All posts by z3u9t.icu

The Ange Postecoglou revolution is currently in full swing at Tottenham Hotspur, with the newly-appointed boss having already wrapped up deals for both Guglielmo Vicario and James Maddison, while an agreement has also been reached for the signing of Israeli international, Manor Solomon.

The latter man is set to join on a free transfer from Ukranian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk having spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan at Fulham, scoring four goals from just four Premier League starts during his time at Craven Cottage.

According to recent reports, the 23-year-old could well be joined in north London by one of his ex-Cottagers' teammates, with The Sun (1/7; page 67) having suggested that the Lilywhites are in the running for the signing of Joao Palhinha, alongside rivals West Ham United.

The Portugal international only linked up with compatriot Marco Silva on a £17m deal last summer, although a promising debut campaign in English football has led to claims that he could now command close to £90m this summer.

As far as Spurs are concerned, the hope will be that a deal could be struck for around £50m – a fee that has been suggested by Football Insider – with the potential for the 27-year-old to provide Postecoglou with a stellar upgrade on academy graduate, Oliver Skipp.

Who could Palhinha replace at Tottenham?

It looks as if the ex-Celtic boss is keen to oversee a major midfield re-shuffle, with recent reports claiming that Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg could be on his way, while talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook has also suggested that the aforementioned Skipp "will be allowed to leave", if a suitable bid arrives.

While the latter man has shown signs of promise – having reportedly been earmarked for a role in the club's leadership group at the age of just 22 – he did endure a difficult campaign last time out, with pundit Perry Groves suggesting that both he and Hojbjerg "don't do anything" in the centre of the park.

As such, acquiring a player who was arguably "one of the signings of the season" in 22/23 – as per Sky Sports journalist Jamie Weir – in the form of Palhinha could allow Postecoglou to send Skipp on his way ahead of the start of next term.

The differing quality between the two holding midfielders is showcased by the fact that the Fulham titan finished first in the division for tackles made (147) and unsurprisingly ranks in the top 1% for that same metric among his European peers, outlining just how brutally effective he is as a dominant screen in front of the back four.

Skipp, by contrast, ranked joint 144th in the top-flight after making just 34 tackles last term, with the former Norwich City loanee thus ranking in just the top 40% in that regard as a marker of his ball-winning woes.

Also described as being as "strong as an ox" by Weir, Palhinha also offers a commanding presence due to his impressive 6 foot 3 frame, with the Lisbon native also ranking in the top 8% for aerial duels won, while the current Tottenham man in just the bottom 48% in that regard.

With the experienced ace also providing the benefit of his superior threat in attack – having scored three league goals last season in contrast to Skipp's solitary strike – it is evidently clear why Postecoglou could be considering slotting Palhinha into the base of his midfield.

If the north Londoners are to pull off that high profile swoop, then young Skipp may well be forced to pack his bags in search of pastures new…

West Ham must begin preparing for the unwanted reality of the post-Declan Rice era, with the club captain seemingly set for a move away.

Interestingly a move for the Englishman to Old Trafford may spark a domino effect that could see Scott McTominay go in the opposite direction.

What’s the latest on Scott McTominay to West Ham?

According to the Telegraph (via talkSPORT), Manchester United would be willing to offer the Scotsman or Harry Maguire in a part-exchange deal for Rice.

The report details that the 26-year-old is “firmly on the radar” and he will be allowed to leave the Red Devils this summer.

In a piece by the Sun, United are set to demand around £50m for the midfielder so even if Rice isn’t included in the deal he will still cost a sizeable amount.

Would Scott McTominay be a smart signing for West Ham?

The 39-cap international has made 209 appearances since making his first-team debut in 2017.

However, despite being a regular under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjær, the £60k-per-week man has endured a difficult season under Erik ten Hag and has been displaced by the imperious Casemiro.

Across the term, the pivot has only managed to make 16 starts in all competitions, and in the Premier League, he has been used as a substitute more times (14) than he has begun games (10).

His uncertain future was condemned by a dismal performance on the opening day of the domestic season last term against Brighton is what prompted the United hierarchy to launch a last-ditch attempt to prise Casemiro away from Real Madrid.

As a result of this game he was branded as “not good enough” and having a lack of “decision making and football intelligence” by Roy Keane.

It is unclear if McTominay possesses the necessary attributes to fill Rice’s humongous avoid as the former Chelsea academy graduate outperforms his positional peer in a number of metrics, including progressive passes per 90 (6.60 vs 2.77), progressive carries per 90 (2.42 vs 1.46), interceptions (1.73 vs 0.97) and pass completion (86.5% vs 81.8).

The manner in which Rice demands the ball off his defenders and executes a forward-thinking pass, as well as having exceptional ball recovery skills.

Described as "liability" by United reporter Rob Blanchette, McTominay has failed to convince anyone of a United persuasion of his pedigree or quality.

Asking for £50m is extremely ambitious, but if the Red Devils receive any offers in this region then it should immediately be accepted.

Meanwhile, West Ham must look for other, more reliable midfield alternatives. Indeed, swapping their talisman for such an average asset would undoubtedly be seen as a disaster.

Glasgow Rangers could have found their own version of a top-flight star as Michael Beale's interest in Cyriel Dessers has become well-known in recent weeks…

What's the latest Rangers transfer news?

With the Teddy Bears' arch-rivals retaining the Scottish Premiership last season, the Glasgow giants have got their work cut out for them if they're to overthrow the Hoops, so expect a busy summer from Beale's side.

Already, the club has been linked to numerous names as they look to strengthen the squad.

The likes of Lyndon Dykes and Charlie Cresswell are just a couple of the many names that have been linked with Rangers so far this summer.

One other name that the club are reportedly interested in is the Cremonese frontman, whose underlying stats and style of play are very similar to the Premier League star Callum Wilson.

Adding a goalscorer to the side is vital for Rangers, but adding one who so closely resembles a star like the Newcastle United and England man could be pivotal in the club regaining their status as Scottish champions.

How does Cyriel Dessers compare to Callum Wilson?

According to Opta Analyst, the underlying numbers between the duo are very similar. In fact, the player comparison tool gave them a 65.6% similarity score.

The duo take a similar number of shots per game, with Dessers – who is reportedly valued at just £7m – averaging 1.9 shots a game, while Wilson averaged 2.4 and the majority of both forwards' efforts came within the penalty area.

In fact, both men spent plenty of time inside the opposition area, with the Cremona forward among the top 95% of strikers in the top five European leagues for touches inside the penalty box, while Wilson was among the top 89%.

Another similarity the pair share is their aerial ability, with the "phenomenal" and "incredible" Dessers – as once hailed by ESPN correspondent Cecilia Lagos – in the 38th percentile of forwards in Europe's top five leagues in terms of aerial battles won, while Wilson put up similar numbers, with the Newcastle striker in the 40th percentile.

Comparatively, the strikers very rarely showcase a level of ball-carrying ability either, with the Serie A man's average of 0.5 successful dribbles a game almost identical to Wilson's 0.4 successful dribbles a game.

While the Newcastle man enjoyed a much more prolific season last campaign, the attributes and the tools are all there for the ten-goal machine to replicate his success if he were to make a move to Rangers, providing the club with a strong, goalscoring poacher that may help swing the balance of power in Scotland as they chase Celtic again next season.

Leeds United have a tough task on their hands to gain an instant return to the Premier League, but with the right guidance, it could be one made relatively straightforward.

For two years now, the Whites have seemingly lost their identity, with Marcelo Bielsa's stubborn tactics leaving the hierarchy unsure as to how they move on from such a legendary figure in their recent history. They had quite clearly gone 'all-in' on the 67-year-old, which made his dismissal even more heart-wrenching.

Jesse Marsch followed, and it was his tenure that arguably doomed the West Yorkshire outfit to their relegation, which neither Javi Gracia nor Sam Allardyce could halt.

Appointing the right boss this summer is integral in ensuring their Championship stay is a short one, and doing it soon could be key to convincing their key assets to remain at Elland Road.

If fans are not too desperate to see Brenden Aaronson stick around, should his potential is unleashed, he could have a huge hand in returning them back to the top flight.

Of the various managers touted for their dugout vacancy, the United States international would surely prefer Daniel Farke to get the job given their philosophical alignment with regard to how football should be played.

Will Brenden Aaronson stay at Leeds United?

The 22-year-old was brought up on the heavy-metal football associated with the Red Bull system, having been brought over by Marsch to spearhead his midfield.

However, with just one goal and three assists in the league last term, this has been a wholly failed experiment.

Should the 49ers seek to appoint the former Norwich City man, perhaps he would have a few tricks up his sleeve to unearth the potential of this high-octane maestro, who had notched 16 goal contributions across all competitions in his final year in Austria.

Whilst he is sure to implement a high-pressing system, Farke could also accommodate the youngster by harking back to his work with Emiliano Buendia, given how he transformed this diminutive Argentinian dynamo into one of the Championship's top performers – now a solid Premier League asset.

During his second promotion with the Canaries, the success of the 46-year-old boss was buoyed by the emergence of the current Aston Villa man, who shone from his right flank.

In scoring 15 times and assisting a further 17 in the league, he was the deserving recipient of the Championship's Player of the Year award, despite standing at just 5 foot 8.

Given Aaronson has been called a "lightweight" by pundit Jon Newsome when talking to BBC Radio Leeds, he too could be toughened up by this new regime, perhaps by being allowed to star from the left flank and drift onto his right foot as a mirror image of the 26-year-old.

After all, he does boast that same silkiness and tenacity that Buendia enjoyed, with Marsch even telling MLSsoccer.com's ExtraTime podcast: "He gets better every day. He's like a weed. You almost see him grow before your eyes. It's really amazing. He's a special young man.

“It's so much just about his ability to make final plays and slow himself down a little bit in the last third. He has more quality than people think. He's a good finisher, he's really clever with how to put passes together in tight spaces."

All these attributes have helped Farke's former prodigy grow into an instrumental figure in Unai Emery's Midlands revolution, and the hope around Elland Road will be that he can repeat this feat with their £45k-per-week flop.

Bayern Munich have hijacked Manchester United’s move for Napoli defender Kim min-jae, according to reports.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news involving Kim?

The Red Devils appear to be in the market for a new centre-back this summer and have made Kim their top target in defence.

The South Korea international has a release clause in his contract that can be activated next month, with previous reports claiming that United have agreed to pay the €60m clause and have also agreed on personal terms with the player. However, there seems to have been a twist in the transfer race, in what will come as a blow to Erik ten Hag and co.

Football Insider shared a story in the last 48 hours, claiming that the Red Devils are now worried they could lose out to Bayern in the race for Kim’s services.

The report adds that United made enquiries over a transfer but ‘Bayern have now hijacked the deal and are now moving to seal a quick agreement with Kim’.

Who else have Man United been linked with?

United appear to be on the search for a new centre-back as the futures of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof appear to be up in the air. It was claimed earlier in the year that Ten Hag was willing to part ways with the pair this summer, which could leave United with just Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez as the only senior centre-back options.

Should Kim opt for a move to Germany over England, United would need to look elsewhere, and one player who has recently been linked with a move is Leeds United’s Robin Koch.

Loose talks have already taken place over a move for the German defender, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg, so he could emerge as a real option if United can’t land Kim.

Even if they do somehow secure Kim’s services, another defender could be of use if Maguire and Lindelof departs, but with a new midfielder and striker also wanted at Old Trafford, it could be a busy few months, especially with the ongoing takeover saga still yet to be resolved.

Celtic are in the market for a new head coach as they prepare for the 2023/24 campaign after they were rocked by the loss of Ange Postecoglou this week.

The Hoops enjoyed a terrific weekend as they beat Inverness at Hampden in the Scottish FA Cup final to secure the domestic treble, after winning the double with the Australian boss last term, and it only took a few days for that joy to turn to disappointment.

Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur came calling and Postecoglou was officially confirmed as their new manager on Tuesday, as they finally landed their replacement for Italian boss Antonio Conte.

Majority shareholder Dermot Desmond and chairman Peter Lawwell, along with the rest of the board, must now appoint his successor. 90min recently reported that Brendan Rodgers, Jesse Marsch, Matthias Jaissle, and David Moyes are possible candidates.

Who is Matthias Jaissle?

Desmond could find the dream Postecoglou replacement by appointing 35-year-old RB Salzburg boss Matthias Jaissle, who has been in charge of the Austrian giants for the past two seasons.

The now-former Hoops boss is a proven winner who has been able to manage successful teams throughout his career. He has a points-per-game average of 1.92 and has won 177 of his 306 domestic league matches, while losing just 73 in his time in Australia, Japan, and Scotland.

This allowed him to be a huge success at Parkhead as the 57-year-old won 2.64 points per game across 66 regular season Scottish Premiership outings, which led to two titles for the club.

In comparison, Jaissle, whose coaching was once hailed as "top quality" by journalist Josh Bunting, has only been in senior management for three years, after spending two seasons at U18 level, but has averaged 2.47 points won per game across 103 matches in his career so far.

The young tactician has only lost three of his 63 Austrian Bundesliga fixtures with Salzburg and has won the title in both of his seasons in charge, to go along with one Austrian Cup.

These statistics show that the German, who typically deploys a 4-3-1-2 formation, knows how to instil a winning mentality and is capable of leading teams to back-to-back titles, much in the same way that Postecoglou did with Celtic before his move to Spurs this week.

Therefore, Jaissle could be the dream replacement for the Australian; he is a young, up-and-coming coach who has already shown promise as a manager who turns his teams into winning machines, something the Hoops should be looking for to continue their dominance of Scottish football.

Whilst the German boss is a young head who has not proven himself in a major European league, or in Scotland, his work at Salzburg suggests that he has the qualities required to be an excellent appointment for Celtic.

Manchester United are believed to be eyeing a move for Bayern Munich defender, Benjamin Pavard, according to the latest reports.

What's the latest on Pavard to Man United?

As per transfer insider, Graeme Bailey, the Red Devils are said to be one of the clubs who are showing an interest in the World Cup-winning ace, with the 27-year-old seemingly intent on a change of scenery with just 12 months left to run on his existing deal in Bavaria.

Writing on Twitter, the respected source stated: "Benjamin Pavard informs Bayern Munich of desire to leave. Man Utd among interested clubs keen on the French star, as @90min_Football revealed back in April. "

In his attached piece for 90min, Bailey – alongside colleague Scott Saunders – revealed that the Old Trafford outfit are said to have already held talks with the player's agent regarding a summer switch, with Erik ten Hag's side said to be seeking cover at both right-back and centre-back.

Who could Pavard replace at Man United?

The signing of the France international – who has been valued at around €20m (£17m) – could seemingly allow United to kill two birds with one stone, due to the 48-cap ace's ability to feature both at full-back and in the centre of defence.

With the Red Devils having only recently tied down Diogo Dalot to a new long-term deal – and with Aaron Wan-Bissaka also reportedly set to stay at the club this summer – it would appear that Pavard would be more needed to provide cover and competition at centre-back, however, particularly with club captain Harry Maguire believed to be on his way out.

Therefore, the former Stuttgart man could prove something of an upgrade on Victor Lindelof in that role, despite the Swede having impressed of late after starting the last nine Premier League games of the season in the absence of Lisandro Martinez.

Not only would Pavard's versatility potentially make him a better option for Ten Hag, but the £84k-per-week machine also appears to offer greater quality in an attacking sense having chipped in with eight goal contributions in all competitions this season, with Lindelof failing to register a single goal or assist.

The Bayern ace also appears to be more adept at playing out from the back as he ranks in the top 1% among his European peers for progressive passes and the top 9% for progressive carries, while the current United man ranks in just the top 41% and the bottom 48% for those same two metrics, respectively.

Perhaps more importantly, however, is Pavard's superior defensive quality as he ended the recent Bundesliga season with a strong average of 2.3 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game from his 30 outings, with Lindelof averaging just 1.1 for both tackles and interceptions per game from his 20 Premier League appearances.

That would suggest that the signing of the perhaps "underrated" Frenchman – as described by manager, Thomas Tuchel – could provide Ten Hag with a centre-back upgrade for next season.

Lionel Messi has called teammate Neymar a "beautiful person" in his goodbye message after the Argentine played his last game for Paris Saint-Germain.

What did Messi say to Neymar?

Having already sealed the Ligue 1 title, the 35-year-old took the pitch for the final time as a PSG player on the weekend – in a 3-2 loss at home to Clermont Foot.

His now former side confirmed the news on their official Twitter page, writing: "Paris Saint-Germain would like to warmly thank the seven-time Ballon d'Or, winner of a Trophée des Champions and two French championship titles wearing the Red & Blue colours."

Oddly enough, despite being universally loved for all his footballing achievements, the PSG fans actually booed Messi at his final game – apparently still unhappy with his performances in the Champions League and his recent unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia (via Daily Mail).

However, it seems teammate Neymar still has the utmost respect for the World Cup winner as the Brazilian sent an emotional message on Instagram.

He wrote: "Brother… it didn't turn out as we thought but we tried everything. It was a pleasure to share two more years with you.

Good luck in your new stage and be happy. I love you."

To which Messi replied: "Thanks Ney! Beyond all that remains, that we enjoyed playing together and sharing the day-to-day. I wish you all the best. Besides being a crackhead, you're a beautiful person and that's all that matters at the end. I love you so much."

Where will Messi end up next?

Obviously, it catches the eye that Messi appears to call Neymar something which is interpreted as something derogatory in English but this is just a mistranslation as he writes "Aparte de ser crack". Crack is a phrase often used in Spanish as a compliment, so if you were saying someone is good at football, you might say: “Sos un crack en futbol”.

Of course, the Brazilian doesn't have the best reputation when it comes to his off-field behaviour. According to French paper Le Parisien (via The Sun), he has been throwing house parties this season that have "infuriated" his neighbours of late. And that same article claimed he threw a party that didn't finish until 5am after PSG sealed the Ligue 1 title last season.

But Messi isn't referencing any of this as he calls Neymar "a beautiful person" and points out that this actually matters more than anything he's done on the pitch.

All in all, it's quite a sweet interaction between the players, which is nice as they haven't quite achieved what they set out to in Paris – with the club still unable to win the Champions League.

The big question now is, though, where will Messi end up next? Barcelona, Inter Miami and teams in Saudi Arabia have all been touted.

Manchester City can seal yet another Premier League title with victory over Aston Villa this afternoon, and Phil Foden can play a crucial part in getting them over the line.

On the Chalkboard

Pep Guardiola will face a selection dilemma as he prepares for his side’s biggest game of the season today. Just one point separates City and Liverpool heading into the final day and Guardiola will need to pick his best 11 to ensure there are no slip ups.

With a large squad to choose from it’ll be difficult to decide who deserves to start, but we think that their star attacking midfielder Phil Foden can make all the difference and should be brought back into the line-up after being benched last time out against West Ham United.

Yesterday the £100k-per-week Stockport born star was named the Premier League’s young player of the season for the second successive year, with his teammate Kevin de Bruyne picking up the more senior award.

He already has three league titles to his name and has been key in City’s run to try and retain the trophy. He’s made 27 league appearances in 2021/22 and directly contributed to 14 goals.

Given the amount of young talent in the Premier League, the fact he’s been named the best for two years running shows just how good he is, which makes it a no-brainer to start him against Villa.

He’s been described as “incredibly talented” by his manager and he certainly lives up to that billing.

Pep likes his team to put their opponents under huge pressure and if they are to nullify the threat Villa can pose then they can’t give them time on the ball.

When you compare Foden to other Premier League players in his position he ranks in the top 3% for pressures in the attacking third this season, this is key in allowing City to win the ball high and score as much as they do.

It’ll be goals that will ensure they don’t drop points and allow Liverpool to beat them to the trophy this afternoon. If they lose the title then there will be huge question marks over how City have come away with no silverware this season.

Those questions shouldn’t arise if Foden is unleashed by Guardiola.

IN other news: Forget Carney: Gerrard must unleash “world-class” AVFC ace, he’ll give City nightmares…

German sources have now shared a big update on Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of Borussia Monchengladbach star Jonas Hofmann.

The Lowdown: Hofmann on the move?

The Premier League top-four chasers have been linked with a move for one of Monchengladbach’s most crucial players in recent months.

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Tottenham boss Antonio Conte wants to make new additions this summer and has allegedly earmarked signings for many positions, including further forward (The Telegraph).

Sport Bild (via Sport Witness), sharing news in early March, name-dropped Spurs as an interested party to sign Hofmann who has been a ‘figurehead’ and crucial in-form player under Adi Hütter this season.

However, the 29-year-old’s deal expires in 2023 with no sign of an extension, throwing his future at the club into disrepute.

The Latest: German sources share Hofmann update…

Now, Sport Bild (via Sport Witness) have again shared some news on Spurs’ interest in Hofmann as the Lilywhites now make contact.

As Spurs regularly approach Monchengladbach over the attacker, according to this report, it is believed that the Bundesliga side will green-light his exit in the event of a suitable bid.

The Verdict: Make the move?

Given Hofmann’s contract situation, transfer chief Fabio Paratici may well be in a strong negotiating position to force their hand and ease the German side into accepting a lower price tag.

The international winger would be worth the hassle, especially going by his previous plaudits from big names and form over 2021/2022.

According to WhoScored, he’s racked up the most goals and assists combined domestically out of anyone in the Monchengladbach side whilst also reigning superior in terms of shots and key passes per 90.

If that wasn’t enough, Hofmann has also averaged their highest match rating in the Bundesliga, leaving little wonder Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp once called him ‘extraordinary’ and ‘perfect’ (via Borussia Dortmund reporter and Buzz 09 founder Sandra Goldschmidt).

If Paratici can seal his signing for Conte, there is little doubting he could add something.

In other news: Tottenham expected to move for ‘phenomenal’ £101m star after Conte request, find out more here.