All posts by z3u9t.icu

David Moyes could save West Ham United a lot of money by unleashing academy starlet Emmanuel Longelo into the first team.

After sensationally qualifying for the Europa League, a year on from avoiding relegation with one game to spare, the Irons boss is in desperate need of strength in depth.

The prospects of being handed a 50-plus game campaign will soon become a reality and his current squad is far from set up to remain competitive throughout that period.

There’s the big priority of finding a new striker, to take the weight off Michail Antonio’s back, whilst it’s thought that Moyes would also like a new central defender.

Not to mention that they may need to replace Jesse Lingard’s presence in attacking midfield and find backup options in the full-back positions too.

All this means Moyes needs substantial financial backing from David Sullivan, David Gold and Karen Brady and as good as they have been in some of their recent windows under the Scotsman, it’s perhaps unrealistic to expect all of those positions to be filled in one summer, especially when taking into account the financial impact of the pandemic.

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Therefore, Longelo is someone who could, and should, benefit next season.

The 20-year-old is a hugely promising and attack-minded left-back who could provide perfect cover for Aaron Cresswell, especially if Arthur Masuaku continues to be blighted by persistent injuries.

He is just one of many players that Moyes has already handed a senior debut to since his return to the London Stadium, so surely it’s time for the next step up.

The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas has made some comparisons to the rise of Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the past, having been converted from a forward into a defender, whilst only two years ago, he was deemed to have “serious potential.”

Moyes must take a bold risk and allow Longelo to feature amongst the senior side more often next term.

AND in other news, Moyes dealt another devastating West Ham transfer blow, fans will surely be gutted…

Leicester City are close to completing the signing of Lille midfielder Boubakary Soumare, just days after he secured the Ligue 1 title.

What’s the story?

According to Sky Sports, the Foxes are set to complete an £18 million deal for the 22-year-old after his compatriot Wesley Fofana convinced him to make a move to the Midlands outfit.

The report states that contractual details are yet to be finalised and that Soumare will first compete for France in the U21s Euros before confirming any transfer.

Fans will be buzzing

Soumare has been a long-term target for Brendan Rodgers’ side, who are keen to bolster their ranks after narrowly missing out on a Champions League qualification spot for the second consecutive campaign.

It appears as though Leicester have finally got their man, with just the formalities left to be completed, and the club’s supporters will surely be buzzing to learn of his imminent arrival.

The Frenchman made 32 league appearances for Christophe Galtier’s side as they spectacularly dethroned Paris Saint-Germain to secure their first top-flight in 10 years.

Although Soumare rarely grabs the headlines, scoring just once in 112 appearances for Lille, his influence over the team can be felt in many other ways.

Lille’s former CEO, Marc Ingla, described him as “a powerful and technical player who can evolve to several positions in the field” upon his arrival at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy back in 2017, and he has certainly lived up to that billing.

Soumare has drawn comparisons to ex-Manchester City man Yaya Toure in the past thanks to his lung-bursting drives through the centre of the park, but he’s much more than just an impressive athlete.

The youngster is extremely comfortable and competent with the ball at his feet and boasts an impressive passing range, attributes that should ensure a smooth transition in Rodgers’ system.

Adding a natural box-to-box midfielder to Leicester’s already impressive trio of Wilfried Ndidi, Youri Tielemans and James Maddison is extremely clever business from the Foxes’ hierarchy, and their impressive record in the transfer window looks set to continue.

And, in other news…Rudkin could land Leicester’s new Evans in £4.5m-rated beast who kept Mbappe quiet 

Erik ten Hag is back in the running to become Tottenham Hotspur’s next manager, according to emerging reports…

What’s the word?

The Mirror claim that the Ajax boss is in contention once again after talks broke down with Chelsea’s former title-winning head coach Antonio Conte this week.

The Italian hit the free market after leaving Serie A champions Inter Milan just weeks after their first title in over a decade and on Thursday evening, the Guardian claimed those at Spurs were confident of sealing the 51-year-old following positive talks.

Ten Hag was on the original list of candidates prior to the Eredivisie giants triggering an extension in his contract and it is now thought that Daniel Levy and co will speak to him again following their latest target setback.

Forget Conte

Of course, when a manager of Conte’s calibre becomes available, then you have to – at the very least – hold discussions for him but this could actually be a blessing in disguise as his appointment would’ve gone against ‘Spurs’ DNA.’

That is something Levy appears desperate to bring back to the club in his next appointment, with reports suggesting that he’s seeking an attack-minded head coach who can commit to the development of young players.

Conte would want to be well-backed in the transfer market to match the ambitions of their Premier League rivals, meaning opportunities for players like Oliver Skipp and Ryan Sessegnon would be hard to come by, and that contradicts Levy’s mooted checklist.

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Ten Hag, on the other hand, fits the criteria in abundance.

If you’re looking for a serial winner with a proven track record of silverware by playing an attractive brand of football, having developed the club’s academy prospects into first-team stars before selling them for mega profit, then the Dutchman is the epitome of that.

The 51-year-old has just clinched his second Eredivisie title and boasts an extraordinary 74% win-rate in charge of the Amsterdam outfit.

Over the years, his tactical system and coaching methods have earned plenty of glowing endorsements throughout his managerial career – Jurgen Klopp dubbed him “one of the most exciting coaching talents in world football,” whilst ex-Celtic striker Pierre van Hooijdonk said his ability to progress players was “remarkable.”

Drawing inspiration from Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich and Johann Cruyff, Ten Hag has overseen the impressive development of many a young star, with Frenkie de Jong – who joined Barcelona for £65m – and Matthijs de Ligt – who joined Juventus for €75m (£65m) – his perhaps two finest examples.

If Levy is to finally end Spurs’ managerial woes, then he absolutely must push to sign the Ajax boss at all costs. He cannot afford to let this go on any longer.

AND in other news, 3 new signings including Sabitzer, Kane stays: How Spurs’ XI could look in 2021/22…

Premier League duo Crystal Palace and Leicester City are reportedly interested in signing Sheffield Wednesday youngster Charles Hagan.

The Lowdown: Hagan makes Sheff Wed debut

Having impressed in the Owls’ academy, Hagan made his first-team debut in the Carabao Cup defeat to Fulham back in September, featuring for eight minutes.

The 19-year-old was unable to force his way into Wednesday’s team from that point on, as Darren Moore’s side suffered relegation to League One.

The Latest: Youngster linked with exit

It could be that Hagan is already on his way out of Hillsborough, with the Sheffield Star claiming both Palace and Leicester are eyeing up a move for him.

Charlton Athletic, Stoke City and Brentford are also believed to be keeping tabs on the forward, whose current deal expires at the end of this month.

The Verdict: Potential blow for Owls

It is important that Wednesday do their best to keep hold of their best young talent, allowing more seasoned out-of-contract players to leave instead this summer.

Hagan may not be the finished the article, but he is someone who could shine in League One – the fact that top flight sides are vying for his signature tells you exactly how much potential he has.

To lose him at such a young age would be an undoubted blow for the Owls, at a time when the club really could do with some positive news.

In other news, Sheff Wed are believed to have suffered a blow in their quest to sign one player this summer. Find out who it is here. 

Queens Park Rangers midfielder Luke Amos is making fantastic progress in his recovery from injury.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to the Rs manager Mark Warburton, who, in a recent interview with West London Sport, claimed that the 24-year-old is on course to return from injury this summer.

Warburton said: “He’s on course. With ACL injuries it’s literally about week-to-week progress. He’s been out on the grass and involved in some ball work, which is great to see.

“Luke has more work to do but he’s an outstanding young professional. I’ve never met anyone with more focus and desire than Luke Amos. We had body fat tests and his numbers were quite staggering – how hard he’s working through this injury to get back to the first team.

“I think he’s on track. I hope in July we see him come back to us. He was having his best run for the club when he got injured. There’s no doubt he’s a very talented player and we look forward to having him back.”

Fans will be delighted

Having been out of action for QPR since October due to an ACL injury, the news that Amos looks set to be back well before the club’s 2021/22 campaign kicks off is likely to delight the Hoops fanbase.

After joining the club on a season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur last season, the defensive midfielder went on to become a regular part of the Rangers first team, featuring in 34 Championship fixtures in the 2019/20 season, making an average of one interception, 1.5 tackles and 0.8 clearances per game, as well as chipping in with two goals.

As a result of these performances, Warburton made the £5k-per-week 24-year-old’s move to the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium a permanent one last August, with the £900k-rated man featuring in five league fixtures this season, prior to his injury.

And, with QPR highly impressing in the back end of their most recent league campaign, with the Rs sitting third in the Championship table since the turn of the year, the news that Amos looks set to be back by the time next season kicks off will undoubtedly be a huge boost to the club’s chances of continuing their fine form into the new term, and potentially even helping them mount a push for promotion.

In other news: Bhatia must sanction QPR swoop for “incredible” £3.5k-p/w gem, Warburton would love it – opinion

Charlie Nicholas has accused Glasgow Rangers of being “chokers” and has questioned Steven Gerrard’s achievements at Ibrox.

Nicholas questions Rangers

The Gers have already wrapped up the Premiership title and are also unbeaten in the league so far this term (BBC), but they are out of the Europa League and also lost prematurely in both the Scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup.

Writing for the Express (via Daily Record), Nicholas has accused the Gers of being “chokers”. He said:

“Winning the Premiership title as easily as they did disguised a lot of their faults.

“Many of the Ibrox players have downed tools since becoming champions.

“Yes, they knocked Celtic out of the Scottish Cup the weekend before last, but the hard work isn’t done until you finish the season and pick up the trophies.

“Steven Gerrard must be scratching his head. The Rangers manager still has so much to do and improve at Ibrox to make things right.”

Over the top

Gerrard will be disappointed that his team have been unable to get their hands on more than one trophy this season – he said as much in the immediate aftermath of the Scottish Cup quarter-final exit to St Johnstone. There is definitely a feeling that the Gers have missed an opportunity here.

However, for Nicholas to say they are chokers is over the top. At the end of the day, the Gers have ended Celtic’s nine-year hold on the league title, and they still have the chance to go the league season unbeaten. There is no doubt about it – it has still been a successful campaign for Gerrard and his players, and no-one should try to take that away from them.

In other news, Rangers are favourites to sign this striker.

Manchester United could deny Manchester City the title this weekend as they take on Liverpool at Old Trafford.

The game then is important for two reasons; first to technically keep the title race alive heading into the final four matches of the season whilst, of course, the Red Devils will be extremely keen to overcome their great rivals in the form of Jurgen Klopp’s Reds.

In order to do that, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer simply has to include forward Mason Greenwood from the start.

Whilst the United striker has not been as prolific this season having struck just ten goals in all competitions compared to 17 last term, he has found his best form at just the right time for the Red Devils.

Since the start of March, the 19-year-old has netted six goals and also came off the bench last time out to score against AS Roma in the UEFA Europa League.

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Four of those goals have come in the league, meaning Greenwood has plundered more strikes in his last four Premier League appearances than he managed in his previous 27 appearances in the competition.

It is that sheer goalscoring threat that would make him a hugely attractive option to return to the starting line-up against Liverpool, especially alongside the in-form Edinson Cavani.

With the Reds having struggled defensively this season – conceding on average 0.3 goals per game more this year than in 2019/20 – the 19-year-old is likely to be a huge threat at Old Trafford.

Even his teammates are aware of the talent that Greenwood possesses, with Scott McTominay labelling him as “top drawer”.

He would certainly be deserving of that title should he turn in another impressive performance against Liverpool but only if he is afforded a start from Solskjaer.

AND in more news, find out why Solskjaer will already be delighted with a summer transfer decision made by the Red Devils…

A number of Liverpool supporters want the Reds to sign Leeds United star Raphinha this summer, following some comments regarding his future.

The Reds managed to get something from a disappointing season last weekend, not only securing a top-four finish, but actually ending up third in the Premier League.

It was a superb effort from both Jurgen Klopp and his players, who dug deep during the business end of the campaign, winning eight and drawing two of their last 10 matches.

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Despite this, it is clear that reinforcements are required in the summer transfer window, as Klopp looks to freshen up his squad, especially with Gini Wijnaldum moving on.

Raphinha has been linked as a transfer target for Liverpool before, and in an interview with UOL Esporte [via Anfield Watch], he discussed his respect for the Reds’ interest:

“It is difficult to define how I feel when I hear speculation about giant teams like Liverpool and Manchester United interested in signing me. Man, I grew up watching these teams on television.”

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Liverpool fans want Reds to sign Raphinha

These Liverpool fans took to Twitter to talk up the idea of the Brazilian moving to Anfield, claiming he is a superb footballer – he was hailed as ‘incredible’ by Tony Cascarino back in March.

“Small feeling we gonna get him after Sancho goes to Utd”

Credit: @lfcfelix_

“He is a baller we should sign him”

Credit: @mrobimotala

“Him and Matheus Perreira. Make it happen”

Credit: @paulo060802

“Agent Bobby doing his thing!”

Credit: @RumzL

“So come to Liverpool!!!”

Credit: @adom_hk

“Join LFC”

Credit: @kopbappe

In other news, some Liverpool fans are keen on the Reds signing an exciting young attacker this summer. Find out who it is here.

After seeing off relegation-battling Fulham last weekend, Aston Villa return to Premier League action when they take on champions Liverpool at Anfield this afternoon.

Dean Smith’s side had to come from behind to beat the Cottagers at Villa Park, with goals from Trezeguet and Ollie Watkins sparking a second-half comeback.

While a trip to the reigning champions may sound like a daunting prospect, Villa will have fond memories of the last time they played Liverpool in the league, a 7-2 drubbing which saw Ollie Watkins grab a hat-trick.

Aside from Jack Grealish’s continued absence, Smith doesn’t have too many injury concerns with which to contend, but might opt to make a couple of key changes considering how the game against Fulham panned out.

With that in mind, below is a look at how Villa might line up against Liverpool.

In goal, Emiliano Martinez will be looking to keep a clean sheet after going three Premier League games without one, while the back four should also remain unchanged.

The midfield could see January signing Morgan Sanson drop out of the starting line-up, with John McGinn coming back in alongside Douglas Luiz.

After bagging a brace against Scott Parker’s side last week, Trezeguet has surely done enough to warrant a place in the first team, and he could replace Anwar El Ghazi just like he did at Villa Park six days ago.

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The other big change could see the rarely-seen Keinan Davis start up front alongside Ollie Watkins in a slight tweak in formation, with the 23-year-old – who has played just 103 minutes of Premier League football this season – having sent an emphatic message to his manager with a superb cameo against Fulham.

It would certainly be a big call to go with two up top against a team like Liverpool, but it could well be the kind of tactical surprise which catches out Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Predicted XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Traore, Luiz, McGinn, Trezeguet; Watkins, Davis.

Meanwhile, Dean Smith must start this “unbelievable” star vs Liverpool today…