All posts by z3u9t.icu

A number of Liverpool supporters have urged the club to sign Atletico Madrid striker Joao Felix after he was linked with a move to Anfield.

The Reds had a quiet summer in the transfer market, with Ibrahima Konate ending up being the only new player to come in.

While Liverpool are well-stocked in a number of areas, there was a feeling that they were an attacker light, with freshening up needed in the final third. With Roberto Firmino now 30 and arguably past his absolute best, seeing a younger alternative come in would have pleased many.

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According to Fichajes [via Anfield Edition on Twitter], Liverpool could potentially sign Felix on loan in January, but only if Jurgen Klopp has an option to buy him permanently.

The Portuguese has been hailed as a ‘genius’ by Atletico idol Paulo Futre and is believed to be keen on an exit from the La Liga champions. At the tender age of 21, he has already won league titles in two countries, earned 18 senior Portugal caps and commanded a transfer fee of €126m (£113m).

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Liverpool fans react to Felix rumour

These Liverpool fans took to Twitter to get behind the rumour linking Felix with a move to Anfield, with some imploring sporting director Michael Edwards to work his magic.

“Just this”

Credit: @SalahFanV1

“Michael Edwards please”

Credit: @sethmensa_

“BRING HIM TO ANFIELD”

Credit: @starwart1

“I can’t think of a better replacement for Firmino. Literally a like for like replacement”

Credit: @NiHADlfc

“YES PLS”

Credit: @Wiogo21

“I hope this happens”

Credit: @yUNg_KellA

In other news, some Liverpool fans have been reacting to another transfer claim. Read more here.

With no new players brought in during the winter aside from Willy Caballero who joined the club as a free agent in early December, Southampton have had a rather uneventful few weeks regarding any potential transfer business.

While the club did welcome a takeover from Sport Republic led by Serbian media mogul Dragan Solak, Ralph Hasenhuttl has not been given any new players to add to his squad.

Although, with only a few days left until the transfer window closes, it seems as though the south coast club could have a challenge on their hands to keep hold of one of their key players.

What’s the news?

According to journalist Jose Manuel Oliva (via Saints Extra) Newcastle United are negotiating with Southampton over a potential transfer for Mohammed Salisu and have apparently offered a similar to what they have tried to sign Sevilla defender Diego Carlos for, which is said to be in in the region of over £30m.

Southampton signed the defender back in the 2020 summer transfer window from Spanish club Real Valladolid in a deal worth a reported fee of £10.9m.

Since then, the 22-year-old, who is currently picking up a weekly wage of £39k-per-week according to Salary Sport, has gone on to make 38 appearances for the Saints across all competitions.

Ralph would be furious

This season has seen the Ghanian play more minutes in the Premier League than any other Southampton player, as well as managing to rack up an overall performance rating of 7/10 from WhoScored, making him their second-highest rated outfield player behind club captain James Ward-Prowse.

Labelled as a “nasty” player in the past in terms of his defensive action on the pitch by Hasenhuttl, Salisu’s latest appearance for Southampton saw the centre-back put in a colossal performance in their recent 1-1 draw against Manchester City where he made a total of 14 clearances, seven tackles and four interceptions.

This not only highlights how important Salisu has been for the team this season but also how unhappy Hasenhuttl would be to see him potentially leave the club halfway through the season to join another Premier League side, which would undoubtedly be a disaster for Solak, especially this late in the window.

Moving forward, with Newcastle journalist Luke Edwards recently claiming that the Magpies had made an approach to Southampton to sign Salisu but were told that “it’s not going to be possible” for them to sign him, this should put to bed any concerns there may have been from the fans or Hasenhuttl about the defender’s immediate future.

In other news: Big boost: Hasenhuttl drops promising 7-word Southampton update, fans surely pleased – opinion

It may have been a quiet summer for Liverpool so far in terms of incomings, but behind the scenes, they’ve been busy tying down their prized assets to new, long-term contracts.

What’s the story?

The likes of Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho and Alisson Becker have all committed their futures to the Anfield outfit, while club captain Jordan Henderson is expected to follow suit.

And now, arguably the club’s most important player, Mohamed Salah, of all could be set to put pen to paper on fresh terms, ending speculation over what’s in store for the Eygpt international over the next few years.

According to The Athletic’s Liverpool reporter James Pearce, the Reds have entered into talks with the 29-year-old over a new deal, with his current one set to expire in 2023.

Pearce’s report reads: “The Athletic understands negotiations are already underway over a new contract that would be the most expensive in club history.

“Salah’s current one, worth around £200,000 per week, runs until the end of next season, and the hope is he will commit his future for a further two years. By July 2025, he will be 33 years old.”

Liverpool fans will be buzzing

Since returning to English shores four years ago, Salah’s incredible consistency has seen him score a quite outrageous 126 goals in 204 goals for the Anfield outfit.

The Egyptian ace has also racked up 49 assists for Liverpool, showcasing his ability to be both the provider and finisher and has fired Jurgen Klopp’s charges to a Premier League title and Champions League crown during his time at the club.

Pearce’s latest report will reassure Liverpool fans that their star forward is here to stay and leave them buzzing with excitement.

The well-known and respected journalist claims that senior club sources have described the ongoing discussions so far as “productive”, and that there’s certainly no concern that a compromise has yet to be reached.

If Salah does sign a new contract then it would surely go down as Liverpool’s best piece of business in the current window, ensuring Klopp has the services of one of the sports top performances to call upon for the foreseeable future.

Fans will be absolutely buzzing with Pearce’s latest news.

And, in other news…Fabrizio Romano drops fresh Liverpool claim that’ll leave fans very worried 

Ipswich manager Paul Cook will surely be disappointed with his side’s terrible start to the 2021/22 campaign as they sit 21st in the table after five matches.

They have amassed only three points in League One after drawing three of their opening five games, losing the other two, and are yet to win their first competitive game of the season.

The Tractor Boys were held to draws by MK Dons, Morecambe and AFC Wimbledon, whilst they also lost to Burton Albion and Cheltenham – both away from home. In addition, they were dumped out of the Carabao Cup with a home defeat to League Two side Newport County.

Whilst a number of players will look back at August potentially feeling that they were far from their best, one player in particular let Cook down with his performances on the pitch – Kane Vincent-Young.

The 25-year-old has been given the nod at right-back and started four of the five league matches for the Blues, but failed to show his best form last month. Cook put his faith in the former Colchester man to be his first-choice right-back and you could forgive the head coach for feeling like the defender didn’t repay that faith over the course of the month.

Vincent-Young averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.63, which placed him 13th in the squad overall despite being in the starting XI for four of the five games. The overall standard of his performance was poor, with his general play leaving a lot to be desired.

However, it must be stressed that there were some signs of positivity from Vincent-Young. He created 1.3 chances per game and registered two assists in his four appearances, showing an appetite to get forward from the full-back position and provide opportunities for his teammates to score. If he can improve the other areas of his game, then he could be a valuable asset for Cook over the coming months.

Nonetheless, Vincent-Young’s ball retention in August was dreadful. As per SofaScore, he gave the ball away 79 times in four matches (19.8 times per game), and only completed 71% of his attempted passes. This shows that he was not a reliable option on the ball as he gave it away far too frequently, allowing the opposition to counter on Ipswich and put Cook’s side under pressure.

Defensively, he was weak in his duels. As per SofaScore, he lost 53% of his duels on the pitch, including 78% of his aerial battles, as he struggled to compete against the opposition. He failed to win back possession at any point in four games, highlighting the weakness in his game in terms of physical battles.

He let Cook down with his displays in August and will need to buck up his ideas if he wants to keep his place in the team moving forward.

AND in other news, Reason Ipswich missed out on “incredibly dynamic” beast revealed, Cook will be fuming…

According to a report by Fichajes, West Ham United are now eyeing another defender for David Moyes as news emerges on Athletic Bilbao ace Dani Vivian.

The Lowdown: West Ham in summer defence chase…

West Ham were linked with a plethora of centre-backs over the latest summer before they eventually managed to capture France international Kurt Zouma.

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Indeed, the likes of Nayef Aguerd and Duje Caleta-Car were also being eyed by GSB and the Irons but it appears that, despite signing Zouma, the club could still add another defender to Moyes’ ranks.

This comes amid question marks surrounding the future of Angelo Ogbonna with the Italian still yet to put pen to paper on an extension at the London Stadium.

The Latest: West Ham now eyeing Vivian…

As per Fichajes, the Irons are now eyeing promising Bilbao defender Vivian – with some work being done behind the scenes.

It is claimed that West Ham are ‘compiling statistical reports’ on the player and have been following him very recently alongside the likes of Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The report claims that Vivian is ‘on the agenda’ of West Ham and they also lift the lid on his €40 million (£34m) release clause.

The Verdict: Bigger priorities?

While Fichajes make it clear that the 22-year-old is a top talent with ‘tremendous physical power’ and £34m could be a bargain considering his potential, West Ham arguably have bigger priorities for the moment.

New head of recruitment Rob Newman needs to prioritise the signing of a new back up striker for Michail Antonio after the club’s failure to bring one in over 2021.

The Jamaica international has been in sublime form under Moyes but his injury history always proves to be a concern.

Indeed, an alternative goal scorer is arguably imperative over the signing of Vivian.

In other news: ‘Yessss’, ‘Beautiful’, ‘This is massive’…Many West Ham fans erupt as ‘actually brilliant news’ confirmed, find out more here.

Paul Stewart reckons that another of his former sides in Liverpool will be Manchester City’s closest challengers next season.

Following two outstanding seasons when they finished second by one point before romping to their first Premier League crown, Jurgen Klopp’s men struggled for much of the 2020-2021 campaign.

However, a 10-match unbeaten run, including five consecutive victories, saw Liverpool sneak back into the top four above Leicester, with the Reds eventually leapfrogging Chelsea on the final-day to come third and salvage something from an otherwise frustrating campaign.

Klopp has made just one summer addition in Ibrahima Konate, but now has both Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez back available after long-term injuries saw them miss the majority of last season.

There’s also fans returning to grounds for the first time for more than 18 months, and Stewart exclusively told The Transfer Tavern that those factors could see Liverpool mount a title-challenge once again:

“I think they’ll challenge because he’s such a good manager. I think the fans will be back in the stadium, the two players that are coming back from injury will lighten up Liverpool into a challenge for the Premier League again.

“So, I see them being the closest to City out of all of them, even more so than Manchester United.”

With Liverpool’s top four rivals all strengthening significantly, Klopp has work to do in the window, but has kept almost every member that won the league two years ago, which means there’s no reason his mentality monsters can’t go again.

Tottenham insider John Wenham believes the club could seal the signing of AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie in a number of days, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Talks at an advanced stage

Managing director at Spurs Fabio Paratici has been linked with a move for Kessie for a number of months now.

The Ivorian, capable of playing as a central or defensive midfielder, has just six months remaining on his AC Milan contract.

That means Tottenham will have the chance to seal pre-contract terms in the January transfer window, with The Daily Express reporting in recent days that talks are at an advanced stage.

Arsenal and Manchester United are also keen, but it’s believed Antonio Conte’s side are at the front of the queue for the 25-year-old’s signature.

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The Latest: Wenham’s comments

Spurs insider Wenham was talking to Football Insider in a story on Thursday evening regarding Kessie.

He feels that a move could be finalised in ‘days’, labelling Paratici as a ‘specialist’.

“The Franck Kessie stuff is still going on.

“The opportunity to get him on a pre-contract is coming up in a few days and I think that’s one to keep an eye on.

“I’ve mentioned before about Paratici’s links with Serie A and how he is a specialist at getting these deals done.

“That one would not surprise me. There are reportedly a lot of clubs interested in him.

“But now we have the pulling power of Antonio Conte, which could give us an edge.”

The Verdict: Brilliant…

Should Spurs land Kessie on a pre-contract agreement over the coming days, it could turn out to be an excellent piece of business both in the short and long term, with Paratici then able to look at immediate January additions.

Tottenham would be getting a £43.2m-rated midfielder seemingly in his prime for nothing, with Kessie bringing a wealth of international and European experience to north London.

There could also be a number of midfield departures at Spurs over the next few weeks, with Dele Alli and Giovani Lo Celso linked with exits. Should the pair move on, that would leave Conte with just four senior midfield options, so bringing in Kessie would help bolster the numbers in the middle of the pitch.

In other news: ‘I’m hearing’ – talkSPORT drop Spurs transfer update live on-air; Conte wants ‘world class’ ace. 

Wolves winger Francisco Trincao is unlikely to sign a permanent deal this summer with the Barcelona loanee reportedly unhappy at Molineux.

What’s the latest?

According to O Jogo (via Sport Witness), the Portuguese wide man ‘is not satisfied’ at the Black Country club and will look to return to Barcelona this summer. However, the 22-year-old is also seeking a move away from the La Liga giants.

There have also been talks of a potential swap deal involving the loanee and Adama Traore, who is currently on loan at the Catalan club. Although, this now seems unlikely if Trincao is unwilling to extend his stay in the West Midlands.

Wolves must part ways with Trincao

In all honesty, it’s no major loss for Wolves if Trincao objects to joining the club on a permanent basis. The winger has struggled to win over the Molineux faithful with just one Premier League goal in 24 appearances this term, a disappointing return.

The winger was given the nod to start on Friday night against Newcastle United, a game in which Wolves as a collective were poor, losing 1-0.

Although, the 22-year-old particularly struggled with Wolves journalist Tim Spiers labelling the Portuguese as “anonymous” in what could prove to be one of the final opportunities the Barcelona loanee gets in the famous amber.

Indeed, according to SofaScore, he managed just 13 passes in the entire game and none of them were key either.

Bruno Lage may inevitably opt to move Adama Traore on this summer too given his goal-shy first half of the season, but it now appears as though that deal will be separate.

The Portuguese manager still has a decent amount of options on the flanks with Daniel Podence as well as Pedro Neto, who is now back from injury, and the recently recruited Chiquinho.

However, there may still be a desire to recruit wide players in the summer with goals from wingers a rare spectacle this season for the West Midlands outfit.

Podence has netted just twice in the top-flight this season whilst Neto is still readjusting after a lengthy spell out and Chiquinho is slowly being integrated into the side.

It’s certainly an area for concern and fresh faces may be the necessary solution making it vital for Wolves to axe Trincao this summer with his loan spell ultimately proving to be a waste of time.

In other news: Disaster: Lage sleepwalking into huge Wolves error that could have dire consequences

West Brom have had a high turnover of players in the last 18 months, and are seemingly now trying to put together a squad with a consistent starting XI.

The Baggies will be keen to add quality to their side as they attempt to earn an automatic promotion spot, either challenging for the Championship title or finishing second to secure Premier League football next season.

One player that has been heavily linked to Ismael’s side is Tom Lawrence.

Lawrence is currently in Wayne Rooney’s side at Derby County, however, the move to a Premier League challenging side could prove more attractive to the 27-year-old gem as the Rams are struggling in the relegation zone after a series of points deductions this season due to financial troubles.

His record at his current club is 30 goals and 23 assists, with his hunger for goals he would be a great addition for the West Bromwich Albion side who will be trying to climb the table.

Tom Lawrence’s former manager Gary Bowyer, once dubbed the player “a fabulous talent” in an interview;

“He’s a wonderful player, a joy to watch. He’s one of these players that when he picks the ball up, half-turns and starts running, you get off the edge of your seat because you know something’s going to happen.

“I think today in the second half, he had a couple of runs and looked like he would make something happen. He’s a fabulous talent.”

Valerien Ismael could capitalise on Derby’s current situation by attracting Lawrence to a side with potential, and use the opportunity to offload Jordan Hugill, who has struggled to find the back of the net for West Brom this season, with just one goal so far and zero assists, offering little impact in the fight for promotion.

West Brom will have work to do to close the gap on Fulham and Bournemouth, as they currently sit in third, nine points adrift from the top of the table, but the Championship is ever-changing and the Baggies will hoping to use their experience in Championship title challenges to climb up the ranks in the second half of the season.

In other news: Callum Robinson must start against Blackpool

Celtic’s transfer model under CEO Michael Nicholson and manager Ange Postecoglou will mean they miss out on large incoming transfer fees for talented academy prospects, according to finance expert Dr Dan Plumley, speaking to Football Insider.

The lowdown: First of many?

This comes after a report from The Athletic confirmed that the Hoops will receive just £600,000 in compensation for highly-rated winger Ben Doak.

The 16-year-old is set to join Premier League giants Liverpool, having made only two senior appearances for Postecoglou’s side this season.

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Unlike the £25million fee received following Kieran Tierney’s switch to Arsenal (Sky Sports), the Glasgow club have been left short in the Doak deal, and Plumley fears it is becoming a recurring trend.

The latest: Troubling times

Speaking to FI, Dr Plumley claims that Celtic’s youth-focused model means clubs south of the border may continue to exploit the rules.

“It’s largely because of Fifa regulations.

“England and Scotland are classed as different countries and they can settle on a compensation fee which is far lower than a transfer fee.

“Celtic do this in reverse as well, so you have to be mindful of it in this model. The player has a choice to stay at Celtic and develop into a £20m-plus player or move on and do the same at another club.

“Celtic have to be aware that big clubs will be looking at their players and are well placed to capitalise.

“For every Tierney, you manage to keep and sell for a big fee, you might have a few of these along the way.”

The verdict: Hands tied

Ultimately it would appear that there is very little Celtic or Nicholson can do about Premier League clubs attempting to cherry-pick their most prodigious talents.

At present, the Bhoys boast a wealth of promising youngsters in the likes of Johnny Kenny, Karamoko Dembele and Dane Murray, all of whom it would surely be hoped will continue their development at Lennoxtown, but Dembele for example could even be the next one to depart.

Perhaps Postecoglou, with the help of the likes of Nicholson, can help secure a clear pathway for youngsters to the first team whilst also doing a spot of talent recruitment themselves.

As for Doak and the compensation fee, the teenage winger looks to be destined for greatness and may always be regarded as the one who got away, both in terms of finance and impact on the pitch.