All posts by n8rngtd.top

Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain "expects" to become an Aston Villa player this summer, according to a fresh report regarding his future.

Is Oxlade-Chamberlain a free agent?

The 29-year-old is out of contract at Anfield at the end of this month, following six years at the club that have seen both positives and negatives on show.

On the plus side, Oxlade-Chamberlain has won many trophies in a Liverpool shirt, most importantly the Premier League and Champions League, but he has also been dogged by injury problems and has struggled to be a key player the more the years have passed.

In recent times, Villa have been strongly linked with a move for the £120,000-a-week Englishman, viewing him as another shrewd free transfer alongside Youri Tielemans.

Now, another update has emerged that further hints at Oxlade-Chamberlain completing a move to Villa Park sooner rather than later.

What's the latest on Oxlade-Chamberlain to Villans?

According to Football Insider, the midfielder has "cleared out his locker" at Liverpool and has now "told friends he expects to join Aston Villa". It is stated that he "has been assessing a vast number of offers from clubs home and abroad with his Anfield contract expiring at the end of the month", but a switch to the Midlands looks on the cards.

The move would go through on July 1st, at which point Oxlade-Chamberlain will officially become a free agent, as Unai Emery looks to enjoy a big summer in the transfer market.

This could be a really clever piece of business by Villa, with the Liverpool man likely to cost a lot in wages, but the free aspect of the signing would also make it less risky, should his injury problems continue to be an issue.

If fit, Oxlade-Chamberlain could be a real force for the Villans, still being young enough to enjoy a number of years at the top level, and his versatility means he can do a job in central midfield or in wide attacking areas.

The fact that Jurgen Klopp has called the former Arsenal man "sensational" in the past speak volumes about what he is capable of, while 35 caps for England is also impressive, and would likely be a higher tally without the injuries.

There is no guarantee that the move will work out – there is a reason Liverpool aren't offering him an extension, after all – but the positives outweigh the negatives when it comes to Villa snapping him up.

Chelsea's frustrating search for a new holding midfielder to replace N'Golo Kante may see them go down a different route entirely.

Kante is set to join Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad, while midfield partner Mateo Kovacic has long been linked with a move to Premier League champions Manchester City.

Brighton and Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo is widely considered to be top of Mauricio Pochettino's wishlist, but the Seagulls are reportedly seeking a fee in the region of £100m.

For that reason, 90min reports that the Blues are now looking elsewhere for potential back-ups, with Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella one possible option.

Where would Nicolo Barella fit in at Chelsea?

If Chelsea move for Barella, they are not bringing in a like-for-like replacement for Kante as such. After all, the Inter midfielder ranks in the bottom 4% for interceptions and bottom 36% for tackles, as per FBref, among his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues.

Instead, they would be signing a player who is very similar in profile to Real Madrid's long-serving midfield superstar Luka Modric. The pair each averaged 0.21 goals per 90 minutes last season, while Barella slightly edged things in terms of assists (0.21 v 0.15).

Barella completed 81.6% of his passes, compared to 87.8% for Modric, and he also just about came out on top in terms of tackles won per 90 minutes (0.86 v 0.46) and blocks (1 v 0.77).

It is in terms of goal-creating actions, which takes factors such as passes and take-ons prior to a goal being scored, that the pair's similar playing styles can be highlighted, averaging as they do 0.45 and 0.46 per 90 minutes.

Italy international Barella was named Serie A Midfielder of the Year in 2022-23 and also showcased his talents in Inter's run to the Champions League final. Indeed, among other impressive stats, he covered 135.1km of ground in the competition, second only to AC Milan's Sandro Tonali (139.4km).

As Italian football expert James Horncastle put it during Inter's quarter-final tie with Benfica, Barella really was "everywhere" on the field.

Fellow writer Carlo Garganese went further by describing the 26-year-old – who is also wanted in a £50m swoop by Newcastle United, according to The Telegraph – as a "monster" because of his energetic displays.

If Enzo Fernandez is in the team to bring some calm in the midfield engine room, then Barella could be the perfect choice to sit alongside him, carry the ball forward and make something happen in the final third while te Argentine sits back and dictates proceedings.

Ranked as he is in the top 8% for non-penalty goals among midfielder's across Europe's top five leagues, and top 11% for assists, Barella is the Modric-like upgrade Chelsea are crying out for this summer.

Hearts will be expected to improve on their mediocre season last term, failing to reach the semi-finals of either of the two domestic cups while finishing in fourth place after a poor end to the campaign, winning just two of their final seven matches.

Steven Naismith was in charge for these games, initially on an interim basis, however, he is now in permanent charge of the Tynecastle side as the 2023/24 season fast approaches.

The priority for him now will be to retain players of quality such as Lawrence Shankland and Josh Ginnelly, who contributed a staggering 52 goal contributions between them last term, while also getting defender Craig Halkett back fighting fit following a serious injury.

Adding a few faces will also be expected, and with loan star James Hill impressing during his stay in the capital last term, could he be open to a permanent stay?

The AFC Bournemouth defender may have potentially given the supporters a glimmer of hope after his recent comments, saying: “It would definitely be in consideration because everyone at Hearts has been amazing.

“They’ve made me feel at home. I’m not out of place here. I feel like a massive part of this squad. When you have that belief, the sky is the limit.

“The group at Hearts is incredible and the standard of this league is a surprise when other players step in because there is such quality.”

Could Hearts sign James Hill this summer?

With these comments, nothing can be ruled out, although with the defender having a contract at the Cherries until 2026, Naismith will have to splash the cash to lure the £14k-per-week man to Edinburgh this summer.

It’s safe to say that he was impressive upon joining the club in January, and as such, he could well be a dream signing for the new boss as he looks to reinvigorate the player squad.

Indeed, the centre-back featured 17 times across all competitions and averaged a respectable Sofascore rating of 6.8, enough to rank him in ninth position out of the whole squad.

He also ranked third for tackles per game (1.8) and first for interceptions per game (1.5), in the squad, showcasing his undisputed quality as he took no time at all to settle in at the club. It's players such as Hill that could be vital as the Jambos look to improve under Naismith, and considering he already knows the club well, it shouldn't take him long to accommodate to things once more.

The 21-year-old has only made four appearances for Bournemouth since joining them in January 2022 from Fleetwood Town, however, journalist Gregg Evans praised the club and claimed Hill was “another success story” as he made the leap up from League One to the Championship.

With an England U21 cap in his possession, the future is clearly bright for the 6-foot youngster, however, will it lie at Hearts? It should well do.

West Ham United are "interested" in James Maddison and would "enter the discussion" if a deal is agreed for Declan Rice, claims transfer insider Dean Jones.

West Ham United transfer news – what's the latest on James Maddison?

Declan Rice's departure from West Ham has already become the summer's biggest transfer story, with Arsenal and Manchester City seeing their £90m bids rejected by the Irons over the last seven days.

While David Moyes and Co. will be smiling at the thought of a possible £100m bid for their star, they will want the deal to be concluded as quickly as possible as they have their own business to attend to over the summer, business that will heavily rely upon the sale of their club captain.

The names consistently linked with the East London side over the last few weeks have been similar in profile, hard-working, defensively solid midfielders, names like Joao Palhinha, James Ward-Prowse and Amadou Onana, to name but a few.

However, one name linked to the club could have Hammers everywhere very excited, Maddison.

Despite their relegation to the Championship last season, Leicester City have set the price tag for their prized asset at £60m, per the Telegraph.

West Ham will have to compete with the likes of Newcastle United, who have the player 'at the top' of their summer wishlist and Tottenham Hotspur, who are also keen on the player.

However, with the money from Rice soon to be burning a hole in their pockets, maybe they snatch the player from under the opposition's noses.

What has transfer insider Dean Jones said about James Maddison to West Ham United?

Jones has highlighted that while the Hammers are certainly interested in the services of the England international, they must conclude their business regarding Rice before splashing the cash on a player like him.

Writing for GIVEMESPORT, he said: "West Ham United are another club interested in Maddison and while they are certainly outsiders for now, they would enter the discussions if possible after a Declan Rice exit is sorted."

Would James Maddison be a good deal for West Ham United?

Although, the Hammers' chances of even getting a sniff of signing him look very slim as he's supposedly getting closer and closer to joining Tottenham Hotspur.

While the most logical replacement for a player such as Rice would probably be a more defensively-minded midfielder than Maddison, the Hammers massively struggled to create chances last season, and so should they have the opportunity to tackle that deficiency with the capture of the ex-Norwich City gem, they should.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, Maddison sits in the top 1% for non-penalty goals, assists, expected non-penalty goals and assists, shot-creating actions, all per 90

He also had a great personal season last year, despite playing for an incredibly dysfunctional Foxes side. According to WhoScored, the 5 foot 9 dynamo managed a genuinely impressive average match rating of 7.24 across his 30 Premier League appearances.

It's unsurprising then that his former Brendon Rodgers hailed the player as "one of the best in the Premier League" last season.

The biggest hurdle for the East London club in their pursuit of Maddison isn't the fee of £60m, it's the competition they'll face to secure his signature, but if Moyes can work his magic and convince him that joining his project at the London Stadium is a good idea, the club will look much, much better for it.

Chelsea "have an interest" in Brazilian wonderkid Matheus Franca, with the youngster himself being "keen" on a move to Stamford Bridge, claims transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Chelsea transfer news – what's the latest on Matheus Franca

After securing the signatures of Villarreal forward Nicolas Jackson and 16-year-old prodigy Kendry Paez last month, the Blues seem to have turned their attention to another exciting youth prospect in Flamengo's Franca.

The 19-year-old has been courting the attention of some of Europe's biggest clubs over the last six months, with Newcastle United reportedly offering the Brazilian club €16m (£14m) for the player's signature, only to be told that he wouldn't be sold for anything less than £20m.

Around the same time, Spanish giants Real Madrid noticed the youngster's exploits and sent some scouts to the country to 'monitor him'.

However, this competition hasn't seemed to worry Chelsea, as they look to make contact with the Brazilian side later this week, to thrash out a deal and find a price all parties can agree upon, per Fabrizio Romano.

He explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:

"We can confirm that Chelsea have an interest in Matheus Franca, one of the best talents in Brazil, born in 2004. Newcastle had a bid rejected for €15m (£13m) plus add-ons, it was in January. Bayer Leverkusen and also many other clubs have always been following him, but now Chelsea are entering the race.

"Chelsea will have a direct contact club to club this week, so Chelsea will speak to Flamengo in the next days and they will try to reach an agreement. Flamengo want around €25m (£21m), Chelsea will offer something around €20m (£17m). The add-ons structure could be important and so keep an eye on Matheus Franca who is keen on the move to Chelsea."

Would Matheus Franca be a good signing for Chelsea?

Despite being a relative newcomer to senior football, making just 53 total appearances for Flamengo, Franca looks to be an unbelievable talent.

According to WhoScored, the prospect achieved an average rating of 6.62 across his career so far, finding the back of the net on nine occasions.

His underlying numbers also look promising, with FBref placing the young attacker in the top 2% for non-penalty goals, the top 4% for non-penalty expected goals, total shots and touches in the opposition's penalty area, and the top 10% for successful take-ons, all per 90 compared to players in his position within their definition of the 'next best eight' leagues in world football.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig identified the sought-after prospect two years ago when he was playing with the club's youth set-up and described him as a "great midfielder, great striker, he can play almost everywhere. One of the most exciting teenagers in Brazil at the moment."

There has been a recent trend of young talent coming straight from the Brazilian league and making an impact for Europe's elite teams, the two clearest examples being Gabriel Martinelli for Arsenal and Vinicius Junior for Real Madrid.

If Kulig is right in his assessment, and the player is "keen" on the move, it could be worth the extra money for Chelsea to get this deal done, as he certainly looks very promising.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly keeping tabs on Leicester City star, Harvey Barnes, albeit with the Lilywhites set to face stern competition for the winger's signature.

What's the latest on Harvey Barnes to Tottenham?

According to The Guardian, while it is Newcastle United who are currently leading the race for the 25-year-old, Spurs are also said to be among the clubs showing an interest.

As per the report, the one-cap England international is a 'target' for Ange Postecoglou's side as the new boss seeks to strengthen his wide options, albeit with an approach from the north Londoners seen as 'less likely' due to their pursuit of Manor Solomon.

If those at N17 are to push to sign the Foxes speedster, the piece adds that while the Burnley native was valued at around £50m a few months ago by his current side, their subsequent drop into the Championship may have altered that price tag.

Will Harvey Barnes joins Tottenham?

Postecoglou and co have already raided the Midlands side this summer in order to secure the signing of Barnes' compatriot, James Maddison, with the 26-year-old arriving on a £40m deal after spending the last five seasons at the King Power Stadium.

Despite forming part of a side that suffered relegation last time out, Maddison – like Barnes – was still able to showcase his undoubted talent, having chipped in with 19 goal involvements in just 30 Premier League outings.

As pundit Gabby Agbonlahor stated earlier this year, the signing of the one-time Norwich City appeared to be a "perfect" fit, with the playmaking midfielder able to help lead the transition into providing "more attacking football for the fans", amid the change to a 4-3-3 formation.

Postecoglou could then follow up that transfer masterclass by bringing Barnes into the fold over the coming weeks, with the fleet-footed winger having also been something of a shining light amid Leicester's woes last season, after scoring 13 league goals from the left flank.

Lauded for his "raw pace" and hailed as a "livewire" by pundit Alan Hutton, the £35k-per-week menace has proven a reliable, devastating threat for the Foxes in recent years, having bagged 45 goals and 32 assists in 187 games for the club to date.

That ability to both offer a clinical presence himself as well as provide the goods for his teammates is also shared by Maddison, with the latter man having recorded a similar record for his previous employers, with 55 goals and 41 assists in 203 appearances across all fronts.

A further benefit that the duo are also able to offer is their defensive quality, with Barnes notably ranking in the top 15% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for aerial duels won, while his fellow Englishman ranks in the top 17% for tackles made – illustrating their willingness to defend from the front.

While the Guardian report did state that a move for Barnes may not be a priority for Postecoglou at present, it would seemingly be an astute deal if the Greek-Aussie could land Maddison 2.0 by poaching the wideman from his current home, hence why Spurs should consider strongly rivalling Newcastle for his signature.

Glasgow Rangers have acted swiftly during the summer break, signing seven players so far as Michael Beale looks to rejuvenate a squad which stagnated last term, with no silverware being added to the Ibrox trophy room for the first time since 2019/20.

There will likely be one or two more arrivals before the transfer window shuts and this could give the Gers a much-needed boost as they look to end the dominance that Celtic have held in the Premiership over the last couple of seasons.

Funding this revamp means Beale has to move some players on and the most recent departure is that of Antonio Colak, who leaves the Light Blues after just one season.

What is the latest Rangers transfer news?

Having cost £1.8m, the Gers sold him for £2.5m to Parma, which represented a solid profit on a player who will soon turn 30.

The Croatian hitman scored 18 goals across all competitions, yet struggled when Beale arrived in mid-November, making just five starts during the second half of the season and despite his obvious goal threat, the additions of Abdallah Sima, Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers may have the Ibrox faithful looking forward.

The manager could forget all about Colak by also making a move for Haji Wright from Turkish side Antalyaspor, with a fee of £7m being touted as enough to lure him to Ibrox this summer.

Could Haji Wright join Rangers?

The Scottish giants are currently trying to sign Feyenoord frontman Danilo, having gone back in with a second bid for the player after the first was rejected, yet much will depend on whether the Dutch side believes the second offer is high enough.

He appears to be Beale’s first choice to complete his attacking lineup ahead of next term, yet due to the turbulent nature of the transfer window, Wright may still have a chance at securing a move to Glasgow.

The American talisman has a better strike rate than Colak, scoring 16 times in 29 games as opposed to the 18 in 39 games for the former Gers striker and this could make him an attractive proposition for Beale.

Wright also created more big chances per game (four to three), more successful dribbles per game (one to 0.2) and won more aerial duels per game (2.2 to 0.6) than Colak domestically last term, suggesting that whilst the 29-year-old is clearly excellent in the box, Wright, on the other hand, has a much more rounded approach and could be a useful addition, not just with the ball at his feet but also at set pieces due to his strength in the air.

Praise was lavished upon him by former Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt, who once claimed he was a “dangerous striker” and the statistics certainly back that statement up, especially over the previous 12 months.

With Champions League football gracing the Ibrox pitch yet again, Beale will surely aim to assemble a side that can qualify for the group stages for the second consecutive year.

Adding a player such as Wright, with his evident attacking qualities, could make that challenge slightly easier as he looks to move on from Colak.

Fulham have made an opening bid for Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, however it has been knocked back by the Blues, according to a recent report from The Daily Mail.

What's the latest Fulham transfer news?

Fulham are looking at strengthening their attacking options this summer, however they have already missed out on a couple of their targets, with former Coventry City striker Victor Gyokeres recently agreeing a deal with Portuguese side Sporting CP.

The Cottagers have also rejected the chance to hand a Premier League return to attacking midfielder Brendan Aaronson, with the USMNT star recently joining Union Berlin on loan from Leeds United.

Marco Silva may need to start thinking about bringing in a replacement for Aleksandar Mitrovic, with Football Insider recently reporting that Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal are confident of completing a deal to sign the Serbian striker this summer.

Not only that, Manor Solomon's departure means that new wide options may also be required at Craven Cottage, and Fulham have recently made their interest in signing Hudson-Odoi very clear.

According to a report from The Daily Mail, the Cottagers have now submitted their opening offer for the 22-year-old, who is set on leaving his boyhood club, as he approaches the final year of his £120k-per-week contract at Stamford Bridge.

New manager Mauricio Pochettino is unable to guarantee the Englishman consistent game time following the arrival of Noni Madueke, as well as several other stars in January and last summer.

However, the bid has been rejected by Chelsea, with the Blues unhappy with the offer they received, and it remains to be seen whether Fulham come back to the negotiating table with a new proposal.

Is Hudson-Odoi leaving Chelsea?

It is no wonder the 22-year-old has his heart set on leaving this summer, as he was sent out on loan during the 2022-23 campaign, making a total of 14 Bundesliga appearances for Bayer Leverkusen, however he did not manage to impress.

During his time with the German club, the Cobham academy graduate failed to score a single league goal, weighing in with just one assist, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't be a good signing for Fulham this summer.

Hailed as "amazingly talented" by football scout Jacek Kulig, the winger is a very confident dribbler of the ball, ranking in the 87th percentile for progressive carries per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

A move to a club where he receives consistent game time could be exactly what the three-time England international needs at this stage of his career, having only been used sporadically for Chelsea over the past few years.

When he has received consistent game time, Hudson-Odoi has often impressed, recording one goal and five assists for Chelsea in the 2019-20 campaign, while he also has a total of four Champions League goals to his name.

Fulham should test the waters with another offer for the Chelsea ace in the coming days, as he could be a fantastic addition to Silva's squad.

Liverpool have held a long-standing interest in Sofyan Amrabat and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player this summer.

How much will Sofyan Amrabat cost?

According to The Athletic, the Fiorentina midfielder is named as one of the potential midfield options for Liverpool.

As per the report, Jurgen Klopp has been forced to revisit the transfer market for another midfield prospect due to the imminent depature of Jordan Henderson and the expected exit of Fabinho, who have both been subject to offers from the Saudi Pro League.

It is claimed that due to a change of strategy, Liverpool have reignited their interest in Amrabat as they endeavour to bolster their deep-lying roles in the centre of the pitch.

It is reported that the 26-year-old will cost around €40m (£35m) to sign this summer and has been attracting strong interest from bitter rivals Manchester United too, so if Liverpool are serious about making a concrete move for the midfielder, they should act fast.

How good is Sofyan Amrabat?

With only a few weeks remaining before Liverpool return to action in the Premier League, Klopp and his new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke will be making unexpected plans to identify the right players to join Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai in the centre of the pitch next season.

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed this morning that a full agreement has been reached for Jordan Henderson to join Al Ettifaq, whilst Fabinho's move to the Saudi Pro League is in the works too.

As a result, the signing of Amrabat could be a great piece of business for the Reds, as he not only possesses the profile to replace either expected departures, but could also be the second coming of Xabi Alonso at Anfield next season.

The former Liverpool midfield shield was renowned for his 'legendary' passing range, domination in the centre of the pitch, manipulation of play and his rare ability to read the game, traits that led him to become one of the most highly-respected players of his generation.

Indeed, Amrabat will have a long way to go to meet the high standards Alonso never failed to meet in every game he played over his wonderful career, but does deliver undeniable similarities to the Spanish World Cup-winning midfielder.

The Moroccan midfielder – hailed as an "absolute icon" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – ranked in the top 8% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for pass completion and progressive passes, as per FBref.

As well as ranking in the top 7% of his peers in the Serie A over last season for pass completion, long-pass completion, passes into the final third, touches in midfield and carries, he displayed not only a unique passing range but clear dominance and huge ability in retaining possession.

When comparing Amrabat's output to both Henderson and Fabinho's last season, the Fiorentina monster outperformed the Liverpool midfield duo in a number of key defensive attributes including percentage of dribblers tackled (55.2%), successful take-ons (70.6%) and pass completion rate (88.8%).

With that being said, it really depends on what Klopp is looking for in his successors whether Amrabat would be a worthy candidate for Liverpool, however, there is no doubt that his incredible passing range and defensive capabilities could see him shine like Alonso once did on Merseyside.

West Ham United are interested in signing Luiz Felipe.

What’s the latest on Luiz Felipe to West Ham?

According to El Desmarque (via Sport Witness), the Irons are to be rivalled by Monaco in the race to secure the Real Betis titan’s signature.

The report details the east London outfit have not made their bid for the £53k-per-week star, despite having ‘promised’ to do so. Their failure to act quickly has allowed Monaco to move ahead in the battle.

It is understood that the French outfit have ‘burst in with force’ and are showing serious intentions, with the first conversations having already taken place and movement expected in the coming days.

Nevertheless, the Brazlian-born man’s future remains ‘very uncertain.’ The player’s agent had been ‘pressing for weeks’ for the Irons to make a formal offer in writing, having almost agreed on a verbal commitment.

But, Monaco are waiting in the wings and Betis are expecting the Ligue 1 side to make an offer soon.

Would Luiz Felipe be a good signing for West Ham?

Felipe only joined Betis last summer and has made 30 appearances in all competitions.

Hailed as “excellent” by Spanish commentator Juanlu Rodriguez, the Italy International showed he was a solid defensive asset, averaging the most blocks per game (1.0), the second-most clearances per game (4.3), and the fourth-most interceptions per game (1.1).

A West Ham asset who mirrors this skill set is Nayef Aguerd as he ranks within the best 25% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for clearances per 90, and blocks per 90. Furthermore, the Hammers star won 64% of his ground duels in the Premier League last term, whilst Felipe succeeded with 63% in La Liga.

Upon Aguerd’s arrival last summer, David Moyes praised the 34-cap international, saying:

“He's a great addition that will add to our defensive options.

“I have been really impressed with Nayef's character and attitude during our discussions. He has a great desire to improve and be successful.”

Although, the Moroccan endured a tricky first year in English football, making just one appearance in the opening 18 games of the Premier League season due to injury.

But, Aguerd reminded his manager and the West Ham faithful of his quality with an impressive World Cup campaign. In a record-breaking tournament in which the Atlas Lions became the first African side to reach a semi-final, he made four starts, managed 87% pass accuracy, won 69% of his duels, kept two clean sheets, and made no errors leading to a shot or a goal.

The £50k-per-week man also started West Ham’s infamous Europa Conference League final victory, registering three clearances, winning four aerial duels, and making four accurate long balls.

Moyes has made it clear that he desires a right-sided centre-back, and Felipe’s profile, matched with the left-footed tendency of Aguerd means that Moyes could flaunt a formidable new defensive partnership come August.

Angelo Ogbonna is now firmly in the twilight years of his career, whilst Kurt Zouma’s worrying injury record shouldn’t be something to be relied upon ahead of juggling domestic and European competition for a third-consecutive season.