All posts by z3u9t.icu

A number of Liverpool supporters don’t want Philippe Coutinho to return to Anfield despite him reportedly wanting to move back.

The Brazilian was a hugely popular individual during his time with the Reds, scoring 54 goals in 201 appearances along the way (41 goals in 152 Premier League games). Coutinho’s flair lit up Anfield on many occasions and he proved to be an influential player under both Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp.

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He controversially traded Liverpool for Barcelona in January 2018, however, angering some supporters and ruining his Reds legacy. Ironically, Klopp’s men have never looked back since, winning the Champions League and Premier League, while Coutinho has struggled in Spain.

According to Sport [via LFC Transfer Room on Twitter], it is the 29-year-old’s ‘big dream’ to return to Liverpool this summer, securing a move away from Barca.

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Liverpool fans don’t want Coutinho to return

These Liverpool fans don’t want to see it happen, however, taking to Twitter to provide their thoughts.

“We don’t care about his dreams”

Credit: @PrimeEJ

“Oh so now we’re his ‘dream’? Yeah keep dreaming then.”

Credit: @ryanpiyo

“Big Dream? Please don’t make me laugh”

Credit: @takilufhugu_

“Dream was to play for Barca as well”

Credit: @KiwiC10

“Dream on Phil”

Credit: @hara_anton

“Awwww stop…”

Credit: @Kop_A_Holic

In other news, some Liverpool fans have been reacting to a rumour linking the Reds with a move for an international winger. Read more here.

Merry Christmas, Newcastle fans!

It has been another tough year for most of us, so The Transfer Tavern have decided to spread some festive cheer.

To thank you for reading our content over the past year, or simply as a little pointless reward for finding the energy to watch Bruce-ball for months on end, we have made a quiz on the Magpies’ 2021/22 season so far, and we think only the biggest Toon supporters will get 100 per cent on it.

Think you are up to the challenge? There are ten questions in total for you to answer below, with four options for each, whether you want to test your family’s knowledge around the dinner table, or have a go yourself while you are munching on all of that Christmas chocolate!

Of course, do not forget to share your scores once you have finished, and here’s to a better 2022 for the Toon Army!

Writing a piece for The Daily Express, reporter Jack Otway has urged Tottenham Hotspur managing director Fabio Paratici to sell defender Ben Davies alongside the likes of Dele Alli and Harry Winks.

The Lowdown: Vitesse defeat highlights issue…

On paper, it is arguable that Spurs should be strolling their Europa Conference League group yet manager Nuno Espirito Santo sees his side sitting third.

Vitesse stunned a much-rotated Lilywhites side 1-0 on Thursday night in their third match of Group G, putting pressure back on Spurs’ head coach after back-to-back solid results in the Premier League.

The usual suspects criticised for their poor showings, like England internationals Alli and Winks, were in the firing line but reporter Otway has now explained why Davies also needs to be sold alongside the duo.

The Latest: Otway slams Davies…

Writing for the Express, Otway believes the 28-year-old’s best days are behind him and has said that Paratici ‘would be wise’ to offload the left-back.

The reporter goes on to say that Davies is ‘stuck in a rut’ and had a ‘chastening night at the office’ midweek.

Calling the Wales international vulnerable defensively after he failed to stop the cross for Vitesse’s eventual winning goal, Otway also believes he offered ‘precious little’ going forward.

The Verdict: In agreement…

We believe the journalist may have a point when it comes to Davies and Spurs, and it could certainly be the case that Paratici and the club need to sell while they can.

The only issue for Tottenham is, as always, lack of depth in that area – especially considering Sergio Reguilon has been linked with a move back to Real Madrid recently and Ryan Sessegnon is yet to ignite his career in north London.

In other news: Matter of time: Yet another Spurs player now eyeing N17 exit, he’s already said yes…find out more here.

Tanguy Ndombele is unlikely to feature again for Tottenham Hotspur and could even be shipped out on another loan, says Alasdair Gold.

The Lowdown: Conte fuming

Spurs boss Antonio Conte was keen on a major revamp to his squad in January. Whilst this saw the deadline day incomings of Juventus pair Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur, more players headed for the Lilywhites’ exit door.

This included Lo Celso, who joined Villarreal on a season-long loan. Since returning to Spain, the 26-year-old has gone on to make some impressive displays in both the Champions League and La Liga, having totalled 12 appearances.

Ndombele was another Lilywhites player who was shipped out in January; the Frenchman returned to his former club Lyon, also on a loan deal. Conte was left fuming with the 25 year-old and even made him train away from the group during their short time together, so a winter exit appeared to be the only option for Tottenham’s record signing.

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The Latest: Gold’s verdict…

In a QnA session for football.london, Gold was questioned over whether the pair have futures with the north London club:

“I think it would be tough now for both players to feature under Conte. Lo Celso should have suitors this summer as he has impressed in the Champions League against some big sides, but Ndombele could be harder to get the kind of money for that Spurs will want in return for their club record signing. Another loan might be the only way forward as he just doesn’t seem to be a Conte player.”

The Verdict: Unlikely to return

Whilst Lo Celso could perhaps come back to N17 having had a fresh run-of-form with the La Liga side, Ndombele, called ‘underrated’ by Martin Keown, has struggled to impress since making his return in the French league, starting only six games and ranking as their tenth-best player.

As a result, it is far more likely that Conte decides to keep Lo Celso, rather than Ndombele, to add depth to the midfield. However, if a large offer is made for the Argentina international, the Italian manager would seemingly be unlikely to step in his way.

On the other hand, Spurs will struggle to recoup the £55m they paid for their record signing. Therefore, moving him on in the summer without suffering a huge financial loss, will prove to be far more difficult than selling his midfield counterpart.

In other news: Tottenham Hotspur: Paratici suffers blow in Josko Gvardiol pursuit

According to Italian news outlet Corriere della Sera, there has been an interesting transfer update out of Tottenham Hotspur involving Juventus star Paulo Dybala.

The Lowdown: Conte eyeing free agents…

In recent months, reports have suggested that transfer chief Fabio Paratici has a plan set out for the January transfer window as he targets ‘quality players at zero cost’ (Mundo Deportivo via Sport Witness).

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This has resulted in Spurs being linked with a plethora of potential 2022 free agents, most recently the likes of Jesse Lingard and Franck Kessie.

Tottenham can approach the latter star and formally agree a pre-contract this month, with news now emerging that the Ivorian midfielder is not the only Serie A star out of contract in 2022 who manager Antonio Conte wants to bring to north London.

The Latest: Spurs ‘ready’ to make Dybala move…

According to CDS, as Dybala’s contract winds down in Turin, Tottenham are one of the few clubs now ‘ready’ to snap up the Argentine from Juve.

It is also believed that Conte is personally ‘in love’, as well as Inter Milan transfer chief Giuseppe Marotta, with both men sharing the same esteem for Dybala.

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are also watching on with interest amid the South American’s contract situation.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Dybala is a name all Spurs fans will be familiar with after the infamous image rights debacle which once prevented his move to N17, but is he now the right man to take Conte’s new look side forward?

The £45 million-valued star could leave for nothing later this year and, going by his exploits in Italy, it would be foolish for Spurs not to go back in for him – especially since ex-Spurs fan favourite manager Mauricio Pochettino even called Dybala ‘special’.

Scoring 109 goals and assisting 46 others in 274 outings for Juve (Transfermarkt), boss Massimiliano Allegri lauded Dybala as an ‘extraordinary’ player earlier this week with his worth ‘not under question (via Football Italia).

Signing him for free could be major Paratici coup, especially considering he is still in his prime at 28-years-old.

In other news: ‘This will get Tottenham fans excited’…Sky Sports drop big N17 transfer update live on air, find out more here.

Many Wolves fans have been left slamming the display of Francisco Trincao in their game at home to Newcastle United in the Premier League.

The Portugal international missed a big chance to score in the first half that would have put the Midlands club 2-0 up after Hwang Hee-chan had given them the lead, but they ended up conceding an equaliser to Jeff Hendrick moments later to make the score 1-1 at half-time.

Other than that opportunity, he struggled to really get into the game, and seemed to be bullied off of the ball a little bit too easily at times, with some members of the Molineux faithful noting his physicality.

Before the match this afternoon, Trincao had only managed one goal and no assists all season (Transfermarkt), and it seems as if he is struggling to adapt to English football.

Wolves fans on Trincao display

These WWFC supporters slammed his performance on Twitter, with one even going as far as to claim that he is ‘awful’:

“Trincao way off the pace Adama on at half-time surely”

Credit: @CaritaMejor

“Trincao horror show”

Credit: @lewis_sharp17

“Trincao is awful.”

Credit: @JBabbacombe

“Trincao just isn’t very good”

Credit: @FourFourTwoPls

“Trincao might not be tough enough for the Premier League.”

Credit: @Ashley19345299

“Get Trincao off the pitch”

Credit: @MichaelKlump44

In other news, find out what Pedro Neto footage has Wanderers buzzing here!

An update has emerged on Leeds target Lewis O’Brien, regarding his thoughts on a move to the club.

What’s the talk?

According to The Sun on Sunday (08.08.21, pg. 67), via The72, Huddersfield midfielder Lewis O’Brien is keen on a transfer to Leeds this month and is waiting on the two sides to reach an agreement.

The report claims Leeds have offered the Championship a structured deal of £10m, but Huddersfield want more money up-front in order to bolster their own squad this window.

Fans will be buzzing

Leeds fans will be buzzing with this news as it shows a desire from the player to play for their club. He is not coming to Elland Road for a paycheck, he wants to play for the Lillywhites and the report says that he is willing to bide his time in order to get a chance in the starting XI.

This also means that he would not arrive and expect to immediately start. He is prepared to be patient and this would allow Marcelo Bielsa to take his time with him, working with him in training to make sure he knows exactly what he needs to do on the pitch.

Huddersfield writer Steven Chicken hailed the midfielder earlier this year and praised his wholehearted nature on the pitch.

He said: “Former Huddersfield boss Danny Cowley often praised O’Brien as being ‘like having two players’, with the midfielder receiving particular praise from his manager and fans alike for his ability and willingness to rush back and win the ball with a clean sliding tackle whenever his side were caught on the counter-attack.

“He certainly has the potential to be (a Premier League player), if he’s not already. His fitness is incredible and he just never seems to get tired, which is one of the biggest difficulties Championship players have when stepping up to the Premier League.

“He’s never going to be a big glamorous name in the Premier League, but he is the kind of wholehearted, committed player that managers love because they do so much of the hard work that helps other players to shine.”

This further goes to show that O’Brien has the attitude required to succeed at Leeds. These comments from Chicken suggest that he has the work rate on and off the pitch to put in a shift for his side whilst improving himself on the training pitch, which Bielsa could love as it shows that he is a coachable talent.

Therefore, supporters will be delighted with this latest update on O’Brien. Leeds are working on an agreement with Huddersfield and the player wants it to happen, so hopefully Victor Orta can get this over the line in the coming weeks.

AND in other news, Raphinha 2.0: Leeds must sign “exceptional” wing wizard, Bielsa would love him…

Southampton are currently in their 10th consecutive Premier League season after winning promotion from the Championship in 2012 under Nigel Adkins.

During that time, one figure who has played a massive part for the Saints is captain James Ward-Prowse, who has made 333 appearances for the south coast club across all competitions. He has scored 35 goals and provided 42 assists since making his senior debut for Southampton back in October 2011.

Despite making 11 appearances for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side so far this season and putting pen to paper on a new five-year contract at St Mary’s over the summer, a recent report from The Athletic has suggested that the midfielder has now gone past what they describe as peak age for a central midfielder.

With this in mind, there’s every possibility that the club could be on the lookout for a new player who could be a future long-term replacement for their skipper.

Rather than spend millions on potential transfer fees when that time comes, the Saints could already have their ideal replacement for Ward-Prowse and potential club hero with 16-year-old attacking midfielder Kami Doyle.

As a product of Southampton’s youth system, Doyle has made 12 appearances for their under-18 side, in which he has scored 10 goals and provided one assist, showing that he has a knack for scoring and creating goals from midfield in a similar way to Ward-Prowse over the years.

Even at his young age, Doyle – who has been praised in the past by Saints coach David Horseman for his “quality” on the pitch  – has made 11 appearances for Southampton’s B team, which goes to show how much faith and belief they have in him to be able to line out alongside some of the older players in the youth ranks.

Moving forward, if Doyle can continue to progress with Southampton’s B team and develop his game even further, there’s nothing stopping him from eventually breaking into the first team and potentially becoming the club’s new Ward-Prowse.

In other news – Lost the ball 81 times: Ralph must brutally axe “unbelievable” Saints dud, he’s a liability

Some Manchester United supporters are fuming after the club’s former player Steve Bruce was linked with taking interim charge of the Red Devils.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer left his role as United manager on Sunday morning following the demoralising 4-1 defeat at the hands of Watford in the Premier League.

The result leaves the Red Devils a whopping 12 points behind current leaders Chelsea, with their title chances effectively over after just 12 games.

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The search for Solskjaer’s successor is now on, with some reports claiming that an interim manager could take charge until the end of the season.

According to The Athletic, Bruce is keen on taking the role, having been sacked as Newcastle United manager last month. The 60-year-old enjoyed a great playing career with the Red Devils, making 414 appearances and winning three Premier League titles during a glorious period in the 1990s.

However, his 23-year managerial career has not yielded a single trophy, while the highest Premier League finish he has achieved as a coach is 10th. He was also deeply unpopular on Tyneside, with many Newcsstle supporters lamenting his conservative tactical approach.

United fans furious at Bruce rumour

After the managerial links came to light, these United fans reacted angrily to the rumours about Bruce potentially taking the Old Trafford hot seat.

“Please tell me the Steve Bruce thing is a really bad joke”

Credit: @littleman1979

“Oh please”

Credit: @M_acBrown

“What sort of things be this. Ah”

Credit: @ZanuteySages

“I love Steve, he is genuinely a wonderful football guy but I absolutely don’t want this”

Credit: @MOVIESTVMAD

“No. Just no. I don’t care if it’s Carrick during the interim. Not another legend coming in to ‘save the club'”

Credit: @markziegs

“Goodbye. I’m going back to bed”

Credit: @JasonofSuburbia

In other news, some United fans have flocked to another managerial claim. Read more here.

Mark Warburton has labelled Moses Odubajo as a ‘class act’ and ‘outstanding’ after the defender scored against Manchester United in a pre-season friendly win at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.

What’s the story?

Odubajo has been on trial with QPR during pre-season, and will be hoping he can secure a permanent contract with the R’s, as they prepare for the upcoming 2021/22 league campaign.

The defender had previously been on the books with Sheffield Wednesday, but departed Hillsborough in the summer, after his contract with the Owls reached a conclusion at the end of the 2020/21 season.

It was a frustrating campaign for Odubajo as well, as he made 22 appearances in that season, as they were relegated into the third tier of English football.

Odubajo played in their recent pre-season win over Premier League giants Manchester United, and Mark Warburton has singled out the 27-year-old for praise in a post-match press conference.

“I know all about Moses. I know him inside out. He’s a class act on and off the field.

“He’s had a frustrating time with injury and there’s no doubt about his quality, we’re just looking at his fitness and durability – and he showed that this afternoon in abundance. You saw what a talented boy he is.

“I thought he had an outstanding game. From the first kick and first tackle he was on the front foot.”

It should be a no-brainer for QPR

Odubajo will certainly feel as though he’s got a point to prove in the Championship, having endured a frustrating time whilst with Sheffield Wednesday last season.

The 27-year-old defender had an average Whoscored rating of 6.54 for his performances for the Owls in the 2020/21 season, which put him ranked 15th on the list amongst the rest of Darren Moore’s side.

But Odubajo has impressed with the likes of Brentford and Hull City earlier in his career, and he’ll certainly feel as though he’s more than capable of getting back to his best, having struggled with injuries in recent seasons.

He’s evidently made a good impression on Mark Warburton at QPR, and given that he’d be available on a free transfer this summer, it could turn out to be a shrewd move by the R’s if they were to secure an agreement to sign the 27-year-old ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

It should be a no-brainer for QPR to offer him a permanent contract, as he could turn out to be the ideal player to replace Todd Kane regularly in the starting XI, with Kane looking as though he’s heading for the exit door before the summer transfer window closes.