All posts by z3u9t.icu

Manchester United are reportedly lining up an audacious move for Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Pedro Neto.

According to The Sun, the Red Devils want to bolster their right-flank and are interested in the Portuguese winger, with him being on their transfer shortlist.

Should he arrive at Old Trafford, he could certainly emulate the type of impact that his compatriot and international teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo, had at United..

Whilst the 21-year-old still has some way to go to even come close to matching the levels of the current Juventus superstar, the signs are extremely promising.

Signed from Lazio at the beginning of the 2019/20 season, Neto had an extremely encouraging first season, notching five goals and racking up six assists in all competitions.

He has almost matched those numbers already during the current campaign under Nuno Espirito Santo, scoring five goals and notching four assists in the Premier League alone, highlighting his considerable progress.

Neto has certainly been a key player for Wolves, with the young winger contributing to 32% of his team’s entire goal haul this season.

He also got his international career off to the best possible start, scoring on his senior international debut in a 7-0 rout of Andorra.

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It could be said then there is a lot of responsibility on his young shoulders but he is certainly taking that in his stride.

Of course, should the £31.5m-rated winger sign for the Red Devils, there will certainly be inevitable comparisons to Ronaldo, but they do make some sense.

According to WhoScored, Neto is averaging two key passes, and 2.1 dribbles per game this season which are statistics that are interestingly higher than Ronaldo’s numbers of 1.1 key passes and 1.6 dribbles per game respectively.

Whilst Neto still has some way to match the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s meteoric five shots per game in all competitions, he is still up with the best in Wolves’ current squad, with only striker Raul Jimenez overcoming him.

With Nuno labelling Neto as a “very talented” player, he will surely loath losing him to a Premier League rival but the young Portuguese ace could certainly be the right-winger that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Manchester United are searching for.

AND in more news, take a closer look at Donny van de Beek’s awful showing in the Red Devils’ 3-1 defeat against Leicester…

Celtic’s five-game winning streak was broken last night as Ross County handed them their first loss since January 30th. The reigning league champions were unable to get a real foothold in the game and as a result, they were punished by a Jordan White goal in the 71st minute.

The season was pretty much over before this match, but their points deficit has now stretched to a huge 18 points as they continue to trail in Rangers’ shadow. This result will be hugely disappointing for Neil Lennon and his men, who had scored 13 goals in their previous five matches and conceded just two.

A lot of subpar performances were witnessed last night as Celtic failed to assert their dominance. However, one man in particular who let the side down was January loan signing Jonjoe Kenny.

Jonjoe Kenny vs Ross County

The Everton loanee has emerged onto the scene in Glasgow and has walked straight into a starting position. Following Jeremie Frimpong’s departure, Celtic had been without a right-back and Kenny is currently plugging that leak. However, despite a strong start, his performances have fallen off.

He was recently questioned by Frank McAvennie for seemingly taking his foot off the gas in terms of him getting forward and putting crosses into the box. Whilst he did attempt six crosses against County, not one of them found a teammate. Kenny’s other stats left a lot to be desired too.

The £6.3million-rated defender lost possession a worrying 23 times, which was more than any other Celtic player on the pitch. As a full-back, he is naturally more inclined to get forward and risk losing possession but his inability to put in an accurate cross added to the fact that he lost 50% of his attempted duels, shows that he really struggled to find his groove in an attacking sense, as per Sofascore.

With Odsonne Edouard also disappointing heavily, the Hoops were in dire need of some creative energy. Kenny was unable to perform in Celtic’s hour of need and Lennon will be hoping that the game against Aberdeen will be a different story next time out.

In other news, Celtic should move for free agent Johnny Russell…

Tottenham Hotspur legend Gary Mabbutt has told Football FanCast that he has complete faith in Carlos Vinicius to play a key role for the club between now and the end of the season should he need to.

The striker arrived on loan from Benfica in the summer and has mostly been restricted to playing in the Europa League.

That, of course, comes down to the fact that he has Harry Kane, one of the best strikers in world football, ahead of him in the pecking order.

Still, Vinicius has done well when called upon and has a more than acceptable goal tally to his name.

The Brazilian has scored six in seven in the Europa League and has three goals in three games in the FA Cup too, although that came in the form of a hat-trick against non-league Marine.

Nevertheless, Mabbutt believes he has the talent required to step in if either Kane or Son Heung-min pick up an injury before the end of the campaign.

Spurs do have the option to buy the 25-year-old for £41m at the end of the season and, while the Spurs legend stopped short of urging them to trigger that clause, he believes Vinicius can make a lasting impression.

Asked about the clause, Mabbutt said: “I’m sure there’s a lot of negotiations to be done if it was decided that he’s a player that we need.

“As I said, for players like him, it’s all about confidence. It’s difficult to gain confidence when you’re not actually playing, week in, week out. But having said that, the confidence that he’d have gained from the European games, and the games that he’s playing, will make sure that it shows what he can do. He knows full well that he’s there, in place.

“Unfortunately, he’s got Harry Kane and Son in front of him. And that’s not an easy task. No, but certainly, if any of those players got injured, then I’d have full confidence that Vinicius can come in and step in and step up to the mark.”

West Brom’s season could truly get kickstarted with a victory this weekend as they head to arch-rivals Wolves for the first Black Country derby in nine years.

The Baggies are yet to pick up three points since Sam Allardyce was appointed as Slaven Bilic’s successor a month ago, whilst overall it’s been just one win in 17 outings, and that was to the only side below them in the standings, Sheffield United.

Big Sam has it all to do if he’s to turn around their situation and avoid that first relegation on his CV, but a win over the Molineux-based outfit could spark a much-needed reaction.

Though, he’ll have to get his team selection spot on to even stand a chance.

Latest signing Robert Snodgrass is in line for his debut after swapping West Ham for the Hawthorns last week, though his lack of game time this term is worrying.

The 33-year-old veteran has played just four minutes in the top-flight, so maybe he’ll have to wait to start from the off. It’s no wonder David Moyes sanctioned his departure.

That said, Allardyce’s current options out wide are clearly not working as they aren’t scoring or creating many goals.

No winger has managed above an average rating of 6.49 per WhoScored, whilst Grady Diangana, Callum Robinson and Matty Phillips have only contributed towards 36% of their 11 goals scored in the league.

For comparison, the trio bagged 18 goals and 14 assists between them last term – 41% of their total, so clearly there has been some regression there.

As neither of those options are working, an instant berth for Snodgrass would be ideal but considering his lack of fitness, it’s time for Big Sam to turn to Kamil Grosicki.

After all, he’s an 80-time Polish international who has delivered five assists in 16 Premier League appearances, and was also one of the only players to come away with any plaudits in their FA Cup exit last weekend.

Only Matheus Pereira matched his SofaScore rating of 7.4, and in 120 minutes, he provided three key passes, but without a striker named, it was hard to convert those chances into goals.

Once dubbed “unplayable” by his former Hull teammate Jackson Irvine and a “massive threat” by Nigel Adkins, it would be a risk worth taking to unleash him on Wolves despite the £25k-per-week outcast only playing three times this campaign.

Snodgrass could well feature too, but Grosicki must be given a fair opportunity before he’s truly written off by Allardyce and let’s face it, he surely can’t do worse than Phillips, who has failed to contribute towards a goal or manage above a 6.55 rating in five straight starts.

It’s time to unshackle the 32-year-old on that right flank.

AND in other news, Albion can finally replace Nathan Ferguson with £65k-per-week “top player”…

Crystal Palace have confirmed Vicente Guaita has committed his future to the club with a new contract, which could spell bad news for Jack Butland, who has struggled for game time under Roy Hodgson this season.

What’s the word?

Several unconfirmed reports appeared to raise a few eyebrows after a return to Spain was rumoured to be on the cards with La Liga giants Real Sociedad apparently among the interested parties.

Though it may have been true at some point, the 33-year-old has signed a contract extension that shall keep him at Selhurst Park until 2023, with the option to extend his deal by a further year, and it seems as though that particular ship has finally sailed.

Butland was Hodgson’s fifth signing during the extended summer transfer window but it may be some time before he makes his Eagles debut in the Premier League following the club’s latest announcement.

Bad news for Butland?

It will not have gone unnoticed by some Palace fans that the former England international, who won the first four of his nine caps under Hodgson, has yet to feature in the top flight for the Eagles since he moved to Selhurst Park from Stoke City on a three-year deal last year.

Guaita, on the other hand, has made 80 appearances across all competitions for Hodgson’s side after arriving as a free agent from Getafe in 2018.

He has had his fair share of critics – we can count ourselves among that number – but there’s no denying the fact that he has almost single-handedly plucked Palace from the jaws of defeat on several occasions so far this season.

Considering Palace will also soon be able to call upon the services of the injured Wales international Wayne Hennessey, who has played in over a hundred games for the Eagles, you worry when Butland will next get the chance to prove himself in front of the Palace boss.

Palace have previously been credited with an interest in Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Seny Dieng, although Hodgson was quick to deny such rumours.

However, Butland has still found his chances hard to come by, with his sole appearance coming in the 1-0 defeat to Wolves in the FA Cup.

If he can’t establish himself in the first team, then it perhaps wouldn’t be a surprise to see the 27-year-old leave the club in the future.

AND in other news, Crystal Palace’s lack of options means they can’t afford to sell Arsenal target Patrick van Aanholt…

Crystal Palace had a remarkable stroke of luck under Roy Hodgson last season, losing seven of their last eight games in the Premier League but surviving relatively unscathed as they narrowly avoided a relegation battle at the bottom of the table.

After a solid start to the season, Palace’s recent run of good form was abruptly cut short by an embarrassing 7-0 defeat by Liverpool at Selhurst Park before the Christmas break.

This has somewhat put a dampener on proceedings but with the transfer window set to open in a couple of weeks, Palace chairman Steve Parish will be expected to splash the cash to ensure Roy Hodgson’s side avoid the drop.

The Eagles have been credited with an interest in various players, including Reading midfielder Michael Olise, but so far no moves have materialised as of yet, while a number of first-team regular starters like Patrick van Aanholt and Scott Dann have been linked with a move elsewhere.

It’s safe to say Palace need at least a couple more signings to ensure their survival, but will the board be prepared to spend big in order to meet their targets during a time of such economic turbulence?

While Eagles fans indulge in Christmas festivities, take a trip down memory lane and see how much you can remember about Crystal Palace’s top 10 most expensive signings of all time? We bet you can’t get 10/10 in this fiendishly difficult quiz…

If anything summed up Sunderland’s festive period, it would be their 0-0 draw with Northampton last Saturday.

The Mackems had four games postponed and clearly, a lack of match fitness had caught up with the players.

On the chalkboard

The positive for Lee Johnson was that he was able to welcome back a near fully fit squad following a bout of Covid that hit the playing staff.

In their final game of 2020, Grant Leadbitter was one of a few players that was actually available. Thus, he was someone who looked up to the pace of the game when they played the Cobblers.

It typified the club captain. Even in moments of sheer adversity and dejection, he turns up and delivers for his team.

Though, one has to wonder how long he can keep doing that. The midfielder is 34 and if Sunderland see their future above League One, they surely need to move on from him in the future.

A Mackems stalwart, it will be a sad day once he does depart but if they’re able to sign one of their January targets, they can rest a little easier.

Leadbitter’s successor

One player Sunderland have been linked with in the last week or so is Forest Green general Carl Winchester.

The midfielder, who earns £2.4k-per-week, has caught the eye immensely in League Two and as a result, it’s hardly a surprise to see him attracting suitors from a higher division.

The 27-year-old has been a pillar of solidity for the Gloucestershire outfit and if Sunderland seal a move, he could be exactly who they need to succeed Leadbitter in the middle of the park.

Like the experienced Black Cat, Winchester is a defensive midfielder and he’s held in incredibly high esteem.

Rovers boss Mark Cooper said in February 2020: “He’s a Championship player and if I was a Championship manager, he’d be one of the first players I would take.”

Cooper continued: “He’s a top, top player and should be playing at a much higher level. He’s at least a seven and a half out of ten each week and the dangerous thing for us, he’s started scoring goals and if he adds those goals to his game, he’s a complete midfield player.”

That’s incredibly exciting to hear for Sunderland supporters, but so are his stats. In 2020/21, Winchester is ahead of Leadbitter for tackles, shots and key passes per game.

A dynamic operator, he could add a greater deal of fluidity and athleticism to Lee Johnson’s side.

For a manager keen on adding further players who can stretch the play, this can only be a good thing. Kristjaan Speakman must conclude a deal.

AND in other news, Sunderland could find their new Bailey Wright in £750-p/w gem once dubbed “faultless”…

Liverpool have bounced back to their usual winning form after three victories in a row over Ajax, Sheffield United and Midtjylland respectively. Despite their current defensive crisis, Jurgen Klopp’s men are showing no signs of slowing down or regressing back to their 7-2 Aston Villa loss standard.

That being said, it will be a tough game at Anfield this evening as the Reds play host to West Ham. Thanks to big performances from the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio, the Irons are in good form themselves, and will be looking to take advantage of Liverpool’s centre-back issues.

Football FanCast has predicted how Klopp will choose to set up against the Hammers today, including four changes from their Champions League triumph…

With Fabinho the latest to fall to injury, young Rhys Williams will be given the ultimate task of stepping into his big boy boots. He will start alongside Joe Gomez in the heart of the defence as the Reds look to bank another three points in their reigning title season.

With the likes of Naby Keita and Thiago Alcantara still also sidelined, Klopp may play it safe and field both Jordan Henderson and James Milner in midfield. Despite the two being quite defensive players, Liverpool may need the extra cushion at the back so as not to put too much pressure on their weakened centre-back options.

Adding the £4.5million-valued veteran that is Milner will help keep things calm and composed, with both captain and vice captain working closely together in the engine room.

This decision will be made up for in attack, as Klopp unearths what could be a whole new era of Liverpool threat. It was Sheffield United who felt the wrath of this new plan as Mohamed Salah became the focal point of the front four, with Roberto Firmino just behind him.

Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota covered the wings, allowing Salah to pile the pressure on the goalkeeper whilst Firmino dropped deep, as he likes to do. The combination worked, seeing Jota and the Brazilian get themselves on the scoresheet. This could be a winning formula not just against West Ham, but moving forward in general.

Jota has proven that he is too good to be sitting on the bench, and this way all the forwards are happy.

In other news, Loaning out Divock Origi could come with huge consequences unless Liverpool recruit…

Ryan Kent helped Glasgow Rangers run riot over Aberdeen at Ibrox as Steven Gerrard’s side moved 11 points clear of the top.

What’s the word?

According to Football Insider, Rangers want to offer Kent a brand new deal before the winter transfer window opens to fend off any interest from elsewhere, as Leeds United reportedly remain interested in signing their long-term target.

The 24-year-old’s four-year deal with the Gers is running down, and it remains to be seen if they will be able to reach an agreement with his representatives, as he has recently switched agents.

With the Bears rebuffing a bid from Marcelo Bielsa’s side in the summer, Ross Wilson can end any transfer speculation once and for all by convincing Kent to sign a new contract.

Trump card

Rangers signed the left winger from Liverpool on a permanent basis for £7m in 2019 after he impressed the 54-time Scottish champions in a successful loan spell, having scored six goals in 43 appearances in all competitions during that time.

Since then, Kent has become Gerrard’s not-so-secret weapon as the Ibrox boss bids to stop Celtic from winning ten in a row.

The former England U20 international, who reportedly receives a weekly wage worth £18,000, has been in red-hot form in recent weeks, providing one goal and two assists in his past two games in the Premiership, via Transfermarkt.

Wilson would be wise to give Kent a new deal as not only is he a potent attacking threat, but he is really Gerrard’s only reliable option on the left wing, having started every single one of the fifteen fixtures in the top flight this term.

His former boss and current Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp praised the Rangers star as a “wonderful player” last summer, telling Liverpool TV: “Ryan had sensational moments in the Sevilla game – one-on-one situations are his big strength.

“He is a wonderful kid, a wonderful player.”

High praise indeed from a manager who is widely considered to be one of the very best in the game.

Keeping this calibre of player at Ibrox is exactly what Gerrard will need to take his team to the next level. Tying him down to a new deal would be an extremely smart bit of business. Get it done, Gers.

AND in other news, Zungu beware: Glasgow Rangers midfielder Scott Arfield sends Steven Gerrard timely reminder…

Both Liverpool and Manchester United have been linked to a loan move for Ousmane Dembele as the transfer window ticks down.

It appears as though the Reds have capped off their summer spending after welcoming Kostas Tsimikas, Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota over the threshold. However, there could be room for just one more deal – especially a short-term one.

Spanish outlet Sport (via The Mirror), claim the Reds had made contact over a season-long move for the Barcelona man. Manchester United are also in hot pursuit of his services though, also looking to strike a loan deal with the La Liga giants, according to the Manchester Evening News.

Liverpool could snub Man United for Dembele

Although the Merseysiders look unlikely to make any more additions to their squad, temporarily bringing in Dembele could be a smart move. Transfermarkt value the forward at £50.4million, so any option to buy could see Barca demand a fee in that region. With Liverpool already splashing £45million on their shock move for Jota, funds could now be low in the bank of the champions.

Similarly, if they are keen on bolstering their attack and bringing in Dembele, they may have to pay a large chunk towards his mammoth £209,000 weekly wage (via wageindicator.co.uk).

But both Jota and Thiago came as surprise packages which could indicate Fenway Sports Group do indeed have the cash to spare. If finances aren’t an issue, Dembele could favour a move to Anfield over Old Trafford.

Why would Ousmane Dembele sign for Liverpool?

Despite being primarily a winger, the France international can also be deployed further up the pitch as a right midfielder, or in the No.9 position. This would provide excellent cover for Liverpool’s current front three, who look exposed in terms of back-up.

Jota was a very smart signing from the Reds, but should more than one injury occur across the attacking trio, Liverpool need more than just one reliable option.

Xherdan Shaqiri missed a total of 11 matches through injury last season and Divock Origi managed just six goals in 42 appearances (via Transfermarkt).

Jurgen Klopp’s side also boast good chances of winning back-to-back titles, which Dembele would definitely love to be a part of. If Liverpool make an offer for his services, it will be hard for him to turn them down.

In others new, Neil Mellor discusses Rhian Brewster’s Liverpool future