All posts by z3u9t.icu

West Ham United will throw the chequebook at Declan Rice in a bid to keep him at the London Stadium for the foreseeable future, according to Irons hero Frank McAvennie…

What’s the word?

During an interview with West Ham Zone this week, the former Hammers striker – who enjoyed two spells in east London – claimed the club were prepared to pay “big bucks” to tie him down for the long-term.

“Listen, from what I’m hearing the club want to keep him and they’re willing to pay big bucks.

“Now, I don’t know if he’s wanting to go somewhere. [But] I think this team [and] this squad of players, could be challenging for the Champions League for the next two or three years. I think they’ve got a decent squad, keeping everyone fit. They’ll buy more players in.

“From what I’m hearing, the owners are willing to give Declan pretty much on a par with everyone else in England, so that’s a good thing.”

Encouraging news

The 22-year-old midfielder has been continually linked with a move away in recent transfer windows, with the likes of Chelsea and both Manchester giants mooted with interest.

All three of these teams made a final of last season’s European competitions. The Blues defeating City in the Champions League, whilst United were beaten by Unai Emery’s Villarreal in the Europa League.

They can clearly offer Rice a better chance of achieving silverware sooner than West Ham can, so it would be no surprise to see him keen to join any of these teams.

During the summer, the £63m-rated star was said to have rejected fresh contract advances from the Irons’ hierarchy and according to the ever-reliable ExWHUemployee, this was because his salary was not in line with some of the club’s highest-earners, such as the rarely-seen Andriy Yarmolenko, who is thought to earn a whopping £115k-per–week in east London.

However, offering the England international a new deal that would see him match similar quality players in his position is certainly a positive step in the right direction, especially after Ex’s revelation.

Rice is believed to be on just £60k-per-week at the London Stadium, which is poor considering he has now amassed 26 caps for the Three Lions since his debut in March 2019, whilst he continues to be a major influence for West Ham under David Moyes.

Last season, he ranked amongst the Hammers’ four best performers and he has continued that form into the new campaign, where he has already registered two assists in seven starts and averaged a squad-high two interceptions per game, via WhoScored.

He’s also managing the best passing accuracy in the team (92.7%), by quite some margin, too.

If the club are indeed prepared to pay him what he wants and deserves, then it should leave much of the Irons faithful absolutely buzzing as there is the intention to put right their previous offers.

Whether he wants to stay or go remains to be seen, though given he is under contract until 2024, he’s likely to remain for at least the next season or so.

AND in other news, Newman could become an instant hit at West Ham by signing £36m-rated “world-beater”…

Celtic may have scored ten goals in their last two games but that hasn’t stopped Ange Postecoglou from considering attacking recruits.

The Hoops have already signed Kyogo Furuhashi and Liel Abada who have hit the ground running at Parkhead but there is further work required in the transfer window.

What’s the word?

A player that Celtic have considered signing for a while now is Gorica forward Kristijan Lovric.

The Bhoys were interested in recruiting him during the winter window of 2019/20 but nothing materialised.

A further attraction in the player has been registered this summer but they may have to pay in the region of £4.2m to prise him away from Croatian shores.

Now, according to the Daily Record, they understand that Lovric is indeed on Celtic’s radar ahead of a possible switch.

Must sign him

Postecoglou’s side hasn’t struggled for goals this season but with the threat of Ryan Christie and Odsonne Edouard departing still hovering over their shoulders, they must consider adding Lovric to their ranks.

Possessing tricks, creativity and more importantly goals, he’d be an excellent signing for the Australian if the manager can secure a deal.

He already has two goals in four appearances for Gorica this term, taking his tally for the club to 46 strikes in just 100 outings.

On top of that, the winger has racked up a haul of 24 assists on his way to being linked with Celtic.

Speaking about Lovric’s style of play, HNTV commentator Damir Petravic once said: “He dribbles and scores in the style of Robben, shoots free throws like Pirlo or Pjanic, and knows how to sprint like Mbappe.”

That’s a particularly glowing review for a player who has been capped just once by his country.

At the age of 25, he is rapidly approaching his prime and if he can show this type of form in Scotland, he’d be a roaring success.

Abada has hit the ground running with two goals and two assists in five outings while Furuhashi already has a hat-trick to his name since signing.

Add a player with Lovric’s qualities to the equation and they’d surely be in the conversation to win the Premiership crown again.

After all, Postecoglou loves an attacking brand of football and the Croat would undoubtedly improve Celtic’s ability to play that in that manner.

AND in other news, Celtic prepare bid to sign “very gifted” £4.5m beast, fans must be buzzing…

As per Calciomercato, Tottenham may now have been handed a boost in the race to sign Juventus attacker Dejan Kulusevksi.

The Lowdown: Spurs enter contention…

As per recent updates, Spurs have joined the fight to bag Kulusevski amid his unrest in Turin, with a report from TUTTOmercatoWEB claiming new boss Antonio Conte sees him as a ‘gem’ with great potential.

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Fabio Paratici apparently shares this ‘esteem’ for the 21-year-old according to TMW, so much so that journalist Daniele Longo followed up their report with another enticing claim.

He says that Spurs have made contact to sign the Sweden international and Calciomercato may have now shared news in another boost for Spurs.

The Latest: Conte handed Kulusevski boost?

According to the Italian outlet’s information, as Spurs and Conte chase his signature, Juve may now allow Kulusevski to go out on loan in January.

Coming as potentially good news for Spurs, it seems they could bypass a transfer fee entirely and boost Conte’s options going forward over the second half of 2021/2022 at least.

In another boost, Calciomercato believe he ‘wants a change of scenery’ and the Premier League is his most likely destination.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Signing him on loan to see how he would fare under Conte in England could be a move worth pursuing, especially taking into account just how highly he is rated by the Italian according to reports.

Given his status as an ‘advanced playmaker’ as well as being able to play out wide according to Football Talent Scout, could Spurs finally sign a player to replicate the long-missed influence of Christian Eriksen?

According to WhoScored, over his most impressive Serie A campaign for Parma in 2019/2020, Kulusevski managed a noteworthy 2.2 key passes and 2.1 completed dribbles per 90 in the final third.

These numbers replicate Eriksen’s during his time at Tottenham and the club have long been crying out for his eventual heir.

Lauded as ‘explosive’ by former Sweden striker Marcus Allback, Kulusevski could be the unexpected answer to Spurs’ prayers.

In other news: ‘World class’, ‘Perfect’, ‘Winning already’…Sky pundit in awe of transfer news out of Spurs, find out more here.

Leeds have faced struggles at the top end of the pitch this season as they sit on 11 goals scored in 11 Premier League games.

Patrick Bamford has only played five league matches due to injury, scoring once in those games, and summer signing Dan James is yet to score his first goal for the club since his summer move from Manchester United.

In order to solve this issue, Marcelo Bielsa could look to the younger players in the squad to burst onto the scene and inject some fresh energy and enthusiasm in the final third instead of going into the transfer market to buy a new player.

Forget Gelhardt

One youngster who has been given a taste of Premier League action this season is the talented Joe Gelhardt. He has played twice in the top-flight, winning one penalty, and showed signs of promise. However, forget Gelhardt, there is another young player in the academy who plays in a similar position who could come through and make a big impact on the first-team – Sam Greenwood.

The 19-year-old is capable of playing across the front line, as a striker, second forward and winger, and could be a versatile, energetic, option for Bielsa to call upon.

Ex-Whites forward Noel Whelan once hailed the youngster’s ‘immense’ ability and compared him to Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse. He told Football Insider:

“Free-kicks are his forte. Immediately you think about someone like James Ward-Prowse and what an unbelievable dead ball specialist he is. When you see the goals Greenwood has scored from set pieces you put him up there on that mantle.

“It took him a couple of attempts but he got his range right in the end yesterday.

“Another player who possesses an immense amount of ability. To have a weapon like that in your side is great.

“You can see the ability he has but the free-kicks are about the hard work he puts in on the training ground and for that he deserves to be praised.”

In the Premier League 2 this season, Greenwood has five goals and three assists in 10 matches. He also scored in his one EFL Trophy appearance, showing that he can do it against senior opposition. This, along with Whelan’s comments, suggests that he could have the potential to make the step up to first-team football.

If Bielsa unleashes him and he shows a similar run of form in the Premier League and is able to find the back of the net then it could save Orta millions ahead of the January transfer window. That is why the Argentine should unleash Greenwood in the coming weeks and offer him the chance to show that he can make a difference in the top-flight to reward him for his form in the academy.

AND in other news, Possession lost 103x: “Headless” Leeds flop who’s lost 62% duels has let Bielsa down…

According to a report by Italian news outlet Corriere dello Sport, via Sport Witness, Bologna defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is ‘close’ to joining Tottenham Hotspur – but there’s one caveat involving Fabio Paratici.

The Lowdown: Tomiyasu in talks, still…

Tottenham have been in talks to sign the Japan international since the start of this month, with Sky Sports first revealing that Spurs had an offer of around £12.9m (€15m) plus an extra £2.6m (€3m) in add-ons rejected.

Since that point, Spurs have been working to come to an agreement over Tomiyasu and the Athletic’s update last week looked very promising.

It was claimed that the Lilywhites are ‘closing in’ on the 22-year-old with both Bologna and Spurs ‘finalising terms’.

The Latest: Spurs ‘close’, but there’s been a Paratici twist…

According to Corriere dello Sport (translated by Sport Witness), Tottenham are still ‘close’ to signing Tomiyasu but there may be one caveat which involves managing director Paratici.

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As per the Italian news source, Spurs’ new transfer guru, as it stands, is unwilling to reach Bologna’s €25 million (£21.6m) asking price ‘between fixed part and bonuses asked for’.

It seems Tottenham’s move to sign the versatile defender rests on Paratici’s shoulders and whether or not he will increase his bid, with the 49-year-old seemingly prioritising other transfers at this point.

The Verdict: On the back burner…

Whether or not Spurs reach £21.6m for the 23-cap ace remains to be seen, but he could certainly be worth the trouble based off his stats and accolades from last season.

Tomiyasu was a key player for Bologna over 2020/2021, averaging the joint-most clearances per match in their squad over 31 Serie A starts (WhoScored).

Lauded as a ‘giant’ by the Italian press for his performances, while this move could be placed on the back burner for now, Tottenham definitely shouldn’t give up the chase.

In other news: ‘Wow’, ‘No way’, ‘This can’t be true’…Tottenham fans erupt as Harry Kane news emerges, find out more here.

Some Liverpool supporters are hugely excited after the Reds were linked with a summer move for Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.

Another potentially busy transfer window awaits for Jurgen Klopp, as he eyes up reinforcements to make his squad even more formidable.

Liverpool have lost Gini Wijnaldum, leaving a gaping hole in their midfield, so the hope is that they look for a replacement this summer.

Someone who has been linked with a move to Anfield is Milinkovic-Savic, having starred for Lazio in recent years, making 247 appearances for the Serie A giants.

The £63million-rated Serbia international is reportedly wanted by the Reds, with La Lazio Siamo Noi [via LFC Transfer Room on Twitter] claiming that they have been tracking him for some time.

It is stated that Liverpool could make an offer for the 26-year-old in the near future, as they look to make further additions, following the arrival of Ibrahima Konate.

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Liverpool fans keen to sign Milinkovic-Savic

These Reds fans took to Twitter to show their happiness at the rumour.

“Yes. Please”

Credit: @futebolbaseroom

“Throw in Naby + £10m and you have a deal”

Credit: @12Jaai

“I’d be all over this”

Credit: @_Riddxck

“Yo adding him to our midfield is illegal. Sign him now”

Credit: @LFC_purpose

“OH PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE”

Credit: @RitsonLFC

“He’d actually be class”

Credit: @JL_LFC

In other news, some Liverpool fans have been reacting positively to a transfer update regarding an exciting young player. Find out who it is here.

Leeds United have reportedly pulled out of the signing of Huddersfield Town midfielder Lewis O’Brien, having tracked him throughout the summer.

The Lowdown: Leeds track O’Brien

The Whites have been linked with a number of players during the transfer window, with some central midfielders tipped to make a move to Elland Road.

Nahitan Nandez is another regular link but O’Brien’s name has cropped up more than most, with Marcelo Bielsa seemingly keen on adding the Huddersfield man to his squad.

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The Latest: Whites pull out of move

According to Football Insider, however, the saga has taken a dramatic twist, with Leeds backing out of a move for the 22-year-old.

Numerous bids are thought to have been rejected by Huddersfield and a Whites source told the outlet they have now decided to ‘end their interest’ in O’Brien,

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The Verdict: No great issue

While a new midfielder would be ideal between now and the end of the transfer window, not signing O’Brien is no disaster for Leeds.

In truth, he is still a young player learning his trade and the likelihood is that he would have come in as a squad player, not strengthening Bielsa’s first XI.

It will be interesting to see if Leeds now look elsewhere before deadline day on Tuesday however, as some pundits have suggested they will need to rest and rotate Kalvin Phillips more this season to avoid burnout.

In other news, a pundit has made a key Leeds transfer prediction – read more here.

Norwich City have reportedly made an official bid to sign Schalke 04 centre-back Ozan Kabak this summer as Daniel Farke looks for defensive reinforcements.

The Lowdown: Kabak impressed for Liverpool

The 21-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Liverpool in order to help their defensive injury crisis.

Kabak performed well for the Reds, making nine Premier League starts and helping Jurgen Klopp’s side finish an unlikely third in the table.

The Latest: Norwich linked with move

According to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, Norwich have tabled a bid for the 12-cap Turkey international after talks with Torino hit an impasse.

Kabak is expected to leave Schalke on Monday, but it remains to be seen if the Canaries will beat other suitors to his signature.

The Verdict: Great potential signing

Kabak could be a superb signing for Norwich, aiding their Premier League survival chances and acting as a long-term acquisition at Carrow Road given his youth.

He looked the part at Liverpool, catching the eye during a tough period at Anfield and averaging 2.1 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game in the English top flight. The Reds’ assistant manager Pep Lijnders said of the Turkey international: “Ozan is a big talent, so much progression is still possible. He adapted fantastically inside our club from a context like Schalke and had an immediate impact with Liverpool.”

Despite his tender years, Kabak could be a leader at the heart of Norwich’s defence at a time when they are without a point in their opening three league matches.

In other news, Norwich are also reportedly keen on signing an international midfielder. Find out who it is here.

Plenty of Crystal Palace fans have been reacting to David Ornstein’s Wednesday morning Twitter post regarding Eberechi Eze.

Eze suffered a freak injury during training earlier this month and will be sidelined for at least six months as a result.

The 22-year-old, who has been capped eight times by England at Under-21 level, made his mark at Selhurst Park in his first season, scoring four times and registering six assists.

It seems as if his displays under Roy Hodgson also caught the eye of Gareth Southgate ahead of this summer’s European Championships.

According to Ornstein, Eze turned on his phone following the training session in which his injury occurred to find a message from the FA saying he was under consideration for England’s Euro 2020 squad.

Southgate named a provisional 33-man squad on Tuesday afternoon, and it seems as if Eze would have had a chance of making that if it wasn’t for his injury.

Palace fans react

This is what these Palace supporters had to say in reply to Ornstein’s post, with one describing it as ‘heartbreaking’.

“Please make this stop”Credit: @jwgribbin_”Oh my god I’m in tears”Credit: @emmabethwright”this is just so unbelievably harsh. like he was never gonna be in the final 26 man squad but just to tell him you might and then to get injured must be heartbreaking”Credit: @owenw_14″I want to cry”Credit: @Mclack119″Crying rn”Credit: @PalaceMattt”Oh man, that can’t have been easy to take for Eze”Credit: @Pets93

In other news: Many CPFC fans react to the latest on Wilfried Zaha, find out more here. 

Dermot Desmond’s self-sustaining ownership model at Celtic is a perfect example for other clubs to use, according to financial expert Dr. Dan Plumley.

The Lowdown: Desmond’s successful era

The Irishman is the majority shareholder at Parkhead, fulfilling a lifelong dream by owning the club he has supported since childhood.

During Desmond’s tenure, Celtic have racked up Scottish Premiership titles galore, among numerous other domestic trophies, and another league crown looks to be coming their way this season.

The 71-year-old has run the club in shrewd fashion too, ensuring they are in a healthy financial situation and not getting themselves into worrying amounts of debt.

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The Latest: Expert hails Celtic owner

Speaking to Football Insider, Plumley praised Desmond’s model at Celtic, saying other clubs should take a leaf out of his book:

“It’s always a plus if you can stand on your own two feet. They are set up so they can manage themselves in their own right. We see it too often where a club is solely dependent on one owner.

“If the owner is in trouble, the club’s in trouble. It’s very different at Celtic. You have to class that as a benefit that they aren’t too worried about the owner’s finances.

“This is a blueprint for all clubs. Make them more self-reliant so when the owner does take a hit, they aren’t collateral damage.”

The Verdict: Credit where it’s due

Desmond deserves undoubted credit for the manner in which he has kept Celtic afloat, running the Hoops far more intelligently than some of the more reckless owners elsewhere.

Liverpool owners FSG are a good comparison to use in some ways, with their supporters not always enamoured by a lack of mega-money transfers but the Reds in a strong financial position compared to some of their rivals.

Supporters will always be critical of Desmond – it is the nature of a football fan to never be happy – but he may only be fully appreciated when he eventually sells up.

In other news, Frank McAvennie is in awe of one Celtic player’s development. Find out who it is here.