All posts by z3u9t.icu

A major update has emerged on Rangers’ search for a new manager, regarding Italian coach Gennaro Gattuso…

What’s the talk?

According to a report from Sky Sports, the Gers are not considering a deal to bring the ex-Napoli boss to the club to replace Steven Gerrard.

Derek McInnes and Gattuso have both been ruled out as Rangers continue to consider appointing Dutch manager Gio van Bronckhorst instead.

Gutting

This update from Sky will surely leave Rangers fans gutted as Gattuso could have been an interesting appointment at Ibrox. The retired midfielder, who previously played for the club, is reportedly interested in the role and we published an article explaining why it could be a great move.

However, it now appears as though the Gers have made a decision not to approach the 43-year-old and will continue their search for Steven Gerrard’s replacement without looking at the former Milan and Napoli head coach. This is a major update that rules him out of the running and could leave supporters disappointed that he is not being considered.

Ex-AC Milan and Brazil midfielder Kaka previously lauded his controversial former teammate and said:

“Gattuso? It was great to see him coaching for the first time with my own eyes. He’s the same as he was as a player in terms of energy and motivation.

“He spent the whole time motivating the team and demanding the best, but that’s not all. Rino is very good, he’s managed to study and prepare well, and all these things make him a phenomenon.”

Gattuso has 122 games of managerial experience in the Serie A with Napoli and Milan under his belt, winning an impressive 1.86 points per game in that time. He never finished below seventh in his four seasons between the two Italian giants, finishing fifth twice, and he won the Italian Cup with Napoli in the 2019/20 campaign – showing that he has the quality as a coach to win silverware.

This shows that he is a talented manager who has proven himself at the top level in Italy, as he was able to successfully manage two huge clubs in Milan and Napoli who like the Gers, traditionally have higher expectations. Therefore, he could potentially have been a good appointment by Rangers and that is precisely why fans will be gutted that the club are not interested in exploring a deal for him.

AND in other news, Davis 2.0: Rangers could sign new metronome in gem who “quietly impressed” ex-EPL boss…

Wolves reportedly now want to clinch a quick deal to sign Kilmarnock central defender and ‘big, big’ talent Charlie McArthur.

The Lowdown: Breakthrough season

McArthur is enjoying a breakthrough season in Scottish football, having already made three senior appearances for his club at just 16 years of age.

His former manager Tommy Wright was full of praise form him earlier this season, claiming that he has a ‘big, big future’ after handing him his debut, while he has also hailed McArthur as a ‘dream to work with’.

Nonetheless, it is no surprise to see clubs now circling around for his signature.

The Latest: Wolves want quick deal

As per The Daily Record, both the Midlands club and West Ham United are preparing moves and ‘want to clinch a quick deal’ for McArthur, as Brighton and Hove Albion also look to table a £275,000 bid for the starlet.

The Seagulls have been tracking him for ‘some time’ and have seen him play for Scotland’s U17s, of whom he is the captain.

The Verdict: Get it done

Given the impending offer from Brighton, the Molineux faithful need to act fast if they are going to get a deal for McArthur over the line.

He is clearly a bright prospect that could thrive in the Academy, until Bruno Lage is ready to call him up to the first team.

Nonetheless, at 16, he has so much potential, and so other teams may well join the race in the summer.

In other news, find out which Wanderers ace is now being eyed by ‘several clubs’ here!

Patrick Bamford is expected to be available for Leeds United’s FA Cup third round clash with West Ham on Sunday, according to journalist Phil Hay.

The Lowdown: Leeds in FA Cup action

The Whites trade Premier League commitments for FA Cup action this weekend, making the trip to the London Stadium for a tough-looking meeting with the Hammers.

While the competition may not take precedence for Marcelo Bielsa’s side this season, the idea of silverware is something that should forever appeal.

Leeds have suffered an injury-plagued season but they have received a massive boost with the trip to West Ham looming.

[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″]

The Latest: Hay gives major update

Taking to Twitter on Friday, Hay confirmed in a seven-word verdict that Bamford is set to be involved in east London, as he makes another welcome return from injury:

“Bamford likely to be involved on Sunday.”

The 28-year-old has been limited to just five starts in the league in 2021/22, having twice found himself on the sidelines with separate issues.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-30/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict:  Huge boost for Whites

Bamford is undoubtedly one of the most important players at Leeds, so this update is a hugely encouraging one when looking at the bigger picture.

Bamford’s all-round quality should help take Leeds up a gear after a testing season to date, as he looks to find the kind of form that saw him score 17 goals and register seven assists in the league last season.

It is great news that the striker will be available on Sunday, but even more so, it suggests that he will be fully fit when the Whites return to league action, looking to pull clear of the relegation zone.

In other news, Leeds are reportedly eyeing up a move for a defender. Find out who it is here.

Leeds United are among the teams interested in Manuel Lanzini ahead of the January transfer window…

What’s the word?

That’s according to TEAMtalk, who claim the Yorkshire giants have submitted an enquiry to West Ham over the 28-year-old attacking midfielder, though the Irons have rebuffed such advances.

Premier League rivals Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Southampton and Everton are also said to be keen.

It remains to be seen how much the Argentinian would command next month, having cost the east London outfit just £9m from UAE Pro League side Al Jazira back in March 2016.

He is thought to be on around £70k-per-week at the London Stadium.

Creative solution

Although the Hammers are rejected the idea of letting Lanzini leave this winter, it would be hard to imagine them rejecting a substantial bid for his signature considering he has slipped down the pecking order this season.

Both Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma are often preferred to him, whilst Irons boss David Moyes made a €39m (£33m) investment in Nikola Vlasic in the summer.

The 28-year-old’s vast experience in the top-flight would make him an interesting candidate for this struggling Leeds side – one that could ultimately do with some creativity in the final third.

Only five teams have scored fewer goals than the Whites from 18 league matches this season, two of which sit in the relegation zone. 44% of these goals have come from set pieces and they are amongst the four worst teams when it comes to scoring from open play, per WhoScored.

Lanzini, who has never really been a regular figure at West Ham, has still proven to be a playmaking influence, having averaged 1.7 key passes per 90 throughout his time in east London.

If he were to perform to that level at Elland Road right now, then only two players would rank ahead of him, one being the wing threat of Raphinha.

“In training, being around this player all the time, he’s brilliant, he’s amazing. I’ve never seen a player like him,” once claimed former teammate Jordan Hugill. “The things he can do with a football, it’s incredible just to watch him and in training, it’s even better.”

Ex-manager Slaven Bilic even likened him to Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric, whilst Darren Bent dubbed him a “top player” with “wonderful feet” to Football Insider just last year.

On the above evidence, Bielsa signing his fellow countryman could be quite a shrewd move, whether it can definitely happen or not remains to be seen but United would be foolish to not try again next month.

AND in other news, Leeds source drops major behind-the-scenes Bielsa update at Thorp Arch, fans will be worried…

According to Dan Sheldon of The Athletic, another loan spell at Southampton is unlikely for Broja, but a permanent move is possible in the summer.

The Lowdown: Broja’s outstanding form at Southampton

The 20-year-old has quickly established himself as one of Southampton’s most important players since arriving on a season-long loan from Chelsea.

The striker has made 17 Premier League appearances this season, nine of which have come as part of the starting XI.

Broja has scored five goals and produced one assist under Ralph Hasenhuttl, which makes him Saints’ second top scorer in the league behind James Ward-Prowse.

The Latest: Broja permanent transfer possible

Hasenhuttl has previously stated that talks are taking place between Martin Semmens, Southampton’s club’s chief executive, and Marina Granovskaia at Chelsea over the Albanian’s future.

According to fresh reports from Dan Sheldon and The Athletic, ‘as it stands’, another loan move for Broja is unlikely. Therefore, this means that the loanee will either leave Chelsea on a permanent transfer this summer or will remain at Stamford Bridge in a bid to fight for his place in Tuchel’s side.

This is fantastic news for Saints fans, as it is also said that Broja is enjoying his time at Southampton and that he has developed a good relationship with Hasenhuttl, meaning if a fee can be agreed the player certainly seems keen to stay put at St. Mary’s.

The Verdict: Massive for Saints fans

The possibility of a permanent deal coming to fruition will arouse excitement amongst the Saints fanbase, who are desperate to keep hold of the 20-year-old beyond the summer.

Broja is scoring a top flight goal every 175 minutes this season, a fantastic rate for a player who had rarely stepped foot on a Premier League pitch before 2021.

The fact that the player has a good relationship with the manager will give the club a big boost in negotiations over a permanent transfer, as this could influence Broja into pushing for a return move.

Hasenhuttl would clearly love for the striker to return, having described the striker as ‘dangerous’ in front of goal. Therefore, it likely all depends on whether Southampton have the finances needed to meet Chelsea’s asking price.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring James Maddison to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Sun, who claim that both Spurs and their north London rivals Arsenal are in the frame to land the Leicester City attacking midfielder at the end of the season – for whom the Foxes are believed to be willing to part with if their £60m asking price for the 25-year-old is met.

The report goes on to state Antonio Conte is known to be a fan of the England international, with the 52-year-old thought to be keen to increase the number of his attacking options at Tottenham this summer.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-spurs-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-martinez-dybala-spence-conte-2” title= “Read the latest Spurs news!”]

Conte can axe Lo Celso with Maddison

Considering how impressive Maddison has been for Leicester this season, in addition to the fact that the £55m Giovani Lo Celso – who John Wenham dubbed a “disaster” – looks as if he will be departing the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on a permanent basis this summer, it is easy to see why Conte would be interested in a move for the 25-year-old ahead of Spurs’ 2022/23 campaign.

Indeed, over his 28 Premier League appearances this term, the £45m-rated midfielder has been Leicester’s standout performer, scoring eight goals, registering five assists and creating eight big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of two shots and making 1.3 key passes per game.

These returns have seen the £110k-per-week player who Brendan Rodgers dubbed both “unbelievable” and “immense” average a quite breathtaking SofaScore match rating of 7.19, ranking him as the Foxes’ best player in the English top flight.

As such, should Villarreal go on to make Lo Celso’s temporary spell at the Estadio de la Ceramica a permanent move this summer – as it has been reported the LaLiga side are keen to do – considering Maddison’s incredibly impressive returns this season, in addition to his excellent positional versatility and high resale potential, the player Rodgers also claimed is “a bit like Coutinho” would very much appear to be a huge upgrade on the outgoing Argentina international.

AND in other news: “Understand…”: Alasdair Gold now reveals “bad news” for Spurs, Conte will be fuming

Steven Gerrard will be able to bring a Liverpool player to Aston Villa on loan, former Villa Park man Alan Hutton claims. 

The lowdown

Gerrard is, of course, an icon at Anfield, where he spent almost the entirety of his playing career.

He helped the Reds win major 11 trophies, including the UEFA Champions League in 2005 (via Transfermarkt).

Having begun his managerial career in Scotland with Rangers, Gerrard will now take on the English Premier League with Aston Villa.

Sky Sports (via The Daily Star) reported in the summer that Villa considered a move for Reds midfielder Curtis Jones, only to decide against it late in the window.

The latest

Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton floated the possibility of Gerrard doing business with his former club.

He says the 41-year-old has enough pulling power to persuade a player to swap Anfield for Villa Park.

“Maybe we are talking about going getting a player on loan from Liverpool,” he said. “I can see that happening. Maybe a calibre of player that wouldn’t go to Rangers but would go to Aston Villa to play in the Premier League.

“He can attract a certain type so I think the January window could be exciting times.”

The verdict

Could a move for Jones be reconsidered in light of Gerrard’s appointment? Potentially.

He’s only started three of the Reds’ first 11 Premier League games, so Villa may feel as if they have a chance.

Liverpool look to be well-stocked in central midfield when everyone is fit, and if most of their options are available come in January, they may at least consider a short-term proposal for the £27million-rated ace, especially if Harvey Elliott has recovered by then.

In other news, read this exciting behind-the-scenes claim from Gregg Evans.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Leandro Paredes to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian media outlet Calciomercato.it (via Sport Witness), who claim that Fabio Paratici is keeping a very close eye on the situation of the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder ahead of a potential move for the 27-year-old at the end of the current campaign.

The report goes on to state that Tottenham’s managing director was believed to be interested in signing the Argentina international for Juventus prior to his move to AS Roma back in 2014, while PSG are thought to be demanding a figure of around €20m (£16.5m) in order to part with the midfielder this summer.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-spurs-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-martinez-dybala-spence-conte-2” title= “Read the latest Spurs news!”]

Conte can axe Ndombele with Paredes

Considering just how impressive Paredes has been for PSG since his €45m (£37.5m) move to the French capital back in January 2019, in addition to the fact that Tanguy Ndombele looks as if he will be on his way out of north London this summer, it is easy to see why both Paratici and Antonio Conte would be interested in a move for the 27-year-old.

Indeed, despite suffering from several knocks this season, the £18m-rated dynamo has been an important part of Mauricio Pochettino’s table-topping PSG side over his 15 Ligue 1 appearances, scoring one goal and registering two assists, as well as making an average of 0.5 key passes and taking 0.5 shots per game.

The £148k-per-week defensively-minded midfielder has also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 0.7 interceptions, 1.5 tackles, 59.6 passes and winning 2.9 duels – at a success rate of 61% – per fixture.

These returns have seen the player who @MrAcconci – the co-founder of WhoScored – dubbed the “ultimate midfielder” and Joe Prince-Wright labelled a “superb” talent average a highly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.01.

As such, with Ndombele – a player who Scott Saunders dubbed “anonymous” – looking likely to be shipped out permanently this summer, it would appear highly advisable for Conte to reinvest the funds received from the £120k-per-week Frenchman’s departure into a move for Paredes – as the Argentine would appear to be a much better fit for the Italian’s setup in north London.

AND in other news: Paratici handed major boost on £21m Spurs-linked “monster”, he’s Conte’s dream signing

Flocking to Twitter, many West Ham United fans have erupted over a transfer update from The Daily Mail as reporter Simon Jones shares manager David Moyes’ plans for January.

The Hammers and recruitment chief Rob Newman are set for an interesting winter window as they aim to back Moyes in his quest to guide West Ham to a top four finish.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-updates/” title=”West Ham latest updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The club also find themselves still competing in Europe after finishing top of their group but it is arguable that West Ham need some fresh faces this month if they are to stay at this level.

According to Jones of The Mail, the Irons and Moyes are eyeing a centre-back, left-back and forward this month as both Newman and Moyes work their way through targets.

It is believed that the West Ham chiefs could now target Lille star Jonathan David, Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly, Everton’s Lucas Digne and Sparta Prague attacker Adam Hlozek.

West Ham fans erupt…

Flocking to Twitter, many West Ham fans have been left overjoyed by the four names allegedly on Moyes’ and Newman’s agenda this month – with one supporter calling this transfer claim ‘sensational’.

Another claimed landing all four men would be the Irons’ ‘best ever window’.

It’s not hard to understand their excitement either, with Digne racking up an impressive seven assists in his last full top flight campaign, while David has bagged 15 times this season and Hlozek six.

“ALL 4 PLEASE, DAVID”

Credit: @JamesGunn23

“Would be our best ever window. They should have all been signed and training by now if we were serious.”

Credit: @Onlywestham

“I think there might be some legs in us going all out for David possibly.”

Credit: @EthanP48445025

“Sensational stuff”

Credit: @_ghzst

“PLS

@WestHam”

Credit: @Icevain7

“yes, yes, yes and yes”

Credit: @WHUInfo

“Lucas Digne & Adam Hlozek would cost us around 25m for both of them. So i can see that happening and it would be a huge improvement over the squad.”

Credit: @DKouzas

In other news: West Ham set for imminent move to sign ‘phenomenal’ powerhouse as reporter drops Twitter message, find out more here.

Much to the relief of Eddie Howe and the club’s fans, Newcastle United finally secured their first win of the season at the 15th attempt with a 1-0 defeat of Burnley at St James’ Park this afternoon thanks to a goal from Callum Wilson.

With the 29-year-old on the scoresheet and the defence able to keep a clean sheet, another man who impressed on the day was Jonjo Shelvey.

In his 90 minutes on the pitch, the midfielder had 62 touches of the ball, making 35 accurate passes, three key passes, three crosses and seven long balls, highlighting his range of passing ability. The midfielder also had two shots at goal and completed one dribble, showing his attacking prowess as well.

From a defensive point of view, Shelvey made one clearance and won three out of his six duels, helping his side to keep their first clean sheet of the season.

This latest performance for the Toon earned the midfielder an overall match rating of 7.6/10, making him the second-highest rated player on the day after Wilson according to SofaScore.

Labelled a player who Howe feels could be an “important” one for the Magpies, Shelvey certainly repaid the faith put in him by his manager on this occasion.

With some Newcastle fans previously sharing their criticism of the 29-year-old in the past for his performances, with some even calling for him to leave the club altogether, it seems as though Shelvey could be starting to get some of the doubters back on side with this performance against Burnley.

Moving forward, if he can continue playing regularly for the Toon and putting in this sort of solid display in an attacking and defensive sense, whilst adding some goals and assists to his tally, he could potentially save Newcastle from relegation and finally prove himself to the club and their new owners.

However, with Newcastle having to face off against the likes of Leicester City, Liverpool and the two Manchester clubs this month, Shelvey and the rest of his teammates will need to be at the top of their game to build on today’s breakthrough victory.

In other news: PIF must seal dream NUFC move for “exceptional” 114-goal magician who Howe would love…