All posts by h716a5.icu

Flocking to Twitter, lots of Manchester City supporters have gone wild over news coming out of Eastlands involving Bayer Leverkusen sensation Florian Wirtz.

The 18-year-old, who is now emerging as of the hottest prospects in European football, has enjoyed a stellar start to the new season, with four goals and four assists in just three Bundesliga starts (WhoScored).

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/man-city-latest-developments/” title=”Man City latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

His sensational run of form has attracted attention from top Premier League clubs, and Man City appear to be one of them.

Despite the plethora of attacking midfield talent already at the Etihad Stadium, manager Pep Guardiola appears to have his sights set on another as Bild journalist Christian Falk shared news (via Sport Witness).

The German insider claimed that Guardiola has personally sent scouts to watch the 18-year-old ‘time and time again recently’ with the Sky Blues ‘very specifically’ interested among the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.

As news of City’s intense interest emerges, these Sky Blues supporters have gone wild and pleaded for sporting director Txiki Begiristain and co to get a deal done, with one of them calling it the “best news” they had heard today.

Check out some of their verdicts from Twitter below.

Man City fans go wild over Wirtz news…

“Serious baller”

Credit: @emperor_teejhay

“I beg we get this done”

Credit: @McfcRobbo23

“Yes please”

Credit: @Centurion_City

“Praying”

Credit: @hipyjon

“YESSSSSSS”

Credit: @XeVeYT

“Best news I’ve read this morning”

Credit: @SatieMCFC

In other news: ‘Insanity’, ‘No way’…Man City fans erupt as Txiki sets sights on £103.5m ‘machine’ who is ‘better than Lewandowski’, find out more here.

Bruno Lage hasn’t had much to shout out about since becoming the manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers.

His side have recorded just one victory from five league matches and they are now out of the Carabao Cup as well after a penalty shoot-out defeat.

What’s the word?

Lage has been quick to hint that his squad is too small this season, and in loaning out 20 players from the first-team and academy, you can see where his frustrations are coming from.

One of those to be sent for a temporary stint elsewhere is Morgan Gibbs-White. The attacking midfielder was handed a new contract at the end of August but then joined Sheffield United in a bid to improve his experience.

This marks the 21-year-old’s second loan spell in as many seasons after he played for Swansea in the Championship last term.

Gibbs-White has made a vibrant start to his life in Yorkshire, and according to Football League World, Wolves are now monitoring him closely and are weighing up whether to recall him in January.

Big mistake

The simple message to Wolves should be to leave the youngster alone.

Gibbs-White has been handed an excellent opportunity to shine for a team who should be vying for promotion this season and for a club which has an excellent heritage when it comes to young players.

He endured an injury-hit spell at Swansea last season but once he returned to full fitness in January, Wolves recalled him to Molineux.

The issue was that Nuno Santo very rarely handed him any first-team opportunities. After returning to the Midlands, the youngster started just four of 20 Premier League matches for which he was available.

There were cameos from the bench and he did at least find the net with an important goal against Brighton.

However, it was sad to see his opportunities restricted once more at Wolves. His lack of football down the years has been confusing given his enormous potential and the club’s small squad.

Had he been left to his own devices at Swansea and given another half-season to thrive in Wales, Gibbs-White may have been ready for more first-team football in the top-flight this term.

Given the lightning-quick start he’s made to his career at Bramall Lane, they should leave him alone this January. The vibrant prodigy has found the net on two occasions and also registered two assists in his opening three matches for the Blades.

If given a chance, those numbers could rack up quite considerably this season. Wolves definitely need more senior options in their ranks, but as Nuno proved in 2020/21, it can be a mistake to cut a loan spell short.

AND in other news, Fewer touches than Ruddy: Wolves flop who made just 6 passes all game let Lage down…

Marcus Bent has exclusively told Football FanCast that a strong pre-season could potentially save Moise Kean’s Everton career.

The 21-year-old made the switch to Merseyside in a £25m deal from Juventus two years ago but has scored four goals in 37 appearances in all competitions, only two of which came in the league.

Such was Kean’s wretched goalscoring form in his first season with the Toffees, he was loaned out to PSG last term.

But the Italian quickly rediscovered his goal-touch, scoring an impressive 17 times for Mauricio Pochettino’s team as they reached the Champions League semi-finals and won two domestic cups.

Following his outstanding loan spell in the French capital, Kean has been linked with a return.

However, Kean has featured heavily in pre-season for Everton, and scored the winning goal against Club Universidad Nacional last Wednesday.

Despite his struggles under the previous regime, it appears that he’s been offered a clean slate by Rafael Benitez, which could resurrect the striker’s Toffees career.

Bent exclusively told Football FanCast:

“With the new manager going in there, everyone has different opinions. If he does well in pre-season, then maybe he’s got a future there.

“We need someone up front to help DCL, so hopefully he does well in pre-season, you never know.”

Queensland’s hopes in the Sheffield Shield final have been dampened after rain ruined the second day

Cricinfo staff14-Mar-2009Victoria 6 for 281 (Hussey 113, Rogers 105, Symonds 3-34) v Queensland
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsQueensland’s hopes in the Sheffield Shield final have been dampened after rain ruined the second day and increased Victoria’s chances of achieving the draw needed to lift the trophy. The Bulls fought back late on the opening afternoon to have the hosts 6 for 281, but the wet weather interrupted their momentum and they must get quick wickets on Sunday morning to improve their chances.The umpires abandoned the day at 2pm local time and play will start half an hour early on the third. However, the after-effects of the rain may cause further problems on a club ground that does not have the same drainage as the international stadiums. When play resumes Cameron White (21) and Matthew Wade (2) will attempt to push Victoria further forward.

The Wellington weather and a Ross Taylor century defied India asthe third Test ended in a draw with New Zealand eight wickets down

The Bulletin by Dileep Premachandran07-Apr-2009
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were outSachin Tendulkar took two wickets shortly before lunch to give New Zealand a scare•Getty ImagesThe Wellington weather and a Ross Taylor century defied India asthe third Test ended in a draw with New Zealand eight wickets down. ZaheerKhan had bowled just one delivery with the second new ball when the rainforced the players off the field 20 minutes after lunch, and they wouldn’treturn. India were left to reflect on three dropped catches, while NewZealand might have argued that they were due a bit of luck after twodecisions went against them. The draw might have been an unsatisfactoryresult, but it still sealed a first Indian series win in New Zealand in 41years.They could have won it even before the heavens opened though. Tim Southeewas given out caught behind off Harbhajan Singh, though the noise that gotall the close-in fielders excited was actually bat hitting pad. Momentslater, it was New Zealand that were the beneficiaries of umpiringlargesse. Harbhajan turned one sharply and Daniel Vettori was palpablyplumb, but Simon Taufel thought otherwise.When Ishant Sharma then grassed a simple chance at square leg after IainO’Brien had slogged Tendulkar, the Indians might have known it wasn’t tobe their day. Soon after, Zaheer came on and so did the rain. And that wasthat.The story of the morning had been Sachin Tendulkar. It had taken MS Dhoni76 overs to give the ball to him, but two wickets shortly before lunch inan extended morning session put the smiles back on Indian faces after a142-run partnership between Taylor and James Franklin had kept them atbay. New Zealand were also left to ponder a poor decision against BrendonMcCullum as their struggle for survival was compromised in a crazy passageof play just before the interval.Zaheer had an early shout for leg-before against Franklin turned down, butthe theme of the first hour was stout resistance. Taylor continued tofeast on short and wide offerings from Ishant, and the Indian mooddidn’t improve when Gautam Gambhir failed to hold on to a chance at shortleg after Franklin had popped one up off bad and pad. New Zealand added 38before the drinks break, and soon after an airy flick down to fine leg offHarbhajan got Taylor to his century from just 158 balls.Tendulkar was introduced soon after, but the frustration continued asFranklin edged one past slip for four. And it was left to the frontlinespinner to strike, though relying on drift rather than turn to get the jobdone. Taylor’s attempt to push the ball away was stymied by the movementthrough the air and Harbhajan’s celebrations were certainly not muted ashe yorked the key obstacle in India’s path.Soon after, Munaf Patel put down McCullum at mid-off off Tendulkar, butthe second chance didn’t go a long way. A ripping leg break spun past thebat and through to slip via Dhoni’s gloves, but the impact of bat on theground fooled the umpire into upholding India’s appeal. And if that was aserious blow to New Zealand’s hopes, worse was to follow, as Franklin whohad eased his way to 49 was trapped in front by another delivery thatturned sharply into him. As at Adelaide five years earlier, Tendulkar had compensated for an average performance with the bat by turning into theman with the golden arm. But even he could do nothing about the weather.

Shane Watson will play as a batsman for Queensland in his return to high-level action after another bout of stress fractures

Cricinfo staff24-Feb-2009
Queensland will look to Shane Watson for runs at the Gabba from Thursday © Getty Images
Shane Watson will play as a batsman for Queensland in his return to high-level action after another bout of back stress fractures. The Bulls will be hopeful of a big contribution from Watson against New South Wales at the Gabba, starting on Thursday, as they attempt to jump from third place.There are two rounds remaining in the Sheffield Shield and Queensland are two points behind Tasmania in the race to join Victoria in the final at the Junction Oval next month. Watson was on target for more Test action in December when he was diagnosed with the injury and will delay bowling until the end of the local season.He has been having sessions at the Centre of Excellence under Greg Chappell, the head coach, to improve his shot-making. “I have been working with Greg on simplifying my technique over the last two weeks to ensure there is no inhibition on my game,” Watson said in the Courier-Mail.”I’m feeling great – I am looking forward to getting out in the middle. I won’t be bowling until after the season finishes. The Ashes are the big goal.”Ben Laughlin, the medium-fast bowler, has also been recalled for what is Martin Love’s final first-class appearance at the Gabba. Laughlin was part of Queensland’s one-day final win over Victoria on Sunday.The match will be Andrew Symonds’ 100th first-class contest for Queensland. “I’ve had a lot of fun and enjoyed a bit of success in what has been a golden era for the game in Queensland, and I reckon we’ve got the makings of another good run after seeing the way the young blokes went in winning the title on the weekend,” Symonds said. “People probably wrote them off at the start of the season so I’m really pleased to see them enjoying themselves and giving it a shake.”Symonds has had a poor season with the bat, scoring 118 runs in five Sheffield Shield fixtures, but said he was “reasonably happy”. “I’m really looking forward to these next two games because there’s still a bit of life in the season for us. The confidence is bubbling along nicely in the group and we’ll see whether we can enjoy a bit more success and have a bit more fun this summer.”Mitchell Starc, the left-arm fast bowler, has come into the New South Wales squad for Aaron Bird, who has been suspended for an illegal action. Starc holds a rookie contract with the Blues and was due to fly to Brisbane on Wednesday.New South Wales have rejected the chance to give David Warner, the Australia limited-overs international, a first-class debut due to his unimpressive club and second XI form. The fifth-placed Blues are unchanged despite an innings defeat to Victoria last week and must win their final two games to have a chance of reaching the final.Queensland squad Chris Simpson (capt), Ryan Broad, Lee Carseldine, Ben Cutting, Chris Hartley (wk), James Hopes, Nick Kruger, Ben Laughlin, Martin Love, Chris Swan, Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson.New South Wales squad Dominic Thornely (capt), Beau Casson, Burt Cockley, Peter Forrest, Moises Henriques, Phil Jaques, Usman Khawaja, Grant Lambert, Greg Mail, Ben Rohrer, Daniel Smith (wk), Mitchell Starc.

Helder Costa has received criticism from former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan after his loan move to Spanish side Valencia.

The Lowdown: Failing to impress

After emerging onto the scene with Wolves, Costa signed for Leeds after impressing on loan in the 2019/20 season, when he contributed to 10 goals in 43 Championship games to help the club return to the Premier League after 16 years.

Costa then made 22 appearances in the top flight, scoring three times – with two of them coming in the opening two games – before missing the final five games of the season.

Following the arrival of Dan James from Manchester United on transfer deadline day, Costa received a career lifeline as La Liga side Valencia signed him on loan.

The Latest: Expected to leave

Whelan, who now works for his old club after leaving his role at the BBC, has told Football Insider he believes Costa could reinvigorate his career in Spain, but admitted his unhappiness at the winger’s time in Yorkshire.

A source also told the outlet that Costa is expected to depart permanently next year whether Valencia exercise their permanent option in the loan deal or not, meaning he will likely never again don a Whites shirt.

“I think he needed that change,” Whelan said.

“He’s got everything in his makeup. He’s got all the ability, the pace, the skill, but we just didn’t see it enough at Leeds.

“That inconsistency in his performances was frustrating for a lot of the fans because we know what he can do on his day.

“When you’ve seen it in one game, and then don’t see it in the next couple of games- everyone wonders why he can’t replicate that former across a string of games.

“He’s got an opportunity to stake a claim out there in Spain now and really lock a position down at Valencia.

“We might see the best of him there, and it could help him when he comes back if he rediscovers that confidence and belief.”

The Verdict: Chance for Costa

Returning to the Portugal national squad seems far fetched for Costa after only making one appearance in 2018, but he is capable of helping Valencia return to the European places in the Spanish top flight.

His time at Wolves and Leeds was impressive when he was at full pelt, but things eventually come to an end and with the way Leeds are shaping up under Marcelo Bielsa, they really cannot afford to hang on to fringe players who simply don’t have the consistency to perform week in week out.

His contract at Elland Road doesn’t end until 2024, so impressing on loan will be vital for Costa if he is to attract interest and bank a decent fee for Bielsa and co.

In other news, Whites target has expressed his transfer disappointment. Find out more here.

Mohammad Asif, the Pakistan fast bowler, is hoping the IPL drugs tribunal will deliver a favourable verdict in his appeal against his positive test for nandrolone

Cricinfo staff26-Jan-2009
Mohammad Asif is hopeful his appeal over his positive drugs test at the IPL will go in his favour © AFP
Mohammad Asif, the Pakistan fast bowler, is hoping the IPL drugs tribunal will deliver a favourable verdict in his appeal against his positive test for nandrolone, a banned substance, during the tournament’s inaugural edition last year.Asif is currently suspended from playing all forms of cricket by the Pakistan board until the IPL concludes its inquiry. “I am quite hopeful that I will be cleared,” Asif said on his return to Karachi. Asif appeared before the tribunal on January 24 in Mumbai. Although the hearing is complete, the tribunal has reserved its judgement to a later date.”The tribunal has accepted that it were the eye drops which I used contained nandrolone,” Asif claimed. Asif had told the tribunal that he was unaware that Keratyl, the eye drops he used to treat a painful and inflamed eye, contained nandrolone. The tribunal, which includes Sunil Gavaskar, lawyer Shirish Gupte and Dr Ravi Bapat, will meet again before delivering a verdict.”It’s up to the tribunal now, but my doctors and lawyers have strongly pleaded the case,” Asif said. He was released by his IPL team, Delhi Daredevils, from his contract last week. “I just want to focus on playing for Pakistan and that was the only reason I quit my IPL contract,” he said.Asif is also facing a PCB investigation on his detention at Dubai airport last year for possessing opium

Liverpool could yet have some business to complete on deadline day, with reliable journalist James Pearce revealing the future of centre-back Nat Phillips is hanging in the balance.

The Lowdown: Phillips out of favour

The 24-year-old did admirably for the Reds last season, filling in at the back in the absence of key injured trio Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.

Phillips hasn’t featured at all yet in 2021/22, however, and with Ibrahima Konate coming in to add to the depth in the heart of defence, he is effectively surplus to requirements at Liverpool.

[freshpress-quiz id=“359326”]

The Latest: Pearce provides update

According to The Athletic’s Pearce [via Anfield Watch on Twitter], Phillips could still leave in the hours before the transfer window closes.

It is claimed that Anfield officials believe late offers will arrive for the Englishman, who is valued at £12million.

It looks like Liverpool’s business is not done yet.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-2/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=“none”]

The Verdict: Time to leave, Nat

Phillips should always be appreciated for the job he did last season, but he remains a limited defender who isn’t at the level required moving forward, in terms of his quality on the ball – only 0.4 key passes per game in the Premier League in 2020/21 – and lack of pace.

He needs regular football in order to continue maturing as a player, which is something Jurgen Klopp simply cannot offer him barring another catastrophic injury crisis.

Hopefully, a bid comes in for Phillips and he can leave permanently, acting as an ideal scenario for all parties.

In other news, Liverpool are eyeing up a deadline day signing – find out who it is here.

West Ham United may have received their biggest boost yet in their pursuit of Jesse Lingard…

What’s the word?

Irons boss David Moyes made it no secret of his intentions to try and secure the Manchester United loanee on a permanent basis at the end of last season.

“I hope Jesse’s here, we’d like to keep him, he’s done an exceptional job for us but there’s no guarantees, he’s not our player,” Moyes told the Evening Standard following their final game of the season. “But I hope Jesse realises we’ve been good for him as well, and that he joined a club on the up.”However, the East Londoners have faced plenty of bumps in their attempts to bring him back. Last month, The Athletic claimed that Lingard wanted to stay at Old Trafford to fight for his place, whilst Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed he was part of his plans for the new season to Sky Sports.But it has now been suggested by Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News that United are prepared to offload him before the transfer window closes on August 31st, especially as they need to sell before there are any more incomings. Has the door now opened?

If this fresh development is to be believed, then the Hammers have surely been given a free shot at securing last season’s loan sensation, who provided nine goals and five assists in just 16 appearances, via Transfermarkt.

Lingard is in the final 11 months of his £75k-per-week contract and hasn’t started for United in the league since New Year’s Day in 2020. He is likely to be the one player available for transfer that could garner a substantial amount of finance.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-west-ham-news-transfer-rumours-the-latest-gossip-and-much-more-3” title= “Read the latest West Ham news, transfer rumours, gossip and much more!”]

Transfermarkt currently value him at £19.8m, which seems fair based on his exploits at the London Stadium last term.

The 28-year-old playmaker ended the campaign as Moyes’ second-best player, as per WhoScored ratings, which shows just how important he was to the side as they recorded a phenomenal sixth-place finish, one year on from avoiding relegation with just one game to spare.

Moyes must now urge a move for Lingard as it seems that United are very much prepared to sell him, it would be inexcusable not to, at this point, considering they have only signed one senior player all summer – a back-up goalkeeper on loan.

Plenty of the Hammers faithful are just as eager to see Lingard return as the manager, so this major update should come as rather encouraging news.

If the 29-time England international can make a sensational return to the Irons before deadline day, then supporters and Moyes will be absolutely buzzing.

GSB must act, fast.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Antonio: West Ham must seal move for “special” £31.5m-rated goal-machine…