All posts by h716a5.icu

Manchester United set to renew interest in Leicester City defender Harry Maguire in a big summer spending spree

Sources have revealed to ESPN that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is ready to tempt Leicester City into selling Harry Maguire with a big money bid this coming transfer window.

It is genuinely no surprise that United are returning to the man Jose Mourinho identified months ago as one of his top transfer targets considering they have managed a pathetic seven clean sheets so far this season.

According to the report, United were priced out of a move last summer by Leicester who valued their World Cup hero at a mammoth £80 million, and Solskjaer will likely need to pay even more this season with Brendan Rodgers surely keen to keep hold of his star man as he looks to build for his first full season in charge at the King Power Stadium.

Should United successfully bid for Maguire, or any other targets including Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly, it would likely mean one of their current defenders leaving Old Trafford.

On paper this may look like a disaster for the Leicester faithful who, should Maguire leave, will be left with Wes Morgan as their only starting centre-back. However, with such a huge sum expected to be splurged on the player from the United camp, Rodgers will have a strong financial foundation from which he can transform the team into one of his own.

Clearly, Maguire is good. But he’s not that good. Yes, the memories of England’s 2018 World Cup journey will always be there but it’s not as if the former Hull City ace is always dominating top-level strikers in the Premier League and has barely covered himself in glory this season.

Indeed, should Leicester play this one right, they could quite easily extort hugely inflated bids from the Red Devils this summer, who are desperate to change their fortunes. Surely that can only be a good thing, right?

Leicester fans, would losing Maguire to Manchester United really be that much of a disaster? Who and where would you like to see the money reinvested? Join the discussion by commenting below…

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The Premier League has been in existence for almost 30 years.

We’ve been blessed to see the likes of Dennis Irwin, Gary Neville, Lauren, Branislav Ivanovic, Ashley Cole and many more as the importance of a full-back on the field, especially in attack, increases every season.

They all had fully fledged careers at the top level, but one man (if you can even call him that) has bettered their attacking output in just his third full campaign in senior football: Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Has Solomon Rondon had a better season than Bobby Firmino? Matt from The Magpie Channel discusses in the video below…

At just 20 years of age, the Liverpool academy graduate has recorded 12 assists in the Premier League this term, grabbing two more on the final day against Wolves to ensure the record was his.

What we’ve seen from the England international this season has been nothing short of sensational. His bravery in trusting his outstanding technique at the highest level of the game, hitting inch perfect cross-field switches and setting up chances for his teammates has been a joy to watch.

His Einstein moment against Barcelona – one of two assists on the evening –  will always be remembered by the Anfield faithful; Jurgen Klopp described it as ‘one of the most genius moments I will ever see in football as long as I am alive’.

Big praise indeed.

Alexander-Arnold is doing things that even the iconic names above couldn’t manage from an attacking perspective. His range of passing, vision, execution of the ball, timing of the pass; everything.

What’s scary is that he will definitely get better. We’ve seen moments of weakness from a defensive point of view which he will undoubtedly be able to improve on in years to come, and the sky really is the limit for the youngster when he begins to nail that side of the game down.

He could very well become one of the all-time greats, a regenerated Dani Alves if you will, and certainly the greatest attacking full-back we’ve seen in the Premier League.

Liverpool have got one hell of a player of their hands; the academy that produced the likes of Steven Gerrard, Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen looks to have churned out yet another gem.

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Gary Lineker has claimed that Mauricio Pochettino knows Tottenham Hotspur must splash the cash this summer, per The Times.

What’s he said?

Spurs last signed a player in January 2018, when they secured Lucas Moura from French giants PSG.

The club, despite their self-imposed transfer ban, have finished in the Premier League top four and reached the Champions League final, where they will play Liverpool in Madrid on June 1.

Nevertheless, Lineker, an ex-Spurs striker, claims that Pochettino told him of the club’s need to invest in the squad.

He said: “He’s a very engaging character, clearly massively knowledgeable, insightful on the game, and he’s clearly one of the best managers or coaches in world football.

“But they do need investment, he said that to me himself. And he needs to be backed. I suspect, if he’s not backed, they’ll probably find it quite difficult to keep hold of him. So it really is a seminal moment for Tottenham.

“They’ve got to decide what they are. Yes, they’ve got a great new stadium, which perhaps halted expenditure to a degree, but whether they’re going to move forward and be a club that can compete in other Champions League finals, rather than just a one-off against all the odds, remains to be seen.”

Smash through the ceiling

Lineker is spot on; Tottenham stand on the precipice of something truly magnificent.

Winning the Champions League would go a long way to matching Leicester City’s Premier League triumph but that is the next question: can Spurs go on and topple both Manchester City and Liverpool in the top-flight?

Without investment, the answer is clearly no.

But if chairman Daniel Levy believes that Pochettino can mould this side into challengers every single season, he has to put his hand in his pocket.

There are numerous players out there who can come in and potentially take Spurs to the next level but will Levy pay the money?

One thing is for sure: Spurs’ rivals certainly will. Tottenham have to start following their lead.

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Federico Pastorello, the agent of Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku, has revealed why he thinks the Red Devils will have a lot of ‘success’ in the summer when signing new players. 

What’s the word, then?

The Italian told Sky Sports: “I think Manchester United will have a lot of success in the summer bringing in players.

Will OGS still be in charge of Man Utd come next May? The Flying Pig discusses in the video below…

“There will be a lot of work for Mr Woodward but they will be able to convince the top players to come because the brand is amazing, one of the best in the world.”

Pastorello’s main client, Lukaku, is set for talks with the club to discuss his future at Old Trafford after a disappointing season in which he hit just 12 goals in the Premier League.

His lethargic performances have drawn criticism from United’s supporters in the campaign just gone, and we all know the Belgian international is capable of better.

Pastorello’s comments highlight what’s wrong with United

The former Everton man’s agent said he believes United will be able to convince top players to come because ‘the brand is amazing’, which sums up everything that is wrong with the club right now.

If top players are only arriving at the club because of the ‘brand’, then the Red Devils may just end up with more mercenaries such as Paul Pogba, whose own announcement video upon rejoining the club was a partnership with adidas; his and United’s partner.

Currently, United need to move away from being a brand, and focus more on attracting players who fit a particular vision, strategy, ethos; all of that.

If United and Ed Woodward go into the summer thinking they’ll be okay because players will be attracted to the brand, they are going to be stuck with a number of square pegs in round holes who hoover up a chunk of the wage bill with little success on the pitch.

They need to find players who are motivated to put their life on the line for the club, and ones who appreciate the prestige of Man United and are willing to run through brick walls for them; not players who are happy to just make it out on to the pitch so their clothing line does alright.

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Late on Sunday night, The Daily Mail reported that Dubai based billionaire Sheik Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan had concluded a £350m deal with Mike Ashley to buy Newcastle United.

The closest working representative told the paper that a deal was in place but Luke Edwards of the Telegraph has since quashed those rumours on Twitter, revealing that nothing had actually been agreed.

The update from Edwards consequently left Newcastle fans incredibly upset after they initially thought they were finally about to get rid of Ashley.

One supporter said it was the most inevitable tweet of the day, something which is indicative of the lack of trust between the St James’ Park faithful and the club’s owners.

Another fan explained that it was typical distraction tactics whilst a further supporter said that the attention would now have to turn back to Rafa Benitez.

Given the relationship between Ashley and the Toon Army, the reaction was hardly surprising.

Here’s what they’ve been saying in more detail…

We all know what you’re thinking, Rangers fans. No one wants to see James Tavernier leave Ibrox this summer, or any summer for that matter. However, the 27-year-old has been too good not to turn heads this season, and as Football Insider links him with an Aston Villa switch, a recently released Villa man could be a fitting Tavernier replacement.

It’s not the rumour you want to see ahead of a busy summer, we know that, but if Tavernier makes the move to trade in the captain’s armband at Ibrox for a shot in the Premier League south of the border, Alan Hutton could be the man to replace him. The 34-year-old was released by Aston Villa after their promotion was confirmed, and with a few years left in him why shouldn’t Ibrox be next?

The chances are that if Hutton did make the switch, as Andrew Dickson has claimed Rangers should try and make happen if they lose Tavernier, then he wouldn’t bring the same amount of goals. The 2018/19 campaign was one in which Rangers’ skipper could not stop scoring. His 57 games brought 37 combined goals and assists, and whilst Hutton can’t bring those numbers, he certainly has a wonder-goal in his locker.

For proof of that, all you need to do is have a look back to his strike in the second city derby against Birmingham back in November. ‘The Scottish Cafu’, as he’s affectionately known in Birmingham, bagged the best goal of his career in that game, and if Steven Gerrard brings him in he can be just as good defensively as Tavernier whilst still offering a bit of bite going forward too.

Rangers fans, do you think Hutton would make a good Tavernier replacement? Let us know and comment below!

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is interested in making a move for Leicester City attacking midfielder James Maddison this summer, per the Daily Mirror.

What’s the word?

Spurs are set for a major windfall after reaching the Champions League final and finishing in the Premier League top four.

With their funds boosted, Pochettino could embark on something of a spending spree this summer and he is said to admire the talent of Maddison, who has made a first-team breakthrough at Leicester this season.

The 22-year-old missed just two Premier League games and scored seven goals while providing seven assists.

His form earned him a call-up to the England squad for Nations League group games against Croatia and Spain, though he did not make his debut, instead remaining on the bench.

The Mirror report that Leicester would want a significant profit on the £22.5million they paid to secure his signature, with Spurs aware that they may have to fight off significant competition to secure a deal.

The ideal Eriksen replacement

Spurs’ interest in Maddison comes as Real Madrid are monitoring a move for Christian Eriksen.

And it certainly appears that the Englishman would be the perfect replacement.

Per WhoScored, the Foxes star averages 2.8 key passes per game in the Premier League, along with 2.3 shots and 1.4 dribbles. He has a pass success rate of 83.8% and is an adept free-kick taker; he scored three goals from dead ball situations in 2018-19.

Eriksen, by comparison, averages 2.5 key passes, 2.4 shots and just 0.5 dribbles. His pass completion rate is 81% and he scored one free-kick, on the final day against Everton.

A move for Maddison would be a like-for-like replacement but it could also improve Spurs’ attacking midfield ranks – the statistics show that he might well already be a better player than the Denmark international.

After securing a sixth European Cup for Liverpool in what could be the set-up to an era-defining campaign, Jurgen Klopp obviously needs to have his future secured if Liverpool are serious about challenging and overthrowing Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

Klopp has completely changed the culture at the once sleeping European giants. From fan support and engagement to on-field performances, much has been turned around in Klopp’s 4 and a half years at the club.

Clearly, the 51-year-old has come in and replaced mediocre players with young and hungry stars willing to die for his brand of football. And where the stars such as Steven Gerrard, Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez haven’t been directly replaced with like-for-like signings, their quality as a collective has been improved and they’ve been turned into leaders, namely a certain Jordan Henderson.

That’s not to say there haven’t been big-name signings, obviously, but there is a method to the spending not so evident amongst other top European clubs.

As well as improving a poor squad, Klopp has engaged the fan base. Videos emerged of Klopp enjoying the celebrations and almost falling off the open-top bus as Liverpool paraded their sixth European Cup through the streets of Liverpool, with mass messages of hilarity and love towards the man and his attitude. His fist pumps and chest-beating has made him a legend among Liverpool fans, increasing both belief and support at Anfield.

Off the field, Klopp has spent wisely with acquisitions from lesser European teams to create a dynamic squad that most of Europe surely fear by now. Indeed, the make-up of the squad and teams the German had signed them from is a staggering level of scouting knowledge. From lowly Bundesliga club, Hoffenheim to relegated Premier League club, Hull City, Klopp has invested in players many managers, even Pep Guardiola, may look to and turn their noses up at.

So reports from the Press Association via This is Anfield that the club’s FSG owners are keen on extending his stay at Anfield will naturally have gone down a storm. It’s a love story that just can’t end anytime soon and any agreement to build on a campaign that saw him deliver the club’s top prize would be one of the Liverpool-related stories of the summer.

It’s clear for all to see that Jurgen Klopp remains the key component in the well-oiled machine that is Liverpool Football Club. To tie down the German is key, as it would fend off many of Europe’s giants. However, after witnessing the chemistry between Klopp and Liverpool, it’s hard to imagine the man leaving the club, as a matter of fact, we can see the German living a long life in the Anfield dugout.

Reds fans, just how pleased would you be to see Klopp extend his stay at Anfield? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

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Leeds United are seemingly in the market for a new number 10 with Harry Wilson and Luke Freeman both strongly linked with a move to Elland Road.

The Whites have been looking for a new attacking midfielder as it seems clear that Samu Saiz is on his way out of Elland Road permanently.

With United already linked with a number of different wingers, if they signed Wilson it is likely that he would be seen as a Saiz replacement after showing he can play through the middle on several occasions for Derby last campaign.

Their stats show how brilliant they’ve been in the past 12 months, but they also reveal which player United should prioritise signing.

The first thing that stands out is the discrepancy between the number of goals each player put away. Wilson heavily outscored Freeman last year, netting nine goals more than the QPR man.

His assist tally makes up for that though as he created more than the Welshman. The number of assists the 27-year-old crafted would have been higher had it not been for some poor finishing from his teammates, as he made two key passes per game.

Compare this to the 22-year-old who was playing alongside the likes of Jack Marriott and Martyn Waghorn, and you can see why the assist tally is so close despite there being a gap in the number of key passes each player makes.

The number of times each player was dispossessed is also telling. Wilson is seemingly the stronger dribbler and the smarter passer out of the pair as he was dispossessed only 0.7 times per game compared to his counterpart’s 2.7.

It’s clear that the pair are two of the most supremely talented players in the division, but for Leeds the Liverpool man is just a better fit.

The stats clearly show that Freeman is more of a playmaker while the Wales international is more of a goalscoring threat.

Creating chances hasn’t been a problem for Leeds but finishing them has, so if Marcelo Bielsa’s side were to sign one of these players then it would be the former Derby man who would solve more of the issues the Argentine’s team have been susceptible to.

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Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds will be hoping they can earn promotion to the Premier League next season after heartbreak last campaign, and they will likely need new signings to do so. So far, however, it has been a quiet transfer window, and today’s transfer roundup brings nothing in terms of incomings. Instead, we bring you news on two potential outgoings and an update on a youngster the Whites are set to miss out on.

Chartlon to sign Bonne

According to londonnewsonline.com, Charlton Athletic are set to sign Leyton Orient striker Macauley Bonne for £200,000 deal. Leeds had previously led the race for the 23-year-old, but the Addicks are now close to confirming the Zimbabwean international.

Ideguchi set for Japan return

Yahoo Japan are reporting that Yosuke Ideguchi could be on his way back to his homeland. Gamba Osaka are reported to have made an offer for the Japanese international, who never played for the Elland Road outfit, instead spending time on loan at Cultural Leonesa and Greuther Fürth.

Fulham want Forshaw

Midfielder Adam Forshaw is a target for Fulham according to the Daily Mail. With Jean Michael Seri and Andre-Frank Anguissa expected to depart, Scott Parker is looking at Forshaw to come into his midfield. Forshaw made 44 appearances for the club since signing from Middlesborough in JanuaBry of last year for £4.5m.