All posts by z3u9t.icu

It was easy to quickly forget all about other Real Madrid players not named Rodrygo after Los Blancos’ 6-0 demolition of Galatasaray during the week.The young prodigy netted a hat-trick and naturally all the spotlight was on him.Watch Spanish Football Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

But there were other players that deserved some praise and one of them was Karim Benzema, Zinedine Zidane’s veteran striker who bagged a brace himself.

That tally took him to 50 goals in the Champions League for the Galacticos and after the game, he was asked whether he considers himself a club legend at this point.

The humble guy he is, Benzema denied having already achieved such a status as he didn’t want to be compared to some of the greatest strikers that donned the royal white of Real Madrid.

Upon hearing his words, however, many Real fans were impressed by their star’s modest nature and they were quick to call him a legend and an underrated player.

You can see some of their reactions down in the tweets below:

Harry Kane proved that he is still England’s main source of goals with a hat-trick in Thursday’s 7-0 win over Montenegro at Wembley.

Tottenham Hotspur might not be showing their best form this season, but the 26-year-old has still managed 10 goals in 15 appearances at club level since the start of the 2019/20 campaign.

What’s more, the striker now has nine goals in his last five games at international level.

Thursday’s treble was actually Kane’s second international hat-trick of the season as he also struck three against Bulgaria at Wembley back in September.

Tottenham fans have not had too much to shout about in recent weeks.

Watch Tottenham Hotspur Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

However, a number took to social media on Thursday to lavish praise on their striker, who will be hoping to help his club side return to winning ways against West Ham United on November 23.

A selection of the Twitter reaction from the Spurs supporters can be seen below:

Looking to add to what is already a wealth of attacking options, Aston Villa sporting director Monchi is now reportedly plotting a move to beat Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign a player who’s been in electric form so far this season.

Aston Villa transfer news

Even outside of the transfer window, Aston Villa have continued their solid business, securing Jhon Duran’s long-term future with a fresh deal for a forward who has been one of the most in-form players in the Premier League so far this season. Pushing Ollie Watkins all the way for a starting place, Unai Emery has the biggest selection headache of his Aston Villa tenure every passing week with two strikers of such calibre at his disposal.

In pursuit of back-to-back Champions League qualification, those in the Midlands may yet return to the transfer market in 2025 to compete with some of Europe’s best away from the action as well as on the pitch.

Aston Villa have struck gold on "absolute star” who's worth more than Duran

He was signed by Emery in 2023

ByJoe Nuttall Oct 10, 2024

According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Monchi is now plotting a move to sign Pavel Sulc for Aston Villa from Viktoria Plzen ahead of the likes of Spurs, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen in 2025.

The Villans’ sporting director has reportedly already sent scouts to watch the talented attacking midfielder in action as he potentially continues to plan his first move. Just 23 years old, Sulc stole plenty of headlines last season with his form and has carried that into the current campaign to attract the attention of Aston Villa in what could yet result in the biggest move of his career to date.

That said, with plenty of clubs chasing the Czech’s signature, Villa will have to move as soon as possible if they want to sign Sulc in 2025.

"Incredible" Sulc is Premier League-ready

If there were any remaining doubts about Sulc’s quality after last season, then they’ve since been put to bed by an excellent start in the current campaign. The attacking midfielder ended the last campaign with a staggering 22 goals and eight assists in 49 games in all competitions and has since scored six goals and set up a further three in his first 16 appearances this season.

Unsurprisingly, Sulc has earned plenty of praise as a result of those numbers, with Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig dubbing the Czech Republic star’s 2023/24 season “incredible” back in May.

If Villa make their move, then the Premier League may be left facing the frightening prospect of Sulc, Watkins and Duran all fitting into one side destined to fire the Midlands club into the Champions League once again.

Ipswich Town will know that their chances of staying up in the Premier League this campaign are somewhat slim, but Kieran McKenna’s Tractor Boys have always thrived when being an underdog under the manager’s stellar tenure to date.

Ipswich managed to achieve back-to-back promotions to the top-flight against heavy odds, and minus their humbling 4-1 defeat to West Ham United last time out on the road haven’t looked completely out of their depth dining at the elite table.

It will be a long and gruelling campaign ahead though that will test his side’s resolve, which will be made even harder if McKenna can’t manage to get a tune out of more of his attackers, away from Liam Delap’s heroics up top.

Szmodics and Chaplin's form this season

Whilst Delap has been an instant rip-roaring success in Suffolk, with the £20m summer recruit hammering home an impressive four strikes from seven games for his new relegation-threatened outfit, Sammie Szmodics has struggled to nail down a starting spot since his major move from Blackburn Rovers.

The current Championship golden boot holder has averaged only 44 minutes of action per game in the Premier League, with his showing against Southampton last month a real concern, as the Republic of Ireland international only managed to make a dire seven accurate passes alongside only being able to register one shot on target at Aaron Ramsdale’s shaky goal.

Of course, the ex-Peterborough United star did manage to score away at Manchester City to send the Tractor Boys away faithful into raptures back in August, but it’s been extremely stop-start since with no more goals coming his way.

It’s a similar story for Conor Chaplin too in McKenna’s current ranks, who has only managed to make the first-team from the get-go once this season in the top-flight, despite being crucial to Ipswich’s automatic promotion heroics last campaign.

The ex-Barnsley man does have one goal next to his name like Szmodics, but that was on a far less glamorous stage than his counterpart, with Chaplin firing home a strike in an EFL Cup tie versus League Two outfit AFC Wimbledon.

Registering 13 goals and eight assists in second-tier action throughout 2023/24, the 27-year-old will just pray his campaign this time around is a slow burner and he can eventually acclimatise to the pressures of the Premier League.

McKenna will hope these two can come good over time, with one ex-Tractor Boys player currently outperforming the out-of-sorts duo away from Suffolk.

How Dobra is performing after leaving Ipswich

The player in question is Chesterfield star Armando Dobra, who is a firm fan favourite to those with associations with the Spireites.

Funnily enough, the tricky Albania U21 international has come into his own at Chesterfield under the guidance of ex-Ipswich manager Paul Cook, with Dobra now a top performer for his team all the way down in League Two.

Season

Games played

Goals scored

Assists

24/25

12

3

0

23/24

46

10

10

22/23

33

11

3

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Only managing to make 30 forgettable first-team appearances at Portman Road before exiting in 2022 on a free transfer, there must be some anguish now that Ipswich didn’t persist more with the 23-year-old, who constantly gets fans out of their seats at Chesterfield with entertaining displays.

Last campaign, Dobra amassed a stunning 20 goal contributions as his team finally returned to the EFL, with Spireites coach Danny Webb labelling the explosive number 17 as a “great” talent right after he penned a new deal to stay put with this side on the rise until 2026.

He has taken to being back in the EFL well too, with three strikes managed in all competitions from 12 games this campaign so far, surpassing both Szmodics and Chaplin’s goal tallies in the process.

Of course, the gulf in quality is huge between League Two and the very pinnacle of the English game, but there will still be some regrets at the end of the Tractor Boys all the same about potentially ditching Dobra too prematurely.

McKenna and Co won’t actively lose too much sleep over this situation, however, as Dobra continues to shine in the fourth tier, whilst Ipswich aim to stay put in the top flight.

Left for £5m: Ipswich hit gold offloading star who's now without a club

Ipswich Town cashed in at the best possible time when this former star left Portman Road.

1 ByKelan Sarson Oct 8, 2024

Before the season kicked off, you would have been hard-pressed to find many pundits, or fans for that matter, that predicted Ipswich Town would remain in the Premier League, and understandably so.

However, we are now six games in, and even though the newly promoted side have played three of last season’s top four, they are sat in 15th place with four points to their name, and most importantly, they look like they belong in the top-flight.

Kieran McKenna has his side playing some great football, and the draw against Aston Villa on Sunday is evidence of that, with a brilliant brace from Liam Delap and excellent performances all over the pitch.

In fact, one of the Tractor Boys’ most exciting players has now been compared to Premier League and Champions League winner Jack Grealish.

Grealish's career so far

Before he was winning things left, right, and centre for Manchester City, Grealish first rose to prominence with his boyhood club, Aston Villa.

There, he made 213 appearances across eight seasons, scoring 32 goals and providing 41 assists. However, it wasn’t just his goal involvement and connection to the Villans that made Villa Park fall in love with him; it was also his style of play and personality on the pitch.

During his time in the Midlands, the Englishman was seen as a star who played an ultra-aggressive, direct, and tremendously exciting brand of football.

He was the sort of player with unreal close control who could take on defenders and make something happen all on his own, even if it wasn’t always the smartest move for the team.

He eventually earned himself his big move to City in the summer of 2021, and while his first season was a bit of a struggle and some of that individuality that made him so fun to watch has since been drilled out of him, it’s a move that has undoubtedly worked out for him.

In his 132 appearances for the club, he’s won three league titles, one Champions League, one FA Cup, the Club World Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup as well.

Overall, while Grealish isn’t quite as fun to watch anymore, he is still an effective winger who has won practically everything there is to win in the club game and a brilliant player to be compared to.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.

Why Jack Clarke has been compared to Grealish

Yes, the Ipswich star who has been compared to Grealish is none other than summer signing Jack Clarke.

During his commentary on the game against Villa, former Arsenal and Leicester City star Alan Smith claimed the 23-year-old “has a bit of Grealish about him,” and it’s not just the hair.

While there are some obvious and shallow aesthetic similarities between the two wingers, Smith focused on how the former Sunderland ace’s brilliant close control and ability to make things happen with a quick bit of movement reminded him of the City star.

It’s an undeniably flattering comparison for the £20m man, but given how well he has played over the last couple of years and his almost talismanic form for the Black Cats, it’s justified.

For example, in 42 appearances last season, the “unplayable” dynamo, as pundit Adrian Clarke dubbed him, scored 15 goals and provided four assists, equating to a goal involvement on average every 2.21 games

Appearances

50

42

Goals

11

15

Assists

14

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.50

0.45

He was even more impressive the campaign prior, racking up 11 goals and 14 assists in 50 matches, equating to a goal involvement every other game.

Ultimately, while it seems unlikely that Clarke will go on to have a career as decorated as Grealish’s, there are some undeniable similarities between how the talented wingers play, and with him in the side, Ipswich stand a great chance of staying up this season.

Ipswich struck gold on "scintillating" star whose value has soared 728%

The incredible goalscorer has been a star for the Blues.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 26, 2024

The transfer window officially opened for business last month and Tottenham Hotspur have been busy in their attempts to improve the playing squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

They started the summer by bringing in Ange Postecoglou from Scottish giants Celtic as their new head coach and have made four first-team signings to date.

Dejan Kulusevski and Pedro Porro have completed permanent moves to the club after their respective loan spells, and they have been joined by attacking midfielder James Maddison along with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

Spurs could still be in the market for further additions, however, and another new forward could be on the agenda after Lucas Moura departed on a free transfer.

Postecoglou could land the dream replacement for the Brazilian attacker by securing a deal to sign reported £50m transfer target, Jadon Sancho.

How many Premier League goals does Jadon Sancho have?

The England international has struck nine times in 55 Premier League appearances for Manchester United since his move from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2021.

His tally of 12 goals and six assists across 79 outings in all competitions for the Red Devils means that he has averaged a goal contribution every 4.39 matches on average during his time at Old Trafford so far.

Whereas, Moura produced 39 goals and 27 assists in 221 competitive clashes for Spurs, which was one involvement every 3.35 games on average.

Like United's Sancho, the former Paris Saint-Germain ace is capable of being deployed on either flank or through the middle of the pitch, which made him a versatile option for Tottenham over the years.

Postecoglou could utilise the ex-Manchester City prospect on the left or right wing in north London and this makes him a valuable player to have in the squad, particularly after Moura's departure, as he is not restricted to a specific role or position.

Sancho also has the potential to offer far more in the final third than he has shown at United so far as the 23-year-old wizard's performances for Dortmund suggest that there is an exceptional talent there to be unearthed.

Scout Jacek Kulig lauded the exciting forward as a "phenomenon" during his time in Germany and it is easy to see why when you delve into his statistics.

The English magician racked up 38 goals to go along with 51 assists in 104 Bundesliga appearances for Dortmund, which works out as a direct involvement every 1.17 outings on average.

Sancho recorded 12 or more league assists in each of his last three seasons in black and yellow and could come in as a much-needed creative spark for Postecoglou if the Australian head coach can get him back to his best.

Ivan Perisic was Tottenham's top assister with eight in the Premier League last term and he was one of only three players with more than five assists, which suggests that the club did not have an outstanding creator to provide the likes of Harry Kane and Heung-min Son with regular service.

The United winger, who has not been able to hit top form at Old Trafford, has the untapped potential to be that player for Spurs. Therefore, Sancho could be an exceptional signing for Postecoglou and the dream replacement for Moura this summer.

Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino believes the Blues should make a move for Harry Kane this summer due to his relationship with new manager Mauricio Pochettino.

What did Cascarino say?

With the Kane transfer saga resuming this summer, the question over where the England captain will be playing next season is no closer to an answer.

New Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou will be hopeful of keeping his talisman at the club, with reports suggesting that Spurs have no plans to sell Kane, but interest from elsewhere means his future remains uncertain.

Strong links with Bayern Munich have surfaced, with rumours suggesting that Kane is eager on a move to the Bundesliga champions, while Manchester United were the supposed front-runners for his signature before the window opened, although a move to Old Trafford now seems unlikely.

However, former Cheslea striker Cascarino believes that his old side should make a move for Kane, in part due to his excellent relationship with Pochettino.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Cascarino said: "Well, managers who have worked with players and they've loved and they have great time for, they love to bring them in. They've worked with them before, they love them as professionals, they love what they can deliver.

"Now, you talked about the bromance, I don't think there's been anyone bigger than Poch and Harry, because Harry's respect for Poch was extraordinary."

He added: "Chelsea could fund it. Would Harry go? Well, we never know because he's never been asked the question, but the Poch lure is a big one. So, you know, it's a weird one because there are Chelsea fans, and likewise Tottenham fans – the great Jimmy Greaves played for both, it ain't that big of a deal."

Cascarino even pondered whether a potential swap deal could be done with Romelu Lukaku heading in the opposite direction, although that seems incredibly unlikely.

Whether or not Chelsea would be interested in a move for Kane remains to be seen, but it would certainly be a very difficult transfer to get done, and may not go down well with fans of either club.

What are Chelsea's transfer plans?

Chelsea have already brought in two attacking players this summer in the form of Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson, with the latter a more traditional number nine.

Whether either can provide the kind of goal contributions Chelsea require is debatable, but Nkunku did finish as equal top scorer in the Bundesliga last season with 16 goals.

The Blues are still focused on trimming their squad this summer, with 10 more players expected to potentially leave Stamford Bridge on top of those that have already left, meaning that predicting what Chelsea's team will look like next season is impossible.

It appears that Pochettino will focus on bringing in a midfielder next, perhaps feeling he now has enough attacking options at the club. Brighton's Moises Caicedo is the club's priority target as they look to bolster the centre of the park.

Russell Martin has made it his mission to reconnect Southampton's fanbase by making the Saints exciting to watch again after taking over from Ruben Seles as manager.

If the former Swansea City head coach is to achieve that, he could do with a helping hand from his own bosses when it comes to bringing in new recruits.

Southampton will have to offload some players to help balance the books following their relegation from the Premier League, with skipper James Ward-Prowse the most obvious example.

The future of striker Nathan Tella also remains in the balance following last season's impressive spell on loan in the Championship with Burnley, who are one of a number of sides reportedly interested in signing the striker.

But if Southampton are indeed going to cash in on Tella, they need to have a replacement – even if it is a cheaper alternative – lined up and ready to hit the ground running.

According to the Daily Mail, Martin is eager to bring Joel Piroe with him to St Mary's, but recent acrimony between Southampton and Swansea over a compensation fee for the manager could hinder negotiations.

The report suggests Piroe could be available for £12m which, while not exactly a small amount of money for a Championship team trying to readjust to a smaller budget, would mean effectively swapping the Dutchman with Tella and still having £3m or so left over.

Is Joel Piroe a better player than Nathan Tella?

First and foremost, Southampton would be signing a player that is not only Championship proven but also well known to Martin, having worked together over the past two years at Swansea.

Martin, therefore, knows exactly what Piroe is capable of in the final third. "He is so clinical with both feet, and he is a great technician," the then-Swansea boss said after a victory against Millwall last year.

"But the most important thing he has is the right mentality when he gets around the goal. He shows composure, he is calm, and he just focuses on his technique, something that all top strikers possess."

Piroe had very similar numbers to Tella last season – with the latter playing in a better side – as they scored 19 and 17 goals respectively, though the Burnley loanee did assist five goals to the former Netherlands U20 international's two.

They were also alike in terms of percentage of shots on target (44.4 for Tella and 41.4 for Piroe) and touches per 90 minutes (39.5 v 35), as per FBref, but Piroe came out on top for pass-completion rate (81.5% v 72.6%) and also the number of aerial duels won per 90 (0.55 v 0.43).

Ultimately, there is very little between the two players, with just one month separating them in terms of age. Piroe does have more longevity, though, having scored 22 goals and 19 goals in the past two Championship seasons, while also boasting experience of playing in Eredivisie with PSV.

Sanctioning the sale of Tella is a big call to make, but if Piroe is indeed available for a cheaper price, Southampton would not only be bringing in a proven striker but also helping to further ease their financial issues.

West Bromwich Albion missed out on the Championship play-offs by just three points as they finished ninth in the table at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

Carlos Corberan now has the summer transfer window to bolster his squad with the aim of competing for promotion to the Premier League next season.

One area in which the Spanish head coach may look to strengthen in is the forward department. No Baggies player managed more than seven goals and Karlan Grant, in particular, endured a difficult year in front of goal.

The former Huddersfield gem only scored three goals in 31 Championship matches for the club and the service to him was not the issue as he missed nine 'big chances'.

Corberan could land an upgrade on the profligate dud by signing Jerry Yates in the coming weeks, as both players are strikers who can also play on either flank.

How did Jerry Yates perform last season?

Despite Blackpool's relegation from the second tier, the 26-year-old marksman enjoyed an excellent campaign for the Tangerines and his form suggests that the potential is there for him to be a superb addition to West Brom's squad.

Yates, who is a reported £4m transfer target for the Baggies, plundered 14 goals in 41 league appearances, whilst he only missed eight 'big chances'.

The English finisher proved himself to be a reliable goalscoring option at that level, which is something Corberan did not have in his roster last term.

He scored twice as many goals as any member of the Spaniard's side and almost five times more than Grant, who played out wide or through the middle, produced. This means that the 5 foot 9 dynamo could, therefore, provide the club with a huge attacking boost.

Along with his predatory instincts in the final third, the £6.1k-per-week hotshot also showcased his creative ability with four assists and nine 'big chances' created for his teammates.

Meanwhile, Daryl Dike was the only Baggies no9 with at least one assist as Grant failed to create a single 'big chance' or register any assists in the Championship.

Yates' 0.8 key passes per match would place him in the top five performers for West Brom and above every other centre-forward at the club, which means that he provided his fellow attackers with more opportunities in front of goal.

These statistics suggest that the Blackpool ace, who was lauded as "immense" by journalist Sean McGinlay, would be a significant upgrade on Grant due to the threat he poses at the top end of the pitch as a goal scorer and creator.

Manchester United could have been in for England international Declan Rice if the proposed “takeover had actually happened”, believes transfer insider Dean Jones.

The West Ham United captain has been linked to multiple clubs over the last few months, but United have been notably absent from rumours.

Manchester United transfer news – What’s the latest on Declan Rice?

Rice’s expected departure from the Hammers was confirmed in the aftermath of the team’s historic Europa Conference League win earlier this month when chairman David Sullivan told the media his player was promised he could leave.

The club most heavily linked to the Kingston upon Thames-born player has been Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.

The Gunners have made two bids for the player so far, with the second offer of £90m being rejected by the east London club as they look to get the maximum they can for their prized asset.

Worse still, the Red Devils’ cross-city rivals Manchester City have entered the race, with David Ornstein reporting that this morning the club is “expected to submit an offer for Declan Rice today [Thursday].”

Where, in all of this, have United been?

The club do have the imperious Casemiro as their starting number six, but with Scott McTominay not being of the required level and few other options, a player like Rice could be transformative for the side.

What did transfer insider Dean Jones say about Declan Rice to Manchester United?

Jones was very quick to point out that the process of the potential takeover has thrown a spanner in many of United’s transfer plans, including any plans they may have had for Rice.

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: “I don’t think they’re in the race for Rice right now. I think in an ideal world, they would be, maybe if the takeover had actually happened, they could have been. But as it stands right now, don’t think Rice is going to come into their thoughts.”

Would Declan Rice have been a good transfer for Manchester United?

The £60k-per-week West Ham captain is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after midfielders in the league – hence all the interest from other clubs – and for that reason, he would surely have improved United.

There is an argument that the England international wouldn’t get into the team as an out-and-out defensive midfielder due to the immense performances of Casemiro last season.

However, he could have performed well as a number eight whilst the Brazilian was still a part of the team.

Last season the Irons “destroyer”, as labelled by ex-Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Paul Robinson, achieved an average match rating of 7.01 across his 37 Premier League appearances, just slightly below the Brazilians’ 7.17, per WhoScored.

His underlying numbers are equally impressive.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe’s top five leagues, Rice was in the top 5% for interceptions, the top 15% for progressive carries – suggesting he could fulfil the eight role – and the top 19% for pass completion, all per 90.

The United faithful will surely feel even more ire for their owners if they have missed out on a player of Rice’s quality due to the circus surrounding the takeover.