All posts by z3u9t.icu

Manchester United are eyeing up a dream swoop for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong as Erik ten Hag aims to strengthen his side ahead of next season.

The Dutch manager will be looking at rebuilding a stagnating Man Utd squad and taking them back to challenging Manchester City and Liverpool for domestic honours.

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In order to do this, the Premier League side needs quality in all areas and a winning mentality which hopefully the new coach can bring having won silverware at Ajax.

One move that the club must make is for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong. United’s opening bid for the player was rejected last week, with the La Liga side holding out for a deal worth €100m (£85m) to convince them to sell.

Ten Hag has worked with the player when they were both at Ajax and this relationship can only be beneficial for United going forward as they look to add some star quality to the squad.

FB Ref’s similar player model has compared de Jong to Real Madrid’s Luka Modric and the two share the ability to go about their business without much fuss or fanfare and this is exactly what United needs going forward.

Both players possess excellent passing ability, with de Jong (91%) and Modric (90%) giving their respective sides the best chance for success by consistently making accurate passes.

Modric is the master of creating big chances during the season (10) and while de Jong (3) trails, there is no doubt that the Croatian international’s experience is a big factor behind this stat.

The Dutchman certainly appears to be better defensively than Modric making more tackles per game (1.1 to 0.6) and being dribbled past less (0.3 to 0.8).

These are attributes that will be a big bonus if he does join Man Utd, with their shoddy defence, he could help the side on both fronts, attacking when required and also providing effective defensive support.

If the 25-year-old – who was dubbed a “pure genius” following his move to Spain – keeps improving, he may well go on to surpass Modric.

AND in other news, MUFC now in talks to sign £51m-rated “incredible talent”, he’s a huge Rashford upgrade…

Cardiff City midfielder Will Vaulks is ‘open’ to joining Sheffield Wednesday in the summer transfer window, according to reliable journalist Joe Crann.

The Lowdown: Vaulks leaving Cardiff

The Owls have an important summer ahead of them as Darren Moore looks to rebuild his squad and inspire what is hopefully a successful 2022/23 season.

One player who will be available is Vaulks, with the 28-year-old out of contract at Cardiff and leaving the club at the end of this month.

It looks as though a host of clubs are in the race to sign the midfielder, with Wednesday one of those in question.

The Latest: Owls in the race

Taking to Twitter in sharing a report for The Sheffield Star, Crann claimed that Vaulks could be happy to drop down a division and join the Owls.

The reporter claimed:

“Been told that Stoke City, Luton Town, QPR and Huddersfield Town have all shown an interest in #SWFC target, Will Vaulks.

“He is open to League One with Wednesday, but is certainly weighing up his options.”

The Verdict: Would be a coup

It is imperative that Wednesday do all they can to get out of League One next season, having fallen short in the play-offs this time around.

Acquiring Vaulks’ signature could be significant in that respect, with the midfielder possessing plenty of experience in the second tier, making 186 appearances at that level. He has also been capped seven times by Wales and been hailed as “brilliant” in the past by his former Cardiff manager Mick McCarthy.

His quality could really shine through in League One, allowing Moore’s side to dominate midfield battles, and he could dovetail nicely with the likes of George Byers and Barry Bannan, should they remain at Hillsborough.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst will be looking forward to his first full pre-season and summer transfer window as manager of Rangers, although he does have some work ahead of him.

The Ibrox club won the Scottish Cup last month for the first time in 13 years but lost the Europa League final, while their Glasgow arch-rivals won the Premiership title, so the onus is on the Dutchman to improve the squad in order to wrestle back domestic supremacy.

There are several areas of the squad which require strengthening, with a right winger being particularly sought=after by Van Bronckhorst, having missed out on Andreas Skov Olsen in January.

Rangers have now been linked with Rabbi Matondo, with German outlet WAZ claiming that he could be on the move from Schalke 04 ahead of next season as he only has one year left on his current contract in Gelsenkirchen.

The Welshman was on loan at Cercle Brugge last season, scoring 10 goals and grabbing two assists, but the Belgian clun have opted not to sign him on a permanent deal for €3.5m (£3m) ahead of the summer window.

This could leave the door ajar for Rangers, who face competition from Celtic, to secure his services and add a right winger to their squad.

The Gers need some pace on the right-hand side. Van Bronckhorst deployed Ianis Hagi, Scott Wright and even Scott Arfield in the wide right position on numerous occasions during the 2021/22 season, to varying degrees of success.

Former Wales manager Ryan Giggs previously praised Matondo’s speed, saying: “Just like Dan James he has electrifying pace.”

With Ryan Kent occupying the left-wing position and being one of the club’s most prized assets, they now need someone on the opposite flank to do a similar job.

A duo of Kent and Matondo could be a dream for Van Bronckhorst, and their pace and trickery would surely give opposition defenders nightmares.

If the Rangers boss harbours ambitions of success next season, a move for Matondo would appear a shrewd one to make.

AND in other news, “Was told..”: Journalist makes big Rangers transfer claim that’ll leave supporters excited…

Just how busy Liverpool are this summer could depend on the number of outgoings from Anfield with both Sadio Mane and Mo Salah linked with the exit door.

There could also be a number of casualties in midfield where the likes of Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are being tipped to head for the departure lounge.

What’s the word?

In a bid to add further bodies to their midfield and offensive ranks, it looks as though a new target has emerged in the form of Mason Mount.

That’s according to reports via The Express who suggest that dialogue has been opened with a view to bringing Chelsea’s Mason Mount to Anfield.

His contract talks at Stamford Bridge have stalled as a result of the ongoing takeover and thus, he could seek an exit route out of west London.

With that in mind, both Manchester City and Liverpool are now in talks to potentially sign the England international with discreet enquiries made.

Football Observatory values the player as high as £102.5m but it’s unlikely a deal would cost that much.

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Their own Phil Foden

Underrated or overrated is one of the great debates that surround Mount but it’s hard to deny that the 23-year-old isn’t one of the most gifted in the Premier League.

The Chelsea academy graduate is one of the most exciting players in the top-flight on his day and his goal involvements in 2021/22 sum that up.

Mount scored 13 goals, 11 of which came in the league, while he also registered a mighty 16 assists, showing his ability to beat the goalkeeper and unlock doors on a regular basis.

Last term, only Trent Alexander-Arnold (19) in the Liverpool squad could better that which shows just what he’d add to Jurgen Klopp’s ranks.

With his style of play in mind, he could become the club’s very own version of Phil Foden with FB Ref’s similar players model dictating that they are alike.

That is based upon their stats in the last 365 days with the English duo comparable in a number of metrics. Below, you can see Mount’s statistics on the left and Foden’s on the right (all stats per 90).

Shots on target – 1.03 v 0.93

Completed passes – 37.7 v 37.5

Goal-creating actions – 0.57 v 0.55

Carries in possession – 43.6 v 42.8

Number of times the player was the target of a pass – 56.5 v 55.6

Foden is undoubtedly one of the darlings of the English game right now and if Liverpool can unearth their own version of the talented prodigy, it may well go a long way to helping them win back the title next term.

Described as a “player with that little bit of magic” by Joe Cole, he could be the added ingredient that Liverpool’s attack needs to continue pumping out the obscene numbers they usually produce.

AND in other news, FSG now plotting Liverpool bid for “astonishing” £34m signing, he’s Klopp’s next Mane…

Liverpool midfield pair Fabinho and Thiago are looking likely to feature in the Champions League final, reliable journalist Paul Joyce has confirmed.

The Lowdown: Liverpool face Madrid in Paris

Jurgen Klopp’s men face a gargantuan match on Saturday evening, as they take on Real Madrid in Paris in what is undoubtedly club football’s biggest game.

Liverpool are looking to win a seventh European Cup in their history, while most of these players are aiming to taste Champions League glory for the second time.

Fabinho and Thiago have been injury doubts in the lead-up to the game but a huge update has emerged regarding their involvement at the Stade de France.

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The Latest: Joyce drops big team news claim

Taking to Twitter on before the match, Joyce confirmed Klopp’s comments over the duo, a hugely positive update.

“Jurgen Klopp says ‘it looks good’ on the fitness of both Thiago Alcantara and Fabinho ahead of the CL final.”

James Pearce of The Athletic had said earlier in the week that Thiago’s fitness in particular is ‘massive’.

Liverpool’s Greatest European Nights! Click here to OWN yours now!

The Verdict: Massive boost for Reds

The importance of both Fabinho and Thiago cannot be underplayed, with the pair arguably the difference between Liverpool securing glory or not.

The control and quality that they bring to the midfield are priceless – their record together is outstanding, too – and without them, the likes of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric could dominate proceedings.

It feels highly likely that Fabinho will start, having trained for most of the week, and while Thiago could be on the substitutes’ bench, Klopp’s words certainly suggest that he too could even be involved from the off.

In other news, one Liverpool player has hinted at a summer exit. Find out who it is here.

Southampton forward Theo Walcott is reportedly considering a St. Mary’s exit this summer after it’s been claimed that he is keen on a move to the MLS.

The Lowdown: Walcott profiled

The 33-year-old veteran first joined the Saints on loan from fellow Premier League rivals Everton for the 2020/21 season, but following a successful spell, put pen to paper on a permanent contract with the south coast outfit last summer.

The academy graduate has made 58 senior appearances for the club if you include his initial stint in the mid 2000’s, and despite still having one year remaining on his current deal, it looks as though the former Arsenal man might be heading for the exit door earlier than expected after a new update emerged.

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The Latest: Saints ready to sanction exit

In a new article published by The Sun, it’s claimed that Walcott is ‘eyeing a switch’ to Stateside, and is ‘open’ to a move if any potential suitors are out there, with New York and Los Angeles believed to be among his ‘favoured destinations’.

The source additionally states that Ralph Hasenhuttl is ‘happy to let him go’ at the end of the season, and would prefer to ‘further invest’ in youth during the upcoming transfer window instead.

The Verdict: Raising transfer funds

It comes as no surprise to discover that Walcott will be looking for a move elsewhere over the coming months, especially considering his lack of game time, given the fact that he’s not been involved in any of Southampton’s last 14 outings.

The long-term top-flight servant, who was once dubbed a “massive” player by his ex-Gunners teammate Jack Wilshere, is also the Saints’ highest earner on the wage books, so it’s no wonder that they are trying to move him on in the summer.

The potential sale of Walcott could raise some much-needed transfer funds so that the Austrian boss can go into the market looking for new additions to bolster his ranks ahead of the start of next season.

In other news… an Italian source has delivered a huge Southampton transfer update.

According to a new report, an interesting Tottenham Hotspur transfer claim has surfaced involving Hull City forward Keane Lewis-Potter.

The Lowdown: Conte set for busy summer…

The Times claim there could be a real summer of change at Spurs with manager Antonio Conte looking to ‘offload’ as many as eight players whilst eyeing ‘at least’ six new signings.

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Among the Premier League coach’s targeted new additions are three defenders and a midfielder, with the likes of Youri Tielemans and Christian Eriksen emerging as targets.

It is also claimed that a forward is firmly on the agenda as The Daily Star now share news on Lewis-Potter.

The Latest: Spurs enter equation…

According to their sources, Spurs, and by extension Conte, have ‘entered the equation’ to sign Hull’s starlet – coming after a behind-the-scenes ‘recommendation’ by former boss David Pleat.

It is claimed they are one of the teams ‘waiting to pounce’ for the services of Lewis-Potter after his fine season in the Championship.

The Verdict: Make a move?

Lavished as an ‘outstanding’ player by pundit Clinton Morrison, we believe the 21-year-old could be a brilliant capture.

Still a young rising star, Lewis-Potter has been integral for Hull this campaign – playing the joint-most minutes for them over 2021/2022 whilst finishing the season as their top goal scorer (WhoScored).

It’s clear why Pleat has urged Spurs to make a move given just how brilliantly he has performed in England’s second tier, not to mention his signing could also help to solve the club’s homegrown quota issue.

In other news: Reliable journalist: Tottenham now aiming to secure deal for ‘fantastic’ target this week…find out more here.

Leeds United’s owners have held a meeting with Jesse Marsch and the first-team squad prior to the club’s crucial clash with Brighton on Sunday.

The Lowdown: Result needed

The Whites, who are owned by Andrea Radrizzani and the 49ers Enterprises, find themselves on the verge of relegation with just two games remaining to turn things around.

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Leeds sit in the bottom three below Burnley on goal difference, with the Clarets also having a game in hand on Marsch’s side. That makes the club’s final home game of the season against Brighton vital, with three points required ahead of a trip to Brentford on the last day.

The Latest: Meeting held

Graham Smyth of The Yorkshire Evening Post shared a story on Friday afternoon after Marsch confirmed that the owners held a meeting on Thursday with himself and the squad.

The Leeds manager stated in his pre-match press conference that everyone at the club is ‘totally unified’ ahead of the club’s final home league game of the season.

The Verdict: Make or break

A third successive home defeat could all but relegate Leeds on Sunday, should Burnley manage to beat Tottenham earlier in the day.

Therefore, you can see why Whites officials would want to try and galvanise the club days before the huge game at Elland Road by taking action into their own hands with an official meeting.

Things haven’t been made any easier with a number of key players out through injury and suspension, but hopefully, Sunday’s meeting with Brighton won’t be Leeds’ final home game in the Premier League during 2022.

In other news: Phil Hay: Orta now wants to sign ‘unbelievable’ ace even if Leeds go down; club green-light sale

Stuart Dallas’ injury is a massive setback for Jesse Marsch and Leeds United, journalist Pete O’Rourke has told GiveMeSport. 

The lowdown

The 31-year-old was forced off deep into first-half stoppage time against Manchester City at the end of last month after challenging Jack Grealish for the ball.

It has since emerged that he has suffered a fractured femur, and The Athletic’s Phil Hay has said that the Northern Ireland international will be fortunate to return before Christmas.

Leeds are fighting for their Premier League status as they enter their final three games of the season. Their 2-1 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday saw them slip into the bottom three, level with Burnley on points but with a far inferior goal difference.

It was a sign of the ill fortune that the Whites are currently enduring that the first goal for the Gunners came about from a shocking error by Illan Meslier.

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The latest

O’Rourke has said that Dallas’ injury is a ‘huge’ problem for Leeds at a critical time and thinks that the player’s versatility will be one of the things that Marsch misses most.

The journalist told GiveMeSport: “It’s a huge blow for Leeds to lose someone like Stuart Dallas, especially at such a crucial stage of the season, you want all of your best players fit.

“We know how important Stuart Dallas is to Leeds, he can play in so many positions, which he has done in the past. He’s played in midfield and defence and would probably play up front if he was asked to by Leeds.”

The verdict

Dallas is the ultimate utility man. This season, he has operated in both full-back positions, defensive midfield, central midfield and on the left wing.

The £53,000-per-week stalwart had started all 34 of Leeds’ Premier League matches before suffering the nasty injury, along with all but one league game in the preceding two campaigns, so his importance to the team is clear.

More generally, the Whites’ injury woes this season have been extensive. As of 5 April, they were second in the division for total injuries and first for total days missed (via Ben Dinnery), with the likes of Patrick Bamford, Kalvin Phillips and Liam Cooper all enduring lengthy absences.

Perhaps if they had better luck, they simply wouldn’t be in this position. Alas, they can’t afford to wallow in self-pity, with their Premier League status very much on the line over the next fortnight.

In other news, a pundit makes a worrying Calvin Ramsay transfer claim.

Manchester City have suffered two injury setbacks as they prepare to host Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium where they hope to move three points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

City can capitalise on Liverpool dropping points yesterday and head into the final three games with a three-point cushion if they claim victory this afternoon. However, they face an in-form Newcastle who have won four of their last six games and aim to move back into the top ten.

It won’t be an easy test for Guardiola’s side who crashed out of the Champions League earlier this week after losing dramatically to Real Madrid in extra time, and they will have to be without two of their key players.

What’s the story?

If the reigning Champions are to collect the three points then they will have to do it without the help of Kyle Walker and John Stones. Both have been casualties of the clubs tough European run in, with Stones being rushed back from injury for the first leg only to be substituted in the first half.

Walker on the other hand limped off the pitch during Wednesday’s defeat with an injury. He may have aggravated an existing problem with his ankle and City are now set to monitor him ahead of the clash according to the BBC. That said, it feels doubtful that he’ll feature.

Pep Guardiola will hope that both players aren’t sidelined for long as they can be key to the final push for silverware. Last year the Spaniard said that Walker had been “crucial” to the team’s success since he became manager so he’ll surely be somewhat worried not to have him available.

In his eyes, it will be a huge miss but Newcastle can’t take too much confidence due to the strength and depth that City have. Walker can easily be covered for by Joao Cancelo who can fill in at right-back with Oleksandr Zinchenko available to fill in Cancelo’s usual left-back spot.

Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte are also a more than capable defensive partnership with Nathan Ake also available from the bench if needed.

The strength City have in their squad is the reason they are on course to win a fourth title in five years. Their dominance over the last decade has been incredible, and despite failing yet again in their efforts at clinching that Champions League crown, they still have a lot to celebrate.

They can’t take their foot off the gas just yet, but the finishing line is in sight.

IN other news: Huge boost: Newcastle handed major injury lift ahead of MCFC, it’s great news for Howe…