All posts by z3u9t.icu

The lure of guaranteed playing time is expected to see Celtic win the race to sign Bayern Munich youngster Christopher Scott this summer, according to Alex McLeish.

The Lowdown: Celtic linked with move

The 19-year-old midfielder has been linked with a move to Parkhead in recent days, with Sky Germany reporting talks with the player’s representatives even though Bayern are keen on extending his stay beyond 2022 – when his current deal expires.

It is believed that Brentford are also interested in acquiring Scott’s services, as the potential battle to sign him in the summer hots up.

The youngster has won four caps for Germany’s Under-20 side and is valued at £1.08million by Transfermarkt.

The Latest: McCleish backs Hoops for signing

Speaking to Football Insider, McLeish, a pundit for BBC Radio 5 Live, backed Scott, a ‘glorious talent’ to trade Bayern for Celtic, with the promise of more minutes giving them the edge over Brentford:

“That would be a cracker. I suspect he will only come if he is promised he will be playing. I’m not saying he’ll be in the nucleus of the team.

“But he will need to be assured he will be getting games. It’s rare to see young teenagers making a breakthrough but teenagers in their late teens have a chance.

“If you’ve got a glorious talent, there’s absolutely no stopping you. But it seems that a lot of them are thinking about, not bigger clubs but the bigger leagues, to get them over that kind of foundation hurdle.

“The aim is to catch the eye of the seniors at Bayern Munich or whatever. They clearly want to get the experience of a tougher league.”

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The Verdict: One for the future

While Scott wouldn’t necessarily come in as a key man immediately, he is someone who would be viewed as a long-term signing with great potential.

That’s not to say he wouldn’t play regularly, though, as McLeish alludes to, and he has been described as ‘one of the biggest talents in Germany’ in the past, surely earning himself plenty of playing time when the Bhoys compete on multiple fronts.

Scott could add depth and quality to Celtic’s midfield, not to mention ensure that Ange Postecoglou’s side continues to build into the future, as key midfielders like Callum McGregor begin to age.

In other news, two Celtic players could potentially start at Rangers this weekend. Find out who it is here.

Everton have made three signings during the January transfer window, however, they have not made any further additions since they sacked Rafa Benitez over a week ago.

Though, with less than a week to go they have been linked with a player who could potentially change the fate of their season.

The Toffees are struggling in the Premier League so far this term, finding themselves teetering on the edge of the relegation zone only three points clear of the drop.

Their defensive record has been shocking, with the side scoring 11 fewer goals than they have conceded and several shocking performances at the back that have cost Everton points, most recently Michael Keane’s own goal at Carrow Road which led to their tenth defeat and the firing of Benitez.

Further bolstering the defensive line is something Farhad Moshiri and Duncan Ferguson should be looking closely at in the last week of the transfer window, with Malang Sarr linked with a move to Goodison Park.

Yerry Mina has recently returned from injury and adding a high quality centre back partner could be the change that Everton need to reignite their campaign and save themselves from a relegation battle at the bottom of the Premier League table.

Sarr can play both left back and left sided centre back, which would complement Mina on the right side perfectly, with the £5.4m-rated titan being hailed by his current manager Thomas Tuchel, who said:

“I have the feeling that he knows his role very clearly, he appreciates being in the team and when necessary, he steps up and shows he can be a strong teammate and a strong player.”

The 22-year-old is not currently first choice at Chelsea, making just ten appearances so far across all competitions but has clearly impressed his manager due to the praise he has received, and even his little experience playing in a competitive and successful side could be something that could add value to the Everton defence right now.

Ferguson could form a terrifying defensive duo by deploying Mina and Sarr together, with the 6 foot 3 Everton defender returning to the side.

The Colombian will offer a fresh perspective in the backline following the confidence knocks the other central defenders are likely to be rocked by after several poor performances this season.

Combine that with Sarr’s eagerness to prove he is good enough for first-team football, whilst offering experience of playing alongside some of the most pedigreed defenders in football like Thiago Silva, and it bodes well for the future of the Toffees’ backline.

There has been no official approach or bid made for the young Chelsea defender, but this could change in the last week of the window as Moshiri will surely be keen to make sure Everton have everything they need to stay in the Premier League next season.

In other news: Moshiri could cause chaos by appointing Vitor Pereira

During West Ham United’s crucial 3-2 victory over Leicester City at the London Stadium, many Irons supporters weren’t impressed with defender Arthur Masuaku after he was caught in possession just before the away side’s first goal.

The left wing-back, who was handed another start by David Moyes, his second since returning from knee surgery recently, got caught out for Kelechi Iheanacho’s first strike after West Ham took a stellar three-goal lead.

A stunning opening goal from Jesse Lingard in the first half opened the floodgates in east London, with makeshift striker Jarrod Bowen later assisting another one for the loanee close to half-time.

Shortly after the interval, Bowen got on the scoresheet himself to make it three, but Masuaku losing the ball in West Ham’s half later resulted in Iheanacho setting up a very nervy ending to the encounter as he scored twice for the visitors.

The 27-year-old was also the lowest-rated out of any West Ham player with just 5.9 on SofaScore. He lost six of his 11 duels, was beaten in three dribbles and conceded possession 11 times.

In reaction, these Hammers fans weren’t impressed, with one even dubbing him a “liability” – find some of their verdicts down below.

West Ham fans slam Masuaku

“Masuaku genuinely frightens me every time he gets the ball in his own half.”

Credit: @MarkBish94

“Masuaku proving a liability again”

Credit: @SteveOwles

“Masuaku that is pathetic”

Credit: @Jordan_pettifer

“Masuaku is not playing well at all. Too many times he’s given the ball away today.”

Credit: @HammerInManny

“Masuaku proving what a liability he is. He’s one of those that needs shipping out.”

Credit: @Millsy_Official

“Someone needs to teach Masuaku how to pass”

Credit: @Heff1895

“Take off Masuaku”

Credit: @evankearns02

In other news: These West Ham fans flocked to an ExWHUemployee tweet, find out more here.

Tottenham Hotspur could finally make a move for a player they have been tracking for three years this summer; Joachim Andersen…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Eurosport’s Dean Jones, who claims the current Spurs squad will undergo a refresh regardless of who is in charge; Jose Mourinho or someone else.

He also suggests that recent reports linking the north Londoners to the Dane do carry weight after all.

Alasdair Gold suggested earlier this month that Andersen would be a potential summer target after impressing on-loan to Premier League rivals Fulham, and they have no option to buy, so parent club Lyon could see a bidding war ensue for their towering defender.

The Telegraph believe he could be available for just £25m.

Imagine him & Rodon

It is no secret that Spurs need defensive reinforcements, particularly through the middle. They may well hold the record of being the fourth-best defence in the top-flight but mistakes at the back have been the true defining trend of the season.

Following Sunday’s defeat to Manchester United, Mourinho’s side have now dropped 18 points from winning positions, only second to Brighton’s attempt of 20 points.

Had they seen out those matches, then Spurs would be second in the league to an outstanding Man City side.

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That’s not the case and is undoubtedly why they are so desperate to transform their backline this summer. Joe Rodon, a late £11m signing, has started to prove his worth and at just 23, he’s certainly one for the long-term future.

He’ll need a partner, though. And it’s evident that neither Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez or the aging Toby Alderweireld are up to scratch as Mourinho has utilised 16 different combinations at the back this term alone.

Andersen, however, has impressed in a side battling for relegation. Despite it being his maiden campaign in England, he’s picked up the armband in 14 of his 26 appearances, including the 1-1 draw against Spurs, where he stopped Harry Kane to just the one goal.

Only a trio of regular starters under Scott Parker have managed a better average WhoScored rating than the Dane (6.81), whilst he leads the squad for aerial duels won (3.2 per game).

The 6 foot 4 titan’s form this campaign has earned glowing praise from across English press, ranging from Mirror chief football writer John Cross lauding him “magnificent” to the Telegraph’s Sam Dean claiming he’s Fulham’s best passer – an attribute that would definitely see him fit nicely with Spurs playing out from the back.

Rodon is currently Mourinho’s best passer, managing to find another Spurs player with 88.7% of his passing attempts, so pairing the two together could prove to be a shrewd decision in the long run.

He’s only 24, too, so you can just imagine the spine of Rodon and Andersen for years to come.

AND in other news, Imagine him and Hojbjerg: Spurs plot swoop for the next Paul Pogba…

Former BBC pundit Noel Whelan has tipped Tottenham Hotspur defender Joe Rodon to leave the Lilywhites in the summer and join a newly-promoted Premier League club.

The Lowdown: Rodon’s position

According to a report by Football Insider, Spurs have informed the Wales international that he is free to find himself a new club when the transfer window opens.

The 24-year-old was keen on leaving Hotspur Way in January, with the likes of Brighton and Newcastle interested in signing the defender, but a move away from north London failed to materialise.

Rodon has shone on the international stage, drawing praise as ‘flawless’ and ‘special’ from journalist Ian Mitchelmore.

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The Latest: Whelan’s claim on Rodon

Whelan has claimed that if Rodon aims to stay in the Premier League, he should consider joining a newly-promoted team as the defender is not the sort of player Conte wants.

Speaking with Football Insider, the former Leeds striker said of the 24-year-old: “He’s not in the category Conte wants in a centre-half. I don’t expect him to have a life at Tottenham.

“There are teams like Fulham who have already been promoted. There will be teams who look at him because of the Premier League status that he has had at Tottenham.

“Also, the fact that he’s an international and could be going to the World Cup. You never turn your nose up at a young centre-half.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if people who are promoted want to look at him as a possibility to take on.”

The Verdict: Needs a move

The Welshman has made just one appearance in the league this season, and with Conte’s desire to sign a new left-footed centre-half, it would appear that Rodon’s career with the Lilywhites is over. Therefore, if the player hopes to reinvigorate his career at the top level, a move elsewhere will be crucial in doing so.

Having enjoyed a number of strong performances with the Welsh national team, Rodon will be hoping that will be enough to secure a transfer away from N17 in the summer and reignite his career elsewhere.

In other news: Rodon isn’t the only Tottenham player being discussed over a possible exit

Many Aston Villa fans are reacting to the latest comments from Dean Smith on injured star and attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.

Grealish’s return date is unconfirmed at the moment, but the Villa manager tried to shed as much light as possible as he said: “I saw him before the game and he said to me if he gets on the grass he’s playing (vs Newcastle). But I said to him, ‘I’ve got to pick you first!’ which he laughed at…”

The Villans are definitely missing an attacking threat without the talisman as they drew 0-0 against rivals Wolves on Saturday night. With the English international picking up six goals and ten assists this season (WhoScored), he could have been the difference between a draw and a win.

The only worrying thing about this latest update on the player is that he is still not back on the grass, and this may be a cause of concern for many fans of the club.

Hopefully the fact that they are mentioning the Newcastle game as a possibility means that he will be back, but for now it seems “touch-and-go”, in the words of Birmingham Live reporter Ashley Preece.

Here is how Villa fans reacted to the comments from Smith:

“I don’t get it. Surely if he’s pain free and the players wants to play, no-one knows better than the player? Our medical staff are OTT.”

Credit: @AvfcSims

“That sounds hopeful that he will be back for Newcastle. Thought that midfield in first half was excellent, jack in the team and Traore other side or another winger and that is a real strong team”

Credit: @NashNash194

“We need Jack even if he is limping!”

Credit: @techvesting1

“Shouldn’t be needing to rush Jack against the likes of Newcastle, on the bench would still be a boost.”

Credit: @CS_UTV

“Don’t rush him back half fit we’re not in a relegation battle now.”

Credit: @jamsey55

“Judging by the second half display today, he will need to pick Jack even if he is half of his usual self”

Credit: @Berdan08914685

In other Villa news, some fans have been piling praise on one star at the club following his latest comments. Have a read who it is here!

Dean Windass believes that if given the opportunity, Steve Bruce would love to sign out of favour Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham as he’s the ideal player for the manager’s system.

Bruce will know that a striker is crucial this summer considering that Callum Wilson scored 12 of the Magpies’ 46 Premier League goals and Joe Willock, who has returned to Arsenal, got eight as well, so it’s natural that they have been linked with a move for Abraham who is valued at £36m by Transfermarkt.

Abraham thrived under Frank Lampard during the 2019/20 campaign after netting 18 goals in all competitions, however since the arrival of Thomas Tuchel, the England international has been bumped down the pecking order even finding himself left out of the squad in the FA Cup final.

If the £57,692 per week striker moved to Tyneside he could reignite his career which at one stage looked set for stardom, and when asked about if Newcastle fans would be happy and if Abraham has any future at Chelsea, Windass had this to say, telling Football FanCast exclusively:

“Yeah, they will be and I think his days are numbered now at Chelsea especially after they won the Champions League and he wasn’t involved, and sometimes he wasn’t even making the squad.”

Of course, Abraham, who has 30 goals in 82 games for the Blues in total, will have a long line of potential suitors this summer, with West Ham set to test the waters but Windass believes that Abraham would be perfect for Bruce and Newcastle, he added:

“I know Steve both as a manager and as a man so I think he’d be right up his street. So, if Steve is going down that line then I could see Steve signing someone like that.”

It would be an attacking force to be reckoned with if the Magpies could rely on Abraham, Wilson, Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron next season. It would also surely see them aiming for greater heights than 17th.

Newcastle United midfielder Matty Longstaff could be set for a St James’ Park exit; as Udinese have re-ignited their interest in his services [Football League World via Corriero Dello Sport].

The Lowdown: Squad re-shaping begins on Tyneside

As Steve Bruce’s men gear up for the 2021/22 Premier League season, they have been linked with moves for the likes Matt Grimes and Nat Phillips, but potential departures will also come to the forefront soon.

Toon icon Andy Carroll and winger Christian Atsu are expected to leave following the Premier League released list update earlier this month [Chronicle].

21-year-old Matty Longstaff could be next to depart the North-East giants after this latest development.

The Latest: Udinese re-ignite their interest in Longstaff

Serie A side Udinese have once again expressed an attraction towards the box to box midfielder [Football League World].

Interestingly, the Italian outfit were also keen to take Longstaff to Stadio Friuli last summer [talkSPORT], but the youngster elected to sign a two-year extension on Tyneside .

Recently, Derby County have also been monitoring the situation as they look to rebuild for 2021/22 [Derby Telegraph].

The Verdict: Losing Longstaff would be a blow

Undoubtedly, losing one of their premium young talents would be a bitter blow for everyone associated with Newcastle United.

Enduring an injury ravaged 2020/21, the willing runner only managed to complete five appearances for the Toon [Transfermarkt].

Seemingly out of favour under Bruce, he still managed to complete an average of 1.2 successful dribbles per game, showing his propensity to progress the ball up the pitch, something Bruce’s side struggled to do [WhoScored].

Once labelled ‘outstanding’ by brother Sean Longstaff  [GIVEMESPORT], he gained notoriety on Tyneside after his iconic goal against Manchester United in the 2019/20 campaign, helping the Geordies to a 1-0 triumph [BBC].

While he failed to make a significant impact this term, Newcastle United would be losing a very talented individual if they were to sell him on.

In other news, a pundit exclusively warns Newcastle United over a potential transfer gamble.

Following an unrelenting fixture pileup in February, the return of Champions League football and the beginning of the World Cup qualifiers gave Premier League clubs some extra breathing room in March.

But the decrease in the number of fixtures certainly didn’t quell the entertainment factor which makes the Premier League such a universally popular competition. Sometimes less is more.

We were treated to local derbies in Manchester and north London, witnessed Newcastle United stumble into perilous decline and learned that Jesse Lingard might actually be a reincarnation of Lionel Messi after all.

Elsewhere, Leicester City continued their march towards European football as they bid to banish the demons that saw them narrowly missed out on the top-four following a late-season slump in 2019/20, while Brighton & Hove Albion finally managed to translate fine performances into points on the board to give themselves some vital breathing room in the fight to avoid relegation.

A multitude of individuals were at the pinnacle of their game and driving these narratives, but who were the standout players during the month of March?

Well, here are six of the best players from the calendar month who have played themselves into contention for March’s iteration of GIVEMESPORT Fans’ Player of the Month award.

All stats courtesy of WhoScored.

The goalkeepers

Nominee: Dean Henderson

Both Dean Henderson and Edouard Mendy s managed to keep a 100% clean sheet records in March with three shutouts in as many games, but the former gets the nod over Chelsea’s stopper on two counts.

Manchester United’s emerging star recorded two more saves (8) than Mendy and managed to keep a rampant Manchester City at bay at the Etihad Stadium, a feat that no other goalkeeper has managed all season.

It was another month of tangible progress for Henderson as he bids to simultaneously wrestle United’s number one jersey away from David De Gea and convince Gareth Southgate of his England credentials ahead of the delayed Euro 2020 competition.

There’s also an honourable mention for Leeds United’s long-limbed praying mantis Illan Meslier, who made a league-high 16 saves in just three outings.

The defenders 

Nominee: Cesar Azpilicueta

With Chelsea and Manchester United both boasting 100% clean sheet records in March, our nominee was always likely to come from one of those two camps.

The arrival of a new manager often brings players from the fringes of the squad and back into first-team contention. Cesar Azpilicueta was a notable victim of Frank Lampard’s preference towards youth, but now he’s a major beneficiary of Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea revolution in a table-turning change in fortunes.

The Blues are gathering pace at an ominous speed under the German, and Azpilicueta’s performances in an indomitable back line have underpinned much of their defensive prowess. Not only did the 31-year-old play a key role in helping Chelsea record three clean sheets in three games this month, he also completed 231 passes and five key passes to underline his playmaking expertise.

Elsewhere, it was another brilliant month for Luke Shaw who came agonisingly close to securing his second nomination on the bounce.

The England international did something that nobody else has managed to do this season by making Joao Cancelo look distinctly average during the Manchester derby, terrorising the Portuguese on the overlap of Marcus Rashford before scoring United’s killer second on the day.

The midfielders 

Nominees: Martin Odegaard, Riyad Mahrez

There’s something intrinsically insatiable about left-footed wizards, and in the shape of Gareth Bale, Martin Odegaard and Riyad Mahrez we were treated to some delightful slices of genius from Premier League midfielders in March.

Bale was finally removed from the comfort of the substitutes bench and, from Crystal Palace’s perspective, turned his seemingly permanent pitch side smile into something rather more sinister by notching a brace during Spurs’ 4-1 win over the Eagles at the beginning of the month.

However, that marked the end of a flurry that started in February and his tepid display in the north London derby was juxtaposed by his Real Madrid teammate Martin Odegaard.

The Norwegian continued his captivating opening to life at Arsenal with a goal to cap off an excellent all-round performance. In three outings he racked up eight key passes in a fluid number ten role that appears key to facilitating the broader success of Mikel Arteta’s system.

Meanwhile, Mahrez continued to show that his almost iconic deft first-touch is just one of the myriad weapons in his armoury by scoring three goals in as many matches, including two sublime efforts against Southampton.

One of the nearly players of the Premier League, Leandro Trossard, finally managed to deliver some goal contributions for Brighton following a season of frustration for the Belgium international.

Trossard followed up a sumptuous 56th minute winner against Southampton with a darting, long-range strike and an assist to boot against Newcastle in the following game, and he only narrowly missed out on a nomination here.

The strikers 

Nominees: Kelechi Iheanacho, Harry Kane

It was a productive month for Premier League strikers as four players managed to score three goals or more, but Leicester City star Kelechi Iheanacho and, to the surprise of absolutely nobody, Harry Kane are the nominees here.

Gabriel Jesus’ steady rise in form saw him find the net three times in three games during March, while Che Adams scored in three consecutive games to end a run of thirteen league outings without a goal.

Iheanacho, however, was the pick of the bunch. The Man City academy product is 25 this year and showed that he may have turned a significant corner in his development more than three and a half years after signing for the Foxes.

Amid Jamie Vardy’s uncharacteristic dry spell in front of goal, Iheanacho scored five goals in three games, including a hat-trick against Sheffield United, to help Brendan Rodgers’ side continue their march towards a top-four finish. Though it wasn’t factored into his nomination, it’s worth noting that he scored two and provided one in Leicester’s 3-1 win over Man United in the quarter-final of the FA Cup before the international break.

And what to say about Lord Kane that hasn’t already been said? Having scored three and assisted two in four league games in March, speculation over his future in north London has come to the fore once again.

Will he leave Spurs this summer? Will he win this award? The answers to those questions remain unsolved, but Kane scoring goals in the Premier League remains an eternal certainty.

Cast your vote for March’s Player of the Month now by visiting https://fan-awards.com/.

Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst is closing in on his first transfer window at Ibrox following his move to the club in November.

The January transfer window is just over a week away and with it comes heaps of speculation regarding players coming to and leaving Glasgow.

One player who could be on his way out is midfielder Ianis Hagi. It was recently reported that Galatasaray are set to have a meeting to discuss a potential swoop for the Romanian international, whilst Aston Villa have also been touted with an interest in his services.

Bye-bye Hagi

Rangers may well be waving bye-bye to Hagi if Galatasaray and Villa firm up their interest in the playmaker, but the Gers could sign a dream replacement in the form of Bologna’s Andreas Skov Olsen.

Italian outlet il Resto del Carlino recently claimed that Ross Wilson has made an enquiry to see if a deal is viable next month and the forward could solve a major problem for van Bronckhorst in terms of replacing Hagi should he leave Ibrox.

FFC published an article explaining why it could be beneficial for Rangers to sell the Romanian to kickstart a business model based around buying young talent and selling them on for profit. This would require the Gers to use a portion of their profits to sign prospects who could be worth more in the future and the signing of Olsen would tie in with this strategy.

The 21-year-old winger fits the profile of player the club should be looking at to continue to develop talents that they can sell on; young, experienced, potential, pedigree. He has already played 67 games in the Serie A and been capped 15 times by Norway at senior level, showing that he has been able to play regularly at the top despite his age.

Olsen has also shown promise with an impressive record in attack. He has scored 51 goals for his club sides and 19 for Norway at youth and senior level, meaning that he has 70 career strikes to date. In his last ten World Cup Qualifying outings for his country, he has averaged a superb WhoScored rating of 7.39 – with five goals and three assists to his name.

Consider those stats and his lethal left-foot, and it becomes clear to see why he models his game on Dutch legend Arjen Robben.

Therefore, the £5.85m-rated gem could be the perfect candidate to replace Hagi as his statistics suggest that he has the quality in the here-and-now to make an impact in the final third for Rangers to make up for the ex-Genk man’s exit.

Olsen also has the potential, given he is only 21, to improve further and be sold on for a profit further down the line, which could benefit the Gers in the short and long-term.

AND in other news, “He’s not going to” – Huge Rangers claim made that’ll have GVB and fans running scared…