All posts by z3u9t.icu

Liverpool are believed to be closing in on the signing of Aberdeen defender Calvin Ramsay, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

What’s the word?

Writing on Twitter, the respected insider revealed that the Reds are “confident” that a deal can be struck with the Scottish Premiership outfit for the 18-year-old, with an agreement also close regarding personal terms.

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The last few weeks has seen speculation ramp up regarding a possible deal to take the teenager to Anfield, with Romano now hinting that a deal could be imminent: “Liverpool are set to reach an agreement with Calvin Ramsay on personal terms – they made an official bid to Aberdeen for the Scottish fullback.

“Club confident on agreement between clubs – but Aberdeen want around €10m with add ons included. Talks ongoing”.

This follows another announcement from the same source that revealed that a deal to bring Benfica’s Darwin Nunez to the club is close to being confirmed, with a potential fee of around €100m (£85.4m) having been mooted.

Klopp will love it

The transfer window may have only just opened although the Merseysiders appear to be keen to get their business done swiftly, with the early start to the next campaign heightening the need to have everything in order as quickly as possible.

While it may be the high-profile arrival of Nunez that steals the headlines this summer, Jurgen Klopp will be just as pleased to get the Ramsay deal over the line, with the young Scotsman offering quality backup to Trent Alexander-Arnold.

He may only have one full senior campaign under his belt thus far, although the attacking right-back has already shown more than just glimpses of his quality, chipping in with one goal and an impressive nine assists in all competitions at Pittodrie last term.

A Scotland U21 international, the full-back has reportedly been the subject of interest from a number of other Premier League sides, having been labelled “one of the best young full-backs in the world” by manager Jim Goodwin for his form in the first half of last term.

Former Dons man Brian Irvine also sees no reason why the starlet can’t follow a similar path to that of compatriot Andy Robertson, who traded Dundee for Liverpool, via a stint at Hull City, before emerging as a key figure under Klopp.

There will, of course, be the presence of the aforementioned Alexander-Arnold that will likely hamper Ramsay’s game time should he make the move, although the playmaking Englishman is seemingly in need of an able deputy, due to the absence of another recognised, right-sided defender in the squad.

Having had to deploy centre-back Joe Gomez in that role on occasion last term, Klopp will love the chance to have another more suited option at his disposal, with the youngster’s attacking intent will also fit comfortably in the German’s front-foot system.

His impact may not be instant, although Ramsay could well prove to be a real key piece of business for the Liverpool boss in the coming years.

AND in other news: “LFC want…”: Fabrizio Romano drops huge transfer update, supporters will be buzzing

Manchester United are on the brink of a deal to sign FC Porto midfielder Vitinha for £34m, according to reports in Portugal.

The Lowdown: Vitinha profiled

Vitinha is primarily a central midfielder who can also play in holding or attacking midfield roles. The 22-year-old spent the 2020/21 season on loan with Wolves, making ‘special talent’ after making the move to Molineux.

The Premier League side didn’t exercise their option to make a move permanent, but the Portugal international, who shares the same agency as Cristiano Ronaldo, could now be heading back to England to work under Erik ten Hag.

The Latest: Transfer ‘imminent’

Sports Witness relayed an update from Portuguese 0utlet Record on Tuesday morning regarding Vitinha.

They claimed that the midfielder is heading for an ‘imminent’ exit, with a Premier League club set to exercise his €40m (£34m) release clause. Manchester United are the only club mentioned, with Vitinha apparently fitting Ten Hag’s style of play.

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The Verdict: Interesting…

Vitinha only made attacking midfielder.

He seemed to improve last season and was a regular for FC Porto playing in a deeper role though, so that could be a position Ten Hag looks to use him in going forward.

That would leave Bruno Fernandes free to occupy a more advanced role, and still just 22 years of age, United could look back on a move for Vitinha in years to come as a smart piece of business.

In other news: Fabrizio Romano now drops more transfer news he’s heard from Man Utd after ‘internal’ talks. 

Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly registered interest in Liverpool’s Takumi Minamino ahead of a potential move this summer, according to journalist David Lynch.

The Lowdown: Minamino close to Liverpool exit

The 27-year-old first arrived in the Premier League when he joined the Merseysiders from Red Bull Salzburg back in 2019, but after a considerable lack of game time this season, the forward has now been linked with a move away from Anfield.

It was reported last week that the Reds are expected to allow the Japanese starlet to leave during the upcoming transfer window, and Bruno Lage might now be pouncing on the opportunity to try and complete some kind of deal for the 40-cap international.

The Latest: Wolves named as potential suitor

In a new post on his personal Twitter account early on Wednesday morning, Lynch named Wolves as one of the potential suitors for Minamino as he edges ever nearer to the Liverpool exit door. He wrote:

“Takumi Minamino closing in on an LFC departure with his agent having flown to Europe to field interest from Leeds, Southampton, Wolves, Fulham and Monaco. Situation likely to be resolved quickly – Liverpool hoping to secure £17m.”

The Verdict: Great addition to the squad

With Lage now beginning to revamp his squad ahead of the start of the new season, the boss will be looking to bring in new additions who can improve his starting XI and help the Midlands outfit aim for a European spot, and the Anfield maestro could be the man to do just that.

The £10.8m-rated ace, who was once dubbed a “top-class” player by manager Jurgen Klopp, only made 24 appearances across all competitions under the German this season, but proved that he can be prolific in the final third when given the chance, having scored four goals in just five EFL Cup games, as per Transfermarkt.

Wolves will need to see off plenty of competition if they want to secure the signature of Minamino, but should they be successful, they’ll be getting a player who averaged a goal every 101 minutes in all competitions this season.

In other news… Wolves are now reportedly leading the race to sign one of their summer transfer targets.

Alasdair Gold has dropped a claim on reported Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Weston McKennie.

What’s the talk?

In a recent Q&A on football.london, the journalist revealed that Fabio Paratici has already held talks with the Juventus midfielder’s representatives regarding a move for the 23-year-old in the summer transfer window, with further reports suggesting the Serie A side would demand a figure in the region of €40m (£34m) in order to part with the USA international.

In response to a question concerning Tottenham’s interest in the former Schalke starlet, Gold said: “Weston McKennie is someone Paratici is a big fan of and I reported back in January that he held talks that month with the player’s representatives about a potential summer move.

“I wouldn’t bet against him following up on that this summer but much depends on how willing Juventus are to let him go after a season in which he was a regular starter before suffering a metatarsal fracture in February which all but ended his campaign until the final match.”

Kulusevski 2.0

Considering McKennie’s extremely impressive positional versatility, undoubted ability and potential for future growth – not to mention his previous relationship with Paratici – it is not difficult to understand why the Tottenham sporting director would be interested in a deal to bring the 23-year-old to north London this summer.

Indeed, with the signing of a forward-thinking central midfielder reported to be one of Antonio Conte’s priority targets ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, the £60m-rated American appears to be something of a perfect fit for the 52-year-old’s requirements.

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According to FBref data, the £53k-per-week talent ranks in the top 14% of midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90, as well as the top 5% for non-penalty xG.

Furthermore, he is in the top 14% for shots, the top 15% for npxG+xA, the top 2% for touches in the opposition penalty area and the top 2% for progressive passes received over the last 365 days.

On top of that, the 23-year-old ranks in the top 4% of attacking midfielders for interceptions per 90, in addition to the top 1% for clearances, the top 10% for blocks, the top 8% for aerials won, the top 16% for tackles and the top 40% for pressures over the last 12 months.

The 31-time capped international’s ability to operate from defensive, central, attacking and right midfield would also come as a huge bonus to Conte, with David Wagner previously commenting on the American’s impressive positional ability, stating back in 2020:

“In the No.6 or No.8 position he has the mentality, a real working mentality that you need. And he’s brave on the ball as well. He can be one of the best midfielders in the Bundesliga.”

As such, should McKennie indeed be available for a figure of just £34m this summer, it would seem highly advisable for Paratici to sanction a swoop for the Juventus playmaker, as the 23-year-old could very easily go on become Spurs’ next Dejan Kulusevski success story at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

AND in other news: Fabrizio Romano drops “serious” Spurs transfer update, supporters will be buzzing

Steven Gerrard is planning a revolution at Aston Villa, especially when you consider his recent signings. The likes of Philippe Coutinho, Diego Carlos and Boubacar Kamara could all instantly improve the first-team squad and will hopefully be able to help the club in their European ambitions next year.

A disappointing 14th-placed finish in the Premier League will drive Gerrard on to reaching bigger and better things with Villa. There is no doubting his managerial ability, having taken Rangers from the doldrums to arguably the most important top-flight title in their history, so the onus is on him to achieve things with the Midlands club as well.

In order to achieve this, certain players may need to be sold or replaced, and one such instance is Douglas Luiz.

The defensive midfielder was signed from Manchester City for £15m in 2019, and despite impressing under Dean Smith, it looks like Gerrard may want to bring in his own players and rejig the squad to his liking.

Ashley Preece dubbed Luiz as Villa’s biggest “issue” in February following a match against Newcastle where he lost possession 10 times, as it appeared that the manager had made a big mistake in the transfer window.

That mistake was not bringing in Yves Bissouma to replace the £52k-p/w Brazilian, and Gerrard really needs to make amends in the summer transfer window.

Axe Luiz, sign Bissouma

Bissouma ranked second in the Brighton squad this season with an average rating of 6.99 on WhoScored and was described as “unreal” by BBC writer Raj Chohan as he contributed heavily to helping the club achieve their highest-ever finish in the Premier League.

Despite signing one midfielder in Kamara on a free transfer, journalist Fabrice Hawkins claims that Villa are “still there” regarding a potential move for Bissouma, who could seriously strengthen the midfield area in Gerrard’s line-up.

The Mali international features in the top 9% of positional peers in the big five European leagues for pass completion (89.7%) and the top 10% for dribbles completed per 90 minutes (1.32).

These figures prove that he can regularly dominate the midfield with his superb passing ability, while also contributing towards attacks with his dribbling skills, which are two key components for Gerrard’s style to work effectively.

AND in other news, Gerrard must brutally axe “fortunate” AVFC dud in deal for “astonishing” £25m monster

Journalist Craig Vickers has hailed current Hearts and incoming Rangers defender John Souttar for his display in the Scottish Cup final.

The Lowdown: Rangers vs Hearts

Rangers took to Hampden Park to face off against Hearts in the Scottish Cup final, just three days after their agonising loss to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League final, having missed out on penalties.

Both sides went into half-time goalless, having each failed to capitalise on respective excellent chances. Ellis Simms hit the post for Hearts, whilst Amad Diallo headed over from six yards for Rangers.

Whilst coming close numerous times in the second half, including Scott Wright hitting the bar in the third minute of extra time, Rangers were held to a stalemate within the 90 minutes.

However, Rangers came out all guns blazing for extra time, and in the 93rd minute, Ryan Jack smashed home to give the Gers the lead.

Just four minutes later, Wright emphatically doubled the score, sending Rangers to their first Scottish Cup victory in 13 years.

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The Latest: Vickers lauds Souttar

During the January window, Rangers announced the signing of Hearts defender John Souttar on a pre-contract agreement.

Taking to the field for the cup final, Souttar set about playing his last game in a Jambos shirt.

Freelance journalist Craig Vickers was very complimentary of the soon-to-be Rangers man, clearly impressed with the Glasgow club’s free signing. Taking to Twitter, he was stunned by the player’s ability on the ball.

“Souttar is so good stepping into midfield with the ball. Going to be interesting to see how GvB uses that next season because it’s something Goldson lacks despite his quality passing range.”

The Verdict: Good addition

Described by Hearts ace Josh Ginnelly as a “world-class player”, Souttar’s arrival at Ibrox will prove to be a massive addition to van Bronckhorst’s squad.

According to SofaScore, the 25-year-old has been rated Hearts’ best player this season, having averaged a sensational 7.30 rating.

Therefore, if the Scotland international can maintain this form going into next season, the free transfer will prove to be a massive piece of business for Rangers.

In other news: Rangers: Paddy Kenny issues summer transfer warning

Liverpool will allow forward Takumi Minamino to leave this summer if a £17million offer comes along, according to reliable journalist David Lynch.

The Lowdown: Minamino’s excellent season

The Reds have enjoyed a sensational season, with a quadruple still not completely out of the question, and numerous world-class names have shone throughout the campaign.

Someone whose influence has gone under the radar is Minamino, however, with the Japanese scoring ten goals in all competitions, including one against Southampton in the Premier League on Tuesday night.

It could be that the 27-year-old moves on this summer, however, having struggled to enjoy regular playing time.

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The Latest: Exit claim emerges

Taking to Twitter and writing for Anfield Watch, Lynch claimed that Minamino is available for £17million, with Leeds United and Inter Milan keen on signing him:

“Inter and Leeds (should they avoid relegation) among the clubs eyeing Takumi Minamino this summer. LFC ready to set an asking price of around £17m for a player who has 10 goals from just nine starts this season.”

The Verdict: Keep hold of him?

Minamino may never have been the main man at Liverpool but he is a very effective player, with Jurgen Klopp hailing him as ‘exceptional’ in the past.

For that reason, it would be preferable for the Reds to keep hold of the Japan international, continuing to use him as an effective squad player who shines in domestic cup games.

It could be that Minamino wants more football moving forward, though, which is wholly understandable, and Liverpool receiving £17million for his services would certainly be no bad thing if he does want to leave.

In other news, a pundit has hinted at a Liverpool superstar leaving the club. Find out who it is here.

Newcastle United return to action tonight as they host Arsenal at St. James’ Park in their penultimate Premier League match of the season.

The Magpies have already achieved safety and are five points off the top ten with two games left to play and this means that Eddie Howe’s men have little in the way of motivation when it comes to the league table.

However, the players will still be fighting for their places heading into the summer and will be desperate to prove that they deserve to be a part of the club moving forward.

One gem who must be unleashed from the start with a view to next season is Kieran Trippier. The England international returned from injury to come off the bench against Manchester City last time out and Emil Krafth must be brutally axed to bring him back into the starting XI.

In the 5-0 loss to Pep Guardiola’s side, Krafth recorded a dismal SofaScore rating of 6.3 as he failed to win a single aerial battle – losing Rodri from a corner for the third goal. Over the course of the campaign, he has lost 57% of his duels in the air as he has proven himself to be a lightweight at the back and Howe must now axe him from the team tonight.

This will then open the door for Trippier to be unleashed at right-back. The defender enjoyed a sensational start to his career on Tyneside, as he scored twice in his first four games, and he will now be hoping to end the campaign on a high by playing against the Gunners and then Burnley on the final day.

England boss Gareth Southgate previously dubbed him a “warrior” and his statistics for the Toon back that up as he has been a fierce competitor at the back.

He has made 4.8 tackles and interceptions per game and won a whopping 77% of his aerial battles in the Premier League across his five appearances, showing his ability to win the ball back for his side on a consistent basis and compete in individual duels.

The £77k-per-week gem has averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.42 for the Magpies and Bruno Guimaraes (7.16) is the only other player with a score of 7.00 or higher. Trippier is one of the club’s best players and that is why he must start this game to get some minutes in the tank and build some positive momentum heading into next season.

AND in other news, “Keeping a close eye on..”: Downie delivers big NUFC claim that’ll excite supporters…

The English Football League have officially come to a decision regarding the potential use of VAR in Nottingham Forest’s upcoming Championship play-off semi-final against Sheffield United.

The Lowdown: A top-four finish

The Reds narrowly missed out on automatic promotion to the Premier League, but were still able to successfully secure a play-off place after recording a fourth-place finish, where they will now face the Blades at Bramall Lane in the first leg of this crucial fixture on Saturday afternoon.

Just last week, The Telegraph claimed that all four teams who were still in contention to make the jump up to the top flight had been questioned over the use of VAR in the upcoming games, to which the response was overwhelmingly positive.

However, following a fresh update, it seems as though the clubs in question haven’t received the news that they were hoping for.

The Latest: VAR not in use

In a decision published in the last 48 hours by NottinghamshireLive, it’s stated that the EFL have concluded that VAR will ‘not be in use’ for any of the semi-finals involving Forest, Huddersfield Town, Luton Town, and Sheffield United.

The source goes on to say that it still ‘remains unclear’ whether or not this particular rule will be in place for the final at Wembley Stadium on May 29th.

The Verdict: Completely wrong decision

Not having VAR in use for one of the most important games of the season for the Reds is surely the wrong choice considering the number of matches that have been won and lost based on poor refereeing decisions this term – just look at the wrongly flagged offside decision against Sam Surridge at Bournemouth.

Manager Steve Cooper will already be familiar with the technology after it was used in Forest’s FA Cup game against Liverpool earlier in the campaign, and whilst it does have it’s pros and cons, clubs have generally been supportive of it’s use.

The east Midlands outfit will be making the trip to Yorkshire this weekend looking to gain a positive result and put one foot into that all-important play-off final at the end of the month.

In other news… a Sky Sports pundit has recently backed the Reds to gain promotion to the Premier League.

Rangers enjoyed another special night at Ibrox as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men secured their spot in the final of the Europa League on Thursday.

The Gers came into the second leg of the semi-final clash with a 1-0 deficit to overturn and van Bronckhorst pulled off a masterclass as his team ended up winning 3-1 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate.

James Tavernier scored the opening goal as he made his trademark run at the back post and was picked out brilliantly by Ryan Kent. The right-back made sure that he timed his run to perfection and slotted into a virtually empty net.

Glen Kamara then put Rangers ahead for the first time in the tie as he beautifully rolled a left-footed shot into the far corner from the edge of the box.

Christopher Nkunku made it 2-2 on aggregate in the second-half and, just when it looked like the game was heading for extra-time, John Lundstram sealed the club’s place in the final with a composed finish on the volley after a scramble in the box.

Whilst the ex-Sheffield United man won the match for the Gers, the player who stood out for van Bronckhorst’s side was £5.4m-rated Kamara in the middle of the park.

Kris Boyd, live on Sky Sports, said that Kamara’s strike got Ibrox “rocking” as his strike sent the fans into raptures in Glasgow. His goal was not the only part of his performance that left supporters buzzing, though, as he put in a brilliant display.

Lancashire journalist Cal Gaunt dubbed him an “absolute baller” and he certainly showcased his ability as he ran the show offensively. For Tavernier’s goal, the Finland international brilliantly trapped the ball under pressure and produced a deft touch to send Kent away down the left – eventually crossing for the captain to score.

Couple this with his cultured finish for the second goal and only losing possession every 3.7 touches and you have the makings of a sublime European outing from the ex-Arsenal man.

Off the ball, he also made an impact. As per SofaScore, he won five of his nine individual duels and made one clearance, two interceptions and one tackle. This shows that he was not physically dominated by the opposition and held his own out of possession.

Therefore, he was superb for Rangers throughout the game and got Ibrox rocking with his brilliance, with Kamara surely forcing himself into the starting line-up for the final.

AND in other news, Rangers played an Ibrox blinder with £22k-pw “cornerstone” who’s like “Graeme Souness”…