All posts by z3u9t.icu

Tottenham Hotspur are "insistently" pushing to sign Galatasary defender Victor Nelsson this summer, and they need just £21 million to sign him.

Who will Spurs sign?

The north Londoners, lead by new manager Ange Postecoglou, are said to be making moves for new defenders behind-the-scenes after sealing a few major deals already.

Spurs have already confirmed the signings of Guglielmo Vicario, who joined on a permanent deal for £17.2 million, midfielder James Maddison for around £45 million and winger Manor Solomon on a free transfer.

They join the likes of Dejan Kulusevski, who's joined the club permanently after 18 months on loan from Juventus, and Pedro Porro after the Spaniard made his own move from Sporting Lisbon a permanent one.

Maddison's capture represents a significant coup for Postecoglou and chairman Daniel Levy in particular, with Tottenham's head coach expressing his delight at the signing in mid-week.

“Really excited to get James as part of the group," said Postecoglou.

“Any manager will tell you that part of the key to being a dominant team is having multiple attacking threats and having a midfielder who can score and create goals.

“When you look at Tottenham the last few years, they’ve been really reliant on the front three to get their goals. I thought it was a really good fit for us to look for a player like James."

However, after conceding more goals than any other top flight above 15th last season, it is reported that Spurs now want to add central defensive quality to their ranks.

The Lilywhites have been in advanced talks to sign Wolfsburg defender Micky van de Ven, and an agreement is apparently close, though there are reports Tottenham could make more than one signing in that area.

Galatasary star Nelsson, who featured at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar for Denmark, is a player of serious interest to Spurs and a report from Fanatik claims they're pushing hard for him.

According to the Turkish news outlet, Postecoglou's side are "insistently" pursuing the 24-year-old but face competition from north London rivals Arsenal.

Nelsson himself continues to negotiate a transfer away behind-the-scenes amid Spurs' interest but the club won't need much to do a deal. It's believed that, if any side pay his €25 million (£21m) release clause, Nelsson is highly likely to make the move.

Davinson Sanchez, meanwhile, could be heading in the opposite direction with Galatasary chasing the Colombian.

How good is Victor Nelsson?

The Dane stood out as a star defensive player for Galatasary last season, making more blocks per 90 and winning more battles in the air than any of his teammates (WhoScored).

Indeed, Nelsson was also an undroppable for manager Okan Buruk, having featured over more Turkish Super Lig minutes than any other outfielder in their squad (WhoScored).

Sections of the Turkish press have even called the former FC Copenhagen ace a "star player" of Galatasary's squad and his £21m release clause is arguably affordable from Levy's perspective.

Liverpool have wasted no time in getting their midfield rebuild started with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai joining this summer but now a fresh update has emerged on another potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Marcos Llorente?

According to reports coming out of Spain, Liverpool are competing with Manchester United for the signing of Atletico Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente.

As per the report, it is claimed that the two Premier League giants and bitter rivals are both interested in snapping up Llorente's services ahead of next season and it would take an offer of €60m (£51m) for Atletico to part ways with their player this summer.

Is Marcos Llorente a good player?

Jurgen Klopp will be thrilled with the business that has already been completed at Anfield, however, there is definitely still work to be done and potential moves to be made during the summer transfer window to ensure Liverpool can get back to competing at the highest level.

Following the departures of Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner it has paved the way for a full refresh in midfield, and it is not only the recent who Klopp will need to consider replacing in the near future.

Both Thiago Alcantara and club captain Jordan Henderson are well into their 30s at this point and reaching the latter stages of their careers, so if an opportunity arises to bring in worthy successors for the duo it should be taken.

As a result, the signing of Llorente could be a fantastic piece of business for Liverpool and would not only provide them with an experienced winner but an ideal heir for Henderson.

As per FBref, the 28-year-old – who has become an "incredible footballer" in the eyes football talent scout Jacek Kulig – ranks in the top 5% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for progressive carries, progressive passes received and touches, as well as ranking in the top 25% for shot-creating actions too. Such a play style means he's a far more mobile asset than Henderson.

As it happens, though, when comparing the Spaniard's output last season to the Liverpool skipper, Llorente offered many similarities in key attributes to Henderson including pass completion rate (80.9% v 83%), shot-creating actions per 90 (3.17 v 3.13), tackles and interceptions (49 v 53), successful take-ons (44.4% v 52.2%) and crosses (44 v 45), despite playing 13 fewer league games.

Not only that, Llorente is an incredibly versatile all-action talent who could be the perfect utility player for Klopp as the German coach tries to navigate the best way to deploy Trent Alexander-Arnold; who has become a revelation in a new role that has seen him play as an inverted right-back for Liverpool and also deployed successfully in a midfield three for England in recent months.

The 18-cap Spain international is experienced in several positions including defensive, central, attacking and right midfield, as well as also making 11 appearances at right-back too, demonstrating a similar diverse skill-set to that of Milner which would be a huge asset and attractive prospect to Klopp.

With that being said, a move for Llorente would certainly provide the club with an experienced and worthy heir to succeed Henderson, so if FSG could sanction a move this summer it could further improve Liverpool's midfield presence.

Glasgow Rangers were poised to secure a deal for talented Honduran winger Luis Palma just a matter of weeks ago, yet the move appears to have gone cold.

The Ibrox side stated their interest back in April, as Michael Beale sought a replacement for Ryan Kent on the left wing, as it was growing increasingly likely he would be departing the club. However, recent reports now claim that any potential deal for Palma is off due to Greek side Aris Thessaloniki demanding a fee of around £4.5m for the winger.

Having registered 13 goals and eight assists across just 36 matches for the Super League side – eight more than Kent achieved last term – he was looked upon as an ideal heir to the Englishman on the left wing. His statistics certainly suggested he could add some attacking dynamism to the wing which was sorely lacking during 2022/23.

It now appears as though Beale will have to look for an alternative to Palma, and he may already have a player in mind as the Light Blues have been linked with a move for LAFC winger Kwadwo Opoku, with a potential deal costing them €4.8m (£4m) as per the report.

This would work out cheaper than Palma, and with Opoku three years younger than the Aris star, it could even be a better long-term deal for the club.

Could Rangers sign Kwadwo Opoku this summer?

There is a big void to be filled on the left wing following the departure of Kent, and even though new signing Abdallah Dima can play across the front three, he is most productive on the right wing, signifying the need for Beale to splash out on a left-winger this summer.

The Gers face competition from Celtic for the LAFC starlet and will need to make a solid pitch about why choosing Ibrox is a better proposition than Parkhead, but it could certainly be worth the battle.

He played a key role for the club as they won the MLS Cup in 2022, registering 12 goal contributions across the whole campaign – eight goals and four assists – and he has carried this momentum into the 2023 season.

Across 26 matches so far, he has scored four goals and grabbed three assists, meaning he is fast on his way to improving on last year's totals. The Ghanaian also ranks fourth in the squad for successful dribbles per game (1.4) and sixth for big chances created (six), indicating that even though he is still developing, Opoku still has a high level of influence in the squad for these attacking metrics.

Lauded as “magnificent” by journalist Owuraku Ampofo after helping LAFC win the MLS Cup last year, it’s evident that the 21-year-old gem could be an excellent signing should Beale make a move for the youngster and one that could take the Premiership by storm.

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.

Leeds United are on the hunt for the right manager who can lead the club in their Championship campaign next season and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on a potential candidate.

What's the latest on Leeds' interest in Scott Parker?

According to The Athletic's Leeds reporter Phil Hay, the club's hierarchy are now entering the stage of face-to-face interviews this week and has named Scott Parker as one of those interviewees.

As per an article for the publication, Hay revealed that alongside Daniel Farke, Parker will be one of the candidates spoken to about the role, with the club expected to make a decision imminently due to pre-season coming up fast.

Is Scott Parker a good fit for Leeds?

Time is running out for the West Yorkshire club to bring in a manager who can get up to speed with the unfolding situation at Elland Road and build connections with players, whilst also utilising the summer transfer window to bring in new additions that possess the profile to succeed in the style of play deployed.

The 49ers have a big decision to make on whether they bring in a manager who can guarantee quick but short-term success in terms of promotion from the Championship back to the Premier League or somebody who can be part of the long-term project for the new owners, with Parker the perfect option for the former.

The 42-year-old coach – hailed "outstanding" by Jurgen Klopp – has twice masterminded automatic promotion to the Premier League from the second tier with Bournemouth and Fulham, making him the ultimate expert to give Leeds their best chance at following in the footsteps of Burnley next season and bouncing straight back up.

However, his 0.77 points per game record in the Premier League is much less inspiring than his 1.84 points per game in the Championship and could be a cause for concern should he be appointed and promote the Whites next term.

Over 52 top-flight fixtures in charge of both Bournemouth and Fulham, the English coach has tallied up just nine wins and 30 defeats, which ultimately saw Parker sacked in both appointments after leading them as far as he could take them.

That means that even if this just a short-term gig for the former midfielder, it could pay dividends. Indeed, in the second tier he has lost just 19 times while winning over 50% of his matches in charge.

With that being said, Parker would be the perfect appointment if Leeds are looking for a sure-fire way to get promoted next season.

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.