All posts by z3u9t.icu

Marcus Bent has exclusively told The Transfer Tavern that James Rodriguez couldn’t turn down a return to Real Madrid.

Rodriguez arrived at Goodison Park from the Spanish giants 12 months ago but has been linked with a return to Madrid following the re-appointment of Carlo Ancelotti last month.

He only signed a two-year contract when he made the switch to the Premier League, meaning he recently entered the final 12 months of that deal.

And according to the Daily Mail, the Colombian is keen on reuniting with Ancelotti already, who he has been signed by twice previous in his career – the first being for Madrid from Monaco in 2014.

Rodriguez made a bright start to life at Everton, contributing six goals in his first five Premier League games as Ancelotti’s men topped the table during the early parts of the season.

But injuries and a loss of form made for a frustrating final few months for the 29-year-old, and therefore Bent wouldn’t blame him for leaving Everton.

He told The Transfer Tavern:

“Ancelotti liked him, going to Real Madrid, and wanting to sign him.

“If social media are talking sense, then that’s where you want to go – you can’t turn down Real Madrid. And if you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go.”

As confirmed by Rangers, striker Jermain Defoe has agreed a one-year contract extension at Ibrox and now moves into a player/coaching role under manager Steven Gerrard.

Defoe, who moved to Glasgow permanently in the summer of 2020 after initially joining on loan Bournemouth, has since gone on to rack up 72 appearances in all competitions for the club.

In that time, the Englishman has netted a brilliant 32 goals whilst also becoming a fan favourite.

Now, as a result, the Gers have announced he will stay for another year but move into a player/coaching role – something which may benefit Rangers given his experience on the biggest stages in football.

As Defoe and the Gers announce his first steps into coaching as well as his continued stay, it’s little wonder many supporters have raved over the development on social media.

Find all of their best verdicts on the big announcement down below.

Gers fans rave over Defoe announcement

“YEEEESSSSS”

Credit: @Pena_Cartel

“Could not be happier. What an amazing role model to have at our club.”

Credit: @ColinEk11

“Tremendous news. A great member of the squad and now coaching team.”

Credit: @55kapow

“Best news today!! @IAmJermainDefoe is exactly what a Ranger is, on and off the field. So glad our club get to help him progress to his next chapter. Good luck champ! #55”

Credit: @RichyTeaBiscuit

“This is exciting stuff! What a fantastic role model for the younger boys!”

Credit: @LauraMurchie1

“Great news”

Credit: @AlanC_44

“Brilliant news. The guy is an absolute credit to Rangers FC.”

Credit: @CraigMacDonald3

“Buzzing for this! Glad he’s moving into a coaching role as well

An amazing guy to have in and around the club.”

Credit: @Geeb1872

In other news: Paddy Kenny tips this colossal forward to join Rangers this summer, find out more here.

Odsonne Edouard could end up staying at Celtic after his proposed move to Leicester City fell through, according to the Daily Mail.

The Lowdown: Romano’s update

It looked almost certain the French forward would be swapping Celtic Park for the King Power this summer in a move that would reunite him with former Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers.

Edouard agreed on personal terms with the Foxes and told friends he would be joining Leicester, who were closing in on agreeing a fee.

However, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano shared an update on Thursday, revealing Leicester are now looking to seal a deal for RB Salzburg striker Patson Daka after failing to reach an agreement with Celtic for Edouard.

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The Latest: Daily Mail report

The Daily Mail shared the news on Daka, Leicester and Edouard, claiming the Foxes had lined up a move for the Hoops star since January.

However, their attentions have now turned to Daka, who has also demanded less salary-wise than Edouard.

The report adds that Edouard is considering staying at Parkhead for the 2021/22 campaign to see out his contract and leave as a free agent next summer.

The Verdict: Mixed news for Celtic?

This could be bittersweet news for new Celtic CEO Dominic McKay and manager Ange Postecoglou.

Postecoglou may well be the happier of the two should Edouard decide to stay. He’s netted 83 goals in 168 games for the Hoops, so the new man in charge at Parkhead would have a free-scoring forward available for his first season in the dugout.

However, McKay may have his concerns, as Edouard, should his situation remain the same, could discuss a pre-contract agreement with a club outside of Scotland in the new year.

Celtic were after £40m for the striker just last summer, but two years on may end up receiving nothing, a bitter pill to swallow for the new chief.

In other news: Postecoglou adds 10-honour captain to list of targets, find out more here. 

According to The Daily Mail, Glasgow Rangers are interested in signing Oli McBurnie this summer from relegated Premier League side Sheffield United.

The Lowdown: Gers eye new targets

With the 2020/21 campaign now over, the Gers can prepare for next season, which promises to be a big one as they target a run in the Champions League.

Upfront, they have already confirmed the free transfer signing of Fashion Sakala from Oostende (rangers.co.uk), and it now seems they are interested in another forward.

The Latest: Gers have McBurnie on radar

It is now being reported the 55-time Scottish champions are interested in McBurnie, who is known to be a Rangers fan.

The report says the Blades would be looking for around £15m for his services.

The Verdict: Waste of money

McBurnie really made his name at Swansea during the 2018/19 season, when he scored 22 times in 42 games in the Championship (Transfermarkt). At the age of 24, that remains the stand-out season of his career – in 65 appearances for Sheffield United, he has managed a paltry seven goals, far from what you would expect from a £20m signing (BBC). He has not had the best of times of it off the pitch recently, either – he was arrested for assault earlier this month (talkSPORT).

£15m would make him Rangers’ record signing (The Daily Record). Even as they chase the increased finances of the Champions League, any purchase made for such a fee would need to be a surefire success at the club. In the case of £10.8m-valued Scotland international McBurnie (Transfermarkt), it is hard to imagine such a scenario.

In other news, Rangers fans are livid at this journalist’s tweets.

According to a report by the Evening Standard, Tottenham Hotspur could now make a final attempt to bring ex-boss Mauricio Pochettino back to north London.

The Lowdown: Big blow emerges…

As reported by numerous outlets, including the BBC and the Telegraph, Tottenham have now ended their pursuit of former Inter Milan manager Antonio Conte following days of talks.

The 51-year-old emerged as a clear frontrunner for the job and, at one stage, there were some reports suggesting it was even a ‘done deal’.

However, after a breakdown in discussions, it appears Tottenham are now back to square one as the manager hunt continues.

The Latest: Spurs could now swoop for Pochettino…

Pochettino was a prime target for Spurs before the talks with Conte, but difficulty in prising him away from current club Paris-Saint Germain prompted the Lilywhites to look elsewhere.

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After a fresh managerial blow, Tottenham could now make a final attempt for the Argentine as the Evening Standard shares this news.

The 49-year-old was previously in charge at Spurs from between 2014-2019, with chairman Daniel Levy sacking him at the end of a five-year reign.

Pochettino managed to guide Spurs to their first ever Champions League final, in which they were soundly defeated by Liverpool.

The Verdict: Perfect candidate but a battle awaits…

You could argue he is the perfect remaining candidate for Spurs if you’re going by Levy’s checklist for a new boss, as revealed in his annual end of season letter to supporters. 

He has also drawn noted praise from former Lilywhites players, with ex-goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes telling ESPN Brasil (via Sport Witness) that Pochettino is a ‘football genius’.

Despite being sold by Pochettino, ex-Spurs winger Andros Townsend recently lavished a considerably large amount of praise on the PSG boss too.

Indeed, speaking to talkSPORT, Townsend called the Spurs managerial target ‘the very best’ in world football.

If Spurs can land him, he would undoubtedly be a coup, but PSG remain a huge obstacle.

In other news: Tottenham in pole position to sign ‘absolutely sensational’ ace as ‘concrete’ talks emerge, find out more here.

A source from Newcastle United has suggested that Steve Bruce could leave this summer if the proposed takeover goes through.

The Lowdown: Arbitration awaits

A date has now been set for the pending arbitration case between the Tyneside club and the Premier League over the failed deal between Mike Ashley and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) group.

The arbitration hearing has been set for July on an expedited basis, and Lee Ryder, writing in his latest piece for The Chronicle, has shared that some observers of the bid believe that the result of that will come much sooner than the one on the separate anti-competition lawsuit launched against the top flight.

The Latest: Bruce could leave

As per Football Insider, Bruce has been given assurances by chiefs in the North East that he will remain as manager next season, so long as Ashley is still the owner.

However, a source from the Magpies has also claimed that that is dependent on the proposed takeover falling through.

The former Aston Villa and Sunderland boss would then face an uncertain future if it was to be revived, and given that the arbitration case is set for July, if the results of that quickly fall in the favour of the Toon, then it may pave a pathway for its swift resurrection.

The Verdict: Bruce will go if takeover goes through

Given that Bruce is not the man that the proposed new owners would have hired, it is likely that they would look to appoint somebody else as a coach to fit in with their own vision for NUFC.

He was also recently booed by many members of the Toon Army despite their 1-0 home win over Sheffield United, showing that his relationship with the fans is at an all-time low, and perhaps not something that the new owners would want as they build up their project.

Nonetheless, there would certainly be question marks over Bruce’s future if the takeover is completed, whether that would be before or after the new season starts.

In other news, find out whose display was slammed versus the Blades here!

Southampton have recently been linked with a move for Metz centre-back Boubakar Kouyate and if he were to arrive at St Mary’s this summer, it could prove to be the catalyst for Jannik Vestergaard departing.

According to French news outlet L’Equipe (via Pink Un), both Norwich City and Southampton are considering a move for the 24-year-old after his impressive debut season with Metz.

The likes of AS Roma and Atalanta are also said to be interested in the young defender, so it seems likely that he could depart Les Grenats this summer.

Since signing from ES Troyes AC in the summer, Kouyate has gone on to make 26 appearances for his new side, contributing one goal.

Across his 23 appearances in Ligue 1, the Mali international has averaged a superb 7.14 rating for his performances, the joint third-best of any Metz player in the French top-flight so far this season, so it is easy to see why he is attracting so much interest.

If the £4.5m-rated defender were to join Hasenhuttl’s side this summer, then you would imagine he would potentially arrive as the replacement for Vestergaard in the Southampton team.

The Danish international has been linked with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Roma and Juventus in recent weeks and considering his contract is set to expire at the end of next season, it is looking more and more likely that he won’t be at St Mary’s past this summer.

Therefore, Martin Semmens needs to start looking for replacements for the former Borussia Monchengladbach man and Kouyate could prove to be the ideal candidate.

The six-foot-three centre-back has averaged 3.8 aerials won per game in Ligue 1 this season, which remarkably is more than the 3.7 aerials won per game by Vestergaard.

He also outscores the 28-year-old defender when it comes to tackles per game (2.4 – 1.7), interceptions (2.4 – 1.5) and clearances (5.4 – 4.1), so it certainly seems as if he could be an excellent addition to Hasenhuttl’s side.

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Kouyate can also operate as a right-back and as a defensive midfielder, so his versatility would definitely be appreciated by Hasenhuttl, so if Vestergaard does depart this summer, Semmens should definitely be looking to bring the Malian defender to Southampton.

And, in other news… Hasenhuttl suffers fresh Saints transfer blow over £18m gem with “great potential”, he’ll be gutted

A fresh claim on Graham Potter to Spurs has emerged this week…

What’s the word?

The Brighton manager sits high on technical director Steve Hitchen’s shortlist, according to the Daily Mail, who also claimed that he has other admirers within the Lilywhites’ hierarchy.

Ever-reliable football.london journalist Alasdair Gold added fuel to the fire on Thursday afternoon with an intriguing bit of information as he tweeted: “Told a number of the Spurs players had a lasting impression left on them by the style of Brighton’s play and would be happy if Graham Potter was pursued to become the club’s next manager.”

He also suggested that the 45-year-old has caught the eye of the club’s decision-makers with his brand of football, which would correlate well with the report from the Daily Mail.

Pochettino 2.0

It’s thought that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy wants his next appointment to be ‘attack-minded’ with a strong focus on developing young players – i.e. not too dissimilar to Mauricio Pochettino, as per The Guardian.

This has been reinforced by The Athletic’s Jack Pitt-Brooke, who claimed that Spurs are looking for a “Pochettino-style coach”, and that’s where Potter fits the bill.

The Argentine was poached from a smaller Premier League club in Southampton but was known for his high-pressing tactics, a similar system and train of thought to the former Swansea man on the south coast.

Whilst Brighton’s results have been underwhelming and rather disappointing – only the bottom three have won fewer games – their performances have been worthy of better returns.

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As outlined by The Athletic, Potter rates out as one of the best coaches in the top-flight, scoring 97 out of 100 for their coaching performance ranking system. He favours a possession-based system with plenty of build-up play and focus on dominating the final third through an overload on the wings and an intense press.

Potter has also trusted his youth, meeting another one of Spurs’ mooted criteria. Brighton have the fourth-youngest weighted average age (minutes played multiplied by age for all players) at 26.

Sat in 14th place, the Seagulls also have the best defensive record of any team 11th or below and have only conceded one goal more than Spurs this season – given that defensive mistakes have been a recurring theme, that’s quite impressive.

Back in January, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was left blown away by Potter and his side. The Spaniard dubbed him “the best English manager right now” and claimed: “You have to be a top side to play that way. As a spectator, I like to watch these teams. I like watching Brighton play. I recognise it. When I was a football player, I would love to play in this team.”

There’s no denying that Potter would be a massive gamble but the same would’ve been said about Pochettino swapping the comfort of St Mary’s for a team competing in Europe.

The 45-year-old is perhaps as close to Pochettino 2.0 as Levy is going to get, so if that’s the criteria, then he has to be considered.

AND in other news, Levy could deal Spurs a terrifying blow by hiring “stubborn” 62 y/o who has “no plan B”…

A fresh name has emerged in West Ham’s search for a new striker this summer…

What’s the word?

According to Calciomercato, the Irons are keen on signing Wolfsburg talisman Wout Weghorst, although they face competition from Jose Mourinho’s new club AS Roma.

It remains to be seen how much the 28-year-old would cost the Premier League outfit, although CIES Football Observatory currently value him at €30m (£26m).

London rivals Tottenham Hotspur have also been linked with the Dutchman in the past, so Mourinho’s interest should come as no surprise.

Shades of Vardy?

Despite being a towering 1.97m (6 foot 6), Weghorst has earned some interesting comparisons in the past.

As a late bloomer, perhaps the most obvious one is former Manchester City frontman Edin Dzeko, but even more interestingly, there has been a likeness made to a current top-flight beast in Jamie Vardy.

That’s according to The Athletic’s Bundesliga expert Raphael Honigstein, who wrote: “[Weghorst is] Holland’s taller, chunkier answer to Jamie Vardy — minus the bit with the electronic tag and the Skittles-flavoured vodka — still plays like he’s got a point to prove in every match. He flies into tackles, wins more headers than almost anyone and frequently tops his team’s charts for most distance covered.”

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Indeed, this relentless work rate is a trait which has seemed to follow him throughout his career, only furthering those odd comparisons to the nifty Leicester City star. Wolfsburg teammate Admir Mehmedi described him as “crazy”, claiming: “He runs a lot for the team and has a really strong mentality. I can’t think of another player who is so crazy, in a positive way!”

Their captain Josuha Guilavogui dubbed him “incredible” and “outstanding”, and that’s before even factoring in his impressive goal record.

As per Transfermarkt, the Dutch international has found the net a whopping 25 times in all competitions his term, also providing nine assists, which could suggest that he would be a perfect foil for Michail Antonio as either a partner or rotational option in West Ham’s attack.

It’s no secret that David Moyes desperately needs a new forward to bolster his frontline next season, with no senior alternative to Antonio, and perhaps GSB should look no further than Weghorst.

The Wolfsburg colossus is a different presence to Vardy, but in him they could well get the same hardworking style which fits the Scotsman’s system to a tee.

AND in other news, GSB must secure West Ham swoop for “hardworking” 34-goal beast who’s perfect for Moyes…

A number of Liverpool supporters have been calling for Sadio Mane to leave at the end of the season, following a dreadful run of form.

The 28-year-old has been an incredible player for the Reds, joining from Southampton in 2016 and being a hugely important figure ever since.

Mane helped take Liverpool up another gear, and along with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, he has made up one-third of arguably Europe’s best attack in the last three or four years.

For possibly the first time at Liverpool, however, the Senegalese superstar is going through an extremely hard time, playing with no confidence and form whatsoever.

Mane has only scored three Premier League goals since the middle of October and seems to have completely lost his spark for the time being.

His performance against Real Madrid in midweek was particularly poor and supporters appear to be losing faith in Liverpool’s No.10.

Liverpool fans call for Mane to leave

Incredibly, some Reds supporters have taken to a Twitter calling for Mane to leave this summer.

“Time to sell and get Mbappe”

Credit: @mikedyrated

“If someone said to me for Mbappe to come to Liverpool you get rid of Mane I would get rid of him”

Credit: @_Simraann

“Sadio Mane’s been that bad this season I honestly wouldn’t feel too bad if we were to sell him this summer. His performances have been unacceptable. Firmino just as bad”

Credit: @Strictly_Scouse

“He’s off in the summer”

Credit: @jaywhittakerbhp

“Sell Mane”

Credit: @Vic21Mc

“Mane needs to be sold”

Credit: @curtisjonesla

In other news, some Liverpool fans have been reacting positively to a fresh transfer claim. Find out who the player in question is here.