All posts by z3u9t.icu

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Right. Where do we start with dissecting the embarrassment that was Friday evening’s defeat to Leicester?

Without question, it’s a tough subject to boil down to one particular factor, as a number of things went wrong.

A man sent off after 12 minutes. A whole shed-load of terrible individual performances, and an unwanted record to boot – the Foxes’ win equalled the record for the largest ever Premier League victory, set by Manchester United back in 1995.

However, scratch beneath the surface of the season as a whole so far, and you’ll discover that things shouldn’t really be going this badly.

Thanks to Understat, we can get our hands on some alternative tables showcasing where the Saints should be sitting in the table based on xG (expected goals) as well as xPTS (expected points).

On the basis of xG, the south coast side should be sitting ninth in the Premier League with 14.10 goals to their name.

In reality, Southampton are the third-lowest scorers in England’s top-flight with nine goals in ten games.

In terms of xPTS, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side should actually have 13.14 points to their name, and should be sat 12th in the Premier League.

However, the actual Premier League table has them languishing in 18th place with just eight points from ten games – three points off the bottom of the table.

If anything, these somewhat complimentary numbers reflect well on Hasenhuttl and poorly on his players.

The former RB Leipzig boss is clearly not doing everything well at St Mary’s – hence the 9-0 loss – but he is doing enough to give his team a chance.

The Austrian can’t walk onto the field and stick the ball in the net himself, nor can he get his side the points that the xPTS table states that they should have.

Hasenhuttl can of course do a better job, but there’s only so much he can do about the players’ poor execution. He’s holding up his end of the bargain – it’s the players who aren’t pulling their weight.

Aston Villa are considering a surprise move for a 24-year-old defender who has just seen his contract terminated with another club, according to a new report. The Villans get their Champions League campaign underway on Tuesday night, and they will be looking to continue their strong start to the 2024/25 season.

Emery could drop Rogers by unleashing "unbelievable" Aston Villa ace

This Aston Villa star could be axed by Unai Emery for the trip to Young Boys.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 17, 2024 Aston Villa rumours and news

The January transfer window is still a long way away, but Aston Villa already seem to be getting their plans in place for 2025, as Unai Emery could eye more reinforcements despite what was a busy summer window.

Most of Villa’s summer signings are starting to bed down and impress for the Premier League side, but a few haven’t been given the chance yet, with the likes of Samuel Iling-Junior leaving on loan, spending the season at Bologna.

The winger made his debut for his new side over the weekend, impressing as he scored a last-minute equaliser to rescue a point for the Serie A outfit. Iling-Junior is said to have “turned the tables” since joining Bologna after what the report describes as being rejected by Emery.

Meanwhile, according to a new report, Aston Villa are now in a race to sign Souleymane Sidibe from Stoke City. The 17-year-old has been catching the eye while playing for the Potters, so much so that teams such as Villa, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City are interested in signing him. Sidibe has already made a good impact this season, and it appears as though top-flight teams are keen to lure the youngster to them.

Aston Villa considering move for surprise free agent

According to HITC, Aston Villa are interested in signing Oumar Solet, who is now a free agent after leaving Red Bull Salzburg over the weekend. The Midlands side are not the only team interested in the defender, as Nottingham Forest, Wolves, and West Ham are also keen.

Liverpool, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur were said to have looked at the player during the summer when he was still under contract, but it remains to be seen if they are still interested.

Season

Apps

Goals

Assists

2020/21 (won title)

10

0

0

2021/22 (won title)

22

1

2

2022/23 (won title)

25

1

1

2023/24

21

1

1

Solet now finds himself without a club, as Salzburg decided to end his contract on Saturday, despite him entering the final year. The Frenchman, who can play at centre-back as well as defensive midfield, was with the Austrian side for four years, after he joined them in 2020 from Lyon.

The 24-year-old was very successful during his time in Austria, as he won the league three times in three consecutive campaigns.

Celtic enjoyed a successful end to the summer transfer window with three new additions to their first-team squad before the deadline passed on Friday.

The Hoops swooped to land two new central midfielders, in the form of Arne Engels and Luke McCowan from Augsburg and Dundee respectively, as well as central defender Auston Trusty from Sheffield United.

Brendan Rodgers needed to bolster his options in the middle of the park after Danish maestro Matt O'Riley completed a move to Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion.

Engels and McCowan were not the only targets on the club's radar to fill the void left by the English-born star, however, as they did fail to sign Mateusz Bogusz from LAFC.

Celtic's pursuit of Mateusz Bogusz

Football Scotland reported in August that Celtic had been locked in talks with the MLS side over a deal to sign the versatile Polish midfielder this summer.

The outlet claimed, however, that LAFC eventually decided that they did not want to do business with the Scottish side, despite talks over a £5.5m transfer.

This meant that the Hoops were unable to get a deal over the line for the former Leeds United prospect to improve their options in the middle of the park.

Appearances

25

Goals

13

Assists

5

Big chances created

8

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.5

Duel success rate

40%

As you can see in the table above, Bogusz has been in fine form in the MLS for LAFC so far this year, with 13 goals in 25 appearances, and Celtic could have benefitted from his quality in the final third.

However, Celtic already had their own version of the Polish dynamo at the club, in youngster Rocco Vata, and lost him ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Celtic lost out with Rocco Vata

The Ireland youth international, who talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed has an "exciting" future ahead, decided to move on from Parkhead this summer, upon the expiry of his contract, and signed for English Championship side Watford.

Celtic did offer him a contract extension at Parkhead but their efforts were not enough to convince him to turn down the chance to play in the second tier down south.

It was a huge shame that Brendan Rodgers lost the 19-year-old talent, as he had the potential to be the manager's own version of Bogusz, due to his ability to play as an attacking midfielder or a centre-forward – just like the LAFC star.

The teenager had scored one goal in six first-team games for Celtic and his record at youth level suggested that he could have developed into a regular scorer for the club.

Vata plundered an eye-catching 23 goals in 34 matches for Celtic B, including 12 goals in 15 Lowland League appearances during the 2023/24 campaign.

His form for the academy side was good enough for Rodgers to hand him two senior outings last term, in which time the youngster found the back of the net once.

Worth more than McCowan: Celtic hit the jackpot with "immense" star

Ange Postecoglou struck gold by bringing the impressive forward to Glasgow.

ByDan Emery Sep 3, 2024

Unfortunately, we will never know whether or not Vata would have lived up to his potential at Parkhead but his statistics suggest that he could have developed into the club's own version of Bogusz, as a versatile midfielder or attacker who could score goals on a regular basis.

Manchester United have reportedly accepted an offer from a European club for the sale of a £60,000-a-week Old Trafford ace who played against Brighton on Saturday.

Man Utd eye more signings amid Brighton defeat

The Red Devils experienced a bitterly disappointing defeat on Saturday afternoon, losing 2-1 to Brighton in their first away Premier League game of the season. While the performance as a whole was good at times, it was still a reality check after the opening victory at home to Fulham, with the marking for Joao Pedro's last-gasp winner inexcusable.

New signings have strengthened United's squad this summer, with Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt exciting defensive additions and attacking ace Joshua Zirkzee scoring on his debut, but this is still a squad that needs further signings, in order to boost their chances of finishing in the top four this season.

Midfield now feels like the biggest area of focus for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS, and Manuel Ugarte is reportedly closing in on a move to Old Trafford from Paris Saint-Germain. The 23-year-old was left out of his side's squad to face Montpellier on Friday evening, further suggesting that he has played his final game for them.

Should Ugarte not come in between now and deadline day next Friday, Fluminense enforcer Andre could be an alternative option, having been linked with a switch to United. The Brazil international is the same age as the Uruguayan and has been a rumoured target for Liverpool in the past.

Offer accepted for Man Utd "monster"

According to Il Mattino [via Sport Witness], Manchester United appear to have accepted a €25m (£21.1m) offer for Scott McTominay from Napoli, as his time at Old Trafford seemingly nears its conclusion after a fresh development.

It is claimed that the Scot has agreed on a four-year contract at the Serie A giants, with the fee mentioned above believed to include bonuses.

United supporters may be split about the club's decision to allow McTominay to leave, with some feeling he is an expendable figure and others seeing him as a squad player with an eye for goal from midfield.

The 27-year-old featured as a substitute in the defeat to Brighton, but the fact that he didn't start again highlighted his squad status, and with Ugarte or Andre potentially coming in as well in the near future, his minutes could be lessened further.

For that reason, it could be the right decision to move the £60,000-a-week-earning McTominay on, receiving a good amount of money for him in the process, and allowing him to be a regular elsewhere.

Forget Amad: Man Utd star who won 6 duels was the shining light vs Brighton

He worked hard out of position

ByJoe Nuttall Aug 24, 2024

The idea of the Scotland international staying put at United certainly isn't a bad thing, should a deal not materialise in the coming days – he has been hailed as an "absolute monster" in the media – but the best outcome for all parties could be to see him head off for a new challenge at a key point in his career.

In the current transfer market, players cost more than they have ever been valued at before, with even the so-called smaller clubs paying large fees for quality.

With that has come some outrageous transfer fees, some of which have worked out, whilst others have been placed into the flop category. We're talking Virgil van Dijk vs Harry Maguire here. Erling Haaland vs Darwin Nunez. Some prices are just never justified.

The price of quality, and the assurance of certain achievements with that quality costs a hefty price these days, however, with some clubs able to keep up a lot more than others.

With that said, Football FanCast has revealed the most valuable players by position in 2023.

4 GK: Diogo Costa (£38.83m)

Not to be mixed up with the former Chelsea forward Diego Costa – although, we're sure he could do a job in between the sticks – Diogo Costa had an excellent season for Porto in the last campaign, and rightly sits top of the most valuable goalkeepers.

According to Transfermarkt, the 23-year-old is currently worth a whopping €45m (£38.83m), sitting ahead of the likes of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Mike Maignan, Thibaut Courtois, and Aaron Ramsdale.

3 Defender: Ruben Dias (£69m)

It's no real surprise that treble-winning Ruben Dias sits top of this list, having enjoyed a historic season at Manchester City. The only real shock is that the central defender isn't currently valued higher – especially when you consider former Man Utd star Rio Ferdinand recently claimed he'd be worth £170m in the current market.

As of right now, as per Transfermarkt, Dias is worth €80m (£69m). Though, it must be said that a transfer away from City is unlikely to happen, meaning that we'll never truly know how much he will cost a potential suitor in the current market.

He sits above Josko Gvardiol, Matthijs de Ligt, Ronald Araujo and Alphonso Davies.

2 Midfielder: Jude Bellingham (£103.53m)

Having just completed a move to Real Madrid for €103m (£88m), it's no real surprise that Jude Bellingham is the world's most expensive midfielder.

According to Transfermarkt, the former Borussia Dortmund man is worth €120m (£103.53m), with his valuation instantly increasing upon making the move to the Spanish giants this summer.

Bellingham is undoubtedly one of the best players in world football. The rest of the top five is Jamal Musiala, Pedri, Federico Valverde, and Gavi.

1 ST: Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe (£155.3m)

Goals galore – 52, to be exact – and records left in his wake, the treble-winning Erling Haaland is one of, if not the best player in the world of football right now.

He was a revelation for Manchester City last season, and his current valuation reflects that. But, in a similar fashion to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo over past seasons, he is forced to share the crown with Kylian Mbappe.

According to Transfermarkt, Haaland and Mbappe are currently worth €180m (£155.3m). It could just be the start of their battle to see who comes out on top as this generation's standout player. The next Ballon d'Or rankings will certainly be interesting.

Following those two, the next three are Vinicius Junior, Bukayo Saka, and Victor Osimhen.

Glasgow Rangers have submitted a bid for midfielder Jose Cifuentes as Michael Beale aims to get the transfer over the line this summer.

What’s the latest on Jose Cifuentes to Rangers?

According to The 4th Official, Rangers have submitted a bid for the midfielder as they look to bring him in during the summer transfer window as opposed to waiting to sign him for free upon the expiration of his LAFC contract in December.

It is claimed that the Gers have agreed terms with Cifuentes and it is now a case of working out an appropriate fee for the 24-year-old in order to lure him to Ibrox before the start of the 2023/24 campaign.

Could Jose Cifuentes improve Rangers’ midfield?

Beale is embarking on a complete rejig of the playing staff, with five players already departing due to their deals expiring, and there could well be more as he aims to assert his own authority on the first team.

Ryan Jack was one of those players who was out of contract at the end of last term, yet he signed a new one-year extension, and there is no doubting his quality despite missing large chunks of football through injury during his spell in Glasgow.

With the club entering four competitions next season, it’s vital there is strength in depth, however, could Cifuentes actually be an upgrade on Jack should he arrive this summer?

Not only does the Ecuadorian poses a much greater attacking threat, evidenced by scoring more goals (seven to one) and creating more big chances (11 to 2) than the Scotsman across their last full seasons for their respective clubs, but he also makes more tackles (1.8 to 1.2), wins more duels (4.7 to 2) and wins possession more often per game than Jack (0.7 to 0.2), showcasing his strengths across attacking and defensive aspects of his game.

Cifuentes was also hailed by Ecuadorian football expert Benedikt Duda, who said: “Cifuentes is a No 8, who is physical and strong in defence with a tendency to get involved in the attack. There is a good reason he wears the No 11, and footballing-wise, he models himself after Paul Pogba.”

The 24-year-old is seven years younger than Jack and has the potential to become a mainstay in the heart of the Ibrox midfield for years to come. The Scot may complete more passes per game (45.7 to 27.9) than Cifuentes, yet it is clear that various attacking and defensive attributes aren’t quite up to the standard of the MLS star, and this could suggest he will be a major upgrade on the 31-year-old.

Newcastle United have not been at the forefront of transfer links to the touted Nicolo Barella over the past several weeks, but that has not stopped the thriving Toon from closing on a move.

What's the latest on Nicolo Barella to Newcastle?

That's according to the Telegraph's Luke Edwards, who claims that Eddie Howe's Magpies are "trying very hard" to seal a stunning £50m transfer for the Inter Milan star after securing Champions League qualification this term.

Liverpool have been tethered to persistent rumours of a swoop as Jurgen Klopp looks to rebuild his midfield, but it is indeed Newcastle who seem set to secure a move for one of Europe's first-class maestros.

The 26-year-old was integral in Inter's Champions League campaign, reaching the final, and could prove to possess the winning mentality needed as St. James' Park continues its ascent.

How would Barella perform at Newcastle?

Newcastle's covert operation for Barella has maintained impeccable secrecy as the rumour mill has whirred into action recently.

The transfer market unlatched its doors yesterday and while the Magpies are yet to make their first move of the summer, groundwork has been forged to procure the 26-year-old's signature and extinguish the interest of the likes of Liverpool and more.

This season, the £153k-per-week "genius" – as dubbed by reporter Mike Piellucci – scored nine goals and assisted ten more in 52 matches as I Nerazzurri won the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana.

The 43-cap ace would join a central force already exuding confidence and cohesion in abundance, serving as an orchestrator amongst the tenacious Magpies midfield and adding a dimension to the side that would craft lasting success.

By slotting into the fold and demonstrating his ball-playing and carrying prowess, the Euro 2020 champion could even take the imperious Bruno Guimaraes' game to levels unseen on Tyneside in an age.

Barella ranks among the top 8% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past 12 months for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 21% for rate of assists, the top 12% for shot-creating actions, the top 19% for progressive passes, the top 11% for progressive carries and the top 8% for progressive passes recieved per 90 (FBref).

Such statistics indicate not only an innately prolific ability, but illustrate a ubiquitous presence at the heart of his outfit, conducting from deep and barrelling forward like a raging bull in a "sensational" – as hailed by one tactical writer – melange of footballing brilliance.

Guimaraes has woven his skill set into Newcastle's system with conviction and has been the centrepiece of the club's seasonal feats, described as "world-class" by teammate Dan Burn and earning a 7.17 Sofascore rating in the Premier League, posting nine direct contributions from 32 matches, completing 85% of his passes, averaging 2.4 tackles and succeeding with 63% of his dribbles.

It's no great shock that BBC writer Raj Chohan has lauded the Brazilian as "insane", with his multi-dimensional role seemingly encapsulating a thousand jobs in one, but by deploying Barella, his burden would be lessened and he could focus on sitting deeper.

Objectively, the £120k-per-week machine is best utilised as a deep-lying central midfielder, blending his passing with an imposing presence and powerful tenacity in the tackle, and by allowing a peer like Barella to pull the strings further upfield, the equipoise at the club could reach a state of sublimity.

Indeed, the 25-year-old Toon star ranks among the top 13% of midfielders for shot-creating actions, progressive passes and successful take-ons per 90, numbers that could skyrocket with the first-rate dynamo ahead of him.

Barella's signing might just be a "game-changer" – as remarked by journalist Dean Jones – for Howe's ambitious outfit, who qualified for the Champions League and received adulation from an exalted fanbase, but this is only the beginning and such an impressive acquisition reaffirms to European football that a new juggernaut is here not only to stay, but to take over.

Leeds United are set for huge changes at Elland Road after being relegated from the Premier League last month with a full takeover confirmed last week after Andrea Radrizzani was bought out by the 49ers who previously held a minority stakehold.

Now the American owners will be tasked with the challenge to find the right sporting director and right manager to lead the West Yorkshire side in their next chapter and will surely be wanting to follow in the footsteps of Burnley by making an instant return to the top flight, something that will be no easy feat for the coach they select.

As a result, bringing in a manager that can not only boost the confidence of the squad set to remain but also attract quality new additions who can make an instant impact at Elland Road will be essential if Leeds are to have any chance of competing for automatic promotion over their 46-game campaign.

Indeed, the Whites have been linked with several experienced Championship coaches including Scott Parker and Daniel Farke who both have led their second-tier teams to promotion, but if the 49ers are looking for a long-term prospect that can lead Leeds comfortably in the top flight beyond potential promotion, Brendan Rodgers could be their man.

Should Leeds appoint Brendan Rodgers?

The former Leicester City and Liverpool boss has been heavily linked with a move to the Yorkshire club but has also been touted to make a return to the Scottish Premiership to leading title winners Celtic once again next season.

There is no doubt that Rodgers would be a great fit for the 49ers as they set out on an ambitious project to bring success back to the club after a struggle in more recent times with Phil Hay claiming in an article written for The Athletic that the new owners are 'very keen' on the Irishman.

Just like Leeds, the 50-year-old manager – who was deemed to have "incredible quality" by Pep Guardiola – had struggles of his own in the Premier League this season with the Foxes finding it difficult to maintain their high standards which ultimately resulted in Rodgers being sacked after four years and Leicester being relegated too.

One of the biggest issues Rodgers found at the King Power Stadium was a lack of investment from the owners over the last 18 months which quickly reflected in the performances on the pitch, so full financial backing and a healthy budget in his next appointment will surely be an attractive prospect.

Hay further claimed in his article that under Radrizzani the plan was for Leeds to be self-sufficient which, without big-money departures in double figures, would have seen the club likely stagnate in the second-tier, however, the 49ers are planning quite the opposite with an injection of US funds to allow for an 'active and aggressive' transfer window.

With that being said, Rodgers can rebuild his reputation and prove his strong managerial skill set to those who doubted him by guiding Leeds out of the Championship and repairing the mistakes of the past to establish a Premier League quality squad that can compete comfortably in the top flight.

While the likes of Parker and Farke boast impressive CVs at the desired level, if the club's new American owners have ambition, they could strike immediate gold with a move for the former Liverpool boss. It feels farfetched but it would be a big coup for such a side to acquire his services.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been linked to a former Aston Villa player ahead of the summer transfer window, as Julen Lopetegui hopes to make some much-needed amendments to his side.

The Spaniard won't have it easy this summer, though, following the news of Wolves' FFP troubles. Fortunately, the latest transfer rumour could bring a head of talent to Molineux for a minuscule price.

What’s the latest on Arjan Raikhy to Wolves?

As reported by the Daily Mail this week, former Villa academy player Arjan Raikhy is attracting interest from Molineux.

The 20-year-old, who was recently released by Villa, is reportedly in the middle of a battle between Leicester City and Wolves, who wish to sign the midfielder this summer.

The youngster had a trial at Leicester last month, however, no decisions have been made regarding his long-term future.

What could Arjan Raikhy bring to Wolves?

Hailed as being “excellent” by journalist Ashley Preece, Raikhy could offer a host of attributes to Wolves’ midfield.

Playing predominantly as a central midfielder, sometimes acting in a defensive midfield role, the 20-year-old has flair in both creating and defending.

In 20 Premier League 2 appearances this season, the midfielder scored three goals and assisted two – as per Transfermarkt.

Following the announcement of the departure of Joao Moutinho, Wolves will be without the Portuguese ace’s expertise next campaign, and with Ruben Neves also likely to depart, Lopetegui will surely require reinforcements to his midfield.

While Moutinho’s impact at Wolves cannot be replaced, his role in the current side can be filled, which is where the 20-year-old could show his worth with the freedom to perform at Molineux.

Despite the 36-year-old having a career that spans over 800 professional appearances and experience that a player such as Raikhy could only dream of, in terms of their methods to the game, the two have a range of similarities.

Moutinho acted as a complete midfielder for Wolves, boasting both defensive and offensive capabilities, as shown through his numbers.

As per FBref, the Portuguese averaged 2.58 tackles per 90 over the past year, as well as making 6.67 progressive passes per 90, highlighting his ability to command and be a successful output in the midfield.

Like Moutinho, the 20-year-old has been praised in the past for his ability to do both sides in the middle of the park, hailed by members of the media for his ability to dictate the game and make “excellent defensive contributions" as well as his "passing range being different gravy."

As per Sofascore, in the Football League Trophy, the youngster averaged a passing accuracy of 88%, as well as averaging 1.7 interceptions per game, portraying his rounded ability.

While the 20-year-old is still very much at the start of his career, his raw talent could be sculpted and nurtured by Lopetegui, if given the room to blossom in a competitive environment.

Glasgow Rangers ended their 2022/23 campaign with a 3-0 win over St Mirren last weekend in the Scottish Premiership and the focus must now turn to the upcoming summer transfer window.

Michael Beale ended his first season in charge of the Light Blues without a trophy to show for his efforts and should be aiming to improve his squad in the coming weeks to ensure that his side is competing for major honours next term.

According to Monday's edition of The Scottish Daily Mail [via Ibrox News], one player the club are interested in snapping up is Cremonese attacker Cyriel Dessers.

Who is Cyriel Dessers?

He is a 28-year-old Nigerian striker who has been playing his football in the top-flight of Italian football this season and could come in as a big upgrade on current Gers ace Antonio Colak.

The Croatian centre-forward, who has been touted with a possible exit from Ibrox this summer, scored three goals and assisted one in 11 Premiership appearances after Beale arrived during the break for the 2022 World Cup. He also managed one strike in four cup appearances in 2023.

These statistics show that the ex-PAOK man has struggled under the English boss as the dynamo has rarely found the back of the net and offered little in the way of creativity for his teammates.

Whereas, Dessers has the potential to come in and offer far more than the 29-year-old in the final third based on his form over the last two seasons.

Back in April, journalist Josh Bunting hailed the ace as an "excellent" signing for Cremonese and described him as being "awkward" for defenders to play against due to his strength, as the marksman plundered six goals and two assists in 19 starts in the Serie A.

This comes after the finisher enjoyed an exceptional campaign on loan at Feyenoord in the Netherlands. He racked up 19 goals and three assists in 16 starts across the Eredivisie and Europa Conference League combined, which shows that the Nigerian international has the quality to be a prolific scorer for his side, in comparison to Colak's struggles at the top end of the pitch this year.

The £19k-per-week star has proven himself in a major European league, in Italy, and on the continental stage, for Feyenoord, and this indicates that the gem would be able to handle the switch to Ibrox, given that the talent has already adapted to multiple competitions and countries.

Therefore, Dessers could come in as a big upgrade on Colak by offering far more quality in front of goal on a regular basis, which could, in turn, improve Beale's squad next term.