All posts by z3u9t.icu

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been handed a major boost in their bid to bring Donny van de Beek to Molineux.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Metro, via The Sun, who claim that the 24-year-old will leave Manchester United in the January transfer window if he is not awarded more first-team minutes by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the coming weeks.

The report goes on to state that Wolves are closely monitoring the situation of the Netherlands international ahead of a potential swoop, while Newcastle United are also credited with an interest in the central midfielder.

Furthermore, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano backed up The Sun’s claim regarding Van de Beek in a recent post on Twitter, with the journalist stating: “Donny van de Beek situation is so clear. He loves the club and he’s still super professional in training, doing his best for Man Utd – but if the situation remains the same, he will leave Manchester United in January.”

Shi must act

While it is true that van de Beek has somewhat stagnated since his move to Manchester United back in the summer of 2020, the fact remains that, should Jeff Shi be able to get a deal over the line for the midfielder this January, Wolves will be in possession of a player who, just a little over a year ago, was one of the most promising talents in European football.

Indeed, over his 23 Eredivisie appearances during his swansong campaign with Ajax, the £34m-rated man bagged eight goals, provided five assists and created six big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.9 shots and making 1.8 key passes per game.

These metrics saw the player who former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves dubbed “perfect” earn an average SofaScore rating of 7.32, ranking him as the joint 12th-best performer in the Dutch top-flight back in 2019/20.

The £120k-per-week 23-year-old also highly impressed over his five fixtures in the Champions League that season, scoring two goals, registering one assist and creating two big chances for his teammates – returns which saw him average a highly impressive SofaScore match rating 7.32 in Europe’s most prestigious club competition.

As such, when considering the sheer amount of talent Van de Beek quite clearly possesses, in addition to the fact that Bruno Lage’s side are extremely short of creative options in the middle of the park, should a deal for the Manchester United man indeed be on the table this winter, Shi simply must do all he can to land the Dutch dynamo.

In other news: Fosun must avoid Wolves disaster on “brutal” £71k-p/w sensation, Lage would be furious

Being linked with something of a surprise summer switch to Celtic in recent days, Christopher Scott is a talent the Parkhead faithful should be extremely excited about.

Indeed, the 19-year-old boasts fantastic positional versatility, being able to operate in a number of positions across the frontline, however, his preferred role is playing just off a centre-forward in the number 10 role.

It is from attacking midfield in which Scott has proven most effective in youth football, scoring 29 goals and registering three assists over 48 appearances when deployed just behind the striker.

However, having also bagged seven goals and provided nine assists over 35 outings in central midfield, on the left-wing, at centre-forward and from left-back – amongst many other roles – it is abundantly clear just how adaptable the teenager is on the pitch.

And, with the Bayern Munich starlet also possessing electric pace, being exceptional in his progression of the ball and having a knack for finding pockets of space between defensive lines, it is no surprise that the youngster has drawn comparisons with Chelsea’s £102m-rated forward Kai Havertz.

Indeed, having represented his country from U15 to U20 level, it is clear that the playmaker is incredibly highly thought of in Germany, something that is only proven further by Bayern’s attempts to retain the 19-year-old beyond the end of the current campaign.

However, with Scott thought to be open to a move away from the Allianz Arena in a bid to secure regular first-team football, and Celtic already believed to be in talks over a €600k (£500k) deal for the youngster, there would appear to be a very real chance Ange Postecoglou’s side land the £1.08m-rated prodigy who Bhoys Analytics dubbed both “aggressive” and a “threat” this summer.

As such, while there is undoubtedly a long way to go before Scott is seen pulling on a Celtic jersey, fans of the Hoops should nevertheless be extremely excited about their links with the midfielder – as the Bayern starlet could be the next big thing in Scotland.

AND in other news: Signed for £540k, sold for 8 figures: Celtic struck gold on 23 y/o “Roy of the Rovers”

Newcastle United have reportedly now ‘started discussion’ over the potential signing of Issa Diop in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Centre-back wanted

The window is certainly heating up despite being just a week in, and the St. James’ Park faithful have already made their first signing in Kieran Trippier.

Now, the focus from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium seems to be on a new central defender, with links to Sven Botman and Diego Carlos intensifying.

Nonetheless, with 42 goals conceded in the Premier League so far this season, the defence certainly needs reinforcements, and the new owners will surely have a lot of potential targets mapped out in case moves for the likes of Botman and Carlos fall through.

The Latest: Diop talks

As per L’Equipe (via Sport Witness), the North East club have now ‘started discussion’ over the possibility of signing Diop this month, and the ‘door is open’ for him to make the switch.

His value is estimated at between €10-12m (£8.4-10m), and so they could ‘very quickly’ make an offer.

The Verdict: Bargain

If the Tyneside outfit can get Diop at that kind of price, then it would certainly represent a bargain.

Transfermarkt currently rate him at £10.8m, and being just 24 years of age and already possessing plenty of experience in the top flight, his value will only increase.

Once called a ‘monster‘ by Jose Mourinho back in 2018 after dominating the duels against his Manchester United side, Diop’s six-foot-four frame is a real asset to have in both boxes, and his experience in the division will no doubt be vital in a relegation battle, with six goals in 89 Premier League showings.

Nonetheless, this is a deal that the Magpies should do straight away considering the kind of price being quoted.

In other news, find out who NUFC are now ‘having contacts’ over signing here!

West Ham United are interested in a deal to bring Tosin Adarabioyo to the London Stadium in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by ExWHUemployee, with the West Ham insider revealing on a recent episode of The West Ham Way podcast (via Hammers News) that David Moyes has identified the Fulham defender as a potential target in the upcoming market, as the 58-year-old Hammers boss attempts to replace the injured centre-back duo of Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma.

Fans will be buzzing

Considering how impressive Adarabioyo has been for Fulham this season, the news that West Ham are interested in a move for the 24-year-old is sure to have left the London Stadium faithful buzzing.

Indeed, over his 19 Championship appearances this term, the £13.5m-rated centre-back has helped his side keep five clean sheets, scored one goal and created two big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 1.7 interceptions, 1.2 tackles, 3.7 clearances, 63.9 passes and winning 63% of his duels per game.

These returns have seen the £17k-per-week man average a rather extraordinary SofaScore match rating of 7.22, ranking him as Marco Silva’s fourth-best performer in the second tier of English football.

As such, with Zouma looking to be out until at least February, in addition to Ogbonna appearing unlikely to feature in the league again this season, Adarabioyo would not only be an excellent option to stand in for the stricken defensive duo, but also one who boasts the ability to go on and stake a real claim for a regular starting spot in Moyes’ backline.

Indeed, considering just how impressive the 24-year-old has been this season, we believe it would be highly advisable for the 58-year-old West Ham manager to do everything in his power to get a deal over the line for the Fulham star next month.

In other news: GSB could land Neymar’s “perfect replacement” as WHU begin talks for “outstanding” gem

Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth has dropped a major update on West Ham United’s plans for the rest of the January transfer window.

What’s the story?

Speaking on The Transfer Show on Sky Sports, Sheth revealed that the Hammers are “still” keen on bringing in a new centre-forward as they look to provide Michail Antonio with some vital striking competition.

He said: “David Moyes is still looking for a striker to strengthen his West Ham United squad this month, but he won’t take any risks in the market.”

Fans will be buzzing

While Antonio has certainly led the line well for the Hammers this season – he’s scored eight goals and provided another six assists in just 21 Premier League games – he could certainly do with being given some help up front.

That’s something which former Leeds man Noel Whelan has suggested Moyes’ side should be targeting this month. He said: “You can’t have enough strikers. When you look at the top sides and where where you want to be year in, year out in the Premier League, you’ve got to have cover.

“You’ve got to have options. It’s no different to Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool. You’ve got to have options in these positions. I think it will benefit, Michail Antonio. Yes, I know he’s going to be up for the fight to keep his place but it becomes healthy competition. Sometimes you’re not going to be able to play the same as you did the week before when you’re on a good run.”

Those sentiments were echoed by Paddy Kenny, who insisted: “You can’t rely on one man to score all of your goals. Antonio is great but he’s not going to score every week. Sometimes that pressure of scoring goals can almost be a burden. It wouldn’t surprise me if West Ham went and got a player to come in and support him.”

If the Hammers are intent on making a push for a Champions League place for next season, then bringing in someone who can share that goal-scoring burden with Antonio could prove to be crucial, and be the real difference-maker.

The news that Moyes is “still” looking for a new centre-forward is sure to have West Ham fans buzzing.

Meanwhile, West Ham are pushing hard for this attacker…

Newcastle United are “seriously interested” in signing Manchester United winger Jesse Lingard in January, according to Fabrizio Romano, and have reportedly made contact with the player already.

What’s the latest?

The 28-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to West Ham United, where he spent the second half of last season on loan. However, reports have emerged that Newcastle have made the England international their number one target for the January transfer window.

Game-time has certainly been hard to come by for Lingard since returning to Manchester United after his loan spell in east London. With a new manager at United in Ralf Rangnick, Lingard will need to decide whether he wants to stay at Old Trafford and fight for his place or pursue a new challenge. However, with his contract in Manchester expiring in June, it seems likely that he will push for an exit.

Having been a revelation for the Hammers last season and a major factor in them breaking into the top six, a return to the London Stadium would certainly make sense. The £19.8m-rated attacking midfielder scored nine goals and set up a further five in 16 appearances for the Irons, settling in immediately.

However, should the Magpies be able to lure Lingard to the northeast, they could well be provided with a major boost to their survival hopes. Eddie Howe’s side have only netted 17 goals in 15 games this season and could really do with extra firepower in the final third if they are to avoid relegation to the Championship.

It’s no secret that Newcastle will have money to spend after the £300m takeover in October, and a swoop for Lingard would certainly make sense.

The Magpies have struggled to find quality from their wide men, with neither Ryan Fraser nor Miguel Almiron finding the back of the net yet this season and Allan Saint-Maximin scoring just once in his last ten league appearances.

There is no doubt that Newcastle will need to spend in January, and a swoop for Lingard would certainly be a shrewd purchase which could go down a treat with the Tyneside faithful given how his spell at West Ham rejuvenated him so drastically.

In other news: Howe drops four-word injury update which will leave Newcastle fans buzzing

Crystal Palace are enjoying a comfortable season in the Premier League, with Patrick Vieira guiding the side to a potential top-half finish in his first season in charge at Selhurst Park there could be a problem unfolding ahead of next season.

What’s the word?

According to journalist, Pete O’Rourke, Crystal Palace are unlikely to improve the current salary of Wilfried Zaha to extend his contract beyond the current 15 months that he has left at the club.

O’Rourke told GIVEMESPORT: “He’s on a pretty good deal at Palace as it stands right now. I think he’s probably the highest-paid player at the club, so I’m not sure if Palace will be willing to give him an improvement on that.”

Disaster for Palace

Wilfried Zaha has been back to his best this season and surely Palace will want to do everything they can to keep the striker at the club next season, but with rumoured interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal this summer, and the club unlikely to increase his wages, it could spell disaster for Vieira.

As per SofaScore, the 29-year-old hailed “phenomenal by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, has scored 11 goals and contributed one assist so far this season in the Premier League, with 1.4 key passes and 1.2 tackles per game as well as a pass accuracy of 81%, proving he has become a key component in the progress at Selhurst Park.

The £130k-per-week star has even admitted he would be open to a move in an interview with The Face, which will again only add to the problems the Palace board are faced with in keeping the forward at the club;

“I feel like I can have another shot at the top teams, because my dream is to win things,” he said. ​

“I’m good enough to go out there and compete with the best. If the opportunity came, I wouldn’t turn it down, because I feel like I deserve it.”

Crystal Palace have already made the Ivorian goal machine their highest paid player, so it will be interesting to see if they make any movement on his salary ahead of this summer to secure his future before other clubs begin to make offers, otherwise Vieira will need to prepare for the loss of Zaha’s output going into next season.

In other news: Vieira can unearth CPFC’s next Mitchell in rarely-seen 18 y/o who is “full of energy”

Aston Villa are interested in a deal to bring Borna Sosa to Villa Park in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

According to reports from Germany (via the Express & Star), Steven Gerrard is keeping a very close eye on the situation of the VfB Stuttgart left-back ahead of a potential move during the winter market, as the 41-year-old manager is keen to bring in a top-class addition to challenge Matt Targett for his starting spot in the position.

The report goes on to state that the 23-year-old would likely be available for a fee of around £25m, and, while Gerrard is also thought to be considering an £8m move for Rangers defender Borna Barisic, Sosa is believed to be Villa’s favoured option due to his potential resale value.

Lange must act

Considering just how impressive Sosa has been for Stuttgart this season, in addition to the fact that Gerrard currently lacks a considerable amount of depth at left-back, a deal for the Croatia international would appear to be a very wise piece of business for Johan Lange to get over the line in the January transfer window.

Indeed, over his 12 Bundesliga appearances this term, the £14.4m-rated man has already registered three assists and created three big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 1.9 key passes, 2.4 crosses and 1.4 long balls per game.

These returns have seen the £15k-per-week defender average a SofaScore match rating of 7.05, ranking him as Pellegrino Matarazzo’s third-best performer in the top flight of German football.

Furthermore, the 23-year-old has also received extremely high praise for his style of play, with Stuttgart’s sporting director, Sven Mislintat, comparing Sosa to a very notable former England captain.

Speaking about the ability of the left-back, Mislintat said: “Borna’s said himself that David Beckham is his role model, and I think he has the same qualities. He puts in crosses from every angle: sometimes chipped, sometimes drilled, sometimes flat, sometimes in behind, sometimes to the front post, other times to the back post. His left foot is a real weapon.”

As such, considering all of the above, a deal for Sosa would indeed appear to be a very smart move for Lange, as the signing of a player who boasts the talent of the Croatian defender would very much appear to be one Gerrard would love.

In other news: “Some contact”: AVFC handed potential transfer boost that will leave Gerrard buzzing

An update has emerged on French defender Lucas Digne, regarding Newcastle United’s interest in his services.

What’s the talk?

Journalist Luke Edwards has claimed that the Everton full-back is on the Magpies’ radar this month as Eddie Howe goes in search of reinforcements for his squad.

He Tweeted: “Can’t see them signing Botman and Carlos. Digne is a target I’ve had that confirmed but there is bound to be competition.”

In his article for The Telegraph, Edwards named Digne and Southampton’s Romain Perraud as two players the club are looking at as they attempt to bring in competition for Jamal Lewis at left-back.

He then provided another update on the French defender on Wednesday lunchtime, saying:

“A centre back and a striker seem to be where most of the remaining money will be spent at #nufc this month. A loan with option to buy in the summer for Lucas Digne under discussion. Another CB permanent or loan on the to do list. Another CM probably the least pressing requirement.”

Excitement

This claim from the reporter will surely leave Newcastle fans feeling excited as Digne could be a terrific addition to the side. He is adamant that there is interest from the Magpies in the Frenchman’s services and that brings with it the exciting prospect of the club making a genuine move for him in the coming weeks.

Digne is a proven Premier League performer who could come in and be a major upgrade on Lewis and Matt Ritchie on the left side of defence. In his three full league campaigns for the Toffees to date, he has averaged a WhoScored rating of 7.08 or higher – scoring four goals and providing 18 assists in that time.

This season, Ritchie and Lewis have averaged scores of 6.43 and 6.33 respectively. Neither of them have been able to consistently deliver high-quality performances on the pitch and that is why the Everton man could be a vital signing for Howe, as his displays for the Blues show that he is capable of doing that at Premier League level – proving it over the course of three years.

Therefore, Magpies fans will be able to get excited by the thought of Digne playing for the club in the second half of the campaign. He could come in and instantly be a top performer for the side as he is accustomed to playing in the English top-flight and would not need an adaptation period.

With Kieran Trippier reportedly closing in on a transfer to St. James’ Park, Newcastle could find themselves with an excellent full-back pairing come the end of the month. However, it is down to Howe and Nick Hammond to ensure that they are able to get both deals over the line.

AND in other news, Howe can brutally axe £40k-p/w NUFC dud by signing “deceptive” gem who’s a “nightmare”…

Steven Gerrard only left Rangers for Aston Villa less than a month ago but has already been nominated for the Premier League’s Manager of the Month award for November.

As to be expected, a number of Villa fans have been giving their thoughts to the news on social media – although some weren’t overly enthused to hear of it.

The 41-year-old began his tenure in charge at Villa Park with a 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion and made it back-to-back victories with a 2-1 win at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace.

Those six points helped Villa move clear of flirting with the bottom three, although Gerrard has since suffered his first defeat at the Midlands club, losing 2-1 against champions Manchester City on Wednesday night.

The defeat against Pep Guardiola’s side was on the first day of December, so Gerrard had a 100% record in November. He has been shortlisted for the award alongside Guardiola and Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp, with the winner to be announced on December 10.

Villa fans react

Villa shared the news regarding Gerrard on their official Twitter channel on Friday. Here is what these fans had to say in reply, with many fearing “bad luck” in regards to a possible manager of the month jinx – as has afflicted previous winners of the prize – should Gerrard win the November award.

“Oh god.”

Credit: @LukeKing_

“Uh oh”

Credit: @JustTheVilla

“Nooooooooooooooooooooooo He doesn’t deserve it in all honesty. Don’t jinx him and us please”

Credit: @TipsCurtis

“Bad luck incoming”

Credit: @JackUTFV

“DO NOT VOTE, DO NOT VOTE, DO NOT VOTE, DO NOT VOTE”

Credit: @VillaBot1874

“don’t jinx him”

Credit: @avfc_kel

In other news: ‘Do it’ – Many Villa fans react as ‘brilliant’ transfer news emerges