All posts by z3u9t.icu

Derby County are reportedly one of a number of Championship clubs interested in signing striker Kyle Lafferty in the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Lafferty impresses for Kilmarnock

The 33-year-old is currently a free agent, having impressed for Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership last season.

Lafferty scored 13 goals in as many appearances for Tommy Wright’s side, proving that he is still a player who possesses plenty of quality in the final third.

The Latest: Derby keen on move

According to Football League World, Derby are one of a host of clubs eyeing up a summer move for the Northern Ireland international.

Lafferty would be available on a free transfer and could be someone that Wayne Rooney sees as being a regular source of goals in the Championship, as the Rams look to surge higher up the table next season.

The report states that West Brom, Cardiff City, Middlesbrough, Birmingham City, Ipswich Town and Wigan Athletic are all monitoring the situation, too.

The Verdict: Worth the risk?

Admittedly, the Championship is arguably a step up in quality from any of the Scottish leagues, but Lafferty could be worth taking a gamble on.

He has won 82 caps for Northern Ireland, scoring 20 goals along the way, playing in pressurised situations and not shrinking when expectations are high. His record for Kilmarnock also speaks for itself.

Lafferty doesn’t represent the long-term future and may not quite be the player he was, but he could thrive as an experienced option working alongside Rooney, who mastered the art of being a striker during his playing days.

In other news, Derby are believed to be interested in signing a star player for another team. Find out who it is here.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, David Norris, who made 36 appearances for Leeds United, has urged his former side to reignite their interest in Udinese midfielder Rodrigo De Paul.

It was widely expected that De Paul would join Leeds last summer after the club reportedly agreed personal terms with the 26-year old, but an agreement on the fee was never reached by the two clubs.

Marcelo Bielsa could see centre midfield as a position that needs addressing this summer as he looks to find someone who is capable of filling the void Kalvin Phillips leaves when he is out injured.

Speaking on why he would like Leeds to target De Paul again this summer and how De Paul would be a big name signing for Leeds, Norris exclusively told FFC:

“From the players I’ve seen Leeds been linked with at the minute, I think Rodrigo De Paul from Udinese is most likely going to be one of the bigger signings coming in.

“They could be looking for someone in his mould and specifically that position, and I don’t think Leeds would ever rule out the chance of signing any decent player.”

Leeds are still waiting for official confirmation that Bielsa wants to extend his contract beyond this summer when his current deal is set to expire, with the hierarchy reportedly planning for life without him.

Bielsa made some smart signings last summer with the likes of Raphinha, Diego Llorente and Jack Harrison, who have all performed very well in the Premier League.

According to Calciomercato, West Ham United are interested in signing Wout Weghorst from Wolfsburg this summer.

The Lowdown: West Ham need a striker

David Moyes has led the Irons through a wonderful campaign – they ended up finishing in sixth place in the Premier League, which secured them a spot in next term’s Europa League.

If they want to be competitive both in Europe and domestically next year, though, they will need to bring in a new striker – they only have Michail Antonio available as a natural number nine option at the moment.

The Latest: Hammers eye Weghorst

Now, it is being reported the Irons are interested in Wolfsburg forward Weghorst.

Serie A outfit AS Roma are also believed to be in pursuit, via the Italian outlet.

The Verdict: Good option

Weghorst has been in magnificent form with German outfit Wolfsburg, who secured Champions League football via the Bundesliga this campaign. He netted 25 goals in all competitions for the club, taking his career tally at the Volkswagen Arena to 63 strikes in 120 (Transfermarkt). Add in the 45 in 86 he managed at previous employers AZ Alkmaar, and he has 108 goals in his last 206 matches.

He is currently valued at £27m, and given his form, he could cost even more than that. Some West Ham fans will be hesitant to capture the 28-year-old given the experience they had with Sebastien Haller, a similar kind of player who lasted just 18 months at the London side before moving to Ajax. However, Weghorst has shown enough on a long-term basis now to indicate he would be more dangerous than the former Eintracht Frankfurt forward.

In other news, David Ornstein makes this Harry Kane claim.

West Ham United will be looking to get back on track when they return to Premier League action this evening.

David Moyes’ side have suffered successive defeats, seeing them drop out of a place in the top-four but they now head to Burnley knowing that a victory would see them cut the gap to Chelsea.

It was the Blues who narrowly defeated the Hammers last time out, winning 1-0 at the London Stadium and the 58-year-old manager now has plenty to ponder in terms of team selection.

You could argue that the Irons more than held their own throughout the 90 minutes, given the scoreline, but the statistics tell a different story as the visitors dominated possession (56%) and enjoyed eight more attempts at goal, as per SofaScore.

It was certainly a tough task in the absence of some key players like Declan Rice, Michail Antonio and Aaron Cresswell. However, those that stepped in failed to deliver and have to be at risk of Moyes wielding his axe.

One name that should be ruthlessly chopped from the starting XI is Ryan Fredericks. He played at left-back, out of position, and that proved to be a very problematic area of the pitch as Mason Mount and Cesar Azpilicueta dominated for large spells.

The 28-year-old lost possession 13 times and was particularly wasteful with the ball, too, completing only 67% of his passes and failing to provide a single accurate cross.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-latest-west-ham-transfer-rumours-gossip-latest-moyes-gsb-london-stadium” title= “Read the latest West Ham news, transfer rumours, gossip and more!”]

It left Jesse Lingard and Jarrod Bowen, who spearheaded Moyes’ attack, with very little to feed off, so it was no wonder they managed four fewer shots on target than Chelsea.

Ben Johnson has often been the man to go to left wing-back if either of Cresswell or Arthur Masuaku are missing, and perhaps he would be the better option against the more defensively-minded Clarets.

The 21-year-old academy gem “really impressed” Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville last season, with the former Man Utd right-back also claiming that he “looks an excellent defender.”

Whilst he was rather unlikely to lose his place for the Chelsea encounter, considering he was a rare positive in the defeat to Newcastle United a week earlier.

In terms of consistency, Fredericks is amongst Moyes’ worst performers, registering a paltry 6.47 average on WhoScored. And his returns of 0.5 crosses and 0.8 key passes per game rank as the worst when compared to Cresswell, Vladimir Coufal and Masuaku.

The £40k-per-week star just isn’t good enough to be starting for a West Ham side competing for a fierce European spot. He was shocking against Chelsea and has very rarely looked the part this term.

Moyes must show no mercy and axe the Hammers lightweight tonight.

AND in other news, GSB’s wrath: West Ham “monster” continues to crash under Moyes, transfer value has DROPPED 48%…

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Leeds United midfielder David Norris admitted that he has been surprised by how good Raphinha has performed in his first season.

Raphinha was a deadline day signing last year as he arrived for £17million from Rennes and he has taken to the Premier League effortlessly, with six goals and six assists this season.

The goals have dried up for Leeds since he picked up an injury against Manchester City, as Marcelo Bielsa’s side have scored just one goal in the three games Raphinha has recently missed.

Speaking on how Raphinha has surprised him with how well he’s taken to the Premier League and how good he has performed all season, Norris exclusively told FFC:

“He’s a very clever player as he spots weaknesses in defenders and attacks it. For me, he’s been a massive player for them this season. 

“I’ve been surprised because it’s always a risk bringing in foreign players, but knowing Bielsa and how diligent he is he must have known there was a good chance Raphinha would have settled quickly, and that’s exactly what’s happened as he’s been brilliant.”

The 24-year old winger has been linked with a move to Liverpool this summer, despite having played just 27 games in all competitions this season.

Raphinha admitted earlier this year that it was a difficult decision to join Leeds and that he only had 20 minutes to choose whether to stay at Rennes or come to the Premier League.

Keith Gillespie has exclusively told the Transfer Tavern that Newcastle could have challenged for the top-six in the Premier League this season.

The Magpies finished second in each of Gillespie’s first two campaigns at St James’ Park, although Newcastle haven’t finished in the European places since coming fifth under the guidance of Alan Pardew nine years ago.

But Newcastle are currently sitting 17th in the Premier League table and are in serious danger of being relegated for the second time in six years following just seven league wins all season, and just two in their previous 18 outings.

Steve Bruce’s side are 20 points behind the top-six, but Gillespie believes that it wouldn’t have been a great surprise to see Newcastle in the same position as the likes of West Ham and Everton, who’re fifth and eighth respectively, given the unpredictability the Premier League has thrown up this term.

The former Magpies midfielder told the Transfer Tavern:

“You look at the way the Premier League is this year and look at the way clubs that have excelled. Aston Villa have done great, Leicester have done great, Everton have done really well, West Ham.

“Why couldn’t that be Newcastle? Because Newcastle have done it in the past and qualified for Champions League football.

“It wouldn’t have been a big shock for Newcastle to be up there challenging maybe for top-six, but they are where they are because they deserve to be there. But a lot of it is down to the owner.”

Roberto Martinez dropped a huge clanger with Everton’s capture of Muhamed Besic, as Reading now line up a potential transfer for the summer free agent.

What’s the word?

According to The Telegraph, Reading are weighing up a move for Besic to head to the Madejski Stadium once his Toffees terms expire in June.

It is felt that his impending exit from Goodison Park will help ease negotiations after the Royals failed to conclude a deal during the winter market.

Reading were believed to have explored a deal for the Bosnia and Herzegovina international in the final hours of Deadline Day, as head coach Veljko Paunovic is a fan of the midfielder.

But no official approach was lodged, and Besic – who was keen to work with Veljko – had to remain on Merseyside, where he has been training with Everton’s Under 23s this season.

Besic was frozen out of the senior picture at Goodison Park after boss Carlo Ancelotti chose to omit the 28-year-old from his 25-man Premier League squad, and has remained on the fringes despite being added following the mid-season window.

The 45-cap international has not featured for the Blues since 2017, after which he sealed two loan spells with Middlesbrough in the Championship and joined Sheffield United for the 2019/20 Premier League campaign.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-everton-news-and-views” title=”Latest Everton news and views!”]

Chris Wilder had appeared keen to retain Besic for a further 12-months following his temporary spell at Bramall Lane, but hinted that a deal was not possible due to his agent chasing a more lucrative contract than the Blades could afford.

A clanger by Martinez

Besic’s future has long appeared to be away from Everton with Ancelotti even opting against offering the midfielder a seat on the bench this term, so will no doubt be hopeful of securing a move to Reading where he is more likely to have the backing of the head coach.

The Berlin-born Bosnian would also bring a heap of Premier League and Championship experience to the Madejski Stadium, where top-flight football for next season cannot yet be ruled out with the Royals only five points outside of the Play-Off places.

But Besic is unlikely to be missed at Goodison Park, having faded massively from the player Martinez considered to be “a phenomenal asset” of his Toffees side having only ever proven to be a regular under the Spaniard.

Injuries ravished his 2015/16 season and kept the £2m-rated midfielder sidelined for almost the entirety of the ‘16/17 term, before being given fleeting appearances under Ronald Koeman and later accepting his first spell away from Merseyside with Middlesbrough.

Everton were at least able to get Boro and Sheffield United to cover his wages, saving the Toffees from having to pay £30,000-per-week to a player they awarded a pay rise to in February 2016 only to rarely see on the field after that.

But the weeks that Besic will have spent in the wilderness this season, the years on Merseyside before joining Middlesbrough and time spent before moving to Sheffield United will have seen Everton pay out a total of £7.6m in wages on a player they spent £4m to sign in 2014.

Little of that £11.6m will have not been wasted when Besic departs Everton at the end of his contract on June 30, which can surely not come soon enough for both the player and the club.

AND in other news, Marcel Brands could hand Carlo Ancelotti his own Dayot Upamecano with £7m Everton transfer…

According to recent reports, Leeds United goalkeeper, Illan Meslier, is attracting significant interest ahead of the summer transfer window.

So far this season, Meslier has been one of Marcelo Bielsa’s stand out performers in the Premier League, with the 21-year-old keeping nine clean sheets and making a total of 115 saves over his 28 league appearances, averaging a SofaScore match rating of 7.12 – ranking him as the club’s fourth-best performer in the top flight.

Seemingly as a result of these impressive displays, a recent report published by Football Club de Marseille (via Sport Witness) claims that Olympique de Marseille are interested in a move for the £26,000-per-week shot-stopper this summer, as Jorge Sampaoli views the 21-year-old as Steve Mandanda’s successor.

However, it is also claimed that the €17 million (£14.6 million) asking price of Meslier is something that will likely prove a stumbling block to any move by Marseille, as well as the fact that several unnamed English clubs are also thought to be keen signing the Frenchman this summer.

Transfer Tavern Take

There are a number of factors within Football Club de Marseille’s report that would not appear to make a great deal of sense from the perspective of Leeds.

Firstly, having only signed the ‘keeper permanently last summer, in what was a £5.85 million deal, it would appear incredibly unlikely that Marcelo Bielsa’s side would be willing to part with the young Frenchman so soon after his arrival.

Secondly, it would appear even less likely that, even if the Whites are open to selling the 21-year-old this summer, that they would be demanding a figure as low as £14.6 million, considering how impressive he has been for the club this season, as well as the fact that the quoted figure that is less than his current Transfermarkt valuation of £15.3 million.

As such, unless an offer is made that Leeds simply cannot refuse, it would appear more than likely that Meslier will not be making the move to Marseille this summer.

In other news: Leeds United have been urged to sign this “highly sought-after” £31k-p/w star this summer – find out more here!

Lots of Everton fans have welcomed an update from the club on Jean-Philippe Gbamin.

The Toffees’ official Twitter page announced that the former Mainz ace is back in training with the first team squad after a lengthy spell out with injury.

Gbamin has not been able to play for the Toffees since August 2019, and so it has come as a much welcome relief to all associated with Everton that he is back in training and may well play a part for Carlo Ancelotti’s team for the rest of the season.

The midfielder will also be a relieved man himself, as he may have been questioning whether he would ever be able to play football again following such a long spell out of action

Everton fans on Gbamin update

These Everton supporters hailed the update on Twitter, with one fan claiming that they were ‘delighted’ while others went as far as to call it ‘amazing’ and a bigger boost to the club than the recently-approved new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock:

“Amazing to see JPG back with the @Everton squad, hard work and determination will get deserved rewards and here’s hoping we can see him grace the Goodison pitch sooner rather than later, can’t wait to see what he can achieve under Ancelotti #EFC”

Credit: @efcbigdunc

“Such wholesome content, let’s go JPG”

Credit: @SmoothieJD

“Gbamin do his leg stretches leaning against the imaginary wall! Brilliant to see him training he gets some games in the run up to summer then ready and raring for next season show us what he can do! Been such a hard time for him! Made up for him!”

Credit: @toptoffeegirl

“Absolutely delighted for him”

Credit: @Richlloyd1984

“Bigger than Bramley Moore this”

Credit: @Vicaz22

“Absolutely buzzing for this lad, hope he kicks on now and stays injury free. Could be a big player for us in the run in.”

Credit: @ItsOnlyJk

In other news, find out what Alisher Usmanov news has been lauded by numerous Everton fans!

After seeing a resurgence in form from Gareth Bale, it’s now time for Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho to unleash forgotten star Dele Alli in the final third of this campaign.

The league season has not gone to plan for Spurs overall.

They find themselves eighth in the Premier League table, six points behind the top four and behind all but one of their main rivals, though they have advanced into the last 16 of the Europa League and have a genuine shot at winning silverware with the Carabao Cup final on the horizon.

But this means that games will be coming thick and fast every week, and thus, the Portuguese stalwart will need his entire squad to be at the races.

Bale had barely featured for the north London club until recently – indeed, the Welsh superstar has only played 1,000 minutes in all competitions for a total of 20 appearances (just 12 starts), as per Transfermarkt.

But in his last four appearances, the 31-year-old has delivered four goals and three assists to help arrest the poor run of form Spurs had found themselves in.

This, ultimately, needs to be the masterplan for Alli to refind his feet in N17.

The 24-year-old, who is valued at €30m (£26m), has played fewer minutes (737) but he too showed flashes of his old ability in their 4-0 win over Wolfsberger last week, delivering one goal and a brace of assists.

SofaScore graded that display a 9.2, his highest since a win over Bournemouth in December 2019 (9.0).

After the game, the Spurs boss waxed lyrical about the rarely-seen playmaker, he said (via the Evening Standard): “He is playing very well” before adding: “The goal was beautiful, but the meaning of the assists and hard work for the team means more to me. That work of continuity in the performance is what makes me really happy.”

Mourinho has largely relied on the goalscoring exploits of Harry Kane and Heung-min Son as the duo account for xx% of their league goals this term, whilst no player has stepped up to fill the void left behind by Christian Eriksen in the no.10 role.

And with Tanguy Ndombele being deployed in a deeper position, alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, there is a spot up for grabs alongside Bale, Son and Kane.

Both Lucas Moura and Erik Lamela have been deployed there, but it is Alli who is the better and more natural fit – just imagine him and Bale if he manages to rediscover form.

The £100k-per-week midfielder was once dubbed a “freak of a talent” and compared to the likes of Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes by ex-Spurs star Darren Anderton in an interview relayed by Goal.com.

In three of his last six Premier League campaigns, Alli has delivered at least nine goals and seven assists and throughout his Spurs and competitive England career, the attacking maestro has averaged 1.4 key passes per game, even despite playing only 138 minutes this season, via WhoScored.

By comparison, Moura averages only 0.7 in the role, while Lamela can only muster up 0.4 per game across all positions played. Similarly, Kane and Son are the only players managing above one key pass per league outing.

There is evidently a need for creativity, and this is something Alli can provide, if Mourinho can get him back to his best and considering Bale’s drastic turnaround, it is certainly possible.

Alli must now be unleashed alongside Bale, Kane and Son. That’s a front four capable of striking fear into any side.

AND in other news, Mourinho must make U-turn over “special” £18m-rated Spurs gem who’s “better than ever”…