All posts by z3u9t.icu

Aston Villa have been handed a major boost ahead of their Premier League clash against Tottenham, with Bertrand Traore set to be fit for action.

The Athletic’s Gregg Evans confirmed via his official Twitter account that Traore is on painkillers and should be available to play against Spurs – this followed on comments from Dean Smith about the Burkina Faso international.

Speaking about the 25-year-old in his pre-match press conference, the Villa manager said: “He got a whack in the rib when he took a tumble over the billboards at Newcastle and was in a lot of pain.

“He went to hospital but thankfully there is no bleed and he’s just had painkillers for it so he should be available on Sunday.”

Dubbed an “immense talent” by Smith, Traore hasn’t really set Villa Park alight with his performances this season, and has been fairly streaky with his form – after going on a run of four goals and an assist in six Premier League games over the course of December and January, the winger has found the back of the net just once in his last ten top-flight matches.

Despite the lack of end product recently, Traore remains the kind of player who can create a moment of magic out of nothing, and has been one of Villa’s most potent creative forces this season.

As per Whoscored, the winger’s average of 1.5 shots and 1.2 key passes per game in the Premier League ranks him fifth in both categories among all Villa players.

His performance against Newcastle earlier this calendar year was particularly impressive, and starkly showed the kind of devastating impact he can when things are going well for him.

It’s exactly why Smith will surely be buzzing at the positive injury update on the £55,000-a-week earning Traore, and why once again he will be counting on the Burkina Faso native to try and conjure a piece of brilliance against Spurs today.

Meanwhile, Villa should unleash this academy talent…

When Swansea City sold Oliver McBurnie to Sheffield United in 2019 there was undoubtedly a lot of disappointment from fans of the South Wales club but the Scottish striker’s performances since then suggest that the Swans did extremely well to sell him for £20 million.

After an excellent 2018/19 campaign, Sheffield United were extremely keen to sign McBurnie following their promotion back to the top-flight and came in with several bids for the striker, which were rejected.

However, when they upped their bid to £17.5 million, which could rise to £20 million, Swansea’s chairman at the time, Trevor Birch, suggested that the offer was too good to turn down and the player was allowed to make the move to Bramall Lane.

Whilst the former Bradford City man was a regular in Chris Wilder’s side last season that defied expectations, making 36 appearances and scoring six goals, things have not gone to plan for the 24-year-old this year.

McBurnie has made 21 appearances in the top-flight but has just one goal to his name thus far, with the Blades looking nailed on to be relegated back to the Championship.

Given that the striker failed to find the back of the net in 11 top-flight appearances for Swansea in the 2017/18 season, it was always likely to be a risk, with plenty of evidence that McBurnie would struggle to score regularly in the Premier League.

His average rating has also seriously declined, as he averaged a fairly solid 6.89/10 rating last season, whereas so far this year, he has earned a disappointing 6.68 average rating.

It seems therefore that the Scottish international will be plying his trade in the Championship again next season, where he will be hoping for a repeat of the 2018/19 campaign that saw him hit 22 goals for the Swans.

[freshpress-quiz id=“532484″]

However, given the excessive fee that Sheffield United paid for him, his return of just seven goals in 63 appearances in all competitions is far from good enough, and Swansea should be delighted that they were able to secure as much as they were able to for McBurnie.

And, in other news… Swansea handed huge potential boost in race for “phenomenal” 10-goal beast

Manchester United reached the semi-finals of the Europa League with a 4-0 aggregate victory against Granada at Old Trafford on Thursday.

In the end, the Red Devils’ 2-0 victory in Spain last week was more than enough to guide them through, with Edinson Cavani then adding to that advantage in the first half last night before Jesus Vallejo put through his own net late on.

Whilst the Uruguayan proved to be the match-winner for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men on the night, it was actually a thoroughly disciplined defensive performance from right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka which made it a relatively worry-free evening for Manchester United.

With Granada needing a handful of goals to progress at the Red Devils’ expense, the former Crystal Palace man proved a formidable wall for the Spaniards to get beyond.

According to WhoScored, Wan-Bissaka produced an impressive five tackles throughout the game. Only Paul Pogba, who was substituted at the break, matched that figure of all the players to take to the pitch.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/the-latest-man-united-transfer-rumours-and-news-from-old-trafford-lingard-de-gea-pogba-bailly-johnstone” title=”The latest Man United transfer rumours and news from Old Trafford…”]

Meanwhile, the 23-year-old, who earns £90,000 per week at Old Trafford, also contributed two interceptions and a further two clearances as he continued to keep Granada at bay. His impressive performance did not end there, as Wan-Bissaka won eight of the 13 duels for which he competed, he won eight, only being beaten in the air once according to SofaScore.

Whilst the right-back’s normal assignment is to keep the ball out of the Manchester United net, he was also hugely effective going forwards. Throughout the game, the defender supplied one key pass and also completed two dribbles.

In all, it was a hugely impressive all-round display from Wan-Bissaka, even more so considering that was in a Red Devils’ defence which was missing the likes of first-choice pair Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw due to suspension.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should certainly be thrilled with the 23-year-old’s performance.

AND in more news, read more about the huge boost that Manchester United have recently received in their pursuit of Rennes’ Eduardo Camavinga…

Celtic captain Scott Brown has been linked with a move to Aberdeen.

According to The Scottish Sun, the 35-year-old is wanted as a player-assistant at Pittodrie, should former Hibernian teammate Stephen Glass land the vacant managerial role.

Brown Celtic’s top earner

England strikers’ coach Allan Russell is also wanted by Glass alongside Brown, with the Hoops icon out of contract in the summer.

Brown is thought to be Celtic’s top earner on £25,000 per week, with The Scottish Sun claiming that an offer at Aberdeen ‘would likely prove too good to turn down’.

Transfer Tavern take

The no-nonsense midfielder appears to be approaching the end of his memorable Parkhead stay. He hasn’t been as influential this season, starting just 19 of Celtic’s 32 Premiership fixtures.

Ismaila Soro appears to be a readymade replacement for Brown, and should he wish to go into coaching, this may be the ideal opportunity for him.

He’d still get the chance to carry on his playing career while earning his real experience on the sidelines. Who knows, should Glass make the move to Pittodrie and take Brown with him, we could see the Hoops hero return in the Hoops dugout further down the line.

In other news: One man is keen to talk to Celtic ahead of a potential DoF role, find out more here.

Many Everton fans were left slamming the display of Alex Iwobi despite their club’s 5-4 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup on Wednesday night.

The Merseyside club eventually came out on top in what was a pretty hectic game from start to finish, with Bernard scoring a fine winner in the first half of extra time at Goodison Park to book Carlo Ancelotti’s team a place in the quarter-final stage of the competition.

While there were some very good performances in a Toffees shirt on the night, Iwobi’s flattered to deceive.

The former Arsenal man lost out on no fewer than six of his duels in the match, and also failed to record a single shot, successful dribble, key pass or accurate cross, all while losing possession of the ball 14 times, the sixth-most out of any of his teammates, despite coming off in the 70th minute (Sofascore).

Everton fan reaction to Iwobi display

These Blues slammed his performance on Twitter, with one EFC supporter even going as far as to call the Nigeria international ‘useless’:

“Iwobi seemed to have gone missing again in recent games – with Coleman playing so well last night, could he be a RW option against Fulham?”

Credit: @TweeterEverton

“Should have him playing instead of Iwobi, he’s useless. Thought Coleman was excellent going forward”

Credit: @AlanCarlson19

“Yeah agree. Iwobi just doesn’t have enough quality to take us to the levels required. I’d love us to get a rapid RW and RB and quality GK and we won’t be too far away then from where we want to be. Centre halves still trouble me, they’re not aggressive enough for me.”

Credit: @nlarrw

“He is perfect for a 4-3-3 mate isn’t he, Richarlison needs to be put in the middle and Iwobi needs binning off, definitely need a couple of wide players in the summer”

Credit: @danny1878c

“Not one of Mina’s better games, Iwobi hardly in the game…the rest gave their all…Be hard to drop Olsen after that too. Tom Davies best game in a blue shirt”

Credit: @YurHavingALaugh

“Completely forgot Iwobi played, he was terrible tonight”

Credit: @dobbo1878

In other news, find out which player wants to stay at Everton amid transfer uncertainty here!

Speaking ahead of the clash with Arsenal this afternoon, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has confirmed that defender and summer signing Nathan Ake has returned to training, albeit alone, after a lengthy absence (official website) – prompting many Sky Blues to buzz at this update. 

The Dutchman has started just five Premier League games all season under Guardiola due to fitness issues, but he is now ‘closer’ to a return according to Guardiola (Man City).

Snapped up from Bournemouth in the summer, alongside star signing Ruben Dias and Ferran Torres, City supporters will be hoping he can work his way into the team and justify a considerable £40 million price tag (BBC).

Reacting to this update on Ake, it’s safe to say plenty of fans are excited at the prospect of him finally returning to action and have buzzed over this news he is back in training.

Find all of their best verdicts down below.

Man City fans buzz over Ake training return

“yessssss”

Credit: @mcfcfinlay

“FINALLY”

Credit: @MoNasereldin

“He’s aliveeee”

Credit: @fredijeh

“Yessssssssssss”

Credit: @calmcii

“Welcome back”

Credit: @Esther78278157

“Great news”

Credit: @chrisreno101

“No way”

Credit: @LastJediIsBad

“AKE PROP BEGINSSSS”

Credit: @CitizenDezza

In other news: Sky Blues slammed this embarrassing claim, find out more here.

Marcel Brands must block any attempts by Atletico Madrid to sign star left-back Lucas Digne this summer, after the publication of a report suggesting that The Blues could cash in on the defender in order to fund a transfer of their own.

What’s the word?

According to Gol Digital, La Liga leaders Atletico are keen on signing Digne in the summer transfer window as boss Diego Simeone strives to improve his options at left-back.

Digne is considered to be a player who meets Simeone’s checklist as the Frenchman is fast, strong and plays with an offensive threat that can make the 27-year-old an extra forward.

Everton are expected to value the former FC Barcelona defender at no less than €30m (£25.5m) after Digne penned a new £119,000-per-week contract last month, keeping him tied down at Goodison Park through to June 2025.

But despite his new deal, Carlo Ancelotti is said to be open to parting ways with the full-back, as the Italian would like to sign Tottenham’s Sergio Reguilon just a year after he left Real Madrid in a deal that could reach £32m.

Digne would also be expected to have admirers from clubs in the Serie A and Bundesliga if his time on Merseyside is set to end this season, while Atletico would need to find new homes for Kieran Trippier, Santiago Arias and Sime Vrsaljko to fund their pursuit.

Should Everton replace Digne with Reguilon?

It certainly seems questionable that Ancelotti would be looking to replace Digne just weeks after he signed a deal to extend his spell at Everton for a further two seasons from the five-year terms agreed upon his £18m arrival in 2018.

But, if true, Everton’s Director of Football Marcel Brands – who Ancelotti claims he enjoys a “beautiful relationship” with – must step in and block the Italian coach from a potentially huge blunder of trying to move Digne on and replacing him with Reguilon.

Everton would be taking a step backwards by parting with Digne, who has six assists in 20 Premier League games this season, for Reguilon, who has offered three assists in 17 top-flight matches since joining Tottenham last year.

Reguilon has talent, no doubt, with Jamie Redknapp claiming the five-cap Spain international was “fantastic” for Spurs before being sidelined with a muscle injury in his right leg at the end of January.

“When he was playing, he was fantastic. He had great energy, was crossing the ball, good in one-on-one situations – he had it all. It’s no surprise that their performances have not been as good since he has not been playing. He offers so much to this team,” the Sky Sports pundit said, via quotes by The Boot Room.

But Reguilon would not be an upgrade on Digne, who averages 1.6 key passes and 1.6 accurate crosses (22%) a game in the Premier League this season to the Tottenham man’s 0.6 chances created and 0.5 accurate crosses (24%), per SofaScore.

Signing Reguilon would also see Ancelotti acquire an inferior aerial presence at left-back with the £48,000-per-week 24-year-old offering 1.0 duels won (40%) a game to Digne’s 3.1 (67%). Although the pair are evenly matched for defensive contributions, with two and 2.2 successful tackles, 2.2 and 2.3 clearances plus 1.2 and 1.0 interceptions respectively.

Though it is in Digne’s offensive contributions that Ancelotti relies on the Frenchman the most, with only James Rodriguez offering a higher volume of key passes (1.7) than the full-back who offers the highest number of accurate crosses per league game at Everton, per WhoScored.

Tottenham would be expected to strive to acquire a substantial figure for Reguilon, as well, so there would not be a financial benefit to replacing Digne with him, making it even more puzzling why Ancelotti would be considering making this change in the summer.

AND in other news, a £15k-p/w Everton dud who gives “absolutely nothing” has been tipped to seal a summer transfer…

Carlo Ancelotti is having to deal with a string of injuries ahead of Everton’s trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday night.

The Italian has confirmed he will be without top-scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin with the striker failing to overcome the hamstring injury which prevented his involvement in Saturday’s FA Cup tie, but is due to welcome back a clutch of those who also failed to feature against Rotherham United.

Everton will be chasing their first win at Molineux since 2011 in their midweek trip to the West Midlands, where a victory will move the Goodison Park natives back inside the top-four of the Premier League table after a four-game win streak was brought to an end by West Ham United on New Year’s Day.

Ancelotti rang the changes in the FA Cup from the side which lost on David Moyes’ latest venture back to Merseyside, but failed to see some of those who started shine. So, with that in mind, here’s a potential XI the Blues could name at Wolves on Tuesday…

Robin Olsen was given the nod to start in goal at home to Rotherham at the weekend with Jordan Pickford sidelined, but is likely to lose out to the England international with Ancelotti confirming the 26-year-old is available to feature at Molineux.

Lucas Digne made his return from ankle ligament surgery on Saturday and showed flashes of his talent throughout his time on the field, so will expect to retain his starting role against Wolves alongside Seamus Coleman, Ben Godfrey, Alex Iwobi and James Rodriguez.

Michael Keane endured a challenging afternoon against Championship strugglers Rotherham, and the £65,000-per-week centre-back will be a point of focus for Ancelotti with Yerry Mina performing well in recent weeks and initially being rested in the FA Cup.

Tom Davies and Andre Gomes both struggled to hold down the engine room on Saturday with the academy graduate far too casual in possession and the Portuguese sloppy with the ball and out of sync defensively.

Davies has been Ancelotti’s favourite partner for Abdoulaye Doucoure while without Allan through a hamstring injury, which the Italian believes the midfielder will overcome in the next two weeks, so should carry more credit over Gomes ahead of facing Wolves.

Calvert-Lewin’s absence in attack will be an issue for Everton at Molineux, where Cenk Tosun is likely to start after scoring his first goal of the season with a solid performance in place of the injured England international against Rotherham.

Richarlison also failed to feature on Saturday yet faces a late fitness test to start against Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, suggesting the Brazilian is likely to be risked to add a direct threat to the Toffees’ attack barring any negative developments.

AND in other news: “Absolutely” – Exclusive: Pundit can see £31.5m-rated “Ancelotti type of player” joining Everton….

Leeds United’s sporting director has proven his worth with the summer addition of Raphinha. Whilst the Whites have been dealing with injury problems and positive Covid-19 cases, they have been without some of their new personnel.

Diego Llorente is one example – the centre-back is still yet to feature for his new club. But two players who seem to be in friendly competition with each other are the Brazilian winger and his fellow native Rodrigo.

Raphinha shining for Leeds

The 23-year-old has had consistent game time in his debut season for the Yorkshire outfit, but he stepped up to the plate when it was needed last time out. Raphinha scored Leeds’ only goal against Everton on Saturday to shift them further up the Premier League table and brush their recent dip in form under the carpet.

Whilst it’s still early days, the winger is proving to be more of an important signing than Rodrigo so far. The striker is in competition with Patrick Bamford for the No.9 role but has been starting just behind the 27-year-old in support. As a striker, the summer signing needs to be showing his worth more or he risks being dropped by Marcelo Bielsa.

Raphinha on the other hand, is in fierce competition with fellow right-wingers Ian Poveda and Helder Costa. He is aware of the fact that the bar is high and he must fight for his place in the Leeds squad, which is absolutely what he did against Everton.

Orta snapped up the attacker for £17million from Rennes, which is a handsome amount to pay for a club like Leeds. Raphinha has shown that he is eager to make his transfer fee worth it by making his debut season one that Whites fans will be proud of as they celebrate their returning Premier League season.

In other news, Bielsa highlights three players who must shape up before next match…

Many Manchester City fans will be frustrated following their side’s disappointing 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday night but Pep Guardiola will surely be delighted that Ruben Dias once again produced a superb display.

Whilst he was unfortunate to be credited with an own goal after he turned Semi Ajayi’s effort past Ederson, his overall performance was very strong.

The Portuguese international has quickly settled into English football since joining City from Benfica during the summer transfer window, with his performances having displaced Aymeric Laporte from the Citizens’ starting eleven.

In 10 Premier League appearances for the Citizens so far this season, the 23-year-old has averaged a solid 6.67 rating and he has been a big part of Guardiola’s side’s improved defensive record in recent weeks, as before the West Brom game, they had kept six consecutive clean sheets in all competitions.

Despite his own goal on Tuesday, the statistics suggest that he was one of City’s best players once again, as he dominated the West Brom attack.

As per SofaScore, the centre-back won 4/4 of his duels during the game, whilst he committed no fouls and wasn’t dribbled past once, suggesting that he was well on top in his battle with the West Brom forwards.

The Portuguese defender also lost possession on just five occasions, despite having 101 touches of the ball, as 89/94 of his passes found a Manchester City shirt, once again emphasising the young defender’s ability on the ball.

It is a shame that Dias may be blamed for the Baggies’ equaliser but he definitely deserved to be on the winning side for his performance, which he should have been when you consider the late chances for City missed by Ilkay Gundogan and Raheem Sterling.

However, Guardiola can be safe in the knowledge that City recruited very well with Dias during the summer, and the £45 million-rated man looks set for a great future with the Citizens.

And, in other news… Lost possession 23x: MCFC star badly let Pep down with an abysmal display vs WBA