All posts by z3u9t.icu

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West Ham could enter the bidding for wantaway Newcastle United midfielder Isaac Hayden this summer, per the Daily Telegraph.

What’s the word?

The central midfielder has outlined his intentions to leave St James’ Park this summer.

Per the aforementioned report, Hayden attempted to engineer a transfer last summer after his partner welcomed a baby, with the pair keen to move closer to the south.

Rafael Benitez refused to countenance a sale, though, as he was unable to secure a replacement and Hayden has been a standout player throughout the latter part of this campaign, making 24 appearances in all competitions.

Speaking after the clash with Liverpool, the Magpies’ final home game of the campaign, he said: “I think I will be going.

“I have spoken to the club about it and they’ve been open and honest with me.”

The Telegraph claim that the Magpies will want between £15million and £20m for a player they paid £2.6m for in 2016 and the Irons are listed as potential suitors, along with Norwich City and Brighton & Hove Albion.

The wrong type of player

Hayden has been one of the surprise packages of the season in Newcastle’s midfield. He started the season as nothing more than a bit-part player, but he has grown into the season and established himself as a mainstay at the heart of midfield.

His high-energy approach has been pivotal in the Magpies’ bid for survival and he is now one of the first names on Benitez’s team sheet.

However, despite his obvious credentials, it’s fair to say that West Ham have enough water-carriers.

The likes of Mark Noble, Declan Rice, Robert Snodgrass and Pedro Obiang all protect the back four; it is further forward where the Hammers need reinforcement.

There is little point in the club paying a up to £20m for a squad player. A forward or a winger has to be the priority this summer, particularly with the Hammers’ summer plans already starting to take shape.

Football FanCast understands that Javier Hernandez, Andy Carroll and Lucas Perez are all set to leave the club in the transfer window.

Signing Hayden does nothing to replace that trio.

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The time is now for Aston Villa. After a long arduous season it now all boils down to the play-offs.

The Villans faltered under Steve Bruce but have thrived with Dean Smith at the helm, and they now find themselves just three matches away from a possible Premier League reunion.

Smith’s men come into these matches with arguably the best momentum, having recently won ten games on the spin. Despite their impressive run, though, recent records against West Brom suggest they could struggle in the semi-final.

This season the club drew 2-2 and lost 2-0 to Albion, whilst they also failed to beat them the last time the pair were in the Premier League.

However, Villa have a different threat now which is capable of helping them achieve a first victory over the Baggies since 2015.

On the chalkboard

The likes of Jack Grealish and John McGinn will likely prove pivotal for Villa in their play-off campaign but it is the full-backs, Ahmed Elmohamady and Neil Taylor, who can also be game-changers.

In the defeat against West Brom at Villa Park back in February, Elmohamady featured as a right midfielder whilst Taylor didn’t appear whatsoever. The full-backs on the day were Alan Hutton and Kortney Hause, but they weren’t exactly anything to rave about.

Since then, however, Taylor and Elmohamady have been exceptional in defence for Villa. They’ve developed remarkable consistency and should they start as expected on Saturday, will be as important as ever.

With them in the side, the Midlands club have looked far more solid, whilst their attacking play from that area of the pitch has also improved significantly.

With West Brom’s wing-backs pushing forward there could be space in behind for the Villa players to exploit this weekend. This represents another added benefit of Smith’s own wide players.

Elmohamady has made nine key passes across his previous three matches and if he and whoever is selected at right wing can double up on Kieran Gibbs, Villa will have a much better chance of going through. A similar effect can also be had on the left with Taylor.

Hutton rarely provides a creative threat but the added tenacity of his Egyptian teammate can prove highly beneficial.

Given their form and the more settled nature of Smith’s side since that loss, Villa have their best chance of beating West Brom all season.

With the summer transfer window just days away from opening, West Ham fans will be on the edge of their seat as to what Manuel Pellegrini decides to do.

The Hammers are set for an important window, with many players likely to leave and even more joining the club in an attempt to take West Ham to a European finish in the Premier League table, and one of the more popular rumours this summer so far has been AC Milan playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu.

The Turkish international has been linked with a move to east London in the Turkish (Fanatik) media and given the fact the number 10 is likely to leave Milan this summer, there could be so truth behind the whisperings going on about a move to the Premier League, and recent performances show that West Ham could be getting a player of immense talent.

The 25-year-old was recently named Man of the Match in Milan’s 1-0 win over Fiorentina where Calhanoglu scored the winning goal to secure the Rossoneri the three points, and its performances like this that should have Manuel Lanzini worried.

Calhanoglu, who is valued at £19.8 million on Transfermarkt, has shown in the past he is capable of playing at a top level in Europe, and if West Ham are able to acquire the services of the playmaker then it will fill a large void in the team that has been damaged recently due to Lanzini’s poor form.

The Argentine fan favourite could find himself out of favour if Calhanoglu makes the move, but for West Ham supporters, it will be a small price to pay to see an incredible talent at the London Stadium.

West Ham fans, would Calhanoglu be a good signing? Let us know!

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There could be a small squad overhaul at Elland Road next season. Marcelo Bielsa has already said that he doesn’t expect a number of his players to reach the same levels ever again, and that could be a sign that change is afoot at Leeds United.

The Whites heartbreakingly missed out on promotion this season, so going forward they will want to strengthen in order to get over the line and end their 15-year wait for top-flight football.

Who retains their spot?

Kiko Casilla: Despite a poor showing in recent weeks, Casilla is on far too much money for the Whites to ditch him after just six months.

Luke Ayling: One of Bielsa’s most consistent performers. He has transformed into one of the league’s best right-backs.

Liam Cooper: The United captain has been incredible under Bielsa, and he will still be in the heart of the defence in 2019/20.

Ezgjan Alioski: The Whites have so many options at left-back. They certainly don’t need a new signing, but Bielsa may have a headache in choosing between Barry Douglas and Alioski.

Pablo Hernandez: The club’s Player of the Season hasn’t looked like slowing down yet, therefore he has to keep his spot.

Tyler Roberts: Looked incredible in the attacking midfield position towards the back end of this term, and aged just 20 he can still improve drastically in a variety of roles.

Mateusz Klich: The Pole had a breakout campaign under Bielsa, and he was the only player to start all 46 Championship games for the Yorkshire club.

Kemar Roofe: Leeds’ top scorer, there is no reason he can’t hit 20 goals next year if he can stay fit.

Who will be the new signings?

Yoann Barbet: Although Pontus Jansson has been a dependable partner for Cooper for multiple years now, the Swede may well be leaving Elland Road in pursuit of top tier football this summer, with Yoann Barbet being heavily linked in recent weeks.

Ander Iturraspe: Kalvin Phillips was unreal last season, so good that it’s hard to believe Leeds can fight off Premier League interest for their midfield general. It could be a case of replacing youth with experience for the Whites as they have been linked with La Liga veteran Ander Iturraspe.

Callum O’Dowda: Jack Harrison has returned to Man City, so a gap has opened up on the left flank. Mallik Wilks could fill that spot upon his return from loan, but Leeds are more likely to look towards Callum O’Dowda, who is a rumoured target.

It still feels like an open wound, but with a Champions League final to hopefully act as a pain killer, Liverpool fans must look forward and forget how close they came to the title this season. Of course, there are no doubts that they will be back fighting next year. 

Indeed, Jürgen Klopp and his men have already moved on from the Premier League pain and all eyes are on their Champions League clash with Tottenham on June 1st. But looking back on the season, just how fine were those margins?

Here’s a couple of games we feel really shaped Liverpool’s title-chasing campaign.

Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool (Thursday 3rd January 2019)

Of course, it was the game of the season, the entire world watched on. A win for Liverpool and they would have been ten, yes TEN points clear, not that you have to remind anyone of that.

It was as entertaining as it was important and despite everyone saying it was still too early to call it a ‘title decider’ it very much ended up being that way.

The win for City gave them everything they needed to then go on what was an extraordinary run of form. It was such a harsh defeat for the Reds, considering THAT goal-line clearance from City hero John Stones. There were literally inches in deciding the Premier League title race.

Everton 0-0 Liverpool (Sunday 3rd March 2019)

All of sudden they found themselves second, a 0-0 draw to Manchester United a few weeks before this fixture really closed the gap between Liverpool and City but it was in fact this game that blew the door wide open and once again made City favourites.

A win for Liverpool, with how the remainder of the season played out, would have seen them lift the Premier League trophy by a single point.

But, the game at Goodison proved to be the hammer blow, and despite going on the perfect run after this game, it just wasn’t meant to be. City matched every Liverpool result with a win of their own and provided the rest of the world with one of the most entertaining title races of the Premier League era.

Unlucky Liverpool, you’ll be back next year.

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Former England international Danny Mills believes Newcastle should cash in on Ayoze Perez, reveals Football Insider.

With all the takeover rumours and nerves over a potential new contract for Rafael Benitez, the fact that Newcastle could lose several first team players this summer seems to have been put on the back-burner.

A mass midfield exodus could see Mo Diame, Jonjo Shelvey and Isaac Hayden all depart, while Manchester United are reportedly interested in Sean Longstaff.

Up front, Salomon Rondon will return to West Brom unless something changes, and Perez has also been linked with a move away.

The Magpies will reportedly demand £35m for his services, while reports in Italy have claimed Tottenham and Napoli both want the Spaniard, and Mills thinks it’s time to cash in.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals why Tyne-Wear is a more intense derby than anything London can offer – check out the video below….

What did he say?

“I’d be stunned if Tottenham signed him,” Mills told Football Insider. “He has been at Newcastle for five years and had half a good season. He has hardly ripped up any trees.

“If you can get a big fee, sell him. I would go for it if I was Newcastle. He is certainly replaceable, especially if they can get decent money to invest back into the team.”

Cash in

Grabbing eight goals and five assists in 2017/18, most of which came after Christmas, Perez topped his tally by netting 12 times this term, per Whoscored.

The Spaniard is hard-working, durable, trusted by Benitez and seems to have finally found his shooting boots.

However, with a £35m price tag on the forward’s head, Mills is absolutely right to say the club should cash in.

Perez has only hit double-digit league goals in a season once in his Newcastle career, despite playing over 2,000 minutes in all five campaigns with the club.

If Spurs are brave enough to stump up anywhere close to the reported price tag, that money could bring an excellent boost for the club’s summer window.

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Southampton fans on Twitter have been summing up the debut season of right-back Yan Valery after the club asked them to rate it using an emoji in a Tweet.

Most of the supporters simply used an emoji as requested by the Saints, with the 100/100, star, heart eyes, fire and mind blown emojis and more flying around the Twittersphere.

However, others used the post as an opportunity to say some words about the French youngster, waxing lyrical about his promise and excellent dribbling skills.

Valery used the 2018/2019 campaign to properly break into the south coast side’s senior side for the first time, impressing highly with his prowess going forward – including goals against Manchester United and Tottenham.

The Saints academy product who joined from Rennes as a young prospect managed to grab himself an assist in the Premier League as well – potentially the first of many based on his early displays in the Saints first team.

Why should Southampton be more like Dortmund? Find out in the video below…

Here’s the best reactive Tweets praising the Frenchman…

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Per a report from Tutto Mercato Web, Leicester are interested in pursuing World Cup finalist Ivan Perisic this summer.

What’s the word?

As the Foxes gear up for an assault on Wolves and seventh place next season, signing wingers looks to be a key priority.

In recent weeks Andros Townsend has been the subject of interest, whilst Bertrand Traore has also been in the conversation.

The latest name to attract their attention is the vastly experienced Perisic, who is currently playing for Inter Milan in Serie A.

Tutto Mercato Web claim that the Croatian’s time with the Nerazzurri is unlikely to continue and as a result, Leicester could be his next destination.

No fee is mentioned but Transfermarkt rate the player at a considerable £27m.

Leicester philosophy would go up in smoke

There is no doubting Perisic’s quality. After all, the winger has been one of the most consistent players in that area of the pitch in Europe for a while now.

He was a star for Croatia as they reached the World Cup final last year but his potential signing would go against everything Leicester are building towards.

At 30 years of age, he doesn’t fit the type of profile that the Foxes have been moulding their squad around.

Although experience could be crucial, it would go against one of their major philosophies; developing youth.

Was Gareth Southgate wrong to overlook potential England stars from Palace, Leicester and Saints? Fan discuss “big club bias” in the video below…

The club have a number of young stars coming through at the moment and if Perisic does arrive it would put one of them in considerable danger.

Harvey Barnes featured regularly on the left-hand side once he returned from a loan spell with West Brom but despite not finding his best form, he’s a player that simply has to play next season.

Attaining regular minutes wouldn’t be possible though if the club brought the Inter man to the King Power.

Given the fact it appears as though Leicester are planning for the future, signing Perisic should be forgotten about.

Manchester United’s summer transfer business is going to be at the centre of many publications over the coming weeks.

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is desperate for some fresh faces in his squad as he seeks to overhaul a team which has underperformed for too long now for a club of United’s stature.

Signing those players though is another matter indeed, with the club being knocked back in some of their attempts to bring talent in, while other clubs are also now on a par or above United when it comes to the package they can offer the best players in the world.

However, United have got to take advantage of the admission that Dutch youngster Donny van de Beek has made this week, with the 22-year-old seemingly opening the door for a move away from Ajax (as per Dutch football expert Marcel van der Kraan who told talkSPORT, via Manchester Evening News).

“Van de Beek has his eyes set on the Premier League.

“He is a proper Premier League player with an Ajax education and can play in many positions in midfield. He wants a move to Man United or Spurs and his agent says if that materialises that would be right up his street.”

Van de Beek has been in tremendous form for the resurgent Dutch side this year, contributing a whopping 16 goals and 12 assists across all competitions as he helped his side to the Champions League semi-finals.

Van de Beek’s passing is also something which United could well make use of, especially with Ander Herrera leaving the club and Nemanja Matic not getting any younger in the middle of the park. Indeed, an impressive pass percentage completion rate of just shy of 80% suggests van de Beek is the sort of player who United can set their tempo through. And, he averages more key passes per game (1.3) than the likes of Jesse Lingard (0.8) and Ander Herrera (0.7), so he would definitely offer more attacking impetus in terms of creating key chances.

At a time when United are surely trying to land big names and get back to competing at the top, signing someone of the talent and attitude of van de Beek would be the ideal first step to climbing back up the ladder.

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According to The Telegraph, West Brom are poised to make a move for West Ham’s Reece Oxford.

What’s the word?

Oxford walked into the Hammers first team squad to pocket Mesut Ozil on his senior debut at the Emirates in 2015.

However, that was now four years ago and since that day, the defender has never lived up to expectations.

The 20-year-old struggled to attain regular minutes and two loan spells in the Bundesliga with Borussia Monchengladbach and Augsburg have hardly gone to plan either.

Yet the youngster could now be on the verge of a move to West Brom. The Telegraph claim the Baggies are poised to move for the 20-year-old whose permanent switch to Augsburg could be in danger of collapsing.

According to the report a deal had been agreed with the German side but Oxford wants a relegation clause in his contract.

As a result, West Brom are one of the teams who could take advantage of the situation in a deal which may cost £2m.

A positive message to Albion’s academy

West Brom look as though they could see another of their brightest prospects flee the Hawthorns this summer.

Rekeem Harper has been offered a new deal by Albion but there have been no developments since it was revealed that a contract offer was on the table.

With that in mind, it’ll be a further blow to an academy who have seen the likes of Izzy Brown, Tyler Roberts and Kemar Roofe leave for pastures new in years gone by.

However, the acquisition of Oxford could help stem the flow.

Watch fans explain why the Football League is better than the Premier League in the video below…

The West Ham defender was once one of the brightest prospects in the English game and if the Baggies can bring in a youngster of his quality, it could send a positive message to rising talents already at Albion.

That message would be that West Brom is a place where you can develop as a footballer. With many of their best young stars leaving there is a case to be made that they don’t see it as a place where they can grow.

However, Oxford arriving could help change that mindset and demonstrate that Albion is a place where young footballers can flourish.

In a new era for the club, this could prove crucial.