All posts by z3u9t.icu

A managerial saga tends to embody that of a horse race and with Manchester United’s hunt to find Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s long-term successor, that has never been more true.

In the running has been the likes of Luis Enrique, Mauricio Pochettino and Erik ten Hag but only one of them has made it over the final jump and into the home straight.

That happens to be ten Hag, someone who has always been front and centre of most races he’s competed in.

Indeed, the Dutch coach has an impressive CV, winning the Eredivisie on two occasions and taking home the Netherland’s domestic cup competition on the same number of occasions.

He very nearly made it to the final furlong in the Champions League too, only to be defeated by Pochettino’s Spurs side in the semi-final back in 2018/19.

However, it’s funny how football works itself out, because ten Hag is now set to beat that very man to the hot seat at Old Trafford, and he could also prise away one of Pochettino’s main men of days gone by; Harry Kane.

United have often been linked with a move for the Tottenham striker and this summer is no different. That said, they may have to part ways with a whopping £100m or even more according to claims made in recent days.

Yet, if ten Hag can finally bring the England captain to Man United, it would be a remarkable way to introduce himself to the club’s fanbase.

To put things simply, he would become an instant hit with the Old Trafford crowd, bringing a player to United who could not only make their rebuild easier, but also bring them closer to the title in a quicker fashion.

United have often been linked with Erling Haaland too but in Kane, someone dubbed an “animal” by football writer Andrew Gaffney, they’d discover someone who is arguably even better right now.

The Norwegian powerhouse has admitted himself that the Spurs striker is better than him and considering his proven record in the Premier League, a move would certainly be less of a gamble.

Haaland may have scored one more goal than the England international this term but it’s evident the latter provides you with much more than just being able to find the net.

When it comes to shot-creating actions, Kane is out in front with 3.26 per 90 minutes compared to Haaland’s 2.61, according to FB Ref. Furthermore, the progressive distance with which the former plays his passes is also considerably larger, averaging a whopping 115.8 yards per 90 compared to the Norway international’s measly 38.8 yards.

On top of that, Tottenham’s star man provides more from a defensive point of view, winning more pressures per 90 inside his own team’s half and in the middle of the pitch.

Despite Haaland’s raw pace, it’s Kane again who comes out on top when it comes to progressing with the ball, making 3.94 progressive carries with the ball at his feet per 90 in comparison to Haaland’s 3.07.

With that in mind, it looks as though the 28-year-old would be a far better acquisition for the present.

Ten Hag must do all he can to lure the forward to Old Trafford this summer.

AND in other news, Man Utd now plot bid to sign £60m “special talent”, he’s miles better than Rashford…

Manchester United are attempting to hire their next manager to take control at Old Trafford this summer with Erik ten Hag the clear favourite for the challenging role, however a new update has emerged in another set-back for the club.

What’s the word?

According to Mail on Sunday’s Chief Writer, Rob Draper, Manchester United have now got some competition to secure the appointment of the Ajax boss.

In a report for the Daily Mail, Draper wrote that a leading Bundesliga club are also interested in hiring ten Hag this summer, and there are many issues that need to be resolved before he considers a move to Manchester at the end of the season.

Supporters will be fuming

Ten Hag has been the clear front runner and favourite to take over from Ralf Rangnick for weeks now, and losing the manager to another club this late in the process would be a devastating blow that would surely leave Man United supporters fuming and disappointed.

The Ajax boss was originally linked with the job leading up to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer being sacked, but the manager committed himself to see out the season with his Dutch side, so after a long wait for the appointment it will be a widely unpopular outcome if the United board and the Glazers don’t seal the deal.

The Red Devils have had an abysmal season by their standards considering they finished second in the Premier League last season. They have crashed out of all competitions and will enter their longest trophy drought in 40 years, so the addition of a manager like ten Hag with a winning mentality is essential for bringing back trophies to the club.

He has won two Eredivisie titles and impressively took Ajax to a Champions League semi-final in 2019 to name just a few of ten Hag’s achievements at his current club, and the supporters of Man United will surely be desperate for him to emulate his success with their side too.

The powers at Old Trafford must do everything they can to keep the deal on the table with the 52-year-old manager as it would be a disaster to lose him to another club and go back to square one in their manager search.

In other news: Journo reveals what he’s heard from senior figures at MUFC on Ronaldo, it’s bad news

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Loads of Leeds fans have been reacting to a shocking deadline day revelation, as their deal for Swansea attacker Daniel James fell through at the last minute.

Leeds fans have been absolutely desperate to sign James this month as they look to improve the depth in an injury-hit squad.

However, the deal is 100 per cent off, as reported by Phil Hay, after the Swans quite literally stopped responding to Leeds’ calls.

The young winger was set to join on an initial loan deal with a view to a permanent move in the summer, reported The Yorkshire Evening Post on Thursday afternoon, but the turmoil at the south Wales club has clearly played its part.

Who are the best away fans in the Championship? Pl>ymaker FC’s Thogden gives his top 10 in the video below…

James, 21, can play in various positions across the attack, but is probably most comfortable on the left wing, where he was seen as the long-term successor for Pablo Hernandez.

The youngster scored eight goals and added 12 assists for Swansea’s Under-23 side before graduating to the senior side, where he has found the net three times and chipped in with four assists, per Transfermarkt.

Victor Orta has taken plenty of stick since he took over the transfer dealings at Elland Road, but the Spaniard surely can’t be blamed for this one, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

Aston Villa have been particularly busy over the past few years when it comes to being active in the transfer market.

The previous summer and winter windows saw the Midlands club bring in numerous new faces to Villa Park, with some arriving on permanent deals and others joining on temporary loan deals.

Looking ahead to the upcoming summer window, it seems as though some behind the scenes details have emerged regarding one potential deal that could take place which would really excite a lot of Villans.

What’s the news?

During a recent online Q&A on the Birmingham Live website, Villa journalist Ashley Preece was asked if he thinks the Midlands club will be able to secure Philippe Coutinho on a permanent deal when his current loan spell from Barcelona comes to an end.

He said: “Coutinho and his family have settled in really well. It’s certainly pointing towards a permanent deal. Coutinho really happy here. A lot depends on the salary now. Villa will crunch the numbers over the next few weeks. Transfer window opens on June 10 and Gerrard wants all of his business done prior to the last week of pre-season in late July/early August.”

Supporters will love it

Since arriving at Villa Park back in January, the Brazilian has scored four goals and provided three assists in 11 league appearances. As a result, the news that a permanent deal could now be on the cards is likely to be music to the ears of the club’s fanbase.

To highlight how much of an attacking impact the former Liverpool star has had since joining Steven Gerrard’s side, he has racked up an average of 2.5 shots per game, higher than any other Villa player, while further stats make for impressive reading too.

Only John McGinn (1.5) has a higher average of key passes per game than Coutinho (1.4), who has also made more dribbles per game (1.5) than any of his teammates, showing how much of a threat he is for the Villans going forward.

The Barcelona loanee’s overall performances have earned him a season rating of 7.18, making him the second-highest rated player at the Midlands club according to WhoScored.

This shows just what a good bit of business it was from the club to get him back in England.

Taking all of this into account, it should be one of Villa’s top priorities to secure Coutinho on a permanent deal when his loan deal ends.

With Preece revealing that the player and his family have settled in well and that things are pointing towards a deal being put together in the summer, this will undoubtedly be very pleasing for the Villa fans to hear as it would represent a huge boost to their chances next term.

In other news: Wonderkid: Gerrard can unearth AVFC’s new Luiz in “super impressive” rarely-seen 18y/o

It would be ‘huge’ if Leeds United’s Ian Poveda returns to the fold at Blackburn Rovers during the run-in, former Whites attacker Noel Whelan says. 

The lowdown

Back in August, Leeds winger Poveda sealed a season-long loan move to Championship side Blackburn Rovers.

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But only eight games into his spell at Ewood Park, he suffered an ankle injury and had to undergo surgery.

Having returned to his parent club, he’s only been able to get back on the grass and step up his rehabilitation in the past few weeks.

But Graham Smyth of the Yorkshire Evening Post reports that he’s now ready to return to Blackburn ahead of their final three matches.

Manager Tony Mowbray will run the rule over Poveda and decide whether he can be of assistance in the short time that remains.

The latest

Whelan says it would be a ‘massive boost’ for the player, in terms of his mood and his physical condition, if he’s able to re-enter the fray at Blackburn.

“The fact that he could come back and finish the season – it’s such a huge thing,” he told Football Insider.

“Both for his confidence and his fitness, to finish the season strongly will be a massive boost.”

The verdict

Come the summer, Jesse Marsch and Leeds will decide if Poveda has what it takes to be a member of the first-team squad next season.

He’d scored one goal and provided two assists in four Championship starts pre-injury, and all parties would have been frustrated to see his progress curtailed.

Indeed, Mowbray had raved about the ‘wonderful talent’ before his long-term lay-off.

It could wind up being a shoot-out at Elland Road between Poveda and fellow youngster Crysencio Summerville, who’s also a right winger.

Should Marsch favour the former, then Summerville could seal a move to Rangers or Hamburg, both credited with interest.

In other news, read this journalist’s Sergino Dest claim.

Tottenham Hotspur was at least three additions before transfer deadline day on January 31st…

What’s the word?

That’s according to ever-reliable Daily Mail journalist Sami Mokbel, who delivered an exciting claim to GIVEMESPORT this week.

“My understanding is that Conte wants a new right wing-back, he wants a new striker to supplement [Harry] Kane and a central midfielder,” he said. “Whether they can do all of those, I’m not sure they will, but that’s what they’re aiming for.”

One name heavily linked with the north London outfit has been Adama Traore, who fits the bill as their potential new right wing-back, though Wolverhampton Wanderers reportedly knocked back Spurs’ initial offer of £15m this week.

Meanwhile, the Lilywhites could look to seal a move for AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie now, rather than the summer, when he’s out of contract at the San Siro.

Hugely exciting news

Spurs remain unbeaten under the Italian in the Premier League, which already displays the sort of magic he’s been able to pull off at Hotspur Way. However, he needs to be backed to truly elevate the club to the next level.

There have already been fears behind-the-scenes that he could walk should he not get such financial support during the transfer window. Not only is Conte dealing with injuries but largely, they lack the strength in depth that those in the top four possess.

The former Chelsea boss seemingly doesn’t trust summer signing Emerson Royal at right wing-back, particularly in the final third, so it’s easy to see why they are targeting Traore, who on his day is “unplayable” in the final third, according to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

And whilst the north Londoners are well-stocked in the engine room, it’s believed that Tanguy Ndombele and Dele Alli are free to leave and there isn’t much quality behind the likes of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Oliver Skip anyway.

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As talented as he is, it’s rather telling that the 21-year-old gem has walked straight into the starting XI after a loan spell in the Championship last season.

Then there is the striker issue – it’s a catch-22 for Spurs. They need an alternative to Kane but no one in their right mind will want to play second fiddle to him. Although, there’s a chance that Conte reverts to his title-winning tactics at Inter Milan, where he played two up top.

Either way, this exciting revelation from Mokbel should leave much of the Lilywhites faithful absolutely buzzing heading into the final ten days of the transfer window.

It’s time for chairman Daniel Levy to open the chequebook. They now have a world-class manager capable of giving this club the silverware they are desperately craving but he needs to be backed, starting with this current window.

AND in other news, “Tottenham will”: Sky Sports reporter issues “exciting” transfer claim…

Wolverhampton Wanderers could miss out on a move for Marseille’s Croatian centre-back Duje Caleta-Car.

What’s the word?

That is according to French reporter Ignazio Genuardi via Get France Football News, who claims that Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard has scouted the 6 foot 1 defender ahead of a potential move to Villa Park.

Wolves reportedly offered Marseille £13m, just seven months ago, as per RMC Sport and he was considered a real target for the Molineux side.

Their own Dias?

With their Midlands rivals now in the race to sign the central defender, Bruno Lage must consider reviving the club’s pursuit of the Croat.

Caleta-Car is about to enter the final year of his contract and with no apparent sign of renewing, Marseille may feel pressured into selling him at the end of the season in order to acquire some decent money for the 25-year-old.

The £14.4m-rated Croatian has started just 59% of Marseille’s games in the league this season, though, in that fairly limited time, he has demonstrated exactly what his game is about – with his passing ability shining through.

Caleta-Car, who has been dubbed as a “Daddy Emperor” by The Mirror (which is what his name translates to), has asserted himself as one of Marseille’s most accurate passers of the ball per 90, achieving an average of 72 passes, whilst also demonstrating his ability as a long-ball specialist, topping the charts for accurate long balls per 90 with an average of six accurate long balls per game.

Though, his defensive metrics are not as impressive as his offensive stats this season, with the only shining light in this area being his 66.7% of dribblers tackled metric that places him within the elite category for positionally similar players across the last 365 days in Europe’s top 5 leagues, as per FB Ref.

Wolves will feel hard done if Aston Villa capture their target after their bid fell short just seven months ago.

It has been reported that Lage is in the market for a young striker and a right-footed centre-back this summer, with Caleta-Car fitting the bill for the latter requirement.

Indeed, based on the stats above, he could become the club’s own Ruben Dias too, a player the Old Gold famously missed out on before he joined City. FB Ref notes how the players are incredibly similar and a deeper look at the stats explains why.

They both complete over 92% of their passes, and make a fairly equal number of progressive passes with Caleta-Car averaging 426.1 yards per 90 compared to the Manchester City defender’s 432.1.

Furthermore, they are producing a similar number of defensive actions. Dias completes 2.58 tackles and interceptions per 90 whereas the Marseille brute averages 2.45.

Thus, the Old Gold faithful will hope Lage can tempt the Croatian to the Molineux in what would be a great signing.

In other news: John Percy: Wolves now eye swoop for the “next Mbappe“, he’s better than Jimenez – opinion