All posts by z3u9t.icu

Leeds United centre-forward Wilfried Gnonto is set to be handed his full debut in the Carabao Cup this evening.

What’s the latest?

In recent comments cited by The Independent, Jesse Marsch suggested that both the 19-year-old Italian and Joe Gelhardt could be given an opportunity from the off against Wolverhampton Wanderers this evening, with the American manager clearly impressed with the impact made by the summer signing in recent weeks.

When asked who could start at Molineux tonight, the 48-year-old said:

“Certainly Willy, I think Joffy as well. He hasn’t always played as much, but in training he’s been putting a lot into it and been really effective and performing well.”

Serious talent

Considering just how impressive Gnonto has been over his two first-team outings so far this season, it would very much appear as if the £5m summer signing is well worth unleashing from the off against Wolves this evening.

Indeed, after being brought on with the scores level and 18 minutes left to play in the Whites’ 2-1 victory over Liverpool back in October, the £8.7m-rated talent proved a game-changer for Marsch, with the Italian sensation playing a pivotal role in the build-up to Crysencio Summerville’s 89th-minute winner.

Taking a deft headed touch beyond the on-rushing James Milner, the £16k-per-week youngster held the ball up magnificently while awaiting his fellow attackers to flood the penalty area, before firing a ball into the feet of Patrick Bamford, who subsequently – and somewhat fortuitously – flicked the ball into Summerville who then fired past Alisson Becker.

The 19-year-old played a similarly key role in Leeds’ dramatic 4-3 victory over AFC Bournemouth last time out, once again being brought on as a second-half substitute and setting up Summerville’s 84th-minute winner.

Picking up Liam Cooper’s clearing header in the Whites’ third, the player who James Marshment dubbed a “serious” talent then turned on the afterburners, leaving a number of Bournemouth players in his wake, before slipping the Dutchman through one-on-one with a pinpoint pass to seal a dramatic comeback for the home side.

As such, with Gnonto having made a huge impact for Leeds over just 62 minutes of Premier League football, the potential of the six-cap starlet having a full 90 minutes in which to cause damage will undoubtedly be an extremely exciting one for the Elland Road faithful, while also being a terrifying prospect for Wolves’ defenders.

Sunderland head into the World Cup break in 15th place in the Championship table after beating Birmingham 2-1 away from home on Friday night.

The Black Cats, who have one game in hand on the majority of the teams ahead of them, won two of their last three matches in the division to end the first portion of the campaign in good spirits.

They have taken to life in the second division well after being promoted out of League One last term and should be hoping to push further up the table in the second half of the season.

Sunderland only have five more games before the January transfer window opens for business and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman may work with Tony Mowbray to improve the squad.

One area in which they should be looking to strengthen is the striker department. Ross Stewart and Ellis Simms have both suffered from injuries this season and that has left the likes of Jack Clarke and Elliot Embleton playing up front at times.

The club were reportedly interested in signing Aston Villa forward Cameron Archer on loan in the summer but a move never came to pass, as he remained with the Villans.

Villa and the striker may now be regretting that decision as he has only played 54 minutes of Premier League football this season, making eight appearances as a substitute.

However, his form for his parent club and Preston North End last season suggests that he has the quality to be an excellent addition to Sunderland’s squad.

He could strike an exciting partnership with Jack Clarke as he has shown that he has the finishing ability to make the most of the chances the Black Cats winger can create.

Archer, who has been dubbed “clinical” by journalist Josh Bunting and a goal “machine” by reporter Ryan Taylor, produced ten goals and two assists in six appearances for Villa in the EFL Cup and EFL Trophy combined last season.

The 5 foot 9 dynamo then scored seven goals and assisted one in 18 Championship matches on loan at Preston, which shows that he has the ability to score goals at the level Sunderland are playing at.

Clarke has been in fine form for the Black Cats this season as he has created 1.4 chances per game and registered six assists in 19 appearances.

The Englishman has proven that he can create opportunities for his teammates on a regular basis and he could provide quality service for Archer to make the most of, with the clinical finishing that his statistics suggest he possesses.

Therefore, Sunderland reignite their interest and swoop to sign Archer, who has been rarely seen at Villa Park this season, in January to bolster their attacking options.

Chelsea now have an agreement to sign RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku ‘in place’, according to CBS journalist Ben Jacobs.

The Lowdown: Contrasting claims

The Frenchman still has four years remaining on his contract at the Red Bull Arena, but recent reports have credited the Blues with an interest in bringing him to the Premier League.

The Bundesliga giants, however, have shut down claims that a move between the two parties is in progress, stating that it’s nothing more than a ‘rumour’, though an update has now emerged contrary to reports.

The Latest: Jacobs’ update

Taking to Twitter, Jacobs revealed that Chelsea and Todd Boehly do in fact have a deal on the table for Nkunku to make the switch to Stamford Bridge in 2023. He wrote:

“Christopher Nkunku update. Although Leipzig call a move to Chelsea a “transfer rumour”, am told there is now a broad club-to-club agreement in place for summer 2023 worth around €70m” (£60m).

The Verdict: Aubameyang alternative?

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hasn’t made the start to life at Chelsea that he would have been hoping for since his arrival, so Nkunku could be the perfect alternative up top.

The Leipzig striker has netted an outstanding 12 goals and clocked up two assists in just 15 league appearances this season and can operate in five different positions (Transfermarkt).

Graham Potter will have no doubt been attracted to this attribute, and if he can get a deal for Nkunku over the line, it may well be a massive coup for the Blues.

Tottenham Hotspur have been named as one of the clubs reportedly interested in signing Fenerbahce attacking midfielder Arda Guler. 

The Lowdown: Spurs’ transfer business

The north London club have not been shy when it comes to signing players from foreign countries over recent years.

Figures such as Cristian Romero, Ivan Perisic and Emerson Royal, among others, have all made moves to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium from a variety of clubs across Europe.

Now though, it appears that the Lilywhites have their eyes on landing a transfer deal for another talent making a name for himself abroad.

The Latest: Guler links

Speaking to Radio Goal (via AreaNapoli), journalist Valter De Maggio had this to say about Guler and the interest in his services.

“Guler is an interesting footballer, he is doing very well and is also followed by Cristiano Giuntoli, now I add other details. On the footballer there are two other top clubs: PSG and Tottenham. It was also proposed to Napoli in the past.”

“A variable termination clause hangs on the footballer. If you dispute up to 1500 minutes with Fenerbahce, the clause is €5 million, If it exceeds 1500 minutes, it rises to €20 million. Reflections are underway at the Naples house.”

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The Verdict: A long-term investment?

With 59 appearances for Fenerbahce under his belt across their senior and youth sides, the 17-year-old has scored 20 goals and delivered 19 assists.

After scoring two goals in 21 minutes during Fenerbahce’s 6-0 win over Kasimpasa back in August, Guler has only played 13 minutes of league action across four substitute appearances.

Having scored three goals from 12 league appearances last season with just nine attempts on goal and six on target, this ended up giving the youngster the highest rate of shots on target per 90 minutes (1.85) at the club.

This highlights how much of a nuisance Guler, who has been described in the past by coach Erol Tokgozler as a “special” player, can be for opposition goalkeepers when given the chance to play.

Taking into account how young he is, it would be safe to assume that if Spurs were looking to sign the attacking midfielder, it could be seen as a long-term investment rather than as someone that would automatically be put into Antonio Conte’s side.

Manchester United are believed to be keeping tabs on Sassuolo midfielder, Davide Frattesi, as manager Erik ten Hag looks to bolster his options in the centre of the park.

What’s the word?

That’s according to transfer insider Dean Jones – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – who revealed that the 23-year-old is one of the players that the Old Trafford outfit have been keeping an eye on, ahead of the January window.

The respected source stated: “I don’t think we can really compare him to Frenkie de Jong, and I don’t think I’d be looking at him along those sorts of lines, but they’re scouting him.

“But we have to consider United scout a lot of people, as does every club, it’s just one of those leaks that gets out that the club have been watching him.”

This follows recent reports that suggest the Italy international is a target for the Red Devils – as well as fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur – with any move set to come at a cost of around £30m.

Fred upgrade

As Jones alluded to, young Frattesi may not be the calibre of long-term target Frenkie de Jong, although he could well prove to be a real upgrade on Ten Hag’s current options, including the much-maligned figure that is Fred.

The Brazilian ace – who is currently representing his country at the World Cup – has no doubt produced enjoyed impressive, standout performances since his £52m switch to England back in 2018, although the 29-year-old has simply been unable to find any real level of consistency in that time.

The former Shakhtar Donetsk man notably sparkled in the win over Spurs last month after getting on the scoresheet, although his inability to maintain that level of performance has been simply infuriating at times, with pundit Roy Keane notably dubbing him “not good enough” to play for the club.

The suggestion is that the United boss agrees with that sentiment amid reports that the experienced figure – who has started just four top-flight games this season – could be allowed to leave when his contract expires at the end of the season, opening the door for a new midfield addition to take his place in the squad.

Turning to the aforementioned Frattesi could well be an ideal solution both due to his youth and his quality in the final third, with the £22k-per-week ace having already scored four times in just 15 Serie A games this season, after previously registering four goals and four assists last term.

That is a far more impressive record than that of Fred who has just one goal to his name this season – and only nine in total in 173 games for the club – while the Italian dynamo also arguably offers more in possession as he ranks in the top 16% in Europe’s top five leagues for dribbles completed among those in his position, while the United dud ranks in just the top 31% for that same metric.

The Rome-born ace – who has previously spent time on loan in Serie B with the likes of Ascoli, Empoli and Monza – may be something of a wildcard pick for those at the Theatre of Dreams, although it is clear to see the impact he is having in his current surroundings.

With it perhaps time for Fred’s stint in Manchester to come to an end, Frattesi could well be a notable upgrade.

Despite Arsenal’s strong start to the season, Mikel Arteta will no doubt be looking to bolster his squad ahead of the second half of the campaign.

A midfielder and winger are thought to be high on the list for the Spaniard and with the World Cup in full swing, there is one name that has stood out more than the rest, Cody Gakpo.

The Dutchman was linked with the Gunners during the summer, with a fee of £34m being touted, however, his exploits in Qatar may have given PSV Eindhoven plenty of reason to increase that figure in January.

Arteta’s own Robin van Persie

Gakpo has emerged as one of the continent’s most in-demand youngsters due to his impressive run of form since the beginning of last season. He has scored 34 goals and registered 32 assists in that time period and it is perhaps no surprise he is shining on the biggest stage of them all at the World Cup.

The Netherlands have been solid rather than unspectacular, but it has been Gakpo who has breathed life into Louis Van Gaal’s side. the 23-year-old has scored three times in three group-stage matches to help steer the team into the last 16.

These performances, not just in Qatar, but for PSV also, have led to comparisons with Robin van Persie, with Gakpo saying:

“He’s a legendary player in the Netherlands and in the whole world. It’s an honour for me to be compared to him but at the end of the day, I’m my own player. I have to prove myself and do my best.”

Van Persie is now retired, however, he was once an icon for the Netherlands, scoring 50 goals for his country while representing them at three World Cup tournaments during his career and the former Arsenal forward even dubbed Gakpo as “dangerous”, high praise indeed from the Premier League legend.

Like Van Persie, Gakpo can either play out wide or in a more central role and this versatility would be an added bonus for Arteta.

The 39-year-old moved from the Eredivisie to England back in 2004 and although it took a few seasons to hit the ground running, he eventually finished his career with 144 Premier League goals in 280 matches, a fantastic return.

Having played alongside Van Persie for a season in 2011/12, the Spaniard will be keen on bringing a player who has a similar style to the club and this could be the catalyst that guides them to their first league title in 19 years.

West Brom journalist for Birmingham Live Joe Chapman labelled Tom Rogic’s goal in the 2-1 win away at Sunderland in the Championship as ‘outrageous’.

The Lowdown: On the way up

West Brom’s win at the Stadium of Light was their fourth in a row in the Championship, and they are suddenly looking up and not down in terms of trying to climb up the table.

The hosts did take the lead through an Amad Diallo penalty, but a fine strike from Rogic and a header from Daryl Dike ensured that the three points were heading back to the Hawthorns.

The Latest: Rogic goal ‘outrageous’

Taking to Twitter after Rogic’s goal, Chapman was blown away by his ‘magnificent technique’ after hitting the ball with the outside of his boot into the bottom corner to give his team a vital equaliser, even going as far as to call it ‘outrageous’:

“Magnificent technique. Wallace cross, Dike lays it off and Rogic with the outside of the foot into the far corner. Outrageous.”

The Verdict: Class performance

After coming on in the second half, Rogic changed the game for Albion with a class performance.

Aside from his goal, the 29-year-old won seven of his nine duels in total, completed one dribble and made a player-high six tackles, despite only playing in one half (SofaScore).

Rogic was also a calming influence on the ball, achieving an 85% pass accuracy, one of the highest in the Baggies squad, and was a monumental figure in driving his team-mates to victory.

Nonetheless, moments of quality like his goal tonight is exactly why Carlos Corberan’s side brought him in after leaving Celtic, and Rogic is no doubt starting to repay their faith in him.

Just like their fellow Premier League clubs, Southampton have been patiently awaiting the end of this year’s World Cup.

Having decided to call time on Ralph Hasenhuttl’s tenure at St Mary’s in early November, they handed Nathan Jones the six-week break to enforce his will upon this struggling group. His inherited team sitstwo points adrift from safety, having won just threetimes in 15 league games this season.

The Saints have suffered from a lack of proficiency in the final third during the current campaign, with just13goals scored so far piling on the misery.It is a worrying sign for the new boss, who must reignite a misfiring front line if he hopes to secure top-flight survival.

His first port of call must be to revive the wingers, who have offered next to nothing since the season began.

Hasenhuttl persisted with the likes of Mohamed Elyounoussi, Moussa Djenepo, Theo Walcott and Stuart Armstrong even over the young starlet Sam Edozie, despite the terrible form they all have shown.

The Norwegian in particular has disappointed ever since hisbig-money moveto Southampton back in 2018.It is a searing indictment of his time on the south coast that he has only really found his form at Celtic during his loan spells away from St Mary’s.

In justone league campaign in Scotland (eight goals, four assists in 2020/21), Elyounoussi almost matched the tally ofgoal contributions(13) he has accumulated in68games in all competitions for Southampton. Even then he was challenged for his often ‘one-dimensional’ playing style, as Ben Wells cited from some Celtic supporters.

This season has been more of the same, with the£60k-per-week dud having yet to scorein all competitions for the Saints in 16 outings.

What makes this even more frustrating is the starring role that Nathan Tella currently is playing in Burnley’s promotion push, having joined them on loan in the summer.

The Clarets currently sit three pointsclear at the top of the Championship, with the 23-year-old having featured heavily for Vincent Kompany’s side.

Across his 20 games in the league, Tella already boasts seven goals and one assist.This contribution is more than all the talliesof the aforementioned four Southampton wingers combined.

The tricky wide man was handed limited game-time for the Saints last season, yet still recordedfour goal contributions across his 18appearances. Surely, he is a better option than those who currently reside at St Mary’s.

When Tella first began breaking into the first team in spring 2021, Owen Hargreaves was full of praise for the youngster,claiming: “He has been good on the ball, he has been a handful for Sheffield United. He fancies himself with his pace and pushes it beyond the defenders. 

“He’s technically good in these areas and tight areas, keeping the ball and I think he’s been the best player on the pitch.”

Having already proven himself to be better than what Jones currently has at his disposal, surely it is time to recall Tella as someone who could make the difference in Southampton’s survival bid.

Leeds United are reportedly keen on moving for a new full back this January…

What’s the latest?

According to Spanish publication AS, the Whites are among several European clubs interested in the exciting Real Valladolid defender Ivan Fresneda.

Having withstood an onslaught last year, the La Liga side now seem set to lose their starlet.

With a host of Italian clubs, and Arsenal, Liverpool, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Newcastle United, Everton, Brentford, Southampton and Fulham all noted from the Premier League, it seems that this January promises to be a transfer bloodbath to secure the teenage sensation.

The report does cite a current €30m (£25.7m) release clause, though, which could prove a stumbling block for many of these prospective suitors.

Ditch Kristensen

Should Jesse Marsch win this hotly-contested battle for Fresneda, it could perhaps mark a lack of faith in his summer signing Rasmus Kristensen.

Adding a young right-back could be seen as just putting a backup in place, but when it’s someone like Fresneda who has such pedigree and hype surrounding him, the 18-year-old would surely demand a starting spot.

That is all the more so if he can translate his fine form from Spain into the Premier League, as he is currently lighting up La Liga with his impressive all-round displays.

Despite only boasting nine senior appearances, the Madrid native plays with a maturity and skillset far beyond his years. Journalist Juan Arroita even claimed: “Iván Fresneda has a beastly ability to take measured crosses from the right-handed lane. How good does the boy look?”

In what has been his breakout season, this year he is averaging a rating of 7.02 in the league from Sofascore. This is supported by his match averages of 1.3 interceptions, 2.5 tackles and 2.8 clearances, which he partners expertly with 1.5 key passes per game (via Sofascore).

Clearly he is adept at breaking up attacks and also has the ability to then look up and find a killer pass to set his team on the break.

This is a far cry from what Kristensen has offered since his move to Leeds, with the Denmark international offering an unspectacular option for Marsch. With just one assist and no goals to his name at Elland Road, it seems that the 25-year-old’s offensive game has suffered since his move to England.

The Dane looks to mould his game around solidity, although his statistics suggest that he hardly blows Fresneda out of the water in that regard either. Kristensen has recorded 1.8 interceptions, 2.9 tackles and 2.4 clearances per game this season (via Sofascore) – only slightly up on the Spaniard for each metric.

There is no great gulf in class despite the seven-year age gap, and bringing in the Spanish stalwart could help to lock down the position at Elland Road for the next decade.

The future looks incredibly bright for Fresneda, and securing a deal for him would be a real statement of intent from the Yorkshire outfit.

Journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has backed up reports of Arsenal having ‘conversations’ with Joao Felix’s agent over a possible January move to the Emirates Stadium.

The Lowdown: Arsenal talks

As per Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), the 23-year-old’s agent Jorge Mendes wants to arrange a move away from Atletico Madrid for his client, with Manchester United said to be at the front of the queue and the Gunners ‘giving it a good go’.

Mikel Arteta’s side are reportedly ‘in talks’ with Mendes, but Edu will need to do battle for the deal with other interest from the likes of Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.

The Latest: Felix talks ‘true’

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Romano has backed up reports of Arsenal having talks with Felix’s agent over a potential move in the January transfer window, but admits that they may struggle to sign the player if he is set to cost more than €100m (£88m).

The Italian stated: “It’s true they had conversations with his agent, Jorge Mendes. But it depends on the conditions of the deal because if it’s more than €100million, I think it is going to be difficult.”

The Verdict: Loan deal would be perfect

The Daily Record have claimed that Atletico are prepared to let Felix leave on loan in January, which would be perfect for Arsenal in terms of avoiding any potentially huge outlay on the player.

Lauded as a ‘special talent’ by Romano, the striker was a standout player for Portugal in the World Cup in Qatar. He scored one goal and supplied two assists in four starts (Transfermarkt) before his country were knocked out by Morocco in the quarter-finals, showing the kind of promise that persuaded Atletico to pay an eye-watering £113m to sign him from Benfica in 2019.

He has largely flattered to deceive at club level considering his price tag, with just 33 goals in 129 games for Atletico in all competitions, but at just 23 years of age, Felix still has plenty of time to get his career back on track.

Nonetheless, with Gabriel Jesus out injured until the spring, potentially signing the Portuguese gem on loan in January could prove to be a masterstroke by the Gunners.