All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Even though Liverpool currently have a hefty number of central-midfielders in their senior squad at the moment, some of them, such as Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson and James Milner have all hit or gone past the age of 30.

One player that the club currently have in their youth system that we feel could well go on to be a suitable replacement for one of those previously mentioned senior midfielders is 18-year-old Tyler Morton.

As a product of Liverpool’s youth academy, Morton, who is currently valued at £270k according to Transfermarkt, has made 23 appearances for Liverpool’s U18 side in which he has managed to score six goals and provide seven assists in the process.

Morton has also made 24 appearances for Liverpool’s U23 side, scoring five times and supplying four assists along the way, proving himself as a rather useful attacking option from midfield.

The midfielder made his senior debut for Liverpool during their 3-0 win over Norwich City in the Carabao Cup last month in which Reds manager Jurgen Klopp said Morton put in a “confident” performance in his first senior outing for the Merseyside club.

Opening up on the midfield general, the German boss explained: “Tyler, really, he gave us the opportunity to connect again, because he just played simple, passed the ball in the right spaces, defended the right spaces.”

In addition to this, Morton was given an overall match rating of 7/10 for his performance against Norwich from the Liverpool Echo who said that he “slotted into the defensive midfield role impressively” after replacing Naby Keita.

The teenager has managed to rack up an average of three key passes per game based on the two performances he’s put in for Liverpool’s U23 side in the Football League Trophy this season, which is considerably more than Henderson (1.1 key passes per game) has done in the Premier League so far this season.

We feel that if Morton continues to play well for the youth team and take any opportunity that comes his way to play in Klopp’s side, such as their upcoming Carabao Cup clash against Preston North End later this month, then he could well see himself as a possible regular first-team player in the next few years, in the same way Curtis Jones has done.

Looking ahead to the future further down the line, even though he signed a new deal over the summer, we could see Morton potentially being a long-term replacement for Henderson if he ends up leaving when his current deal expires given his age.

Like the skipper, he is defensively astute and capable of carrying the ball forward. He’s certainly one to watch.

In other news: Imagine him & Thiago: Klopp must secure LFC move for “incredible” £36m-rated machine – opinion

Crystal Palace shared a picture of Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise on Thursday afternoon, which led to a number of Palace fans going wild on social media.

Eze suffered a serious Achilles injury at the end of last season, whereas summer signing Olise has missed the beginning of the campaign with a back problem.

Olise, Patrick Vieira’s first addition as Palace boss, is hopeful of making his Selhurst Park debut next month, while Eze is way ahead of schedule in his recovery, with reports first suggesting he could be sidelined until 2022.

The Eagles shared a picture of Eze and Olise in the gym. The pair were all smiles, and you’d expect the two to be key for Vieira during the current campaign when they return.

Palace fans react

Palace posted the picture of the two attacking midfielders on their official Twitter page.

This is what these Eagles supporters had to say in reply, with one describing the post as ‘beautiful’.

“Oh my”Credit: @SWPalace”This is just wow”Credit: @robertmeilak”Oh yesssss”Credit: @BenM_CPFC”This is beautiful”Credit: @CpfcDan_”Omg it’s happening”Credit: @KB_EAGLES”Omggggg”Credit: @w_cpfc

In other news: ‘Things you just love to see’, ‘Get in’ – Many CPFC fans buzz as ‘baller’ signs a new deal. 

With just three wins, seven draws and five defeats under their belt, it’s safe to say that Southampton have had a rather mixed season in the Premier League so far.

One man who has played a big part in their campaign so far is Mohamed Elyounoussi, who has scored four goals and provided two assists in 13 appearances across all competitions.

After spending a couple of years on loan at Celtic, where he racked up 24 goals and 17 assists in 67 appearances, the winger has been a regular figure for Ralph Hasenhuttl this season.

Back in October, it was reported that fellow Premier League clubs Arsenal and Leicester City were interested in signing the Norwegian, who has been described in the past by Tom English as a “dangerous” player.

However, it seems as though the south coast club have been handed a boost regarding his future, which will surely have a lot of fans buzzing. Elyounoussi has revealed in recent days that he and his family are comfortable living in Southampton at the moment and that it’s where they “belong.”

This should be a big relief to the club and any Southampton fans who may have been concerned about a potential exit being on the cards for the 27-year-old, who is currently earning £59k-per-week according to Salary Sport.

Taking into account how Southampton have a track record of selling players to fellow Premier League clubs in recent years – such as Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool, Matt Targett and Danny Ings to Aston Villa and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to Tottenham Hotspur among others – it seems unlikely that fans would have been open to seeing their club flogging yet another one of their assets to a top-flight rival.

Moving forward, if Elyounoussi can add some more goals and assists to his tally for the season in the Premier League, he could finally prove himself to Hasenhuttl after spending such a long time in Scotland with Celtic.

If that is the case, however, there’s every possibility that other clubs could then have an interest in signing Elyounoussi and could make it difficult for Southampton to keep hold of him, especially if a club which can offer him European football and higher wages were to come in for him.

With that in mind and his current contract at St Mary’s set to expire in the summer of 2023, it could be worth the hierarchy at Southampton offering him a new deal before this one runs out.

In other news: Gao could replicate Adam Armstrong masterclass at Southampton with “elite” 16-goal ace

Newcastle United reportedly now have ‘the opportunity’ to sign AS Roma star Nicolo Zaniolo.

The Lowdown: Newcastle’s new Gascoigne?

Back in 2019, the player’s agent Claudio Vigorelli claimed that his client ‘resembles’ former Magpies midfielder Paul Gascoigne for his ‘physical qualities’ and can be ‘devastating’ like Gazza with his ‘technique and quality’ (The Daily Mail).

The former England international was a cult hero at St James’ Park, being their Player of the Year in the 1987/88 season, and scored 20 goals in 94 games in total for them across all competitions (Transfermarkt).

Zaniolo is still only 22 years of age, and given the comparisons to Gazza, he seems to have a big future ahead of him.

The Latest: Opportunity comes around

As per Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Newcastle now have ‘the opportunity’ to sign Zaniolo for ‘significant amounts’ of money, with Tottenham Hotspur also an option for the Italy international.

However, they will not be able to sign him in the January transfer window, but a deal may be possible next summer.

The Verdict: Makes sense

With the Magpies currently in a relegation battle, it would make a lot of sense for them to wait until the summer before they can assess whether they can sign Zaniolo.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/newcastle-news-2/” title=”Newcastle news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Currently rated at £36m by 16 goals and provided a further nine assists in 87 matches for Roma, showing that he has an eye for a goal and an assist.

At 22, he has so much potential, and if Newcastle can avoid relegation, he would certainly be an astute signing to target.

In other news, NUFC are in ‘advanced talks’ with this DoF candidate

Former Newcastle United star Steve Howey believes Joe Willock enjoyed a brilliant spell at the club last season as they close in on the permanent signing of the midfielder.

Newcastle took Willock on loan in January and he went from strength to strength under the management of Steve Bruce.

The 21-year-old made 14 appearances for the Magpies and scored eight goals in total, as he netted in all of his final seven outings for the club, including strikes against Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, and Manchester City.

And now it appears that Newcastle are closing in on a permanent deal to bring Willock into the club on a permanent basis.

90min reports that the two clubs have agreed a deal worth £25m for his signature, but that the move now hinges on the midfielder’s go-ahead.

Arsenal are reported to have told Willock that he does not have a future at the Emirates and is free to leave the club in this transfer window.

And Howey believes he has earned the right to return to Bruce’s side.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, he said: “You cannot say that he didn’t do brilliantly because he did, he did absolutely exceptionally well.

“Of course, you can understand the fee that’s been touted about for him. It’s just whether Newcastle are prepared to pay top whack or can they negotiate with Arsenal?”

According to The Sunday Post (via The Scotsman), Southampton are interested in signing Ryan Christie from Celtic this summer.

The Lowdown: Saints prepare for new campaign

The Saints experienced a mixed 2020/21 season – they reached an F.A Cup semi-final but also finished a lowly 15th in the Premier League table.

As such, Ralph Hasenhuttl and co have plenty of work to do this summer, and that is likely to include a number of new arrivals.

The Latest: Saints eye Christie

It has now been suggested the Saints have an interest in Christie, along with Burnley.

They could sign him for a fee of little more than £1m, but potential interest from other clubs could drive that price up. (The Sunday Post via The Scotsman)

The Verdict: Bargain deal

This would no doubt be a bargain deal for the Saints. Christie may have spent all his career in Scotland, but he has been an important player for Celtic down the years, with 40 goals and 41 assists in 142 matches (Transfermarkt). Last season alone, he picked up 15 assists in all competitions during what was a disappointing campaign for the Bhoys.

The fee is the most eye-catching part of any potential deal, though. Valued at £6.3m by Transfermarkt, signing for a sum of around £1m would be an absolute steal, especially considering he is still only 26 years of age and has played at Euro 2020 this summer. Hasenhuttl will be hoping that Southampton can get a deal over the line for Christie.

In other news, many Southampton fans are desperate for this man to return to the club.

West Ham star Michail Antonio has been announced as the Premier League’s Player of the Month for August.

And, as to be expected, a number of Hammers fans were quick to flock to the update on social media.

Antonio beat teammate Said Benrahma, Chelsea left-back Marcos Alonso, Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier, Everton winger Demarai Gray and Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood to win the award.

The £70,000-a-week forward has been in fine form in the opening three games of the campaign, scoring four times and registering three assists.

The 31-year-old managed to both score and provide an assist in all three games against Newcastle, Leicester and Crystal Palace respectively, and his impressive displays have earned him a second Premier League Player of the Month award in as many seasons.

Antonio also became West Ham’s all-time Premier League goalscorer last month and reached 50 top-flight goals for the Hammers with his goal against Palace.

Hammers fans react

West Ham shared the news regarding Antonio on their official Twitter page on Friday morning. This is what these Hammers fans had to say in reply, with many delighted.

“LETS GOOOOO”

Credit: @Vlasic_Szn

“We are massive”

Credit: @jasperhowlett03

“FULLY deserved, so happy. my number 9”

Credit: @BenChillingwor2

“Get in!”

Credit: @nickonion

“MY GOAT”

Credit: @lengwesthamfan

“Absolute standout choice. Fully deserved. His influence on the team goes way beyond the things measured by the core stats – 4 goals & 3 assists – it’s the work rate, the chasing balls, closing defenders, running channels. He makes us tick ”

Credit: @damienlucas

In other news: Many West Ham fans love what Rice did to Spurs and Chelsea fans. 

Deadline day came and went without any real drama for Southampton fans, although it has emerged that Everton made a late bid for Kyle Walker-Peters, but Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side were clearly not willing to let him leave St Mary’s.

What’s the word?

According to The Telegraph journalist Mike McGrath, Everton made a late move for the 24-year-old, who was also on his former club Tottenham Hotspur’s radar before their signing of Emerson Royal from Barcelona.

However, he suggested that Southampton were not willing to discuss any deal for the right-back, who has impressed at St Mary’s since joining on a permanent deal last summer.

Did Southampton avoid a disaster?

Walker-Peters quickly established himself as first-choice right-back when he originally joined Southampton on loan in January 2020, so it was no surprise to see his move made permanent when the season was over.

In total, the Englishman has made 48 appearances for the Saints, in which he has contributed one goal and four assists, something he will no doubt be looking to improve upon this season.

Whilst the £16.2m-rated defender lost his starting spot to 18-year-old Valentino Livramento in the first two Premier League matches of the season, the last two games have seen him feature at left-back, which emphasises his versatility and the fact that Hasenhuttl wants him in the starting side, regardless of Livramento’s impressive displays.

After last season saw Southampton’s lack of full-back depth cruelly exposed, with Ryan Bertrand and Walker-Peters both out for a period which left Hasenhuttl with very few options, it was crucial that the club brought in a number of players in those positions this summer.

Romain Perraud and Thierry Small arrived as left-back options, whilst Livramento joined from Chelsea as a right-back, which gives the Austrian manager far greater choice in those positions.

Therefore, it would have been a disastrous decision to let Walker-Peters join Everton on deadline day, as it would’ve given Southampton very little time to find a replacement and could’ve left them in the same worrying situation as last season. For a period, they only had one natural option at right-back other than Yan Valery, who has perhaps shown with recent performances that he should be nowhere near the starting XI.

[freshpress-quiz id=“594431”]

Southampton deserve credit for rebuffing the interest from Everton and you could definitely argue that they dodged a bullet by keeping him at St Mary’s rather than allowing him to join a Premier League rival.

In other news… Southampton can sign their next Walker-Peters in 21 y/o tipped to reach the “very top”

Newcastle United are reportedly keen on a move for Romain Perraud in the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Newcastle need starting left-back

Jamal Lewis found himself out of favour with Steve Bruce towards the end of the 2020/21 season, having been left on the bench by the former Aston Villa and Sunderland manager in the Magpies’ last 12 matches in the Premier League, and only coming on for a mere six minutes in total during that time (Transfermarkt).

With Paul Dummett also in the frame, it is not clear who is going to be the starting left-back come the start of the 2021/22 campaign, so it would be a wise idea by the St James’ Park club to go out and buy a new left-back over the summer.

The Latest: Newcastle keen on Perraud

As per L’Equipe (via Sport Witness), Newcastle are keen on a move for Perraud, along with both Leeds and Southampton.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/newcastle-updates-4/” title=”Newcastle updates! (4)” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

However, any deal would have to exceed €10m (£8.6m), and the Saints are currently leading the hunt for his signature.

Nonetheless, there is still time for the Magpies to scupper Southampton’s plans to sign him, should they decide to act on their interest.

The Verdict: Newcastle must sign Perraud

Newcastle must look to beat off the competition from their rivals in the Premier League and sign Perraud at all costs.

The Frenchman scored three goals and supplied a further seven assists in 36 games in Ligue 1 last season (‘quality’.

He would also be an upgrade on both Lewis and Dummett, given that he averaged more tackles (1.7), interceptions (1.3), shots (1.3), key passes (one), dribbles (0.9), crosses (1.1) and long balls (2.3) per game in their respective domestic leagues last campaign (WhoScored).

At just 23 years of age, Perraud still has a lot of potential, and now may be the perfect opportunity for Newcastle to tempt Brest into a sale.

In other news, find out what big Newcastle transfer claim has been dropped!

Celtic have seen many players come and go out of the Parkhead club over the years throughout the numerous transfer windows that have gone by.

While a significant number of players that end up in a Celtic shirt have gone on to be successful with the Hoops, not every deal that was completed ended up being worthwhile.

One deal, in particular, that ended up falling into this unfortunate category is the club’s 2011 swoop for winger Mohamed Bangura.

Having previously been rather optimistically touted as “the next Henrik Larsson” by his agent, the then 22-year-old was also recommended for the Hoops by their Swedish hero.

He said: “Celtic called and asked me, so I told them what I thought about him. I spoke to Neil and Johan Mjallby. I said that Mohamed is a clever, intelligent player. He is quick and strong, even if he isn’t even 180cm tall (5ft 9in). And most importantly – he knows how to score.”

Despite Larsson claiming that the Sierra Leone winger knew how to score goals, it seems as though Bangura failed to bring that knowledge with him to Celtic Park.

Signed from AIK Stockholm for a fee of £2.2m in the 2011 summer transfer window, the winger made just 16 appearances for the Bhoys across all competitions and failed to find the back of the net on even one occasion.

After having a loan spell back with his previous club and one with IF Elfsborg, the attacker left Celtic in February 2014 for a free transfer to Istanbul BBSK.

To highlight how disappointing the now 32-year-old was during his time in Scotland, with ten appearances to his name throughout the 2011/12 SPFL season, he only registered three shots on target.

As well as his lack of attacking prowess, injuries also hampered his time in Scotland.

In terms of how much of a financial blow signing Bangura was for the club, every appearance the now 32-year-old made for them cost £137.5k based on the transfer fee they splashed out to bring him to Parkhead.

While this deal ended up being a complete waste of time and money for the Hoops, it at least taught them to not rely on Larsson’s player recommendations.

In other news: Sold for £1.3m, now worth £107k: Celtic hit the jackpot on “selfish” 28 y/o “villain”