All posts by z3u9t.icu

It was only going to end one way when Liverpool posted a birthday message for Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum on Monday morning.

The Liverpool fans are feeling pretty good about life at the moment as their team are eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are nine clear of Manchester City, meanwhile, with the reigning champions dispatched 3-1 at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

Wijnaldum – now 29 years of age – played the full 90 minutes against Pep Guardiola’s side, boasting a stunning pass success rate of 97%, according to WhoScored.

In all, the Netherlands international has made 157 appearances for Liverpool since 2016, contributing 15 goals and 16 assists in the process.

And it was not much of a surprise when the club’s supporters took to social media to show their love for the midfielder in response to the birthday message.

A selection of the Twitter reaction is available to view below:

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has hit out at the officials in the clash against Liverpool, as he can’t understand why Fabinho’s opening goal stood.

What did he say?

The battle at Anfield between the two main title contenders was billed as the biggest game of the season so far. However, the entire game was marred by controversial decisions throughout. The most notable incident was the handball on Trent Alexander-Arnold, who touched the ball in his own area.

Referee Michael Oliver waved play on and Fabinho would break the deadlock just seconds later.

Kompany told Sky Sports: “The incident happens and I’m confused.

“That’s the problem. I’m confused. I’m thinking ‘Okay, I’m not the expert in everything’. Then I look to my right at Jose Mourinho, Roy Keane and Graham Souness. We’re all confused.

“Surely that says something about the process? The fact that this could still be for debate when there’s a VAR system that is meant to make football simpler and fairer.

“[The] goal happens 20 seconds later. My feeling remains that although Liverpool were great, and both teams tried to play the way they are known to play, I felt this first decision was so important to get right.”

The debate continues

Prior to the ball hitting the hand of Alexander-Arnold, the ball also struck Bernardo Silva in the same area. However, the footage does show that the Liverpool man clearly impeded the City attack and help Liverpool’s counter in the process.

New rules were introduced surrounding handballs situations this season, which ultimately states that any touch of the hand or arm in the build-up to a goal will be disallowed, regardless of intent or not.

Earlier this year, the Premier League stated: “Any goal scored or created with the use of the hand or arm will be disallowed this season even if it is accidental.”

As the Liverpool right-back had played a part in Fabinho’s goal, as per the laws from the Premier League, the goal should not have stood. It took seconds for the Brazilian to score after the ball hit Alexander-Arnold’s arm, making it a clear involvement in the goal.

Leeds United head into the first international break of the 2024/25 campaign sitting in fourth place in the Championship table after four matches.

The Whites started the season with back-to-back draws with Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion, 3-3 and 0-0 respectively, before losing 3-0 to Middlesbrough in the League Cup.

However, they have since bounced back from their disappointing start with a 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday and a 2-0 win over Hull City, with the latter coming at Elland Road on Saturday.

Mateo Joseph and Joel Piroe scored the goals for the Whites in West Yorkshire at the weekend to secure all three points for Daniel Farke's side.

That clash with the Tigers came less than 24 hours after the summer transfer window slammed shut on Friday night, after months of incoming and outgoings at Elland Road.

The likes of Archie Gray, Georginio Rutter, Crysencio Summerville, and Glen Kamara all secured permanent exits from the club over the summer.

Meanwhile, Leeds brought in Largie Ramazani, Manor Solomon, Ao Tanaka, Alex Cairns, Jayden Bogle, Joe Rothwell, Joe Rodon, and Isaac Schmidt.

The Whites did, however, fail in an attempt to make a ninth addition to Farke's playing squad in the final few days of the summer transfer window.

Leeds failed to sign Championship star

It was reported that Leeds were interested in a deal to sign attacking midfielder Gustavo Hamer from Championship rivals Sheffield United towards the end of the month.

The Yorkshire-based outfit reportedly made an initial offer of £13m to secure the former Coventry City star from Bramall Lane, but that was not enough to tempt the Blades.

It was also claimed that the Whites went back in with a second bid that included Joel Piroe going to Chris Wilder's side, along with an undisclosed fee paid to the relegated side.

However, Sheffield United had no interest in signing Piroe as they did not believe that he suited what they needed in their squad, and the Dutchman went on to score for Leeds against Hull after the deadline passed.

Their failure to convince the Blades to part ways with the midfielder, who produced four goals and six assists in the Premier League last season, was a shame as he is a proven Championship performer.

Appearances

45

Goals

11

Assists

11

Big chances created

18

As you can see in the table above, Hamer has recorded an eye-catching 22 direct goal contributions in his last 45 appearances in the division for Coventry and Sheffield United combined.

The 27-year-old magician is an attacking midfielder who can provide a huge threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals at Championship level.

However, the Dutch wizard will now continue to showcase his quality in South Yorkshire, rather than West, with Wilder's side for the rest of this season, or at least until January.

How Leeds can forget about Gustavo Hamer

Leeds did not land an alternative number ten option before the summer transfer window officially slammed shut on Friday night but that does not mean that they have their hands tied behind their back until the winter.

The Whites can still dip into the market to attract free agent options at any time, as players who are not contracted to a club can still make moves in the coming days and weeks, despite the window being closed.

There are plenty of high-quality players who have yet to find a new team to play for this season and that means that there is still a chance for Farke to add an attacking midfielder to the group to bolster his side's play-off chances.

Per Transfermarkt, there are a number of attacking midfielders who are without a club at the moment, including Dele Alli, Iker Muniain, Rafinha, and Anton Miranchuk.

Leeds, as they do not have to pay a transfer fee to a team to secure their services, could be ambitious with their free agent target and go for a high-quality option.

The most valuable free agent attacking midfielder, per Transfermarkt, is former Lille number ten Yusuf Yazici, who is valued at €10m (£8.4m) by the site.

Why Leeds should swoop for Yusuf Yazici

The Whites must now attempt to convince the Turkey international to move to England to play in the Championship, as it would allow the club to move on from Hamer and forget about the Sheffield United man.

Aged 27, Yazici is not in the final throes of his career, and is the same age as Hamer in fact, and could come in at the peak of his powers for Leeds.

It will not be an easy move to get done, though, as it has been reported that Olympiacos, Galatasaray, and Nice are among the teams interested in signing the free agent, which is another reason why this would be an ambitious transfer for the 49ers to pull off.

If they could convince Yazici to move to Elland Road, though, he has the potential to be an excellent addition to the squad, after an impressive year with Lille.

The Turkish whiz, who was once dubbed an "incredible" talent by former Arsenal star Mesut Ozil, racked up 12 goals and four assists in all competitions for the French side.

Appearances

27

36

Goals

5

4

Assists

2

6

Big chances created

5

10

Duel success rate

38%

37%

As you can see in the table above, Yazici was directly involved in seven goals in 27 appearances, whilst Hamer was involved in three more in nine more outings in the Premier League.

The free agent ace scored more goals in nine fewer matches in a major European league and this suggests that he could arrive at Leeds and provide a big goal threat, if he can improve his output by playing at a lower level in the second tier in England.

Yazici, who scored 29 goals in 135 matches for Lille during his time in France, could allow Farke to forget all about Hamer by coming in as a fantastic option in the number ten position, which is why the club should launch an ambitious swoop for his services.

Leeds star who's won every single tackle has been even better than Joseph

The Whites enforcer has enjoyed a terrific start to the season for Daniel Farke.

ByDan Emery Sep 3, 2024

Leeds United are believed to have made a surprise approach for an "absolutely top class" player this summer, according to a new transfer rumour.

More Leeds signings needed after Ramazani

The Whites most recently acquired the signature of Largie Ramazani, with the winger arriving on a permanent basis from Almeria, having scored three goals and chipped in with five assists in La Liga last season.

While the diminutive Belgian represents an exciting piece of business for Leeds, coming in and helping make up for the loss of Crysencio Summerville to West Ham, it is still clear that further additions are needed in the next week or so before the transfer window closes.

Archie Gray's exit to Tottenham has heightened the need for a new right-back to come in for Daniel Farke, even though Jayden Bogle has joined from Sheffield United, and a central midfielder is also vital after Glen Kamara's departure to Ligue 1 side Rennes.

It looks as though Leeds may be set to address one of those aforementioned areas of focus, with a new update dropping regarding their upcoming business.

Leeds make loan approach for "top class" player

According to Football Insider, Leeds have made an approach by registering their interest in Bournemouth defender Max Aarons, seeing him as a good option to bring in on loan.

The Whites are thought to be "readying a surprise move" for the £35,000-a-week right-back, and perhaps most significant is the fact that Farke is believed to be a "big fan", having worked together during their Norwich City days.

Aarons could be such a shrewd signing by Leeds this month, gaining so much experience over the years and proving to be a right-back who could offer quality at both ends of the pitch. The fact that Farke knows him so well can only bode well, too.

At 24, he still has a lot to offer in his career, and given his lack of playing time at Bournemouth – only 13 starts came his way in the Premier League last season – he could feel that now is the best time for him to move to another club.

Aarons has made 90 appearances in the Premier League, which shows how experienced he is at playing at a high level, as well as appearing 131 times in the Championship, scoring five goals and registering 13 assists for good measure. Meanwhile, former Norwich manager David Wagner once said of him: "Everybody knows how highly we rate him as a player and as a person as well. He's been absolutely top class."

The former Norwich City man could come in and provide competition for Bogle, who can also operate as a winger, meaning that he may even be first-choice from the off, boosting Leeds' hopes of returning to the Premier League in the process.

£20,000-p/w Leeds player who Farke starts is pushing to leave Elland Road

He played against West Brom last weekend.

1 ByHenry Jackson Aug 23, 2024

A 27-time capped England Under-21 international, Aarons may not have made the step up to being an elite-level right-back, but he could be one of the best players in the Championship in his position, becoming a key man for the Whites.

Tottenham may be a lot closer to making another new signing than widely reported, with their target's club closing in on a replacement in the final stages of the transfer window.

Spurs sign Odobert out of the blue

Within an hour of news breaking of Tottenham's interest in then-Burnley winger Wilson Odobert, the club had confirmed the arrival of the teenager in a deal believed to be worth in excess of £25m, adding further firepower to Ange Posteoglou's frontline ahead of the new Premier League season.

The winger will not receive a work permit in time to make his debut in their Premier League opener against Leicester City, but waxed lyrical about his new club upon his arrival.

"First and foremost, Tottenham is a big club, and it’s hugely ambitious, too. I think the club and myself share the same ambitions. We’re on the same wavelength," he explained in his first Lilywhites interview.

"It’s a tough ask to come and play here against Tottenham… from the outset I was hugely impressed, by the stadium and the supporters. Now here I am as a Spurs player! I’m really up for it; to do everything I can, to fight hard, to succeed in winning the fans over, and help the club get results."

The winger is Tottenham's fourth senior summer signing following the record addition of Dominic Solanke alongside a high profile move for teenage talent Archie Gray and a return for Timo Werner on another loan deal from RB Leipzig.

More departures are expected, with Oliver Skipp on the verge of completing a move to Leicester City and both Giovani Lo Celso and Manor Solomon both up for sale. But the incomings may not be over, and now Spurs have been given the clearest indication that another signing may be imminent.

Monaco sign Vanderson replacement

That comes with French side Monaco edging ever closer to signing right back Jordan Teze from PSV Eindhoven in a deal worth £9m. It comes amid rumoured Spurs interest in current Monaco right back Vanderson, with recent suggestions that Ange Postecoglou's side are even preparing a bid for the defender.

Spurs could land Solanke his dream signing in sensational £100kp/w "wizard"

The incredible talent would be unreal with the £65m man.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 19, 2024

Though Vanderson still has four years left on his £49,500 per week deal in the south of France, an exit has been strongly mooted this summer.

Vanderson in Ligue 1 2023-24

Appearances

20

Starts

20

Goals

3

Assists

1

Yellow Cards

4

As per Foot Mercato [Via Sport Witness], the Rouge et Blanc now expect the departure of the defender, with Brazilian sources suggesting that the Lilywhites are preparing a 32m euro (£27.2m) offer to take him to north London.

It may not be enough to convince them to part ways with the Brazilian, with reports earlier this summer suggesting that Monaco were holding out for 40m euros (£34m), though given that they have now signed a replacement they may well be more willing to compromise.

Any potential move to Spurs would likely spell the end of Djed Spence at the club despite Postecoglou revealing that he had been impressed by the defender in pre-season and expected him to stay, with Pedro Porro clearly the Australian's first choice at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Manchester United enjoyed a relatively solid debut season under the leadership of Erik ten Hag – securing a League Cup triumph and qualification for the Champions League, ensuring the first stage of his rebuilding job is complete, yet there is still so much work to do.

These achievements might not be enough to satiate the Old Trafford faithful, and further progress will be required next year as the Dutchman will be hoping his two star performers, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, can take their games to new heights in Europe’s premier competition.

Last season, Fernandes was in exceptional form, registering 29 goal contributions – 14 goals and 15 assists – from an attacking-midfield position and creating a staggering 32 big chances, as well as completing 3.3 key passes per game – numbers that saw him ranked first in both metrics across the whole of the Premier League.

The Portuguese sensation will turn 29 during the opening stages of 2023/24, and with United recently linked with Wolfsburg midfielder Felix Nmecha, could Ten Hag potentially be eyeing up someone who could eventually replace Fernandes?

Could Manchester United sign Felix Nmecha this summer?

The 22-year-old could be available for as little as €15m (£13m), and the Dutchman should look to secure his signature as soon as possible.

Having started off his career at Manchester City, he is not a complete stranger to English football, however, he only really began to showcase his wonderful potential in Germany after signing for Wolfsburg in 2021.

Across 50 appearances for the Bundesliga side, he has scored three goals and grabbed seven assists, yet it was 2022/23 which saw him register all but one of these goal contributions in what was a solid campaign for the one-cap Germany international.

Indeed, he ranked as the third-best player in the squad for overall rating, as per Sofascore, while ranking fifth for big chances created (five) and successful dribbles per game (0.9), suggesting he was a positive influence within the side.

The former City starlet doesn’t just pose attacking qualities, as he ranks in the top 20% across Europe’s top five leagues for aerials won (2.16) and clearances per 90 (1.52), showcasing a different side to his game – and this ability to chip in defensively when required could be a big bonus for Ten Hag.

Journalist Josh Bunting has been quick to praise the youngster due to his displays recently, saying: “He’s very quick, technical ability is good, a ball carrying number 8, strong in his duels and has an intelligent eye for a final pass.”

With this in mind, a fee of around £13m would surely represent a bargain for the Red Devils as they continue to plan ahead for not only next season, but also the future.

Newcastle United are showing an interest in signing Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams this summer, a new transfer update has claimed.

Will Adams leave Leeds in the summer?

The Magpies could be set to embark upon a hugely productive summer transfer window, having secured a top-four finish in the Premier League and sealed a return to the Champions League in the process.

That could make a huge different when it comes to the calibre of players Newcastle could sign in the coming weeks and months, as they look to ensure that they don't rest on their laurels and keep improving instead.

The money will be there for Eddie Howe to make significant reinforcements and he could see midfield as a key area of the pitch strengthen, with arguably too much reliance on Bruno Guimaraes, who looked tired in the final stages of the season.

Will Newcastle look to snap up Adams?

According to The Telegraph, Newcastle are interested in adding "Leeds' best player" to their midfield in the summer window:

"Adams was arguably Leeds’ best player last season, and also thrived at the World Cup in December with the USA national side, before his season was ended by a hamstring injury back in March that required surgery.

"Sources have also indicated that Newcastle were impressed by Adams’ character and combative nature when he played at St James’ Park during a goalless draw on New Year’s Day.

"The 24-year-old, who arrived at Leeds from RB Leipzig for just £20 million last summer, is also able to play wide or through the middle in midfield and can also be deployed as a wing back and would hopefully be available for less than £30 million."

Adams could be exactly what Newcastle are after this summer, with the 24-year-old proving to be an excellent signing by Leeds, despite their eventual relegation from the Premier League last month.

Jesse Marsch labelled him "very important" and he certainly stood out as their star player throughout the campaign, winning an average of 3.7 tackles per game in the league, as well as 1.5 interceptions and 1.1 aerial duels.

The American was also described as "exceptional" by pundit Lucy Ward for his performances at the 2022 World Cup, and he could be viewed as an upgrade on someone like Sean Longstaff moving forward.

For all his excellence in 2022/23, he needs to eventually be turned into a squad player if Newcastle are to reach that next level, possessing quality but yet to win a cap for England and only averaging 1.3 tackles and 0.5 interceptions last season.

Arsenal are confident that Reiss Nelson will sign a long-term contract to stay at the club very soon, journalist Charles Watts has revealed.

What's the latest on Nelson and Arsenal?

The 23-year-old has struggled to break into the Arsenal first team this season as a result of injuries and the form of Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, but has delivered when called upon as a substitute.

His cameo against Bournemouth saw him provide an assist for the equaliser and score a stunning winner as Arsenal completed a dramatic comeback, and some impressive substitute appearances followed as he finished the season with six goals and assists in 18 games across all competitions.

Nelson's contract expires this summer, and it appeared that he was going to depart the club, but he now looks set to stay following a breakthrough in talks.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Watts revealed that there is now confidence within the club that the winger is going to commit his future to Mikel Arteta's side.

"All signs are that this is going to be a done deal with Reiss Nelson and his contract, after rejecting a few previous offers," he stated.

"A breakthrough in talks has happened and people that I'm speaking to at Arsenal think this is going to happen. Until it's signed, until it's done, you never know something can change and other clubs can come in and wave a big contract offer under his nose and he could decide to go elsewhere.

"But at the moment there is a lot of positivity that Reiss Nelson will sign his new contract, we're just waiting for it to be done and announced."

What are Arsenal's aims for Nelson?

Given that Saka played in every league game last season, Nelson can be used more as rotational cover for the England international as Arsenal return to the Champions League.

Losing Nelson for free would have made a replacement necessary, and keeping Nelson, even with a wage rise, would likely be better value than spending a large fee on another winger, when Saka and Martinelli are the undisputed first choice options.

Arteta recently described Nelson as "important," and it is hard to imagine a scenario where Nelson will have committed his future to the club without assurances over his game time.

The winger was once regarded as one of the best talents in the academy, and after a difficult few seasons and a number of loan spells away, it now seems that he is in prime position to fulfil his potential at the club.

Everton stand a good chance of keeping midfield powerhouse Amadou Onana beyond the summer transfer window, Fabrizio Romano has revealed.

What's going on with Onana and Everton?

The midfielder has had an impressive first campaign in English football since joining from Lille last year, and earlier this season had attracted transfer interest from the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea.

The 21-year-old helped Everton survive the threat of relegation, and although there may be fears that he could depart this summer, the Toffees may be able to keep hold of one of their star players.

Speaking on the Here We Go Podcast, Romano claimed that Chelsea's pursuit of Manuel Ugarte is their priority, meaning any current move for Onana is unlikely, and that Everton stand a good chance of keeping the Belgian.

"I think Everton have a chance to keep the player, it's not going to be easy, but they have a chance because he really loves the club," he stated.

"He loves the atmosphere, the city, his teammates. So he has a special connection with the club. And also at the moment, while we're speaking there is nothing advanced.

"I saw new rumours about Chelsea in the last 24/48 hours, but I'm told that Chelsea are busy with Ugarte, this midfielder from Sporting, so they have not made Onana a priority.

"This is positive news for Everton. Also, let's see what's going to happen in the coming months, because maybe in July or August, some big club will arrive with big money on Onana, but at the moment the situation is quiet and the player is not desperate to leave."

How important is Onana to Everton?

The midfielder has provided a strong presence in the middle of the park for Everton and was described as "superb" following a player-of-the-match display in his side's victory over Arsenal.

Everton won just eight league games all season, and Onana started in seven of them, highlighting just how crucial he is to Sean Dyche's side, who struggled to find victory without him in the team.

The Toffees will be hoping to avoid another season where they are involved in a tense relegation battle, and building around younger talents like Onana could help them to start progressing up the table.

If a big bid does arrive for Onana, then the club may have to consider a sale, but they will be wary of the potential consequences of losing such an important player ahead of what could be another difficult campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur could be set to steal a wonderful signing from under the nose of a Premier League rival.

What’s the latest on Manor Solomon to Tottenham Hotspur?

That’s according to journalists Jack Pitt-Brooke and Peter Rutzler, who claim that Daniel Levy has sparked an interest in signing Manor Solomon on a free transfer.

Writing for The Athletic, they suggest that the chairman will seek to capitalise on a technicality this summer, which will see the Israeli winger leave his parent club, Shakhtar Donetsk, on a free transfer.

Despite spending the year on loan at Fulham, the Lilywhites are reportedly at the front of the queue for the 23-year-old.

How good is Manor Solomon?

Although the diminutive wide man had built up a reputation before his move to England, most notably for his role in the Ukraine outfits demolition of Real Madrid in 2020, it was only after his move to Craven Cottage that more casual fans became aware of his talents.

Despite only scoring four times across 19 games this term, almost all the strikes were something truly magnificent to behold, including in the FA Cup triumph over Leeds United.

Journalist Josh Bunting even noted just how “stunning” the start of his year had been on Twitter after he had headed home an equaliser against Brentford.

With a seemingly patented technique for finding the net, cutting in from the left onto his favoured right foot, even Solomon’s running style mirrors that of Heung-min Son alongside this consistent scoring style.

Those fine finishes are best compared to the South Korean’s north London derby scorcher in 2020, as he too came inside from that flank to curl home from all of 30 yards.

Whilst their actual numbers are far from similar, Solomon has only been limited to 31 minutes per game in the league, thus explaining his lack of proficiency.

Son’s ten goals in the league have come across 2,899 minutes of play time, and thus has averaged a goal every 289 minutes. Conversely, across a cumulative 561 minutes for the Cottagers’ star, he instead finds the net on average once every 140 minutes. That does little to offset the gulf shown when the 30-year-old is on form, as he notched 23 goals last season, but remains worth noting.

Whilst their shared stature also likens Son and Solomon, the latter’s aforementioned penchant for the big occasion mirrors the former Bayer Leverkusen star, who showcased his quality in their fierce derby whilst also having scored five against Liverpool and four against Manchester United, via Transfermarkt.

Meanwhile, the £20k-per-week trickster scored in both of their wins over Real Madrid in the 2020/21 campaign, as they defied the odds. This was alongside nine league goals from the flank too, to compound a successful season.

Whilst fans might note this as an underwhelming signing by Levy, again seeking to find a bargain rather than a quality option in the market, his similarities to Son would make him the perfect understudy to push him back to those old goalscoring ways.