All posts by z3u9t.icu

In news that came as little surprise to anyone, Manchester United recently announced the departure of January loan arrival, Wout Weghorst, with it looking unlikely that the towering Dutchman will be making a return to Old Trafford on a permanent deal any time soon.

Having been signed to help provide Erik ten Hag's side with further firepower following the exit of Cristiano Ronaldo, the Burnley giant went on to score just twice in 31 games in all competitions in the second half of last sesson, with arguably his most telling contribution seeing him provide an assist for Marcus Rashford in Febuary's Carabao Cup final triumph.

With the 30-year-old's inevitable exit now leaving injury-prone asset Anthony Martial – who made just 29 appearances last term – as the Red Devils' only senior out-and-out striker, it is no surprise that the signing of a new centre-forward remains the "priority" for Ten Hag, according to The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell.

One potential target that has been suggested of late is Juventus powerhouse, Dusan Vlahovic, with reports in Italy claiming that the Old Trafford outfit have made contact with the Serbian's agent regarding a possible summer swoop.

The former Fiorentina ace – who only made the move to Turin on a £66.6m deal back in January 2022 – was reportedly the subject of a £70m bid from Chelsea earlier in the window, with a move away from the Allianz Stadium potentially on the cards.

The 23-year-old – who has scored 72 goals in 171 games during his time in Italy to date – could well be the striking "monster" that United are craving, as hailed by journalist Carlo Garganese, helping to ensure an end to the club's current centre-forward woes.

Intriguingly, the 6 foot 3 ace has previously been described as the 'new Zlatan Ibrahmovic', with the hope being that the Belgrade native can replicate the impact that the enigmatic marksman had at the Theatre of Dreams.

How good was Ibrahimovic at Man United?

Also a towering presence like United's current target, the 6 foot 5 Swede was snapped up on a free transfer during Jose Mourinho's first summer in charge back in 2016, having previously enjoyed a glittering career prior to that at the likes of Inter Milan, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, as well as with Vlahovic's current side, Juve.

Despite having been 34 at the time of his arrival in England, the recently-retired hitman proved an instant hit in his new surroundings, scoring on debut to clinch victory over Leicester City in the Community Shield.

While an ACL blow would ultimately curtail his impact in Mourinho's side late on in that 2016/17 campaign, the Malmo-born menace still managed to rack up a stellar haul of 28 goals and ten assists in 44 outings, before netting once more the following season after making a brief return from injury.

Not only was Ibrahimovic an undoubtedly clinical presence when leading the line, but in his own words he was also something of an "animal", utilising his imposing frame to bully defenders and make a real nuisance of himself through the middle.

Much like the ex-AC Milan man – who Mourinho lauded as a "fighter" – Vlahovic also appears to possess remarkable strength and power in attack, with the aforementioned Garganase stating it is "scary how strong he is" as he "fights three defenders at a time".

For United to again have a real focal point in the side who can also deliver the goods in front of goal would surely be a dream, with the hope being that the Juve star can follow in Ibrahimovic's footsteps and make a smooth transition to life at United.

Bayern Munich are hoping to steal away Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane after being given encouragement in talks with his family, according to Bild journalist Christian Falk.

This how now lead to an official bid of €70m (£60m)plus add-ons, as per David Ornstein of The Athletic.

Will Harry Kane leave Spurs?

Another summer, another saga surrounding the future of Kane, coming two years after he was very heavily linked with an exit to treble-winning Premier League champions Man City.

The 29-year-old, who is out of contract in just over a year, is entering the final 12 months of his Spurs deal. While talks have been ongoing over an extension, according to reports, there is still no sign of an official announcement confirming fresh terms.

Kane, as a result, could leave the north London club for free in 2024 – a situation which has alerted many top clubs both domestically and abroad.

Manchester United, in their hunt to sign a star striker and guaranteed goal-getter for manager Erik ten Hag, have been credited with a serious interest in the forward.

Chelsea are also linked, but perhaps the real danger comes from Europe, with continental heavyweights Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Paris-Saint Germain targeting Kane.

The aforementioned sides are after classic number nines to provide an injection of quality in the attacking areas, and Kane more-than fits the bill for them.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, though, appears determined to keep his prized asset and could demand as much as £100 million in one up front payment for the Lilywhites superstar.

Writing in a column for CaughtOffside, German transfer journalist Falk has shared an update on Kane's future, as Bayern are still hopeful they can somehow pull off a move.

This comes after talks with the player's family, who have given encouragement to Bayern that Kane could be open to joining them.

“Bayern are hoping to still sign Harry Kane this summer," wrote Falk.

"Thomas Tuchel is not just dreaming of one striker – he would love to have two new strikers, which is a big challenge for the bosses.

“There are talks with Harry Kane’s family and I think they get the idea that he’s thinking about moving. The message from the Kane family is that he’s still thinking about going to the Bundesliga.”

Following this, Ornstein wrote in The Athletic: "Bayern Munich have submitted a formal offer for Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane.

The 29-year-old has a year remaining on his current contract with the Premier League club."

How many goals has Harry Kane scored?

Kane, over a truly phenomenal career, has managed to become both Tottenham and England's all-time top goalscorers – racking up 280 for Spurs at club level and 58 for his country

The Three Lions star surpassed the legendary Jimmy Greaves to that landmark at Spurs, while Kane also usurped Wayne Rooney at the top of England's scoring charts.

If Bayern were to somehow steal the "world class" attacker away from Tottenham, it could be billed as the signing of this summer window.

Aston Villa forward Keinan Davis has told chiefs that he wants to leave the club this summer, according to reports.

Where is Keinan Davis now?

Davis is a striker and academy graduate in the Midlands who worked his way up through the various youth ranks to get promoted to the first-team back in 2017, where he’s since gone on to register a total of 86 senior appearances to date.

However, the 25-year-old is yet to make his debut under Unai Emery as a result of being out on the road having carried out two back-to-back loan spells, the first with Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest and the most recent being with Watford in the Championship.

The Stevenage-born talent is now back at Villa but his contract is set to expire at the end of next season, meaning that the ongoing window will be the boss’ final big opportunity to cash in should he not want to lose him on a free transfer in 12 months, and it sounds like an exit is now the most likely outcome.

Is Davis leaving Aston Villa?

According to German outlet Fussball Transfers (via Sport Witness), Davis "wants to leave" Aston Villa and has made it clear that he "intends" to find a new permanent home this summer.

NSWE and Monchi are "getting prepared" for his departure having already placed a €5-7.5m (£4.2-6.4m) price tag on his head. All roads are "pointing to a farewell" with "numerous clubs" both in the second-tier and overseas all queuing up to secure his services.

Aston Villa have Ollie Watkins as their only senior option at centre-forward with Jhon Duran just 19 years of age and Cameron Archer 21, so Emery could do with some more experience in the final third. And whilst the boss won’t know what Davis is capable of having not yet utilised him, he should definitely give him a chance to prove himself in pre-season.

The Tier One client, who’s naturally left-footed, posted nine goal contributions (seven goals and two assists) in 34 Watford outings last term and recorded 56 shots over the course of the campaign, which was the third-highest throughout the squad at Vicarage Road.

Standing at 6 foot 2, the £45k-per-week earner would also be the ideal target man having averaged 1.2 aerial wins per second-tier game, with his physical stature having previously seen him hailed “powerful” by journalist Josh Bunting, so he is still a great asset to have in the building.

Arsenal have held talks with Leicester City over a summer move for right-back Timothy Castagne, according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

Mikel Arteta has identified the need for a new right-back, and Real Valladolid's Ivan Fresneda is seen as a viable option, with a decision about whether to step up the pursuit of the Spaniard set to be made soon, amid interest in other players.

Talks over Joao Cancelo have reportedly progressed, and the Gunners are likely to launch a bid of £35m in the coming days, however that figure is slightly below Manchester City's valuation, with the Champions League winners set to hold out for £45m.

Castagne has also recently emerged as an option for Arsenal, with it being reported they are keen to sign him following Leicester's relegation from the Premier League, and there has now been an update on their pursuit of the right-back.

Taking to Twitter, Tavolieri has now claimed the north London club are "going for" the Belgian, however he is only being considered as a back-up option for Fresneda, who remains their top target.

Talks have commenced with Leicester regarding a potential deal, with the journalist also claiming the move "could develop quickly", even though the 27-year-old is not the Gunners' first choice.

Is Timothy Castagne leaving Leicester?

After the Foxes' relegation to the Championship, they are set to lose a number of key first-team players, with journalist Dean Jones claiming they will find it "almost impossible" to keep hold of James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Castagne.

The defender would almost certainly fancy a move to the Emirates Stadium, considering Champions League football is on offer next season, and there are some indications he could be a solid addition to the Arsenal backline.

Hailed as "brilliant" by members of the media, the £65k-per-week full-back ranks highly for a number of key defensive metrics over the past year, including clearances, averaging 3.04 per 90, which places him in the 91st percentile.

That said, the Belgium international does not offer much in the way of attacking contributions, sparsely showing the desire to get on the ball and take the game to the opposition, placed in just the 13th percentile for successful take-ons.

As a back-up option who could be brought on to help preserve a lead, Castagne could be a good signing for Arsenal, but he is not well-rounded enough to be a regular starter.

Jarrod Bowen etched his name in West Ham United folklore when firing in the winning goal in last week's Europa Conference League final victory over Fiorentina.

That 90th-minute strike earned United a 2-1 win in Prague and ended the club's 43-year wait for a major trophy, while at the same time helping to cover the cracks of a poor Premier League campaign.

Bowen is not the only player West Ham have signed from a Championship club, having brought the forward in from Hull City for around £20m three-and-a-half years ago, and they may be about to repeat the trick.

According to the Daily Mail, the Hammers are in the running to sign Alex Scott from second-tier side Bristol City, though they face competition from Premier League rivals Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Is Alex Scott ready for the Premier League?

Scott is still aged just 19, yet he has already racked up 81 appearances for City in the Championship, almost half of those (40) coming in the 2022-23 season.

The ten yellow cards Scott collected in the league last season – the most of any City player – gives a rough indication of what the England U20 international is all about.

However, the Guernsey-born youngster – who can play as a holding midfielder, attacking midfielder and even out wide – particularly thrives in terms of beating his opponents and getting the ball forward.

Indeed, with 2.34 progressive carries per 90 minutes over the past year, Scott ranks in the top 22% of his positional peers, as per FBref. He is also in the top 17% when it comes to successful take-ons.

Scott's impressive midfield game at such a young age earned him the ultimate compliment earlier this year when Pep Guardiola described him as an "unbelievable player" following Manchester City's 3-0 win at Ashton Gate in the FA Cup fifth round.

The Robins' reported £25m valuation is said to be putting prospective buyers off making a move but, as was the case with Bowen, there is value to be had from signing players from the Championship.

Like Scott, Bowen had only been a Championship regular for two full seasons before being given a Premier League chance by West Ham.

As pointed out by transfer insider ExWHUEmployee on The West Ham Way podcast, the Hammers are "looking at players in the Championship" this summer with the belief that they will adapt to the Premier League quicker than a foreign import, such as big-money recruit Gianluca Scamacca last year.

Bowen is not West Ham's only success story when recruiting players from further down the ladder, with the likes of Michail Antonio, Flynn Downes and Aaron Cresswell all making an impact. Last season, those four players made a combined 120 appearances in the Premier League alone.

The lure of European football next season, plus a sizeable sum of up to £100m incoming for Declan Rice, means West Ham can lure a higher calibre of player to the London Stadium this summer.

But it may well be that a player such as Scott ticks all the boxes for David Moyes as he looks to repeat the success of previous windows.

At the backend of a forgettable campaign, the emergence of Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones will have been a pleasing consolation for manager Jurgen Klopp, with the Scouse-born ace playing an important part in a seven-match winning run to bridge the gap to the top four.

It was too little too late, and the Reds failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in seven years with a fifth-placed finish, ending an illustrious run in the competition that has led the Anfield side to three finals, winning one.

Hailed as the "complete #8" by one analyst & scout, the 22-year-old has almost certainly earned a place in Klopp's plans next term after his purple patch, especially considering James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have all left the club following the expiry of their contracts.

And now, the Guardian report that Chelsea are the latest team to have joined the race for the 21-year-old, but that Liverpool and Barcelona are both wanting to claim the player's signature for themselves, all looking to meet his €40m (£34m) buyout clause.

How good is Gabri Veiga?

The £35m signing of Alexis Mac Allister is the first of an ostensible torrent of incomings, with two or three top-class acquisitions still expected to be made, and one, the precocious Spanish talent Veiga, could spell danger for Jones' role on Merseyside.

Despite the recently-concluded campaign being Veiga's first with regular top-flight football, he has plundered 11 goals and supplied a further four assists from just 28 LaLiga starts, earning acclaim for his "dangerous" skill set – as said by journalist Euan McTear.

It's quite frightening to envisage the fleet-footed midfielder's future, given how brilliantly he has taken to life at the top level, already ranking among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 20% for rate of assists, the top 12% for progressive carries and successful take-ons, and the top 11% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, as per FBref.

The praise is mounting: talent scout Jacek Kulig has marvelled at the "amazing" talent while journalist and content creator Rimedi dubbed him "baby Kaka" for his elegance on the ball and deft dribbling skills.

Jones boasts some impressive metrics of his own after starting the last 11 league matches of the year, scoring three goals and registering one assist, ranking among the top 6% of positional peers for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 20% for shot-creating actions and the top 14% for progressive carries per 90, also crisp as they come with the ball, ranking among the top 3% for pass completion.

Klopp will be wary of hampering Jones' progress but with such a fantastic starlet available for an affordable fee, it's simply too good an opportunity to cede, especially given the tumult of Liverpool's present situation. Indeed, this move could be a blow to one of Anfield's hottest young talents.

Leeds United are considering making West Brom boss Carlos Corberan their next manager this summer, according to an update from reliable journalist Phil Hay.

Is Corberan impressing at West Brom?

On Friday, it was confirmed that the Whites had parted company with Sam Allardyce, with the veteran unable to keep them in the Premier League during the latter part of the season. The hunt is now on to find the right replacement before the start of the 2023/24 campaign, in what represents a vital appointment.

There has been a lack stability on show since Marcelo Bielsa's departure, with Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and Allardyce all flattering to deceive, so a long-term addition needs to come in this time.

Someone who has been linked with taking charge at Elland Road in the recent past is Corberan, who was once in charge of Leeds' Under-21s, spending three years there between 2017 and 2020. He is now at West Brom, however, and is doing an impressive job, having come close to getting into the Championship play-offs last month.

He inherited a Baggies side who were floundering near the bottom of the table, but the progress he has made in a short space of time sums up his quality as a manager.

Could Corberan take charge at Leeds?

According to The Athletic's Hay, Corberan is again a potential target for Leeds this summer, with Brendan Rodgers also getting a mention in the report:

"Brendan Rodgers, out of work after leaving Leicester City in mid-April, shortly before their own relegation on Sunday, appeals but it is feasible he will also receive offers from Premier League sides.

"Leeds’ former under-21s coach Carlos Corberan, now in charge at Championship club West Bromwich Albion, has been looked at before and is being again.

"But Leeds, as yet, are not in a position to make a final choice."

Corberan could certainly be an encouraging choice as Leeds' new manager, coming in as someone who is still young and full of fresh ideas. Renowned Spanish journalist Guillem Balague described him as "exciting" upon his appointment at West Brom and he has often adopted a direct and attacking style of play in a 4-2-3-1 formation at the Hawthorns.

He could view the chance to move to Elland Road as a step up, considering the size of the club and especially as he already knows the club so well. Brendan Rodgers is also a strong option, but he may be unwilling to go down to the Championship, as Hay alludes to.

Glasgow Rangers will be hoping to end their campaign on a high note this afternoon and give Michael Beale an indication of what the future holds as the Scottish Premiership season comes to an end.

A trip to Paisley will give Beale the chance to give minutes to a variety of squad members, ranging from youth talents to fringe players, and he spoke to the media ahead of the tie, saying: "Antonio Colak will come back into the squad in place of Alfredo this weekend. Bailey Rice will also return to the squad in place of Glen Kamara as well.

"My excitement for this summer is because I see the work we are doing in the background. We will come out in a much stronger place for sure and be in a much stronger place mentally."

With Bailey Rice in the squad and hoping to come on at some stage during the game, it will be more crucial experience for the youngster. However, Beale must give a start to Alex Lowry following a season which hasn’t lived up to its promise.

Will Alex Lowry start for Rangers against St Mirren today?

The 19-year-old made his debut in January 2022 and even managed to score not long after emerging from the bench, eventually going on to make seven appearances before the end of the season.

The “gallus” talent – as dubbed by Scottish coach Andy Goldie – was expected to make more of an impression for the senior side this term, but a knee injury ruled him out for 12 matches, and he remained with the B team in order to gain match fitness.

This wasn’t a bad idea, as the Scot chipped in with ten goals and four assists across just 11 games for the reserve side, suggesting that he managed to regain form fairly quickly following his setback and deserves a chance from the first whistle today.

He has started just one match for the first team during 2022/23, a 3-0 win over Motherwell back in December. And with nothing to play for during the final match of the season, Lowry could perhaps be deployed just behind the striker in his favoured role as a No 10.

This pre-season will arguably be the most important of his Ibrox career to date, especially if Beale significantly boosts his squad ahead of next term. If the young dynamo can showcase his talent this afternoon, the manager may yet keep him in his plans.

Judging by his first-team experience already, he is more than capable of shining for the Light Blues, that’s for sure.

Chelsea face a mountainous task to recapture their status as one of Europe’s most elite clubs after a calamitous campaign has seen them dismally plummet into the bottom half of the table.

The incoming Mauricio Pochettino has to begin trimming his hideously bloated squad to restore some rhythm and harmony.

One problem area that must be immediately addressed is the goalkeeper position, with both Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy seemingly unfit to be long-term solutions.

Inter Milan’s Andre Onana has emerged as one of the West Londoner’s primary targets, and this would be an inspired piece of business for the Blues.

What’s the latest on Andre Onana to Chelsea?

According to The Telegraph, the 2021 Champions League winners to attempting to manoeuvre themselves into pole position to sign the goalkeeper.

Onana’s possible move to England has been fuelled by reputable journalist Rudy Galetti, who has revealed an eye-opening update on the situation.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said:

“Onana could leave Inter in the summer if a suitable offer arrives. Chelsea are seriously interested in the Cameroonian goalkeeper. However, the current price at the request of the Italian club is €50m (£45m) and is considered too high by the Blues."

Would Andre Onana be a good signing for Chelsea?

The former Ajax man has been in sensational form since his transfer to Italy in January 2022.

In his Inter Milan career, the 27-year-old has played 38 games in all competitions, and only conceded 30 goals, whilst keeping 19 clean sheets, as per Transfermarkt.

He has also started every game for the Nerazzurri in the Champions League, as they booked themselves into the final of Europe’s most elite competition for the first time since 2010 after dispatching their city rivals.

Onana, whose career appeared on the brink of collapse after he received a nine-month ban from football after accidentally taking his wife’s medicine, has navigated an unbelievable turnaround thanks to a rich vein of form.

This is reflected by the fact that the shot-stopper ranks in the top 7% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for save percentage (78.2%) per 90, as well as the highest 5% for his clean sheet percentage (47.1%) per 90, as per FBref.

However, his future is shrouded in uncertainty due to Inter Milan’s murky financial situation as the club had to reportedly borrow €275m (£240m).

Therefore, with a rich club like Chelsea sniffing around, it will be difficult for the Nerazzurri giants to rebuke any transfer attempts.

Once hailed as a “superstar” by UEFA journalist Ome Akatugba, Onana would be the perfect remedy for Pochettino's impeding issue that the Blues have thus far failed to deal with.

Manchester City look like they may have to fend off interest from Bayern Munich to keep Julian Alvarez at the club this summer, according to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.

Is Julian Alvarez leaving Manchester City?

The striker only moved to the Etihad Stadium during the last summer transfer window but has already made quite the impression at the Premier League side. The forward hasn't been a first-team regular, but when called upon by Pep Guardiola, he has often produced the goods in front of goal.

Indeed, from just 12 starts in the league, the player has managed nine goals ahead of their midweek clash with Brighton & Hove Albion. With just under 15 matches' worth of game time, it means he has an average of 0.60 goals per 90.

The attacker has shown previously that he can deal with limited appearances and still produce the goods. Before the 23-year-old moved to England, he plied his trade with River Plate in Argentina for example and had just 17 starts in 2021. However, he still managed to get on the scoresheet 18 times, along with six assists. That led to a superb average of 1.36 goals or assists per 90.

Continuing to impress despite being more of a second-string option with City, it has now led to interest from elsewhere, according to Plettenberg. The Sky Sports journalist reports that Bayern have now put Alvarez on their wanted list and that the side have already "inquired" about the player in terms of whether he will be available for transfer.

He wrote: "Yes, he’s on the list of #FCBayern confirmed! He’s another option next to Kolo Muani. Bayern has inquired about him as he’s not a regular starter behind #Haaland. His future at #MCFC is uncertain despite of his contract until 2028."

Are Bayern Munich signing Julian Alvarez?

If the forward was tempted into a move away, it would almost certainly be a blow to City's squad.

Despite a limited number of minutes in the Premier League, the player has produced a WhoScored rating of 6.73 and has already bagged himself two Man of the Match awards – showing he can shine above the rest on occasion.

He's even impressed for Argentina, having notched an outstanding four goals in five games during the World Cup. He averages 1.4 shots per game in the league for City, showing his ability to find space and get himself chances, which is on par with most of his club teammates.

Considering his talent and potential, to lose him already would surely be a bad move for City. However, the prospect of more football with Bayern would surely appeal to Alvarez, who is left to dislodge Erling Haaland from the starting lineup.