All posts by z3u9t.icu

Many Everton fans have been left fuming as news emerged involving Richarlison.

As per the Brazil international team’s official Twitter page, he has been called up to their squad for the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The Games do not end until Sunday 8 August, and the Toffees’ first fixture of the new 2021/22 Premier League season is at home against Southampton the following Saturday.

Given that he has been involved in the Copa America as well, it means that Richarlison is very likely to miss that first game against the Saints and maybe a few more after that, depending on how much rest he is given by Rafa Benitez.

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Nonetheless, it is no surprise to see so many Everton supporters fuming, as it is likely that they will be without the 24-year-old for the start of the campaign.

Everton fans on Richarlison news

These Toffees fans fumed as the news was shared across Twitter, with one citing the development as ‘ridiculous’:

“No way. The club should reject it”

Credit: @ahmedefc98

“Really really don’t need this”

Credit: @nickweinstein27

“Gutted. Absolutely hate internationals”

Credit: @TBlue29

“No way he should be allowed to go..! We pay his wages and if he was to go he would realistically have to get three or four weeks off as had no break at all since Premiership finished. That would leave us short up front for the first four weeks of the league. Ridiculous..!”

Credit: @Kieranbuckley5

“Refuse”

Credit: @andyjsb

“Absolute joke this is”

Credit: @VSFDaniel123

In other news, find out why Everton’s pursuit of one ‘amazing’ ace is ‘absolutely huge’ 

Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks is one of the ‘names’ on Newcastle United’s transfer ‘radar’, journalist Liam Kennedy has told GIVEMESPORT. 

The lowdown

The 25-year-old made just his third Premier League start of the season in Spurs’ 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday. Two of those have come in Antonio Conte’s first four Premier League matches, though, suggesting that his prospects may have improved under the Italian following the departure of Nuno Espirito Santo.

The £18m-rated midfielder is competing with the likes of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Oliver Skipp, Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso for a place in Spurs’ midfield. He has earned 10 England caps to date, but the last of those came in November 2020.

The latest

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Kennedy revealed that Winks’ name had been mentioned to him by trusted sources in terms of potential Newcastle signings, with the 25-year-old a target for PIF ahead of January.

The journalist revealed: “There are a few other names that I haven’t even written about. Harry Winks is one I know is on their radar.”

The verdict

Winks issued a reminder of his class against Liverpool at the weekend, delivering the highest-rated performance in the Spurs line-up (via SofaScore). He made four interceptions (the most in the match), blocked three shots and completed eight long passes, also covering more ground than any of his team-mates.

If Spurs are willing to listen to offers in January, Newcastle’s new transfer consultant Nick Hammond may deem the ‘excellent’ Winks a smart addition for the relegation-threatened Magpies.

Eddie Howe wants players who are ‘tried and tested’ in the Premier League, and the 25-year-old Tottenham ace has played over a century of games in the division. This could be a crucial criterion for the manager and duly gives credence to the possibility of Winks moving to St James’ Park.

In other news, Newcastle have made a big offer for this in-demand sensation

Tottenham Hotspur suffered a major blow in the race for a top-four finish as the Lilywhites lost 1-0 at home to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday afternoon, with Leandro Trossard bagging a last-minute winner.

Antonio Conte’s men were lacklustre in front of goal, managing just five shots all game, none of which were on target, whilst Brighton managed to get five of their 12 shots on target.

Despite staying in fourth, the defeat will provide an opportunity for Spurs’ rivals in the top four race to make up ground as we enter the final weeks of the season.

No player in a Tottenham shirt can hold their head up high after the defeat, with Emerson Royal, Heung-min Son, Eric Dier all being well below-par.

However, it was undoubtedly left wing-back Sergio Reguilon who was the worst of the bunch against Brighton.

According to SofaScore, the Spaniard enjoyed just 46 touches all afternoon, as well as lost possession on 12 separate occasions – meaning he gave away the ball with every 3.8 touches.

Moreover, the 25-year-old failed to complete a single dribble, attempting just one.

Furthermore, there was also little defensive prowess from the wing-back, who failed to make a single interception, clearance or block, in addition to making just one tackle all afternoon.

Most of all though, Reguilon’s passing was well below par, with the Spaniard’s 62% accuracy – completing just 17 of his 28 attempted passes – being the worst out of Spurs’ starting lineup.

The left wing-back has had a decent season – for the most part – this term, averaging a 6.92 SofaScore match rating. However, against Brighton, the 25-year-old mustered a 6.6.

Against the Seagulls, Reguilon made his sixth appearance in Spurs’s last seven in the league – having missed the 5-1 win over Newcastle with a knock – and had certainly been earning his place in the side back after falling down the pecking order.

Following Tottenham’s 3-2 defeat to Southampton in early February, the wing-back who John Wenham claimed is the “worst of the bunch” and Tom Young labelled “pathetic” went a month without game time in the league before being reintroduced against Everton last month as the Lilywhites won 5-0, with Reguilon scoring.

What is for certain is that lacklustre displays as Tottenham pick up poor results won’t pass the grade for Conte, and Reguilon will certainly have to produce better performances over the remaining weeks of the season to ensure that his place in the side is a certainty going into next season.

AND in other news: Source: Insider drops major Spurs claim on £30m maestro, it’s great news for Conte

Celtic have learned the ‘substantial’ fee that they would need to pay to sign Daizen Maeda from Yokohama F Marinos in January. 

The lowdown

The Hoops are looking to build upon the success of J-League import Kyogo Furuhashi, who is the joint-top scorer in the Premiership as it stands.

Maeda has enjoyed a prolific campaign himself, netting 22 goals in 35 league appearances to help his team to finish second in the table, and his links with Celtic now date back more than a month.

Journalist Stuart Hodge has described him as ‘a good player with bags of ability [and] bags of pace’, while Ange Postecoglou managed Marinos before he was appointed at Celtic, so he is certainly familiar with Maeda, who has played 50 times under the Australian.

The latest

The Daily Record’s Scott Burns reported that Celtic are ‘keen’ on Maeda.

However, he added that the Hoops would need to shell out £3m or more to reunite him with Postecoglou in Glasgow, a sum the report described as ‘substantial’.

The verdict

To put that fee into context, Celtic spent just over £20m in the summer and went above the £3m mark for three players – Furuhashi, Carl Starfelt and Liel Abada. That would suggest that Yokohama F Marinos’ demands are not insignificant, but they should be manageable for the Hoops.

Postecoglou may view Maeda as a more reliable alternative to Giorgos Giakoumakis, who has been limited to just two Premiership starts since his arrival in the summer amid injury concerns.

The manager’s argument might be that it is crucial to have dependable depth in forward areas, with Celtic potentially competing in the Europa Conference League as well as the Premiership and domestic cup competitions.

In other news, Kieran Devlin responds to yet another J-League rumour involving Celtic

According to a report from Ajanspor journalist Salim Manav, Tottenham Hotspur are set to scout two Turkish talents in the upcoming round of Super Lig fixtures. 

The lowdown: Targets collide

It will be a mid-table battle when Besiktas face Kasimpasa on Monday night (April 25), but there could be a sub-plot to proceedings as two opposing left-backs – Ridvan Yilmaz and Eren Elmali – vie for superiority on the night.

Yilmaz of Besiktas is the younger of the two at 20-years-old and has already represented Turkey at the senior international level, whilst 21-year-old Elmali remains an Under 21 representative.

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As they prepare to do battle, it’s been suggested that eyes from the Premier League and Serie A could be watching with intent…

The latest: Spurs send scouts

As per the report from Ajanspor which has been cited on Twitter by Manav, Tottenham and Atalanta are believed to be preparing to watch the Turkish top-flight encounter.

“Tottenham and Atalanta officials will watch Eren Elmali and Ridvan Yilmaz in the Beşiktaş-Kasımpaşa match,” the journalist tweeted.

Expanding in the article, it’s claimed Spurs officials ‘will report’ on both Yilmaz and Elmali as Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici begin to earmark potential summer transfer targets.

Yilmaz – who made a come-and-get-me plea to Arsenal in 2021 – has been capped six times by the Turkey national team and was previously given a reported £8.35million asking price amidst interest from Leicester City, Torino and VfB Stuttgart.

The verdict: Smart moveWhilst neither youngster can boast a plethora of top-level experience with a combined 124 career outings in the Super Lig, both would represent value for money given the respective ages and likely affordable transfer fees.Elmali holds a perceived market value of just £1.62million (Transfermarkt), making the Istanbul-born starlet the more attainable financial option compared to his compatriot.But, with three goals and four assists in 30 appearances this season, Yilmaz’s ability to play as both a conventional left-back and in a more advanced role makes the Besiktas ace a preferable choice to suit Conte’s chosen 3-4-3 formation at present.When comparing the youngster to current Lilywhites star Sergio Reguilon, Yilmaz actually outperforms the Spaniard in every available aspect on average per 90 minutes (Fbref), albeit in a weaker league.Described as a ‘very smart’ operator by national team manager Stefan Kuntz, early indications would point to the Besiktas starlet being the preferred option to arrive at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer.In other news: ‘That’s for sure’ – Sky Sports reporter backs big transfer news out of Tottenham, find out more here.

It’s an exciting time to be a Crystal Palace supporter, with their new era under the stewardship of Patrick Vieira’s getting off to an entertaining start.

Several new, young signings replaced multiple experienced campaigners over the summer to mark a new chapter in the club’s history, and things could get even better for the south London outfit in the seasons ahead.

Just last year, Palace secured Category One status after the redevelopment of the club’s youth academy, transforming their youth sides fortunes. And it could prove to be pivotal for their future prospects.

In the past, the likes of Jadon Sancho, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Emile Smith Rowe have grown up within close proximity to Selhurst Park but plied their trade elsewhere as the Eagles’ facilities were not at an elite standard.

But U18s coach Paddy McCarthy told the PA news agency (as relayed by F365) that the recent developments will be enough to entice talented locals to play for Palace in the future: “We have a great recruitment area in south-east London and within the M25. It is a hotbed of talent!

“And we now have a facility which is in the process of being up there with the best, a games programme in line with the best and we also have a pathway I would argue is probably better than others when you look at our history of getting players from the academy all the way through to the first-team,” McCarthy concluded.

One of the youngsters already benefitting from the improved infrastructure is 20-year-old Jake O’Brien.

Although the stocky Irish defender isn’t a native to south London, Palace’s ability to attract and then develop such a talented star is symptomatic of their newfound appeal.

The centre-back has made 19 appearances for the capital club since arriving from boyhood club Cork City on an initial loan deal in February, scoring four goals along the way.

“O’Brien collected nine Irish Premier League appearances with the Rebel Army before switching to south London,” Palace’s official website states.

“He hit the ground running for Shaun Derry’s men, scoring his first goal for the club against Sunderland in March 2021 – he added two more against Middlesbrough in their crucial 3-2 victory at Selhurst Park, as they secured a play-off place in their first season as a Category 1 Academy.”

His impressive performances for Derry’s charges have also caught the eye of several impressed onlookers, including journalist Dylan O’Connell.

O’Connell tweeted: “Jake O’Brien won the penalty (which was missed). I remember watching him breakthrough at Cork City. He came through as a RB and looked very good and physical for a teenager. Signed for Crystal Palace’s Under-23s and won promotion to PL 2 Division 1. One for the future.”

With Vieira’s squad currently light on numbers in the heart of defence and James Tomkins and Martin Kelly approaching the twilight of their careers, it might be a matter of when rather than if O’Brien forces his way into the first team setup at Selhurst Park.

And, in other news…Report provides exciting Palace transfer update that’ll leave fans buzzing 

Heading into their next Premier League clash at the weekend with a trip to Watford, Liverpool boast the best attacking record in the top flight with 17 goals scored in seven games.

One player who has featured heavily for the Reds so far this season and been a significant part of their attacking force over the years is Mohamed Salah, with nine goals in as many appearances across all competitions this season alone.

Since joining the Merseyside club back in the 2017 summer transfer window from AS Roma for a fee of £34m, the Egyptian has gone on to make 212 appearances for the Reds across all competitions, scoring 134 goals and providing 50 assists along the way. Furthermore, he has also won a number of team titles and individual awards during his time with the Reds.

On the international stage, Salah has made 71 appearances for Egypt’s senior side, scoring 43 goals in the process and showing just how important he is for his country as well as his club.

In terms of his market value, it was listed as £36m in October 2017 according to Transfermarkt shortly after he moved to Anfield, whereas it now stands at a massive £90m, showing just how much he has progressed and improved since joining Liverpool.

Taking all this into account, it’s safe to say that Salah, who has been described as an “incredible” footballer and person by Reds teammate Andy Robertson, has been a vital figure for Jurgen Klopp’s side since his arrival four years ago and arguably one of the best signings the club has ever made.

Looking ahead to the future, with Salah’s contract set to expire in 2023 and recent reports claiming that the club are trying to get him to sign a new one, we feel that Liverpool should be doing all they can to get the winger to pledge his long-term future to the Reds given how crucial he has been for them.

If he does sign a new contract with Liverpool and continues scoring a ton of goals, there’s every possibility that his market value could increase even further despite him turning 30 next June.

In other news: Klopp could seal Wijnaldum replacement at Anfield with “sublime” £49.5m-rated ace

Aston Villa suffered a shocking start to the new Premier League season, going down 3-2 to Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday afternoon.

Dean Smith’s side have had a rollercoaster few weeks in the summer transfer window, waving goodbye to talisman Jack Grealish and welcoming a number of new signings, a few of whom started against the Hornets.

While the new boys didn’t impress, it was one longer-serving player who had a particularly awful game – Matt Targett.

The left-back certainly wasn’t helped by Ashley Young seemingly allergic to doing his defensive duties and tracking back, but Watford’s Ismaila Sarr took him to the cleaners with his combination of pace and trickery.

As per Sofascore, the English ace lost all five duels in which he was involved and made no tackles or interceptions whatsoever. He also lost the ball on eight separate occasions and couldn’t find his passing radar either, completing just 79% of his passes.

Such were his struggles that Smith actually decided to take him off at half-time and spare his blushes, but some journalists didn’t spare the 25-year-old in their assessments of the match.

The Birmingham Mail’s Ashley Preece claimed that Targett was “all over the shop” as Emmanuel Dennis opened the scoring for the home side, with the left-back’s nemesis on the day Sarr playing a big part for the goal.

Writing on Twitter, The Athletic’s Gregg Evans said: “Feeling a little bit for Matt Targett here. 14 mins in and Sarr is causing him all sorts of problems. Hard to watch. #WatfordFC #AVFC.”

All in all, it was a difficult afternoon for the left-back, who looked completely off the pace like the rest of his teammates and was left embarrassed by a winger in Sarr who is at the top of his game.

From being considered Villa’s most improved player last season by some fans, to putting in a shocking performance like the one on Saturday afternoon, Targett’s season couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start.

The Villa defender badly let his manager down today with a woeful display at Vicarage Road.

Meanwhile, this Villa star could leave the club…

Manchester United’s new interim manager Ralf Rangnick has reportedly placed RB Leipzig midfielder Christopher Nkunku on his wish list for the January transfer window.

According to the Daily Express (who cite SportBild), the new Old Trafford boss is set to raid his former club for the highly-rated 24-year-old over the coming months as he looks to overhaul his first-team squad.

Nkunku becomes the third current or former Leipzig star to be linked with the Red Devils following the German’s arrival, with Amadou Haidara and Timo Werner also believed to be on their radar.

Ralf Rangnick can get Man Utd firing again

After rising through the ranks at boyhood club Paris Saint-Germain, Nkunku departed the Parc des Princes in search of regular game-time back in 2019.

Since making the €13m (£11m) switch to Leipzig, the versatile midfielder has gone from strength to strength, firmly establishing himself as one of the Bundesliga’s most promising talents.

In just 21 games in all competitions this season, Nkunku has already bagged 14 goals and provided a further nine assists, including a hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League.

Ahead of a recent European showdown with Club Brugge, his manager Jesse Marsch lauded the youngster, describing him as player who always wants to improve.

“We have spoken to Christopher a lot about playing on the counter, and also what he needs to do to play as a striker, a number 10 and on both wings,” Marsch was quoted as saying by the official RB Leipzig website.

“Christopher has no weaknesses. He is young and still wants a lot more. It’s always a good thing when a young player listens to the things we say and also wants to implement them. Working with him is a lot of fun as he is really intelligent and has a lot of potential.”

With Nkunku already familiar with the pressing style that Rangnick is expected to implement at United, the £42.3m-rated gem could be an instant hit at Old Trafford, so the German must make a move.

His arrival would certainly have the potential to get the 20-time English champions rocking again, injecting new life into their disappointing campaign to date.

In other news… Forget Ronaldo: Man Utd gem with 4 key passes was Carrick’s final Old Trafford hero

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba can envisage his long-term future at the Old Trafford outfit, although he may not put pen to paper on a new deal in the current transfer window.

What’s the story?

The 28-year-old has entered the final year of his contract with United and has been linked with a move to French giants Paris Saint-Germain in recent weeks.

However, according to Sky Sports, Pogba is full of admiration for his boyhood club, is said to have a fantastic relationship with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and is excited with the direction in which the club is going following the addition of Jadon Sancho and the imminent arrival of Raphael Varane.

The report added that the France international is aware that his next contract is likely to be the last big one he signs in his career given his age, but if he doesn’t commit to fresh terms with the Red Devils this summer, it will not automatically mean he is against signing one further down the line.

Sky Sports claimed: “Talks between Pogba’s representatives and United over a new deal continue, while PSG remain interested in signing the midfielder in this window. While a move to Paris has not been ruled out, Pogba knows he will have more options if he sits tight – one of those options being a new deal at Old Trafford, as well as what is likely to be the pick of Europe’s top clubs.”

Fans will be buzzing

Although Pogba has far from committed his future to the 20-time English champions, this latest revelation will surely have the club’s supporters buzzing.

News that he is settled at United, has a good relationship with Solskjaer, is excited by the new signings, and is reportedly open to signing a new contract in the future will be seen in a positive light by the fanbase.

The World Cup-winning midfielder has often been a divisive figure during his time on English shores, regularly being criticised for not living up to his £89m price tag.

Nevertheless, Pogba produced a string of top-class performances in the second half of 2020/21 and was their fourth-best performer of the campaign according to WhoScored, and United finally appear to be building a side capable of competing for major honours.

He has endured some of the toughest years in the club’s recent history under Jose Mourinho and the transitional period under Solskjaer, but the Norwegian has made great progress with the midfielder over the last couple of campaigns.

It remains to be seen whether Pogba commits his future to the Red Devils amid continued speculation, yet this update is likely to give United’s fans renewed hope that an agreement can be reached, which will surely delight many of the Old Trafford faithful.

In other news…Time’s up: Ole must brutally axe £7.2m-rated MUFC flop this summer, he’s been shocking