All posts by z3u9t.icu

Newcastle United have seen many players join the Tyneside club over the years on permanent transfers or loan deals.

The previous January transfer window showed just how capable the Magpies and their new owners are when it comes to spending significant amounts of money to bring in new faces to try and strengthen their squad and push the team forward.

Taking a look back down the years, one figure that the club were supposedly pursuing on two different occasions that they will undoubtedly regret not buying is Luka Modric.

According to Planet Football, former Toon boss Kevin Keegan was eager to sign the midfielder back in 2008 when Modric was at Dinamo Zagreb. They also claimed that Sam Allardyce wanted to sign the Croatian a year prior during his tenure at St James’ Park.

The former Magpies and Everton manager said: “I was then on the way to getting Luka Modric from Dinamo Zagreb, but by then, Mike saw the scale of the full debut and put the clamps on, so I had to make do with Geremi from Chelsea.”

After scoring 22 goals and providing 21 assists in 73 appearances for Dinamo Zagreb, the midfielder did end up making a move to England, but it was Tottenham Hotspur who secured his signature in the summer of 2008 rather than Newcastle for a fee of around £20m.

Having played in 160 games for the Lilywhites across all competitions, finding the net 17 times and delivering 26 assists, the midfielder found himself on the move again, this time to his current club Real Madrid in 2012.

During his time in Spain, the 36-year-old has scored 31 goals and provided 69 assists in 427 appearances, winning four Champions League titles among many other trophies including numerous individual awards such as the Ballon d’Or and UEFA’s Best Player in Europe, both in 2018.

Labelled an “extraordinary” player by Carlo Ancelotti and a “mental monster” by journalist Dermot Corrigan, Modric has been sold for a combined total of just over £51m throughout his time in football according to Transfermarkt and racked up 186 goals and assists throughout what has been a shining career.

Taking all this into account, it’s safe to say that Keegan and Allardyce both had howlers over not convincing the hierarchy at Newcastle to launch a substantial move for the midfield maestro when they were pursuing him before his move to Spurs.

In other news – NUFC dealt yet another crushing injury setback; it’s bad news for Howe

Liverpool have been dealt a late injury setback ahead of their upcoming Champions League meeting with Benfica this evening.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to Dylan Terry, with the Independent journalist revealing in a recent article that, despite returning to training ahead of the Reds’ trip to Portugal, Nabby Keita remains a doubt for the quarter-final first-leg tie on Thursday night.

In his piece, Terry writes: “Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to return for Klopp’s side after missing the win over Watford on Saturday. Curtis Jones and Joe Matip are set to be available, but Naby Keita remains a doubt. The rest of the Liverpool squad are all fit and ready for the game.”

Klopp will be gutted

While it is true that Keita has not exactly been a first-team regular at Anfield this season, the fact that the midfielder remains a doubt for the trip to Benfica is nevertheless sure to have left Jurgen Klopp gutted.

Indeed, despite having missed a host of games already this season due to injury, the £27m-rated dynamo has still managed to impress over his 15 Premier League outings, scoring two goals, registering one assist and creating two big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 0.7 key passes, 0.7 interceptions, 2.5 tackles and winning 3.7 duels – at a success rate of 53% – per game.

These returns have seen the £130k-per-week Guinea international average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.15, ranking him as Klopp’s ninth-best performer in the top flight of English football.

As such, the news that the 27-year-old could well be set to miss out once again on Thursday evening is sure to have caused the German coach and his backroom staff a great deal of frustration – as it is clear that a fit and firing Keita is a fantastic option for Liverpool to be able to call upon.

AND in other news: Liverpool now plotting bid for “unplayable” £58m machine, it could be bye-bye Salah

According to Sky Sports, Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is a doubt for tomorrow’s Premier League clash with Leicester at Anfield. 

This is perhaps the worst possible news that The Reds could have been dealt this season, as the Dutchman has been truly monumental for Jürgen Klopp’s men.

With Dejan Lovren and Trent Alexander-Arnold expected to be out, James Milner serving a ban and Joe Gomez completely ruled out, Liverpool look to be extremely stretched for the visit from The Foxes.

Claude Puel’s men do not promise to be the stiffest competition for The Reds, but that just heaps more pressure on them to get a result- anything less and it’s a major slip-up in their title race. What will probably be more concerning for Klopp is that his team travel to West Ham next Monday.

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The Hammers have been largely erratic this season, but can boast that they have beaten Arsenal and Man United, as well as drawing with Chelsea at the London Stadium this term. It is certainly not a walkover in east London for any visiting side. With the returning Marko Arnautović, they will be a handful for anyone at the moment.

That is why Liverpool fans and players alike will be desperate that van Dijk makes a return for Monday, as, in truth, they must earn six points out of six over the coming week. With a slender four-point margin ahead of second-place Man City, any slip-up could prove to be vital come the end of the spring.

Everton have had a difficult season which can be partially blamed on their poor transfer business at the club ever since the arrival of Farhad Moshiri, and lessons must be learned with new manager Frank Lampard heading into his first full transfer window this summer.

It has been reported that the Toffees will need to axe up to 10 players this summer to recoup some of the financial losses incurred during Moshiri’s reign at Goodison Park, and there are many candidates that are worthy of the chop following a series of poor performances over this season.

One player who has seen a revival in his Everton career since Frank Lampard took over is Alex Iwobi, who has had a less than positive impact since he joined the club back in 2019, with the winger offering up just seven goals and six assists in 89 appearances over the last three years.

Despite the Everton boss giving the Nigerian international his opportunity to redeem himself in the second half of this season, it is too little too late for the player who has been part of a squad that has led to the demise of the club, putting them in a position to be relegated for the first time ever from the Premier League.

In one of Moshiri’s biggest transfer howlers to date, Iwobi cost the club up to £34m and following his unsuccessful spell at Goodison Park has seen his market value diminish to over half that amount, as the attacker is now worth just £16.2m.

Indeed, over his two and a half seasons at Goodison Park, the £100k-per-week flop who Michael Ball claimed plays in “panic mode” has earned seasonal SofaScore ratings of 6.75 in 2019/20, 6.74 in 2020/20 and 6.73 so far this term, ranking him as Everton’s 11th-best, ninth-worst and 14th-best player in each respective Premier League campaign.

And, when you consider that the 25-year-old winger is on one of the highest wages at the club, selling up this summer could save Everton millions on the two years left on his contract – something which could be reinvested into players who can offer something more influential on the pitch.

Lampard has some big decisions to make this summer and must be ruthless with rebuilding his squad if the Toffees are to improve upon their incredibly disappointing campaign this time out.

AND in other news: Everton must launch move for “outstanding” 25 y/o “Wolverine” as insider claim emerges

Former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson has urged the club to try and sign Juventus forward Paulo Dybala on a free transfer in the summer.

The Lowdown: Dybala’s contract

As per reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano (21 March), the Argentina international will leave the Serie A club at the end of the season upon the expiry of his contract.

Juventus had a verbal agreement with the player back in October, but due to a change of heart, the Turin outfit went back on their proposal, duly infuriating the 28-year-old.

Whilst Spurs have been frequently linked with a move for the forward, football.london’s Alasdair Gold has now reported that Fabio Paratici is not desperate to sign the player.

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The Latest: Robinson’s claims on Dybala

Robinson has urged Paratici to make a U-turn and go back in for the Argentine.

Speaking with Football Insider, he claimed: “You would like to think Spurs are in the running for him. They have the contacts to do a deal in Conte and Paratici.

“A player like that on a free, regardless of his age, would be an amazing addition. To have a player who has been there, done it and won it would be an asset.

“Whether he would play week in, week out at Spurs I’m not sure. You cannot deny that he is a top-class player thought. He has a lot to offer.

“He’s the sort of name they need if they want to consistently be in that top four.”

The Verdict: Right decision?

Despite the prospective free transfer, a move for the £36m-rated attacker would prove quite costly due to his staggering £222,000-per-week salary. Some would argue that these figures are justified, given the high praise heaped upon the Argentine by Juventus icon Michel Platini, who drew glowing comparisons with some legends of the game.

However, Paratici worked with Dybala at Juventus for six years, and he was even the facilitator in bringing the player to the club in the first place.

Therefore, if the Spurs chief doesn’t think that the 28-year-old is worth the money, then there can’t be many people more qualified to make that assertion, so declaring a pass on this potential transfer could prove to be the right move from the Lilywhites.

In other news: One player could leave Tottenham permanently in the near future

An update has emerged on Sunderland’s pursuit of Preston North End gem Jordan Storey…

What’s the talk?

According to the Lancashire Evening Post, the Black Cats are one of three clubs to have enquired about a potential deal for the defender.

The report claims that Preston are yet to receive an acceptable offer for him as they want a prospective suitor to take on the majority of his wages as part of any potential loan.

Get it done

Lee Johnson must ensure that Sunderland win the race for Storey’s signature, as he could be an excellent addition to the squad.

He is a proven Championship performer and this suggests that he could thrive in League One, as he would be dropping down to a lower standard of football. In the second tier this season, he has averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.92, having achieved a score of 6.93 last term.

Storey has won 61% of his duels and made an impressive 3.4 tackles and interceptions per game in 17 matches this term.

In a recent Q&A with Yorkshire Live, Preston reporter George Hodgson outlined the centre-back’s standout attributes, saying: “When in charge at North End, Alex Neil described Storey as having all the raw tools to succeed. It’s always been about consistency with Storey and really putting his game together.

“He’s an athletic lad who likes to defend and does have the ability to bring the ball out from the back, when he’s at it. Storey is by no means soft but you do feel he is a player who needs to feel appreciated, otherwise his confidence can easily dip on the pitch.”

In League One this season, Tom Flanagan (7.12) is the only Sunderland centre-back who has averaged a higher SofaScore rating than Storey has in the Championship, which is a higher level. This suggests that the 24-year-old could come in and be an instant starter for Johnson’s side.

Therefore, the Black Cats must do everything in their power to bring the £3.1k-per-week gem to the Stadium of Light before the end of the month. He has shown that he can produce consistent displays in the second tier, and his strong performances could help the Wearsiders to push for promotion in the remainder of the campaign if he can improve their defence.

AND in other news, Johnson could get Stadium of Light rocking with Sunderland deal for “wonderful” 220-goal predator…

Manchester United have been linked with Pau Torres as a potential new signing this summer, and now Fabrizio Romano has dropped a fresh update on their pursuit for the player.

What’s the latest?

The Italian journalist and transfer insider took to his Twitter account to confirm the club’s pursuit of the Villarreal centre-back.

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Romano tweeted: “Pau Torres is attracting interest from top clubs again as his release clause will be valid this summer: €55/60m, available until the end of the market.

“Manchester United and Manchester City are both interested – Chelsea have also sent their scouts to follow him.”

Supporters will be excited

If the appointment of Erik ten Hag wasn’t enough to excite supporters of Man United, the opportunity being explored to improve the defensive system in the team will surely leave fans even more excited.

One of the biggest problems that have been identified at the club is the poor defensive play in the team, with the side conceding the most goals of the top eight in the league which has contributed to their struggles this season.

With that being said, the £50m Torres could be a huge breath of fresh air for the club, proving how influential he can be in the back-line for Unai Emery’s side, leading them to success.

Last season Villarreal won the Europa League with the 25-year-old playing a key role, and now the team have qualified for their first Champions League semi-final since 2006 which is an impressive achievement for Torres who has been an important part of the process playing every single game in the European competition.

The 6 f00t 2 star has tallied up impressive statistics this season in La Liga too, proving successful in 80% of his dribbles, winning the majority of his duels (67%), making 4.5 clearances on average per game and has a 94% pass accuracy in his own half, proving that he has an influential presence and is progressive on the ball.

The Red Devils have crashed out of every competition squandering their chances of winning a trophy, and their problems extend to the Premier League too as the side is struggling to qualify for the Champions League with just four games left to go, and six points adrift from the top four.

Acquiring a signing like Torres to improve the defence at Old Trafford could make a huge difference to the team next season and could put Manchester United in a better position to make progress in the league and cup competitions going forward.

AND in other news: Ten Hag now personally asks Man Utd to sign £111m “diamond”, major coup is inbound

Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic side have been dealt a fresh injury setback concerning Stephen Welsh ahead of their Scottish Premiership meeting with Old Firm rivals Rangers this weekend.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to a report by the Daily Record, who revealed that the centre-back was withdrawn shortly after half-time in Scotland U21’s 2-2 draw with Kazakhstan on Tuesday afternoon, with the 22-year-old looking to be holding his groin upon his substitution.

Postecoglou will be fuming

While it would appear unlikely that Welsh would have been handed a starting berth at Ibrox this Sunday, considering just how impressive the youngster has been so far this season, the news that the defender looks to have sustained an injury on international duty that could well rule him out of contention for the Old Firm fixture is sure to have left Postecoglou fuming nonetheless.

Indeed, over his nine Premiership appearances this term, the £1.35m-rated academy graduate has been rock solid for the Bhoys, helping his side keep three clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.6 interceptions, 0.8 tackles, 2.2 clearances, 85.9 passes and winning 5.1 duels – at a success rate of 59% – per game.

These returns have seen the £10.5k-per-week starlet average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.11, ranking him as Postecoglou’s joint 11th-best player in the top flight of Scottish football.

As such, while the 56-year-old manager’s first-choice pairing of Carl Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers are both more than likely to be selected in the XI on Sunday, should either player pick up a knock in the run-up to the fixture, or even in the game itself, the loss of an incredibly reliable backup option in Welsh is sure to hit Celtic hard.

Indeed, with the chance of leaving Ibrox six points ahead of Rangers in the league standings – something that would all but confirm Celtic’s reclamation of the Premiership title – it is certain that the Greek-Australian manager will be hoping to have as many as his first-team squad fit and firing by the time Sunday rolls around.

AND in other news: £10.5m and counting: £23.5k-p/w “monster” should have played his final game for Celtic

Leeds United have entered the race to sign Southampton loanee Armando Broja, according to TEAMtalk.

The Lowdown: Broja’s 2021/22

The 20-year-old striker, who Ralph Hasenhuttl labelled as a ‘threat’, has scored seven times for the Saints, with his first Premier League strike actually coming against Marcelo Bielsa’s side in October. Five of his goals have come in the Premier League, in which he has made 10 starts under Hasenhuttl.

The 6 foot 3 striker is on a season-long loan from Chelsea, with his Stamford Bridge contract running until 2026. His Transfermarkt valuation is now at a career-high £8.1m, and it seems as if he is catching Leeds’ eye late in the January transfer window.

The Latest: Late-night news

TEAMtalk shared a story late on Wednesday night regarding Broja. They suggested that Southampton are keen to keep hold of the forward beyond the end of the season, although they have been joined by Leeds, Everton and Wolves.

The Whites reportedly don’t want to be left short in attack with Patrick Bamford sidelined and have been impressed with Broja’s displays at St Mary’s.

The Verdict: Unlikely

Phil Hay recently stated that it will be a quiet end to the transfer window if Leeds can’t bring RB Salzburg midfielder Brenden Aaronson to the club, so a move for Broja looks unlikely.

He could be a player of interest to Victor Orta, and if he is still on the books at Chelsea in the summer, a permanent move could be looked at again to challenge Bamford for a place in the team.

However, it appears as if Orta’s main task in the final days of the January window is to add to Bielsa’s midfield ranks, so we’re not expecting to see the Albania international in a Leeds shirt anytime soon.

In other news: Leeds now open to offloading this centre-forward with ‘fast feet’ just days before January transfer window shuts

Aston Villa picked up a healthy cash injection during the previous summer transfer window when they sold Jack Grealish to Manchester City in a record deal worth £100m.

Now that the next summer window is on the horizon, it seems as though a clue has emerged over the future of another key figure at the Midlands club in terms of a potential move away from Villa Park.

What’s the talk?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist and transfer insider Pete O’Rourke had this to say about Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez and the possibility of him leaving the club in the summer.

He said: “He’s on that long-term contract. He’s on a good deal at Aston Villa as well wages wise, so it would have to take big, big money to try and prise him away from Villa.

“I think Villa have no plans to let him go, either. They want to keep him and sort of build around the likes of Martinez going forward because Steven Gerrard wants to have a really competitive team.”

Fans will be delighted

Villa signed the shot-stopper back in the 2020 summer transfer window from fellow Premier League side Arsenal in a deal worth a reported fee of £17m.

Since then, the Argentine has become a significant figure for the club as their number one goalkeeper, making 70 appearances across all competitions.

In those appearances, the 29-year-old has managed to keep 25 clean sheets.

Having won the Supporters’ Player of the Season award at the end of his debut campaign at the Midlands club, this shows just what a great signing he has been.

To highlight how crucial he was for the Villans last season, only Nick Pope (77%) ended the campaign with a higher save percentage than the former Arsenal goalkeeper (76.8%).

Taking this into account and the fact that he’s made a total of 76 saves in 31 league games this time around, it will surely be music to the ears of plenty at Villa Park that the club have no intention of letting him leave this summer.

Also, the fact that the Argentina international’s current contract at Villa isn’t set to expire until the summer of 2027 should also put to bed any concerns there may be about his future.

In other news: Gerrard can land his own Pogba as AVFC plot bid for “impressive” £107k-p/w machine