All posts by h79snht.top

Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring James Tarkowski to Elland Road in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Daily Mail, who claimed that, with the 29-year-old’s contract at Burnley coming to an end later this month, Victor Orta is keen on the idea of bringing him to LS11 on a free transfer.

However, the report added that Everton, Aston Villa and Leicester City are also keeping a very close eye on the England international’s situation ahead of a potential swoop of their own this summer.

Imagine him & Kristensen

Considering just how impressive Tarkowski has been for Burnley since joining them in February 2016, and with Leeds conceding 79 goals in the Premier League this season – the second-worst record in the top flight, with only bottom club Norwich City shipping more – it is not difficult to understand why Orta would be interested in a deal for the 29-year-old this summer.

Indeed, over his four full Premier League campaigns prior to 2021/22, the £19.8m-rated defender averaged extraordinary seasonal SofaScore match ratings of 7.13 in 2017/18, 7.04 in 2018/19, 7.14 in 2019/20 and 7.09 in 2020/21 – a remarkable feat considering that the Clarets finished seventh, 15th, 10th and 17th in these respective seasons.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more-2″ title=”Read the latest Leeds news, transfer rumours and more!”]

Furthermore, despite Burnley’s relegation from the top flight in 2021/22, the £70k-per-week talent still impressed over his 35 Premier League appearances. He helped his side to keep seven clean sheets, scoring one goal and providing two assists, along with making 1.4 interceptions, 1.8 tackles, 5.2 clearances and winning 6.9 duels (at a success rate of 68%) per game.

These returns saw the player who Andy Jones dubbed “unbelievable” average a SofaScore match rating of 7.15, ranking him not only as the Clarets’ best performer in the league but also as the seventh-best defender in the entire top flight.

As such, it is clear to see that Tarkowski would greatly improve Jesse Marsch’s options at the back, particularly following the Whites’ all-but-confirmed signing of Red Bull Salzburg right-back Rasmus Kristensen.

Indeed, with the 29-year-old having typically operated on the right of Burnley’s centre-back pairing, the prospect of the twice-capped England international lining up alongside the Kristensen in the Whites’ backline will certainly be an incredibly exciting one for both Marsch and the Elland Road faithful. Therefore, we believe that Orta must do all he can to try and seal Tarkowski’s signing this summer.

AND in other news: Orta could unearth the new £103m-rated talent as Leeds now plot bid for “dream” target

Alfredo Morelos ‘may be open’ to staying at Rangers, Jordan Campbell of The Athletic reports.

The lowdown

Morelos’ contract is due to expire in just 12 months’ time and, if a player reaches January without a new deal in place, they’re free to negotiate pre-contract terms with foreign clubs.

The Colombian publicly said in September 2021 that he hoped he would ‘soon’ be allowed to leave Ibrox, but it appears his stance may have changed.

The 25-year-old is currently thought to be the top earner at Ibrox, taking home £33,000 per week.

The latest

Campbell writes in his preview of Rangers’ transfer window that Morelos could be willing to ‘prolong his stay’ at Ibrox.

However, it may depend upon whether the terms prove to be ‘prohibitive’ for the Gers.

The verdict

Rangers have already received a significant boost this week with the news that Connor Goldson has signed a new four-year contract.

And securing the commitment of Morelos would also be something to celebrate given his exploits in Glasgow.

He’s fired in 123 goals, and provided 51 assists, in 224 matches, and he’s also the club’s all-time top goalscorer in European competition.

It’s no surprise, in light of that record, that he’s attracted interest from elsewhere, with the likes of FC Porto and Newcastle previously named as admirers.

But Rangers could thwart those suitors if they can reach an agreement with Morelos, named Men’s Player of the Year in 2018/19 and 2021/22.

In other news, a former Gers boss makes this big claim about a forgotten man.

Tottenham Hotspur have been offered the chance to bring Tomas Soucek to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Football Insider, who claim that, following a breakdown in his contract renewal talks with West Ham United, the central midfielder’s agents have now offered Tottenham – who had already been credited with an interest in the Czech Republic international this summer – the chance to sign the 27-year-old.

The report goes on to state that a source has revealed it is extremely likely the former Slavia Prague star secures a £40m move away from the London Stadium in the coming months, as Soucek’s relationship with David Moyes is believed to have completely deteriorated as a result of his failed talks over a new deal in east London.

Conte’s “dream” signing

Considering just how impressive Soucek has been for West Ham over the past two and a half years, the suggestion that Fabio Paratici now looks to have been given the green light to move for the midfielder is undoubtedly fantastic news for the sporting director and Antonio Conte alike.

Indeed, over his 38 Premier League appearances during his first full campaign in England, the £40.5m-rated talent proved just how deadly he can be in an attacking capacity, scoring ten goals, registering one assist and creating two big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.7 shots and making 0.5 key passes per game.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/tottenham-hotspur-latest-news-updates-transfer-rumours-gossip-spurs-thfc-conte-paratici” title= “Read the latest Spurs news, transfer rumours and more!”]

The £67k-per-week midfielder also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 1.6 interceptions, 2.1 tackles, 2.7 clearances, 31.9 passes and winning 9.6 duels – at a success rate of 54% – per fixture.

These returns saw the 27-year-old average a quite remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.16, ranking him as Moyes’ second-best performer in the top flight of English football – playing a key role in West Ham securing a sixth-place finish in the league.

Furthermore, Declan Rice is clearly a huge fan of his central midfield partner, with the England international stating of Soucek last year:

“He is so good, I played against him against the Czech Republic for England and I knew then it was going to be a big game and now to have him next to me is when you realise how much he actually does: He runs, he is strong, he is athletic, good in the air and he gets in the box. He does everything you want a midfielder to do.

“When we played Manchester United he ran 17km in the game, 17k! All the lads are like ‘that’s not normal Tom!’ Honestly, he’s unbelievable, and this season it’s no doubt he’s going to be our player of the year and he absolutely deserves it, he’s been unbelievable.”

As such, considering the fact that one of Conte’s primary targets in the summer transfer window is reported to be the signing of an all-action centre mid, it would very much appear as if the player Moyes dubbed a “manager’s dream” would be exactly this for the Italian.

AND in other news: Bid rejected: Spurs trying to sign “unreal” £77m “monster”, he’d have a “huge impact”

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Kalvin Phillips to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Telegraph, who claim that the Leeds United defensive midfielder is one of a number of players on Antonio Conte’s list of transfer targets in the summer market, with the signing of a new player in the 26-year-old’s position believed to be a priority for the 52-year-old ahead of Spurs’ 2022/23 campaign.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/tottenham-hotspur-latest-news-updates-transfer-rumours-gossip-spurs-thfc-conte-paratici” title= “Read the latest Spurs news, transfer rumours and more!”]

However, further reports claim that the likes of Manchester United, Aston Villa, West Ham United, Liverpool and Manchester City are also interested in a move for the England international this summer, with the Whites’ expected to demand a figure in the region of £60m in order to part with their academy graduate.

Conte’s next Kante

Considering just how impressive Phillips has been for Leeds since the Whites’ promotion to the Premier League back in 2020, it is easy to see why Conte would be interested in a deal to bring the deep-lying playmaker to north London this summer.

Indeed, while a hamstring injury kept the £45m-rated talent sidelined for a large portion of 2021/22, the 26-year-old undoubtedly proved his ability over 29 Premier league appearances in the season prior, scoring one goal, providing two assists and creating five big chances, as well as making an average of 1.2 key passes, taking 0.5 shots and completing 0.7 dribbles per game.

The £38k-per-week defensive midfielder also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 1.6 interceptions, 2.6 tackles, 1.7 clearances, completing 41.0 passes and winning 5.3 duels – at a success rate of 52% – per fixture.

These returns saw the player who Scott Saunders dubbed “unreal” average a quite astonishing SofaScore match rating of 7.21, not only ranking him as Leeds’ best player in the league but also as the ninth-best midfielder in the top flight as a whole.

For comparison, over N’Golo Kante’s – a player who is widely considered to be one of the best holding midfielders currently playing the game, as well as being a former disciple of Conte – 26 Premier League outings in 2021/22, the £45m-rated France international scored two goals, registered four assists and created three big chances, as well as making an average of 0.9 key passes, taking 0.7 shots and completing 1.3 dribbles per game.

The 31-year-old also made an average of 1.2 interceptions, 2.3 tackles, 0.3 clearances, completed 43.1 passes and won 4.6 duels – at a success rate of 57% – per fixture – with these metrics seeing the Chelsea star average a SofaScore match rating of 7.12.

As such, it is clear for all to see that, should Paratici manage to fight off the competition for Phillips this summer, the Italian sporting director could well have landed Conte his next Kante at Spurs – something that would undoubtedly provide Tottenham’s chances of success in the upcoming campaign with a substantial boost.

AND in other news: Contact made: Paratici now in talks for £43m Spurs target, he’s “out of the ordinary”

West Ham United are reportedly planning an audacious attempt to sign Barcelona forward Memphis Depay, according to reports coming out of Spain.

What’s the word?

As per reports in Iberia (via Sports Witness), the Hammers are said to have made contact with the La Liga giants regarding a potential deal, with the Nou Camp outfit seemingly open to a sale this summer.

The report suggests that the Catalan side would see it as a ‘great deal’ were they able to cash in on the Dutchman in the upcoming window, with just a year remaining on the deal he signed to make the move from Lyon on a free transfer last summer.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-this-weeks-latest-west-ham-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-more” title= “Read the latest West Ham news!”]

Xavi and co would likely be set to make a tidy profit on the 28-year-old, with previous reports claiming that they could demand as much as £42m to move him on at the end of the season.

Huge coup

There’s no doubting that it has been a frustrating stint at times for the former Manchester United man in his current surroundings, although that’s not to take away from the excitement at his potential move to the London Stadium.

Despite at times coming in for criticism during his time with La Blaugrana, the £40.5m-rated gem still has an impressive record this season, having scored 12 goals and registered two assists in just 20 league starts, while he is also the club’s joint-top scorer in all competitions alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

That follows an outstanding stint in France in which he provided 76 goals and 55 assists in 178 games in all competitions,  having recovered from his disappointing spell at Old Trafford, while he is also currently the fourth-highest scorer for the Dutch national team with 39 goals in just 77 games.

Clearly a prolific attacking presence, Depay also offers the flexibility to play a number of positions, lining up as a centre-forward, a winger or even in a playmaking number ten role in recent seasons.

His versatility would no doubt prove invaluable to Hammers boss David Moyes, with the £158k-per-week “baller” – as he has been dubbed by BT Sport – offering undoubted additional quality to a side that has so often been far too reliant on Jarrod Bowen this season.

A “joy to watch”, according to Ronald Koeman, the one-time PSV Eindhoven ace has the talent to set the Premier League alight should he take the leap of faith and link up with the Irons, with the club able to offer him the talismanic status that he has been denied at present.

IN other news, Cost £1.5m per goal: GSB made a colossal blunder on “strong” £40k-p/w West Ham flop 

Wolves could not only sell Ruben Neves to Barcelona this summer but also lose him for a ‘hugely knocked down price’, according to a worrying new transfer report.

The Lowdown: Neves on the move?

The Portuguese has stood out as one of Wanderers’ best players in the Premier League this season, excelling in the middle of the park with his quality and tenacity.

Neves has scored four goals and registered two assists in the league, not to mention enjoying an average pass completion rate of 84.2%.

Unfortunately, the 25-year-old has been continually linked with a move away from Wolves this summer, and a new update further suggests that that will happen in the worst way possible.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/all-the-latest-from-wolves-6/” title=”All the latest from Wolves!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=“none”]

The Latest: Double blow for Wolves

According to Sport [via Sport Witness], Barcelona not only see Neves as their number one midfield target but are also confident of signing him on the cheap compared to others.

It is claimed that they could sign him for a ‘much lower ‘amount than fellow target Martin Zubimendi, who has a €60m (£50.7m) release clause – Transfermarkt value Neves at £36m.

[freshpress-poll id=“388780″]

The Verdict: Cough up the cash Barca

If Wolves are to lose Neves this summer, it is essential that they only sell him for a huge amount of money – frankly, only a club-record exit fee will do, beating the current amount of £40.23million received for Diogo Jota.

Bruno Lage will need the money to bring in a top-quality replacement and not having those funds would feel like a double whammy after losing arguably his star player.

If Barcelona want Neves, they must pay the amount that Wolves are willing to part with, or accept having to look at a different target instead.

In other news, Wolves have been linked with an exciting Premier League signing. Find out who it is here.

A huge Newcastle United injury lift has emerged regarding centre-forward Chris Wood…

What’s the latest?

The New Zealand international was not in the matchday squad for the 2-0 win against Arsenal on Monday night, but Eddie Howe has now hinted that he could be back at the weekend.

An own goal from Ben White and a strike from Bruno Guimaraes sealed the three points for the Magpies as Callum Wilson led the line in place of Wood on the night.

The Athletic’s Chris Waugh tweeted after the game: “Javier Manquillo missed NUFC’s 2-0 victory over AFC tonight with chicken pox, while Chris Wood was absent with a hip injury which Eddie Howe “hopes isn’t too serious”. Wood has a chance of being back for Burnley, his former club, on Sunday.”

Howe will be delighted

The Toon boss will be delighted that the striker’s blow is not a serious one, as it suggests that Wood will be back for the final game of the season on Sunday.

Newcastle are two points off the top half of the table heading into their clash against Burnley, and they have a realistic chance of finishing in the top 10 if they are able to beat the Clarets – potentially consigning them to relegation from the Premier League in the process.

This means that there is still a lot riding on this game for both teams, although the Magpies have already secured their place in the top flight for another year. Therefore, it may be a tense, cagey encounter at Turf Moor as Mike Jackson’s side scrap for their lives to avoid the drop.

With this in mind, having a player with Wood’s physical prowess available will be a big boost to Howe’s team. In the Premier League this season, the striker has won a whopping 6.2 aerial battles per game, which highlights his strength in the air.

The 30-year-old will be a useful option for Howe to call upon as he can win headers to create counterattacks and alleviate pressure from the defence. Burnley may start the game quickly and attempt to load the box with crosses in what could be a must-win clash for them, and this would mean that the Newcastle defenders will need a target to hit when they clear the ball. That is what Wood can be.

Therefore, the Magpies boss will be buzzing by the prospect of having the attacker available and may utilise his strengths against the club that he left to come to St James’ Park in January.

AND in other news, Forget Guimaraes: £59k-p/w NUFC dynamo who won 100% duels was a monster on Monday…

Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst has been dealt a crushing blow over the future of Ibrox winger Ryan Kent…

What’s the talk?

Transfer insider Dean Jones has claimed that the attacker wants to secure a move south of the border with teams from England eyeing him up.

The Gers are set to offer him fresh terms in an attempt to keep him at the club and Jones believes that it will be a futile effort.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “I’m told Ryan Kent will still look to leave this summer as he wants to play in the Premier League. Rangers are ready to make him a new contract offer, but it sounds like he fancies a move, and he knows clubs like Leeds and Everton are keen”

Ibrox faithful will be gutted

This claim will surely leave the Ibrox faithful gutted as losing Kent would be a huge blow to the club heading into the 2022/23 campaign.

It is a difficult situation for Ross Wilson to be in as the player’s contract expires in the summer of 2023. This means that the upcoming window is the best chance to cash in on him before his value plummets.

He will be available to foreign teams on a pre-contract in January 2023 and will become a free agent later that year, which means that this summer could be the perfect time to sell Kent if he is unwilling to put pen to paper on a new deal.

The financial benefits of a transfer will not take away from the disappointment of a departure for Kent. He has produced three goals and 19 assists in all competitions this season, including 11 assists in 24 outings in the Premiership.

These statistics show that he has been a difference-maker for Gio van Bronkhorst in the final third. He has regularly contributed to goals by showcasing his creativity from out wide, providing excellent crosses and using his trickery to win penalties off the opposition.

This is why the supporters will be deflated by the prospect of Kent wanting to leave the club and will surely be frustrated by his decision.

Although, the fans may forgive the attacker for seeking a transfer if he ends his Gers career on a high by scoring the winner against Frankfurt in Sevilla. Winning a major European final would be some way to bow out at Ibrox and give him enough goodwill for the move to avoid major criticism from the fanbase.

AND in other news, Fewer touches than McLaughlin: Rangers dud with 0 duels won was a passenger on Sunday…

Former FIFA and Premier League referee Keith Hackett gave a positive reaction to West Ham United striker Michail Antonio’s complaints about VAR.

The Lowdown: Antonio’s comments

The Hammers forward took to The Footballer’s Football Podcast last week to shares his frustrations over the awful VAR decision that took place in his side’s clash against Chelsea.

In the dying moments of the game, Maxwel Cornet thought he had struck an equaliser for the Irons after he pounced on a mix-up between Reece James and Edouard Mendy.

Referee Andy Madley was then sent to the monitor by VAR official Jarred Gillet to observe an apparent challenge on the Chelsea goalkeeper by Jarrod Bowen. Consequently, the goal was disallowed.

Taking to the podcast after the incident, Antonio quite bluntly claimed that VAR should be ‘binned’.

The Latest: Hackett’s claim

Whilst Hackett understands Antonio’s frustrations with VAR, he believes the system is here to stay, but the Premier League need to get it right to avoid further mistakes.

Speaking with Football Insider, the former referee said:

“Realistically, is anybody happy with VAR and how it works in England? They can’t be after last weekend.

“As I’ve said before, they have to get it right because they are not helping the game.

“For me, I can understand why clubs and managers and players want to get rid of VAR.

“I think VAR is here to stay. The only way it would change is if the board of directors of the Premier League which is the 20 clubs do something.

“If Steve Parish is able to convince the rest of the Premier League clubs to think they want to dump it.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-updates-2/” title=”West Ham latest updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Doesn’t help West Ham

Despite PGMOL’s acceptance that the VAR intervention to disallow West Ham’s goal against Chelsea was wrong, the aftermath of the situation has in no way benefitted the east London club.

The Irons lost the game 2-1, with Cornet’s goal disallowed as the equaliser.

In spite of a rocky start to the Premier League campaign, David Moyes will still be hoping his side can push for a top-six finish – something the Hammers missed out on by two points last season.

The referee’s mistake could have a serious effect on that desire.

Celtic have seemingly only gone from strength to strength during Ange Postecoglou’s tenure thus far, although the Hoops were brought crashing back down to earth on Sunday afternoon, following a dismal 2-0 defeat away at St Mirren.

After an initial slow start to life in the dugout at Parkhead, the 57-year-old has since sparked a real turnaround in fortunes over the past 12 months, having overseen a stunning 38-game unbeaten in the Scottish Premiership.

Almost exactly a year on from their last league loss away to Livingston, that remarkable streak came to an end yesterday in Paisley, with goals from Mark O’Hara and Jonah Ayunga powering Stephen Robinson’s side to a deserved victory.

With it seemingly having been plain sailing in the early weeks of the season for the Old Firm outfit domestically, alarm bells will seemingly be ringing for Postecoglou following that limp display, as his much-changed side struggled to contend with their spirited hosts.

In the aftermath of that loss, the former Yokohama boss accepted responsibility for the performance as a result of his team selection, admitting that he potentially got it “wrong” after making six changes from the side that drew with Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League in midweek.

The Greek-Aussie had only recently lauded the strength in depth at his disposal following an impressive window that saw nine major deals completed, although there may well now be concern over the quality of those in reserve as the few handed a rare chance to impress failed to deliver.

Summer arrival Aaron Mooy was one who notably underwhelmed on what was his first league start for the club, having come under fire from club legend Stylian Petrov for failing to track his runner in the build-up to O’Hara’s opener.

Academy graduate Stephen Welsh was another who was unable to take his chance after replacing the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers in the backline, with the defensive unit as a whole having been simply “bullied” by opposition striker, Curtis Main.

While Postecoglou suggested there was no obvious villain on the day as the collective performance was simply lacking, he may well have his eye on a few disappointing stars who have subsequently failed to warrant a more prominent role.

Such a woeful outing should well serve as a warning to the Hoops boss moving forward that he may not be able to rotate his squad quite as freely as he may have hoped, with the Buddies proving to the champions that they won’t get any easy ride in the defence of their title.