All posts by z3u9t.icu

There has been some cause for concern after Ryan Kent was not spotted at Auchenhowie as Glasgow Rangers returned to pre-season training.

The Lowdown: Gers return to training

The Gers enjoyed a magnificent term last time out, winning the Premiership for the first time in 10 years without losing a single game in the competition (thefishy.co.uk).

The Ibrox outfit’s next campaign will kick off in July as they enter the Champions League at the third qualifying round.

A potentially gruelling campaign fighting on multiple fronts awaits them if they can progress into the group stages, so they will need every player at Steven Gerrard’s disposal fit and firing.

The Latest: No Kent

The Gers have taken to Twitter to share photos and clips of their players going through their training routines as they prepare for an important season.

However, Kent has not been seen, and some fans have even asked the club why that is (rangersnews.uk).

The Verdict: Stay calm

Of course, with Kent being one of the prevalent faces for the 55-time Scottish champions, many would have expected there to be some focus on him from the club’s PR team.

After all, the £12.6m-valued 24-year-old (Transfermarkt) has not been away on international duty with England, so there are only a couple of reasons why he wouldn’t be present – either he is injured/dealing with personal matters, or is sorting out a transfer elsewhere.

However, there has been no indication that either scenario is currently unfolding, and perhaps it is simply the not knowing which is worrying Gers fans.

Gerrard will be heavily relying on Kent this term as the Gers go off in search of an exciting campaign in Europe’s elite club competition, so hopefully this is nothing more than a coincidence.

In other news, one pundit is shocked at this Alfredo Morelos claim.

A number of Liverpool supporters have been reacting with glee to a positive injury update regarding Harvey Elliott.

The Reds picked up a crucial 1-0 win at home to Aston Villa on Saturday, as they stayed one point behind Premier League leaders Manchester City. Jurgen Klopp’s men find themselves in a superb run of form at the moment but one player they are doing it without is Elliott.

[freshpress-quiz id=“375258″]

The 18-year-old has been absent since the middle of September after suffering a broken ankle in the 3-0 victory away to Leeds United.

According to The Irish Mirror [via Anfield Watch on Twitter], however, Elliott is nearing a shock quickfire return to action, having excelled in his recovery.

The hope is that the teenager will feature early in 2022 – a January comeback is mooted in the report – as he continues to work hard on the training pitch.

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Liverpool fans hail Elliott injury update

These Liverpool fans showed their happiness at the news on Twitter, with the teenager having excelled in the early weeks of the season prior to his unfortunate injury setback.

“I can’t believe he has healed this fast, this is amazing”

Credit: @_MrChase

“Starboy”

Credit: @Maxlb77

“Genuinely happy for this lad”

Credit: @Nimz44

“SIUUUUUUUUUUUU”

Credit: @AnfieldPyro

“I can’t wait”

Credit: @Msquared7_

“I’M SO EXCITED”

Credit: @robertorebelo_

In other news, some Liverpool fans have been reacting to an exciting transfer rumour. Read more here.

Newcastle United’s January transfer window proved to be an enormous lift for Eddie Howe’s side, and it was no surprise to see the club finally pick up the kind of form needed to escape from the Premier League’s relegation clutches.

The likes of Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood added some much-needed battle-hardened top-flight experience, while Bruno Guimaraes came in from Lyon having garnered a real reputation as a bona-fide star in French football.

But while a number of the Magpies’ January signings have played their part in leading the Tyneside club out of trouble, they may look back a little ruefully at one name they didn’t manage to sign: Luis Diaz.

According to A Bola (via Sport Witness), the Magpies were one of the clubs interested in signing the Colombia international in the January window before it was later claimed that the Howe’s side had actually sent scouts to watch Porto’s 1-0 win over SC Braga to see the 24-year-old in action – the winger would end up scoring the winner.

Despite seeing him shine in person and having had interest in him for a number of months, perhaps even longer, Newcastle opted not to act on it, and instead watched Spurs, then Liverpool make big-money bids for him towards the closing stages of January.

In the end, it was Jurgen Klopp’s side who came out victorious in the race to sign him, snapping him up for a reported fee of £37.5m – just slightly more than the initial amount they paid to sign Guimaraes.

And when you look at how Diaz has performed this season, both for Porto and now for Liverpool, not getting him in January seems like a real missed opportunity.

The 31-cap Colombia international was in scintillating form for his former side Porto this season, registering a very impressive 16 goals and six assists in only 29 appearances for the Liga NOS giants.

Following the switch to Anfield, Diaz has netted a further three goals and provided one assist, including nodding across for Sadio Mane in the recent Champions League victory over Benfica in the quarter-finals.

Now valued at £60m by CIES, the 5 foot 10 star has been dubbed a “livewire” and as being “phenomenal” by Portuguese football expert Alex Goncalves

Missing out on Diaz is made all the more difficult given how reports have recently emerged saying Newcastle would be willing to let one of their star men and fellow wide-man Allan Saint-Maximin leave in the summer transfer window.

If that is to be the case, then bringing in Diaz would have off-set that potential departure considerably.

The man with 64 career goals to his name would have been an outstanding signing for the Magpies had they pushed for him before Liverpool came in.

AND in other news, Wood upgrade: PIF will be having NUFC nightmares after missing out on £20m “cult hero”…

Many Everton fans have been left buzzing over some news that has emerged involving their Bramley-Moore Dock stadium project.

As per the official website of the Goodison Park faithful, Dan Meis, who is the concept architect for the new stadium, will now continue his association with the project as he takes up a new guardianship role.

Meis’ initial role in the project came to a natural end in the summer of 2020 as the scheme moved from the concept to technical phases.

Working under the Merseyside club’s Stadium Development Director Colin Chong and alongside the project leads from Laing O’Rourke and BDP Pattern, his new role will involve reviewing the technical construction specifications and engaging the compliance team ahead of each stage of development, so that the original design concept remains in place when the stadium is being built.

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Of course, there are exciting times ahead for the Toffees supporters, and Meis’ commitment to the project has certainly left them very pleased.

Everton fans on Meis return

These Blues buzzed as Meis’ return was revealed on Twitter, with one EFC fan saying that they are ‘delighted’ and another even going as far as to claim that it is ‘excellent news’:

“Fantastic news”

Credit: @DirtyDigne

“Delighted to hear this. Great to have you back on board”

Credit: @EvertonChicago

“Massive respect for taking this decision. Well in Dan”

Credit: @wazzaevo

“Cannot like this enough”

Credit: @dalermorgan

“Fantastic, welcome back Dan”

Credit: @stevietoffee

“Excellent news”

Credit: @StacyMu78345188

In other news, find out what club news has Evertonians fuming here!

Manchester United are currently in the middle of trying to appoint their new manager to take over at Old Trafford this summer, however, it hasn’t stopped the transfer interest from continuing with another player potentially set to join the club this summer.

What’s the word?

Journalist and transfer insider, Dean Jones, claims that Pau Torres is on the list of players Manchester United would like to sign this summer.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “Pau Torres has always remained on the list, he just hasn’t been as talked about as some others in recent times, but they’ve always wanted him to be considered.”

Maguire upgrade

It has been no secret that Harry Maguire has come under a lot of criticism since he joined Man United, and with a new manager coming into the club this summer, it might be the perfect opportunity to move on the defender and bring in a younger centre-back.

According to Squawka, when you compare Torres to the Red Devils’ captain, the Villareal player has made more ball recoveries, completed more passes, won more ground duels and kept a higher number clean sheets this season. That’s all on top of the Spaniard scoring three more goals.

The £45m-rated monster who was hailed “brutal” by Santi Cazorla, is also the second most successful dribbler and is seventh for pass completion in La Liga this season, which is incredibly impressive when you consider he is amongst the likes of Toni Kroos and Vinicius Junior in La Liga.

When you consider his statistics compared to Maguire, signing the player would clearly be an upgrade for the Man United backline and could have a great impact on the improvement needed in the squad to get the club back to competing for and winning trophies.

Torres is currently excelling in Europe too this season, with Villareal progressing to the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich, beating the German giants 1-0 in the first leg with a huge chance of reaching their first semi-final in the competition since 2006.

United are not currently looking likely to qualify for the Champions League following their defeat to Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday, with Tottenham Hotspur moving six points clear of the Red Devils, which could have an impact on the players they can attract this summer, including Torres.

In other news: Man United suffer big setback in ten Hag chase, supporters will be fuming

Frank McAvennie has been left fuming at what he has now heard from Newcastle United’s recent takeover case.

The Lowdown: Newcastle threatened

As cited by The Daily Telegraph, the St. James’ Park faithful were threatened with expulsion from the Premier League during the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) hearing on Wednesday.

This is one of two legal battles Mike Ashley is fighting the top flight over, as the separate arbitration case between the two parties over the stalled takeover deal with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium is now set to take place on January 3rd.

The Latest: McAvennie on threat

Speaking to Football Insider, former Celtic and West Ham United striker McAvennie, 61, has now expressed his fume at the division after hearing about their threat to the North East club:

“It’s ridiculous they would say that.

“Why would they clamp down that hard on that? They can’t just kick clubs out of the league. They can’t do that.

“I’m sure they can threaten it but there is so much legality in kicking someone out. I don’t know if they can.

“I’m glad it sounds like this will all be done soon because the Newcastle fans need answers.

“We need to know what happened and why this has taken so long. It’s a disgrace from the Premier League.”

The Verdict: Pressure mounting

For the Premier League to threaten the Tyneside outfit with expulsion suggests that the pressure is now mounting on them as the takeover saga develops.

It is a threat that was and is certainly not needed going into the arbitration process next year, as the two parties need to come to an agreement over the direction of where the bid is likely to be heading.

Nonetheless, if the top flight were to go through with their threat, then there would no doubt be yet another legal battle brewing between them and the Magpies, as tensions are seemingly never going to stop rising.

In other news, find out what ‘positive news’ on arbitration emerged here!

Leicester City have been linked with a shock move for Bologna defender Takehiro Tomiyasu as manager Brendan Rodgers looks to bolster his defensive options.

What’s the story?

The Japan international has been the subject of heavy interest from fellow Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur throughout the summer, but the Foxes may now attempt to hijack the deal following Wesley Fofana’s injury, according to The Telegraph.

Previous reports have claimed Bologna are set to demand  €25 million (£21.5m) for Tomiyasu, who is capable of playing at either centre-back or right-back.

Jon Rudkin must swoop

Tomiyasu has established himself as one of Serie A’s most promising young defenders since arriving from Belgium outfit Sint-Truidense back in 2019, making 63 appearances for Sinisa Mihajlovic’s side in all competitions.

His impressive performances have caught the eye of several admirers, including current teammate Mitchell Dijks. The Dutch full-back dubbed his colleague a “warrior” in a previous press conference, and it’s easy to understand why.

As per WhoScored, Tomiyasu recorded an average of 1.5 tackles per league game last term, 1.7 interceptions and 0.6 blocks, placing him in the top three players at his club who made over three outings.

The youngster recently shone for his nation at the Tokyo Olympics in his homeland too and could be set to take the next step in his career over the coming weeks.

Leicester were believed to be in the market for a new central defender already following Wes Morgan’s retirement, but Fofana’s fractured fibula has now accelerated their search.

Tomiyasu’s versatility could be a huge bonus for the Foxes, making him an extremely attractive option for Rodgers. The Northern Irish tactician is currently without both James Justin and Timothy Castagne through fitness issues of their own, meaning the Asian defender could plug multiple gaps across the backline.

It remains to be seen whether director of football Jon Rudkin follows up his reported interest with a formal offer, but if the transfer budget allows, it’s certainly a move he should consider given the player’s flexibility, quality and potential.

And, in other news…Imagine him and Daka: Rudkin must sanction LCFC swoop for “intelligent” £30m magician

Steven Gerrard nearly selected Ashley Young as a number 10 for his first game in charge at Aston Villa, The Athletic’s Gregg Evans has revealed. 

The 36-year-old had apparently impressed the new boss in the Bodymoor Heath training sessions leading up to the clash with Brighton.

Gerrard considered rewarding him with a start in the attacking midfield role, but ended up selecting Jacob Ramsey, Marvelous Nakamba and John McGinn as a trio instead. Emiliano Buendia slotted in on the right wing.

Could Young get more minutes in an unfamiliar role?

Young has made seven Premier League appearances since he returned to the club in the summer, three of them starts.

Deploying him as a number 10 would certainly have raised eyebrows, given that over the course of his 628-game senior career, the 36-year-old has only played in that role four times, each of those coming as far back as the 2010/11 season.

Nevertheless, Young will hope to make himself impossible to overlook for the trip to Crystal Palace next Saturday.

Fan feed Villa Report relayed Evans’ revelation, and here’s what some supporters made of it, with a largely negative reaction and a couple of responses drawing unflattering comparisons with Steve Bruce, who was much-maligned during his reign as Villa manager.

These Villa fans baffled by Gerrard’s consideration of Young at number 10

“Had to check this wasn’t a fake account”

Credit: @M10Packed

“What in the Steve Bruce is this?”

Credit: @lukewoodyy

“Good lord, Stevie G or Steve Bruce?”

Credit: @billazor

“Blimey”

Credit: @douglasluiz

“This is not a tweet I thought I would be seeing in 2021”

Credit: @WeDoingAVilla

“Bruh no thanks”

Credit: @Stefan__19

In other news, Gerrard’s latest transfer target has emerged

West Ham United are set to reignite their interest in Sparta Prague gem Adam Hlozek this January…

What’s the word?

That’s according to 90min journalist Toby Cudworth, who delivered a fresh update on the situation to social media this week.

“#WHUFC want to sign Adam Hlozek in January and also a centre-back to cover the injured Ogbonna,” he tweeted.

“Hlozek could be an initial loan with conditions to make an obligatory purchase, similar to Soucek’s 2020 deal. Kretinsky could be key.”

In an accompanying article, it’s claimed that the Irons are preparing a loan-to-buy agreement to sign the 19-year-old forward in the winter transfer window, which will be a similar type of deal used to sign Tomas Soucek in 2020.

The Hammers now have Sparta Prague co-owner Daniel Kretinsky on their board following his investment this month, so that is expected to stand them in good stead when negotiating a deal both clubs will be happy with.

Imagine him and Antonio

The Czech Republic international can play upfront – a position that manager David Moyes really does need to bolster – but he has predominantly been deployed on the flanks until this season.

Hlozek has provided four goals and eight assists in 20 appearances this season, all coming in a central role. It builds on last season’s tally of 15 goals and nine assists, where he averaged a direct contribution every 75.9 minutes, as per Transfermarkt.

[snack-amp-story url = “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-west-ham-news-transfer-updates-gsb-kretinsky-moyes” title=”Read the latest West Ham news, transfer updates and much, much more!”]

Michail Antonio has had his fair share of injury woes over the years and at 31, you can’t expect that to improve in the future. Moyes has been left with just one senior option in the centre-forward position for nearly two years now, so a new frontman is certainly a priority in 2022.

The 6 foot 2 dynamo, valued at £15.3m by Transfermarkt, is a hugely encouraging long-term prospect and one that should leave many around the London Stadium buzzing with delight.

Pavel Paska, who is the agent of both Hlozek and Tomas Soucek, believes his client is an “extraordinary talent” who “has everything an attacker needs,” whilst scout Jacek Kulig has described Hlozek as “an incredible talent” and Czech’s best talent since the emergence of Tomas Rosicky.

Just imagine him alongside Antonio or him providing the perfect foil for the 31-year-old talisman as the season goes on.

On this evidence, he’d be a signing that would leave the fanbase absolutely buzzing, especially given the success stories of Soucek and Vladimir Coufal and the recent involvement of Kretinksy, who should help them tenfold in any likely deal.

AND in other news, West Ham receive Declan Rice fitness boost ahead of Wolves clash…

Part of Crystal Palace’s transfer strategy this summer will include bringing in a couple of players on loan, The Athletic’s Matt Woosnam has revealed.

Palace recently secured the services of Marc Guehi from Chelsea and it looks like they could turn to the west London club once again as they aim to bolster their squad further.

According to The Athletic, there has been persistent interest in midfielder Conor Gallagher and Palace are now attempting to bring in the 21-year-old in what would likely be a loan deal.

Speaking to FFC about Palace’s summer, Woosnam said:

“In terms of who they actually get, I would expect there to be at least one loan, maybe two.

“They always seem to sort of take that option up of bringing someone in on loan. It’s a bit more flexible than buying them.”

From Gallagher’s perspective, joining a side like Palace makes a lot of sense.

Last season, the England U21 international played a lot of football during his loan spell with West Brom. In total, he made 32 appearances, scoring two goals in the process.

After having a good taste of Premier League football, Gallagher will surely want to get out again and play rather than settle for Chelsea’s bench, which would be the likely scenario given Thomas Tuchel already has the likes of N’Golo Kante and Jorginho.