All posts by z3u9t.icu

Alasdair Gold has delivered an exciting update as Tottenham Hotspur appear to be ramping up their transfer plans this window…

What’s the word?

The ever-reliable football.london reporter revealed that the Premier League side were close to making their first two signings of the summer, with sporting director Fabio Paratici in talks with Atalanta for a pair of their players.

He tweeted: “Understand Spurs’ managing director of football Fabio Paratici has held advanced talks to sign Atalanta centre-back Cristian Romero and goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini.”

Reason to be excited

With the new season less than a month away, it has to be hugely encouraging news that the club are close to landing a couple of signings for new manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

The Portuguese coach has it all to do to turn around the sinking Spurs ship but signing a new goalkeeper and defender would be the perfect boost before the competitive action gets underway, with defending champions Manchester City in town on August 15.

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Spurs recorded the worst defensive record of any of the traditional ‘big six’ and that largely boiled down to a combination of a lack of leadership and several individual mistakes.

For example, the partnership of Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez – two players involved in Jose Mourinho’s 16 different defensive combinations in 2020/21 – was deemed one of the worst in the top-flight by former midfielder Jamie O’Hara.

Similarly, long-serving club captain Hugo Lloris was described as a “weak link” in this abysmal squad, with another talkSPORT pundit dubbing him “lettuce wrists” following their premature FA Cup exit to Everton in February, in which the vastly experienced Frenchman leaked five goals.

It’s clear that these are two problem positions which have been instantly identified by Paratici and now he’s acting upon it, and that’s a positive sign from a club that once went 18 months without signing a single player.

Therefore, the Lilywhites faithful should be absolutely buzzing with this news, as it appears that the north Londoners are looking to do their business early, which in turn will surely give Nuno the best chance of righting the wrongs of the Mourinho era.

AND in other news, Paratici could get Spurs rocking again by signing “special” £26m-rated “huge talent”…

A number of Liverpool supporters have been bemoaning Gini Wijnaldum’s Reds exit, following his excellent performance for the Netherlands at Euro 2020.

The Dutchman will depart Anfield for Paris Saint-Germain this summer, bringing an end to a wonderful Liverpool career.

Wijnaldum has spent five seasons on Merseyside, winning both the Champions League and Premier League, as well as being one of the most unsung players at the club.

The 30-year-old’s ability to knit things together in the middle of the park has always been underrated by many, but he has played a major role in the Reds’ success under Jurgen Klopp.

On Sunday night, Wijnaldum scored and played superbly in the Netherlands’ 3-2 win over Ukraine at the Euros, excelling in a more attack-minded role.

His performance was a further reminder of what a top-quality player Liverpool are letting go, having decided not to give him the type of long-term contract that he wanted.

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Liverpool fans unhappy at Wijnaldum exit

These Reds fans took to Twitter to voice their frustration at Wijnaldum leaving.

“The fact that Liverpool let Gini Wijnaldum go is going to haunt me for the foreseeable future”

Credit: @_lfcleanne

“I reckon I’m sadder about Wijnaldum going than I was with Coutinho, Sterling, Suarez etc which sounds mad I know”

Credit: @C_Hannan7

“Irreplaceable”

Credit: @ZulqeUK

” Ain’t felt like this since Suarez”

Credit: @katendance1

“What will be more haunting is if the clueless FSG don’t replace him and make Klopp depend on injury prone players and a rookie”

Credit: @Goldewale

“I can’t believe Liverpool didn’t try hard enough to keep hold of him, plus to let him go on a free, tut tut tut..”

Credit: @Cwebb_1980

In other news, Man United could scupper Liverpool’s attempts to sign one player – find out who it is here.

Some Liverpool fans have been showing their love for Alberto Moreno, following Villarreal’s win over Manchester United in the Europa League final.

The Spaniard wasn’t necessarily always the most popular player during his time at Anfield, struggling to impress in the defensive side of his game.

Moreno was a likeable character, however, rarely seen without a smile on his face and seemingly getting on well with his teammates.

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On Wednesday night, the 28-year-old featured in Villarreal’s Europa League final clash with United in Gdansk, with Reds fans everywhere no doubt urging the La Liga side on.

Moreno’s side prevailed in a penalty shootout, with the former Liverpool man scoring his spot-kick, before David de Gea missed the decisive effort.

After the game, the left-back posted a brilliant video from the Villarreal dressing room, showing his love for the Reds and mocking United for losing the game.

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Liverpool fans love Moreno video

It was always going to go down well with Liverpool fans, so it was no surprise to see many flock to Twitter after the footage emerged.

Here are some of the best reactions, with Moreno receiving huge amounts of love.

“Alberto Moreno, you’re one of our own”

Credit: @Watch_LFC

“Legend”

Credit: @Mattci10

“What a guy”

Credit: @Rosie69345696

“Love to see it”

Credit: @MalusiThami

“‘Always. Always Liverpool my heart’. Our club is something else. Congratulations Moreno. YNWA”

Credit: @xJxdee

“Wonderful morning viewing”

Credit: @ceevz94

In other news, James Pearce has provided a key update on one Liverpool player. Find out who it is here.

Southampton winger Moussa Djenepo is reportedly a target for Fenerbahce ahead of the summer transfer window and this could prove to be a golden opportunity for Ralph Hasenhuttl to axe the Mali international from his squad.

According to Turkish newspaper Posta (via Sport Witness), the Super Lig side are keen on bringing in the 22-year-old this summer, with manager Emre Belozoglu having reportedly asked the board to try and sign Djenepo.

Although the report suggests that a permanent move this summer would be unlikely due to Fenerbahce’s financial situation, an impressive loan spell could see them sign him on a permanent basis in the future, or increase the chances of another club paying a fee to prise him away from St Mary’s.

Southampton signed Djenepo from Standard Liege in the summer of 2019 and he has unfortunately flattered to deceive during his time at St Mary’s, with just four goals and two assists to his name in 51 appearances for Hasenhuttl’s side.

After superb solo goals against Brighton and Sheffield United last season, it was hoped that the young winger would kick on and establish himself as a key player at St Mary’s this term. unfortunately that has not been the case, as he managed just one goal and no assists in 27 Premier League appearances.

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His performances in the top flight earned him a less than impressive average rating of 6.37/10 from WhoScored, which ranked him as the 17th-best player in Hasenhuttl’s squad this season.

Considering he has arguably fallen behind youngster Nathan Tella in the pecking order at Southampton, a loan move might be exactly what he needs to boost his confidence and return to St Mary’s a better player.

However, given his less than impressive performances in his first two seasons with the club, a permanent move away this summer might well be preferable, given that he is valued at £11.7m and reportedly earns £55,000 per week at Southampton, which is more than influential captain James Ward-Prowse.

Chairman Jisheng Gao would surely welcome the sale of Djenepo, as it would raise plenty of funds in terms of both a transfer fee and wages, so Hasenhuttl might be best served by allowing the 22-year-old to depart this summer.

In other news… Hasenhuttl can amend key 2020/21 disaster with summer Southampton swoop for £4.5m-rated beast

Former Leeds United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has hailed a touching gesture from Luke Ayling towards his Whites teammate Kalvin Phillips.

The Lowdown: Phillips prepares for Euro 2020 duty

Phillips is currently on England duty, hoping to make his mark in a major tournament by taking his club form with him onto the international stage.

Leeds fans will be desperate for the 25-year-old to impress, but his teammates are no different, especially in Ayling’s case.

The right-back has bought an England shirt with Phillips’ name on it, in what is a lovely gesture that outlines how close the pair are.

The Latest: Kenny discusses Ayling gesture

Speaking to Football Insider, Kenny spoke glowingly about Ayling, lauding the Leeds hero for his efforts:

“I thought this was great. It shows the togetherness in the dressing room. They are close them two and I’m sure Ayling will be wearing that shirt while the Euros are on.

“It would be funny if you were in a beer garden watching the game and you saw that, wouldn’t it?”

The Verdict: Unrivalled team spirit

This perfectly sums up the team spirit that Marcelo Bielsa has created at Elland Road, with players genuinely desperate for their teammates to do well.

That togetherness has played a huge part in Leeds’ success in recent years, with their willingness to fight for each other and run until the final whistle arguably the best in the Premier League.

The fact that Ayling is clearly so happy for Phillips, despite not getting selceted to play at the Euros himself, speaks volumes about him as a person and about the unity in the Leeds squad.

In other news, one pundit is keen on Leeds signing a British midfielder this summer. Find out who it is here. 

Reliable West Ham insider ExWHUemployee has shed light on Manuel Lanzini’s latest injury blow and has claimed that the Argentine could miss the rest of this season alongside Arthur Masuaku.

The Lowdown: West Ham injury crisis

David Moyes has been forced to adapt without a plethora of first team regulars over the last month, with Declan Rice, Michail Antonio, Angelo Ogbonna, Aaron Cresswell, Masuaku, Lanzini and Mark Noble all sidelined at some point.

West Ham have been given several injury boosts boost over this last fortnight, however, as Antonio, Rice, Ogbonna, Noble and Cresswell have all returned and are available for selection. Masuaku and Lanzini are still out, though, with ExWHUemployee now shedding light on the latter’s injury problem.

The Latest: ExWHUemployee drops grim Lanzini update

After his latest knock, Lanzini has been forced to watch on from the sidelines after briefly impressing in Rice’s holding midfield role. Indeed, Moyes opted to play the 28-year-old further back in midfield against Burnley during the Hammers’ 2-1 win at Turf Moor.

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He impressed that night, dictating the tempo and flow of the game (West Ham Way), but ExWHUemployee believes it is now unlikely that Irons supporters will see him in action again this season.

The insider explained on his Patreon before West Ham’s disappointing draw at Brighton last night that Lanzini and Masuaku have probably been ruled out for the rest of the season.

The Verdict: Blow for Moyes…

In recent weeks, Lanzini has arguably shown that he still has a place in Moyes’ squad despite barely featuring in an attacking role in recent months. His deeper position in midfield against Burnley highlighted how he is still a versatile asset for West Ham.

Alas, he is now likely to miss the rest of the campaign, which comes as a slight blow for the Irons as their excellent season falters in the closing stages.

His wonder goal away to Spurs earlier this season also pointed to a player capable of the extraordinary from time to time, and if West Ham are to keep their European dream alive, they could have done with the Argentine being available to help his team get over the line.

In other news: ‘Surprised’…West Ham fans flock to this ‘great news’, find out more here.

Ryan Bertrand’s latest injury problem could mean that the experienced defender has already played his last game for Southampton, as he is still yet to extend his contract beyond the end of this season.

The left-back was absent from Southampton’s squad for their midweek defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, with Ralph Hasenhuttl confirming after the game that he had picked up an injury in the FA Cup semi-final defeat against Leicester City last weekend.

Whilst he didn’t give any specifics on the type of injury or how long the 31-year-old will be sidelined, there are only six games left of the Premier League campaign, so it may not be a surprise to see him ruled out until the end of the season.

It was reported in January that Southampton were confident the former Chelsea man would commit to a new contract with the club, but interest from the likes of Leicester City and Arsenal seems to have had an effect on the defender, as he is yet to sign a new deal with the Saints.

After an initial loan spell on the south coast, Bertrand joined Southampton permanently in February 2015 and has been a mainstay for the Saints ever since by making 240 appearances, contributing eight goals and 20 assists in that time.

His performances this season, have been less than impressive, though, as he has averaged a lowly 6.41/10 WhoScored rating for his performances in the Premier League, with no goals and just one assist to his name.

This ranks him as the 15th-best performer in Hasenhuttl’s side this season, and yet he has rarely been displaced at left-back other than when he has been out injured.

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However, after an impressive performance from Mohammed Salisu in midweek at left-back, the Austrian may well be tempted to stick with the youngster for the rest of the season, as he is much more of a long-term option in that position.

As a natural centre-back, it also allows the Saints to move to a back three when they have the ball, with Kyle Walker-Peters pushing up; so you could argue he is much more suited to that position than Bertrand, who has performed a similar role at times this season.

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Therefore, the “brilliant” Bertrand, who reportedly earns £70,000 per week at Southampton, may well have played his last game for the club, as it seems fair to suggest that his recent performances don’t really warrant him earning a new deal on the south coast.

In other news… Sold for £30m, now worth £7m: Saints enjoyed rare transfer success with Premier League flop

Steve Parish could give Crystal Palace’s next manager a massive boost before he’s even started…

What’s the word?

According to The Athletic’s Matt Woosnam, Eagles sensation Wilfried Zaha is more likely to sign a new contract at Selhurst Park than leave for a bigger club.

When asked about the 28-year-old winger and his future in south-east London, the ever-reliable journalist responded:

Woosnam also suggested towards the end of a recent column on the Ivory Coast international that “a move [this summer] may therefore not be forthcoming.”

Major attraction

Roy Hodgson’s own future is very much shrouded in mystery itself but as he nears the expiry of his contract, it does seem ever so likely that the 73-year-old veteran will part ways with Palace.

According to Football Insider, Burnley boss Sean Dyche is the top target to succeed him, whilst the likes of former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard and legendary Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira, among others, have been linked with the role.

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And Parish can make the job all that more attractive if he does tie down their star performer, Zaha, to a new deal. It’ll hand whoever becomes the next man at Selhurst Park an instant boost.

The 28-year-old forward, who earns a reported £130k-per-week, has once again proved to be integral to their fortunes this season. His 6.88 average rating is only second to one other player, and he ranks top for goals scored (ten) and dribbles per game (1.8), via WhoScored.

In recent windows, Zaha has been heavily mooted with Premier League rivals Arsenal and Everton but ultimately, Palace’s mega-money £80m asking price had put suitors off the £26m-rated talisman.

It’s no wonder that the Gunners were linked with interest as their manager, Mikel Arteta, dubbed Zaha “phenomenal” and “unique,” whilst Hodgson once reaffirmed his importance to the club by once describing him a “game-changer.”

Back in February, Palace had lost 17 of 19 league games in his absence and even failed to score in 15 of those defeats, only highlighting how crucial he is to the side.

Whether it’s Lampard, Dyche or even Hodgson, Parish can give the next man in the dugout a perfect start to life at the Eagles by tying down their leading man.

That’s for sure.

AND in other news, Crystal Palace handed managerial boost amid Roy Hodgson claim

Former Leeds United star Jon Newsome has suggested to Football FanCast that the club should consider a swoop for Tammy Abraham this summer.

Reports have suggested that Chelsea are willing to part with the striker in the next transfer window and The Daily Telegraph have reported that he will cost £40m to extricate from Stamford Bridge.

Abraham has struggled for minutes this season and was not even included in the squad for the FA Cup final against Leicester City.

That could well open the door to a summer exit and Newsome thinks that Leeds ought to consider making a move for the 6 ft 3 England international.

He has scored a total of 30 goals in 82 games for Chelsea and Newsome says he has been watching the 23-year-old since he played for Bristol City on loan as a teenager.

During his time in Bristol, Abraham netted 26 goals in 48 games and Newsome thinks he would be a superb acquisition for Leeds.

Speaking exclusively to FFC, he said: “I see they’ve put a price tag of £40 million on Tammy Abraham. Do you push the boat out and go and buy Tammy Abraham?

“I’ve watched him since he was out on loan at Bristol City as an 18-year-old and I think he’s a fantastic player.

“He leads the line, he just needs that club where he’s the number one target and the number one man and I think he’ll just blossom again. So do the club do something like that?”

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Southampton midfielder Carlton Palmer believes Brentford forward Ivan Toney has what it takes to replace Danny Ings at St. Mary’s.

Ings, who finished last season as Southampton’s top scorer, is currently being linked with a move away from the south coast club.

According to Sky Sports, Manchester City are interested in signing the 28-year-old as they look to replace the outgoing Sergio Aguero, a development that could leave the Saints in quite a hole.

When asked if Toney could potentially fill that hole for Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, Palmer told FFC in an exclusive interview:

“Anybody, it’s been proven, anybody who’s scoring goals in the Championship can take that into the Premier League. You’ve seen that with Tammy Abraham for Chelsea, 20-odd goals at Aston Villa. You’ve seen it with the boy who’s gone from Bournemouth to Newcastle [Callum Wilson] and the boy who’s gone to [Ollie Watkins] Aston Villa.

“If you are scoring over 25 goals in the Championship, you can score goals in the Premier League.”

Having already reached the 20-goal mark, Toney is on course to hit the mid 30s in what has been an incredible Championship campaign for the 25-year-old.

Arsenal, Leeds United and West Ham are a few Premier League clubs that have been linked with Toney recently, but the former Peterborough man could very well be an option worth exploring for Southampton should Ings depart in the summer.