All posts by z3u9t.icu

Aston Villa are likely to be watching Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher closely this summer, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the transfer insider suggested that the Midlands outfit will be “keeping tabs” on the Englishman in the current window, should it become clear that he won’t feature under Thomas Tuchel next term.

After a positive loan stint at Crystal Palace last term, the 22-year-old is set to return to Stamford Bridge for pre-season, although O’Rourke admitted that Villa will be in the mix in case his situation changes: “I think Villa and a number of Premier League clubs will be potentially looking at Conor Gallagher this summer.

“He was a massive success at Crystal Palace last year, he’s broken into the England squad, but if he’s not going to play for Chelsea, I’m sure most of the Premier League would probably sign Conor Gallagher if he became available.

“So, I’m sure Aston Villa will be no different. I’m sure they’ll be keeping tabs on his situation at Stamford Bridge just like most of the Premier League will be.”

A return to Selhurst Park has been teased by Eagles chairman Steve Parish, while Everton boss Frank Lampard is also said to be keen on the youngster, although any interested party is likely to have to fork out around £50m to secure a permanent swoop.

Villa’s own Bellingham

With the Villans seemingly on the hunt for further midfield additions – despite having already signed Boubacar Kamara – Gallagher would no doubt be an ideal fit, having proven his worth following an eye-catching season with Palace.

The one-time Swansea loanee bagged eight goals and provided a further three assists from his 34 Premier League outings, with such form even attracting the interest of England boss Gareth Southgate, who has since welcomed him into the international fold.

His displays have also drawn comparisons to compatriot Jude Bellingham, with the pair sharing a number of stylistic and statistical similarities, according to FBref.

The fact that the teenager is a former Birmingham City man may not go down too well with the Villa support, although it is hard to deny just what a special talent he is, having belied his years with a string of impressive and mature displays for both club and country in recent times.

Already a “leader” at Borussia Dortmund – according to veteran teammate Mats Hummels – the 18-year-old has been instrumental over the past few seasons since his £25m move from St Andrews in 2020, notably scoring six goals and registering 14 assists in all competitions last term for the Bundesliga side.

The £49k-per-week starlet also compares favourably to those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, ranking in the top 3% for dribbles completed, progressive passes received and touches in the attacking penalty area, showcasing his undoubted knack for surging forward from his midfield berth.

Gallagher clearly has similar attributes as he ranks highly in the same metrics, ranking in the top 8% for dribbles completed, the top 11% for progressive passes received and the top 7% for touches in the attacking penalty area, with the all-action gem proving a relentless presence in the centre of the park.

He too has also been dubbed a “leader” by Ashley Cole, despite his youth, with the former West Brom appearing unfazed by the transition to life at the top level – much like the Dortmund ace.

With Bellingham clearly out of reach for even the most elite clubs, Gerrard can capture an ideal alternative in the form of Gallagher.

IN other news, Deal Imminent: AVFC now “set to sign” fifth summer addition, Gerrard will be buzzing

Liverpool are eyeing a move for Saint-Etienne youngster Saidou Sow as Jurgen Klopp looks to strengthen his squad ahead of next season.

What’s the word?

That’s according to French news outlet L’Equipe (via Sport Witness), which claimed that the Reds are keen on the 19-year-old and even sent scouts to watch him on international duty for Guinea.

Sow is under contract until 2025 and is just getting back to match fitness, having suffered an ankle injury since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

As per the report, the teenager has lost some of his market value since the start of the year but remains one of the club’s most bankable assets.

He’s an upgrade on Gomez

Despite already having defenders of the calibre of Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip, Jurgen Klopp appears to be on the lookout for the next big talent or someone who could learn from some of the best in the Premier League.

There could be a need for some defensive reinforcements to come into the squad, though, especially with the future of Joe Gomez remaining uncertain going into the summer.

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Before the Africa Cup of Nations this year, Sow was included in a list of “ones to watch” from WhoScored. Comparing his statistics from 2021/22 with Gomez, there is a case to be made that he could be a big upgrade on the Englishman.

Sow offers a bigger goalscoring threat, having netted twice for Saint-Etienne last season, with Gomez not scoring at all, as both players registered one assist.

Sow completed 83.6% of his passes in Ligue 1, with Gomez completing 79.7% in the Premier League. This shows that the Saint-Etienne youngster is good at playing out from the back and would likely fit into Klopp’s system with ease.

The Guinea international also won more tackles (15 to four), made more blocks (18 to three) and made more than double the number of interceptions (29 to 12) compared to Gomez, although he did play in five more league matches than the Liverpool defender.

These figures suggest that Sow has the defensive attributes to excel in England, and alongside one of the world’s best players in Van Dijk, he could become one of the best in the Premier League further down the line.

AND in other news, Terms agreed: FSG are now “close” to making LFC’s second summer signing, Klopp will be delighted

The agent of Real Madrid attacker Marco Asensio reportedly wants to take the Spaniard to Manchester United this summer.

The Lowdown: Asensio’s Madrid career

The 26-year-old signed for Madrid back in 2015 from Mallorca and has gone on to enjoy great success at the Bernabeu.

Asensio, described as ‘magical’ by teammate Casemiro, has made 235 appearances for the Spanish giants, scoring 49 goals, registering 24 assists and winning 14 major honours.

Capable of playing on either wing or as an attacking midfielder, the Spain international is entering the final 12 months of his contract, and it looks as if a move away could be a possibility as the player himself revealed talks will take place after Spain’s Nations League games.

The Latest: United links

Sports Witness relayed an update from El Chiringuito journalist Marcos Benito regarding Asensio and United.

They claimed that super-agent Jorge Mendes, who now represents Asensio, ‘wants to take’ the 26-year-old to Manchester United and has ‘good ties’ with officials at Old Trafford.

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The Verdict: Interesting…

Valued at £36m by Transfermarkt, Asensio could well be available for a knockdown fee over the coming months due to his contract situation.

He could be of use to Erik ten Hag, especially with the Dutchman not having a senior right-winger to choose from at this moment in time. Bruno Fernandes will also be Ten Hag’s only available senior attacking midfielder when Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard leave, so bringing in Asensio who has plenty of experience and is extremely versatile could be a shrewd move, providing the price is right.

It looks as if Asensio’s agent wants a move to materialise, so this could be one to watch closely.

Joel Matip will be left out of Liverpool’s Champions League final team to face Real Madrid, according to former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

The Lowdown: Selection headache for Klopp

The Reds face their biggest game of the season on Saturday evening, as they take on Madrid in the most high-profile match in club football.

Jurgen Klopp will likely feel that arguably nine or ten players pick themselves in his starting lineup, but Matip and Ibrahima Konate are battling to partner Virgil van Dijk at centre-back.

The pair have both enjoyed superb seasons for Liverpool but the brutal reality is that only one will start proceedings in Paris.

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The Latest: Matip tipped for the axe

Speaking to Football Insider, Sky Sports pundit Robinson claimed that it will be Konate who gets then nod over Matip on Saturday, after both players struggled vs Wolves:

“Neither Matip or Konate played well against Wolves at the weekend. But whoever plays alongside Van Dijk improves. He is a top-class player and a leader.

“‘It is not an issue that’s for sure. They could go with Matip or Konate. I think Jurgen Klopp will go for Konate though. They have a good relationship together. They have worked well together in the Champions League this season.”

The Verdict: Konate favourite to start

It is such a tough call over who starts out of Matip and Konate, with both possessing different attributes, from the former’s calm and experience to the latter’s pace and aggression.

The fact that Vinicius Jr is an electric left winger who could find space in behind Trent Alexander-Arnold means that Konate is the favourite to start, though.

His speed could be required in Liverpool’s much-discussed high line, with Matip not as quick and more suited to facing a different kind of attacking threat. Whoever Klopp goes with, fans will have few issues, given the brilliance of both.

In other news, David Maddock has dropped a ‘huge’ Liverpool claim. Read more here.

Celtic have been linked with a move for Gent defender Joseph Okumu ahead of the upcoming summer window.

What’s the news?

Speaking to People Daily (via Daily Record), the Kenyan’s agent was discussing the current situation regarding the player and his future with the Belgian club.

He said: “We’ve had informal interest from Arsenal [and] Scottish giants Celtic, but Borussia Dortmund is the first to make an official inquiry about Okumu. He’s open to a move if an agreement is reached.”

Gent signed the centre-back from Swedish outfit IF Elfsborg last summer. During his debut season with the Belgian club, the 25-year-old made 47 appearances across all competitions, chipping in with three goals in the process.

Postecoglou would love him

To highlight his defensive talent, the Kenyan racked up the third-highest number of interceptions (49) and tackles (41) in Gent’s squad. He also ended the season with his team’s second-highest average for blocks per game (0.9) and the third-most clearances per match (3.2).

Standing at 6 foot 3, the £2.1k-per-week defender clearly has what it takes to be a solid defensive unit, and he has shown why Ange Postecoglou would undoubtedly love to have a strong player like him in the ranks at Parkhead.

Speaking about the player prior to his move to Belgium, Elfsborg sporting director Stefan Andreasson said: “We understood that this was a very good player, then he showed maybe the whole of Sweden last year, and also Europe. It is clear that Okumu is one of the best.

“I have said it once before, that he is the best centre-back that has ever been in the Allsvenskan – you can say that sometimes.”

In terms of a potential move to Celtic, the Hoops are reportedly working on securing Cameron Carter-Vickers on a permanent basis after his recent loan spell. However, if these efforts end up being unsuccessful, then Okumu could be an ideal replacement for the American in Glasgow.

However, if the 25-year-old’s agent is being truthful with his reported comments, and the likes of Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund are indeed interested in signing the defender, then Celtic could have a challenge on their hands to secure his signature.

If Postecoglou and the Bhoys are in the market for a centre-back this summer, then the Gent titan should definitely be near the top of their target list.

In other news: Ange can sign the next Roberts as Celtic eye £1.8m wizard who’s “Mourinho’s nightmare”

Everton were unable to see out their disastrous season with a win on the final day at the Emirates and will be thankful that their tight relegation battle didn’t go down to the last day after today’s performance.

Frank Lampard secured safety in the Premier League with the Toffees earlier in the week at Goodison Park against Crystal Palace, so going into today’s game there was no pressure on the side to take all three points from the game in North London against Arsenal.

Everton were completely dominated by the Gunners throughout with only 29% possession, 20 fewer shots on goal and over 400 fewer accurate passes than Mikel Arteta’s side who went out to win to compete with Tottenham Hotspur for the fourth spot but failed at the final hurdle despite their overwhelming 5-1 win.

It was a free for all in terms of scoring goals, Alex Iwobi gifted Arsenal their first opportunity with a handball inside the box leading to Gabriel Martinelli opening up the score-line 27th minute of the game.

After the hosts got their first goal they found their way to kill the game with Eddie Nketiah, Cedric Soares, Gabriel Magalhaes and Martin Odegaard all finding the back of the net to take their victory.

However, one returning player did make his mark on the game with Manchester United loanee Donny van de Beek finding the back of the net in the final moments of the first half, but it wasn’t enough for Everton to bow out with a positive result.

One player who failed to take his opportunity to prove his worth today was Dele Alli, who has already been linked with a move away from the club following a disappointing five months since signing on Deadline Day in a deal believed to be worth £40m.

According to SofaScore, Alli who was dubbed a “waste of space” by Simon Jordan made just six passes, losing 100% of his aerials duels and losing 80% of his ground duels. He also lost the ball every 2.7 touches before being brought back to the bench by the Toffees boss in the 67th minute.

With that being said, Farhad Moshiri must let Alli go this summer and invest in players that can be effective when they are called upon as major improvement is needed next season to ensure Everton doesn’t find themselves in a similar situation they have been in during the current campaign.

AND in other news: Lampard plotting Everton bid for £158k-p/w dynamo, he’d be a “joy to watch”

Liverpool already have two trophies to their name and still have the chance to win the Premier League and Champions League in the coming weeks.

One figure in Jurgen Klopp’s squad that has played a big part in getting the team in this position is winger Mohamed Salah.

With 49 games under his belt for the Reds across all competitions, the attacker has scored an impressive 30 goals and delivered 16 assists along the way.

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Despite his rampant goalscoring form on the pitch, there has been a big distraction going on behind the scenes regarding the Egyptian potentially signing a new deal with the club.

If the 29-year-old doesn’t put pen to paper on a new contract and leaves the club, the Reds will need to identify potential replacements. That said, they may already have one in mind.

Back in April, it was reported that Liverpool have an interest in signing Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma.

After joining the Spanish club from AFC Bournemouth back in the previous summer transfer window in a deal worth a reported fee of £21.3m, the winger has become a pivotal figure for his new club.

In 23 appearances in La Liga, the 25-year-old has scored 16 goals and provided three assists, whereas, in 11 Champions League appearances, he’s found the net six times and delivered one assist.

To further highlight how much of an attacking threat he has been, the former Cherries star has averaged 2.7 shots, the highest in Villarreal’s squad, and 1.4 dribbles per game in the league.

Labelled as a player that is “a nightmare for defenders” as well as being someone who “can hurt any defence with his pace and directness,” by Kevin Phillips, Danjuma is now reportedly available for a fee of £45m.

While he may not be as deadly as Salah has been this season, there aren’t many players in world football that have or could reach the levels he’s been at in this campaign.

However, as a potential replacement for the Egypt international, the Villarreal star could be a suitable option.

In other news: Liverpool eye bid for exciting wonderkid, he could become a “scary” £127m-rated talent

Ange Postecoglou has the chance to win his first league title in charge of Celtic tonight as a single point will be enough to secure the trophy for the Bhoys.

The Hoops are six points clear of their rivals with two games left to play and this means that it would take a staggering collapse from them to throw their lead away at this stage.

Celtic travel away to face Dundee United in the Premiership and Postecoglou may look to make a few changes to his team to keep players happy with their minutes.

One player who must finally be unleashed from the start of the match is Greek centre-forward Giorgos Giakoumakis.

He has not started a league game for the Hoops since the 9th of April in a 7-0 win against St. Johnstone and must now come back into the team.

A-League writer Sacha Pisani claimed that month that Giakoumakis is one of the Celtic players who can “dominate headlines” and it is easy to see why when you look at his goal return. The gem has found the back of the net ten times in as many Premiership starts, playing 19 games in total for the club in the division.

The £8.2k-per-week earner has also created four ‘big chances’ in that time as he has proven that he carries a major threat at the top end of the pitch. The Greece international has the quality to score and create goals in the Premiership, which means that he can be a match-winner for the Hoops.

Postecoglou previously dubbed him “hugely important” to Celtic and explained why he can be crucial for the club, saying: “The way a lot of opposition set up against us with a lot of bodies in the box, you need presence in there, it’s not as if we have a lot of space to run into.

“I know that’s where his strengths lie and it is just a matter of him gaining a little bit of confidence -which he has.”

Dundee United are currently fourth and one point above Motherwell in the table and this means that they will be fighting hard for a result to keep their own European hopes alive.

Therefore, they may set up with ‘bodies in the box’ to keep Postecoglou’s side at bay for as long as possible. This is why Giakoumakis, who was dubbed a “phenomenon” by Ronald de Boer, can be the perfect man to bring into the XI to give Celtic the best chance of securing the three points with his knack for finding the back of the net.

AND in other news, Forget Maeda: Celtic must unleash “frustrated” ace today, he’ll fire them to the title…

Arsenal are reportedly interested in a move for Juventus midfielder Arthur this summer, according to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.

What’s the word?

As per German outlet Wettfreunde, the Sky Sports transfer guru revealed that the Brazilian playmaker “could come to Arsenal” in the upcoming window, with his current side potentially set to try and cash in as they pursue other targets.

The report suggests that the north Londoners were keen on a deal for the 25-year-old in January – as backed up by claims at the time – and could continue that interest again at the end of the season.

Di Marzio does, however, suggest that Max Allegri’s side could ask for centre-back star Gabriel in return, with the Serie A side seeking a replacement for long-serving stalwart Giorgio Chiellini, who is set to leave the club in just over a month or so.

Supporters will be buzzing

If they can avoid having to let their current gem depart as part of the deal, a move for his compatriot Arthur would no doubt prove to be an astute piece of business for both Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu.

The 22-cap international – who joined the Turin outfit in a swap deal involving Miralem Pjanic from Barcelona two years ago – has found game time hard to come by at the Allianz Stadium so far this season, making just ten league starts, although has shown enough quality previously to warrant the hype.

Even amid a difficult stint in Italy, the £18m-rated man has still produced some impressive statistics, ranking in the top 3% for completed passes among midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, as well as in top 15 % for both progressive passes and progressive carries.

Such quality in possession has previously seen the former Gremio man likened to Spain icon Xavi by former teammate Lionel Messi, while pundit Kevin Campbell also dubbed him a “baller” for his technical talent.

At present, Arteta’s men are crying out for new additions in the centre of the park, with a playmaking, midfield metronome seemingly required alongside the more defensive-minded Thomas Partey. As a result, any move for a player like Arthur would surely have supporters beaming from ear to ear.

He may be slightly older than last summer’s additions – with all six signings made under the age of 23 – although he still has plenty of time ahead of him to thrive in the Premier League, with links to both him – and 25-year-old Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus – perhaps illustrating an exciting change of tack in the transfer market from Edu and co.

IN other news, Forget Laca: Arsenal already have their new Saka in “deadly” 17-goal Hale End starlet…

According to The Sun journalist Tom Barclay, at least one of Southampton’s three senior goalkeepers will leave the club this summer.

The Lowdown: Goalkeepers out of contract

Fraser Forster has played every minute for the Saints since coming back into the side in December as a result of Alex McCarthy picking up a long-term thigh injury,

However, he could now be on the move following news that the club are reportedly committed to keeping McCarthy as their first-choice shot-stopper, having only put pen to paper on a new deal at St Mary’s at the end of last season.

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Willy Caballero’s time could also be coming to an end under Ralph Hasenhuttl following a lack of game-time, with the 40-year-old having made just four appearances since joining the Saints.

All but McCarthy will be out of contract in June, and Barclay has suggested that at least one of them will be on the move over the summer.

The Latest: Saints likely to let one leave

When asked how he believes Southampton’s transfer business will pan out, Barclay told GiveMeSport:

“I’m not sure about a rebuild, because there’s a lot of good stuff being done, but adding a few and letting a few go would help. When you look at it, the goalkeepers, at least one of them will go.”

The Verdict: Johnstone an ideal replacement

While there seems little doubt that McCarthy will be in control of the gloves at the start of next season, Hasenhuttl will need to sign a suitable replacement should one of the existing goalkeeping trio depart, and that person could be West Brom’s Sam Johnstone.

The 29-year-old is set to become a free agent in the summer following the expiry of his contract with the Baggies, and it has been reported by the Daily Mail that the Saints are said to be interested in his services.

Johnstone has kept 15 clean sheets for the Championship outfit this season and has previous top-flight experience having been in the Premier League with Albion last term, so a possible move to a mid-table team like Southampton could have the potential to revive his career for both club and country.

In other news… the Saints have joined the transfer race for this ‘big player