All posts by z3u9t.icu

Many Everton fans have been loving what Anthony Gordon has said in a recent interview.

Speaking to The Athletic earlier in the week, which has since been shared by Toffee TV on their Twitter profile, the youngster talked about his recent run of form but claimed that he is ‘nowhere near’ the level that he wants to be.

The 20-year-old said: “I see myself as a game-changer and a matchwinner for Everton.

“At the minute, I’m playing really well but I’m not winning games for us. I am still nowhere near where I want to be.”

Gordon has started in first call-up to the England under-21 team a few days ago.

He scored two goals on his debut for the Young Lions under former Toffees player Lee Carsley, and at 20 years of age, he will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham in getting a senior call-up by Gareth Southgate despite being so young.

Everton fans on Gordon comments

These Everton supporters showed their appreciation for Gordon’s comments as they were shared on Twitter, with a few claiming that they ‘love’ his attitude, while another described him as a ‘real talent’:

“Boss attitude, what we need and want at Everton”

Credit: @damian_wyatt

“Love this attitude. Not happy with just being in the team and recognises what he needs to do to improve. Encouraging signs!”

Credit: @RyanOHanlon1

“Nice to see some grit & determination”

Credit: @IanRobEfc1878

“This lad”

Credit: @jamie_byrom

“Love it. Go Ed Anthony lad! #efc Coyb”

Credit: @tedsdad63

“Love this attitude, starts adding goals and assists to his game and we have a real talent on our hands”

Credit: @GMB1878

In other news, find out what FFP news has left these Everton fans fuming

Many Glasgow Rangers fans have been left gushing over some contract news on Scott Arfield.

Speaking to the media before the 3-3 draw at Ross County (via The Glasgow Times), Giovanni van Bronckhorst admitted that he wants to keep the central midfield player beyond his current deal at Ibrox, which runs out this summer.

“He is an experienced player and he is definitely a player I want to have longer to be at Rangers. Hopefully we can welcome him next season as well,” the manager said.

As Gio says, Arfield has been ‘really important’ to the team, as he has played 25 games in total over all competitions for them this season, scoring four goals (Transfermarkt), and at 33 years of age, is one of the more experienced players in the dressing room.

Nonetheless, this seems to be a deal that would be very popular with the Ibrox faithful, and so they should tie him down as soon as possible.

Rangers fans on Arfield contract news

These Teddy Bears gushed as the contract news was shared on Twitter, with one Light Blues supporter claiming that they were ‘delighted’, while another Ger even went as far as to call it ‘brilliant’:

“Best bit of business so far”

Credit: @TerryCashman5

“Delighted with this.”

Credit: @Cway47

“FINALLY…the penny drops!!!”

Credit: @FraserC83599513

“That’s the news I’m liking on a Friday”

Credit: @thatboybabes

“More of this please”

Credit: @chloecarson_7

“Brilliant news! Love Arfield”

Credit: @MBS1872

In other news, find out what transfer update Gers lauded here!

Tottenham Hotspur need to overcome a two-goal deficit to make their second successive Carabao Cup final without several of their first-team stars this evening.

Antonio Conte’s depleted side welcome his former club Chelsea to north London for the second leg of their semi-final clash but the Italian does not have the likes of Eric Dier, Cristian Romero, Heung-min Son or Steven Bergwijn available.

Spurs will be buoyed by some confidence, at the very least, following their FA Cup third-round win over Morecambe on Sunday afternoon but the Champions of Europe are a different kettle of fish.

It will be interesting to see what sort of side the Italian does opt for, with crucial Premier League encounters against arch-rivals Arsenal, Leicester City and then Chelsea again on the horizon.

Here’s the XI we’re predicting at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tonight…

There could be as many as seven changes from the side that won against the League One minnows at the weekend.

Club captain Hugo Lloris is likely to return between the sticks, taking the place of Pierluigi Gollini but without Dier and Romero, it’s hard for Conte to field much of a different backline.

Therefore, Ben Davies and Joe Rodon could remain, with Davinson Sanchez returning in place of Japhet Tanganga, who was at fault for the Shrimpers’ opener.

There could be a return for Sergio Reguilon at left wing-back and Matt Doherty may even keep his place on the right, with Emerson being held back for this weekend’s derby.

Meanwhile, in midfield, Harry Winks may make way despite a Man of the Match display as it allows for the usual partnership of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Oliver Skipp.

The £36m-rated Dane, dubbed a “monster” in midfield, has been one of Conte’s best-performing players and he offers some much-needed leadership in the engine room.

In the absence of Son, Conte could push Giovani Lo Celso further forward to partner Harry Kane and Lucas Moura, who are the two final changes. The duo made a considerable goalscoring impact at the weekend and will surely start here this evening.

AND in other news, Spurs “confident” of soon landing £20m “monster” in bargain swoop, Conte will love him…

According to a report by Tuttosport (as shared by Sport Witness), Juventus are now ‘ready to agree’ a loan deal for Aaron Ramsey in the January window, with Newcastle listed as the possible destination.

The Lowdown: Serie A hasn’t worked out for Ramsey

Ramsey has had a disappointing career in the Serie A since joining giants Juventus, having failed to secure himself a spot in the side’s starting eleven. In the league this season, the Wales international has played just 98 minutes of football, spanning over three games, coming off the bench in two of those.

The former Arsenal man has endured some horrendous injuries over the years, and it seems his bad luck has followed him to Italy. Due to an unknown injury sustained in the middle of November, Ramsey has since missed nine games for Massimiliano Allegri’s side, with a return date still unknown.

As a result, Allegri is looking to offload Ramsey, as his monstrous £230,000-a-week salary is taking a heavy hit on Juventus’ finances.

The Latest: Loan deal with Newcastle?

According to a report by Tuttosport (as relayed by Sport Witness), Juventus are now ‘ready to agree’ a loan deal and Tuttosport have singled out the Magpies as the only listed destination for the player.

The situation is considered a ‘work in progress’, as it appears that Ramsey is standing his ground in regard to not taking a wage cut. A loan deal would be preferable for Newcastle in this case, as Juventus would likely pick up part of the wage bill.

The Verdict: Good deal for both parties

Ramsey is contracted to the Turin club until the summer of 2023. Therefore, if Howe’s side do get relegated to the Championship, the 31-year-old will be able to walk-away from the club and return to his big-money deal in Italy.

For Newcastle, Ramsey would be a brilliant signing in the short-term. Having created or score 91 goals in 262 appearances in the Premier League for Arsenal, the Welshman would provide the Magpies with that much-needed experience, which is critical in a relegation battle.

Wales teammate Joe Allen has claimed that Ramsey is still a ‘world-class player’, despite calls over his recent form in the Serie A. This suggests that the signing of the Juventus-man would be a fantastic addition to Howe’s Newcastle side if they can keep him fit for the relegation scrap.

A huge Newcastle United transfer claim has been made regarding their pursuit of Diego Carlos…

What’s the talk?

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the Magpies will make another move to land the Brazil defender this week as they attempt to bolster Eddie Howe’s squad. Sevilla are said to be working hard to avoid cashing by rejecting the Toon’s interest so far.

Romano tweeted: “Newcastle will push again in the next hours for Diego Carlos. Sevilla are trying to resist in every way as they did for Koundé/Chelsea deal last summer – but Newcastle are willing to insist. Key hours ahead. #NUFC Diego already agreed personal terms days ago. He’s waiting.”

Fans will be delighted

Newcastle fans will be delighted with this update for several reasons. Firstly, the claim that Carlos is ‘waiting’ after agreeing personal terms with the club shows that there is a willingness from the defender to make the switch to St James’ Park.

This shows that he is eager to join the club and is passionate about a transfer to Newcastle, which fans will surely love in comparison to a player who needs to be convinced. The 28-year-old wants the move and the Magpies now need to find an agreement with the Spanish outfit to get it done.

The supporters will also be buzzing with Romano’s tweet as it shows that Nick Hammond, Eddie Howe and PIF are not willing to give up easily. They could have admitted defeat and moved further down their list of targets, potentially lowering the ceiling on the quality of player they can bring to the club, but instead are doing their best to land the man who could be their top target.

Fans will love this as it shows ambition and a desire to sign the best possible players to bolster the squad in the January transfer window. With Newcastle currently sat 19th in the Premier League and on just one win after 20 matches, reinforcements are needed to aid their bid to avoid relegation from the top flight, and this is why working hard to sign a player like Carlos could delight the Toon Army.

The centre-back has averaged a superb SofaScore rating of 7.16 in La Liga this season, showing that he can perform to a high level on a consistent basis in a top European league. The newly-signed Kieran Trippier is the only Newcastle player (7.30) who has averaged a higher rating than Carlos this term, and that is based on a small sample size, which highlights how big of a potential signing the Sevilla defender could be.

AND in other news, “He is set to join Newcastle”: Insider’s early morning update will leave fans buzzing…

Aston Villa are open to offers for 2021 arrivals Leon Bailey and Morgan Sanson, according to The Mirror’s Neil Moxley.

The lowdown

Villa paid £25m to sign Bailey from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen just last summer, making him the third most expensive signing in their history, while Sanson arrived the previous January in a £14m switch from Ligue 1 outfit Marseille.

Steven Gerrard is gearing up for his first summer transfer window as Villa manager, having taken over from Dean Smith in November.

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The latest

In a report for The Mirror, Moxley wrote that Villa could ‘surprisingly’ entertain any bids which arrive for Bailey or Sanson, which may come as a shock development given how recently both players came to the club.

Gerrard apparently believes that he needs to improve the quality at his disposal if he is to fulfil his ambition for the Villans to compete with the top teams in England and qualify for Europe.

The verdict

In truth, neither player mooted with an exit has made much of an impact this season.

Bailey has only started five Premier League games, although that’s partly a reflection on his struggles for fitness as opposed to his ability. The Jamaican has been unavailable for 13 matches, and it’s tempting to wonder how differently things might have panned out so far had he enjoyed an injury-free run.

Sanson has started even fewer top-flight games – just three of a possible 32. The Frenchman has been an unused substitute for three of the last four, raising further questions about the level of faith that Gerrard has in him.

Whatever about Bailey, it certainly isn’t looking too great for Sanson’s future in the Midlands judging by this report and his lack of game-time.

In other news, Villa will have to make a decision between two midfield targets

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been handed a boost in their bid to bring Renato Sanches to Molineux in the January transfer window.

What’s been said?

In a recent interview with French publication L’Equipe (via Sport Witness), the LOSC Lille midfielder, who has been heavily linked with a switch to Wolves this winter, revealed that he would be open to a move away from the Ligue 1 side in the coming months – as long as the right offer comes in.

Speaking about the interest in his services, the 24-year-old said: “Maybe AC Milan and Arsenal are interested but I don’t know. I spoke with my agent, I know which clubs are calling and which are not, but I can’t tell now. But I know I’m ready. If an offer comes in, I’ll find out what’s best for me.”

Shi must act

Considering just how short Bruno Lage’s Wolves side currently are in the middle of the park, with the 45-year-old manager only being able to call upon the likes of Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho or Leander Dendoncker at present, a move to bring a pair of fresh legs into the position during the January transfer window would appear an extremely wise one for Jeff Shi to make.

And, when taking into account just how impressive Renato Sanches has been for Lille in recent seasons, the Portugal international would certainly appear to make a fantastic addition to the Wolves ranks this winter.

Indeed, over his six Ligue 1 appearances so far this term – a number which has been limited by his recovery from a knee injury – the £27m-rated midfielder has provided one assist and created one big chance for his teammates, in addition to making an average of 1.5 key passes per game – the most of any of his teammates.

The £51k-per-week man has also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 30.8 passes, 0.5 interceptions, 1.8 tackles and winning 5.7 duels per fixture.

These returns have seen the 24-year-old average a SofaScore match rating of 7.26 – ranking him as Jocelyn Gourvennec’s best performer in the league.

As such, considering the quite obvious lack of creativity in Wolves’ current crop of players in the middle of the park, with goalkeeper Jose Sa having creating the same amount of big chances as Lage’s highest-ranked midfielders, the signing of Renato Sanches would indeed look to be an excellent piece of business for Shi to get over the line.

And, following his most recent comments, it would appear as if there is very much a deal to be done for his services in January, something which the Wolves chairman simply must act upon.

In other news: Shi must ruthlessly axe Wolves’ £43k-p/w “near miss”, he’s becoming a real liability

According to German news source Bild, as also translated by Sport Witness, there has been a transfer update out of Tottenham Hotspur involving RB Leipzig midfielder Konrad Laimer.

The Lowdown: Laimer shines…

Already amassing 20 caps for Austria at international level, the 24-year-old has been a revelation in the Bundesliga over these last few seasons as a highly effective utility man.

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Laimer’s performances have earned links with the likes of Manchester United, who have previously been tipped to move for Leipzig’s ace as a possible Paul Pogba replacement.

This kind of attention seemingly prompted his club to agree a new deal back in 2020, with the Austrian top-flight winner putting pen to paper on an extension until 2023.

As per Sport Bild (via The Sun), the fresh terms apparently contain a release clause worth around £34m, with another German outlet now claiming that Tottenham have entered the picture for his services.

The Latest: Bild make Laimer claim…

According to Bild (via Sport Witness), Spurs – and by extension transfer chief Fabio Paratici – have now added Laimer to their list of targets alongside other Premier League clubs.

This comes after the Leipzig star allegedly blew away Tottenham officials when the two teams faced off in a Champions League knockout round tie in 2020.

It is believed that, over the two legs of that round of 16 clash, Laimer ‘fought his way’ into Spurs scouts’ notebooks with his performances.

The Verdict: Bargain?

If Spurs can indeed land the in-form European ace for a meagre £34m clause, it could be worth considering at the very least.

Bundesliga expert Alex Chaffer is certainly a fan, claiming on Twitter that Laimer is ‘amazing’ and a player who ‘every team needs’, all whilst calling him ‘underrated’ and a ‘warrior’.

However, with the amount of competition in Conte’s central midfield, the 24-year-old may have to work hard to break his way past the in-form pairing of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur.

This isn’t even taking into account Oliver Skipp’s imminent return to the team, either, with Paratici and co arguably needing to prioritise other positions which are in greater need of reinforcement.

In other news: Tottenham eye agreement ‘in the coming weeks’ as they make offer for exciting midfielder! Find out more here.

West Ham United are interested in a deal to bring Naby Keita to the London Stadium.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Transfer Market Web, who claim that David Moyes’ side have now joined the race to sign the Liverpool central midfielder this summer, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, AC Milan and AS Roma all also believed to hold an interest in the 26-year-old.

The report goes on to state that Jurgen Klopp’s side could be willing to part with the Guinea international at the end of the current campaign as the former RB Leipzig man has failed to cement a regular starting spot in the Reds’ first team, with a figure in the region of €30m (£25m) believed to be enough to get a deal over the line.

Imagine him & Rice

While Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek are undoubtedly two fantastic options in the middle of the park, the further addition of a player of Keita’s ability would certainly help to take West Ham to the next level.

While it is true that the £27m-rated man has been a bit-part player for Liverpool since his £54m move to Anfield back in 2018, the 26-year-old has nevertheless proven that he has the talent to play a starring role in Moyes’ side.

Indeed, over his 11 Premier League appearances so far this season – only six of which have come as starts – the £120k-per-week midfielder has scored two goals, registered one assist and created two big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.4 shots and making 0.6 key passes per game.

Keita has also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 0.7 interceptions, 2.5 tackles, 25.8 passes and winning 3.5 duels per game.

These returns have seen the Guinean average a rather remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.21, ranking him as Klopp’s seventh-best performer in the top flight of English football in the current campaign.

As such, it is not difficult to understand why the midfielder’s teammate, Virgil van Dijk, took the time to shower Keita with praise, with the centre-back stating: “Naby is a fantastic guy, he works so hard and he is an outstanding football player.

“I think he is world-class if I’m absolutely honest. I see all the moments when he has the ball, the smart moves, the smart intelligence. It’s just incredible to see and I’m very happy for him.”

So, should West Ham indeed have the opportunity to land the 26-year-old this summer, it would appear highly advisable for the West Ham board to give Liverpool whatever it takes to land the midfielder, as, alongside Rice, Keita could help to transform the Hammers into a regular top-four contender in the years to come.

In other news: Moyes could solve major WHU issue as GSB open talks for “exceptional” £100k-p/w beast

Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa could be set for a shock January exit from Elland Road, according to a report from the continent.

The Lowdown: Bielsa a Leeds icon

The Argentine are arguably been the most influential figure at Leeds in the past decade or so, bringing the good days back to the club.

Bielsa has of course guided the Whites back into the Premier League, finishing ninth in their first season back in the division and playing some superb football along the way, endearing himself to those in Yorkshire with his enigmatic personality and obvious passion for the beautiful game, even showing up to coach football-loving local kids out of the blue.

The 66-year-old’s current Leeds deal expires at the end of this season, however, and it remains unknown if he will extend his stay beyond that point.

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The Latest: Shock exit rumour emerges

According to Jeunes Footeux [via Leeds All Over], Bielsa could actually leave Leeds in January, in what Leeds All Over describe as a ‘significant twist’ and ‘big shock’.

A board meeting is rumoured to be taking place next month and his future will be discussed there.

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The Verdict: Surely not?

The thought of Bielsa leaving at any point is a sad one but it seems unfathomable that he would either leave or be sacked in January.

The Leeds hero is a man of his word and has committed his future until at least the summer, so it would be an almighty shock if that suddenly wasn’t the case. It would also feel incredibly harsh for the club to take decisive action even despite the poor form to kick off this campaign, given his role in their promotion back to the big time.

It may be that Bielsa decides he has taken Leeds far enough come the end of the season, but with key men like Patrick Bamford back fit again, the hope is that the Whites rise up the Premier League in the coming months, increasing Bielsa’s chances of staying put even beyond this season, let alone through the winter.

In other news, Leeds are reportedly keen on a January move for one player. Find out who it is here.