All posts by h716a5.icu

Manchester United had a rather disappointing 2021/22 Premier League season despite ultimately finishing in a European place.

With 38 games played, the Red Devils won 16, drew ten and lost 12, scoring 57 goals and conceding 57 along the way.

To put that into perspective, United scored fewer goals than the likes of West Ham United and Leicester City and conceded more times than the likes of Brighton, Wolves and Burnley.

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One figure that barely got a look in throughout this campaign was defender Phil Jones.

With just four league appearances to his name, the Englishman only completed the full 90 minutes on one occasion which came during United’s 1-0 defeat to Wolves at Old Trafford back in January.

Having been described as being “annihilated” by his injuries in the words of his former teammate Rio Ferdinand, the former United star also claimed that Jones should have been removed from the club a long time ago, dubbing him a “waste of time.”

Now that this dismal season has ended and the summer transfer window is around the corner, this could give the club the chance to finally get rid of the 30-year-old.

Should getting rid of Jones end up on Erik ten Hag’s to-do list for the summer, one figure that the club have been linked with recently that could be a suitable replacement for him is Alessandro Bastoni.

The 23-year-old joined Inter back in the 2017 summer transfer window from fellow Serie A side Atalanta. Since then he’s gone on to make 118 appearances for the club, chipping in with three goals and eight assists along the way.

To highlight his defensive capabilities, the £54m-rated centre-back ended the recent Serie A campaign in the top five of Inter’s squad for the average of tackles (1.4), interceptions (1.1), clearances (1.8) and blocks (0.4) made.

Labelled as a “phenomenon” by Serie A expert Conor Clancy, Bastoni clearly has the defensive talent to be a solid addition to United’s creaky backline.

If strengthening and refreshing the defence is going to be one of Ten Hag’s priorities for United this summer, then getting rid of Jones and bringing the Inter star to Old Trafford could be a good way to start.

However, with teams such as Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City reportedly having their eyes on Bastoni as well, this could be a big issue for the Red Devils as those two teams would be able to offer the centre-back the chance to play in the Champions League, which could then put United at a disadvantage.

In other news: Ten Hag eyes MUFC bid for “complete” £63m-rated machine, he can be their next Bruno

Celtic have been handed a timely boost in their reported potential pursuit of Manchester City defender Ko Itakura. 

The lowdown: Hoops linked

Recently, the Glasgow giants were credited with an interest in the Japan international, although it was believed they faced a battle with Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt for the capture.

At the time of the initial links however, Ikatura was on loan at 2.Bundesliga outfit Schalke, with the German club possessing an option to make the move permanent for €6million (£5.1million).

Now, it seems that the 25-year-old versatile centre-back could be up for grabs this summer…

The latest: One down

Coming after Anthony Joseph revealed Ange Postecoglou’s renewed interest, Schalke have now confirmed on Twitter that they ‘will not activate’ the option to sign the eight-times capped ace wanted by the Bhoys.

The Tweet explained: “Difficult decision: The #S04 will not activate the purchase option for Ko Itakura.”

The verdict: Time to strike

Unlikely to make the grade back with Premier League champions Man City, Ikatura could be available at a cut-price fee for either Frankfurt or Celtic after missing out on the expected move to Germany.

During the 2021/22 campaign, the £3.15million valued man scored four times in 32 German second-tier outings whilst operating primarily as a central defender.

Also capable of playing as a defensive midfielder, the Japanese star, who was praised for his ‘calm’ nature by manager Dimitrios Grammozis, would be a superb addition to Postecoglou’s ranks at Celtic Park.

Having already shown a keen eye for signing elite Japanese talent with the additions of Yosuke Ideguchi, Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi, Postecoglou should be doing everything in his power to make this deal become a reality.

In other news, a journalist has provided a key Celtic transfer update. Read more here.

Southampton transfer target Mateusz Lis is reportedly undergoing a medical at St Mary’s ahead of a move to the Premier League, according to a Polish source.

The Lowdown: Free agent

The 25-year-old joined Turkish club Altay from Wisla Krakow last summer, but left after just one season following their relegation from the Super Lig, meaning that he is currently a free agent.

Despite Alex McCarthy committing his future to the Saints after putting pen to paper on a new deal last year, the goalkeeping department is a priority for the south coast club in the upcoming window. Fraser Forster looks set to join Tottenham, whilst Willy Caballero’s fate also hangs in the balance.

Following a fresh update, it appears that Ralph Hasenhuttl has identified his target and is about to bolster his ranks with a new addition between the sticks.

The Latest: Lis undergoing Southampton medical

When speaking on Posten’s Football Transfers YouTube Channel (via Hampshire Live), Polish reporter Tomas Wlodarczyk confirmed that Lis is very close to agreeing a long-term deal at Southampton.

He revealed: “Mateusz Lis is in England and undergoing medical tests in Southampton.

“He will not be competing for a position number one or two at the English club. The plan is that he will be loaned out straight to France, possibly to Ligue 2 with Le Havre.”

The Verdict: Star in the making

Standing at 6 foot 4, Southampton’s apparent plan to loan Lis straight out would suggest that they see him as one for the future.

The Pole has kept 36 clean sheets throughout his playing career, but making the short-term switch to a club where he will get regular game-time could be crucial for his development. It should prove beneficial as he could hopefully return to Southampton at a later stage and fight for a place in the starting XI, having been battle-hardened from greater senior experience.

Lis represented Poland at under-20 level, and if he cam make a name for himself in the Premier League over time, he could earn the opportunity to play for his country’s first team in years to come.

From a Saints perspective, he might also offer a much younger backup for McCarthy compared to the likes of Forster and Caballero.

In other news… One of Southampton’s longest-serving players could be in line to leave St Mary’s this summer

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has revealed that Everton are now ‘ready’ to sell Andre Gomes.

The Lowdown: Expensive dud

Gomes signed for the Goodison Park outfit from FC Barcelona for £22m back in the summer of 2019, and now earns a whopping £120,000-per-week on Merseyside.

It is safe to say that it has not quite worked out for the Portugal international, who has seen his game time limited by constant injury problems, and when he has been on the pitch, he has struggled to make any sort of real impact, scoring just two goals and making a mere seven assists over four seasons at the club (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: ‘Ready’ to sell

Taking to Twitter, O’Rourke has revealed that Frank Lampard’s team are now ‘ready’ to sell Gomes this summer:

“Everton are ready to offload Portugal midfielder Andre Gomes this summer.”

The Verdict: Get rid

Gomes is 28 years of age now, and so the summer provides the optimum time to get rid and get a decent fee for him.

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When he has been available, Lampard has Richard Buxton has pointed out.

Nonetheless, the Blues already have plenty of options in the centre of midfield already, and so Gomes would not really be that much of a miss if he were to leave.

In other news, find out which ‘quality’ starlet EFC are now eyeing here!

Leeds United have been linked with a surprise move for Manchester United defender Phil Jones.

The Lowdown: Old Trafford struggles

Jones, capable of playing as a centre-back, right-back or holding midfielder, is entering the final 12 months of his Old Trafford contract.

The 30-year-old has struggled massively over the last three seasons, though, making just six Premier League appearances.

He has missed a whopping 217 games through injury during his career and was labelled as a ‘waste of time’ by Rio Ferdinand, but it looks as if he may well be of interest to Victor Orta.

The Latest: Leeds interest?

According to Marca, Leeds are one of three top-flight clubs interested in a move for Jones.

Southampton and newly-promoted Fulham are also name-checked in their report, with Jones holding a meagre £2.7m Transfermarkt valuation.

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The Verdict: Avoid…

The Whites struggled massively at the back last season, with Norwich the only side to concede more goals than Leeds’ tally of 79. Jesse Marsch was thought to be planning a defensive overhaul, but a possible move for Jones wouldn’t be a smart one.

As mentioned, he has a woeful injury record which is even worse than Leeds midfielder Adam Forshaw and has hardly played over the past three years.

Marsch already has four senior centre-back options and a fifth in academy star Charlie Cresswell, so Orta should stay well away from a potential deal.

In other news: £25m: Leeds now want ‘complete’ Phillips replacement; just waiting for Radz green light. 

Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph has delivered a fresh update on Celtic’s interest in Lommel SK midfielder Vinicius Souza.

The Lowdown: Celtic monitoring Souza

The Brazilian first joined the Belgian outfit when he made the move from Flamengo two years ago, but ended up spending the entirety of the 2021/22 season out on loan at KV Mechelen in a bid to find some much-needed game time.

Even though the 23-year-old’s contract with Lommel isn’t set to expire until 2025, this need for regular minutes has seen him being linked with a move away from the Limburg-based side in recent weeks, in particular to the Scottish Premiership, with the maestro believed to be on the wish-list of the Hoops.

The Latest: Joseph’s transfer update

Taking to Twitter, Joseph shared a new update on Celtic’s interest in Souza, with the player ‘keen’ to assess all his options before making a decision. He wrote:

“Celtic are interested in Lommel SK defensive midfielder Vinicius Souza but face competition from a number of clubs, including PSV, Fenerbahce, Club Brugge and Bologna.

“PSV made a formal approach to Lommel earlier this week.

“It’s understood the player wants to play in Europe next season, but has some reservations about moving to the Scottish Premiership.

“However, he is keen to take time to explore all his options.”

The Verdict: Bitton replacement

Despite Souza having doubts about making the switch to Glasgow as a result of wanting to play at the highest level, let’s not forget that the Bhoys have qualified for the Champions League and will be showcasing their talent on the world stage next season, something that surely has to attract potential new signings.

The Rio de Janeiro-born talent was once dubbed “incredible” at breaking up attacks by Belgian footballer Steven Defour, and the evidence supports that – his 3.8 tackles per game in Belgium are far more than any Celtic player managed last season.

He could be an ideal replacement for Nir Bitton, with Ange Postecoglou now on the lookout for a new holding midfielder since the 30-year-old’s departure.

Lommel, his parent club, are owned by the City Football Group, which the Hoops’ new head of recruitment, Mark Lawwell, was involved in before arriving at Parkhead – could that existing link prove to be essential in Celtic’s chase to secure their man?

In other news… a BBC pundit has backed Celtic to complete the signing of a highly-rated transfer target this summer.

Leeds United are reportedly looking to tie down Crysencio Summerville down to a new deal at the Yorkshire club this summer.

What’s the news?

In a recent Twitter post, journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano had this to say about the current situation regarding the winger and his immediate future at Elland Road.

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He said: “Nottingham Forest and AZ Alkmaar are interested in Crysencio Summerville with many clubs exploring this possibility, but Leeds are busy trying to keep the player at Elland Road by extending his contract. Negotiations ongoing to decide his future as soon as possible.” 

Back in September 2020, the Yorkshire club signed Summerville from Feyenoord’s U19 side. Since then, the 20-year-old has gone on to make 27 appearances for the Whites’ U23 side, scoring 13 goals and delivering eight assists in the process.

The winger has also appeared nine times for the Whites’ first team but has yet to find himself on the scoresheet or delivering an assist for any of his teammates.

All of those senior appearances came during the most recent campaign, with six of them coming in the Premier League, the latest of which came during their 3-0 win over Watford.

In those six appearances, the Dutchman managed to complete 50 passes, recover 16 loose balls, deliver four crosses, make five interceptions and win four tackles.

Leeds fans will be delighted

Even though Summerville has not become a regular figure in the first team as yet, nor has he managed to deliver a goal contribution, the fact that these two clubs that Romano mentions are after him shows how highly thought of the 20-year-old is.

Also, with Leeds looking to keep the player where he is for the foreseeable future, this demonstrates just how much they value him.

This would surely be music to the ears of a lot of Leeds fans that may feel the youngster has what it takes to become an important senior player in the team.

Moving forward, should the winger put pen to paper on a new deal at Elland Road and the club decides to not loan him out, their upcoming pre-season period could be vital for the player and his chances to impress Jesse Marsch and show that he has what it takes to be a useful squad option.

AND in other news: “Leeds are monitoring..”: Romano drops big transfer update, it’s great news for Marsch

Everton have been linked on numerous occasions to Conor Gallagher this summer, and now a new update has emerged on the club’s pursuit of the player.

What’s the latest?

According to The Daily Telegraph journalist Matt Law, Everton remain interested in signing Conor Gallagher this summer.

In Law’s latest piece for the publication, the journalist reveals that the Toffees are still interested in signing the Chelsea midfielder this summer.

Lampard can land his own Bellingham

Frank Lampard is no stranger to Gallagher as he worked with him during his time as Chelsea manager, so he has sound knowledge and understanding of the strengths and capabilities that the young midfielder can bring to Goodison Park.

The £50m-priced dynamo has been impressing the world of football with his performances for Crystal Palace over his season-long loan deal that has earned him the accolades of Young Player of the Year from the London Football Awards and was named Crystal Palace’s player of the year.

Gallagher scored eight goals, delivered three assists and created five big chances, making 1.1 key passes, two tackles and winning 5.9 duels on average per game, as well as being successful in completing the majority of dribbles (57%) over 34 Premier League appearances.

His manager for the season, Patrick Vieira, gave high praise to the young player hailing him “special” in an interview ahead of the FA Cup semi-final clash against Chelsea that Gallagher was unavailable to play.

“It is difficult to find in the squad a player with Conor’s type of energy.

“He is preparing himself like he is going to play and that is what makes him really special.”

If Moshiri could land a deal for the Chelsea midfielder, Lampard could have his very own Jude Bellingham on his hands, with the Borussia Dortmund star named as one of the most comparable players to Gallagher over this season according to FBRef.

Although Bellingham completed more passes (1298) and more shot-creating actions (98), Gallagher has delivered more prolifically when it comes to shooting, with five more goals from his midfield position, also taking more shots on goal (52) and possessing a better shooting accuracy (42.3%).

Gallagher’s hunger for goals could be to improve Everton’s attacking threat following a difficult relegation scrap last season where the side scored 23 fewer goals than they conceded leading to a 16th-place finish.

With that being said, Moshiri must do everything he can to seal a deal for the Chelsea youngster even on a loan deal, because if he can emulate his output at Crystal Palace with Everton next season it could put the Toffees in a much more comfortable position moving forward.

AND in other news, Lamps can land huge Iwobi upgrade as Everton eye £15m talent who’s like Eden Hazard…

Nottingham Forest are reportedly ‘in contact’ to sign Bayern Munich youngster Omar Richards, according to reputable reporter Florian Plettenberg. 

The lowdown: Mercurial talent

Signed by the Bundesliga giants from Reading on a free transfer in 2021 (BBC), Richards had made great strides in domestic football prior to heading to Germany.

The 24-year-old left-back made 104 appearances for the Berkshire outfit and was an England Under-21 international before earning a gigantic switch to a European superpower.

Now it appears as though London-born Richards could be about to return to England and Forest have initiated the potential move…

The latest: ‘In contact…’

Taking to Twitter, Sky Sports reporter Plettenberg has claimed that Nottingham Forest have made steps towards signing Richards this summer.

He stated: “X News Omar #Richards: Nottingham is working hard on a transfer! Both clubs are in contact. Bayern is keen to let him go. Transfer fee probably around €10-12m. But: No total agreement so far and the player has to say YES first. Further talks are planned. #NFFC @SkySportDE”

The verdict: Do the deal

Valued at £6.3m and under contract in Germany until 2025 (Transfermarkt), signing Richards for the mooted fee would be a superb piece of business from the City Ground hierarchy.

Predominantly operating as a conventional left-back, the Englishman – who was hailed as an ‘interesting talent’ by football writer Sam Jones – can also play in more advanced positions and would therefore be ideally suited to operate in Steve Cooper’s system which relies heavily on the impact of wing-backs in attacking situations.

Despite being on the periphery of the squad in Munich for the most part playing second fiddle to the supremely talented Alphonso Davies, Richards still managed 17 appearances across all competitions last season, and has gained invaluable experience at the top level including UEFA Champions League action.

Sharing closely matched stylistic traits with Brighton star Marc Cucurella, Barcelona sensation Sergino Dest and Bayern teammate Davies (Fbref), the Reds would be landing a prodigious talent at a relatively low fee should this deal come to fruition.

Wolverhampton Wanderers must do all they can to sign Vitoria de Guimaraes midfielder Andre Almeida this summer as he could be the perfect upgrade on Morgan Gibbs-White.

What’s the story?

A recent report in Portuguese outlet Jornal de Notícias (via Sport Witness) claims Wolves are one of the contenders to sign the midfielder who has just 12 months remaining on his contract which includes a €50m (£42.3m) release clause.

However, Vitoria have the option to extend it by a further 12 months which they could use to ensure he doesn’t leave on a free transfer next summer.

In a further sign that he is due to leave the club, the report states how he has not been included on the club’s captain’s list for next season as it quickly becomes ‘inevitable’ that he’ll leave. As a result, the Old Gold now have the green light to make their move for the midfielder.

He’s better than Gibbs-White

One player he would be competing for a spot in the team with is Gibbs-White who has been recently linked with a move away from Molineux. The 22-year-old who is an academy graduate at the club spent last season on loan at Sheffield United where he impressed massively.

In 37 league appearances for the Blades, he was directly involved in 22 goals and has since attracted interest from Premier League sides. If Wolves struggle to keep hold of him then Almeida could be the perfect replacement.

We think he’s better than Gibbs-White and if you compare the two you can see why. He had an 86% pass accuracy per game last season compared to the Englishman’s 73%.

Gibbs-White also lost possession 19.5 times last season which was a lot more than Almeida who only gave the ball away 6.8 times proving he is more reliable.

Both players are also the same age so Almeida would have plenty of time to develop and get even better playing for Wolves.

It’s a transfer that makes a lot of sense for everyone involved; it allows the player to move to a stronger league whilst playing under a Portuguese manager and for a club that has a strong contingent of players from the country.

Vitoria will also get a good fee for him which they can reinvest themselves. It’s a no-brainer and Bruno Lage has to make it happen.

IN other news: Wolves plotting bid to sign “exceptional” £8.4m brute, just imagine him & Coady…