All posts by z3u9t.icu

Arsenal have largely enjoyed a successful start to the summer window, tying up a move for Kai Havertz amidst pressure from Real Madrid, and then battling off Manchester City to secure a deal for Declan Rice.

Even Jurrien Timber's imminent signing marks a massive success, given the strong interest Manchester United showed in the Dutchman last summer before opting for Lisandro Martinez.

Therefore, it could be argued that Mikel Arteta's sole failure of the window thus far was failing to tempt Ilkay Gundogan to also join his revolution.

The German international, whose contract was due to expire this summer, was unsurprisingly coveted by plenty of Europe's elite. Pep Guardiola wanted him to re-sign, whilst Barcelona were also in the race for the man who had just captained his side to an infamous treble.

Despite the Gunners continuing to be linked too, it was instead the Catalan giants who convinced the 32-year-old, with his switch to Camp Nou confirmed just last month.

It was a missed opportunity to secure a serial winner, and a top-quality technical operator who could have further improved a system that helped the north London outfit lead the Premier League title race for so long.

However, such has been their intelligence in the market already, an alternative has cropped up who arguably boasts far greater value given the longevity promised should they acquire Gabri Veiga from Celta Vigo.

Whilst his reported €40m (£34m) price tag might prove a stumbling block, the 21-year-old would help fill that advanced central midfield role for potentially the next decade, with Arteta able to morph the Spaniard in his image.

What type of midfielder is Gabri Veiga?

Last season for the Cityzens, Gundogan featured 51 times across all competitions. Despite having enjoyed finer goalscoring seasons in the past, it felt like few had been as important as the ones notched on their way to the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League titles.

As such, his tally of 11 goals and seven assists underpins a legendary campaign for a man who will go down in history at the club.

However, his importance to Guardiola's system was not solely tied to these figures, as his intelligence and ability to retain possession helped enforce their stranglehold on possession throughout matches.

Their revolutionary philosophy was largely upheld through his presence beside Kevin De Bruyne, as a floating central midfielder to link play and pop up in between the lines.

As such, when compared to other midfielders across Europe, the former Borussia Dortmund maestro ranks in the top 12% for pass completion and the top 4% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, via FBref.

He would accept the ball in tight areas, and still keep the play ticking over.

Although Veiga has enjoyed a far more all-action term for his boyhood club, there is precedent to believe that he could easily be moulded into such a role, given the assets he already boasts.

Having recorded 15 goal contributions last season in La Liga, already the figures are comparable to Gundogan's. However, he too ranks in the top 11% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, suggesting this ability to float into space and take possession.

Such an ability to ghost into these areas even led journalist Euan McTear to brand him "dangerous" when speaking to Zach Lowy about his form.

Combining this with the 77% pass accuracy in the league, that can easily be improved upon, and those attributes that made Gundogan so successful are all there for Veiga to work with too.

Despite his price tag being far more than the free transfer they could have got, this Spain U21 international would arguably mark better business given the bright future he boasts.

Liverpool have been strongly linked with a move for Romeo Lavia this summer and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the midfielder ahead of next season.

How much will Romeo Lavia cost?

According to Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool are in "concrete" talks to sign the Southampton midfielder.

Plettenberg took to Twitter to reveal: "Talks between Liverpool & Lavia are concrete and ongoing. Understand there is no agreement in terms of salary conditions yet.

"As reported: His price tag is around £50m Klopp wants him! Very press-resistant player – even in high-pressure situations, he loses the ball only once out of 10 times."

It was reported earlier this week that Liverpool were prepared to wait to sign Lavia in a bid to convince Southampton to lower their expensive £50m asking price for their player, however, it is looking like the recently relegated club are not willing to budge on their valuation.

As a result, FSG must sanction the move and put their trust in Jurgen Klopp to develop Lavia into another superstar that can bring more success to the Merseyside giants in the future, just like the German coach has done many times before.

How good is Romeo Lavia?

The Reds have already secured deals for two explosive attacking midfielders, with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai both joining the squad at Anfield, however, bolstering the deeper roles in the midfield set-up would be advantageous.

There has been mounting speculation that Thiago Alcantara could be making an exit this summer; the Liverpool star is now in the last year of his contract and interest could present an opportunity to cash in, paving the way for Lavia to replace him.

When comparing the positional peers' outputs over last season, the Saints talent came close to Thiago in several key attributes including pass completion rate (86.2% v 86.2%), progressive passes (102 v 120), blocked passes (22 v 22), shot-creating actions (41 v 41) and aerial duels won (41.2% v 36.8%), as per FBref.

The Manchester City academy graduate has already started to earn high praise for his influence at St Mary's, with former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes lavishing Lavia with compliments on his deep-lying playmaking skills:

"He has got a pass in his locker and he is big and strong and likes to defend. He does not want to get forward too much and sits in front of the back four and sets the play in motion from there."

Whilst Rio Ferdinand also had a positive opinion on the player:

"He is a young player who can do both sides of the game, equally good defensively but also once he is one the ball he has tremendous feet and can pass it."

Fabinho and Stefan Bajcetic have returned to pre-season training and are expected to stay at the club for next season, so should Thiago depart in the coming weeks it would make more sense for the Belgian midfielder to replace him whilst Bajcetic continues to compete to be the successor to his Brazilian teammate.

With that being said, the signing of Lavia would be a big addition for Liverpool in their pursuit build a midfield for the future and if Lavia can continue his development he could be an incredibly valuable Thiago replacement.

Newcastle United are believed to have been handed the opportunity to sign Atletico Madrid winger, Yannick Carrasco, with the 29-year-old currently facing an uncertain future in the Spanish capital.

What's the latest on Carrasco to Newcastle?

According to the Chronicle's Lee Ryder, the Magpies have been suggested as a 'possible destination' for the Belgian this summer, with the 5 foot 11 ace said to be 'unsettled' in his current home.

As Ryder notes, Mundo Deportivo reported last week that the St James' Park outfit were among the clubs who have been offered the chance to acquire the one-time Monaco man, with a fee of around €19m (£16.3m) having been moted.

According to Ryder, while Atleti are believed to be keen to keep hold of the experienced wideman, the La Liga side would seemingly not stand in Carrasco's way if he could find a new home ahead of next season, with just a year left to run on his existing deal.

Should Newcastle sign Yannick Carrasco this summer?

It is seemingly understandable that Diego Simeone's side would be reluctant to part ways with the 66-cap international this summer, with Carrasco having enjoyed a positive 2022/23 campaign in which he chipped in with ten goals and five assists in 44 games in all competitions.

That tally of 15 goal contributions was only matched or bettered by Miguel Almiron (15) and Callum Wilson (23) among those in Eddie Howe's squad last season, indicating just what an astute capture it could be to bring the versatile ace – who can also feature at wing-back – to the Premier League.

Any fears over whether the £125k-per-week marksman – who boasts a haul of 91 goals and assists in 263 games across all fronts for his current side across two spells – can replicate that form in English football could well be eased by his apparent likeness to Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, according to Opta's Player Radars.

The duo are notably alike due to their willingness to impact proceedings and hurt the opposition at the top end of the pitch, with the pair both ranking among the very best in Europe's top five leagues for touches in the attacking penalty area.

Equally, the two men also share the ability to offer a real creative threat from the flanks, with Carrasco – who has been hailed as "complete" by Simeone – ranking in the top 20% for chances created while Saka ranks in the top 12% in that regard, ensuring that the Belgian could provide quality service to the likes of Wilson and Alexander Isak.

In the case of the Gunners ace, the Englishman has utilised his creative brilliance to lethal effect of late having registered 11 assists last season, as well as proving rather clinical in his own right after chipping in with 14 goals from his 38 top-flight outings.

The 21-year-old – who only recently bagged a hat-trick for the Three Lions against North Macedonia – has proven himself to be a truly "exceptional" talent for both club and country of late, according to national team boss Gareth Southgate, with it likely to be a coup if Howe can find his own version of the fleet-footed wizard.

While Carrasco – who typically operates on the left wing – would not represent a long-term option due to his age, the Magpies would certainly benefit from having his Saka-esque brilliance on the flanks next season.

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is plotting moves to improve his squad after the club finished in the bottom half of the Premier League table last term.

The Argentine head coach has been appointed as the long-term replacement for Graham Potter after Frank Lampard saw out the season on an interim basis, and is reportedly looking to bolster his options in the middle of the park.

It was recently reported by the Daily Mail that the Blues are planning to step up their negotiations with Brighton & Hove Albion to land central midfielder Moises Caicedo this summer.

They stated that the club have already had one offer of £60m rejected by the fellow top-flight side and that the Seagulls are hoping to rake in a fee in excess of £80m for the Ecuador international, although it remains to be seen whether Chelsea are willing to match their demands or not.

However, with Manchester United now reportedly turning their own attention to Caicedo, Pochettino could be forced to change his plans. That may well prove fruitful though if they sign a "monster" – as he was described by journalist Benjy Nurick – in Romeo Lavia from relegated Southampton.

What is Romeo Lavia's style of play?

The Belgian defensive midfielder is a reported transfer target for the Blues, although Arsenal are said to be leading the race for his signature at this point in time, and is available for a fee in the region of £50m.

This means that the club could snap him up for as much as £30m less than the Brighton star, which has the potential to be a terrific move by Chelsea as the Saints youngster is two years younger and has shown great potential in the Premier League.

In the player radar below, as provided by Opta, Caicedo clearly excels at winning possession back for his side and Lavia is a player who has displayed similar destructive attributes.

These metrics indicate that both players are able to be defensive anchors for their respective teams in the middle of the park as they are capable of consistently breaking up opposition attacks at Premier League level.

The Southampton star has averaged 3.77 tackles and interceptions combined per 90 over the last 365 days for his club and this stacks up well against the Brighton enforcer's 4.48 tackles and interceptions in the same period. In may not be quite as many as Caicedo, but Lavia has won more blocks and made more clearances per 90 than the Ecuadorian.

Therefore, he could well be an excellent alternative to Caicedo as, at two years younger than the 21-year-old, he has already proven himself to be a defensive force in the top-flight of English football.

Lavia is a proven performer and, at the age of 19, has plenty of time left ahead of himself to develop and improve with Pochettino's coaching.

Liverpool are reportedly willing to pay big money to sign Internazionale's Nicolo Barella this summer and his club are seriously worried about losing their superstar midfielder.

Which midfielders are Liverpool linked with?

The Reds really struggled in the middle of the park throughout last season, with far too many players either below their best or unavailable because of injury, whether it be Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Thiago, Curtis Jones, Naby Keita or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

It is essential that major additions are made in that area ahead of next season, and with Alexis Mac Allister already brought in from Brighton, the early signs are certainly promising.

The likes of Khephren Thuram, Manu Kone and Romeo Lavia have all been linked with moves to Liverpool, and Barella is another whose name has been thrown into the mix in recent months. Now, a new update further suggests that the £154,000-a-week Italian could be a genuine target for the Reds this summer.

Are Liverpool signing Barella?

According to Il Tempo [Paisley Gates], Liverpool are willing to pay as much as £68.7m to sign Barella in the coming weeks, seeing him as a great option to bring in and bolster their midfield. It is reported that Premier League clubs are believed to be keen on continuing their "looting of Serie A", which is where the Reds' interest in the Inter star is mentioned.

Manager Simone Inzaghi is believed to be "trembling" at the thought of losing one of his most prized assets, with Liverpool happy to go big on Barella, spending the same amount as Newcastle are on Sandro Tonali in the process.

Barella could arguably be about the perfect midfield signing for Liverpool this summer, possessing all the attributes that Jurgen Klopp loves in his players. He is supremely gifted technically, registering six goals and assists apiece in Serie A last season, but he is also hard-working, averaging 1.9 tackles per game in the Champions League in 2022/23, as Inter reached the final.

At 26, he is a player at the peak of his powers, and should be for the foreseeable future, and Liverpool snapping him up and slotting him into one of the No.8 roles would be ideal.

Former Reds striker Peter Crouch recently said the Italy star has "got great feet, (is) tenacious as well and is decent in the tackle", while Klopp himself is clearly a big fan after he called the midfielder "top class".

Brendan Rodgers is now in his second stint in charge of Celtic after the club confirmed his arrival on a three-year deal to replace Ange Postecoglou this week.

The Northern Irishman won seven trophies in less than three years, between 2016 and 2019, during his first spell in Glasgow and will now be hoping to replicate that success this time around.

He will be able to use the current summer transfer window to bolster his squad and ensure that the team is capable of playing in his 4-2-3-1 system but the experienced coach will also be able to enjoy some of the extremely talented players who are already at his disposal.

Could Jota thrive under Brendan Rodgers?

Rodgers has a player at Celtic who could be his next James Maddison in the form of Jota, whose quality was described as "scary" by former Hibernian forward Tam McManus, with the Portuguese talent potentially set to thrive next term.

The Hoops boss worked with the England international during his time at Leicester City and enjoyed great success in deploying the ex-Norwich ace as an attacking midfielder or out wide on the left.

Maddison racked up 49 goals and 33 assists in 166 matches for the 50-year-old gaffer. He also averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.32 across 35 Premier League outings in 21/22, which was their last full season together, and contributed with 12 goals and 11 'big chances' created.

Jota primarily plays off the left flank and is able to cut inside onto his favoured right foot, in the same way that Maddison did when he was asked to play there by Rodgers.

The £17k-per-week hotshot, who pundit Alex McLeish once dubbed a "revelation", could be the figurehead of the Celtic manager's attack, akin to how the English maestro was for him at the King Power, based on his form for Postecoglou in 22/23.

Scottish Premiership defenders should be scared of the 24-year-old dynamo after his incredible performances in the season just gone as the number 17 produced 11 goals and 11 assists from 13 'big chances created' across 33 league outings.

The exciting ace, who averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.45, also caught the eye during the 21/22 Premiership campaign as the forward scored ten and assisted ten in 25 starts, proving that his 22/23 contributions were not a flash in the pan.

These statistics show that the ex-Benfica prodigy has the quality required to carry the attacking load in terms of both goalscoring and creating in the final third, which is exactly what Maddison did – as shown by his form under Rodgers at Leicester.

Indeed, it is clear that the 50-year-old head coach may already possess his next version of the mercurial Foxes star.

Aston Villa are reportedly eyeing a Serie A ace, in a signing that could significantly improve Unai Emery’s side.

The Villans are due to have a busy summer, with Monchi unveiled as president of football operations, the Spaniard has thrived alongside the Villa coach in transfer windows prior.

A host of talent has been linked to Villa Park already, with the latest being a notorious name in Europe.

What’s the latest on Hirving Lozano to Aston Villa?

As reported by Football Insider earlier this week, Aston Villa are showing ‘attention’ to Napoli winger Hirving Lozano.

The report claims that the Mexican has been ‘shortlisted’ as a ‘top target’ for Emery, who could be available this summer with just one year remaining on his contract in Naples.

Transfer expert Pete O’Rourke added that the Midlands club are seeking attacking options that can ‘slot’ into the first team set-up.

What could Hirving Lozano bring to Aston Villa?

Praised as being a “beast” by former Pachuca sporting director Marco Garces, the 27-year-old has been explosive for both club and country over the years of his career so far.

In 383 domestic career appearances, the Mexican has contributed to 184 goals through scoring 113 and assisting 71, as well as finding the net 17 times for his country in 64 caps, via Transfermarkt.

With it being reported in Spain that the player has a fragile relationship with the Napoli board, a move could be on the cards this summer in news that could excite those at Villa Park.

Back in January, Emery admitted his desire to seek a “specialised winger”, something that Lozano could provide him with in abundance, excelling in skills necessary for a dynamic wide player in the Premier League.

As per FBref, the Napoli gem averaged 2.13 successful take-ons per 90 in Serie A this campaign, notifying his strengths in carrying the ball and providing an added threat to the final third from the flank.

Likened to Lionel Messi by Marcel Brands, via football.london, who scouted the talent during his time at PSV, the electrifying wide player could be a perfect asset to Villa particularly if deployed alongside Youri Tielemans.

Villa confirmed their agreement to sign the Belgian from Leicester City following the expiry of his contract this summer, gaining a player with innate creative ability and one hailed a “phenomenon” by former Anderlecht man Pär Zetterberg for his silky play in midfield.

The 26-year-old offers a threat to those ahead of him through his passing attributes, as highlighted by his numbers in the Premier League this season.

As per FBref, the former Foxes sensation averaged 1.15 key passes per 90 in Leicester’s depleted side as well as recording an average of 6.49 passes into the final third per 90, placing him in the top 8% of Premier League midfielders to do so.

The combination of the Belgian’s passing and play-making abilities paired with the £85k-per-week technician’s strengths on the flank, Emery could unearth a significant boost to Villa’s attack by combining the two.

Celtic are searching for a new manager following the departure of Ange Postecoglou, and former Rayo Vallecano boss Andoni Iraola is set to apply for the job, according to a recent report.

Who is Andoni Iraola?

After spending the vast majority of his playing career with Athletic Bilbao, Iraola took his first job in management in 2018, being appointed by AEK Larnaca, however he spent just 29 games in charge of the Cypriot side, before being sacked.

The Spaniard went nearly two months without a win in his first managerial role, however CD Mirandes took a chance on him in 2019, and he proved his worth, leading the club to the Copa del Rey semi-finals for just the second time in their 92-year history.

After spending 49 games at the helm of Mirandes, the 40-year-old has since been with Rayo Vallecano, after having an approach from Leeds United blocked last season.

However, The Mail + now report the young manager has rejected a contract offer from Vallecano, and he will throw his hat into the ring for the Celtic job, but he is not the only candidate in the running.

It is also detailed that Graham Potter, Jesse Marsch, and Kjetil Knutsen are all under consideration, with the Celtic hierarchy recently drawing up a list of candidates to replace Postecoglou.

The board are in no rush to make a swift appointment, as they would rather prioritise making sure they get the right man for the job.

Should Celtic appoint Iraola?

Not only did Iraola make history with Mirandes, the Spaniard did a fantastic job in charge of Rayo Vallecano, leading them to an unlikely promotion to La Liga, against the backdrop of COVID disruptions, injury issues and the club's failure to pay the players.

After regaining their place in the Spanish top flight, Vallecano had a very solid season, eventually finishing in 11th place, having never looked like they in any real danger of being relegated.

Journalist Nick Emms has branded the former Rayo Vallecano boss a "Bielsa disciple", making reference to his "high-tempo, high-pressing style", which can be compared to the system Marcelo Bielsa adopted to great effect in charge of Leeds United.

Given that Postecoglou was also known for his attacking style of play, it may be important for Celtic to appoint a successor who implements a similar system, and Iraola could end up being a perfect replacement.

Newcastle United reportedly now ‘want’ to sign Jules Kounde in what would be a club-record move this summer.

The Lowdown: January bid

As per Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness), the St. James’ Park faithful ‘offered’ Sevilla as much as €70m (£59.3m) to try and sign Kounde in the January transfer window, but a move never materialised.

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That would have been a club-record deal, and now it seems they are going to try their luck again in the summer.

The Latest: Wanted

According to Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness), the North East club still ‘want’ to sign Kounde, and are now a ‘rival’ to FC Barcelona for his signature.

However, the La Liga giants cannot afford to pay his €90m (£76.3m) release clause, which could well open the door for the Tynesiders.

The Verdict: Difficult

With teams like Barcelona weighing up a move for Kounde, there is no doubt that he will be a wanted man this summer, and so the Magpies may find it difficult to persuade him to join without any European football to offer.

Dubbed ‘world-class’ by former Tottenham Hotspur and England international goalkeeper Paul Robinson, the France international has played in the UEFA Champions League this season, and will be next term should Sevilla get a point in their last match of the league campaign.

Nonetheless, he is only 23 years of age, and may not feel like a move to the Toon suits him at this stage of his career.

In other news, find out which £36m-rated star NUFC could now sign for free here!

Liverpool could sign Bayern Munich star Serge Gnabry in a swap deal with Sadio Mane this summer, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.

The Lowdown: Mane linked with exit

On Monday, Mane was linked with a surprise exit in the summer transfer window, with Bayern believed to have spoken to his representatives over a possible move.

The Senegalese superstar is out of contract at Liverpool in 2023 and the Bundesliga giants see him as a primary transfer target, especially with Robert Lewandowski potentially moving on.

Another key aspect of this update is also doing the rounds, though, now suggesting Liverpool may not be looking just for cash…

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The Latest: Gnabry to come in?

According to Sky Germany’s Plettenberg, Liverpool are considering a swap deal with Mane and Gnabry, bringing in the Bayern winger as their current superstar’s replacement.

The former Arsenal man has enjoyed an impressive spell in Germany, scoring 64 goals and registering 40 assists in 170 appearances, as well as winning the Champions League in 2020.

The Verdict: Good player, but no thanks

While Gnabry is an outstanding player in his own right – Rio Ferdinand has hailed him as both ‘phenomenal’ and world-class’ – it would still be preferable for Liverpool to keep hold of Mane.

Granted, he is three years older than the Bayern hero, but he is an incredible physical specimen, meaning he should still be a top-level player well into his 30s.

Mane has only just started to thrive in a new central role under Jurgen Klopp and it would be a huge blow to see him decide to move on now.

If a swap deal did happen however, Gnabry would certainly fit the bill, given his pace, directness and end product, but the hope is that it won’t come to fruition.

In other news, James Pearce has dropped a key Liverpool transfer update. Read more here.