All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Pundit Paul Robinson has given his reaction to the news of Everton hiring Ashley Cole to join Frank Lampard’s backroom team.

The Lowdown: Cole hired

The Goodison Park faithful confirmed on Thursday that Cole has joined Lampard’s backroom staff, thus leaving his role as assistant manager of England’s U21s.

Of course, the appointment will reunite the two men once more, as they both played with each other for Chelsea and England, while Cole also played under Lampard at Derby County.

The Latest: Robinson reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, Robinson, who regularly appears on Sky Sports, has claimed that hiring his former international teammate is a ‘great’ appointment from the Merseyside club:

“Everything I’ve heard about Ashley’s coaching has been positive.

“I have shared a dressing room with him and let me tell you, he’s a very knowledgeable player.

“He was probably the best left-back this country has ever had. If he can give some of that knowledge to the Everton players then it would be great.

“Ashley has a great reputation in the game. In the short time he’s been coaching, he seems to have found his role.

“It is great to see some of my generation taking on roles at big clubs.”

The Verdict: Clever

It was certainly a clever and shrewd piece of business from the Toffees to bring Cole in to work alongside Lampard.

Not only will they have chemistry from their playing days, but the former will also relish the chance to further show what he can do at a coaching level, having previously worked with Chelsea’s youth team as well as England’s U21s.

Described as a ‘fantastic‘ coach by pundit Jamie O’Hara, who did his UEFA coaching badges with him, Cole is someone who will instantly gain respect from the squad given his own accomplishments, and together with Lampard could form a formidable team.

In other news, find out who the Blues are in ‘pole position’ to land as their new DoF here!

Rangers will be looking to quickly wash away the pain of their Old Firm defeat at Ibrox on Sunday as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men return to action tonight.

The Gers are now set to turn their attentions away from the Premiership for now as they face the prospect of a European quarter-final.

They are due to clash with Braga in Portugal in the first leg of the last-eight tie before playing them at Ibrox in the second leg next week.

Rangers will have to do so without their star striker, though, as Alfredo Morelos has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a thigh injury.

Forget Morelos

It is now time to forget about the Colombian, as he will not be playing for a number of months, and thus, they will need to work out how best to replace him.

Kemar Roofe produced a dismal display in his place against Celtic and the ex-Leeds man’s failure at Ibrox should convince van Bronckhorst to start Fashion Sakala through the middle.

The Zambia international has often been deployed out wide but is also capable of playing as a number nine and his physical attributes can make him a match-winning player for the Gers tonight.

Journalist Josh Bunting dubbed him a “danger” and claimed that his energy can make a “real difference” on the pitch for the Gers.

Former Ibrox fullback Alan Hutton has also praised the attacker’s pace and work rate in the past, saying: “He’s like a firework, isn’t he? You just light him and watch him go. He’s one of these players who plays at 100 miles per hour, he takes players on, he’s aggressive, he can get shots off.

“Sometimes you just wish he could slow down, but I think that’ll come with time and experience at a new club. As he plays with these players around him with intelligence – he’ll get on that same page. I like his energy and enthusiasm. He loves playing for Rangers and you can see that when he’s trying hard to score goals.”

These quotes suggest that he has the speed to cause real problems to opposition players. He has the movement to run in-behind and turn defences, which not only creates opportunities for himself but also opens up gaps for the likes of Ryan Kent, Joe Aribo and Aaron Ramsey to exploit.

His seven goals and one assist in nine Premiership starts also shows that he has the quality on the ball to be the difference-maker in the final third. Therefore, he can be a quality option through the middle with his physical and technical attributes.

Van Bronckhorst must axe Roofe and start Sakala to give his team the best chance of coming away from Portugal with a win in Morelos’ absence.

AND in other news, Smith endured big Rangers howler over “world-class” £7.5m gem who was “admired by all”…

Speaking to Anfield Watch, reliable reporter David Lynch has shared what he believes on defender Joe Gomez’ future at Liverpool amid links with a move away.

The Lowdown: Clubs queuing…

As per recent reports, Gomez could be a man in demand this summer as many clubs keep tabs on the England international’s situation at Liverpool.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/liverpool-newest-updates/” title=”Liverpool newest updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

90min recently claimed that ‘half the Premier League’ are keen on signing the centre-back with West Ham, Tottenham, Leicester City and Newcastle United all credited with interest.

Gomez’ lack of game time has thrown his future at Anfield into disrepute ahead of England’s World Cup quest with Lynch now sharing what he knows on the situation.

The Latest: Lynch shares Gomez update…

Speaking to AW, the journalist fully expects Gomez to push for an Anfield exit this summer to enhance his chances of making Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Qatar later this year.

When asked what the future holds for Liverpool’s 24-year-old, he explained:

“Joe Gomez’s lack of football this season isn’t a reflection on his quality, as Jurgen Klopp put it, he has simply been unfortunate that his slightly slower return to full speed following injury has coincided with Joel Matip enjoying a perhaps unexpected run of fitness and Ibrahima Konate hitting the ground running.

“But that doesn’t mean things are going to get any better for him next season at Liverpool and so, if he truly harbours World Cup hopes, I expect Gomez to push for a move this summer.”

The Verdict: Blow for Klopp?

Liverpool’s head coach, branding Gomez ‘world class’ earlier this season, clearly rates the defender and it could be a blow not to have him as an option for 2022/2023, especially considering the damage a lack of depth at centre-back did at Anfield last season.

That being said, if the Three Lions contender is to make Southgate’s cut in time, he could be better served moving on to pastures new for guaranteed game time rather than having to compete with the likes of Matip and Konate.

In other news: ‘Told…’ – Journalist leaks major Salah update from the Liverpool ‘dressing room’, find out more here.

[ad_pod ]

Liverpool’s Champions League knockout stage clash with Bayern Munich didn’t quite go to plan, with the two sides inseparable over the course of ninety minutes as the game finished 0-0.

Jurgen Klopp’s men uncharacteristically faltered under the Anfield lights as their finishing was lacklustre – on another day, the Merseysiders could have smashed their German opposition but, regardless, they will fancy themselves going to the Allianz Arena having avoided conceding an away goal on Tuesday.

With a huge game against Manchester United on Sunday, there is little time for the Reds players to switch off as they return their attention to the Premier League title race. They have closed the gap on champions Manchester City both literally and figuratively this season, with the two clubs level on points but also far more equal in terms of quality.

Who in the Liverpool ranks, though, has improved the most over the course of the season and who has declined?

Most improved: Fabinho

Despite having been slowly integrated into the starting XI, the Brazilian has become one of the Reds’ most consistent performers in recent weeks and his versatility has become indispensable to his side’s success amidst injuries and suspensions.

With Joe Gomez still not back to full fitness, Dejan Lovren also out of contention and Virgil van Dijk suspended, the former Monaco man stepped in alongside Joel Matip at the heart of defence against Bayern and hardly put a foot wrong.

A midfielder by trade, the 25-year-old looks likely to only get better and could hold down the base of Liverpool’s midfield for years to come.

Far removed: Trent Alexander-Arnold

A revelation last season, the England international has, unfortunately, been unable to improve on his stellar breakout season, with his performance against Bayern, in particular, of a standard far less than expected from the 20-year-old.

The 5-cap international wrote headlines with his inch-perfect crossing and delivery into the box and quickly forced his way into Gareth Southgate’s England considerations, although Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka looks like more of a worthy pick for the Three Lions based on current form.

Is Jurgen Klopp a “serial bottler”? The fan in the video below certainly thinks so…

There is no denying the Scouser has an extremely bright future ahead of him but, while he has been set back by injuries, his 18/19 campaign has been underwhelming thus far.

Wolves may have to accept that they will have to cash in on midfielder Ruben Neves this summer, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Neves’ future in doubt

The 25-year-old has been a fantastic servant for Wanderers down the years, dictating many midfield battles and scoring some spectacular goals along the way.

Neves has arguably enjoyed one of his best seasons yet at Molineux in 2021/22, bagging four goals, two assists and averaging 2.3 tackles per game.

There have been constant rumours linking the Portuguese with a move away this summer, however, with Barcelona among those keen on signing him.

[freshpress-poll id=“388780″]

The Latest: Journalist drops fresh claim

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke admitted that Wolves may have to let Neves go at the end of the season:

“There are fears obviously that Wolves might have to end up cashing in on Neves this summer. He’s been such a good servant to them as well. He’s helped them establish themselves in the Premier League.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/all-the-latest-from-wolves-2/” title=”All the latest from Wolves!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=“none”]

The Verdict: Matter of time?

While the idea of Neves staying on at Wolves is exciting, it looks increasingly likely that he will head off for a new challenge in the summer, given the number of reports emerging.

Some players simply hit a sell-by date at a club, and while the midfielder clearly loves playing for Wanderers, he may feel that it is time to test himself somewhere with loftier ambitions.

It would be hard to begrudge Neves a transfer after offering so much since joining in 2017 – he has made 207 appearances overall – and the key will be ensuring the vast money earned for his sale is spent wisely ahead of next season.

In other news, a Spanish source has dropped a key Wolves transfer claim.

Newcastle United moved on to 43 points on Saturday as they beat Norwich 3-0 in a Premier League encounter at Carrow Road.

The Magpies are well clear of relegation and are on course to avoid the drop down to the Championship after an impressive resurgence under Eddie Howe.

They can now start to think about what they are going to do in the summer transfer window as attention turns to 2022/23 and their ambitions to compete higher up in the table.

One player the club are reportedly in the running for is Napoli centre-forward Victor Osimhen, who has been thriving in the Serie A this season.

Speaking about a potential transfer, his agent – Andrea D’Amico – said: “If a very important offer arrives, it goes away. But this is true for every player who plays in Italy.”

“At the moment I have no requests from the Premier, but it is early, it is a situation that remains evolving. England remains a top-tier market. When I speak of an important and indispensable offer for Osimhen, I mean offers of 150 million.”

Imagine him & Bruno

If the Magpies can bring the £126m (€150m) attacker to St. James’ Park then he would be able to form an exciting partnership with Bruno Guimaraes.

Osimhen has scored 12 goals in 19 Serie A starts this season and averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 7.12 for Napoli. The dynamo also scored four goals in five Europa League matches earlier in the campaign and this shows that he has been a reliable scorer, and performer, for the Italian side.

He is finally fulfilling the potential that he showed earlier in his career. Whilst in the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg, his then-manager Andries Jonker outlined his talent, saying: “He has great potential in him. He is ambitious, quick and highly unpredictable, he will be a star in the future if he maintains his focus.”

Guimaraes, meanwhile, has four goals and one assist in 13 games in the Premier League since arriving in England in January. He has averaged a fantastic SofaScore rating of 7.25 as he has been able to hit the ground running in the top-flight under Howe.

The Brazilian has proven that he can make an impact in the division and now you can imagine what his link-up with a striker as clinical as Osimhen would look like. Imagine both of them exchanging passes and running at opposition defences next season; it’s an exciting thought and a dream that PIF can, hopefully, realise in the coming months.

AND in other news, “Newcastle want..”: Journo drops exciting claim on £109m duo, it’ll delight supporters…

Nottingham Forest will look to continue their sprint towards Premier League promotion tonight, but will face a tough test against Champions-elect Fulham at Craven Cottage.

A victory would effectively cement Forest’s spot in the play-off places, though Cooper will be looking for a win in case of the possibility that they could pip both Bournemouth and Huddersfield to the second-place automatic promotion spot.

Including tonight’s fixture, Forest have four games to play with one of those ties against Bournemouth – their rivals for automatic promotion. A win today is a must for Steve Cooper’s side.

In terms of injury news, Max Lowe is still out with a groin issue, and Steve Cook is also unlikely to start after just coming back from an ankle injury. Fulham will not roll over though and still have the title to play for, despite already sealing their ticket back to the Premier League.

Keinan Davis is another who is ruled out due to a hamstring injury sustained against Luton Town two games ago.

Lewis Grabban is also unlikely to feature after hobbling off after a 15-minute cameo appearance against Peterborough.

With that update, here is how we at Football FanCast expect Nottingham Forest to line up against Fulham tonight.

In what would be a real statement of intent, our predicted line-up sees Surridge retain his starting spot through Grabban’s injury, meaning that there is just one change, with £1.8m-rated Tobias Figueiredo axed for Joe Lolley, due to the 4-2-3-1 system switch.

With his attacking prowess – he has 26 goals for Forest in total – and Lyle Taylor’s praise, dubbing him a “wriggly worm”, he could cause the Cottagers all sorts of problems this evening.

Cooper’s side have stuck with the 3-4-1-2 system for the last six games which has seen them score thirteen goals and concede just two during that run. And although the saying “don’t fix what isn’t broken” rings true in most cases, it failed to work for them last time out against Fulham who ran out 4-0 winners.

The 4-2-3-1 system has notably been used in big games by Cooper. In the game against Fulham before the 4-0 thrashing, they used the 4-2-3-1 system and narrowly lost 1-0.

This system was also used against Liverpool, who also found it tough against Forest.

A change to a hardy 4-2-3-1 could pay dividends for Cooper and provide an element of shock for Marco Silva.

In other news: Sold after 1 appearance: Nottingham Forest had a disaster over 23 y/o “top talent”…

Aston Villa have been rather proactive in the transfer market over the past few years when it comes to bringing new players into the club.

However, with the summer transfer window on the horizon, it seems as though the Villans could see one of their current squad members move away from Bodymoor Heath at the end of the season.

What’s the latest?

According to a recent report from Foot Mercato, Villa midfielder Morgan Sanson would be open to leaving the Midlands in the summer, with French outfit Nantes reportedly keen on him.

The Villa Park outfit signed the Frenchman back in January 2021 from Marseille in a deal worth a reported £16m. Since then, the midfielder has only made 19 appearances across all competitions, scoring no goals and providing no assists but picking up three yellow cards in the process.

Having only started two of his nine league appearances this season, it’s safe to say that Steven Gerrard doesn’t see the 27-year-old as a crucial figure in his squad.

In those nine league appearances, Sanson has failed to show why he deserves to be in the squad, having accrued an uninspiring overall performance rating of 6.37/10 from WhoScored, making him the lowest-rated player currently at Villa to have started more than one league game in 2021/22.

Taking this into account, this upcoming summer transfer window could provide Villa and Gerrard with an ideal chance to get rid of the midfield flop and potentially recoup some of the money that they splashed out on him in the first place.

With the Villans recently being linked with a move for Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips when the transfer window opens, adding another midfielder to their squad would surely drive the Frenchman even further down the pecking order.

If Sanson isn’t likely to be in Gerrard’s plans for the rest of the season – which seems inevitable given that he has not started a league game since mid-January – or beyond the summer, it could be best for all parties if the midfielder were to depart from Villa and join another club where he would be guaranteed regular playing time.

In other news – Imagine him & Watkins: Lange could raise the roof at Villa with “strong” £290k-p/w gem

Newcastle United are reportedly now leading the race to sign Sven Botman this summer.

The Lowdown: January failure

It was reported that the St. James’ Park faithful had made a bid for Botman in the January transfer window, before they signed Dan Burn from Brighton and Hove Albion instead.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/newcastle-news-4/” title=”Newcastle news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

He did not end up leaving Lille despite interest also from Milan, and other clubs have now joined the race for his signature in the summer.

The Latest: Newcastle in pole

As per Football Insider, the North East club are now in ‘pole position’ to sign Botman for around £30m.

He has already agreed personal terms with them, and is ‘keen’ to play for them in the Premier League.

Despite also agreeing personal terms with Milan, the Tyneside outfit are now ‘confident’ that he will accept their contract offer.

The Verdict: No-brainer

If the Magpies have a chance of signing Botman this summer, then it is surely a no-brainer.

They have already seen the gems that they can unearth by dipping into the French market, having already signed Bruno Guimaraes from Lyon, and Botman is another player that is thought of very highly in Ligue 1, as per his agent Francesco Miniero, who has labelled him as a ‘golden boy’.

Miniero also points out that Botman is ‘one of the strongest central defenders in the world’, emphasised by the 2.8 aerial duels won per game in the UEFA Champions League this season, among the best in that category for centre-backs.

It is crazy to think that the Netherlands international is still only 22 years of age, and so Botman could be a mainstay in Eddie Howe’s team for years to come.

In other news, find out which three positions NUFC will now ‘target’ this summer here!

Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman is poised to endure a busy summer of work at the Stadium of Light at the end of the season.

Irrespective of what division the Black Cats are competing in next term, he will be tasked with putting together a squad for Alex Neil to work with – either to stay in the Championship or fight for promotion out of League One.

Speakman will also need to keep hold of the club’s talented young players to give Neil a pool of academy prospects to nurture with a view to them making their way through to the first team in the future.

One such gem who they are in danger of losing is 14-year-old Chris Rigg as Newcastle and Everton are reportedly keen on a deal for him this summer.

Rigg is already playing for the U18’s at the age of 14 and Sunderland are said to want £1m from any interested parties.

They must now avoid repeating the brutal disasterclass they endured when they sold teenager Joe Hugill to Manchester United for £300k. The striker has since been compared to England captain Harry Kane and is progressing through the ranks at Old Trafford.

Sky Sports News reporter James Cooper said this about the youngster: “Joe Hugill’s progress has come as a pleasant surprise to the coaching staff at Manchester United who recognised his potential when they brought him in from Sunderland.

“But the speed of that progress has exceeded expectations, bearing in mind he’s only been at the club for three months.

“Hugill was part of a recruitment drive that has seen some of Europe’s best young talent arrive at Manchester United in recent weeks to not only bolster the club’s Academy but also provide Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with more options further down the line.”

These quotes and the comparisons to Kane suggest that Sunderland dropped a clanger by allowing him to leave for £300k.

Speakman must now ensure that they do not repeat that mistake with Rigg. He cannot allow the talented youngster to leave the Stadium of Light and must do everything in his power to convince the teenager that staying at the club is the best option for him.

Sunderland fans do not want to be sat on their sofas in six years watching Rigg dominating in the Premier League and wondering how they only got £1m for him in 2022.

AND in other news, Fewer touches than Patterson: £2.7k-p/w SAFC gem with 87.5% duels lost flopped…