All posts by z3u9t.icu

Everton and PSV Eindhoven probably spoke about Denzel Dumfries before the start of Euro 2020, says former Toffees defender Michael Ball.

While the Netherlands crashed out of the Euros in disappointing fashion after being eliminated by the Czech Republic, Dumfries still managed to have a good tournament.

Despite playing as a wing-back, the 25-year-old was able to come up with a couple of goals and he is now being heavily linked with a move to Everton.

According to Dutch outlet ED, the Toffees have been trying to get a deal done for Dumfries, with director of football Marcel Brands the one spearheading the move, and Ball reckons this has probably been in the pipeline for some time now.

“I think Everton and PSV held talks before the Euros,” the retired full-back exclusively told FFC. “He had a fantastic Euros. The gamble [not selling prior] has worked out for PSV.

“They would like to bring top dollar for him. They like to sell to the top clubs in Europe, in Spain, in Italy, in Germany, and that’s how they work as a football club.

“It’s a gamble PSV have played and it’s worked in their favour.”

Indeed, after his performances in the Euros, Everton’s pursuit of Dumfries looks far from being a simple one.

If reports are to be believed, it now looks like the likes of Inter Milan and Bayern Munich are also interested in the Netherlands international, complicating things for the Toffees to say the least.

Celtic’s transfer plans have been left in the dust this summer by the ongoing managerial saga at Parkhead.

The Hoops are on the verge of appointing Ange Postecoglou but it has now been over three months since Neil Lennon vacated his position at Celtic.

On the chalkboard

One player who Postecoglou may not have the privilege of managing next season is Moi Elyounoussi.

The Norwegian was the club’s second top scorer this term on 17 strikes but is heading back to Southampton with a permanent move to Paradise extremely unlikely.

A fee of £5m was touted for his services but it would appear that Celtic are favouring to spend their money on other areas of the squad.

You can hardly blame that point of view when you consider his dismal end to the campaign.

Elyounoussi scored only three goals in his final 16 league outings of the campaign, registering just three assists in that time frame as well.

The replacement

Celtic were interested in signing FC Utrecht forward Gyrano Kerk last year.

A move never materialised but with the Hoops searching for an Elyounoussi alternative in the coming weeks, they should consider reviving their pursuit.

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Kerk was in red hot form for the Eredivisie side this term, scoring nine goals and registering seven assists while playing out wide and through the middle as a central striker.

That’s something Elyounoussi did to good effect while playing for Celtic in 2020/21, operating in tandem with Odsonne Edouard on a regular basis.

Like the Norway international, Kerk is capable of beating the goalkeeper with great regularity. He’s racked up 42 strikes in his 173 outings for Utrecht.

What’s most appealing about the Dutchman is his mazy dribbling ability. No player completed more than his 112 dribbles in the Eredivisie this campaign, performing them at a rate of 3.3 per game.

In replacing Elyounoussi, that statistic is vital. A tricky footed individual, the attacker had the ability to torment defenders at times.

What’s also intriguing about his game is the raw pace he possesses. Voetbal International hailed his finest qualities in expert fashion; “Kerk is a speed demon who always creates danger in the final third. When Kerk is on the moped, there is hardly any defender that can keep up with him.”

That viewpoint was matched by former striker Robin van Persie who was effusive in his praise: “Kerk is a player who basically has everything. He is fast, has vision, is technical and can score.”

Kerk’s value has likely increased after such a fabulous season but it’s worth Celtic enquiring about his ability.

AND in other news, Celtic can find a new Jullien by signing “special” 6ft4 tank, he’s “one of the best”…

Slavisa Jokanovic believes this Sheffield United squad is the best he has ever taken over.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Sheffield Star, who claim that the 52-year-old has spent the last two weeks assessing the Blades squad, before coming to the conclusion that the side he is set to inherit on July 1 is the most talented he has taken over.

As a result, it is reported that the Serbian manager does not look likely to make sweeping changes at Bramall Lane this summer, and will bide his time before making any moves in the transfer market.

However, one exception to this rule could be in attacking midfield, with United having no real options in the position following the departure of John Lundstram.

Fans will be buzzing

Considering the fact that Jokanovic has previously managed the likes of Fulham and Watford, both of whom he guided to the Premier League, the 52-year-old’s opinion that this Sheffield United team is the best he has ever taken over would seem to bode incredibly well for the club’s upcoming Championship campaign, and is sure to have left fans buzzing.

Furthermore, with the Serb appearing unlikely to move a large number of the club’s current players on this summer, this would seem to be something of a lifeline for the likes of Rhian Brewster and Oli McBurnie, who may well get another chance to impress in the Blades’ first-team next term despite both having relatively disappointing seasons last time out.

However, while there may not be too many incomings and outgoings at Bramall Lane in the coming months, Jokanovic has nevertheless identified that the club will have to strengthen in attacking midfield, with the club being linked with one of the manager’s former stars at Fulham, Tom Cairney.

As such, it would very much seem as if the 52-year-old is already confident of achieving the club’s goal of securing an immediate return to the top flight next season, something that is very good news for everyone involved with the Blades.

In other news: Transfer update emerges on “outstanding” £38k-p/w gem, Sheff Utd fans will be buzzing

Sunderland’s make-shift right-back Lynden Gooch endured a torrid afternoon on Saturday afternoon as Lee Johnson’s side failed in their bid to reach the play-off final.

After losing the first leg of their semi-final clash with Lincoln City 2-0, the Black Cats had a monumental job on their hands in the return fixture in order to secure a spot in the play-off final at Wembley.

Despite the task at hand, a blistering start by Johnson’s side appeared to get them back on track, as first-half goals from Ross Stewart and Charlie Wyke immediately wiped out the Imps’ advantage, with Sunderland appearing to have all the momentum heading into halftime.

However, this momentum didn’t last long, as Tom Hooper put Michael Appleton’s side back ahead on aggregate shortly after the restart, a blow which, ultimately, Sunderland failed to recover from – with the tie finishing 3-2 to Lincoln over the two legs.

Despite the loss, a number of Johnson’s men put in admirable performances in the fixture, with Aiden McGeady earning a SofaScore match rating of 9.0, while Wyke earned an 8.5 rating and Stewart a 7.8 rating.

Although, other players did not fare anywhere near as well, none more so than Sunderland’s make-shift right-back Lynden Gooch.

Having been one of the Black Cats’ worst players in the first leg, the 25-year-old once again let his side down on Saturday, albeit while playing in an unfamiliar position.

Over the course of his 89 minutes on the pitch, the £5k-per-week midfielder was extremely sloppy with the ball, completing just 24 of his 40 attempted passes, none of his three attempted crosses, and six of his 14 attempted long balls.

The USA international also lost possession of the ball an extraordinary 28 times in the match, a figure greater than any other player on the pitch, from either side, on the day.

From a defensive standpoint, Gooch also lost 10 of his 14 duels, was dribbled past once and committed three fouls.

Indeed, the Sunderland academy graduate’s SofaScore match rating of 5.8 ranked him as the club’s worst player in the fixture, and it could easily be argued that his performance played a huge part in Sunderland’s failure to reach the play-off final.

As such, Gooch now has a long summer ahead of him to reflect on his displays over the two legs against Lincoln City, with the midfielder very much appearing to have badly let his team and manager down. His manager trusted him to do a job, but Gooch betrayed that trust with a terrible display.

In other news: SAFC gain transfer boost over “fantastic” £8m machine that’ll surely have fans buzzing – opinion

Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa is continuing to keep a close eye on Wolfsburg winger Josip Brekalo ahead of a potential summer transfer move.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent days have suggested that Bielsa’s side are interested in signing the 22-year-old in the summer transfer window, with the Whites among those to have watched the Croatian in action over the past few months in the Bundesliga.

German publication Bild have claimed that Brekalo’s performances have caught the eye of Bielsa, but the Whites are likely to face competition from the likes of Napoli, Milan and Fiorentina.

Exciting signing for Bielsa

The Croatian enjoyed a fine campaign with Wolfsburg, netting seven goals and providing three assists in 28 games in the Bundesliga, including scoring a hat-trick earlier this month against Union Berlin.

As per WhoScored, he averaged 1.6 shots, 1.3 key passes and one dribble per game in the league, all of which rank him in the top five for each category among his Wolfsburg teammates, and a real indication of the kind of directness and influence he provides.

Goal’s Bundesliga journalist Ronan Murphy said on Twitter: “The less said about his off-field antics the better, as he should leave his on-field performances do the talking. Able to unlock defences and strong cutting in to shoot, he will torment defenders everywhere.”

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That last line of being able to “torment defenders everywhere” is what makes Brekalo a potentially exciting signing for Bielsa and Leeds, who already have a couple of such players in Jack Harrison and Raphinha.

The £26m-rated Croatian would add some real quality and strength in depth in those wide positions and give Bielsa another potential game-changer just like Raphinha has been with six goals and nine assists.

His dribbling, his desire to cut onto his stronger foot and his willingness to take players on is very much like Raphinha, and another player like the Brazilian should certainly go down well at Elland Road.

Meanwhile, Marcelo Bielsa has taken the first steps towards signing this star…

Leeds United are eyeing a summer move for Slavia Prague sensation Abdallah Sima in the transfer window.

What’s the story?

With the Premier League season inching closer towards its finale, it appears Marcelo Bielsa is already turning his eye to how best to strengthen this Leeds squad.

And, according to Football Insider, the club are keeping close tabs on the 19-year-old Sima, and that the forward “fits the profile” Bielsa is after.

The report adds that Leeds could face competition from rival Premier League clubs, with the likes of Everton and Manchester United also credited with having an interest.

Imagine him and Bamford

Primarily a right-winger, the teenager can also play up top, and has drawn impressive comparisons with Arsenal Invincible Thierry Henry, who, of course, started his career out wide before being transformed into one of the Premier League’s leading marksmen by Arsene Wenger.

Brian Laudrup meanwhile said (via GlasgowLive): “Sima, in particular, is a wonderful player. He is only 19 years of age, but is very good in the air and can take players on. He’s quick and is scoring for fun in the Czech league.”

And, former Chelsea goalkeeper and Czech Republic legend Petr Cech even went so far as to suggest “there aren’t many players like this in Europe.”

Dubbed as “always a threat” by former Liverpool star Vladimir Smicer, Sima could build a strong relationship with Patrick Bamford, and offer the Leeds man some vital support in terms of sharing the goal-scoring burden.

This season for Slavia, the attacker has bagged 19 goals in 36 games in all competitions, including showing his pedigree at European level with four goals in the Europa League – one of them coming in a 2-0 win away at Leicester.

Sima’s ability to come inside and be a threat in the penalty box would give Leeds that security of always having a presence in the area whenever Bamford makes those darting runs into the channel to draw the centre-backs out of position.

And, standing at 6 foot 2, Sima has got the height and physicality to be a real danger from crosses being whipped in from out wide, and offer the Whites another player to hit other than Bamford.

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Sima’s versatility in being able to play on both flanks and through the middle gives Bielsa the perfect option to either partner him with Bamford as a front two, or use him as an inside forward who can link up with Leeds’ number nine by coming in off the flank.

Either way, it’s a partnership that could bear rich fruit for Leeds next season.

Meanwhile, Bielsa could find a perfect Alioski successor in this star…

David Moyes must convince Manuel Lanzini to consider taking a pay cut in order to leave West Ham United in the summer, after Noel Whelan expressed concerns of a deal falling through.

Lanzini is reportedly eager to pursue the next stage of his career away from the London Stadium after struggling to establish himself under Moyes, and has been linked with clubs in Turkey and the Middle East.

West Ham are not expected to stand in the way of their Argentine playmaker, either, with the Hammers likely to look to move Lanzini on in a permanent deal for the third-straight window after setting a £15m asking price in January.

Lanzini has only started three of his 14 Premier League appearances and been left among the unused substitutes on 15 occasions this term, including eight of the Irons’ last 13 games.

Andre Villas-Boas was keen to sign Lanzini during the winter market but was denied by the Olympique de Marseille leadership, while Paris Saint-Germain were previously claimed to have shown an interest in the 28-year-old before Moyes blocked a Deadline Day deal.

And Whelan expects the Hammers will now struggle to find a suitor for Lanzini at the end of the season, as the five-cap maestro will still have two years to run on his lucrative £70,000-per-week contract.

“Look, I mean, it’s not easy with the epidemic. Clubs have lost money,” Whelan told Football Insider. “It’s not an easy one to get players out and command wages. Everyone’s trying to make a cut to keep their financial system and status in as happy a way as possible.

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“That might mean they can’t pay out big wages to players that are already on big contracts. It’s not going to be an easy one to force players out of a club or find suitable buyers that have that amount of money that will match the players’ expectations.”

Whelan’s concerns are well placed, with market analyst KPMG claiming earlier in the year that 20 of Europe’s biggest clubs had lost in excess of €1bn (£863m) as a result of the pandemic, while around 10% had been taken off the average value of players.

With fans still locked out of stadiums, clubs will have continued to lose millions in gate revenue, which could see West Ham and Lanzini struggle to find a side willing to pay both what the Irons will request and a salary that the midfielder feels he deserves.

If Lanzini does want to pursue an adventure away from the London Stadium after spending the campaign on the fringes of Moyes’ plans, particularly after the mid-season arrival and form of Manchester United loanee Jesse Lingard, he may face some tough decisions.

One of those will undoubtedly be his wage and Moyes may have to step in to urge the 28-year-old to accept a pay cut in order to play regular football again, with the Hammers keen to retain Lingard long-term.

Signing Lingard on a permanent deal would all but slam the door shut for Lanzini to regain a prominent role in east London, where he has scored 22 times and offered 23 assists in 154 games across all competitions since his initial arrival on loan from Al-Jazira.

But as only one of his goals and three of his assists have come this season, Lanzini has become a “luxury” player in the opinion of Franck McAvennie – one that Moyes needs to see West Ham move on from when the campaign draws to a close.

AND in other news, West Ham have been rocked by a double injury blow ahead of hosting Chelsea…

Southampton have been linked with both Souleyman Doumbia and Brandon Williams recently but who would be the better addition to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side this summer?

Souleyman Doumbia

According to Football Insider, Southampton are considering a move for the 24-year-old Angers SCO left-back this summer as they look to replace Ryan Bertrand, who is looking increasingly likely to leave when his contract at St Mary’s expires.

The 24-year-old has been a regular with the Ligue 1 side this season following his arrival from Stade Rennais in the summer, making 26 appearances in the French top-flight, for which he has averaged a solid, if unspectacular, 6.63 rating for his performances.

The Ivory Coast international is contracted until 2023 but is valued at just £2.25m by Transfermarkt which suggests that he would be a relatively cheap option for the Saints this summer.

Brandon Williams

Southampton were heavily linked with a move for Williams in the January transfer window and although that loan deal fell through, according to The Athletic, they will return for him this summer.

The 20-year-old has struggled for regular game time at Manchester United this season as a result of Luke Shaw’s impressive run of form, whilst Alex Telles’ summer arrival also saw the “brave” academy graduate slip down the pecking order in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.

In the 2019/20 season, however, Williams was a regular for United in the Europa League and impressed across his eight appearances, averaging a 7.19 rating for his performances.

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Who would be better?

Whilst Williams might arrive on an initial loan deal, and would likely prove to be a more expensive option for Southampton should they seek a permanent deal, he seems like the better of the two options.

He can play as both a left-back and as a right-back, which means he could provide back-up on the right-hand side for Kyle Walker-Peters, whilst the fact that he is English also helps with Premier League registration rules.

A loan deal for Williams would be a lot less risky too, as he if ends up struggling at St Mary’s then the Saints would have no obligation to buy him, whereas Doumbia could prove to be a flop which would then have to be sold on in the future for a loss.

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Therefore, Martin Semmens should forget about signing Doumbia this summer and instead focus on signing Williams on loan for Hasenhuttl’s side ahead of next season.

And, in other news… Saints record-breaker has golden chance to win Hasenhuttl over, it’s make or break

Despite registering an impressive 10 goal involvements during his debut season with Manchester United, Daniel James has not impressed former Red Devils winger Keith Gillespie, who has exclusively told Football FanCast that he wants to see the winger take more risks.

James has experienced a frustrating time at Old Trafford this season having been handed just 14 league appearances, which saw him linked with a move away in January as he does not appear to be near the first-team picture.

There is now increased competition for places at United with James, Mason Greenwood and Amad Diallo all vying for one position on the opposite wing to Marcus Rashford.

The Wales international has a lot of the attributes that defenders hate as he has pace in abundance and is good with the ball at his feet, but he fails to utilise those skills, according to Gillespie, who spoke exclusively to FFC:

“Sometimes when he gets the ball I’m wanting him to get at the defender but he usually chooses the easy option and just goes backwards.

“He’s an explosive player and we know how much pace he’s got and that is one thing that defenders are frightened to death of. He has that in abundance but in the final third you’re just wanting him to make something happen instead of just taking the easy option.”

For a winger, Manchester United fans could be looking for James to offer a little bit more as he has only registered eight assists in all competitions since he joined the Red Devils last summer.

Competition for places could become even more fierce if reports are believed to be true that Man United are still eager to sign Jadon Sancho following the England international’s latest sublime season in the Bundesliga.

Ingenious, magical, awe-inspiring. It feels like every superlative in the book has been used for Wolves star Ruben Neves in the last four years.

Signed for a Championship record £15m, the midfielder swapped Champions League football and Porto’s captaincy for the second tier of English football in 2017.

It was a mind-boggling transfer but one which set the tone for Wolves. With the appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo and the arrival of Fosun Group, a relationship with super-agent Jorge Mendes was established.

Since Neves’ record move, Wolves have completed several deals of a similar ilk for Mendes’ clients. The likes of Nelson Semedo and Pedro Neto are both on Gestifute’s book, for instance, but the aforementioned midfield wizard is undoubtedly their biggest success story.

Neves has quickly become one of the most impressive and sought-after players in his position in the Premier League.

Links to Manchester City have been discussed but, for the time being, he is still the shining light of Nuno’s midfield.

It’s hard to believe the Portugal international is still only 24 years of age. He plays like somebody who has been at the top for years, conjuring up truly golden moments in front of the Molineux faithful.

When it comes to scoring goals from an improbable range, there are few better in Europe. After scoring his first Premier League goal in August 2018, it marked his 11th senior strike, just one of which had been from inside the penalty box.

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Neves is Nuno’s quarterback, the standout and go-to man when Wolves are in a crisis. If he were in high school, he’d be the most popular in the class.

Very rarely does the Portuguese prop up inside the penalty area, something that’s proven to be one of the most eye-catching traits in the top flight. For instance, in August 2019, he racked up a 13th goal for Wolves. That happened to be a tenth from outside the box in Old Gold.

At that moment in time, only Harry Wilson (12) and Christian Eriksen (11) had scored more often from outside the box since Neves’ debut in English football.

It’s hardly surprising, therefore, that he has earned phenomenal reviews down the years. His former teammate Sylvain Deslandes once said: “He is a very, very talented player. We immediately saw it.”

Deslandes continued: “From his very first minutes in the Championship, he blew everybody’s mind with the science behind his ball placement and his aesthetically pleasing way of playing. But especially, we were astounded by his passing skills and his great shot capacity from long range.”

Such is Neves’ tendency to do things from outside the box that, at one point in 2018, he had scored more goals (6) than taken touches inside the area (4).

This season has seen him move slightly further forward. He is making more passes per game in the final third than he has done over the last four seasons. The way he popped up with a rare goal inside the penalty area against Everton in January typifies that.

Neves is now adding another layer to his game, something which is exemplified by his five Premier League goals in 2020/21. Coincidentally, Neves hasn’t scored that many goals in a single season since Wolves’ promotion-winning campaign.

All of this has led to the midfielder’s transfer value increasing exponentially. According to Transfermarkt, he is now worth an eye-catching £45m; an increase of 200% in four years from when he first penned terms in the Midlands.

“He can defend he can attack, he’s so talented,” Jamie Redknapp said in July 2020. “He can do it at Wolves but I think he’s going right to the top of the game, it’s effortless for him,” the Sky Sports pundit added.

Those words analyse Neves perfectly. He is a footballer who makes football look like art, a player who uses the ball like a paintbrush to convey his feelings.

Simply put, Neves is magic.

AND in other news, Shi must wield the axe on £62.9k-p/w Wolves flop, his value has plummeted by 60%…