All posts by z3u9t.icu

Manchester City ended their latest Premier League campaign with the joint-best defensive record in the division.

In their 38 league games, the Citizens conceded 26 goals in total, the same number as Liverpool in second place.

As well as helping Pep Guardiola’s side secure this impressive feat, a number of City’s defenders also made themselves useful attacking figures as well.

Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte racked up a combined total of seven goals and nine assists between them in the league last season.

Now that the summer transfer window has opened for business, it seems as though the Manchester club have been linked with another defender who has proven to be a useful attacking threat as well.

Earlier this month, the Premier League champions were linked with a move to sign Hoffenheim left-back David Raum.

After scoring six goals and providing 23 assists in 99 senior appearances for Greuther Furth, the full-back joined Hoffenheim last summer.

Throughout his debut season there, the 24-year-old, who has been described as a player that has a “great engine” by Jan Aage Fjortoft found the net three times and delivered 13 assists in 32 Bundesliga appearances.

To further highlight how impressive he was in an attacking sense, no other player at his current club made as many crosses (182), successful dribbles (31) or shot-creating actions (128) as the £18m-rated full-back did.His overall performances earned him a solid season rating of 7.11/10, making him the highest-rated player at Hoffenheim according to WhoScored.According to FBref, one recognisable name that has been included on a list of similar players to Raum is Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.Given how he has scored 12 goals and provided 62 assists in 225 senior appearances for the Merseyside club, the opportunity to land their own version of the England international in the shape of Raum could be an exciting prospect for City and Guardiola going forward.However, given how important he has been for his new club, it would be safe to assume that they would be reluctant to let him leave this summer.This is where City’s track record of splashing out significant sums of money, particularly on defenders, in the past, could come in handy on this occasion.In other news: Man City eyeing swoop for “unbelievable” £31.5m-rated “animal”, Pep would love him

Pundit Paddy Kenny has been left bemoaning some worrying news that he has now heard from Glasgow Rangers.

The Lowdown: Scoulding to leave…

As per The Daily Telegraph, chief scout at Ibrox Andy Scoulding is now set to join Tottenham Hotspur ahead of the start of the new season.

He has played a big part in some successful signings for the Gers over the years, including Joe Aribo from Charlton Athletic, Calvin Bassey from Leicester City’s academy and Ryan Kent after a loan spell from Liverpool, all who have seen their market value increase significantly and attract interest from the Premier League during their time at the club.

The Latest: Kenny reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, Kenny has now given his reaction after hearing the news, with the 44-year-old claiming that it is a ‘massive, massive blow’ for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team:

“It’s important for Rangers to get these sorts of players in.

“It’s important to get them in for cheap or on a free before moving them on for big money, that’s how they keep going.

“To lose someone like him to Spurs, I’m sure it will be a massive, massive blow to Rangers going forward.

“I’m sure there are other scouts there who can do that job but if this guy is going to Tottenham then he must be good.

“Rangers have never struggled with transfers but to lose a guy like that, who has signed those players, it’s a blow.”

The Verdict: Worrying

It certainly is worrying for the Light Blues going forward to lose someone in Scoulding who has such a big influence at the club.

The summer transfer window is now open, and they will no longer be able to rely on his expertise in terms of finding hidden gems in the market.

Nonetheless, the Teddy Bears will need to bring in a replacement as soon as possible, so that they can continue the great work that Scoulding has done.

In other news, find out which ‘unstoppable’ predator RFC now hold an ‘interest’ in here!

West Bromwich Albion are working on a deal to sign Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury, according to the Express and Star.

The Lowdown: Choudhury profiled

The 24-year-old is a product of the Foxes academy system having first joined the club aged seven, where he worked his way up through the ranks of the U18s and U23s sides, captaining the latter. He made his senior first-team debut in a Carabao Cup outing against Liverpool back in 2017.

Despite his emergence through the ranks, with just over 12 months remaining on his contract at the King Power, not to mention his lack of game time having only made six top-flight appearances this season, the midfield maestro has been linked with an exit.

And it appears as though the Baggies more than fancy their chances of being able to bring the combative youngster to the Championship this summer.

The Latest: West Brom working on Choudhury deal

In an article published by the Express and Star, it’s claimed that West Brom are currently in the process of ‘trying to secure’ a deal for Choudhury, who has emerged as a ‘prime target’ for manager Steve Bruce.

The source further states that the completion of a loan move to the Hawthorns is the ‘most likely’ option at this moment in time, but it ‘is possible’ he could join on a permanent basis ‘should the clubs agree a fee’.

The Verdict: Decent bit of business

With the Baggies not having much financial freedom at present, Bruce is having to look in both the free agent and loan markets when it comes to completing his transfers, but the former England U21 international might be a decent bit of business, even if it is only temporary.

Even though he’s only played 287 minutes of top-flight football this term, the Leicester starlet, who was once dubbed a “sensational” player by manager Brendan Rodgers, averaged two interceptions, 1.7 clearances and 1.5 tackles per game, via WhoScored, showing his hard work and determination to win back possession for his team in the middle of the park.

This is an asset that would hugely benefit the West Brom starting XI, and with the 61-year-old boss previously trying to sign Choudhury during his reign at Newcastle, it comes as no surprise to see that he is attempting to make another move for his former target, only this time, it might actually prove to be a successful one.

In other news… West Brom are considering a summer move for ‘one of the best’ in the Championship.

Aston Villa are set to back away from a move for Bologna defender Aaron Hickey, according to the latest rumours.

What’s the word?

As per The Athletic, the Scotland teenager had been a target for the Midlands outfit, although the club have since ‘cooled’ their interest owing to the player’s reported £20m price tag.

The report suggests that Villa are in the market for a new left-sided defender, despite having signed Lucas Digne in January, with Steven Gerrard eyeing a ‘young and progressive’ deputy to the £25m Frenchman.

Sporting director Johan Lange is now set to scour the continent for another possible target, while as for Hickey, the 19-year-old is rumoured to be of interest to fellow Premier League outfit, Arsenal.

The next Lahm?

With the aforementioned Digne on one side and Matty Cash on the other, Gerrard appears well-stocked at present in his full-back ranks, although the addition of the former Hearts starlet would have provided genuine competition and cover, with the £13.5m-rated gem seemingly comfortable on either flank.

The Glasgow-born ace has caught the attention of clubs across Europe in recent times, having made the bold decision to move to Italy at the age of just 18, going on to make 48 appearances for the Serie A outfit over the last two seasons.

Having been eased in during his debut campaign, the 2021/22 season proved a real breakthrough term for the three-cap star, as he went on to score five goals and register one assist in his 36 league outings – 34 of which had come as starts.

The “special talent” – as he has previously been dubbed by former Hearts boss Daniel Stendel – has thrived for his current side of late, with such form even seeing him handed a surprise start in the recent 2-0 defeat for Steve Clarke’s Scotland side in the crucial playoff clash against Ukraine.

Although he struggled on the night – earning a dismal rating of 4/10 from journalist Matt Atkinson – the expectation is that he will go on to remain a regular for his country in the coming years, having been tipped for big things by those who have worked closely with him.

The aforementioned Stendel, in particular, seemingly has a real fondness for the youngster’s talents, once insisting that he is “like Philipp Lahm” amid rumours of a potential move to Bayern Munich.

That is high praise indeed to compare him to the World Cup-winning German legend, with now-retired full-back having claimed almost every prize going in the game, while racking up a remarkable 516 appearances for the Bundesliga outfit during his 15-year senior career.

Dubbed “one of the most intelligent” players in the game by Pep Guardiola, Lahm was also able to convert into a holding midfielder during the Manchester City boss’ time in Germany, with his adaptability and quality making him one of the finest players of his era.

Like the 38-year-old, young Hickey can also be deployed in a midfield role, with his versatility making him a real asset were he to be signed by any side this summer.

At present, it looks like Gerrard and co are nearing almighty mistake if they are to let the wonderkid escape their grasp.

IN other news, Gerrard can land AVFC’s next Southgate with move for “outstanding” £120k-p/w warrior

Rangers ended their 2021/22 SPFL campaign having conceded 31 goals in total, which is considerably more than the 13 the Ibrox side conceded throughout their previous campaign.

One defensive figure that didn’t play a big part in Rangers’ recent season is Filip Helander.

After starting three of Rangers’ opening five league games of the season, the 29-year-old suffered a serious knee injury that kept him out of action until February.

The centre-back was then struck down with a season-ending injury back in April, ultimately seeing the 29-year-old end the campaign with just 11 appearances to his name across all competitions.

Taking into account his age, his injury issues and the fact that his current contract at Ibrox is set to expire in the summer of 2023, it could be worth Giovanni van Bronckhorst finding a suitable replacement for the Sweden international soon.

With that in mind, one player that the Gers have been linked with recently that could fit this bill is Cedric Kipre.

Having played in 14 Championship games for the Baggies this season, the 25-year-old ended the campaign in the top five of West Brom’s squad for the average of tackles (2), interceptions (1.8), clearances (2.2) and blocks (0.4) made.

This shows just how much of a capable defensive unit he can be and why the Ibrox side have been eyeing the £14k-per-week centre-back up for a potential summer transfer move.

With the centre-back not fancied by current Baggies boss Steve Bruce after not making an appearance since his arrival in February, this could make a potential move to Rangers rather straightforward should the Europa League finalists launch a bid for him.

Labelled as an “assassin” by Tommy Wright, Kipre certainly has the talent to be a good defensive option for Van Bronckhorst and also has age on his side to be a solid long-term replacement for Helander.

Having also had experience of playing in the SPFL during his loan spell with Motherwell back in the 2017/18 season, this could also make him a good recruit for the Gers as he may not need that much time to settle into the SPFL compared to other potential incoming signings.

In other news: Van Bronckhorst heading for big Rangers disaster as worrying transfer claim emerges

West Ham United are believed to keen on Argentine striker Giovanni Simeone, according to reports in Italy.

What’s the word?

As per Wednesday’s edition of newspaper Corriere di Verona (via Sports Witness), the Hammers have been named as one of the clubs who are keeping tabs on the 26-year-old, with a summer move seemingly on the cards for the five-cap international.

The forward spent the most recent campaign on loan at Serie A side outfit Hellas Verona from parent club Cagliari, although is expected to move on in the upcoming window even if his temporary switch is made permanent.

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Verona are believed to be able to complete the signing for a fee of around €10.5m (£8.9m), although will then likely sell him on for profit, with both West Ham and Newcastle United potentially set to pounce.

Better than Antonio

The former Fiorentina man – who is the son of Atletico Madrid boss, Diego – has put himself on the radar of a number of clubs across Europe following his remarkable goalscoring spree in the 2021/22 campaign.

In 35 league outings in the Italian top-flight, the £15.3m-rated marksman netted an impressive 17 goals while also laying on a further five assists, with only three players having scored more goals in the division.

Such form has also seen the £47k-per-week ace compare favourably to those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, with the “fearless” forward – as he has been described by journalist Martin Mazur – ranking in the top 11% for non-penalty goals, while also showcasing his defensive qualities as he ranks in the top 7% for blocks and the top 16% for pressures made.

Although never truly prolific prior to this latest season, such a sensational season is hard to ignore, with the Madrid-born star potentially the man to fill the striking void at the London Stadium.

The Hammers currently have just Michail Antonio as their only senior, recognised centre-forward – having failed to replace club-record flop Sebastian Haller – with the Jamaica international himself admitting the need for increased competition.

Despite an early flurry at the start of the season, the 30-year-old has rubberstamped the belief that he is not a long-term fit to lead the line, enduring a notable dry spell in 2022 in which he scored just three league goals following the turn of the year.

His total tally of 13 goals in all competitions is his best return in a season for the club, although that remains a relatively underwhelming figure for a number nine, particularly when compared to Simeone’s haul last term.

Also – somewhat surprisingly – Antonio ranks poorly for his defensive work compared to the potential new arrival, ranking in just the top 47% for pressures made and the top 51% for blocks made.

That’s not to suggest that Moyes and co should dispense with him this summer, although a quality replacement is needed if the east Londoners are to really kick on next season, with Simeone seemingly the man for the job.

IN other news, GSB plotting bid for £13.5m-rated “revelation”, he could be West Ham’s next Sinclair 

Sky Sports international reporter Gianluca Di Marzio has now broke a big West Ham United story involving goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.

The Lowdown: Hammers decision touted…

Hammers boss David Moyes has been tipped with a pre-summer decision over whether to sign Areola on a permanent deal, triggering the clause in his loan, or to target another back-up to number one Lukasz Fabianski.

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Links to the likes of West Brom shot stopper Sam Johnstone have been in no short supply as West Ham already start to gear up for the 2022/2023 Premier League season.

The east Londoners will be aiming to strengthen in many areas to back Moyes and ensure the Scotsman has what he needs to maintain West Ham’s remarkable rise in the last two years.

The Latest: Di Marzio breaks news….

Breaking news in the last 48 hours, Di Marzio of Sky now says that West Ham are ‘close’ to agreeing a deal to sign Areola permanently from Paris-Saint Germain with their decision seemingly made.

The Italian journalist adds that Moyes’ side have been ‘convinced’ to activate his purchase option and the Frenchman ‘will remain’ in England beyond 2021/2022.

The Verdict: Correct call…

While Areola’s appearances in the league have been almost non-existent, the 29-year-old has proven a more-than capable alternative to Fabianski in the cup competitions.

The former Fulham man seriously impressed during West Ham’s unprecedented run to the Europa League semi-finals, particularly against Sevilla in the round of 16 with his ‘world class’ and ‘unbelievable’ heroics (Toby Cudworth).

Indeed, snapping up Areola on a permanent fee nice and early will certainly be the right move.

In other news: Moyes very likely to make major bid for ‘world class’ player after claim he ‘likes’ West Ham! Find out more here.

A former Glasgow Rangers manager reportedly now wants to sign Joe Aribo in the summer.

The Lowdown: Gerrard favourite

Before the appointment of Giovanni van Bronckhorst, the Nigeria international was a firm favourite under Steven Gerrard, as he barely missed a game when he was available, scoring 20 goals and supplying a further 18 assists over the last three seasons (Transfermarkt).

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The 41-year-old even went as far as to call him a ‘stunning’ player back in 2020, a testament to just how much he rates the Nigerian.

The Latest: Aribo wanted

As per The Scottish Sun, Gerrard now wants to sign Aribo for Aston Villa this summer, as they join a transfer race which also includes fellow Premier League clubs Crystal Palace and Brentford.

The Nigeria international has so far resisted offers of a new deal at Ibrox, with his current contract set to expire in 2023.

Rangers hope to drive up his price, but could agree to sell him for less than £10m.

The Verdict: Too cheap

Given that he is 25 years of age and has not yet hit his peak, selling Aribo for less than £10m would be far too low a price for the Gers to let him go.

Considering that they sold Nathan Patterson to another Premier League side in Everton for £16m in January, the Light Blues need to be looking at the same kind of figure if they are to let Aribo depart for England as well.

Described as ‘unreal’ by Villa defender Ezri Konsa, the midfielder could certainly make an impression in the Premier League, so the Gers should not let him go cheaply.

In other news, find out what potential ‘big boost’ for RFC has now emerged here!

Reliable journalist: Klopp now personally wants YPOTY nominee with better assist rate than Robertson

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has greenlit the club’s pursuit of Aberdeen right-back Calvin Ramsey, according to The Athletic. 

The lowdown

Ramsay is only 18 years old, but after making six appearances last season, he’s established himself in the first team this term.

He’s started 20 Scottish Premiership matches for Aberdeen in 2021/22 and was also selected for all six of their Europa Conference League qualifying matches last summer.

Under contract at Pittodrie until June 2024, Ramsay is valued at just £540,000 by Transfermarkt.

Liverpool may need a new back-up for Trent Alexander-Arnold if they opt to offload Neco Williams permanently following his loan move to Fulham. The Cottagers are said to be interested in landing the Welshman ahead of their first season back in the Premier League.

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The latest

Journalist Caoimhe O’Neill reports that ‘Liverpool and Leeds both want to sign’ Ramsay.

‘Klopp himself was quick to approve’ the move, indicating that he’s impressed by the youngster.

However, one potential problem for the Reds is that Leeds ‘can offer him more game time’.

‘A big decision’ awaits for Ramsay between the Champions League finalists, where’d he be competing with Alexander-Arnold, and relegation-threatened Leeds, where the path to the first-team may be clearer.

The verdict

Ramsay is certainly an impressive talent. He’s managed to contribute nine assists for the Dons this season, averaging one every 2.8 matches.

That certainly bodes well for a potential successor to Anfield assist king Alexander-Arnold. For reference, the Liverpool-born full-back is setting up a goal every 3.2 matches over the course of his PL career, compared to 4.2 for Robertson.

Ramsay will need to improve the defensive side of his game, with one of his former coaches noting that more ‘focus’ is required off the ball, but that may well come with time and with the coaching of Klopp or Jesse Marsch.

Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack has said that he ranks in the ‘elite upper bracket’ of young right-backs, and tellingly, he’s been nominated for the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year award.

In other news, Kevin Campbell reacts to ‘absolutely massive’ news from Anfield.

Tottenham Hotspur chiefs are scheduling an imminent ‘summit’ as they seek a transfer agreement for manager Antonio Conte, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Conte makes demands…

The Italian is allegedly plotting a major overhaul at Spurs in the next summer window with as many as six major signings in his sights (The Telegraph).

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A reserve goalkeeper is on the agenda with links to West Bromwich Albion ace and soon-to-be free agent Sam Johnstone becoming extremely prevalent in recent weeks.

Tottenham are apparently in pole position for the 29-year-old as the Lilywhites allegedly eye a back-up and eventual heir to long-serving number one Hugo Lloris.

However, sharing a twist on Conte’s goal, TUTTOmercatoWEB journalist Dimitri Conti has some interesting news for supporters.

The Latest: Tottenham chiefs eye Gollini loan agreement…

According to his sources, as shared on Twitter and for TMW, Spurs ‘management’, presumably meaning club chiefs, have scheduled an end-of-season ‘summit’ with the entourage of current loanee Pierluigi Gollini.

Despite his real lack of game time under Conte, Tottenham now want to extend the Italian’s loan for another year as they eye a temporary transfer agreement for 2022/2023.

The Verdict: Bizarre development…

Gollini, despite being called ‘amazing’ by defender Eric Dier earlier this season, has barely been given a sniff at Spurs, playing zero Premier League minutes.

Taking this into account and the fact Johnstone is available for free, this TMW update certainly comes as a bizarre one.

Spurs should undoubtedly prioritise a move for the Baggies ace to solve their goalkeeping issue, especially since Johnstone’s addition could balance their homegrown quota books and add proven Premier League quality to their ranks.

In other news: ‘Could leave Spurs’ – Alasdair Gold now makes ‘unexpected’ exit claim…find out more here.