West Ham United have been urged to not continue their chase of Blackburn Rovers striker Adam Armstrong.
Former Premier Leauge striker Kevin Phillips has recently talked about West Ham’s links with a move to sign Armstrong and he believes that the Hammers shouldn’t sign the Blackburn forward.
Armstrong may not fit West Ham
Phillips was recently talking to Football Insider and he talked about the club’s links with a move for the forward. He believes that Armstrong is not the sort of forward that David Moyes’ would be looking for. He feels that Moyes is looking for a forward who is taller than Armstrong, as they are looking to replace Sebastian Haller.
He said: “I do not think Adam Armstrong fits the mould at West Ham. Would Moyes even consider it? If I am being totally honest, I do not think he would.
“I think Moyes would be going down the route of a 6 foot plus striker. Of course, Haller was that type of player and it did not work, but Armstrong? I do not think he would suit the way Moyesy wants to play.”
Armstrong, currently 23, has made 27 appearances in all competitions this season. He has scored 17 times, getting seven assists. In the Championship, he has scored 16 goals while picking up three assists. This is a reflection of how he is a prolific contributor to goals.
Queens Park Rangers manager Mark Warburton has praised Armstrong quite a bit. He said:
“He’s a top quality player. I’m sure Tony was desperate for him to get on the teamsheet, as much as we were desperate for him to not be on the teamsheet.
“But that’s what he can do to teams. I thought we done well to stop him in the opening half but you can’t afford to give someone of that calibre any decent opportunities. That’s the quality of the Championship.”
West Ham can make do with Armstrong
Armstrong boasts of a very good record for Rovers. In 144 games for the Lancashire-based side, he has scored 52 goals while also picking up 17 assists on the way. This is a reflection of the qualities of the player and he is only valued at £9 million.
This shows that if West Ham did make a move for him, he might not be a costly investment and he is still only 23 right now. He has a very good goalscoring record but Phillips thinks that he is not the type of player that Moyes would want, but time will tell if he’s correct.
In other news, West Ham are eyeing a move for a Danish international – read more here.
According to The Bournemouth Echo, Glasgow Rangers are closing in on the signing of Nnamdi Ofoborh.
What’s the word?
The 21-year-old midfielder has been a bit-part player for Bournemouth this season, playing just five games across all competitions for the Cherries, but has shone on those rare appearances so far.
The Bournemouth Echo claims he has been locked in negotiations with Rangers over a pre-contract agreement ahead of a possible move to Ibrox in the summer.
And now, Bournemouth boss Jason Tindall has confirmed he is “close to agreeing things” with Rangers.
Steven Davis 2.0?
Rangers are pretty well-stocked in their midfield options following the capture of Bongani Zungu during the extended summer transfer window.
Zungu, though, has struggled to make a big impact, as he is yet to start in the Scottish Premiership so far. It might seem harsh but the Bafana-Bafana midfielder will need to do a lot more to firmly establish himself in Steven Gerrard’s plans.
Steven Davis and Ryan Jack have been Gerrard’s go-to options to complement Glen Kamara in his preferred three-man midfield. Whilst Davis has been in exceptional form so far this season, there are still question marks over Jack’s fitness after an injury-stricken campaign.
Suffice to say, Rangers need a quality midfielder to reduce the workload of the likes of Davis and Jack, and signing Ofoborh could be a wise investment for the future.
He may have only made three appearances in the Championship this season but Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is a big admirer of his talents after he made waves with his impressive performances for Wycombe Wanderers.
“Yo Nnamdi, what’s up man? It’s your boy PP,” he said following the Chairboys’ promotion to the Championship. “I heard about you, I just wanted to congratulate you on your promotion to the Championship. I heard about your long journey, in football and outside football. For sure, it’s not easy, it’s difficult what you did.”
“I just want to wish you the best – carry on, keep it up, keep doing what you’re doing man. I’m going to be looking after you, and looking at what you’re doing until you get to the Premier League. Keep it up my G, be together, peace man.”
Like Davis, Ofoborh is predominantly a right-footed player, and the comparisons don’t stop there, either. Last season, the Englishman, described as “reliable”, averaged 1.1 tackles per game, just shy of Davis’ 1.1 per 90 in the Premiership this season so far, via WhoScored.
Whilst he is still at the early stages of his career, his eye-catching performances for Gareth Ainsworth’s side suggest that he has the potential to play at a high level. Given his age, he may not be a regular starter for Rangers, but he’d add depth as a backup option in the midfield.
AND in other news, Glasgow Rangers dealt Wigan Athletic striker Kyle Joseph transfer blow…
According to La Nazione (via Sport Witness), Leeds are now preparing to make a loan offer for Fiorentina’s Erick Pulgar.
What’s the story?
Reports in recent days and weeks have suggested Marcelo Bielsa’s side are on the look-out for an new central midfielder, with Pulgar’s name consistently being linked with a switch to Elland Road.
Now, Italian publication La Nazione has claimed that Leeds are ready to make their move for the Chile international, proposing a loan move until the end of the season and without an obligation to buy at the end of it.
Answering Bielsa’s prayers
Leeds only have to look back to twelve months ago to see the perils of bringing someone in on loan during the January transfer window and having an ‘obligation’ to buy at the end of it – the Jean-Kevin Augustin ordeal is still fresh in the memory.
So by ensuring they don’t have that fixed attachment in a deal to sign Pulgar, would mean if his short spell in the Premier League doesn’t quite work out, Leeds can simply wave goodbye to him at the end of it all.
Bielsa has a really dearth in options in that Kalvin Phillips role, with Pascal Struijk really the only player who the Leeds boss has used in that all important holding midfield role.
Whilst Pulgar can play a bit further forward too, the 6 foot 2 machine may be seen by Bielsa as someone to provide vital cover to his talisman, Phillips.
Injuries and suspensions will really take their toll over this long Premier League season, and if Phillips was to miss a significant period of time, it could spell major trouble.
Pulgar on a six-month loan would go a long way to addressing that, and given they are set to only target him on loan and not permanently, it would give the Whites a security blanket if things don’t work out. It really would be a Victor Orta masterclass.
Meanwhile, Leeds United are facing a transfer battle for this Serie A sensation…
David Moyes faces another Premier League test without star striker Michail Antonio when West Ham United visit Leeds after revealing the striker is yet to overcome his hamstring injury.
Antonio missed the Irons’ 3-1 defeat to Manchester United last weekend after limping off at home to Aston Villa having sustained a second hamstring injury of the season, separate to the blow which prevented his involvement in three fixtures.
Sebastien Haller led the line once more in place of Antonio against the Red Devils but failed to light up the stage, letting a golden chance to double the hosts’ advantage and pen his third goal of the league season go to waste by slipping after rounding Dean Henderson.
Doubt has since risen over Haller’s involvement in Friday’s meeting with Leeds, which could see West Ham move up to fifth in the standings. So, with that in mind, here’s a predicted XI Moyes could favour at Elland Road…
Moyes has been reluctant to deviate from his tried-and-tested line-up for much of the Premier League season, with Lukasz Fabianski, Aaron Cresswell, Angelo Ogbonna, Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek, Jarrod Bowen and Pablo Fornals each starting all 11 Premier League fixtures to date.
Arthur Masuaku has only missed the Hammers’ opening day defeat at home to Newcastle, starting the following 10, and would have expected to join the aforementioned septet plus summer signing Vladimir Coufal in extending their run in the opening XI.
But just a day before facing Leeds, the DR Congo international announced in a now-deleted Instagram post that he will be facing a lengthy spell out of action following surgery to fix a knee injury that has caused the 27-year-old pain for almost two years.
“Today I’m having a knee surgery to help me remove the pain that’s been bothering me for nearly 2 years now,” he wrote via quotes by the Evening Standard. “It’s been a very difficult decision to make, but for my good being and the rest of my career I have to take it.”
Cresswell should now return to the left-back slot vacated for Masuaku after the Newcastle loss, allowing for Issa Diop to make his first start since recovering from coronavirus having been resigned to a seat on the bench since
Moyes has also confirmed doubt lingers over Antonio’s involvement as he bids to overcome his latest hamstring strain.
“It’s probably doubtful on Michail,” Moyes conceded. “He’s still recovering, so at this moment in time, he’s more than likely doubtful for the game. Most of the rest of the squad are okay at the moment.”
Doubt over Antonio’s fitness could see Haller again start, yet speculation has surfaced suggesting summer signing Said Benrahma may be awarded his first start in claret and blue at striker rather than his natural position on the wing.
Benrahma has only been utilised as a designated centre-forward on seven occasions throughout his career, though the Algerian wizard – who contributed 17 goals and 10 assists for Brentford last season – is a player Bees boss Thomas Frank would fear matching up against.
“He’s a big influence,” Frank admitted in 2019, via quotes by football.london. “He’s a quality player with top skills but also finishing skills. We actually worked very hard with him to arrive in the box at the right situations.
“He just wants to get on the ball and get involved. In there when he’s turning and running at people – oof, I don’t want to defend against him! He’s starting to set up the other players even more because that’s the next level for his game.”
AND in other news, David Moyes would throw an “outstanding” £30m West Ham star under the boss with his brave plan to beat Leeds United.
For one reason or another, there is always something to talk about at Elland Road, and while the transfer window that has just passed was largely a success for the Yorkshire club, spending almost £100m on a plethora of talent from Europe’s top leagues, there was one failed deal that put a dampener on United’s summer.
Of course, we’re talking about Michael Cuisance’s failed move to Elland Road.
The Whites had agreed to sign the Frenchman for £18m, and everything looked to be done and dusted before he failed his medical.
A failed medical isn’t always the end of a club’s interest in a player, and often a team will then sign the player at the next possible opportunity, with Ruud van Nistelrooy to Manchester United being perhaps the most famous example of this, but Leeds seem to have well and truly missed the boat with Cuisance.
The Frenchman has now signed for Marseille on loan with an option to buy, and if that option is taken up, Leeds aren’t going to get a second shot at signing him next summer.
You shouldn’t get hung up over something that has already been and gone, but when it’s a player with Cuisance’s potential it’s impossible to not think about what could have been.
The 21-year-old is one of the most highly-rated young players in the world, having been nominated for the European Golden Boy award last year, and under the tutelage of Marcelo Bielsa he would surely have had a great chance of reaching his potential.
It’s not just journalists who vote on the Golden Boy award who rate him highly, people close to him have also raved about how good he is, with his former coach Dieter Hecking seemingly being blown away by his talent.
“Michael is an exceptional player for his age. He’s a game-changer,” Hecking said.
If Cuisance goes on to have the career you’d expect a Golden Boy nominee from Bayern Munich to have, Victor Orta may be haunted by this transfer for years to come.
Everton will be in heaven thanks to the form shown from James Rodriguez since his summer transfer from Real Madrid, after he shone once again as his side drew 2-2 with Liverpool in Saturday’s Merseyside Derby.
Rodriguez departed the Santiago Bernabeu to begin a new life in England and reunite with former head coach Carlo Ancelotti at Goodison Park, in a deal which his ex-side Banfield confirmed was a free transfer.
Reports had suggested Everton paid in the region of £12m to £20million to complete the 29-year-old’s move to Merseyside, however his former Argentine outfit soon noted that they would have been due a sell-on fee had cash changed hands this summer.
Real Madrid have also suffered with anxiety since sanctioning the deal, with reports by AS, via Sport Witness, claiming Los Blancos chiefs felt the Colombian would have still been ‘very useful’ to their efforts but was ‘discarded’ by manager Zinedine Zidane just like Gareth Bale, Sergio Reguilon and Dani Ceballos.
The Spanish giants are said to be ‘upset’ at how well Rodriguez has since taken to the Premier League, and will have felt that pain again this weekend when he recorded his third assist of the season as Michael Keane turned home his corner.
Rodriguez has also recorded three goals in the English top-flight and one assist in the Carabao Cup, whilst starting each of his six outings across all competitions and only missing 28 of a possible 540 minutes of game time through late substitutions.
Ancelotti and Director of Football Marcel Brands’ decision to bring Rodriguez to the Premier League, despite him making just eight appearances for Real Madrid in last season’s La Liga campaign, continued to look a wise move on Saturday, when the £31.5m-rated ace stood out against The Reds.
Rodriguez earned SofaScore’s best match rating at 8.1 out of 10 as the only player for either side to perform above Mohamed Salah’s 7.7/10 and Lucas Digne and Keane’s 7.6/10 performances.
The Colombian star did not gather possession as much as Ancelotti would have liked with just 65 touches compared with Thiago Alcantara’s game-high 99, Jordan Henderson’s 79, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s 78, Andrew Robertson’s 72 or Fabinho’s 68. Yet, he used his time on the ball well to fashion the game’s joint-most key passes (3) while finding teammates with three of his six attempted crosses and six of his seven long balls.
Cucuta-born Rodriguez also won a combined 10 duels with nine successful ground battles from 16 contests and one from one aerial battle. He was further fouled four times, made two tackles, struck one of two shots on target and was successful with each of his three attempted dribbles.
Rodriguez’s efforts against Liverpool ensured he remained Everton’s most productive creator with five big chances forged in the Premier League this season, while ranking first for key balls (16), accurate final third passes (62) and second to Digne (12) for accurate crosses (8).
AND in other news, Carlo Ancelotti must regret starting a £21.6m-rated man vs Liverpool after his challenging performance.
فجرت صحيفة “لاجازيتا ديلو سبورت” الإيطالية مفاجأة من العيار الثقيل بأن نادي يوفنتوس كان قد تحرك في عام 2013 من أجل التعاقد مع ثنائي ليفربول ومانشستر سيتي الحاليين، محمد صلاح وكيفن دي بروين.
كان محمد صلاح يلعب في ذلك الوقت ضمن صفوف بازل قبل الانتقال إلى تشيلسي، بينما كان دي بروين مع فيردر بريمن معارًا من البلوز أيضًا.
وبحسب الصحيفة، سافر مدير يوفنتوس الحالي فيديريكو تشيروبيني إلى ألمانيا وسويسرا عدة مرات لمتابعة الثنائي مع فريقهما بعد عام واحد من بداية عمله في السيدة العجوز.
اقرأ أيضًا | محمد صلاح عن التتويج بالكرة الذهبية: انظروا إلى ميسي ورونالدو.. وهذا موعد اعتزالي
كان تشيروبيني أحد أهم الأذرع لدى المدير العام لنادي يوفنتوس في ذلك الوقت، جوسيبي ماروتا، والذي كان يعمل على إعادة الفريق إلى مكانته بعد أعوام من عدم الاستقرار عقب العودة من الدرجة الثانية.
كان تشيروبيني مسئولًا عن قطاع الشباب في يوفنتوس، عندما وصل إلى النادي وكان يتابع ويستكشف اللاعبين في جميع أنحاء أوروبا وعلى رأسهم، محمد صلاح وكيفن دي بروين، واقترح على الإدارة التعاقد معهما عندما كانا يبلغان 21 و22 من العمر.
ولكن في النهاية، قررت إدارة يوفنتوس عدم التوقيع معهما لأنهم أرادوا الاستثمار في لاعبين يتمتعون بخبرة أكبر.
انضم محمد صلاح في يناير 2014 إلى تشيلسي قبل الانتقال إلى فيورنتينا وروما ثم العودة إلى ليفربول، بينما عاد دي بروين إلى تشيلسي ثم تم بيعه إلى فولفسبورج قبل العودة إلى مانشستر سيتي.
It is a big transfer window for Glasgow Rangers as they attempt mount a challenge for the Premiership title in 2020/21.
They will want to increase their strength in depth in all positions and former Aberdeen striker Noel Whelan believes that Kemar Roofe would be an ideal signing.
Speaking to Football Insider about the Anderlecht forward, Whelan said: “He’s very quick, very dynamic in and around the box, he can hold the ball up and he knows where the goal is.
“They would get him at a decent price and they’ll have the finances.
“Obviously they’ll have a certain amount of money they can spend, they can be outpriced by it but Anderlecht probably won’t get what they paid for Kemar.
“It hasn’t worked out for him and I think it could be time he does get a challenge and It could be a loan to buy situation that works for both clubs.”
Roofe has played 302 times in his career for various clubs including Oxford United and Leeds United and scored 96 goals whilst also providing 50 assists – this includes 24 goals and 16 assists for West Bromwich Albion under-23s, per Transfermarkt.
In the last few months, he has been in Belgium playing for Vincent Kompany’s Anderlecht, where he has played 16 times and tallied seven goals and three assists, per Transfermarkt. These stats show that wherever Roofe goes, he seems to have an eye for the net, but his lack of regular game-time in Belgium suggests that, like Whelan has said, the move hasn’t greatly worked out for him.
Still, it’s hard to disagree with Whelan about that this reported transfer target could be a good signing if the ‘Gers can secure him on a loan-to-buy deal, as they could then see if he would suit Scottish football without having to risk splashing the cash on him in case the move did not work out.
What are your thoughts on Whelan’s comments about Roofe, ‘Gers fans? Let us know by commenting below!
علق المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي مانشستر سيتي، بيب جوارديولا، على مواجهة جناح باريس سان جيرمان الجديد ومنتخب الأرجنتين، ليونيل ميسي، قبل مباراتهما في الجولة الثانية من مجموعات دوري أبطال أوروبا.
ويحل مانشستر سيتي ضيفًا على ملعب “حديقة الأمراء” يوم غدًا، الثلاثاء، في تمام الساعة التاسعة مساءً بتوقيت “القاهرة” بقيادة الحكم الإسباني، كارلوس ديل سيرو جراندي.
اقرأ أيضًا.. روبن دياز: نتمنى تواجد ميسي عند مواجهتنا باريس سان جيرمان في دوري أبطال أوروبا
وتحدث جوارديولا عن مواجهة ميسي مع باريس سان جيرمان في مؤتمره الصحفي منذ قليل، قال: “لقد واجهته مع بايرن ميونخ، وعند بدايتي مع مانشستر سيتي ومن الصعب أن نجد لاعبًا يواجه نفس المدرب لفترة طويلة من مسيرته”.
وأضاف: “انتقال ميسي إلى باريس سان جيرمان كان مفاجئًا للجميع، لكن يجب على الكل تقبلها، منذ زمن طويل لم تكن تتخيل أن يحدث ذلك الأمر، لكن حدث، لا تعرف أبدًا ما سيحدث في الحياة، المهم هو سيكون سعيدًا هناك”.
وتابع: “كنا محظوظين برؤيته لمدة 16 عامًا داخل الملاعب، قدرات ميسي تتحدث عن نفسها، لا داعي لوصفه أو التحدث عنه، مسيرته الكروية استثنائية، آمل أن يلعب غدًا في المباراة”.
وعن كيفية إيقاف ثلاثي باريس سان جيرمان الهجومي، قال: “لا أعرف كيف أوقفهم، ميسي ونيمار ومبابي لاعبون رائعون ولديهم إمكانيات فنية مذهلة، يمتلكون مواهب من الصعب التحكم فيها، علينا أن ندافع جيدًا حال استحواذهم على الكرة ونجعلهم يركضون كثيرًا عندما تكون معنا”.
وعن مواجهة باريس سان جيرمان: “يمتلكون لاعبين رائعين في جميع المراكز، ربما يكونوا أحد أصعب الفرق التي أواجهها في مسيرتي مع برشلونة لويس إنريكي”.
وإصابات لابورت وستونز: “سنعتمد على فرناندينيو في الدفاع كبديل، لكننا ندافع بشكل جيد وهذا لا يعني أن منافسينا أقل منا وإنما بسبب الروح التي يمتلكها اللاعبون والرغبة في تحقيق الفوز”.
وعن حالة جوندوجان قبل المباراة: “لن يشارك أمام باريس سان جيرمان وليفربول وسيعود بعد التجمع الدولي المقبل”.
واختتم جوارديولا مؤتمره بالحديث عن جيسوس: “يعيش فترة جيدة في مسيرته، كذلك أصبح ابًا، سعيد من أجله من الرائع أن يكون في حالة مزاجية رائعة على المستوى الشخصي”.
Aston Villa were a surprise for many when they were promoted to the Premier League via the Playoffs last season – beating Derby County 2-1 in the final.
Dean Smith had a task on his hands in ensuring that the Villans would stay up this season, with Jack Grealish gunning to play Premier League football again given that the club had never been relegated prior to the 2015/16 season which saw them finish bottom of the league.
Fast forward three years and the club have found themselves back in the top flight – and fought hard to earn their spot in the Premier League for another season.
This campaign has seen plenty of ups and downs for Smith and his side, so let’s take a look at all those things that made their season in the Aston Villa 2019/20 review…
Player of the Season – Jack Grealish
Since making his debut back in 2014, Grealish has gone on to become the club’s captain and the face of Aston Villa. He finished this season as the club’s top goalscorer, registered the most assists, and played the most minutes compared to any other Villa players.
His goal against West Ham on the final day of the season secured his boyhood club’s safety in heroic fashion – finishing in 17th just one point above the drop.
Goal of the Season – Jack Grealish v Manchester Utd, Dec 1st ’19
Here he is again – the Aston Villa man has been sensational for the club this season, and his effort in the clubs 2-2 draw with United back at the beginning of December was a peach.
Having picked the ball up on the left-hand side on the edge of the United box, Grealish shifted the ball to his right and wrapped his foot around it, whipping it into the top right corner with De Gea stood flat-footed and wondering how the ball has crept into his net.
It highlighted once again the capabilities that this man has – and earns him Aston Villa’s goal of the season.
Breakthrough Player – Ezri Konsa
Aston Villa signed the 22-year-old from Brentford during the 2019 summer transfer window for just shy of £12 million – and he has settled in perfectly.
Having made 26 appearances for the Villans in the league this season, the English defender averaged 2.6 clearances per game, as well as a 78% pass success rate.
It has been a good debut season for Konsa, who even scored the winner against Watford back in January for his first goal for the club. It will be exciting to see his progress at the club, and may even be a regular starter alongside Tyrone Mings next season.
Flop of the Season – Danny Drinkwater
Soccer Football – Premier League – Aston Villa v Manchester City – Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain – January 12, 2020 Aston Villa’s Danny Drinkwater looks dejected Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative fo
It seemed a smart move by both Aston Villa and Danny Drinkwater during the winter transfer window. The 30-year-old had only played one game whilst on loan to Burnley this season, and his career at Chelsea never really took off since his move there in 2017.
Despite this, there was still hope for him to find his form, and reach the levels he once achieved during his time at Leicester – sadly it didn’t quite play out that way.
The midfielder only made four league appearances and failed to make an impression to manager Dean Smith in any of them. His time at the club will likely be easily forgotten, and the Villa fans won’t be heartbroken about his departure either.
Defining Moment – 1-0 win vs Arsenal, Jul 21st ’20
An incredible win that helped the club secure their place in the Premier League for next season.
The Villans went into the game sat in 19th and looked sure to go down after drawing 1-1 with Everton – but an incredible effort from new boy Trezeguet in the 27th minute helped Aston Villa to a victory over an Arsenal side that had just beaten champions Liverpool in the league and Manchester City in the FA Cup – and the three points took the Villans to 17th in the table, where they would eventually finish the season.
Signing of the Season – Matt Targett
Soccer Football – Carabao Cup Final – Aston Villa v Manchester City – Wembley Stadium, London, Britain – March 1, 2020 Aston Villa’s Matt Targett looks dejected as he applauds the fans after the match Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please con
This may seem like a surprise to some Villa fans – but I am sure to many that it would make sense.
The 23-year-old signed from Southampton for just under £14 million during the 2019 summer transfer window and has become the club’s first-choice left-back.
The Englishman was the club’s fourth-best performer according to WhoScored. Targett has played 28 league games this campaign, averaging just under 2 tackles per game as well as 2 interceptions and 2.4 clearances – solid defensive numbers from his debut season with the club.
Hit Expectations? – YES
It may not have been achieved in the way the club expected, but Dean Smith and his team achieved safety in the league for another season and avoided the drop in dramatic fashion on the final day.
Their aim from the offset would have been to stay up, so in that sense, they hit their expectations – but I am sure that the club and fans would have liked it to be done sooner and easier compared to how it actually played out.
All in all, a positive season for the Villans who will be looking toward another year in the Premier League.