All posts by z3u9t.icu

Everton defender Michael Keane faces a fight to regain his place in Carlo Ancelotti’s starting line-up after Ben Godfrey delivered a masterclass at Leeds United.

Ancelotti made the surprise decision to axe Keane for the Blues’ trip to Elland Road on Wednesday night, with it only the second time all season that the 28-year-old has not opened a Premier League fixture.

Godfrey, in contrast, has proven to be the Italian’s versatile weapon since his £20m move last summer, with it only the fourth occasion that the former Norwich City enforcer kicked off a top-flight game in the heart of the Toffees backline to date.

Godfrey was joined by Yerry Mina in the starting line-up against Leeds and turned in a sublime display between them, to consistently thwart a Whites side that mounted endless pressure on Robin Olsen’s goal.

Mina continually headed clear the danger posed by United’s stream of corners, and rediscovered his composure after a momentary crack to close to within four points of the top-four places.

Godfrey was sublime throughout in West Yorkshire, with the centre-half rarely putting a foot wrong despite the seemingly endless pressure applied on the 23-year-old. He further provided the assist for Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s goal after heading on Gylfi Sigurdsson’s corner to the far post.

Ancelotti even admitted he was surprised at how well Godfrey had performed against Leeds and all season, as the Italian could only wax lyrical over the York-born beast.

“Godfrey played really, really well as a centre-back,” the Everton boss said, via quotes by the Liverpool Echo. “I am really, really surprised about his performances because all the time he’s always there, playing 100%.

“He’s fast, he’s intelligent, he’s strong. I’m really pleased, really pleased.”

Godfrey recorded among the most touches of the ball by any Everton player who featured at Leeds on Wednesday with 44 and completed 23 of his 28 passes, only Abdoulaye Doucoure (38) and Andre Gomes (33) found teammates more often, per WhoScored.

The versatile £77,000-per-week titan further made seven clearances – only Mina (11) directly dealt with danger more – offered a joint team-high two interceptions, was never dribbled past, took possession with his only tackle and won his sole aerial duel of the game.

Keane has averaged 0.7 successful tackles a game in the Premier League this term from 1.0 attempts, while breaking up opposition play with 1.4 interceptions, wins possession in the air 2.7 times from 3.8 duels, is dribbled past 0.3 times and keeps things simple for 4.3 clearances.

The £65k-p/w England international likely now faces a fight with Godfrey to regain his place in the starting line-up, despite Ancelotti lauding Keane for his consistency just last month.

“Michael this season is really good, really consistent, he never made a mistake,” Ancelotti told EvertonTV.

AND in other news, Carlo Ancelotti faces a continued problem in a £9m man after Everton’s January transfer failings…

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to tie down Edinson Cavani on a new deal at Old Trafford and says he’ll sit down and “speak with him in the near future.”

What’s the word?

Cavani, 34, is currently free to leave the club at the end of the campaign unless he is offered a new contract by Ed Woodward and co, amid reports he is considering the next steps of his career.

The former Paris Saint-Germain striker has been in impressive form for the Red Devils since joining from the Champions League runners-up on a free in October.

However, his current £200k-per-week deal only runs until the summer, but Solskjaer has made it clear he wants to trigger an extension.

When asked about Cavani, who turned 34 earlier this month, the club legend was effusive in his praise for the veteran centre-forward and admitted he has been impressed by his performances.

Talking about his contract situation, Solskjaer said:

“I can only say Edinson has done well. I’ve been impressed by him, he’s really gelled in the group.

“We’ll sit down and speak with him in the near future to see his plans and our plans. It’s a good discussion to have. We always speak to the players.

“And, with his contract situation at the moment, we’re very pleased with what he’s done.”

Get it done

Cavani, who is valued at £10.8m by Transfermarkt, has been Mr Reliable for the Red Devils this season when it comes to goals and assists.

In his sole campaign so far, he’s averaged a solid 0.4 goals per 90 in the Premier League, which is more than the likes of Anthony Martial (0.2) and Mason Greenwood (0.1), respectively.

He’s also still averaging 1.4 shots per game in 17 top-flight appearances despite playing for a team that does not look quite at their best. United may sit second in the table, but domestically they have only won one league game in their past five fixtures.

Former United striker Diego Forlan himself has made it clear just how important he has become to Solskjaer’s side. He said:

“I’m very impressed. It’s a different situation to [Luis] Suárez [at Atletico Madrid] as he had a six-month break without playing. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is doing a great job and giving him the minutes to thrive.

“He has an important role in the team and is helping the young players at a great club to settle in. He’s helping the team fight for titles which is very important.”I’m confident he will keep getting the minutes, and with his physical strengths, I think he can continue playing for many years.”

With an average WhoScored rating of 6.67, Cavani has continued to impress at Old Trafford, with only Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford scoring more goals than him in the Premier League this season.

If United have to pick one player to extend their stay at the Theatre of Dreams, Woodward shouldn’t blink twice before offering him a new deal. It really is that simple.

Cavani’s extension must be a top priority as Solskjaer continues to build a Red Devils side finally capable of challenging for silverware, they don’t come as illustrious and experienced as the six-time Ligue 1 and Champions League runner-up.

AND in other news, Manchester United could look to sell Phil Jones if they sign a replacement this summer…

After clinching a superb 1-0 victory over Leeds United at Elland Road at the weekend, Aston Villa make the trip to Sheffield United on Wednesday night.

Dean Smith’s side took home all three points thanks to a first-half goal from Anwar El Ghazi, and with tonight’s opponents currently rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table, back-to-back wins is very much on the cards.

The Villa boss could look to freshen things up slightly both in midfield and in attack, and with that in mind, below is a look at how Smith’s side might line up when they take on the Blades.

In goal, Emiliano Martinez can close the gap on Manchester City shot-stopper Ederson in the race for the Premier League’s Golden Glove award, with the Argentine just two clean sheets behind.

The back-four should also remain unchanged, with veteran full-back Ahmed Elmohamady once again filling in for the injured Matty Cash.

Both Marvelous Nakamba and Jacob Ramsey – who was outstanding in particular against Leeds – should keep their places in midfield, but January signing Morgan Sanson is surely now pushing for his first start in the top-flight after yet another cameo at the weekend.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the game against Sheffield United, Smith said: “If you throw people in they can find it hard very early and it can hamper them for the rest of their progression. I’ve been lucky I’ve been able to feed him in gradually but he’s certainly ready to start games now and I know we’ve got a very good player on our hands.”

And in the front-line, the 46-cap Trezeguet could get his first start in a long while and replace Bertrand Traore on the right-hand side, with the Egyptian perfectly suited to combating the Blades’ wing-back system.

It would certainly be a bold call to make two key changes to his winning side, but Smith will want his players as fresh as possible given the quick turnaround in games.

Predicted XI: Martinez; Elmohamady, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Sanson, Nakamba, Ramsey; Trezeguet, Watkins, El Ghazi.

Meanwhile, Villa should unleash this £9m-rated star tonight…

Liverpool fans are divided in their reaction to a report suggesting Georginio Wijnaldum has agreed in principle to join Inter Milan this summer.

The £36m-rated (Transfermarkt) Wijnaldum is into the final months of his contract with no sign of a new deal.

According to a report from Sport Mediaset (via the Express), he has a ‘handshake agreement’ with Serie A leaders Inter to join as a free agent.

Wijnaldum has made 222 appearances for Liverpool since he joined in 2016, scoring 22 goals (via Transfermarkt).

He was virtually ever-present in Liverpool’s Champions League and title-winning campaigns.

The 30-year-old captained the reigning champions in Sunday’s victory at Sheffield United with Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Virgil van Dijk all unfit to start. Nonetheless, he has split opinion among the Reds faithful.

Some supporters feel he performs key tasks under the radar and ought to be more widely appreciated. There are others, though, who feel he is too cautious in his play and offers little attacking thrust from midfield.

Liverpool fans respond to Wijnaldum Inter claim

“YESSS”

Credit: @SNM1Michael

“Barella swap??”

Credit: @Shauryavgoel

“GET INNNNNNNNNN”

Credit: @Sadiologist

“Don’t do me like this g”

Credit: @qaisarrrr

“Quoted replies are so disrespectful. Disgusting fanbase”

Credit: @RB_07Ftbol

“Tbf good move for him. Would be much more appreciated there than under Barca fans. Wijnaldum under Conte would be disgusting.”

Credit: @FabinhoBall

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO”

Credit: @Edwin199861

“Good luck to him… hopefully we get a good replacement.”

Credit: @Four3ree3ree

In other news, Liverpool: Fans want Nat Phillips to start against Chelsea

Aston Villa midfielder Ross Barkley is not having the best of times at the club recently and Jamie Redknapp has expressed his concerns over the player.

Redknapp discusses Barkley

Speaking on Sky Sports [via HITC], he said: “The fact that Grealish isn’t playing and he’s not still playing, it’s a worry for him. He’s got ability but when you go out on loan to a club it’s a big opportunity to show what you got. Showcase, this is what Chelsea will be missing. He’s obviously not doing enough. Now, he’s sitting on the bench and he’s waiting for his chance.”

The Englishman needs to step up

Villa manager Dean Smith has spoken highly of the player, calling him a ‘marquee signing’. Some may have expected Barkley would have come straight into the side when Jack Grealish picked up an injury, but Smith has favoured other options, including emerging academy star Jacob Ramsey. Barkley has had to be content with a substitute’s role in his last two games.

The Chelsea loanee has posed an attacking threat, managing 1.9 shots and 1.8 key passes per game (WhoScored). However he has only managed three goals and one assist, so it is understandable to see why Smith is looking at other options in his squad.

When he is next given a chance, the 27-year-old will have to be at his best if he wants to have a future either at Villa or at Chelsea. Redknapp is right to fear for Barkley, whose ineffectiveness has cost him his place in the side.

In other news, many Villa fans fumed at this ace in their match against Wolves!

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Kevin Phillips thinks that Southampton will stay in the Premier League, but has warned his former side not to get complacent.

Saints topped the Premier League in November, but since beating Liverpool in their first game of 2021, have endured a horrible run of results – with their defeat to South Coast rivals Brighton on Sunday their 10th in their previous 12 matches.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men appeared to be keeping at arm’s length from the relegation-zone following victory over Sheffield United earlier this month, but Fulham’s win at Anfield the same weekend kept the Saints in touch with the bottom-three.

Southampton are currently seven points above Scott Parker’s team, although with the St Mary’s outfit in FA Cup action this weekend, that gap could be cut to just four by the time they return to Premier League action after the international break, with Fulham hosting Leeds and Brighton and Newcastle facing off.

Despite his concerns, Phillips doesn’t believe his former side will get relegated, but has warned Southampton to be wary of a “very good” Fulham outfit.

He told Football FanCast: “I did an interview a couple of weeks ago, and I said that I can’t see them getting dragged in, but football changes so quickly – the emergence of how Fulham are playing and that result up at Anfield would have done them the world of good.

“Will they get sucked in? I’m going to put my head on the block and say no, I think they’re always liable to pick up a result when you’re least expecting it.

“But saying that, they can’t be complacent. They need to get some more points on the board, and the nearer we get to the end of the season the closer you are to the bottom of that league, and I know I’ve been there with Southampton being relegated, the pressure builds and players start not performing and making mistakes. Fulham are a very good side.”

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Steve Bull, who scored 306 goals for Wolves, believes Pedro Neto can push himself to the levels Cristiano Ronaldo has reached during his career.

Neto has been Wolves’ main man since Raul Jimenez fractured his skull, and the Portugal international has registered five goals and five assists in just his second season in the Premier League.

During Ronaldo’s second season with Manchester United, he registered five goals and six assists, meaning Neto requires just one assist this season to equal what began to get Ronaldo the attention he received in England.

Wolves legend Bull believes Neto is already at a big club so doesn’t think he will be leaving any time soon either and can develop into a similarly important player for Wolves, as Ronaldo was for the Red Devils.

Speaking on Neto’s potential and whether he could replicate what Ronaldo has during his career, Bull told FFC exclusively:

“I think he can stretch to those levels, I really do.”

He added: “He’s absolutely class, he just floats across the grass and the way he stretches his legs past players is absolutely unbelievable.

“I know there’s a lot of talk saying he’ll go to a big club, but he is at a big club now with a big manager.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/exclusive-andreas-sondergaard-wolves-premier-league” title=”Exclusive! Andreas Sondergaard talks all things Wolves”]

“I’d say in the next 18 months to two years we will be in the top five or six.”

Neto is currently Wolves’ joint top scorer with five goals alongside Ruben Neves, but the winger is leading the way in assists with Daniel Podence closest in second with two.

The 21-year old signed a new deal in November last year to keep him at Molineux for another five years so if he was to leave like Jamie Carragher believes he will do, Wolves will be able to command a large fee.

Crystal Palace are reportedly interested in making Sheffield Wednesday defender Osaze Urhoghide one of their summer additions.

According to The Sheffield Star, the Eagles admire the 20-year-old alongside the likes of Leeds United and Watford – and Urhoghide would be a perfect summer signing for Steve Parish in the summer.

Despite having only broken through at Hillsborough midway through the current campaign, the youngster is earning plenty of plaudits for his performances.

The defender has made 12 appearances so far throughout the season, ten of those being starts. In that time, Sheffield Wednesday have only claimed two clean sheets and lost seven matches in all, but Urhoghide has nonetheless been labelled “immense” by Owls manager Darren Moore.

He will certainly be aiming to continue that excellent form for the remainder of the campaign and into 2021/22 for whoever are his next employers.

Capable of playing in a number of positions including centre-back, right-back and left-back, he would seem to be the perfect addition for Palace.

The Eagles currently have a handful of defenders set to leave the club come the end of the campaign. Centre-backs Gary Cahill, Scott Dann and Mamadou Sakho are all out of contract, whilst right-backs Martin Kelly, Nathaniel Clyne and Joel Ward are also seeing their deals ticking down.

Elsewhere, left-backs Jeffrey Schlupp, Patrick van Aanholt and Tyrick Mitchell could also all potentially leave come the end of the season.

This means that they will certainly need recruits for all three of the positions, with Urhoghide’s versatility potentially coming in hugely useful.

Meanwhile, his age could present another convincing argument in his arrival at Selhurst Park. At the current time, Palace have on average the oldest squad in the Premier League, so younger arrivals would be welcome as the Eagles set their sights on 2021/22.

Available on a free transfer once his own contract runs out in three months’ time, there really is not a negative to Palace potentially signing Urhoghide.

AND in more news, take a look at another young defender would also be a brilliant signing for the Eagles…

Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld delivered a timely reminder to Jose Mourinho in midweek as he excelled for Belgium in their 3-1 win over Gareth Bale and Joe Rodon’s Wales.

The 31-year-old centre-back has fallen out of favour at Spurs in recent weeks, featuring in just one of their last four matches in all competitions – that being the north London derby defeat.

Since Christmas, Alderweireld has been snubbed from the starting XI a total of ten times, with Davinson Sanchez and Eric Dier often preferred despite calls for them to be sold by ex-Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara.

It’s even more surprising as the long-serving powerhouse was one of the first players to sign a fresh contract extension under Mourinho.

He was absent for the trip to Villa due to a reported illness but, just days later, he has started and starred in the Red Devils’ opening World Cup qualifier.

Alderweireld was arguably their most influential player on the night, managing a whopping 154 touches of the ball – nearly double what Man City superstar Kevin De Bruyne managed (88) throughout the same time frame.

This suggests that Roberto Martinez was confident enough to deploy a gameplan through the veteran Spurs defender. This was accompanied by a squad-high 137 passes, completed at an accuracy rate of 93%, as per SofaScore.

Belgian radio station RTBF had Alderweireld rated amongst their best defenders and claimed: “Several long balls as usual. Rarely caught failing, except in the 56th [when Dan James fired off a shot at goal].”

Against a tricky-looking front three of James, Bale and Harry Wilson, the £13.5m-rated star was rock-solid, also providing one clearance and winning 50% of his aerial duels.

By comparison, his current Spurs rival Rodon managed only 50 touches and 36 passes all game, as per SofaScore.

In the Premier League for Spurs, Alderweireld only averages 65.9 touches and 44.8 accurate passes, so that certainly suggests he was playing out of his skin for his country this week.

Spurs’ defensive issues over the course of the season have been well-documented – as mentioned above, both Dier and Sanchez have been particularly error-prone.

The forgotten Spurs colossus has certainly thrown his name back into the hat with such a commanding and impressive display on international duty this week.

AND in other news, Bye-bye Lamela: Spurs eye “creative” £35m-rated beast…

Leicester City are reportedly one of a number of Premier League clubs interested in swooping for Rangers’ centre-back Filip Helander.

According to Sportbladet, the Foxes admire the Swedish international alongside fellow Premier League outfit Aston Villa.

It is also reported that Steven Gerrard has already begun considering replacements for the 27-year-old so a deal could certainly be possible for Leicester, and certainly one that Director of Football Jon Rudkin should sign off.

Helander, a 14-time Swedish international, has enjoyed a terrific season in Scotland as Rangers lifted their first Premiership title in ten years.

He has made 27 appearances in all competitions and has not lost a single game throughout 2020/21 when he has taken to the pitch.

The defender, signed from Italian outfit Bologna in 2019, has also accumulated 16 clean sheets to his name – a highly impressive amount.

Whilst Helander’s defensive work has certainly not gone unnoticed, he has also been a threat in the other box too having netted three goals this season.

His form has been noted by Rangers’ boss Steven Gerrard; the former Liverpool midfielder labelling the Swede as a “leader” at the heart of the Rangers’ defence.

He definitely seems an extremely competent defender then and that is exactly what the Foxes need heading into 2021/22.

Club captain Wes Morgan’s contract continues to run down, with the Jamaican seeming likely to hang up his boots come the end of the campaign.

This would leave just Jonny Evans, Caglar Soyuncu and Wesley Fofana as the only natural centre-backs at Brendan Rodgers’ disposal. Considering that the East-Midlanders look certain to have another potential European campaign to contend with, another addition would be extremely welcome.

That is where Helander would benefit the Foxes again. He has already made 14 European appearances in both the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League during his career, as well as a further 10 in qualifying – experience that could well be vital.

Rated at just £1.8m, Helander could be a shrewd addition for the Foxes so they must beat Aston Villa to his signature.

AND in more news, take a look at which in-form Leicester star must stay in the starting XI…