All posts by z3u9t.icu

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Wolverhampton Wanderers appear to be gearing up for a club first this January as Nuno Santo looks to make substantial improvements to his squad in the transfer window.

Since Fosun took ownership of the club in the summer of 2016, the west Midlands outfit have very rarely splashed the cash during the winter window, but that is something that needs to change this time around.

In the last two years, Wolves have only really added young striker Rafa Mir which cost the club approximately €2m (£1.7m) – if you exclude Jonny’s loan move being made permanent as he was already at the club.

Nuno likes to operate a small, tight-knit squad as evident last season in the Premier League as only 19 players were primarily used as they finished in a historic seventh place.

Now they are competing in the Europa League with one foot already in the knockout stages as they possess a five-point cushion, vying for another crack at the top six domestically, and have the FA Cup soon on the horizon.

This sort of schedule means it is likely that their squad depth will be tested, and that’s even ignoring any potential injuries.

Birmingham Live revealed that the club are keen on signing both a central midfielder and a centre-back in January, which is likely to be heightened after the injury suffered to Willy Boly and Leander Dendoncker’s subsequent move into defence.

Wolves have been linked to several players in both areas, such as Ruben Dias (O Jogo per Sport Witness) and Dejan Kulusevski, but those in charge will need to change their attitudes towards the January transfer window if they are to make such improvements to the squad.

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The back-up spot to Rui Patricio may become available in the summer as John Ruddy’s contract expires while Matt Doherty lacks defensive competition at right wing-back, so there are plenty of reasons to get spending in a couple of months.

If the west Midlands club want to elevate onto the next level, then transfer activity in January needs to become the norm – £180m was spent last year in the Premier League while £430m was forked out the year before.

Wolves have accounted for less than £2m of that £610m total. That has got to change.

A fresh update has claimed that Manchester United are set to sell a “massive” player in the near future, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe making his presence felt.

Man Utd manager & transfer news

The future of Erik ten Hag continues to be the big talking point at Old Trafford currently, even though the Dutchman has done just about enough to keep his job in the last couple of matches, having picked up hard-earned draws away to Porto and Aston Villa.

A big meeting took place between Ratcliffe and other high-profile figures at United earlier this week, with the managerial situation the main topic of conversation, but it looks as though he will remain in charge once the players return after the international break.

In terms of potential new signings, Argentina World Cup winner Rodrigo De Paul is reportedly being eyed up by the Red Devils, with the 30-year-old Atletico Madrid ace seen as an ideal partner for Manuel Ugarte in midfield.

There are also exit rumours doing the rounds, with Christian Eriksen linked with a return to Ajax, for example, and now another hugely experienced head could also be on his way out of the Old Trafford exit door soon.

Ratcliffe willing to sell "massive" Man Utd player

According to The Daily Star, Manchester United are set to sell Harry Maguire in the January transfer window, with Ratcliffe willing to listen to offers for the 31-year-old.

The Red Devils could even accept bids as low as £10m, which is an 87.5% decrease on the whopping £80m that they paid Leicester City for his services back in 2019.

There is no doubt that Maguire hasn’t hit the heights many expected of him when he initially joined United, with some perhaps recklessly even claiming he would be their version of Virgil van Dijk, having impressed for England at the 2018 World Cup.

Instead, the £190,000-a-week England international has almost become a figure of fun with rival supporters, too often lacking pace and not looking up to the elite standards required at the heart of the defence.

That’s not to say that Maguire hasn’t had plenty of good performances, however, and Ten Hag clearly values him, saying of him last year: “[Maguire] was playing a massive, massive game. A very good performance. He showed leadership and in and out of possession he was very good, so I’m very pleased with that performance from Harry.”

In fairness to Maguire, he has also done fine in recent weeks, keeping a clean sheet at Villa and scoring a vital last-gasp equaliser away to Porto, with the likes of Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt arguably in poorer form.

European giants ready to offer "fantastic" £150k-p/w Man Utd ace shock move

He’s out of contract in 2025…

1 ByTom Cunningham Oct 12, 2024

At 31, though, the England international doesn’t represent United’s long-term future, and it is hard to see him suddenly finding an extra gear at this stage in his career. For that reason, cashing in on him and signing a younger replacement could make complete sense.

Tottenham Hotspur will want to forget about last weekend’s defeat against Brighton as quickly as possible, but the current international break has given them no time to make amends.

Ange Postecoglou’s side fell to a 3-2 defeat after leading 2-0 at the break, after goals from Brennan Johnson and James Maddison, but a second half collapse saw Spurs leave the AMEX empty-handed.

The Lilywhites currently sit ninth in the Premier League, largely thanks to Johnson, who has now managed to score in six consecutive outings despite his early season form which saw him widely criticised on social media.

However, summer signing Dominic Solanke has only managed three goals since his move from Bournemouth during the summer transfer window, enduring a steady start to life in North London.

Undoubtedly, he will need time to settle and adjust to life in the capital, but it’s safe to say they could be missing the presence of one player who departed the Tottenham Hotspur stadium last summer.

Harry Kane’s time at Tottenham Hotspur

Harry Kane is a player who will always remain a key player in Tottenham’s history, bursting through the academy before making a huge impact on the club’s first team.

After various loan spells at lower league clubs, the striker made his breakthrough during the 2014/15 season, scoring 31 goals in all competitions throughout his 51 appearances.

The now 31-year-old would remain a constant source of goals during his time at the club, registering over 20 goals in all competitions during each one of his nine full seasons as a first-team member.

He notched a total of 280 goals for Spurs, making him the club’s all-time leading scorer, with his tally of 213 Premier League goals putting him second to only Alan Shearer in the goalscoring charts for the history of the division.

However, he would depart his boyhood club last summer, joining European giants Bayern Munich for a reported £86m which could rise to £100m with add-ons.

Undoubtedly, losing such a huge number of goals would impact Postecoglou’s side, but there is hope that Solanke will be able to fill the void left by the England international.

However, they may have been better off signing a player who has thrived already in the opening months of the new campaign, producing some incredible figures in the process.

The man who’s outscoring Kane in the Bundesliga

A striker was top of the club’s shopping list this summer, as they tried to break into the Premier League’s top four and secure a place in the Champions League for next season.

Solanke was the chosen one, arriving from Bournemouth in a £65m transfer – a club-record deal which demonstrated the intent of the hierarchy to reach the next level.

However, they were also heavily linked with a move to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush during the same window, but no move for the Egyptian ever materialised.

Nottingham Forest were also interested in landing the 25-year-old, but despite coming close to agreeing a deal, the forward decided to stay with the Bundesliga outfit.

Since remaining in Germany, he has been a revelation, finding the net on a regular basis for his club side.

One that got away

The transfers that nearly happened but never did. This article is part of Football FanCast's One That Got Away series.

The decision appears to be a phenomenal one, with the “outstanding” talent, as dubbed by his agent Michael Reschke, registering eight goals in his first six league outings, a tally higher than former fan-favourite Kane who’s only notched five in the same number of fixtures for Bayern.

Games played

6

6

Goals scored

8

5

Progressive carries per 90

4.6

1.1

Shot-on-target accuracy

59%

28%

Take-ons per 90

2.1

0.7

Aerials won

75%

56%

Shot-creating actions per 90

6.1

4.1

Marmoush, who’s now valued at £40m according to reports, is undoubtedly enjoying a purple patch in front of goal, demonstrating his talents on a regular basis, with his goalscoring exploits undoubtedly improving Postecoglou’s side.

Whilst there’s no denying Solanke’s talent, the Egyptian’s goalscoring record this season is hugely impressive, with the club potentially living to regret not pushing to complete a deal for the talisman.

However, unfortunately for Spurs, Marmoush will go down as another player who slipped the net, leaving the forward to demonstrate what the North London outfit could’ve had.

It's not Moore: Spurs have a £100m star in the making who's like Yamal

Tottenham have a future star in the making under Ange Postecoglou.

ByMatt Dawson Oct 10, 2024

Whilst Arne Slot’s reign has got off to a fine start, concerns over Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool future has reportedly seen the Reds turn towards one of the most exciting wingers in European football.

Liverpool transfer news

The Reds have barely skipped a beat under their new manager, but that’s not to say it was an easy summer in the build-up to Slot’s first campaign in charge. Those at Anfield left their business late and failed to sign a defensive midfielder for the second consecutive summer after Martin Zubimendi reportedly turned down the chance to complete a move in favour of staying loyal to boyhood club Real Sociedad.

Worth as much as Alisson: Liverpool star's value has risen 261% since exit

He’s been the cause of defeat for the Reds since leaving…

1 ByAngus Sinclair Sep 27, 2024

Whilst Ryan Gravenberch has since emerged to take that role with both hands and arguably make a claim to be Liverpool’s player of the season so far, other problems are beginning to mount on Merseyside. As things stand, Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all set to leave Liverpool at the end of the season.

Despite all three players’ contracts coming to an end and none of the trio suggesting that they would like to leave, fresh offers are yet to be confirmed, as Salah revealed when speaking about his situation after the Reds beat Manchester United earlier this season.

However, in the event of the Egyptian’s exit, it seems as though those at Anfield have a plan in place. According to reports in Spain, Liverpool chiefs are now determined to sign Nico Williams if Salah does leave next summer.

The Athletic Bilbao winger, who has also reportedly attracted the attention of Manchester United and Barcelona, is one of the best wingers in European football, as highlighted by his recent role in Span’s Euro 2024 triumph.

"Superb" Williams one of few who could replace Salah

Replacing Salah is a near-impossible job, that much is clear. The Anfield legend may even go down as the greatest winger that the Premier League has ever seen, having picked up three Golden Boots and won everything there is to win in English football during his time at Liverpool. So when he does leave, be that next summer or in years to come, Liverpool have the toughest of tasks on their hands. But that’s when Williams could come in.

A player yet to reach his peak, the £167,000-a-week star is already proving himself on the biggest stage, having scored the opening goal against England as Spain set course for Euro 2024 victory a few months ago. Praised for his “superb” performance against Barcelona earlier this year by Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig, Willams is arguably one of the few who are talented enough to fill Liverpool’s eventual Salah void.

After scoring eight goals and recording a staggering 19 assists last season, it is clear that Williams is destined for the top, which could yet feature a move to Anfield to replace Salah.

Chelsea's backroom staff and scouts are "really pushing" for the club to sign 19-year-old French wonderkid Rayan Cherki from Ligue 1 outfit Lyon as they like the player "an awful lot", per Graham Bailey.

Is Rayan Cherki joining Chelsea?

Chelsea have certainly made the most of the transfer window so far this summer, with practically a full XI of Premier League quality players leaving the club as Mauricio Pochettino oversees a serious squad overhaul.

A number of players, such as N'Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Edouard Mendy, have left West London for the immense riches available in Saudi Arabia, whereas others like Kai Havertz have just moved across London to join Premier League rivals Arsenal.

At this point in time, the only major signing the club have made this summer has been Villarreal striker Nicolas Jackson who cost slightly more than £30m, but another new face could soon join him.

The Blues have been linked to the incredibly exciting Lyon midfielder, Cherki.

American outlet ESPN have reported that the Pensioners have identified the France under-21 star as the perfect 'replacement' for US international Christian Pulisic, who has just been announced as a new AC Milan player.

While Lyon are reluctant to lose their promising youngster, problems around France's own version of financial fair play mean that they would be willing to part with the dynamic midfielder if a club can stump up the €40m (£34m) asking price.

Chelsea's interest in the Lyon-born phenom is primarily being pushed by the club's backroom staff and scouting department, per Graham Bailey.

He explained the situation on the Talking Transfers podcast:

"My understanding is that Chelsea's backroom staff and scouts are really pushing for this, they like him an awful lot. It will be interesting to see where we go here, but Chelsea are pushing forward."

How good is Rayan Cherki?

At just 19 years old, there is already a lot of hype and excitement around Cherki, but from looking at his performances and underlying numbers, it's easy to see why.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, the "creative monster" sits in the top 1% for successful take-ons, the top 2% for progressive carries, the top 3% for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for touches in the opposition's penalty area, and the top 6% for expected assists, progressive passes, and progressive passes received, all per 90.

With numbers like that, it should come as no surprise to hear that he had a fantastic season for Lyon last year, with WhoScored giving him an average rating of 6.99 across his 34 Ligue 1 appearances.

He has clearly caught the attention of former Chelsea star and French international Frank Leboeuf, who waxed lyrical about the 19-year-old on ESPN FC, saying:

"Skill-wise, one of the best players already on earth. He's unbelievable for a 19-year-old. The guy can do everything."

Even with Chelsea's relatively young squad, if they can secure the signature of Cherki, it could end up being one of the summer's best deals, as he could potentially play for the club for over a decade.

Leeds United are expected to unveil Daniel Farke as their new manager “in the next 24 hours”, according to reliable journalist Phil Hay.

Where is Daniel Farke now?

The German’s first role in the dugout was at SV Lippstadt back in 2009 and since then, he’s gone on to take charge of Borussia Dortmund’s B side, Norwich City, Krasnodar and most recently Borussia Monchengladbach. He left the Bundesliga club last month though, meaning that he’s now a free agent, as per Transfermarkt.

Following Sam Allardyce’s sacking, Sky Sports reported that the 46-year-old was one of the candidates being interviewed for the vacancy at Elland Road alongside Patrick Vieira, but the Frenchman has since been announced as the new boss of Strasbourg in Ligue 1.

The Daily Mail soon after claimed that the Canaries’ former coach had emerged as the leading contender and was viewed as the favourite among the hierarchy after impressing during his face-to-face meeting, and it wasn’t long before negotiations got underway.

Football Insider stated that the Whites had entered advanced talks to recruit the experienced figure but were waiting for the 49ers Enterprises takeover to be completed before announcing his appointment, though if the following update is to be believed, it sounds like they don’t want to hang about any longer than is deemed necessary.

Are Leeds appointing Farke?

Taking to Twitter on Monday evening, Hay revealed that Leeds are likely to announce Farke’s arrival imminently with him having already made the journey to LS11. He wrote:

“Leeds United set to confirm appointment of Daniel Farke as head coach in the next 24 hours. Terms agreed, allowing him to fly in this evening. Due to be finalised even if takeover isn’t sealed first, with training set to start Wednesday.”

Leeds have faced Farke as an opposition manager on several occasions previously and will know full well what he is capable of consisdering he has won twice with his visiting team, and looking at his track record, he’s got everything that is required of a manager to succeed in the Championship.

The Steinhausen native, whose preferred formation is a 4-2-3-1, has taken charge of 138 games in the second tier, out of which he’s won 71, drawn 38 and lost just 29, averaging 1.82 points per match and taking 251 from a possible 414, via Transfermarkt.

During his time at Norwich, this excellent and more importantly consistent form saw the incoming boss rewarded for his efforts having twice guided them to promotion to the Premier League, so he knows exactly what it takes to compete and achieve at the highest level.

Finally, Farke being a free agent and without a club means that the board won’t have to pay any compensation to acquire his services which is an additional bonus given his calibre, not to mention that West Bromwich Albion’s Carlos Corberan’s £2m release clause is what put them off making a swoop for him, so all in all, this really does seem like a match made in heaven.

Celtic were rocked by the departure of manager Ange Postecoglou earlier this month as the 57-year-old coach joined Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

However, they reacted quickly and appointed Brendan Rodgers as his successor, with the Northern Irish tactician returning to Parkhead for a second spell in Scotland.

The 50-year-old boss won seven trophies in less than three years during his first stint in the dugout at Paradise and enjoyed a largely excellent time with Leicester City in England after moving on from the Hoops.

He won the Community Shield and the FA Cup with the Foxes and worked with some terrific players at the King Power; including the likes of Jamie Vardy, James Maddison, Harvey Barnes.

Rodgers could now uncover his next version of the latter at Celtic after the Daily Record recently reported that the club are scouting Gwangju winger Ji-sung Eom.

What is Ji-sung Eom's style of play?

The 21-year-old dynamo has the quality to be a regular goal threat from out wide, without being much of an exceptional creator for others.

During the 2022 campaign, Eom averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.13 – higher than Kyogo Furuhashi and Liel Abada managed for Celtic in 2022/23 – across 28 K League 2 outings and contributed with nine goals and one assists as a left winger – a strike every 3.1 matches on average.

Barnes, meanwhile, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.67 across 34 Premier League games for Leicester and chipped in with 13 goals and one assist for Rodgers, followed by Dean Smith, which works out as a goal every 2.6 clashes on average.

Both players struggled to be regular contributors for their teammates as Barnes (0.6) and Eom (0.7) failed to create at least one chance per match, which would not place either of them in the top ten creators for the Hoops last term.

Meanwhile, Jota was the only Celtic winger with a better strike rate than the South Korean U22 international's return in 2022 as the Portuguese wizard scored once every three Scottish Premiership appearances on average (11 in 33).

Eom, who was once described as "underrated" by scout Ali Can Kutlu, could come in as one of the most dangerous attackers, in terms of the goal threat that the young ace could provide, in the squad next term.

The exciting hotshot, who would arrive with room to grow and develop at the age of 21, could be Rodgers' own version of Barnes by lining up on the left flank as a goalscoring winger to complement the likes of Jota and Kyogo Furuhashi in the final third.

Liverpool are among the suitors for one of Europe's most prodigious talents in Fenerbahce star Arda Guler, who has blitzed into prominence after a remarkable breakout campaign in his homeland.

What's the latest on Arda Guler to Liverpool?

That's according to a report from TEAMtalk that underscores the Yellow Canaries' desire to retain the services of their starlet for at least one more year, tieing him down to a new deal that will allow a more lucrative future sale.

Guler has a €17.5m (£15m) release clause in his contract, which is an attractive element to consider given that Liverpool are looking to complete astute deals on the market, having already tied up Alexis Mac Allister for a bargain £35m.

Jurgen Klopp's Reds are joined by Arsenal, Bayern, Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain in their interest in the fleet-footed phenom.

How good is Arda Guler?

Hailed as a "magician with a wand of a left foot" by one European scout, Guler is one of the most exciting players on the scene right now, boasting a wealth of skills that tantalise a career at the very forefront of the game over the next footballing era.

Despite his youthful age and inexperience, he produced displays of exceptional quality in the Turkish Super Lig this year, earning a stunning average Sofascore rating of 7.48 after starting just 11 matches, scoring four goals, supplying three assists, completing 85% of his passes and averaging two key passes per game from the offensive right flank.

Given the "serious talent" – as he has been described by Duncan Castles – possesses an innate cutting edge and tendency to drift inwards and wreak havoc from the box, he could be viewed as the dream heir to Mohamed Salah's pre-eminent role at Anfield, with the Egyptian sensation registering 265 direct goal contributions from 305 appearances since signing from Roma for £34m in 2017.

Liverpool fell by the wayside this term but it mattered not to the £350k-per-week forward's individual success, posting 30 goals and 16 assists from 50 appearances – with a return to fluidity when football resumes, there is no telling how destructive Salah's displays might be.

Technically a winger but reaping the fruits of his labour through his remarkable ability to cut inside, Salah ranks among the top 3% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 13% for assists and the top 1% for touches in the attacking box per 90, as per FBref, heralded as "lightning" by Reds historian Carl Clemente.

With Guler boasting a similar skill set and with Andrea Pirlo saying there is "no limit to his potential", securing his services as Salah's understudy before nurturing him to a starring role in the Merseyside giants' system could be the perfect way to ensure the club remain in contention for the biggest honours on offer for a lasting period.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg could be allowed to leave the club by Ange Postecoglou this summer, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg?

According to SPORT BILD journalist Christian Falk, Tottenham midfielder Hojbjerg has emerged as a target for his former club Bayern Munich this summer, as the journalist said on Twitter: "True. FC Bayern discussed a Transfer of Pierre Emile Hojbjerg."

As per Football London, Hojbjerg is keeping his cards close to his chest regarding his future and spoke before his native Denmark's EURO 2024 qualifying match against Slovenia on Monday, stating:

"What's lucky is that we plan an international match tomorrow (Monday)," he said.

"So my focus is there. What comes next is fortunately not in my hands. "What I can focus on is what needs to be done tomorrow. I have spoken about before about my time in Munich, but right now I have nothing to say about it."

talkSPORT understand that Tottenham would be willing to listen to offers for the £100k-a-week ace this off-season as he is not guaranteed a starting berth under Postecoglou next term.

Hojbjerg has two years left on his present terms in north London and may well be set for a new challenge following three years at the Lilywhites.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones has signalled that he thinks Hojbjerg will leave Tottenham this summer and he also has his doubts over the future of Eric Dier, who could also move on this summer.

Jones said: "In terms of Dier and Højbjerg, I don't know about Dier. I don't know enough about that, but Højbjerg, for sure, seems like his future is in doubt. And I think it's probably unlikely that he stays at Tottenham."

Should Tottenham Hotspur let go of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg?

All things considered, Hojbjerg is an experienced operator in the engine room, though he may be moved on this summer as Postecoglou looks to stamp his authority on his squad in the transfer market.

Leicester City midfielder James Maddison is being heavily courted by Tottenham this window, potentially indicating that a changing of the guard in the middle of the park may be a key part of Postecoglou's plans in north London.

In 2022/23, Hojbjerg made 44 appearances in all competitions during the campaign, registering five goals and seven assists in total, as per Transfermarkt.

The 27-year-old was also a comfortable presence in possession across the season and maintained a pass success rate of 88.6% in the Premier League, according to WhoScored.

In the next few weeks, Hojbjerg's future at Tottenham will become clearer; nevertheless, it does feel like now may be the right time for both parties to go their separate ways ahead of 2023/24.

Manchester United are confident that they can agree personal terms with Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount as Erik Ten Hag endeavours to bring the England international to Old Trafford.

What's the latest transfer news involving Mason Mount?

According to Sky Sports, Chelsea have rejected an offer of £40 million from Manchester United for Mount as a gap in valuation still continues to linger between the two clubs.

The report states that Manchester United know the limit of what they would be willing to pay internally; however, they are also prepared to abandon negotiations if they are quoted a price above their valuation of the £80k-a-week ace.

As per The Evening Standard, the Red Devils are set to return with an improved offer for Mount at some point, though Chelsea are holding out for a fee in the region of £70 million.

Due to his contract expiring in 2024, Chelsea would be willing to let Mount go to avoid losing him on a free transfer following months of deadlock in negotiations over fresh terms between player and club.

talkSPORT claimed earlier this month that Mount had agreed personal terms with Manchester United; nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether the proposed move will be affected by a difference of opinion in value between the two clubs.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Romano has detailed that Mount is very keen to move to Manchester United this summer.

Romano said: "Man United want the player. Man United are convinced that the agreement with the player is something that'll be easy to reach because Mount wants this Manchester United move, so it's on the clubs now."

Will Manchester United be able to land Mason Mount?

Chelsea seem pretty insistent on recouping a significant fee for their academy product. However, they will also be aware of the reticence prospective suitors may have with regard to bidding over the odds for a player like Mount that only has one year left on his deal.

In 2022/23, Mount made 35 appearances for the Blues across all competitions, registering three goals and six assists, as per Transfermarkt.

As per The Athletic, Liverpool did hold an interest in trying to sign Mount this summer earlier this year, though his excessive price tag put them off and they will now instead focus on alternative targets.

The Sun claim that Leicester City star James Maddison has been earmarked as a 'second option' if Mount proves to be unattainable this off-season, making it anyone's guess as to whether Manchester United will be able to land Mount this summer.