All posts by z3u9t.icu

Celtic have been linked with Manchester United star Scott McTominay this summer; however, the Red Devils could now elect to keep the Scotland international for another season, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the state of play involving Scott McTominay's future?

McTominay looks to be at a crossroads in his Manchester United career and was used primarily as a squad player last term, making 39 appearances in all competitions, scoring three times and laying on a solitary assist, as per Transfermarkt.

The Independent have revealed that McTominay could be put up for sale by Manchester United as part of a four-player cull that may also involve Harry Maguire, Jadon Sancho and Fred.

With his future unclear, suitors have started to circle to try and offer the 26-year-old an escape route from Old Trafford. According to CBS Sports via The Daily Mail, Serie A giants Roma and Premier League high-flyers Brighton & Hove Albion are keen to bring in McTominay this window.

West Ham United and Newcastle United are believed to be 'monitoring' McTominay's situation and could offer the Scot a new challenge in the English top flight.

Celtic are another side that have been touted as a potential destination for McTominay, who could slip further down the pecking order at Old Trafford following the arrival of Mason Mount, as per Football Scotland.

Former Celtic player and now pundit Mark Wilson has endorsed the notion of a move, stating: "I really like him and for Scotland he has been a star. He has that composure and he has played at a certain level where I think he would fit into the side. It's one, transfer fee and two, the wage – that is what it all comes down to."

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones has indicated that Manchester United may look to keep McTominay around for at least another season at Old Trafford.

Jones stated: “I can see a situation whereby United perform a U-turn on Scott McTominay and end up keeping him for the season and just offload Fred instead, seeing how slowly their recruitment is going.

“At the moment, it's very difficult to see that they could move on Fred and McTominay in the same window. I've got reservations about this happening for a few reasons.”

Who else could Celtic look to recruit in the transfer window?

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers will have plenty of money to play with this summer and has a budget reported to be worth around £30 million to play with in order to recruit top talent ahead of 2023/24 getting underway, as per The Scottish Sun.

Ukrainian outlet Sport Novyny via 67 Hail Hail report that former Leicester City winger Tete is a target for the Hoops and they are believed to be strong contenders to sign the 23-year-old amid concerns for his safety at Shakhtar Donetsk due to the ongoing conflict in the region.

Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph hinted that former Celtic star Mohamed Elyounoussi is on the radar of the Glasgow giants to strengthen their left flank, stating in an interview with GIVEMESPORT: "He'll be on Celtic's radar. I'm sure he'd love a return to Celtic as well. They could do worse than signing Elyounoussi again."

90min claim that Rodgers has taken a shine to Manchester United forgotten man Donny van de Beek and could offer him the chance to revive his stalling career at Parkhead.

Everton are in desperate need of attacking reinforcements following another Premier League relegation scrap last season and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target.

Will Everton sign Allan Saint-Maximin?

According to 90min, Everton are one of the clubs interested in signing Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin this summer.

As per the report, the Toffees have been checking in on the player's situation at St James' Park alongside Crystal Palace and AC Milan, whilst he has also become the latest player to be targeted by Saudi Pro League clubs too as game time has been limited for the Frenchman during Newcastle's rebuild.

What positions can Allan Saint-Maximin play?

There is no doubt that Sean Dyche will be making a rebuild of the forward line at Goodison Park his top priority this summer with both departures and injuries plaguing Everton's ability to comfortably retain their top-flight status.

The Toffees have lost both Richarlison and Anthony Gordon over the last 12 months, whilst Dominic Calvert-Lewin's injury issues have only added to the Merseyside club's plight which led to them being the second-lowest scoring team (34) in the entire Premier League last season.

As a result, the signing of Saint-Maximin could bring Everton's attacking threat back to life next season as his explosive and energetic approach to the wider forward role could cause chaos for opponents and ultimately improve the performances significantly.

Despite the 26-year-old ace – who had his transfer fee reduced to £26m in January – often being pushed out of the first-team by his position competitors, he still managed to outperform Dyche's forward options in a number of key attacking attributes.

According to WhoScored, only Alex Iwobi tallied up more assists (7) than winger Saint-Maximin (5) last season, whilst he outperformed every single Everton player with his successful dribbles completed per game (2.3), as well as offering 1.2 key passes per 90 which is something only Dwight McNeil (1.4) and Iwobi (1.7) managed to better.

Not only that, the Newcastle star ranks in the top 10% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for assists, progressive carries, successful take-ons, shot-creating actions and touches, demonstrating that he is one of the hottest forward prospects in Europe who can offer creative consistency for Everton.

Such numbers could well see him replace Richarlison's output, with the Brazilian impressing in similar metrics during his time at Goodison. Indeed, in his penultimate campaign with the club, he posted 1.8 successful dribbles per game.

The Premier League-proven talent has often been highly praised for his impact on Tyneside in the past, with Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville blown away by Saint-Maximin's skills:

"Honestly, he’s a massive threat and a nightmare for defenders. He creates chance after chance. He’s brilliant for Newcastle fans and a real positive part of the team.

"To see his speed, his movement, it’s absolutely breathtaking. We were defenders in the Premier League and played against lots of good players."

Replacing Richarlison was never going to be an easy task for Everton when he made the move to Tottenham Hotspur, however, there is now a real opportunity for Dyche to bring in a player with bags of technical ability and entertaining qualities in Saint-Maximin who could revive the presence in front of goal next season.

An update has emerged on interest in one of Glasgow Rangers' fringe players ahead of the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership campaign…

Is Scott Wright leaving Rangers?

According to Football Insider, Saudi Arabian side Al Ettifaq are keen on a deal to sign Scott Wright from the Light Blues before the end of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that they have made a 'concrete' move to land the former Aberdeen winger, although there is no mention of an official offer or how much the Scottish side would demand for his services.

Former Gers head coach Steven Gerrard was confirmed as Al Ettifaq's new manager earlier this month and the Englishman is now looking to reunite with his former player heading into next season.

This comes after the Daily Mail recently reported that the Scottish forward is one of a number of players who could be allowed to move on from Ibrox this summer if the right bid comes in.

Who could replace Scott Wright at Rangers?

Michael Beale could land a superb replacement for the current Light Blues attacker by securing a deal to sign Sunderland ace Jack Clarke, who would be a dream upgrade for the club.

The Glasgow giants are one of a number of clubs reportedly interested in signing the Championship hotshot and the 42-year-old head coach must push to win the race for his signature over the coming weeks.

Clarke enjoyed a terrific campaign in the second tier of English football as the exciting winger produced nine goals and 11 assists in 44 league outings for the Black Cats, while he also completed two dribbles per match.

To put those numbers into context, no Rangers player managed more than nine Scottish Premiership assists or 1.9 dribbles per game. This suggests that the £15k-per-week star would provide Beale with an added level of creativity and drive on the wing, particularly when you compare his statistics directly to Wright's.

The current Gers dud made 19 league appearances for the club last season and was directly involved in one goal, as he failed to find the back of the net on any occasion while the ex-Dons man also only completed 0.5 dribbles per match.

Wright averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.63, which placed him 30th out of 31 players within the squad, and did not prove himself to be a valuable option for Beale moving forward, as the vast majority of the side managed to outperform him.

Clarke, on the other hand, averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.00 for Sunderland and that would have placed him 12th in the Gers team – above the likes of Alfredo Morelos, Nicolas Raskin, and Glen Kamara.

The 22-year-old, whose talent was described as "effortless" by ex-Premier League forward Noel Whelan, has proven himself to be a productive player in the final third while being able to deliver consistent performances. Whereas, Wright has struggled badly on both fronts

That is why Beale must now sanction an exit for the Scottish dud before landing an upgrade in Clarke, who would offer far more quality at the top end of the pitch.

Burnley have been given some good news in their pursuit of Jack Clarke, with reliable journalist Alan Nixon reporting that only the Clarets are bidding for the player despite interest from elsewhere.

How many goals has Jack Clarke scored for Sunderland?

The winger finally managed to get regular first-team football after his move to Sunderland, and played in nearly every single Championship game over the course of last season.

Having struggled to start games with Leeds and then had to make do with loan spells after being snatched up by Tottenham, his permanent switch to the Stadium of Light has led to a lot more minutes. That, in turn, has led to an increased output. Playing 45 times for them in the second tier – the first time he has ever managed more than 25 games in a season – he bagged nine goals and a further eleven assists.

It meant that Clarke led the entire league for assists and he also ranked eighth for his goal contribution tally – and when you consider who else plays in that league and the fact it is his first real season in the first-team, it makes for impressive reading.

Are Burnley signing Jack Clarke?

Those performances have now led to interest from elsewhere, with Burnley keen to take him into the Premier League with them ahead of the next campaign. Everton are amongst the other clubs that have also been linked with a deal for the player but it appears that the Clarets are firmly in pole position – and have a great chance to land the winger.

That's because according to a report from reliable journalist Alan Nixon, Burnley are the only team that are making actual bids to bring Clarke to Turf Moor.

No other interested side – such Crystal Palace, Brentford or the Toffees – have launched a concrete offer and that means Burnley are currently clear to bid as they please for him. They've already seen two bids rejected though – the latest being for £10m – and it appears as though the Black Cats won't budge until there is more on the table for the player.

The forward may only have really bagged regular first-team action for the first time in 2022/23, but he is already drawing high praise from those who have watched him. Football journalist and SAFC supporter Josh Bunting for example stated that Clarke was "excellent" for Sunderland this season because of his goals and consistency.

Burnley then would be a good next step for the player – but as yet, they are yet to convince the Black Cats to part ways with the youngster.

Mauricio Pochettino officially begins work as Chelsea head coach on Saturday, but the Argentinian will no doubt already be busy giving his input with regards to transfer activity.

The Blues have already released and sold numerous players, centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly among them after joining Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal in a £17m deal.

Many more are set to follow, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano suggesting long-serving defender Cesar Azpilicueta could join Inter Milan before the start of the new Premier League season.

That will leave Chelsea potentially on the lookout for cover at both centre-back and right-back, though one of their targets can tick both boxes should the smart transfer be pulled off.

Who is Chelsea target Axel Disasi?

Disasi only turned 25 in March, meaning his best years are still ahead of him, yet he already boasts 99 appearances in Ligue 1 with Reims and more recently Monaco, with whom he has spent the past three seasons.

The four-cap France international played in all 38 of Monaco's league games last season, starting all but one of those, while also starting a further eight games in the Europa League.

Most comfortable playing in the heart of defence, Disasi is also capable of shifting out to the right, where he occasionally provided cover last season.

However, while Chelsea are interested in snapping up Disasi, RMC Sport reporter Fabrice Hawkins claims Arsenal and Manchester United are also in for the €40m (£34m) defender, with the latter supposedly leading the way for his signature.

Would Axel Disasi be a good option for Chelsea?

Disasi has shown he can fill in at right-back, which is a massive bonus should Azpilicueta indeed depart, but Pochettino will no doubt consider him a replacement for Koulibaly – albeit at exactly double the price.

The Frenchman has an eye for goal, as reflected by his five goals in all competitions last season, on top of four assists. As per The Analyst, that ranks Disasi in the top 16% of all defenders for goals scored across Europe's top five leagues last season.

Similarly, he is in the top 16% for touches in the opposition box and top 21% for shots. To put those figures in some perspective, Koulibaly was in the top 35% for touches in the opposition box and 39% for shots. Azpilicueta, incidentally, was in the top 13% and 42% respectively.

A defender's first job is to defend, of course, but having the ability to cause danger when going forward is always welcome. Besides, Disasi is also more than capable of keeping the opposition out, averaging 1.86 interceptions per 90 minutes last season, as per FBref, compared to 1.41 for Koulibaly.

Disasi also put his 6 foot 3 frame to good use, winning 2.56 aerial duels per 90 minutes, whereas Koulibaly – not exactly small at 6 foot 1 – won 1.83.

Just as importantly for any defender these days, Disasi (83.3%) was also similar to Koulibaly (87%) in terms of pass completion rate, meaning he can help play the ball out from the back.

As pointed out by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Disasi also has pace, athleticism, tenacity and timing, making him out as a "hidden gem" prior to his move to Monaco, one who "was born to play in England".

It may well be that he has the chance to show exactly that this coming season. Chelsea will just hope it is them, rather than Arsenal or Man United, who get there first.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been linked with a Ligue 1 ace that could end Julen Lopetegui’s side's woes in front of goal.

The Spaniard is presented with the task of improving his squad on a tight budget this summer, following the reveal of the club's Financial Fair Play (FFP) worries.

With the latest player linked to Molineux, Wolves could strike a deal that would be kind to their finances and pose a significant improvement to their squad.

What’s the latest on Moussa Dembele to Wolves?

As reported by Express and Star yesterday, Wolves are interested in signing Olympique Lyonnais striker Moussa Dembele.

The report claims that the Midlands club are ‘monitoring’ the 26-year-old, who is set to become a free agent this summer.

It’s mentioned that the Old Gold will face ‘considerable competition’ for the Frenchman’s signature, with unnamed clubs across Europe also interested.

What could Moussa Dembele offer to Wolves?

In 129 Ligue 1 appearances for Lyon, Dembele has registered an impressive 67 goal contributions in scoring 56 times and contributing to 11 assists in five seasons for the club.

Lauded as “clinical” by scout Antonio Mango, the Frenchman could be an integral signing for Wolves, who ended the campaign as the Premier League’s lowest-scoring side with just 31 goals in 38 games.

The Pontoise-born talisman was snatched by the Ligue 1 side after a formidable spell in Scotland in which he led the line at Celtic, quickly cementing himself as a fan favourite.

In three seasons with the Glasgow giants, Dembele found the net 51 times in 94 appearances, showing his clinical nature in the final third and innate ability to lead the line.

Wolves aren’t short of creators with the likes of Pedro Neto and Matheus Nunes in the squad, so in having a striker as competent as the Lyon ace, Lopetegui could get the best out of his attack to turn fortunes around at Molineux after a dreary season.

In a campaign that lacked sufficient game time for the 26-year-old, the forward lost his place to former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette, who scored 27 goals this term which subsequently forced Dembele out of favour.

The former Celtic man’s misfortune could be Wolves’ treasure, with him displaying signs that he could rejuvenate Lopetegui’s side in the final third, as highlighted by his statistics in the season prior in Ligue 1.

As per FBref, the 2021/22 campaign proved to be a strong one for the 26-year-old, who ranked in the top 4% of forwards in the league in terms of non-penalty goals, recording an average of 0.65 per 90.

Another impressive area that the forward excelled in was his activity in the box, averaging 6.08 touches in the penalty box per 90, significantly more than Wolves’ current strike option Raul Jimenez who registered 4.68 per 90 in the Premier League this term.

Wolves could land themselves an established talisman on a free transfer here, which may well prove to be a deal that could turn the club around.

Leeds United defender Robin Koch could make a shock move to Manchester United in the summer transfer window, according to an update from reliable journalist Florian Plettenberg.

Is Robin Koch leaving Leeds?

The Whites were relegated from the Premier League last month, following a dismal campaign that eventually saw three different managers leave the club. It was a massive blow after three years back in the top flight, but the key now is for the Whites to rebuild under new owners 49ers Enterprises, making a swift return to the division in the process.

There is no question that relegation is going to make it difficult for Leeds to keep hold of a number of their key players, however, with many understandably not wanting to be plying their trade in the Championship in 2023/24, and choosing to remain at a higher level instead.

One of those who could move on is Koch, with the £38,000-a-week utility man's current Whites deal expiring at the end of next season. That means that this summer could begrudgingly be the best time to sell him, with some claims even emerging that he actually has a relegation clause which allows him to leave for free immediately.

Are Man United signing Koch?

Taking to Twitter, Sky reporter Plettenberg claimed that United are eyeing a summer move for the Leeds star, as they look to boost their squad options moving forward:

"News #Koch: He‘s on the shortlist of Man Utd! Loose talks took place. Confirmed."

While Koch is likely to move on – something that many Leeds fans would likely understand, given their current situation out of the Premier League – the idea of him moving to United could go down very badly with some.

There is a bitter rivalry that exists between the two clubs, so the fans seeing a Whites player move to one of their biggest adversaries could sour his legacy, which would be a shame after three good years at the club that have seen Koch make 77 appearances overall.

Ideally, the 26-year-old would stay put and sign a new deal – he is an eight-cap Germany international who has been hailed as a "machine" by teammate Max Wober – but that seems highly unlikely at this point.

The hope is that he opts not to join United, however, where he could not only struggle to be a regular starter, given the quality they have, but also affect his relationship with Leeds supporters at the same time.

Arsenal target Declan Rice will demand £300,000 per week to join Arsenal in the summer as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his engine room, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Declan Rice?

According to FootballTransfers, Arsenal are said to have 'agreed' personal terms with Rice ahead of a potential move to the Emirates in the summer transfer window.

Sky Sports News report that West Ham United would be willing to let Rice depart the London Stadium in the off-season; however, they will demand the best part of £120 million to sanction his departure.

Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool have all previously retained an interest in Rice as the England international mulls over his options in the next few weeks.

As per The Sun, Arsenal are willing to make Rice one of their highest earners and prepare a five-year deal worth around £300,000 per week, which would be a significant increase on the £60k-a-week deal he is currently tied to at West Ham United.

Also, the Telegraph claim that Arsenal are planning to offer a structured deal worth around £92 million for Rice.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones thinks that Rice would be right to demand a significant wage before joining Arsenal due to the importance he would hold in their side.

Jones told FFC: "If you look at this in the cold light of day, the type of player he is and what his profile is. He's 24; he's played over 200 games in the Premier League, he's an England international. Compare that to Bukayo Saka, who's 21 and just got a deal worth £300,000 per week. If you're Declan Rice's representatives, then you're using that straight away as a yardstick to say, okay, well, I fully understand that Saka is a game changer, but we've got the player here that is going to be the driving force in your engine room and we don't see that there's much difference here in terms of value."

Would Declan Rice be a good signing for Arsenal?

Rice, who has been hailed as "industrious", has established himself as one of the top midfielders in the Premier League and deserves a chance to shine at an elite-level side like Arsenal.

In 2022/23, the 24-year-old has been in fine form, registering five goals and four assists in 49 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored also show that Rice has been a trustworthy presence in possession this term, maintaining an average pass accuracy of 88% in the English top flight.

Driving forward from midfield is one of Rice's main strengths and he has successfully managed to carry out 111 shot-creating actions in total this season, as per FBRef.

Interest in Rice will be vast this summer and it is important that Arsenal endeavour to meet his demands to avoid missing out on his services.

A big update has emerged on Sunderland and their plans for the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Craig Hope has revealed in an article for the Daily Mail that the club are attempting to snap up the brother of Borussia Dortmund talent Jude Bellingham.

The reporter tweeted: “Exclusive: Sunderland invited Jobe Bellingham & his family to Stadium of Light to watch recent home game as they explore ambitious move to sign Birmingham City teenager, younger brother of England star Jude.”

In the corresponding article, it is claimed that Kristian Speakman has a close relationship with the brothers’ parents and is said to have played a key role in Jude’s development as Birmingham’s academy manager before joining the Black Cats.

Sunderland will be hoping that his prior experience with the family will give them a boost in their pursuit of the 16-year-old gem.

Alex Neil will be delighted

Black Cats head coach Alex Neil will surely be delighted with this update, as it shows that the club are prepared to invest in the future.

It proves that Speakman is keen to develop the academy, and the potential for players to break through into the first-team, by improving the standards within the youth sides.

Sunderland are in the League One play-off final later this month, and a win would surely strengthen their chances of signing the youngster. They would be competing in the same division as Birmingham, which means that they could both offer him Championship football.

Bellingham has played in two Championship matches for Birmingham this season, coming off the bench against Preston and Blackburn. This illustrates the immense potential that he holds, as he has shown enough in training to prove that he is ready to compete at first-team level despite being in his GSCE year.

His 18-year-old brother Jude is valued at £67.5m by Transfermarkt and has been capped 12 times by England. If Jobe can follow in his sibling’s footsteps, then Sunderland could be about to land a masterstroke in the market…

Neil would love to have another talented prospect to work with in the years to come. Bellingham may not make an immediate impact on the senior squad, but he could be a player who develops over time and then breaks into the Scot’s XI in two or three seasons.

Therefore, the head coach will be buzzing with Speakman’s attempts to snap up the midfielder from Birmingham and will be hoping that a deal can be agreed ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, irrespective of the league in which his team will be competing.

AND in other news, Forget Roberts: Sunderland “warrior” with the “heart of a lion” was the real play-off hero…

Crystal Palace are reportedly keen on a move for Huddersfield Town midfielder Lewis O’Brien.

What’s the word?

According to TEAMtalk, the 23-year-old is at the centre of something of a transfer tussle, with the Eagles one of six Premier League sides believed to be keen on his signature, having caught the eye for the Championship play-off hopefuls this season.

The report suggests that the Terriers’ vice-captain does have a £12m release in his current deal which is likely to be activated this summer, albeit with his future potentially resting on whether or not Carlos Corberan’s side can achieve promotion in the coming weeks.

The likes of Leeds United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton are among the other top-flight sides who are keeping a watchful eye on the £2.7m-rated man.

McArthur upgrade

O’Brien’s arrival at Selhurst Park could provide Patrick Vieira with the perfect upgrade to current midfield stalwart James McArthur, the long-serving 34-year-old currently approaching the end of his existing deal.

In the Huddersfield man, Palace have identified the ideal candidate to fill the Scotsman’s boots, with the dynamic midfielder having been earning plenty of plaudits for his displays in the second tier in recent times.

Pundit Jobi McAnuff was particularly complimentary of the Colchester born gem’s displays, insisting that “he’s got a bit of everything” such is his all-action, combative style in the centre of the park.

The one-time Bradford City loanee has chipped in with three goals and three assists so far this season in 43 league games – all of which have come as starts – while he also averages one key pass per game and has completed 70% of his total dribbles.

Equally, in a defensive sense, the £3k-per-week maestro has also caught the eye, winning a solid 56% of his total duels, as well as recording 2.2 tackles, 0.8 interceptions and 0.9 clearances per 90.

That form has been instrumental in helping guide his current side to a remarkable third-place finish in the table, with the 5 foot 8 playmaker having also captained the club in the absence of Jonathan Hogg.

Vieira will no doubt be looking for leaders to add to his side next season and O’Brien could well be the perfect addition, with it a case of out with the old and in with the new.

The aforementioned McArthur is the man who should seemingly be the casualty of the younger man’s arrival, the veteran having failed to score so far this term and won just 48% of his total duels, with fresher legs potentially needed.

IN other news, “Agreement close…”: Ornstein drops huge CPFC update that supporters will love