All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Many Aston Villa fans have been venting on Twitter following a post from the club detailing the disappointment suffered by Villa duo Jack Grealish and Tyrone Mings after England’s crushing Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy.

Plenty of discourse centred around the lack of utilisation in relation to Grealish, who registered 19 goal contributions in 26 appearances for the club in 2020/21 [Transfermarkt].

In the 172 minutes that he played at the Euros, the 25-year-old contributed with two assists in five outings [UEFA.com] and played a cameo yet important role in England’s run to the final.

Meanwhile, Mings started the first two group games at the finals but played just 11 minutes thereafter and was not utilised at all in the knockout stages [Transfermarkt].

The comparative lack of involvement for the Villa duo at Euro 2020 duly had many of the club’s supporters venting at England manager Gareth Southgate.

Aston Villa fans react:

Replying to Villa’s official Twitter account, here is what some Villa fans had to say about the lack of minutes for Grealish and Mings at Euro 2020:

“Don’t worry lads, Southgate will be gone soon enough and then you won’t have to put up with his pathological picking of his favourites. How Mount got more minutes than Jack is utterly beyond belief, last night was embarrassing and showed us just how inept Southgate is”

Credit: @CreaneyTom”Criminal that Grealish got less minutes than Mount, who got more minutes than Grealish, Sancho and Foden combined”Credit: @tom_avfc1″They were both mismanaged, get them back to VP under a proper coach Dean Smith”Credit: @ClassyHenri”No other country in the world would leave Jack on the bench. Very proud of how our captain conducted himself. #UTV”Credit: @AndyCWelch”Your Villa family are incredibly proud of you both.”Credit: @Helen_Villa44″Not sure how Mount is above Grealish in the England pecking order. Baffling tbh”Credit: @DMayLovellIn other news, many Aston Villa fans have been reacting to an update on this transfer pursuit.

Leeds United have long lacked a Samuel Saiz-like presence in midfield, but that could soon change.

Last month, the Sunday People reported that the Yorkshire outfit were tracking RB Salzburg midfielder Brenden Aaronson ahead of a potential move this January transfer window.

It’s thought that the USMNT international fits the athletic profile required to play under Marcelo Bielsa and he has impressed throughout his breakthrough in Austria.

Since then, further fuel has been added to the fire by journalist Pete O’Rourke, who delivered a fresh update to GIVEMESPORT this very week.

“With Aaronson at RB Salzburg, I know Leeds scouts have been watching him,” he revealed.

Of course, the priority at Elland Road appears to be in finding a new central midfielder before deadline day, and there’s a lot to like about the American dynamo.

Signed by Victor Orta in 2017, Saiz soon became a hit with supporters after scoring a hat-trick on his debut for the club. His tenacity and creativity in the engine room made him a very exciting talent but things just did not pan out.

He left after ten goals and 12 assists across 58 appearances (via Transfermarkt) and has never truly been replaced.

Enter Aaronson.

The Salzburg sensation, who former USA legend DeMarcus Beasley dubbed “silky”, has proven to be a major influence for both club and country. From midfield, he’s bagged five goals in only 15 caps, whilst in 51 appearances for the Austrian champions, he has delivered ten goals and 12 assists.

Valued at £10.8m by Transfermarkt, Aaronson has also been lauded as “young” and “exciting” by O’Rourke, and he could offer Leeds some valuable experience in the engine room, having featured in the Champions League numerous times now.

In his six appearances in the competition this season, the 21-year-old averaged two tackles, 1.3 dribbles, 1.2 shots and one key pass per game (via WhoScored), proving to be a major influence at either end of the pitch.

Also likened to Lionel Messi, Aaronsen has been dubbed the “future” of the American game by talent scout Jacek Kulig, who also touted him as “highly talented”.

On the above evidence, Orta could well discover his next Saiz with a move for the Salzburg sensation this month. It’s surely a deal that many around Elland Road would love to see happen, so he must get it done sooner rather than later.

AND in other news, Beren Cross drops positive Raphinha contract update…

This forms part of our Transfer Watch series, where The Transfer Tavern analyse whether a club should sign a transfer target based on a recent performance.

The Lowdown: Newcastle lurking for Osimhen

It has been widely reported that Newcastle will now look to battle a number of big European clubs to try and sign Victor Osimhen from Napoli in the summer.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/newcastle-news-5/” title=”Newcastle news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

However, St James’ Park is not thought to be his preferred destination in the Premier League, and with the likes of top-four chasers Tottenham Hotspur reportedly joining the race, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Public Investment Fund (PIF) may face an uphill battle to try and bring the Nigeria striker to Tyneside.

The Latest: Great individual performance from Osimhen

Even though Napoli lost 3-2 at home to Fiorentina in Serie A on Sunday afternoon, Osimhen put in a great individual performance, scoring one goal and supplying an assist as he ranked as their best player on SofaScore.

The Nigeria international won five of his individual duels, bettered only by two of his team-mates, while he also completed one successful dribble and a team-high three key passes (SofaScore).

The Verdict: Sign him

Given Callum Wilson’s injury problems this season, and the fact that Chris Wood has only managed two goals since arriving from Burnley in the January transfer window, the Magpies should be looking to bring in an elite forward to complete their attack for next term.

Described as a ‘perfect’ striker by journalist Aaron West after Sunday’s display, Osimhen would bring Newcastle’s attack to another level. After all, he has now scored 16 goals and provided five assists in total so far this season (Transfermarkt).

Also, he is still only 23 years of age, so he coukd spearhead Eddie Howe’s side for many years to come.

In other news, NUFC are now eyeing this shock transfer

An update has emerged on Newcastle United target Jesse Lingard, regarding Manchester United’s transfer plans for him.

What’s the talk?

According to The Sun, the Red Devils are willing to part ways with the England international for a fee of £10m in January.

The report claims West Ham and Newcastle could be in the race to land his signature, with the latter’s interest potentially increasing the fee United can sell him for.

Ben Arfa 2.0

Eddie Howe could find Newcastle’s new Hatem Ben Arfa with a £10m deal for Lingard in the upcoming transfer window.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/check-out-the-latest-newcastle-howe-ter-stegen” title= “Read the latest Newcastle news!”]

The French attacking midfielder enjoyed an impressive spell at St. James’ Park as he produced 15 goals and 16 assists in 86 appearances for the club. He was capable of the spectacular and scored two sensational individual goals against Blackburn and Bolton during his time in England.

Lingard is a player who can provide Newcastle with similar qualities. He scored a stunning solo strike against Wolves for West Ham earlier this year and ended his loan spell with the Hammers on nine goals and five assists in 16 Premier League games, showing that – like Ben Arfa – he can provide plenty from advanced midfield positions.

United coach Michael Carrick once praised the midfielder’s willingness to make runs off the ball and move players around. He said:

“I think his movement is excellent. It’s something that sounds quite simple, but it’s difficult to defend against.

“He senses where the space is and how to use it. I wouldn’t necessarily say he’s a dribbler with skills and tricks but he’s dynamic. How he plays, he is unique in some ways. You don’t see so much of that now as everyone wants to get on the ball. Off the ball, he’s very effective.”

This highlights his work out of possession to go with his Ben Arfa-like quality in the final third on the ball, which makes him a well-rounded player who could offer a lot to Newcastle in the second half of the season. Howe could pull off a masterclass by bringing him to Tyneside as his statistics for West Ham suggest that he could make the difference at the top end of the pitch and win matches for the Magpies.

The ex-Bournemouth coach must ensure that he can get a deal over the line for Lingard as his goals and assists could end up being the difference between survival and relegation, should he help the club win more matches with his contributions. He has proven that he can deliver in the Premier League and produce magical moments, thus demonstrating he could be the Ben Arfa 2.0 that Howe needs.

AND in other news, Howe could win over NUFC fans by axing £41k-p/w dud and landing “magnificent” beast…

Leeds United have been tipped to consider bringing Reading midfielder John Swift to Elland Road this summer, LeedsLive report.

The Lowdown: Swift interest

Swift was linked with a move to Yorkshire in the January window, with reports suggesting the 26-year-old was on the club’s list of midfield targets.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-updates/” title=”Latest Leeds United updates!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-04-02T155252Z_391313781_UP1EI421841M9_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-SOU-REPORT.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

As we know, a move for the Royals star didn’t materialise, with Leeds failing to add to Marcelo Bielsa’s squad in any capacity.

Bielsa, who Phil Hay said admired Swift, was sacked in February, with Jesse Marsch the new man in charge, but despite the switch in manager, Swift has come up in conversation once again ahead of the summer window.

The Latest: Free transfer?

LeedsLive reporter Danny Bloomer shared a story on Thursday morning, looking at five free agents the Whites could be interested in this summer.

Swift was one of those, with no progress made with Reading regarding a new contract, and as a result, he could end his six-year stay with the club.

The Verdict: Smart signing?

Swift, labelled as ‘super-talented’ by former Reading boss Veljko Paunovic, has been in impressive form this season, contributing to 24 goals in 38 Championship games, netting 11.

Therefore, picking up the attacking midfielder on a free transfer to bolster Marsch’s midfield options could be a shrewd piece of business. The 26-year-old is clearly a player of interest to Victor Orta given the interest in January and the Whites only have four midfielders on the books at this moment in time.

He appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high £5.4m Transfermarkt valuation, so the coming months could be the perfect time to firm up their long-term interest in the former Chelsea youngster.

In other news: ‘Big’ – Journalist excited by who Orta and Marsch may now ‘bring’ to Leeds this summer. 

Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has provided injury updates on Ryan Jack and Ryan Kent ahead of Sunday’s clash with St Mirren.

What’s the latest?

The 41-year-old has revealed that Jack has returned to first team training after recovering from his long-term injury, whilst Kent is expected to be back within the next week.

Gerrard told Rangers’ official Twitter channel: “It’s a big day for Ryan Jack as he is back with the team in training for the first time in months. Ryan Kent, we are hoping to have available in and around the Aberdeen game or just slightly after.”

Gers fans will be buzzing

Rangers fans will surely be buzzing with this news as it suggests that two key players are set to return from notable injuries. Kent’s last appearance came against Lyon in the Europa League on 16 September, whilst Jack has not played a single minute of football since February.

The Ibrox faithful will be delighted to see Kent return as he has shown his quality at Premiership level in recent years. Last season, he scored 10 goals and provided nine assists in 37 appearances as he averaged a sublime SofaScore rating of 7.23. The fans will be looking forward to seeing him back in action as he can clearly make a difference in the final third for Gerrard’s side.

Former Gers marksman Kris Boyd once lauded the ex-Liverpool winger’s ability with the ball at his feet, hailing him as a player who gets fans off their seats. 

He said: “There’s Ryan Kent who is phenomenal – he gets you off your seat. His numbers have increased season after season. Even if the team are not at the level we saw at the start of the campaign, he is still a threat. He is so comfortable with the ball – it is like has superglue in his boots!”

Meanwhile, Jack was also impressive in the league last season. He averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 7.14 in 19 appearances prior to his calf injury, creating one chance per game and winning 56% of his duels as he completed 90% of his attempted passes.

This shows why Gers fans must be happy to see him back in the fold after a lengthy spell on the sidelines. He has proven that he can be a quality central midfield option in the Premiership and his return gives Gerrard another option to utilise as Rangers go in search of back-to-back league titles.

AND in other news, Gerrard could unearth McGregor 2.0 in Rangers gem who has shown “excellent progress”…

A number of Sheffield United supporters have laid into Rhian Brewster following the Blades’ disappointing 2-1 defeat to Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

The Blades were looking to get their Championship season up and running after a poor start to the campaign, but it hasn’t panned out that way.

Slavisa Jokanovic’s side faced a Yorkshire derby at home to Huddersfield Town on Saturday, but it was the visitors who claimed the bragging rights at Bramall Lane. United seemed to have earned a point with a last-gasp Billy Sharp equaliser, only for the Terriers to go straight up the other end and nick a dramatic win.

Brewster led the line for the Blades as he looks to kick on in his career, but he was disappointing, failing to have a big enough impact on proceedings. The 21-year-old had just 14 touches in the game and completed a mere four passes. He also won just one of his seven duels and failed to complete a single dribble (Sofascore).

Brewster, who cost the Blades a club record £23.5m, has scored just once in 33 appearances for United and there are no signs of his current woes in front of goal going away.

Sheffield United fans unhappy with Brewster

These Blades fans took to Twitter to vent their disgruntlement about Brewster’s performance yesterday, with one supporter making an unflattering comparison with the club’s former enigma Diego De Girolamo.

“From a contextual perspective, Rhian Brewster is the worst signing United have ever made”

Credit: @ThugWorkout93

“We’d be lucky to scrape £6million for Brewster. Liverpool had our pants down”

Credit: @ShorehamBoy89

“Brewster looking like the next De Girolamo to me. Bring in Jebbison”

Credit: @jonnyksparks

“If Brewster didn’t cost £24m, he’d be joining Rotherham on loan this window. Let’s be honest, what’s his motivation now, even just at 20? I think it’s a case of too much too soon! He’s got a UCL winners medal! Must be on huge wages, LFC on CV will always mean £££/transfers”

Credit: @JuddThomas6

“Bash was good but poor for the winning goal. Fleck was much better than of late. Brewster didn’t do enough for my liking.”

Credit: @johnlcritchley

“From what I’ve seen Jebbison is better than both Brewster and Burke, he should be given a chance”

Credit: @SBatts79

Celtic winger Jota is set to be missing for ‘a few weeks’ with a hamstring issue, Ange Postecoglou has confirmed.

The Lowdown: Jota’s form

Jota has been in brilliant form in recent months after settling into Parkhead life following a summer switch from Benfica.

The 22-year-old, who the Hoops have the option to sign permanently, has been involved in 14 goals in 18 appearances in green and white.

However, he went off injured against Hearts at the beginning of the month and missed the 3-0 win over Dundee United on Sunday.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/celtic-updates-17/” title=”Celtic updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Latest: Four-game absence?

As reported by John McGinley, Postecoglou – who has called Jota ‘outstanding’ – revealed prior to the win at Tannadice that the Portuguese winger will ‘miss a few weeks’ with his hamstring problem.

Should that prove to be two weeks, the 22-year-old could miss up to four games for the Hoops, including the League Cup final against Hibernian on December 19.

The Verdict: Injury issues continue…

Jota wasn’t the only absentee against Dundee United on Sunday. Anthony Ralston and Stephen Welsh also picked up injuries against Hearts and missed the game, while Christopher Jullien is still yet to feature under Postecoglou.

Giorgos Giakoumakis is out with a knee issue and youngster Karamoko Dembele has also been missing since pre-season, and even though Greg Taylor made a return on the weekend, Postecoglou can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to injuries.

Hopefully the New Year will bring better luck on the injury front, but Postecoglou will be without Jota for a while and may have to rely on Mikey Johnston against Real Betis on Thursday.

In other news: Devlin claims Celtic may now seal move for 12-goal beast before 2022 training camp

Having watched his new suitors defeat Arsenal on Thursday evening from the stands, interim Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick took charge of the Red Devils from the dugout for the first time on Sunday.

The German got off to the perfect start as United scraped a 1-0 victory over a resolute Crystal Palace outfit at Old Trafford with Fred’s late stunner the decisive moment.

None of the Manchester club’s stellar attacking options stood out, with the winning goal having to come through a rare strike from the Brazilian midfielder.

However, there was one man who was particularly disappointing in Rangnick’s first game: Jadon Sancho.

It’s no secret that the 21-year-old has struggled to replicate his fabulous form at Dortmund for Manchester United since arriving for £73m in the summer. However, there had been signs of late that the winger was starting to blossom.

The Manchester United Evening News stated that Sancho now “looks like a different player from the one who started the season”, however, he was ineffective on Sunday afternoon.

In what was a quiet game, Sancho struggled to make any sort of impact, losing possession 15 times (every 3.2 touches) as well as failing to win any of his aerial duels and coming off best in just two of six ground duels (72% overall).

As a result, Rangnick opted to withdraw the Englishman in the 62nd minute as United looked for an alternative strategy to secure the three points.

Despite an ineffective performance, there is still optimism that United fans are starting to see glimmers of the Sancho they hoped for after goals against Villareal and Chelsea in recent weeks. Ironically, both came after the dismissal of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

It took Sancho 15 games to net his first goal in a United shirt against Villareal and is still yet to register an assist for the Red Devils.

There is undoubtedly potential there, but Rangnick will have to find a solution to get the best out of the £81m-rated man. For now, however, the wide man has already failed his new interim manager.

A surprising name may be the next to depart Tottenham Hotspur, according to Fabrizio Romano…

What’s the word?

Speaking on his Twitch channel, the renowned Italian transfer guru revealed that left-back Ben Davies could be the latest player to leave the club before this month’s transfer deadline.

Back-up goalkeeper Joe Hart became the most recent departure, swapping North London for Glasgow, signing for Celtic. He followed both Erik Lamela, who has joined Sevilla, and Toby Alderweireld, who has gone to Qatar, out the exit door.

“Ben Davies is one of Tottenham’s players that could leave next,” Romano claimed.

Doesn’t fit the system

The 28-year-old featured in 38 matches across all competitions under Jose Mourinho last season but only 14 of these were starts in the Premier League.

This move could be the first real sign of Nuno Santo stamping down his mark on the club, especially as the Portuguese seems to be awash with plenty of options in the role.

Nuno’s first-choice option is likely to be Sergio Reguilon, who seems the perfect fit for him as he likes to get up and down the flank. Similarly, rarely-seen gem Ryan Sessegnon is in a similar mould, whilst there’s also Dennis Cirkin, who Mourinho was a big fan of too.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/spurs-latest-team-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more-copy” title= “Read the latest Spurs news, transfer rumours, gossip and much more!”]

Davies is much more defensively-minded than either of the trio above, which means his place is in a precarious spot right now.

Even then, there have to be question marks over his ability as he struggled at times last season, none more so than a game against Liverpool, where he was described as “appalling” by former Leeds striker Noel Whelan to Football Insider.

Only one other Spurs star (Moussa Sissoko, 6.44) that started more games in the league recorded a worse average WhoScored rating than Davies (6.56), which speaks volumes and would reinforce why Nuno may want to offload him.

The Portuguese coach must be ruthless if he knows that there is no place for the 64-time Welsh international in his side, especially as his exit could help finance some further incomings.

Valued at £14.4m by Transfermarkt, Spurs could also get around £65k-per-week off the wage bill, which will help Fabio Paratici and his transfer plans even more.

With Nuno expected to utilise an attacking left-back next season, it would be wise for Davies to move on. He’s just not the right fit for the new Spurs boss, nor is he good enough anymore.

Daniel Levy and Paratici must sanction his exit, should any bids come forward.

AND in other news, Spurs target to “fly to London” to complete move…