All posts by z3u9t.icu

Mark Douglas has now revealed some big Everton news involving both Farhad Moshiri and James Tarkowski.

The Lowdown: Centre-back wanted

The Goodison Park faithful have been linked with moves for the likes of Levi Colwill, Kim Min-Jae and Gleison Bremer in the summer, suggesting that they are after a new central defender.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/everton-news-4/” title=”Everton news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

They have one of the worst defensive records in the Premier League, and Jamie Carragher has even went as far as to claim that they have a ‘Championship back four’ during the embarrassing defeat at Tottenham.

Nonetheless, it is one area that the Merseyside club will surely look to strengthen.

The Latest: Tarkowski eyed

Writing in his latest piece for iNews, journalist Douglas has revealed that Tarkowski has now ’emerged’ as a potential target this summer.

Senior sources at the Toffees have claimed that there is ‘no way’ that Moshiri is going to sell the club, despite Russian links with Alisher Usmanov, and Frank Lampard can ‘expect to be backed’ in the market.

The Verdict: No-brainer

Given the fact that Tarkowski is out of contract at Burnley in the summer, he will be able to leave as a free agent, and so it would be a no-brainer for the Blues to sign him up.

Described as a ‘real leader’ by pundit Noel Whelan, the 29-year-old could be the organiser at the back that Lampard’s team need in order to be more solid and ship fewer goals.

Of course, he has plenty of experience of playing in the top flight, and so should be able to settle in fairly quickly.

In other news, find out which EFC star Manchester United have now ‘discussed’ signing here!

Tottenham Hotspur have earned an early-season victory over Arsenal as they are set to officially overtake the Gunners in the UEFA rankings simply by participating in Thursday’s Conference League clash.

The Lowdown: How they work

The UEFA rankings, which has Germany champions Bayern Munich at the top of the tree, are based on results within the last five years within European competitions.

With Arsenal finishing eighth in last season’s Premier League and Spurs securing passage to the Europa Conference League on the final day, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will earn points this season for their games.

The rankings have Liverpool in third and European champions Chelsea in fifth, with Manchester United eighth after being knocked out of the Champions League group stage last season.

The Latest: It’s official

In an official development reported by the Daily Mail, Tottenham are set to overtake the Gunners in the rankings for the first time in 29 years due to their qualification for the Europa Conference League.

Arsenal’s worst league campaign of the century saw them fail for Europe and Spurs drop into UEFA’s brand new club competition, meaning they are to set to overtake their North London rivals for the first time since 1991-92.

Their campaign starts on Thursday evening with a trip to Stade Rennes, with Dutch side Vitesse and Slovenian top-flight side NS Mura completing the group.

Nuno’s side will be awarded bonus points for each round they reach in the competition, with two points for a victory and one for a draw.

The Verdict: Fall from grace

The news highlights the fall from grace for Mikel Arteta’s side, with Arsenal only coming out on top on four occasions in meetings with Spurs since 2015.

Whilst participating in another tournament every Thursday evening may disrupt Nuno’s season with injuries and fatigue, the chance to qualify for the Champions League or Europa League will be their goal for this campaign.

If Nuno can lead Spurs to their first trophy in 13 years – they are joint-favourites with Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma to lift the Conference League – he will put his name into the club’s history.

In other news, news emerges of Nuno Espirito Santo being unhappy with international events. Find out more here.

Former Everton defender Michael Ball believes that Andros Townsend and Dominic Calvert-Lewin can form a good partnership for the Toffees in the upcoming season.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin started last season in fine form, scoring in each of Everton’s first five Premier League matches, including a hat-trick in the club’s second match against West Bromwich Albion.

The striker ended the season with 21 goals in all competitions and won the club’s Player of the Season award for his fine form.

Townsend signed a two-year deal at Goodison Park and is reunited with new Everton manager Rafa Benitez, who he had previously played under at Newcastle United.

Ball believes that Calvert-Lewin and new signing Andros Townsend can form a good partnership, telling Football FanCast: “Andros with his stats at Crystal Palace, yes they played a different system but his personal stats of getting the balls in the box early you would hope would be perfect for whoever is up front for Everton, whether its DCL or whoever comes in.

“DCL early on last season was thriving on crosses, early crosses coming in and he was scoring headers and getting across the defenders with one touch finishes early on last season and that seemed to dwindle as the season went on. So, with Andros outside, DCL will know what he will be trying to do, getting the ball in the box very, very early and hopefully that will get DCL into double figures again next season.”

Townsend has 48 goals and 72 assists throughout his career and so could prove to be vital for Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring goals next season. In his 16 Premier League goals last season, Calvert-Lewin scored seven with his head, showing that if he can get the service from out wide, he will be an aerial threat in the penalty area.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern on James Ward-Prowse’s future, former Southampton midfielder Carlton Palmer thinks he could have a release clause in his new contract.

Ward-Prowse was the subject of heavy interest from Aston Villa during the summer transfer window, with the Midlands club reportedly having a £25m bid turned down for the player.

The 26-year-old then went on to sign a new five-year deal while the window was still open to put an end to all the speculation, but Palmer reckons he could still leave in the near future and believes his latest contract may have a release clause in it.

“I think what’s happened with James is Aston Villa were in for him and a few other clubs, but nobody met the valuation that Southampton had on him,” the ex-Saint said.

“If the club comes in, offers you a new contract, they safeguard themselves by signing him on a new long-term contract, they put in a release clause of whatever that may be.

“I’m sure clubs will revisit Southampton over him time and time again. The release clause, I’m sure it will come out.”

All things considered, Southampton will probably be glad to see the back of the 2021 summer transfer window after being forced to sell a couple of key players.

During it, they lost both Danny Ings and Jannik Vestergaard to Premier League rivals and could have also watched Ward-Prowse depart.

Celtic may have signed 12 new bodies for the first team after Ange Postecoglou was made their new manager but there have been some riveting stories of former players in recent weeks.

Odsonne Edouard moved south of the border on transfer deadline day and with his very first touch of the ball, scored on his debut for Crystal Palace.

The Frenchman would net another in their win over Spurs on that same day but Olivier Ntcham and Kristoffer Ajer have also thrived.

Ajer was part of the Brentford squad who sealed a win over Arsenal during their first Premier League outing while Ntcham was in sensational form for Swansea last week.

The Swans were losing 3-0 at half time but his introduction saw the game end 3-3 as he registered a goal and an assist.

However, there is a forgotten man out in America who is very much stealing the show.

That happens to be Patryk Klimala, a player Celtic signed for £3.5m in the winter window of 2020.

The Polish striker was extremely average at Parkhead and struggled to find form, scoring just three goals in 28 appearances for the Hoops.

A move away this year was hardly surprising as the 23-year-old kick-started a mass clear out at Paradise.

He is now playing for the New York Red Bulls in MLS where he’s enjoyed a wonderful revival and is certainly showing what Celtic are missing.

Albian Ajeti has had his own mini-comeback at Celtic with three goals in his last three outings but that could so easily have been Klimala.

The Hoops did, at least, recoup the money they paid 19 months ago and for the American side, that’s now looking like a bargain.

During 2021, Klimala has found the net seven times and also picked up five assists for his new club in 20 outings.

That makes for impressive reading, especially when you consider that he’s scored in three successive games now.

What’s also intriguing is that he scored against Ronny Deila in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/check-out-the-latest-celtic-news-duffy-mccarthy-brady-knockaert” title= “Read the latest Celtic news!”]

The ex-Celtic manager is now in charge of New York City FC but he witnessed heartbreak as his team drew 1-1 courtesy of a penalty kick from Klimala in the 12th minute of injury time after a VAR review.

So often used to being the man who was put out to pasture in Glasgow, his fortunes have drastically changed and improved since finding a new home.

Head Coach Gerhard Struber has been delighted with him since his arrival, commenting: “Patryk with his outstanding movements and with his pace, it’s not easy to handle.”

He is now one of the leading lights for the Red Bulls and is relishing his rise to stardom in America.

AND in other news, Celtic may discover their new Ralston in rarely-seen 21 y/o with “excellent pedigree”…

Liverpool have reportedly been keeping track of Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes as manager Jurgen Klopp looks to bolster his attacking options.

What’s the story?

According to Goal’s Liverpool reporter Neil Jones, the Reds’ recruitment team have been watching the 23-year-old’s progress over the last couple of campaigns ahead of a possible move for the speedster.

The Anfield outfit are believed to be in the market for a new forward this summer following underwhelming campaigns for Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino last time out.

Liverpool fans will be delighted

Barnes enjoyed a stellar 2020/21 season, bagging 13 goals and providing a further four assists in 38 appearances for Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes.

He was tipped to make Gareth Southgate’s squad for Euro 2020 given his outstanding displays for the Midlands outfit. However, a serious knee injury picked up in March ruled the forward out for the rest of the campaign.

The electric England international made a winning return to first-team action over the weekend, though, featuring from the off as Leicester claimed just their second Community Shield with a victory at Wembley Stadium.

And now Barnes could be rewarded for last season’s fine form with a move to the 19-time English champions.

With Mane and Firmino beginning to fall below their usual exceptional standards and the likes of Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri heavily linked with an Anfield exit, Barnes could provide the spark to Liverpool’s forward line that it so desperately needs.

He’s made incredible progress since joined West Bromwich Albion on loan back in 2018, where he contributed to 16 goals in 26 Championship outings for the Baggies, and his underlying numbers last term are evidence of that.

As per WhoScored, Barnes recorded 2.2 shots per league game in 2020/21, made one key pass and completed 1.6 dribbles, placing him in the top five compared to his teammates for all metrics.

Therefore, Liverpool fans will surely be delighted to learn the club’s recruitment team are closely monitoring his progress. Barnes is an exciting, young, English prospect with bags of potential and he should only get better under Klopp’s tutelage.

Whether the Reds follow up their reported interest with a formal offer remains to be seen, but his arrival on Merseyside would certainly be welcomed by the supporters. The fact that he’s on Liverpool’s radar should be music to the ears of Reds’ fans.

And, in other news…Report reveals exciting transfer update that’ll have Liverpool fans buzzing 

An update has emerged on Leeds United’s transfer plans, regarding Reading midfielder John Swift…

What’s the talk?

According to LeedsLive, the Yorkshire giants are not actively looking to pursue a deal for the former Chelsea man in the January window.

The report claim that Swift is out of contract at the end of the season and is currently expected to see out the rest of the Championship campaign.

January disaster

Leeds are on course for a January disaster following this update as failing to sign Swift could be a missed opportunity for Victor Orta.

The Whites have struggled in front of goal this season, with Raphinha the only one in the squad who has been a consistent threat in the final third, and could improve their chances of avoiding relegation by improving their attacking options in January. This is why they must make a move for Swift as he has the potential to come in and make an impact.

Raphinha is the only player in the squad with more than two Premier League goals, whilst Patrick Bamford is the only player with more than one assist (two). Swift, meanwhile, has 17 direct goal contributions in the Championship for Reading, with eight goals and nine assists.

Royals boss Veljko Paunovic previously lauded the midfielder’s talents, saying:

“Now he’s back, it is important we keep him healthy and motivated as he is now because that will help us a lot.

“He is super talented and he showed an urgency that he wanted to decide the game.”

Back in November, Athletic reporter Phil Hay dropped this line in a Q&A: “Was interesting to see John Swift linked over the weekend because Swift is someone Bielsa quietly admires.”

This suggests that he is a player Bielsa would love to have at Elland Road, with his statistics for Reading also backing the potential he holds to make it at the top level. He is in outstanding form in the second tier and deserves an opportunity to show that he can perform in the Premier League, which is why Orta must make a move for him.

Bielsa’s squad, based on their stats this season, are in dire need of more creativity in the final third and Swift is a player who has shown – in the Championship at least – that he can score and provide goals at an impressive rate. With his contract up at the end of the campaign, it also seems unlikely that it would take a fortune for Leeds to prize him away.

AND in other news, Leeds could sell “shocking” Christiansen flop by signing “wonderful” £9m-rated star…

Tottenham Hotspur have one final game before Christmas as they welcome Premier League rivals West Ham United to north London for a Carabao Cup quarter-final.

And with a place in the last four up for grabs, it leaves manager Antonio Conte with plenty to ponder in terms of team selection.

Last time out, the Lilywhites were held to a 2-2 draw to ten-man Liverpool, whilst they defeated Burnley and Wolves to make it this far in the competition.

The Italian head coach has a largely fully-fit squad to choose from, so it will be interesting to see what decisions he may make ahead of kick-off, particularly with his midfield, where a rarely-seen trio of Dele Alli, Harry Winks and Tanguy Ndombele all featured on Sunday.

It’s the latter who could make way, surprisingly, as he was the most underwhelming of the three players, who all had a point to prove to Conte.

He was not only the first player to be substituted, coming off for Oliver Skipp in the 64th minute, but he too was their third lowest-rated player (6.4) as the French dynamo struggled to have much of an influence on the game.

Yes, he provided an assist for Harry Kane’s opener but as explained by the Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick, he was otherwise ‘largely a passenger’ who offered ‘little defensively’ and more than once was caught ‘overplaying in dangerous positions.’

Across his hour on the pitch, Ndombele managed only 11 passes and 30 touches, which shows that he was barely involved. For further context, goalkeeper Hugo Lloris managed more in both regards, and he’s stood between the sticks all game, not in an advanced midfield role.

Once dubbed a “world-beater” and “unplayable” by former Spurs shot-stopper Joe Hart to BT Sport’s Rio Ferdinand (via football.london), the £26m-rated maestro is surely in line for the axe tonight.

Meanwhile, Spurs’ embarrassing defeat to NS Mura last month saw ex-midfielder Jamie O’Hara dub the £55m man “absolutely shocking”, which only goes to show his vastly-contrasting performances in Spurs’ colours.

Conte cannot afford to carry someone in a game of his nature. Having been knocked out of the UEFA Europa Conference League, this tournament could be the north Londoners’ only genuine chance of silverware, so it must be taken seriously.

As such, the 52-year-old must be ruthless with the club’s inconsistent club-record signing. He must be dropped this evening.

AND in other news, Imagine him and Dier: Spurs eyeing swoop for £45m-rated “top player”, Conte “wants” him…

Manchester United could sign their ideal heir to Paul Pogba after being continuously linked with a move for AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie.

What’s the story?

Reports by Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport earlier this month (as relayed by Daily Mail), claim the Red Devils have identified the 24-year-old as a possible replacement for Pogba should he decide to depart over the coming months.

The France international has entered the final year of his contract at United and is yet to commit his future to the club, meaning possible replacements are being identified by the Old Trafford hierarchy.

Kessie is in a similar situation to the World Cup winner as his current deal at San Siro is set to expire in under 12 months time, meaning he’s free to negotiate with non-Italian clubs from January.

Previous reports have claimed that the Ivorian wants an €8m (£6.8m) yearly salary – around £132,000-a-week – but Milan are only offering €6.5m (£5.5m), meaning an imminent exit could be on the cards.

Solskjaer would love him

Although Kessie is often deployed as a defensive midfielder and is extremely capable in the position, he is arguably better suited to a more advanced box-to-box role.

The more attack-minded position frees up the £74,000-per-week gem and allows him to maximise his key attributes, while the holding role restricts the influence he can have over proceedings.

And when comparing Kessie’s and Pogba’s underlying numbers for last season, it’s clear there are some striking similarities between the pairs.

As per fbref.com, the Milan maestro recorded 4.4 non-penalty Expected Goals and managed 2.14 Shot-creating actions per 90 compared to Pogba’s tallies of 2.8 and 3.37, respectively.

But the resemblances don’t stop there. While Kessie pulled off a remarkable 76.7% of his dribbles, won 1.23 tackles per 90 and made an average of 5.06 passes into the final third of the pitch, United’s star man put up totals of 61.4%, 1.08 and 5.3.

It’s not just the stats that back up Kessie’s ability to play further up the pitch, though. Former Italy striker Antonio Cassano even compared him to a previous Premier League box-to-box great.

“I want Kessie in my team, he scores, he assists, he has personality, he has quality, he doesn’t lose the ball, he is intelligent. I’m watching him carefully, against Roma, he was devastating,” he said (via MilanLive).

“He reminds me of the Yaya Touré of the best times. He is a different player, but in terms of impact, he is holding Milan’s midfield alone.”

Therefore, United could secure Pogba’s natural successor by snapping Kessie up over the winter window or next summer, providing Solskjaer with a player he would surely love the opportunity to work with.

And, in other news…Rob Dawson reveals worrying Man Utd transfer update, Ole may be concerned 

Newcastle United must prepare for the departure of star man Allan Saint-Maximin this summer – and may need to take a risk on his replacement.

What’s the word?

According to a report by the Daily Mail, Newcastle’s star forward is expected to be sold this summer, with the fee received expected to be pumped back into Eddie Howe’s squad.

Among the Frenchman’s mooted replacements are Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson and Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby, while Arsenal’s Nicolas Pepe has also been linked with a switch to St. James’ Park this season.

However, in a recent interview with Football Insider, Ex Leeds United forward Noel Whelan claimed that a move for the Gunners attacker would be something of a risk.

Speaking about the Magpies’ potential interest in the 26-year-old, Whelan said: “A loan move may be something that Newcastle might fancy. These are the sort of players they will be targeting. He could turn his career around and end up being that big-ticket player. But right now, it’s a gamble.”

Bye-bye Saint-Maximin

Saint-Maximin has yet again proved his importance this season in more ways than one.

His five goals and three assists have been imperative in Newcastle’s bid to secure Premier League survival, though it’s his dribbling and ball carrying ability that have been the biggest positive for the Magpies.

It comes as no surprise that the 25-year-old ranks top of the Newcastle squad for successful dribbles per match with 4.3. Quite simply, his ability on the ball is often the catalyst for his side’s counterattacks, with the £28.8m-rated forward by far and away being the most efficient carrier of the ball.

However, while losing a player of Saint-Maximin’s calibre would certainly come as a huge blow to the Magpies, they could employ a like-for-like replacement in Nicolas Pepe – the Arsenal winger who has struggled to live up to his enormous transfer fee since signing from Lille in 2019.

Although he has faced scrutiny, he has not exactly been a flop in England thus far. The potential has always been there, with his end product on display for all to see just last season – when he bagged an impressive 10 goals over just 29 appearances for the Gunners.

Indeed, his £72m fee has arguably been his biggest enemy during his time in England, but a move to Newcastle for a rumoured fee of £25m could release the reins for the 26-year-old Ivory Coast international.

Pepe is a technical player, just like Saint-Maximin, who thrives in possession, more specifically within the attacking third. With around 35 touches in the attacking third per 90, he ranks in the 93rd percentile amongst positionally similar players within Europe’s top 5 leagues over the past 365 days.

For context, Saint-Maximin is ranked within the 81st percentile with around 23 touches in the attacking third per 90.

In this aspect, the £140k-per-week Pepe who Joe Cole claimed “makes things happen” would serve as an upgrade for his composure in the final third.

He may be a risk to some, but the underlying stats suggest that the Arsenal winger has everything it takes to replace Allan Saint-Maximin at Newcastle United – leading us to believe that PIF must take a chance on Pepe this summer.

In other news: Fee agreed: NUFC now already set to seal 1st summer signing, Howe surely over the moon