Loads of Newcastle fans have been discussing former star Ayoze Perez, after @NUFC360 shared a post from The Leicester Mercury rating his first season since leaving St. James’ Park.
Perez swapped the Magpies for the Foxes last summer for a fee in the region of £30m, but it’s fair to say he hasn’t quite lived up to his price tag after leaving the Toon Army.
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The Spaniard has scored seven Premier League goals, but three of those came in the 9-0 mauling of Southampton, where Jamie Vardy also grabbed a hat-trick.
On Tyneside, Perez scored 48 goals and provided 17 assists in 195 showings, and it appears fans are still divided on exactly how good the 26 year-old actually is.
The piece from The Leicester Mercury included ratings from Foxes supporters , one of whom said the Spaniard is “incredibly lazy”, a comment which has split the Toon Army.
Check out some of the best Twitter reactions down below…
Newcastle fans are still fuming about something that happened in 2017…
Despite taking a 2-0 lead inside 20 minutes against Burton Albion, Leicester City were made to huff and puff against the Brewers, only sealing victory in the last minute when a goal from James Maddison wrapped up proceedings.
However it was the man who set up Maddison for his ‘icing on the cake’ goal that seemed to be getting quite a lot of stick from the Foxes faithful, and that was Demarai Gray.
The statistics from last night would certainly back up the fans on this one, as he had a worse pass completion percentage than all bar one of the Leicester centre-backs.
As well as that, he only managed two successful dribbles compared to Marc Albrighton on the opposing flank who managed to achieve eight (all via WhoScored).
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And they were not scared in voicing their opinions about the 23-year-old, with some rather harsh comments indeed.
Check out the best fan reaction from Southampton 0-9 Leicester in the video below…
In fairness, he has only started one league game this season, so that should be a decent indicator that he isn’t good enough to be in the first team, that’s why he was playing against Burton last night.
Giovani Lo Celso scored his first goal for Tottenham Hotspur in Wednesday night’s 4-0 win over Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League.
A hip injury saw the summer arrival miss a lot of football earlier this season, but he has now featured in Tottenham’s last two Premier League matches and was given the nod from the start against Red Star.
Lo Celso made the breakthrough in the 34th minute of the match before a double from Son Heung-min and late Christian Eriksen strike saw Spurs record a four-goal success.
And it would be fair to say that the Tottenham fans were absolutely delighted with what they saw from the versatile attacker during his 86 minutes on the field.
According to WhoScored, the 23-year-old made five tackles, had three shots and boasted a pass success rate of 90% before being replaced by Oliver Skipp in the latter stages.
A selection of the Twitter reaction to his performance can be seen below:
Glasgow Rangers may have signed nine players during the summer transfer window, but Philippe Clement shouldn’t neglect the youth talent he has at his disposal.
Aside from Nathan Patterson’s emergence and subsequent sale to Everton for a fee in the region of £16m in 2022, the only player to make his way into the starting XI on a regular basis is Ross McCausland. Could it now be the turn for someone else?
Alex Lowry burst onto the scene in the same month Patterson was sold, although he has yet to become a mainstay in the first team. Does he still have a future at the Ibrox side?
Alex Lowry’s Rangers statistics
The attacking midfielder enjoyed a dream debut against Stirling Albion in the Scottish Cup in January 2022. The youngster replaced the injured Ianis Hagi and immediately made an impact, scoring shortly after coming on.
Lowry made another six appearances between then and the end of the season, scoring once while registering two assists as it looked like he had a wonderful future at the club.
The 2022/23 campaign was a difficult one, however, before Michael Beale sent him on loan to Hearts for the 2023/24 season, where he made 17 appearances for the Jambos.
Assists
1
Big chances created
1
Key passes per game
1.8
Successful dribbles
1.2
Total duels won per game
3.5
Possession lost per game
18
He is yet to make an appearance under Clement. With his contract expiring at the end of the season, does his future lie away from Ibrox? Especially as the Belgian could unearth a brighter midfield talent in Cole McKinnon.
The next academy prospect to shine at Rangers
Like Lowry, McKinnon made his debut during the 2021/22 season, coming on as a substitute against Hearts and scoring his first goal for the Gers.
A loan spell at Partick Thistle followed, which saw McKinnon gain vital senior minutes and he registered six goal contributions in the process.
He was praised before his move to Partick by journalist Jordan Campbell, who said: “The 19-year-old is highly rated at Ibrox and scored in the final league game of last season. Goes box-to-box and has a knack of getting a goal.”
While chances have been limited under Clement, McKinnon has still featured three times, notably in the Europa League clash against Benfica last term.
The Belgian has the likes of Connor Barron, Mohamed Diomande and Nicolas Raskin to call upon as options in the heart of his midfield, but there is no doubt McKinnon has the qualities to establish himself in the first team.
Lowry appears to have lost his way recently. Considering he was touted as one of the brightest prospects a few years ago, it is a shame to see him seemingly slip out of Clement’s plans going forward.
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McKinnon has obviously made an impression towards the end of last term, and he could well be used occasionally this season.
If he continues to impress when given opportunities for the Light Blues, the 21-year-old could become a solid member of the first team squad.
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West Ham United are at the start of an exciting new era, and Julen Lopetegui has certainly been backed by the board as he seeks to get the Irons flying.
Over £120m has been spent, and with James Ward-Prowse heading for the exit door, joining Nottingham Forest in a loan move, West Ham are looking to strengthen the middle of the park.
West Ham transfer news
According to The Guardian's Jacob Steinberg, West Ham are hoping to complete the signing of Chelsea talent Carney Chukwuemeka before the deadline.
This eleventh-hour deal is separate from the ongoing talks to sign Carlos Soler from Paris Saint-Germain and would not negatively impact that move. Chukwuemeka would join on loan, with the door open for a permanent solution down the line.
The Telegraph's Mike McGrath has followed up that report by suggesting that the Hammers are actively working to get the deal done for Chukwuemeka, albeit with rivals clubs also interested in the youngster.
What Carney Chukwuemeka would bring to West Ham
Chukwuemeka signed for Chelsea from Aston Villa for a fee in the region of £20m in 2022, but injuries and a consequent fall down the pecking order have limited him to just 27 appearances – starting only two top-flight fixtures last year.
Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka.
Regardless, the £100k-per-week midfielder has so much potential and could find the London Stadium provides him with the platform to go from strength to strength and really announce him to the Premier League.
He's even been hailed as an "absolute 10/10 talent" by scout Jacek Kulig, invariably performing with silky dribbling and an eagerness to get on the ball and make things happen.
Central midfield
48
5
11
Attacking midfield
24
7
3
Left midfield
2
0
0
Defensive midfield
2
0
1
Centre-forward
1
0
0
He's a dynamic player but Chukwuemeka would likely find himself operating in the centre of the park, thrusting forward and opening circles of space in the opponent's half, in turn allowing Mohammed Kudus to zap forward down the flank, or perhaps creating an opening for Jarrod Bowen to latch onto and strike true, ball to net.
He's demonstrated something of an aptitude for an assist, and this could see the 20-year-old grow into his skin as a superb Ward-Prowse upgrade, with the Forest-bound free-kick specialist falling to the fringe since Lopetegui's arrival, lacking mobility and success when not in a dead-ball situation.
Wolves midfielder James Ward-Prowse.
Ward-Prowse ranks among the top 8% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists and the top 15% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref. Nice going, right?
Sure, but such high-ranking metrics derive from his set-piece deliveries. In regard to his production in open play, he ranks among the bottom 43% for progressive passes, the bottom 15% for progressive carries and the bottom 9% for tackles per 90.
Chukwuemeka is a vibrant talent, bursting onto the scene, and he would be a significant upgrade on West Ham's one-trick pony. He must be signed.
Sky Sports: West Ham still hoping to sign Payet 2.0 in £17m talent
This would mark a terrific finish to a promising transfer window…
Two games down and two wins in the bag; the performances haven't been perfect, but Arsenal have started their Premier League campaign in the best way possible.
Mikel Arteta's side were made to fight for them, but they left Villa Park on Saturday evening with all three points in hand, in no small part thanks to the incredible display of David Raya in goal and the decisive decisions of Leandro Trossard off the left.
The Belgian started on the bench for the second game running, although based on his performance and that of Gabriel Martinelli, it seems almost certain that against his old side on Saturday, the 29-year-old will make his first start of the campaign.
Leandro Trossard scores for Arsenal
However, this development begs the question. Does Trossard need a new rival on the wing? The answer may well be yes, and fortunately, recent reports have touted a brilliant international with a move to the Emirates this summer.
Arsenal transfer news
According to a recent report from Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport, Arsenal are still in the race for Federico Chiesa's signature this summer.
The report claims that while the winger is leaning towards a move to Barcelona at present, the Gunners are still interested in his services, and should something prevent his move to Spain, his agent will consider the North Londoners as an option once more.
Now, while the report claims that cross-city rivals Chelsea are in the same boat as the Premier League runners-up, the good news is that signing the Italian international shouldn't cost very much. A recent report from The Athletic claims that Juventus value him at just €15m, which converts to about £13m, due to his contract expiring next summer.
It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given the bargain price and Chiesa's undeniable ability, it's one well worth pursuing, especially as he could be the dream rival for Trossard this season.
How Chiesa compares to Trossard
Okay, so one of the first things to point out, and one of the main benefits to signing Chiesa as well, is that while right-wing is his most played position, he's made plenty of appearances all over the pitch, including 69 as a second striker, 61 at left-wing, 37 in right midfield, 17 at centre-forward, 11 in left midfield and even two in attacking midfield.
Federico Chiesa in Italy training
However, while this ability to play in plenty of areas of the pitch is undoubtedly something Arteta will appreciate, it's on the left where he'd probably have his best chance of playing more regular football, as we aren't sure there is a player on earth that the manager would start over Saka now.
With that said, if his best chance at first-team football is off the left, how does he stack up against Trossard, as it appears the Belgian would be his main rival at the moment?
Well, when it comes to their raw output from last season, the Arsenal man comes out ahead, but it is perhaps closer than some may have imagined.
For example, the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace scored 17 goals and provided two assists in 46 appearances, equating to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.42 games.
In contrast, the Juventus ace scored ten goals and provided three assists in 37 matches, meaning he maintained a slightly worse but nonetheless impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.84 games.
Okay, what about their underlying numbers, then? Is it another slim victory for the 29-year-old when we examine what's happening under the hood?
Interestingly, the tables turn with their underlying numbers, and while it's still a closely fought thing, it's the "world-class" Italian, as described by journalist Zach Lowy, who just about comes out on top.
For example, the 26-year-old dynamo comes out ahead in several relevant metrics, including, but not limited to progressive carries, key passes, passes and crosses into the penalty area, passes into the final third, shot and goal-creating actions and successful take-ons, all per 90.
Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists
0.49
0.58
Progressive Passes
2.87
4.15
Progressive Carries
4.55
3.61
Shots
3.03
3.27
Shots on Target
1.02
1.20
Passing Accuracy
69.9%
73.4%
Key Passes
2.21
1.31
Passes into the Penalty Area
1.84
1.58
Crosses into the Penalty Area
0.74
0.22
Passes into the Final Third
1.72
1.53
Shot-Creating Actions
4.79
3.55
Goal-Creating Actions
0.37
0.33
Successful Take-Ons
1.43
1.37
Carries
26.4
32.3
Ultimately, while it might take some real effort to displace Trossard from the Gunners' starting lineup going forward, it looks like Chiesa could give him a run for his money while also providing cover in other positions across the pitch.
Therefore, Edu and Co must do what they can to bring the Juve ace to the Emirates this summer, as he could be the perfect winger to rival the Belgian this summer, and at the reported price, this feels like a no-brainer.
He'd solve their Saka problem: Arsenal want to secure late £59m signing
The incredible attacker would add so much quality to the Gunners’ squad.
Newcastle United have been strongly linked with a move for Sandro Tonali this summer and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player.
What's the latest on Newcastle's interest in Sandro Tonali?
According to The Athletic, Newcastle are closing in on a move for the Italian midfielder.
The report suggests that a fee in the region of €70m (£60m) has been agreed after face-to-face meetings took place on Wednesday.
He has emerged as a key target in the early stages of this window with Craig Hope later revealing that Dan Ashworth boarded a plane today in order to fly out to Milan to conclude a deal.
Would Tonali be a good fit for Newcastle?
It is no secret that Bruno Guimaraes' attacking talent has been sacrificed to an extent this season due to the departure of Jonjo Shelvey in January, meaning the Brazilian star has needed to adopt a much more defensive role in the midfield set-up.
Indeed, the Newcastle talisman has done a fine job in the lone deep-lying role just ahead of the back-line, notably contributing to ten goals last term. As such, it would be advantageous to Howe next season if he could unlock Guimaraes and allow him to return to his more free-flowing role where he thrived expeditiously in his first six months at St James'.
As a result, Tonali could be a huge asset in the competitive midfield when they take on multiple competitions next season in their pursuit of success and trophies, as he could be the ideal profile player to partner Guimaraes in the centre of the pitch.
Over 34 Serie A appearances, the 23-year-old talent – hailed "world-class" by the Athletic's Martino Puccio – registered seven assists, created 12 big chances and tallied up an 81% pass completion rate, as well as averaging 1.9 tackles, 1.8 key passes and 3.5 duels won per game, operating as a prolific ball-winner with strong play-making and progressive capabilities too.
Not only that, the Italian ranks in the top 14% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for chance creation – according to Opta Analyst Radar – again demonstrating that Tonali could work well alongside Guimaraes to deliver strong attacking opportunities for Newcastle's front-men.
The news of the Magpies' bid for the Champions League semi-finalist led football analyst and writer Connor Holden to speculate about a potential midfield partnership between the two, suggesting the Toon were looking for an "elite partner" for Guimaraes.
With that being said, a move for Tonali is definitely a big coup as he could be an ideal like-minded companion for their Brazilian dynamo in the heart of the team.
Everton are keen on a deal to bring Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres to the Premier League, according to reports.
Is Viktor Gyokeres leaving Coventry?
The Swedish international was a standout star at the Building Society Arena last season after establishing himself as Mark Robins’ top-performing offensive player, and with his contract expiring in 12 months time, he could be set for a big-money exit in the weeks ahead.
Sky Sports have reported that the Bluebirds will be looking for offers in excess of £17m in order to sanction the 25-year-old’s sale during the upcoming window, and his impressive form after being named the second-highest goalscorer in his division is bound to attract plenty of interest.
The Merseyside outfit and Sean Dyche are likely to enter the market for a new centre-forward due to the consistent injuries to Dominic Calvert-Lewin and the uncertainty hanging over Neal Maupay, who’s been linked with a move to Salernitana, and they could well have identified an ideal target in the Midlands.
Are Everton signing Gyokeres?
According to Portuguese outlet A Bola (via Sport Witness), Everton are “interested” in a summer swoop for Gyokeres. Sporting CP are also eyeing a deal for the Coventry striker, hence the report from Portugal, but with them only being willing to pay a fee less than their target’s price tag, teams in the English top-flight are likely to hold an advantage.
The Toffees have been “keen” on the attacker since last year and are “determined” to add to their ranks in the final third, but it remains to be seen whether they too would be able to afford Gyokeres.
Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres.
Should Everton sign Gyokeres?
Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray has been full of praise for Gyokeres, describing him as “powerful” and even comparing his qualities to those of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, so should the centre-forward put pen to paper, he could be a fantastic recruit for Everton.
The 6 foot 2 titan posted a remarkable 31 goal contributions (21 goals and ten assists) in 46 Championship appearances throughout the previous campaign, with his displays seeing him pick up an outstanding ten man-of-the-match awards.
Coventry’s talisman, who is a versatile operator with his ability to play in six different positions, was also a threat even when the ball didn’t hit the back of the net having recorded a total of 191 shot-creating actions, which was higher than any of his fellow teammates, as per FBRef, so it would be a massive coup for Dyche if he was to make the move to Goodison Park.
Aston Villa are eyeing a move for Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney ahead of the summer transfer window, with Unai Emery looking to strengthen his squad for the challenges of European football next season.
What’s the latest on Kieran Tierney to Aston Villa?
According to The Times, both Villa and Newcastle United are set to battle it out for the Arsenal defender once the transfer window opens.
Emery signed Tierney from Celtic when he was in charge of the Gunners back in 2019 and is clearly a fan of the Scot.
Football Insider state that the North London side value him at around £30m and with Emery likely to move a few players on this summer, he would be more than affordable.
Could Kieran Tierney sign for Aston Villa?
It is certainly within the realm of possibilities, though with Champions League football returning to Newcastle for the first time in over 20 years, Emery may have trouble convincing him.
The two know each other well from their spell at Arsenal, however, and this could be a key part of any potential move, while the Spaniard would be getting his very own Oleksandr Zinchenko, as the pair are statistically similar according to FBref.
The Ukraine star has made a big impression since swapping Manchester City for Arsenal last summer, ranking third in the squad for accurate passes per game (55.8) and fifth for both tackles (1.5) and interceptions (0.8) per game, showcasing his importance to the side.
Zinchenko is the tenth-most comparable player across the previous 365 days to his fellow teammate.
They have both registered similar statistics with regard to goal-creating actions (both four), tackles won (18 to 11), touches in the attacking penalty area (33 to 15), crosses (37 to 24) and shots per 90 (1.19 to 0.79), indicating that both offer a key attacking threat going forward from a defensive position, something that Emery would love to have in his side.
Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney.
Tierney was dubbed a ”warrior” by former Arsenal defender Ashley Cole, whilst ex-Rangers striker Kris Boyd lauded the Scot as “unbelievable” and having won five Premiership titles and a host of domestic cups during his spell at Celtic, he would arrive at Villa Park with a winning mentality that could prove crucial.
With Villa taking part in a European competition next term, Emery is clearly keen on taking his team to the next level, so signing Tierney, who has won trophies in Scotland and England, could be a stroke of genius, especially if he only costs £30m.
Liverpool have reportedly made a convincing stride in the pursuit of Sporting CP centre-back Goncalo Inacio, and are now believed to be the frontrunners in the transfer race for the touted star.
What's the latest on Goncalo Inacio to Liverpool?
According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola (via Sport Witness), Liverpool may have taken the lead in the race for the 21-year-old defender from Sporting, who are said to be willing to negotiate if his release clause of €45m (£39m) is met.
While Jurgen Klopp's Reds are not explicitly fronting the charge for the Portuguese's name, the fact that they are the solitary outfit named among the 'English and Italian suitors' suggests that they could be the primary outfit contesting for his signature.
In a separate recent report, Manchester United are also in pursuit and will seek to expand their Portuguese pool by signing the gem – only emphasising the necessity for concluding a deal in the early phases of the transfer window.
How good is Goncalo Inacio?
Inacio is but one maiden step into the scope of his professional career, but has already captured the attention of some of Europe's foremost sides for his exploits in his homeland with the Leões.
Having risen through Sporting's youth ranks, Inacio has made 121 appearances and demonstrated his capabilities outside the defensive aspects of his game by scoring ten goals and providing eight assists.
The two-cap Portugal starlet is close to completing his third season of continual progress at the top level, and has flourished in Liga Portugal this term, playing 32 matches, earning an average rating of 7.00 – as per Sofascore – and completing 90% of his passes, earning praise as a "complete" defensive ace by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
Sporting CP'sGoncaloInaciocelebrates
Indeed, as per FBref, the 6 foot 1 colossus ranks among the top 1% of centre-backs across top eight divisions below the European 'big five' for assists, the top 2% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for progressive passes, the top 3% for progressive carries and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90, underscoring his aptitude as a modern defender tailor-made for a first-rate outfit such as Liverpool.
With such brilliant ball-playing credentials, he could be the optimum alternative to coveted target Josko Gvardiol, with the RB Leipzig star arguably the hottest defensive commodity in world football at present, having been regarded as the perfect modern defender.
Hailed as a "Rolls-Royce" by journalist Zach Lowy, the Croatian prodigy ranks among the top 10% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues for goals, the top 1% for attempted passes, the top 16% for progressive passes, the top 18% for progressive carries and the top 5% for successful take-ons per 90. Clearly, Inacio and his Leipzig confrère are cut from the same cloth, albeit the former has largely been playing at a different level.
The crux of the problem vis-à-vis Liverpool's pursuit of Gvardiol lays in the exorbitant fee touted, with Leipzig supposedly demanding his release clause of €110m (£95m) is met in its entirety in order to prise him away, and with him contracted until 2027, Marco Rose's outfit certainly appear to hold the bargaining chips.
Inacio, whose £39m tag seems paltry in comparison, might just be the better avenue to delve down, as he is cheaper and boasts every bit of the skill set required to succeed under Klopp's wing.