Erik ten Hag has leapt to the defence of Joshua Zirkzee and Bruno Fernandes, insisting his underperforming Manchester United stars will improve.
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Rangers must look to complete the signing of an "instinctive" finisher who would be a huge upgrade on their current striker options, according to player turned pundit Michael Stewart.
Philippe Clement's still have a Scottish Cup final clash with Celtic to look forward to this season, as they look to add that trophy to their Scottish League Cup triumph earlier in the campaign.
Once that game is finished, attention will primarily turn to the transfer market, as Rangers look to get some important and influential business over the line this summer to close the gap on their rivals in the league.
Abdallah Sima is only on loan at Ibrox currently, doing an impressive job since arriving from Premier League side Brighton, and the Gers will surely look to bring him in on a permanent basis before the start of next season.
Fabio Silva is in a similar situation, but he hasn't enjoyed as big of an impact for the Scottish Premiership giants, and a recent update has suggested he will be recalled by Wolves and then sold on to a new club.
Aberdeen midfielder Connor Barron is also believed to be a transfer target for Rangers, as they lock horns with Celtic for his signature. At 21, the youngster is still a maturing player, but one with a high ceiling, being lauded as a "brave" footballer by Jim Goodwin.
Speaking on BBC Sportsround [via Ibrox News], Stewart said Rangers should sign Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland this summer, following an outstanding season: "If I was Celtic, I probably wouldn’t go for Shankland. But across the city at Rangers, it’s just a no-brainer. He would play, he’s far better than Dessers, and he would be on top fitness and sharpness."
The £3,000-a-week Shankland has been linked with a move to Rangers a number of times this season, with talk of a move happening in the January transfer window at one point, before it failed to go through.
He should be viewed as a primary target in the coming weeks and months, having topped the Scottish Premiership scoring charts this season, netting 24 goals and sitting six clear of second-placed Matt O'Riley. The fact that he supported the Gers as a boy only adds to the likelihood of him coming in, and Neil McCann's tip for the Scotland squad sums up his brilliance.
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At 28, Shankland is a great point in his career to join Rangers and score goals from the off, potentially enjoying three or four years there in his prime. As Stewart alludes to, it is a no-brainer for them to strike a deal, and the move would surely appeal to him.
To further use an already overused analogy, it really was a Premier League season of two halves for Tottenham Hotspur this year.
Ange Postecoglou got off to a flying start in the hot seat, going unbeaten in his first ten games, but then injuries took hold, and for the rest of the campaign, the Lilywhites struggled to find any real consistency.
However, with Europa League qualification secured, the season has to be considered a success, and on the whole, the players signed last summer as good additions.
However, with the transfer window here again, the club looks set to strengthen the squad, and one player touted for a move to N17 could become a brilliant partner for Cristian Romero.
According to a recent report from Sky Sports News, Tottenham Hotspur are one of several clubs interested in signing Everton's star defender Jarrad Branthwaite.
The report names Manchester City and Manchester United as the two other interested parties, and reveals the Toffees value the Englishman at around £60m to £70m, and will be forced to sell one of their stars to comply with PSR regulations this summer.
It would be a pricey deal to complete, but with the Lilywhites conceding a massive 61 goals this season, it might be money they need to spend.
Now, if Levy and Co decide to go big and spend the money needed to get their man, then it's unlikely he'd come to North London to sit on the bench.
However, with Romero being one of the club's two vice-captains and a firm fan favourite, Branthwaite would likely be fighting with Micky van de Ven to partner the Argentine at the back.
This doesn't necessarily mean the Dutchman would be relegated to the bench either, though, as he's proven himself more than capable at left-back – at least in the mind of Dutch national team manager Ronald Koeman.
He could bounce between full-back and centre-back to help prevent a player like Destiny Udogie from playing too many games too young and risking his fitness.
However, in case this deal does happen, we should probably compare the pair before we start contemplating where else the rapid defender could play.
The best way to do this is likely through their underlying numbers, and in this area, the Toffees' 6 foot 5 "ball-playing physical beast", as described by data analyst Ben Mattinson, has an advantage.
For example, while he produces fewer progressive passes and has a lower passing accuracy, his defensive statistics are far better. He makes more tackles, blocks, clearances, and interceptions while winning more aerial duels and even providing more of a goal threat per 90.
|
Branthwaite vs Van de Ven |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats per 90 |
Branthwaite |
Van de Ven |
|
Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists |
0.08 |
0.02 |
|
Progressive Passes |
2.14 |
4.15 |
|
Passing Accuracy |
79.8% |
93.8% |
|
Shot-Creating Actions |
0.72 |
0.42 |
|
Goal-Creating Actions |
0.12 |
0.04 |
|
Tackles |
1.91 |
1.88 |
|
Blocks |
1.47 |
0.96 |
|
Interceptions |
1.45 |
0.69 |
|
Clearances |
4.71 |
3.00 |
|
Aerial Duels Won |
2.72 |
1.46 |
|
All Stats via FBref for the 23/24 League Season |
||
Moreover, the fact he is left-footed would help tremendously in playing alongside the right-footed Argentine, and while he has suffered from injuries in the past, his 29 games missed since the start of the 2020/21 season isn't as bad as the Dutchman's 40 missed games in the same period.
Ultimately, Van de Ven is a quality player and will likely be part of the Lilywhites squad for some time to come, but if the club can get their hands on Branthwaite this summer, he might well become Romero's perfect partner at the heart of the defence.
Spurs keen on signing "special" £41m upgrade on Bentancur
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Jack Salveson Holmes
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Dimitar Berbatov slammed Manchester United's players after their 0-0 draw with Aston Villa and issued a warning to Erik ten Hag.
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Southampton coolly and confidently beat Leeds United in one of the most pressurised one-off games in football, winning 1-0 in the Championship play-off final to secure their Premier League status again.
Russell Martin's Saints didn't fluke the slim victory, frustrating and getting under the skin of Daniel Farke's out-of-sorts Whites throughout, whilst also being able to deliver the killer blow when needed courtesy of Adam Armstrong firing home unmarked.
Now, the summer suddenly starts to look very intriguing and interesting for the newly promoted side with a whole host of impressive names now being linked with a switch to St. Mary's to have a go at top-flight football.
Adam Lallana, who was formerly a Southampton youth product, is edging closer to a return – according to reports – and he could be partnered in the centre of the park with this gem if another deal comes to fruition.
According to Southampton Echo journalist Alfie House, Martin's men are very much keen on tieing down Flynn Downes to a permanent deal on the South Coast after an exceptional loan spell this season.
House further states that the Saints will also aim to sign Ryan Fraser on a permanent deal, who has managed 11 goal contributions on loan from Newcastle United in his own right, with Southampton showing they mean business attempting to get so many captures done so early on.
Downes could form an electric duo with Lallana in central midfield for the newly promoted outfit, with the current West Ham United man deployed as a slick operator of the ball who rarely makes a mistake, whilst the now 36-year-old has more of an eye for goal going off his previous Saints exploits.
Bagging 60 goals and picking up 45 assists from 265 appearances last time around on the South Coast, there could be some apprehension from Southampton supporters that Lallana might well taint his legendary status at the club so late into his playing days.
Yet, his versatility to play all across the midfield, and even as a winger if necessary, means he will be a useful utility option for the group, and a figure that will be vital for the likes of Downes who aren't as experienced with what is required in the cut and thrust of the top division.
|
Downes vs Lallana – FBRef stats over the last year |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stat – per 90 mins |
Downes |
Lallana |
|
Shots total |
0.35 |
1.08 |
|
Assists |
0.07 |
0.10 |
|
Shot-creating actions |
2.33 |
3.23 |
|
Passes attempted |
76.59 |
53.47 |
|
Pass completion % |
93.0% |
88.5% |
|
Progressive passes |
4.31 |
4.11 |
|
Progressive carries |
1.69 |
1.08 |
|
Touches (in attacking penalty area) |
0.64 |
4.60 |
|
Progressive passes received |
1.52 |
6.37 |
|
Tackles |
2.12 |
0.98 |
|
Interceptions |
1.66 |
0.39 |
|
Stats by FBRef |
||
As can be seen by glancing at the table above, Lallana and Downes would complement each other well next season with Downes shining in certain aspects – such as tackles and interceptions – compared to his more experienced counterpart shining going forward in shot-creating actions and touches in the attacking penalty area.
Martin will want the 25-year-old to continue playing with this grit present in his game in the Premier League, having described his star loanee as being "monstrous" earlier in the season for the sheer amount of tackles he managed in a game versus Birmingham City, on top of his composure to rarely misplace a pass.
It was evident in the play-off final as well, seen in this crunching tackle from Downes to kill the Whites coming forward, to ensure Southampton gained a foothold in key moments.
Lallana did only manage to pick up a solitary assist last season donning his now old Brighton and Hove Albion colours, but his game could be raised knowing he's back at his beloved Saints.
It will be an entertaining campaign for those on the South Coast to hopefully savour, as many new faces get lined up to join the ranks.
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Enzo Maresca has admitted that he once watched Liverpool 38 times in a single week to analyse their tactics, ahead of Chelsea's meeting with the Reds.
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Celtic ended their 2023/24 campaign on a high last month as they won the SFA Cup thanks to a 90th-minute strike from Adam Idah at Hampden Park.
The Hoops beat their local rivals to secure the trophy and ensure that they came away from the season with two pieces of silverware added to the cabinet, having lifted the Scottish Premiership title the previous weekend.
Brendan Rodgers, however, may look for progress on the continent as his team were knocked out of the Champions League in the group stages.
The Bhoys finished rock bottom of their group, which included Feyenoord, Lazio, and Atletico Madrid, with one win in six games and may pursue more success next term.
Rodgers could use the summer transfer window, which officially opened for business on Friday, to bolster his squad and add more quality options across the park to compete in all competitions.
Central midfield is one area that could do with further additions after Reo Hatate endured an injury-ravaged season, and the Hoops are already reportedly looking at an impressive SPFL midfielder.
It was recently reported by Sky Sports that the Scottish giants are interested in excellent Dundee central midfielder Luke McCowan ahead of next term.
The outlet stated that Rodgers' side have been tracking the left-footed star's progress with the Premiership side, ahead of a potential swoop for his services.
His current contract with Dundee is due to expire at the end of the 2024/25 campaign and it remains to be seen whether or not he will put pen to paper on an extension.
This means that the current transfer window could be their last chance to cash in on the 26-year-old maestro before they lose him for nothing next year, which could open the door for Celtic to swoop in and secure a deal.
Sky Sports also claimed that the Hoops are in talks with Portuguese giants Benfica over a deal to sign Paulo Bernardo on a permanent basis after his loan spell.
They currently have an option to sign him for £6m but are trying to renegotiate to bring him back to Parkhead for a fee in the region of £3.5m this summer.
With McCowan, though, Rodgers could land a dream alternative to Hatate in the middle of the park to compete with the Japanese midfielder, or to play in his place if the injury issues continue into next season.
The 26-year-old dynamo came into this term off the back of 32 appearances in the Scottish Premiership in Ange Postecoglou's last year with the club.
His campaign was almost immediately disrupted by a calf injury that was sustained on the 13th of August, which kept him out of action for six matches for club and country.
Hatate then suffered a hamstring issue in October that ruled him out of 20 games for Celtic and Japan combined, with his return coming in January.
However, just a few weeks after his return at the start of the year, the central midfielder suffered another calf injury on international duty and missed 14 more matches.
This means that the right-footed ace was out injured for a whopping 40 games during the 2023/24 campaign for club and country combined, which severely limited his impact on the pitch for the Bhoys.
|
23/24 Premiership |
Reo Hatate |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
16 |
|
Starts |
12 |
|
Goals |
3 |
|
Assists |
4 |
|
Duel success rate |
49% |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
|
As you can see in the table above, Hatate only made 12 starts in the Premiership and that meant that he did not have a telling say in the title race over the course of the season.
However, the impressive ace did contribute with seven direct goal involvements in those 12 starts, which speaks to the quality he can provide in the final third when fit and available to play.
That is why Rodgers will surely be hoping that the midfield whiz can avoid another injury-ravaged year next term, as the Japan international could be a huge player for the Scottish giants if he is available week-in-week-out.
If his injury issues do persist, though, then the Hoops will need an adequate alternative who can step in and chip in at the top end of the pitch from a midfield position, which is why McCowan could be a fantastic signing for the club.
Firstly, Celtic may not have to break the bank to bring him to Parkhead due to his contractual situation and him currently playing in the SPFL.
He is not playing in a major European league and his contract does not have years left to run, which could allow the Bhoys to snap him up for a reasonable price – making him an ideal addition to provide depth in the squad.
Secondly, McCowan is in the peak years of his career at the age of 26 and has proven himself in the Premiership. This suggests that he could hit the ground running and make an immediate impact, whilst still having plenty of years of service left to give to the Hoops.
His performances on the pitch for Dundee during the 2023/24 campaign also indicate that the quality is there for him to be a dream alternative to Hatate in terms of what they offer in a central midfield position.
If you compare his form in the top-flight this season with the Japanese maestro's displays for Celtic when he was fit for the majority of the previous term, McCowan appears to be an excellent target for the club to bring in as an alternative option.
|
Premiership |
Luke McCowan (23/24) |
Reo Hatate (22/23) |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
37 |
32 |
|
Goals |
10 |
6 |
|
Assists |
5 |
8 |
|
Key passes per game |
1.6 |
1.3 |
|
Big chances created |
9 |
10 |
|
Tackles + interceptions per game |
2.5 |
1.5 |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
||
As you can see in the table above, both midfielders provide quality as scorers and creators of goals from the middle of the park, and do so at a similar rate.
They also both get stuck in to win possession back through tackles and interceptions, with the Dundee star, who was dubbed "tenacious" by writer Kai Watson, potentially being able to offer more in that respect.
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Therefore, McCowan appears to be an ideal option to come in and take Hatate's place when he is unavailable, or to simply compete with him for a starting berth, which is why he could be an excellent signing by Rodgers.
The England midfielder scored one and helped create another at Stamford Bridge as Enzo Maresca's side got back to winning ways in the Premier League
Questions were asked of Cole Palmer following Chelsea's loss at Liverpool last time out in the Premier League, but the England midfielder bounced back in sensational fashion to lead the Blues to a 2-1 victory over Newcastle on Sunday.
Palmer thought he had given Enzo Maresca's side an early lead when he latched onto Nicolas Jackson's pass, but his strike was ruled out for offside. However, Chelsea did break the deadlock after 18 minutes as Pedro Neto latched onto Palmer's delicious through-ball and squared for Jackson to tap home.
The Blues were the better side, but found themselves pegged back when Alexander Isak stole in to prod Lewis Hall's left-wing cross into an empty net. However, Palmer stepped up to re-establish the home side's lead two minutes into the second half when he powered a strike past Nick Pope at his near post.
Neto hit the post with a header shortly after, but Chelsea had to work hard to see out the victory, with Reece James and Moises Caicedo both making last-ditch blocks to deny Isak a second equaliser.
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Leeds United missed out on promotion to the Premier League in one of the worst ways possible last month as they were beaten in the play-off final at Wembley.
An entire season of effort culminated in a drab 1-0 defeat to Southampton, thanks to a first-half goal from Adam Armstrong, and the Whites must now prepare for a second year in the Championship.
Head coach Daniel Farke will look back on the 2023/24 campaign and identify ways to improve his side to ensure that they do not fall short for a second time.
|
Leeds' biggest xG underperformers |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
23/24 Championship |
xG |
Goals |
xG differential |
|
Georginio Rutter |
16.05 |
7 |
-9.05 |
|
Patrick Bamford |
11.11 |
8 |
-3.11 |
|
Joe Rodon |
2.51 |
0 |
-2.51 |
|
Ethan Ampadu |
2.31 |
0 |
-2.31 |
|
Mateo Joseph |
2.43 |
1 |
-1.43 |
|
Stats via WhoScored |
|||
As you can see in the table above, three of his strikers underperformed against their xG and two of them, Patrick Bamford and Georginio Rutter, significantly underperformed – by a combined 12.16 xG.
Therefore, the German boss could dip into the market to bolster his attack during the summer transfer window, which officially opened for business earlier this month.
Work on that front already appears to be underway as the West Yorkshire side have been linked with an interest in a forward from the Bundesliga.
According to the printed edition of The Sunday Mirror (23/06/24), as relayed by the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds are one of the sides battling to sign Bayer Leverkusen ace Adam Hlozek this summer.
The report claims that the Whites and Premier League outfit West Ham United are just two of the teams keeping tabs on his situation with the Bundesliga champions.
It states that the versatile forward is set to move on from Xabi Alonso's side before the 2024/25 campaign and Farke is seemingly looking to take advantage of that with a swoop for his services over the coming weeks.
The outlet reveals that Leverkusen are prepared to demand a fee within the region of £12m for the Czechia international, who is currently competing for his country at the 2024 European Championship.
It now remains to be seen, however, whether or not Leeds are willing to offer the £12m that is apparently required to secure his services before the end of the transfer window, or if the player is keen on dropping down from the first division in Germany to the second tier in England.
If they can secure a deal to sign him, though, then they could land an exciting partner for Rutter in the final third next season in the Championship.
As illustrated in the xG table earlier, the French youngster endured an incredibly poor campaign in front of goal with his wasteful finishing for the Whites.
There is no hiding away from the fact that Rutter must improve his finishing quality next year as he spurned far too many high-quality opportunities for Farke's side.
However, the 22-year-old magician did do a lot of brilliant work in possession when it came to creating chances for other players to find the back of the net.
The former Hoffenheim starlet ended the season with a staggering 15 assists and 22 'big chances' created in 45 league appearances for Leeds, which shows that he consistently looked to set up his teammates.
That is backed up by fantastic underlying chance creation numbers as the right-footed wizard ranked highly amongst his positional peers in the division.
|
Georginio Rutter vs forwards |
|
|---|---|
|
23/24 Championship (per 90) |
Percentile rank |
|
Assists (0.39) |
Top 2% |
|
xAG (0.29) |
Top 2% |
|
Progressive passes (4.46) |
Top 3% |
|
Shot-creating actions (4.41) |
Top 2% |
|
Successful take-ons (3.06) |
Top 1% |
|
Stats via FBRef |
|
As you can see in the table above, he ranked among the best in his position at creating high-quality chances for his fellow attackers in the Championship.
These statistics show that the Leeds magician has the quality to constantly split open opposition defences with his creative and incisive passing from a number ten position.
This could make him an exciting partner for Hlozek at Elland Road as the young Czechia star has the potential to be a lethal finisher as well as an impressive creator in the Championship next season.
Firstly, he only turns 22 next month and this means that the club would be bringing in a talented young starlet with time to develop and improve throughout his time in Yorkshire.
Farke could work with the youngster, who was described as a "diamond" by U23 scout Antonio Mango, to help improve his performances on the pitch and, as a result, increase his value for the Whites to potentially make a profit on him further down the line.
Secondly, Hlozek has the finishing quality to be a reliable option for the German head coach in the final third, unlike Bamford, Joseph, and Rutter.
In his two seasons in the Bundesliga with Leverkusen, the 6 foot 1 marksman, who was dubbed "towering" by Mango, scored seven goals from an xG of 5.72 – an overperformance of 1.28.
The talented dynamo, who scored three goals in four DFB Pokal outings, has shown that he can finish at an impressive rate in a major European league, which suggests that he could be a ruthless finisher who could thrive with Rutter's creativity at Leeds.
|
Adam Hlozek's last two seasons for Sparta Prague |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Fortuna Liga |
20/21 |
21/22 |
Total |
|
Appearances |
19 |
29 |
48 |
|
Goals |
15 |
8 |
23 |
|
Assists |
8 |
13 |
21 |
|
Stats via Transfermarkt |
|||
As you can see in the table above, he arrived at Leverkusen off the back of two fantastic league seasons with Sparta Prague in his home country.
Hlozek racked up a staggering 44 direct goal contributions in 48 matches and Farke could look to unlock his creative quality, with 21 of those contributions being assists, to go along with his superb finishing.
He could, therefore, be an exciting partner for Rutter at the top end of the pitch for the Whites next term as his ability in front of goal could make up for the Frenchman's struggles in that department.
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It is now down to the club to win the battle for his signature and bring him to Elland Road to bolster Farke's attacking options for the 2024/25 campaign.