All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

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Leicester have made some huge transfer blunders in recent years. Signing Islam Slimani for a club record £29m and Kelechi Iheanacho for £25m are both right up there.

However, they also made a questionable call in selling Andrej Kramaric, which judging by the striker’s form for Hoffenheim this season, appears to be coming back to bite them.

At the moment he’d represent the perfect man to take some of the heat off Jamie Vardy, but unfortunately for the Foxes, he no longer belongs to the Midlands outfit.

After an article surfaced on The Leicester Mercury, the King Power faithful reflected upon what now looks like an awful call to get rid of him.

One fan went as far as describing it as potentially one of the biggest mistakes in Leicester’s history whilst another claimed he’d take the Croatian back tomorrow.

A further supporter suggested the 27-year-old should now be playing up front with Vardy. Another member of the Leicester fanbase labelled him better than Iheanacho.

Kramaric has been in fine goalscoring form in Germany this season, scoring 22 times in all competitions at club level. That included five strikes in the Champions League. Last term he found the net on 13 occasions in the Bundesliga.

Here’s the best of the reaction.

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Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty looks to have played his last game for the club after Thursday reports he is due to return to Glasgow to discuss the terms of his departure from Ibrox.

Clyde 1 reckon that he has already been told by manager Steven Gerrard he will play no part next season and has been instructed to find a new club.

The player is due to join up with the Northern Ireland squad for matches next month but will first hold talks with his advisers and the club to find a way forward, according to the report.

Watch the video below to find out which derbies the Pl>ymaker squad have picked as the most entertaining, fierce and passionate in the world…

Lafferty joined from Hearts last summer on a two-year deal as competition for Alfredo Morelos, although it quickly became apparent he was not good enough to make the step up and impress during his second spell at Ibrox.

Scoring just five goals for Rangers across the season, he was barely used after the January transfer window allowed Gerrard the opportunity to bring in Jermain Defoe.

Fans won’t exactly be disappointed to see him go, with many feeling like he should never have been signed in the first place.

Rangers will need better recruitment this summer as they look to end years of trophy drought and pick up major honours next term.

These supporters have taken to Twitter to share their thoughts on his exit…

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It’s a rumour that has been in floating around for some time, but now it is looking likely that Daniel James will finally complete his move to Manchester United.

The Swansea youngster was a breakout star in the Championship this season, scoring five goals and assisting 10 as the now Wales international put his name on the map.

His form has seemingly won over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with John Percy of the Telegraph reporting that United are close to signing James.

Is the winger worth the hype and the money? Here’s what those in the know think.

Graham Potter – Former Swansea manager

“It’s just clear at a football level,” was what former Swansea manager Graham Potter had to say via BBC Sport when asked if James can go all the way to the top in the game.

The prospect was electric under Potter for the Swans, particularly in the second half of the season.

James impressed in both the Championship and FA Cup, and the now Brighton manager believes that James doesn’t look a beat out of place alongside some of the world’s best.

“He plays alongside Gareth Bale (for Wales) and doesn’t look out of place. You look at his attributes and how he influences games at Championship level. He causes teams real, real problems.”

Joe Allen – Stoke City and Wales midfielder

Winning praise from your peers is also a positive in sport, especially when it’s from those who play for a rival team. And Joe Allen wasn’t afraid to praise his international teammate when speaking to the Daily Mail.

The Stoke City midfielder claimed James’ performance against the Potters was one of the best he had ever seen as Swansea cruised to a 3-1 win back in April.

Allen said: “There, that was the day that probably sealed the potential Man United move. He scored and got two men sent off and caused carnage all game. It was one of the best individual performances I have ever seen as a fellow player.”

Ryan Giggs – Wales manager

One figure in the game who has been full of praise for James in recent weeks is Wales manager Ryan Giggs, who has been giddy with excitement on the prospect of seeing how the Swansea star’s career pans out.

The United legend believes that the 21-year-old is ready for the step-up to the Premier League but it’s not paramount for him to make the switch this summer.

Giggs said via the Manchester Evening News: “He was fantastic in the last six months for Swansea, putting in devastating performances and I think he can play at any level.

“He could play in the Premier League, but if he stays at Swansea for another year or two years I’d be equally as happy because he’s done so well there.”

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s summer revamp is in full swing… at least if you believe the constant speculation regarding incomings and outgoings at Old Trafford. Today’s Manchester United transfer roundup includes Serie A interest in two of the club’s multi-million-pound signings, and a report on an England international United are pursuing.

Roma pursue Fred

According to il Romanista, AS Roma are interested in Brazilian midfielder Fred. The Red Devils paid £52m to Shakhtar Donetsk for the former Internacional player last year, but his first season in the Premier League has not gone to plan, and so the Italian side could offer him a way out. It coincides with the arrival of former Shakhtar boss Paulo Fonseca.

£90m no sweat for Maguire

Despite Leicester City now asking for £90m, United are still interested in Harry Maguire according to the Evening Standard. Whilst this is seen as a huge fee by the club’s hierarchy, Ed Woodward and co have not been put off by the Foxes’ demands. They’re hoping to agree a deal for less than £80m.

Lukaku and Inter agree terms

Inter Milan and Romelu Lukaku have agreed terms, according to Gazzetta Dello Sport journalist Nicolo Schira. The Belgian is Antonio Conte’s top target this summer, and Nerazzurri are prepared to offer €7.5m (£6.7m) a year to the former Everton striker, plus bonuses. United and Inter are still all talks over the transfer details, with United holding out for €70m (£62.4m) for the Belgian.

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Manchester United are yet to fully dip their toes in the transfer waters of this hot summer window. The Red Devils have, however, cast their eyes on the out-of-favour Real Madrid superstar, Gareth Bale, if the reports from Mirror are to be believed. But the catch is in the decision to try and acquire the Welshman on loan rather than making his signing permanent. The same source suggests season-long loan with an option to extend the deal by a further 12 months is on the cards with a supposed £480,000-a-week contract, putting him neck to neck with the highest Premier League earners. Even though the deal has a nice ring to it, here are two reasons why it’s actually a big mistake.

A loan makes no sense for Manchester United and suits Real Madrid better

On the face of it, a loan is a win-win scenario for both, right? It would seem so – Real get rid of their outcast and Manchester United get their test run with the player, having an option to opt out if it doesn’t work. So what’s the problem? There are several, actually. Let’s say that Bale arrives on a loan and lights up the Premier League once again. Excellent, the deal was a success but now Real Madrid want him back and won’t let the Welshman go. Why would they part with a player that’s regaining his form and would be a great addition to the team?

Even if Manchester somehow convince them to sell, with Bale’s new-found form, the price tag suddenly skyrockets and Ed Woodward will easily have to add additional funds to get the deal over the finish line. The same thing happens in the case of the Welshman being bang average during his one year stay at Old Trafford. He was not that good, and Real Madrid still want to sell, but he was also not that bad so the price jumps again.

The final scenario, the one that sees Bale fail at United, is rather self-explanatory. In that case, you send him right back and you’ve spent a fortune in wages that you cannot recuperate through a sale since he’s not your player but rather a loanee. For those reasons alone, this deal makes little sense for the English side. Either buy him or leave him in Spain and that’s it. Besides, indulging Real in their cries and helping them out with their Bale-sized problem should not be Manchester United’s worry.

Watch a Man Utd fan’s epic Ed Woodward rant in the video below…

Bale is a luxury but not a necessity

Manchester United have already burned themselves with a similar deal that involved Alexis Sanchez, a player that became their top earner but flopped hard in the end. We all know how injury prone Bale is and his appointment would be a huge risk, especially when you factor in his ridiculous wage demands that were mentioned above. But that’s not even the biggest problem in this scenario. Even if he is signed, he will come as a panic buy, a luxury that will aim to appeal to the fans’ outcries and ease the tensions.

But Bale, while still a top player, doesn’t fit the needed profile at the club. United actually have enough wingers, especially with their recent purchase of Daniel James, who’s been signed for a position Bale usually occupies on the pitch. With their big rebuild in process, the Red Devils should focus on signing players that are a necessity rather than a luxury.

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West Ham United are interested in a move for free agent Emmanuel Adebayor, according to The Sun.

What’s the story?

Adebayor’s exit from Istanbul Bashakshehir by mutual consent was announced last week after three seasons with the Turkish club.

The Sun reckon a number of English clubs, including West Ham, are now exploring the possibility of bringing him back to the Premier League, with him famously playing for Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur in the past.

The paper say that the Hammers consider the 35-year-old veteran as a potential replacement for Andy Carroll who will officially leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the month.

Who is your club’s worst ever January signing? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have picked theirs in the video below and they didn’t disappoint…

A viable striking option?

Adebayor’s spell in Turkey was actually half decent, with the player scoring 28 goals in 76 appearances for the club.

However, he managed just four goals last season, form that recalls his final couple of campaigns in the English top-flight when he failed to impress at Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace.

The Togo international managed just two goals in 2013/14 with Spurs before scoring a solitary goal for Palace in the subsequent season.

Now even older and even further away from his peak years at Arsenal, there is little chance of him making the kind of Premier League impact that West Ham will be looking for next season, even as back-up.

The report comes across as a silly season transfer link and that’s exactly how it should be treated at the Hammers, who must eye better quality recruits this summer if they are to move up the table.

“I will be keeping (number) 41 for this season.” In seven words and one number, Declan Rice allowed West Ham fans to breathe a massive sigh of relief.

Rumours of the England international departing east London this summer have been rife for the past few months as Manchester United have long been interested in the 20-year-old midfielder, with the Metro going as far as to say the Red Devils were in talks with West Ham over the transfer of Rice, but with the youngster tweeting that he will be retaining his kit number for next season, it seems to have all but confirmed his status as a Hammer for another year.

Rice excelled in the West Ham XI last season, making the second most recoveries out of any player in the Premier League in the 2018/19 campaign according to Squawka and seeing his valuation on Transfermarkt jump from £9 million to £40.5 million, and with Rice now staying on at the London Stadium for another year, it is now up to Manuel Pellegrini to build the side around him.

As one of the most highly-rated youngsters in world football, it is unlikely West Ham have a player as good as Rice in their academy presently, meaning they need to keep hold of him for as long as possible.

Favouring a 4-1-4-1 formation, Rice tends to operate at the base of the midfield and rarely ventures forward unless an opposition team allows him to do so, and the England international has made a solid reputation out of himself as a good anchorman in the West Ham XI, and this can be helped with good hardworking and creative midfielders ahead of him in the centre of the park.

Pellegrini has dreams of taking West Ham to Europe in the near future via football.london, and if the Irons boss opts to build the team around Rice, then that goal could become a reality.

West Ham fans, should Pellegrini build the team around Rice? Let us know!

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While the start of July means the start of the new season for most, Georginio Wijnaldum is still in holiday mode after Liverpool’s Champions League triumph, enjoying himself and relaxing over in Miami, USA.

The Liverpool star and hero of the Reds’ semi-final win over Barcelona actually met up with Divock Origi and the tandem shared an

/BzVy5fRolRd/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link” data-lasso->Instagram snap to celebrate their reunion in Florida. The Belgian of course scored the other two goals in the mauling of the Catalan club, and also secured the result in the final with a stunning low finish.

Naturally, the fans were all over it as the two Reds heroes exchanged some words and messages among themselves in the comment section below.

Origi just responded with a series of emojis to show some support to his friend as they enjoy what’s left of their holidays before the pre-season training kicks off.

The 2019/20 Premier League campaign is set to start in August with Liverpool pulling up the curtain on the new season against Norwich City at Anfield. The runners-up for the title last season will definitely be on the lookout for some more silverware come next year.

Watch Liverpool Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to French journalist Manu Lonjon, Wolves have positioned themselves with Saint Etienne with a view to signing defender William Saliba.

What’s the word?

Wolves are yet to sign anyone in the transfer window but it looks as though they could be targeting young players with high potential.

They’ve already been linked with a move for Monaco’s Benoit Badiashile but now they’re after another up and coming Ligue 1 centre half.

Journalist Lonjon has claimed that they’re making a late move for 18-year-old Saliba, who has been touted with a move to Arsenal for most of the summer.

The Mirror reported last month that the Gunners were planning a bid for the player and more recently, ESPN suggested they were set to win the race for his signature.

However, Lonjon now claims Wolves are trying to hijack things after Arsenal made a second approach.

Watch Wolverhampton Wanderers Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Sign of intent

Arsenal’s pursuit of the young French defender seems to have been going seamlessly but if Wolves were able to prise him away from under their noses it would be a huge sign of intent and would demonstrate their ability to compete with the top sides.

Nuno Santo’s men showed last season that they were able to defeat the big teams on the pitch, taking 16 points from those who finished above them in the Premier League.

However, signs are starting to appear in terms of their ability to compete in the transfer market too.

Wolves have come a considerably long way in the two years Nuno has been with them.

They’ve gone from being a mid-table Championship outfit to now competing in Europe. As they gear up for the 2019/20 campaign, they’ll be playing in continental competition for the first time since 1980.

The fact they’re even in the conversation to sign Saliba, therefore, is quite something and shows just how far they’ve come.

Gareth Bale to Wolves? Wolves Fan TV discuss how ambitious Nuno Espirito Santo will be this summer in the video below…

This is a player who was once highly rated by one of the best manager’s of all time in Jose Mourinho. Speaking to The Metro in May, he said: “I think he has everything needed to become a good player, much like Kurt Zouma, who I signed.”

It’s a glowing endorsement from the Portuguese who has clearly seen good things from Saliba and it’s a review that should have Wolves salivating over a potential move.

Arsenal look close to getting a deal over the line but if the Molineux-based side can convince him to join them instead, it would be one of their boldest statements yet.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to Calciomercato, Crystal Palace are monitoring AC Milan striker Fabio Borini with a view to making a move for the former Liverpool and Sunderland man this summer.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Eagles have been linked with the once-capped Italy international along with newly-promoted Aston Villa, although the aforementioned report states that no offer has yet been made for Borini.

The 28-year-old struggled last term with only three goals in 29 appearances for the Italian giants – Milan are said to want at least €15m (£13.5m) for the former Roma forward, which is slightly ambitious given his awful goal record.

If Palace sell Wan Bissaka and Zaha, will they be in another relegation battle? One fan gives his opinion in the video below…

Calciomercato believes that Borini likes the idea of moving to Palace, but talks need to continue as they are only at an early stage right now.

Yet another goal-shy forward for Palace

The south-London based side are no strangers to having a goal-shy forward in their ranks.

As previously mentioned, Borini hit just three goals last season and only managed to score 16 goals in 111 Premier League appearances for Liverpool and Sunderland.

They have persisted with Christian Benteke for years now, a man who netted just one goal last season and has just four goals over the course of the last two campaigns.

Additionally, the Eagles have Connor Wickham in their side, a man who hit just one goal last term, whilst Jordan Ayew only mustered up two goals – forgotten man Alexander Sorloth also only netted once before being loaned out in January.

Roy Hodgson absolutely cannot bring another forward scared of finding the net on a regular basis to Selhurst Park.

The Eagles need firepower. Someone who can take the attack by the scruff of the neck and find the back of the net a few more times than only once or twice a season, as that seems to be all their current options can muster up.

Goalscorers don’t grow on trees or else every club would have one, but Palace can’t afford to have more ineffective strikers on their books right now.