All posts by z3u9t.icu

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be closing in on the signing of Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder, Yves Bissouma…

What’s the word?

As per transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the north London side are now “set to complete” the signing of the Mali international, with it seemingly only a matter of time before the 25-year-old is confirmed as a Spurs player.

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Writing on Twitter about the latest situation regarding the 18-cap gem, the Italian journalist gave his much-coveted green light to the deal: “Tottenham are set to complete Yves Bissouma deal, here we go! There will be final contacts with Brighton today on payment terms, then paperworks time. Medical already scheduled as expected.

“Agreement on €29m fee plus add-ons. Final details, then it will be signed.”

This follows reports that emerged earlier this week that suggested Antonio Conte’s side were close to getting their man, seemingly fending off reported interest from the likes of Liverpool and bitter rivals, Arsenal.

Paratici masterstroke

That impending arrival represents yet another astute piece of business from sporting director Fabio Paratici, with the former Juventus chief appearing to have worked his magic once again to bring in a “Champions League level” talent – in the words of Graham Potter – on the cheap.

With just a year remaining on his existing deal, Bissouma is set to make the switch to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for a fee of around £25m, with that figure appearing something of a bargain considering reports earlier this year had suggested he could be worth as much as £50m.

Having already brought in experienced Croatian, Ivan Perisic, from Inter Milan and reliable backup goalkeeper Fraser Forster from Southampton – both deals having been completed for free – Paratici has added instant quality and depth to a squad that had perhaps been too reliant on its core starting XI last summer.

Add in the January signings of Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski – both of whom have hit the ground running for the Lilywhites – and it has proven a fairly impressive 2022 thus far with regards to incomings, with more additions seemingly on the way amid links to 21-year-old wing-back Djed Spence and Everton talisman Richarlison.

As for Bissouma, in particular, the imminent signing represents a major coup for the club, with the £31.5m-rated man arguably one of the most commanding, all-action midfielders in the Premier League, having averaged 1.8 clearances, 1.9 interceptions and 2.9 tackles per game in his 26 outings in the most recent campaign.

Equally, he compares favourably to those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues for his attacking capabilities, ranking in the top 9% for pass completion and the top 10% for dribbles completed, with his knack for surging forward from midfield making him a hugely attractive prospect.

If this deal is anything to go by, it looks as if Spurs supporters could well be in for a treat this summer, with the £29k-per-week machine’s arrival not likely to be the last Paratici masterstroke of the window.

IN other news, Paratici has “genuine interest” in sealing “magic” £47m Spurs deal, he’s Robben 2.0

Nottingham Forest are reportedly looking to make a bid to sign Wolves midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from journalist Alan Nixon in The Sun, Bruno Lage will try and convince the player to sign a new deal at Molineux this summer as Forest and Southampton are “poised with offers should negotiations not go to plan.”

As a product of Wolves’ youth system, the 22-year-old has gone on to make 103 appearances across their U23 and senior sides, scoring five goals and delivering six assists in the process.

The Englishman recently completed his second loan spell away from the Midlands club, this time with Sheffield United after he had a short period with Swansea City between August 2020 and January 2021.

Great news for Cooper

During his time with the Blades, the youngster found the net 12 times and supplied ten assists in 37 appearances, which is why his parent club are keen to secure his long-term future at Molineux and why the likes of Forest and Southampton are reportedly willing to splash the cash to sign him.

To further highlight how deadly he was for the Yorkshire club this season and why he’d be a good signing, Gibbs-White racked up more shots at goal (86) and more shots on target (33) than any other United player.

He also ended the campaign with the joint-highest average of key passes per game in the squad and the highest overall performance rating (7.14/10) according to WhoScored.

This shows the attacking capabilities he has and how he could be a big asset for Forest as they prepare to take on their upcoming campaign as a Premier League team.

Should Wolves fail in their attempt to get the youth talent to sign a new deal with them, it would be great news for Steve Cooper to see his side bring in a young player like Gibbs-White that has proven what he can do in the Championship and has some experience of playing in the top flight.

This situation is certainly one that Forest should be keeping a close eye on and potentially make a bid should an opportunity to do so present itself.

In other news: Huge boost: Exciting NFFC transfer update emerges that’ll leave supporters buzzing

Celtic have seen numerous players make moves out of the Parkhead club in the past that have gone on to have success away from the Hoops.

One prime example is Virgil van Dijk, who after spending some time at Celtic Park went on to become one of the Premier League’s and Europe’s biggest stars.

Signed from Dutch club FC Groningen back in 2013 for a fee of £2.6m, the centre-back went on to make 115 appearances for the Bhoys across all competitions.

In those appearances, he chipped in with 15 goals and seven assists as well as winning two SPFL titles and one Scottish League Cup.

After leaving in 2015 for a move to Premier League club Southampton, the defender eventually ended up at Liverpool where he has lifted the top-flight title and the Champions League.

Even though Celtic ended their title winning 2021/22 SPFL season with the best defensive record in the top flight, the upcoming summer transfer window could now give Ange Postecoglou the chance to unearth his own version of Van Dijk at Parkhead.

Last week, the agent of Gent defender Joseph Okumu revealed that Celtic have shown an interest in his client.

Having been claimed to have similar attributes on the pitch to Celtic’s former Dutch centre-back by Johan Larsson, the 25-year-old racked up the third-highest number of interceptions (49) and tackles (41) in Gent’s squad this season.

He also had the second-highest average for blocks (0.9) and the third-most clearances per game (3.2) as well.

With Van Dijk racking up the second-highest average for clearances (3.1) and third-highest average for blocks (0.4) per game in Liverpool’s squad during the latest Premier League campaign, it’s easy to see why the comparison between the two defenders has been made.

Praised for his “tremendous” performances in the past, the £4.05m-rated Kenyan could well become Celtic’s next version of Van Dijk if he’s given the chance to show off his clear defensive talent at Parkhead by Postecoglou.

If the Hoops’ apparent interest in Okumu is genuine, then a move for his signature this summer could be a great bit of business. It would give Postecoglou the chance to strengthen his squad ahead of next season and prepare his men for the tough challenges they’ll undoubtedly be facing.

In other news: Celtic can replicate CCV masterclass by signing 25y/o gem who’s “one of the very best”

According to reporter Jacque Talbot of Football Transfers, a significant Tottenham Hotspur transfer development has now come to light involving Benfica star Darwin Nunez.

The Lowdown: Spurs set for busy summer?

Lilywhites boss Antonio Conte has now met with club chief Fabio Paratici in Italy as Spurs map out a list of summer targets (The Telegraph).

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This comes after Premier League giants confirmed a £150 million capital increase which could seriously back Conte in the next transfer wind0w ahead of his first full season in charge.

On the transfer agenda, it is believed that the north Londoners are interested in landing an alternative frontman to star striker Harry Kane, with Talbot now sharing a significant update involving Nunez.

The Latest: Nunez meeting held…

According to the reporter, writing for Football Transfers, Spurs and representatives of the in-demand striker have held a meeting as they enter talks – though it is currently unclear whether Paratici and co wish to move further with a formal bid.

This comes as Tottenham, via Talbot, do ‘want to bring in a marquee striker’ for Conte.

The Verdict: Make the move…

As the north Londoners currently weigh pushing further, there is little denying that Nunez would add seriously quality going by his huge goal haul over 2021/2022 – not to mention the fact he has been labelled an ‘absolute beast’ by members of the media (Hari Sethi, Anfield Index Podcaster).

However, reports he could cost around £100 million could be a real deterrent for Spurs even despite their recent cash injection.

Tottenham and Paratici have to strengthen in other areas as Conte reportedly sets his sights on a major overhaul, so we believe the club should look at potentially cheaper alternatives first before deciding to press further for Nunez.

In other news: ‘Not only Perisic’ – Tottenham push for ‘genius’ signing after Conte call ‘in recent days’…find out more here.

Sunderland have been handed a major boost ahead of the League One Play-Off Final game against Wycombe Wanderers.

What’s the latest?

As per Sunderland Echo, Alex Neil has issued an update on the health of his squad and it is entirely positive from a Sunderland perspective.

Neil said: “We’ve got a clean bill of health I think for the first time [since I’ve been here].

“People we didn’t expect, who we thought might not be able to make it, [could be available]. People like Winny have been in training.

“So at the moment, we’re looking good.”

Sharing more on the fitness of Carl Winchester, Neil stated: “I think we’ll have a better idea of exactly where he’s at after today and tomorrow.

“He’s been on the grass, and he’s done a little bit, but today and tomorrow will have a big bearing on how close he actually is.“It’s pleasing for Winny as well because he has had a big contribution since I’ve been here to get us to where we are. It’s a good situation.”On the status of Nathan Broadhead, who returned from injury in a one-minute cameo in the last game against Sheffield Wednesday, Neil added:”Nathan’s been fine. He had limited time at the weekend (in the second leg) but the difficulty I had there was because of the way we played the game and the shape we adopted, he’s a natural centre-forward and we were only playing with one in the game.”A major boostThe return of Winchester, who has not featured since the game against Cambridge United on the 23rd April will come as a big boost for Neil who will undoubtedly be elated to see him back.The 29-year-old has featured 40 times for Sunderland in League One, in what has been a seamless transition from League Two football for the Northern Irishman in his first full season for Sunderland.His versatility is his greatest asset in this side. He is a true utility man, having played at right-back, centre-back, centre midfield and defensive midfield on more than one occasion for the Black Cats this season.Boasting what he claims to be “a clean bill of health”, the Black Cats boss and his squad will fancy their chances against Wycombe on Saturday.Additionally, the return to full fitness of Broadhead is also a big boost with the Everton loanee scoring ten goals in the third-tier this term. That’s exactly the sort of potency that could lead Sunderland back to the Championship this weekend.

In other news: Sunderland keen to sign 15-goal gem who’s “perfectly placed”, Imagine him and Stewart 

Everton were saved from relegation by the skin of their teeth on Thursday night in a stunning comeback win over Crystal Palace.

The Toffees had looked in trouble following their defeat against Brentford, and knowing that a win against Palace would secure their Premier League status regardless of other results, it was the biggest win for the club in years.

The hero of the night? Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

It’s no secret that there hasn’t been a standout player this season for Everton, with Frank Lampard toiling by the week with a struggling side. However, if the 25-year-old marksman can get back to the form that the fans know he is capable of, then next season could be very different for the team.

Calvert-Lewin transfer blinder

The Merseyside club pulled off a blinder with his signing, having bought him from Sheffield United for a mere £1.5m in 2016. His market value as of March 2022 stands at £37.8m, with a high of £40.5m in December 2020.

His rise to stardom and England honours has been wonderful, and it’s a testament to his belief and talent that he has gotten this far in his career – and that there is probably still plenty to come.

If Everton were relegated, the likelihood is that Calvert-Lewin would have left the club and remained in the Premier League, with recent reports linking him with a move to Newcastle United.

His goalscoring record at Goodison Park rose exponentially until niggling injuries and a lack of goals dented the player’s confidence. Having struck 36 times in all competitions in the two campaigns prior, he has just scored five league goals this season, albeit with the most recent of those the most important one in the club’s modern history. Nonetheless, he will be aiming to improve that return next season.

Whatever happens, Everton could make a huge profit on the striker if they really wanted to this summer, especially with another three years left on his current contract.

Lampard will be desperate to keep the player, whose ability in the air was dubbed “prodigious” by academy coach John Ebbrell. Given Calvert-Lewin’s obvious talent, it’s easy to see why.

AND in other news, Forget Richarlison: Everton “nightmare” with 17 duels won was ther real star against Palace

Sunderland have put themselves in a prime position to earn promotion to the Championship next season after progressing to the play-off final at Wembley against Wycombe Wanderers this month.

Since Alex Neil arrived in February, he has transformed the team and gone unbeaten in 16 of his 17 games in charge, deservedly earning their golden opportunity to get back into the second tier of English football, and supporters are surely delighted with the progress the Black Cats have made in the last few months.

That being said, the 40-year-old can only take partial credit for the impressive performances we have seen come from the Black Cats over the last few months, with some players offering huge match-winning moments which have led their team to victory and put them in a position to challenge for a place in the Championship next season.

One player in particular who has been a formidable driving force for Sunderland in the latter stages of the campaign is Elliot Embleton, who has provided game-changing performances towards the end of the season which won them vital points in their pursuit of a place in the play-offs.

The midfielder, who was dubbed a “class act” by Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie, was integral in Sunderland’s final few games of the League One campaign, with a winning goal against Oxford United and an assist for the winner against Gillingham earning the Black Cats vital points in the push for promotion.

Those decisive contributions earned the 23-year-old high praise from journalist Josh Bunting, who hailed the Sunderland ace as the “huge difference” in the team ahead of the last few fixtures of the season, tweeting: “He’s made a huge difference and has contributed to 6 points that may be crucial at the end of the season.”

With eight goals and eight assists in 47 appearances this term from his role in the middle of the park, there is no doubt that the young midfielder has a huge future at Sunderland and should be unleashed in the starting line-up more often whether or not the Black Cats rise to the Championship next season.

AND in other news: Neil heading for Sunderland disaster over “quality” star who’s got the “X-Factor” 

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been dealt a worry before his side’s crunch north London derby clash with Tottenham Hotspur this evening.

The Lowdown: Major occasion…

The Gunners face off against their bitter rivals in a highly-anticipated, blockbuster Premier League clash which may well determine who is playing Champions League football next season.

Both Arteta and Spurs boss Antonio Conte are chasing a place in Europe’s most coveted competition for 2022/2023 and securing a top-four finish will be crucial to both sides for many reasons.

The riches of sealing your place in the pot doesn’t only give you more pull to attract big names in the transfer market, but it also grants a potentially crucial financial windfall in the form of lucrative revenue.

Perhaps above all, for supporters, it is a privilege to watch their side take part with this looming Spurs and Arsenal battle perhaps coming as the most crucial one in years.

Arteta will want as many quality first-teamers to choose from as possible, but as per an injury update, he is facing the possibility of being without a key man in Bukayo Saka.

The Latest: Arteta dealt Saka worry…

As shared by the club’s official site, Arsenal and their head coach are sweating over the fitness of their forward, who is touch-and-go for the derby with Spurs tonight.

The manager refused to give an estimate on his chances of featuring at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as his inclusion is currently up in the air.

Indeed, Saka came off in the win over Leeds United last weekend and is a ‘doubt’ for this evening alongside Ben White:

Arteta explained: “Thomas (Partey) is still out, Kieran (Tierney) is still out and with Ben he is still a doubt, we have to assess him and see how he is feeling, which is much better. With Bukayo it’s the same.”

The Verdict: Potentially huge blow…

Not having the bright young attacker available to face the Lilywhites would be a major blow, undoubtedly.

According to WhoScored, Saka stands out as Arsenal’s best player by the numbers – having racked up the most goals and assists (11G, 6A) combined for them domestically this season.

The versatile gem is also their best performer overall going by average match rating per 90 with a solid 7.10/10, even attempting more shots at goal each game than all of his teammates (2.5).

A consistent threat, Saka has been called ‘unplayable’ for his performances by members of the media, with his potential absence coming as a real worry for the top-four hopefuls against a motivated Conte side.

Fabrizio Romano has dropped an update on the future of reported Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Adama Traore.

What’s the talk?

In a recent post on Twitter, the Italian journalist and transfer insider revealed that Barcelona have no intention of activating their €30m (£25m) option to purchase the Wolverhampton Wanderers winger, meaning the 26-year-old is set to return to Molineux at the end of the current campaign – before potentially being moved on once again by Bruno Lage this summer.

In a further report, The Express claim that this development will come as a boost to Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici, as Spurs attempted to sign the Spain international in the January transfer window, and now appear to have a free run at the forward in the summer market – with it being said a move by Tottenham looks likely ahead of 2022/23.

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In his tweet, Romano said: “Barcelona have no intention to pay €30m buy option for Adama Traore. The only way to keep him has always been a swap deal, with no money included in the negotiation with Wolves. As of today, there are chances for Adama to come back at Wolves and then leave again.”

Conte will be buzzing

While it is true that Traore’s return to Barcelona has not exactly gone as the winger would have hoped – having started just three of his nine LaLiga appearances for Xavi’s side – the news that Tottenham could have a second chance of landing the Spaniard this summer is sure to have left Conte buzzing.

Indeed, it was widely reported that the Italian had hoped to convert the forward into a right wing-back at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and it is easy to see why the Spurs boss believed the £25.2m-rated talent would be suitable for this role.

According to FBref statistics, the £46k-per-week attacker ranks in the top 1% of wingers in Europe’s big five leagues for dribbles completed per 90 minutes, as well as the top 4% for progressive carries, the top 12% for touches in the opposition penalty area, the top 23% for shot-creating actions and the top 29% for aerial duels won over the last 365 days.

As such, it is clear that, if deployed on the right of a back five, Traore’s ability to progress the ball from defence to attack would be a huge weapon for Tottenham when counter-attacking – something that is undoubtedly one of the main reasons for Conte’s interest in the player Jurgen Klopp dubbed “unplayable” this summer.

And, following Romano’s latest update on the winger’s future, it would appear as if Conte and Paratici now have a second chance to land the eight-time capped international, something that is sure to please the Italian.

AND in other news: Paratici plotting £40m Spurs bid for £70k-p/w target, he’d be a “monster” for Conte

Newcastle United’s priority this summer is to land a striker and Benfica’s Darwin Nunez ‘has long been admired’, The Athletic’s Chris Waugh writes.

The lowdown

Newcastle did sign a striker in January, activating the £25million release clause in Chris Wood’s Burnley contract.

But Wood has struggled since his arrival, with just one non-penalty goal to his name in 15 appearances.

After starting 13 straight games, he was an unused substitute against Norwich City and only played the final 23 minutes of the 1-0 defeat against Liverpool on Saturday.

Benfica frontman Nunez, called ‘world class’ by Jorge Jesus, is enjoying an outstanding season, having netted 34 goals in 40 appearances across all competitions. Transfermarkt value the 22-year-old at £36million.

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The latest

Newcastle correspondent Waugh tweeted that ‘a top-level striker is the priority this summer’ at St James’ Park.

In the attached story, he shares ‘strong indications’ from club sources that the ‘majority’ of their budget will be directed towards this position.

Newcastle are long-term fans of Nunez but Waugh believes that he’s ‘almost certain to head elsewhere’. Fortunately, head of recruitment Steve Nickson has drawn up a shortlist with a ‘host of alternatives’.

The verdict

What could this mean for Callum Wilson, who remains Newcastle’s top scorer this season with six goals?

Well, Waugh does raise the possibility that the new arrival could play alongside Wilson, and it’s worth remembering that Howe previously deployed the Englishman in a front two during their time together at Bournemouth.

But he must still be a little concerned by the stories he’s reading and may seek assurances from the manager.

Indeed, insider Dean Jones recently claimed that Wilson is unlikely to be a ‘main player’ when he’s returned from the calf injury that’s kept him out since December.

Is there still a place for him when Newcastle have the funds to make a blockbuster addition?

In other news, Frank McAvennie reacts to a Bruno Guimaraes exit story.