All posts by z3u9t.icu

Manchester United’s summer business hasn’t exactly gone to plan, making just one signing so far, that of Mason Mount, who arrived from Chelsea.

Erik ten Hag knows there are a few areas which will need to be improved, particularly in the goalkeeping department and across the frontline. Andre Onana looks close to joining the Old Trafford side in a move which would certainly give United a solid option between the posts, yet their attacking options are looking sparse.

With this in mind, the Red Devils have been linked with a move for Atletico Madrid forward João Félix according to Spanish newspaper ABC (via Sport Witness) as they look to rival fellow Premier League sides Aston Villa and Newcastle United for his signature this summer.

The La Liga side have placed a staggering €140m (£120m) price tag on the player if any club is aiming to sign him during the transfer window, and this could prove to be a potential stumbling block for Ten Hag.

The Portuguese star spent the second half of last season on loan at Chelsea, registering just four goals across 20 appearances for the Blues, which suggests that Atletico may need to lower their demands if they wish to move him on before the window slams shut.

Could João Félix join Manchester United?

It is certainly a possibility, especially with the nature of the transfer window, and with United clearly needing some strength added to their faltering attack – scoring just 58 league goals last season – they could test the resolve of the Spanish side with a bid.

If they did secure the signature of the £195k-per-week star – who can play either as a centre-forward or out on the wing – they won't just be getting a player who has shone in the Champions League previously, but also a forward who is similar to Marcus Rashford.

The Englishman enjoyed a stunning campaign during 2022/23, scoring 30 times and grabbing 11 assists too as he proved to Ten Hag that he could be counted on as United’s main source of goals, and it certainly isn’t a bad comparison for Felix to have, with FBref establishing the current Atletico gem as the third-most comparable player to Rashford.

Indeed, last season domestically, the duo shared similar statistics across attacking metrics such as shots per 90 (4.07 to 3.38), shot-creating actions per 90 (3.39 to 3.06), goal-creating actions per 90 (0.34 to 0.44) and crosses delivered (27 to 24), suggesting that the duo both pose a significant attacking danger in the final third.

Former teammate Alvaro Morata praised Felix for being “special” while U23 scout Antonio Mango has hailed the 23-year-old as a “dream” earlier this year and when he is on form, there is no doubt he is one of the finest attacking players on the continent.

Could Ten Hag get Felix back to his best however? Alongside Rashford he could be excellent, especially as the youngster is similar to the United talisman in many ways.

£120m may be too much, but if the Red Devils can negotiate a cheaper fee, it would be a smart move.

Manchester United are in the midst of a takeover battle at Old Trafford and 'multiple parties' are still engaged with the process, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

Who is going to buy Manchester United?

According to BBC Sport journalist Simon Stoney via Stretford Paddock, Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani and his firm, the Nine Two Foundation, could turn their interest to elsewhere in the Premier League if their latest bid to buy Manchester United is turned down.

The offer in question is for 100% control of the club and would end any association that the Glazers have with Manchester United if it was to be officially ratified, as per Sky Sports.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his petrochemicals firm INEOS are Sheikh Jassim's main rivals to try and acquire the Premier League giants, though his bid will offer the Glazers the opportunity to keep a 20% stake in Manchester United.

Manchester United have to meet Financial Fair Play obligations this summer, so they will need to juggle their finances in order to get key targets over the line, according to The Athletic.

As per The Daily Express, player sales could be an important part of enabling Erik Ten Hag to complete transfer business this summer at Old Trafford.

Club captain Harry Maguire, Scott McTominay, Fred and Jadon Sancho have been earmarked as players that could depart as part of a mini-squad cull in the off-season, as per The Independent.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs has detailed that 'multiple parties' are still engaged in the takeover process, though there is still no end in sight as of yet.

Jacobs told FFC: "The challenge for each of the suitors that have gone public, Sheikh Jassim and the Nine Two Foundation, is that they may feel six feet from the finishing line, but if their rival is only six inches, then that becomes irrelevant and that's the sort of situation we're in at the moment where each group feels they're quite close, but unsure whether their rival is even closer. Then, of course, the Glazers could just move the finishing line further back as well, so there's multiple parties still engaged."

What now for Manchester United?

In the midst of their takeover debacle, Ten Hag and his recruitment team will be solely focused on all things recruitment as he gears his side up for the new season.

Mason Mount has already completed a high-profile move to Old Trafford from Chelsea and made his debut for the club in a 2-0 friendly victory over Leeds United in Oslo, turning in a promising performance, as per The Guardian.

Renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano has taken to Twitter to signal that Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana is likely to be next in line to join Mount, stating: "BREAKING: Manchester United are now closing in on André Onana deal as final verbal proposal has been made during talks today. Understand it’s €50m fee plus €5m add ons. Structure of add ons being discussed then… done deal. It’s imminent, as expected."

Manchester United have failed with a players-plus-cash offer to Atalanta to try and entice their rising star Rasmus Hojlund to the Premier League and only want a cash deal involving the Denmark international, according to The Athletic.

A Bola via METRO claim that Porto striker Mehdi Taremi is another target to potentially strengthen Ten Hag's forward line, indicating that a busy few weeks will be in store at Old Trafford that could yield some movement on the transfer front.

Manchester United have not given up on signing Harry Kane this summer it seems, with Football Transfers reporting that a fresh player plus cash bid could be lined up for the striker.

How many career goals does Harry Kane have?

There's no doubting that the Tottenham man is currently one of the most prolific forwards in the game, with the 29-year-old hitting one of his career best totals for goals in the Premier League last season. In 38 outings for his side in the top flight, he produced 30 goals and three assists – leading to a rate of 0.87 goal contributions per 90 on average.

It means that the Spurs attacker now has a total of 227 career league goals in just 373 games, with the majorityof those coming in the top flight. With the player still to enter his thirties too, it looks like he will continue to hit the back of the net for a good few years yet.

In fact, his league total of goals in the 2022/23 season actually saw him sit second in both the division's goal ranking and the Big Five European Leagues goal rankings too – only Erling Haaland had more for either category. Kane beat out the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Victor Osimhen and Robert Lewandowski – which shows he is clearly still one of the best in his position in world football.

Are Man United signing Harry Kane?

It's no surprise then to hear that Man United remain eager to try and add him to their squad this summer. The Red Devils had been linked with a transfer for the star for most of the window, only for it to seem like a potential deal might be dead in the water.

Now, according to a report from Football Transfers, in what is a big twist from the interest in making Rasmus Hojlund their marquee number nine, the Premier League side also want to try and sort out an agreement for Kane this summer – and could use a player at their disposal to try and tempt Tottenham into doing business.

That's because Spurs are believed to be keen on snapping up Anthony Martial themselves – and now United can use that to their advantage. With United chiefs still holding out hope of a potential deal for Kane despite interest from Bayern Munich, they could be prepared to offer both the Frenchman and a fee for Kane in order to convince their rivals into allowing the England international to move to Old Trafford.

It also appears as though Kane himself wouldn't mind a move to the Red Devils – so that will be a welcome boost in their continued pursuit of the forward this summer.

It would certainly help solve their attacking issues if they did sign him. His goalscoring exploits have led to him being recognised as one of the best in the game right now. Even Pep Guardiola, Man City's treble-winning manager, has been quick to highlight how good Kane is in attack. The Catalan called the forward "exceptional" and had even bigger praise for the Spurs man, adding that he is "one of the best strikers" he has ever watched.

If Man United did manage to finally bring him to the club then, it would be a blow to their rivals but would also make the Red Devils a real force to be reckoned with next season.

Levi Colwill doesn't want to "discuss anything now" regarding a new contract with Chelsea, despite the Blues being in "control", claims transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Chelsea transfer news – What's the latest on Levi Colwill?

It was a season of contrasting fortunes for Colwill's home and loan club last season, with the former languishing down in 12th and seeing four different managers take the helm, whereas Brighton & Hove Albion thrived – despite losing their manager to Chelsea – qualifying for the Europa League.

It was the youth international's first taste of regular Premier League football after spending the 2021/22 season on loan in the Championship with Huddersfield Town.

With the loan being an unmitigated success, and in a bid not to lose the player, Brighton made a formal offer of £30m to Chelsea earlier this month, which the Pensioners firmly rejected.

However, that rejected offer has yet to totally resolve the situation, as the player has since refused to begin negotiations on a new deal, citing the desire to regularly play first-team football as his most important factor, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Romano explained the situation on his YouTube Channel, saying:

"Chelsea offered Levi Colwill a new contract, it was a verbal conversation with his agent, but from Levi Colwill's side, it was kind of 'wait, we don't want to discuss anything now', so Levi is not in negotiations with Chelsea now.

"It is not about the salary it's more about the project. Levi Colwill doesn't want to be a backup player, he wants to be an important player. He wants to have kind of guaranteed game time, he wants to feel important, otherwise he would be prepared to move, but the reality is also that Chelsea have no intention to negotiate. He still has a long contract at Chelsea, not super long, but long enough to allow Chelsea to control the situation, and they insist in saying that they want Levi Colwill as part of the project."

How good was Levi Colwill for Brighton & Hove Albion last season?

It's no real surprise that the Seagulls want to keep the 20-year-old at the Amex for next season, as he was brilliant for Roberto De Zerbi's side for much of the year.

According to WhoScored, the young centre-half – hailed as "special" by some in the media – averaged a respectable 6.54 across his 17 Premier League games for the Seagulls, initially struggling for minutes before firmly establishing himself in the team.

His underlying numbers are brilliant as well, with FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, ranking him in the top 1% of players for assists and attempted passes, the top 5% for non-penalty xG and aerial duals won, the top 7% for shot-creating actions, the top 8% for progressive passes and the top12% for progressive carries, all per 90.

With those numbers, it's clear to see that he is the perfect fit for De Zerbi's progressive style of football, and his manager seems to be well aware of that stating, "I know the quality of Levi Colwill."

Unfortunately for the Italian manager, Chelsea also sees very aware of the Southampton-born gem's quality, and it looks increasingly unlikely that he'll be playing anywhere other than west London next season.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane could be subject to another bid from Bayern Munich, with the Bundesliga club "working hard" to secure his signature, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Is Harry Kane leaving Tottenham?

Kane has reportedly reached an agreement in principle to move to Bayern Munich, with his agent holding talks with the German champions in recent days, however their £60m bid was swiftly rejected by Tottenham.

The offer falls way short of Spurs' valuation of their talisman, with CBS reporter Ben Jacobs recently tweeting: "Spurs have rejected Bayern's €70m plus add-ons offer for Harry Kane. Daniel Levy in no mood to sell, and certainly not for under £100m."

Although his contract is set to expire next summer, Levy is driving a hard bargain, and there have been reports the 29-year-old could be willing to let his current deal run out, before leaving the club on a free transfer in 2024.

At the moment, however, Bayern appear to be undeterred in their pursuit of the England international, and transfer insider Dean Jones has told GiveMeSport he believes they could come back to the negotiating table soon:

"Information coming out of Germany is that Bayern have been working hard behind the scenes to understand the personal drive and ambitions of Harry Kane, and after weeks of exploration around his situation at Spurs, they had enough confidence to step forward and begin the bidding process to try and sign him.

"They know how difficult a deal like this might be, but they need a striker and want full clarification around the chances of getting him before they move on to their other prime targets Randal Kolo Muani and [Victor] Osimhen. The first offer is low but that just makes me think they will be back with another bid."

How much will Harry Kane cost?

According to The Telegraph, Tottenham may choose to cash-in on the Englishman, should they receive an offer of £80m from an overseas club, which indicates Bayern may not be too far off, leaving Levy with a huge decision to make.

It would be a risk to keep the £200k-per-week striker at the club for another year, in the hope that he is persuaded to sign a new contract, as losing him for free would be a real blow.

That said, even if Spurs do receive big money for Kane, it is extremely unlikely they will be able to find anyone capable of replacing him, considering his fantastic goal-scoring record, finding the back of the net 280 times in a total of 435 appearances for the club.

As such, Levy should hold firm for the time being, and only sanction the forward's departure if a bid comes in that is simply too good to refuse.

Italian football is blessed with an abundance of midfield talent.

Their Euro-winning side saw the likes of Marco Verratti, Jorginho, and Nicolo Barella play starring roles, whilst Sandro Tonali, Manuel Locatelli, and Davide Frattesi are also stupendously rising to international prominence.

Another dazzling prodigy that has emerged from the Azzurri production line is Chelsea’s Cesare Casadei.

Who is Cesare Casadei?

The 2003-born titan joined the Nerazzurri in 2018, where he swiftly moved through the youth ranks, winning a national U17 Championship the following year and being promoted to the U19s, despite being two years younger than the rest of the squad.

During the 2021/22 season, the 6 foot 1 ace made 30 appearances in the Italian Primavera Championship for Inter, the nation’s youth league, and notched 18 goal involvements.

The Blues then agreed to a £12.6m deal for the youngster to come to Stamford Bridge. He has begun his career in West London brightly, with netting five times in 13 outings for Chelsea U21s.

Most recently, in May 2023, the former Inter prodigy was included in his country’s squad that participated in the U20 World Cup. In Argentina, he was simply magnificent, as he scored seven goals, registered an 80% pass accuracy, made nine key passes, nine successful dribbles, and won 50 duels as his side lost in the final to Uruguay.

However, this was still deserved recognition for his string of imperious performances as he received the Golden Ball and Golden Boot, as the most valuable player and the top scorer of the tournament.

Maurizio Viscidi, Italy’s National Youth Team Coordinator, who has witnessed Casadei’s extraordinary growth, said: “He’s a modern midfielder, because out of all the youth team midfielders he’s been the one with the greatest aptitude for attacking runs and goalscoring.

“He’s also strong in the air, something that’s unusual among younger players. Given his ability to enter and give a presence in the area he’s the strongest player currently within the Azzurri’s youth sector.”

Due to his reputation as an outstanding free-scoring midfielder, an obvious comparison has been made to club legend Frank Lampard.

The Englishman scored 211 goals from his deep-lying, box-to-box midfield berth, and Casadei’s similar height, physicality, frame, and athleticism means he is more than capable of repeating some comparable feats.

Whilst it would be foolish to suggest that anyone could replicate Lampard’s record-breaking statistics, there is nothing to disprove Casadei’s limitless potential from the middle of the park.

Described as someone with “crazy potential” and a “diamond” by Andrea Zanchetta, Inter’s U18 coach, Casadei is destined for unadulterated greatness and his transfer has been a rare victory for Chelsea’s new ownership.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou could start life in London with a bang by completing the signing of Bristol City teenager Alex Scott.

What's the latest on Alex Scott to Aston Villa?

According to journalist Dean Jones – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – Tottenham have invested time and attention to the development of Scott this year and could now look to make their move to tie up a deal with the transfer window in full swing.

He said: "One of the stories to look out for this summer involves Alex Scott. He has been coveted by loads of Premier League teams previously, including Tottenham and Leeds, but at the moment, no one seems willing to offer the £25m Bristol City want for him.

“He’s a really good player, so I think it's only a matter of time before something happens.”

Tottenham have been credited with an interest in the 19-year-old since March following Bristol City's defeat to eventual champions Manchester City in the FA Cup, earning praise for his "fearless" performance by The Times' Henry Winter.

Bournemouth, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers are also vying for his signature, but Postecoglou will be determined to sign a prodigious talent who could catalyse the club's desired resurgence.

Should Tottenham sign Alex Scott?

Hailed as the "Guernsey Grealish" for his striking resemblance to the City phenom, Jack Grealish, Scott has exhibited his prowess in dribbling and ball-carrying, with his display against the Sky Blues setting him apart from the swathes of hopefuls, earning a Sofascore match rating of 7.0 after succeeding with four of his five attempted dribbles and winning 11 of his 15 attempted duels,

Given that Manchester City's £100m man also remarked that Scott is a "top talent", he seems to have the approval of a man distinguished and admired as one of the Premier League's most naturally talented players around, capable of petrifying opposition with his gliding gait.

This season, he recorded an average league rating of 6.83, making 40 starting appearances, scoring one goal and supplying four assists, completing 79% of his passes and making 1.8 tackles per game.

As per FBref, given that he ranks among the top 11% of midfielders across Men's Next 8 divisions for progressive carries and the top 17% for successful take-ons per 90, he could well emulate Grealish as he continues his burgeoning rise.

Grealish, comparatively, ranks among the top 3% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries per 90, which only further illustrates the superlative company Scott finds his name likened to.

While Tottenham have failed in their endeavours this season and concluded the campaign with an eighth-placed finish, thus confirming an absence from European competition to strike a detrimental blow to hopes of brighter fortunes.

Scott's acquisition could be a turning point, unleashing a new wave of prosperity on a proud football club desperate for silverware once more.

Celtic have suffered a blow in their pursuit of Leighton Clarkson, with news from Football Insider reporter David Lynch that Aberdeen are now leading the race for the player's signature.

Are Celtic linked with Leighton Clarkson?

The current Liverpool player was given the chance to shine out on loan in the 2022/23 season, joining up with Aberdeen on a short-term basis to get valuable first-team minutes. He went on to manage more games than ever before in his career, featuring on 34 occasions as the side finished in third place. The 21-year-old also managed a haul of five goals and eight assists along the way – career best totals for the youngster.

Prior to his spell in the Scottish Premiership, his only other gametime had come during a loan with Blackburn. He managed only seven league games for the Championship side though and couldn't produce any goals or assists.

Given plenty of minutes in Scotland, he impressed many and there is now a race for his signature. Celtic are one of the clubs that had been mentioned as having a keen interest in the player this summer, with the Hoops eager to add him to their ranks.

Even though the club have been managerless, Brendan Rodgers is now close to securing the job and he could have been one of the first signings to arrive for the new boss.

However, according to a report from Football Insider, Celtic – and perhaps Rodgers – will not get their wish.

That's because Aberdeen are believed to now be leading the race to sign him above the league winners and it means that they could now miss out on his signature. Having had the player on loan last season, the Dons have the advantage of knowing the youngster well and it would likely not take much for him to slot back in.

Has Leighton Clarkson played for Liverpool?

The 21-year-old has never managed to play in the Premier League for Liverpool and it now appears that he could be off in pursuit of regular first-team football. It's unclear how much he would cost the interested parties, although CIES Football Observatory suggest his value is around 5 million Euros (or £4.2m).

It means that any deal would likely not break the bank for Clarkson and he could be a bargain deal for any club that does sign him. Considering the player is now experienced in Scotland and has the ability to both score and assist in the league, he looks like he could be a solid purchase for any club – and Celtic likely wouldn't be happy to therefore see him join Aberdeen.

Arsenal have been linked to a number of players ahead of the transfer window, with a potential option at right-back emerging as Mikel Arteta aims to bolster his squad this summer.

The Gunners will be keen to make improvements in the window, after narrowly missing out on the Premier League title to Manchester City this season.

Adding depth in quality to the squad is key for the Spaniard over the summer, something that he could begin by signing the latest player in question.

What’s the latest on Sacha Boey to Arsenal?

As reported by the Telegraph late last month, Galatasaray right-back Sacha Boey has gained interest from north London after a strong season in Turkey.

Since the initial news broke regarding Arsenal’s interest, GIVEMESPORT have revealed via Fabrizio Romano that the club are ‘informed’ on the conditions surrounding the €25m (£22m) price tag placed on the defender by the Turkish champions.

Despite multiple news sources linking the player and club, Romano noted that the situation remains ‘quiet’, with no direct contact made between the Gunners and the players’ agent yet.

What could Sacha Boey bring to Arsenal?

Hailed as “tireless” by journalist Cetin Cem Yilmaz, the 22-year-old has been a revelation for the Turkish giants since signing from Rennes in the summer of 2021.

The young defender could be a revelation for Arsenal and could not only challenge the likes of Ben White defensively but could take Bukayo Saka to the next level in forming a partnership on the right flank.

At just 21 years old, the English forward has been one of the Premier League’s best players this season, scoring 14 goals and assisting 11 in 38 appearances, via FBref.

There are many elements to the wingers’ game that see him thrive in Arteta’s set-up, however, his partnership with White has played a significant factor in his growth this campaign.

Lauded as providing “top class” runs to support Saka out wide in attack, the English duo have unlocked a new side to Arsenal, making them one of the most threatening duos in the league from the wide areas.

However, as claimed by Football Insider, Arteta could hand White a new role centrally next season, which could open doors for Boey who in theory could take Saka to a new level if he takes the reins from White.

The Frenchman is a danger from the back when getting forward, which benefits the Arsenal forward, who ranks in the top 2% of wingers in Europe’s top five leagues when it comes to receiving progressive passes, with an average of 14.61 per 90 – as per FBref.

While White has been direct in Saka’s progression, Boey ranks better in creative scenarios than the Englishman, averaging one key pass per game to the former Brighton man’s 0.7, and creating eight big chances to his six – as per Sofascore.

There is still room for progression for the formidable youngster, who could reach the heights of Mohamed Salah who was integral to Liverpool’s title win in 2020, who averaged a monstrous 0.50 goals per 90, with Saka averaging 0.33 this season – as per FBref.

His improvement could be the difference in Arsenal’s ability to win the title next campaign.

Having a style of play that identifies his favour to play short passes, as per WhoScored, the Galatasaray gem could form a deadly partnership with Saka, who could become even more unplayable in his presence as a significantly strong attacking full-back.

Joao Felix has dropped a possible hint about one day maybe playing in MLS as his future remains undecided having returned to Atletico Madrid after his loan at Chelsea.

Who will Joao Felix join this summer?

The 22-year-old didn't quite live up to the hype in the Premier League and he leaves the Blues have picked up one red card, scored four goals, and delivered zero assists in 20 games across all competitions.

Despite that, there will likely still be a number of teams who want to sign the player as manager Diego Simeone has suggested that Felix could be off in the summer.

He told Partidazo Cope (via Goal): "It is necessary to see if economically it is good for the club. I no longer enter there. He is a boy who has qualities, who plays well, who everyone talks about and hopefully he can crush it. With us he has always had peaks, he has had bad luck with injuries."

On top of that, though, Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has stated that Chelsea won't be signing Felix permanently and so his future remains up in the air.

The Portuguese international has been active on social media recently, and the images could suggest he's keen on playing in MLS one day – even if that's not likely to happen particularly soon.

Indeed, Felix posted several photos of himself playing tennis in a Charlotte FC shirt on his Instagram page.

Why was Felix wearing a Charlotte FC shirt?

In the photos, the 22-year-old can be seen wearing a shirt with the name Nuno Santos on the back – he is Felix's former Benfica team-mate who now plays for Charlotte.

And so, perhaps this is just a reunion of old friends as opposed to any major transfer hint that might tell us which step the player will take next in his career.

Even so, you can never rule anything out in football. What's more, even if Felix doesn't head to America this summer, his now evident connections with MLS could mean a move might happen at some point in the future.

For now, though, it does seem more likely that he'll either remain in Madrid or find another big European club to impress at next summer.

For instance, one recent rumour suggests he could be heading back to the Premier League but this time he'll get a chance to impress with Newcastle United.