All posts by z3u9t.icu

Arsenal look keen to begin their summer recruitment with a bang as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his squad significantly ahead of next season.

A move for Kai Havertz is “very close” according to reporter Florian Plettenberg while the Gunners are continuing to chase Declan Rice, and these two signings would certainly improve Arteta’s first-team squad, especially with their quality.

The Spaniard will surely be hoping for more than just these two, however. Champions League football will be gracing the Emirates for the first time since 2016/17 next term and this suggests a stronger, more in-depth squad will be required ahead of bigger challenges.

With this in mind, the Gunners have recently been linked with a move for Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze, who is also attracting interest from AC Milan and Real Madrid due to his performances of late.

Any potential move could cost the club around €80m (£68m) which could well prove to be a stumbling block regarding a move, yet with his ability on the wing enabling him to register 24 goal contributions last term combined with his likeness to Gabriel Martinelli, might this convince Arteta to make a move?

Could Samuel Chukwueze flourish at Arsenal?

Judging by his excellent 2022/23 campaign, where he managed to score against Real Madrid, he shouldn’t have a problem shining for the club should Arteta make his move.

Chukwueze and Martinelli share similar styles of play as the duo share dribbling as a key strength and according to FBref, the Brazilian winger is the first-most comparable player to the 24-year-old star. With his rise to prominence over the previous two years, scoring 21 goals and grabbing 13 assists certainly suggests it isn’t a bad comparison to have.

Indeed, over the previous 365 days, Chukwueze ranked in the top 19% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 (5.5) and progressive carries per 90 (5.12) across the big five leagues, while Martinelli ranked highly for both metrics too, sitting in the top 3% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 (6.99) and top 23% for progressive carries per 90 (3.95), indicating that the pair love to get forward as often as possible and poses a danger in the opposition box.

With both Chukwueze and Martinelli scoring over ten goals last season from the flanks (13 and 15 respectively), once they get into the opposing penalty area, they tend to thrive.

It’s no wonder the Villarreal star has been dubbed a “permanent threat” previously by his boss, Quique Setien and if Arteta manages to secure his signing, he would add another goal threat to an already stacked Arsenal forward line.

Manchester City have been heavily linked with RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol, but Pep Guardiola could potentially find better value going after Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres.

Manchester City transfer news – Pau Torres

According to The Athletic, Man City are very keen to sign Gvardiol from Germany, but RB Leipzig will not make it easy for them.

The German side demand a fee of €100m (£85m) for their star Croatian centre-back and have made it clear they don’t want to sell such an asset.

The report also states that Gvardiol, for now, is City’s sole focus, but Villarreal gem Pau Torres has long been a name Guardiola has kept an eye on.

The 26-year-old left-footed centre-back could later be targeted by Man City if a move for Gvardiol does not materialise, although Aston Villa and West Ham United have already registered their interest in the Spanish defender.

Will Man City sign Josko Gvardiol or Pau Torres?

City are stacked at the back, and signing Gvardiol can help make that defensive unit even stronger.

Guardiola switched up City’s defensive system this season, changing from their traditional 4-3-3 formation with overlapping full-backs to an unusual 3-2-4-1 formation with inverted full-backs.

It worked a treat, as the Citizens went on to win a historic treble and claimed their first-ever Champions League title.

What good teams like City do is they do not wait for their squad to become stale to begin their rebuild, they constantly tweak the squad to keep it fresh. Their ambition to sign one of the Bundesliga’s best defenders just weeks after completing the treble shows such intent.

Gvardiol will be expensive, with Leipzig quoting a fee of around £100m for his services, but it is not difficult to see why.

The Croatian "machine" – as hailed by The Athletic's Jordan Campbell back in December – has proved his worth in the RB Leipzig defence, winning 32 of the 59 games the centre-back has played.

If City decide their number one target is too expensive, Torres can become a bargain alternative to star at the Etihad Stadium.

He has proved to be one of the Yellow Submarines' most important players, notching 173 appearances, per Transfermarkt.

The Spanish international, who was once hailed as an "extraordinary talent" by former Villarreal player Javi Calleja, also has 23 caps to his name already and was a part of Villarreal's historic Europa League final win over the red side of Manchester in 2021.

Torres averaged a 7.04 rating across his 34 LaLiga games this season and helped keep 10 league clean sheets.

Villareal’s star defender would cost almost half of what Gvardiol would cost from Leipzig, with Football Espana stating that the ball-playing centre-back has a release clause of €45m (£38m), but could reportedly sell the player for as little as €40m (£34m).

That makes the 6 foot 3 titan around 60% cheaper, which is an attractive prospect in the day and age of Financial Fair Play.

Of course, Torres isn't on the same level as Gvardiol in terms of potential longevity and overall quality but he'd be a mighty fine alternative at that price.

Indeed, he is a comparable player. to the Croatian gem, per FBref's statistical model and it's easy to see why, with the Villarreal star ranking among the top 1% for progressive carries per 90 and the top 4% for progressive passes per 90, when compared to his positional peers across Europe's top five divisions over the last year.

These are two key facets that Guardiola clearly looks for in a centre-back, making his fellow countryman look more and more like a steal at just £34m.

If City’s pursuit of their number one target stalls, then Torres could prove the ultimate bargain buy for Guardiola and the European champions.

Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale has wasted little time in attempting to improve his playing squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Kieran Dowell, Jack Butland, and Dujon Sterling are all poised to officially complete their moves to Ibrox at the start of next month, joining on free transfers from Norwich, Crystal Palace, and Chelsea respectively.

The English head coach is looking to bolster his side and one player he needs to replace in the coming weeks, or months, is attacker Ryan Kent.

His contract with the Scottish giants expired at the end of last month and the exciting winger has put pen to paper on a deal to join Turkish giants Fenerbahce.

Who could replace Ryan Kent at Rangers?

Beale could find the dream replacement for the English forward by securing a deal to sign reported target Kwadwo Opoku, who is available for a fee as high as €4.8m (£4.1m).

The 21-year-old dynamo is a wide player who has the potential to be a goalscorer and creator in the final third, in the same way that Kent was for the majority of his time in Scotland.

During his five-year stint with Rangers, the Englishman scored 33 goals and assisted 56 in 218 appearances for the club. He proved himself capable of making a big impact at the top end of the pitch and excelled in the Scottish Premiership.

The former Liverpool prodigy averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.03 in the top-flight in 22/23 and contributed with three goal and eight assists.

Kent showcased his inventive skills with nine 'big chances' created in total and 2.2 key passes per game, which shows that the talented ace regularly opened up the opposition with his passing and crossing.

Opoku's form in the MLS in 2022 suggests that the Ghanaian youngster has the potential to develop into a dream replacement for the 26-year-old.

The 5 foot 7 wizard plundered eight goals and three assists in 20 starts in the league for Los Angeles FC, which indicates that the young whiz can offer a big goal threat from the flanks.

He also created 11 'big chances' for his fellow attackers and this shows that the exciting magician is able to provide a significant creative threat from out wide in the same way that Kent did in the Premiership in the season just gone.

Opoku, whose "flair" was hailed as a strength of his by talent scout Jacek Kulig, produced consistent quality in the MLS and journalist Owuraku Ampofo described his efforts as "magnificent".

He could now carry that form over to the Premiership and take on the pressure of being in the team to score and create chances week-in-week-out for Rangers as their Kent replacement next season.

Leeds United may have confirmed their takeover this weekend but are still in desperate need of a manager to lead the club in their Championship campaign and now a new update has emerged on a potential target.

What's the latest on Leeds' interest in Daniel Farke?

According to Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, Leeds are competing with Celtic to appoint former Borussia Monchengladbach coach Daniel Farke this summer.

Plettenberg revealed on Twitter yesterday:

"Excl. News Farke: Talks with Celtic FC! Celtic very interested in signing him as a replacement for Postecoglou. First talks took place.

"Next option: @leeds confirmed. But not advanced yet. Could change next week.

"Farke, ready to take over a new club now!"

Would Daniel Farke be a good fit for Leeds?

There is no doubt that bringing in a manager at Elland Road who has Championship experience would be a massive advantage for Leeds as they endeavour to follow in the footsteps of Burnley by bouncing straight back to the Premier League.

There are not many managers available that boast both a wealth of experience in the second tier and automatic promotion success on multiple occasions, making Farke a rare asset and an extremely attractive prospect for Leeds.

The 46-year-old coach – who was hailed "world-class" by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp – led Norwich City to first-place finishes in the Championship over his four-season tenure at Carrow Road, however, due to a lack of quality investment from the club's hierarchy found it difficult to keep the club in the Premier League when promoted which ultimately cost him his job.

More recently, Farke went back to his native Germany to manage Monchengladbach but despite beating Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund during his one-year spell in the Bundesliga, has found himself out of work again after finishing tenth in the league table.

The German manager's Championship record speaks for itself with Norwich – tallying up 71 victories and just 29 defeats over 138 second-tier games in charge. That is a fantastic record that if emulated in West Yorkshire could guide Leeds back to the top flight in just one campaign.

As a result, with the right financial backing from the 49ers, there is no reason why Farke can't get Elland Road rocking again when the Championship season commences in August.

Indeed, he is a manager that the club should be seriously considering as soon as possible to avoid missing out to Celtic.

Crystal Palace are keeping tabs on Steve Biko FC striker Adama Bojang ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Adama Bojang?

Bojang appears to be an exciting up-and-coming talent who plays his football for Abdoulie Bojang’s side in his homeland and the GFA League First Division, but it’s more so his performances for his country that have been catching the eye of potential suitors from all across Europe.

The Gambia international recently participated at the U20s World Cup in Argentina and reports have claimed that he wants to take these opportunities to put himself in the shop window in the hope of securing a move to a more high-profile club over the summer.

Back in April, The Daily Mail first credited the Eagles, and by extension chairman Steve Parish and sporting director Dougie Freedman, with an interest in the 19-year-old and suggested that they could look to sign him and then send him straight back out on a loan to further his development, and it sounds like Roy Hodgson is still very much hatching a plan to bring him to Selhurst Park.

Are Crystal Palace signing Bojang?

According to The Evening Standard, Bojang is being “monitored” by Crystal Palace and Chelsea, whilst Wolverhampton Wanderers have also joined the race alongside an “unnamed” fourth potential suitor in the Premier League. The SE25 outfit are “keeping a close eye” on the forward who is additionally grabbing the attention of Ligue 1 sides Eintracht Frankfurt and Lens, so this could be one to watch in the weeks and months ahead.

Should Crystal Palace sign Bojang?

Crystal Palace will know that Bojang is still in the very early stages of his development so sending him out on loan rather than throwing him straight into the first-team would be a more sensible option, but regardless, he could be a massively exciting signing for the future of the club.

Steve Biko’s “complete” striker, as lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has clocked up a mightily impressive seven goal contributions (six goals and one assist) in nine international appearances since bursting onto the scene with Gambia's youth side so is already making a great name for himself.

Standing at 6 foot 3, the centre-forward could also be an ideal target man in the final third, providing a real focal point for his fellow teammates when it comes to getting on the end of long balls and set pieces, and there’s no doubt that he’s got a promising career ahead of him.

Tottenham Hotspur suffered yet another blow on Sunday afternoon amid what has already been a turbulent season at N17, with the Lilywhites missing out on European qualification despite their thumping, final day triumph over Leeds United.

That convincing, 4-1 victory at Elland Road – which secured the hosts' return to the Championship – has brought to an end a campaign that many Spurs supporters will wish to forget, having seen both Antonio Conte and Cristian Stellini dismissed from the dugout, as well as slipping to limp exits in both the FA Cup and Champions League, in particular.

Following that dismal 2022/23 campaign, the aim for chairman Daniel Levy will be to find a suitable candidate to fill the current managerial vacancy, albeit with the Englishman having thus far had little success in that regard – most recently seeing leading target Arne Slot opt to remain at Feyenoord.

The failure to tempt the Dutchman into moving to north London has seemingly plunged the Premier League outfit back to square one, albeit with recent reports suggesting that Levy and co are now 'strongly considering' Celtic boss, Ange Postecoglou for the role.

While there have also been claims made that out-of-work coach, Brendan Rodgers has already been offered the position, Tottenham would likely be foolish not to look to Postecoglou instead…

Should Tottenham appoint Postecoglou?

As football author Hamish Carton noted earlier this month, Postecoglou is seemingly a "better manager" than the former Leicester City boss, with the 57-year-old now thriving in Glasgow despite the competition being "much better" than when Rodgers was at the helm at Parkhead.

The latter man – who has also managed the likes of Reading, Swansea City and Liverpool – enjoyed great success during his two-and-a-half-year stint with the Hoops after securing seven major honours in that time, notably going unbeaten in his debut season in 2016/17 in all three domestic competitions.

As Carton alluded to, however, Rodgers was up against a Rangers side who had only just returned to the Scottish Premiership in 2016 after working their way up the lower divisions, with it arguably not quite as strong of a test as what Postecoglou has had to face.

That was evident as when the Greek-Aussie took charge at Celtic Park in the summer of 2021, the Bhoys had just finished 25 points behind the Ibrox outfit, with it looking as if a new dominant force had emerged in Scotland.

Since then, however, Postecoglou has already led the club to two league titles and two League Cups – with the potential to add to that collection in the Scottish Cup final next week – while also implementing "beautiful, attacking football" in that time – as per BT Sport pundit, Owen Hargreaves.

Now the 'king" at Celtic – as described by former Australia international, Robbie Slater – the 4-3-3 tactician is a figure who is certainly on the up, having made the most of what is his first managerial adventure in European football.

By contrast, for all Rodgers' merits – having been described as a "great fit" for Spurs by club legend Clive Allen – the Northern Irishman is at something of a low point after only recently receiving the sack at Leicester after steering the Foxes toward relegation.

That should indicate that it is Postecoglou who could prove the better option for Levy and co, with the hope being that the title-winning coach can be tempted to leave his current home this summer.

Chelsea are reportedly "pushing" to sign Sporting CP midfielder Manuel Ugarte this summer, with Mauricio Pochettino keen on the move happening.

Is Ugarte set to leave Sporting?

A terrible season for the Blues finally came to an end on Sunday afternoon, following a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge. It is a campaign that nobody of a Chelsea persuasion will look back on with any fondness, and it is time to kick on once Pochettino comes in as manager.

For that to happen, a number of top-quality new signings need to come in, with at least one new midfielder key, in order to freshen things up there. Ugarte has been linked with a move to west London a number of times in recent weeks, having been a key performer for Sporting in 2022/23.

The £16,000-a-week midfielder has made 44 appearances in all competitions, including six in the Champions League, and he has been a huge influence in his defensive midfield role.

Do Chelsea want to sign Ugarte?

Taking to Twitter, journalist Fabrizio Romano said that Pochettino is keen to bring in Ugarte during the summer transfer window:

"Understand Manuel Ugarte has been approved as target also by Chelsea coach Mauricio Pochettino. Chelsea are pushing in talks with club and player side, Jorge Mendes’ on it. PSG proposal, still valid on the table. No decision yet, but Chelsea will keep insisting."

Ugarte could be the perfect midfield signing for Chelsea in the coming weeks, arriving as arguably one of the most exciting No.6s in Europe currently. He is a tenacious presence who has been described as a "machine" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – having averaged a whopping six and 4.8 tackles in the Europa League and Champions League this season respectively.

The 22-year-old could partner Enzo Fernandez to perfection, proving to be a great midfield partnership for many years to come at Stamford Bridge, and his quality on the ball will also surely appeal to Pochettino. A 91.8% pass completion rate in the Primeira Liga is a testament to his ability in possession, and if the Blues can beat rivals to his signature in the summer window, it would feel like a massive coup.

Whether Ugarte is happy to join a club without European football next season remains to be seen, but he is someone with a huge ceiling who could make a world of difference for Chelsea over many years.

Aston Villa are turning their attention to the summer transfer window as the 2022/23 campaign comes to a close.

Unai Emery has taken the Villans to new heights, with one game remaining of the Spaniard’s first season that could take the Midlands club to Europe.

Not many could have predicted the success that Villa would lead this term, following the dismissal of Steven Gerrard in October, when the club were loitering towards the bottom three.

The 51-year-old Premier League manager of the year nominee, is targeting more highs in his first full season and is reportedly looking towards an active summer in the transfer window.

Reports have linked a number of La Liga names to Villa Park in the coming window, with news reported over the weekend of the potential progression regarding a Real Madrid star.

What’s the latest on Dani Ceballos to Aston Villa?

As reported by one Foot Mercato journalist, Villa are speculated to have made a “very important” offer to Spanish midfielder Dani Ceballos.

The 26-year-old is out of contract in Madrid this summer, sparking rumours of his potential exit ahead of Emery’s interest.

The two were first linked in January when it was reported by Marca that the midfielder rejected a potential move.

What could Dani Ceballos bring to Aston Villa?

Ceballos has had a spell in the Premier League previously, as well as working under Emery while on loan at Arsenal.

Described by the Villa boss as a player that can do “great things”, the midfielder could have a real impact on his current side, with FBref likening him based on statistics to Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez.

The Utrera-born play-maker ranks in the top 1% of progressive passes in Europe’s top five leagues in his position, with a monstrous 11.73 per 90. He also ranks highly in terms of take-ons (best 2%), averaging a successful 2.36 per 90 – as per FBref.

Lauded by former boss Mikel Arteta when speaking to BBC as being an "animal" in training, the £52k-per-week ace could be a powerful weapon in Emery's plans.

While his position is comparative to Villa’s Emi Buendia, his numbers over the past year dominate the Argentine as per FBref, with the former Norwich City ace recording just 2.18 progressive passes per 90 and only 0.98 successful take-ons per 90.

The potential arrival of the Madrid man could spark competition with the midfielder in Emery’s system, adding to depth and player performance.

Villa are on the path to great success with the four-time Europa League winner’s guidance, however, the summer window will be crucial as every team in the top tier will look to strengthen.

The club have strong targets for the 2023/24 campaign, and should they seal European football on the final day, Villa Park could become a very tempting location for hot talents to progress their game.

Leeds United were once a club renowned for giving their academy stars regular opportunities in the first-team, with the Yorkshire outfit reaping the financial benefits of Kalvin Phillips, Jack Clarke and Lewis Cook in recent years.

However, their Premier League struggles in the last two campaigns, which could culminate in relegation this season, have meant that those at Thorp Arch have struggled for regular game time in the top flight.

The club opted to loan out defenders Charlie Cresswell and Cody Drameh to the Championship, with both catching the eye with their performances for Millwall and Luton Town respectively, in a time when the Whites' defence has been leaking goals left right and centre.

Cresswell averaged a superb 7.08 rating from WhoScored as Millwall narrowly missed out on the playoffs, while Drameh has been a mainstay in Rob Edwards' side as they reached the playoff final on Tuesday night, earning an impressive 7.20 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Unsurprisingly, the 21-year-old's lack of opportunities at Elland Road, combined with his superb displays in the second tier, has meant that he is now reportedly likely to leave this summer, with the Yorkshire Evening Post suggesting that he will depart despite his contract not set to expire until 2024.

A promising young player leaving on the back of a potential relegation to the Championship may well remind Leeds fans of James Milner, who departed for Newcastle back in 2004 after the Yorkshire outfit failed to retain their Premier League status.

Could Drameh be Leeds' next James Milner?

Although Milner was a more established member of Leeds' first team than Drameh, having featured 53 times, it is far less common these days to see teenagers become regular starters in the Premier League, and the right-back does have eight senior appearances under his belt for the Whites.

He also has 40 Championship appearances to his name across spells with Cardiff City and now Luton, and is one game away from reaching the promised land of the Premier League with the Hatters, where he could ironically swap places with his parent club.

It is something of a surprise that the Thorp Arch sensation has been given so few opportunities at Leeds given that both Luke Ayling and Rasmus Kristensen have struggled in the right-back position this season.

Indeed, they have averaged simply woeful 6.59 and 6.64 ratings from WhoScored respectively, with both also recording far fewer tackles, dribbles and key passes per game than the academy graduate has done at Luton.

His "phenomenal" displays at Cardiff, in the words of former manager Steve Morison, should have seen him earn more Premier League minutes but Leeds failed to put their faith in him and look set to lose another talented youngster as a result.

If he goes on to have even half the career that Milner has done since leaving Elland Road, with the 37-year-old winning every English trophy and the Champions League in his time with Manchester City and Liverpool, then losing Drameh could be another disastrous blow for Leeds.

Chelsea have spent exorbitant sums of money since American businessman Todd Boehly assumed ownership of the club last year, and while a shrewder route must be taken going forward, the Blues have identified Nicolo Barella as a summer target.

What's the latest on Nicolo Barella to Chelsea?

According to Inter Live (via Sport Witness), Chelsea are prepared to rival Premier League rivals Liverpool and Newcastle United for the signature of the Inter maestro, who is being touted at €80m (£70m) by his outfit.

The report continues to state that despite Chelsea's lucrative outgoings across the past two transfer windows, spending roughly £600m, a further midfield signing is desired.

Barella is considered a vital component to Inter's future success, though such a high value to coincide with the club's financial struggles could leave Simone Inzaghi's side resigned to grant a departure from his homeland.

Should Chelsea sign Barella?

Work in the transfer department needs to be conducted in earnest at Stamford Bridge this summer, with Chelsea's ignominious season needing to be left firmly in the past, and swiftly.

The Blues claimed their first victory under interim manager Frank Lampard away to Bournemouth last weekend, though the result ended a shocking run of six straight defeats that have swiped Chelsea from the Champions League and mired the west London club in mid-table obscurity, and they remain 11th with four games to go – 13 points behind Brighton & Hove Albion in the last European slot.

The insurmountable gulf between Boehly's outfit and the Seagulls highlights the searing need for change, and while the inflated squad must be trimmed like a tangled thicket, replenishing the ranks with one or two well-placed moves is vital, and Barella could be the man to take the reins and spur the midfield into lasting action.

The 26-year-old dynamo has won the Scudetto and the Coppa Italia during his time at the San Siro, and with the Nerazzurri holding a 2-0 advantage over city rivals AC Milan in this year's Champions League semi-finals, he could cement his legacy as one of the club's modern greats.

Hailed for his "unbelievable" performance in the derby, the £157k-per-week gem completed 84% of his passes, making two key passes, three tackles and winning three of his seven ground duels in midweek, as per Sofascore.

And as per FBref, the 43-cap Euro 2020 champion ranks among the top 9% of midfielders for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 8% for rate of assists, the top 8% for shot-creating actions and in the top 10% for progressive carries per 90, with the statistical site even comparing him to Manchester City's superlative star Kevin De Bruyne.

De Bruyne, of course, plied his maiden years in Chelsea blue, signing from Genk in 2012 for £7m and failing to make his mark before departing for Wolfsburg in January 2014 for a reported £17m after starting just five matches.

The imperious £400k-per-week Belgian now perches comfortably inside the pantheon of contemporary greats, having scored 96 goals and supplied 148 assists from 351 displays for the Citizens and won a wealth of major honours for Pep Guardiola's City including four Premier League titles.

Signing Barella would provide the Stamford Bridge side with a world-class centre-midfielder to steady the ship after the harshest of storms; he is a "genius" on the pitch, as dubbed by sports editor Mike Piellucci, much like De Bruyne, and could be the catalyst for a year as resounding as it is disparate from the current stricken season.