Tag Futebol

After failing to secure promotion to the Premier League, there are doubts about the future of Middlesbrough striker Chuba Akpom according to a report from Football League World.

What is Chuba Akpom's situation at Middlesbrough?

Akpom was the surprise package of the Championship season after being reintegrated into the fold at Boro. Originally the belief was the Englishman would leave after a loan spell to Greek side PAOK Salonika the previous season.

However, injuries and depth issues meant that then-manager Chris Wilder turned to Akpom to lead the line, and the 28-year-old never looked back, especially following the arrival of former Manchester United assistant manager Michael Carrick.

The forward scored 28 goals and assisted two in 40 games in the division, with 24 coming under his new manager, as Middlesbrough finished in fourth place. It earned Akpom a sport in the Championship Team of the Season, whilst he also won both the Golden Boot and Championship Player of the Season.

Despite his incredible form under Carrick, it wasn't enough to fire the club to promotion, with Boro experiencing play-off heartbreak at the hands of Coventry City, losing 2-1 across two legs.

Midway through the season, the former Arsenal man was the subject of interest from a number of clubs including Everton, Southampton and Crystal Palace, according to the Daily Mail, however, the northeast outfit exercised the one-year extension clause in the player's contract, taking his current deal to the summer of 2024.

Will Chuba Akpom leave Middlesborough this summer?

Football League World reports that the Boro striker will be 'gettable' this summer when it comes to a transfer as the club will not want to risk losing the player for free following the expiry of his contract next summer.

Due to missing out on promotion, it is reported that Middlesbrough will have to sell players this summer in order to fund Carrick's transfers this summer, much like their situation from the previous summer, which resulted in the sales of Marcus Tavernier to Bournemouth and Djed Spence to Tottenham Hotspur.

According to Alan Nixon on Patreon, the contract extension that was triggered in January does very little to secure the striker's long-term future at Boro, with the Championship side set to demand a fee of £15m, to part ways with their Player of the Season, who was hailed as "remarkable" by journalist Oluwashina Okeleji for his domestic exploits this term.

If Carrick and co were to lose the former Arsenal youngster, then it would certainly be a massive blow to their chances of going one better next season. Of course, his goals would leave behind a major void but as Boro's highest-rated player, per WhoScored figures, his influence right across the frontline will be felt, having also ranked second for dribbles per game and fifth for key passes per game too.

It is expected that the majority of clubs that held an interest in the 28-year-old will return this summer, and Akpom may well get his chance at the Premier League level for the first time in his career.

Liverpool have already held talks with the representatives of the young French midfielder Manu Kone ahead of the summer window opening.

How much does Manu Kone earn?

Liverpool's midfield has been an area which has come under fire this season with the Reds taking a while to find their stride in the Premier League.

Their inability to hit the ground running as they have done so in recent seasons gone by has meant Jurgen Klopp's men will have to settle for playing in Europe's second-string competition.

This summer will see a number of household names from Anfield depart with the likes of Roberto Firmino and James Milner all leaving the club.

Meaning, as well as a need to provide the manager with more quality in the middle of the park, there are also holes in the squad which will need to be replaced.

It seems as if the Reds could be set to see a new arrival in midfield come through the gates at Anfield over the coming weeks with reports suggesting a deal for Brighton & Hove Albion's Alexis Mac Allister is close to completion.

However, it does not seem as if they will settle for just the arrival of the World Cup-winning Argentine with talks reportedly ongoing over the £5k-per-week Kone.

Indeed, speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has claimed the Frenchman's representatives have been in contact with Liverpool over a potential move:

(4:50) " Liverpool had conversations with the agents of Manu Kone recently, so there was a direct contact between Manu Kone's camp and Liverpool.

"And the expectation is for the price tag to be around €35m-€40m (£30m-£34m) so could be €35m with some add-ons. This is the feeling of sources close to the negotiation and this is why Liverpool are very well-informed."

Who is Manu Kone?

Although Kone is still just 22 years old, the Frenchman has established himself in the Bundesliga as a regular starter for Borussia Monchengladbach.

This season alone, Kone has racked up 30 appearances in the Bundesliga in which he started every game he was available (via Transfermarkt).

Although the midfielder still has two years remaining on his current deal with the German outfit, it seems as if his time could be coming to an end at Gladbach.

Indeed, Liverpool are not the only side who have been credited with an interest in the Frenchman with the likes of Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain believed to be informed on his situation.

This is a midfielder who ranks in the top fourth percentile for successful take-ons over the last year and could provide a promising partnership alongside Mac Allister if they are both to arrive.

Both players have age on their side meaning they could form a partnership for years to come with Mac Allister's attacking prowess balancing well against Kone's defensive ability (via Fbref).

Given the transfer window has not even opened yet, this is certainly a promising opening week of the off-season for the Reds.

Liverpool are keen on completing a deal to bring Paris Saint-Germain defender El Chadaille Bitshiabu to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is El Chadaille Bitshiabu?

The Frenchman is an academy graduate at the Parc des Princes having worked his way up through the various youth ranks to eventually get promoted to the first-team last summer, and he’s already made 16 senior appearances so far this season.

However, the 17-year-old’s contract is set to expire at the end of next season meaning that the upcoming window will be Christophe Galtier’s side’s final big opportunity to cash in should they not want to extend his stay further.

Top-flight rivals Leeds United and Fulham have both already been credited with an interest in the centre-back, but the teenager has since caught the eye of two more potential suitors in the division, including Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

According to Le10 Sport (via Empire Of The Kop), Liverpool are “interested” in securing the services of Bitshiabu ahead of the 2023/24 term. The Merseyside outfit, alongside Manchester United, have also now joined the race, with the duo individually expressing a “strong” admiration in “recent days”.

Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly yet made “no decision” regarding his future in Ligue 1, but the fact that he’s recently changed his agent to Jorge Mendes and Gestifute could give the Reds an advantage with Fabinho, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez also represented by the same company.

Where would Bitshiabu fit in at Liverpool?

Football Insider have reported that Liverpool are open to offers for Joel Matip and Nat Phillips this summer so should one or both of the pair depart, Klopp will need backline reinforcements before the new season kicks off, and that's exactly where Bitshiabu would slot in.

The 6 foot 5 colossus has won 70 per cent of his tackles so far this campaign and has a 91.6% league pass success rate so is extremely comfortable and composed both on the ball and off it, but can also use his height to his advantage at the opposite end of the pitch.

Bitshiabu, who has the versatility to operate at left-back alongside his natural centre-back position, has been hailed a "huge talent" by football scout Jacek Kulig and he wouldn't be a massive earner to have on the books as he only currently pockets £8.9k-per-week, so he would be a relatively cheap and exciting prospect for the long-term future at Anfield.

Chelsea could finally find a solution to their goalkeeping conundrum by issuing a transfer swoop for Aston Villa shot-stopper Emiliano Martinez.

Having signed for the Villans for £17m in 2020 after years of servitude as an understudy at Arsenal, Martinez has blossomed into one of the Premier League's finest between the sticks, with no small part played on the international stage.

Indeed, Martinez's heroics at the 2019 Copa America won Argentina their first piece of silverware for 18 years, with the 30-year-old the "hero" – as hailed by talkSPORT's David Preece – against the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup a year later before going on to save Kingsley Coman's penalty in the finale shootout to steer his nation towards the pinnacle of footballing triumph.

He has jumped levels above the expectations held in front of him upon his switch to the Midlands three years ago, and Argentinian journalist Gaston Edul is now reporting that the titan's time at Villa Park is set to come to an end, and he is "likely to change clubs in June".

Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be in pole position ahead of the summer market, though Chelsea and Manchester United are on Spurs' heels as the Premier League trio consider their options.

Should Chelsea sign Emiliano Martinez?

Martinez, receiving the honour of FIFA Best Men's Goalkeeper 2022, has recorded an average Sofascore match rating of 7.05 in the English top-flight this term, keeping 11 clean sheets from 33 matches and making 90 saves at a success rate of 72%.

Chelsea's goalkeeping fortunes have been inconsistent over the past several years, with world-record £71.6m signing Kepa Arrizabalaga fluctuating from the No. 1 spot during his time at Stamford Bridge and Edouard Mendy – so important during the Champions League-winning 2020/21 campaign – never quite the same after that standout year having now been restricted to a peripheral role at Stamford Bridge.

Such woes will undoubtedly have Blues fans harking back to a time when Thibaut Courtois dominated at the foot of the pitch with his commanding and imperious demeanour.

The Belgian made 154 appearances for the west London giants and kept 58 clean sheets, winning two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and the League Cup, since going on to bask in more illustrious success in Spain.

The £120k-per-week Martinez, who was once hailed as "outstanding" by Jack Grealish, ranks among the top 1% of positional peers for crosses stopped per 90, as per analysis site FBref, which compares the Villa ace to the Los Blancos phenom, who himself ranks among the top 9% of peers for crosses stopped per 90 and the top 1% for save percentage, illustrating his superlative shot-stopping nature.

While Martinez does not boast the same admirable save percentage as the Belgian, he is a "monster" of a player – as described by reporter Gregg Evans – and could bring a commanding aura to instil a winning mentality at Stamford Bridge compared to their current options.

His exploits over the past few years are evidence that he may well be "the best goalkeeper in the world", in the words of former Lions striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, and Chelsea would be wise to swoop.

Rangers star Ryan Kent is now in talks with Burnley over a free summer move, according to a report by Ibrox News.

Who could leave Rangers this summer?

The Glasgow giants, as things stand, could see a plethora of both first team and fringe players leave the club very soon as their contracts expire in May. Indeed, Kent, Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Jack, Filip Helander, Scott Arfield, Steven Davis, Allan McGregor and Kieran Wright are all out of contract just next month (Transfermarkt).

As such, Gers supporters could be about to witness a real year of change in their attempts to keep pace with Old Firm rivals Celtic. Decisions have apparently already been made on a select few, with defender Helander reliably tipped to leave after an injury-ridden season.

Meanwhile, reports surround the likes of Morelos and Kent, with the latter attracting interest from major clubs south of the border. The 26-year-old, who has a market value of £9.7 million according to Transfermarkt, is set to leave Rangers for nothing as things stand with sides looking to take advantage.

One of them is Championship high-flyers Burnley, who have just been promoted back to the Premier League at the first time of asking under the guidance of Man City legend Vincent Kompany.

According to a report by Ibrox News, Kent and his entourage have held discussions with the Clarets this week in an attempt to seal a Bosman move. Burnley have apparently made 'the first move' with talks now 'underway' with the midfielder.

An Ibrox 'source' told the outlet that Burnley negotiations have 'already commenced' with Kent and his representatives as Kompany looks to reinforce his squad ahead of next campaign.

New Kent contract talks appear to have resulted in nothing as things stand, opening the door for interested sides like Burnley to make an approach.

Potential Gers blow

Losing the Englishman would be an undoubted blow for the Gers considering just how important he is in the final third for Beale.

According to WhoScored, no Rangers player has completed more successful take-ons per 90 than Kent, who also ranks in their top three for key passes made.

Kent's tally of 11 goal contributions in the Scottish Premiership alone demonstrate his status as a key, key player – with only Borna Barisic registering more assists than the winger this season (WhoScored).

Not even acquiring a transfer fee for his services would surely leave a sour taste, yet according to this latest update, it appears to be heading in that direction.

Tottenham Hotspur's season has been a miserable one, which once again is destined to end without any silverware. This is a run that now extends back over nearly 15 years, and one which will have Daniel Levy furious.

Many seek to point their fingers at the CEO for a mentality issue that prevents the club from hunting trophies, which has likely resulted in a few more expensive blunders in recent years. This is not reserved to just players either, as the decisions to appoint Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte have both fallen flat too.

Without an identity and desperate to at the very least see some good football return to north London, this summer marks a huge potential turning point should the 61-year-old businessman get it right.

Whilst his first port of call might be to secure a manager, he will want to ensure that the playing staff retains its top-quality assets in order to maintain some appeal to convince top coaches to join.

With Harry Kane constantly linked with a move away, he is the standout name they will want to keep ahold of.

However, this is somewhat out of their control, as if a big enough bid comes in, or the legendary marksman starts to push for a move himself, the Lilywhites could be rendered powerless.

Therefore, they should perhaps focus on something they can control that would keep quality levels up, like purchasing Dejan Kulusevski permanently once his loan ends this summer.

How much will Dejan Kulusevski cost?

Although it may well seem like the Sweden international is already a permanent figure for Spurs, that is far from the case. The 22-year-old only joined on a temporary basis for a year and a half back in January of 2022, and this summer marks the ending of that agreement.

Certain clauses remain in place that offer them an option to buy, and it is one Levy certainly must utilise despite the winger's troubling form. A price of around €35m (£31m) is touted.

Just two goals and six assists across an injury-hit campaign is not an awful return for the trickster, but given his form during his first six months at the club, the bar was set so incredibly high.

It seems that, with the right conditions and when the atmosphere is good around the club, the Juventus ace can be a true star. That period saw him notch five goals and eight assists in just 18 Premier League appearances.

This showcased the levels he can so easily reach, and even in his poor form, the £110k-per-week maestro outperforms most of this low-quality squad. During his time in Turin, journalist Matteo Bonetti had branded the star a "constant danger".

Then, in their Champions League crunch match with AC Milan, fellow journalist George Sessions called upon the "deadly trio" which included Kulusevski to fire them to victory.

Whilst Kane's goals are a constant, and one of the few who maintains exceptional standards with regularity, the quality within that aforementioned front three is good enough to challenge at the top of the league.

Keeping those two forwards alongside Heung-min Son will be key not only to encouraging a top manager to sign but also giving them the best possible chance of hitting the ground running. To miss out on acquiring their ever-present wide man this summer would surely give Levy nightmares for years to come.

Dick Advocaat’s reign at Glasgow Rangers was anything but eventful. Sir David Murray was looking for a manager who could return the Ibrox side to the summit of Scottish football following a lacklustre 1997/98 season in which the club finished trophyless for the first time since 1986.

The Dutchman guided the Gers to five domestic trophies from six during his first two seasons, yet the 2000/01 campaign would go on to be a major disappointment, with Advocaat splashing money to try and salvage some success in a faltering period.

The £12m spent on Norwegian striker Tore Andre Flo in November 2000 would surely go on to be regarded as his biggest blunder, despite some early promise.

Was Tore Andre Flo a success at Rangers?

Spending £12m on a player was seen as an extravagant purchase for teams in the Premier League and Serie A during that time period, but a Scottish club? It was unheard of.

Flo had vast experience in England, scoring 50 goals in 162 appearances for Chelsea while winning both the FA Cup and League Cup during his spell in London. Having also represented Norway at the 1998 World Cup – scoring against Brazil – and Euro 2000, he had a wealth of international experience and although the fee was a major talking point, his credentials perhaps backed it up.

Scoring on your debut against Celtic is one way to introduce yourself and Flo did exactly that in a 5-1 win, before scoring another 12 goals that season, and it looked like money well spent by Advocaat.

New heights were reached in 2001/02, with the lanky striker netting 25 goals across all competitions as Rangers won the Scottish Cup and League Cup yet finished behind their cross-city rivals in the chase for the title.

That was as good as it got for Flo, with Alex McLeish moving him on to Sunderland in the summer of 2002 for a fee of £6.75m, which represented a major loss.

Peter Reid claimed the striker had “excellent finishing skills” and although he did show a glimpse of his talent at Ibrox, his massively inflated fee was a poor indicator of his actual performances with the player himself admitting it was "difficult" in Scotland.

He scored 36 times during his stay in Glasgow, which worked out at around £333k-per-goal with the club well and truly enduring a nightmare on the player who was earmarked to dominate Scottish football upon his arrival at the turn of the century.

Advocaat didn’t make many mistakes as manager, but when he did, they were catastrophic.

Newcastle United no doubt have a lot to play for in the remainder of the campaign with Champions League qualification still very much in their grasp, although the Magpies hierarchy are likely to be already plotting ways to strengthen this summer, ahead of another top-four push next season.

For all the desire for immediate success, the recent capture of 22-year-old, Anthony Gordon on a £45m deal from Everton appears to showcase that manager Eddie Howe is also looking to invest for the future, with the Englishman keen to bolster his ranks with promising young talent.

Recent reports have suggested that the Tynesiders could well be about to continue that trend by snapping up another exciting gem, with The Mirror reporting at the end of last month that the northeast side are keeping tabs on Bristol City starlet, Alex Scott.

The report outlined that the 19-year-old playmaker is attracting interest from across the Premier League as a result of his standout displays in the second tier of late, with the St James’ Park outfit ready to ‘enter the race’ to sign the teenager as he ‘fits the profile’ of the type of player that Howe and co are targeting.

The up-and-coming star – who has been branded the ‘Guernsey Grealish’ due to his likeness to the Manchester City man – was previously the subject of interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers in January, albeit with the Robins’ £25m asking price seemingly putting paid to the move.

That collapse has opened the door for Newcastle to pounce this summer, with the hope being that the youngster can emulate the success of another man to have traded Bristol for the northeast – Andy Cole.

Who could be Newcastle’s next Andy Cole?

Having been plucked from Aston Gate on a £1.75m deal back in March 1993 – after beginning his career on the books at Arsenal – Cole went on to prove an instant hit during his relatively brief stint on Tyneside.

The prolific Englishman set the tone for what was to follow after scoring on debut in a 4-0 win over Notts County, before going on to bag 12 goals in total in the tail end of the 1992/93 campaign to help fire the club back into the top-flight.

That step up was ultimately no problem for the Nottingham-born hotshot as he rifled home 41 goals in all competitions in his first – and only – full season at St James’ Park, with his haul of 34 Premier League goals still the joint-highest tally in a single campaign in the competition’s history – alongside Alan Shearer.

That fine form – which saw the ruthless marksman score nine league goals at the start of the 1994/95 season – subsequently led to Cole being snapped up by rivals Manchester United in January 1995, going on to win a plethora of major honours during his glittering stint at Old Trafford.

Although young Scott operates in a slightly deeper role to that of the now-retired ace, the belief will be that he can prove just as influential if a deal can be agreed in the coming months, with the England U20 international already having shown his class in the Championship this season.

The highly-coveted asset has provided a respectable tally of four assists in his 34 league starts from his playmaking, midfield berth this season, while also showcasing his ability to put in the hard yards defensively as he has averaged 2.2 tackles per game in that time.

It was the teen’s display in the recent FA Cup defeat at home to Man City that truly announced himself to a wider audience, however, having been branded a “top, top talent” by his idol Jack Grealish as a result of his breathtaking performance.

Scott truly ‘didn’t look out of place’ against Pep Guardiola’s heavyweight outfit – as per Bristol Live’s Richard Forrester – having completed five of his six attempted dribbles on the night, while also recording 11 total duels after showing no signs of nerves against such elite opposition.

That remarkable outing has showcased that, like Cole, the Bristol sensation should be able to comfortably make the step up to the top tier if he is to join Howe’s side in the near future.

Transfer expert Dean Jones says that Newcastle United target Conor Gallagher would prefer to stay closer to London should he leave Chelsea this summer.

The Lowdown: Strong interest

Newcastle reportedly made an enquiry to take Gallagher on loan late on in the January transfer window, but Chelsea did not want to negotiate.

However, it is claimed that a potential deal could be revisited in the summer, should the St. James’ Park outfit come up with a suitable cash offer.

The Latest: Gallagher blow

Writing in his column for GiveMeSport, Jones says that Gallagher would prefer to stay as close to London as possible, should he leave Stamford Bridge this summer.

He describes the update as a potential ‘blow to Newcastle’, with reports that the central midfielder could even end up signing a contract extension.

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The Verdict: Move on

It sounds like Gallagher would not be particularly keen on a move to the North East, and so the Tynesiders need to swiftly move on to other targets.

Hailed as a ‘monster’ by football content creator and Crystal Palace supporter Tom Dutton, the Englishman showed what he is capable of in a loan spell at Selhurst Park, where he managed Player of the Season award.

Still only 23, Gallagher has plenty of potential, and could play more regularly at the Magpies than the bit-part role he is now used to at Chelsea.

Nonetheless, it is imperative that the Toon bring a new midfielder in, with Jonjo Shelvey allowed to move on and both Matt Ritchie and Matty Longstaff out of contract this summer.

Leeds United have reportedly approached Al-Gharafa manager Pedro Martins ahead of a potential move to Elland Road.

The Lowdown: Martins profiled

Martins, who is best known for his four-year stint in charge of Olympiacos, has only been with Al-Gharafa since November, taking just five games with the Saudi side.

The 52-year-old likes to play a 4-2-3-1 formation and has a huge 558 games of experience as a manager, winning 277 of those. He has wins over Mikel Arteta, Sean Dyche and Nuno Espirito Santo on his CV, and it looks as if Leeds are keen on his services.

The Latest: Leeds update

Journalist Pedro Jorge da Cunha shared a story for Zero Zero on Tuesday evening regarding Martins and Leeds.

He said that an informal approach has been made, with talks set to resume between the two parties in the coming days, and Martins is keen on a move to England.

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The Verdict: Finally?

The Whites have been dealt a number of setbacks when it comes to finding Jesse Marsch’s successor, but it seems as if they may well be onto something with Martins, who appears to be keen on a move to the Premier League.

A move could be a gamble, though, due to his lack of experience in a top European league. Martins did average 2.13 points per game with Olympiacos and won four major honours in Greece, so hopefully, should he move to Yorkshire, he’ll adapt to coaching in England relatively quickly, especially with Leeds in another relegation battle.