A major Newcastle United transfer claim has emerged on PSG winger Neymar heading into the summer transfer window…
What’s the talk?
Journalist Jacque Talbot has revealed that the Ligue 1 superstar is keen on the Magpies and that he held the information back because of how unlikely a deal is.
Talbot Tweeted: “Two months ago I heard noise about Neymar fancying Newcastle but didn’t release it as the club would just never go for a player like him – not to mention his ridiculous wages.”
This was in response to a Sports Witness article link that reads: “Neymar | ‘Only Newcastle…’ – Magpies pushed forward as possible destination, with it thought other clubs won’t be keen.”
Supporters will be delighted
Toon supporters will be delighted by this claim for multiple reasons.
Firstly, they will be buzzing with the suggestion that Neymar is potentially interested in a deal to join Newcastle from PSG. It shows how much of an attraction PIF have made the club with their ambitions and this is hopefully a sign of things to come in the future.
If a player of the Brazilian’s ability and pedigree is keen on the club then who would not be? The winger has enjoyed a stellar career and would arrive at St. James’ Park as a certified star.
In 186 games for Barcelona, he produced 105 goals and 76 assists before leaving to join PSG. Since moving to France, he has scored 100 goals and provided 60 assists in 144 matches, showing that he has consistently scored and assisted goals at a stunning rate throughout his time in Europe.
This is why fans will be delighted to learn that a player of his quality is open to the switch. Although, they will also be pleased with Talbot’s claim that he is not someone PIF will want to bring in.
SalarySport report his wages to be £606k-per-week in Paris, whilst they report Newcastle’s top earners to be Chris Wood and Kieran Trippier on £100k-per-week each respectively. This means that the club would be obliterating their wage structure by bringing him to the club and taking on a huge financial commitment that would impact their ability to spend in other areas due to Financial Fair Play.
Neymar is also 30 and heading into the final years of his career instead of being a player who can grow alongside the club in the years to come. This is another reason why the fans will be delighted with the club from Talbot as it shows that they are sticking to their project and will not blow it up just to land a big name.
AND in other news, PIF plotting Newcastle swoop for “scary” £30m “freak”, he’s a major Almiron upgrade…
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…
Celtic showed during the previous summer window how efficient they can be in the transfer market when it comes to securing deals for players and bringing them to Parkhead.
Now that Ange Postecoglou’s side have ended their season as SPFL champions, their attention can now turn to the next summer window and what business they could look to do in it ahead of their next campaign.
With that in mind, it seems as though a big clue has emerged regarding one deal that could be set to take place at the Parkhead club in the coming weeks.
What’s the latest?
Speaking to Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur insider John Wenham had this to say about the situation surrounding Cameron Carter-Vickers and the chances of him signing a permanent deal with Celtic from the Premier League club.
“I think it is just a matter of time at this point. The fact they are back in the Champions League gives them the money to get it done.
“He came in there and has barely missed a minute. He’s an Old Firm goalscorer, a cup winner and a title winner.
“He is worth the money Tottenham will be asking for, the money is there. I expect an announcement or significant progress to be made very soon.”
Fans will be thrilled
During his season with the Hoops on loan away from the north London club, the American quickly became a crucial figure for the title-winning Bhoys.
With 45 appearances under his belt across all competitions, the 24-year-old played the full 90 minutes in all of the 33 league games he played in.
To further highlight how significant the centre-back was in Celtic’s title charge, he racked up more interceptions (43) than any other Hoops player as well as the highest average for clearances per game (4.2) in the league.
This shows how much of an impact his arrival had on the team and why they ended their campaign with the best defence having conceded just 22 times in 38 games.
Taking all of this into account, it’s safe to suggest that should the Hoops secure a permanent deal for Carter-Vickers in the coming weeks, the Celtic fanbase will undoubtedly be jumping for joy over the team being put in the best possible shape to be successful once again next season.
In other news: Ange can land dream Rogic heir in Celtic swoop for “unbelievable” £1.5m “class-act”
Tottenham Hotspur have held a London meeting with Bologna sporting director Riccardo Bigon as he offers out five players, according to reports.
The Lowdown: Big few months ahead…
Spurs face off against arch rivals Arsenal today in the Premier League, a blockbuster derby clash which may well determine who is playing Champions League football next season.
Antonio Conte’s side, if they’re victorious this evening, could be given a major boost in so many ways – including the potential for bigger pull in the summer transfer market and the financial windfall which comes with it.
As the Italian prepares his side for their most important match of the 2021/2022 campaign, Lilywhites officials will be contemplating how to strengthen Conte’s team this summer with or without a top-four finish.
Now, according to Calcio Napoli 24, it appears the club have held talks with Bologna chief Bigon as he travels to England.
The Latest: Bigon in London ‘to sell five players’…
Their sources claim the high-ranking Serie A official was in London yesterday ‘to sell five players’ with the aim of ‘meeting’ several clubs including Spurs, holding talks and ‘probing their intentions’.
Naming the players in question, it is believed Mattias Svanberg, Jerdy Schouten, Aaron Hickey, Arthur Theate and Riccardo Orsolini are all on offer as the Italians look to deal their most valued assets.
The Verdict: Svanberg a must…
Of all the men reportedly on offer from Bologna and Bigon, we believe Svanberg stands out as the main man and he has been linked with a move to N17 before.
Described as ‘one of the top four or five’ number 8’s in Europe by an iNews source, it was claimed that the Lilywhites and Paratici were even favourites to sign the Swedish ace ahead of title contenders Man City.
As Svanberg’s club seemingly look desperate to offload this summer in a bid to raise funds, Tottenham shouldn’t hesitate in snapping up the midfield gem who Conte ‘would enjoy working with’, especially given the boss’ reported desire to sign two new midfielders.
In other news: Conte could now convince ‘phenomenal’ 6 foot 3 powerhouse to join Spurs! Find out more here.
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.
Paul Joyce has now shared some more injury news for Everton before they play Chelsea at home in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
The Lowdown: Lampard derby
The game at Goodison Park will be a big one not just for the club, but for Frank Lampard as well, with a manager-less Burnley moving themselves five points clear of his side on Saturday.
Very much associated with Chelsea from his playing days and a spell managing them, he will no doubt want to get one over his old team as he tries to drag his new Blues away from the dreaded relegation zone.
The Latest: Injury news
Taking to Twitter, The Times journalist Joyce has now shared some injury news revealed by Lampard in his pre-game press conference.
While Ben Godfrey will now be missing for a ‘few weeks’, Donny van de Beek and Andre Gomes are ‘also injured’.
The Verdict: Big blow
It certainly is a big blow for the Merseyside club to lose three key players in the squad ahead of what is another huge match in the fight to stay in the top flight.
They have made a total of 41 appearances between them in the division, with van de Beek only joining on loan from Manchester United in the January transfer window.
Nonetheless, with Andros Townsend and Nathan Patterson also out injured, it leaves the squad relatively light not just for this game, but for the remaining crucial fixtures.
In other news, find out which ‘world-class’ magician the Blues are now eyeing here!
Tottenham Hotspur are now reportedly making checks on a Premier League goalkeeper, who could replace the out-of-form Guglielmo Vicario.
Thomas Frank responds to growing Tottenham pressure
There was plenty of hope that Thomas Frank could be the man to take Tottenham to the next level when he arrived in the summer. By all means, it was an appointment which made perfect sense. That initial hope is now beginning to fade away, however, and the pressure is growing on the Dane to turn things around, as names like Marco Silva begin to be name-dropped.
It speaks volumes that it was a Cristian Romero brace, which included a late overhead kick, which saved Spurs against Newcastle United, with Frank’s attackers continuing to struggle.
The pressure doesn’t seem to be getting to Frank, though, who told reporters when asked whether he would get time to make his mark in North London: “Yeah, I’m very confident.
“I think the ownership – of course I’m just starting to know them, but it seems like they’re good guys, intelligent people – know how to run businesses and learning about football, learning more now they’ve become owners. I think when we’re dealing with intelligent people, they can see every successful dynasty, every successful club has taken time.
“Yeah you have one where you maybe win one year or the second year, but you can’t sustain it if you don’t build something sustainable. Impossible.”
That said, even Frank may not be able to deny that something needs to change for too much longer. Where that change comes remains is the big question.
Vicario’s position is certainly up for debate. The goalkeeper was booed by his own fans after a mistake against Fulham and Spurs have since been linked with moves for both James Trafford and Bart Verbruggen.
Tottenham make first contact for Verbruggen
According to TeamTalk, Tottenham have now made initial contact for Verbruggen, making checks on the Brighton & Hove Albion shot-stopper. He’s someone that ENIC reportedly admire and a player that will make their shortlist if they decide to replace Vicario in the coming year.
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Alas, they’re not the only ones who admire the Dutchman. Bayern Munich are also reportedly big fans of Verbruggen and see him as a potential replacement for one of the best goalkeepers of all time, Manuel Neuer.
Starts
13
14
Clean Sheets
3
4
Save Percentage
68.9%
72.%
Pass Completion
76.6%
75.6%
Whilst Vicario’s recent mistake turned him into public enemy No.1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, his underlying numbers suggest that he’s likely to turn a corner after that moment of madness.
They also suggest that Verbruggen wouldn’t be a major upgrade, despite Fabian Hurzeler’s verdict that the Dutchman is an “unbelievable character”.
The last thing that Spurs need is to waste more funds on those who wouldn’t provide Frank with much-needed upgrades. Unless the Lilywhites find a goalkeeper who is putting up better numbers than Vicario, then they should show faith in their No.1 for at least the remainder of the campaign.
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Tottenham Hotspur are now racing Arsenal for the signature of a £130m+ attacker, who’s been described as a “true icon in the making”.
Tottenham eyeing new attacking midfielder amid Simons' slow start
It is still very early days, but Xavi Simons hasn’t exactly set the world alight since his arrival from RB Leipzig, most recently failing to create any big chances and completing just one of the four dribbles he attempted in the 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
In fairness, the Dutchman is arguably being deployed out of position, having predominantly been given the nod at left-wing by Thomas Frank up to this point, and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes the 22-year-old will be a success in north London long-term.
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The former striker said: “Simons has only just started, but I like Simons. I really like him. I think he’s going to be a big, big, big success at Spurs. He can play on the left or as a No. 10, but he’s also not scared, and that’s why I like him.”
Lucas Bergvall started in the number 10 role against Wolves, but given that the Sweden international is only 19-years-old, it would make sense to bring in another attacking midfielder.
According to a report from Caught Offside, Tottenham have now joined the race for Real Madrid star Arda Guler, having sent scouts to watch the youngster in action, but there could be competition for his signature, with a number of other big clubs also keen.
Arsenal, Newcastle United, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund are also named as potential suitors for the attacking midfielder, but any of the interested parties may have to shell out a huge fee to get a deal done, with it previously being revealed he is valued at over £130m.
The report makes it clear that Madrid are reluctant to sanction a departure, given that Guler has emerged as a crucial player since the arrival of Xabi Alonso.
Guler living up to his potential at Real Madrid
After impressing at international level in the summer, scoring against the USA and Hungary, scout Jacek Kulig suggested the Turk could go on to be a future star.
Since then, the 20-year-old has gone from strength to strength, picking up three goals and three assists in his opening seven La Liga games, with the starlet establishing himself as a key player for Real Madrid.
Having also been lauded as a “special talent” by scout Ben Mattinson, Guler could be a fantastic signing for Tottenham, but it seems very unlikely that a deal will be possible, given his astronomical price tag.
Despite defeat at Anfield before the international break, Arsenal return to action against Nottingham Forest on Saturday lunchtime to much excitement.
However, Mikel Arteta will be without key figures William Saliba, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka, the latter facing a race against time to be available for next Sunday’s huge clash with Manchester City in North London.
In the past, injuries have derailed the Gunners’ title hopes and dreams, because they’ve simply not had the squad depth to cope with key absences.
Now though, after spending over £250m in the summer transfer market, that has changed, so Arteta must unleash a few of his summer signings, one who some are forecasting could become even better than Saka.
Eberechi Eze's home debut
Ahead of Arsenal’s first home game of the season, a 5-0 demolition of Leeds United, Eberechi Eze was presented to the Emirates crowd.
It was a genuinely spine-tingling moment, with Eze himself taken aback by the welcome home he received, 14 years after being released as a child, thinking his dream was dead.
Now though, after he was given a mere brief cameo at Anfield, Eze is ready to take centre stage, with those attending Saturday’s clash with Nottingham Forest doing so in anticipation of witnessing a home debut to remember.
As noted by Match of the Day, Arsenal have the second-lowest expected goals from open-play in the Premier League this season, their figure of 1.57 above only that of newly-promoted Sunderland, continuing a problem that has hampered Arteta’s team for a while.
This underlines why Eze has been signed, adding that much-needed creativity, but he may not be the only summer signing Arsenal will be hoping can shine this weekend and beyond.
More than just Arsenal's Bukayo Saka back-up
When Noni Madueke was recruited from Chelsea for £52m in the summer, plenty of eyebrows were raised, but the early signs are that this could be a shrewd piece of business.
In defeat to Liverpool, the 23-year-old was the Gunners’ most dangerous attacker throughout, always giving Miloš Kerkez something to think about, even if the end product was lacking.
Nevertheless, based on what he has produced so far, speaking on the Arscast, Philippe Auclair believes Madueke is simply far too good to merely be considered a Saka back-up, and his statistics last season support this argument.
Shots
80
14th
Shots per 90
3.54
4th
Big chances missed
14
18th
Progressive carries
154
3rd
Carries into the box
93
3rd
Attempted take-ons
102
25th
Touches in the box
184
5th
As the table notes, Madueke ranked behind only Jérémy Doku and Mohamed Salah when it came to progressive carries last season, also ranked in the top five in terms of shots per 90 and touches in the opposition’s penalty area.
He has certainly impressed Thomas Tuchel, starting three of England’s last four World Cup qualifiers, including both this month, scoring his first-ever international goal against Serbia at Stadion Rajko Mitić in Belgrade on Tuesday.
During the international break, former Manchester United defender Paul Parker was so impressed with Madueke that he exclaimed “I actually think he’s better than Bukayo Saka”, praising his frightening pace and ability to strike fear into defenders.
Given that Saka has been consistently excellent since first breaking into the Arsenal team in early-2020, this is a bold claim.
However, this competition for places can only be a good thing for Arteta, given that his star man is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, having sat out more than three months last season due to the same issue, missing 19 games, unquestionably derailing the Gunners’ title aspirations.
On Saturday specifically, it is tough to forecast who Ange Postecoglou will deploy at full-back, given that Ola Aina is set to spend three months on the sidelines, after sustaining a serious hamstring injury during Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with South Africa in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.
It won’t be Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back, he’s ineligible to face his parent club, but whoever it is will not relish coming up against Madueke, who will surely start in Saka’s place, looking to score his first Arsenal goal.
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When Robin van Persie left Arsenal behind in 2012, he did so in controversial circumstances.
The biggest rival to Arsene Wenger during his time in English football was the great Sir Alex Ferguson, yet the striker had been lured away by the legendary Scot, in turn ruining his relationship with millions of Arsenal fans.
His reasons for leaving the Emirates Stadium were fair enough. The Gunners were not winning trophies and at United, he had a far greater chance of winning silverware.
So, after netting 132 goals in an Arsenal shirt, he quickly became a revelation at Old Trafford, helping Sir Alex win yet another Premier League title.
Since the Dutchman’s departure, Arsenal have only ever had one truly prolific centre forward in the shape of Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang.
That, however, could be set to change this summer.
The latest on Arsenal’s hunt for a new striker
Alexander Isak remains the dream target for Mikel Arteta and Co this summer but a move looks nigh on impossible now due to two reasons.
Firstly, Newcastle United would demand in excess of £150m according to reports and secondly, the Toon have secured Champions League football for next season.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal
So, Andrea Berta needs to source an alternative and he has two in his crosshairs.
The first option is believed to be Sporting sensation Viktor Gyokeres, with Arsenal even said to have sealed a verbal agreement with the player ahead of a possible move this summer.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The second option is RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko. The Gunners wanted to sign the Slovenian last summer but a deal collapsed when the forward agreed to stay in Germany.
A year on and a move could finally come to fruition with Fabrizio Romano revealing last week that initial talks had started between Leipzig and Arsenal.
Sky Sports Germany shared further details on those talks over the weekend noting that Berta ‘held a secret meeting’ in London with his RB Leipzig counterpart Marcel Schafer to discuss the conditions of a deal.
Payment terms and structure were said to be the focus of the meeting with a release clause of around £70m revealed.
Goals
13
39
Expected Goals (xG)
9.89
30.95
Big chances missed
10
23
Assists
5
10
Successful dribbles *
1.2
1.8
Ground duels won *
2.0
4.4
Aerial duels won *
2.1
1.1
Sky further reported that Sesko is personally keen on moving to a club that can compete for their domestic league title and the Champions League.
Why Sesko could be Arsenal’s new Van Persie
One thing Van Persie was known for was his ability to strike a football.
Possessing a slightly languid play style, the Netherlands star wasn’t exactly blessed with lots of pace but he made up for that with his all-around game and technical ability.
His technique was second to none and although Sesko does actually possess pace and the ability to get in behind, there is a likeness.
Described as “the new Erling Haaland” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Sesko has a similarly languid play style and swagger to his game.
First and foremost, he’s got a cannon of a shot, much in the same way Van Persie had.
Remember that ridiculous volley against Charlton or his volley against Everton after being played in over the top by Alexander Song? Whenever the ball was on his favoured left foot, he could beat the goalkeeper from anywhere.
Right-footed, Sesko possesses a similar trait, with the goal below showcasing exactly what he can do when given time and space to lash home an effort.
As it happens, he’s pretty good on his left peg too and he’s already got the Van Persie gene of scoring a ridiculous volley.
The goal below, scored while playing for Slovenia, demonstrates exactly what we mean in this regard.
Combine that brute force when it comes to finishing a chance with his clever movement inside the area and there’s another similarity to sink your teeth into.
He’s a penalty box poacher, just as Van Persie was, and that’s what Arsenal have been missing over the last few years.
Kai Havertz has caught the eye as a centre forward but he’s more of box-crashing midfielder, thus meaning he’s not always in the right area to receive a dangerous cross from Bukayo Saka.
Sesko, on the other hand, certainly would be in the right place, with ten of his 13 Bundesliga goals this term coming from inside the area. Seven of his goals came in and around the penalty spot too, showcasing his ability to pop up where it really matters.
Furthermore, according to Understat, he only missed 11 shots from inside the box, seeing a further 12 attempts at goal saved. Contrast that with Havertz and we do see a difference in their poacher ability.
The German missed 18 shots inside the box and saw 11 shots denied by the goalkeeper. On this evidence, it won’t come as a surprise to learn that Sesko overperformed on his xG by 2.16 and Havertz underperformed by 2.83 throughout their individual league campaigns.
What this goes to show is that Sesko, like Van Persie was in his prime, is more clinical. That’s what Arsenal need this summer and they must find a way to snap up the Slovenian sensation.
Ultimately, there are some key differences. Van Persie was more of an artist, someone who relied on technical ability. Sesko does share some similar traits but as the aforementioned Haaland comparison indicates, he’s a bulldozer.
Regardless of his play style, he scores goals and that’s what Arteta needs more than anything else in the summer market.
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