All posts by h716a5.icu

A big Rangers transfer development has emerged on Ryan Kent’s future at Ibrox during the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

According to Turkish outlet Sporx, Galatasaray are currently in talks with Rangers over a deal to sign the forward.

The report claims that they have already held discussions with the player’s representatives and that they have now made contact with the club to strike an agreement.

It is claimed that they are willing to offer up to £6.8m (€8m) with add-ons on top of that, but it remains to be seen whether or not that will be enough to tempt Ross Wilson into cashing in.

Kent has one year left to run on his current contract and Sporx state that Rangers would be willing to sell him if a suitable offer arrives at their door.

Gio van Bronckhorst will be worried

This update will leave the head coach scrambling to convince the attacker to stay at Ibrox as losing him would be a major blow to the squad.

The Light Blues would lose their biggest source of creativity if Kent left to join Galatasaray this summer and van Bronckhorst will surely be keen to avoid that situation as it would leave a big hole in the team.

In the Premiership last term, the Englishman created ten ‘big chances’ in 26 appearances and provided 1.7 key passes per game. He also delivered five ‘big chances’ in 12 Europa League outings as he consistently put opportunities on a plate for his teammates domestically and in Europe and made himself a vital cog in the starting XI.

Journalist Fraser Fletcher recently claimed that the gem will sign a new contract with the club, saying: “Ryan Kent, I know for a fact, loves it. He loves it at Rangers, so it’s just no surprise at all that Ryan Kent’s signing an extension. He absolutely loves it. So you should expect them quite quickly.”

This swoop from the Turkish giants may have thrown a spanner in the works, however, and that is why the head coach will now be scrambling to speak with the winger to ensure that he puts pen to paper in Scotland and not in Turkey in the coming weeks.

His aforementioned chance creation numbers illustrate how important he is to the team and van Bronckhorst will be particularly worried if he loses Kent’s talents ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

AND in other news, Rangers can land a masterclass by signing £500k gem who’d “hit the ground running”…

Leeds United target Juan Mata is willing to lower his previous Manchester United wage in order to move to Yorkshire.

The Lowdown: Mata talks with Leeds

The Whites have been linked with a move for the 34-year-old in recent days, with the attacking midfielder now a free agent.

Reports have claimed that Victor Orta has contacted Mata’s father over a possible Elland Road deal, with negotiations slow but progressing ‘on track’.

Mata, who was described as a player with ‘class’ dress sense by former Old Trafford team-mate Scott McTominay, is also wanted by Real Betis, Marseille and an Italian club.

The Latest: Mata transfer update

Sport Witness relayed an update from Spanish outlet Marca regarding Mata.

They claimed that he is ‘studying’ the offers from both Leeds and Betis and ‘has made it clear to the clubs that have contacted him that he is willing to lower the amount he earned at Manchester United’ ahead of his next move.

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The Verdict: Experienced option

Leeds’ oldest signing this summer has been 25-year-old Marc Roca, so a swoop for 34-year-old Mata would be a bit of a surprise.

However, the Whites have limited options in behind the striker at this moment in time, so the latter could be a useful signing and a Pablo Hernandez-like mentor, especially with teams able to make five substitutions per game in the Premier League from next season.

Mata has plenty of experience at the top level so he would be able to help a number of young attackers, and with the player willing to lower his previous £160,000-a-week salary, a one- or two-year deal could be a smart move from Leeds.

Any of Tottenham Hotspur’s wing-backs could be in Sergio Reguilon’s position after failing to meet Antonio Conte’s expectations last season, claims ex-BBC pundit Noel Whelan.

The Lowdown: Reguilon’s potential exit

Last week Spurs confirmed that the Spain international, alongside Giovani Lo Celso, Tanguy Ndombele and Harry Winks, had not gone on their pre-season tour to South Korea.

This was followed by Football Insider’s report which claimed that Sevilla are now in advanced talks to sign the 25-year-old on a season-long loan deal.

The former Real Madrid star was rotated with Ryan Sessegnon last season, joining Matt Doherty and Emerson Royal as alternative options on the flanks.

The Latest: Whelan reacts

Whelan, a former top flight striker who has worked as a host and pundit for BBC Radio Leeds, has reacted in a chat with Football Insider, believing the Spaniard’s departure could signal things to come for the remaining full-backs at Spurs.

He said:“Reguilon wasn’t that bad – but did any wing-backs really set Conte alight? You’d have to say no.

“That was the one position we knew he would focus on more than anything else after coming in.

“No one could get it right. No one could find the consistency on either flank. Any of them could well have gone because they weren’t giving Conte what he wants.

“He’s not a man who is going to sit there and just accept certain standards. He knows what he wants, he’s been given the finances to make that happen – and he’s identified new options straight away this summer.

“It’s a ruthless business, football.

“You might have been first choice before, and that was the case for Reguilon, but when someone with a different ideology comes in – you can very easily be gotten rid of.”

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The Verdict: Big changes

Conte has already shown that he is not willing to put up with players not performing at the level he would expect by his frequent activity in the transfer market.

This includes the arrival of Djed Spence from Middlesbrough, which was announced after a long stint of negotiations with the Championship club.

As a result, a number of Tottenham’s wing-backs could see themselves fall down the Italian’s pecking order if they are not careful, making Reguilon’s likely exit a sign of things to come at Hotspur Way.

Birmingham City are ‘adamant’ that Leeds United target George Hall will stay put, according to Birmingham Live journalist Brian Dick. 

The lowdown

The Daily Mail (via MOT Leeds News) reported earlier this summer (June 1) that Leeds want to sign Hall as Victor Orta continues his quest to add talent to the youth teams at Thorp Arch.

A £1million bid for the 18-year-old attacking midfielder, who can also play in a deeper role or on the right, was said to be in the works.

Hall is represented by Sturridge Sports Management, whose clients also include Leeds’ Tyler Roberts (currently on loan at QPR).

There’s currently a degree of uncertainty around Birmingham, with a proposed takeover being held up amid a lack of clarity over their ownership structure (via The Athletic).

The latest

Dick writes that ‘avaricious eyes will be watching’ Hall ahead of what may be a breakout campaign with the Blues.

‘Leeds are known to be interested’, he confirms, but Birmingham have made it clear that they will ‘rebuff any interest’ in the starlet this summer.

After all, it was only last season that he signed his first professional deal with the club.

Leeds have already missed out on Charles de Ketelaere, and it looks like this is another target down.

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The verdict

You can understand why Leeds remain interested in Hall two months on from the initial report.

He made two appearances for Birmingham’s first team last season as a 17-year-old, and that’s an impressive feat.

They weren’t exactly stoppage-time run-outs either: he completed 85 minutes against QPR in January and notched another 31 on the final day of the season against Blackburn.

Perhaps most impressively of all, he’s earned international recognition, featuring eight times for England at Under-18 level.

Dick describes Hall as ‘mobile’, ‘inventive’ and ‘composed’, while one of his coaches has billed him as ‘explosive’ and ‘dynamic’.

And Dick also notes that Hall is the latest off a midfield product line at St Andrew’s that has already produced Jude Bellingham. That track record may factor into Leeds’ thinking, but they’ll likely now have to wait until 2023 to try and get this one done.

Leeds United are ‘courting’ Watford forward Ismaila Sarr as a replacement for Raphinha, according to Foot Mercato.

The Lowdown: Sarr profiled

Sarr, labelled by Ben Foster as a “freak” of a talent with “scary” ability, has been with the Hornets since 2019.

Capable of playing anywhere across the front three, the Senegal international has scored 57 goals for club and country, 24 of which have come for Watford.

The 24-year-old, previously of Rennes, is into the final two years of his Vicarage Road contract, and it looks as if Leeds may make a move in the final weeks of the window.

The Latest: Leeds eyeing move

Foot Mercato provided a Leeds transfer update on Tuesday and were told that Sarr has been ‘courted’ by Victor Orta and Co.

They claim that Leeds are looking to replace Raphinha before the window closes, adding that PSV’s Cody Gakpo is still on their shortlist also.

Sarr apparently ‘could be tempted’ into leaving Vicarage Road.

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The Verdict: Really?

Leeds appear to have filled the void left by Raphinha by signing Luis Sinisterra, so it is interesting to see these rumours regarding Sarr.

He is primarily a right-winger but does have experience of playing as a centre-forward on 33 occasions. Sarr has contributed to 15 goals when occupying a central role, so perhaps his versatility is something of interest to Orta and Andrea Radrizzani.

It could well be one to watch, however, the club may well be better off looking to sign an out-and-out striker who can fill in out wide, instead of the other way around.

Tottenham Hotspur have submitted a fresh proposal for Nicolo Zaniolo, according to reports…

What’s the word?

Italian outlet Calciomercatio.it claim that Spurs manager Antonio Conte is continuing to push for the AS Roma attacking midfielder before the summer transfer deadline on September 1st.

It’s believed that they have now offered Tanguy Ndombele in a swap deal, though the Serie A side is demanding cash only.

That being said, the Giallorossi hierarchy would be open to a sale for the right price, which according to other reports, is thought to be around £50m.

Get it done

Lilywhites sporting director Fabio Paratici should look to meet Roma’s demands if he’s to put an end to this saga before the end of the window, particularly as a player of this nature is exactly what Conte is missing.

With Udinese wing-back Destiny Udogie set to become the club’s seventh signing of the summer, the Italian head coach still lacks a creative presence in the engine room.

No Spurs player hit double figures for assists in the Premier League last season and only Dejan Kulusevski, who joined in January, put up any sort of number close to Harry Kane and Heung-min Son with his five goals and eight assists, as per WhoScored.

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Zaniolo, meanwhile, enjoyed a standout campaign under ex-Spurs boss Jose Mourinho, having provided eight goals and nine assists on their way to winning the Europa Conference League trophy.

Such form and his obvious quality has seen the Italy international praised immensely – CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs dubbed him a “frightening talent,” whilst Roma legend Francesco Totti believes he’s “explosive.”

Meanwhile, the 23-year-old dynamo has earned comparisons to that of Paul Pogba, who has just returned to Serie A rivals Juventus on a free transfer from Manchester United.

“I’ve seen some qualities, he’s completely different from [Nicolo] Barella, Jorginho and [Marco] Verratti. He has the characteristics to do very well,” claimed national team boss Roberto Mancini. “The comparison with Pogba is there, but now he needs calm and patience or even he will get into trouble.”

Zaniolo likes to get forward to try and influence the game in the final third, as seen by the fact that he ranks inside the top 19% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe for dribbles, the top 17% for touches in the opposition box and the top 10% for progressive passes received, per FBref.

That is indeed very similar to the Frenchman, so if Paratici and co can get this deal over the line, then Conte could well have his very own Pogba and that would certainly go to great lengths in solving their creative issue from midfield.

AND in other news, Levy struck gold over £92k-p/w “beast” at Spurs, he’s been Conte’s true unsung hero…

Everton have been gifted a double injury boost before they play Chelsea at home in their opening game of the new Premier League season.

The Lowdown: Injuries piling up

The Goodison Park outfit have had to deal with some pretty damaging injuries to key players ahead of the new campaign.

Central midfielders Tom Davies and Andre Gomes are still a couple of weeks away from full fitness, while most significantly of all Dominic Calvert-Lewin faces around six weeks out.

The Latest: Coleman and Begovic ‘fit’

Speaking in his pre-game press conference on Thursday afternoon ahead of the match, Frank Lampard revealed some good news.

Seamus Coleman ‘is fit’ and gaining match sharpness for the U21s, while Asmir Begovic is also ‘just about fit’:

“Tom Davies should be training with us next week. Andre’s a week or two away. Asmir (Begovic) is just about fit. Seamus Coleman is fit. He’s going to play for the U21s tomorrow night to get some minutes.”

The Verdict: Double boost

Having both Coleman and Begovic available on the bench against Chelsea would no doubt be a boost for the Merseyside club.

With over 250 appearances in the Premier League, including three for the Toffees (Transfermarkt), Begovic is a capable depute should Jordan Pickford unexpectedly have to withdraw from the line-up, or indeed finding himself having to come off during the game.

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As for Coleman, his leadership skills as the club captain will no doubt be vital if the Blues are to stay up more comfortably this term, and he did help in the spirited 1-0 win at home to Chelsea last season, where he won four of his six duels and made a player-high five clearances filling in as a central defender (SofaScore).

Nonetheless, if both players are fit enough to make the squad then it will be a boost for Lampard and his team, and even the news that they should be good to go come next week’s trip to Aston Villa is a positive.

A major update has dropped regarding reported Arsenal target Yeremy Pino that’ll leave Mikel Arteta buzzing.

What’s the news?

Villarreal manager Unai Emery spoke to the media before their opening LaLiga match against Valladolid, and the former Arsenal boss said of the interest in the 19-year-old winger:

“If an offer arrives for players like Yeremy Pino, then he will have to leave. We have a responsibility with the club. It is what it is.”

This news will please Arteta, who is said to be determined to sign Pino before the transfer windows closes in under three weeks.

Arsenal could reportedly secure him for a fee of £33m due to financial problems faced by the La Liga side.

Arteta will be buzzing

The Spaniard has overhauled the Arsenal squad somewhat this summer by adding some quality and getting rid of some deadwood. Key arrivals include Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko who have both joined from Manchester City.

Arteta will be aiming to lead the Gunners’ to a top-four Premier League finish for the first time since 2016 and he looks determined to add another few players to aid his cause.

A move for Pino makes a lot of sense, at just 19 he fits the manager’s philosophy of lowering the average age, and while young, the winger has first-team experience at Villarreal.

The young Spaniard had a breakthrough campaign last season, scoring seven goals (four more than Nicolas Pepe) whilst also registering four assists as he starred in his team’s run to the Champions League semi-finals.

With reports claiming that Liverpool are still very much in the hunt for Pino, Arteta will have to act quickly or fear losing him to a Premier League rival.

There is no doubt he can contribute heavily to the side’s attack this season. He averaged 0.9 shots and made 0.8 key passes per game over his 31 LaLiga appearances last term as Villarreal finished the season in seventh place – while Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig listing Pino’s strengths as his “pace, acceleration, dribbling, technique, ball control, flair and agility,” as well as comparing the talent to Bayern Munich’s Serge Gnabry.

What we know is Pino is a terrific talent, the question is, can he step up a gear if he makes the move to England and become one of the best in the world?

Southampton are reportedly plotting a swoop for Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos and the Portuguese maestro could be the man to save Ralph Hasenhuttl’s job.

What’s the word?

According to The Athletic reporter Dan Sheldon, Southampton have held talks with Benfica over a potential move for the 21-year-old, who has caught the eye with his performances in recent seasons.

Any deal for the Portugal U21 international is likely to cost the Saints around £25m, which would surpass the £20m they paid to sign Danny Ings from Liverpool, making it a record-breaking transfer for the club.

He could save Hasenhuttl’s job

Despite the new Premier League season being just two games old, there have already been strong rumours about Hasenhuttl’s job security at the club.

Reports have suggested that some members of the squad were surprised to see the Austrian manager keep his job after a shocking end to last season, while the opening game defeat against Tottenham Hotspur where they conceded four times highlighted that the defensive issues are still present, despite an overhaul at the back.

However, they did well to fight back from 2-0 down against Leeds United last weekend and the former RB Leipzig boss could be saved if he can bring in a striker of Ramos’ quality, as his goals could be the difference for the Saints as they look to avoid a relegation scrap.

The young forward has enjoyed a superb start to the new season at Benfica, contributing five goals and three assists in just five appearances for the Portuguese side.

The Saints definitely need a clinical forward in their ranks, as none of their strikers hit double figures in the Premier League last season, while Hasenhuttl is also without last season’s options Armando Broja and Shane Long.

Southampton underperformed on their xG last season, so a striker of Ramos’ quality could benefit from the chances that they were clearly creating and not converting last season.

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Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has previously praised Ramos’ “outrageous” numbers for Benfica B where he netted 15 in 37. and now he is producing for the senior side, it seems only a matter of time before he earns a move away, and Southampton could be the beneficiaries.

If he does become Saint’s record signing there will be a lot of pressure on young shoulders, but if he can be a success and fire the Saints up the table, he might just keep Hasenhuttl in the job.

Leeds United winger Daniel James is attracting interest ahead of the closure of the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Alan Nixon, with The Sun journalist revealing in a recent post on his Patreon (via Leeds Live) that Tottenham Hotspur are lining up a “shock” move for the 24-year-old forward in the coming days.

Nixon went on to state that Antonio Conte’s side are interested in taking the Wales international on a season-long loan deal that would include a £20m option to buy in the summer of 2023, although the Whites are believed to favour a deal that would see them receive a fee for the forward now.

Finally, the journalist suggested that the Spurs manager is looking to add something different to his attacking options prior to the closure of the summer transfer window next week, with James’ pace said to have caught the eye of the 52-year-old Italian.

James must go

While it is true that James is a useful option for Jesse Marsch to have in his first team squad, considering the fact that Victor Orta has already added the likes of Brenden Aaronson and Luis Sinisterra to the Whites’ attacking arsenal this summer, the argument that Leeds should let the Welshman go prior to September’s transfer deadline – especially for a potential fee of £20m – is a rather easy one to make.

Indeed, over his 34 Premier League appearances in 2021/22, the £16.2m-rated forward endured a rather torrid campaign, scoring just four goals – despite often being deployed as a centre-forward in the absence of Patrick Bamford – and missing eight big chances for the Whites, as well as making an average of a mere 9.9 passes and losing possession of the ball 9.4 times per game.

These returns saw the £50k-per-week attacker who Darren Bent dubbed “headless” average an extremely disappointing SofaScore match rating of just 6.64, ranking him as Marsch’s joint ninth-worst performer in the top flight of English football last time out.

As such, considering the fact that James has started just one Premier League fixture so far this season – as a direct result of Bamford suffering another injury setback – it is clear that the 24-year-old is no longer a key part of the Whites’ starting XI under the management of the American, leading us to believe that Orta simply must cash in on the winger while the interest is there.