كشف نادي برشلونة منذ قليل عن طبيعة إصابة فيران توريس، وذلك بعد عودة اللاعب من جديد إلى معسكر النادي الكتالوني واستبعاده من معسكر منتخب إسبانيا.
توريس كان متواجدًا مع معسكر منتخب إسبانيا خلال فترة التوقف الدولي الجاري، حيث شارك لاعب فالنسيا السابق خلال مواجهة بلاده أمام جورجيا الأسبوع الماضي، ضمن تصفيات قارة أوروبا المؤهلة لبطولة كأس العالم العام المقبل في كندا والولايات المتحدة الأمريكية والمكسيك.
ولن يتمكن توريس من المشاركة مع منتخب إسبانيا خلال مواجهة بلغاريا والتي سوف تلعب يوم غدًا الثلاثاء، حيث أكد الاتحاد الإسباني أن اللاعب غادر المعسكر بسبب إجهاد عضلي.
اقرأ أيضًا .. دي لا فوينتي يوضح تفاصيل إصابة أولمو ويؤكد: لم يبلغنا بوجود مشكلة
وأكد برشلونة في بيان رسمي، أن فيران توريس لا يعاني بالفعل من إصابة وإنما إجهاد فقط، حيث قال البيان: ”أكدت الفحوصات الطبية إصابة فيران توريس بإجهاد في عضلات الفخذ الخلفية لساقه اليسرى، دون أي إصابة مصاحبة”.
وأفادت صحيفة موندو ديبورتيفو، أن توريس سيكون جاهزًا للعب مع برشلونة في غضون أيام، وسوف يكون متاحًا للاختيار خلال مواجهة البرسا المقبلة في الدوري الإسباني الأسبوع المقبل أمام جيرونا، والتي سوف توافق يوم 18 أكتوبر.
Tottenham are unrelenting in their pursuit of fresh additions right now, and are looking to maintain their momentum after hijacking Chelsea’s deal for Xavi Simons in the early hours of Friday morning.
Simons, who can play out wide in Son Heung-min’s previous position, and as a central playmaker to combat the losses of Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison through injury, has arrived at N17 with bags of potential.
Mohammed Kudus
£55 million
Kota Takai
£5 million
Mathys Tel
£30 million
Joao Palhinha
Loan
Kevin Danso
£21 million
Xavi Simons
£52 million
After Tottenham agreed a £52 million deal for the ex-La Masia gem from under Chelsea’s nose, following “overnight” talks (Fabrizio Romano), Simons now dons the iconic number 7 shirt previously worn by Son.
The Netherlands international spent a fair portion of early 2024/2025 out with ankle ligament damage, but still managed 14 goal contributions over his final 18 Bundesliga appearances for Leipzig last season.
Simons’ proven quality, versatility and experience for his age (nearly 140 senior appearances in total) makes him a statement last-minute signing for Spurs, not to mention a much-needed one after their botched deals for Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze.
Following on from their move for Simons, it is believed that Tottenham want to sign another attacking player and centre-back before the Monday 7pm cut-off.
Tottenham make £17 million bid for Man City defender Manuel Akanji
According to Sky Italia, Tottenham and AC Milan’s race for Man City defender Manuel Akanji has taken a twist.
As per their information, while the Rossoneri have made an offer for the 71-cap Swiss international, who scored against Portugal at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, it is Spurs emerging as favourites for his signature.
For one, Akanji would prefer to remain in the Premier League. And two, Tottenham have made the highest offer for Akanji to City, amounting to around £17 million and trumping Milan’s opening proposal of £13 million plus bonuses.
Milan are working to reach an agreement with the player, but it appears they have some groundwork to cover if they’re to beat Frank’s side to Akanji’s signature.
Interestingly, if Milan fail to win this transfer against the Lilywhites, they’ve identified former Spurs defender Juan Foyth as an alternative.
Manchester United look set to complete their third big-money signing of the summer transfer window, after a deal was agreed with RB Leipzig for striker Benjamin Sesko.
The 22-year-old has been subject to a tug-of-war battle between Ruben Amorim’s side and Newcastle United over the last couple of weeks – leaving the player with a decision to make.
However, the Slovenian international has made the decision to make the move to Old Trafford, after the Red Devils had a £74m bid, including add-ons, accepted earlier this week.
Benjamin Sesko
He joins Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo at the Theatre of Dreams this window, taking the club’s spending during the off-season to a staggering £207.5m.
The board have certainly backed the manager in his quest for success at the club, potentially doing so once again on another key target before the market slams shut on September 1st.
The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer
Fiorentina centre-back Pietro Comuzzo has emerged as a potential defensive reinforcement for United this summer, after scouting the Italian in recent months.
It’s reported that the Serie A side are currently demanding a fee in the region of £35m to sell the 20-year-old, who also has admirers from fellow Premier League sides Sunderland and Bournemouth.
However, he’s not the player who’s currently in their sights, with Brighton star Carlos Baleba another talent they’re considering, according to Fabrizio Romano.
He claimed in his latest update with GIVEMESPORT, the journalist claimed that the Red Devils have held talks with the player’s intermediaries over a potential move to the club.
The Italian also stated that the player himself would be keen on a deal to join Amorim’s side, but it would be a tricky deal to complete, given his current £100m asking price.
Why United’s latest target would be perfect for Cunha
As previously mentioned, Cunha is just one of the players to complete a huge move to join United this summer, costing a whopping £62.5m from divisional rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Matheus Cunha
The Brazilian will provide the added quality the club have greatly lacked in attacking areas, that’s if he can replicate his form from the previous campaign, which saw him net 15 league goals.
He’s likely to operate in the number ten position alongside Mbeumo and in behind Sesko, with the trio a real force to be reckoned with ahead of the 2025/26 season.
However, if Cunha is to reach his full potential under Amorim’s guidance, he will need support from players behind him to help him in his quest throughout his time at the club.
Baleba, who’s primarily a ball-winning midfielder, has also showcased his talents in possession for the Seagulls in recent seasons, arguably being the missing piece in the Red Devils’ puzzle.
Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba
The Cameroonian, who’s been labelled a “monster” by one analyst, won 2.7 tackles per 90 last season – enabling him to break up the play before playing into forward areas.
He registered 4.1 progressive passes per 90, 3.7 of which were into the final third, tallies which could provide Cunha with the tools he needs to create carnage in front of goal.
Carlos Baleba’s stats for Brighton in the PL (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
34
Goals & assists
4
Pass accuracy
87%
Progressive passes
4.1
Tackles made
2.7
Interceptions made
1.6
Blocks made
1.6
Aerials won
1.4
Passes into the final third
3.7
Stats via FBref
His superb ability with the ball at his feet is further showcased by his 87% pass completion rate in 2024/25, which has seen him break the lines and contribute to his aforementioned tallies in forward areas.
The Brighton star also ranked in the top 20% of all central defensive midfielders in England’s top-flight for successful take-ons – further affirming his ability to get the ball into the opposition’s territory at any given opportunity.
Should Baleba manage to replicate his figures from his recent year at the AMEX, he could make a huge difference in the Red Devils’ quest for success at both ends of the pitch.
His ability to link up with Cunha would certainly improve the club’s situation in the final third, allowing one of the other big-money additions to prove his worth throughout the 2025/26 campaign.
He's like Bellingham: Man Utd make £60m "genius" the top target after Sesko
Manchester United’s heavy spending looks set to continue after agreeing a deal for Benjamin Sesko.
حقق فريق بايرن ميونخ فوزًا على خصمه فريق فيردر بريمن، في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري الألماني لكرة القدم موسم 2025/26، مساء يوم الجمعة.
وخاض بايرن ميونخ في الجولة الخامسة من الدوري الألماني على ملعب “أليانز آرينا” ضد فيردر بريمن، حيث انتصر بأربعة أهداف دون رد.
سجل جوناثان تاه هدف بايرن ميونخ الأول في الدقيقة 23 من عمر الشوط الأول، قبل أن يحرز النجم هاري كين هدفين في الدقيقة 45 من ضربة جزاء و65.
تاه يصنع بالكعب ولويس دياز يسجل أول الأهداف لبايرن ميونخ#الدوري_الألماني #Bundesliga pic.twitter.com/0y8C3pJEKk — MBC Action (@mbcaction) September 26, 2025
هاري كين يترجم ركلة الجزاء إلى هدف للبايرن #الدوري_الألماني #Bundesliga pic.twitter.com/rbTLjiCpta — MBC Action (@mbcaction) September 26, 2025
من جديد يتألق.. هاري كين يعزز النتيجة بالهدف الثالث لبايرن ميونخ#الدوري_الألماني #Bundesliga pic.twitter.com/g9n2l6s7L8 — MBC Action (@mbcaction) September 26, 2025
ودخل هاري كين تاريخ كرة القدم بعدما أصبح أسرع لاعب يسجل 100 هدف مع فريق في الدوريات الخمس الكبرى في القرن الـ21، حيث احتاج إلى 104 مباريات فقط مع بايرن ميونخ، مقابل 105 مباريات للنجمين كريستيانو رونالدو وإيرلينج هالاند.
في حين جاء هدف بايرن ميونخ الرابع عن طريق اللاعب كونراد لايمر، وذلك في الدقيقة 87.
بايرن ميونخ يضيف الهدف الرابع عن طريق لايمر#الدوري_الألماني #Bundesliga pic.twitter.com/Ks31P8mCTH — MBC Action (@mbcaction) September 26, 2025
بتلك النتيجة، ارتفع رصيد بايرن ميونخ إلى 15 نقطة في صدارة الدوري الألماني، بينما تجمد رصيد فيردر بريمن عند 4 نقاط في المركز الرابع عشر.
Glasgow Rangers officially confirmed on Saturday that central defender Robin Propper has moved on from Ibrox after just one year at the club.
The Dutch centre-back has returned to FC Twente just 12 months after he joined the Light Blues from the Eredivisie side, as it did not quite work out for him in Scotland.
Propper found the physicality too tough to deal with, as he lost 55% of his ground duels and 56% of his aerial duels in the Europa League last term, and it was the right call to cash in on him this summer.
Despite scoring against Celtic, Propper did not do enough to show that he was ready to deliver quality performances in Scotland, as he was dribbled past 11 times in 22 starts in the Scottish Premiership.
The 31-year-old dud is far from the only Rangers flop to have struggled with the physicality of Scottish football, though, and another one of those flops is closing in on an exit from Ibrox.
Rangers full-back edging closer to transfer
According to journalist Sebastien Vidal, Turkey international Ridvan Yilmaz is “edging closer” to a move away from the Premiership giants this summer.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The reporter claims that the left-footed dud is not a part of Russell Martin’s plans, as evidenced by his exclusion from the Champions League squad list, and that the club are now preparing for life without him.
Vidal adds that the 24-year-old flop is ready to secure a return to Besiktas, three years on from leaving the Turkish giants to sign for Rangers for a reported fee of £5m.
All parties should now be pushing for a transfer to go through sooner rather than later because Yilmaz is not part of the club’s plans, and he was as bad as Propper last season.
Why Rangers must sell Ridvan Yilmaz
The £5m-rated flop should be sold this summer because he was as bad as Propper in the 2024/25 campaign in the sense that he also struggled with the physicality of the game.
Yilmaz, who has been a bit-part player for three years at Ibrox, only started 11 of the club’s 38 matches in the Scottish Premiership last term, coming off the bench a further six times.
In those games, the Turkish full-back failed to deliver well-rounded performances in or out of possession to show the club that he deserves a long-term future in Glasgow.
Appearances
17
Starts
11
Goals
0
Assists
2
Error led to shot
2
Ground duel success rate
60%
Aerial duel success rate
0%
As you can see in the table above, Yilmaz made as many errors that led to shots for the opposition as he provided goal contributions at the other end of the pitch.
Staggeringly, the Rangers flop also lost 100% of his aerial battles, which means that he did not win a single contest in the air in 17 appearances in the league.
Martin has clearly decided that Yilmaz will not be a part of his plans for the upcoming season, with his squad selections, and the lack of physicality from the full-back may have played a part in that.
Rangers could forget about Rak-Sakyi by signing "dangerous" £4m talent
Rangers could still try to sign another winger this summer
ByRoss Kilvington Jul 26, 2025
Therefore, Rangers should be pushing for the defender to return to Besiktas in the coming days because he was as bad as Propper in Scotland and should be moved on as soon as possible.
يواصل النادي الأهلي مساعيه خلال الفترة الحالية من أجل التعاقد مع مدير فني جديد لخلافة المدرب الإسباني السابق خوسيه ريبيرو.
ونشرت “بلو وين” السويسرية أنه بعد ما يقرب من عامين على مغادرته نادي يونيون برلين الألماني، فإن المدرب السويسري أورس فيشر قد يتولى وظيفة جديدة ويعود على مقاعد البدلاء مرة أخرى في مصر بعد أن جلس مدربان سويسران آخران على مقاعد البدلاء في وقت سابق.
وذكرت الصحيفة أن التقارير قد انتشرت في القاهرة وتفيد بأن أورس فيشر على وشك التوقيع مع بطل الدوري المصري النادي الأهلي وأنه يتم إجراء محادثات معه لتدريب الفريق.
وكان ماركوس هوفمان مساعد فيشر قد صرح مؤخراً في مقابلة حول مستقبله أنه على الرغم من رغبته في خوض تحدي جديد لكنهما يران مستقبلهما في أوروبا ولهذا السبب رفض عدة عروض من السعودية.
أقرأ أيضاً.. أبولا: الأهلي حاول التعاقد مع مدرب برتغالي لخلافة ريبيرو.. والمدير الفني يحسم موقفه
وقال هوفمان لصحيفة “كرون” :”يتحدث أورس الإيطالية والفرنسية وستكون الدوريات هناك مثيرة للاهتمام بالتأكيد وعلى أي حال فإن ألمانيا وسويسرا والنمسا خيارات محتملة دائماً”.
ولا تزال فرصة تدريب فيشر في مصر متاحة وهناك محاولات لإقناعه بالذهاب إلى هناك، ويمكن أن يلعب دينو لامبيرني دوراً حاسماً والذي يعد مستشار أورس فيشر ومارسيل كولر.
وكان كولر قد تولى تدريب الأهلي حتى أبريل 2025 وحقق نجاحاً كبيراً وفاز بالعديد من الألقاب بجانب لقبين دوري أبطال أفريقيا، بينما يعد رينيه فايلر مدرب سويسري آخر قام بتدريب الأهلي من 2019 حتى 2020.
وعلى الرغم من نجاحه فقد أقيل كولر من منصبه كمدرب للأهلي في أبريل الماضي وتولى بدلاً منه خوسيه ريبيرو ولكن اضطر للرحيل بعد أربعة أشهر فقط من بداية الموسم بسبب الأداء الضعيف للفريق.
وكان فيشر صاحب الـ59 عاماً قد قال في تصريحات لصحيفة “بليك” في يوليو الماضي :”للعودة للتدريب يجب أن أشعر بانجذاب معين، ويجب أن يكون هذا الشعور صحيحاً، إما أن يجذبني أو لا، هذا هو جوهر الأمر، لا يعتمد الأمر على الموقع وكل شئ ممكن”.
It’s fair to say Ruben Amorim’s reign at Manchester United to date has been a bumpy ride full of many ups and downs.
Amorim has collected 17 victories from the Old Trafford hot-seat, but that has been followed up by a worrying 17 losses being tallied up, which included a soul-crushing Europa League final defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur.
Matheus Cunha
Even with the pain of this loss out in Bilbao still hurting – with no European football on the menu this coming season – the Red Devils have been able to flex their muscles in the transfer market, as seen in the notable £62.5m capture of Matheus Cunha.
But, what’s around the corner for the Red Devils?
Man Utd in surprise talks to sign £70m star
Well, Bryan Mbeumo is reportedly also edging closer to a switch to the red half of Manchester despite their aforementioned problems, with a hat-trick of standout purchases from within the Premier League perhaps on the cards if another deal is also secured.
As per a report by Football Insider, United have been in surprise talks recently over snapping up Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite.
It’s stated that a move was being explored after United had held talks with the 6 foot 5 man mountain’s agent, but it is looking more likely that Branthwaite will pen a contract extension at the Toffees, over moving to nearby Manchester.
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite
Yet, as has been seen in the manic transfer window so far, many twists and turns can occur, with United known to be keen admirers of the £70m-rated centre-back for some time now, having been linked with the one-time England international last summer.
A move might well finally happen for Branthwaite and the Red Devils, with Amorim’s strugglers hopeful that the strong Everton number 32 can go on to be their modern-day iteration of Rio Ferdinand if a deal is finalised.
How Branthwaite can be Man Urd's next Ferdinand
It’s been nearly 23 years now since Ferdinand crossed enemy lines to leave Leeds United behind for the Theatre of Dreams for £30m.
Rio Ferdinand
But, even nearly two decades on, Ferdinand is still seen as the cream of the defensive crop from United’s recent and more success-laden years, with a mammoth 189 clean sheets coming his way from a stacked 504 Premier League outings, away from his ridiculous trophy collection boasting six top-flight title successes.
As it did at Elland Road over 20 years ago, Branthwaite’s exit would certainly upset the Everton masses if he were to shortly walk away from Merseyside, having showcased himself, just like Ferdinand, to be one of England’s finest young centre-halves.
Ferdinand did already have 54 Premier League clashes under his belt in West Yorkshire before sealing a major switch to link up with Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, and now Branthwaite will surely fancy a similar big move to elevate his game to the next level.
Branthwaite’s PL numbers for Everton
Stat
Branthwaite
Games played
75
Goals scored
4
Assists
1
Goals conceded
92
Clean sheets
21
Stats via the Premier League
After all, the now-retired United number 5 was only a year older than Branthwaite is now when he first made the leap to Old Trafford, with the 22-year-old also definitely capable of adjusting to the pressures of the Theatre of Dreams when glancing at his standout numbers from the table above.
Branthwaite would be able to chip in with goals and assists aplenty too, just like Ferdinand in his pomp, with his output during his breakout 2023/24 season seeing him fire home three strikes, away from further proving his imposing nature in the air by winning 3.9 duels per game throughout 2024/25.
Once lauded as a “colossal” presence by Statman Dave, on top of also being labelled as a “beast” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, this could be yet another signing that helps United push out of their current mire.
A positive new horizon could soon come Amorim and Co’s way as Branthwaite potentially goes down as a modern icon at the back, whilst Cunha and Mbeumo also aim to be heroes in their own right.
He'd be perfect for Mbeumo: Man Utd prepare bid for "exceptional" £28m ace
Manchester United appear to be making serious moves in the transfer market.
Since the turn of the century, Chelsea rank first across Europe for transfer expenditure, spending a rather grotesque figure of €3.86bn (£3.2bn).
Having sold players to recoup around €1.96bn (£1.65bn) during the same period, the Blues have a total net spend of €-1,899.67m since 2000.
While the club may have won two Champions League titles and five Premier League crowns during that period, plus winning a plethora of other domestic and European trophies, spending has gone to a new level since Todd Boehly took control.
The Stamford Bridge side did make plenty of exciting signings during the first 12 years of the century. Players such as Didier Drogba, Claude Makelele and Ricardo Carvalho all played key roles under José Mourinho as the Blues emerged as a major force.
Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois and Oscar saw Chelsea enjoy a successful second act between 2012 and 2017, winning another two Premier League titles and a Europa League crown.
Eden Hazard
One signing was perhaps lauded more than the rest, especially given how much potential he had upon moving to Stamford Bridge.
Juan Mata looked ready to explode into life in the Premier League upon moving to England. Unfortunately, his time in London was short-lived, but his cult status hasn’t left him.
Juan Mata’s Chelsea statistics
Mata had enjoyed an excellent start to his career. After making his debut for Valencia, the Spaniard accrued over 150 competitive appearances for the La Liga side, scoring 46 goals and grabbing 52 assists in just four seasons.
Juan Mata Chelsea
This form saw him secure a place in the 2010 World Cup squad. He may have only played 20 minutes for Spain during the tournament, but he got his hands on the trophy.
Chelsea made their move a year later, signing the playmaker for a fee in the region of £23.5m, which was certainly a bargain.
Season
Games
Goals
Assists
2013/14
17
1
3
2012/13
64
20
30
2011/12
54
12
20
During his first season with the club, he played 54 games and registered 32 goal contributions, helping the Blues win the FA Cup and Champions League.
Remarkably, 60 goal involvements were recorded in the season after as Mata emerged as a key attacking threat for the London side. They didn’t win anything, but with Mourinho announced as the new manager in the summer of 2013, hopes were high of further glory.
It was clear he wasn’t going to fit into his tactical system, resulting in Mata making just 11 Premier League starts for the Blues during the first half of the season.
In January, Manchester United paid £37.1m to bring him to the North East, but he left Chelsea as a cult icon for his impressive displays.
With the transfer window set to open in just a few weeks, could Chelsea be about to raid Valencia once again for a talented young player with the world at his feet?
Indeed, a move for Cristhian Mosquera this summer could see him become Mata 2.0.
Chelsea make their move for La Liga sensation
While the club are in urgent need of a new striker or two heading into the transfer market, Enzo Maresca is also on the lookout for a new defender.
According to Caught Offside, Chelsea are keen to step up their interest in Mosquera, who has enjoyed a breakthrough season for the Spanish side.
Cristhian Mosquera for Valencia.
As per the report, the Blues could be set to initiate talks with the centre-back soon in a bid to secure his signature. Due to the fact that his contract expires next summer, Valencia are only demanding a fee of around €25m (£21m), which is certainly feasible for Maresca.
They face stiff competition from Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig. While Atletico Madrid are also keen. Three of these clubs will take part in the Champions League next term, meaning Chelsea must secure their place in the competition to stand a chance of landing the youngster.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Although Maresca has plenty of centre-backs at his disposal, Mosquera could soon become a first-choice option for the Italian.
Why Chelsea must sign Cristhian Mosquera
The 20-year-old has started all but one of Valencia’s league matches this season, although the club have underperformed as a whole, looking like they might finish in the bottom half of the table.
Throughout the campaign, the Spaniard exuded the qualities of someone ten years older. Indeed, he has won an impressive 69% of his total ground duels per game in the top flight, along with making 3.4 clearances, 1.4 tackles and losing possession only 0.3 times per match.
These solid displays at the heart of Valencia’s backline have bolstered his reputation, being praised heavily in the process.
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig stated that Mosquera is a “magnificent CB in the making” earlier this year. He also stated that the youngster was “one of the most talented U-21 CBs in Europe” following an excellent performance against Real Madrid in April.
When compared to his positional peers in La Liga this season, Mosquera currently ranks in the top 4% for ball recoveries (5.16) per 90, along with ranking in the top 14% for pass completion percentage (90.8%) and in the top 18% for percentage of dribbles tackled (76.3%) for Valencia.
He is certainly still raw and has plenty of development to do over the next few years, but these statistics prove he can mix it with the very best in Spain, no doubt about that.
For a fee of just £21m, Maresca won’t find better value out there all summer. Mosquera has proven throughout the 2024/25 campaign that he is a reliable centre-back,k and his signing fits into the club’s policy of bringing younger talent to London.
Valencia'sCristhianMosquerain action with Atletico Madrid's Samuel Lino
Mata enjoyed a wonderful two-and-a-half-year spell with Chelsea after sealing a move from Valencia. Given his growing reputation and talent, Mosquera could certainly go on to enjoy a similar sort of impact at Stamford Bridge should he make the move this summer.
Maresca must act swiftly to secure his signature, especially with plenty of other suitors swirling around the player.
Chelsea really looking at signing £25m "new name" who agreed to join Arsenal
He’s shook hands on personal terms with the Gunners last year.
Everton have finally got their head above the water, and David Moyes is planning on strengthening his squad this summer to ensure Bramley Moore has a good chance of tasting more lucrative successes than Goodison Park has been treated to in recent years.
While fans will hope for a flashy new forward, a rock-sold defender with a modern twist, it’s important to remember that a couple of under-the-radar, pragmatic signings will be essential in establishing a balanced and dynamic team.
Everton managerDavidMoyescelebrates after the match
Central midfield probably needs the least amount of work, but Moyes is planning on signing a former favourite to complete his set.
Everton chasing PL midfielder
According to Wednesday’s edition of MF Dnes – via Sport Witness – Tomas Soucek has major reservations about continuing at West Ham United, given Graham Potter views him as a utility option.
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The experienced star is seemingly keen to remain loyal to his current employers, with two years left on his current deal, although he seemingly won’t accept an ‘inferior’ role under the new Potter regime.
This opens the door for Everton, with Moyes taking the Czech midfielder under his wing for the lion’s share of his Premier League career.
West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek
However, newly-promoted Leeds United are also keen, so The Friedkin Group will need to act quickly to avoid any embarrassment in securing a shrewd summer signing.
Why Moyes wants Soucek at Everton
Hailed as a “machine” by former West Ham correspondent Tom Clark, Soucek has been a regular feature for West Ham across the 20s, signed by Moyes from Slavia Prague on loan in January 2020 before his signing was wrapped up on a permanent basis for about £19m at the end of that season.
The 30-year-old played a vital role in winning the Conference League and challenging in European competition across three seasons in Moyes’ system, scoring 39 goals across 240 Irons appearances, including seven in the Premier League this term.
Tomas Soucek scores for West Ham
In spite of his prolificness and strong presence in the middle of the park, Potter’s not convinced, and it seems like Everton are ready to pounce on this opportunity and sign a replacement for Doucoure, 32, who is indeed out of a deal this summer.
This is probably the right decision, given he’s the club’s top earner at £130k per week. Moreover, the well of goals, Doucoure’s trademark, has dried up, with just three Premier League goals to his name this season.
West Ham United’s All-time Top Scorers (midfield)
Rank
Player
Apps
Goals
1.
Martin Peters
355
98
2.
Sir Trevor Booking
514
81
3.
Mark Noble
550
62
4.
Billy Bonds
645
49
5.
Tomas Soucek
240
39
Data via Transfermarkt
He knows how to find the back of the net, but Soucek, once remarked to be a “revelation” at West Ham by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher, certainly isn’t a one-trick pony, with his physicality and industriousness forging a complete midfielder, perfect for Moyes’ system.
It’s no surprise the Scottish manager wants his towering 6 foot 3 general back in his fold, and with the likes of Idrissa Gueye getting on a bit, making a summer move makes sense irrespective of the Moyes factor.
West Ham might not be the most exciting team in the Premier League this season but Soucek has retained his threatening presence in the final third nonetheless, with FBref ranking him among the top 5% of centre-midfielders in the division this term for goals scored and the top 1% for touches in the box per 90.
Given that the data-driven site list Doucoure as one of Soucek’s most statistically comparable players, it feels like something of a no-brainer, not least because Moyes knows Soucek well, trusts him.
Moreover, Soucek’s scoring knack from midfield offers shades of Tim Cahill.
Tim Cahill in action for Everton
Cahill is one of Everton’s most memorable stars of the Premier League era, having scored 56 goals from 226 matches for the Toffees, predominantly from an attacking midfield standpoint.
Despite his smallish stature, Cahill was something of an aerial monster, a further similarity to Soucek, who, albeit, is much taller.
It feels important that Everton address their goalscoring issues with a wider scope this summer, not just bagging a new centre-forward but indeed signing a player such as Soucek who could add a much-needed dimension from deeper, making those effortless runs into dangerous positions to emulate Cahill and add a string to the manager’s tactical bow.
Hailed as one of Europe’s “prolific central midfielders” by esteemed analyst Michael Cox, Soucek has the qualities to step into Cahill’s boots, so to speak, fuelled further by the past connection with Moyes.
Abdoulaye Doucoure
The Malian’s offensive sharpness has waned in recent years, and Soucek could be the perfect addition to uphold Moyes’ values at Bramley Moore.
The Czech international has averaged 5.1 successful duels per game, as per Sofascore, and would freshen up the Toffees ranks for sure.
With Potter not all that enamoured, West Ham’s loss will prove to be Everton’s gain.
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Celtic provided the perfect response to their 3-2 defeat to their rivals before the international break with a 3-0 win over Hearts at Parkhead on Saturday.
The Hoops had allowed their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership table to be cut down to 13 points by losing to Rangers, but immediately bounced back with a convincing win over the Jam Tarts.
Daizen Maeda took his tally for the season to 30 goals in all competitions for the Bhoys with his two strikes against Hearts, whilst Jota added another goal to his collection since his return to Parkhead in the January transfer window.
Whilst many will focus on the attacking talent that was on display, as Jota and Maeda stole the headlines with their goals, the presence of Callum McGregor in the middle of the park was equally as important.
Why Callum McGregor's performance was important for Celtic
The retired Scotland international missed the 3-2 defeat to Rangers before the break through injury and returned to show the Hoops what they missed with a sublime display in midfield.
Celtic’s captain lined up alongside Reo Hatate and Arne Engels in the midfield three against Hearts on Saturday and stood out as the star performer in that area of the pitch.
Pass accuracy
89%
81%
99%
Passes completed
59
34
66
Key passes
1
0
2
Big chances created
0
0
1
Tackles + interceptions
0
1
2
Dribbled past
1x
0x
0x
As you can see in the table above, McGregor outperformed his positional peers in the match with his exceptional use of the ball and his reliability defensively.
This illustrates why his display was so important for Brendan Rodgers against Hearts because it highlights the quality he brings in and out of possession.
The left-footed star provides a metronomic presence at the base of the midfield for Celtic with his ability to complete passes efficiently under pressure, completing 94% of his passes overall in the division this season.
McGregor, who completes 73 passes per game on average, can control games for the Hoops by dictating the tempo of matches with his passing quality, whilst also frustrating opposition teams because of his press resistance on the ball, forcing them to drop back deeper.
This is part of the reason why Celtic struggled without their captain when they faced Rangers at Parkhead before the break, as Engels is not best suited to that role as the number six.
Why Arne Engels struggled against Rangers
The former Augsburg star started at the base of the midfield, with Luke McCowan and Hatate in the number eight positions, and struggled against the Gers.
Engels is usually tasked with playing as one of the more advanced midfielders, looking to score and create goals, but had to step up in a deeper role against Rangers because of his captain’s injury.
Pass accuracy
88%
94%
Touches
76
89.1
Passes
51
73.2
Ground duel success rate
20%
59%
Possession lost
14x
7.2x
Tackles + interceptions
0
1.7
As you can see in the table above, the Belgium international failed to live up to the standards that the skipper has set for that position in or out of possession, losing the ball far too frequently and offering little protection to the back four.
The 21-year-old starlet should not be expected to be as effective in that role, though, because he is an attack-minded player who has a future as a number eight for Celtic, rather than as a deep-lying conductor of play.
Engels has racked up ten goals and 12 assists in all competitions for the Scottish giants this term, which shows that he has excelled at his natural game – scoring and creating goals.
The former Bundesliga whiz is not the long-term successor to McGregor, because that is not his natural game, and that is why he struggled in the game against Rangers before the break.
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Rodgers, though, may have already unearthed his next version of the Celtic captain by bringing 19-year-old academy starlet Jude Bonnar into the first-team group.
Why Jude Bonnar could be the next Callum McGregor
The teenage dynamo has been in the matchday squad on five occasions in all competitions since the start of February, and got ten minutes off the bench in a 5-1 win over Aberdeen in the Premiership.
That ten-minute cameo, in which the Scotland U21 international completed all four of his attempted passes, was his first-team debut for the Hoops and the manager spoke to his suitability for the team after the match.
Rodgers told the Daily Record: “He’s got a good profile and fits how we want to play. So that is a nice little taster for him.”
This suggests that the Northern Irish boss sees potential in Bonnar and believes that the teenage talent has the technical skills and know-how to suit the way that his team lines up, with a number six and two eights in a midfield three.
Brendan Rodgers
The B team star, whose ability was described as “unbelievable” by former coach Alan McGrillen, spoke to Celtic TV after the game and admitted that he looks up to McGregor as a role model, because of how he acts on and off the pitch every day.
Bonnar has already shown a tiny glimpse of his metronomic qualities, completing 100% of his passes in his cameo against Aberdeen, and Rodgers could look to help him develop and refine that ability to mould him into the new version of McGregor in the future.
The Scottish youngster has also shown the potential to offer a goal threat, as the captain has with eight goals in 28 league matches this term, with a return of ten goals in 46 B team games.
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This is only the start of the road for Bonnar, though, and there is plenty more time left for him to progress as a player and forge his own way in the game, hopefully at Celtic.
The very early signs, however, are that the potential is there for him to develop into McGregor 2.0 for Rodgers as a composed and controlling midfield star who can also provide a goal threat.