All posts by h716a5.icu

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy admires Vincent Kompany's style of play, and has now held talks with the Burnley manager, according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri.

Will Vincent Kompany leave Burnley?

The Clarets are on course to break the 100-point barrier in the second tier, having already sealed promotion back to the Premier League, and Kompany has already been linked with a move to a number of top-flight clubs.

West Ham United are interested in appointing the Burnley boss, according to a report from TEAMtalk, with Crystal Palace and Chelsea also named as potential suitors, although the latter club now appear to be edging towards hiring Mauricio Pochettino.

However, the report also details that Burnley are confident about keeping hold of their manager, as he is very much settled in the area, and they are keen to reward him with a pay rise, after a phenomenal first season at the club.

It remains to be seen whether the Belgian is tempted by a move to north London, however, Tavolieri has recently taken to Twitter to claim that contacts have been made, as Levy is impressed with his "unifying profile" and "style of play that would suit Tottenham's identity".

The journalist goes on to clarify the 37-year-old would bring a team of seven people with him, should he be tempted by the move, and he would get a say in who Spurs sign in the upcoming transfer window, although he is currently focused on the task at hand with Burnley.

Should Tottenham appoint Vincent Kompany?

The former Manchester City captain has been hailed by Pep Guardiola for the "unbelievable" job he has done in the Championship, but there are question marks about whether a move to Tottenham may be a bit too soon.

Although he had a great deal of success in the Premier League as a player, winning four titles, the Uccle-born tactician is yet to gain any experience in the top flight as a manager, so it would be a real risk to offer him the Spurs job.

Of course, it could be a gamble worth taking, as leading a team to 100 points in the Championship, as he is on course to do, is no mean feat, given that it has not been done since the 2013/14 season.

However, we think Tottenham should look to bring in a manager with more experience at the top level, such as Julian Nagelsmann.

A number of Arsenal fans online have reacted after spotting Declan Rice celebrating after a recent academy game at the Emirates Stadium.

What’s the latest on Declan Rice?

On Tuesday night, the FA Youth Cup final took place, with West Ham United captain U18s making the trip to north London to take on the Gunners.

Jack Wilshere’s men got off to a good start after scoring the opener early on, but Arsenal collapsed from there on in as the Irons scored five times without response to win the match 5-1.

While this will have been a big blow for the home side, their opponents were understandably jubilant at full-time – and the youngsters would have been delighted when senior club captain Rice showed his face in the winning team’s dressing room.

As captured in this footage online, the £60k-per-week England midfielder was seen dancing, singing and celebrating with the FA Youth Cup winners.

Of course, it’s no shock that he was happy for his team, but his sighting at the Emirates has sparked some interest online. After all, Rice has been strongly linked with a move to the Gunners in recent times.

What’s more, having gone on the record about wanting to play European football in the near future, Arsenal could be the perfect destination as they will almost certainly be playing in the Champions League next term.

With that being the case, some fans were keen to joke that Rice was actually celebrating with the wrong team.

Here are some of the best reactions…

Others now want him to be celebrating at the Emirates next season.

And one supporter didn’t seem too happy with his dance moves at all…

Newcastle United target Yankuba Minteh has admitted during a public interview that he wants to complete a summer move to St. James’ Park.

What's the latest on Minteh to Newcastle?

The Odense Boldklub winger first arrived in the Superliga in August 2022 when he joined the Danish side’s U19s, before quickly being promoted to the first-team in October, where he’s since made 13 senior appearances.

The Gambia international, however, will be out of contract at the end of next season meaning that the upcoming window will present Andreas Alm’s outfit with their final big opportunity to cash in, and he’s already got an admirer in the Premier League.

Danish outlet Sport Fyn have reported that the Magpies are firmly in the running to sign the 18-year-old and that he is close to agreeing a move to the northeast, and the teenager has now, for the first time, publicly addressed the speculation.

Speaking to Viaplay (via Bold.dk and Sport Witness) on Monday evening, Minteh was directly asked about the rumours linking him with a switch to Newcastle, to which he replied:

“You should probably take that with my agent. I don’t know anything about it. I am ready to take the next step, and it will only be good for me. Of course, I want to go to Newcastle. It’s a big club in the Premier League and they’re doing something good. They are fighting for a place in the Champions League.”

Do Newcastle have a shot at signing Minteh?

Newcastle’s “superb” target, as lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig, shares the same agent as Alexander Isak, so combining this with the fact that he’s openly revealed his desire to join, PIF have an extremely strong chance at securing the services of Minteh.

The £300-per-week forward has posted 12 goal contributions (seven assists and five goals) in 20 appearances throughout his career and has recorded 24 shots so far this season, which is the fourth-highest across the whole of his squad.

The left-footed ace would also provide some welcome versatility for Eddie Howe to have at his disposal having operated out wide on both flanks alongside in attacking midfield since bursting onto the professional scene.

Odense Boldklub will know that they might have to accept a cut-price deal for Minteh given his contract situation, so the Magpies should capitalise on this by wrapping up a potential bargain for this exciting prospect who could go on to become a key player in years to come at St. James' Park.

Everton midfielder James Garner could make his first start for the Toffees in the near future, according to an update from journalist Paul Brown.

How has Garner fared at Everton?

The 22-year-old moved to Goodison Park during last summer's transfer window, leaving Manchester United after the Red Devils were unable to guarantee him regular playing time. He has had a frustrating time of things at Everton, however, with injuries hindering his playing time significantly.

In total, Garner has only made eight Premier League appearances this season, all of which have come from the substitutes' bench, totalling just 175 minutes of action. The midfielder is therefore still searching for his maiden start in Everton colours, but he has featured since returning from injury, making cameo appearances against Tottenham and his former club.

With Sean Dyche's side preparing to host Fulham in a must-win game on Saturday afternoon, it could be that the young midfielder is finally given a chance to shine from the start.

Could James Garner start against Fulham?

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Brown stated that he was of the opinion that he expects a start to come Garner's way sooner rather than later:

"I think Dyche has used Garner quite a lot, really. It's mainly been him and [Tom] Davies coming off the bench in recent games, giving them a bit of fresh legs – a slightly better passing option, perhaps.

"I think it's quite likely that he ends up starting a game or a few games before the end of the season. Simply because the three that have been in there most of the campaign have played a lot of minutes, and you'd expect them to wear down slightly before the end of the season.

"It wouldn't surprise me at all to see Garner starting soon."

This is a big decision for Dyche to make regarding Garner, with the midfielder clearly a talented footballer – Roy Keane has claimed he is "very good technically" – but also someone lacking experience, especially ahead of such a crucial run of fixtures this season.

It could make the most sense for Everton to continue with Amadou Onana and Idrissa Gueye in the middle of the park against Fulham, as was the case at United last weekend – with Garner used as an impact substitute in the second half, especially if some creativity is required to change the game. Should he shine from the bench once more, it could then be time to give him a go from the start – particularly if the Toffees grow more desperate for points.

Journalist Dean Jones believes that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is starting to unlock Jack Grealish’s full potential at the Etihad Stadium.

What’s Jones had to say about Grealish and Guardiola?

Grealish made the move to Manchester from Aston Villa back in 2021 in a British record £100m transfer and won the Premier League title in his first season with the Cityzens.

However, on a personal note, Grealish endured a frustrating first season at the club, contributing to just six goals in 26 top-flight appearances, resulting in criticism, with the player himself responding by admitting he needs to score more goals.

The 27-year-old has quietly been silencing his critics during the current campaign, though, already surpassing his Premier League goal contribution tally after 22 appearances. The Englishman has scored four times and registered five assists from the left wing, including a man of the match performance against Liverpool over the weekend.

Jones was talking to GiveMeSport regarding Grealish in the last 48 hours after his goal and assist against Liverpool on Saturday. He feels that Guardiola is starting to get the best out of Grealish, saying they may have a “superstar” on their hands.

“Pep Guardiola has been waiting for this all season, he's been convinced that he could unlock Jack Grealish’s full potential and we're starting to see that now.

“It was a lot of money that they paid for Jack Grealish and there's always a risk attached to that. But it is starting to look like they might have a superstar after all.”

Consistency needed for Grealish…

Grealish’s display against Jurgen Klopp’s side rightly came in for plenty of praise, with Guardiola hailing him as “exceptional”. The winger stepped up to the mark in Erling Haaland’s absence, but Grealish will be looking to follow this up with a run of solid performances.

His goals and assists this season have come in purple patches of form, with four of his contributions coming in four games around the New Year and another two in back-to-back games with Arsenal and Nottingham Forest in February. [Transfermarkt]

You’d expect that Grealish will continue in Guardiola’s first-choice XI as a result of his display last time out, starting with a trip to Southampton this weekend, and hopefully, he’ll help City close the gap on league leaders Arsenal, looking to play a starring role this time around as the club search for a third successive Premier League title.

Liverpool are eyeing up a move for Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic this summer as Jurgen Klopp plans to reinvigorate his midfield.

What’s the latest on Marcelo Brozovic to Liverpool?

Klopp has made Brozovic one of his main targets ahead of the summer transfer window according to FC Inter News as his situation has changed at the Serie A side which may make a move for him slightly easier.

Inter could accept a bid of around €30m (£26m) according to previous reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, and with the Anfield side in urgent need of some freshness in their midfield area, it could be a wise investment.

The club are still looking at making Jude Bellingham their marquee signing, however, if a move didn’t materialise, Brozovic would be a dream alternative.

Could Marcelo Brozovic join Liverpool?

His price tag plus the fact Klopp needs some added bodies in that area of the pitch means the Croatian star could be a feasible option for the Reds this summer.

Bellingham is the name all the Anfield faithful really want, but depending on the price tag, this move could stretch over the whole transfer window with the Inter midfielder potentially arriving under the radar instead.

Brozovic ranks in the top 6% across Europe’s top five leagues for pass success rate (89.4%), top 3% for passes attempted (76.86) and top 15% for progressive passes (seven), suggesting he could make a huge difference in the Liverpool midfield.

For both passes attempted and pass success rate, Bellingham ranks in the top 40% and top 57% for these metrics respectively, proving Brozovic is the better passer of the ball and could be a wonderful alternative to the English sensation.

The 30-year-old may not be as attacking-minded as Bellingham, yet in just over 300 appearances for Inter, he has scored 30 goals and registered 37 assists, therefore he is no slouch when it comes to chipping in with the odd goal from central midfield and this is another key attribute that will benefit Klopp.

That said, when you consider Klopp already has the likes of Mo Salah, Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo and co in attack, a goal-scoring midfielder isn't a huge priority. Instead, a player who possesses great composure in a deep-lying role, as Brozovic does, ticks the right boxes.

Ex-Inter star Gianfranco Matteoli once lauded the player for being “irreplaceable” and with an average WhoScored rating of 6.98/10 for the duration of his career, he is the model professional when it comes to consistency and delivering solid performances every match.

Depending on the market, Klopp could well be priced out of a move for Bellingham this summer and although alternatives will have been discussed, a move for Brozovic may well be a dream plan B to the Borussia Dortmund star.

Tottenham Hotspur's reported managerial target, Julian Nagelsmann, is believed to have grown a fondness for the north London club from the Mauricio Pochettino days.

Do Spurs want to bring in Nagelsmann?

Having now parted ways with Antonio Conte, Spurs could well be keen to bring in a new manager before the end of the season despite the club claiming Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason were to see out the campaign.

And one name which has certainly emerged as a potential option over recent days is that of Nagelsmann after he was released by Bayern Munich.

Spurs are believed to have eyed the young German manager as a potential option in the past but it seems as if Real Madrid could also be an option for him in the summer.

But speaking on his YouTube channel, Alasdair Gold has claimed the 35-year-old had grown a liking for the club during the Pochettino era in north London:

(1:02:10) "I do think there would be an interest there from Nagelsmann. He forged a really strong connection with Spurs, like a real affinity for them during Poch's tenure especially. He saw I think a kindred spirit Poch, became a really big fan of Spurs' style of play and kept a very close eye on Spurs.

"And likewise Spurs kept an eye on him because obviously, his idea was to play attacking football with a real high pressing line, which is very similar to Poch as well."

(1:03:10) And I know Spurs have very much had him high on their list twice. 2019 when Poch went, he was a very strong candidate, but they turned to [Jose] Mourinho.

"And then when Mourinho left, they also really strongly looked at him again, but he was pretty much all tied up with Bayern."

Would Nagelsmann want to join Spurs?

The German is said to be shocked by the sudden exit from his position Bayern so it will be interesting to see whether he would be keen to make an immediate return to football.

However, if Spurs are seriously interested in the 35-year-old, then they may have to start putting in the relevant steps to try and get the wheels turning on this one.

As reports have suggested potential interest coming from Madrid in the summer, it could leave Spurs with a monumental challenge in the summer.

What would be interesting to see is whether Nagelsmann would be keen on making an instant return to football with only 10 games remaining in a league he hasn't managed before.

Having failed with their two short-term managerial options in Conte and Jose Mourinho, it does feel as if Spurs' next move has to be to return to a project manager.

And in this sense, it could be something which may appeal to Nagelsmann who could be offered reassurance by Daniel Levy that he would be offered time to put his stamp on the side.

It has felt like a season to forget in north London, yet Spurs still have Champions League football to play for with 10 games remaining.

Whether the combination of Stellini and Mason will be able to see that over the line or not remains to be seen but a huge summer lies ahead for Spurs.

And if Spurs are to keep Harry Kane at the club for next season, they are likely going to have to convince him with an exciting hire like Nagelsmann.

A major concern for Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag at present will be the lack of a reliable, centre-forward presence, with January arrival Wout Weghorst having failed to truly make his mark at Old Trafford thus far.

The towering Dutchman has certainly "worked so hard" during his time in Manchester – in the words of journalist Josh Bunting – although has not been able to marry up that willing work ethic with an end product, having scored just twice in 18 appearances across all competitions, all of which have come from the start.

The 30-year-old's regular run in the side since his loan switch from Burnley earlier this year has come amid the continued, frustrating absence of fellow forward, Anthony Martial, with United's number nine having repeatedly been hampered by injury this season.

The long-serving marksman – who has been at the Theatre of Dreams since joining from Monaco back in 2015 – has thus far made just 14 appearances across all fronts this season, having last featured in a Premier League game back in January in the Manchester derby.

While Ten Hag has previously suggested that the Red Devils play their "best football" when the 27-year-old is in the side – as the Frenchman does have eight goal contributions to his name despite his lack of action this term – the problem has been the inability to get him fit and firing consistently.

That has led to suggestions that the Carabao Cup winners could be set to call time on the £250k-per-week man's eight-year stay at the club, with Ten Hag and co currently weighing up potential moves for the likes of Victor Osimhen and Harry Kane.

Even if either of that latter duo are signed, however, United will still seemingly be in need of a suitable understudy to fill in on occasion, with the former Ajax boss potentially best served looking to the academy ranks to find that solution, rather than putting further faith in the stricken Martial.

Who could replace Martial at Man United?

One sparkling youngster who could emerge as the player to help ease Ten Hag's striking woes is 18-year-old sensation, Manni Norkett, with the Nottingham-born gem having been in scintillating form in recent years at youth level.

Hailed previously as a player who could be the "real deal" in the future – according to one former youth coach, Garry Attwood – the teenager is making waves with his displays of late, having already netted 18 goals in just 38 games for the club's U18 side.

That remarkable tally includes a haul of eight goals in just 12 appearances in the U18 Premier League so far this season, while the exciting talent has also made a handful of appearances in the U21 set-up of late.

While the prolific ace does still need to establish himself in that latter age group, journalist Shaun Connolly earmarked the striker earlier this year as one of the players at United who is "on the cusp of [the] first team", with that an indication of how highly-regarded Norkett is by those in the know.

The youngster was also hailed during his loan stint at lower league side Gainsborough last season, with manager Tom Shaw describing the precocious talent as a "real prospect" and someone who "plays with plenty of confidence and authority for such a young man".

Norkett is certainly not short of confidence that's for sure, memorably mimicking the celebrations of both Erling Haaland and Cristiano Ronaldo following the 3-2, comeback win over rivals Manchester City for the U18s earlier in the campaign.

Clearly a player with an 'eye for goal', the emerging talent also has an 'excellent work rate' – according to the club's official website – with that latter trait seemingly putting him ahead of the aforementioned Martial, who has been dubbed a "lazy player" by Bunting.

With the latter man having more than had his fair share of opportunities to impress over the years, it should now be time that the Red Devils give a chance to somebody else through the middle, hence promoting young Norkett over the coming months or ahead of next season.

Newcastle United are reportedly interested in signing Real Madrid starlet, Brahim Diaz, albeit with the Magpies set to face competition for the on-loan AC Milan man's signature.

What's the latest on Diaz to Newcastle?

According to The Sun, the Tynesiders – and Premier League rivals Chelsea – are believed to keeping a close eye on the 23-year-old ahead of the summer transfer window, with the Spaniard potentially set to be up for grabs at the end of the season.

The report suggests that while Milan have the option of exercising a £19.5m buy option this summer – with the forward now in his third campaign on loan at San Siro – the player's parent club could activate their £24m buy-back clause, before moving the 5 foot 7 man on.

The former Manchester City youth product originally joined Los Blancos back in 2019, after leaving the Etihad outfit on a deal worth a reported £22m.

What is Brahim Diaz's style of play?

Were Eddie Howe and co able to snap up the diminutive gem ahead of the season, the playmaker's arrival could offer real competition for Miguel Almiron on the right flank at St James' Park, having typically operated in that wide role – or in an attacking midfield berth – so far this season.

The highly-rated "genius" – as previously hailed by journalist Sam Tighe – could well be a suitable fit back in English football, not just due to his previous stint at City, as he is said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities with Tottenham Hotspur gem, Dejan Kulusevski, as per FBref.

That likeness is indicated by the duo's quality on the ball as Diaz has racked up 58 progressive carries and 89 progressive passes so far this term, while the Spurs star has recorded 68 and 47 for the same two metrics, respectively.

While Kulusevski does offer a greater physical presence as a result of his 6 foot 1 frame, the two men are both real, creative threats when operating on the right flank, with the Sweden international chipping in with eight goals and assists this season, while Diaz has seven goal involvements to his name in all competitions.

Such a comparison bodes well for the impact that the Malaga native can make in England's top flight were he to sign for the northeast side in the near future, with the current Spurs star having thrived over the last 12 months or so with 21 goal contributions in just 38 league appearances for the Lilywhites.

Signing their answer to the "exemplary" gem – as hailed by pundit Paul Robinson – with the addition of Diaz would certainly be a real coup for Newcastle this summer, with further attacking recruits likely to be needed with or without Champions League football.

Manchester City fans are buzzing over a ‘serious’ transfer option for manager Pep Guardiola in the form of Brighton star Alexis Mac Allister.

The Lowdown: City linked…

The Premier League champions have been linked sporadically with a move for Mac Allister after his sensational performances at last year’s World Cup.

Brighton’s attacker seriously turned heads in Qatar and stood out as a key player under Lionel Scaloni, which even prompted club legend Sergio Aguero to rave over the South American.

The 24-year-old is thought to be attracting real attention from across England with the likes of Newcastle, Spurs, Liverpool and Chelsea also credited with interest.

It’s reported that he is seriously considering a summer exit from Brighton and City are thought to be major contenders for his signature.

The Latest: Fans buzz over Mac Allister update…

According to journalist Ariel Helueni of TNT Sports, as also shared by City Xtra, Guardiola has personally held talks with the attacker over a possible move to Man City.

It’s added that Mac Allister is a ‘serious option’ for the Blues, with Helueni stating: “Pep Guardiola had talks with Alexis Mac Allister and he is a serious option for Manchester City in the next summer window.” 

In reaction to the update, supporters have shared their joy on social media, with a few even believing Mac Allister could be the perfect player to succeed captain Ilkay Gundogan (whose contract expires at the end of the season):

Fans exclaimed:

“Bring him to the etihad” – @hulisuncle

“My dream Manchester City signing” – @R1631230011R16

“Yessssss.. good signing.” – @MAVIPHA

“If it’s a decent price go all in for him quality player” – @AaronBu86845579

“Lets trust pep with this signing” – @Sundayokeme1

“Perfect gundo replacement if he leaves” – @Vignesh63732505

The Verdict: Phenomenal player…

Mac Allister’s stats this season tell you all you need to know about his quality and just how crucial he is for Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi.

As per WhoScored, the midfield maestro has scored more league goals than any current Brighton squad member and has averaged more attempts at goal per 90 than anyone bar the departed Leandro Trossard.

Indeed, Mac Allister also ranks in Brighton’s top three for best-performances by average match rating also, clearly showcasing his ability as a proven Premier League player.

If Gundogan does in fact depart Eastlands after many years of faithful service, Mac Allister could well be a decent shout to replace the German.