All posts by z3u9t.icu

As Ange Postecoglou kicked off his Tottenham Hotspur tenure with a pre-season defeat to Premier League rivals West Ham United, it was perhaps clear as to why the Greek-Aussie has been looking to strengthen his defensive unit, in particular, this summer.

While it is often wise not to read too much into these warm-up encounters, the ex-Celtic boss may have still been concerned at seeing his side ship three times against the Hammers in Perth, with David Moyes' men surging into a two-goal lead inside 23 minutes.

Having endured the sixth-worst defensive record in the division last term, the Lilywhites will desperately need to improve next season if they are to have any hope of regaining their place in European competition, hence why a string of centre-back targets have been named.

What are the latest Tottenham transfer rumours?

Much of the speculation at present appears to be surrounding the north London outfit's interest in Bundesliga duo, Edmond Tapsoba and Micky van den Ven, with Daniel Levy and co said to have been engaging in talks with Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg, respectively, regarding the two central defenders.

That German-based pairing are not the only figures whom Tottenham are targetting, however, with The Sun having reported last week that Postecoglou is also showing an interest in Crystal Palace rock, Joachim Andersen, with Levy said to have been tracking the Denmark international since his prior stint on loan at Fulham.

While any deal for the former Lyon ace certainly won't come cheap – with the 27-year-old set to command a fee of £50m – his strong showings at Selhurst Park of late would suggest that he can be the defensive solution that Spurs are craving.

What is Joachim Andersen's style of play?

The 6 foot 4 powerhouse offers the benefit of being able to provide a towering, physical presence at the heart of the defence, while also having the quality to play out from the back when required, with that combination of qualities ensuring that the one-time Sampdoria man could be able to thrive at one of the Premier League's elite clubs.

That was the verdict of pundit Robbie Earle during Andersen's days at Craven Cottage, with the former Wimbledon midfielder discussing the defender's suitability to life at Liverpool:

“Right now, he would be a perfect fit for Liverpool Football Club, by the way. Good size, can play, looks commanding, looks like he can organise, he’s 24 years of age."

Those at N17 will also be intrigued by Andersen's apparent likeness to Manchester City's treble-winning ace, Ruben Dias, with the pair said to share a number of statistical and stylistic similarities, according to FBref.

That is shown by the two men's desire and willingness to get on the ball, with the Palace gem notably ranking in the top 20% among his European peers for attempted passes, while Dias ranks in the top 1% in that regard.

Equally, the pair are also able to offer a real threat at the other end of the pitch, with Andersen ranking in the top 13% for touches in the attacking penalty area, while his Portuguese counterpart ranks in the top 18% for that same metric.

That likeness can also be seen by their leadership qualities, with Andersen having been named captain during his temporary stint with the Cottagers, while Dias has also taken on the armband at times at the Etihad, having been dubbed a "leader of men" by Sky Sports pundit, Jamie Redknapp.

That comparison to the latter man is of interest such has been the 26-year-old's impact in Manchester over the last three years, with the former Benfica man having been hailed as a "man mountain" by pundit Michael Ball due to his standout showings under Pep Guardiola.

For Spurs to then snap up their own version of the 6 foot 1 titan in the form of Andersen could prove to be just what Postecoglou is searching for.

Everton have completed their first signing of the summer with ex-Aston Villa full-back Ashley Young securing a move to Goodison Park this week, and now Sean Dyche will be fully focused on strengthening his attacking threat.

The Toffees escaped the drop into the Championship with just two points to spare last season and only a goal from Abdoulaye Doucoure on the final day saved their Premier League status.

It is no secret that Everton have struggled to kill games in the final third with the forward line significantly weakened by both Richarlison and Anthony Gordon's departures, alongside ongoing injury issues that have left Dominic Calvert-Lewin unable to provide consistent performances in the centre-forward role.

Not only that, newcomer Neal Maupay failed to make the desired impact upon his £15m move from Brighton and Hove Albion last summer, delivering just one goal in all competitions over the campaign.

As a result, the signing of a prolific and confident goal-scorer will be imperative if the Mersey outfit don't want to find themselves struggling in their third-consecutive relegation scrap at the bottom of the table next season.

One player who has been linked with a move to Merseyside this week is Werder Bremen striker Niclas Fullkrug, with the Germany international a significant improvement upon the current options and could even make an impact similar to that of Romelu Lukaku.

Who is Niclas Fullkrug?

The 30-year-old titan has enjoyed a great career in German football rising through the ranks of the Werder Bremen youth set-up to become a goal-machine for the Bundesliga club and eventually earning a much deserved spot in his national team.

Over 371 club appearances so far, Fullkrug has tallied up a whopping 143 goals and 43 assists, with a goal contribution every 127 minutes played which is a fantastic output that would be highly valuable if he could emulate that goal-scoring rate at Goodison Park.

Not only that, the German native – who was once hailed as "very complete" by Bremen coach Ole Werner – has scored seven goals in nine senior appearances for his national team, which again only demonstrates further Fullkrug's keen eye for goal.

In fact, when comparing his league output to that of Demarai Gray, Neal Maupay and Dominic Calvert-Lewin last season, the Werder Bremen powerhouse outperformed his Everton position competitors comfortably in a number of attracking attributes including goal contributions (21), shots on goal per 90 (2.69), goal-creating actions per 90 (0.36) and aerial duels won (54.1%), as per FBref.

The Merseysiders have had huge success with strikers who use their towering stature to dominate the ball in the air and cause chaos for defenders with their strength, both Calvert-Lewin and Lukaku have been the most popular and prolific strikers in front of goal with the latter tallying up 116 goal contributions during his tenure at Everton.

Now, standing at 6 foot 2, Fullkrug – who has a reported €20m (£17m) price tag – could be the second coming of Lukaku if he can follow in the footsteps of the Belgian by finally providing the supporters, the club and the squad a striker they can rely on in the final third next season.

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.

Chelsea could be eyeing a fresh striker move this summer, with the club already holding a meeting over a potential deal for Dusan Vlahovic according to Gazzetta dello Sport, via Chelsea Chronicle.

Is Dusan Vlahovic leaving Juventus?

The striker has been prolific for Juventus in Serie A this season, bagging himself ten goals with two assists in just 22 starts for the Italian side. It made him the club's top goalscorer in the league this year and whilst the Turin side struggled – they finished only seventh in the division due to points deductions – it was a personally successful year for the Serbian in that respect.

He was a real threat for his club this year, with his 2.5 shots per game a better rate than any teammate and demonstrating his ability to get in good positions to then fire away at the opposition goalkeeper. His commanding displays upfront led to a WhoScored rating of 6.75 and it means that he was within the top ten best players at Juventus over the course of the season based on that score.

Now, he could be given the chance to try his luck in England and in the Premier League. That's because according to a report from Gazzetta dello Sport via Chelsea Chronicle, Chelsea have already held a meeting with Juventus representative Giovanni Manna, who is the current Sporting Director with the Turin outfit. The meeting took place in London and the player was discussed in regards to a potential transfer deal. There is no fee mentioned over a potential sale yet but CIES Football Observatory suggest that his value could be around 60 million Euros (or £51m).

How does Vlahovic compare to other strikers?

The Serbian has proven his ability at scoring goals in a weaker Juventus side this campaign and it suggests that he could be a good addition to the Chelsea ranks if he did make the move.

This is further backed up when you consider how the player compares to others in his position across the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe. His rate of 0.43 non-penalty xG per 90 ranks him within the 72nd percentile, which is well above average and shows how prolific he can be. His Shot-Creating Actions rate of 0.16 actually puts him in the top two percent in that area. It means that he often has efforts at goal and his attempts to create opportunities often lead to his teammates getting involved in the action as well.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has previously labelled Vlahovic as the "Serbian beast," which shows how highly he is regarded and the presence he provides up front. Chelsea then would be getting themselves a very capable attacker if they did sign the rising star.

Leeds United correspondent Phil Hay has provided an update on the fitness of Patrick Bamford ahead of the final Premier League game of the season. 

The lowdown: Final day showdown

The Whites head into the last day of the 2021/22 campaign with their top-flight status on the line at Brentford.

As things stand Jesse Marsch’s side sit within the relegation zone in 18th position and must pick up a positive result in London and hope Burnley cannot match their outcome to avoid the drop.

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Ahead of the match and after what has been a gruelling season with injuries to key players, there has been some positive news…

The latest: Last-minute meeting

Having been present at Thorp Arch for Marsch’s final press conference of the campaign, Hay relayed the important pre-match fitness news surrounding Bamford on Twitter, as the player is set to hold a meeting on Saturday to make a last-minute decision.

He shared the manager’s comments: “In training he’s looked quite good. He feels very different to how he did six weeks ago.”

The Athletic journalist added: “At the moment, Marsch feels like using Bamford wouldn’t be a risk to him. But they’ll have another meeting about it tomorrow (Saturday).”

The verdict: Welcome boost

Adding Bamford – who was praised in 2020 for his ‘superb’ form by talkSPORT pundit Darren Bent – to the match-day squad for this crucial match is an undoubted and much needed positive for Leeds as the Yorkshire giants attempt to get out of their plight at the last possible opportunity.

Last term, the 28-year-old netted 17 goals and provided eight assists whilst appearing in all 38 Premier League games. Compare that to this season, where the England striker has only managed five direct goal contributions in ten senior appearances across all competitions, and it’s not hard to understand the side’s struggles in front of goal.

After missing the last seven fixtures through a foot injury it seems unlikely Bamford will be called upon from the outset by Marsch, however, having the option to bring a once-capped England international from the bench is a luxury Leeds cannot afford to pass up in their current predicament.

In other news: Orta now eyeing transfer move for exciting winger even if Leeds are in the Championship. 

A Spanish outlet has provided a further update on Leeds United winger Raphinha and a summer move to Barcelona.

The Lowdown: Barcelona links

Raphinha has been Leeds’ best-rated performer this season, as per WhoScored, scoring more goals than any other Whites player.

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His starring displays may not be enough to keep the club in the Premier League, though, with Jesse Marsch’s side now in the bottom three with just two games remaining.

Barcelona have been heavily linked with a move for the 25-year-old since the turn of the year, and it looks as if it is just a matter of time until a Camp Nou switch goes through.

The Latest: Advanced negotiations

Sports Witness relayed an update from Mundo Deportivo on Thursday regarding Raphinha and Barcelona, revealing the two parties are already in talks.

They claimed that the Brazilian’s agent, Deco, is in ‘advanced negotiations’ with Barcelona president Joan Laporta, whom he has a close relationship with.

Interestingly, they believe that there isn’t a €25m relegation release clause if Leeds go down, as has been suggested, however, they say that the Whites would let him go for a relatively low fee, should they drop down to the Championship.

The Verdict: Inevitable

Even if the Whites somehow manage to remain in the Premier League, it looks as if Raphinha has outgrown Leeds and needs to take the next step in his career over the coming months.

Survival would mean that the Whites could demand a bigger fee for the winger when talking to the Catalan giants, but a departure does seem inevitable either way.

Due to a number of injuries and suspensions for the final two games, Raphinha may have to drag Marsch’s side out of the bottom three single-handedly, and doing just that would be a parting gift money can’t buy.

In other news: Leeds and Orta now planning for the Championship as contact made to sign £5k-p/w flop – opinion.