All posts by z3u9t.icu

Kamil Grabara may have just squandered his chances of ever making his senior Liverpool debut following his recent comment on Twitter.The Poland youth international is currently out on loan with Danish club Aarhus GF, where he will spend the full 2020/21 season. He recently signed a new long-term deal with the Merseyside outfit, but he is currently behind the likes of Alisson, Adrian and Caoimhin Kelleher in the pecking order for The Reds.With 21-year-old Kelleher looking for a short-term move away from Anfield, the path could have opened for Grabara to challenge Adrian. However, after laughing at Oliver Holt’s report of Liverpool monitoring Jack Butland, he may have just placed himself even further down the pecking order.

Rookie error from Grabara

Grabara’s tweet is quite cryptic – posting just a laughing emoji in reply to the transfer rumour. The youngster may be trying to indicate that there’s no truth to the rumour, or he could be mocking the idea of Stoke City’s Butland moving to the champions of England.

Whichever it is, it’s certainly not a good look for a player hoping to become a senior member of such a big Premier League club.

Jurgen Klopp has been actively giving opportunities to Liverpool’s Academy graduates, with Curtis Jones and Neco Williams featuring more and more for the first team. Of course, Trent Alexander-Arnold is a huge example of Klopp’s faith in the youth system but the manager is certainly not one to tolerate immature or disrespectful behaviour.

Indeed, Mamadou Sakho was phased out of the Reds team after several reports of lateness and breaching of club rules (via ESPN). The Frenchman was then eventually sold, and if the manager can easily scrap a senior player, he would almost certainly shift on a young player who is yet to make a first team appearance.

In other news, New proposed FSG investment will take Liverpool to the next level…

It looks like Sheffield United will have a transfer battle on their hands as they look for a new midfielder in the upcoming transfer window.

According to a report in Greek media outlet SDNA, Sheffield United are interested in signing Mady Camara from Olympiacos but fellow Premier League side Newcastle United are also in the hunt.

The report highlights that both sides have made bids for the Guinea midfielder, although Olympiakos want more than what the Magpies and the Blades have proposed and will only sell the 23-year-old for more than £18m.

Camara is only 23 but seems to be a consistent player in the Olympiakos squad as he has played Transfermarkt.

Sheffield United usually play with three centre midfielders, so it is crucial that they have a lot of squad depth in that position, but Camara has the potential to break into that first team and become a key player for years to come.

The fact that Newcastle are also interested highlights that various scouts can see Premier League quality in the midfielder, and if the Blades want to continue battling in the top half of the division next season, then Camara would likely be an effective addition to their midfield ranks if they can land him.

Blades fans, would you like to have Camara at Bramall Lane? Comment below with your views!

The future of Rangers superstar Alfredo Morelos has been under a question mark for quite some time now as recent reports suggested he might be packing his bags for Ligue 1 in the ongoing summer transfer window.

Of course, this would’ve been a huge blow for Steven Gerrard’s squad, seeing how instrumental he’s been for their campaign. Still, according to the latest update from Daily Record, Morelos is set to stay at Ibrox despite strong links with Lille.

The two parties have apparently agreed terms for his potential switch but the French outfit has now opted against going through with the deal as they are on the brink of finalising the transfer of Gent’s Jonathan David for £27m instead.

Morelos was happy to join Lille but Rangers were the ones blocking the transfer as they believed an offer of £17m – which is reportedly what the French team had offered them – just wasn’t enough for them to part with their prized asset.

Of course, with his ever-growing popularity, the Colombian forward is attracting a lot of interest from the Premier League as well but, as Daily Record explain, he is still committed to the Scottish Premiership titans and will gladly continue at Ibrox.

Either way, it will be interesting to see whether Gerrard can fend off all the inquiries as his in-demand player continues turning heads from abroad. Rangers have secured the signings of Cedric Itten and Kemar Roofe but retaining Morelos is a huge boost for them going into the season.

Verdict

Needless to say, losing Morelos would’ve been a big blow for Rangers but alas, it seems that the Colombian is set to stay at Ibrox for a while longer. This, without a doubt, will come as a relief to Gerrard for the time being.

But the transfer window is still open and we’ll have to wait and see what the future holds for the coveted forward.

A recent transfer report has left plenty of Leeds United supporters brimming with excitement this week.

According to Football Insider, the west Yorkshire outfit are ‘closely monitoring’ San Lorenzo striker Adolfo Gaich ahead of a potential summer move upon their long-awaited return to the Premier League.

It’s claimed that the Argentine forward has a release clause of £12m and has attracted interest across Europe, although his preference is thought to be a move to Italy’s Serie A.

And many at Elland Road would love to see him arrive…

The 21-year-old has bagged five goals in 13 appearances this campaign despite only playing 680 minutes, via Transfermarkt.

It’s led to one supporter likening the forward to Martin Palermo, who one played for Villarreal whilst others believe it would be a “big statement” to land him.

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Some other members of the United faithful were quick to suggest that this sort of news probably means that manager Marcelo Bielsa is going to stay.

There were even some lauding Gaich as the ideal sort of striker the Argentine likes as he’s “mobile” and runs about a lot.

Leeds currently have Patrick Bamford and RB Leipzig loanee Jean-Kevin Augustin to call upon to lead the line with the latter having an obligation to buy should the club clinch promotion in these final nine matches.

Therefore, it raises questions to if these reports are accurate, although one fan believes it could push the 26-year-old closer to the exit door.

AND in other news, Leeds fans go wild over Ben White report…

Tottenham Hotspur are keen to sign Serie A ace Timothy Castagne, according to The Times.  

The Daily Express revealed earlier this week that Tottenham are in talks with Paris Saint-Germain star Thomas Meunier. However, transfer guru Nicolo Schira claims Meunier has decided to join Borussia Dortmund instead.

Now, The Times reports the Lilywhites are considering Castagne as an alternative.

Jose Mourinho is in the market for a new right-back, as it is fair to say Spurs have struggled to fill the void left by Kieran Trippier, and Serge Aurier’s off-field issues have angered the club’s hierarchy.

As it stands, this latest development could be good news for the Portuguese.

Tottenham are reportedly looking to cash in on Aurier and Kyle Walker-Peters, which will leave Mourinho short of options on the right flank.

Given the fact Spurs will have barely any cash to spend in the summer, they will have to resort to signing free agents or organising swap deals in order to improve the squad.

The board were lining up a move for Meunier as he will be available for free, which is a big factor as clubs are facing financial pressures due to the pandemic.

Although the Belgian has apparently snubbed the club, they have now turned their attentions to his international teammate instead.

Ever since he arrived at Atalanta from Genk for £5.85m in 2017, Castagne has emerged as one of Europe’s hottest talents.

Indeed, the 24-year-old has played 14 games in the Italian top flight this term, scoring once, supplying one assist, winning 1.4 tackles per match and taking one shot per game (WhoScored).

However, Daniel Levy will likely have to splash the cash for Castagne, as his contract with the Nerazzurri will run out next year. He is currently valued at £14.4m via Transfermarkt.

Nevertheless, Spurs are intent on pursuing a new full-back, which may have delivered the coup de grace for Aurier’s career in north London.

While the Ivorian has received a higher WhoScored rating than his Belgian counterpart, he has failed to convince the critics so far.

Given his issues on-and-off the pitch, it makes perfect sense for the club to get rid of Aurier and sign Castagne instead. The Belgium international can also play in the midfield, and his versatility is surely an added bonus.

Even in the unlikely event a move doesn’t work out as planned, Mourinho would still have gained a valuable asset.

Tottenham fans, should Daniel Levy sign Timothy Castagne in the summer? Let us know by commenting down below!

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on sports teams around the globe. Leagues and tournaments have been cancelled or postponed, no one is playing, fans aren’t packing out arenas, and teams are losing millions in revenue every single week. 

Many teams can survive the financial shortfall, but many more can’t. Losing money isn’t the only thing teams are, or could suffer from. Postponing, or possibly cancelling leagues can have a serious effect on many teams, and you can bet that many teams in promotion spots will be worrying about the future of the season. 

As mentioned above, the bigger teams such as Barcelona, Manchester United, Juventus, Manchester City, PSG and many others in top flight leagues will be able to see out this postponement and still be able to financially support the club, players, and all staff. 

Many of the lower league teams, across the globe, will feel this postponement the most. Many teams rely heavily on the income generated from thousands of supporters attending games each week, buying food and drink, and purchasing merchandise. 

These smaller clubs don’t have the same global reach as their much larger counterparts, and therefore don’t have solid streams of income. They need supporters in seats each week just to get through the season, and the off season. 

One of the biggest questions that needs to be answered is the one on whether or not domestic leagues will continue or be made null and void. This decision has a massive impact on many teams due to its ramifications. 

What would a void season look like? Everything stays the same and is restarted next season? The league is ended with the table as it is and champions are crowned, teams promoted and teams relegated? 

The biggest concern is not if the teams at the top of the league will be crowned champions, it is whether or not teams finishing at the top of their leagues will gain promotion. Promotion is a massive deal for many teams and usually means more than winning the trophy. 

Promotion ensures bigger crowds, more TV time and more broadcasting money, being able to travel to and play against the biggest teams in their country. Promotion generates millions for teams and is needed for long term success. 

Take the Premier League and Championship for example. Leeds United, West Brom and Fulham are all battling to gain promotion to the Premier League, they have all played incredibly well and making it back into the Premier League will be a huge boost for them. 

Voiding the season would take this opportunity away from them, and away from every other team that is in a promotion position across all leagues across the globe. It would be a major slap in the face, and right now, there is a strong possibility of it happening. 

There isn’t one team that is suffering more than another, since every team that isn’t in their top domestic division is far more reliant on broadcasting rights and supporters buying tickets compared to the much bigger teams. 

Teams will be hoping that they can go back to playing as soon as possible, with many probably being ok with playing behind closed doors, as they will at least still have their games broadcast. 

This adds another problem as the lower leagues don’t even have their games broadcast, and rely completely on supporters buying tickets every weekend. There is no way yet on if governments, or even other, much larger teams will help these smaller teams through this very difficult time. 

Finishing the season when it is safe to do so seems like the most obvious decision. There are too many teams that are in positions to benefit greatly from how they have played this season and taking that away can’t be the right way to go. 

On one hand, it would be incredibly tricky to fit the rest of the season in, and when would next season even start then? But there is a lot on the line for many clubs, and a lot can suffer greatly if there isn’t any football played over the next few months. 

There are also multiple players, managers and owners who are in self-isolation after being diagnosed with the virus. Even though football players are some of the fittest athletes in the world, it is impossible to say how much or how little being infected will affect their health. 

The best thing that can happen is if some sort of plan is made to allow teams to start playing again as soon as possible, whether that is in front of crowds or behind closed doors. At this point, many clubs probably won’t care too much.

It is essential to finish the season somehow, either ending it with the tables as they are now, and promoting and relegating teams. Finishing the season now and starting next season the same way this one finished would be a gross injustice. 

It is also essential for all lower league teams to know if they will be receiving financial help during this time, as a complete cancellation could see many teams finding it impossible to keep their club running. 

When looking at Everton’s mighty turnaround this season, it’s hard to focus on anyone else but Dominic Calvert-Lewin – the Toffee’s top scorer and also in the top ten highest scorers in the Premier League in 19/20.

But what about the others who have helped Carlo Ancelotti’s men claw their way out of the relegation zone?

Mason Holgate

It seems Ancelotti certainly is pleased with Holgate’s contribution this season after offering him a new five-year contract, however he has slipped under the radar a little with everyone else.

The 22-year-old averages 1.7 tackles and 3.3 clearances per game which is higher than Joe Gomez’s 0.9 tackles and 2.4 clearances.  Holgate also averages more tackles per 90 minutes than teammates Michael Keane (1.1) and Yerry Mina (1.5) as well as being dribbled past less times (0.4) than Lucas Digne (1).

It’s difficult to notice a solid defensive performance when more often than not it’s spoiled by the goalkeeper behind. However, Holgate has been a rock in Everton’s defence and operates very well under Ancelotti.

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Leighton Baines

Another defender with a lot to be appreciated for. Mr Everton himself might not have featured as much as the other defenders this season but he has had a positive impact whenever he has.

The Blues have lost just one game with Baines in the squad, a 3-2 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates in February. In his last five games, the 35-year-old made an impressive ten clearances and eight tackles, making up for the likes of Mina who on one occasion didn’t complete a single tackle, block or interception.

With a fairly young squad, Baines brings the seniority and experience that money can never buy.

He might not have featured much for Everton this campaign, but when he has he’s been beneficial to the team and deserves plaudits for how he holds a squad under transition together.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

As quoted by The Manchester Evening News, France manager Didier Deschamps has provided an insight into why he left out Anthony Martial from his international squad.

What did he say?

After starting the campaign with a bang with two goals and an assist in his first three Premier League games, Martial fell victim to an injury that kept him out for the best part of two months.

The 23-year-old made his return in the 1-1 draw against Liverpool, and since that clash, has well and truly returned to form. The forward has scored three goals and provided a further two assists, but despite his impressive showings, was left out by France manager, Deschamps, for the latest round of international fixtures.

Explaining the reasoning behind his snub, Deschamps said: “He was part of the French team on a regular basis, but recently he was often injured. He came back not so long ago and it’s going well in his role as a central striker with Manchester United. For a long time he’s been part of the players likely to be called up.”

Benefit to United

France’s loss, is United’s gain. Whilst Martial may be disappointed on a personal note with his exclusion from his country’s senior squad, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer must be grinning from ear to ear. The Red Devils boss has watched his side begin to fire on all cylinders recently, picking up five wins in their last six games – and one of the main reasons behind that is his star forward’s return from the side-lines.

When the 5 foot 11 star was out of the team, it was up to Marcus Rashford to step up to the plate, and the England international suffered from the burden of it all. At one point, the United academy product scored just one goal in seven games in the league, and so having Martial back allows Solskjaer to ease some of the pressure on the 22-year-old.

By Deschamps leaving him out, Martial can now take the next couple of weeks to fully rest and recover from the exertions of playing multiple games in quick succession since coming back. From a United perspective, they should be very happy indeed.

As we approach the end of the decade, it is time to look back at the past 10 years.

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Over the next few weeks, we will see many pundits, journalists, fans and indeed players pick their best moments since 2010. For Liverpool, there have been spectacular highs and crushing blows. The Champions League victory in June will rank amongst the best, of course, as will the brilliant football the fans have been treated to over the past couple of seasons, whilst Steven Gerrard’s slip in 2014 will never be forgotten regardless of whether the Anfield outfit lift the Premier League title this term.

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Picking a Liverpool XI of the decade is hard, but journalist James Pearce has had a go at doing it. There seems to be general agreement with his decision, but the omission of Coutinho, despite him not being popular with portions of the fanbase, appears to have got people talking.

The supporters have taken to Twitter to share their thoughts, and you can see some of the best comments from the social media platform below.

In other news, one Liverpool youngster has the world at his feet.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets… 

On Sunday afternoon, it was a dark day.

Wolves’ first game without mainstay centre-back Willy Boly, who has made such a crucial impact in Nuno Santo’s defence over the past 12 months or so.

The 28-year-old suffered a broken leg during training on Saturday morning after he slipped at the Sir Jack Hayward Traning Ground.

This week he will undergo an MRI scan and will also see a specialist to figure out the extent of the damage. Either way, it is a devastating blow to Wolves’ season prospects.

In his absence, the Portuguese boss surprisingly opted for Matt Doherty in central defence over the more natural Max Kilman or Jesus Vallejo.

Let’s just say that the experiment failed.

The Ireland international only played the first half in the new role, which tells you everything you need to know about how well it went.

Per SofaScore, Doherty managed a passing accuracy of just 76% and conceded one foul as Wolves drew with Newcastle United.

At half-time, Nuno dropped Leander Dendoncker in there from midfield, forcing Adama Traore into a more advanced role in a 3-4-3 formation, and the 27-year-old back to right wing-back.

The west Midlands club conceded in the first half, but not in the second, so I guess you could say they were stronger with Doherty in his more familiar role – the Magpies still had four shots at goal with three coming in the box during the final 45.

This all comes as a major worry over the next few months as Boly rates out as Wolves’ best player by WhoScored, having averaged 4.9 aerial duels won, three tackles and 1.6 interceptions per game this season.

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He’s a monumental loss in defence as the only game he didn’t feature in this campaign was the 5-2 loss against Chelsea – just one of their two defeats all season. He even was part of the defence to keep a clean sheet against Manchester City.

Nuno clearly doesn’t trust Vallejo or Kilman; otherwise, they would have started, the Spaniard was surely a shoo-in for that spot.

Therefore, expect some significant struggles ahead for Wolves as better teams will punish his absence.

Oh how the club must be rueing their failure to secure an extra central defender in the summer having been linked to Ruben Dias continually.