All posts by z3u9t.icu

Having ceded their Scottish Premiership crown to their Old Firm rivals last term, Rangers are seemingly plotting ways to hit back next season, with their summer transfer activity set to prove vital if the Ibrox side are to return to the summit.

At present, however, much of the focus has been on outgoings for Giovanni van Bronckhorst and co, with one notable departure thus far having been that of striker Cedric Itten, with the Switzerland ace having joined BSC Young Boys on a permanent deal.

His exit – as well as the contract uncertainty surrounding talisman Alfredo Morelos – has left manager van Bronckhorst desperately short of options in attack, with additional centre-forward reinforcements needed before the start of next season.

One figure who has emerged as a potential solution to that striking problem is Sunderland hotshot Ross Stewart, with Northern Echo journalist Scott Wilson revealing that the 25-year-old is the Gers’ “number one option” to replace Morelos, should the Colombian depart.

The belief is that the recent League One play-off final winners will attempt to offer the Scotsman a new deal to stay at the Stadium of Light, although he could no doubt be tempted by the prospect of European football at Ibrox, with the player potentially available for around £5m.

The Irvine-born marksman has emerged as a top target following his sparkling form for Alex Neil’s side in the 2021/22 campaign, with the former Ross County man – who moved south of the border in January 2021 – having netted 26 goals and provided three assists in 49 appearances.

That stunning form has also caught the attention of national team boss Steve Clarke, with the £450k-rated forward handed his first international call-up in March, before making his debut in the recent Nations League win over Armenia.

Undoubtedly a player on the up, it is no real surprise that he has caught the eye of those back in Glasgow, with the hope being that he can replicate the success of another Scot who traded the Black Cats for Rangers – Ally McCoist.

The much-loved pundit/commentator had endured a disappointing two-year stint with the northeast side before joining the Old Firm giants in 1983, going on to become a certified club legend after scoring a mammoth 355 goals in 581 games over the next 15 years, with that tally unsurprisingly a club record.

A winner of ten league titles during his time with the club – playing his part in that remarkable nine-in-a-row sequence in the late 80’s and early 90’s – there have been few players who have enjoyed better times in the famous blue jersey.

Such feats are undoubtedly too great to replicate, although Stewart has shown signs in the most recent campaign that he can be a prolific presence in front of goal, with his “superb” form – as per the aforementioned Wilson – seemingly warranting all the fuss, while his prior knowledge of the SPL could also prove useful.

Who knows, he could be the next McCoist in the making…

AND in other news, “Rangers will…”: Jordan Campbell drops big transfer update, supporters will be livid…

Everton securing the signing of Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour on loan would ‘suit all parties’, according to journalist Paul Brown.

The Lowdown: Tricky loan spell

The 20-year-old spent the 2021/22 campaign on loan in the Premier League with Norwich City.

Whilst the Scotland international made 24 top-flight appearances for the Norfolk club, he came under fire for a number of his performances.

Gilmour was singled out by some travelling Canaries fans for his display during Norwich’s 3-0 pummeling at the hands of Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in late December, with manager Dean Smith later coming out and defending the youngster.

The Latest: Brown’s claim on Gilmour

90min have reported that another loan move for Gilmour is on the cards, with Fulham, Bournemouth, and Rangers all named as possible destinations for the 2022/23 season.

However, with Frank Lampard now in full flow with the Toffees, Brown believes that a move to Everton could be perfect for the young Scotsman.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, the Daily Star journalist claimed: “I think if Chelsea were to allow him on loan again, I suspect they would quite like him to go and play for Lampard because they know Lampard will look after him.

“And I think even if he doesn’t play every game, he would be an asset, so that seems like a move that would suit all parties to me.”

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The Verdict: Good move for all

Former Rangers striker Kenny Miller hailed the 20-year-old during their time together at the Glasgow club, claiming that Gilmour is a “special talent”.

Whilst in charge at Chelsea, Lampard was also full of praise for the youngster. Dubbing him an “outstanding” player, the current Toffees manager handed the Scotland gem 17 senior appearances for the west London outfit, two of which came in the Champions League.

Therefore, despite an underwhelming spell at Norwich, a loan move to Everton could revitalise Gilmour’s career in the Premier League, particularly with a trusted, familiar face in Lampard to guide him along.

In other news: Frank McAvennie has reacted to this behind-the-scenes Everton development

Everton are a candidate for the signature of Jesse Lingard, according to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport (via BBC Sport). 

The lowdown

Manchester United officially confirmed on 1 June that Lingard would be leaving the club when his contract expires at the end of the month.

Clubs will now be jostling for the signature of the Englishman, believed to earn £75,000-per-week at Old Trafford.

Lingard is a versatile attacking option, capable of operating on both flanks as well as in central areas.

As a result of ‘previous excesses’ in the transfer market, Frank Lampard does not have a ‘huge’ budget at his disposal this summer to strengthen the squad, and so free transfers may be particularly appealing (via The Athletic).

This has also led to links with Burnley’s James Tarkowski, for whom Everton are believed to be in pole position.

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The latest

The report states that Jose Mourinho would be interested in a potential reunion with Lingard at Roma.

But they’ll have to convince the 29-year-old to overlook Premier League suitors, including Everton and West Ham.

Lingard, of course, spent the latter half of the 2020/21 campaign at The London Stadium, which could give West Ham a key edge.

The verdict

Lingard is the right calibre of player for Everton to pursue.

He boasts 165 games of Premier League experience, scoring 29 goals and providing 17 assists in his top flight career to date.

What’s more, he’s racked up 32 caps for England, the last of which came as recently as October 2021.

Lampard may be a long-term admirer, based on comments he made live on BT Sport in 2018.

“I really like him,” he said. “I think his game’s improved so much.”

With Everton on the trail of both Lingard and Tarkowski, it’s clear that the manager is ready to make the most of Bosman deal opportunities in the coming weeks.

In other news, Frank McAvennie reacts to a potentially significant blow for Everton.

Leeds United are said to be interested in Valentin Castellanos ahead of the summer transfer window…

What’s the word?

According to transfer insider Dean Jones, writing for GIVEMESPORT, the New York City striker is ‘one to keep an eye on’ heading into the off-season, where manager Jesse Marsch will be looking to bolster his squad even more following the early arrival of Brenden Aaronson.

The American midfielder has joined the Yorkshire giants in a £25m deal from RB Salzburg, linking up with his former boss, and now it appears as if he could look back to his roots for another addition.

Premier League rivals West Ham United have also been linked with a move for Castellanos in recent weeks. The Mirror believes the 23-year-old would be available for just £12.8m.

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Bamford upgrade

The Argentine has become something of a sensation at Manchester City’s sister club in the United States as he scored 19 goals and assisted a further eight on his way to the MLS Golden Boot, before scoring in all NYCFC’s playoff matches to win the title for the very first time.

Such form has continued into the current campaign, where he has bagged a tidy 11 goals across all competitions, also providing five assists, as per Transfermarkt. In total, he’s bagged 53 goals for the MLS outfit.

Castellanos’ playing style has been compared to one of the Premier League’s very best, too.

“He actually reminds me a lot of Didier Drogba, he’s very confident to the point where it could be seen as arrogance but has more than shown his quality the season,” claimed MLS UK Show podcaster Henry Hewitt to Manchester Evening News.

“He doesn’t just score one type of goal. He’s strong, quick, good with his head and isn’t afraid to bring his teammates into play.”

Nicknamed ‘Taty’, the prolific marksman has also been lauded as “top class” and “difficult to play against” by his NYCFC manager Ronny Delia, who continues to benefit from his forward’s exploits.

Given the lack of involvement from Patrick Bamford in 2021/22, the MLS attacker could be seen as something of an upgrade, having barely missed a game over the past 18 to 24 months.

The injury-plagued Leeds frontman managed only nine appearances in the league this term and his absence almost cost the Yorkshire giants a place in the big time.

In terms of non-penalty expected goals, the Argentine outranks Marsch’s current no.9, whilst the NYCFC man also fires off more shots and subsequently, more shots on target than Bamford too, as per FBRef.

Meanwhile, his work rate in the final third is much greater, managing more pressures than the Englishman, making him a far greater fit for Marsch’s pressing system.

On the above evidence, Castellanos could be the man to take Leeds to the next level in the attack. Victor Orta and co must pay the bargain fee of £12.8m to seal him from the Hammers’ grasp.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano drops Kalvin Phillips transfer update…

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United and their pursuit of Sven Botman heading into the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Mail, the Magpies remain keen on a deal for the centre-back ahead of the 2022/23 campaign after failing to land him in January.

The report claims that Italian giants AC Milan, who recently lifted the Serie A title, are also keen on the defender, and it remains to be seen who will win the race for his signature.

It is stated that the Dutch defender is keen on a switch to the Premier League and that may be a factor in his decision, with Tottenham and Manchester United also keeping tabs on his situation.

Supporters would love it

Newcastle supporters would surely love to see the club securing a deal for Botman, and Eddie Howe can get St James’ Park rocking by bringing the 22-year-old to Tyneside this summer.

Botman’s agent Francesco Miniero previously dubbed him a “golden boy”, and it is easy to see why when you look into his statistics for Lille in France.

In Ligue 1, he averaged SofaScore ratings of 7.08 and 7.10 in his first two seasons respectively. The team kept 28 clean sheets in that time as he delivered consistently excellent displays on the pitch, as shown by his average ratings over the course of two years.

He has managed this at the young age of 22, showing maturity ahead of his years. This suggests that he has a bright future ahead of him, as he has already proven his immense quality at a high level in the early parts of his career.

It has been reported in Italy this year that Milan are closing in on an agreement with Lille for €33m (£28m), so Newcastle must work hard to convince him that a move to Tyneside is the right step for him to take in his career.

His statistics suggest that he has the quality, consistency and potential to be a superb prospective signing for the Magpies, and that is why his arrival would leave St James’ Park rocking with excitement.

The supporters would also love it as it would mean snubbing the Italian champions and a team who’ll in the Champions League next season in order to join Howe, without any European football, at Newcastle. This would be a huge statement of intent from the Magpies, given what they are competing against, and would show the fans that the club now has a huge pull in the market.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Bruno: NUFC can form a deadly duo by signing “outstanding” £34m “rock”…

A major update has emerged regarding Newcastle United and Dean Henderson ahead of the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

Shields Gazette journalist Dominic Scurr has revealed that the Magpies have poured cold water on reports that the England international is set to arrive at St. James’ Park.

He tweeted: “Reports suggesting #MUFC goalkeeper Dean Henderson is on the verge of completing a move to #NUFC. But sources at Newcastle have been quick to play down the story.”

The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards followed this up with a tweet of his own, saying: “#nufc will not be signing goalkeeper Dean Henderson anytime soon.”

This comes after Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News claimed that the shot-stopper was close to signing for the Tyneside club and had travelled to the northeast for talks.

Supporters will be gutted

Magpies supporters will be gutted with this latest update, as it suggests that Henderson is not on his way Newcastle this summer. A deal has not been completely ruled out but the tweets from Kelly and Edwards do not make it sound like the 25-year-old is an active target for the club at this moment in time.

He is a proven top-flight performer and a player who could be a major signing for Eddie Howe for many years to come, which is why Toon fans will likely not be happy with this news.

In 48 Premier League appearances, the 25-year-old kept 17 clean sheets across the 2019/20 and 2020/21 campaigns. He averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.00 for Sheffield United and 6.94 for the Red Devils respectively, which shows that he maintained a high standard of performance throughout both seasons in the top flight.

This means that he would likely be able to hit the ground running for Newcastle, as he knows exactly what it takes to perform at this level. He has recent experience of putting in excellent displays on a regular basis in the Premier League, which suggests that he would provide significant competition to Martin Dubravka for his place in the Newcastle team.

At the age of 25, Henderson also has plenty of time left in his career to develop and improve even further. He is eight years younger than the Slovakia international, and the Manchester United shot-stopper has the potential to be Howe’s number one for the next decade if he moves to St James’ Park and proves to be a success on the pitch.

Therefore, Magpies fans will surely be gutted by the club pouring cold water on claims that he is set to join them…

AND in other news, “I would say..“: Keith Downie delivers exciting NUFC transfer claim, Howe will love it…

Liverpool are ‘ideally placed’ to sign summer transfer target Aurelien Tchouameni, who sees Anfield as his ‘priority’, according to a fresh update in the French press.

The Lowdown: Tchouameni a primary target for LFC

The 22-year-old has stood out as arguably the Reds’ top transfer target this summer going by the constant links and rumours, with him being one of Europe’s most sought-after young players.

Tchouameni has already developed into a midfield colossus for Monaco, scoring three goals, registering two assists and averaging 2.5 tackles with 2.9 interceptions per game in Ligue 1 this season.

After members of the French media suggested a deal is close, Liverpool’s pursuit of Tchouameni seems very much genuine, with both parties seemingly now keen on making this move happen.

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The Latest: Liverpool lead the way Tchouameni

According to Foot Mercato [via Sport Witness], Jurgen Klopp’s men remain ‘ideally placed’ to acquire Tchouameni’s signature as they enter pole position, with Real Madrid still also in the conversation.

Joining the Reds is thought to be ‘a priority’ in the Frenchman’s mind, further adding fuel to the fire.

The Verdict: He’s needed in midfield

Tchouameni really does look like a special prospect – the youngster has been hailed as ‘incredibly talented’ by former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson – and Liverpool must do all they can to get a deal over the line this summer, particularly if the 22-year-old seems intent on moving to Anfield.

Midfield is an area of the pitch which could threaten to look a little tired soon, due to the age of several players in that position, and the Monaco gem would inject legs and quality in the middle of the park.

Eventually the likes of Jordan Henderson, Thiago and James Milner will move on, and Tchouameni can be the long-term star of Liverpool’s midfield, hopefully alongside fellow transfer target Jude Bellingham, if he were to join the Reds further down the line.

In other news, Paul Joyce has dropped a double Liverpool injury update. Read more here.

Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson has urged Tottenham Hotspur to do everything within their power to keep Antonio Conte at the club, amid reports of Brighton manager Graham Potter being lined up as a possible replacement.

The Lowdown: Potter identified by Spurs

The 52-year-old still has one year remaining on his current contract with the north London giants, but his future has been the subject of much speculation in recent weeks after the Italian reportedly offered himself to Paris Saint-Germain, following the news that former Lilywhites boss Mauricio Pochettino looks set to leave the French capital.

According to The Telegraph, it is claimed that the Seagulls coach has been identified as Spurs’ number one target if Conte decides to leave N17 at the end of the season, although they would have to cough up a hefty £10m in compensation should they want to lure Potter away from the south coast.

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The Latest: Keep Conte at the helm, says Robinson

When asked for his thoughts on the Brighton manager potentially making the switch to north London, former Spurs goalkeeper Robinson told Football Insider:

“They have got to keep hold of Conte. I wouldn’t like to see Graham Potter come in.

“Conte is going to get linked with every top job in the world and unless Spurs are in the Champions League it is not going to go away. Spurs need to be competing regularly. They have to fight off the interest in Conte and give him the money.

“I don’t want to think about who the next manager could be because I don’t want Conte to leave. Spurs have one of the best managers in the world right now. Anything from Conte would be a downgrade.

“Potter is a manager who is doing a great job but he is not Antonio Conte. The club can’t go down the route of looking for a lesser manager than what they have got.”

The Verdict: Not enough experience

Potter, who was once hailed an “unbelievable” manager by ex-Brighton player Will Buckley, first made the move to the Amex Stadium from Swansea ahead of the 2019/20 campaign, guiding the Seagulls to their then-highest Premier League points tally (41) during his first season in charge.

Most recently, he led his team to a staggering 4-0 victory over Manchester United at the weekend, and he has done a great job in steering them away from the relegation zone and transforming them into a team pushing for a top-half finish in England’s highest division.

However, if Spurs are looking to appoint someone who could take them to the highest level on the international stage, the 46-year-old hasn’t quite got this kind of experience at the top of the European game yet. Therefore, as Robinson has advocated, it could prove wise to stick with Conte and see what he can achieve with a potentially new squad next term.

In other news… a transfer insider has hinted that a reunion might be on the cards for one Spurs first-team star and his former boss

Manchester City have been dealt an injury setback ahead of their blockbuster Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid this evening.

The Lowdown: Huge night ahead…

Pep Guardiola’s are gearing up for a monumentous occasion at the Bernabeu tonight as City aim to reach a second-consecutive European Cup final for the first time in their history.

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The Sky Blues have set up a huge second leg in Spain after beating La Liga’s giants 4-3 at the Etihad Stadium last week, a match which saw many twists and turns.

City’s seven-goal thriller against Real will go down as one of the best semi-final matches since the Champions League’s inception, but that was only the first half, with Guardiola now preparing his side for another crunch clash.

In terms of team news, the Premier League champions have been boosted by defender Kyle Walker’s potential availability after a lengthy lay-off.

Meanwhile, star man Joao Cancelo is also back after missing the first leg through suspension.

The Latest: Guardiola dealt Stones setback…

However, as officially confirmed, City will be without centre-back and England international John Stones through injury as the pre-Real team news emerges.

This comes as a blow given the 27-year-old’s proven ability when called upon, as evident by his stellar performances in the Champions League this season.

The Verdict: Bad news for City?

Stones has proven his worth in Europe whenever called upon, most recently against Atletico Madrid in the last round, with journalist Henry Winter calling him ‘absolutely magnificent’.

The stellar partnership of Aymeric Laporte and Ruben Dias has resulted in a lack of minutes for the Three Lions ace when compared to last year, where both Stones and Dias formed a formidable 2020/2021 duo in central defence.

Having the former Everton sensation to call upon would have been a real luxury for Guardiola though, especially in case of mid-match emergences and with the possibility of tired legs in extra time, but it appears the Spaniard will be without that option for one of City’s most crucial games of the season.

In other news: £101m ‘big name’ sets his sights on joining Man City, turns to super agent for help…find out more here.

It’s not as if Everton supporters need any more reason to be downcast amid their current relegation worries, although they may well receive another kick in the teeth in the coming weeks and months regarding reported transfer target Matheus Nunes.

While the Brazil-born PortugAL international is still yet to decide on his next destination, having starred for current club Sporting Lisbon over the past few years, recent reports have suggested that he could be in line for a move to Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola previously dubbing him “one of the best in the world” due to his sparkling form.

Missing out on a player to the Premier League leaders is no major point of note in itself from a Toffees perspective, although the problem lies in the fact that they could have reportedly signed the 23-year-old last summer, as well as in January.

A report from last July suggested that there had been contact regarding a potential deal with the player’s agent Jorge Mendes, although the appointment of Rafael Benitez set the negotiations back, with the Spaniard wanting to exert his own control over transfer proceedings.

Benitez fumbled Nunes transfer

The player would reportedly have been available for a fee in the region of £20m at the time, while the club reportedly scouted him again ahead of a potential deal in the winter, although on both occasions the Merseysiders failed to make their interest concrete.

The suggestion now is that the former Estoril man will now be worth roughly €60m (£50m), with his current club having included a release clause in the contract extension that he signed back in October – after Benitez and co had missed their chance to snap him up for a fraction of that amount.

The £27m-rated star proved instrumental in helping to drag Ruben Amorim side through the Champions League group stage at the expense of Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund, with Nunes registering 1.2 interceptions, 1.5 clearances and two tackles per game in the tournament prior to Sporting’s exit at the hands of Man City in the round of 16.

As for Everton, despite adding Donny Van de Beek and Dele Alli to their ranks in January, Frank Lampard’s side have looked particularly light in central midfield, with the failure to add a new midfield signing last summer potentially proving costly.

In just under a year, the club have gone from a position of top-half comfort to now fighting for their Premier League lives, with it unlikely that Nunes would consider the move now even if the Toffees can avoid dropping into the Championship come the end of the season.

This has to go down as a howler from Benitez, who was already unpopular enough with the Everton fan base as it was, and this gives the supporter another reason to rage at the Spaniard.

In other news, £44m down the drain: Allardyce’s £69k-p/w disaster has rinsed Everton for 54 months