All posts by z3u9t.icu

Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale has been a busy man in recent weeks as his side have made four signings ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Despite there being over two months left to run before the deadline passes, the Light Blues have moved swiftly to land Kieran Dowell, Sam Lammers, Dujon Sterling, and Jack Butland to bolster the squad.

However, they may not be done there as the Scottish giants have been linked with a host of other players in their bid to win the Scottish Premiership title back from their bitter rivals.

Incomings are not the only order of business for the club, though, as fresh arrivals also open the door for players to move on.

The Daily Mail recently claimed that Antonio Colak is being eyed by teams in Germany and could be sold after just one year at Ibrox.

Does Antonio Colak have a future at Rangers?

Beale could ruthlessly ditch the Croatian international in the coming weeks by securing a deal to snap up 20-year-old marksman Benie Traore.

According to journalist Alan Nixon on his Patreon (25/06/2023), Rangers are one of the clubs interested in signing the Hacken centre-forward this summer. The striker is said to be available for a fee in the region of £5m, while Sheffield United and Celtic are also pursuing his signature.

Traore, who scout Jacek Kulig lauded as "talented" and a "jewel", has been in phenomenal form in the top-flight of Swedish football this year. He has plundered an outstanding 12 goals and three assists in 13 matches, while his average Sofascore rating of 7.25 would place him sixth within the Gers squad last term.

Colak, on the other hand, averaged a Scottish Premiership Sofascore rating of 7.11 across 25 appearances during the 2022/23 campaign to go along with his 14 goals and one assist for the club.

This indicates that the reported Light Blues target could provide more than the 29-year-old in the final third based on his superior scoring return of one strike every 1.08 matches – better than any Rangers player managed last season – compared to the Croatian forward's 1.79.

The former PAOK man created 0.5 Premiership chances per game for his teammates, whilst Traore's 1.4 league key passes per match for Hacken suggests that the Ivorian gem would be a big upgrade from a creative perspective – Fashion Sakala led the way for Beale's strikers with 1.5 per outing.

Therefore, the signing of the 20-year-old prodigy would allow Beale to end Colak's time at Ibrox as the English head coach would be bringing in a forward with the potential to offer far more quality, in terms of scoring goals and creating chances, week-in-week-out.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is hoping to bolster his side's defence with the signing of Wolfsburg centre-half Micky van de Ven.

What's the latest on Micky van de Ven to Tottenham?

The London outfit's desire for the Dutchman has been clear for the past several weeks, with Football Insider recently reporting that Spurs will battle against Premier League rivals Liverpool for his signature.

The indication is that Die Wölfe are willing to conduct business with suitors for a fee of around €30m (£26m), which could prompt Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy to instigate a move following the club's dismal 22/23 campaign.

Given that Van de Ven is a left-footed central defender, he is something of a rarity and would be a fantastic addition to a Spurs backline yearning for some inspiration and exuberance to dispel the present misfortune.

How good is Micky van de Ven?

Tottenham capitulated in the closing weeks of the 22/23 Premier League season, winning just four of their final 13 matches and hurtling away from Champions League contention to squander European qualification in its entirety.

The crux of the matter? The disastrous defensive displays; the Lilywhites shipped 63 league goals, a tally bettering only Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and the three relegated outfits.

This is why Van de Ven's signing is so imperative to the club's progress, wiping away the cobwebs from a forgettable campaign and restoring the equilibrium at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

At just 22-years-old, the "complete" and "flourishing" defender – as hailed by journalist Ronan Murphy – has made his mark in the German Bundesliga and earned an average Sofascore rating of 6.85, keeping 11 clean sheets from 33 games, completing 88% of his passes, averaging 1.4 tackles per game and succeeding with 64% of his ground duels.

Such numbers are impressive, particularly when you consider only two defenders in the squad – Cristian Romero (2.5) and Clement Lenglet (1.5) managed more tackles per match last term.

The Netherlands U21 international is a burgeoning titan and would likely leave Eric Dier quaking in his boots if he were to arrive in London under Postecoglou's wing, with the 29-year-old culpable of producing poor performances over the past year.

Rebuked by journalist Ryan Taylor for being "nowhere near the required level that Spurs are trying to achieve", Dier has since made 361 appearances since signing from Sporting Lisbon for £4m in 2014.

Also said to be "not good enough" by pundit Darren Ambrose, Dier's ranking across metrics for progressive passing (bottom 40%) and ball-carrying (bottom 24%) could further leave him down in the pecking order, with Postecoglou favouring pass-proficient central defenders to complement his possession-based, free-flowing system.

And with Van de Ven ranking among the top 10% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 7% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, he has the forward-thinking mentality to displace Dier, who also occupies the left side of the central defence.

That's not to mention his frightening pace either, with the centre-back clocking up a top speed of 35.97 km/h in the Bundesliga; a number that defeats even that of Son Heung-min's 34.4 km/h.

With journalist Jonathan Veal suggesting that Dier's "time is up" at Tottenham, it might be time to hoist him from his starting berth and provide Van de Ven with the license to cement a prominent role in an outfit craving a resurgence.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly 'keeping tabs' on Gambian starlet Adama Bojang.

Wolves transfer news – What's the latest on Adama Bojang?

According to the Evening Standard, the Old Gold are amongst a 'raft of European clubs taking an interest in 19-year-old gem Adama Bojang.

The youngster has shot to prominence in recent months thanks to his exceptional performances for the Gambian team in the U20 World Cup, where he scored in the round of 16.

Before that, in March, he helped guide his team to the final of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations, where they finished runners-up, and he was named in the team of the tournament.

His club side, Steve Biko FC, have valued the player at just £2.6m, and with a low price tag, it's no surprise that Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Tottenham are also interested.

Would Adama Bojang be a bargain at just £2.6m?

In a world in which Chelsea are signing 16-year-olds for £17m, a fee of only £2.6m for a 19-year-old prospect who has plenty of experience as a youth international and some experience in senior football seems like a bargain.

Granted, that senior football has come in the Gambian league for club side Steve Biko, but it will still have been beneficial towards his development.

Looking at the player's statistics from his time with the Gambian U20s paints a picture of a clinical forward. In just ten appearances for the side, he has produced seven goal contributions, six goals and one assist.

Nicknamed as "The Gambian Hurricane" in his domestic league thanks to his rapid pace and trickery, the 6 foot 3 dynamo expressed his reaction to the European links, telling BBC Africa back in April:

"I've heard about the news and I am excited about it. It boosts my morale. I'm focusing more on consistency which motivates me a lot, because seeing such clubs following you is a great feeling."

He hasn't been shy in revealing his lofty ambitions, though, saying: "I want to be like Cristiano Ronaldo."

Bojang might get close if former Millwall and Plymouth Argyle striker Cherno Samba is to be believed.

Speaking to talkSPORT, the former Pilgrims player said:

"He's ready to go, he works hard and he's hungry. He is destined for greatness.

"Fingers crossed he stays away from injury but he will be a top, top, top player."

If the hype is to be believed and you look at the several Man of the Match awards he has already won with his U20 international side, then that fee of £2.6m starts to look very good.

It was in one of those game-changing performances that he really shone.

In a match against South Sudan in the quarter-finals, and after sitting out the final group game, the dynamic forward came back into the team to score a hat trick in just 27 minutes.

With performances like that, Wolves should be pursuing Bojang, as they held the unfortunate award for scoring the fewest goals out of any team in the Premier League last season, only 31 in 38 games.

Attacking reinforcements are desperately needed at the club, and with Atalanta reportedly asking for an eye-watering £86m for Rasmus Hojlund after one breakthrough debut campaign in Serie A, for example, a significantly cheaper gamble seems too good an option to pass up, especially given Wolves' Financial Fair Play issues.

Aston Villa could top their recent signing of Youri Tielemans on a free transfer from Leicester City by acquiring Manchester City star Aymeric Laporte, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Youri Tielemans and Aymeric Laporte?

Last week, BBC Sport confirmed that Tielemans will complete a move to Aston Villa on July 1st on a free transfer once his Leicester City contract officially expires.

Manchester United, Roma and Arsenal were all keen on enticing the Belgium international elsewhere; however, he will now ply his trade at Villa Park next term and will have Europa Conference League football to look forward to in the West Midlands.

90min also claim that Aston Villa have held talks with Manchester City defender Laporte and Villarreal stopper Pau Torres as Unai Emery kicks his transfer proactivity up a notch ahead of the coming season.

The report states that Laporte has grown frustrated by his lack of first-team minutes at the Citizens and Aston Villa have emerged as a possible destination for the Spaniard to gain regular time on the pitch.

Capology understand that Laporte earns around £120,000 per week at the Etihad Stadium on a contract that runs until the summer of 2025.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones is of the opinion that Laporte would be an even better but of business than bringing Tielemans to Villa Park and signalled that the 29-year-old would improve Emery's side.

Jones told FFC: "I definitely think Laporte could be an even better signing than Tielemans. I mean, he would definitely improve this team immediately and for Emery himself, just the sort of mentality that you have coming into his team just continues to rise."

Would Aymeric Laporte be a good signing for Aston Villa?

When you factor in his extensive experience at the top level and calm presence in the backline, Laporte could be an ideal signing for Aston Villa as they enter into continental football in 2023/24.

All in, Laporte amassed 24 appearances in all competitions for Manchester City during 2022/23, registering one assist, as per Transfermarkt.

Laporte is one of the best examples you'll find of a ball-playing defender around Europe, which is reflected in the fact he maintained a pass success rate of 93.1% throughout the campaign, according to WhoScored.

FBRef also take into account that Laporte has excelled in comparison to his positional peers in Europe's top five divisions in the art of progressive carries, averaging around 2.59 per fixture in the last 365 days, putting him in the first percentile for this metric.

Looking ahead, Aston Villa should do everything in their power to try and tempt Laporte to Villa Park as boss Emery looks to strengthen ahead of what will be an exciting forthcoming season for everyone connected with the club.

Liverpool would be 'silly' not to at least enter the race to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers' Ruben Neves this summer, believes transfer specialist Dean Jones.

Despite Neves reportedly waiting for a move to Barcelona, according to Fabrizio Romano, Jones believes that Liverpool should throw their name in the hat for his signature.

Liverpool transfer news – Ruben Neves

It's no secret that Liverpool are after midfield reinforcements this summer following the departures of James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The Reds have also just completed the signing of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion, and have recently been linked with moves for both Manu Kone and Khephren Thuram by Romano, as they look to rebuild in the middle of the park.

Given their need for midfielders, Neves could yet prove to be an adequate option, should Jurgen Klopp decide to target the Wolves man.

As of right now, it seems as if the Portuguese midfielder has his eyes firmly set on a potential move to the newly-crowned La Liga champions.

The Portugal international is Premier League quality, there's no doubting that, and, with a year left on his contract, this summer is one of the last chances that Wolves will have to cash in – potentially resulting in a cut-price deal.

What did Dean Jones say about Ruben Neves and Liverpool?

Speaking to Football FanCast when asked about Neves and Liverpool, Jones said:

"I think they’d be silly to not at least be in the conversation for Ruben Neves. I’m not sure if it’s their ultimate goal here, we know they’ve got their eye on other situations, too, like Gravenberch and Mount."

How much does Ruben Neves earn?

If Liverpool are to make what seems like an unlikely move for Neves this summer, then they will be hoping to avoid any disruption to their wage structure.

At Wolves currently, Neves, who has been hailed as "incredible", earns £55k per week, according to Salary Sport, which would place him in the middle of earners in the first-team at Anfield.

The wage certainly wouldn't be an issue, and, even so, it is justified by Neves' clear ability.

The midfielder found the back of the net six times from midfield last season, whilst also recording one assist to tally up seven goal involvements.

By comparison, Liverpool's highest-scoring midfielder last season was Curtis Jones, who scored just three times, whilst only assisting once in a frustrating season in the middle of the park for Jurgen Klopp's side.

Crystal Palace have made contact with Borussia Monchengladbach forward Alassane Plea about a summer move to Selhurst Park, according to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna.

Who will Crystal Palace sign this summer?

With Wilfried Zaha seemingly heading for the exit door upon the expiration of his contract at the end of next month, Palace will need to bring in a replacement, and Fabrizio Romano reports they have already made a bid for Sunderland's Jack Clarke.

The Eagles appear to be very keen on strengthening their attacking options, and they have recently been linked with a move for Gambia starlet Adama Bojang, while they are also said to be interested in Middlesbrough striker Chuba Akpom.

Plea is able to play on both wings and through the middle, which means he could be brought in to replace either Zaha or Jean-Philippe Mateta, with the latter player making it clear he wants to leave this summer.

Foot Mercato journalist Aouna reports Palace, and by extension chairman Steve Parish, are interested in signing the Monchengladbach forward, having already made initial contact, but there will be competition for his signature, with Fulham and West Ham United also said to be interested and making an approach.

The 30-year-old is thinking of leaving the German club, and Aouna claims he "dreams" of returning to Ligue 1, with Lyon "pushing" to bring him back. A move to the Premier League is not completely ruled out, but it appears as though he has his sights set on a return to his home country at the moment.

Who is Alassane Plea?

It is no real surprise the Frenchman is keen to return to Ligue 1, as he has been a resounding success in the French top flight in the past, registering 36 goals and 22 assists in 119 appearances in the competition during spells with Nice and Lyon.

The £79k-per-week forward moved to Monchengladbach in the summer of 2018, where he has also impressed, reaching double figures for goals in three out of the five seasons he has played in the Bundesliga.

Hailed as "extraordinary" by Gladbach legend Gunter Netzer, the one-time France international has displayed his remarkable playmaking abilities over the past year, averaging 0.46 assists per 90, in the 98th percentile compared to his positional peers.

Plea's attacking threat could make him a fantastic replacement for Zaha, and if Palace are able to tempt him into a move to the Premier League, he may prove to be an excellent addition to the squad.

Arsenal will 'touch base' with West Ham United captain Declan Rice later this month as they plot a swoop for the England international, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Declan Rice?

As per The Daily Mail, Arsenal, Manchester United and Bayern Munich are all involved in the race for Rice's signature this summer, who is valued at around £120 million by West Ham.

The report states that the Gunners will have around £180 million to spend in the off-season once they initiate player sales, though Bayern Munich are willing to offer £87 million and also players in exchange to land the England international.

According to The Times, one factor that may help Arsenal in their efforts to sign Rice is the fact that Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount has agreed personal terms over a potential move to their Premier League rivals Manchester United, something which could pave the way for Rice to pitch up at the Emirates Stadium.

Rice has been non-commital regarding his future in a recent interview cited by The Manchester Evening News, instead indicating that his full focus will be given to trying to win the Europa Conference League trophy, as he said: “I’ve not really focused on any of that, to be honest. My main focus this season, from the World Cup onwards, has been getting us out of a relegation battle and, of course, having one eye on winning this trophy."

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones has detailed that Arsenal will initiate contact with Rice and his entourage in early June, though warns that the Gunners will need to act soon to ensure they fend off competition from other clubs.

Jones said: "We know that Arsenal are going to touch base early on in June to see what they can do with Declan Rice.

"While that's going on, if Mount is available and Manchester United could potentially look to tie that up, it straightaway gives you a foot up for if Rice doesn't sign for Arsenal, where he goes after that."

Would Declan Rice be a good signing for Arsenal?

Rice, who has been hailed as a "rare" player, is a versatile midfielder that looks primed for a move to one of the Premier League's big guns this summer and Arsenal could be the perfect environment to progress his career in the right direction.

In 2022/23, the 24-year-old has made 49 appearances in all competitions, registering five goals and four assists in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

The £60k-a-week earner has also shown commendable consistency this term and has been West Ham's top performer, according to WhoScored, obtaining an average match rating of 7.01/10 for his exploits on the pitch.

Driving his side forward is one of Rice's main plus points and he has been able to successfully carry out 111 shot-creating actions this campaign, as per FBRef.

Looking ahead, Arsenal will need to move fast in order to secure his signature; however, the lure of Champions League football may work in their favour when trying to recruit Rice.

Chelsea are 'pushing' to sign Sporting CP’s Manuel Ugarte as the first step of their summer rebuild.

What’s the latest on Manuel Ugarte to Chelsea?

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Blues are “in talks” for the midfield target, who has been approved by the incoming Mauricio Pochettino.

The reputable journalist also says the Blues will be rivalled by Paris Saint-Germain for the 22-year-old’s signature, but Chelsea will keep insisting.

The Guardian has revealed that the Uruguayan has a release clause of €60m (£52m) and the 2021 Champions League holders “have a chance of winning the race” to complete the transfer.

How would Manuel Ugarte fit in at Chelsea?

The eight-cap ace has enjoyed an incredible season that has alerted Europe’s most elite clubs to his unbelievable talent.

The titan has developed a formidable reputation as an aggressive, defensive-minded protector for the backline. This is showcased by the fact that this season he has made the most tackles in Liga Portugal (121), and the Champions League (29), while only five players have made more tackles in the Europa League, as per WhoScored.

The highly-rated titan has been described as a 'warrior' by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig and a 'balling-winning machine' by Dave Kendrick, thanks to the aforementioned imperious consistency.

This is precisely why the west London outfit are interested and Ugarte; he could be the perfect midfield partner for Enzo Fernandez who has been a shining light in Chelsea’s abysmal season.

The Argentine has recorded more successful long balls (133) and successful attacking third passes (318) than any other player in the Premier League since his debut in the competition in February.

The World Cup winner’s wondrous ability to dictate play combined with the Sporting prodigy’s tenacity could be a sensational combination that could catapult the Londoners back to where they belong.

Furthermore, the Montevideo-born gift can emulate Fernandez’s role as a deep-lying playmaker as he ranks in the top 19% outside of Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for passes attempted per 90, as well as the highest 1% for pass completion.

He is simply too good for his current division and a move to a Chelsea team, whose midfield is in desperate need of a huge revamp, would hugely benefit both parties.

Both the aforementioned players are just 22 years old, so they are brimming with potential, and under the meticulous guidance of Pochettino, they could both be two of the world’s most elite footballers.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Public Investment Fund (PIF) are reportedly now favourites to sign James Tarkowski for Newcastle United this summer.

The Lowdown: Many admirers

The Burnley defender certainly has plenty of admirers, with both West Ham United and Everton also reportedly interested in his signature.

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He is out of contract at Turf Moor in the summer and can therefore be signed on a free transfer once it expires.

The Latest: Newcastle favourites for Tarkowski

Writing in his latest piece for The Chronicle, Lee Ryder has reported that Newcastle may have ‘nudged ahead’ in the race to sign Tarkowski, as West Ham have cooled their interest.

The journalist states that it could be the ‘perfect deal’ for the Magpies, given that he would come for free and they could offer him more in wages.

The Verdict: No-brainer

It really is a no-brainer for the Tyneside outfit to try and bring Tarkowski to St James’ Park on a free transfer.

Once dubbed ‘outstanding’ by his former Clarets manager Sean Dyche, the Mancunian would offer Eddie Howe another solid option in the centre of defence, and he is in his prime at 29 years of age.

The Englishman also has valuable Premier League experience and know-how, so he should be able to settle in fairly quickly at Newcastle should he make the move to the northeast.

In other news, find out who else NUFC are now ‘chasing’ this summer

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

What’s the word?

In a recent post on Twitter, the Italian journalist and transfer insider revealed that Bayern Munich are preparing an opening offer of around €20m (£17m) for the RB Leipzig midfielder, with Julian Nagelsmann believed to be a big fan of the 24-year-old.

However, Romano goes on to state that a number of Premier League sides – one of whom is reported to be Antonio Conte’s Tottenham – are also interested in a move for the Austria international this summer.

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In his tweet, the journalist said: “FC Bayern are preparing an opening bid [of] around €18/20m to begin talks with RB Leipzig for Konrad Laimer – it won’t be easy but Bayern want him. Julian Nagelsmann is pushing to sign Laimer – as Premier League top clubs are interested too. He’s out of contract in 2023.”

Paratici must move

Considering just how well suited Laimer appears to be for Conte’s tactical setup in north London, in addition to the fact that it appears as if the midfielder will be available for an extremely reasonable fee this summer, it would seem a very wise move for Paratici to launch a bid of his own for the RB Leipzig dynamo at the end of the current campaign.

Indeed, according to FBref statistics, the £23.4m-rated Austrian ranks in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues for pressures per 90 minutes, as well as the top 19% for tackles, the top 13% for progressive carries, the top 17% for blocks and the top 14% for dribbles completed over the last 365 days.

The £49k-per-week talent also impresses in attacking metrics, with FBref ranking the 24-year-old in the top 10% of midfielders for non-penalty goals per 90 minutes, in addition to the top 4% of non-penalty xG, the top 13% for shots, the top 4% for assists, the top 13% for xA and the top 5% for non-penalty xG+xA throughout the last year.

As a result of these returns, FBref compare Laimer to the likes of Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham, Liverpool’s Naby Keita, Barcelona duo Pedri and Gavi and Atalanta’s Teun Koopmeiners, demonstrating the calibre of player the RB Leipzig sensation is in and amongst.

As such, should the player dubbed an “elite presser” indeed be available for as little as £17m this summer, Paratici simply must throw Tottenham’s hat in the ring, as it is abundantly clear that Laimer signing that Conte would love to welcome to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ahead of the club’s 2022/23 campaign.

AND in other news: Spurs now set to seal “unbelievable” first summer signing, it’s a Paratici masterclass