All posts by z3u9t.icu

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly long held an interest in Konrad Laimer and they could make their move in this summer’s transfer window.

That’s according to German outlet Sport Bild, who claim that the 24-year-old’s form for RB Leipzig this season has alerted teams in the Premier League, in which Spurs are named as one keen party.

The Austria international has actually been considered by Lilywhites scouts for several years, ever since his involvement in the Bundesliga outfit’s two-legged demolition of the north Londoners in the Champions League in 2020.

Ahead of Laimer entering the final 12 months of his current contract, Spurs could finally strike on their long-time target.

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It’s no surprise to see manager Antonio Conte interested in the £23.4m-rated powerhouse as his playing style has earned quite the praise indeed, even drawing comparisons to the Italian’s former Chelsea star N’Golo Kante.

The 52-year-old led the Blues to a Premier League and FA Cup triumph during his time at Stamford Bridge and the Frenchman was a key signing in that run. Conte could do with a similar player over in N17 now.

‘You’ll be hard-pressed to find a player who harries the opposition quite as intensively as Laimer, who is also a dab hand at shielding the ball, recycling possession and facilitating counter-attacks. ‘Dirty Work’ could be his middle name,’ wrote Bundesliga.com.

Indeed, the 24-year-old – who grew up idolising Steven Gerrard – has earned similar acclaim from others around him.

His former boss Adi Hutter lauded him as “incredibly aggressive on the ball”, whilst former West Ham forward and international compatriot Marko Arnautovic believes he can cover a “crazy” amount of ground and that he has a “huge future”.

At the weekend, Laimer dropped two goals and one assist on Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund to take his total for the season to nine direct goal contributions, so evidently he can add more in the final third than Kante.

That doesn’t take away from his defensive attributes whatsoever, having averaged 4.78 tackles and interceptions per 90 across five seasons at Leipzig, on top of 31.6 pressures per game, only emphasising his impressive and industrious work rate in the engine room, as per FBRef.

Compared to his positional peers across Europe over the last year, the Austrian machine ranks inside the top 1% for pressures and 4% for non-penalty xG+A (expected goals and assists) too.

In the year that Chelsea won the league title with Kante in midfield in 2017, he averaged 3.6 tackles and 2.4 interceptions per game, via WhoScored, so you can instantly see the similarities between the two players.

In Laimer, who is also dubbed an “elite presser”, Spurs sporting director Fabio Paratici could well land Conte his next Kante-like monster.

AND in other news, Spurs handed big transfer boost in pursuit of Premier League enforcer…

Everton are on a dire run of form and Rafa Benitez has been not been dealt any favours when it comes to injuries at Goodison Park.

According to The Athletic, Richarlison is set to be out for a number of weeks with a calf tear after he was substituted in the second half of the defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday.

The Toffees have lost seven of their last nine Premier League matches, having won just five of their 16 matches in the division this season.

Revival

They are in desperate need of something to kickstart their revival under the Spaniard and Richarlison’s injury could open up the door for the spark they need to come in. Ellis Simms could be called up from the academy to come in and make his senior bow.

The 20-year-old is yet to make his first-team debut for Everton but his record in the youth teams and out on loan suggests that he has the potential to be a difference-maker for the Blues.

He scored 10 goals and provided two assists in 24 League One games for Blackpool last term and has scored 55 goals for the Toffees across the U18’s and U23’s, meaning he has 65 career strikes to his name at senior and youth level combined.

In the 2018/19 campaign, he scored a sensational 32 goals in 21 under-18 Premier League matches – scoring 41 times in 44 games at that age bracket overall. Since moving up to the 23’s, he has scored 17 in 37 outings – with his loan spell with the Tangerines coming last season.

Everton U23s Assistant John Ebbrell previously heaped praise on the young attacker, saying:

“What I do know with Ellis, if he ends up one-vs-one with the goalkeeper, he’s scoring.

“From experience, I know if you have time to think for that finish it can be difficult but Ellis is really calm and composed in those situations. He very rarely misses.”

His goalscoring statistics and Ebbrell’s comments on his finishing suggest that he could be able to make the grade in the first-team if he is given a chance by Benitez in the coming weeks. Richarlison’s injury could be the perfect opportunity to throw him in at the deep end to see if he is able to swim or not.

If Simms is able to come in and score goals at Premier League level then it could kickstart Everton’s revival and see them begin to move up to the part of the table where they want to be, rather than struggling in the bottom half.

AND in other news, “What I’m hearing…”: Greg O’Keeffe drops big Everton update, fans surely buzzing…

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is an injury doubt for his side’s Premier League clash with Liverpool at Anfield.

The Lowdown: Crucial Premier League clash

The Reds return to action on Saturday evening, taking on an Arsenal side who are now fifth in the table and just two points behind Jurgen Klopp’s men.

A big response is needed from Liverpool after the defeat to West Ham and the home draw with Brighton, with more dropped points feeling costly in the title race.

They could face a tough examination from Arsenal, though, who have won their last three league outings and seem to finally be gaining some momentum with their young squad.

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The Latest: Partey could miss out

One player who could be absent for the Gunners is Partey, with Arteta confirming as much in his pre-Liverpool press conference on Friday [via Football Daily on Twitter].

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The Verdict: Good news for Reds

Partey has been a key figure at the heart of Arsenal’s midfield of late, averaging two tackles per game in the league this season, so him being out would be a boost for Liverpool.

Not only that, but the 28-year-old was a dominant force for Atletico Madrid in the Champions League at Anfield in March 2020, receiving a match-high 7.55 rating from WhoScored as Diego Simeone’s side progressed to the quarter-finals.

Arsenal’s midfield would suddenly look more open without Partey in it, especially with Granit Xhaka still injured, so him being fit or not could be key to the eventual outcome.

Paul Scholes has hailed the Ghanaian as ‘brilliant’, which is high praise, and Liverpool could find it easier to create chances without him around to break up their attacks on Saturday.

In other news, some Liverpool fans have reacted to a Reds injury update. Read more here.

Many Wolves fans have been enjoying comments made by Joao Moutinho before they play Liverpool in the Premier League this afternoon.

Speaking to the club’s official website, the Portuguese midfielder was asked about his good form so far this season, replying: “I try to do my best, I hope they [the fans] enjoy my football, I’m enjoying a lot playing for Wolverhampton and I’ll do my best with quality, experience, ability to show and to give them something to appreciate.”

Indeed, Moutinho has been one of Wolves’ best performers so far this season, ranking highly among his teammates in terms of average tackles (1.8), interceptions (1.1), clearances (1.1) and key passes (1.4) per game in the Premier League, while he also has the highest pass success percentage (89.1%) out of any of his teammates (WhoScored).

Nonetheless, it is great for the supporters to hear how much he is enjoying playing for the club and indeed in front of them, as he looks to put in a stellar performance against Jurgen Klopp’s team this afternoon.

Wolves fans on Moutinho comments

These Wolves fans loved the comments from Moutinho as they were shared on Twitter:

“Extend the deal”

Credit: @cal_wolvesfc

“Legend man.”

Credit: @XXXTANNERTACION

“Unreal player”

Credit: @Reecey_21

“One of, if not the best, to have ever worn the Old Gold and Black.”

Credit: @dmarsden1988

“Love to watch you playing for Wolves, you and Ruben in the centre of the park are phenomenal!!”

Credit: @cope_vanessa

“Best player in my time to put on the Old Gold and Black”

Credit: @wolfmatt97

In other news, find out which ‘incredible’ star Wolves almost signed

It’s been quite the bumpy ride for Leeds United in 2021 as they battle out their second successive season in the big time.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side find themselves on the cusp of the relegation zone and with a mounting injury crisis at Elland Road, things could get a lot worse before they get better.

The Whites head to Anfield to face Liverpool on Boxing Day sat in 16th place, with the teams below them holding valuable games in hand.

There have been some real lows, such as the 7-0 thrashing by Man City but some highs, too.

Ahead of the January transfer window and the New Year, we’ve put together a festive quiz to test the most loyal of Leeds supporters.

Can you remember everything that has happened in what has been a whirlwind 2021? Here are 15 questions that only the die-hard fans will be able to answer. Think you can get more than ten right?

We bet you can’t…

A fresh report has recently detailed how Eddie Howe secured the Newcastle United job and one claim will leave the St James’ Park faithful teeming with excitement…

What’s the word?

The 43-year-old, who had been out of work since leaving AFC Bournemouth in August 2020, was of interest to the Magpies’ new ownership but was only seen as a peripheral candidate until their first meeting over Zoom.

“It was the best interview by far,” a senior club source told the Telegraph’s Luke Edwards. “He had prepared meticulously, he knew the Newcastle players, what they were good at and where they needed to improve.

“He has studied the squad and done his research. He was fully prepared for every question and answered everything thrown at him. He also knew about the club, the fans and what is expected of a Newcastle manager if they are going to succeed here.

“Where other candidates talked in general about their principles, methods and philosophies, Eddie Howe was specific and tailored everything to what he would inherit at Newcastle. He had already identified where the strengths and weaknesses were, what the squad would need in January, as well as the type of players the club needed to improve.

“But he also talked about his training methods, the tactics that would work best with the players we have now. There was a vision for progress. How he wanted to play and why. It was just a really, really strong and persuasive presentation. We all agreed how good he could be.”

Exciting times ahead?

Those on Tyneside have suffered from mediocrity and disappointment for several seasons under Steve Bruce. As explained by the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, his reign at Newcastle was ‘a joyless 27 months’, whilst ‘his attitude rendered progress impossible.’

Players rarely improved, a clear-cut system or identity was never really evident and fans were often wound up by his comments as the club seemingly settled for the bare minimum.

However, the aforementioned comments suggest that a different time is ahead – one that is full of hope, excitement and hopefully success.

Howe was responsible for the Cherries’ monumental rise through the English pyramid and then kept them in the big time for five successive seasons, often coming out on top in a relegation scrap, until that fateful 2019/20 season.

He racked up over 450 matches, earned three promotions in six years and took them as high as ninth in the Premier League. The Englishman was also known for bringing in young players, improving them and then selling them on for profit – again, another element that Bruce was lacking from his armoury.

The fact that the ex-Bournemouth stalwart has already arrived in the northeast with a major plan is certainly an inspiring prospect as he has already identified areas they need to improve and how he will do it, now and in the transfer window.

Edwards goes on to explain that Howe will have £50m available at his disposal at the turn of the year and given his meticulous preparation, you’d imagine he knows exactly who he wants and he must be trusted given his track record.

Overall, this massive claim should leave supporters and PIF absolutely buzzing for what lies ahead at St James’ Park.

AND in other news, PIF can revolutionise Newcastle United by hiring 56 y/o supremo in “huge coup”…

Reliable Aston Villa reporter Ashley Preece is expecting Dean Smith to unleash Emiliano Buendia against Wolves this weekend.

The Lowdown: Buendia’s struggles

Buendia, who joined from Norwich City in a club-record deal over the summer, hasn’t started a Premier League game since the end of August.

He’s made six appearances in all competitions under Smith, scoring his first goal against Brentford but has had to make do with substitute cameos against Manchester United and Tottenham prior to the international break.

However, with Jacob Ramsey recently playing 90 minutes for England Under-21’s in the week, Preece feels it could be time for Buendia to return from the off.

The Latest: Preece’s predicted XI

Preece shared his predicted XI on Birmingham Live for the Villa Park meeting against Wolves.

When it came to naming three central midfielders in a 3-5-2 system, Preece went with Marvelous Nakamba, John McGinn and Buendia, with the latter picked ahead of Ramsey due to his international run out.

He went on to admit it would be a bold move knowing Buendia has struggled centrally in a Villa shirt.

The Verdict: Correct

Gregg Evans also picked out Buendia as a player who should be getting more minutes, and this weekend feels like the perfect chance to give him another go.

The former Canaries playmaker, who Daniel Farke called ‘fantastic’, wasn’t selected for Argentina duty this time around, so he should be chomping at the bit and ready to go.

Smith has had success in September with a 3-5-2 system, so Buendia needs to fit that mould, as it doesn’t look like that will be changing anytime soon.

In other news: Ashley Preece shares big under-the-radar Villa update on Leon Bailey.

Gary Neville has seemingly mocked Leeds United’s disappointing start to the season with a cutting response during a Q&A session on social media.

The Lowdown: Leeds suffer another loss

Marcelo Bielsa’s side produced a disappointing performance on Saturday afternoon, losing 1-0 at Southampton in limp fashion.

The defeat leaves Leeds 17th in the Premier League at the moment, leaving them perilously close to the relegation zone and struggling for form, with only one win from their eight top-flight matches thus far.

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The Latest: Neville mocks Leeds

The hope is that the Whites’ fortunes improve soon, but former Manchester United defender Neville doesn’t seem to be too upset over their current predicament.

Speaking on Instagram live on Sunday, the Sky Sports pundit said “I hope so” in response to a question about Leeds being “in trouble”.

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The Verdict: Don’t take it too seriously

While Neville’s three-word verdict may rile some Leeds fans, it should be taken as fairly tongue-in-cheek.

There is no doubt that the 46-year-old likely has little time for the Whites, given his Old Trafford past and the rivalry between the two clubs, but he will have (and has had) similar jokes at the expense of other rivals such as Liverpool and Manchester City.

It is Leeds’ job to improve dramatically and give Neville nothing to laugh about, as was invariably the case last term upon their impressive return to the Premier League. Don’t forget, Gary, the Red Devils still have to come to a packed Elland Road this season, too!

In other news, Phil Hay has provided a key update on one Leeds hero. Find out who it is here.

With 11 games played in the Premier League so far this season, Southampton have only managed to concede 12 goals, fewer than any other side in the bottom half of the league table as the St Mary’s outfit continue their push to avoid relegation.

One Saints figure that has played a big part in Southampton’s defence so far this season is Jan Bednarek, who has played the full 90 minutes in all of their seven previous league games.

The centre-back, who is currently earning a weekly wage of £20k-per-week at Southampton according to Spotrac, was on international duty last night in Poland’s 2-1 defeat against Hungary in their latest World Cup qualifying match.

Despite the disappointing result, Bednarek proved with his performance why Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has put so much faith in him in recent weeks.

During the full 90 minutes that he was on the pitch for on Monday night, Bednarek managed to have 86 touches of the ball, complete 72 of the 75 passes he attempted and even have one attempt on target.

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From a defensive point of view, Bednarek managed to block one shot, make one tackle, complete two interceptions, two clearances and win 100% of the duels he was involved in, showing that even though he couldn’t help his country ultimately keep a clean sheet on the night, he was still a useful defensive outlet for them at the back.

As well as this latest international performance, Bednarek has shown his worth to Hasenhuttl with his performances in the Premier League this term. WhoScored currently list the defender as Southampton’s joint-third highest rated player with an overall rating of 6.91/10 alongside fellow defender Kyle Walker-Peters.

This also demonstrates that Bednarek has stepped up to the plate for Hasenhuttl in the absence of Jannik Vestergaard, who left St. Mary’s during the previous summer transfer window for a move to Leicester City.

Taking this into account and the fact that Hasenhuttl has previously described Bednarek as an “important” player for his Southampton side, it’s safe to say that the defender has certainly shown his worth this season for club and country.

Moving forward, with Saints defender Jack Stephens still out injured for the time being, Hasenhuttl and everyone else at the south coast club will undoubtedly be hoping that Bednarek can keep delivering on the pitch for Southampton for as long as possible, as his defensive efforts could well push the club to a finish in the top half of the league table by the end of the season.

In other news: Crocker could secure dream transfer move at Southampton with “unique” £19.8m-rated ace – opinion

Flocking to Twitter, some West Ham United fans have slammed the performance of Tomas Soucek after his first half display against Leeds United.

David Moyes’ men travelled to Elland Road this afternoon with the aim of getting all three points and maintaining what has been a solid start to the season.

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The Irons have secured impressive victories against the likes of Leicester City and Newcastle United this term but lost for the first time this season against Manchester United six days ago.

While it is only half-time, Moyes’ men have been up against it in Yorkshire so far and fell behind when Tomas Soucek got caught out in possession. Rodrigo then got the ball to Klich, who squared it to Raphinha, with the attacker then burying Leeds’ opening goal.

As a result, these West Ham fans have slammed Soucek for his “poor” and “shocking” error. Here’s a flavour of the Twitter verdict from the Irons faithful.

West Ham fans slam Soucek…

“Soucek’s passing in previous games has been shocking”

Credit: @sjmanderfield

“Soucek been a complete shadow of himself this season”

Credit: @AdamGordonnn

“That was absolutely dreadful from Tomas Soucek, so careless and sloppy on the ball.”

Credit: @AzamWHUFC

“Poor from Soucek….”

Credit: @kevinlowe12345

“Awful from Soucek”

Credit: @willearle_

“That is criminal from Soucek”

Credit: @1bbyWHU

In other news: ‘I’ve heard’…Insider drops ‘boardroom level’ claim in boost for Moyes, find out more here.