All posts by h716a5.icu

Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard is reportedly set to raid former club Liverpool for the signing of defender, Joe Gomez.

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Star (via the Express), the Midlands side are said to be ‘pressing ahead’ with their move to bring the 25-year-old to Villa Park, having been heavily linked with a deal this summer.

The report suggests that Gerrard is a ‘huge fan’ of the England international and is readying a £30m bid in order to try and tempt the Merseyside outfit into a sale, with the player facing a ‘dilemma’ over whether to stay at Anfield or depart.

Despite falling down the pecking order under Jurgen Klopp in recent times, the Reds boss is believed to be keen to keep the former Charlton Athletic man at the club for the long-term, with two years still to run on his existing deal.

Imagine him and Ake

The 11-cap colossus has undoubtedly endured a difficult period in recent times after falling out of favour for both club and country, having once been tipped to be the Three Lions’ next Bobby Moore by pundit Garth Crooks.

Having missed almost the entirety of the 2020/21 campaign after suffering a knee injury while on international duty, the £16.2m-rated brute was then restricted to a viewing brief again last term, making just four Premier League starts – all of which came as a makeshift right-back.

With Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate ahead of him in Klopp’s centre-back pecking order, the £85k-per-week star has somewhat fallen by the wayside of late, with a departure perhaps best for all parties.

Not that Villa would be acquiring a busted flush, however, with the London-born defender having previously been instrumental in Liverpool’s title triumph in the 2019/20 campaign, notably averaging 0.8 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and 2.1 clearances from his 28 league outings.

Once dubbed “one of the most underrated players in the Premier League” by John Barnes, Gomez is an undoubted talent who is simply in need of regular game time, something that the Villans would seemingly be able to offer.

He could well be joined at the club by Manchester City man Nathan Ake, with the 27-year-old believed to be of interest to Gerrard and co this summer, as the club targets a new left-sided defender.

Those two potential new arrivals could potentially form a hugely exciting and destructive defensive pairing, with Ake perhaps another in need of more action to truly showcase his impressive talent.

Even with his involvement limited under Pep Guardiola – making just 14 league outings last term – the versatile Dutchman still compares favourably to his peers across Europe’s top five leagues, ranking in the top 4% for progressive carries, as well as in the top 13% for aerial duels won.

Two players comfortable in possession but that can defend first and foremost, the duo could well provide an instant upgrade to a squad that shipped 54 top-flight goals last term – the tenth-worst record in the division.

Signing both may seem fanciful – having already brought in Diego Carlos – although with doubts over the futures of both Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa, a double swoop from NSWE could well be what is needed.

AND in other news, Lange eyeing Villa move for £30m “goalscoring machine”, he’d be their own Darwin Nunez

Wolves could reportedly make a move for Paris Saint-Germain striker Mauro Icardi this summer.

The Lowdown: Icardi out of favour at PSG

The 29-year-old has struggled to be a success at PSG, having traded Inter Milan for the Ligue 1 giants back in 2020.

Icardi made just ten starts in the league last season, with the star-studded trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe invariably preferred in attack.

The Argentine’s current PSG deal expires in the summer of 2024, but he could be on the move imminently.

The Latest: Wolves linked with surprise move

According to Calciomercato [via Sport Witness], Jorge Mendes could be a key to making a move to Wolves happen, with PSG happy to ‘get rid’ of Icardi this summer.

Wanderers ‘could be a possibility’ for the striker, given the ‘very solid relations’ that Mendes has with the club.

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The Verdict: Worth the gamble

While Icardi has been a disappointment in France, he is still a striker of undoubted pedigree, having scored 124 goals in just 219 appearances for Inter. Across his whole career, the Argentina international has racked up 204 goals for club and country.

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He is someone who could be a marquee signing for Wolves, bringing quality and unpredictability to the attack, once being hailed as ‘world-class’ and ‘almost impossible to mark’ by Giorgio Chiellini.

There would be a risk element to the signing given his dip last season, but Icardi is someone who could add much-needed goals in the final third and improve everyone around him at Molineux if he finds his best form.

Whether or not he is happy to move to a club not playing in Europe remains to be seen, but this is certainly an exciting rumour to keep an eye on this summer.

Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips has been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain this summer.

What’s the news?

According to the Daily Mirror’s recent live transfer updater (17 June, 20:24), the French club “have made a formal approach” to Leeds to sign the midfielder.

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The report continued: “The French giants have contacted Leeds to see how much it will cost them to prise the England ace out of Elland Road. Leeds are desperate to keep hold of the midfield ace but know a bid in the region of £55m would be difficult to turn down.”

Marsch will be gutted

The 26-year-old has also been recently linked with a move to Premier League champions Manchester City, with a report from The Athletic claiming that both Leeds and Man City believe that an offer for the Englishman will arrive soon.

Now that PSG have also registered an apparent interest in signing the midfield star, this could further increase the chances of seeing him depart Elland Road this summer, which would surely leave Jesse Marsch gutted.

A product of Leeds’ youth system, the 26-year-old has gone on to make 234 appearances for the club across all competitions.

In addition to being a boyhood Leeds fan and helping the club get back to the Premier League after a 16-year absence, Phillips’ presence in the team over the past two seasons has also shown why there would be so many supporters gutted to potentially see him leave.

The 2020/21 season saw the Yorkshire club lose seven of the nine league games that he missed, while in the following campaign they lost 12 of the 18 league games that they played without the midfielder in their team.

This highlights just how much of a problem it could be for Marsch to take the team forward without Phillips, if the player is sold.

However, having recently secured the signing of Marc Roca, this could at least offset the blow for Leeds and their manager should the Whites end up striking a deal with City or PSG for the England international in the coming weeks.

If Leeds do end up selling the local hero before the 2022/23 campaign kicks off, the recruitment and coaching staff will need to ensure that the team is capable of carrying on without the midfielder.

In other news: Leeds now eyeing “complete” £25m “Rolls-Royce”, he’s the perfect Phillips replacement

Rangers have yet to receive an ‘official bid’ for defender Borna Barisic, according to The 4th Official.

The lowdown

Turkish outlet Fanatik reported at the weekend (via Ibrox News) that an offer had been made for the Croatian left-back.

It came from Trabzonspor, who are said to be one of the three Turkish Super Lig outfits showing an interest in the 29-year-old.

The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell is unsure whether Barisic will deem that league ‘the right challenge’ but says that the player could leave ‘if the right bid comes in’.

The latest

The 4th Official tweeted on Sunday evening: “As of right now, Rangers have not received any official bid for Borna Barisic.”

They stated via Patreon that ‘two separate sources have confirmed’ this, but it remains to be seen whether or not a concrete offer arrives for the 29-year-old in the coming days and weeks.

The verdict

Barisic is valued at £5.4m by Transfermarkt and still has two years remaining on his £18,000-per-week contract, so Rangers should be able to bank a healthy sum to inflate their transfer budget.

He has played 155 games for the Gers, commendably providing 35 assists from left-back in that time, in addition to seven goals. James Tavernier, the man on the opposite side of Rangers’ defence and no slouch himself in terms of setting up goals, has called him a ‘quality’ player with an ‘unbelievable’ delivery.

However, there have also been concerns raised about Barisic, with the Croatian accused of ‘sleeping’ in a 1-1 Old Firm draw in May.

Should the 29-year-old leave Ibrox, Calvin Bassey is capable of taking over the left-back role, with John Souttar potentially slotting in alongside Connor Goldson in the heart of defence.

In other news, a football finance expert is stunned by these Rangers allegations

Former Aston Villa forward Gabby Agbonlahor has made a transfer claim on the club’s interest in Luis Suarez.

The Lowdown: Suarez links

Steven Gerrard has been extremely busy ahead of his first season in charge, completing deals for Philippe Coutinho, Boubacar Kamara and Diego Carlos.

However, he doesn’t plan to stop there, with recent reports from The Telegraph stating that Villa are exploring a move for Suarez after the 35-year-old was released by Atletico Madrid.

Villa correspondent Gregg Evans revealed on Wednesday that the club are still ‘weighing up a move’ for Suarez.

The Latest: Agbonlahor’s comments

Agbonlahor, who contributes for Sky Sports, was talking to Football Insider after hearing about Villa’s interest in a move for Suarez.

He feels that a move could materialise for the Uruguayan to provide some competition to Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings, providing Suarez doesn’t ask for a ‘crazy’ wage.

“It depends on wages.

“I don’t see Villa paying Coutinho wages on Suarez, I don’t think they would do that. If the wages aren’t crazy then I don’t see why not.

“Adding an experienced striker like Suarez for a season, why not? Gerrard knows him well, he’ll get the best out of him.

“Villa need a bit of help up front. Watkins is a top player and Ings is a top player but you need a couple more strikers in there for some competition up there.”

The Verdict: Possible?

With no transfer fee involved, there is no reason why Villa and Gerrard can’t get a deal over the line for Suarez.

However, like Coutinho agreed to, you’d expect that Suarez would have to lower his previous £263,000-a-week wage for there to be any chance of a Premier League return.

Coutinho took a 70% pay cut but is still on £125,000-a-week in the Midlands, something Villa may well be open to offering Suarez, who has scored 69 goals in 110 Premier League games.

In other news: Sky Sports: Villa and Gerrard already now prioritising a fourth target; NSWE are closing in. 

The Athletic’s Rangers correspondent Jordan Campbell has detailed the latest financial situation at Ibrox, as Giovanni van Bronckhorst prepares for his second season in charge of the Teddy Bears.

The Gers have obviously endured their fair share of financial issues in the past but Campbell suggests that they are in a good place right now and should find themselves ‘in the black’ in the near future, so long as they can earn a spot in the Champions League group stages next season.

Van Bronckhost’s side narrowly missed out on an automatic group stage place when they lost on penalties against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League semi-final last month but will be hoping to replicate their strong European performances when they enter the qualifying stages at the third round next month.

Things were looking bleak for the Ibrox outfit in the wake of the pandemic as they posted £23.5m in losses but after a full season of capacity crowds, Europa League runs and player sales, they are back in a strong position.

Campbell confirmed that, if Rangers do fail at the qualifying stage, then a player may need to be sold in order to balance the books.

He writes:

“It is thought that with the money generated from the sale of Nathan Patterson to Everton (although it isn’t all up front), the compensation for Gerrard and his team joining Aston Villa and the Europa League revenue, it will see Rangers in the black for the first time in over a decade.

“That is where they need to be, but they also need to put a winning team on the park — and that means there will be movement this summer.”

Supporters will no doubt be glad to hear that their club is in a strong financial position and will be hoping that Champions League qualification allows them to be active in the summer transfer window.

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If the worst happens, then Rangers have a number of saleable assets including Ryan Kent, Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo, so there seems to be little danger of the Ibrox outfit slipping back into the red.

And, in other news… Rangers dealt transfer blow, Gerrard will be gutted

Tottenham Hotspur could sign Gareth Bale 2.0 this off-season…

What’s the word?

According to The Mirror, Antonio Conte is set to make Eintracht Frankfurt wing-back Filip Kostic his first summer signing at Spurs as part of a £150m spending spree.

Both the Italian head coach and sporting director Fabio Paratici are said to be keen to invest in his consistency, whilst the Express recently claimed that the north Londoners had scouts in attendance as the Bundesliga outfit clinched the Europa League over Rangers last week.

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Meanwhile, the very reliable Alasdair Gold of football.london has seemingly confirmed their interest, as he revealed on his YouTube channel:

“I know certainly that they’ve got a lot of interest in Eintracht Frankfurt’s 29-year-old Filip Kostic – their left wing-back, so that’s one they’re going to look at, they’re going to try and sign.

“I think there’s a lot of interest in him, but we’ll see. I think there’s a growing confidence that he might be someone that they can bring in this summer.”

He could be available for just €15m (£12.5m).

Bale 2.0

Indeed, the Serbia international has been a mark of consistency over the years, delivering the goods for Frankfurt since 2018.

Kostic finished the season as Oliver Glasner’s highest-rated player in the German top flight, averaging a WhoScored rating of 7.11, only further emphasising his ability to impact games week in, week out.

He bagged seven goals and provided 13 assists across the Bundesliga and Europa League, playing at left wing-back, and those returns far usurp all of Conte’s current wide options in defence combined.

Across the last three domestic campaigns, the 29-year-old has proved to be a major creative influence, averaging at least 2.4 key passes per game, on top of a minimum of 1.4 tackles per game.

Interestingly, Kostic has earned comparisons to Bale throughout his career. After all, the Welsh legend started his career in the very same role before transitioning into a lethal presence in the final third.

Dubbed a “mentality monster” by team-mate Kevin Trapp and described as having an “outstanding ability” by Glasner, the £18m-rated machine would evidently be a fantastic upgrade to Conte’s squad.

He is practically the perfect fit for what the Italian is trying to achieve in N17, and for just £12.5m, Paratici and co would be foolish to not pay it.

AND in other news, Kane eyeing new Spurs contract in big Conte boost…

Aston Villa remain interested in signing midfielder Yves Bissouma from fellow Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion, according to journalist Fabrice Hawkins. 

The lowdown: Villa interested in Bissouma

Initially linked during the January transfer window, a report from The Athletic claimed that Steven Gerrard would return with a swoop for the Mali international in the summer.

Since then, the Villans have added versatile French ace Boubacar Kamara to their squad as NSWE look to back the manager in his quest to take the club to the next level.

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Despite the ex-Marseille midfielder’s arrival, it appears that a move for Bissouma could remain in the offing…

The latest: Villa ‘still there’ for Bissouma

Taking to Twitter, reputable French journalist Hawkins discussed the possible interest from AS Monaco in the Brighton colossus, as well as the ongoing admiration from Villa Park.

Translated from French, he said: “To replace Aurélien Tchouaméni, Monaco is thinking of Yves Bissouma. The Brighton midfielder has several offers. Aston Villa is still there. ASM is in the process of completing the sale of Aurélien Tchouaméni. It still blocks on the transfer fee.”

The verdict: Statement signing

During the 2021/22 campaign, the 25-year-old Brighton enforcer scored twice and provided a further two assists in 28 appearances across all competitions in a disjointed season interrupted by injuries and Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Overall he earned an impressive 7.07 Sofascore rating whilst winning 5.6 duels and making 1.9 interceptions and 1.8 clearances on average per top-flight match, demonstrating a particular competency in the defensive facets of a midfielder’s game.

With the futures of Douglas Luiz and Bodymoor Heath academy graduate Carney Chukwuemeka up in the air, Gerrard may certainly be hoping to bolster the central midfield options at his disposal in the coming weeks.

With Bissouma heading into the final 12 months of his contract on the south coast (Transfermarkt), signing the 18-cap star – who was dubbed ‘world class’ by former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour – could well be a statement signing by Villa to add to the captures of Kamara and Philippe Coutinho already this month.

In other news: NSWE now eyeing another defender; Villa chiefs sent to club after Gerrard approves

Liverpool are set for some changes this summer when it comes to their squad with some players out of contract and a reliable source has given an update on one transfer that will divide the opinion of supporters.

What’s the latest?

According to Liverpool reporter for The Athletic James Pearce, Divock Origi has now agreed on terms with AC Milan ahead of his contract expiry at Anfield this summer.

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Pearce wrote in an article for The Athletic that although a contract has not been signed as of yet, the Liverpool striker has come to an agreement on personal terms in a deal that will see him join the Italian club.

It comes after Origi failed to make enough appearances to trigger an extension clause on Merseyside, which means he will be free to leave this summer and now AC Milan are looking like the most likely club to secure a move for the player.

Supporters will be gutted

There is no doubt that Origi has become a cult hero at Liverpool despite being a fringe player. He has provided some of the biggest and most iconic moments during his time at the club and supporters will surely be gutted to see him leave this summer after eight years.

For the Reds, the 27-year-old has scored 41 goals and contributed 18 assists in 175 appearances, but it’s not his tally of goal contributions that has put him in the hearts of the supporters with his influence in big moments stealing the spotlight.

Origi scored one of the most iconic goals in the club’s recent history when Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped in a fast corner to land on the end of the striker’s foot against Barcelona in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final at Anfield, scoring the fourth and final goal to send Liverpool through to the final where they went onto win the entire competition.

Another reason he is so adored by the red side of Merseyside is that in the Premier League, the Belgian goal machine has scored 27.27% of his league goals against their fierce local rivals Everton, with his most recent winning goal coincidentally coming from the Merseyside Derby last month.

With that being said, it is no wonder that supporters would be gutted to see him leave the club this summer with the striker offering important goals and important moments in one of Liverpool’s most victorious periods over the last few years.

AND in other news: Klopp eyeing £150m “wonderkid” who “suits Liverpool’s style”, it may be bye-bye Salah

Liverpool have taken their Premier League title challenge with Manchester City down to the last day of the season after taking all three points from St Mary’s last night.

Jurgen Klopp made the decision to rest key players like Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold for their penultimate league game after a tough 120 minute FA Cup Final on Sunday against Chelsea where the club picked up their second trophy of the season.

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Luckily for the German coach his decision to rest players paid off. Although the game was tight between the two teams, Liverpool pulled through and prevailed in their efforts winning 2-1.

Despite the tight scoreline, the Kopites dominated in every area of the game with 71% possession, 20 more shots, over twice as many accurate passes and winning more duels than Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side on Tuesday evening.

The goal-scoring started with Southampton taking an early lead when Nathan Redmond found the back of the net in the 13th minute of the game, but it wasn’t enough to hold off Liverpool’s FA Cup and Carabao Cup top scorer Taki Minamino who delivered a defiant response by equalising in the 27th minute.

In the second half, the hosts struggled to contain their visitors and Joel Matip managed to put one past Alex McCarthy in the 67th minute to kill the game and ruin Manchester City’s Premier League title party and take their title chances all the way to the final day of the season.

One player who didn’t get on the scoresheet but remained resilient and put on a solid performance to become Klopp’s unsung hero in the game was James Milner.

According to SofaScore, the 36-year-old midfielder was supreme in possession, making 123 touches, 86 passes, six key passes and successfully delivering 100% of his long balls.

The former £150k-per-week England international was also superb from a defensive point of view, winning 80% of his duels whilst making four tackles, one interception and producing a clearance, proving that he was a huge presence in the centre of the pitch.

With those kinds of statistics in mind, it’s hardly a surprise that writer Taj Ali took to Twitter to describe the veteran as a “beast.”

The Liverpool vice-captain is currently negotiating a new deal with the club after Jurgen Klopp reportedly wants to keep the former Man City star at the club for next season, and spoke out on Klopp and his current contract situation recently in an interview with Alan Shearer for The Athletic:

“He’s one of the very best managers in the world and if he wants me here for another year, it would be silly not to play, wouldn’t it?”

The Merseyside giants will have to hope Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa can steal the game from Man City on Sunday if they have any chance of winning the league but Klopp’s side have done their job in making sure they can stay involved with the challenge which is all the manager can ask from his side ahead of their Champions League final clash with Real Madrid at the end of the month.

AND in other news: Liverpool eyeing bid for “complete” £36m-rated colossus, he’s even better than Fabinho…