All posts by h716a5.icu

Liverpool have assembled a late-season surge after a frankly shambolic campaign to put Champions League qualification in feasible distance, but hopes still lie with Newcastle United or Manchester United ceding further territory.

Both aforementioned Premier League rivals hold a game in hand on Jurgen Klopp's men and have one and three-point cushions respectively, but the Reds' six-game winning streak has reminded the top-flight of the calibre that has lain dormant this term, beneath the rubble of an inexplicably woeful year.

There is to be a significant clearout on Merseyside this summer, and with the midfield department needing more than just a paint job, signing someone with genuine fortune-shifting credentials could rejuvenate them.

According to the Daily Mail late last month, Liverpool are alongside Arsenal in eyeing a move for £30m-rated Lovro Majer, with the creative Rennes midfielder indicating that he is ready for a new challenge.

Majer played a starring role in Croatia's 2022 World Cup campaign, and despite struggling for regular minutes could be a dazzling signing for an aspiring outfit such as Liverpool.

Who could Lovro Majer replace at Liverpool?

Majer has forged 37 appearances this season, scoring two goals and supplying four assists from his primarily deep-lying midfield role.

Last season, the 19-cap Croatia international was hailed as "phenomenal" by talent scout Jacek Kulig and dazzled with a return of 11 goals and 13 assists across all competitions, instrumental in Rennes' fourth-place Ligue 1 finish.

As per FBref, the £26k-per-week ace still ranks among the top 5% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for shot-creating actions, the top 3% for progressive carries, the top 6% for successful take-ons and the top 19% for assists per 90, highlighting the dynamic, forward-thinking threat he holds at his feet.

There was a time, in the early days of Klopp's tenure at Liverpool, when Philippe Coutinho wreaked havoc with similar flair and guile from the offensive section of the Reds' midfield, scoring 37 goals and supplying 22 assists from 89 outings under the German's wing.

Coutinho was sold to Barcelona for an extortionate £146m, a sale which helped to facilitate the £67m arrival of Alisson and £75m signing of Virgil van Dijk.

But, his creativity in the first half of the 2017/18 campaign helped the Anfield outfit score 84 goals despite only finishing fourth with 75 points, with Klopp hailing him as a "genius".

Majer brings that added dimension to the pack, and integrating with such a talented crop of players will only enhance his own prospects of success, with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez all devastating attacking forces.

Much of Liverpool's attacking intent under Klopp's illustrious rule has flowed from the flanks, notably Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, but with Majer pulling the strings in the middle, boosting both the creative and direct threat, the Reds could return to the forefront once more.

Leeds United may lose forward Wilfried Gnonto in the summer if they are relegated from the Premier League this season, according to journalist Pete O'Rourke.

What's the latest news involving Wilfried Gnonto?

As per Football Insider, Leeds United 'will likely be forced to sell' Gnonto if they fall into the Sky Bet Championship and could demand a fee of £40 million in order to sanction his departure.

The report states that there is interest in the 19-year-old from several Premier League clubs while Serie A sides are also alerted to his situation due to his impressive performances for the Italy national team.

Since the arrival of Javi Gracia in Yorkshire, Gnonto has found game-time hard to come by as Leeds United try to salvage their top-flight status (via Transfermarkt).

Gazzetta Dello Sport claim that Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City are among those who hold an attraction towards the Whites' forward heading into the forthcoming transfer window.

The £20k-per-week winger has enjoyed a commendable debut campaign in English football, scoring four times and laying on three assists in 23 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist O'Rourke thinks that Gnonto would look to seek a new challenge if Leeds United suffer relegation.

O'Rourke told FFC: "I think if Leeds were to go down, there will definitely be interest from Premier League clubs and also clubs in Italy I think for Willy Gnonto. I'm sure the player himself wouldn't be too keen on playing in the Championship and would want to continue playing at the highest level possible."

Will Leeds United be able to keep hold of Wilfried Gnonto?

If Leeds manage to stay up, it will be a natural boost in their hopes of keeping the Italian at Elland Road. On the other hand, if they are to get relegated to the Sky Bet Championship, their chances of being able to keep hold of the Italian forward would significantly diminish.

The 19-year-old has been a key offensive threat for the Whites this term and has managed to successfully perform 41 shot-creating actions in 19 Premier League outings, as shown on FBRef.

Of course, Gnonto is still in the infancy of his career and has room to develop further as a player; however, his low centre of gravity, speed and ability to drive at the opposition's backline make him a force to be reckoned with when on form.

For now, at least, all focus at Leeds will be on trying to guarantee their place in the English top-flight next term, before then dealing with the incomings and outgoings that will lie ahead in the summer transfer window.

But the prospect of losing one of their top talents in the summer will provide Leeds fans with a lot of concern ahead of their final five games.

Wolverhampton Wanderers will take on Crystal Palace this evening in a Premier League clash in which a win could be a monumental step towards securing safety for Julen Lopetegui’s men.

After impressive back-to-back wins over Chelsea and Brentford, Wolves suffered a hugely disappointing defeat at the hands of relegation-threatened Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.

However, Wolves still retain a six-point gap between themselves and the drop zone, so a victory tonight would take them above their opponents into 12th position.

Lopetegui is expected to name a rotated team and here is how Wolves' starting XI could look when they take to the field at Molineux this evening.

How could Wolves line up against Crystal Palace?

4-3-3 – Sa; Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Toti; Nunes, Neves, Gomes; Traore, Podence, Cunha.

Sa will start in goal despite having one of his worst performances against the Foxes last weekend when he unceremoniously apprehended Jamie Vardy to concede a penalty, which Kelechi Iheanacho dispatched.

However, the Portuguese has begun every game this term and this poor display is not expected to deter Lopetegui’s faith in him.

Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, and Toti are to make up an unchanged back four. These were the same defenders who performed admirably in the previous two home league matches that starved Chelsea and Brentford of any goals.

Nunes and Gomes will also keep their places, whilst Neves will replace Mario Lemina. The Gabonese sustained a minor hamstring issue in the last outing and the return of Wolves’ prize asset, club captain, and most influential player seems like a formality.

The £38m-rated star was back on the bench for the Leicester game after serving a two-game suspension.

The biggest changes for this team could appear in the frontline. Daniel Podence was surprisingly dropped from the last lineup and could replace Diego Costa in a rotated attack. The £60k-per-week man is the club’s top scorer with six goals this campaign and has created the second most chances in the squad (39) at a rate of 1.15 per 90, as per BBC Sport.

The diminutive winger has been likened to Eden Hazard by retired Premier League striker Darren Bent, due to his effervescent and dynamic profile.

The final Wolves change will see Traore come in for Pablo Sarabia, to provide some more pace and athleticism on the right wing. The former Barcelona man scored the last time the Midlands club faced the Eagles back in October 2022.

Finally, Cunha, who scored the goal last weekend with a coolly placed finish, will be deployed as the lone central striker.

Leeds United have found themselves in a precarious position in the Premier League following their third consecutive defeat against Fulham this afternoon at Craven Cottage, and Javi Gracia will surely be frustrated with his team's performance.

The Whites will have to wait for the outcomes of both Everton and Nottingham Forest's fixtures this afternoon to get a clear indication of how deep in trouble they are in when it comes to the tight relegation battle unfolding, however, tallying up another defeat today does not put them in an advantageous position.

It was a no-frills display for either side in west London, but Fulham took full advantage of Leeds' lack of confidence and poor defensive structure, despite the visitors matching their hosts for possession (50%), having 10 shots on goal and equalling the big chances created throughout.

It was a quiet first half on Thameside with neither side looking convincing or in a position to take the game by the scruff of the neck, however, it wasn't long before Illan Meslier had his confidence challenged when the game resumed for the final 45 minutes.

The Leeds 'keeper would have been feeling the pressure after the humiliating 6-1 defeat to Liverpool earlier this week at Elland Road, so it will come as no surprise that Meslier found himself quickly punished for a mistake that led to an opener from Harry Wilson in the 58th minute which was followed up by another just 14 minutes later from Andreas Pereira.

Indeed, a deflected own goal from Joao Palhinha that was largely created by Patrick Bamford gave Leeds a glimmer of hope in the 79th minute but it wasn't enough to take anything from the game when the final whistle was blown at 2-1.

Whilst Meslier will likely front the brunt of criticism for his errors, there were many players who didn't rise to the occasion this afternoon, with Jack Harrison one of the biggest villains on the pitch for Leeds.

How did Jack Harrison get on vs Fulham?

Earlier this month, the 26-year-old penned a brand new five-year deal to secure his future in West Yorkshire but since then, has done absolutely nothing on the pitch to celebrate becoming a mainstay at the club with uninspiring and lacklustre performances that have contributed to the poor form.

Against Fulham it was more of the same from Harrison and although he was hooked in the 80th minute by Gracia, it was too little, too late to salvage a positive result.

Over his 80-minute performance, the £50k-per-week dud – previously dubbed "frustrating" by journalist James Marshment – completed just 12 accurate passes, lost possession of the ball a whopping 17 times, lost eight duels and failed to complete three of his dribble attempts, as well as being dribbled past three times.

With that being said, it may be time for Gracia to start considering switching up his attacking threat to freshen it up in upcoming fixtures following the disappointing defeat to Fulham and Harrison should be one of the first players to lose his place as his poor form could cost Leeds their Premier League status.

Insider ExWHUemployee has revealed that West Ham United may look to raid three rival Premier League clubs this summer in pursuit of "bargain" transfers.

What's the latest West Ham transfer news?

It's been a funny old season for the Hammers. After all, manager David Moyes has consistently been under the threat of losing his job while the notion of being relegated has loomed large.

However, West Ham are currently four points above the relegation zone despite having played one fewer game than the five of the teams below them, and so look likely to avoid the drop.

On top of that, they could even win the Europa Conference League seeing as they are currently in the quarter-finals and play Gent later this week after drawing 1-1 away from home in the first leg.

If the Irons can end the season on a high, it sounds as though they may look to snap up youngsters from the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal in the summer.

Indeed, while speaking on The West Ham Way Podcast, Ex revealed his understanding of the club's possible transfer plan.

He explained (12:29): “Now there's a number of players at Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal – I think Manchester United as well.

"But particularly Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal that we believe could be bargain signings, as well as players from the Championship, we could pick up a couple of young players that may not get their route through a club like that, but could come to West Ham and really make a success.

"I've been given some names. But for now, I'm gonna hold on to them. Because at the moment, we don't know what league we're going to be in, we don't know whether we're going to be in Europe."

Who will West Ham try and sign this summer?

There is no doubt plenty of talent at the three aforementioned top clubs and while Ex doesn't name specific players, there are some options that immediately come to mind.

For example, Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson has reportedly been offered a contract believed to be worth in the region of £35k-p/w, with his current deal set to expire in the summer.

However, the 23-year-old has only played 107 minutes of league football this term for the Gunners. Seeing as he's delivered three goals and two assists in that time, he may well feel as though he deserves more of a chance to shine.

And so, if he holds off on signing a contract, a team like West Ham could try and swoop in and pick Nelson up on the cheap.

No doubt, their negotiating position on any summer deals such as this will be aided massively if the Hammers are still a Premier League club and have European football to offer.

Manchester City have made an “official” transfer offer for Altay teenager Efe Sarikaya, according to the Turkish club’s technical director Tuna Uzumcu.

What’s the latest on Man City and Sarikaya?

City have had their eye on Sarikaya in recent months, with reports stating that they scouted the youngster prior to the New Year. Labelled a wonderkid by Turkish Football, Sarikaya is 17 years of age and is primarily a centre-back but is also capable of turning out as a left-back if needed.

The Turkey U19 international is currently valued at €425,000 by Transfermarkt and is out of contract with Altay next summer. Sarikaya already has first-team experience with his current employers, making 24 senior appearances for Altay, the majority of which have come during the current campaign, and it looks as if he has caught the eye across Europe.

Sport Witness relayed comments from Uzumcu in the last 48 hours, with the Altay director confirming that they have received “official transfer offers” from City along with La Liga sides Atletico Madrid and Sevilla.

Uzumcu added that the teenager is “open to development”, however, none of the tabled bids have been accepted as of yet.

“Efe Sarikaya is 17 years old and a football player who is open to development. Efe went to England last week and played in the youth national teams.

“Official transfer offers from Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla clubs came for Efe Sarikaya. However, our player is open to development and we have not accepted the offers at this stage.”

Could Sarikaya be a future Man City player?

Director of football Txiki Begiristain is working on a move to bring Sarikaya to the Etihad, and manager Pep Guardiola has shown previously that he isn’t afraid to give teenagers a chance in the first team.

Rico Lewis is a prime recent example, with the full-back scoring on his first senior start against Sevilla in the Champions League back in November. He has been in and around Guardiola’ squad all season, turning 18 last year, so Sarikaya could look to follow in his footsteps at the Etihad.

City will first need to have an offer accepted by Altay and pip Atletico Madrid and Sevilla to his services, but in the long run, it could prove to be a smart piece of business as he already appears to be impressing on the first team stage to catch City’s attention.

Arsenal's imperious form has unsurprisingly led to a rise in stock for many of their players. For a side that narrowly missed out on Champions League spots last season to now be challenging for the Premier League trophy came as a great shock to many, especially given the relative youth of both squad and manager.

However, it is this freshness that likes lends to the astronomical values attached to some of their assets. The fact that the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba are all playing such key roles in a title charge whilst being under the age of 23 is startling.

It is a testament to some fine recruitment throughout the years, in which Mikel Arteta added the final touches in the form of a few key additions and cutting some of the dead wood.

His role in brutally achieving the latter earned specific praise, as he took no prisoners in attaining his long-term goal. The likes of Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were offloaded without a second thought, outlining the Spaniard's ruthlessness.

Perhaps he could look to emulate this manoeuvre once again when this season comes to its conclusion, in an effort to garner extra funds to continue their dynasty at the top of the table.

Whilst there are few he would likely want exiting the Emirates, Kieran Tierney would certainly not be a monumental miss.

How much is Kieran Tierney worth?

In an effort to solve their long-standing left-back issue, Unai Emery swooped for the Scotsman in the summer of 2019 for a £25m fee. He came with a big reputation from Scotland, having thrived at his boyhood Celtic for many years.

It was thought that he would instantly translate his tough-tackling and bombarding play style into English football, but injuries have hampered his career ever since.

Transfermarkt suggests that the 25-year-old, as a result of the various ailments that have plagued him, has been out for a total of 293 days. However, the true figure is likely even higher than that.

As such, across a four-year spell, the defender has only managed 115 appearances for the Gunners. When fit though, the glimpses of his talent often shine through.

For example, across his 22 league appearances last season, Tierney retained a 6.93 average rating underpinned by 0.9 key passes and 2.2 clearances per 90, via Sofascore. This came just a year after Ashley Cole had branded him a "leader" and a "warrior" to Sky Sports (via AFTV), who was priceless to his team. Oleksandr Zinchenko this season has proven otherwise.

It could therefore give way to a potential summer exit, especially considering how his market value has seemingly grown despite a troubled tenure at the club.

Rated at €49.7m (£43.7m) by Football Transfers' expected Transfer Value model, this marks a fine 75% increase for the £110k-per-week ace from his initial fee.

If Arteta needed any more reason to sell, this surely hands him one. To offload a second-string player for such profit marks a no-brainer, and one he must commit to ensure the continued progression of his side.

Everton midfielder Dele Alli is ‘unlikely’ to ever play for the Premier League club again, according to reliable journalist Paul Brown.

Where is Dele Alli?

The Toffees midfielder is currently out on a season-long loan at Besiktas having previously fallen out of favour on Merseyside, but his spell over in Turkey isn’t going as well as hoped, having scored just three goals since his arrival.

Sean Dyche hasn’t yet had the chance to see whether he believes the 26-year-old is capable of forcing his way into his first-team plans upon his return, but he’s never been a player that has appeared to maintain a strong relationship with his managers.

MK Dons’ former boss Karl Robinson has recently admitted that he once pinned the player up against a wall out of frustration over his negative attitude in the dressing room, and with a no-nonsense man like the Blues coach now in charge, it feels unlikely they'd be the best of friends, especially considering the worrying position the club find themselves in.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Brown insisted that Alli won’t be seen putting on the Everton shirt again because extending his stay would have a huge financial impact on the board. He said:

"I don't honestly think that Dele Alli's a huge problem for Everton. The problem for them is when he comes back and what they do with him then. The deal with Spurs was a very good deal for Everton. The problem is that he's only a few games away from triggering another big chunk of the transfer fee, so I think it's incredibly unlikely we ever actually see Dele Alli play for Everton again. I think he's made his last appearance."

Is Alli's career here finished?

Alli was once dubbed a “leader” during his time at Tottenham Hotspur by journalist Josh Bunting, but he certainly didn't make that sort of impact at Goodison Park. In fact, looking at his numbers from his time at Everton before jetting off on his loan, the hierarchy should definitely put him up for sale.

The Adidas-sponsored talent has only ever played 13 games for the Toffees with just one of those being a start, not to mention that he failed to register any goals or assists during that time (WhoScored).

The Milton Keynes-born ace is also earning £100k-p/w so it’s important that he’s removed from the wage bill to help free up money to invest in potential new signings later in the summer, with the upcoming window the last chance to cash in with his contract set to expire in 2024.

Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale appears to know his way about the transfer market, especially considering his first two signings for the Ibrox side have settled in well and look to have given the club a boost.

Nicolas Raskin and Todd Cantwell are just the start for this new era under Beale and the summer transfer window could be an exciting time for the Light Blues.

Indeed, Ross Wilson is clearly planning ahead as the Gers have shown interest in Nottingham Forest defender Jonathan Panzo according to the Daily Record and with Beale having worked with the left back before during his spell at Chelsea, it’s clear he knows his strengths and weaknesses fairly well.

Does Borna Barisic have a future at Rangers?

The interest in Panzo is fascinating as it poses serious questions over the long-term future of Barisic under Beale.

The Croatian defender has been at the club since 2018, and although he is an excellent attacking option going forward, evidenced by seven assists, ten big chances created and 2.4 key passes per game this season, there have been question marks over his defensive ability, especially in the big games.

Against Celtic in September, he was torn to shreds by Liel Abada, losing possession 21 times and Mohamed Salah dismantled him during the Champions League matches between Liverpool and the Ibrox side before Christmas. Beale could secure a decent fee if he decides to sell this summer, and it may well be a thought crossing his mind.

Panzo is currently on loan at Coventry City from Forest and has impressed so far this campaign. He has an average rating of 7.01/10 via Sofascore, keeping 13 clean sheets across 27 matches while making 1.9 interceptions, 2.9 clearances and 1.5 tackles per match, winning 57% of his total duels too, proving his defensive ability is excellent.

He isn’t as effective as Barisic going forward, registering just one assist and creating zero big chances, yet he has succeeded with half of his attempted dribbles and with more experience at a higher level, he will gain more confidence.

Panzo’s former U21 coach at Forest, Dave Rogers has praised the 22-year-old, saying: "He is a great professional. He's enthusiastic and has got good experience and energy too. He brings a great vibe to the dressing room too.

"It's great to see Panzo getting more game time because he seems to be getting better and better each time he plays. It's been fantastic to have him with us and the boys have really enjoyed having him around. He's been great to coach."

The young defender could be an interesting addition to the Rangers squad and over time, may prove to be the dream heir to Barisic.

Tottenham Hotspur have been urged by journalist Pete O’Rourke to make a ‘really exciting’ manager appointment by moving for Brighton & Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi.

The Lowdown: Conte to leave?

In the wake of Antonio Conte’s explosive rant after the 3-3 draw against Southampton on Saturday, journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke has claimed the manager’s position is ‘completely untenable’, however he still remains in the dugout, at least for the time being.

Alasdair Gold has now reported that the Italian has spoken to the board about his outburst, clarifying that his comments were solely aimed at the players, rather than the board, perhaps in an attempt to save his job.

Regardless, the comments will not have been taken lightly by the Tottenham hierarchy, and the club continue to be linked with potential replacements for the summer.

The Latest: O’Rourke hails De Zerbi

In an interview with GiveMeSport, O’Rourke suggested that De Zerbi should be targeted by Spurs in the summer, after his fantastic start to life in the Premier League as Brighton manager.

The journalist said: “I think it’d be a really exciting appointment if De Zerbi was to go to Spurs.

“Obviously the job he’s done at Brighton has been really impressive. You’ve seen it go on another level since Graham Potter. Brighton are now among the top sides in the Premier League and his style of football means he wants to play attacking football, with real slick passing and scoring goals as well.

“So I think that would fit the Tottenham style, which obviously a lot of Spurs fans have not been happy with under Antonio Conte.”

The Verdict: Get it done?

In light of Conte’s recent outburst, the Tottenham board may choose to accelerate their hunt for a new manager, and the 43-year-old could be a very shrewd appointment, given his success so far.

The 43-year-old is one game away from leading Brighton to Wembley in the FA Cup, having masterminded a fantastic 2-1 victory against defending champions Liverpool, while his side are also in contention to qualify for Europe.

The Seagulls are currently seventh in the table, seven points behind Spurs, who occupy fourth place, with a total of three games in hand, so a remarkable end to the season is well and truly on the cards.

De Zerbi is likely to be a man in demand this summer if Brighton have a strong end to the season, but Spurs could be an attractive proposition for him, so long as they are able to secure Champions League football.