All posts by z3u9t.icu

Tottenham Hotspur will still be without two first-team players as they return to UEFA Europa Conference League action later this evening…

What’s the word?

Spurs’ form has taken a turn for the worst in recent weeks, losing three straight heavy defeats in the Premier League, whilst they only just salvaged a point against Stade Rennes in their group stage opener two weeks ago.

Nuno Santo will probably be wanting to change things up on the pitch but he’ll be limited in his options as he won’t be able to call upon either Steven Bergwijn or Ryan Sessegnon.

Bergwijn picked up an injury during that clash in France, whilst Sessegnon has been injured since the international break at the start of the month.

“Nothing has changed,” the Portuguese told the club’s official website this week. “Sess and Stevie will not join the group. The rest of the squad is available. We will also bring in some Under-23s to help us, and we go for the game.”

Big setback

This will be hugely frustrating for the 47-year-old and it may leave him a little worried heading into kickoff, even if it is against a team of much lower quality.

Spurs will remember the Dinamo Zagreb clash from last season, which saw the Croatian champions perform a stunning comeback to knock them out of the Europa League, so no team should be taken lightly.

Nuno badly needs to shake things up, so having a player with a point to prove like Sessegnon available would’ve been an interesting option, whilst Bergwijn had started their opening three league games before his injury.

It can’t be that much of a coincidence that the Lilywhites won all three of those games, too.

He is also one of their biggest threats in the final third, having averaged 1.3 key passes and 2.3 shots per game, a feat only bettered by top goalscorer Heung-min Son, as per WhoScored.

Nuno may have to call upon some of the players that have severely let him down in defeats to arch-rivals Arsenal, Chelsea and Crystal Palace in recent weeks.

The Spurs boss is also thought to be under increasing pressure, according to some reports in the press, so it’s crucial that he gets a result and avoids an embarrassing upset against Mura tonight.

Given their recent performances, Nuno may well be gutted to not be able to change his side completely heading into this fixture.

AND in other news, Paratici risking catastrophic Spurs transfer disaster with £40.5m-rated “lightweight”…

Aston Villa have confirmed some major news right before their Premier League season gets underway against Watford this weekend…

What’s the story?

Just a couple of days ahead of the game against the Hornets, the Midlands club revealed via their official website that their assistant head coach Richard O’Kelly has left his position with immediate effect, with Villa manager Dean Smith paying tribute to his work.

The 50-year-old said: “Richard has worked with me for the best part of a decade and we have always had a really close relationship. We are friends as well as colleagues and I will miss him. I would like to thank him on a personal level for the dedication and support he has always given me and on behalf of everyone at Aston Villa we wish him all the very best for the future.”

Responding to the news on Twitter, the Birmingham Mail’s Ashley Preece said: “Come as a real surprise to all of us; didn’t see it coming. Hoping to find out why it’s happened tomorrow. RoK was still bossing the analysts around on Sunday, telling them to come down for the HT debrief. A total surprise, Son. Points to a big coaching shake-up.”

Fans will be worried

As Preece says, this news on O’Kelly has come as a real shock to everyone associated with Villa, and with the news coming out on the verge of the new season, it is hardly great timing for Smith and co.

Given the fact that he’s worked with Smith for nine years now, and is clearly a big influence in and around the squad judging by the comments from the manager and Preece, Villa will be missing a huge figure in their backroom staff at a time when they really want to hit the ground running.

It comes as a real setback for Smith, and it’s one which may leave fans worried about how much of an impact the exit will have, and how quickly the Villa boss can find a replacement for him – all the more so with the 50-year-old’s assistant John Terry also departing in recent weeks.

Given the success of the summer transfer window thus far, Villa fans would no doubt have been very hopeful of getting a good start in the Premier League, but this latest news may just have thrown a spanner in the works.

Meanwhile, Ashley Preece has delivered a teasing transfer update on James Ward-Prowse…

Leeds United are reportedly interested in signing Basel striker Arthur Cabral, although a number of clubs are keen on acquiring his signature.

The Lowdown: Cabral’s stunning form for Basel

The 23-year-old has enjoyed a magnificent start to the 2021/22 season, scoring 13 goals in just 12 Swiss Super League starts.

Cabral’s current Basel deals expires in 2023, so the Swiss side will be aware that they are running out of time to receive good money for the Brazilian.

Having been linked with a move to Barcelona, it now appears as though Leeds are also in the race to sign him.

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The Latest: Leeds linked with move

According to ESPN Brasil [via Sport Witness], the Whites are one of the clubs keen on snapping up Cabral, with AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen also mentioned in the report.

Leeds were actually linked with a move for the youngster last year, too, but the transfer never materialised, so this is one Victor Orta and co have clearly been eyeing for a while.

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The Verdict: Good competition for Bamford

One area where Leeds are clearly lacking depth is up front, with Patrick Bamford relied upon too much for goals, having registered 17 league efforts last season – more than double that of second-placed Stuart Dallas and Jack Harrison.

Cabral could be an ideal man to come in and not necessarily start every week but provide competition, allowing Marcelo Bielsa to rotate more often and perhaps reduce the risk of injuries for Bamford in the process.

Granted, the £13.5million-rated Basel attacker isn’t proven in one of Europe’s top leagues yet, but at 23, he could mature as the years pass and become a key man.

Cabral’s superb record this season speaks for itself and it could be a transfer to keep an eye on given the long-term interest.

In other news, a pundit has hailed the return from injury of one Leeds player. Find out who it is here.

Many West Brom fans have been slamming the performance of Jordan Hugill in their 1-0 loss at Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

The striker, who is on loan from Norwich City, was brought on for Grady Diangana just after the hour mark but failed to make any sort of real impact on the game as Daniel Sinani’s early goal was enough to give the Terriers all three points.

Hugill lost out on all four of his duels and failed to record a single shot on goal, dribble or key pass, while he was also guilty of losing possession of the ball five times (SofaScore).

The 29-year-old has only scored one goal in 14 Championship appearances for the Baggies (Transfermarkt), so loaning him in has not proven to be good business so far.

West Brom fans slam Hugill

These Albion fans slammed Hugill’s performance on Twitter, with one supporter even going as far as to claim that the striker was ‘anonymous’ against Huddersfield:

“Hugill making me miss Diangana.”

Credit: @HOLLY073

“Hugill is a waste”

Credit: @TonySmi37140951

“Brings on Hugill who is just anonymous for the time he is on the pitch.”

Credit: @1toowatch

“Absolutely zero chance he’s worse than Hugill though, who is total dross!”

Credit: @MattW1lkes

“Nothing wrong with Reach. Hugill however…..”

Credit: @suttonbaggie

“Every night I go to bed thinking ‘what on earth does any football coach see in Jordan Hugill’? (I think of other things, too, of course).”

Credit: @DickLaurent96

In other news, find out what pre-game team news had these WBA fans buzzing

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith could sign his club’s new Paul Merson in Norwich City star Todd Cantwell.

What’s the story?

Reports from The Telegraph last summer suggested that Smith’s side were weighing up a potential move for the Canaries midfielder, but a deal failed to materialise before the end of the window.

And now, Football Insider claim that Villa are actually in advanced talks with Norwich over finally luring Cantwell to Villa Park, and that there is growing confidence a deal can be done.

Villa’s new Merson

A profile done by Villa’s official club website back in 2010 about five of the greatest midfielders to pull on a shirt, said of Merson: “On the pitch, he was a magician. Merson was brilliant with the ball at his feet and could do things others wouldn’t even dream about.

“People asked questions of the £6.75m fee John Gregory paid for him in 1998 but it definitely proved to be money well spent as he won games and charmed fans. Even though he was obviously struggling away from the sanctity of Villa Park and Bodymoor Heath, his displays were incredible for the club.

“Never afraid to put his foot in, his main attributes, however, were skill and flair as he wowed supporters throughout his four year spell. His finest accolade at the club was undoubtedly winning Players and Supporters Player of the Year awards in 2000.”

Described as someone with a “God-given” talent by his former youth team coach Gary Cockaday, Cantwell has that same natural ability that Merson was gifted with.

Former Norwich striker Dean Ashton raved about him, saying: “When I first saw him I said to Darren Huckerby, ‘how is that lad not training with the first-team?’. He was incredible. The way he was drifting past players. His speed of thought and his awareness. He’s just a wonderful player.”

Last season saw Cantwell average an impressive 1.6 dribbles per game which ranked him joint-top among the rest of Norwich’s squad (Emi Buendia being the other).

The attacking midfielder also features in the top three for Norwich for both key passes and shots per game in the Championship too, another indication of just how influential he is whenever he gets on the ball.

Like Merson, the £19.8m-rated Cantwell has got the ability to unlock defences with a bit of skill or trickery, and Smith should be all over a move this summer.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa are now eyeing this Emile Smith Rowe alternative…

According to a report by Portuguese newspaper A Bola, via Sport Witness, West Ham United have commenced talks to know the fee needed to sign Boavista forward Alberth Elis this summer.

The Lowdown: West Ham eye attacking options…

It is well documented that manager David Moyes is eager to bring more attacking options to the London Stadium this summer.

As well as a permanent deal for 2020/2021 loan sensation Jesse Lingard, West Ham are said to be on the hunt for a new talismanic striker as they look to shore up a problem position (Claret & Hugh).

Michail Antonio played a starring role at points for the Irons last season but was often ruled out of action through injury.

The Latest: West Ham enter Elis talks…

Now, as per A Bola (via Sport Witness), West Ham have commenced talks to find out the fee needed to sign Boavista forward Elis.

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As well as the Hammers, Premier League rivals Southampton are said to have done the same – with Brighton and Watford also closely following him back in April.

It is claimed by this report that the 25-year-old is ‘likely to leave’ the Estádio do Bessa this summer in what could be a boost for West Ham in their pursuit.

Elis completed his first full season in Europe’s top five divisions over 2020/2021 and finished it with a notable eight goals and seven assists over the Liga NOS campaign (Sport Witness).

Boavista have told West Ham what they need to pay for his signature, around €10 million (£8.5m).

The Verdict: Not a priority…

Despite being only 25, Elis already has much experience on the international stage – earning 42 caps for his native Honduras (Transfermarkt).

He has also earned praise form ex-Celtic defender and compatriot Emilio Izaguirre, who told the Herald Times and Sport he is ‘very fast and strong’ (via Glasgow Times).

However, given his lack of experience at the top level, it could in fact be a gamble – with the likes of Tammy Abraham and Youssef En-Nesyri, who have been linked (ExWHUemployee), potentially better options.

In other news: ‘Incredible’…Sky Sports pundit raves as West Ham allegedly eye ‘fantastic signing’, find out more here.

West Ham won’t be bringing Jesse Lingard back to the club this summer, with the midfielder now all set to stay put at Manchester United.

The Lowdown: Lingard excels at West Ham

The Hammers enjoyed an excellent 2020/21 season, qualifying for the Europa League, and Lingard was one of the standout performers.

The 28-year-old scored nine Premier League goals in just 16 appearances after arriving on loan in January, excelling for David Moyes’ side.

The Latest: Midfielder set for United stay

There have been constant rumours linking Lingard with a return to the London Stadium this summer, but according to talkSPORT, he will remain at United:

“BREAKING: Jesse Lingard will stay at MUFC this summer. WHUFC were keen to re-sign Lingard, but couldn’t meet United’s £25M asking price – talkSPORT sources understand.”

The Verdict: Shame, but Vlasic fills the void

Re-signing Lingard would have capped off an exciting final couple of days of the transfer window at West Ham – he was hailed as ‘amazing’ by Rio Ferdinand last season – but it is also no great blow to miss out on him.

The Hammers still have a hugely exciting midfield and attack comprising of the likes of Declan Rice, Pablo Fornals, Jarrod Bowen, Said Benrahma and Michail Antonio, which bodes well for the campaign ahead, with new arrival Nikola Vlasic surely the man to fill the gap left by Lingard.

Lingard’s impact last term will always be appreciated by West Ham supporters, however, and it will certainly be a storyline to watch out for whether Vlasic can perform to those ‘amazing’ levels himself.

In other news, some West Ham fans are delighted with one piece of deadline day news. Read more here.

A number of Liverpool fans have hailed Joel Matip after he turned down the opportunity to come out of international retirement for Cameroon.

The Reds have made a perfect start to the 2021/22 season, cruising to back-to-back victories against Norwich City and Burnley.

Jurgen Klopp’s side look primed for another assault on the Premier League title, with key men available again after long absences.

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One player who has shone greatly in the opening weeks of the campaign is Matip, who has looked a class act alongside Virgil van Dijk.

The 30-year-old’s injury problems are well-documented, but when he is fit, he rarely lets Liverpool down.

Matip is currently retired from international duty and Cameroon manager Tony Conceicao has confirmed [via LFC Transfer Room on Twitter] that he has opted not to do a u-turn on that decision:

“The situation of Matip is not new. There are players who wanted to come back to the national team. For me there is no need to enlist a player who is not ready to return. Matip does not want to return to the national team, that is the issue.”

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Liverpool fans delighted with Matip news

These Liverpool fans have taken to Twitter to hail the decision, showing their love for the centre-back in the process.

“BIG JOEL”

Credit: @Branno92

“Right thing to do”

Credit: @thomasyolain

“Scouse not Cameroonian is a new one”

Credit: @kungfunahi

“Absolute king”

Credit: @beamerrrrr

“Yes!! No.20 is more important”

Credit: @LiverpoolFCKen2

“My goat”

Credit: @_Sismo__

“siuuuuuuuuuuuuu”

Credit: @isaclfc

“Yes Matip”

Credit: @Homes19LFC

In other news, some Liverpool fans are buzzing after one key development at Anfield. Read more here.

Ipswich must complete a summer swoop for Sunderland midfielder Max Power upon the expiry of his contract.

What’s the talk?

Max Power’s contract at Sunderland expires at the end of the month and he is currently set to become a free agent heading into the upcoming transfer window. Power joined Sunderland from Paul Cook’s Wigan in the 2018/19 campaign and has been a regular at the Stadium of Light in recent seasons.

According to the East Anglian Daily Times, Cook would like to reunite with Power at Portman Road next season. Cook wants to bring Power to Ipswich to strengthen his squad and he is looking into a potential deal for the 27-year-old as he enters the final weeks of his contract at Sunderland.

In 2017, Wigan manager Warren Joyce heaped praise on Power. Joyce claimed that the Englishman was a “go-to” player whenever he needed someone to fill in due to his versatility. He told Wigan Today, via The Chronicle:

“Max has been great for us since I’ve been here. He’s been the go-to man for us unfortunately for him – he’s played right-back, right-midfield, off the front man.

“Wherever there’s been a problem, he’s filled in, because he’s shown to me he can do that.

“I remember signing him for Tranmere Rovers as a 12 year old kid, so I’ve known Max a long time. He’s a player I’ve got a very high regard for.”

Cook would be buzzing

Cook would be buzzing if Ipswich can pull off a deal for Power this summer. The £3.9k-per-week ace could be an excellent addition to Ipswich’s squad for a number of reasons. Firstly, he is a player Cook already knows well from working together at Wigan earlier in his career. This means that there is a pre-existing relationship between the player and the manager, reducing the time it could take for Power to bed in as he will already be aware of the demands Cook sets his players and the style of play he will want to enforce in pre-season.

Secondly, Power’s versatility makes him a valuable option to have at League One level. In the season just gone, Power played in central midfield, centre-back, defensive midfield and right-back for Lee Johnson at Sunderland and performed admirably – averaging a WhoScored rating of 6.74 in 44 appearances. This means that he could fill in across multiple positions for Cook at Ipswich and he has a track record of being reliable in League One.

Finally, Power could be an upgrade on what Cook has at his disposal currently. Power averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.87 in 19 starts as a central midfielder for Sunderland, whilst Andre Dozzell’s score of 6.67 was the highest any Ipswich midfielder managed in League One. The Sunderland man also averaged an impressive score of 6.86 in 14 starts at right-back, which is also higher than any Ipswich right-back – five appearances or more – managed.

This suggests that he could be Cook’s best option in central midfield and at right-back, so he could help strengthen either of the two key positions for the Blues.

AND in other news, Paul Cook is making a shrewd call as stance on £6k-p/w dud is revealed

West Ham United will take on a Chelsea side without Antonio Rudiger and Mateo Kovacic in the Premier League this afternoon.

What’s the latest?

Speaking to the media ahead of the match, as quoted by Football.London, Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel stated: “For Sunday, both of them [Kovacic and Rudiger] are not back, but there are no other new injuries.”

Rudiger missed Wednesday evening’s 4-2 defeat to Arsenal with a groin injury whilst Kovacic couldn’t manage 30 minutes in the Blues’ FA Cup semi-final victory over Crystal Palace last weekend, withdrawing with an ankle injury.

Moyes will be buzzing

Of course, they can’t let their heads drop, however, Chelsea’s chances of finishing third in the Premier League look pretty secure whilst the Hammers will have plenty to play for.

The Irons will leapfrog Manchester United into sixth with a victory at Stamford Bridge this afternoon, with the gap between the two sides now just two points after Ralf Rangnick’s men lost 3-1 at Arsenal yesterday.

David Moyes’ men are very much in contention of securing another top-six finish, whilst qualification for Europe is also still possible with a Europa League triumph, with the east London side taking on Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their semi-final on Thursday.

However, in order to guarantee European football via the league, there is now very little room for slip-ups for the Hammers, with Wolves very much in the picture too.

Both Rudiger and Kovacic are major absentees for the west London outfit, with the duo making 47 and 40 appearances this term for Tuchel’s side respectively. Rudiger, in particular, was a big absentee in midweek when Chelsea’s defence were error-prone and mistake-riddled on their way to a 4-2 defeat versus Arsenal.

West Ham must take confidence into their meeting with Chelsea from the fact that they ran out 3-2 victors in the reverse fixture whilst the Blues’ home form of late has been woeful, losing 3-1 to Real Madrid and 4-1 to Brentford in their last two matches at Stamford Bridge prior to the Arsenal crushing.

Moreover, the fact their London rivals will be without two key players will have Moyes buzzing.

AND in other news: Forget Diop: Moyes must now unleash West Ham wonderkid who’s “seriously good” today