Tag Futebol

Tottenham have made contact to sign Fiorentina star Sofyan Amrabat who is in high demand after his 2022 World Cup performances for Morocco.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye move…

Spurs are among the Premier League sides interested in the 26-year-old who dazzled during his country’s run to the semi-finals, where they were heartbreakingly knocked out by France.

Morocco became Africa’s only ever nation to make it that far in a World Cup and it’s safe to say Walid Regragui’s side won the hearts of football fans everywhere.

Amrabat was a major part of their success in Qatar, proving a colossal presence in front of the back four and starting every single tournament game.

The Latest: Spurs make contact for Amrabat…

According to reports out of Italy, there has been some movement involving Spurs as they take their interest in the Serie A midfielder further.

The north Londoners, and by extension sporting director Fabio Paratici, have apparently opened discussions over signing the player through making contact and asking for information.

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This information comes courtesy of Viola News, who claim both Liverpool and Ligue 1 giants Paris-Saint Germain are also targeting Amrabat.

The Verdict: Wonderful player…

After his brilliant campaign for Morocco in the Middle East, there is no denying Amrabat’s quality, with national team boss Regragui calling him ‘world class’.

It’s also expected that a major side will snap him up in January, yet we believe reinforcing central midfield should hardly be a priority for manager Antonio Conte.

Indeed, the presence of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma and Oliver Skipp arguably provide more than enough steel in that department.

Glasgow Rangers have appointed Mick Beale as their 18th permanent manager and he will lead the Ibrox club into a new era.

The Light Blues are currently nine points adrift of Celtic in the Premiership title race and while this gap looks unsurmountable, Ange Postecoglou’s side found themselves six points back last season and still won the title, so it is possible.

Beale’s main aim, especially during the opening few matches before the January transfer window opens, is to get the best from the players he has in front of him.

Rabbi Matondo was a player that didn’t get much of a chance under Giovanni van Bronckhorst and the 42-year-old could certainly rejuvenate him and make use of his talents, especially his impressive turn of pace.

The 22-year-old made just six league starts under the Dutchman and although he registered three assists and created three big chances, Matondo often lacked the killer instinct and as time went on, appeared to lose confidence.

The £28k-per-week speedster has been praised for his acceleration previously, with former Wales manager Ryan Giggs dubbing him “electrifying” while even Pep Guardiola had good things to say about the winger, stating that he was “incredibly fast” which provides a key insight to the attacking threat he can possess.

Van Bronckhorst’s negative style of play didn’t allow for the wingers to fully express themselves and this was a key failing in the way he set up his team during matches. Beale on the other hand plays with much more attacking impetus placed on the two wingers and this could only benefit the Welshman.

Last season, Matondo scored nine goals and grabbed two assists in the Belgian top flight and when full of confidence, the youngster can also provide a goalscoring threat from a wide position.

If the new manager can get him back to the form he showed last year while out on loan at Cercle Brugge, then he could totally transform the team and this might be crucial heading into the second half of the season.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed that Diego Carlos returning from injury before the end of the season would be a ‘huge boost’ for Aston Villa.

The Lowdown: Out of protective boot

It was reported earlier this month that Carlos is now out of his protective boot, after rupturing his Achilles tendon on his home debut against Everton back in August, which has kept him out for the rest of the season so far (Transfermarkt).

He is continuing his rehabilitation work at Bodymoor Heath alongside strength and conditioning coach Oli Stevenson, and is targeting a return early in the New Year, after previous concerns that he could miss the rest of the season.

The Latest: O’Rourke reacts

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke has claimed that it would be a ‘huge boost’ for Unai Emery and his squad to be able to recall Carlos this campaign, adding that he has been a ‘big loss’:

“I think he’s been a big loss in that defence where Villa have conceded a lot of goals, they’ve tightened up under Unai Emery, but I think if Emery could call upon Diego Carlos between now and the end of the season, it would be a huge boost for the whole squad.“

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The Verdict: Massive

It cannot be underestimated how massive it would be for Villa to be able to play Carlos again from the start of the New Year, after initial fears.

The central defender ranked as Sevilla’s seventh-best performer in La Liga last season, while none of his team-mates averaged more aerial duels, clearances or blocks per game than him, per WhoScored.

It is easy to see why Villa paid £26m for his services in the summer, and given that they have conceded 22 goals already in the Premier League, the ninth-most in the division, the Brazilian would be welcomed back at Villa Park with open arms.

Liverpool will host Derby County at Anfield this evening in their EFL Cup third-round clash, and the current champions of the competition will be hoping that they can get back on the road to Wembley once again to win the trophy for the second year running.

Jurgen Klopp will no doubt be desperate for his team to put on a world-class performance tonight to distract attention away from the reports that FSG are now willing to sell the club, and the game will give the manager a golden opportunity to give those rarely-seen players in the squad their chance to shine.

It would be unlikely to expect a full-strength Liverpool starting XI this evening as the German coach has been trying to juggle several congested fixtures in the weeks and months leading up to the World Cup alongside non-stop injury issues in the team.

Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Joel Matip, James Milner, Naby Keita and Arthur Melo are all currently sidelined with various issues and recovery times ranging from knocks to long-term absences, so it would be no surprise to see heavy rotation tonight.

As a result, one player who could finally be given the opportunity to start in the team to impress the manager with his talents and capabilities is Stefan Bajcetic.

The Liverpool U21s midfielder joined the club from Celta Vigo in 2021 and has already done enough in the youth set-up to earn a spot in the senior squad this season featuring on the bench in nine of the side’s first 13 Premier League outings as well as making his 21-minute top-flight debut in the 9-0 victory over Bournemouth.

Despite his promotion to the first team, Bajcetic has still been a crucial player in the U21s Football League Trophy campaign and over two appearances in the competition has shown glimpses of his talent in the defensive midfield role.

The Spanish 18-year-old has completed 71% of his dribbles and won eight duels per game, as well as averaging one key pass, 2.5 tackles, 65.5 touches and two shots per game with the U21s this season, proving that he is a real threat in the centre of the pitch.

Klopp’s assistant manager Pep Ljinders held the pre-match press conference for the Derby County clash and singled out Bajcetic for praise hailing the youngster ahead of tonight’s game:

“Stefan is someone who’s a joy to watch.

“He has all the characteristics that we search for as a midfield player.

“He’s young, hungry, shows every day in training that he’s ready.”

With that being said, Liverpool could have a secret weapon in Bajcetic that could certainly scare Derby when they visit Anfield this evening. It could be the perfect chance for the talented teenager to prove his worth ahead of the second half of the season.

Leeds United have been in a torrid run of form of late, picking up just six points from a possible 30 in their last 10 Premier League games.

These results unsurprisingly have left Jesse Marsch’s position looking somewhat unstable, as he has led a side that invested £93.91m over the summer to 18th place in the top flight standing, two points adrift from safety.

As the pressure ramps up and potential candidates begin to be sounded out by the media, it is worth looking back at who they could have got when they dismissed Marcelo Bielsa back in February of this year.

Although he was yet to be sacked at the time of this report, The Telegraph nevertheless claimed that Ernesto Valverde was one of three candidates in line to replace the Argentine who was revered across Yorkshire.

The Spaniard has flitted across Europe with his managerial exploits, earning vast experience before being offered the Barcelona job in 2017.

During his three-year stint in Catalonia, he managed to win four trophies including two La Liga titles, before being sacked due to issues regarding his play style.

Since then, the club have won just one Spanish Cup.

He has earned most of his praise for his various work with Athletic Bilbao, in which he secured Champions League football and brought them their first trophy in 31 years with a Supercopa de Espana win over the side he would later manage.

It marked a monumental task completed for a club that relies so heavily on signing players solely from the Basque region.

Perhaps under constraints at Leeds, he could have been the man to keep them safe and ensure a stronger start to the season than the one they are currently suffering.

In a recent interview, Xavi was full of praise for a man he dubbed “extraordinary” who had completed “excellent work” at the club.

Enjoying a bold and attacking brand of football, Valverde would surely have become an instant fan favourite were he to have brought even a modicum of his previous successes to Elland Road.

It seems like given their current form, Victor Orta dropped a clanger when he opted for Marsch instead of his compatriot.

Manchester City have received ‘bad news’ after learning of the injury to John Stones, according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Stones suffers hamstring injury

The centre-back was named in England’s starting line-up to take on Germany in the Nations League on Monday night, but was forced off the pitch after 37 minutes due to sustaining a hamstring problem – as later confirmed by Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate.

The 28-year-old was replaced by his Sky Blues teammate Kyle Walker for the remainder of the game, and is now likely to face a spell on the sidelines in the Premier League as a result.

The Latest: Romano’s reaction

Taking to Twitter, Romano reacted to Stones’ gutting injury, but praised the City hierarchy for signing Akanji in the summer to cover for defensive situations like this. He wrote:

“Bad news for Manchester City as it seems John Stones has sustained a hamstring injury.

“But again, very good strategy in the summer when City board decided to sign Akanji on permanent deal in the final days as ‘jolly/opportunity’ and with no plans to sell any CB.”

The Verdict: Blow for Guardiola

Not having Stones available for selection for the Manchester derby on Sunday could come as a huge blow to Pep Guardiola, who will know just how much of an impact he has on his starting XI.

The Barnsley-born talent has provided two assists in just five top-flight starts this season, and currently averages a remarkable 96.8% pass success rate (WhoScored).

This ability to affect a game at both ends of the pitch is rare, so the City boss will no doubt be hoping to have Stones back at his disposal sooner rather than later.

Leeds United could spend up to £20m on Wolves forward Hwang Hee-chan, according to TEAMtalk.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Hwang

The Whites have been heavily linked with a move for the South Korea international over the past seven days.

Hailed by pundit Ian Wright as a player who has “got everything”, Hwang is even thought to be open to the idea of moving to Elland Road.

Wolves could now be willing to part ways with the 26-year-old, who has scored 76 goals for club and country, after they agreed on a deal to sign Stuttgart striker Sasa Kalajdzic, and it appears as if Leeds have set their limit.

The Latest: £20m…

TEAMtalk provided an update regarding Leeds and Hwang on Monday, citing an update from Phil Hay, who said that Andrea Radrizzani and co won’t pay over the odds for the player.

However, they claim that Leeds could spend up to £20m on the South Korean if Wolves make him available in the final days of the transfer window.

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The Verdict: Stick or twist…

Hwang starred under Jesse Marsch at both Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig, contributing to 40 goals in 43 games, so you can see why a move may make sense.

However, the player has struggled in England, netting just five times in 36 games for Wolves, who paid just over £15m for his services.

Therefore, a potential £20m deal appears to be a gamble, but it may well be one that Leeds feel they must take, with Patrick Bamford’s fitness concerns of recent months continuing into this season.

West Ham United are set to receive a welcome boost, following an update on the fitness of defender Vladimir Coufal.

What’s the word?

According to Claret and Hugh, the 30-year-old will be in line to feature against Aston Villa later this week, despite having been forced off late on in the defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion at the London Stadium on Sunday.

The report suggests that the Czech Republic international was knocked unconscious in that disappointing 2-0 loss, although should be available for the trip to Villa Park next weekend, with a club insider stating: “He was concussed after being knocked unconscious. As a result it will be the stipulated six days before he can play again”.

That fact should, however, ensure that the full-back is absent from Thursday’s Europa Conference League, second-leg clash away at Viborg FF, albeit with the Hammers already firmly in control of the tie following their 3-1 victory at home last week.

Welcome relief

Amid what is already proving a tricky start to the new season for the east London outfit, it will surely come as a welcome relief to manager David Moyes that Coufal won’t be out for an extended period of time, with the Scotsman likely needing all the help he can get to reverse the current slump.

Having won just one of their final seven league games of last season – with that solitary triumph coming against relegated Norwich City – the Irons have seemingly carried that form into the current campaign, having slipped to three straight defeats in the top-flight thus far.

As such, Moyes’ men currently find themselves at the foot of the Premier League table with five goals conceded and none scored as yet, with one key factor in that dismal opening having been the absence of key figures in defence.

Summer signing Nayef Aguerd could potentially be out until the New Year after undergoing ankle surgery, while the typically reliable Craig Dawson is yet to feature this season as he nurses a thigh complaint.

With veteran ace Angelo Ogbonna only recently making his long-awaited return from injury in the victory in midweek, the Hammers have been left desperately short of options at the back, even with the addition of Paris Saint-Germain man, Thilo Kehrer.

Losing Coufal for the clash with Steven Gerrard’s side on Sunday would have been yet another unwanted headache for Moyes and co, although the assumption is that the right-back should be to retain his place in the starting XI.

The £35k-per-week brute has been a hugely consistent figure at the club since joining from Slavia Prague back in October 2020, providing 12 assists in 74 games in all competitions thus far, with his involvement no doubt set to be vital as West Ham chase their first three points of the season.

Manchester United have agreed on a fee with Juventus for midfielder Adrien Rabiot as Erik ten Hag looks set to bolster the squad.

What’s the news?

That’s according to the Guardian, who state that Manchester United have reached an agreement with the Serie A side regarding Rabiot, for an initial £15m fee.

Discussions are currently at an early stage in terms of personal terms, but with Juventus happy to sell the midfielder, a move might not be far off.

Another Pogba?

Following the arrival of the Dutchman, it looked like Manchester United were going to begin the season with a newfound optimism not seen since 2016 when Jose Mourinho took over. The opening day defeat to Brighton certainly threw a spanner in the works for Ten Hag’s vision and he will need to go back to the drawing board.

While poor in defence and ineffective in attack, the midfield area appears to be a priority for the manager to strengthen and Rabiot could be an interesting signing.

Former Juventus boss Andrea Pirlo dubbed the Frenchman a “champion” in 2020, while Gianluigi Buffon lavished praise on the midfielder by saying “he has the physical strength of Pogba.”

Although Pogba’s time at United was something of a controversial period, his performances at Juventus between 2012-2016 and for the French national team proved that he was one of the finest midfielders of his generation, scoring 34 goals and supplying 39 assists during his time in Turin.

Rabiot hasn’t quite been perceived in the same light but his ‘strength’ on the pitch, as Buffon eludes to, is not the only similarity with Pogba. Of course, they are both French, but the Juve midfielder would also come with his own baggage and controversy.

That said, the 27-year-old Rabiot does have an average career rating of 7.03 on WhoScored, proving that he can excel at the highest level. He has won five Ligue 1 titles and a Serie A crown so the Frenchman would add that winning mentality to the Man United squad that is severely lacking at the minute.

While mainly operating as a defensive midfielder, he has scored 26 goals in his career, and with the United midfield only contributing a total of eight goals over the course of last term, Rabiot would certainly be able to chip in with a few.

The Juventus star might not be Frenkie de Jong, a long-term target for United, but for the aforementioned price, it may be a deal too good to ignore. The new manager will just have to hope his on-field performances do the talking, unlike Pogba.

Arsenal are one step closer to landing Oleksandr Zinchenko as their fifth signing of the summer…

What’s the word?

According to Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the Gunners have agreed on a deal to sign Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City.

“Arsenal and Manchester City have completed contracts for Oleksandr Zinchenko deal, set to be announced as player left City training camp yesterday in order to join AFC. He’s gonna sign until June 2026,” he tweeted. “Medical tests, contract signature and the official statement.”

It’s thought that the Ukraine international is set to cost around £30m as manager Mikel Arteta links up with his former player, having coached him as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at the Etihad Stadium.

Only a matter of time

It’s now only a matter of time before Zinchenko is announced as an Arsenal player and that is sure to make many supporters absolutely buzzing as they are getting another huge addition.

The 25-year-old is set to join his former teammate Gabriel Jesus at the Emirates Stadium and the pair have bags of trophy-winning experience. Last season’s triumph saw the duo clinch their fourth Premier League title. They have also won multiple League Cups and an FA Cup, too.

Zinchenko provides Arteta with a hugely versatile option as he is capable of playing in his natural midfield position, as well as at left-back, where the Gunners have struggled massively, whenever Kieran Tierney has been absent.

Nuno Tavares was often thrown into the deep end and it became evident that he is not yet ready for a regular berth in the English top-flight.

Such versatility has earned plenty of praise from Guardiola, who once said: “Oleks is another player who is so reliable. I will never forget what he has done in these three or four years, playing in a position that is not his natural position.”

Meanwhile, Zinchenko has been likened to players such as Joao Cancelo and Andy Robertson based on their statistical profiles, as per FBref. And when compared to his positional peers across Europe, it becomes evident that Arsenal are getting a top-tier player.

The Ukraine star ranks inside the top 1% for assists (0.35 per 90) and progressive passes (8.02 per 90), as well as the top 2% for passes attempted (85.82 per 90) and pass completion (88.5%). He even ranks within the top 4% for shot-creating actions (3.43 per 90), via FBref.

This suggests that he is a hugely attacking option along the left flank and one capable of providing the Gunners with some much-needed creativity out wide, or through the middle, given his versatile talents.

As such, supporters around north London should be absolutely thrilled as this deal edges closer to being complete. Zinchenko is set to become an Arsenal player, much to the delight of anyone associated with the club.

AND in other news, Arteta could form a “perfect” partnership as Arsenal eye summer move for £80m “tank”…