All posts by n8rngtd.top

Unsurprisingly, many ‘Gers fans sounded absolutely ecstatic with his switch in the replies to Hagi’s post – they appear to believe that this could be a player to fire them to a first piece of major silverware since 2011.

There is a lot of expectation on the youngster’s shoulders. It is now up to him to prove that such belief in him is well-founded.

‘Gers fans, how happy are you that Hagi has signed permanently? Let us know what you think by commenting below!

Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness has written in The Sunday Times (via Football 365) that Wolverhampton Wanderers duo Ruben Neves and Raul Jimenez ‘would walk into anybody’s team’.

Speaking in his column about the Wolves team, the former Liverpool man also claimed that Neves and Jimenez are ‘too good to be sitting on the bench anywhere in the Premier League’, although he added that the one player at the club who intrigues him the most is Adama Traore.

Nevertheless, both Neves and Jimenez have shown their merits in this season so far. The Portugal midfielder averages 60.5 touches per top flight game, exemplifying his influence in getting on the ball, and he also wins 3.3 duels per match, showing the work that he does off the ball as well, according to Sofascore.

Meanwhile, Jimenez has been deadly in front of goal, scoring 13 times and making six assists, as per Sofascore. It is also worth mentioning that they have both featured in every league game so far, highlighting their importance to Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.

However, Souness’ claim is arguably a bit far-fetched. Take Jimenez, who is behind strikers like Jamie Vardy and Sergio Aguero in terms of goals scored this season, as well as Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Southampton’s Danny Ings, whose teams sit below Wolves in England’s highest division at the moment, as per the BBC.

Despite Neves’ work in the midfield, he has still only managed two goals and one assist in 29 Premier League appearances so far this campaign (via Sofascore). He may not walk into other sides with more productive midfielders in this sense.

However, Souness is right to laud them for what they have contributed to the Molineux outfit thus far.

Wolves fans, do you agree with Souness’ claims about Neves and Jimenez? Comment below with your thoughts!

As per TEAMtalk, Glasgow Rangers are interested in signing Charlton Athletic’s Lyle Taylor.

Taylor’s contract runs out at the end of this current campaign, which would leave the Montserrat international able to depart The Valley on a free transfer.

As such, the Gers are said to be eyeing a deal, but they will not be the only outfit with the 30-year-old on their radar. Burnley, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Stoke, Preston and Middlesbrough are all mentioned in the report as potential suitors.

Taylor has proven himself to be a quality marksman so far in his career, and particularly over the past few seasons. He has scored at least 10 league goals in each of the past five seasons, twice breaking the 20-goal barrier, and has managed 36 strikes in 67 matches for the Addicks.

In Scotland, too, he has proven himself in the past, scoring 41 goals in 78 matches combined during spells at Partick Thistle and Falkirk. As such, he is a proven entity up front, and on a free transfer, he would be an absolute bargain, despite his age.

The future of Alfredo Morelos remains uncertain amidst transfer interest, whilst Jermain Defoe, at the age of 37, cannot be relied upon to lead the line on his own. A new recruit would be welcome in that position, and Taylor is a far better bet than Florian Kamberi, who has also been linked with a permanent switch to Ibrox – he managed just one goal in nine matches during his loan spell there.

Let us know what you think below!

Leicester have been named amongst those interested in acquiring the services of Lyon striker Moussa Dembele this summer.

Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic connections continue to cast light on some tempting transfer targets ahead of next season. The French forward, who joined Lyon from the Scottish outfit in 2018, is reportedly on the manager’s radar. A price hasn’t been set, but Dembele’s current Transfermarkt value sits at £36million, which isn’t an unreasonable amount by any means.

According to France Football (via Sport Witness), Rodgers is keen on reuniting with his former player and using his clinical nature to bolster the Foxes’ attack. However, Dembele is aware of the interest and isn’t making Leicester a ‘priority decision’ despite enjoying his time under Rodgers at Celtic.

The 23-year-old hasn’t specified why he doesn’t see the Midlands outfit as an attractive move, but that could all change if they secure Champions League football next season.

As it stands, Leicester are third in the Premier League table after a fantastic run of form, pushing Manchester City to the wire for second place. With just four points between them and the holding champions, they could well finish in their highest position since their 2015/16 fairytale win.

Club icon Jamie Vardy is still a regular, but he isn’t getting any younger and Leicester must be equipped to fill his boots. The England international currently leads the entire Premier League with the most goals scored – his tally of 19 trumps the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mohamed Salah who have both also had prolific seasons.

Dembele’s stats are numbers to be marvelled at and could be the answer to replacing Vardy once his powers start to diminish. The Frenchman has a 2019/20 season total of 22 goals, just falling shy of last campaign’s tally of 23 (via Transfermarkt).

If Leicester secure Champions League football and continue to show grit in the Premier League, they could sway the striker into joining the King Power after all. And if there is a possibility to sign him up, Rodgers should do everything he can to make that happen.

Would you like to see the Foxes snap up Moussa Dembele, Leicester fans? Join the discussion in the comments below!

Coventry City duo Michael Rose and Fankaty Dabo are closing in on a return to full fitness as the newly promoted Championship club return to training.

After a superb 2019/2020 campaign which saw them gain promotion from League One to the Championship, the Sky Blues have returned to training as they look to prepare for a stint in England’s second flight.

Boss Mark Robins has been busy this summer in making two signings already, completing deals for Gustavo Hamer and Julien Dacosta.

Other arrivals are expected with former Aston Villa midfielder Callum O’Hare been linked with a move, having spoken to former teammate Jordan Shipley recently.

Returning to training ahead of the 2020/2021 season on Monday, Robins put his players through their paces at the Ryton-on-Dunsmore training ground.

Two players who did not attend the session, however, were Rose and Dabo, who continued to do recovery work the club’s gymnasium.

The full extent of the injuries suffered by both over the recent break are unknown, but it is understood both are closing in on a return to full fitness.

The Sky Blues have two weeks of training to prepare for their first pre-season friendly which comes against Scottish Premiership side Rangers at Ibrox on July 25.

Rose and Dabo are both key players for Coventry and they will be integral to the club’s Championship stint next term. Indeed, the former made 31 League One appearances last term whilst the latter was involved 32 times (Transfermarkt).

Having them back fit will be a huge boost for the Sky Blues as they embark on a season in the second tier.

How well do you think Coventry City will get on in the Championship? Let us know in the comments section below…

Tottenham defender Serge Aurier has agreed to move to AC Milan, according to reports.

Italian journalist Gianluca di Marzio has claimed, as cited by Football.London, that Aurier has told Milan that he wants to join the Serie A side this summer.

Both clubs now need to sort out a deal but personal terms are reportedly not a problem.

Recent reports revealed that Tottenham have held talks with Milan over a potential transfer for the 60-cap Ivory Coast international, who is valued at £14.4m by Transfermarkt.

The Rossoneri want to reach an agreement with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy as quickly as possible as they view Aurier as their top priority to fill the right-back position. However, Stefano Pioli’s side must sell either Davide Calabria or Andrea Conti to raise funds, while the Lilywhites need to find a suitable replacement for the Ivorian before they let him go in the summer.

The 27-year-old has often divided opinion in north London despite the fact that he has established himself as Jose Mourinho’s first choice at right-back.

His conduct was scrutinised by the club after a string of infractions circumventing the government’s lockdown guidelines, although he earned widespread praise for his performances in the Premier League following the tragic death of his brother last month.

Spurs will not stand in his way if he wants to leave, as he has shown no interest in signing a new deal. The Lilywhites couldn’t sell the Ivorian last year as a move failed to materialise, although they are more likely to listen to offers this summer.

While Aurier seems to have his heart set on a move to the San Siro, Levy wants to recover the majority of the £23m he paid Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 to sign the defender (Daily Mail).

The Lilywhites have lacked genuine quality at right-back for a while now and Mourinho needs time to find an upgrade, rather than splashing the cash on a quick fix.

It will be a tough task for the Portuguese to fill the position in such a short space of time and it may be best for everyone involved if Aurier stays for at least another year.

Tottenham fans, should Levy sell Aurier this summer or hold firm for another while? Let us know your views in the comments below!

Celtic are reportedly circling like vultures as Nick Hammond aims to raid Wigan Athletic this summer – one team’s loss is another team’s gain, right?

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Mail, the Scottish champions are one of several teams eyeing up a move for Latics winger Jamal Lowe this summer as the cash-strapped side face a battle to keep their best players post-administration.

Paul Cook’s men were slapped with a 12-point deduction and after Wednesday’s Championship conclusion, they have been relegated to League One. Another damaging blow to their chances.

Celtic face competition from both Millwall and Cardiff City, who could be playing Premier League football next season if things go their way in the playoffs.

Lowe price

The 26-year-old has been one of the shining lights for Wigan, providing six goals and five assists in 46 appearances – primarily from right-wing – via Transfermarkt.

With the League One newcomers struggling financially, it’s a perfect time to pounce as Celtic may be able to land Lowe on the cheap.

Noel Whelan told Football Insider earlier in the week that the winger would be available for a “bargain price” and also claimed that he’d be a great signing for the Hoops due to his “power, strength and pace”.

Whilst Lowe’s former chairman at Hampton and Richmond tipped him to go all the way to top back in 2016, lauding his “exceptional” season at the non-league outfit.

The move would certainly feel similar to that of Scott Sinclair back in 2016 as Celtic managed to clinch the Villa man for just £3m as they were relegated to the Championship.

Coincidentally, the veteran winger netted six times for Tim Sherwood’s side that campaign and is only two inches shorter than Lowe.

AND in other news, Celtic simply must avoid making a £5m mistake amid links to PL flop…

Now that they are back in the Premier League, Marcelo Bielsa will undoubtedly work even harder to make Leeds United even more competitive than ever before. Of course, despite already having quite a roster at his disposal, this means bringing in more reinforcements in the ongoing summer transfer window.

According to the latest reports from HLN, the Whites have been offered the services of Michy Batshuay by Chelsea. The out of favour striker still has a year left on his contract and is now valued at around €26m (£22.6m).

Now, it’s up to Bielsa to decide whether he’s ready to invest that much into a player who’s largely been unsuccessful at Stamford Bridge and is turning 27 soon. We know the Argentine coach prefers to work with young and hungry players and the Belgian has hardly warranted a hefty price tag with his performances anyway.

The other problem are his wages. Currently, Batshuayi is earning more than £100,000 a week too and matching that might prove quite difficult for the Whites, especially since they have already finalised a couple of deals this summer.

Of course, getting promoted from the Championship does come with a financial boost as well but Bielsa is mulling over whether Frank Lampard’s outcast is the right player to invest into right now.

The Blues, on the other hand, are getting quite desperate and want to offload the player as soon as possible.

Verdict

Batshuayi has had quite a rollercoaster of a career at Chelsea. Of course, the stint at Stamford Bridge itself was never really a success but he’s had his moments in various loan spells away from the English top-flight.

This does indicate there is quality in there somewhere but is he really what Leeds need to compete with the Premier League’s finest? This could be a deal to avoid for Bielsa.

Manchester United are in the market for a defender and this has seem them linked with AS Monaco’s Benoit Badiashile, but it seems like they might have to look elsewhere following the latest transfer update on the player.

According to Telefoot Chaine, via TEAMtalk, Monaco manager Niko Kovac does not want the transfer to happen as he wants the teenager as part of his plans at the Stade Louis II.

The Croatian said: “Our aim is to take him to the next level. If he plays a lot of matches with us in Ligue 1 he will improve. That is certain. We do not want to sell him, that is very clear, he will stay here this season. I think that this is the best solution for him. He has his club here, his family. He knows the environment.”

These comments sounds like the French side are adamant that they will keep the defender at the club beyond the current transfer window and it is understandable that they want to keep him.

He is a young prospect who is clearly highly rated by Monaco. The 19-year-old has already made 47 appearances in all competitions for the senior side, including two in the Champions League, per Transfermarkt. He has even managed to score twice and suuply one assist, and these performances have clearly not gone unnoticed as he has also featured for the French under-19 side no fewer than 15 times.

It was recently reported that United had a bid of around £20m rejected by the Ligue 1 side, so it shows that the Old Trafford hierarchy clearly believe he could add some quality to the Red Devils squad.

However, these latest comments from Kovac will probably mean that United will have to look elsewhere, which they already seem to be doing as they have also been linked with Dayot Upamecano, who has a wealth of Champions League and Bundesliga experience, so he could definitely be seen as a good alternative to Badiashile.

Man United fans, will you be disappointed to miss out on Badiashile? Comment below with your views!

Sunderland Echo writer Phil Smith has given his thoughts on Will Grigg’s absence from the 2-0 win over Oxford United, touching on whether or not his confidence will be affected.

After arriving on Wearside in January 2019, Grigg has not had the best of times with the Black Cats. With his £4m move from Wigan documented via Netflix series Sunderland Til I Die, the 29-year-old’s struggles have not seen an improvement, seeing him contribute with just three goals in all competitions in the 2019/20 campaign, and it remains to be seen what impact he will have this season.

Grigg played a large part in the opening day League One draw with Bristol Rovers but failed to find the back of the net and he was left as an unused sub against Oxford at the weekend.

Touching on the striker’s absence during his latest Q&A with Sunderland Echo, Smith gave his verdict on whether or not Grigg would have confidence issues moving forward. He said:
“The centre-forward position remains, I think, the biggest area of uncertainty as we move into the rest of the season.

“At the beginning of pre-season, it had seemed difficult to see a way back into the side, at least in terms of having a prominent, regular role, for Grigg.

“One of the most encouraging aspects of those games, then, was to see the striker looking sharp, pressing aggressively and seemingly enjoying the service from his team-mates.

“For him to end up on the bench within a game has definitely been a disappointment.

“Grigg didn’t have a particularly good game against Bristol Rovers last Saturday but you couldn’t say the service was excellent either.

“Parkinson is clearly very keen on getting Graham into the side and while he still isn’t match fit, he was an outlet on Saturday.

“From what we’ve heard from Parkinson so far, I expect to see Graham get more and more minutes.

“It is definitely a shame as far as Grigg has concerned.”
Sunderland face Peterborough this coming weekend in League One, with the Black Cats in fifth as they welcome Posh to the Stadium of Light.

Grigg faces a challenge to turn his form around at Sunderland this season and you have to wonder whether he can achieve that mission.

If Parkinson continues to overlook him in forthcoming games, it may be difficult to see how the Northern Ireland striker comes good at the Stadium of Light.

Do you think Grigg will struggle for game-time after his absence against Oxford? Let us know your views in the comments section below…