All posts by z3u9t.icu

Everton have a strong desire to sign a winger this summer, as Football FanCast exclusively revealed earlier this month that a wide area was their key priority.

We’ve already seen a number of links ahead of the transfer window, with Gareth Bale spectacularly touted with a move to Goodison Park.

It remains to be seen who arrives but, with Theo Walcott heading to Southampton on a permanent deal and Bernard leaning towards an exit, they could be left short on the flanks. Fortunately, Carlo Ancelotti and Marcel Brands have already laid the foundations for their summer approach behind the scenes.

Considering how they lost out on European football towards the end of the campaign, they have a need to bounce back in swift fashion. One player who could help them do that is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Rubin Kazan.

According to soccer.ru, the player doesn’t want to move to Zenit, which means Everton now lead the race to sign the 20-year-old. Leeds have also been in contact with his agent, as Football FanCast exclusively reported in April.

The Georgia international is one of Europe’s most promising stars, bursting into the limelight when he opened the scoring against Spain back in March. He is become one of the brightest talents emerging from the top-flight of Russian football and possesses some eye-catching characteristics.

Kvaratskhelia has scored seven goals and provided 13 assists during his two seasons with Rubin Kazan, proving to be a significant danger for opposition defences.

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During the course of the 2020/21 campaign, the youngster completed a whopping 3.4 dribbles per game. For context, no player in the entire Russian Premier League has managed more successful dribbles than his tally of 78.

He’s also proven to be a menace at international level, registering 5.3 dribbles per match in the UEFA Nations League.

In a scout report by Jacek Kulig, someone renowned for spotting young talent, he wrote: “[He is] extremely dangerous on the counter thanks to his pace and acceleration. Likes to use tricks and skills to remain in possession of the ball.”

Possessing raw speed and the ability to beat a man on a frequent basis, Kvaratskhelia reminds us of former Everton star Andrei Kanchelskis. Also hailing from the Eastern bloc, the winger was devastating on his day, earning a move to the royal blue of Everton after shining at Manchester United.

A tricky winger, Kanchelskis scored 22 goals in 60 appearances for the Merseyside outfit. Like Kvaratskhelia, he had pace to burn and captivating dribbling.

In an interview with the former Everton star back in 1994, reporter Simon O’Hagan explained: “His explosive pace, rasping shot, and – when they come – emphatic goals have added an extra dimension even to a team of such extravagant talents as United.”

Former Manchester United winger Willie Morgan added: “It’s not that he’s the greatest dribbler, but he puts defenders under pressure because he runs straight at them, and there aren’t many in the modern game that do that. He’s been brilliant. He grafts, he gets stuck in, he enjoys playing. You have to mark him, and that helps create space for Mark Hughes in the middle.”

There are notable comparisons between the two but Kvaratskhelia will have to go a long way in order to live up to Kanchelskis’ legacy in the game. It will be intriguing to see if he follows in the latter’s footsteps by joining Everton.

AND in other news, Everton must sign “unique” £35m gem, Tim Cahill dubbed him a “special talent”…

Liverpool will be among the clubs interested in signing West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice when the summer transfer window opens, according to transfer insider Dean Jones. 

The lowdown: Contract rebel

A recent report from The Guardian has claimed that the 23-year-old has rejected a third offer a new deal at the London Stadium and is ‘open’ to a move away at the end of the season.

With Rice under contract until 2024 (Transfermarkt), Hammers boss David Moyes has previously placed a £150m price tag on the England international, who previously came through the Chelsea academy.

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Amidst growing interest from Manchester City and Manchester United, the Reds have now been tipped to show their own admiration for Rice…

The latest: Jones makes Rice transfer claim…

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones claimed that Liverpool will be weighing up a possible swoop for the 29-cap England ace.

The journalist stated: “Of course, they’re going to be interested in Declan Rice because if Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea have had that player on their radar, then you kind of at least have got to consider whether you’re going to need him.”

The verdict: An unnecessary expenditure

Currently, Jurgen Klopp has Fabinho as the only recognised senior defensive midfielder within the Anfield squad, although Jordan Henderson, James Milner and youngster Tyler Morton have all deputised in the role at times this season.

Nonetheless, the powerful Brazilian midfield general has enjoyed a stellar campaign, with five goals and four assists in 44 appearances across all competitions; and despite the lack of natural options in that position, spending anything like the mooted £150m on Rice simply isn’t a realistic prospect for the Reds.

Instead, as the two Manchester clubs potentially do battle for the 23-year-old’s signature, Klopp and incoming Anfield sporting director Julian Ward are more likely to set about pursuing an affordable alternative.

Using the FBRef comparison tool, statistically this term, 21-year-old Nice starlet Khephren Thuram-Ulien is the closest match to Rice, whilst Liverpool’s own Fabinho also appears in the top 10.

In other news, Liverpool have been linked with a shock move for one player. Find out who it is here.

A number of Liverpool fans have been calling for the Reds to sign Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic following more brilliance over the weekend.

Jurgen Klopp’s men had an excruciating day at the office on Saturday, drawing 1-1 at home to Newcastle United. Mohamed Salah’s superb early strike suggested that it could be a comfortable afternoon for the Premier League champions, but poor finishing again proved fatal.

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Joe Willock’s stoppage time effort saw Liverpool drop two more vital points in the top-four battle, with Champions League football now looking unlikely at Anfield next season.

The profligacy on show from the Reds suggested that a new striker needs to arrive this summer, with Vlahovic one of those who has been linked with a move.

The 21-year-old scored a Panenka-style penalty in his side’s 1-1 draw with Juventus on Sunday, taking his tally for the season to 17 Serie A goals in 29 starts.

Liverpool fans wants Reds to sign Vlahovic

These Liverpool supporters took to Twitter to call for Vlahovic to be a summer signing.

“Vlahovic up against Chiellini, De Ligt and Bonucci on his own for Fiorentina . Impressing me more and more every time I see him. Tentative links to LFC from some. Would be something completely different to any of our current attack. A powerful target man with a ferocious shot”

Credit: @GrizzKhan

“Seen him playing for the last 3 years. Delicious attacker. Would be a great addition for Liverpool”

Credit: @lies_the_rub

“We need that kind of a player and a natural goal scorer”

Credit: @61Zaqir

“He’s class and needs signing up”

Credit: @lfc_ik4

“Very well taken, would love to see him do this in red”

Credit: @empireofthekop

“Vlahovic or Kaladjzic should be our No.9 targets”

Credit: @MoThiagoA6_

In other news, some Liverpool have been left fuming after a key development at the club. Read more here.

Dean Windass believes Dominic Calvert-Lewin would jump at the chance to join Real Madrid if the Spanish giants submit an official bid.

It has been a summer of change for Everton, with Carlo Ancelotti departing in favour of a return to the Bernabeu and former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez moving into the hotseat.

While Ancelotti has left Merseyside, the Italian has been keeping a close eye on proceedings at Goodison Park and is reportedly mulling over a £50million move for Calvert-Lewin.

The frontman, who reportedly earns £75,000-a-week, enjoyed the best spell of his career under the guidance of Ancelotti and scored 21 goals in 39 appearances last season.

Calvert-Lewin is yet to return for pre-season training after being a member of the England squad which reached the Euro 2020 final before a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out defeat to Italy earlier this month.

Although Calvert-Lewin came through the Everton ranks and has made 173 appearances for the Toffees, Windass feels the frontman would be happy to swap Goodison Park for Real Madrid.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, Windass said: “What a great move it would be for the kid.

“He’s proven now. At the end of the day, if Real Madrid come knocking and he’s had that affinity with the manager before, I think he’d jump at the chance.”

Sunderland are in talks regarding a deal to bring Jordan Gabriel to the Stadium of Light this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Northern Echo, who claim that Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has held talks with Nottingham Forest regarding a deal for the right-back, for whom Chris Hughton’s side are reported to be demanding a fee of £600,000.

The report added that the Black Cats are also pushing to secure a deal for Exeter City winger Josh Key, although there had been no progress in talks over the weekend.

Meanwhile, Lee Johnson recently fielded questions regarding Sunderland’s summer transfer business, stating: “We’re working really hard behind the scenes and a lot of that is to put yourself in a position where you’ve got the options. They’re [Gabriel and Key] not our players and so I can’t talk about them, as you know.”

KLD must move for Gabriel

Considering just how much potential Gabriel appears to possess, and with Johnson hugely lacking in depth at right-back, Louis-Dreyfus must do all he can to secure a deal for the Nottingham Forest starlet ahead of next season.

Indeed, over his 29 League One appearances while on loan at Blackpool last term, the £225k-rated defender helped his side to keep ten clean sheets, averaging 0.8 interceptions, 0.9 tackles, 1.5 clearances and winning 4.6 duels per game (Sofascore).

The man who Blackpool Gazette journalist Matt Scrafton dubbed an “important” player also impressed going forwards, registering one assist and creating one big chance for his teammates, along with averaging 0.7 key passes per match.

These returns saw the £1.2k-per-week man earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.75, playing a key role in the Seasiders’ promotion to the Championship.

As such, with Sunderland harbouring their own hopes of securing a return to the second tier next season, the addition of a player with experience of getting his team over the line could increase the Black Cats’ chances of going on to achieve the feat in the upcoming campaign.

In other news: Imagine him & O’Nien: KLD could solve big Sunderland problem with “faultless” £4k-p/w beast

Derby County have been handed a huge financial blow following the EFL’s verdict regarding Richard Keogh’s compensation claim.

What’s the latest?

According to a report by The Guardian, Derby will have to pay their former defender £2.3 million after the 34-year-old won both of his appeals to the EFL’s Player Related Dispute Commission and the League Appeals’ Committee regarding his unfair dismissal by Derby for gross misconduct.

An EFL statement read: “The LAC has heard and dismissed an appeal under the regulations of the EFL by Derby against the decision of the PRDC in the case of Richard Keogh. The PDRC held that Mr Keogh had not committed gross misconduct, that he had not brought the club into serious disrepute and that he had been wrongly dismissed by the club.”

Morris disaster

The news regarding Keogh is the latest in a series of blows that fans of Derby have seen their side endure this season, with the club having a miserable Championship campaign on the pitch, seeing the proposed takeover by the Bin Zayed International group fall through and witnessing a second takeover attempt, this time by Spanish football agent Erik Alonso, appearing to also be on the brink of collapse.

Furthermore, it has also been reported that Mel Morris is personally paying the Derby County playing staff’s £1.2 million monthly wages as a result of the club’s dire financial situation.

As such, the fact that the club now owe Keogh a further £2.3 million due to his unfair dismissal is only going to cause more disruption to the running of the Rams – and is something that is likely to leave Wayne Rooney livid, as the money paid to the defender – which is due to a direct result of Morris’ error of judgement – could have been spent on improving the 35-year-old’s squad in the summer transfer window.

All in all, it really has been a miserable season for the Pride Park faithful, who will surely be hoping that their club can sort themselves out in the boardroom, which, in turn, could help the side get back on track on the pitch – although this seems a long way off as things currently stand.

In other news: Alan Nixon delivers encouraging Derby County update, fans will surely be buzzing – opinion

Jesse Lingard should ‘be careful not to price himself out of the market’ by demanding a pay rise, Danny Mills has warned.

The former Leeds and Manchester City right-back was speaking to Football Insider about the 28-year-old situation with West Ham.

The lowdown

Lingard spent the second half of the 2020/21 season on loan at the London Stadium and the move was a huge success. The Englishman was directly involved in 16 goals (nine goals, five assists) in as many appearances for the Irons.

Football Insider claimed that West Ham are hopeful of signing the 28-year-old on a permanent deal, and that Lingard himself is reportedly keen on such a move. However, one of his conditions is said to be a salary hike which could potentially make him the club’s highest-paid player.

Andriy Yarmolenko currently tops West Ham’s list of earners with £115,000-per-week wages.

The latest

Mills has said that West Ham must be careful not to alienate other players by acquiescing to Lingard’s demands. He also questioned whether the 28-year-old has done enough to merit the improved terms, having previously fallen well down the pecking order at Manchester United.

The 44-year-old told Football Insider: “Of course he’s going to ask to be one of the best-paid players because his stock is high at the moment.

“But can you expect to be paid more than Declan Rice for example? No, you can’t.

“There are other players who would have their noses put out of joint if he earns more than anyone else.

“There’s no reason why he doesn’t deserve what he’s on. But I’m not sure who else is going to give him a rise or a big rise.

“Yes, you have to do what’s best for yourself but just be careful not to price yourself out of the market.”

The verdict

It’s a little surprising that Lingard wants more money. While he made a vital contribution to West Ham’s successful European bid, he seemed like a player who recaptured a pure love of football, often wearing a beaming smile during his time with the Irons.

If anything, you would have anticipated a willingness to take a pay cut to make a move happen.

The beauty for West Ham, though, is that the revenue boost of qualification for the Europa League might enable them to not only hand Lingard a pay rise, but to offer wage increases to a number of other key players as well, which should quell Mills’ concerns about noses being put out of joint.

In other news, Noel Whelan is wowed by this West Ham target. 

Sunderland and Elliot Embleton’s representatives have started talks over a new contract at the club for the midfielder, according to Sunderland Echo journalist Phil Smith.

The Lowdown: Emerging talent

The 22-year-old has become a key figure in the Black Cats’ squad this season after helping Blackpool earn promotion to the Championship last term with two goals and four assists in 21 appearances while on loan at Bloomfield Road.

This season, the midfielder has already contributed to five goals (two goals and three assists) in eight League One games as Lee Johnson’s men sit top of the table, but his contract is set to expire at the end of the current campaign.

The Latest: New contract

According to Smith, who was talking on a Q&A for the Sunderland Echo, Embleton’s contract situation is a priority for the club.

The journalist said: “Elliot Embleton is the obvious priority and Sunderland have already made moves to start that process. Krisjaan Speakman is understood to have started talks with his representatives and at the moment, there seems to be a will on all sides to get that done.

“It’s by far the most important contract to get sorted at this stage, both in terms of protecting a real asset and also in retaining a player who has quickly become central to Lee Johnson’s plans.”

The Verdict: Needs to be done

Embleton showcased his talents last season for Blackpool and has continued his fine form into the current campaign since moving to the Stadium of Light. The midfielder has completed 81% of his passes and, as highlighted above, been a regular source of goals in terms of scoring them or setting them up, quickly justifying why the Wearsiders wanted to bring him in.

The left winger has formed a good partnership with Alex Pritchard and Aiden McGeady in Johnson’s 4-2-3-1 formation and has been a strong factor as to why they sit top of the table early in the campaign. Hopefully club and player can quickly come to a satisfactory resolution in contract talks, thereby securing his future at Sunderland for another few years.

In other news, Sunderland have received a boost ahead of this weekend’s game with Portsmouth. Find out more here.

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie as new manager Nuno Espirito Santo looks to add further reinforcements to his first-team squad.

According to The Sun, Spurs are one of three Premier League sides interested in securing the 23-year-old’s signature, with West Ham United and Aston Villa also listed as potential suitors.

It goes on to claim that Juve have placed a £25m price tag on McKennie, although they would be open to the prospect of an initial loan deal in January as long as there is an obligation to buy the player in the summer.

Imagine him and Hojbjerg

Nuno Santo has made a slow start to life in the Tottenham dugout, with comprehensive defeats at the hands of London rivals Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Arsenal marking the beginning of his reign.

However, help could be on the way over the winter window in the shape of McKennie, a versatile engine room operator who is capable of playing in a wide variety of positions.

“He’s an outstanding talent,” claimed former Schalke boss David Wagner a few years ago. “In the No.6 or No.8 position, he has the mentality, a real working mentality that you need. And he’s brave on the ball as well. He can be one of the best midfielders in the Bundesliga.”

As a result, McKennie could solve Nuno’s current midfield conundrum, providing a solid spine to his underperforming Spurs side.

During their match with Arsenal, the central areas of the team were completely vacated in a bizarre tactical plan from the manager. This transfer, however, could make sure that system never sees the light of day again.

So far in his career, the USA international has averaged 1.8 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per game which illustrates his importance in defensive situations.

Offensively, meanwhile, he has performed 1.5 dribbles, 1.3 shots and one key pass on average each match since the 2016/17 season, suggesting he has a vibrant impact in the opposition’s penalty box.

Based on that, the box-to-box dynamo would arguably be the ideal partner for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the Tottenham engine room.

Hojbjerg has played every minute of the capital club’s Premier League campaign so far this season, but has been partnered by the likes of Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso and Harry Winks with varying degrees of success.

Having a stable and proven partner such as McKennie could elevate the Dane and consequently Spurs to new levels, meaning the club’s hierarchy must swoop for the Juve gem over the coming months.

And, in other news…Levy could repeat his Soldado nightmare at Spurs by signing “fragile” £40.5m-rated dud 

Get French Football News’ Adam White has told Football FanCast he would be surprised to see Lyon star Maxwel Cornet join Leeds United following the arrival of Junior Firpo.

Firpo has made a £13million move to Elland Road from Spanish giants Barcelona, signing a four-year deal.

The left-back has come in following the departure of North Macedonia international Ezgjan Alioski, who opted not to agree terms on a new deal at the club.

Leeds have also been heavily linked with Cornet, who made 39 appearances for Lyon last season.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side face competition for the 24-year-old’s services, with newly-promoted Premier League rivals Watford also keeping tabs on the wing-back.

Leeds made the first move by lodging a £10million bid, but it has been turned down by Lyon. However, the French side are open to allowing Cornet to seek pastures new.

Despite that, Adam White does not think Cornet would be able to nail down a regular spot in Bielsa’s starting line-up following Firpo’s transfer.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, White said: “He has only really proven that he is consistently capable of achieving the performances that are needed at the top end of Ligue One at wing-back.

“He’s played at left-back a lot too and he’s been okay considering he is a converted winger. He is perfectly suited to the wing-back role.

“Junior Firpo is going to be playing at left-back so it doesn’t seem there is a natural position there. I would see it as a shock if he became their natural left-sided player.”