All posts by z3u9t.icu

Tottenham Hotspur must reunite their incoming boss with one of his former players this summer…

What’s the word?

Paulo Fonseca looks set to be confirmed as Spurs’ next manager, with the Telegraph claiming that a two-year contract has been agreed with the ex-AS Roma man.

Newly-appointed sporting director Fabio Paratici is thought to be behind the push to secure the out-of-work 48-year-old and the final agreement is in the hands of chairman Daniel Levy and owner Joe Lewis, who are both in the Bahamas.

Now rumours have emerged speculating that the Portuguese wants to bring as many as three of his former stars to North London, in which midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini features, as per La Repubblica.

Imagine him and Hojbjerg

Spurs could well be in need of midfield reinforcements this summer, depending on the futures of several fringe players.

The likes of Moussa Sissoko, Harry Winks and Dele Alli are certainly facing some uncertainty and you would reasonably expect the club to cash in on these names should they be presented with a decent offer.

All could raise funds to bolster Fonseca’s playing squad, and if he wants the 24-year-old Italian, then he should be allowed to sign him. He could prove to be the perfect partner to Pierre-Emile Hojberg in that engine room.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-spurs-news-manager-gossip-transfer-rumours-team-and-injury-updates-and-much-more” title= “Read the latest Spurs news, manager gossip, transfer rumours, team and injury updates and more!”]

Valued at £36m by Transfermarkt, Pellegrini was a star performer at the Stadio Olimpico this campaign, having provided 11 goals and nine assists in all competitions from central midfield.

Only Henrikh Mkhitaryan (7.30) rated better than him (7.23) as per WhoScored, with no other Roma player a more creative influence having averaged 1.9 key passes per league outing.

Pellegrini also managed 2.1 shots, 1.3 dribbles, 1.3 interceptions and 1.2 tackles, further cementing his prospects as a viable box-to-box option alongside the Danish powerhouse.

His talents once led to the praise of Roma legend Francesco Totti, who dubbed the 6 foot 1 midfield dynamo a “phenomenal player” whilst Fonseca has waxed lyrical over him plenty of times, calling him “really clever”, “very intelligent” and a “strong character.”

Paratici must look to deliver Pellegrini to his new boss this summer. He needs to be well-backed in the transfer market to stand a chance of getting Spurs back to their best and the Italian star would be the ideal first signing.

AND in other news, No Dier or Alli, Roma sensation & £25m beast signed: Predicted Spurs XI under Fonseca…

Watford are considering a move to bring Jens Petter Hauge to Vicarage Road this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Italian journalist Daniele Longo (via Sempre Milan), who claimed that AC Milan are open to offers for the 21-year-old left-winger this summer – and that the Hornets are strongly considering placing a bid for the Norway international.

The Rossoneri are also said to be open to a loan deal for the £9m-rated youngster, something that could also open the door to a temporary move to Vicarage Road for the former FK Bodo/Glimt star.

Giaretta must move

While Hauge has not enjoyed the best of times since making a £4.5m move to Milan last October – with the 21-year-old scoring two goals over his 18 Serie A appearances for Stefano Pioli’s side so far this season, as well as averaging a disappointing SofaScore match rating of 6.62 – there is still plenty of promise waiting to be tapped in the winger.

This is evident from his performances prior to his switch to Italy, as, over his 18 Eliteserien fixtures for FK Bodo/Glimt in 2020, Hauge had scored a whopping 14 goals, registered nine assists and had created seven big chances, in addition to averaging a SofaScore match rating of 7.81.

So, while there are obvious differences in standard between the Norwegian first tier and Serie A – not to mention the Premier League – there is clearly an exceptional talent hidden inside Hauge that Pioli has not managed to uncover during the winger’s time at Milan.

Indeed, with Carlo Pellegatti stating his belief that Hauge is similar in style to none less than Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-min, as well as claiming that the 21-year-old is a player who possesses “ancient flavour”, it would appear highly advisable for Cristiano Giaretta to make a move for the Milan youngster this summer.

If the gamble does pay off, and Xisco Munoz can help the winger refind his form, the benefits for Watford could well be massive – both in terms of goals, creativity and, one day, financially.

In other news: Giaretta confirms huge Watford transfer news that will surely have Xisco buzzing – opinion

Those in charge at Southampton will be pleased with the job Ralph Hasenhuttl is doing, claims former midfielder Carlton Palmer.

After a promising start to the season, which saw Southampton even go top of the table at one stage, the Saints really fell off in the second half of the campaign before finishing in 15th place.

Hasenhuttl looks set to continue in the St. Mary’s dugout, however, with talkSPORT’s Alex Crook (via This Is Futbol) recently claiming that the Austrian’s job is “very safe”.

And looking at the context of Southampton’s season, Palmer can understand why that is the case. Speaking on the matter, the former Saints player told FFC:

“I think they’re [the board] happy for them to be in the Premier League. I think they’ll be happy for them to be around, you know, halfway, just below halfway.

“He [Hasenhuttl] created the problem of the expectations because they were doing so well, at the top of the league, and people get carried away. So, for sure, I don’t see any reason why he should be leaving Southampton.”

Hasenhuttl did manage to take Southampton to an FA Cup semi-final this season, while his high-pressing football, the team’s ability to get the ball quickly back from the opposition, gets fans roaring.

The Saints have never really been in any serious relegation trouble either, so it really is not hard to see why Hasenhuttl’s job is so secure right now.

Manchester City reached the Champions League final with an impressive 2-0 win against PSG on Tuesday night, with Pep Guardiola’s side superb throughout the entire game.

After earning a 2-1 win at Les Parc des Princes last week, City were favourites to reach the final in Istanbul but still needed to produce a professional display to see off Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

It was comfortable in the end, as Riyad Mahrez’s brace ensured that City would lead 4-1 on aggregate, before PSG lost their heads again, with Angel Di Maria sent off for stamping on Fernandinho, whilst the likes of Marco Verratti, Danilo Pereira and Presnel Kimpembe all could’ve seen red for some shocking tackles in the final 20 minutes.

Whilst the Algeria international will rightly steal plenty of the limelight for his two goals, Kyle Walker also produced an incredible display at right-back, one that should not go unnoticed.

As per SofaScore, the former Spurs defender would earn an impressive 8.1/10 rating for his display, with only Mahrez (8.8) earning higher.

The England international was given the task of keeping Neymar quiet, as he was playing on the left-wing, and the superstar Brazilan got very little out of Walker.

During the game, the 30-year-old right-back would not be dribbled past once, whilst he also contributed three clearances, three interceptions and six tackles.

For comparison, in the Champions League so far this season, Walker has averaged 1.5 clearances, 1.3 interceptions and 2.2 tackles, which emphasises just how good he was at the Etihad on Tuesday night.

The “incredible” Walker completely dominated at right-back from a defensive perspective, winning 11/12 of his duels during the game, resulting in a superb 92% success rate, which was even better than the success rates of Ruben Dias and John Stones, who were both exceptional at the back.

Neymar meanwhile, was able to complete just 4/7 dribbles during the game, whilst he won just 8/20 of his duels and also lost possession 22 times, which emphasises that Walker clearly had the better of him during the game.

The Englishman still contributed in an attacking sense too, as he completed both of his dribble attempts, whilst also playing one key pass and 41/48 of his passes, resulting in a superb overall display.

And, in other news… Bye-bye Sterling: Txiki should seal City swoop for “sensational” PL wizard

The Transfer Tavern have spoken exclusively to former Leeds United midfielder David Norris, who was at the club during the controversial ownership of Massimo Cellino, and he has backed Tyler Roberts to remain at Elland Road and learn from Patrick Bamford.

There had been reports over the weekend suggest that Roberts’ time at Leeds could be up as Newcastle United registered an interest in the 22-year old, who has been capped 13 times by Wales.

Roberts has had an up and down season as he was barely used before February which saw him handed just two league starts, but since their 4-2 defeat against Arsenal, Marcelo Bielsa has put more faith in the 22-year old having named him in the starting XI on 12 occasions.

The versatile attacker has come in for a lot of criticism because of his lack of goals and assists and Norris, who spoke exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, has urged Roberts to learn from Bamford, who has had his fair share of doubters during his career.

He said: “It’s not always been plain sailing for Bamford because he was getting so much stick at one point it was ridiculous, but now he’s a hero. So he has been through a lot as well but he’s also proven that he can score goals and do a job for Leeds.

“Bamford has worked his way up from the Championship and into Premier League so to have those type of players in and around the squad to learn stuff off as a young player, it will only help him.”

Roberts was sent home early from international duty with Wales earlier this season for breaking a curfew which threw his Leeds future up in the air, but Bielsa appears to have handed him a second chance.

The Wales international is still a young player and his versatility may endear him to Bielsa as he can play just off the striker in midfield, as a lone striker or even as a second striker alongside Bamford.

Marcelo Bielsa bizarrely admits “I’ve already given up” ahead of Leeds United’s Premier League clash with Manchester City this weekend.

The Whites make the trip to the Etihad on Saturday lunchtime, with Pep Guardiola’s side on the verge of winning another league title.

It will arguably be the biggest test of Leeds’ season so far, but they showed they can hold their own with them earlier in the campaign, drawing 1-1 at Elland Road back in October.

[freshpress-quiz id=“351040″]

Bielsa rules out Man City shock

Bielsa isn’t exactly one to mince his words and it appears as though he has written off his side’s hopes of picking up a shock result in Manchester.

Speaking to DAZN [via Sport Witness], the Leeds praised the job Guardiola is doing, seemingly saying his team have no chance this weekend:

“Interpreting the innovative decisions that Guardiola incorporates into a game is already a way to fall in love with football. He is a magical man.

“What he knows how to do, it is enormously difficult for me to try and I’ve already given up.”

Transfer Tavern take

Deep down, Bielsa will surely believe Leeds can leave the Etihad with something on Saturday – he is likely giving Guardiola such great praise as a way to take pressure off his own team.

That being said, it is going to take a mammoth effort to avoid defeat against a team who could potentially win an unprecedented quadruple this season.

In other news, a reported Leeds target has hinted at an exit from his current club this summer. Find out who it is here.

In recent years Celtic have had an unhealthy habit of seeing their best players walk through the Parkhead exit door.

It’s been a common trend for most managers with the likes of Fraser Forster, Victor Wanyama, Moussa Dembele and Kieran Tierney, to name a few, heading elsewhere in search of better wages and a more reputable division.

It’s a theme that could rear its ugly head once again this summer. Odsonne Edouard has repeatedly been linked with a move away while Kristoffer Ajer has also been touted with an exit.

It remains to be seen how much they’ll receive for their services but Edouard could leave the club for as little as £8m.

That would be disastrous business given his potential and goal scoring antics. Though, when it’s come to selling players we shouldn’t be overly surprised at this development.

The deal to sell Kieran Tierney for £25m is looking worse as the weeks go by. Only last week he was tipped to break the world-record fee for a defender if he leaves Arsenal.

Celtic have lost players like young Andy Robertson on a free transfer too but they also sold Virgil van Dijk.

The Dutchman is now playing alongside Robertson at Liverpool and has become one of the most impressive defenders in world football.

Sold for just £13m to Southampton in 2015, it’s fair to say the Saints got a better end of the deal.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-celtic-manager-and-transfer-news-roy-keane-nicky-butt-jesse-marsch-scott-brown” title=”Latest Celtic manager and transfer news!”]

Van Dijk impressed considerably on the south coast, so much so that Liverpool paid £75m for his services in 2018, bringing Southampton considerable profit.

Since then, he’s become an imperative piece of the jigsaw at Anfield. With the Dutchman at the back, Jurgen Klopp led Liverpool to Champions League and Premier League glory.

He is a pillar, a man mountain in defence. As of June 2020, he’d only been dribbled past eight times in three Premier League seasons.

His influence on this Liverpool side has been so colossal that without him due to injury this term, they sit in sixth place, 22 points off league leaders Manchester City.

In 2019, the defender’s value soared to £90m and in the process, he was named the second-best player in the world by FIFA. He was named the very best by UEFA in 2018/19 and he has now been included in two successive world XIs by football’s official governing body.

Because of his injury, van Dijk’s value has fallen slightly to £63m but he should still be classified among the very best.

Hailed by Carles Puyol as “the complete defender”, he is adored not only by his teammates but also football icons around the globe.

Speaking last season, his Liverpool teammate Joe Gomez commented: “When there’s a one-v-one battle you know he’s going to dominate; every header, he doesn’t really lose headers at all.

“He’s a real dominant force and a pleasure to play alongside.”

Van Dijk made 115 appearances for Celtic but little did they know that when he left, he would go on to become a world star.

He is an imperious rock, a £180k-per-week player that every attacker in world football has grown to fear. Losing him for just £13m six years ago can only be seen as a costly mistake.

Had they waited a few more years, a more significant sum of money may have come their way.

AND in other news, Big update emerges in Celtic manager hunt, it could be great news for fans…

A journalist at the Sheffield Star has dropped a claim on Chris Wilder and whether he thinks that he would be a good fit at Newcastle United.

As quoted by The Shields Gazette, Sheffield United journalist Danny Hall has claimed that Wilder would be ‘an inspired appointment’ amid recent links from the St. James’ Park faithful to the former Blades boss.

Newcastle should consider Wilder

Things are clearly not getting better in the North East under Steve Bruce, with the Tyneside club firmly locked in a relegation battle at the moment.

Thus, it may be an idea for the Magpies to go out and find a new manager whether it would be during or at the ned of the 2020/21 term, and Wilder could well be an ideal candidate.

Despite Sheffield United’s struggles at the bottom of the Premier League table this season, the heroics of the Yorkshireman in guiding them to a very impressive ninth-placed finish in the last campaign should not be overlooked.

Wilder also knows the top flight well and based off of his heroics last year, is more than capable of turning the Toon into a solid midtable side and thus not one battling for survival.

Nonetheless, the 53-year-old would not be a bad appointment by NUFC by any stretch of the imagination.

In other news, find out what worrying claim has been dropped involving an EPL plan here!

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that attacker Roberto Firmino is in contention to face Arsenal this evening after missing three matches prior to the international break with a knock – prompting many Reds supporters to go wild for this news.

Firmino arguably hasn’t displayed the same brilliant form at times over 2020/2021 as supporters have seen him produce in the past, with talkSPORT pundit Jamie O’Hara recently suggesting he should become a bit-part player for the Reds.

However, as Klopp’s side aim to finish a disappointing title defence as strongly as possible, with Liverpool still in contention for a Europa League spot, Firmino’s possible presence could come as a boost in the form of another option.

As the Reds boss confirms he is indeed in contention to face Arsenal, many Liverpool fans buzzed over this news – with one supporter wowed whilst calling the update ‘another boost’.

These fans, ahead of the clash tonight, will be hoping the Brazilian can add to his six goals and seven assists in all competitions if he is in fact selected by Klopp.

Find all of their reactions to this injury update down below.

Liverpool fans go wild for Firmino update

“Wow congratulations Liverpool family another boost”

Credit: @AuwalRAbdullah1

“YESSSSS”

Credit: @ayyaz_97

“SIUUUU”

Credit: @JAMESFF9

“Can’t wait to see you my man”

Credit: @EmamuAly

“Yessss Bobby”

Credit: @M_borlarjoko

“Finally football can be enjoyable again.”

Credit: @Romevoice

“glad to see him back”

Credit: @oetjoktheo12

“Can’t wait to see him teasing Arsenal like he usually do”

Credit: @nzemaxima

“Arsenal sweating rn”

Credit: @eric_kish

In other news: Liverpool fans also reacted as James Pearce relayed news, find out more here.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Carlton Palmer talked about his former club Southampton and the dreadful run of form they have been in, prior to their win against basement club Sheffield United on Saturday.

The Saints had lost eight of their previous nine Premier League fixtures before heading to Bramall Lane. It has left them in the bottom half of the table and far from safety, leaving manager Ralph Hasenhuttl with plenty of work to do before the season ends.

During this disappointing period for the club, Hasenhuttl’s men have also lost 9-0 to Manchester United. This, of course, comes after their defeat to Leicester City by the same scoreline in the previous campaign.

Undoubtedly, Southampton are in a difficult moment, with Palmer admitting that he would be worried if he was in the St Mary’s dugout. The retired England international told FFC:

“There’s obviously something going on there that needs to be addressed. They’ve conceded a lot of points from winning positions and that can just be a mental thing that needs to be addressed.

“But certainly, if you get beat 9-0, and it’s not just happened once, it’s happened twice, I’d be worried about that if I was a manager, I really would. In this day and age, you shouldn’t be getting done 9-0.”

Indeed, Southampton’s form is worrying. However, assessing their upcoming fixtures, there is reason for Hasenhuttl’s team to be optimistic.

Following their game against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, the Saints have a run of matches versus Brighton, Burnley, West Brom and Crystal Palace — teams all around them.

Before, however, they face a tough trip to the Etihad to take on runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City in what is likely to be another difficult day out for the Saints.