All posts by z3u9t.icu

According to El Desmarque, Real Madrid may be willing to offer Mariano Diaz and Isco to Tottenham Hotspur in January in order to sign Christian Eriksen.

There remains huge speculation surrounding the future of Eriksen, who will see his contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium expire next summer.

And the Denmark international’s form this season – scoring just once in 11 appearances for Mauricio Pochettino’s side – does suggest that his head is elsewhere.

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According to El Desmarque, Los Blancos are weighing up the possibility of including Mariano and Isco in an offer for Eriksen.

It is a tricky situation, though, as the former Ajax youngster could decide to sit tight and leave on a free at the end of the season, which would certainly be more lucrative in terms of a signing-on fee.

The Spurs fans are absolutely desperate for the above deal to take place, though, and a selection of their reaction on Twitter is available to view below:

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How did West Ham lose 4-0 against Oxford United in the League Cup on Wednesday?

Yes, it was a rotated squad, but there was still more than enough talent in the Hammers’ side to beat the League One team, yet they were absolutely battered by the Us. Manuel Pellegrini will have been very disappointed with the display, just like the fans.

There was the need for a response against Bournemouth on Saturday in the Premier League. A 2-2 draw is not exactly what they would have wanted, but it was enough to see them move up to third in the table.

There were some good performances, and some not so good ones. Pablo Fornals struggled against the Cherries, and was taken off with 24 minutes left. Since joining the Irons, he has scored just one goal and has failed to register an assist in nine matches.

The London Stadium faithful are clearly expecting more from him, and they were unhappy with his display at the Vitality Stadium. They took to Twitter to share their thoughts, and you can see some of the best comments from the social media platform below.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…

When Crystal Palace saw Luka Milivojevic enter the book in the 93rd minute of their 2-0 win over Norwich, the prospect of having to face West Ham without their captain became reality.

The Serbian international is one of the first names on Roy Hodgson’s teamsheet – Milivojevic played every minute of the 2018/19 Premier League campaign – while he also finished as the Eagles’ top scorer with 12 goals last term.

Palace would’ve been well within their rights to be concerned about his absence against the Hammers.

However, one man stepped up to deliver an excellent performance on what was his first Premier League start for the south Londoners.

James McCarthy.

Lining up alongside his former Hamilton and Wigan midfield partner James McArthur, the Republic of Ireland international looked at ease in the middle of the park.

The 28-year-old completed 84.6% of his 39 passes, buzzing about the midfield to some effect.

McCarthy stung the palms of Roberto with a fierce first-half drive from long range – in what was his only shot on target – while also completing two tackles as Palace beat West Ham thanks to Jordan Ayew’s 87th minute winner.

If the former Everton man had cost £5m, £8m or even £10m upon his arrival back in the summer, you would be hard pushed to complain about such a fee on the basis of his composed performance at the London Stadium.

However, quite astonishingly in this day and age, Palace managed to bring the energetic midfielder to Selhurst Park for under £1m, as The Athletic’s Dominic Fifield outlines here.

“McCarthy, once the second-most expensive signing in Everton’s history, would cost less than £1 million.”

It must be extremely reassuring for Hodgson and, presumably, the majority of the Selhurst Park faithful to know that if a key player such as Milivojevic is ever unavailable again for whatever reason, then there is a more than capable pair of hands in McCarthy to step in and do the business.

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Some Crystal Palace fans have taken to Twitter to express their relief at the news that a late summer move for Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo collapsed.

The Athletic reports that a late move for the Argentina international fell through this summer for reasons that are not detailed, with the Eagles eventually opting to sign 33-year-old Gary Cahill on a free transfer instead.

Rojo managed to make just five Premier League appearances for the Red Devils last term, as he was blighted by injuries – he has missed 53 games since the start of the 2017/18 campaign.

The 29-year-old cost United £16m back in 2014, and has made 113 appearances for the club – his chances of game time at Old Trafford look bleak following Harry Maguire’s arrival, however.

One fan below said that he’d ‘prefer to have Gary anyways’, whilst another recalls a terrible studs-up challenge that Rojo made on Zaha at Selhurst Park back in the 2016/17 season.

Let’s take a look at some more of the Twitter reaction…

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s In The Pipeline series, which takes a look at some of the most promising young talent either linked with clubs or emerging from their academies…

New Liverpool signing Sepp van den Berg has settled into the club well and is showing signs of the promise he offers as a young centre-back.

The 17-year-old arrived on Merseyside this summer after the Reds agreed an initial fee of £1.3m with PEC Zwolle, having come through their academy.

Despite his youth, he featured 15 times in the Eredivisie last season, helping his side keep five clean sheets, but he hasn’t been as fortunate with the Reds yet, conceding 12 goals in four games.

Nevertheless, Liverpool U23s manager Neil Critchley is impressed with what he has seen, describing him as a calming influence on the team, and such a temperament could serve him well if he is to transition into the first-team – where composure under pressure is part of Jurgen Klopp’s style.

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Critchley said:

“He has an assurance about his play and gives off an air of calmness at the back. What he has to do now, which is the same for a lot of the young players, is show real resilience and character.”

As well as that, he also possesses good stature standing at 6 foot 2, and if he can add to his physical game and improve on the 62% of duels he won last season then he could work his way into senior contention.

His inclusion in Liverpool’s Champions League squad should be a great learning experience for him. Training alongside the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip will be a big learning curve but he will be able to pick up tips to make him a better defender.

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Whilst he has a lot to improve on, mainly in terms of giving the ball away – with an average 5.4 losses per game in his own half last term – Klopp is already impressed by what he has seen, and told The Liverpool Echo that he is glad the Dutchman joined.

“With Sepp, he’s just an outstanding talent. He’s a wonderful boy and he decided to join us, which is good.

“It’s a not a long-term project where the boy has to think he has to wait five years to play for us, but it’s not for this moment.”

The German’s comments suggest the centre-back is not too far off becoming integrated into the first-team, and if he can build a solid partnership with compatriot Ki-Jana Hoever the pair could have a successful future at the club, with Hoever having already made his debut.

Everton supporters have become accustomed to rumours linking Idrissa Gueye with a move away from the club, but PSG’s decision to sign Leandro Paredes should have eased their fears somewhat with less than 48 hours to go until the deadline passes. 

Rumours concerning Gueye’s future have persisted despite PSG’s deal to sign Paredes, but the Senegal international’s paramount importance to the club should force the hierarchy to resist any forthcoming offers in the final hours.

Indeed, it is incredibly difficult to find a defensive midfielder who can protect the defence and contribute to the possession-based game as well as Gueye, and his value to this Everton side is comparable to that of Wilfried Zaha at Crystal Palace, according to Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth.

Indeed, while speaking on Sky Sports’ Transfer Talk podcast, Sheth suggested that the Toffees were absolutely spot on to reject a recent £21.5 million offer from PSG for Gueye, using Zaha’s comparative importance at Palace to illuminate his point.

“Comparing it to Zaha at Crystal Palace: Some people might say right £50 million wow, that’s amazing, but to Palace he might be worth more than £50 million because of the role he plays for that club, you could say the same for Gueye as well.

“£21.5 million for a 29-year-old on the face of it yes, but what will he take out of Everton? How important is he to Everton?”

Sheth is absolutely spot on in his verdict. While it must be considered that Gueye will never command the same extortionate value as Zaha due to the position he plays and his lack of goal scoring prowess, his importance to the way Everton operate is similar to that of the electric Ivorian.

Losing Gueye mid-season would be a bitter blow for the club and leave them short of a focal point in midfield. Everton have been struggling with Gueye in the side, so removing him from the equation would certainly leave Marco Silva in a precarious situation with pressure already beginning to mount on his shoulders.

It’s unlikely that Everton will be able to resist the advances of Europe’s biggest clubs if they come calling in the summer window, but Gueye’s importance to the club has put the hierarchy in a position to command far more than £21.5 million for his signature.

Zaha, meanwhile, will continue to attract a markedly higher transfer fee due to his talent in the final-third, but that is not to say that the difference in price equates to a difference in importance to Gueye.

Both players are indispensable in their own right and Everton and Palace would be foolish to allow their star players to leave for anything other than a premium price.

Everton fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Nottingham Forest captain Michael Dawson has compared his current boss Sabri Lamouchi to the one that let him depart Tottenham Hotspur after nearly ten years at the club.

What’s he said?

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino allowed the popular centre-back to join Hull City despite holding the captaincy in North London.

After four seasons at the KCOM Stadium, Dawson returned to the Midlands to the side that gave him his first taste of professional football, Forest.

Lamouchi was surprisingly appointed manager of the club just minutes after the sudden departure of Martin O’Neill and the 35-year-old, who has started every Championship game this season, has said the Algerian boss reminds him of Pochettino.

Dawson said:

“I had a short spell with Mauricio at Spurs before I left, and yes, his thoroughness, his way of playing…

“That takes time. You’ve got to get the right players and the right blend – he’s doing that.

“He’s great to work with – his energy, his willingness to learn the league.

“I’m loving working with him.”

Have Forest finally found their man?

Any form of reasonable success at the City Ground has long escaped them – their last foray into the playoffs was back in 2011 whilst the club haven’t featured in the top-flight since 1999.

Lamouchi is their fourth manager since the start of the 2017 season having had Mark Warburton, Aitor Karanka and O’Neill all chance their arm in the east Midlands.

The last manager to enjoy a spell that was longer than just a year was Billy Davies between 2009 and 2011 – the man to give them that playoff season.

They’ve had 12 managers since then, including their current boss.

The Reds have been in desperate need of some sort of stability, and Dawson’s comments about the 47-year-old offers great encouragement considering the flack the club received following his peculiar appointment.

Ensuring he’s given time and that they continue this season’s run of form, Forest have every chance of a more successful campaign this season.

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Leeds United have moved into pole position in the race to sign Lazio striker Vedat Muriqi, as Hull City have reportedly pulled out of the fight to sign him.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Muriqi move

The Whites are yet to make any additions in the January transfer window, and although money is relatively tight, at least one new face is surely required given the injury crisis running through the squad.

Muriqi is one player who has been linked with a move to Elland Road, as Marcelo Bielsa looks to add more firepower to ease the burden on Patrick Bamford, who himself has missed time with ankle and hamstring issues this season.

The towering 6 foot 4 striker has scored 18 goals in just 37 caps for Kosovo, not to mention being compared to legendary attacker Robert Lewandowski, too.

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The Latest: Positive update emerges

According to Corriere dello Sport [via Sport Witness], Hull have dropped out of the race to sign Muriqi, heightening the chances of Leeds acquiring his signature.

It is claimed that the Whites ‘remain standing’ in the battle, with Championship side West Brom also showing an interest.

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The Verdict: Worth a gamble?

In truth, Muriqi has had a tough time of things at Lazio, failing to score or assist in 15 appearances in all competitions this season.

Despite those obvious struggles, the Kosovan’s international record shows what he is capable of, not to mention the aforementioned comparisons with the world-class Lewandowski.

He once produced a stunning display for his nation in a 5-3 defeat to England, scoring once and assisting the other two goals, winning three aerial duels and completing two dribbles, earning a team-high 9.11 match rating (Whoscored).

If Leeds managed to bring him in on loan this month, or potentially sign him permanently on the cheap, it would provide Bielsa with a much-needed extra option, filling the void left by Bamford and taking pressure off the young shoulders of Joe Gelhardt.

In other news, Leeds have also been linked with another signing – find out who it is here.

Flocking to Twitter, many Southampton fans have been left excited following a big update on the club’s plans to sign Chelsea striker and loanee Armando Broja permanently.

Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has seen the Albania international come on leaps and bounds since his temporary move to the south coast.

Over his 10 Premier League starts for Southampton, Broja has netted five goals whilst proving to be a consistent threat in the final third (WhoScored), drawing praise for his performances at St Mary’s.

This fine form has reportedly resulted in interest from Saints transfer chief Martin Semmens and the club to make his stay a permanent one, but they’re not the only side eyeing a move for the 20-year-old as a ‘string’ of prospective top-flight suitors also take note (Sky Sports).

In a big update, reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has shared news on the Saints’ plans as the January transfer window slowly draws to a close.

According to his sources, Southampton – seemingly backed by new owners Sport Republic and Serbian-born businessman Dragan Solak – are ‘expected to launch’ a £25m club-record bid to sign Broja before Monday’s transfer deadline. It is believed that the proposal will be ‘submitted soon’, as plenty of Saints fans flock to this update on Twitter.

Southampton fans buzzing…

Signalling a real statement of intent, it’s little wonder so many Southampton fans are buzzing that the club are willing to smash their transfer record in an effort to secure Broja.

The towering Albania international has been a revelation under Hasenhuttl, and tying him down indefinitely would come as a major boost.

Here’s how some Saints supporters reacted to the development:

“absolute scenes if this is true”

Credit: @RichardDyba

“CMOOOON”

Credit: @saintsjwp

“The most comforting thing about this is knowing we actually can spend that much on a player now”

Credit: @AniefiokEkp

“YOOOOOOO”

Credit: @_sfcjay

“If we pull this off, it would make my year and we are less than a month into it!”

Credit: @MattRayB

“25m on one player? We are coming for Europe”

Credit: @fletchsfc

“yes yes yes”

Credit: @summa_symonds

“The best thing about all this is that due to the recent takeover, we can actually spend this. My feeling is it’ll be £25-30m with a buyback of £50-70m dependent on performance. Go and get it done, lads!”

Credit: @Jim_Mack7

In other news: Southampton in pole position to sign ‘very exciting’ attacker as journalist shares news, find out more here.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, there has been a development in Tottenham Hotspur’s chase to sign Juventus forward Dejan Kulusevski ahead of the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Spurs in Kulusevski chase…

The Lilywhites and manager Antonio Conte have been linked with a swoop for the Sweden international over these past few months amid his lack of starts in Turin.

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There have been suggestions of contact from Tottenham as Juve are reportedly willing to offload their attacker next month.

This comes amid Spurs’ search for reinforcements in an effort to bolster Conte’s options as transfer chief Fabio Paratici apparently sets his sights on one of his former signings at Juve.

The Latest: Conte green lights move…

As per La Gazzetta, Tottenham’s managing director Paratici ‘could take’ Kulusevski to north London and he now has Conte’s ‘full esteem’ to make a move in January.

Meanwhile, it is claimed that the Old Lady are open to selling the 21-year-old, but from a starting point of €35 million-€40 million (£29.3m-£33.5m) – unwilling to negotiate any ‘poorly rewarding loans’ or other conditions.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Still young and arguably possessing bags of potential, Kulusevski is a promising attacker and can even operate as an advanced playmaker – gifting Conte an option through the middle as well as on the wing.

His versatility going forward is one incentive for Paratici to move, even despite Juve’s unwillingness to negotiate a temporary deal, and his Serie A numbers for ex-club Parma over 2019/2020 point to a pretty dangerous threat in the final third.

The Swede bagged a brilliant ten goals and eight assists over 33 starts that season whilst also completing an impressive average of 2.2 key passes per 90 (WhoScored).

By comparison to Tottenham’s squad this campaign under Conte, that’s more key passes than any Lilywhites player has managed so far.

Labelled a ‘phenomenon’ by football talent scout Jacek Kulig (Twitter), it is clear that Kulusevski can really devastate going forward when given the opportunity, with the only question being whether Paratici can win the race and give him a chance in the Premier League.

In other news: ‘Wow’, ‘Statement’…Tottenham pundit thrilled as Paratici eyes ‘big signing’, find out more here.