quality in the centre of the pitch and today's display was another sobering realisation that Fabinho may never return to his once-influential presence.

Over his 90-minute performance, the Brazilian dud – dubbed "criminal" against Man City by Kenn Leandre – was dribbled past three times, lost six duels and conceded two fouls, proving that he lacked focus and caused more problems than he solved over the fixture.

The former Monaco man – who earned a lowly 6.2 match rating, as per Sofascore – was also the subject of criticism from GOAL's Neil Jones, with the journalist stating that the 29-year-old 'looked a yard off the pace throughout'.

These horrendous midfield performances have been nothing new for Fabinho and pundits have been bewildered by his rapid decline with former Chelsea full-back Scott Minto claiming earlier this season:

"You talk about (Jordan) Henderson, yes, but you talk about Fabinho at the moment. Who is he at the moment? I don’t know who he is, it’s like his twin brother playing at the moment. He’s certainly not the player that he has been in recent years."

With that being said, it puts a huge question mark over Fabinho's future at Anfield if FSG are willing to heavily reinvest and refresh the midfield this summer but there is no doubt something needs to change and fast.

A report by The Telegraph and journalist Matt Law has shared an update on Antonio Conte’s future at Tottenham and the prospect of Ryan Mason as interim.

The Lowdown: Conte future debate…

The future of Conte is still very much up in the air and central to serious debate given Spurs still haven’t officially announced their managerial plans.

Speculation has been rife as to who could succeed the Italian if he is in fact sacked before the end of the season, with many candidates making their way onto Fabio Paratici’s managerial shortlist.

Mauricio Pochettino, a Lilywhites fan favourite and free agent, is seen as one of the favourites but Roberto De Zerbi, Luis Enrique, Marco Silva and Thomas Frank are also being considered according to Sky.

Chairman Daniel Levy is now unlikely to get his hands on Thomas Tuchel given reports highly suggest he’ll be joining Bayern Munich to replace Julian Nagelsmann.

Another option is appointing Mason as temporary head coach until the conclusion of this Premier League campaign, with Law sharing what he’s heard on that possibility.

The Latest: Mason update at Spurs…

According to the reliable reporter, writing in a report for The Telegraph, Levy has personally ‘given consideration’ to appointing Mason on an interim basis.

This would apparently be as the Spurs chief continues his search for a permanent manager off-the-field as a more long-term solution heading into next season.

The north Londoners are also believed to have ‘held talks’ over Conte’s future this week and Spurs could potentially sack the former Chelsea coach and agree to pay the remainder of his contract in one lump sum – which would amount to £4 million.

The Verdict: Good option…

Deciding Tottenham’s next manager comes as a very crucial decision and one which needs serious consideration.

Levy planning ahead on a permanent head coach while Mason takes charge in the mean time could be an efficient solution, especially considering the 31-year-old has previous experience in such a role.

Mason took temporary charge when Spurs dismissed ex-boss Jose Mourinho in 2021, overseeing their last seven games of the 2020/2021 season and winning four of them.

He lead Tottenham out for their 2021 Carabao Cup final against Man City, and while that ended in defeat, Mason did help to orchestrate impressive wins against the likes of Sheffield United (4-0) and Leicester City (4-2).

Praised for his ‘unbelievable’ work in the post by former Spurs star Toby Alderweireld, it would be a slight gamble in Spurs’ race for the top four, but the plan would have it’s merits.

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Fraser Forster was hailed by the media for a ‘stunning’ save in his side’s 3-3 draw at Southampton this afternoon.

The Lowdown: Disappointing draw

Tottenham didn’t make easy work of what should’ve been a routine victory on paper, having to settle for a point at St Mary’s after a frantic second half, with the result leaving them fourth in the Premier League table.

Second-half goals from Harry Kane and Ivan Perisic should’ve been enough to put the game beyond doubt, with Spurs racing into a 3-1 lead, however it was a nervy finish for Antonio Conte’s side, with James Ward-Prowse striking late from the spot to secure a point for the hosts.

The Latest: Forster hailed

In the latter stages of the game, the Saints began to throw more players forward, and Forster had to be at his best to prevent them from equalising sooner than they did, at one point saving well to deny Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

Members of the media were quick to praise the Spurs goalkeeper’s second-half performance, saying:

“What a save from Fraser Forster! He denies Sekou Mara making it 3-3. #SaintsFC pouring forward. Moments

earlier Forster made a stunning stop to deny Matiland-Niles. Tottenham hanging on.” – @JPW_NBCSports

“Terrific flying save from Forster.” – @AlasdairGold

The Verdict: Promising signs

Conceding three goals against relegation-threatened Southampton will no doubt be hugely concerning for Conte, however it could have been more if not for the man between the sticks, who it would be difficult to hold accountable for any of the Saints’ goals.

The 35-year-old made a total of four saves throughout the match, including one from inside the box, while also winning the one ground duel that he contested.

In the absence of Hugo Lloris, Forster has so far done a very good job of standing in for the Tottenham captain, particularly impressing against Nottingham Forest last week, but a much-improved performance from the rest of the defence will be needed against Everton after the international break.

Newcastle United strengthened their top-four bid with victory over relegation strugglers Nottingham Forest on Friday evening, with a clinical brace from club-record signing Alexander Isak ultimately proving the difference in that 2-1 win.

The composed manner in which the Sweden international dispatched his stoppage-time penalty, in particular, showcased the growing confidence that the striker is enjoying of late, with the 23-year-old now benefitting from a consistent run in the side following his previous injury woes,

As a result of that double at the City Ground, the £63m marksman now boasts a haul of six goals in only ten Premier League games so far this season, with that tally just one shy of what teammate Callum Wilson has achieved despite the Englishman featuring in more than double the number of games.

The former Real Sociedad man's recent hot streak has illustrated just how crucial he can be to manager Eddie Howe over the coming months, albeit with the towering asset not the only Magpies man to have rubberstamped his importance to the side of late, amid Jacob Murphy's impressive, surprise impact.

How did Murphy perform against Forest?

As The Athletic's Chris Waugh noted, the 28-year-old has illustrated just why he is "so important" to the Newcastle boss despite rarely appearing from the start, having featured more than any player at the club since the Englishman's appointment, with 57 appearances in all competitions.

While largely restricted to cameo outings over the last 18 months or so, Murphy has shone in his starting role of late, having notably caught the eye in the win over Wolverhampton Wanderers last week, as he 'ran himself into the ground', in the words of the Chronicle's Lee Ryder.

With teammate Miguel Almiron ruled out for an extended period of time through injury, the former Norwich City speedster was again given the nod in attack against Steve Cooper's men last time out, ultimately making the most of that opportunity after registering a remarkable haul of five key passes in his wide berth.

The 5 foot 10 dynamo also attempted seven crosses as a marker of his desire to make things happen for his side, while putting in a typically relentless shift defensively as he won four of his eight ground duels, before making way in the closing stages.

That all-action performance saw the £35k-per-week man prove a 'real thorn in the side of Forest' – as per Ryder – having ultimately proved integral to Howe's men claiming a vital three points in their bid for Champions League qualification.

It is no surprise that Murphy has been on the receiving end of glowing praise from his manager in recent times, with the former Bournemouth boss stating following the win over Wolves:

“He’s brilliant behind the scenes. A real positive energy every day in training. He works and hones his skills meticulously. He’s a real player that wants to invest time and try and elevate his game to another level. I’m really pleased to see him come in and do well on the back of that work. I thought he was excellent last week.”

With January arrival and fellow winger Anthony Gordon also currently sidelined – and with Ryan Fraser having been banished from the first-team squad – there will likely be ample chance for Murphy to show his worth from the start following the international break.

On current form, it does appear that the Wembley-born machine could be something of a secret weapon for Howe moving forward.

Newcastle United are willing to do anything to bring Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga to the Premier League this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Scouting mission

The Spaniard’s contract in La Liga isn’t set to expire until 2026, but being Carlos Carvalhal’s second top-performing offensive player, has caught the eye of Eddie Howe at St. James’ Park.

PIF have reportedly already sent scouts to watch the 20-year-old wonderkid in action as they consider whether to make an official approach during the upcoming summer window.

Alongside Manchester United, the Magpies are believed to be firmly in the picture to land their target ahead of the new season, and it sounds like they are ready to do whatever it takes to beat their fellow competitors in the race for his signature.

The Latest: Newcastle ready to fight

According to Spanish reports (via Sport Witness), Newcastle and United have been joined in their pursuit by Arsenal, with the trio of clubs open to doing the ‘unspeakable’ in order to convince Veiga to make the move to England.

Real Madrid are also casting an eye over his situation, but it’s the competition from the top flight that Celta Vigo ‘could be worried’ about.

The midfielder does have a €40m (£35m) release clause included in his current contract, and considering he’s recently changed agents, a summer transfer looks ‘very likely’.

The Verdict: One for the future

Veiga has previously been hailed ‘amazing’ by talent scout Jacek Kulig and he would be an excellent signing for the future of Newcastle in years to come.

The Celta starlet has clocked up 22 goal contributions (18 goals and four assists) throughout his career so far and has already made his mark on the international stage having represented Spain at U21s and U18s level (Transfermarkt).

The Magpies target currently ranks in the 99th percentile for three different statistics, including total number of shots per 90 minutes, highlighting the bags of potential that he’s already displaying to potential suitors despite his young age.

The O Porrino native would also be able to provide the manager with wonderful versatility with his ability to operate in six different positions, including as a centre-forward, which is a great attribute to have should any unexpected injuries occur.

Veiga would likely thrive under the guidance of Howe, who already has a reputation for developing and introducing younger players into his first-team squads, so he’d only excel further should he sign on the dotted line in the months ahead.

Liverpool blew Manchester United to smithereens on Sunday evening, obliterating their historic, venomous rivals 7-0 at Anfield in one of the most shocking and inconceivable results of modern times.

In a campaign holding so much peril, Jurgen Klopp’s Reds rekindled their former vigour in the most resounding of fashion.

Man United, having last week clinched the Carabao Cup – the club’s first silverware since 2016/17 – have been resurgent under Erik ten Hag’s tutelage this year, and despite the ignominious recent loss still boast a seven-point advantage in the Premier League table to Liverpool, whose recent purple patch has finally instigated a climb up the table, away from mid-table obscurity.

There have been glaring question marks erected above Merseyside since the turn of the campaign, with Liverpool – quadruple-chasing and FA Cup & Carabao Cup-gleaning last term – facing the inconceivable prospect of failing to qualify for the Champions League, a proposition now seeming far more realistic.

The powers that be at Anfield will be hoping that the monumental victory can serve as a watershed moment for Klopp’s squad, setting course of silver-laden success over the coming years.

The imperious Mohamed Salah stole the show, plundering a brace of goals and assists, but seasonal signings Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez scored doubles of their own, and a devastating new offensive force might just be borne.

Who is Liverpool’s next Sadio Mane?

When Sadio Mane was sold to Bayern Munich for £35m last summer after years of splendid servitude, there was trepidation aplenty that Liverpool’s once roaring front three, revered and enviously admired by all, had run its course, fears that were grudgingly confirmed as the wobbly start to the season capitulated into a truly woeful year.

Mane scored 120 goals and registered 48 assists from 269 outings for the Reds, imperative in winning a wealth of major honours, notably the Premier League and Champions League, in the most illustrious spell in the outfit’s modern history.

To counter his summer exit, Liverpool completed the club-record £85m signing of exciting young forward Nunez from Benfica, and despite offering glimpses of brilliance, there has been plenty of criticism over the Uruguayan’s wayward shooting boots.

In the graphic listed above, Nunez’s impact is clearly discernible with 14 goals already, and if these are the numbers on offer for the phenom before he finds his feet, the Premier League must be quaking at the thought of his potential under Klopp’s wing.

Typically a centre-forward, Nunez has indeed forged 11 appearances on the left-wing in Luis Diaz’s absence – the Colombian is out with a long-term injury – and scored seven goals, with his impact against the Red Devils an illustration of his prowess, with the 16-cap star praised for making a “big difference” by The Athletic’s James Pearce.

Hailed as a “monster” by sports writer Charlotte Coates, the £140k-per-week machine ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five divisions for goals and shots per 90, as per FBref, and given Mane’s formerly prolific expertise, the Senegalese sensation winning the Premier League top scorer in 18/19, the similarities are illuminating.

Nunez is an unrefined diamond, but make no mistake, he is a glistening gem.

The inflated price tag raised eyebrows, hardly helped by his wayward shooting – Nunez has missed 17 big chances from 19 Premier League matches –  but the quality this South American sensation exudes is undeniable, and as Klopp’s new-look Liverpool starts to slot into place, Nunez will only grow into his talismanic role.

Mane’s departure has been sorely felt, but the winds of change hint at fruitful future fortunes, with the ‘monstrous’ striker the new catalyst.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Luis Enrique is “ready” to return to management amid recent links to the Chelsea job.

What’s the latest on Luis Enrique to Chelsea?

With things under Graham Potter going pretty badly for the Blues since the Englishman took over earlier on in the season, a sacking could soon be on the cards. Although, today’s win will certainly have offered more hope.

However, it’s no shock to see certain names pop up as possible future club managers. For instance, according to SPORT, Enrique is said to be keen on the Chelsea job.

Only adding fuel to the flames of speculation, Romano has now confirmed that the currently out-of-work Spaniard is hoping to return to work soon.

When talking on YouTube, the journalist said (2:53): “In the case of Luis Enrique, he wants to return to football as soon as possible.

“Luis Enrique doesn’t want to stop, he’s ready to restart in case he will find the right project. So Luis Enrique is 100 percent ready for new opportunities.

“Luis Enrique wants to be back. Luis Enrique is not going to wait a lot to be back in football. He’s exploring opportunities, he is studying as always, but from what I understand he’s prepared to return very soon.

“So Luis Enrique is ready. Let’s see what Chelsea will decide with Graham Potter. It’s up to him now to change the situation with the Leeds game, the Borussia Dortmund game.

“So it’s a crucial moment for him of course, but in general for Luis Enrique, the idea is to return as soon as possible.”

What do the Enrique links mean for Potter and Chelsea?

Enrique is currently out of work having left his role as Spain’s national team manager this winter after a disappointing last-16 exit at the World Cup against Morocco.

Despite that, his pedigree is very high having won numerous trophies during his time with Barcelona, which includes La Liga, the Champions League and the Club World Cup.

Still, Potter is yet to go yet and so at this stage this is all just speculation. However, having Enrique waiting in the wings may just tempt Todd Boehly to sack the current head coach a little sooner than initially planned.

What’s more, alongside the Spaniard, former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane is being considered as a frontrunner. So it’s not as though the Premier League club doesn’t have a couple of potentially exciting targets if Potter does leave in the near future.