All posts by z3u9t.icu

Last season, Danny Ings was drafted in by West Ham in January to compensate for the disastrously ineffective Gianluca Scamacca.

However, across 33 Premier League appearances for the pair, they found the just five times. The burden to lead the frontline was placed on the shoulders of Michail Antonio, but he is reportedly the subject of interest from Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq and could easily depart this summer. This team is managed by Steven Gerrard and has already nearly sealed the signing of Jordan Henderson.

Moreover, Scamacca’s possible exit almost looks like a formality after he revealed his desire to join Roma, saying: “Roma is home for me. And Totti my idol as a child. And what player in the world wouldn't dream of being coached by Mourinho? I am convinced that Mou would stimulate me and with him I would improve even more.”

Therefore, the striker area will be the most pressing concern for David Moyes and Youssef En-Nesyri has been named as a possible target.

What’s the latest on Youssef En-Nesyri to West Ham?

According to the Daily Express, the Hammers have been handed the chance to reignite their long-term interest in Sevilla’s En-Nesyri, who reportedly will not be travelling with his current club to Germany for pre-season, so he can be available for a transfer.

The 2023 Europa League winners are currently battling insane levels of debt and they’re considering offers for the striker, who has previously attracted Moyes’ interest.

The Irons first saw a £27m bid including add-ons rejected in January 2021 and then two years later they tried to entice Sevilla into a loan deal that was also dismissed.

But now, the east London outfit is now placed in a far better position to make a swoop for En-Nesyri.

Would Youssef En-Nesyri be a good signing for West Ham?

Throughout last season, Sevilla were largely involved in a relegation struggle, but En-Nesyri, who has been at the club since 2020, was one of the club’s most important players and helped dragged them to a relatively comfortable 12th-place finish.

In the final 20 games of La Liga, he netted eight times and was the club’s top scorer. He also played a pivotal role in their European success, scoring three times across the quarter and semi-finals before playing the full 120 minutes in the final against Roma, which Sevilla eventually won on penalties.

Internationally, the 59-cap Morocco international has performed admirably as he started every game of his country's record-breaking run to the semi-finals of the World Cup as the Atlas Lions became the first African nation to reach that stage of the tournament. During the finals, he scored twice, including the winner against Portugal in the quarter-finals.

The 6 foot 2 star appears to be a better option than Ings, outranking the Englishman in various attacking metrics including non-penalty goals per 90 (0.48 vs 0.34), shots per 90 (3.26 vs 2.25), and shot-creating actions per 90 (1.65 vs 1.58).

Described as “unreal” by CBS reporter Aaron West, the Hammers require a more dynamic and clinical option, and En-Nesyri could be exactly what Moyes needs.

Burnley have been active in the transfer market ahead of their Premier League return, but manager Vincent Kompany does not appear to be finished just yet.

What players have Burnley signed this summer?

The Clarets continued their spending spree on Wednesday by bringing in Zeki Amdouni for a reported £16m. The Basel forward follows in the steps of Dara O'Shea, Michael Obafemi and Jordan Beyer in joining Burnley this summer, the latter two making their loan deals permanent.

James Trafford is also said to be close to arriving from Manchester City in a deal worth up to £19m, though a loan move for Borussia Dortmund's Soumaila Coulibaly now appears to be off the cards.

According to Football Scotland, Brazilian attacker Ferreira is also being monitored by the newly-promoted side, though Celtic are considered to be the frontrunners for a player valued at £6m by Gremio.

Who is Gremio attacker Ferreira?

As highlighted by OliveFooty, Ferreira is known as a "flashy and skilful player" who is capable of playing on either wing and through the middle – the type of versatility that would come in handy for Kompany.

The 25-year-old has spent the first seven years of his senior career in Brazil, the past five of those on the books of Gremio, for whom he has made just short of 100 league appearances.

Ferreira played just nine times in Campeonato Brasileiro Serie B last season as Gremio earned promotion back to the top flight. The Dourados native's momentum was disrupted by a hamstring injury that has also plagued him this season.

However, when fully fit, Ferreira has shown he can make an impact, highlighted by his three goals and six assists when Gremio were last in Serie A two years ago.

That is a return of 0.38 goals or assists per 90 minutes, as per FBref, which is the exact same number Josh Brownhill recorded at Burnley last season, for context.

While it is difficult to compare players across divisions, the data paints a clear picture of what Ferreira is all about. He averaged 3.42 shots per 90 minutes in his most recent full campaign – only Manuel Benson (3.62) and Scott Twine (4.19) shot more freely among Burnley regulars last season.

Ferreira is a player who can make an impact high up the pitch, then, and the same is true of Burnley's latest signing Amdouni. Should last season's Europa Conference League joint-top scorer lead the line for the Clarets, Ferreira could be the ideal man to play just off him.

The Brazilian averaged 0.55 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes in the 2021 campaign – a metric that takes passes and take-ons leading to a goal into the equation – which is a higher figure than any Burnley player could manage last season (Obafemi was highest with 0.51).

It may well be that Ferreira needs a bit of time to adapt should he indeed make the move from Porto Alegre to Lancashire, but if it is a wildcard option Kompany is after to potentially complete his attacking line-up, then the Gremio star may just be his man.

With pre-season now well underway, there may be a slight frustration for Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag that the club have thus far only wrapped up a deal for England international, Mason Mount, with the pursuit of both Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund still ongoing.

The signing of a new goalkeeper and a striker appears to be the major priority for the Red Devils at present, with long-serving stopper David De Gea having announced his departure from the club after 12 years in Manchester, while Anthony Martial is currently the only senior centre-forward at Ten Hag's disposal.

While plugging those gaps is seemingly high on the agenda, that is not to say that United won't also try to bolster other areas of the pitch over the coming weeks, with reports in Spain indicating that the Premier League giants are also showing an interest in AC Milan defender, Theo Hernandez.

The belief is that the Old Trafford outfit could be willing to part with around €60m (£51m) in order to secure the signing of the 17-cap France international, albeit with it unclear as to whether the Serie A side would sanction the exit of the 25-year-old.

A new left-back addition may seem unlikely seeing as Ten Hag already has Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia at his disposal, although the same was perhaps true last summer, as the former Ajax boss sprung a surprise to land Malacia as his first signing, despite already having Shaw and Alex Telles on the books.

If the Dutchman is to make another bold move to push for the capture of Hernandez, it could see the 53-year-old form a mouthwatering defensive partnership involving the former Real Madrid man and Lisandro Martinez.

How good is Theo Hernandez?

The Marseille-born speedster appears to have caught the eye following a standout campaign for both club and country last time out, having chipped in with four goals and five assists in all competitions at San Siro, with that tally of nine goal contributions better than what both Shaw (seven G/A) and Malacia (zero G/A) achieved in 2022/23.

The former Atletico Madrid youth product – who registered 15 goals and assists the year prior – was also lauded for his form at the World Cup in Qatar, with club colleague Simon Kjaer describing his talents as "crazy", while also stating:

"Theo has running, physique, shooting, he can do many things on the pitch. He’s like few others.”

Once described as an "absolute beast" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the flying full-back – who boasts 52 goal involvements in 167 games for Milan – could dovetail nicely with Martinez down the left-flank, with the Argentine machine able to offer quality defensive cover for Hernandez.

The World Cup-winning centre-back has proven himself a tough test for any opposition forward, with the 25-year-old's ball-winning talents showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 6% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for tackles made.

Lauded as a "warrior" by pundit Adrian Mariappa, the left-footed ace is also "so clean and composed" when in possession – as per club legend Patrice Evra – with that composure illustrated by the fact that the former Ajax ace ranks in the top 11% among his peers for successful take-ons, as he regularly carries the ball out from defence with ease.

To have a player who is so comfortable in possession alongside him would likely be a dream for Hernandez, while the Frenchman would also be aware that he could bomb forward at any opportunity, safe in the knowledge that he has a real dominant, defensive presence behind him.

While it may appear unlikely that such a combination will be seen at the Theatre of Dreams next term, just imagining that pairing is enough to spark real excitement.

Michael Beale hasn’t taken long to move on from losing Alfredo Morelos at Glasgow Rangers, raiding Italy to sign attackers Sam Lammers and Cyriel Dessers ahead of next season and they surely won't be the only two forwards who arrive at the Ibrox side during the transfer window.

The Gers have also been linked with a move for young striker Benie Traore, who is currently playing for BK Hacken in Sweden and although money has been spent to sign both Lammers and Dessers recently, Beale will need to fork out around £4m if he is to add the 20-year-old to his armoury.

Much has been made of a summer overhaul of the squad, and it has perhaps arrived a couple of years too late, with Steven Gerrard failing to improve the first team following the stunning Premiership title-winning season in 2020/21, as they subsequently fell behind Celtic over the next two terms.

With Morelos departing after six years at the club and Antonio Colak attracting interest from MLS sides and Werder Bremen – with the Gers setting a price tag of £2m for anyone who wishes to sign the Croatian this summer – the Ibrox side will start next season with a totally different frontline to how they lined up under Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Kemar Roofe could remain the one constant, yet last season was heavily disrupted by injury, as he missed all but six matches and that has unfortunately been the story of his spell at Rangers, missing more matches than he has played and unless he comes back fighting fit at the start of next season, Beale will have to find a heir for the Jamaican international.

What could Benie Traore offer Rangers?

The Ivorian may the perfect player to come in and eventually replace Roofe in the squad, although he tends to be a more out-and-out striker compared to the Gers attacker, who can drop deeper and can also operate on either wing, but the key similarities are that they both score goals.

Roofe has scored 36 in 78 appearances for the Light Blues, while across only 57 senior matches, Traore has already notched 24 goals, suggesting that he is lethal in front of goal and could add some more attacking dynamism to Beale’s attacking options.

That’s not to say that Traore isn’t a team player, as he has registered nine assists during those 57 games, with the 30-year-old managing to grab just six assists during his three seasons at Ibrox, clearly suggesting there is more to the youngster's game than meets the eye.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig lauded him in May, tweeting: “Häcken's jewel. Another highly talented player from the great ASEC Mimosas Academy.”

Despite scoring 93 goals in the league last term, Beale’s side still trailed Celtic by 21 goals and this was perhaps a key factor in the trophy heading to their Old Firm rivals for the second season in a row.

The 42-year-old could take a gamble on the Hacken starlet, similarly to when the club signed Morelos from Finland, and with Roofe having just one year left on his current deal, Traore could be a perfect long-term replacement for him.

Newcastle United have reportedly held talks with highly-rated Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga over a summer move to St James' Park.

Who is Gabri Veiga?

The 21-year-old may still be a young footballer learning his game, but he has already grown into one of his side's most important and influential players.

Last season, Veiga scored 11 times from midfield in La Liga, which was bettered only by Iago Aspas (12), and he also got four assists to his name in the competition – the joint-second-most in the squad. His performances have clearly caught the eye of some of the Premier League's biggest teams, and he has been linked with a move to Newcastle before the start of next season.

The Magpies are looking to build on their excellent 2022/23 campaign – one that saw them finish fourth and qualify for next season's Champions League – and top-class new signings are on the agenda.

Are Newcastle in talks with Veiga?

According to a report from 90min, Newcastle are one of a number of big English clubs who have had talks with Veiga's agent over a summer transfer and are willing to meet his €40m release clause.

"90min understands that Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle United have all indicated that they would be willing to meet this sum up front or pay a little extra if paid in instalments.

"The quartet have recently held talks with agent Zahavi regarding Veiga's future, while Marseille and Serie A holders Napoli have also registered an interest."

Veiga could be a fantastic signing for Newcastle, adding an extra spark in an attacking midfield role and acting as a nice foil for the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton.

He could be an ideal link man between the deeper midfielders and the attack, having already registered 11 assists in a Celta Vigo shirt, and he is only going to become a more complete player as the years pass.

Veiga clearly isn't going to be available on the cheap, and the level of competition for his services will also make it difficult to snap him up, but Newcastle signing him could be a statement of intent, and they could be bringing in someone who may star at the top level for a long time.

He has been compared to former Chelsea and Spain star Juan Mata, in terms of his style of play, and labelled a "very electric player" by Fabrizio Romano, which should further excite Magpies supporters about the quality he could bring to St James' Park.

Liverpool are in the process of rebuilding their midfield after a disappointing campaign last season and now a new update has emerged on a huge transfer target that could revolutionise the centre of the pitch at Anfield.

What's the latest on Liverpool's move for Federico Valverde?

According to reports coming out of Spain, Liverpool are preparing a €90m (£77m) bid to sign Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde, an offer that Madrid will find very difficult to reject.

As per the report, Jurgen Klopp has been a huge admirer of the player for a while and there are now doubts surrounding Valverde's future at the Santiago Bernabéu due to the competition that exists in the centre of the pitch.

Will Liverpool sign Federico Valverde this summer?

There is no doubt that a refresh in midfield is needed following the departures of James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita and the club has already secured a £35m deal for World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister.

Many of the remaining midfield options available to Klopp are reaching the latter stages of their careers with Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara well into their 30s at this point, whilst Fabinho will turn 30 before the turn of the year – so there is a real opportunity to build the next generation of success at Anfield.

As a result, the ambitious move for Valverde would be warmly welcomed as the 24-year-old would not only inject high energy, youth and a strong winning mentality into the heart of the team, but could finally replace Georginio Wijnaldum's deadly press and unrivalled work rate in midfield.

Before leaving the Merseyside giants in 2020 upon the expiration of his contract, Wijnaldum played a vital role in the success that Liverpool have experienced both in domestic competition and on the European stage, providing huge game-changing moments like his semi-final brace against Barcelona to lead the team to their first Champions League trophy since 2005.

Now Klopp could land his next game-changer with Valverde also a big game player who adopts the winning mentality and work ethic that is crucial to earn multiple accolades across several competitions.

The Uruguayan star – hailed "untouchable" by Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti – is an extremely attacking-minded talent who ranks in the top 16% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for non-penalty goals, shots in total, pass completion and progressive carries.

Wijnaldum, by comparison, ranks in the top 8% for non-penalty goals and the best 12% for shots to outline their similar attacking threat.

In comparison to Valverde's positional peers on Merseyside, neither Jordan Henderson nor Harvey Elliott were able to complete more progressive carries (70), goal contributions (11), shot-creating actions (81) or completed passes (1427) than Valverde in the Premier League last season, as per FBref.

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for Liverpool to acquire the services of Valverde this summer as he could have a huge impact on improving performances next season and become the much-needed game-changer that the team has been crying out for in midfield since Wijnaldum departed.

Tottenham Hotspur are confident about signing Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo this summer, according to a recent report from Football Insider.

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has now identified Cameron Carter-Vickers as a potential target at centre-back, with the Australian keen to reunite with his former player, who he signed for Celtic on a permanent deal last summer.

Micky van de Ven is another option for Spurs, with the Wolfsburg defender being placed on the shortlist, following recent talks, however they will have to do battle for his signature with Liverpool, who have now joined the race.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has recently detailed that Adarabioyo has "decided" to leave Fulham this summer, rather than seeing out the one year remaining on his contract, potentially opening the door for a move to north London.

As a result of the Fulham defender's contract situation, Football Insider report that Tottenham are confident they will be able to lure him to N17 this summer, however he is not near the top of their shortlist, with the transfer window still at an early stage.

The 25-year-old could become a "real option" for Postecoglou later this summer, and Spurs feel he could be available for a cut-price fee, as this window may be Fulham's last chance to cash-in.

It is also detailed that Postecoglou has made bringing in a new centre-back one of Tottenham's main priorities.

Should Tottenham sign Adarabioyo?

The centre-back managed to cement himself as a key player for Fulham in the latter stages of the 2022-23 season, starting the last ten Premier League games, and he put in a string of quality performances.

In the Cottagers' final home game, the £41k-per-week defender recorded a 7.4 Sofascore match rating, winning a whopping ten of the 13 duels he contested, while he also displayed his dominance in the air by winning eight aerial duels in a 3-1 win at Everton.

Hailed as "magnificent" by members of the media, the 6 foot 4 colossus ranks in the 76th percentile for aerials won per 90 in the past year, and in the 98th percentile for clearances, however he does not rank highly for tackles, interceptions or blocks.

That said, Adarabioyo's performances in the second half of last season indicate he could be ready to make the step up to a club the size of Tottenham, at least as a back up option, and it could be a low-risk move, if he is available for a cut-price fee.

West Ham United are part of a hotly contested race for Bristol City sensation Alex Scott.

What’s the latest on Alex Scott to West Ham United?

According to the Evening Standard, the Hammers are weighing up a move for the 19-year-old, who could cost in the region of £25m.

It is understood that the Irons have held “initial talks” with the player’s camp and are to make a decision in the near future.

Why would Alex Scott be a good signing for West Ham?

The youngster made 42 second-tier appearances, averaging 1.8 tackles, 1.1 dribbles, and 1.1 aerials won per game, as he has established himself as a magnificent all-rounder and one of the country’s most exciting talents. Strong in the tackle, this also a young man capable of gallivanting past opponents with consummate ease.

His sensational rise to stardom means that Scott was named the Championship Young Player of the Year and also in the division’s Team of the Season.

As such, there is a shared expectation that the Englishman will leave the Championship side this summer.

CBS reporter Ben Jacobs said: “I revealed he would definitely go this summer and that is still my understanding that Bristol City will not be able to hang on to the player and they know that.

“There are, believe it or not, eight different clubs that in the last year have enquired about Alex Scott. There is a realistic possibility that they move on a fantastic player who I think could in the future be very big and consistent in the Premier League.”

This has been echoed by his manager Nigel Pearson, who added: “I believe Alex will play for England one day. I thought that when I first saw him in a training session and nothing since has changed my mind.”

Clearly, he is brimming with wondrous versatility and limitless potential, possessing the ability that could fill the impending void about to be left by Declan Rice.

After guiding the Irons to the Europa Conference League victory, the club captain is set to depart the London Stadium, with Arsenal reportedly due to make a third bid for the midfielder.

The former Chelsea academy player is of inexplicable importance to David Moyes, as he ranks within the top 20% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for progressive passes, progressive carries, and interceptions per 90.

His ability to recover the ball, protect the backline, and progress the ball forward are all attributes that Scott has in abundance, and his arrival would herald a new, exciting era in East London, whilst softening Rice’s exit.

Indeed, when compared to positional peers in the next eight best leagues, Scott ranks in the top 12% for progressive carries to highlight his effervescent ball-carrying nature.

Described as “unbelievable” by Pep Guardiola, the prodigy has proven he is simply far too superior for the Championship and is ready for top-flight action, perhaps in place of Rice at West Ham.

Potential new Manchester United owner Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani has been handed a transfer boost as he looks to sign Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe.

What’s the latest Man United news involving Jassim and Mbappe?

Jassim has been interested in taking control from the Glazers for months now and has placed five Old Trafford offers, with the last being a take-it-or-leave-it bid. Should the Qatar group prove successful, Jassim would clear all of United’s debt and have a separate fund for the club and local community.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos Group are the other main party in the race to purchase Manchester United, with both bidders yet to find out if their takeover attempts have been successful.

However, should Jassim come out on top, it appears as if he has an immediate transfer plan to win United supporters over. Reports have claimed that Jassim feels that Mbappe “belongs at Man United” and is planning a sensational transfer move for the star forward.

PSG would look to sell Mbappe if he doesn’t extend his stay at the Parc de Princes stay over the coming months and value the player at £170m.

Now, The Mirror have shared a further positive update on Mbappe and a potential move to Man United, saying:

“Paris Saint-Germain are prepared to sell Kylian Mbappe to Manchester United this summer should the Qatari-backed Sheikh Jassim takeover bid at Old Trafford prove successful.”

Is Kylian Mbappe signing for Manchester United?

Mbappe making the move to the red side of Manchester would be a huge deal and one that could take Erik ten Hag’s side to the next level.

The £893,000-a-week forward has scored a whopping 212 goals in 260 games for PSG and already has 38 goals in 68 games for France.

Still just 24 years of age, the World Cup winner netted 41 times in all competitions last season, with United scoring 58 goals in the Premier League, the fewest out of the top seven sides.

You can see how Mbappe would fit into this United side and possibly star in England, however, a lot still needs to happen before we can think about a transfer.

A deal needs to be struck between the Glazers and Jassim, and with Mike Keegan claiming it could take eight to 12 weeks for an approval process, meaning that the Glazers may remain in control at the start of next season, so a transfer could be tricky.

West Ham lead to the race to sign Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes this summer, but face competition for his signature from other Premier League clubs, as per Matt Law of The Telegraph.

The fire sale has begun at the Kingpower Stadium after their disastrous season ended in relegation to the Championship, and a host of Premier League clubs have lined up to attempt to sign some of the club’s best assets this summer.

West Ham transfer news – Harvey Barnes

It is set to be a busy summer at the London Stadium after West Ham owner David Sullivan confirmed that Declan Rice would be leaving West Ham during this transfer window.

According to Sam Dean and Law, the Hammers have priced Declan Rice at £92m.

Bayern Munich and Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Rice, but Arsenal are currently leading the race to sign the Europa Conference League-winning captain.

West Ham aim to spend the windfall from Rice’s transfer to acquire English winger Harvey Barnes, according to the aforementioned report.

The Irons will face Premier League competition in the fight to sign Barnes, with Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United all expected to make a run at the 25-year-old.

It is believed that the Foxes currently value Barnes at £40m, but West Ham are likely to start the bidding at around £30m.

Should West Ham sign Harvey Barnes?

Since joining the Midlands outfit from Barnsley in 2018, Barnes has been an important piece in the side – as per Transfermarkt, he has notched 45 goals and 32 appearances in 187 appearances, primarily from a left-wing position.

The tricky winger, who has one cap for England, was a key member of the Leicester side that won the FA Cup in 2021, defeating Manchester City 1-0 in the final at Wembley Stadium.

Michael Cox of The Athletic once stated that Barnes’ game 'is almost solely based around the simplest concept in football: the give and go', arguing the Burnley native’s style is simple and direct, but effective.

Barnes, who Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp once hailed as an "unbelievable player," loves playing one-two passes with his inside forward, and this play style could work wonders in a David Moyes system where the striker often has his back to goal holding up play.

The speed of the player is also one of his greatest strengths.

His top speed of 35.44km/h ranked sixth of all Premier League midfielders last year, and this electric pace would surely be a significant upgrade on the left wing for West Ham over Said Benrahma.