All posts by z3u9t.icu

Cristiano Ronaldo remains arguably the biggest name to make the move to Saudi Arabia, starting a trend in doing so. It could be said that he is part of the reason why the league has welcomed so much talent this summer, starting a domino effect.

With that, Ronaldo may have been hoping to benefit – with a whole host of stars potentially joining him at Al Nassr – as he looks to win his first league title at the second time of asking in Saudi Arabia.

That might not be so easy, however, as the club have been banned from registering new players by FIFA, according to trusted journalist Ben Jacobs.

Why were Al Nassr hit with a transfer ban?

As per Jacobs, the ban comes after the Saudi club failed to pay add-ons owed to Leicester City in a deal for Ahmed Musa, after the forward triggered the additional fee of £390k between 2018 and 2020. Despite the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling in the Premier League side’s favour.

Jacobs also reported that sources expect the ban to be lifted in the coming weeks if the payment is made promptly, which Al Nassr have assured they will.

So far this summer, Al Nassr have only welcomed one player with that being Marcelo Brozovic from Inter Milan. The Champions League finalist looks set to be the only addition for now, however, after the ban.

Given the fact that N’Golo Kante, Karim Benzema, Ruben Neves, Jota, Kalidou Koulibaly – the list could go on – have all joined other clubs in Saudi Arabia, you have to worry about Ronaldo’s title charge.

His side already lost out on the league title last season, finishing second behind Al-Ittihad, who have signed Kante, Benzema and Jota. So, not only will Ronaldo be without new teammates, but he’ll be up against a title rival with players still capable of playing in the Champions League.

It really does feel as though the former Manchester United man has had a nightmare few years.

How much is Cristiano Ronaldo paid per week?

Despite Al Nassr’s failure to pay Leicester City what they are reportedly owed, they reportedly shed out £3.6m per week to pay Ronaldo. An eye-watering sum, the football icon could pay the Foxes himself, and it would just be pocket change.

With that salary may still come the expectation of trophies, though, and after finishing second last season, the pressure will be on.

So far for the club, Ronaldo has scored 14 goals in 16 appearances, whilst also making two assists for at least one goal involvement a game. It’s the type of numbers that you’d expect from such a legendary player.

In his first full season, he will no doubt have his eye on the Golden Boot, even though he’ll be forced to compete with former Real Madrid teammate Benzema. As the duo battle it out, those tuning into the Saudi Pro League could get themselves quite the spectacle.

One thing that we do know for sure, however, is the fact that, as things stand, Ronaldo will be doing it without the addition of fresh faces. The forward will hope to see a resolution of the issue in the coming weeks, especially as it won’t be too long before the season gets underway in August with a whole host of new stars playing for rival clubs.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly keen to revive their interest in Roma star, Paulo Dybala, with the World Cup-winning gem potentially in line for an exit from the Italian outfit this summer.

What are the latest Tottenham transfer rumours?

According to Correire dello Sport – via Sports Witness – the Lilywhites, as well as both Chelsea and Manchester United, are believed to be following the 29-year-old 'with great attention', amid the uncertainty regarding his long-term future at the Stadio Olimpico.

As per the report, despite having only signed for the Serie A outfit on a free transfer from rivals Juventus last term, the 38-cap Argentina international could be on his way ahead of next season, with his current deal including a bargain €12m (£10m) release clause that can be triggered by foreign clubs.

That minimal fee has evidently caught the interest of the north Londoners who have long held an interest in the 5 foot 10 playmaker, having attempted to sign the one-time Palermo man back in the summer of 2019.

How good is Paulo Dybala?

Former Spurs boss Jose Mourinho – who is now in charge of the Rome giants – will no doubt be ruing the presence of that buy-out clause in Dybala's contract, with the experienced ace having established himself as a leading figure for I Giallorossi during his debut season at the club last time out.

The left-footed dynamo did have his struggles with injury during the 2022/23 campaign, although was still able to rack up 18 goals and eight assists in 38 games in all competitions, leading the charge to the Europa League final with five goals in 11 games in that continental competition.

That standout form led Roma legend Francesco Totti to hail the marksman as "special" as well as describing him as a "phenomenon", with the club evidently keen to ensure that their prize asset does not seek to secure a swift exit over the coming weeks.

As for Spurs, the signing of Dybala could represent a perfect deal for manager Ange Postecoglou, with the £116k-per-week ace said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities with the club's recent summer signing, James Maddison – according to FBref.

That likeness between the Argentine and Maddison – who contributed ten goals and nine assists in the Premier League last term – is apparent due to their creative brilliance, with Dybala ranking in the top 7% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for shot-creating actions, while the Englishman ranks in the top 13% in that regard.

In Serie A last term, Mourinho's main man notably created 12 big chances and averaged 2.1 key passes per game from his 25 league appearances as a sign of ability to provide quality service to the front line, with Maddison enjoying a remarkable similar record after also creating 12 big chances from his 30 league outings, while averaging 2.3 key passes per game.

Although Dybala has typically been deployed as a second striker of late, there may be a desire for Postecoglou to utilise his talents in an advanced midfield berth in his preferred 4-3-3 system, with the former Leicester City ace taking on that other playmaking role in the centre of the park.

To have two real dynamic weapons at his disposal would be a mouthwatering prospect for the ex-Celtic boss, with it seemingly hard to turn down the chance to land such a classy and experienced figure on the cheap.

Following a terrible 2022-23 campaign in which Liverpool failed to seriously challenge for any silverware and finished fifth in the Premier League, the Reds have conducted some shrewd transfer business early in the summer window.

Alexis Mac Allister is already on board and Dominik Szoboszlai looks set to follow, while Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone could be next to arrive at Anfield in time for pre-season.

Who is Liverpool target Manu Kone?

According to Ouest France, Liverpool are very interested in Kone and a move for the 22-year-old could even be wrapped up in the coming days.

Kone boasts plenty of experience of top-level football, having spent two seasons in Ligue 1 with Toulouse and the past two seasons as a regular for Gladbach in the Bundesliga.

Sky Sport Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg recently suggested Kone is valued at a reasonable €30m (£26m) by the German side, despite having two years to run on his contract.

Is Manu Kone a good option for Liverpool?

That valuation seems very small when you consider there are plenty of similarities between Kone and Brighton and Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo, who Chelsea are reportedly willing to pay £80m to sign.

Indeed, Kone completed a very similar number of passes to Caicedo last season (86.2% v 88.5%), as per FBref, while they won a similar number of tackles per 90 minutes (1.34 v 1.43) and recovered the ball at a similar rate (7.62 v 7.11 per 90).

Even when it comes to the more attacking metrics, there is also nothing between them as Kone scored 0.03 goals per 90 minutes and assisted the same number, which is exactly the same for Caicedo (one goal and one assist each in 2022-23).

Described as an "absolutely immense" player by football writer Josh Bunting, Kone ranks in the top 11% of all midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for possession won last season, as per The Analyst. Caicedo, for what it is worth, is in the top 12%.

There are still areas in which the France U21 international can improve, ranked as he is in the bottom 57% for interceptions among midfielders in Europe's top five leagues, as per FBref.

But at around a third of the cost of Caicedo, and with Gladbach seemingly prepared to let the player go if his valuation is met, Klopp could land himself a proven player to complete his midfield transformation.

Chelsea may already be well stocked at the back even after Kalidou Koulibaly's exit, but new head coach Mauricio Pochettino is no doubt eyeing a replacement before the summer transfer window closes.

Juventus centre-back Gleison Bremer has been strongly linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge, though Chelsea and Manchester United appear to now face fresh competition from fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

That's according to the Daily Mail, who suggests Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is hoping to bring in the Brazilian, meaning Chelsea must speed things up if they are indeed interested in the player.

Is Gleison Bremer a good choice for Chelsea?

Bremer only joined Juventus from Torino last year, having caught the eye across three seasons as a regular with their city rivals, especially in 2021-22 when being named Best Defender in Serie A.

As a full Brazil international and with four years still to run on his Juve contract, it is reported that it will take a bid of around £50m to tempt the Turin giants to cash in.

For those unaware of Bremer's style, FBref's player comparison tool provides a good indication. Based on their statistical profiles, Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk is rated as the eighth-most similar defender to the Juve star across Europe's top five leagues.

Bremer would be a long-term partner for Benoit Badiashile at Chelsea, but it is likely to be the more experienced Thiago Silva he links up with in the heart of defence next season should he join.

The international colleagues have similarities and differences, with the most notable being Bremer's ability to score goals, as reflected in the four he scored last season. That ranks him in the top 4% of all defenders across Europe's top five leagues, whereas Silva is in the bottom 16% (no goals).

That is further highlighted in the shots and touches in the box metrics (top 5% and top 8% for Bremer respectively; top 36% and top 34% for Silva), though the former AC Milan defender does come out on top for tackles won per 90 (0.99 v 0.71), as per FBref, and percentage of aerial duels won (71.2% v 62.4%).

While Bremer is 12 years younger than his compatriot, he can certainly hold his own. As former Torino team-mate Mergim Vojvoda explained last year: "[Bremer] is very strong, an animal. He is also fast, he is tall and has made a great leap in quality on a technical level, with the ball at his feet."

That is reflected in the stats, with Bremer completing 89.7% of his passes across all competitions last season – a very similar figure to Silva's 90.7% at Chelsea.

Ultimately, it appears the Brazilian duo can complement each other well in the short term, providing a springboard at the back for what Pochettino will hope is a successful first campaign in West London.

Aston Villa are serious contenders after making an enquiry to sign Villarreal midfielder Dani Parejo this summer, according to reports.

Is Dani Parejo leaving Villarreal?

Since joining from Valencia back in 2020, Parejo has been a regular feature of Quique Setien’s first-team, starting 37 out of the 38 La Liga games last season, but despite this, he’s facing an uncertain future and could be on the move during this window.

The Spaniard will be out of contract at the end of next season meaning that the coming weeks will present his side with their final big opportunity to cash in should they not want to lose him for free, and should he depart, he won’t be short of potential suitors being their second top-performing defensive player in 2022/23.

Unai Emery will already be very familiar with the 34-year-old having managed him for 145 matches during his time in his homeland, and it sounds like he’s eyeing a reunion with his former star by wanting to bring him to the Premier League.

Are Aston Villa signing Parejo?

According to El Periodico Mediterraneo (via Sport Witness), Aston Villa have “tested the ground” for Parejo and are firmly “in the picture” to sign him ahead of the new campaign.

Spanish reports previously claimed that Emery has personally requested to sign the midfielder, though Villarreal are believed to have offered him a new three-year deal which they are “hopeful” he will accept, so this will be a situation to closely watch over the summer.

Coud Parejo be a good addition for Emery?

Parejo is naturally a central midfielder but he’s much stronger in the attacking aspect of his game. He has been hailed a player who “oozes class” by journalist Josh Bunting, so if he was to sign on the dotted line, he would be a fantastic recruit to add a bit of composure and guile in the middle third.

The AC Talent client, who pockets £62k-per-week, posted seven goal contributions (four assists and three goals) in 37 La Liga appearances last season and recorded 144 crosses along with 113 shot-creating actions, which was higher than any of his fellow teammates, via FBRef.

Finally, Parejo is a versatile operator having been deployed in five various positions over the pitch, including everywhere across the centre of the park, which will no doubt be yet another attribute that the boss admires, and with him holding an existing connection to his target, there’s a strong chance that an agreement could be reached.

Southampton finally announced Russell Martin as their new manager on Wednesday and now look set to ramp up their preparations for the new Championship campaign.

Martin arrives from Swansea City with a reputation for playing free-flowing football, which supporters will now hope to see at St Mary's following their relegation from the Premier League.

The Saints released a number of players following the expiration of their contracts earlier this month, but they have yet to officially sign or sell anyone.

However, with speculation continuing to grow regarding the future of striker Nathan Tella, Martin's first port of call may well be bringing in an adequate replacement.

Three clubs have reportedly made their interest in Tella known, but the Saints may potentially have priced each of those out of the market by valuing him at £15m.

It may well be that the Saints' resolve breaks as the window goes on, though, and they could do with signing a replacement sooner rather than later.

According to the Sheffield Star, Sheffield Wednesday striker Josh Windass is one of those being eyed up by the Saints.

What would Josh Windass bring to Southampton?

The report suggests that with Windass now into the final year of his contract at Hillsborough, Southampton are ready to test the waters with an opening bid.

Wednesday are currently without a manager following Darren Moore's shock departure this week and face a second major setback should Windass move on.

The 29-year-old followed in his father Dean's footsteps last month when scoring the winning goal in a play-off final to fire Wednesday past Barnsley and back into the Championship, earning himself iconic status among Owls fans in the process.

Windass' antics off the pitch have seen him labelled a "crackpot" by former Rangers favourite Andy Little, but he also impressed on it during his time at Ibrox as he scored 13 goals in 33 appearances in his final Scottish Premiership campaign.

Moves to Wigan Athletic and Wednesday followed, and he has continued to show his quality across three-and-a-half years with the latter. Windass scored 12 goals last season and assisted another seven in 37 appearances as Wednesday ended their wait for a return to the Championship.

It would be difficult to argue the case of Windass – valued at £4m by Football Observatory – being an upgrade on Tella should the latter swap St Mary's for Turf Moor, where he scored 17 goals on loan last season.

However, Windass has the ability to both score and assist, as shown by his 0.66 goal involvements per 90 minutes in League One last season. That compares to 0.79 for Tella in the Championship, as per FBref.

Windass can also bring other qualities to Southampton, such as his ability to play off the striker or on the right, with his 3.58 crosses per 90 minutes an increase on Tella's 2.24.

There are similarities between the pair in terms of tackles won per 90 (0.47 for Tella compared to 0.40 for Windass) and interceptions (0.36 v 0.26).

Keeping hold of Tella would be the ideal scenario for Martin, but with rival clubs circling, it makes perfect sense for Southampton to kick off their summer spending with a move for a possible replacement in Windass.

Tottenham Hotspur have an "edge" in any deal to get James Maddison from Leicester City, claims insider Dean Jones.

The England international was a key part of the Foxes side that was relegated from the Premier League last season, but Spurs could hand him a lifeline.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news – James Maddison

The shock relegation of Leicester City has meant that the departure of some of their best players now looks incredibly likely, chief among them James Maddison.

The England international was one of the few bright sparks in what was otherwise a bleak season for the Midlands club, scoring ten goals and assisting a further nine in the league alone.

That kind of form has led to interest from a host of top clubs alongside Spurs, notably Newcastle United.

The expected price tag for the player Gareth Southgate once labelled as "world-class", is £60m, according to the reports.

What has Dean Jones said about James Maddison to Tottenham Hotspur?

Jones made it clear that Ange Postecoglou was keen on the player and that the club have an advantage with any transfer due to their connections with those negotiating the deal.

Speaking on the The Football Terrace's Done Deal Show, he said: "Tottenham have had an interest in James Madison for a long time, as we know. They've got their new manager in place now, and he's very much on board with the addition of James Madison. My personal understanding of it is that the people being used to do the deal have good connections with Tottenham, which could give them an edge in this conversation.

Jones gave an insight into the possible price, adding: "Now that's been backed up by a couple of people that I've spoken to in the last week. And they just feel that like Tottenham are in a very good position to go and get this done at £55m/£60m if they want to go and do it now."

Would James Maddison be a good signing for Tottenham Hotspur?

The former Norwich City man would be an excellent signing for the North London club if they want to return to the free-flowing attacking football that was so synonymous with the club in years past.

Granted, he was a part of the relegated Leicester City last season, but that relegation came despite Maddison's performances, not because of them.

According to WhoScored, the 26-year-old averaged an incredibly impressive rating of 7.24 across his 28 Premier League appearances this year, even when the surrounding team weren't reaching anywhere near those levels.

His underlying numbers help to demonstrate further that he has the capability to be plying his trade at a higher level.

FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, place the player in the top 6% for expected assists, the top 10% for actual assists, the top 12% for total shots and the top 13% for shot creating actions, all per 90.

The attacking "monster" – as once described by journalist Josh Bunting – doesn't hide away from the defensive side of the game either, as FBref also have him in the top 17% for tackles per 90.

If Spurs are to rediscover their footballing identity in the coming season, Maddison could be the player that helps them do it.

Leeds United reportedly see Daniel Farke as a "serious" candidate to take charge at Elland Road this summer, according to a fresh claim.

Who is favourite to take Leeds job?

The search to be the next Whites boss is ongoing currently, with the club working diligently to ensure that the correct appointment is made this time around.

It could be argued that all three of Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce were the wrong choices to sit in the Elland Road hot seat, and it has ultimately led to Leeds being relegated from the Premier League.

Since Allardyce's recent departure, endless names have been linked with the vacant Whites job, with Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard arguably at the front of the queue, along with the likes of Brendan Rodgers, Carlos Corberan and Scott Parker, to name a few.

Farke is also a name that has recently been thrown into the hat, however, with journalist Phil Hay name-checking Leeds' interest in him on Saturday, and a new update further suggests that their interest is genuine.

Could Farke be the next Whites manager?

According to Sport1, Farke is a "serious" option to become the Whites' new boss, with "loose" talks being held over a move to Elland Road, having parted ways with Borussia Monchengladbach recently.

The takeover of Leeds by 49ers Enterprises has happened at the same time, suggesting they see Farke as more of a strong appointment that the previous owners, although the timing could simply be coincidence.

The former Norwich City manager could be a really shrewd choice as manager by the Whites, considering he has guided the Canaries to two title-winning seasons in the Championship in the past, showing that he is an expert at getting out of arguably one of the most competitive leagues in Europe.

It is imperative that Leeds make a fast return to the Premier League and don't allow years of good work to completely go to waste in no time at all, and Farke is a strong choice for that reason, compared to the likes of Gerrard and Corberan, who haven't achieved as much to date.

It feels like one of the most pivotal summers at Leeds in many years, in terms of picking the right manager and making key signings to take the team forward – in the 46-year-old Farke, the Whites have a reliable choice who could jump at the chance to return to English football.

An update has emerged on Burnley and their plans to bolster their defensive options ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Cody Drameh to Burnley?

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Clarets are in the race to land Leeds United full-back Cody Drameh and are plotting talks with the Yorkshire-based team over a deal for the ace.

Luton Town, who have also been promoted to the Premier League ahead of next season, are set to compete for the right-back's signature after he spent the second half of the 2022/23 campaign on loan at Kenilworth Road.

"Burnley and Luton are prepared to open talks over the permanent transfer of Cody Drameh in the coming days," he tweeted.

However, the reporter has added that the Whites are hoping to convince the starlet to remain at Elland Road next term after they appoint their new head coach.

How did Cody Drameh perform this season?

The 21-year-old dynamo enjoyed a terrific campaign with the Hatters in the Championship and his performances for Rob Edwards suggest that he would be a dream heir to the departing Matthew Lowton.

It has already been confirmed that the veteran defender is leaving Turf Moor on a free transfer this summer after eight years at the club and Drameh could come in as an ideal replacement.

Lowton made eight appearances in the second tier during the 2022/23 season and averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.72.

The 33-year-old offered little in the way of creativity as he made 0.5 key passes per game and, therefore, could have been a liability to the side from an attacking perspective in the top-flight due to his lack of quality in possession.

Whereas, Drameh, who averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.09 across 16 outings in the division, created 1.6 chances per match for Luton and showcased his ability to burst forward from right-back to open up the opposition and provide his teammates with opportunities to score in the final third.

The young full-back, who was once hailed as a "Duracell bunny" by former Cardiff City boss Steve Morison, also displayed his defensive quality as he made 4.2 tackles and interceptions per game and won 55% of his duels in the Championship.

Lowton, meanwhile, did not offer as much protection to his team at the back.

The Englishman made 2.5 tackles and interceptions per match and won 54% of his battles, which shows that he did not make as many interventions for his team as Drameh did for his and, therefore, did not stop as many opposition attacks from leading to chances.

These statistics suggest that the £4.4k-per-week talent could come in as a dream heir to the departing Burnley veteran as the 21-year-old is 12 years younger and his form in 22/23 indicates that the ace would offer more quality at both ends of the pitch.

Leeds United were relegated from the Premier League on Sunday afternoon as they fell to a disappointing 4-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, on a day when they simply had to win.

Players at Elland Road were unsurprisingly booed off on a shocking end to a dreadful campaign, with Sam Allardyce's appointment doing little to stem the run of terrible results and schoolboy defending, as the Yorkshire outfit shipped 11 goals in just four games under the experienced Englishman.

While it will be difficult for Leeds fans to pick out any positives from a nightmare day at Elland Road, the performance of Adam Forshaw was a promising one on what was likely to be his final appearance at the club.

How did Forshaw play against Tottenham Hotspur?

The 31-year-old, who is out of contract next month, has spent much of the campaign sidelined through injury but showed his quality on a day when many Leeds players simply failed to show up.

As per Sofascore, the Englishman would earn a solid 7/10 rating for his performance, which was the joint-best of any Leeds player to feature in the game, with Georginio Rutter also earning a 7/10 from the bench after contributing the assist for Jack Harrison's second half goal.

The £20k-per-week asset saw plenty of the ball on Sunday afternoon, registering 93 touches and completing 54/62 passes, which was a dramatic increase on his season average of 18.4 passes per game.

The former Middlesbrough man also contributed four key passes, which again is a significant increase on his season average of 0.7 key passes per game, and suggests that he was the chief creator on Sunday afternoon from midfield.

He could hardly be blamed for Leeds' defensive woes against an inspired Harry Kane, as he also contributed two tackles and one interception, which suggests that he was one of few players to actually do their job on the final day.

It was no surprise therefore that during BT Sport's coverage of the game, Gary McAllister described him as Leeds' "best player" and suggested that he was the only one who had "stood up" for the Yorkshire outfit in the first half.

While Leeds' multi-million signings showed little to no fight, Forshaw was one who put his all into the game, and it may just make the incoming manager consider whether he is worth a new short-term deal this summer, as he can leave Elland Road tonight with his head held high.