All posts by h716a5.icu

Everton enjoyed a summer of heavy reinvestment, buoyed by the £60m sale of top talisman Richarlison.

Although the Brazillian had played a huge role in their survival the season prior, it was assumed that bolstering the squad as a whole would be more beneficial than relying solely on one man for their goals.

As such, the midfield was prioritised and a replacement for the Tottenham Hotspur-bound marksman was omitted.

Having acquired Amadou Onana, James Garner and Idrissa Gana Gueye, they were expected to offer solidity in the engine room for ex-manager Frank Lampard, who quickly discovered just how grave an error he had made in his transfer policy.

The Toffees now sit in the relegation zone, left licking their wounds after a 4-0 drubbing away to Arsenal. The latter of those midfield reinforcements has been earmarked for particular scrutiny after his display, and his lackadaisical attitude which essentially put the game out of reach for Sean Dyche’s side.

Perhaps a spell out of the team could now be in order, as the Senegalese stalwart manages to make his £2m summer fee seem like a waste.

How did Idrissa Gueye play against Arsenal?

The fact that the 33-year-old was hooked at half-time speaks volumes for how he fared against the Gunners, with his part in their second goal unforgivable.

Having just conceded from a fine Bukayo Saka finish, a 1-0 deficit at the break would have left Dyche still confident of claiming a result given the spirited first 40 minutes his side had shown.

But dawdling back towards his own goal, Gueye was hunted by the English winger and Gabriel Martinelli in a scene that dumbfounded all who watched it. It was almost as if a foul had been given he was so casual, in a moment that journalist Adam Jones described as such:

“Idrissa Gueye (hailed a great signing in the summer, hmm) completely fell asleep under no pressure.”

In just 45 minutes the usually relentless midfielder could only muster 19 touches and a sole defensive intervention (one tackle), before putting the game to bed with his blunder.

This is not the first time the £80k-per-week dud has been sloppy in possession, and his decline in this area has been sharp.

This was the third instance this season that he had made an error leading to a goal, with the former cult hero having become something of a liability of late. Only one other player in the entire division has blundered more in this regard – Hugo Lloris.

Dyche made his feelings known with the ruthless half-time substitution, and the former Burnley boss must continue to exclude a player who simply cannot be trusted in his system anymore.

An update has emerged on Aston Villa and their plans to bolster the squad in the upcoming summer transfer window…

What’s the latest on Aston Villa’s interest in Alberto Moleiro?

According to Mundo Deportivo, the Villans are prepared to pay €25m (£22m) to sign Las Palmas attacking midfielder Alberto Moleiro at the end of the season.

The report claims that Premier League teams Liverpool and Villa are both willing to match the Spanish side’s price tag, which is €25m (£22m) as a fixed fee.

It is stated that LaLiga giants Barcelona were only prepared to offer that much as part of a package with €15m worth of add-ons that were not guaranteed, which could open the door for the English teams to swoop in.

However, Mundo Deportivo also claims that the gem would be open to remaining at Las Palmas for another season if they are promoted to LaLiga, with the club currently sitting three points clear of third in LaLiga 2.

How would Alberto Moleiro fit in at Aston Villa?

The Spanish wizard has played between 19 and 21 matches as a left winger, right winger, and an attacking midfielder respectively in his career and this means that the youngster could line up in any of the three roles behind Ollie Watkins.

Moleiro could strike an instant connection with the Villa centre-forward as the 19-year-old is a creative talent who likes to constantly provide his fellow attackers with opportunities to score.

In LaLiga 2 this season, the teenager – whose “silky touch” was once lauded by scout Jacek Kulig – has produced 1.7 key passes per game and created 11 ‘big chances’ in total, which shows that the maestro is consistently opening up opposition defences for his side.

Meanwhile, Douglas Luiz (1.3) is the only Villa player with more than one key pass per match in the Premier League this term – providing just four ‘big chances’ – and this suggests that Unai Emery does not currently have one outstanding creator who he can rely upon to carve teams open.

Moleiro, if he can make the step up to the Premier League, has the potential to come in and be the creative presence in midfield that they have been lacking this season.

Watkins could greatly benefit from this as his form under Emery has shown that he has the scope to be an excellent goalscorer for the club if provided with the right services.

Since the World Cup, the Englishman has plundered six goals and one assist in ten Premier League appearances. Now, imagine the figures the marksman could rack up over the course of a season with a playmaker regularly creating big chances for him to score from at the top end of the pitch.

Emery could form an exciting pairing in the final third by signing Moleiro with that precisely the reason Johan Lange and the Spanish head coach must work to get this deal over the line in the coming months.

Arsenal journalist for football.london Kaya Kaynak says that the Gunners will target another forward this summer, but Raphinha and Ansu Fati are unlikely.

The Lowdown: Barcelona interest

It was reported that Arsenal’s summer interest in Raphinha did not go away in the January transfer window, after they missed out on the signing of Mykhaylo Mudryk to Chelsea.

They have also reportedly made an enquiry over his FC Barcelona team-mate Ansu Fati, ahead of a potential swoop this summer.

The Latest: Unlikely

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Kaynak has suggested that although the Gunners could look to sign another attacker in the summer, Raphinha is seemingly happy to stay at Barca, while Fati’s injury record could be a concern, making both deals unlikely:

“They want players who can play across the front line, out-wide and up front. That’s why they signed Trossard.

“I wouldn’t be surprised to see them go back in for another player. Raphinha seems off limits at the minute. He’s obviously living his dream move at Barcelona, I think he’s very keen to give that a proper go.

“Ansu Fati’s injury record would properly be a concern as well when it comes to that interest, and I personally haven’t heard anything concrete enough. That’s not me saying the rumours aren’t true, it’s just what I’ve heard personally.”

The Verdict: Avoid

Both players although talented in their own right, are ones that Mikel Arteta’s team should be avoiding to sign this summer.

Raphinha snubbed them last summer, and his heart is clearly not set on a move to the Emirates Stadium, and as mentioned by Kaynak, Fati has a poor injury record.

The North Londoners already signed Leandro Trossard in January as cover on the flanks, while Reiss Nelson is reportedly in talks over a new contract.

Nonetheless, with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe in the squad as well, they are already well-covered in those areas of the pitch, and so should be prioritising strengthening other positions.

Tottenham Hotspur have made contact with the entourage of Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram ahead of a potential summer move, according to a report.

The Lowdown: Spurs eyeing Thuram

With Thuram’s contract set to expire at the end of the season, it is now inevitable that he will be moving on at the end of the season, and Tottenham have previously made their interest clear.

However, they are not the only Premier League side eyeing up a move for the Monchengladbach star, with Manchester United said to have made contact with his agent, while Aston Villa could also make an outlandish approach.

With interest in the 25-year-old so high, potential suitors are looking to have a deal in place by the end of the campaign, and Spurs have moved swiftly to make initial contact with the player…

The Latest: Contact made

According to a report from CalcioMercato, the Lilywhites have already approached the Frenchman’s entourage to discuss a potential summer move, although they will have to fend off competition for his signature from across the continent.

Bayern Munich are said to have strong interest, while Serie A clubs are also lining up for the Parma-born ace, with Inter Milan viewing him as a suitable replacement for Romelu Lukaku.

The transfer saga is seemingly not set to end any time soon, however, as the player himself wants to wait until the end of the season before assessing all the offers he has on the table.

The Verdict: Get it done?

The France international made a fantastic start to the season, netting on ten occasions in his first 15 Bundesliga games, however, goals have started to dry up recently, having scored just one in his last eight, perhaps owing to his imminent departure at the end of the season.

That said, the striker, who has been hailed ‘world-class’ by Wolfsburg sporting director Marcel Schafer, is still ranked amongst Monchengladbach’s best-performing players in the league, with an average match rating of 7.02.

The opportunity does not often present itself to sign a player of Thuram’s quality on a free transfer, and he plays in a position that Spurs may need to think about strengthening soon, given that Harry Kane faces an uncertain future in north London.

Champions League qualification could be vital in being able to attract the 6 foot 4 forward, who excels in his dribbling ability, and so the onus is now on Antonio Conte’s team to finish the season strongly.

Insider ExWHUemployee has revealed that West Ham United goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski should be fit to play in the club's next game despite his recent injury.

What’s the latest on Lukasz Fabianski's West Ham injury?

The Polish shot-stopper has been out for the past two Premier League games after having to come off early against Nottingham Forest after taking a knock to the head.

In fact, it was such a bad injury that he ended up suffering a fractured cheekbone and eye socket and so was expected to potentially be on the sidelines for some time.

And while he has been out for a little while, it does sound as though he could be ready to start against Southampton if required, when West Ham are next in action after the international break.

In an update on The West Ham Way podcast, Ex outlined the situation, saying: “Fabianski is back in training with his face mask on now and should be fit for the Southampton game.”

What has David Moyes said on Lukasz Fabianski's injury?

David Moyes recently spoke to the press about the player's possible return, noting that Fabianski was "desperate to come back" as soon as possible.

However, the club manager explained that he and the medical team remain a bit "unsure" and "worried" about him starting as he could suffer pretty badly if he was to get hit in the face by a ball.

In full, he said: “He is desperate to come back. He feels like he is ready. Medically we are a little bit unsure as they are worried about him getting a ball in the face.”

He also noted some concerns about how his performance could be impacted by wearing a mask, saying: “I have got no problem with that, but I haven’t got a strong enough opinion on it.

“Sometimes anything on your face means you don’t see other things, if you wear a hat or glasses, so a mask like that may not be great for a goalkeeper.”

By the sounds of it, though, the time off for the international break should hopefully allow Fabianski sufficient time to heal and so when Southampton come to visit at the start of next month, it's likely the 37-year-old will be there to face them.

If not, though, Alphonse Areola will be expected to come in instead, having started the last two league games – albeit failing to win any and shipping five goals in that period.

Manchester United are one of the clubs that are showing an interest in the Napoli centre-back Kim Min-jae ahead of the summer transfer window.

Could Kim Min-jae leave Napoli this summer?

The South Korean centre-back has made quite an impression in Serie A having only arrived at Napoli in during the last summer transfer window.

However, he has caught the attention of interested clubs in doing so as the 26-year-old looks set to help Napoli to the Italian crown.

It is believed the defender has a release clause of around €50m (£44m) in his current deal with the Serie A side which will be valid for a few days in July.

However, speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has claimed the South Korean has been offered a new contract to remain at Napoli:

(3:30) "It's true that there's a release clause. I already told you that the close is a bit less than €50m (£44m) and it's going to be valid for a few days in July this summer.

"So there is the possibility to trigger the clause and sign Kim Min-jae. What's the point? That is the player also who has to decide and also Napoli have tried to offer him a new contract to keep the player.

"So Man United among many clubs are monitoring Kim Min-jae but Napoli have to make a decision and they are pushing to extend his contract and change his clause situation."

Would Kim Min-jae improve United?

Considering Erik ten Hag's side are currently third in the table, their defensive record has left a lot to be desired this season having conceded 35 goals already.

Of course, seven of those goals came in the capitulation at Anfield, however, they have now allowed in 16 more than the likes of Newcastle United.

In comparison, Napoli have conceded just 16 goals in 27 league games in which Kim has played a huge role in this season.

Raphael Varane has partnered Lisandro Martinez in Erik ten Hag's defence this season with the latter having only signed for the Red Devils in the summer.

However, he has made an instant impression at Old Trafford and has made 24 appearances in the Premier League alone this season.

Former United midfielder, Park Ji-sung has not held back in his praise of his fellow countryman by labelling him "extraordinary" amid his success in Serie A.

And it is easy to see why when the South Korean has played such a big part in Napoli's side having averaged over 90 touches per game and registering over 70 passes per game (via FBref).

Perhaps more impressively for United, the South Korean has provided more tackles and won more aerial duels per game than Varane has under Ten Hag (via FBref).

The Korean appears to be a real talent, however, he has openly spoken of his thoughts on the transfer rumours linking him with a potential exit from Napoli: “I can't be bothered by transfer rumours because they aren’t true.”

Former Spain star Luis Garcia has backed Luis Enrique to replace Antonio Conte as Tottenham Hotspur manager.

What's going on with Conte and Spurs?

There is a growing expectation that the Italian is to be dismissed from his role as Spurs manager, after a disappointing season and an explosive rant in a press conference.

Julian Nagelsmann has been touted as a possible replacement, with the German now available following his sacking at Bayern Munich, whilst Mauricio Pochettino has also been linked with return to the club.

However, Garcia has suggested that former Spain and Barcelona coach Enrique has the experience needed to succeed at Spurs.

Enrique, a Champions League winner with the Blaugrana, was fired from his role at Spain following the World Cup, but has plenty of knowhow under his belt, and would be another big-name appointment at the club.

Speaking on ESPN FC (1.00), Garcia backed the Spaniard to succeed in North London.

"I think it's a fantastic club and Luis Enrique's got everything to be successful there," he stated.

"He's got that energy, he's got that attitude, he is ready to fight. I think he's got the experience to build something very unique there at Tottenham, so it could be a fantastic choice."

What kind of manager should Spurs go for?

The likes of Conte and Jose Mourinho have been appointed by Daniel Levy in recent years as proven winners with excellent track records, but neither succeeded at the club.

It has been suggested that the problems at Spurs lie in recruitment, rather than with the coaches they hire, and this indicates that Enrique could follow the same path as a big-name appointment who could ultimately fail to deliver on expectations.

Spurs need to rediscover their identity, and a long-term appointment could suit them more than another short-term hire, and perhaps the club need to explore a different route than Enrique.

Vincent Kompany and Michael Carrick have both impressed in the Championship, and a gamble on a younger, promising manager such as one of these two, with a long-term rebuild plan could work better than chasing short-term success with a big-name coach.

With Harry Kane's future up in the air, the job on offer is not an easy one, and it may take a long time for a new coach to rebuild the squad to compete for major honours. Spurs need to show patience with their next appointment, no matter who they choose as Conte's successor.

Chelsea's main problem this season has been putting the ball in the back of the net, and it is something of a surprise that Graham Potter has persisted with Kai Havertz as his main man throughout the campaign.

There is no doubting the German international's ability but he is far from consistent in the final third, with just seven league goals to his name so far this term, as he has continued his trend of underperforming on his xG in every season so far at Stamford Bridge.

Potter should instead consider unleashing Mason Burstow, who is continuing to catch the eye in Chelsea's academy, having become the final signing of the Roman Abramovich era when he joined from Charlton Athletic in February 2022.

Who is Chelsea starlet Mason Burstow?

The Blues secured the signing of Burstow having submitted a 'substantial bid' for the teenager last year, after he had broken into the first team with the League One club, notching six goals in his first 14 senior appearances.

He would return to The Valley on loan for the rest of the 2021/22 campaign and finished the season with six goals and three assists in 23 appearances.

Former Charlton boss Johnnie Jackson sang the young striker's praises last year after his instant impact in Charlton's first team, which remarkably saw him score with his first touch in senior football in a 6-1 thrashing of Crawley Town in the EFL Trophy.

He said: "He is a great kid. He is so confident I had no qualms [about bringing him on against Plymouth]. It was a big game to come on, a big crowd – there was quite a lot of weight on his shoulders. I was happy to fling him in because I think he can handle that.

“I’ve got confidence in him and he’s got confidence in himself. He is a good player."

Unsurprisingly, the 19-year-old is finding U21s football a little easier given his experience of senior football in England's third tier, and he boasts ten goals and four assists in just 26 appearances for the Blues so far this campaign.

Amid an injury crisis in January, Chelsea opted to keep Burstow at the club in case he was needed for the first team, which suggests that he is already in Potter's thoughts as he considers how to improve the Blues' woes in front of goal, which has seen them muster just 29 in the top flight this season.

With Havertz continuing to misfire in a Chelsea shirt, Potter should perhaps consider giving the 19-year-old Burstow his first-team debut in the coming months, as the £2.9k-per-week striker's goalscoring nous could just push the Blues back up the Premier League table.

Leeds United defender Diego Llorente is thought to be eyeing a permanent exit from Elland Road and would be happy to remain at AS Roma following his loan spell.

How is Llorente getting on at Roma?

Llorente was a late departee from Yorkshire during the January window after making just eight Premier League experiences during the current campaign.

The 29-year-old sealed a move to Italy with Roma, signing on loan until the end of the season which included an £18m option to make a move permanent in the summer.

Since moving to Serie A, the Spaniard has made just five appearances under Jose Mourinho, although he has started the last two league games for Roma, helping them to back-to-back wins and clean sheets. Mourinho heaped praise on Llorente at the beginning of the month following the victory over Sampdoria, saying:

“Diego Llorente also played very well with Smalling in a 4-man defence. He worked really well during the break, and as a manager that’s what really struck me about today: Llorente’s performance.

“I could have used Celik as a central defender but he’d never done it before so we opted for a four-man defence. I was really happy with Llorente because he allowed us to keep more possession.”

It looks as if the player is already eyeing a permanent move to Roma this summer. MOT Leeds News relayed an update from Italian outlet Forza Roma regarding Llorente in the last 48 hours.

The report claimed that the player has told people he wants to quit Elland Road for good this summer, with Roma looking at how to make a move permanent without paying the £18m fee agreed on earlier this year.

Should Leeds cash in on Llorente?

Llorente didn’t exactly impress under former manager Jesse Marsch before leaving on loan, with pundit Sue Smith describing him as “really poor” during a 5-2 defeat to Brentford, criticising the defender’s lack of quality on the ball.

As per WhoScored, the 29-year-old has been the worst-rated Leeds defender this season with a match rating of 6.46/10, whereas January signing and defender Max Wober has been the club’s second-best performer with a match rating of 6.77/10.

Therefore, the Whites could be keen to sell Llorente, who is on a £45,000-a-week deal in Yorkshire. However, Roma could test Leeds’ resolve with an offer below the £18m figure negotiated, and with the player keen on a move away, an agreement could well be reached.

Sunderland have been dealt a transfer blow after learning that Amad Diallo is set to be given a chance in the senior first-team at Manchester United next season, according to reports.

What's the latest on Amad's future?

The Ivory Coast international first made the move to the northeast when he put pen to paper on a season-long loan last summer. During his 36 appearances to date, he has taken the Championship by storm, becoming Tony Mowbray’s top-performing offensive player.

The Black Cats don’t have the option included in their terms to buy the winger permanently, meaning that they would have to negotiate with the Red Devils should they want him back for good next season, and whilst the boss has already admitted that’s what he wants, said that it’s “unlikely” he will be returning.

The Old Trafford starlet also hasn’t helped the cause by publicly revealing during an interview with FourFourTwo that it’s his “dream” to play regular football with Erik Ten Hag’s side and his intentions appear to be very much in line with that of the Dutchman.

According to Manchester Evening News, Ten Hag is “open” to including Amad as part of his senior first-team squad for the 2023/24 campaign. The United boss and the remainder of his coaching staff are “pleased” with the significant development and progress that he’s made.

Ten Hag is “likely” to name the 20-year-old as part of his pre-season tour squad who are jetting off to the United States, with two friendlies in Europe scheduled before leaving for the Atlantic Coast on July 19. The Red Devils did have the option to recall the forward at the start of the year but chose not to as a result of his solid run of form in the northeast, though the chances of seeing him at the Stadium of Light beyond the summer are slim.

Will losing Amad be a blow for Sunderland?

Since joining Sunderland, Amad has been hailed an “insane” player by journalist Josh Bunting and it’ll be a massive blow for Mowbray that he’s set to lose one of his most standout performers of this season.

The £28k-per-week ace has clocked up 15 goal contributions (12 goals and three assists) during his time in red and white and has recorded a total of 49 shots which is the second highest of the whole squad, just three behind Jack Clarke on 52, via FBRef.

Amad has also been an extremely versatile player having operated in five various positions this term, including in the midfield and across the frontline, so is a great option for the boss to have at his disposal, though he won’t be available for much longer so supporters will have to enjoy him whilst they still can.