All posts by z3u9t.icu

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”…

West Bromwich Albion have been linked with signing John Swift from Reading this summer, and now a new update has emerged on the player’s future.

What’s the latest?

According to Berkshire Live, the midfielder is expected to have played his last game for Reading as transfer interest boils over with many clubs interested in snapping up the player this summer.

Talks are ongoing over his future but the midfielder now seems destined to leave the club.

The report has said that talks are ongoing regarding his future but has attracted the interest of several clubs, with Leeds United, Burnley, Brentford and West Brom all linked to the playmaker.

Bruce must swoop

With bold competition from several clubs including established Premier League sides, Bruce must do all he can to swoop for the Reading star this summer as he would be the perfect fit for West Brom.

The Baggies boss has already outlined that he wants to bring in more “creative” players to the midfield at The Hawthorns this summer in an interview this month with Express & Star:

“We need to find a couple of midfielders who can be a bit more creative,” he told the press.

With that being said, Swift is the exact profile of a player that Bruce is looking to add to the West Brom outfit, scoring 34 goals and contributing 34 assists for Reading in his 202 appearances in the centre of the pitch at the club.

This season alone, the £25k-per-week ace who was hailed “talented” and a “big asset” by former manager Jaap Stam, has been a force for his Championship side with SofaScore recording him as the highest-rated player in the Reading squad, and rightly so when you consider his output.

Swift has been successful in the majority of his dribbles (58%), scored 11 goals and served up 13 assists, created ten big chances and makes 2.7 key passes on average per game in his 38 appearances this season, proving that he is an incredibly creative player in attacking play and identifies as the exact player Bruce is keen to bring into his side.

Ultimately, West Brom will have to fight off their competition to make sure they can secure the signature of the midfielder this summer as this kind of attacking output is exactly what the team has been missing this season, and exactly what they need to push on for promotion back to the Premier League next season.

AND in other news: “Would be keen”: Madeley drops exciting WBA transfer claim that’ll leave Bruce buzzing

With the pressure growing on Arne Slot, Xabi Alonso has reportedly made his mind up on taking the Liverpool job if it becomes available at the same time that he potentially leaves Real Madrid.

For the first time in Slot’s Liverpool career, serious questions are being asked about his tenure. Last season’s Premier League title win has provided him with plenty of credit but, as Jamie Carragher pointed out on Monday Night Football, not everyone is still convinced that he’s still the man for the job.

After eight defeats in 11 games, the Dutchman simply has to turn things around. The Reds backed him by breaking their transfer record twice in the summer and spending over £400m, but are yet to see that investment pay off.

The most concerning aspect of Liverpool’s recent run is that nothing has changed. Slot has persisted with the same system, which only provided false dawns against Real Madrid and Aston Villa.

Now, with Alonso also under pressure at Madrid, Liverpool could be presented with a tempting opportunity to make a sensational change.

Xabi Alonso makes Liverpool decision

According to Football365, Alonso is now ready to take the Liverpool job if Real Madrid decide to sack him. The Spaniard has been put under increasing pressure by reports that Vinicius Junior has decided against signing a new deal whilst the manager is in charge.

As Real Madrid are forced to decide between their star man and their new manager, it’s Liverpool who could take full advantage.

For many, the big question has centred around who would replace Slot if Liverpool decided to sack the Dutchman. In Alonso, they’d have the perfect answer.

The Reds were interested in a reunion with the Spaniard before they hired Slot and could now get what they initially wanted over a year later.

Forget Leoni: 19-year-old academy star could end Konate's Liverpool career

Liverpool’s French centre-back has been abject in Slot’s system this season.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 24, 2025

Although a lot of pieces will need to fall into place, there’s little doubt that Alonso would be welcomed with open arms at Anfield.

"I'm told" – Romano shares what Slot thinks about his own Liverpool future

Tottenham Hotspur have entered a new phase in recent months after Thomas Frank took the reins following Ange Postecoglou’s dismissal at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

The Aussie ended his spell in North London on a high after winning the Europa League, but it was their lowly Premier League finish which brought his time at the club to an end.

Such a responsibility now falls to the Dane, with the 51-year-old tasked with building on their recent European success and making the side a force to be reckoned with.

The board handed the new boss over £100m to make the additions he craved during the summer, subsequently strengthening various areas of his first-team squad.

However, one summer signing in the form of Mathys Tel could also be heading for the exit door – after the latest development coming out of the Lilywhites camp.

Mathys Tel’s current situation at Spurs

After spending the second half of last season on loan at Spurs, the hierarchy decided to make Tel’s transfer permanent – costing around £30m from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

At just 20 years of age, the Frenchman was undoubtedly brought in as an immediate and long-term option for Frank in the club’s attempt for future success.

However, it’s unclear how much of a part he will play during the 51-year-old’s tenure after the winger was left out of the club’s 25-man squad for this season’s Champions League.

Upon his move to join the Lilywhites, not many people would’ve anticipated that he would be left out of the squad – especially considering his record of two goals in such a competition for Bayern.

The likes of Wilson Odobert, Brennan Johnson and new addition Mohammed Kudus were all selected ahead of him – prompting questions to be asked around his long-term future under Frank.

Tel himself spoke to the media in recent days, subsequently downplaying a move away, but there is no doubt he there will be a strong sense of disappointment felt by the youngster in the months ahead.

However, he may not be the only player to leave North London in the near future, with another first-team member also failing to make the desired impact since Frank’s appointment.

The Spurs player who could be finished alongside Tel

During the first three Premier League outings of the Frank reign, it’s clear to see the manager is capable of switching up his system – either able to use a back four or back five when needed.

The Lilywhites have won two of their first three outings, beating Burnley and Manchester City, before suffering a 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth on home soil before the international break.

His appointment has allowed Richarlison to flourish, with the Brazilian netting two goals and an assist in his three starts – resurrecting his career at the club after falling down Postecoglou’s pecking order during the Aussie’s two years at the helm.

The same can’t be said for centre-back Ben Davies, with the Welshman being an unused substitute in all the league games to date, along with the Super Cup final defeat to Champions League winners PSG.

The 32-year-old made 28 appearances across all competitions throughout 2024/25, but it’s clear that minutes will be harder to come by in the near future.

Cristian Romero is already ahead of the former Swansea City star in the pecking order, forming an excellent partnership with Micky van de Ven at the heart of the backline.

The former of the duo was also named as the club’s new captain, further reducing the amount of game time Davies may receive during Frank’s spell at the club.

Games played

17

Minutes played

1330

Pass accuracy

91%

Duels won

5.2

Aerials duels won

3.6

Recoveries

2.8

Dribbled past

0.4

Tackles won

65%

When called upon in recent times, his performances have also left a lot to be desired, leading to John Wenham labelling the centre-back as “terrible” in the defeat against Wolves a couple of years ago.

Given his age, he’s certainly ending the back end of his professional career, handing another reason for the hierarchy to cut loose and allow young talents to stake their claim.

Davies also earns a pretty penny, currently pocketing a steep £80k-per-week in North London – potentially saving a whopping £4.2m a year if he were to depart the Lilywhites.

There’s no denying the Welshman has been a tremendous servant, making over 350 appearances for the club after joining from Swansea back in the summer of 2014.

It may be a harsh decision to move Davies on, but ultimately, if Frank is to make the side into serial winners, brutal decisions will need to be made to enable further progression on the pitch.

His value has fallen by £43m: Levy made big mistake signing Spurs "monster"

Daniel Levy made one of his biggest errors at Tottenham Hotspur by signing this attacker.

2 ByDan Emery Sep 9, 2025

Whilst Spain did manage to return to their European throne last summer and are among the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup, it’ll take some doing to match the dominance that they enjoyed in the 2000s.

As Barcelona and Real Madrid battled it out for the club throne, it was Spain who benefitted on the international stage. Stars such as Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique put their rivalries aside to put the very best to the sword and leave several countries in their wake. It was the era of the El Clasico at its best from September to May, but collective Spanish dominance from then onwards.

With Vincente Del Bosque in charge, the Spaniards defeated the Netherlands in last-gasp fashion to win the World Cup in the 2010 World Cup. They then thrashed Italy two years later to win Euro 2012 in their second-consecutive European Championship win after victory in 2008. And it was in that 2012 game that Xavi particularly starred.

The Barcelona legend was often at the centre of the beauty that was Spain’s side at their peak. He was their controller – the conductor of a side so capable of ending summers with the perfect crescendo – and without him, there may have been no World Cup and there may have been no European Championships. He was that influential.

Yet, even one of the best midfielders of all time had no choice but to admit that another star man is the most talented player in Spain’s history. Simply put, as good as Xavi was, another star stands tall as the best that the country has ever seen.

Xavi: Iniesta is Spain's "most talented" player ever

From Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi to Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol, Barcelona enjoyed some incredible combinations during their best years, but perhaps none as perfect as Xavi and Andres Iniesta. The Spanish duo were untouchable when together with Sergio Busquets and all three took that invincibility to the international stage.

As good as all three were, however, Xavi only had one answer when selecting Spain’s “most talented” player in history – claiming that Iniesta is the country’s true standout.

Whether the likes of Lamine Yamal eventually overtake Iniesta’s legacy is a debate for another time. Of course, if he does intend to do so, then he’ll need to find a way to beat the former midfielder’s iconic winning goal against the Netherlands in 2010. Over to you, Lamine.

Leeds United’s forward line has led them to huge success in the Championship throughout the 2024/25 campaign, helping Daniel Farke’s side claim the league title.

The Whites registered a staggering tally of 95 goals in their 46 league outings, an average of 2.1 per game – by far and away the highest tally in the division.

Striker Joel Piroe claimed the Golden Boot last time around, netting 19 times in his 46 appearances, finishing one goal ahead of Norwich City talisman Borja Sainz.

However, if Farke’s side are to have any chance of securing Premier League survival next campaign, they will need to invest in the playing squad to bridge the gap between the two divisions.

The centre-forward position in particular has already seen numerous players linked, including multiple players who are already plying their trade in England’s top flight.

The latest on Leeds’ pursuit of a new striker

Richarlison has been one name thrown into the mix to join Leeds this summer, after struggling to nail down a regular starting role at Tottenham Hotspur in recent years.

The Brazilian has started just four league games this campaign, notching four goals for Ange Postecoglou’s men, in what has been a disappointing campaign for Spurs.

Jamie Vardy is another player linked with a switch to Elland Road this summer, after announcing he would be departing Leicester City when his current contract at the King Power expires.

The 38-year-old has spent the last 13 years of his career with the Foxes, registering 199 goals – potentially offering Farke’s side an experienced and Premier League-proven option in attacking areas.

However, despite the links to the aforementioned talents in recent weeks, another player in England’s top-flight has also been touted with a move, but the club would be better off looking elsewhere, given their respective stats.

Why one Leeds target would be a better signing than Beto

Everton striker Beto is one of the latest names on the list of targets for Leeds over the last couple of weeks, as the manager looks to bolster the options at his disposal.

The 27-year-old, who joined the Toffees for £30m in the summer of 2023, has been inconsistent at Goodison Park, often being in and out of the side and sharing the role with Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

However, he’s still managed to register eight league goals throughout 2024/25, potentially being a reasonable option for the Whites, should they land him at a competitive price.

Despite the interest in the former Udinese star, Farke should be pursuing a move for fellow target Troy Parrott, with the Irishman undoubtedly a better option.

The 23-year-old, who currently plies his trade for AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, has emerged as a target in recent weeks, but he may not come cheap consider some reports suggest the Dutch outfit won’t accept offers below at least £21m.

He’s registered a staggering 20 goals in his 45 appearances across all competitions this campaign, excelling in his first season at his current employers.

However, his impressive figures don’t stop there, massively outperforming Beto with his underlying stats, highlighting why he would be a better option this summer.

Games played

28

28

Goals & assists

16

8

Progressive carries

1.3

0.7

Goals per shot-on-target

0.4

0.3

Pass accuracy

70%

56%

Shot-creating actions

2.7

1.3

Passes into the final third

0.9

0.4

Parrott, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by former boss Ryan Lowe, has also notched a higher goal per shot-on-target rate than the Everton ace – further highlighting his clinical nature in the final third.

He’s also completed more passes this season, whilst making more passes into the final third, handing the other attackers at Elland Road the opportunity to bolster their own tallies.

Their interest in his signature has been reiterated in recent weeks, but so far, it’s unclear how much a deal for the Spurs academy graduate would set them back this summer.

However, there’s no denying that the hierarchy should be pursuing a move for his signature over Beto’s, with the 21-year-old having bags of time to continue his development and be a potential star in Yorkshire.

He'd be Farke's next Buendia: Leeds make enquiry to sign special £35m star

Leeds United have already wasted no time in making a move to land one Premier League star this summer.

1 ByEthan Lamb May 15, 2025