All posts by z3u9t.icu

Aston Villa are still reflecting on a hugely impressive campaign in which Unai Emery guided them from the threat of relegation and into Europe in his first five months at the helm.

The Villans cannot afford to stand still as they embark on a season of Premier League and Europa Conference League football, though, with strength in depth key if they are to compete on multiple fronts.

One attainable target Villa have been linked with is Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams, with Football Insider reporting that Emery's side are in the mix to sign the American this summer, with a fee of around £35m having been mooted.

Leeds paid a reported £20m to land the United States midfielder from RB Leipzig last year, so a slightly higher offer from Villa – should it indeed arrive – may well be enough to prise him away from Elland Road on the back of the Whites' recent relegation to the Championship.

However, Villa are not alone in showing an interest in Adams after his impressive maiden campaign in English football, with Manchester United also said to retain an interest.

What can Tyler Adams provide Aston Villa?

Leeds may have suffered a disappointing campaign last time out, but Adams is one of those who came out of the season with some credit.

Adams was given a seasonal rating of 6.73 by WhoScored, which was the most of any Leeds player – Jack Harrison being the next highest with 6.72.

The 24-year-old also caught the eye at the World Cup midway through the season, earning praise from writer Wes Rucker for being a "machine" as the United States made it to the knockout rounds.

Indeed, Adams' numbers in the Premier League last season were similar to those of Declan Rice, who is wanted by a number of elite clubs this summer, Bayern Munich and Arsenal among them.

Adams completed 82.5 passes per 90 minutes in the Premier League last season, as per FBref, whereas Rice completed 86.5. Adams averaged 67.8 touches per 90 minutes, meanwhile – an almost identical figure to Rice with 68.

There was also very little between the pair in terms of aerial duels won (1.04 for Adams and 1.02 for Rice) and carries (34.1 compared to 39.9 respectively).

With Rice potentially attracting a fee in excess of £90m, Adams should be considered a steal at that aforementioned figure in the region of £35m – though that is not to say Leeds will not play hardball.

Emery will no doubt be excited by the prospect of having Adams in his engine room next season, which would only get even more out of other talented players in his squad, not least the more advanced Jacob Ramsey.

Academy product Ramsey scored six goals and assisted seven more in 35 Premier League appearances last season – figures that could grow even higher with Adams in the side to provide greater defensive cover.

In what is an exciting summer for Villa supporters, Adams may just be the marquee signing ahead of what may well be a season to remember.

LAFC midfielder Jose Cifuentes could turn down Premier League interest in favour of a move to Glasgow Rangers, Fabrizio Romano has revealed.

What's the latest on Cifuentes and Rangers?

The Ecuador international is reportedly close to joining Rangers, as LAFC are willing to sell for a minimal fee with his contract coming to an end.

The 24-year-old could be one of many signings at Ibrox this summer as Michael Beale aims to revolutionise the Rangers squad, and this could represent something of a coup given the other interest in him.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Romano revealed that Beale's project at Rangers has appealed to Cifuentes, and that talks are progressing.

"I think this could be a smart move for Rangers because Premier League clubs also wanted him, but Rangers are offering an interesting project. So, the conversation is going well," he stated.

What next for Rangers?

It is certainly a good sign for Beale that players the club are targeting view his project as one worth joining, and he will be hoping that Rangers can land as many of his first-choice targets as possible.

Cifuentes will help bring a fresher, younger presence to the squad alongside Nicolas Raskin and Todd Cantwell, who joined in January, and Beale seems keen to freshen up the squad with talent with potential and resale value.

The club are currently overseeing an exodus of players who have been instrumental to Rangers over the last few seasons, as Allan McGregor, Scott Arfield, Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos are all departing on free transfers, and perhaps this has provided a lesson for the club when it comes to operating in the market.

The squad is in desperate need of a revamp following a disappointing campaign, and players have been hoarded for years, which allowed them to run down their contracts whilst their performance levels dipped.

Kent and Morelos for example, could have attracted significant transfer fees if they were sold earlier, but both are now leaving with Rangers failing to earn anything from their exits, and despite the excellent service both provided for years, neither performed well this season.

Targeting low cost signings like Cifuentes and Cantwell around the age of 24 is a smarter way to operate. They can arrive with points to prove, and if they perform well, then they can help bring success to Rangers whilst potentially attracting big transfer fees.

CIfuentes appeared for Ecuador at the World Cup, and has provided 33 goal and assist contributions in 111 games from central midfield in the MLS. His arrival can help pad the squad depth, and if he performs well, will be a good example of efficient scouting from Rangers.

Leeds United look likely to be unaffected in seeing the club being taken over by 49ers Enterprises despite their relegation from the Premier League, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest news involving 49ers Enterprises and Leeds United?

According to Sky Sports News, Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani is involved in 'advanced' talks to sell the club to 49ers Enterprises on a revised deal due to their relegation to the Sky Bet Championship.

The report states that Radrizzani is still expected to sanction the sale of Leeds United before being in place to oversee a 'transition' period alongside chief executive Angus Kinnear.

Leeds United will also see some movement in the dugout this summer as they look to find a replacement for Sam Allardyce, who has left the club following an unsuccessful four-match spell in charge, as per BBC Sport.

As per The Guardian, Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter are internally admired by Whites' chiefs while West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberán and Lorient’s Regis Le Bris could also emerge as candidates to replace Allardyce.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs thinks that 49ers Enterprises will still want to complete a takeover despite Leeds United dropping into the second tier of the English pyramid.

Jacobs told FFC: "It is a little bit uncertain at this point. But the long-term game plan and roadmap has always been for 49ers Enterprises to come in and even with the prospect of relegation, they don't appear to be put off by taking over the football club."

What next for Leeds United?

Now, the long road to the start of next term begins for Leeds United and plenty of incomings and outgoings will be expected at the club across the duration of the transfer window.

Plenty of players will be expected to leave Leeds United in the off-season, with one of them being Wilfried Gnonto, who has attracted interest from Manchester City, Arsenal and Roma, as per Calciomercato via The Daily Mail.

talkSPORT also claim that Jack Harrison is in the sights of West Ham United and Aston Villa this summer and could be available for a cut-price fee due to a relegation release clause inserted into his contract.

In terms of incomings, Manchester City starlet Shea Charles is a target at Elland Road, though Leeds United will face competition from the likes of Brentford and Borussia Dortmund for his signature, as per The Guardian.

Football Insider reported earlier this year that out-of-contract Rangers winger Ryan Kent is also someone Leeds United are monitoring; however, rumours are few and far between at present due to the club being in the middle of a takeover process and also hunting for a new manager.

Liverpool will look to freshen up the squad across multiple departments this summer after falling by the wayside this season, and West Ham United's Nayef Aguerd has been touted for a shock swoop.

What's the latest on Nayef Aguerd to Liverpool?

According to Goal's Neil Jones, Liverpool's newly-appointed technical director Jorg Schmadtke could burst into action soon, with the Hammers' Moroccan centre-back 'well-liked' at Anfield.

Aguerd only joined West Ham last summer, signing for £30m from Ligue 1 outfit Rennes, and didn't make his debut until the end of October following a pre-season injury, but has impressed with his performances regardless.

Goal first brought Liverpool's intrigue in the 27-year-old in March, and while his time in east London has been fugacious thus far, the allure of Jurgen Klopp's outfit could persuade the ace to jump ship.

Should Liverpool sign Nayef Aguerd?

Liverpool's transfer business over the course of Klopp's tenure on Merseyside has been awe-inspiring for the Reds, and bitterly grudging for competitors, who have been left behind – barring Manchester City – as the German stormed the club into an illustrious period.

It is ironic, then, that the despondency pervading from this lacklustre season is a product of misfiring in the market, with Liverpool's central midfield issues laid bare and the panic loan signing of Arthur Melo, who failed to grace the Premier League pitch after an injury-stricken year, encapsulating the issues that have resulted in a failure to qualify for the Champions League.

Liverpool must now get it right and eradicate the doubts over the squad's calibre, and while the emphasis will be on the centre, bolstering the defence will also be a priority for Klopp and co, and Aguerd would be the perfect addition.

Having forged 29 appearances this term, scoring two goals, the 6 foot 3 titan has instrumentally aided his team in staving off the threat of relegation and leading them to the Europa Conference League final, where they play Fiorentina next week.

He is a dynamic threat for a centre-back, with the £50k-per-week phenom ranking among the top 6% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of goals, as per FBref.

And he is also a master at sweeping danger aside, averaging 4.3 clearances per match and exhibiting his tenacity by winning 64% of his total duels, metrics courtesy of Sofascore.

Praised as "exceptional" by Gary Lineker, he would add a dimension to Liverpool's defence and perhaps alleviate the burden placed upon Virgil van Dijk's shoulders, with the 31-year-old Dutchman likely benefitting from receiving cover from a natural left-footed positional peer.

Aguerd indeed prefers to occupy the left side of the back-line, and while he doesn't boast the aerial dominance of the £75m titan – who ranks among the top 8% of centre-backs for aerials won per 90 and won 74% of his aerials duels in the Premier League this term – his efficacy in rebuffing advances and his ease at adopting his exact position leaves him in good stead to make a marked impact on Liverpool's system, if Klopp indeed decides to provide him with a chance to impress on Merseyside.

Manchester City, and by extension manager Pep Guardiola, are now open to a shock summer sale as news emerges on mainstay defender Aymeric Laporte.

The Lowdown: Khaldoon sends message…

After the Sky Blues sealed a dramatic Premier League title win on the final day of 2021/2022, retaining their top flight crown with three goals in five minutes on the final day, a real summer of change may be looming.

Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has confirmed there will be more signings after City sealed moves for both Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez with The Telegraph believing a left-back/midfielder is high on the agenda.

Just as many exits from Eastlands are possible with Raheem Sterling, Ilkay Gundogan, Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus all heading into the final year of their deals.

The champions are also open to offers for the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Nathan Ake, but according to Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), they aren’t the only players who could leave.

The Latest: City open to Laporte exit…

According to their information, City star defender Laporte is ‘not considered untransferable’ as the club become open to a possible sale.

This comes as Serie A giants Juventus re-ignite their interest in the Spaniard as they aim to bolster their defensive options with what Sport Witness call a ‘surprise’ move.

The Verdict: Surprise claim indeed…

Laporte’s phenomenal 2021/2022 campaign makes this update a surprise one to say the least.

As highlighted by WhoScored, the 28-year-old was a crucial player in helping Guardiola’s side build out from the back and break through opposition lines – averaging a higher pass accuracy (94.8%) than any player in the City squad.

Laporte also made the joint-fourth most appearances under Guardiola alongside fellow mainstay Rodri, becoming a fixture in the starting eleven and even working his way back in following both Ruben Dias and John Stones’ brilliant 2020/2021 partnership.

It’s little wonder Guardiola called the Spaniard’s season ‘incredible’ with the Manchester Evening News claiming he’s ‘never been so important’ (Twitter).

This news that City could be open to a sale certainly comes as bizarre.

In other news: Man City could now join race to sign £68m ‘monster’, club already preparing for his exit! Find out more here.

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard has shared the latest information on the West Midlands outfit’s transfer plans for the summer ahead of the window opening on 10 June.

What’s the story?

The Villa boss was a pundit for BT Sport over the weekend covering Liverpool’s Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid and admitted that he will be ‘on the phone’ over the coming weeks as the 41-year-old looks to assemble a competitive squad.

“We have tried to get in while people are sleeping and try to make some big pieces of the jigsaw,” Gerrard told BT Sport, as quoted by Birmingham Live. “We are really happy with where we are right now.

“Of course, I will be on the phone doing what I need to do and I am really looking forward to a full pre-season and I am optimistic for next year.”

Villa have already completed three major deals before the window officially opens with Philippe Coutinho, Boubacar Kamara and Diego Carlos all being announced as permanent Aston Villa players.

Supporters will be ecstatic

It will be music to the ears of Villa fans to hear their manager said such positive words.

Although there were highs and plenty of signs of quality, the season was far too inconsistent for the Villans, with Gerrard’s side eventually finishing 14th, three places lower than last season.

The ex-Rangers manager took over from Dean Smith in November but will now finally have the opportunity to construct his squad how he would like with the upcoming summer transfer window his first in the Villa hot seat.

It’s no secret that Gerrard, as well as NSWE, has ambitious plans for the football club with money certainly there to be spent as seen with the captures of Coutinho and Carlos with Kamara joining on a free transfer.

Numerous high profile players have been linked with a move to Villa Park this summer, with Luis Suarez mentioned as a potential target, and to have a manager who is so switched on whilst being very well connected from his playing days will certainly have Villa supporters ecstatic.

AND in other news: Forget Carlos: Villa must now seal swoop for “astonishing” £25m star, Gerrard needs him

Premier League veteran Ashley Young may have played his last game for Aston Villa on Sunday. 

The lowdown

Young played the closing minutes as Villa lost 3-2 to Manchester City at The Etihad Stadium.

The Englishman, who spent four years at Villa earlier in his career, returned to the Midlands outfit last summer on a free transfer after leaving Inter Milan.

However, he only signed a one-year deal, believed to be worth £50,000 per week.

The 36-year-old needs to play seven more games to reach 400 Premier League appearances.

He’s turned out 215 times for Villa overall, scoring 37 goals and laying on 61 assists.

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The latest

As Young prepared to enter the fray, The Athletic’s Aston Villa correspondent Gregg Evans took the opportunity to provide an update on his future.

“In other news: Ashley Young coming on for #AVFC. 

“Could it be his last game in a Villa shirt? Villa would like to keep him on, but he’s out of contract soon.”

It remains to be seen whether the Englishman grants the club’s wish by penning an extension.

The verdict

Young featured in 24 matches over the course of the campaign, ten times from the start and 14 times off the bench.

His versatility has proven to be an asset for the Villans, with Dean Smith and Steven Gerrard both able to deploy him up and down the left flank, in central midfield and even on the right.

In the autumn, Gerrard said that Young had been ‘perfect’ and labelled him a ‘standards-setter’.

Much may depend on whether Villa are proposing a significant pay cut, and whether Young is happy with this level of involvement as he comes towards the end of his career.

In other news, Villa have been watching this defender.

Italian football expert Conor Clancy has dropped his verdict on reported Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Antonin Barak.

What’s been said?

In a recent interview with Football FanCast, Clancy stated his belief that the 27-year-old Hellas Verona midfielder, who has recently been linked with a €20m (£17m) summer move to Tottenham, needs to leave his current club in order to progress his career, before going on to claim that the Czech Republic international could go on to become Antonio Conte’s next Dejan Kulusevski at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Concerning the future of Barak, the journalist said: “I do think, this isn’t going to sound great to Verona, but he needs to leave Verona to really realise his true potential, because he’s shown a lot there. But, there’s always a ceiling with Verona – they’re not even in Europe, they’re not going to qualify for the Europa League even.

“So, if he wants to kick on he needs to leave and I think if he went to Spurs he could really kick on. In a Conte team, we’ve seen Kulusevski do what everybody who watched him knew he was capable of doing, and I think Barak could be quite similar in that way. He could go to England and explode.”

Kulusevski 2.0

Considering just how impressive Barak has been in Italy this season, it is not difficult to understand why Conte would be keen to bring the attacking midfielder to north London this summer, nor is it hard to see why Clancy believes that the 27-year-old could go on to become Spurs’ next Kulusevski.

Indeed, over his 29 Serie A appearances in the current campaign, the £18m-rated talent has been in breathtaking form for Igor Tudor’s side, scoring 11 goals, providing four assists and creating three big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.8 shots, making 1.0 key passes and completing 1.1 dribbles per game.

These returns have seen the £15k-per-week midfielder average a quite sensational SofaScore match rating of 7.05, ranking him as Hellas’ second-best player in the Italian top-flight – playing a key role in his side’s push to secure a top-half finish this term.

Furthermore, according to FBref data, the 30-time capped international also contributes greatly in a defensive capacity, with Barak ranking in the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s big five leagues for clearances per 90, as well as the top 5% for ariel duels won and the top 15% for blocks over the last 365 days.

As such, should the 27-year-old be able to replicate this level of form following a potential switch to Tottenham this summer, it is not difficult to imagine the midfielder having a similar impact on Conte’s side to the eight-assist Kulusevski – something that leads us to believe Fabio Paratici simply must do all he can to get a £17m deal over the line for the Czechia sensation in the coming months.

AND in other news: Fabrizio Romano reveals big Spurs transfer twist that will leave supporters fuming

Tottenham Hotspur ‘insider’ John Wenham has been left exciting by some promising Lilywhites transfer news involving a ‘monster’ defender.

The Lowdown: Paratici set for big summer?

Spurs transfer chief Fabio Paratici is reportedly facing a big summer window with manager Antonio Conte allegedly demanding as many as six major signings behind-the-scenes (The Telegraph).

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The Italian sporting director, as a result, has his finger in many pots and is also working on sealing deals for potential stars of the future.

Middlesbrough ace Djed Spence and Peterborough United defender Ronnie Edwards are just a few examples of lower league talent on the radar at Tottenham with a promising update recently coming to light on Blackburn centre-half Ashley Phillips.

As reported by The Sun’s reliable source Alan Nixon, the Lilywhites are ’emerging as favourites’ to sign the England youth international as they enter pole position.

Nixon also claims that the Premier League top-four chasers are ‘ready to get the deal done as quickly as possible’.

The Latest: Wenham excited…

Speaking to Football Insider, Wenham has been left excited by the development, imploring the north Londoners to reach an agreement ‘ASAP’ – also branding Phillips a ‘monster’ defender.

He explained: “I looked into him, he’s a monster. He seems to have the assets and all the physique you want in a centre-half.

“For me, that is no risk, high reward. Get that done as soon as possible. We have a really good relationship with Blackburn.

“We sold them Dilan Markanday in January. To get one over on Chelsea and Man United would be fantastic as well as him looking like a top young talent.

“The update from Alan Nixon is really positive as I rate him highly, he really knows his stuff about the EFL and lower leagues.

“Hopefully we can get this one done ASAP.”

The Verdict: Great news…

Highly-rated by those within Blackburn and beyond according to Nixon, the towering 6 foot 3 starlet looks to be heading to the top judging by verdicts like this one from Wenham.

Hotspur Way chiefs could apparently have to fork out £3 million to seal an agreement but Phillips’ sky high potential may well be worth investment.

His signing could also go some way to balancing Tottenham’s prevalent homegrown quota issue in the future and there is no surprise Paratici is eager to strike a fast agreement.

In other news: Fabrizio Romano says ‘monster’ Spurs player is now ‘expected to leave’! Find out more here.

Wolves are interested in signing Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill during the summer transfer window, according to a fresh report.

The Lowdown: Brownhill impressing Burnley

The Clarets have had a tough season, with Premier League relegation potentially on the cards, but their midfielder has performed solidly for much of the campaign.

The 26-year-old has started 29 league games and featured in 32 overall, averaging two tackles and 1.9 interceptions per match in the process.

The prospect of relegation could see Brownhill look for a new club, though, and he seemingly won’t be without suitors.

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The Latest: Wolves keen on Brownhill move

According to 90min, Wolves are among a host of top-flight clubs expressing an interest in the Englishman. The likes of Aston Villa, Everton and Leeds United are all seen as potential suitors too, as are newly-promoted duo Fulham and Bournemouth.

Brownhill’s current Burnley deal doesn’t expire until the summer of 2024, so prospective suitors may have to accept not being able to sign him on the cheap.

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The Verdict: Possible Neves replacement?

While Brownhill may not be the most glamorous midfielder in the Premier League, he is an effective footballer who has recently been hailed as a ‘brilliant’ player by his Turf Moor team-mate Jack Cork.

He may also fill the void which could be left by the eminently possible departure of Ruben Neves, who has been strongly linked with a summer move to Barcelona, fulfilling a childhood dream.

Brownhill is someone who could add steel and underrated quality to Wolves’ midfield next season, making them more sturdy in the middle of the park and allowing others around him to express themselves.

That’s underplaying his own ability, though, with two goals and three assists in the Premier League this season showing that he is also capable of adding considerable end product at Molineux if he makes the move over the coming months.

In other news, Wolves reportedly lead the race to sign one player. Find out who it is here.