All posts by z3u9t.icu

When Everton decided to lure Salomon Rondon to the club on transfer deadline day, it raised eyebrows for all the wrong reasons.

The Venezuelan is a powerful and robust striker on his day but has never been a consistent goal scorer.

Rafa Benitez knows him well from spells at Newcastle and in China but at the moment, the forward is struggling enormously.

His lack of pre-season is coming across with Rondon lacking fitness and composure in front of goal.

He was signed to play second fiddle to Dominic Calvert-Lewin in attack but with him and Richarlison both out injured, his chance of regular football has come earlier than imagined.

The attacker earned his debut from the bench in the win against Burnley but with Rondon starting, they have now lost two games in a row.

His performance against Aston Villa last weekend left plenty to be desired as he snatched a golden opportunity at the near post in the first half.

That wasn’t the only negative aspect of his display. During that match, the 32-year-old completed just five passes at a success rate of 38%. He also lost 15 of his 20 defensive duels.

Rondon was charged with leading the line against QPR again on Tuesday but as they crashed out of the Carabao Cup on penalties after a 2-2 draw, Benitez would have been concerned with his striker’s performance again.

It was a similar showing to the one at Villa Park only a few days ago as he completed just seven passes at a success rate of 58%. For context, that happened to be the worst tally – excusing Charlie Austin – of any player to start the clash.

Furthermore, the former West Brom man lost the ball every 2.5 touches and won only 50% of his physical battles.

It’s evident that Rondon is some way off the pace right now and with Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin set to miss another few weeks of action; he will need to make desperate improvements.

At the moment, he doesn’t look cut out for this Everton team whatsoever. Supporters and coaching staff should be alarmed.

AND in other news, £100k-p/w Everton dud who won just 22.2% duels severely let Rafa down last night…

Tottenham Hotspur stalwart Moussa Sissoko completed his move to newly promoted divisional rivals Watford on Friday evening [Sky Sports].

The Lowdown: Nuno means business

With the new era at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium well underway, Lilywhites boss Nuno Espirito Santo has wasted no time in re-shaping his roster as he bids to restore his sides’ place amongst the elite in English football this campaign.

Holding no place for sentimentality, the ex-Porto coach has cut loose experienced figures at the club this summer such as Toby Alderweireld, Joe Hart and Danny Rose [Transfermarkt].

Now, another casualty has been added to his list after news of Sissoko’s next move was confirmed ahead of the weekend’s top flight fixtures.

The Latest: Sissoko completes move to Watford

Sissoko has swapped North London for Hertfordshire to join Watford on a deal worth just £2.5 million [Sky Sports].

Despite having two years left to run on his contract at Spurs, he was not deemed to be part of the management team’s plans this season, prompting them to cash in on the France international.

The former Newcastle United anchor man brings the curtain down on five years at Tottenham, following a £30 million move from the North-East in 2016 [BBC].

The Verdict: Best scenario for player and club

Unlikely to be a regular fixture in Nuno’s line-up in 2021/22, recuperating some form of income for 6 foot 2 Sissoko may prove to be a wise move by Spurs chiefs as they seek to blood a younger squad – all of their outfield arrivals this summer are 23 or younger.

Over the course of his time at the club, the 32-year-old was a reliable figure despite his lack of end product – he managed to add 21 goal contributions in 202 games for the club; five goals and 16 assists [Transfermarkt].

Last term Sissoko was particularly efficient from a defensive standpoint, managing to obtain a tackle success rate of 73%, something Tottenham will miss in the forthcoming months [Premier League].

Once labelled as ‘fantastic’ by Mauricio Pochettino, his impact during his five years will be appreciated by supporters after plenty of ups and downs [SB Nation].

Having seemingly already replaced his energy and endeavour by signing FC Metz midfielder Pape Matar Sarr, Spurs look to be adopting a long-term vision of success.

Sarr will remain on loan with Ligue 1 outfit FC Metz in 2021/22 however, signifying that Tottenham may need to add another midfielder to their ranks before Tuesday’s deadline.

In other news, Tottenham Hotspur have received a huge boost in a transfer chase. Find out more here.

Crystal Palace endured a tough opening month under Patrick Vieira’s tutelage, picking up just two points from their three Premier League fixtures while being knocked out of the Carabao Cup.

An impressive brace from Conor Gallagher rescued a 2-2 draw against West Ham United last time out to go into the international break on a positive note, but there’s still much work to be done.

The Eagles have entered a new chapter in their history following Roy Hodgson’s pragmatic four-year reign, and Vieira has already overhauled the first team squad.

Several new arrivals such as Odsonne Edouard, Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen have significantly strengthened the south London outfit, but one of their homegrown talents has struggled to adapt to early life under the new regime.

As per SofaScore, highly-rated academy graduate Tyrick Mitchell has received a match rating of just 6.33 out of 10 following his three top-flight appearances this term, the lowest of anyone to play in the league for them so far under Vieira.

When looking at his underlying numbers, it’s easy to understand why his rating is quite low. The 22-year-old has recorded a passing accuracy of just 74%, won only 39% of his duels and lost possession an average of 15.7 times per game.

Mitchell has also pulled off just 33% of his attempted dribbles, been dribbled past by an opponent an average of once per game and been accurate with only 33% of his crosses.

The youngster has shown glimpses of his true potential in the past, but his performances throughout August fell well below his best and let Vieira down.

Both Mitchell and his manager will be hoping that the 22-year-old left-back can rediscover his best form following the Premier League’s resumption, hopefully starting with a solid display against Tottenham Hotspur next weekend.

In other news… Shocking £130k-p/w Palace man who lost possession 72 times also endured a nightmare August 

Liverpool winger Xherdan Shaqiri is closing in on a move to Ligue 1 outfit Lyon, as reported by prominent transfer guru Gianluca Di Marzio on Twitter.

In 2020/21, the Switzerland international registered five goal contributions in 22 fixtures for the Reds; one goal and four assists [Transfermarkt].

Now, he looks set to depart Anfield after three years at the club owing to recent developments. As relayed by Di Marzio to his followers on social media, Shaqiri is ‘very close’ to a move to France.

The French giants are said to have offered a fee of around €6million to Liverpool, with Jurgen Klopp’s men believed to be holding out for around €8M for his services.

With an agreement expected to be reached soon, no wonder loads of Liverpool diehards took to social media to vent their reactions to the update.

Liverpool FC fans react:

Replying to Gianluca Di Marzio on Twitter, here is what some Liverpool fans had to say about the notion of Shaqiri departing for France:

“Absolute bargain for Lyon. They have robbed us. Still hoping other interested parties might bid more for him.”

Credit: @nayanmoha”8 million isn’t good enough we might as well keep him he’s to good to let go at that stupid price”Credit: @MrDPsmith1″Quality player and £6m is a bargain. If we didn’t already have him, I’d say we should sign him. Keep Shaq and sell Origi.”Credit: @_MarkL33″What’s the point at that price. Keep him”Credit: @KierT82″That’s a disgrace”Credit: @footballlfc3690″Peanuts that, might as well keep him”Credit: @DDaliniIn other news, Liverpool fans fume at a transfer update.

Liverpool have reportedly shown an interest in Cagliari defender Sebastian Walukiewicz as Jurgen Klopp eyes further additions to his backline.

What’s the story?

That’s according to Italian outlet Calcio Mercato, who claim that the Reds are monitoring the 21-year-old centre-back ahead of a possible move this summer.

The report claims that the Serie A outfit will demand a minimum of £8 million for their prized asset after an impressive showing last season.

Fans will surely be delighted

Liverpool suffered from a severe injury crisis in 2020/21, with their three senior centre-backs all suffering season-ending injuries by January.

The absence of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip saw Klopp turn to midfielders Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, but that caused problems in the club’s engine room, forcing the German tactician to trust fringe player Nat Phillips, loanee Ozan Kabak and youngster Rhys Williams in the second half of the campaign.

An upturn in results saw the Anfield outfit finish third in the Premier League standings, but the club’s hierarchy have wasted no time in adding reinforcements, signing Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig.

The arrival of the France Under-21 international has seen Phillips heavily linked with a £15m move away from Merseyside, although his departure would potentially leave Liverpool light on numbers at the back.

Therefore, news that the club’s hierarchy are reportedly plotting a move for Walukiewicz will surely leave the supporters feeling delighted.

As per WhoScored, the 6 ft 1 beast made 1.9 interceptions per league game last term, three clearances and 0.7 blocks, placing him in the top three for all metrics when compared to his teammates.

After spending a year alongside former Atletico Madrid and Inter stalwart Diego Godin at the Sardegna Arena, Walukiewicz will have had an education in the art of defender that many youngsters can only dream about.

With money tight, Klopp may be tempted to sell Phillips over the coming weeks despite his impressive showing last term and replace him with Walukiewicz, maintaining a variety of options at the heart of the defence while making a healthy profit.

The funds generated could help Director of Football Michael Edwards bring in another one of Liverpool’s top transfer targets while ensuring the first-team squad should no longer be decimated by injuries so easily.

And, in other news…Liverpool make bid for “extraordinary” wizard but Reds fans should be gutted 

Brighton have opened talks with Celtic over a possible move for Odsonne Edouard, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Edouard’s frustrating summer

Edouard made his intentions clear of leaving Celtic back in April, regardless of who came in to replace Neil Lennon.

The 23-year-old saw a move to reunite with Brendan Rodgers at Leicester City collapse earlier in the window, however, he is still working to seal a Parkhead exit.

Edouard, described as ‘magnificent’ by Lennon, is into the final 12 months of his contract and has started each of Ange Postecoglou’s three competitive games in charge.

The Latest: Source shares update

Football Insider shared a story on Thursday morning, where they were informed by a Brighton source.

They suggested that talks are underway between both clubs and the forward’s representatives, with the Seagulls looking to finalise a deal before the new Premier League season which begins on August 13 – eight days’ time.

The report claims Celtic may have to accept a fee of under £20m for the Frenchman, who has knocked back several Hoops contract offers.

The Verdict: Cash in

With Edouard wanting to go and Celtic in a situation where they could lose him for nothing in six months’ time due to a pre-contract agreement, now is the time to cash in.

The Hoops have to hand Paris Saint-Germain 50% of the difference over £9m, so, should they sell at £15m for example, Celtic would keep £12m.

Making profit on Edouard after the sell-on clause this summer should still be viewed as a success, and it appears as if a move south for the forward could be one to keep a close eye on.

In other news: Loan to buy: Celtic exploring move for ‘fantastic’ ace; could be their biggest summer signing. 

Steve Howey doesn’t think that failing to bring in another striker could result in Newcastle re-signing Andy Carroll.

Following a disappointing second spell with his boyhood club, Carroll was released at the end of last season after scoring just once across all competitions last season.

Carroll’s departure leaves Steve Bruce with just three strikers at his disposal, and two of them in Dwight Gayle and Joelinton have struggled to add goals in recent seasons.

But despite Carroll’s exit being confirmed almost one month ago, Newcastle’s tight transfer budget means that Bruce has been unable to sign a replacement and help first-choice Callum Wilson with the workload.

The capture of Joe Willock should take the pressure off him, but an injury to the ex-Bournemouth striker could leave Bruce short on numbers.

However, whilst Carroll has been unable to find another club and therefore remains a free agent, Howey doesn’t think Newcastle will consider bringing him back to St James’ Park.

He exclusively told Football FanCast:

“I thought he was on that [short-term] deal anyway, but I’ll be surprised if he goes back, because they let him go.”

Davinson Sanchez’s agent has dropped an update on the defender’s potential departure from Tottenham Hotspur this summer.

What’s been said?

In recent comments cited by Gol Caracol (via Sport Witness), Nestor Villarreal claimed that he is working on a number of deals which could see the centre-back leave the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer, although he ruled out the possibility of the 25-year-old being used as a makeweight in a potential swap deal for Sevilla’s Jules Kounde.

Sport Witness added that, while the sale of the Colombia international appeared a foregone conclusion with Jose Mourinho at the helm, it remains to be seen what Nuno Espirito Santo’s stance is on the defender’s future.

Villarreal insisted that Sanchez is indeed happy to remain in north London beyond the summer transfer window, although he did not entirely close the door on a potential exit in the coming weeks.

The agent said: “In the case of Davinson and Duvan [Zapata] we are working on some things, on the lookout and looking to see if something comes out.

“However, it must be said that the two are calm where they are, at Tottenham and Atalanta.

“They have a contract, if something better or more important comes out, they will leave or else they will stay. They are having no problem there [at their respective clubs].”

Fans surely buzzing

While Sanchez has undoubtedly shown signs of promise in spells during his time at Spurs, it would be difficult to say that the 25-year-old has lived up to his then-club record £42m transfer fee.

Indeed, the centre-back struggled to hold down a place in the Tottenham starting XI last season, making just 18 appearances in the Premier League.

When he did feature, the £28.8m-rated man hardly set the world alight, helping his side to keep four clean sheets, along with averaging 0.8 interceptions, 2.2 tackles and 4.7 clearances and winning 5.4 duels per game.

The defender also made one error leading to a shot, one error leading to a goal and was dribbled past 0.6 times per league fixture.

These metrics saw the man Mauricio Pochettino dubbed a “beast” earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.80, ranking him as Tottenham’s worst-performing centre-back in the 2020/21 Premier League.

After Villarreal’s comments were relayed on Twitter, many fans of the club appeared delighted at the prospect of the £65,000-per-week defender leaving the club this summer, with one dubbing the news “fantastic,” while another admitted it was “time to move on” for the Colombian.

As such, reports that the agent seems to actively be working on a deal which would see Sanchez leave the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer looks sure to delight many Spurs fans, as it would very much appear that the centre-back is simply not up to the standard required to feature on a regular basis under Nuno.

In other news: Spurs dealt transfer blow over “important” £73k-p/w target, Paratici will be livid

Price tags today like Ben White’s are ridiculous, says former Leeds United midfielder Carlton Palmer.

Leeds are one club said to be interested in signing the Brighton defender this summer, but it is going to cost a lot of money to get him out of the Amex.

According to journalist Duncan Castles, the Whites will have to pay over £50m if they are to sign White, who spent the 2019/20 season on loan at Elland Road.

Arsenal are already said to have had a £40m bid turned down for the player, so it does indeed seem like Brighton are looking for the sort of money Castles has mentioned.

On White’s rumoured price tag, Palmer told FFC in an exclusive interview:

“All the price tags are ridiculous now. It’s supply and demand, you know, if somebody is willing to pay that, then that’s what you’ll get for the player. It’s not what the player’s valued at.

“No disrespect to the player. I think he had a fantastic season last season and he’s done really well, but clubs can actually pick a figure out because if they don’t want to sell you, they don’t have to sell you. And so they can pick a figure out and it’s whether that club’s prepared to go to that figure.

“There are very few players that go in the transfer market now that are actually worth the figure that the club’s paid. It’s all inflated prices.”

White certainly had a strong campaign. He averaged 1.7 interceptions per league game, which puts him only behind Yves Bissouma (1.8) in Brighton’s squad, as he thwarted attacks for his side (via WhoScored).

Paying £50m plus for the central defender, though, is questionable after one season in the top flight.

Arsenal could be about to start conducting their summer transfer business, if emerging reports are to be believed…

What’s the word?

Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has dropped an exciting new claim on Twitter, saying:

“Arsenal now working to sell players, then… new signings soon.

“Guendouzi wants to join OM, Xhaka deal with AS Roma at final stages. Price tag around €20m for Bellerin, same for Torreira [not advanced with Lazio].”

Deadwood out, signings in

If the journalist is to be believed, then it seems like Mikel Arteta and co could be shifting on the deadwood before he looks to bolster his playing squad with the right additions.

The Gunners missed out on European football for the first time in 25 years last season with another eighth-place finish, but defeat in the Europa League semi-finals curtailed their prospects of qualifying for any of UEFA’s three club competitions.

It’s fair to suggest that a mini-overhaul is needed to get the north London giants firing on all cylinders once again, yet it remains to be seen what sort of budget is at the Spaniard’s disposal.

As evident above, he must first shift on several outcasts or unwanted players. Matteo Guendouzi fell out of favour under Arteta to the point of him being forced out on loan to Bundesliga strugglers Hertha Berlin. Clearly, he did not make much of an impact as they seem willing to offload him to Marseille.

Meanwhile, Roma manager Jose Mourinho has stepped up interest in Granit Xhaka in recent weeks. The Swiss midfielder, who has had his run-ins with the Emirates Stadium faithful in the past, is expected to finally leave the Emirates Stadium in a deal which could earn the club around €20m (£18m).

Hector Bellerin and Lucas Torreira are also on the chopping block, which means there are gaps to fill, particularly in central midfield and right-back.

Once these players are out the door, the Arsenal hierarchy can start pushing ahead with their plans for new faces, which will come as hugely encouraging news for the Gunners faithful.

They have been linked with a £50m move for Ben White in the past week and that could become more likely with the aforementioned quartet out the door.

Sporting director Edu Gaspar and co are certainly planning the right moves to try and sort out the mess on the pitch, so Arsenal fans should start to get excited ahead of next season.

AND in other news, Bye-bye Xhaka: Edu could land Arsenal their next Vieira in £49.5m-rated “huge talent”…