All posts by z3u9t.icu

With Marco Silva’s Fulham side heading into Wednesday night’s Championship clash in unconvincing form, as the Cottagers’ have won just one of their last five fixtures in all competitions, the 44-year-old manager will undoubtedly be hoping for a positive result at Craven Cottage in order to get his team’s automatic promotion push back on track.

However, with the visitors to west London this evening, Swansea City, being in much-improved form under Russell Martin in recent weeks, having lost just once in their last five league games, despite the contrasting league positions of the two sides, picking up three points in the fixture will be no walk in the park for Fulham.

So, will Silva make any changes to the team that started in the Cottagers’ 1-1 draw with Bristol City last weekend? Here’s how we think Fulham could line up against the Swans, along with the latest team and injury news…

With both Fabio Carvalho and Tom Cairney still sidelined due to injury, Silva once again has a tough call to make in the middle of the park for the visit of Swansea, so, with this in mind, we predict that the 44-year-old will make two changes to the side that started against the Robins.

In defence, the back five of Paulo Gazzaniga, Antonee Robinson, Tim Ream, Tosin Adarabioyo and Denis Odoi remains unchanged, as, despite the disappointing result at Ashton Gate, all five players turned in impressive performances in the fixture.

In the middle of the park, following his recovery from injury, the £31k-per-week Harrison Reed comes in alongside Nathaniel Chalobah, taking the place of Jean-Michael Seri, as the 31-year-old’s form has dropped in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, after yet another ineffectual display against Bristol City, Josh Onomah drops out of the side, with Bobby Reid – who started on the left flank last weekend – moving into the central attacking midfield role, while 29-year-old Neeskens Kebano comes in on the left-hand side of the Fulham attack.

Finally, Aleksandar Mitrovic keeps his place as starting centre-forward, with Rodrigo Muniz having to make do with a spot on the bench.

In other news: Big blow: Silva confirms injury setback ahead of Swansea clash, fans will be gutted

Manchester United have reportedly stepped up their efforts to secure a new central midfielder this summer with the August 31st deadline fast approaching.

What’s the story?

The Red Devils have been linked with several big names such as Saul Niguez and Eduardo Camavinga in recent weeks as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to strengthen the spine of his team.

But now, well-known journalist and transfer expert Duncan Castles has provided an update on the Old Trafford outfit’s search, claiming the club’s hierarchy have made contact with Ligue 1 outfit Monaco over Aurelien Tchouameni.

“They have had contact with Aurelien Tchouameni’s representatives at AS Monaco to find out what it would cost to bring him there,” Castles revealed on a recent installment of the Transfer Window podcast (as relayed by The Express).

Solskjaer would love him

After arriving at the Stade Louis II back in January 2020, Tchouameni has established himself as one of Ligue 1’s most promising young talents, scoring four goals and providing four assists in 52 appearances for the principality club.

However, it’s the 21-year-old’s work off the ball that really catches the eye. As per WhoScored, Tchouameni averaged a whopping 3.5 tackles per league game in 2020/21, by far the highest tally amongst his team.

The France Under-21 international also made 1.7 interceptions, the joint-highest total when compared to his teammates, and he not only dominated proceedings on the ground but in the air as well, winning 67% of his aerial duels.

Tchouameni’s domineering displays have caught the eye of several impressed onlookers, including current Monaco teammate Cesc Fabregas, who praised the youngster.

“He has the potential to be a complete midfield player,” the former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea maestro wrote on Twitter.

Therefore, United manager Solskjaer would surely love to bring the £27m-rated gem to the red half of Manchester over the coming days, adding some steal and bite to his midfield options.

The likes of Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes and Donny van de Beek are more attack-minded options than the protective Tchouameni, while Scott McTominay and Fred specialise in more box-to-box roles.

By bringing Tchouameni to Old Trafford, Solskjaer could finally have the balanced engine room that’s been missing throughout his reign, potentially elevating the 20-time English champions to new heights under the Norwegian.

And, in other news…Man Utd suffer blow in pursuit of £36m-rated “conductor”, Ole will be gutted 

Harry Kane is expected to push for a new contract at Tottenham Hotspur, according to emerging reports…

What’s the word?

Ian McGarry, who is one half of ‘The Transfer Window’ podcast alongside The Sunday Times journalist Duncan Castles, has claimed that the 28-year-old’s representatives will try to negotiate a bumper extension to his current £200k-per-week contract after the striker’s move to Manchester City never materialised.

“My information is that Kane’s position now is that his representative, who is his brother Charlie Kane, is hopeful of negotiating an upgrade on Kane’s current contract,” he revealed.

“That would include a release clause, meaning that Kane could leave next summer or indeed in January for a set fee, rather than the haggling which went on during the last few months between City and Tottenham.

“Kane himself still sees his future as playing in a team that will win trophies, something that he has not experienced.”

The right move?

After a long saga throughout the summer transfer window, the England international finally put an end to speculation linking him with an exit to the defending champions.

It seems as if City were never prepared to pay in excess of £150m, having splashed £100m on his international teammate Jack Grealish from Aston Villa earlier in the window, and that has left Kane with relationships to repair.

That should be a fairly easy task considering just how crucial he is to this Lilywhites side. He scored or assisted 54.4% of all their league goals scored last season, and already this campaign, he sits top of the key passes per game charts by some margin, showing he can be a big influence under new manager Nuno Santo.

However, as a prolific goalscorer and a product from the club’s youth academy, Kane has always been a fan favourite and popular figure around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

This latest development only bodes well for their chances of keeping hold of him for the remainder of his career – and on the other hand, the inclusion of a release clause would mean that chairman Daniel Levy gets his way once again and that’ll be for the benefit of the club rather than the player.

Spurs will get the services of Kane for the foreseeable future and that gives them the very best chance of success, given his influence. Similarly, if City – or another club – come calling again, the north Londoners will get every penny they deserve. It’s a win-win and exactly why the Lilywhites faithful must be elated with this update.

AND in other news, Nuno Santo could discover Spurs’ next Dele Alli by unleashing “bright” 20 y/o prodigy…

The return of the Premier League is just around the corner and with that comes the agonising task of assembling your Fantasy Football teams.

It’s an annual occurrence that we all know and love. The seasons start is just days away, so you hop onto your favourite Fantasy Football app such as FPL, Sky Fantasy, Sun Dream Team, whatever your preference. You then spend the next hour or so meticulously crafting the perfect squad to contest with your mates for a cheeky little stake.

However, what if I told you about a revolutionary style of Fantasy Football, that gives you the opportunity to win a lifechanging £200,000 for simply doing what you do every year for just a few hundred quid? In step FanTeam.com, who are changing the fantasy football landscape across the UK and Europe with an incredible £1,000,000 prize pool for their Premier League competition.

Through their engaging social media strategy and incredible fantasy football platform, it really is a no-brainer.

Still need convincing? Well, for just a £20 stake, you can be in with the chance of securing £200,000 if you manage to finish first. Of course, the top prize can’t go to everyone, but even finishing in the Top 5,000 players will guarantee you doubling your money. A top 100 finish will give you a minimum of £1,000 in prize money come the end of the season.

What’s even better about FanTeam.com is that they use the same assembling system as any other Fantasy Football game – £100m available to select 15 players for the entirety of the season. The thing that sets FanTeam.com different from the rest is their scoring system, which doesn’t just focus on goals, assists, and clean sheets.

With FanTeam.com, you can also score points based off shots on target and games won, as well as lose points from giving away penalties and freekicks that lead to a goal.

It really is a no-brainer if you’re a Fantasy Football connoisseur – why waste your time with a mini-league between your mates when you can take a shot at winning a life-changing amount of money?

The season is just weeks away, so you better get entering! Certain Premier League players are a no brainer based on their scoring system, but who will you go for? Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Mohamed Salah? What are you waiting for, head to FanTeam.com now!

How to join FanTeam’s Premier League 2021/22 Fantasy Football tournament:

To sign up, you need to be over 18, Gamble Aware and meet FanTeam’s terms and conditions. Otherwise, just follow these steps…

– Head to FanTeam and sign up – click here

– Join the ‘£1m Fantasy Premier League’ tournament and pay the £20 entry fee

– Create a team and click ‘Enter Tournament’

Newcastle United have made a major breakthrough in their hopes of signing Arsenal midfielder Joe Willock this summer.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent days had suggested that while Steve Bruce’s side may have agreed a fee with the Gunners over the England U21 international, a stumbling block had appeared in the form of personal terms with the midfielder.

And now, The Athletic’s David Ornstein has revealed: “Joe Willock has agreed terms with Newcastle (per @mcgrathmike@footyinsider247) for permanent move from Arsenal. 21yo to head north today & expected to start medical tomorrow morning before completing move for fee of above £20m @TheAthleticUK #NUFC #AFC.”

Newcastle fans will be buzzing

Having agreed a fee with Arsenal, fans would surely have been optimistic at seeing Willock return on a permanent basis, but news of the two parties being a distance apart on personal terms would have been very worrying.

This latest news is sure to have everyone associated with the club rocking.

If you needed any proof of just how much Newcastle fans have fallen in love with Willock, and how much they want him to stay, then you only have to look at the St James’ Park faithful serenading him during his post-match interview against the Blades.

The 21-year-old has been a breath of fresh air for a Magpies side who desperately needed his fresh injection of pace and energy, and his ability to break into the box and time his runs have resulted in some match-winning contributions.

He bagged eight in 14 games following his arrival, and set a new record by becoming the youngest player in Premier League history to score in seven consecutive matches.

It’s exactly why Ornstein’s latest update on Newcastle’s move for Willock will have fans absolutely buzzing.

Meanwhile, Newcastle could sign a dream Joe Willock partner in this star…

American journalist Larry Henry Jr has dropped the latest on talks from Newcastle United to sign USA international Cameron Carter-Vickers in the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Impressive at Bournemouth

Carter-Vickers had a very impressive 2020/21 season while on loan at AFC Bournemouth from Tottenham Hotspur, as the Cherries just missed out on promotion back up to the Premier League with a play-off semi-final loss at the hands of Brentford, who eventually went up themselves.

The Spurs man played in a total of 21 games in the EFL Championship, winning no fewer than 4.5 of his duels per match, as well as averaging 3.4 clearances, 1.1 interceptions and one tackle per game, helping his team keep five clean sheets in the process (Sofascore).

The Latest: Carter-Vickers update

As per journalist Henry Jr, both the St. James’ Park faithful and Celtic ‘remain in talks’ with the Lilywhites over a potential deal to sign Carter-Vickers, ‘per a source close to the player’.

THFC would also receive a sell-on clause in addition to a transfer fee, should the central defender leave North London.

The Verdict: Sign

Steve Bruce could do with bulking up his squad now as the new campaign looms, and Carter-Vickers could prove to be a cheap option to do just that.

Rated at a mere £1.8m by Transfermarkt, the USA international is unlikely to be very pricey at all, and will have gained a lot of confidence from some of his displays while at Bournemouth.

Nonetheless, at just 23 years of age, he still has a lot of potential, and may get the regular games on Tyneside needed to realise that.

In other news, find out what consortium insight Lee Ryder has dropped on the potential takeover here!

Many Wolves fans have been flocking to social media to react to a transfer update involving Adama Traore.

Speaking on his podcast The Transfer Window (via Talking Wolves),  football journalist and transfer expert Duncan Castles has claimed that Leeds United have offered £30m to sign the Spain international in the summer window.

However, he also claims that Traore is not interested in a ‘sideways’ move.

Described as ‘so talented’ by former Midlands club manager Nuno Espirito Santo back in November, the winger is capable of winning matches on his own, and so to sell him to a direct rival in the Premier League does not seem like a wise idea.

Granted, Traore did endure a disappointing 2020/21 season by his standards, but the campaign before he scored six goals and made a further 12 assists in 54 games in total over all competitions (Transfermarkt), which has not been forgotten by the Molineux faithful.

Wolves fans on Traore transfer update

These WWFC supporters gave their reactions as the exit rumour was shared on Twitter, with some loving his comments about a ‘sideways’ move, while others think £30m is simply not enough to sell their prized asset:

“I like this”

Credit: @cal_wolvesfc

“ADAMA HAS BRAINCELLS”

Credit: @Finsabu

“If that’s true that’s brilliant! Well done Adama you just went way up in my valuation! Legend!”

Credit: @stevebird1877

“£30m throw the dart again!”

Credit: @metalliam

“£30m? Jog on.”

Credit: @vexrob

“Cost you £30 million just for the baby oil supply that comes with him”

Credit: @Julian_Cassell

In other news, find out what leaked kit image has Wanderers buzzing here!

West Ham United are in pole position to sign Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham following reports from Football Insider that they have overtaken Aston Villa in the race for his services.

The Lowdown: West Ham gear up for exciting 2021/22 campaign

Moving into 2021/22, it will be fascinating to see how West Ham juggle the task of competing in both the Premier League and Europa League.

Making inroads in the transfer market, the Hammers have tied up a permanent deal for Craig Dawson as well as bringing in Armstrong Oko-Flex as they build towards the forthcoming campaign.

Could they now be set for a third London Stadium summer arrival following recent developments?

The Latest: West Ham now front-runners to sign Tammy Abraham

West Ham are said to be the front-runners to acquire centre-forward Abraham, according to a recruitment source at Football Insider.

The Irons face competition from Premier League rivals Aston Villa and Wolves for the 23-year-old’s signature, who is also attracting attention from Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund [Football Insider].

While the England international has been valued at around £40m by the Champions League winners, an offer of £35m could well be enough to finalise an agreement [Football Insider].

The Verdict: Abraham would be an astute signing for the Hammers

Upon reflection, the 23-year-old would be an astute piece of business in an area which desperately needs bolstering for David Moyes’ side – the injury-prone Michail Antonio is currently the Irons’ only natural senior striker.

Abraham enjoyed a productive 2020/21 campaign, registering 18 goal contributions in 32 appearances as he registered 12 goals and six assists [Transfermarkt]. Showing his ability to bring others into play, he won 1.8 aerial duels per game across the season [WhoScored].

Once labelled as ‘unbelievable’ by former Aston Villa teammate Jack Grealish [The Chelsea Chronicle], the England ace could be the perfect marquee signing for the Hammers going into 2021/22.

In other news, West Ham have lodged an offer to sign this La Liga ace.

Leeds United must avoid an unforgivable disaster this summer as news emerges over Spurs’ transfer interest in England star Kalvin Phillips.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent days have suggested that the north Londoners have got their eye on the 25-year-old, who’s currently shining at international level with the Three Lions at EURO 2020.

It’s claimed that along with Spurs, the likes of European giants Juventus and Real Madrid are also interested, and that the Whites themselves have put a price tag of £25m “in case one of the clubs that are interested wants to make an offer”.

Bielsa would lose his mind

Not only has Phillips grown into an England international under Bielsa’s leadership, but his market value has risen up considerably too.

When the Argentine took over as Leeds boss back in the summer of 2018, replacing Paul Heckingbottom in the dug-out, Phillips was only rated at £4.5m by Transfermarkt.

But gradually over time, that has gone up, before really spiking thanks to the Whites’ promotion to the Premier League – his value now stands at an impressive £27m, which is actually good enough to rank him as Leeds’ joint-most valuable player right now, joint-top with last summer’s signing Raphinha.

That valuation makes it even more eyebrow-raising for Leeds to apparently only want £25m for Phillips this summer. That would be the kind of ludicrous sale that would surely have Bielsa tearing his hair out – not just in terms of the lack of financial sense it makes, but also for the impact for those on the pitch too.

Former Whites boss, Neil Redfearn said: “Leeds create overloads all over the field. Bielsa is very clever with that but Kalvin is key to it. He is the perfect build for that position, a powerful player but also has a fantastic range of passing.

“When he was younger, we used to have him as a box-to-box player who would score plenty of goals. Bielsa has made Kalvin an expert deep-lying midfielder but he could do both roles.”

It’s a telling sign that in the games that Phillips missed last season in the Premier League – nine to be precise – Leeds won just twice, and lost every single other one.

Phillips is the heartbeat of the midfield, and without him, Leeds look a shadow of their real selves. And that’s not taking into account what he means to the club as a whole too, given how he has come through the system and built a real bond with the fans.

So, news that Leeds would be open to a sale for Phillips is disastrous to say the least. The fact then that they would be open to taking just £25m, and potentially even to a possible European rival in Spurs too, would make it completely unforgivable.

Bielsa would absolutely lose his mind.

AND in other Leeds news; The Whites are closing in on a deal to sign in-demand ace

Many Everton fans have been left to buzz as a transfer update emerged on Ben White.As per The Daily Mail, the Goodison Park faithful are looking to beat Arsenal to the signature of the Brighton and Hove Albion central defender, and have held talks over a £50m deal, with an extra £5m in add-ons.£20m would be paid up front with an extra £30m spread equally over the four years, and White has been left impressed by the speed at which the Merseyside club are working at.Even though the Toffees currently have four centre-backs at their disposal in Ben Godfrey, Mason Holgate, Michael Keane and Yerry Mina, Holgate has been linked with a move away in the summer window, and White’s extra versatility means that he is equally as comfortable at playing at right-back as well as in a defensive midfield role.[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/everton-updates-4/” title=”Everton updates! (4)” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”] Everton fans on White transfer update

These Blues buzzed as the transfer update was shared on Twitter, with one EFC supporter even going as far as to claim that it was ‘massive’:

“Him and Godfrey. Be sound that”Credit: @liambannister23″Big fan of any attempts to pair Ben Godfrey with Ben White.”Credit: @CallumChadwick_”White and Godfrey sounds like a great combo”Credit: @ric7hard7″Would be a great signing and shows intent. We cannot play any other way but a low block at present with our current centre halves. White and Godfrey allows us to play a high line and a high press. Could be a key signing to changing the way we play. Then RB, RW and CM”Credit: @JonHughes100″Would be a great signing. Him and Godfrey is the perfect balance and you’ve got your centre halves sorted for the next 10 years”Credit: @https_piercey”Massive that !!! Wouldn’t say it was a priority but”Credit: @stand1878In other news, find out what club update has Evertonians buzzing here!