All posts by z3u9t.icu

An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their pursuit of a deal to further bolster their attacking options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest Rangers transfer news?

According to The Athletic's Jordan Campbell, the Light Blues are "edging closer" to an agreement with Feyenoord to sign Brazilian centre-forward Danilo during the transfer window.

The reporter has stated that the Gers have upped their offer from €3.5m (£3m) to €6m (£5.2m) including realistic add-ons as Michael Beale closes in on his eighth signing of the summer.

Sam Lammers, Leon Balogun, Cyriel Dessers, Abdallah Sima, Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling, and Jack Butland have all joined the club to date.

Campbell claims that the two clubs are not far apart in their valuations and that there is a belief on both sides of the deal that this transfer will go through eventually.

How many goals did Danilo score last season?

The 24-year-old marksman scored an eye-catching ten Eredivisie goals in 14 starts for Feyenoord throughout the 2022/23 campaign and has the potential to be an excellent partner for Dessers.

Campbell has claimed that the possible signing would be used as a "hybrid" forward alongside the former Cremonese number nine in attack next season for the Light Blues.

This suggests that Danilo could play in a role that would allow him to join Dessers in a front two to spearhead the attack whilst also being given the freedom to drop deeper and move out wide in order to link up play with the midfield and wingers, which would allow the Nigerian international to remain through the middle as the focal point for Beale.

The ex-Brazil U23 international has been a prolific scorer throughout his youth and senior career to date and could form a lethal partnership with the 28-year-old dynamo.

Danilo's impressive Eredivisie return last term came after he managed 15 goals in 26 matches for Ajax's first-team and reserves combined, which included six goals in three cup games. He also caught the eye during the 2020/21 campaign on loan at FC Twente with 17 strikes in 33 league outings.

The £5.2m-rated ace, who scored 31 goals in 51 U21 clashes for Ajax, has proven himself to be a reliable scorer, which could strike fear into opposition defenders if they see him lining up alongside Dessers, whose form for Feyenoord – prior to Danilo's move there – suggests that he can also be a monster in front of goal.

Throughout the 2021/22 season, the Nigerian goal machine plundered an outstanding 19 goals in 16 starts across the Europa Conference League and Eredivisie, which included nine goals in nine Dutch top-flight starts.

No Rangers striker found the back of the net more than 14 times in the Scottish Premiership for Beale last term. Both Dessers, who scored 22 goals and provided 13 assists in 36 games for NAC Breda in 2016/17, and Danilo have the potential to score 15 or more league goals in a season.

Therefore, the possible strike partnership for the Light Blues could be one that causes panic among opposition defences over the coming months as centre-backs could have two prolific and consistent number nines to deal with throughout matches, which could cause havoc in the box.

Liverpool officially kick off their 2023/24 Premier League campaign with a trip to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on the 13th of August and there could be a few new faces on show for the club.

Who have Liverpool signed this summer?

The Reds made their first addition of the summer transfer window last month as they signed Argentina international Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion, in a deal that could eventually rise to £55m.

Jurgen Klopp followed that up with a swoop for RB Leipzig attacking midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai at the start of July. The Merseyside giants have reportedly splashed out a fee of £60m to secure the Hungary international's services.

There could also be a departure in that area of the pitch for Liverpool as it has been reported that Brazilian enforcer Fabinho is closing in on a move to Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad, whilst Bayern Munich are also interested in signing him.

It has been claimed that the Reds could be in line to receive £40m for the former AS Monaco star, which could help towards funding a possible replacement before the end of the window.

Who could replace Fabinho at Liverpool?

Klopp could forget all about Fabinho by striking a deal to sign Fulham defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha ahead of next season, following his impressive debut season in England.

The Daily Mail reported in June that it could take as much as £90m to snap up the Portugal international and it was recently claimed that Liverpool have considered the Portugal international as an option to bolster their midfield, although it remains to be seen how much they would be willing to pay for him.

Signing the former Sporting titan could improve the German head coach's squad. Palhinha averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.00 across 35 Premier League starts last term, compared to the £40m-rated warrior's score of 6.87, and caught the eye with 5.5 tackles and interceptions per game.

His 4.2 tackles per match for the Cottagers was 1.8 more than any Liverpool player in any position managed throughout the campaign and 2.4 more than Fabinho's 1.8 per outing.

Palhinha, who was dubbed "Casemiro-esque" by journalist Zach Lowy, also won more duels per clash (8.0) than the Brazil international (3.5) and came out on top in a higher percentage of his duels (59% to 50%).

This suggests that the 28-year-old monster would be an upgrade in terms of his ability to win battles and regain possession for his side on a regular basis.

In fact, the Fulham colossus ranks in the top 1% of his positional peers across the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions for tackles made per 90 (4.26) over the last 365 days – three percentiles higher than Manchester United's Casemiro – which shows that he has been one of the best ball-winning midfielders at the top level since his arrival in England.

His instant adaptation to Premier League football was impressive and his form suggests that he could come in as a significant upgrade on Fabinho, based on the monstrous enforcer's average performance level and defensive contributions each game in comparison to the current Liverpool man.

Therefore, Klopp could forget about the Brazilian midfielder and sanction the move to Al Ittihad with no concerns about the state of his squad by signing Palhinha to fill that role within the team.

Arsenal "may well look to strike a deal" for Manchester City's Joao Cancelo at a later stage in the transfer window, with the full-back "expected to leave" this summer, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

It has been reported that Arsenal are keen to bring in two new right-backs this summer, having already brought in Jurrien Timber from Ajax in for an initial fee of £34.3m, with the defender being signed to play on the right of the back four.

Ivan Fresneda is another target for the Gunners in that area of the pitch, with the Real Valladolid defender's release clause dropping to €20m (£17m) after his side's relegation from La Liga last season.

Cancelo has also been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium, and Jones has now dropped an update which indicates the Man City defender will be available.

In an interview with GiveMeSport, the transfer insider said:“The full-back situation is interesting because Cancelo is still expected to leave and there has also been all the uncertainty around Kyle Walker.

Before later adding:"But what we also know is that Guardiola has moved away from the model that Cancelo used to thrive in and further than that, seems content with the idea he doesn’t stay.

“The big question is, where will he go? Barcelona are primed if it is cheap enough or on loan so if there is to be something soon, it’s probably that. Arsenal has been touted and that case has been very quiet for now – but it may not stay that way.

“My information is that if Cancelo is still there for the taking later in the window, Arsenal may well look to strike a deal. It’s not been totally forgotten about, it’s just not a main priority. More of a luxury.”

Is Joao Cancelo going to Arsenal?

At the moment, the Gunners do not consider the Portugal international a major target, but they have recently been handed a potential boost in the race for his signature, as it has now emerged that Barca have pulled out of the race.

There are not a great deal of other potential suitors linked with moves for the full-back, which means a move to Arsenal could be a real possibility, and he could be a fantastic addition to Mikel Arteta's squad.

Hailed as "incredible" by members of the media, the £250k-per-week defender is proven at Champions League level, having been ranked as the third-best performing player in the competition by WhoScored, up until April 25th during the 2021-22 season.

Given that Timber has mainly been utilised as a centre-back throughout his career so far, Arteta may be keen to add a new right-back who could be capable of offering Arsenal some more attacking flair.

Cancelo would certainly fit the bill in that regard, ranking in the 99th percentile for assists per 90 in the past year, when compared to his positional peers, and so it is exciting news that Arsenal still have him on their list of targets for this summer.

Joao Felix and Atletico Madrid have never been a good match. One is an exciting player, who can pull the strings in a frontline full of attacking talent. Meanwhile, the other is moulded by the tactics of Diego Simeone.

There’s nothing wrong with that, either. Simeone is one of the best managers in world football. But, there’s a reason that the likes of Diego Costa have thrived where Felix and others have failed. It takes a certain player, perhaps those rougher round the edges, more aggressive, to really suit the system built by the Argentine. And, well, that has never been Felix.

The former Benfica forward is a far tidier player, far more elegant than, say, Costa. He has never been a forward who can feed off scraps in a more conservative approach, hence why he perhaps should have steered clear of Atletico in the first place.

After an average loan spell at Chelsea, though, it looks like Felix and Simeone are set to finally part ways this summer.

How old is Joao Felix?

Still only 23 years old, Felix is reportedly ready for the next step in his career. Indeed, he wants to make a move to Paris Saint-Germain this summer, with Atletico willing to sell the forward, but only for an £85m fee after they initially splashed out £113m on him back in 2019, according to The Daily Mail.

A move to the French capital may have been identified as a potential option due to the uncertain future of Kylian Mbappe, who has just one year remaining on his current contract. According to Fabrizio Romano, PSG have told the star forward that he needs to either sign a new contract or leave this summer, rather than depart for free in a year.

Given Lionel Messi’s departure, combined with added uncertainty over Neymar’s future, too, the Ligue 1 outfit could yet look towards the likes of Felix to add some much-needed firepower this summer.

After all, what better way to replace one of the most expensive players of all time, than with one of the most expensive players of all time?

Why was Joao Felix stripped of the number 7 shirt?

In the biggest hint yet that Felix could be on the move this summer, Atletico have stripped the Portugal international of his number seven shirt, handing it back to Antoine Griezmann – as seen in this latest video shared on their Twitter account.

According to Relevo, too, Simeone and Felix no longer want to work together, giving the La Liga side quite the situation to work out. Given their reported price tag of £85m, though, it remains to be seen whether or not a top club comes in for the want-away forward.

Speaking about the forward at the end of last season, Simeone said: “Bids for Joao Felix? We’ve to see if the proposal will be good financially for the club, that is crucial. Spanish clubs? Same.”

If this is to be the end of the forward’s time in Spain, he will not look back on it with the greatest fondness, having found the back of the net just 34 times, and recording just 18 assists in 131 appearances for Atletico Madrid.

Wherever he ends up next, Felix will hope to finally get his career back on track.

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Liverpool are the favourites to sign Southampton starlet Romeo Lavia in the summer transfer window, according to journalist Jacob Tanswell.

How many clubs want Lavia?

The 19-year-old is one of the Premier League's most impressive and talked-about players having stood out for the Saints last season amid their relegation struggles.

The interest in Lavia shows how he caught the eye throughout the campaign during his first year at St Mary's Stadium after leaving Manchester City last summer.

It looks almost certain that the £25,000-a-week Belgian will leave Southampton this summer, and some of the biggest clubs in the country have been linked with a move for him, such as Chelsea and Manchester United. Liverpool are also one of those in the running as they continue to look at midfield signings, with Alexis Mac Allister already signed and Dominik Szoboszlai expected to come in, too.

Are Liverpool favourites to sign Lavia?

Speaking to Empire of the Kop, Tanswell admitted that Liverpool are the team he sees as most likely to sign Lavia before the start of next season:

"Southampton want a high figure for him. Someone has got to pay around £45m-£50m for Lavia. Who can do that is dependent on all the other targets they get.”

"Liverpool or Chelsea. I probably think Liverpool, with Jurgen Klopp and with the background [work] they’ve done on him, that probably looks the likely destination."

This is great news for Liverpool, with the suggestion that Lavia could become the third midfield signing at Anfield this summer in what could represent an outstanding piece of long-term business.

At just 19, he already plays with intelligence beyond his years – Pep Guardiola has described him as "incredible", which says so much about what he is capable of moving forward – and he could be looked at as Fabinho's replacement in the No 6 role, potentially even from the off.

Lavia is still hugely inexperienced, which could make someone like Khephren Thuram a better signing – he is three years his senior and an established top-flight player – but the early signs suggest that the Saints teenager could mature into one of Europe's best players in his position over time, so Liverpool could be wise to make a move for him now if the chance arises.

Last season, he averaged 2.1 tackles per game in the Premier League, which was only bettered by Mohammed Salisu's tally of 2.3 within the Southampton squad, but he was also a strong presence in possession, completing a team-high 86.4% of his passes, demonstrating the multiple facets to his game.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is a keen admirer of Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella and will undoubtedly hope to sign the Italy international this summer if an apt opportunity arises.

What's the latest on Nicolo Barella?

According to The Times' Paul Joyce, Barella is indeed a player Klopp 'admires' and Liverpool will continue to monitor his situation attentively following claims of interest from Calciomercato earlier this month.

However, the 26-year-old is not believed to be desperate for a departure from Milano at present, and valued at a reported £69m and with three years remaining on his current deal, it won't be an easy deal to ease over the line.

But with James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all departing Anfield this month, there are few maestros on the major stage more suited to a career under Klopp's wing than Barella.

What would Nicolo Barella bring to Liverpool?

The Athletic's ever-reliable David Ornstein recently confirmed that the Reds are "exploring a transfer deal" for Red Bull Leipzig playmaker Dominik Szoboszlai, though a move is complicated by the Hungarian's €70m (£61m) release clause, which ostensibly expires this week.

As Liverpool failed to qualify for the Champions League last season for the first time in seven seasons with a fifth-placed Premier League finish, with much criticism on the efficacy and robustness of the midfield, it seems that technical director Jorg Schmadtke is making the right moves to take the club back towards prominence.

And if an incredible, albeit unlikely midfield partnership in Szoboszlai and Barella could be crafted this summer, the Anfield side's verve and vigour would be back with an almighty bang.

Barella has been hailed as a "genius" by sport editor Mike Pielluci for his remarkable feats in the centre of the park, having scored nine goals and provided ten assists from 52 matches as I Nerazzurri clinched the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana this season, also falling to treble winner Manchester City in a close Champions League final.

As per FBref, the midfield general ranks among the top 8% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 12% for shot-creating actions, the top 19% for progressive passes and the top 11% for progressive carries per 90.

That would meld well with Leipzig's creative force's skill set, with the £153k-per-week Barella complementing a dynamic No. 10 with his driving approach.

Comparatively, Szoboszlai ranks among the top 15% of attacking midfielders for assists, the top 8% for shot-creating actions, the top 5% for passes attempted, the top 3% for progressive passes, the top 11% for blocks and the top 13% for clearances per 90.

With Barella's prowess in weaving through the thirds both as a ball-carrying vessel and a ball-playing master, Liverpool would unearth a diamond capable of catalysing the intensity and confidence of Klopp's team.

But with an all-encompassing force in Szoboszlai proving his worth as a creative gem while not negating his defensive duties – evidenced by his FBref metrics – it could be a devastating partnership rivalling any in world football.

Leeds United could have a vast rebuild on their hands this summer, but might be set to make one huge early stride forwards…

What's the latest on Emmanuel Dennis to Leeds United?

That's according to Nigerian outlet Mobile Punch (via NottinghamshireLive), who suggest that the 49ers will kickstart their new reign with a move for Nottingham Forest's Emmanuel Dennis.

Given the huge influx of players the Tricky Trees oversaw last campaign, some will simply have to be offloaded. With the 25-year-old having endured a stuttered season, he could seek to revitalise his career at Elland Road. Given he was signed for around £20m, the €12.3m (£11m) value that Football Transfers have attached to his name seems appropriate.

Complete Sports supplement the earlier report by suggesting that a bid is being prepared too.

His arrival would mark the perfect replacement for the expected exit of Rodrigo, replacing his goals with ease.

Would Emmanuel Dennis replace Rodrigo?

Although the Nigerian striker did not enjoy the most prolific term at the City Ground, his work with the relegation-threatened Watford should remain fresh enough in the memory to suggest he would still be an asset.

After all, just five goal contributions across all competitions came largely as a result of stuttered play time, to which he would surely be handed plenty more than just 715 league minutes at Elland Road.

It seems the speedster thrives when he is the focal point of an attacking unit, as the season prior he scored ten goals and assisted a further six whilst featuring all across the front three. Given this was his debut year in England too for a lacklustre Watford, it marked a successful start to life in a new country.

Journalist Josh Bunting sought to praise the new boy early on in that campaign, taking to Twitter: "Emmanuel Dennis has been one of the most underrated players outside of Watford fans this season, he’s been a very good addition. 4 goals and 5 assists in 11 Premier League games should be being spoken about much more. Today he was absolutely electric from the start to finish."

The Yorkshire outfit will be desperate to replace the goals of their Spanish scoring machine, as the 32-year-old found the net on 13 occasions last season in the Premier League. However, it could be argued that this was the only outstanding year he enjoyed since his club-record move in 2020, suggesting that Dennis would hardly have to set the world alight to replicate him.

With a vacancy in their dugout still, few managers would pass up the opportunity to build their team around Dennis, given his capability at a level far above the Championship.

He could join, spearhead their promotion charge, and still retain his usefulness once back in the top flight. Therefore, this deal should represent a no-brainer for the 49ers who would be without last year's top scorer.

Manchester United remain interested in signing AS Monaco defender Axel Disasi this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news?

The Red Devils and Erik ten Hag appear to be after a new defender this summer, with Harry Maguire’s future up in the air. The England international is attracting interest from Aston Villa, Newcastle and Tottenham, and should he depart, United would be left with just three senior centre-back options.

Napoli’s Kim min-jae appeared to be the top target at Old Trafford, and a deal looked like it was gathering real pace, however, it now seems as if the South Korea will make the move to Bayern Munich.

Should that be the case, a swoop for Disasi could be on the cards, according to Romano. The transfer expert took to Twitter in the last 48 hours to share a Red Devils transfer update. He stated that Man United remain interested in the Monaco defender, while Nice’s Jean Clair Todibo is another option.

“Axel Disasi remains concrete name in the list at Manchester United in case Kim Min-jae will end up joining Bayern as expected [next week will be crucial for Kim deal].

“Man Utd also sent their scouts to follow Jean Clair Todibo multiple times — no decision made yet.”

Who is Axel Disasi?

Disasi is primarily a centre-back but can also turn out as a right-back so would bring plenty of versatility to Ten Hag’s side, should a transfer materialise.

The 25-year-old appears to be at the peak of his powers with a career-high €25m Transfermarkt valuation and has been on the books with Monaco since 2020.

During that time, the 6ft 2 France international has made 129 appearances for the Ligue 1 side – 49 of which came during the 2022/23 campaign.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig described Disasi back in 2020 as a “complete” and “dominant” centre-back, comparing him to Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk. Kulig labelled his pace, tackling, heading, athleticism, tenacity, timing as his main strengths, saying he “would be an amazing signing for any top Premier League club”.

As per WhoScored, Disasi averaged a match rating of 6.83/10 last season, a better score than Man United’s Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof and Maguire, and on the ball, he looks comfortable, ranking in the 96th percentile for progressive carries and passes into the final third, as per FBref.

Therefore, he could be a shrewd alternative target to someone like Kim, and by the looks of it, an Old Trafford transfer could be one to watch over the coming months.

An update has emerged on Rangers and their pursuit of a new goalkeeper to bring to Ibrox during the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to The Sun, the Gers are one of two teams interested in signing Jack Butland ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Ross Wilson is plotting a move for the Englishman as a potential replacement for Allan McGregor in Glasgow as the veteran’s contract expires this year.

The report claims that Bournemouth are also keen on the shot-stopper and the Gers will need to beat off competition from the Cherries to land him.

Gio van Bronckhorst needs him badly

The Ibrox head coach needs him badly this summer as McGregor needs to be given significant competition – or to be replaced – next season.

In the Premiership, the 40-year-old played 29 games and conceded 0.9 goals per game as he made four errors directly leading to shots/goals. This shows that he had lapses in concentration as he made costly mistakes in the top-flight, including two errors in the 3-3 draw with Ross County.

If he does put pen to paper on an extension then Butland must be brought in to push him for the number one position so that they are not resigned to having an error-prone goalkeeper between the sticks. Of course, if the Scot decides to call a time on his career then the Gers will have a number one jersey to give to the Palace man.

Eagles reporter Mark Wyatt dubbed him as “incredibly brave” earlier this season as he won his place back in the team for a spell under Patrick Vieira. He made nine Premier League appearances ahead of Vincente Guaita and conceded 1.4 goals per game, whilst saving 100% (1/1) of the penalties against him.

In those nine matches, Butland did not make a single error directly leading to an opposition shot or goal, which suggests that he was a reliable option between the sticks for the English outfit. He has also only made one leading to a goal in his five Premier League campaigns throughout his career.

The £35k-per-week tank can, therefore, be can be a much-needed addition to the team if he can continue that level of reliability next term, given McGregor’s mistakes in the Scottish top-flight.

He still has plenty left to give at the age of 29, 11 years younger than McGregor, and can be van Bronckhorst’s number one for many years to come if Wilson can strike a deal for him.

AND in other news, Race won: Wilson lands Rangers deal for sought-after teenage gem, GvB will be buzzing…

Erik ten Hag will have a major rebuilding job on his hands this summer at Manchester United, and with their defence urgently needing improvement, there could be a few players in that position brought in over the coming months.

What’s the word?

French journalist Fabrice Hawkins tweeted that United “are tracking” Eintracht Frankfurt defender Evan Ndicka ahead of the summer transfer window with a view to submitting a transfer offer, with Tottenham also interested.

The defender is out of contract at the end of next season, with a fee of around £17m being enough to secure his services this summer.

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Ten Hag must swoop for Ndicka

This season has been one to forget for the Old Trafford faithful, with United nowhere close to achieving any kind of silverware, leaving new manager Ten Hag with a major rebuilding job awaiting him over the summer and beyond.

With the Red Devils shipping a total of 56 goals in the Premier League with one game still left to play, it’s no surprise that the defence is one of the main areas to be worked upon before the next campaign.

Ndicka has helped Eintracht Frankfurt to win the Europa League this season, defeating Rangers on penalties in the final in midweek, and he would be a bargain addition to the United squad.

His performances this season have been incredible, and he has the figures to show for it. Compared to his positional peers in the big five European leagues, the 22-year-old ranks in the 94th percentile for aerial duels won (4.34 per 90) and the 95th percentile in blocks (2.46), while he has only received three yellow cards in the Bundesliga despite playing 32 matches in defence.

With four goals and four assists in the German top flight this term, he has outscored every single United defender put together in the 2021/22 Premier League.

These numbers clearly show that the Frenchman would be a fantastic signing for United, and with journalist Christopher Michel describing Ndicka as the “complete package”, Ten Hag surely can’t pass up a glorious opportunity like this to improve the Red Devils’ defence ahead of the 2022/23 season.

AND in other news, Man United nearing the signing of “magic” £58m “unicorn”, he’s Modric 2.0