All posts by h716a5.icu

The 2018/19 season was not a great one for all of Chelsea’s youngsters.

While the likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Mason Mount really blossomed in the campaign that just went by, Ethan Ampadu really struggled.

After a very promising 2017/18 season under Antonio Conte, the 18-year-old just couldn’t break into Maurizio Sarri’s matchday squad, though injuries did play their part.

Ampadu is now being linked with a loan move to Aston Villa but Frank Lampard, who is expected to be the next Chelsea boss, really should consider keeping him at Stamford Bridge.

If he is planning to use a 4-3-3 formation next season with N’Golo Kante at the base which is what some supporters are expecting, with no transfer window to turn to, Ampadu is the only other real destructive option the Englishman will have.

The Wales international, who has a real aggressiveness about him (as displayed by some of his robust challenges during Wales’ international clashes) and is a really strong tackler (averaging 1.7 challenges and 2.7 interceptions while on international duty, per WhoScored), looks as if he could be moulded into a very good defensive midfielder with the right coaching, though he looks equally adept in central defence.

Lampard, of course, could also turn towards someone such as Tiemoue Bakayoko following his loan spell with AC Milan, with the Frenchman being one of the more defensive-minded midfielders Chelsea have on their books.

But considering how torrid his time in England has been so far, it would not be surprising if Lampard went down the Ampadu route.

A coach who also sends his team out to dominate possession like Sarri, do not be surprised if Lampard keeps Jorginho in the holding midfield position. But if not and he does want more of a ball-winner there, then Ampadu could really give him something to think about.

Chelsea fans, would you like to see Ampadu in the squad next season or is a loan move to Aston Villa in his best interest? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!

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Liverpool may be in a position to sign big names after last season’s Champions League glory, but today’s Reds transfer roundup concentrates on up-and-coming youngsters rather than bona fide stars. We bring updates in regards to the pursuit of two teenagers, as well as the potential exit of a 21-year-old.

Bradley set to sign

According to the Mirror, Dungannon United Youth Team player Conor Bradley is set to sign for Liverpool. The 15-year-old Northern Irishman will reportedly complete his move to Anfield on July 9th, when he turns 16. He will sign a two-year scholarship with the club and is a boyhood Reds fan.

Van den Berg expected to make Anfield switch

Liverpool have swooped in late on to sign PEC Zwolle’s Sepp van den Berg according to De Stentor. The 17-year-old centre-back had been in contact with PSV, but now Merseyside is his expected destination, and he should cost somewhere between €1.5m (£1.3m) and €2m (£1.8m).

George allowed to leave

21-year-old goalkeeper Shamal George will be allowed to leave Anfield to join Swindon Town according to the Daily Mail. Liverpool would like to include a sell-on fee in any deal for the player, who has been with the club for the last 10 years.

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According to French media outlet La Voix Du Nord, Southampton are interested in signing Lille midfielder Thiago Mendes this summer, but Saints fans on Twitter are refusing to believe the link for more than one reason.

La Voix Du Nord report that the south coast outfit and Lyon are both chasing the Brazilian, who is rated at €25m (£22.4m) by the team that finished second in Ligue 1 last season.

The report says that Southampton are ready to move quickly for the 27-year-old as they look to move into the top half of the Premier League table next term, following two consecutive relegation battles in the English top flight.

Watch Southampton Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Two issues have been spotted by Saints supporters on Twitter though, with the first stemming from the interview manager Ralph Hasenhuttl conducted with SportBild earlier this month where he said he didn’t want to sign any new players over the age of 24.

One fan labelled the 5 ft 9 star as “too old” while another also raised their doubts by saying “he’s already 27”.

Southampton’s new man Moussa Djenepo divides opinion amongst fans in the video below…

In addition, if he did cost £22.4m he would become the south coast outfit’s club-record signing, which is something else that makes the story doubtful for some – one labelled the fee as “too much money”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to BBC Radio Leeds journalist Adam Pope, there could be something behind the rumours saying that Rangers want Kemar Roofe.

The reported fee for this move is £5m.

This news didn’t go down well with the fanbase who were unhappy with their top scorer being linked with a move away, but Marcelo Bielsa’s comments towards the end of last season may show why the club shouldn’t be too worried about losing him.

What’s the story then?

After Leeds’ dip at the back end of last term, Bielsa stated that none of his players will be able to replicate their performances from last season, and he could have been alluding to his star striker.

“Remember what I say now because you’ll be able to verify it. You won’t find a single player in our team who would be able to reproduce the same level of performance in another season because we’ve been very demanding with them,” Bielsa said.

“They’ve given everything and they have figures I’m checking all the time which show what I’m saying is true. The players won’t be able to reproduce the levels they have shown in another season.”

Unable to replicate

Roofe may have netted 15 goals last season, but you’ve only got to look at his record before Bielsa’s arrival to see that he may not be able to keep that level of performance up.

Before the Argentine took charge at Elland Road the striker had netted just 14 goals in 88 games for the Whites, and if he does indeed slip back to that level then Leeds may find it hard to get £5m for him.

The 26-year-old was great last season and if he can keep up that form then the Whites will undoubtedly miss him, but after Bielsa’s comments, a look into his stats suggests that he may not be able to replicate the types of performances he showed in 2018/19.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

David Gold and David Sullivan simply have to avoid the pull of signing Mario Balotelli this summer.

The Daily Telegraph reports that the former Manchester City and Liverpool striker has been offered to the club after his contract at Marseille expired.

Now, one feels that this might be a classic piece of Hammers transfer activity.

Balotelli is a recognisable name; he has played for major European clubs; he has Premier League experience; he would sell shirts.

And yet, quite frankly, he’s nothing short of a bad influence.

He has been through a laundry list of genuinely astonishing behaviour, from setting his own bathroom on fire with fireworks to allegedly paying a restaurant owner to drive a moped into the sea.

West Ham are desperate to sign a striker, of course they are. They have lost Marko Arnautovic to Shanghai SIPG and have allowed both Lucas Perez and Andy Carroll to leave the club. Javier Hernandez and Jordan Hugill are the sole striking survivors.

There is, of course, a case to be made for this deal but you won’t find it here.

Balotelli has had his chance in the Premier League and it was categorised by peaks – the majority of his time at City – and troughs – his four-goal spell at Liverpool.

Watch West Ham United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

And Arnautovic’s departure should teach both Gold and Sullivan a lesson.

The Austria international was an equally controversial figure and twice asked to leave, doing so firstly in January.

Bringing in another firebrand, another figure who cannot be trusted to keep his name out of the headlines from one day to the next makes precious little sense.

The answer has to be a rather firm no to the representatives who have reached out to the Hammers; Balotelli cannot be allowed to bring his brand of controversy to east London.

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Lots of Everton fans have taken to Twitter to react after Football Insider and The Liverpool Echo reported that the club are close to selling left-back Antonee Robinson to Wigan.

The USA international spent the 2018/19 campaign on loan with the Latics, where he made 26 starts for them in the Championship.

Check out some amazing tekkers in the video below…

The 21-year-old clearly impressed those at the DW Stadium, as they are reportedly close to sealing a £2m permanent move for the 6ft defender.

Robinson got one assist last term, and some fans below seem to think that the decision to let him leave is a poor one – it looks as if a few supporters are hoping a buy-back clause is agreed, as they still expect the youngster to come good.

Another fan thinks that the American is good enough to be Lucas Digne’s backup when Leighton Baines leaves, so they are not all in agreement about Robinson’s departure. Others, however, feel the move is largely inevitable due to Robinson being so low down the pecking order currently.

Let’s take a look at what the Everton fans on Twitter have been saying…

What does a Premier League club do to top the stellar campaign of the previous season? This must be the question troubling Javi Gracia’s Watford side. After an impressive 2018/19 campaign, everyone expects even more from the Hornets, and they have to rise to the occasion.

The team enjoyed a spectacular season registering their best-ever finish in the Premier League. Their 11th position was three places better off than last time around.

More impressively, the Hornets went all the way to Wembley, finishing as runners up in only their second FA Cup final in history. It was a campaign that saw strong teams shunted aside.

From Woking, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers to Crystal Palace, they all had to give way. Then there was the incredible semi-finals comeback of all time against Wolves.

Gerard Deulofeu’s first goal against Wolves in the semi-final at Wembley also got most BBC votes for the best FA goal.

For a team promoted in 2015, this was an impressive feat despite the heavy defeat they suffered in the hands of Manchester City.  The Hornets also ended the season with 50 points. This is their best tally in the Premier League era and nine points more than the previous season.

With so much success from the last season, it is no wonder fans are flocking the best blog for Watford F.C recent news. From speculation of players leaving and new arrivals, pre-season tour, the Hornets’ league fixtures to the last minute transfer deals, there’s a lot of hype around the club.

So what’s happening with the Hornets?

As the new season nears, there’s some excitement building up around the team. Take a look:

Win over Bayern Leverkusen

When Javi Gracia recently took the team for an overseas training camp, he might not have expected a winning boost. However, it came in the way of a win over a German club playing in Europe.

Bayern Leverkusen looked in control, but the Hornets surprised everyone by coming back into the game and won.

It was a morale booster, and the Spanish coach pointed out that the team was moving in the right directions. Fans couldn’t agree more.

Talks Continue for Sarr’s Arrival

Watford F.C. affirmed it was still in talks with Rennes to sign Ismailla Sarr. There’s however intense competition from Newcastle, but this is nothing to worry The Hornets. The ground has shifted, and the Magpies and Hornets can compete on level ground for the 21-year-old winger.

Any deal for Sarr would break Watford’s record transfer fee of £18m. The player will add quality to a team angling for bigger things.

Captain Troy Deeney is Back Stronger

After being struck down by a virus during the teams Austria’s tour, Troy Deeney has come back stronger, which is good news for the team.

The captain got 45 minutes against Bayern Leverkusen and fought valiantly against defenders Sven Bender and Aleks and Dragović.

The battle for Allan Saint-Maximin

The Hornets expressed their interest in Nice’s 22-year-old winger Allan Saint-Maximin. The impressive winger had also attracted interest from Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, and Everton. He played 34 times for Nice, scoring six goals and contributed three assists.

The highly-rated winger has opted to leave Nice after a frosty relationship with Patrick Vieira. However, there’s no final deal yet with Watford and Newcastle have also closed in on the winger.

Three weeks to the start of the new season, The Hornets’ fans continue hoping the club will spring the winger and boost its midfield. However, with continuing interest in Sarr, Gracia might no longer fight for Saint-Maximin.

The Big Dodi Lukebakio Question

Dodi Lukebakio, the Watford attacker on loan last season, was a revelation at Fortuna Düsseldorf. While Javi Gracia has not commented on the situation, clubs in Germany and France have started showing interest.

Lille and Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin have expressed interest in the 21-year-old attacker. The attacker had 14 goals and provided five assists in all competitions last season.

The Hornets could surely do with his services, but fans have to wait and see what Coach Gracia has in mind.

The new season is almost here, and for the Hornets, things can only get better. With one of the most resilient coaches, a focused team and probable addition of new talent, there’s only one way for the club – up.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to The Chronicle, Newcastle have put a move for Hull City forward Jarrod Bowen on ice after dismissing a £20m move for the attacker.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Magpies are reportedly interested in the 22-year-old forward, but are believed to have parked talks for now.

Bowen scored an impressive 22 goals and recorded four assists in 46 Championship appearances for the Tigers last term, helping them achieve survival whilst also attracting interest from Tottenham as a result.

Steve Bruce is set to be confirmed as the new Newcastle manager as as you’ll see from the video below, Mike Ashley is the only one happy about it…

Newcastle have already smashed their club-record transfer fee this summer by parting with £40m to bring Hoffenheim striker Joelinton to St James’ Park, and their business doesn’t look over yet.

The Magpies have also been linked with a move for Allan Saint-Maximin, but are again being influenced by a £20m price tag that Nice have slapped on the winger – Newcastle are yet to meet the Ligue 1 side’s asking price.

Bowen should be prioritised over Saint-Maximin 

Both players look set to cost the same price this summer, but there should be no case for Newcastle choosing Saint-Maximin over Bowen.

The Nice forward is the same age as Bowen, but only managed to net six goals in France’s top-flight last term whereas the Hull man enjoyed a far more prolific season with 16 more strikes to his name.

Of course, it’s important to acknowledge that Saint Maximin was playing in France’s elite tier while Bowen was in England’s second tier, but Florian Thauvin’s time on Tyneside proves that decent form in Ligue 1 is not necessarily an accurate indicator of Premier League suitability.

Furthermore, Bowen is English. We’re all aware of the premium that comes with signing young English players, seen in this summer’s window by the Magpies’ £50m valuation of Sean Longstaff, Leicester’s £90m valuation of Harry Maguire, and Crystal Palace’s ability to get £50m for Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

If Steve Bruce signs Bowen and is able to make him emulate the form he showcased in the Championship last season, the former Hereford man would surely see his value rise at an exponential rate.

It is an investment worth making over Saint-Maximin, the less prolific of the pair of Newcastle targets in front of goal last season.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

As reported by The Express, Fulham boss Scott Parker has had his say on Harvey Elliott’s move to Liverpool.

The former England international took over the reins at Craven Cottage after Claudio Ranieri was sacked, and tried his best to keep the Cottagers’ brightest young talent at the club.

However, the 16-year-old prospect rejected a scholarship deal with Fulham and instead signed for Liverpool, amid interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.

What did Parker say?

The 38-year-old former West Ham midfielder said: “I was gutted and disappointed he chose to leave.

“I had a long chat with Harvey and explained to him the opportunity I felt we could give him this season. I felt he would be pivotal to what we are doing and part of the squad.

“At Liverpool he is going to get less opportunities than he would have here.”

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He’s right, but what about Jurgen Klopp’s influence?

Admittedly, Elliott will naturally get fewer chances at Anfield for the European champions as opposed to the opportunities he would’ve got at Championship side Fulham – that much is just stating the obvious.

However, Parker shouldn’t be so quick to discount Jurgen Klopp’s ability to work with young players and give them the chance to prove themselves.

The German has already placed his trust in 19-year-old Rhian Brewster for the upcoming season, and also thrust Trent Alexander-Arnold into the spotlight at just 18 years of age for his first Premier League start which came at Old Trafford – if you’re good enough, you’re good enough for Klopp.

Klopp also helped develop Mario Gotze when the German midfielder was blossoming at Dortmund – it can’t be argued that the Liverpool boss isn’t good at developing youngsters.

Intriguingly, the 5 foot 7 Elliott has also been held behind with the first-team squad in Evian as they knuckle down in their preparations for the Community Shield, whilst other youngsters such as Sepp van den Berg, Ki-Jana Hoever and Bobby Duncan have returned home.

Parker is right in a way, but that isn’t to say that Elliott isn’t in good hands under Klopp.

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Unai Emery’s Arsenal made a good start to the season on Sunday against Newcastle as they edged past the Toon 1-0. However, they lacked a certain amount of creativity from a middle pairing made up of Granit Xhaka and Matteo Guendouzi. A solution can soon be provided, though, with the introduction of one of the Gunners’ new signings.

On the chalkboard

The Emirates outfit did pick up the three points, but their performance was not exactly convincing from an attacking point of view. They had just two shots on target throughout the match, and actually had one less shot at goal than their opponents.

Xhaka and Guendouzi did not have poor games, but neither are known for their intricate creativity. The latter is a defensive midfielder and rarely records goals or assists, and it is not much different with Xhaka. With those two in the middle, the Gunners lack a player who can provide a bit of spark from a deep-lying position.

Ceballos is the answer

Step forward Dani Ceballos. The 23-year-old joined on loan from Real Madrid this summer, and is a natural midfielder. He was not a regular starter for the 13-time Champions League/European Cup winners last season, so it is best to look at how he performed at the the U21 European Championships which took place in June.

The former Real Betis man had a fantastic tournament, and was one of the best players in the competition as Spain lifted the title. And creatively, he had a huge influence on his team.

He recorded an pass success rate of 90.1%, as well as an average of 2.8 key passes per game and along with two goals he also provided two assists. In comparison, Xhaka and Guendouzi had 1.9 key passes per game between them during the last Premier League campaign, as well as two assists combined. It was a similar story with their pass success rate – they averaged 86.5%.

Whilst Ceballos’ stats are over a shorter period of time and in a tournament of lesser overall quality, he has shown that he can be the creative heartbeat of a side. Arsenal will be a much more dangerous proposition with the Spain international in their starting line-up this weekend against Burnley.

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