All posts by h79snht.top

Sunderland winger Patrick Roberts faces uncertainty over his future at the Stadium of Light, with his current deal set to expire in the summer.

What’s the word?

As per a report from Chronicle Live, Roberts remains coy over his future and is uncertain of where his career will take him next.

After Sunderland secured promotion in a 2-0 win over Wycombe on Saturday, Roberts insisted that he would just enjoy the moment, with the short term contract that he signed in January nearing its expiration.

Asked what was next, the 25-year-old said: “I’ve no idea to be honest, that’s for the next few weeks.

“I’ll just enjoy tonight and do whatever I can see what happens. We’ll have a few drinks and a lot of partying. You’ve got to enjoy these moments. I think Sunderland fans will enjoy theirs more.”

“I’ve only been here six months but you can see since the manager has came in, all the players have come in and the ones that are here, it means a lot. At the start of the season we had a rocky period with everything going on, we’ve steadied ourselves, got the wins and results and we can enjoy tonight and the summer.”

Neil must keep Roberts

Having scored the vital goal in the second-leg of the League One play-off semi-final, and having performed as a big threat against Wycombe on Saturday, Roberts has been first-class for Sunderland and has acted as the cherry on top for a well-versed Black Cats side who all seem to be on the same page.

Since his switch to Sunderland in January, the former Manchester City prospect has created 15 chances at a rate of 2.2 chances per game, with two of these being big chances.

Having featured 17 times for Neil’s side since January, Roberts has been a first-team regular and a key part of their promotion push which has now landed them Championship football for next season.

For a player who still has a lot more to give and possesses skills akin to technical excellence, Neil should not be messing around with a player who was deemed “one of the hottest talents in England” at the age of 17, and should consequently offer the 25-year-old a new deal.

In other news: Neil already heading for big summer disaster on SAFC’s star talent “who truly gets it” 

Liverpool will offer Sadio Mane a new contract this summer but he won’t be offered extortionate wages, according to a fresh update on the situation.

The Lowdown: Mane saga goes on

While Mohamed Salah’s future is dominating a lot of the headlines at the moment, there is also constant speculation surrounding Mane’s.

The Senegalese sensation is out of contract at Liverpool at the end of next season, and as of yet, his representatives and the club haven’t reached an agreement over an extension.

Now, another key update has surfaced regarding Mane’s next chapter.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-33/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=“none”]

The Latest: Offer incoming

According to Football Insider, a Liverpool source has informed them that a fresh contract offer will come Mane’s way at the end of the season.

It is stated that FSG won’t ‘break the bank’ to keep hold of the Senegal superstar, however, which has the potential to be a stumbling block if another club offers more.

The Verdict: Simply have to keep him

Assuming Mane wants to stay at Liverpool, giving him a new deal is an absolute no-brainer this summer, with the attacker hailed as ‘world-class’ by Jurgen Klopp.

He has scored 15 Premier League goals in 31 starts this season and is already flourishing in the new central role he has taken up since Luis Diaz arrived.

It would be a massive blow to lose Mane at this point in his career, with the Reds legend more than capable of remaining at the very top for several more years, with the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema still at their peak in their mid-30s.

In other news, Liverpool have been linked with a move for a big-name player. Find out who it is here.

Everton are reportedly now eyeing up a move to sign Tom Lawrence on a free transfer in the summer.

The Lowdown: Lampard favourite

The 28-year-old is a player that Frank Lampard knows very well from his time in charge at Derby County.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/everton-news-5/” title=”Everton news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The winger did not miss a game in the Championship under the current Toffees manager when he was available, scoring seven goals and providing a further five assists in 39 matches across all competitions in the 2018/19 season (Transfermarkt).

Lawrence heaped praise on Lampard during the 43-year-old’s time at Pride Park, and it is clear that the two have a very good relationship.

The Latest: Everton interest in Lawrence

As per The Daily Mail, Everton are among a number of clubs who are interested in signing Lawrence for free this summer, given that he will be out of contract.

Leeds United, Fulham, Burnley, Norwich City, Watford and Anderlecht are also thought to be keen, amid question marks over whether he would want to play in League One given Derby’s relegation this year.

The Verdict: Smart signing

Given that he would be signing on a free transfer, and that Lampard knows him well, Lawrence would certainly be a smart signing by the Merseyside club.

Dubbed ‘magnificent’ by his current boss and former Everton player Wayne Rooney earlier this season after two goals in an impressive performance against promotion hopefuls Sheffield United, the Wales international managed 11 strikes and five assists in the Championship for the relegated Rams (Transfermarkt).

As their captain, Lawrence also possesses leadership qualities that would be useful in a dressing room which has also been under threat of relegation, and at 28 years of age, this summer presents the perfect time for Everton to snap him up.

In other news, Everton are now battling with Liverpool to sign this predator

Burnley defender James Tarkowski is thought to be bound for Newcastle United this summer, The Daily Mirror’s James Nursey reports. 

The lowdown

The centre-back’s Burnley contract is due to expire at the end of the 2021/22 season.

And The Athletic recently reported that he definitively ‘will leave’, having ‘made his intentions clear’ to the club hierarchy.

Newcastle did sign a centre-half in January in the form of Brighton’s Dan Burn, who cost £13million.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/newcastle-news-6/” title=”Newcastle news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The latest

Nursey tweeted on Friday lunchtime that West Ham United have chosen to ‘end their interest in free agent’ Tarkowski because ‘they expect him to go to Newcastle’.

In the attached story, he explains that West Ham are ‘long-term admirers’ of the Englishman, but that Eddie Howe is ‘desperate’ to land a new centre-back this summer.

The Irons have now decided to move onto other targets, with Tarkowski set to secure a significant boost to his £50,000-per-week salary when he joins Newcastle.

The verdict

This looks like intelligent business from Newcastle.

Tarkowski is a £19.8million-rated asset with 192 games of Premier League experience and two caps for England, and they’re seemingly getting him on a free transfer.

He’s regarded as a ‘top player’ by his former team-mate Paul Robinson and ex-manager Sean Dyche.

And he’s simply a monster when it comes to aerial duels, winning 4.4 per game (70%) compared to 3.3 (66%) for 6 foot 7 defender Burn.

Indeed, according to WhoScored, only two players in the league – Ivan Toney and Ethan Pinnock – have won more per 90 this season.

Howe reportedly has a budget of less than £90million at his disposal for the summer window, and this deal will allow him to tick an important box without eating into it.

In other news, this man is now ‘set to leave’ SJP in the summer. 

Tottenham Hotspur will look to solve Antonio Conte’s wing-back woes with Joakim Maehle this summer…

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Mail, the north London outfit are lining up a move for Atalanta star, who is viewed as a perfect fit for the Italian head coach and after striking success with Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski, sporting director Fabio Paratici could return to the Serie A for another signing.

It remains to be seen how much the 24-year-old would command, though CIES Football Observatory value him at €50m (£45m).

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

Dream Conte wing-back

Conte has endured a torrid time with his wide options this campaign.

On the left, injuries have seen both Sergio Reguilon and Ryan Sessegnon struggle to sustain a consistent run in the side, both also lacking in form, whilst on the right, Emerson’s maiden campaign in the Premier League has largely been woeful with Matt Doherty’s season ended by an MCL injury.

The Denmark international first caught the eye of many during Euro 2020 as he impressed at left wing-back on their way to the semi-final, where they were defeated by Harry Kane’s England.

He has delivered nine goals from 25 caps at international level.

Meanwhile, a career average of 0.9 key passes, 0.9 shots and 1.1 dribbles per game, via WhoScored, further highlights his attacking credentials as a marauding wing-back.

Maehle is capable of getting into the final third often but that doesn’t come at any defensive expense, having also averaged 1.4 tackles and 1.1 interceptions throughout his career.

Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has been impressed by his De Rod-Hvide counterpart, once describing him as a “machine” after their 4-1 win over Russia at last summer’s major tournament.

If Conte wants to land an upgrade on the left or right side of the pitch, then they should look no further than the Danish dynamo, who ranks inside the top 10% of all players in his position for progressive passes received (3.67 per 90), thus making him something of a dream option for the Tottenham head coach.

Paratici and co must look to seal Maehle this off-season.

AND in other news, Forget Son: “Sensational” Spurs titan who had 11 clearances stole the show at Anfield…

Newcastle United no doubt had a questionable recruitment record during the Mike Ashley era, with Gabriel Obertan one such acquisition which simply failed to work out for all concerned.

Part of an influx of French talent that arrived through the door during Alan Pardew’s tenure as manager, the winger was signed from fellow Premier League side Manchester United in the summer of 2011, arriving at St James’ Park for a fee of around £3m.

While a relatively small risk move due to the relatively minor transfer fee, it was still a rather bizarre switch at the time considering the Paris-born dud’s struggles during his time at Old Trafford, in which he scored just once in 27 games after joining the Red Devils in 2009.

Although lauded as an “exciting prospect” by Sir Alex Ferguson, the Frenchman never looked of the quality needed to make the grade at the Theatre of Dreams, with journalist Richard Williams suggesting that he looked like a “headless chicken” during his stint with United.

The Tynesiders were seemingly keen to take a leap of faith regardless and bring the struggling youngster to the northeast, albeit with that decision notably backfiring as he went on to endure a dismal, injury-plagued stint at the club.

The 6 foot 1 menace would score just three goals in 77 games during his time at Newcastle, with that fact ensuring that he cost the club £1m for each goal scored in relation to his initial transfer fee.

Throughout his five-year stint with the Magpies, the former France U21 international only once made more than 15 league appearances in a single league campaign, having notably been restricted to just three top-flight outings during the 2013/14 season.

Unable to sell the struggling wide man, Ashley and co were left to rue their earlier decision to hand the player a lengthy, five-year deal, with Obertan only finally departing in the summer of 2016 once his contract had expired.

Since that long overdue exit, the now 33-year-old has had brief spells at a number of clubs both in Europe and abroad, turning out for Anzi Makhachkala, Wigan Athletic, Levski Sofia and Erzurumspor.

The £293k-rated veteran currently plies his trade for lower-league American outfit, Charlotte Independence, where he briefly played alongside former Magpies teammate and compatriot, Sylvain Marveaux.

Obertan has certainly not gone on to prove any Newcastle doubters wrong over the past six years, with it having been a sad decline for a player of such promise in his youth.

Wolves perhaps always knew they were onto a good thing when they signed Ruben Neves from Porto in a record transfer for the Championship in 2017.

The midfielder joined the Old Gold in a deal worth £15.8m and has been a mainstay at Molineux ever since, making 219 appearances in all competitions, in which he has contributed 25 goals and 12 assists.

After helping Wolves to promotion in his first season with the club, he has established himself as one of the top midfielders outside of the Premier League’s ‘big six’ and recently earned a promotion of his own, stepping up as Conor Coady’s replacement as captain in Bruno Lage’s side.

It is somewhat of a surprise that he remained with the club this summer, as he implied at the end of last season that it may be time for a change, while top Premier League clubs were linked with his signing.

However, Lage suggested that Wolves value the Portugal international at £100m; and had they sold him for that price, it would have been a 633% increase on the fee that they paid in 2017, which certainly represents good business by the club to get him in for the amount that they did.

Neves is currently ranked as the top performer in Wolves’ squad after averaging an impressive 7.37 rating from WhoScored for his Premier League performances, which emphasises how important he is in Lage’s team.

His one goal this season, one of just three scored by the Old Gold in the top flight, was a trademark screamer from outside the penalty box, something that Wolves fans have become well accustomed to seeing during his time at the club.

With comments which still ring true today, Darren Bent was full of praise for Neves in 2019 when he said: “He’s been good, he has scored some world-class goals that people will never forget.

“It’s a testament to Wolves that they’ve managed to hold onto him as there were times when he was one of the best midfield players in the country, he was playing at such a high level, and the fact they have managed to hold onto him and that he is still putting in good performances week-in-week-out, it’s brilliant for them.”

Keeping Neves for the foreseeable future might prove difficult if he maintains his current level of performance, but considering his huge rise in value since signing for Wolves five years ago, there can be no doubt that the club’s former manager Nuno Espirito Santo played a blinder by bringing him to Molineux.

Leeds United could be handed an opportunity to land Fabiano Parisi in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Mario Giuffredi, with the agent revealing in a recent interview with TuttoMercatoWeb that, despite Leeds – as well as the likes of Atalanta, Torino, Fiorentina, and OGC Nice – having come to an agreement with Empoli regarding a deal for the left-back, the 21-year-old ultimately decided against a move away from the Serie A side this summer.

However, Giuffredi went on to suggest that, despite the defender’s decision to remain at Empoli, the Italy U21 international could be available in the January transfer window – something that would appear to open the door to a second approach by Victor Orta and the Leeds United transfer team.

When asked whether Parisi could leave the Italian side in the next 12 months, the agent said: “Yes, the last few days of the market have been very hectic. I consider him a great team player, he can be the transfer man for January or for the summer.

“He is of the highest standard. He can aspire to important goals. We had many clubs, from Atalanta to Turin to Fiorentina, Leeds and Nice, also in agreement with Empoli we decided to wait.”

Orta’s next diamond

Considering just how exciting a prospect Parisi very much looks to be, it is not difficult to understand why Orta was interested in a move for the defender this summer, nor it is hard to see why the Spaniard could once again be tempted into €10m (£8.7m) move for the 21-year-old by the time the winter transfer window rolls around.

Indeed, the £8.7m-rated talent has been in sensational form over his five Serie A appearances so far this season, making an average of 3.0 tackles – the joint 10th-most in the league – 1.8 interceptions and 2.0 clearances per game, as well as winning a total of 42 duels – more than any other player in the Italian top flight.

The £3.1k-per-week talent has also impressed in an attacking capacity, scoring one goal – a spectacular solo effort against Lecce – and creating one big chance for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 1.2 shots, making 0.8 key passes and completing a remarkable 2.4 dribbles per fixture – a metric that would rank him second in the Leeds squad.

These returns have seen the player who Alvaro Canibe dubbed both “masterful” and “incredible” average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.20, not only ranking him as Paolo Zanetti’s second-best performer in the league but also as the joint 35th-best player in the division as a whole.

Furthermore, as a result of his exceptional returns over the past 12 months, FBref list some of Parisi’s most comparable players as Southampton starlet Valentino Livramento, AC Milan sensation Davide Calabria and none other than Leeds United’s very own Stuart Dallas.

As such, should Orta manage to add the 21-year-old Italian to his ever-growing list of impressive young acquisitions this January, it would very much look as if the director of football will have unearthed his next diamond in the transfer market – as Parisi would evidently be an incredibly exciting signing for the Whites.

Labuschagne’s recall looks certain but debate remains about where in the order he will bat

Andrew McGlashan21-Oct-2025

Steven Smith has revealed that Marnus Labuschagne told him before the season that he would be back in the Test side by the start of the Ashes.Though that decision has yet to be rubberstamped by the Australia selectors, Labuschagne is all-but certain to earn a recall having made two Sheffield Shield centuries in two matches – and four hundreds in five innings across the early domestic season – in a prolific return to form after being dropped in the West Indies earlier this year.”I sent him a message a couple of days ago saying how proud I was of him,” Smith said. “He’s just gone back and he’s got his fourth hundred in five hits. It’s a pretty big statement. He said to me at the start of the summer, he goes, ‘I’ll be in that Test team come the first [Ashes] Test’. He’s backed up his words, probably. He’s obviously not selected yet, [but] he’s done a lot of things right.”Related

Australia's top order: What are the selectors' options?

Labuschagne makes emphatic Ashes case

Weatherald makes a statement as Boland primes for Perth

'Takes me two hits' – Smith already feels in the Ashes groove

During the first ODI against India, Labuschagne spoke about some of his struggles having come from getting “too deep” into his technique and “trying to be too perfect”, which echoes advice Smith had given him.”We’ve all been there [dropped] at some point in our careers and it’s difficult to hear it,” Smith said. “But I think he knew he probably wasn’t batting as well as he had been over probably four years ago when he was scoring a mountain of runs.”I think my advice to him was ‘stop thinking so technically, just go and play the game; watch the ball and react’. I think he’s been doing that really beautifully and he’s played so nicely.”While Labuschagne’s return looks certain, a significant question remains about where he bats in the order amid the ongoing debate around who opens alongside Usman Khawaja with Sam Konstas’ challenges continuing. Labuschagne was promoted to the top in the World Test Championship final against South Africa and there remains a realistic chance he will be asked to do it again.Steven Smith has been prolific since returning to No. 4•Associated Press

A large part of the final decision may revolve around how many overs the selectors are confident in Cameron Green getting through and whether Beau Webster’s bowling is also required.”He can open, as we saw in the Test championship final,” Smith said. “He can bat three. He’s versatile. We’ll see where it all stands when the team gets picked. I mean, it’s not too different to batting three, to be honest. He could be in first ball. So, it’s essentially the same thing.”I don’t think he needs to change anything if that’s the case. Just play the game, play how he has been, and see the ball hit it, and trust his instincts.”Smith, who had a four-Test stint as opener in early 2024 before returning to No. 4 last season where he averaged 53.27 against India and Sri Lanka, may also become part of the batting-order debate over whether he returns to No. 3.”I’m not too fussed, to be honest,” Smith said. “I’m happy kind of wherever. But, yeah, we’ll see what happens when the team’s picked where we’ll talk to the coaches and Patty [Cummins] and see where everyone fits in best, I suppose, and keep it as simple as that.”Sam Konstas is struggling to retain his Test place•Getty Images

With regards Konstas, who has made 4, 14, 0 and 53 in his four Shield innings of the season having scored a century for Australia A in India last month, Smith said there was a balance to strike for young players between overloading them with advice and allowing them to problem solve.”He’s obviously going through a bit of a period right now where he’s trying to figure out how he wants to play,” he said. “I think at times you’ve got to let these young players figure it out for themselves and find the way that they want to play. I think back to when I was young, I had to figure it out.”There were people that I could speak to, but ultimately you’re the one out in the middle playing. It’s your career and you need to figure out how you want to go about it. He’s so young, he’s got plenty of time to figure out how he wants to go.”From what I’ve seen, he’s got so much time as a batter when he’s facing fast bowling. That’s something you can’t really teach, so that’s a good starting point. Then there’s a few things that he has to obviously work on, but he’s a bright talent as we’ve seen and he’s got a bright future.”

Despite sitting comfortably in the middle of the Premier League table, Everton’s start to the season hasn’t been quite as smooth as they might have hoped.

Off the back of a strong end to last season, following the return of David Moyes to the dugout and some inspired summer business that included the likes of Jack Grealish and Tyler Dibling, the Toffees went into the season hoping to kick on.

However, Everton’s two league defeats have dampened moods for two similar reasons. Their 1-0 defeat to Leeds in August from an 84th-minute penalty was a disappointing three points dropped, particularly given the nature of the late spot kick scored by Lukas Nmecha.

This weekend’s 2-1 defeat against Liverpool was equally frustrating as the team were unhappy with some of the refereeing decisions in the derby, including the limited amount of stoppage time when they were pushing for an equaliser. After the match, David Moyes praised his team for showing “a great deal of resilience” against the League Champions.

While tenth is a strong position compared to the relegation dogfights they have found themselves in over recent years, it may still feel frustrating given the circumstances of both defeats. However, Moyes is looking ahead for the rest of the season, and it seems he may be plotting to galvanise his team with some youthful flair in the not so distant future.

15-year-old Jonathan Nsangou makes Everton U21 debut

15-year-old Jonathan Nsangou has been making a name for himself in the Everton academy and has been playing beyond his years. This weekend saw the teenager make his U21’s debut, skipping two age groups.

The Liverpool Echo’s Joe Thomas was full of praise for Nsangou after his debut, as, despite being the youngest on the pitch: “He did not look daunted, regularly going in search of the ball, making himself available and forming part of the press that led to Beaumont-Clark’s goal.”

While his U21’s debut was a landmark moment for the youngster, it was not his first of the season. Earlier in the year, he made his U18’s debut and, even more impressively, he was called up by David Moyes to train with the first team, which Thomas attested to “how highly thought of he is”.

It’s not just at Everton where Nsangou has impressed, as he has also started making waves in the England set-up. Last season, he scored a hat-trick in an international friendly, and Thomas describes him as a “part of a talented core” that the England youth system is currently working with.

Nsangou's path to the first team

While 15 seems young to be breaking into the first team, it is something that has become more common over recent years. In the last three years, three 15-year-olds have made their Premier League debuts, with the most recent being Arsenal’s Max Dowman. Moyes may see the success that these young debutants have had as a reason to gamble with Nsangou at some stage in the season and make him the fourth Premier League 15-year-old.

The Wolves fixture seems unlikely to see too much rotation, given how seriously Moyes seems to be taking the League Cup this year. In their 2-0 win over Mansfield, Everton played a side that could compete against most Premier League teams, and when they made substitutions, it was for senior players rather than youngsters.

Outside of youth games, Toffee fans may have to be patient to see Nsangou in the senior team, but with a dense fixture list of three domestic cup competitions, injury and fatigue may allow the youngster to push his way in.