All posts by z3u9t.icu

Newcastle United are on a fine run of form in the Premier League having won all of their four previous games.

Their latest victory saw Eddie Howe’s side secure a 3-0 win over Norwich City at Carrow Road.

Two goals from Joelinton and one from Bruno Guimaraes sealed the three points for Newcastle and put another nail in the coffin for Norwich and their hopes of avoiding relegation.

However, the Toon’s next match will undoubtedly be a much tougher test for them as they are set to take on title-chasing Liverpool at St. James’ Park this weekend.

Looking ahead to this showdown, it seems as though an early team news clue has emerged regarding which players may or may not be involved in the match for the Magpies.

What’s the news?

When asked whether or not any of Newcastle’s currently injured duo of Callum Wilson, Kieran Trippier or Ryan Fraser will be fit enough to feature against Jurgen Klopp’s side, Howe had this to say on the matter.

He said: “Not sure as we speak. I’d probably say no off the top of my head, but we’ll wait and see.”

With the uncertainty over when the three players will be able to make a recovery, this will surely have the Toon manager fuming, especially with such a tough game coming up.

Big setback

Taking into account how the trio have scored a combined total of ten goals in the Premier League this season, it’s undeniable that the Magpies would be a deadlier side if they had them in the team.

Trippier is currently being listed as Newcastle’s highest-rated player in terms of his overall performances according to WhoScored with a rating of 7.87/10 too so he’d be a great option for Howe to have back available in his side.

Despite the solid run of form they’ve been on in recent weeks, the Tyneside club will need all the help they can get if they want to beat Liverpool.

With Jurgen Klopp’s men bagging more goals scored and registering more clean sheets than any other side in the top flight, the Magpies will need to be at the top of their game if they want to continue their winning run of form.

Moving forward, if the injured trio aren’t able to feature in this weekend’s game, everyone connected to the club will undoubtedly be hoping that they can step foot on the pitch before the season draws to a close.

In other news: Howe can finally axe “nervous” dud as NUFC plot bid for £197k-pw gem who’s “top-level”

While Valerien Ismael’s West Bromwich Albion side head into Tuesday night’s Championship fixture with an unbeaten record in the league, there have nevertheless been rumblings of discontent from the Baggies fanbase in recent weeks, as the Frenchman’s side have often found themselves struggling to break their opponents down.

Indeed, a dramatic 2-1 victory over Queen Park Rangers last Friday saw Albion get back to winning ways after three consecutive draws against Millwall, Derby County and Preston North End, however, Ismael’s side were trailing the visitors for 75 minutes in the fixture, with a late Karlan Grant brace seeing West Brom just about get over the line.

As such, while the league table is undeniably looking rather promising for the 45-year-old at present, with the Baggies currently sitting in second place, it would still seem as if the Frenchman could do with freshening things up in his attacking lineup for the trip to Cardiff City on Tuesday evening.

Ismael must unleash Snodgrass

While it is true Albion have scored the joint third-most goals in the Championship so far this season, the majority of these strikes came towards the beginning of the club’s campaign, as, over West Brom’s five most recent fixtures, they have scored just five goals.

And, with a player who has previously demonstrated both an eye for goal and for an assist in the shape of Robert Snodgrass having sat on the Baggies bench for the majority of the season, it would seem a very wise move for Ismael to finally unleash the 34-year-old from the off against Cardiff.

While injury limited the amount of game time Snodgrass saw last season following his January move from West Ham United to The Hawthorns, the versatile winger nevertheless proved in his last full season at the London Stadium that he is a player who could solve West Brom’s current creative and goalscoring issues.

Indeed, over his 24 Premier League appearances back in the Hammers’ 2019/20 campaign, the £38k-per-week Scotland international scored five goals, registered five assists and created five big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 0.9 shots and making 1.4 key passes per game.

These returns saw the man Ismael himself dubbed a “refreshing” player earn a highly impressive seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.94, ranking him as West Ham’s sixth-best performer in the top flight of English football that season.

As such, given the chance in the West Brom starting XI on Tuesday night, should Snodgrass be able to replicate this form at the Cardiff City Stadium, he would undoubtedly be exactly the type of player that Albion are in need of at present – and, considering the way the last five fixtures have gone for the Baggies, playing the Scot must surely be worth a shot for the Frenchman.

In other news: Fresh claim made about “exceptional” £28k-p/w West Brom ace, Ismael should be worried

Former professional footballer Nigel Jemson believes that Watford have gained some good players this summer and has praised them for deciding not to go crazy in the transfer market.

The Hornets have added ten new players to their ranks this summer and got their Premier League campaign off to the best possible start as they beat Aston Villa 3-2 at Vicarage Road before their 2-0 defeat to Brighton.

Debutants Emmanuel Dennis and Cucho Hernandez marked their debuts in style, as they got on the scoresheet either side of Ismaila Sarr scoring for Watford during that first game.

After two debutants got on the scoresheet for Watford, Nigel Jemson was asked about the summer recruitment and believes that the club have gained some good players, telling Football FanCast: “Again, you know, do you want Watford to go out there and spend twenty, thirty million on two or three players and it not work and then financially it’s going to kill them.

“You’ve got to be very good; you look at the likes of Burnley with Sean Dyche, they’ve been in the Premiership for quite a while now, but you don’t see him splashing a lot of cash there, you know, he’s very shrewd in his business and you’ve got to take his hat off for that reason, you know. They’ve gained some good players at Watford.”

After a good transfer window and marking their return to the Premier League with a win, there will be an air of optimism and hope around Vicarage Road that the Hornets can have a good season back in the top flight of English football.

Crystal Palace are reported to be interested in Millwall winger Jed Wallace, with his contract due to expire next summer, according to Football League World.

Starting off 2021/22 in commendable fashion, the versatile attacker has registered five goal contributions in seven appearances, with three goals and two assists for the Lions [Transfermarkt].

He could be set for a move further south in London in the near future, according to recent reports.

The 27-year-old is reportedly attracting interest from Crystal Palace, as well as the likes of Burnley, Newcastle United, Celtic and Rangers, as reported by Football League World. He is out of contract at the Den at the end of the current season.

In light of the prospect of Wallace swapping Millwall for the Eagles, plenty of Crystal Palace fans took to Twitter to share their opinions on the links with the Lions maestro.

Crystal Palace FC fans react:

Replying to popular Crystal Palace fan outlet CPFC Transfers HQ on Twitter, here is what some fans had to say about the rumours, which were largely well received:

“I’d have this all day long just to see the reaction from Millwall fans”

Credit: @cjbearcpfc

“Haha they won’t like this one down the Den”

Credit: @danofthesouth_”There’s probably nothing in this but he’s pretty good”Credit: @liamb0117″Surely that’s a wind up”Credit: @Wheddsta”I doubt it’s true but he’s a decent player not gonna lie”Credit: @DrizzyCPFC”He’s actually not a bad player, and statically he’s very good, I wouldn’t be upset with him, good to have more depth”Credit: @CTuckey99In other news, the timeline for the prospective return of a Palace star from injury has been revealed. Find out more here.

Ashley Preece is ‘expecting’ Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey to return against Wolves on Saturday.

The Lowdown: Bailey’s injury

The 24-year-old actually injured himself when he scored his first goal for Villa following his summer move from Bayer Leverkusen. The Jamaican suffered a thigh strain against Everton and missed games with Manchester United and Tottenham as a result.

Villa were targeting a return following the international break against Wolves this weekend, and Preece believes that it could be on the cards.

The Latest: Preece’s tweet

Reliable reporter Preece took to Twitter on Monday evening to inform supporters of Bertrand Traore’s latest injury.

He was asked by one fan for any news on Bailey, to which he replied: “I’m expecting him to play some part on Saturday, Smith might not want to risk him from the start. We’ll wait and see. Due a team news update later this week.”

Preece’s post appeared to go under the radar, with just one retweet and four likes as of Tuesday morning.

The Verdict: Good news

Even if Dean Smith doesn’t risk Bailey from the start on Saturday and places him on the bench, it will still give Villa a big boost for the game against their Midlands rivals.

Bailey has already shown what he can do off the bench at Villa Park, and another starring cameo display this weekend could make all the difference if it is a tight match.

Hopefully he will be in and around the matchday squad on Saturday, but if he isn’t fully fit, he shouldn’t be risked.

In other news: Smith looking to pip Arteta again as Aston Villa eye move for ace who has the same agency as Mings

Sheffield United centre-forward Oli McBurnie has dropped a promising injury update ahead of the club’s Championship fixture this Saturday.

What’s been said?

In comments cited by the club’s official Twitter channel, the 25-year-old revealed that he feels he has recovered from the foot injury which had kept him out of action since April and is now concentrating on getting himself back to full fitness in order to feature from the off for the Blades in the near future.

He said: “The foot feels fine. I was doing rehab with the fitness guys for a lot of time before I could get into full contact training. I feel fit, I feel ready. It’s about getting minutes under the belt now and getting my way back into the team.”

Music to the ears of fans

Like the vast majority of the Sheffield United squad, McBurnie had something of a season to forget in the Premier League in 2020/21. However, considering how impressive the striker was in his most recent Championship campaign, the news that the Scotland international appears to be nearing full fitness is sure to be music to the ears of Blades fans.

Indeed, over his 42 Championship appearances for Swansea City back in 2018/19, the £9m-rated man scored 22 goals, registered four assists and created four big chances for his teammates, taking two shots and making 1.3 key passes per game.

These returns saw the forward earn a highly impressive seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.15, ranking him as the Swans’ third-best performer in the second tier that year.

As such, it would very much seem as if a fully fit McBurnie would provide Slavisa Jokanovic’s chances of securing an immediate return to the Premier League this season with a considerable boost, given his track record of scoring plentifully at Championship level.

With the Blades facing his former club on Saturday evening, there would appear to be no better place for the 25-year-old to kickstart his Championship campaign than at the Liberty Stadium, where he is no stranger to finding the net.

In other news: Sheffield United dealt blow over “superb” £26k-p/w gem, Jokanovic will be fuming

Tottenham Hotspur are closely monitoring Nottingham Forest loanee Djed Spence and Fabio Paratici has even been to the Midlands to see him in action, confirms football.london’s Alasdair Gold.

The Lowdown: Conte’s RWB dilemma

Since his arrival at Hotspur Way, Italian boss Antonio Conte has struggled to determine his go-to options in the wing-back positions.

As a result, the manager has flicked between Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty throughout the season.

After a string of extremely impressive performances, the Irishman recently came out on top, appearing to be Conte’s favourite option at right wing-back.

However, the 30-year-old has recently been ruled out for the rest of the season, once again sparking issues in the position.

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The Latest: Gold’s Spence claim

Throughout the January window, Spurs were linked with a number of right wing-backs; one of the most prominent being Djed Spence, who is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest.

In football.london’s most recent QnA, Tottenham reporter Alasdair Gold was questioned over the Lilywhites’ options at RWB and the rumours linking the north London club with a move for Spence. Gold revealed Paratici has been personally scouting the player:

“Spurs like Djed Spence. Fabio Paratici went to watch him recently, along with Brennan Johnson. Spence certainly ticks the homegrown box and is a talented young defender with plenty of attacking potential.

“I think Doherty has done enough to suggest that when he returns to fitness he will remain next season as an experienced wing-back and, while Emerson Royal now has the chance to make his case in the seven matches ahead, I do wonder whether he suits Conte’s system enough. This summer could provide the opportunity for Spurs to get their money back as he’s a decent right-back, just not a wing-back, and there will be interest in him.”

The Verdict: Great potential

Since arriving in Nottingham this season, Spence has gone on to have a fantastic season with the club. The 21-year-old has featured in 35 games in the Championship and played in every minute of Steve Cooper’s side’s run in the FA Cup.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright hailed the right-back’s praises for his performance against the Gunners in the FA Cup, claiming that it was one of the best right back displays he has ever seen. He even proceeded to compare the youngster’s “unbelievable level” to that of Reece James and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Therefore, having shown that he can perform against some of the top sides in the Premier League, Spence would be a great signing for Tottenham.

In other news: Tottenham Hotspur: Alasdair Gold drops verdict on the futures of Lo Celso and Ndombele

West Ham United have been told exactly how much it’ll take to secure mooted transfer target Noa Lang in January…

What’s the word?

According to Belgian outlet Voetbal Belgie, the Irons will need to pay in the region of €40m (£34m) to land the Club Brugge attacker as they anticipate a bidding war ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

Premier League rivals Arsenal and Leeds United are also said to be keen, along with Serie A giants AC Milan and German outfit Borussia Monchengladbach.

A fee in the region of £34m would be a record in Belgium and the Jupiler Pro League club are in no position to sell as Lang is contracted until 2025.

Shades of Payet

It’s no wonder the Dutch winger has become hot property in recent months as he has continued his remarkable form for both club and country this season.

The 22-year-old, who stands at 5 foot 10, delivered 17 goals and 11 assists as Brugge clinched the Belgian title last term with a whopping 16-point margin, with Lang evidently playing a major role in the attack.

That form has extended into 2021/22, where he has already bagged four goals and provided five assists in 17 appearances, via Transfermarkt, including a ‘Man of the Match’ showing against French giants Paris Saint-Germain – a really encouraging sign to his true potential as he clinched the award over the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

“Lang is without a doubt the best player in the league, I think. Pure class,” suggested Belgian football pundit Filip Joos explained to Extra Time. “His technique is not normal. Lang is constantly on the move, he glides across the field, he likes to dribble, but he will always play at the right time.”

The young dynamo, valued at £22.5m by Transfermarkt, has also been dubbed a “phenomenon” by journalist Peter Vandenbempt for his achievements in Belgium.

Now capped twice by the Netherlands, Lang’s career trajectory is only going to go up, and given everything mentioned above, he could well become the most exciting and biggest signing since Dimitri Payet at the London Stadium.

Evidently, the 22-year-old gem has the flair and skillset to replicate the Frenchman’s thrilling exploits at the Hammers. Lang likes to cut inside, with dribbling and passing two key attributes of his, as per WhoScored.

That only further suggests he could become the next Payet in east London.

With everything in mind, West Ham’s new head of recruitment Rob Newman must do all he can to land Lang for manager David Moyes.

AND in other news, Moyes may have another Antonio in West Ham’s “hard-working” 17 y/o who “loves to score”…

As per Fanatik, an update has come to light on Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer plans involving Fenerbache defender Kim Min-jae.

The Lowdown: Tottenham target centre-half…

The Athletic recently revealed that Spurs and manager Antonio Conte have a new central defender in their sights this summer with a number of key targets already shortlisted.

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According to their information, Joško Gvardiol, Alessandro Bastoni, Sven Botman and Nico Schlotterbeck have all been identified for possible attempts this summer as club chief Fabio Paratici gets to work on the 2022/2023 campaign.

Now, with news emerging on another defensive candidate out of Turkey, it appears Conte has personally approved a move for Kim.

The Latest: Conte green-lights move…

According to Fanatik, Tottenham and Everton have ‘taken action’ over Kim with Lilywhites officials scouting the player and recommending him to Conte.

Subsequently, the Italian has now personally approved a move for the South Korea international defender by giving the ‘green-light’.

The Verdict: Right call?

The 52-year-old wants to see new additions at N17 over the summer as he seeks to improve Tottenham further over his first full season in charge next year.

Kim, who could cost around €23 million (£19m), certainly comes as an affordable alternative to fellow targets on the list with the defender also being called a ‘monster’ in his homeland.

The 6 foot 3 powerhouse, branded one of the stars of the transfer window this summer by Fanatik, may well be one to watch out for if Spurs can’t offload players like Tanguy Ndombele for a profit.

In other news: Tottenham official dispatched as Conte identifies ’emerging superstar’ signing, find out more here.

Flocking to Twitter, many Liverpool fans have been left buzzing over a transfer update out of Anfield involving RB Leipzig sensation Christopher Nkunku.

As both star forwards Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah take part in the Africa Cup of Nations, much has been made of how manager Jurgen Klopp will cope without the Reds duo.

There have even been reports of possible bids for alternatives, including the likes of Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma, with Mane’s contract situation also a point of contention.

The Senegalese star has just 18 months remaining on his current deal at Anfield as things stand with both FSG and the Reds potentially having to ponder replacements if he doesn’t opt to to extend.

As such, both Spanish news outlet Fichajes and the Liverpool Echo (Tuesday, 10:01) have shared that Klopp is personally eyeing Bundesliga forward Nkunku as a possible like-for-like successor.

It is believed that the 24-year-old is well liked by Klopp with Liverpool now holding a keen interest.

Liverpool fans buzz…

Flocking to this claim, many Reds supporters have been left buzzing on Twitter, with one fan even calling him a would-be ‘dream signing’.

Scoring 16 goals and assisting eight others over his German top flight and Champions League appearances combined this season (WhoScored), Nkunku has also impressed in other attacking aspects.

Indeed, the Frenchman has averaged a highly threatening 2.2 completed dribbles per 90 in the Bundesliga – more than any player in Liverpool’s squad by comparison (WhoScored).

It is clear that Nkunku could certainly add a different dimension in the final third as many Reds rave over their side’s interest.

Find all of their best reactions down below:

“Brilliant player yesss please worth up to 55-70 but hopefully can get him for 40-60mil”

Credit: @AbzzLDN

“He’s literally the most perfect player for us”

Credit: @FPLlfcarish

“sign him now”

Credit: @Veettu_

“Please

@LFC”

Credit: @DanTremarco

“Would be the perfect signing for us”

Credit: @NabySZN21

“oooooooo I hope this true but not too replace mané, just add too what we have”

Credit: @oni_kzz

“We already started making moves. Watch this space”

Credit: @ItsssAkiii

“Would be a dream signing tbh, Nkunku built different”

Credit: @Aadam_B4Z

In other news: Liverpool now want to seal signing of ‘exceptional’ player as soon as possible, find out more here.