All posts by z3u9t.icu

Liverpool have done it. When all is said and done at the end of the transfer window, which closes at 7pm this evening, Arne Slot’s side will have welcomed Alexander Isak to their ranks.

Isak, 25, has fought to leave Newcastle United and sign for the Premier League champions for many weeks, and after weeks of interminable waiting, now has his wish. Isak will sign for Liverpool.

27 goals for Eddie Howe’s Magpies last season, the Sweden striker is an unstoppable force, so many ways to hurt his opponents. However, FSG don’t seem content with merely the record-breaking man, and plan for more before the window slams shut.

Liverpool planning D-day business

When Marc Guehi scored a looping strike at Villa Park on Sunday evening, he celebrated with the passion and weight of a player set to jump ship.

Liverpool want the centre-back, but they are also ready to move for a new winger to complement Isak, with transfer insider Matt Thielen revealing Richard Hughes has received an offer from AC Milan for Liverpool to sign Rafael Leao as a part of the deal that could see Joe Gomez sign for the Italians.

Valued at £86m and also targeted by Arsenal this summer, the Portuguese winger, 26, would truly be the icing on the cake for the Redmen, adding with Isak quality of the highest class to Slot’s frontline.

What Rafael Leao would bring to Liverpool

Leao has been remarked to be “one of the best left wingers in the world” by analyst Ben Mattinson, and while Milan struggled throughout the 2024/25 campaign, he stood proud as a shining light, scoring 12 goals and supplying 13 assists across the campaign, 50 matches all told.

A consistently menacing forward season upon season, Leao is electric-paced and utterly terrifying when on the ball and hurtling down the flank. FBref data records that he ranks among the top 4% of wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons per 90.

His world-class credentials and staggering price tag suggest that Liverpool could make an instant repeat of the deal that saw them land Isak by getting it done on D-day.

25/26

1

1

0

24/25

50

12

13

23/24

47

15

14

22/23

48

16

15

21/22

42

14

12

20/21

40

7

6

19/20

33

6

2

In fact, Leao has actually been described by Milan coach Stefano Pioli as looking like “the early Thierry Henry”, and that’s something that has been attributed to Isak over the past several years too, having been likened to the Arsenal and Les Bleus legend last season, bringing such flair and destructive quality to the final third.

While Leao has yet to unearth and maintain truly jaw-dropping levels in front of goal, he has the talent, all right, and might just reach that giddy level of his game with a move to Merseyside.

Rangy and robust, he’s the real deal and would provide Liverpool with the perfect contrasting skill set to Cody Gakpo on the left flank.

Similar to Isak in some ways, he would work wonders alongside the Scandinavian star, supplying and interchanging in seamless synergy.

In Isak, Liverpool have signed one of the finest centre-forwards in the business, but if they manage to wrap up a move for Leao too, there’s surely going to be no stopping the Anfield side, chock-full with world-class quality.

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ByAngus Sinclair Aug 31, 2025

Celtic are looking to bring some attacking reinforcements into the building, and a fresh update on their hunt for a centre-forward has entered the public domain, courtesy of journalist Pete O’Rourke.

Celtic's state of play in their pursuit of a striker

The Bhoys find themselves in the hunt for another striker after losing Kyogo Furuhashi’s services in January, which led to Daizen Maeda taking on a prominent role through the middle alongside Adam Idah.

Johnny Kenny is another offensive option, and Brendan Rodgers has confirmed he wants the Irishman to sign a new contract at Parkhead before determining whether he will go out on loan or be part of the first-team picture this term.

He explained after his side defeated Cork City last week: “We would like to sign him to a new deal. And then we will see what path it takes, whether he stays or whether he needs to go and get games.”

Callum Osmand arrived for nominal compensation from Fulham earlier in the window. Nevertheless, Celtic have Napoli’s Giuseppe Ambrosino on their radar to fill the void following his encouraging displays at the Under-21 European Championships.

Furthermore, Shin Yamada is expected to join the Bhoys from Kawasaki Frontale after both clubs agreed on a transfer fee of £1.5 million for the Japan international.

The next Jota: Celtic are now attempting to sign "very exciting" £3.2m star

As Celtic continue their busy summer transfer window activity, could the Hoops win the race to sign a “very exciting” £3.2m-rated Portugues youngster?

Jul 13, 2025

With plenty of potential options to choose from, you do wonder whether Celtic’s wish for quantity is a systematic ploy from Rodgers to ensure he has variety in the final third, which lacked towards the end of last term due to a shortage of recognised strikers. Either way, they could now be set to step up their hunt for a new centre-forward with the competitive campaign now only weeks away.

Celtic set to escalate hunt for a new striker

According to Football Insider’s O’Rourke, Celtic could look to sign two strikers this summer to complement Rodgers’ attack amid their potential loan pursuit of Italy Under-21 international Ambrosino.

He stated: “It would be a gamble, bringing such a young player to a new league if Celtic were to pursue his signature. Ambrosino is a young player, who’s obviously got big potential as well.

What other strikers could Celtic turn to excluding Giuseppe Ambrosino and Shin Yamada?

Club

Bojan Miovski

Girona

Evan Ferguson

Brighton

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Free agent

“He’s a player that Celtic could develop and give minutes to, but I think Brendan Rodgers will also be looking to bring in a big-name striker signing as well. I fully expect, from what my sources are telling me for Celtic to sign two strikers, a big name and a younger one they can develop.”

Whether Yamada and Ambrosino is the plan remains to be seen amid a groundswell of names being linked to the club over the past few weeks.

Given the Bhoys are edging closer to the start of the league campaign, supporters may not have to wait too long to find out who could be competing for a place in their starting XI.

Glasgow Rangers are set to sign a £3.9m-per-year star for Russell Martin in the coming days, according to a new Ibrox transfer report.

49ers sign Rothwell and Fernandez for Rangers on permanent deals

New owners 49ers Enterprises have been busy bolstering the Gers squad ahead of their Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos later this month.

After a pre-contract agreement for Lyall Cameron was made official, Max Aarons was then added on a season-long loan deal from Bournemouth last week.

Now, Rangers have moved to sign midfielder Joe Rothwell on a permanent deal from Bournemouth, a player Martin knows well from his time at Southampton and who the 49ers are aware of following his loan spell at Leeds United.

Shortly after Rothwell, defender Emmanuel Fernandez was announced as a Rangers player, penning a four-year deal at Ibrox from Peterborough United. Talking after signing, Fernandez admitted he was “shocked” by the Gers’ interest.

The 49ers and Rangers aren’t stopping there, though, and it looks as if another defender is set to arrive soon.

Rangers set to sign Conor Coady in coming days

According to The Rangers Review, Leicester City defender Conor Coady is on course to become a Rangers player.

They state that a move ‘is progressing and is expected to be confirmed in the coming days’, with Coady set to depart the King Power Stadium following their relegation from the Premier League.

Coady, who picks up £3.9m-per-season with the Foxes, has been heavily linked with a move to Ibrox and if a move goes through as expected, it will be the centre-back’s first time out of England.

After coming through Liverpool’s academy, Coady has played for Sheffield United, Huddersfield Town, Wolves, Everton and Leicester, winning 10 England caps at the age of 32.

Ibrox's dream Igamane replacement: Rangers working to sign £5m striker

Rangers are eyeing up a move to sign a striker who would be a dream replacement for Hamza Igamane.

ByDan Emery Jul 3, 2025

Former manager Tony Pulis has also given his backing to Coady’s pending move to Glasgow, saying: “If he ends up at Rangers then he will see that it’s a fantastic club with fantastic support, then it’ll be about trying to play a part in the competition with Celtic which we know is not easy.”

If all goes to plan, Coady should also be available for Rangers’ Champions League qualifiers alongside Fernandez, so it’ll be interesting to see who Martin’s first choice centre-back pairing will be in 25/26.

Looking to add to their Ibrox arrivals after confirming Max Aarons, the 49ers and Glasgow Rangers are reportedly ready to win the race to sign a player who has been dubbed the ‘Brazilian Paul Pogba’.

Aarons "delighted" to join Rangers

Getting to work straight away after completing their takeover of the club and hiring Russell Martin, the 49ers have already secured both Aarons and young Scotland talent Lyall Cameron. Aarons particularly stands out as an impressive coup on loan from Bournemouth given the experience that he built up in the Premier League.

After arriving at Ibrox, the defender told the club’s website: “I am delighted to be here, as you can see it’s a huge club and you realise that when you walk through the doors, I can’t wait to get going.

“I’ve got a lot of experience now in different leagues and I have played a lot of games. I think I can bring that experience, I can bring a new energy, and I think Rangers fans can be excited – I am really looking forward to it.”

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ByDan Emery Jun 30, 2025

Martin, equally delighted, then said: “Max is a player who I have always kept a keen eye on since he was emerging through the youth ranks while I was coming to the end of my time at Norwich as a player.

“He is a wonderfully talented player who is hungry to develop, improve and help deliver success for his side. We are pleased to bring him on board for this season, and I believe he will be a fantastic addition to the squad.”

The Scottish giants will be hoping that Aarons’ arrival is the first of many amid links to the likes of Conor Coady and an impressive midfielder who has reportedly been handpicked by the 49ers.

49ers now ready to battle for Metinho

According to The Scottish Sun, the 49ers are now ready to win the race to sign Metinho ahead of Champions League side Basel this summer. The American owners reportedly handpicked the Troyes midfielder as someone they wanted to invest in before arriving at Ibrox and now have the perfect opportunity to do so.

Earning high praise from scout Kai Watson, who described the midfielder as a “strong passer of the ball”, Metinho has also been dubbed the ‘Brazilian Paul Pogba” in the past – highlighting the talent that Rangers could be signing.

Fending off interest from Basel won’t be easy, however, after the 22-year-old spent last season on loan in Switzerland, but the 49ers will be hoping that their newest project will be enough to build a strong case. After Aarons, Metinho would certainly only continue a promising start to Rangers’ summer window.

Celtic could potentially look to seal a stunning reunion with a former player this summer, according to a new update from journalist Pete O’Rourke.

Celtic could seal surprise signing of defender

The Hoops have been linked with plenty of potential new signings of late, but one surprise target has emerged in Albirex Niigata defender Hayato Inamura.

The 23-year-old is a left-sided centre-back who could add balance and depth to Brendan Rodgers’ squad, adding to the list of Japanese signings that Celtic have made in recent years.

Celtic preparing to back Rodgers even more as new Celtic target emerges

Celtic are reportedly interested in completing the signing of a new centre-back.

1 ByHenry Jackson Jun 16, 2025

Inamura is far from the only possible fresh face arriving at Parkhead in the summer transfer window, however, with Royal Antwerp star Michel-Ange Balikwisha also mentioned as a target.

The 24-year-old has 29 goals and 17 assists for his current club, as well as being capped for Belgium in five different age groups, and he could add real quality to Celtic’s attack. Now, a shock move regarding the Hoops has been mooted.

Journalist makes claim on Kyogo sealing Celtic return

Speaking to Football Insider, O’Rourke talked up the idea of Celtic re-signing Kyogo Furuhashi this summer, even though the Japanese only departed for Rennes back in January, saying it would be a “popular signing amongst the club’s fans”.

“It would definitely be a popular signing amongst the club’s fans. It hasn’t really worked out for him, that move to Rennes. He was brought in by Jorge Sampaoli and he then left the club and Kyogo found himself cut out. That’s fuelled speculation that he could be moving on. Celtic never really replaced Kyogo when they let him go in January, they decided not to bring in another striker.

“So what better man to replace Kyogo than Kyogo himself in that respect? It’ll depend on what the player wants to do, if he would be interested in a move back to Celtic then potentially something could happen. I don’t think Celtic will be willing to pay anywhere near the £10million they received from Rennes to sell Kyogo in January, it will have to be on much reduced terms. If there’s a willingness from Rennes to sell him and the player to return, a move could happen. Celtic have a long list of target they’ve looked at as replacements for Kyogo. So let’s wait and see.”

While Celtic fans were clearly disappointed in Kyogo that he wanted to leave the club, many would still love the idea of seeing him back at Parkhead.

The 30-year-old produced so much quality in the final third during his four-year stint at the Scottish Premiership giants, scoring 85 goals in just 185 appearances, as well as receiving plenty of adoration from Rodgers.

“His finish was sublime. He is clever, he’s very cute in the game. He’s an elite player in terms of his movement and his runs. And he played the offside really well.”

Kyogo managed only one start for Rennes in Ligue 1 last season, in what has been a frustrating period for him, so a return to Celtic could be perfect for all parties.

Chelsea are set for a hectic next few days, as they attempt to take advantage of this unique registration period and sign new players before the June 10 deadline.

Chelsea attempting winger signing before Club World Cup

Despite reported talks for targets in other positions, there is a belief among some reliable media sources that Chelsea hold a serious desire to upgrade their wide options after completing a deal for Liam Delap.

£80m forward clear he wants to join Chelsea with "positive talks" held

Enzo Maresca’s side are very active in the market right now.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 6, 2025

Chelsea haven’t given up on signing AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan, who’s told the Rossoneri he wants a move to Stamford Bridge, but plans to bring in a winger have also been accelerated after the departure of Jadon Sancho.

Sancho returns to Man United after Chelsea failed to agree personal terms with the £300,000-per-week forward, and they will now pay a £5 million penalty fee to Ruben Amorim’s side after opting out of the obligation to buy in his contract.

This leaves Maresca a wide-man short, and Myhkailo Mudryk also remains ineligible due to his on-field ban for failing a drugs test.

“Chelsea’s next priority after Liam Delap is a right-footed left winger,” said reliable journalist Ben Jacobs on X this week.

“Alejandro Garnacho, Nico Williams and Jamie Gittens are three names under consideration. The desire to add another winger is more with Mykhailo Mudryk’s absence in mind. Process likely to take time regardless of the outcome.

“Another forward is also possible as Christopher Nkunku is expected to leave. This could be another number nine, despite faith in Nicolas Jackson. Or it could be a versatile attacking midfielder. Chelsea will be opportunistic should Morgen Rogers become available, but Aston Villa have no intention to sell even with a tight PSR position.”

Movement has occurred behind-the-scenes in Chelsea’s pursuit of some targets, mainly Williams and Gittens.

Chelsea have informed Williams’ agents that they’re prepared to pay his £50 million release clause, and have been pushing for Gittens as an alternative to the Spain winger recently (Simon Phillips).

Chelsea propose swap deal in discussions for Mohammed Kudus

According to reports from the last 24 hours, Maresca’s side do have another option – West Ham United star Mohammed Kudus.

The Ghanaian’s contract includes an £85 million release clause, which becomes active in July, but the Hammers are open to entertaining other offers.

That is according to The Mirror and journalist Ryan Taylor, who report that Chelsea have held talks with West Ham over Kudus. The Blues are said to have proposed a “multi-player-package deal” during these discussions, meaning they’re prepared to use more than one squad member as makeweights to bring the African’s price down.

However, West Ham are not interested in a transfer of this nature, meaning Chelsea may have to go back in with another proposal if they’re to strike a deal for the 24-year-old.

Kudus is widely expected to leave the London Stadium, two years after Chelsea tried to sign him from Ajax in 2023, and despite a mixed 2024/2025, the former Eredivisie starlet has still impressed in flashes during his time at Rush Green.

“He’s a top, top talent and I think we haven’t seen the best of him yet,” said teammate Aaron Cresswell.

“I won’t go near him in training because I know if I’m going to try to knock him off the ball. I had better make sure he’s not looking and doesn’t see me coming. You just can’t get near him. He’s so strong, so quick, so sharp.”

Fresh from Championship promotion, Regis Le Bris could reportedly be in for a big summer at Sunderland as the Black Cats prepare to secure Premier League survival at the first time of asking.

Sunderland interested in Henderson return

Among the exciting deals that could take place at the Stadium of Light this summer is Jordan Henderson’s return. The Wearside-born midfielder has enjoyed an incredible career since leaving Sunderland as a breakout star, becoming the most successful Liverpool captain of the Premier League era by lifting the Champions League, Premier League and both domestic cups.

Now, however, after quickly quitting Saudi Arabia and enduring a mixed spell at Ajax, the England international is at a crossroads that Sunderland could solve. At 34 years old and with Sunderland back in the Premier League, there hasn’t been a more perfect time than this summer for Henderson to complete a fairytale return to his boyhood club.

Having watched Sunderland’s dramatic playoff final victory in person, Henderson has already seen the quality that Le Bris’ side possess with his own eyes. Whether he deems it enough to join up with those at the Stadium of Light remains to be seen, however.

A deal to sign the midfielder, with or without his history at the club, makes perfect sense. If Sunderland are to become the first club in six promoted sides to avoid the Premier League drop, then top flight experience will be key and Henderson offers exactly that and more.

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ByKelan Sarson May 30, 2025

The former Liverpool captain may just be the start of the arrivals, however, with one reporter now claiming that Sunderland have “big” transfer plans this summer.

Sunderland planning for "big" summer transfer window

According to reporter Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Sunderland will have “big” funds available this summer as they look to overhaul Le Bris’ squad in preparation for the Premier League.

This could see a number of fresh faces arrive to potentially join Henderson in the coming months in what looks likely to be an exciting transfer window for those at the Stadium of Light, with O’Rourke adding that ‘additions with Premier League experience under their belts’ are wanted.

Alongside the midfielder, Sunderland have also been linked with the likes of Kwame Poku in recent weeks. The Peterborough attacker is a wanted man across English football, but Sunderland’s Premier League status could yet prove to be key. It must be said, however, that the jump from League One to the Premier League would certainly be substantial.

Amid all of the excitement, it is also worth noting that Sunderland could be funding their summer through the sale of Jobe Bellingham. The talented midfielder has reportedly been to visit Eintracht Frankfurt to hear their pitch about a potential move in the coming months, and whilst the visit was not for formal talks to take place, the Black Cats should certainly be concerned.

With Henderson and Poku potentially arriving, among others, and Bellingham perhaps on his way out, Sunderland will be one of the most interesting clubs to watch this summer.

West Brom are said to be in talks with a manager who knows the Premier League well, as they look to nail their successor to Tony Mowbray in the coming weeks and months.

West Brom searching for Mowbray replacement

The Baggies’ season was ultimately a disappointing one, with Carlos Corberan departing for Valencia earlier in the campaign and Mowbray finding himself sacked just three months after taking charge, following a disappointing spell.

It is now a case of those high up at West Brom making sure the perfect manager comes in to steer the team to what is hopefully a successful Championship campaign in 2025/26 – one that ends in promotion back to the Premier League.

A recent report has claimed that the Baggies are believed to be big admirers of Ryan Mason, with the Englishman currently the assistant manager to Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham, winning the Europa League earlier this month.

Still only 33 years of age, Mason’s playing career was cut short by a serious head injury, but he is making waves in coaching and West Brom consider him a strong option to come. Now, a fresh update has emerged regarding him potentially heading to the Hawthorns in the near future.

West Brom in talks with 4-4-2 manager

According to Football Insider, Mason has “opened talks” to become West Brom’s new manager, with the report saying he is in “pole position” to take charge of the Baggies ahead of next season.

He has taken charge of Spurs 13 times as an interim manager, in between them finding another boss, and is an exciting young option, rather than a more tried and tested choice like Mowbray.

The 4-4-2-playing Mason could be an intriguing appointment at West Brom, during an era in which managers appear to be getting younger all the time, being trusted to take big jobs before they are experienced.

The former Spurs midfielder has shone during his time coaching in north London, with Ben Davies once praising him for the impact he had during a brief stint as manager:

“It’s not the easiest situation to come into [for Mason]. We’ve got a limited amount of games so it’s hard for him to come in and completely change things and do it his own way. But there’s been a clear message that we need to be as good as we can with the ball and tighten up without it. It’s pretty basic but that’s the way we’ve been training and working. Ryan’s instilled that belief in us that we’re able to do that.”

Tony Mowbray (2025)

17

1.12

Carlos Corberan (2022-2024)

107

1.59

Steve Bruce (2022)

32

1.13

Valerien Ismael (2021-2022)

31

1.45

Sam Allardyce (2020-2021)

26

0.73

Granted, there would be an element of risk with West Brom hiring Mason, given his lack of experience in management, but if the club feel he is now at a point where he can leave Postecoglou and go out on his own, they need to be trusted.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has his eyes on a title-winning manager who Chelsea are also targeting to potentially replace Enzo Maresca, according to reports, with Ange Postecoglou’s future continuing to be the centre of debate around N17.

Ange Postecoglou comments on Tottenham future

The Australian, ahead of their all-important Europa League final, commented on widespread reports that Spurs’ clash against Man United could be his penultimate game in charge of the club.

Tottenham: Levy ready to trigger £100k-per-week rival star's release clause

Spurs are front of the queue for his signature.

ByEmilio Galantini May 21, 2025

The likes of David Ornstein suggested in the build up to Wednesday night that Postecoglou is likely to leave Tottenham regardless of their success in Europe, with his exit from N17 seeming far more likely than not after a regrettable domestic campaign.

Spurs are on 21 Premier League defeats this season and still counting, meaning Levy could look to part company with the 59-year-old amid intriguing links to a host of alternative top-level coaches.

Postecoglou, speaking ahead of their first European final since their Champions League loss to Liverpool in 2019, said that he is relaxed about his future irrespective of what happens.

“It doesn’t matter because the reality of it is the opportunity is the same, for me and more importantly for the club,” Postecoglou told reporters about his tenuous position as Spurs boss.

“I’ve said before that whatever happens beyond tomorrow is kind of irrelevant when you think about the opportunity that exists right now. That opportunity is to provide something special for the football club and for the supporters and for everyone who has worked so hard, not just this year but for the 15, 16 years, however long it has been without a trophy and also the 41 years without a European trophy.

“If I was worried about my tenure at this football club, it’s fair to say we wouldn’t have been in this position because I would have been distracted long ago. I’m pretty good at just making sure all my focus is on giving this football club the best opportunity that it’s had for a while to do something special. Whatever happens after that, mate, I’m very, very comfortable that I’ll continue on trying to win trophies wherever I am.”

Tottenham shortlist Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi

Spurs could look to Italy in search of Postecoglou’s replacement, with former Ajax boss Francesco Farioli being heavily linked with a move to Tottenham in the last few days after a rumoured recommendation from Fabio Paratici.

As per newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, via Sport Witness, Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi is on Levy’s radar as well.

The outlet states that Tottenham have shortlisted Inzaghi as a manager target, and he’s also wanted by London rivals Chelsea as a potential heir to Maresca.

The £8.8 million-per-year tactician guided Inter to a Scudetto last season and could still pip Antonio Conte’s Napoli to this year’s Serie A crown, with both sides set for a fierce final day battle for the title.

As Inzaghi also prepares Inter for their Champions League final against PSG, noise will continue to surround his future after an impressive few years at the San Siro. If he becomes available, the “phenomenal” manager is arguably the standout name among Levy’s rumoured candidates.

Tottenham Hotspur’s dismal Premier League campaign continued on Sunday when they were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Crystal Palace in front of their own supporters.

A double from England international Eberechi Eze, who scored either side of half-time, wrapped up the three points for the away side, who could have had even more.

Ange Postecoglou did, however, make a host of changes to his starting line-up, possibly to rest players ahead of the Europa League final later this month, but not many of those coming in advanced their claims for more minutes.

There were plenty of players who failed to step up and are now in danger of losing their place in the team, or of not getting another chance to impress in the coming weeks.

On the flip side, however, one player who has improved his chances of breaking into the starting line-up moving forward is goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, after his impressive display against the Eagles.

Why Antonin Kinsky has created a problem for next season

The Czechia youth international was brought into the side to give the number one, Guglielmo Vicario, a rest ahead of the Europa League final.

Signed from Sparta Prague in January, the shot-stopper already knows that he will not be in the team that faces Manchester United because he was not included in the squad for the Europa League for the knockout stages.

However, his performance against Crystal Palace showed that he has the quality to create a problem for Postecoglou next season, because he is good enough to challenge for the number one position in the Premier League.

Kinsky made eight saves and prevented 1.32 xG in the defeat to Palace, which shows that he prevented an absolute drubbing by the Eagles, and the youngster may feel like he did enough to at least make the manager think about him moving forward.

Sofascore rating

8.9

Touches

50

Pass accuracy

68%

Saves

8

Goals prevented

1.32

Run-outs completed

1/1

High claims

2

Error led to shot or goal

0

As you can see in the table above, the 22-year-old star kept the scoreline down with a string of important saves, whilst also coming out to deal with balls in behind and crosses into the box, without making any errors.

Whereas, Vicario has made two errors that have led to shots and one error that has led to a goal in his last five appearances in all competitions, which shows that he has not been a reliable presence between the sticks of late.

This suggests that Kinsky has done enough to at least create doubt in Postecoglou’s mind for that position, as he could turn out to be a more reliable goalkeeper than the Italian heading into next season, which means that he could seriously challenge for the number one role.

On the flip side of that, Rodrigo Bentancur, who took even fewer touches (17) than Kinsky, was hooked at half-time in the defeat to Palace, and he should be ruthlessly ditched from the team by the Australian head coach.

Why Rodrigo Bentancur should be dropped

The former Juventus star was named in the starting XI after being left as an unused substitute in the 1-1 draw with West Ham United in the last Premier League game, although he did feature from the start away at Bodo/Glimt.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Bentancur, however, failed to strengthen his case for a starting berth against Manchester United in the Europa League final as he put in a dismal first-half display that might put some doubt in the manager’s mind when it comes to selecting that vital line-up.

Minutes

45

Touches

17

Pass accuracy

71%

Shots

0

Key passes

0

Tackles + interceptions

0

Duels won

1/4

As you can see in the table above, the Uruguay international lost 75% of his duels and only completed 71% of his passes, which shows that he was loose in his use of the ball and struggled to keep up with the pace and physicality of the game out of possession.

Postecoglou opted to withdraw him from the match at the break, replaced by Yves Bissouma, and it is hard to argue with that decision when you look at what Bentancur did, or did not, offer in the opening 45.

The former Serie A star should, now, be ruthlessly ditched by Postecoglou for the trip to Aston Villa next time out in the Premier League, which will be the last match before the Europa League final.

That would then provide Bissouma with an opportunity to prove to the manager that he deserves to be in the starting XI for the final ahead of Bentancur.

The Mali international completed 87% of his passes and won three of his seven duels in the second half against Palace, which shows that he offered more in and out of possession than his teammate did in the opening 45.

Bissouma has greater athleticism in comparison to Bentancur and has the mobility to cover more ground and win more duels in the final against United, which is why Postecoglou should be concerned by the Uruguayan losing 75% of his duels against Palace.

As you can see in the clip against Brentford above, the former Brighton ace can start attacks with his ability to make recovery runs to win possession back for his side.

Appearances

26

24

Tackles per game

1.8

1.6

Dribbled past per game

0.6x

0.8x

Ground duels won per game

2.8

2.3

Ground duel success rate

51%

42%

As shown in the statistics above, Bissouma is better than Bentancur when it comes to being dominant in duels on the deck, as the ex-Juventus man has lost the majority of his ground duels in the Premier League.

It has also been an issue in the Europa League because Bentancur has been dribbled past 1.3 times per game on average, compared to Bissouma’s 0.3 times per match. This suggests that opposition midfielders find it harder to get by the Mali international, due to his strength in duels.

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Therefore, Postecoglou should drop the Uruguay international from the team for the clash with Villa to provide his midfield teammate with a chance to impress ahead of the final.