All posts by z3u9t.icu

Southampton’s Premier League form may have fallen off a cliff in recent months but the Saints are still going in the FA Cup and have a great chance of reaching the last four as they face Championship side Bournemouth in the quarter-finals on Saturday.

In order to give his side the best chance of success at the Vitality Stadium, Ralph Hasenhuttl should consider unleashing Mohammed Salisu at the weekend.

After a difficult first few months with Southampton, the centre-back finally made his debut for the club in the 2-0 win against Wolves in the last round and he has gone on to make a further five appearances for the Saints since then. However, he was left out of the line-up against Brighton last weekend.

The 21-year-old also showed his versatility in the recent 5-2 defeat against Manchester City, with Hasenhuttl selecting him at left-back and Ryan Bertrand moving to right-back as a result.

The former Chelsea man has been Saints’ first choice at left-back for the whole season despite a poor run of recent form, with his 6.42 average rating comfortably the worst of Southampton’s regulars in defence.

Therefore, it is perhaps time that he was dropped, with Salisu the natural replacement for the Englishman at left-back, especially after youngster Jake Vokins was sent on loan to Sunderland in January.

Earlier in the season, Jannik Vestergaard dubbed the former Real Valladolid man a “big talent” despite his lack of appearances, and his debut at Wolves certainly showed what he is capable of, as he earned an impressive 7.02 WhoScored rating for his performance, helping Hasenhuttl’s side to a rare clean sheet.

Bournemouth’s main threat on Saturday will arguably come down the wings, with both Junior Stanislas and Arnaut Danjuma having impressed for the Cherries this season. Hasenhuttl should arguably select his two most in-form full-backs to deal with them, and that should see Salisu start ahead of Bertrand on the left.

Playing the young centre-back out wide also allows Southampton to shift into a back three with Walker-Peters pushing forward on the right, so having a natural centre-back in that position could well prove to be a game-changer for Hasenhuttl, not just against Bournemouth but maybe for the rest of the season.

And, in other news… Forget Ings: Saints should hand new deal to £13.5m-rated beast who Ralph loves

According to a report by 90min, in which they reveal Manchester United’s interest in Declan Rice – including an exchange offer of any of Nemanja Matic, Phil Jones or Jesse Lingard – the West Ham United star is ‘ready’ to ‘make the move’ this summer. 

Indeed, as per this report, United are ready to offer any of the trio in exchange for signing Rice and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has long been keen on signing him but pulled out when GSB were requesting £70 million last summer.

Rice ‘ready’ to ‘make the move’

Now, the player’s representatives think a deal could be completed for around £50m – which has also reportedly attracted the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool.

Whilst no clear front runner has emerged yet in the race to sign Rice, according to 90min, the star Hammer is ‘ready’ to ‘make the move’ this summer as this transfer claim emerges.

Rice was heavily linked with Chelsea last year, with their former boss Frank Lampard apparently keen on his signing before he was sacked and replaced by Thomas Tuchel.

Transfer Tavern take

Now, according to 90min, they remain interested along with the joined parties of City and Liverpool but it is United who are willing to offer any of three players in exchange.

Time will tell what could come of this latest report, but David Moyes won’t want to lose his key man.

The Scot only really has the ageing Mark Noble to step in if Rice is absent, so he would be heavily reliant on GSB signing an adequate replacement.

In other news: West Ham fans were excited by this transfer claim, find out more here.

David Moyes should urge West Ham United to sign Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier as the London Stadium natives line up potential Lukasz Fabianski replacements.

What’s the word?

According to Football Insider, Irons scouts are keeping tabs on Meslier’s situation at Elland Road with a view to launching a summer swoop for the 21-year-old shot-stopper.

Fabianski, who turns 36 in April, is currently due to become a free agent at the end of the season, with his current £65,000-per-week terms set to expire in June.

The Poland international has held talks with the east London outfit over a new deal, but is yet to reach an agreement to extend his time in claret and blue into a fourth campaign, per Football Insider.

West Ham are confident of retaining Fabianski beyond the current term due to a one-year option included in the deal struck upon his £7m arrival from Swansea City in 2018, but are keen to carry out due diligence by weighing up potential replacements.

Meslier has been identified as a top talent who can develop into an ‘outstanding’ option between the sticks, having impressed the Hammers’ talent spotters with his efforts for Leeds since turning an initial season-long loan into a permanent move for £5m last summer.

The Lorient product has started 25 of Leeds’ 26 Premier League games since the west Yorkshire outfit were promoted to the top flight last year, keeping eight clean sheets – including against Everton during the Whites’ 1-0 win at Goodison Park in November.

West Ham have also been linked with Manchester United’s Dean Henderson, Sheffield United’s Aaron Ramsdale and Bologna FC 1909’s Lukasz Skorupski as potential options to replace Fabianski should he leave the London Stadium.

Should West Ham sign Meslier?

West Ham moving to sign Meslier from Leeds could see Moyes and David Sullivan acquire a long-term number one for the Irons, as the France under-21 international has shown a great deal of promise during his first year in the Premier League.

Only West Bromwich Albion’s Sam Johnstone has made more saves (107) than Meslier (99) in the top flight this term, while the Leeds star’s performances have been at such a level that the £10.8m-rated ace boasts SofaScore’s fifth-best average rating for a goalkeeper at 7.04.

Fabianski, who has made 69 saves – the 16th-most, has averaged a 6.85 rating and has made one-third of the number of successful runs out (3) as Meslier (9) has to date, per SofaScore.

Despite being labelled as a “raw” shot-stopper by former England goalkeeper David James on Sky Sports’ The Football Show (8/1) earlier this season, via Yorkshire Evening Post, Meslier has also been lauded by Ben Foster for his performances behind a Leeds backline which ensures he stays busy.

“I’ve watched a few games of him this season and he doesn’t strike you as a big strong kind of goalie, does he?” Foster said on Sky Sports (13/2, 09:35, via HITC). “He looks sort of skinny and sort of fragile. But honestly, he is flying, some of the saves he’s been making. World-class saves, proper world-class saves.

“His first season in the Premier League as well, he’s been on fire. Leeds, as well with their style of play, he’s going to have stuff to do and he’s going to be busy. He’s pulled out the saves and he’s kept a few clean sheets as well.”

Meslier’s stock will only be expected to continue to rise all the while he excels at Elland Road, so if Moyes wants the £20,000-a-week colossus at the London Stadium, West Ham will have to swoop for his services this summer regardless of Fabianski’s immediate future.

AND in other news, West Ham eye the man responsible for “unbelievable” signings that deliver millions in profit…

Many Liverpool fans concluded that midfielder Naby Keita should be sold next summer after he suffered another setback.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference before tonight’s FA Cup tie against Aston Villa (via James Pearce), manager Jurgen Klopp confined that the 25-year-old will not be fit enough to face Dean Smith’s side.

Keita has suffered various injury issues this season and hasn’t started a game since the Reds’ 7-0 win against Crystal Palace last month.

The Guinea international is sidelined, along with Joel Matip and Diogo Jota, in a game that is essentially in doubt after a mass coronavirus outbreak in the Villa camp.

With this in mind, supporters have had enough of Keita and some believe that his time at Anfield is coming to a screeching halt.

“Naby can just go in the summer… Dude just can’t stay fit”

Credit: @PromoPromise

“Just sell”

Credit: @okekemezie1

“This is how I didn’t react. Guys a sicknote, unfortunately…Sturridge II”

Credit: @NOMISYOUNG

“He’s made of glass… He will come back… Play 4 games… Then out for another 4/6 weeks.. Klopp should cut his losses in the summer and sell him… Imo”

Credit: @Oddjobbobajobb1

“Ruled out again. Who treats him, physios or Autoglass? It’s a shame but it’s like Aquilani all over again.”

Credit: @LeeGregson

“He’s been a massive disappointment. Tries to do too much, loses the ball, gets injured. Rinse, repeat.”

Credit: @Shadows07847621

In other news, talkSPORT pundit lambasted ‘rubbish’ Liverpool mishap during Southampton defeat.

Spurs striker Carlos Vinicius looks set to finally be given an opportunity to impress in the Premier League with Harry Kane set for a spell on the sidelines, and it is an opportunity the Brazilian must take if he wants to stay with the North London club for the long-term.

Kane picked up an ankle injury in the midweek defeat against Liverpool and looks unlikely to feature against Brighton on Sunday evening, meaning Vinicius could be in line for his first Premier League start.

The Brazilian, who joined on loan from Benfica during the summer transfer window, has been limited to just four substitute appearances in the top-flight, totalling 25 minutes so far this season, with the majority of his appearances coming in cup competitions.

The 25-year-old was excellent in Spurs’ Europa League group stage campaign, contributing three goals and three assists in five appearances, resulting in a superb 7.41 average rating.

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He also bagged a hattrick in the 5-0 win against Marine in the FA Cup recently, but the extraordinary form of Kane has meant he has perhaps been unfortunate to barely feature in the Premier League.

However, whilst the England captain’s injury is obviously worrying for Spurs, it means fans, and Mourinho, will be able to get a real look at Vinicius to see what he can do in the Premier League, and his performances in the coming games could prove to be the deciding factor in whether or not the Lilywhites opt to make his move permanent in the summer.

Perhaps if he can continue his form from the Europa League in the Premier League, then he could prove to be the Portuguese manager’s saviour, as he attempts to improve their poor form of late.

Spurs hold the option to buy Vinicius, but he will cost more than £40 million if they want to do so, which is a hefty price for someone who has been something of a bench-warmer so far this season.

Therefore, the £18 million-rated Vinicius must seize this rare opportunity to impress, in the hope that he can convince Mourinho he is worth playing alongside Kane when the 27-year-old returns from injury, otherwise, it is difficult to see him staying at Spurs for the long term.

And, in other news… “Could be a replacement for Alli” – Exclusive: Pundit drops verdict on 23 y/o Spurs target who “scores goals”

West Brom are about to embark on a new era as Sam Allardyce has replaced Slaven Bilic at the Hawthorns.

The Croatian was sacked less than 24 hours after guiding the Baggies to an impressive 1-1 draw against Manchester City on Tuesday evening.

And now the 66-year-old has returned to management after two-and-a-half years out of the game.

The Midlands outfit officially announced his appointment on Wednesday afternoon with the former England manager signing an 18-month contract.

Allardyce has also managed the likes of Bolton, Blackburn West Ham and most recently, Everton.

But how might West Brom’s starting XI look once he has implemented his own ideas?

Here’s what we are predicting…

Allardyce is typically known as a direct and counter-attacking manager, but one who can get the most out of players by playing exactly where they should be played.

We could well see a similar 4-4-2 to what we saw during his time at Bolton – incorporating a target man as well as a creative attacking midfielder (Jay-Jay Okocha) that’s given the freedom to operate out wide.

The other two in the middle were often industrious box-to-box types (Kevin Nolan and Gary Speed) whilst only one of the two full-backs (Ricardo Gardner) were allowed to bomb on up the pitch.

West Brom appear to have the players to fit this style.

Sam Johnstone will stay between the sticks whilst a no-nonsense duo of Kyle Bartley, when fit, and Branislav Ivanovic will partner up in the middle of defence. They will keep it simple with passes out wide or into midfield.

Darnell Furlong may act as the Baggies’ version of Gardner with Kieran Gibbs the defensively-minded option on the other flank.

Jake Livermore and Conor Gallagher could form a hard-working partnership in the engine room whilst Matheus Pereira is an easy comparison to Okocha, he’ll be given the keys to drift out wide with Furlong overlapping throughout.

Grady Diangana may be utilised on the other side with Albion outcast Charlie Austin returning as the ‘target man.’

He’ll partner Karlan Grant in attack as Allardyce looks to find his new Nicolas Anelka and Kevin Davies.

It does mean that there is no place for Slaven Bilic favourite Semi Ajayi or Romaine Sawyers, whilst academy stars Kyle Edwards and Rekeem Harper continue to be frozen out.

AND in other news, Forget Johnstone, West Brom dynamo who won 10 duels stole the show against Man City…

When Tottenham and Leeds came to blows on Saturday it was an unrelenting difference in style.

Jose Mourinho has become about scoring an early goal and then defending what you have. For Leeds, it’s all about attacking from minute one until the final kick of the game.

Even in matches against the top sides, Marcelo Bielsa’s men have utilised that strategy but it didn’t particularly pay off this weekend. It may not have been the 6-2 drubbing they were on the end of at Old Trafford but they were still played off the park in a 3-0 defeat.

Spurs were excellent and once again it was Heung-min Son and Harry Kane that put the opposition to the sword.

However, the true hero wasn’t anyone in Mourinho’s attack. Instead, it was left-back Ben Davies.

The former Swansea man hasn’t exactly had the best of seasons and that’s typified by quotes from pundit Noel Whelan, someone who tore the defender apart for his performance against Liverpool.

“That’s embarrassing for any senior pro, appalling, really, even against a side who dominate possession and pen you into your own half all the time,” he said.

That being said, Davies has bounced back and now looks a man reborn, putting in a number of convincing displays for the Lilywhites. He was assured in the draw with Wolves but was even better on this occasion.

Compared to Matt Doherty on the right, the Welshman dealt with the Leeds attack competently and won a colossal 85.7% of the duels he contested – meaning he lost just one.

Everything Raphinha threw at him, he seemed to deal with. Davies also completed 87% of his passes and produced two key passes, proving a threat in the left-hand channel.

His impact in that third of the pitch could have been better but what was most pleasing, was that his defensive display was impressive when Sergio Reguilon was missing.

The left-back hasn’t always been particularly well-received but he’s now starting to find more consistency. Long may it continue.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Toby: Levy must seal Spurs swoop for £6.5m “diamond” who silenced Son…

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, former West Brom goalkeeper Chris Kirkland says that Albion had no chance of signing Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser as soon as Newcastle were interested.

Kirkland discusses Wilson and Fraser

Bournemouth pair Fraser and Wilson were linked with the Baggies during the summer transfer window, however, both ended up making the move to the Magpies. Fraser joined on a free transfer, and Wilson cost £20m.

Kirkland was asked whether there was any chance of the duo moving to The Hawthorns. His answer may not be music to the ears of Baggies supporters:

“Well nobody knows but if you’re asking me if they both agreed the same fee, would they have gone to West Brom or Newcastle? They’d have gone to Newcastle. No disrespect but when Newcastle is a full house again and you know 52,000 fans then yeah, there’s always going to be one winner there and that’s Newcastle.”

Kind of talent Bilic needs

Whilst they did not spend a huge amount of money during the summer, they still parted with £36.41m. Karlan Grant, for example, cost Slaven Bilic no less than £15m.

However, so far, the Hawthorns outfit have struggled to adapt to the Premier League, failing to win any of their first eight games in the competition.

Both Fraser and Wilson are top talents. The former once recorded 14 assists in a single Premier League season with the Cherries, whilst Wilson is the Toon’s top goalscorer in the top flight with six strikes so far this season.

That kind of talent could have had a big impact on what West Brom could have achieved this season but Kirkland, despite being an ex-WBA player, obviously doubts that they were ever serious targets once Newcastle came in.

In other news, West Brom fans praised this man against Fulham.

Johan Lange has been dealt a cruel blow in his efforts to sign Milot Rashica with Werder Bremen confirming the Aston Villa target is not for sale in January.

What’s the word?

Speaking with Bild, Werder Sporting Director Frank Baumann has stated that Rashica will be staying at the Weser Stadium as he will block any attempts to sign one of his side’s players this winter.

Aston Villa were believed to be monitoring Rashica’s situation in Germany to see if he can rediscover his form from last term, which saw the Birmingham-based outfit rival West Ham, Brighton and Wolverhampton Wanderers for the former Liverpool target.

Rashica struck 11 goals and was credited with a further eight assists in 34 games across all competitions in 2019/20, and admitted he would have loved the chance to play in the Premier League if Bremen reached an agreement with one of his interested suitors.

But Werder held firm in demanding that his €38million (£34.4m) release clause was met in full, due to clauses inserted in his arrival from Vitesse Arnheim that would have seen the Dutch side, the forward and his agent each net a per cent of the fee received.

The 24-year-old has failed to replicate his form from last season thus far this term, with the 28-cap Kosovo sensation dubbed ‘The Rocket’ only penning his first assist of the campaign during last Friday’s 5-3 loss to VfL Wolfsburg and is yet to score in any of his five Bundesliga outings.

Rashica was given an extended break this summer after being left “disappointed” at a transfer failing to materialise, while an early-season knee injury prevented his season debut until the fourth fixture of the German league campaign.

Take Villa to another level

Baumann stating that Bremen will reject all offers for Rashica in the winter market will come as a cruel blow for his Aston Villa counterpart Lange, who could have taken Dean Smith’s side to another level with the capture of the 24-year-old.

Villa were expected to move for Rashica’s services in January if he can rediscover his form this month, having begun to find his feet again with three straight Bundesliga starts and an influential role in defeat to Wolfsburg.

Lange striking a deal for the Kosovo international would have added a player lauded highly by Bremen head coach Florian Kohfeldt as a unique talent through his ability to decide games on his own.

“He is a player who can decide Bundesliga games,” Kohfeldt told Tagesspiegel, via quotes by Goal this summer. “You don’t find that very often. Milot has incredible skills: in speed, in goalscoring, in passing. Rashica would fit well in England with his pace, but also with his style of play in Spain.”

Smith will seemingly not be gifted the chance to work with a talent like Rashica, at least until the summer, and will instead have to hope the likes of Trezeguet, Bertrand Traore and Anwar El Ghazi can help take some of the strain off Jack Grealish and Ross Barkley with the trio yet to score and boasting just two assists between them.

AND in other news, a major Premier League decision has come at the ideal time for an “outstanding” Villa titan who’s badly letting Dean Smith down.

David Gold and David Sullivan will have left a sour taste in the mouths of many West Ham United supporters for their slack efforts to strengthen David Moyes’ squad this summer, but can show their intent with the capture of AFC Bournemouth’s Joshua King.

What’s the word?

According to The Telegraph, West Ham have begun talks with Bournemouth and King over a potential £10million deal to take the forward from the Vitality Stadium against rival interest from West Bromwich Albion.

King is eager to secure a move to a Premier League side following the Cherries’ relegation last season, having established himself as a top-flight player with 48 goals and 15 assists over the past five campaigns.

The window remains open for Premier League sides to do business with EFL clubs until October 16, which Irons boss Moyes is keen to explore after Felipe Anderson’s loan move to FC Porto and Grady Diangana’s departure for West Brom left him with a lack of options.

Baggies boss Slaven Bilic is also keen on King following news that striker Hal Robson-Kanu will require surgery on his broken arm, while Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur had considered signing the 28-year-old earlier in the summer.

King missed the start of the 2020/21 season for new manager Jason Tindall through an injury sustained whilst on international duty, but the £45,000-per-week 2021-free agent has since struggled to earn game time on the south coast with just 23 minutes to his name across all competitions thus far.

An ambitious signing from the EFL

King could serve as a late signal of intent by the West Ham ownership of Gold and Sullivan as the former Manchester United trainee and January target is one of the top talents still on the market now that the international window has closed.

The Oslo-born forward struck six goals and penned four assists whilst Bournemouth were relegated last season despite starting just 24 of 26 appearances, with successful strikes against the Red Devils and Chelsea that secured a vital win and draw that kept the Cherries in the survival race until the final seconds.

He further created four big chances that were not converted and spurned three himself, whilst averaging 0.8 shots, 1.2 key balls, 5.9 duels won and 2.0 successful dribbles a game, per SofaScore.

King is also a player with great ambition, having stated desires to become Norway’s all-time leading goalscorer and eclipse the 33 goal tally of Jorgen Juve set between 1928 and 1937, despite only having 17 to his name from 48 appearances heading into Thursday night’s UEFA Euros qualifier against Serbia.

Now that West Ham can only shop in the English Football League for late reinforcements, GSB could do a lot worse than court King for £10m.

AND in other news, GSB’s floundering in the transfer market ensured West Ham failed in a late pursuit of a £30million target.