Sam Allardyce has stated that he could have signed Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy for West Ham United during his tenure in east London.
This revelation came while he was on talkSPORT, as he admitted: “He [Mickey Mellon] rang me up and he said ‘We can’t sign Jamie Vardy; he won’t stay with us Sam. Give us a million quid and it will be the best signing you have ever made’.
“And that was quite a bit of money for a non-league player, I’m talking 2011, in my first season at West Ham.
“I just wondered if Jamie could jump out of the conference and come in for our first year of the Premier League.
“So I didn’t do it and I have been kicking myself ever since because he went to Leicester instead with Nigel [Pearson] and [Craig Shakespeare] Shakey.”
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The striker has gone on to have some career despite Allardyce’s doubts, winning the league title with the Foxes during a season in which he broke the record for goals scored in consecutive Premier League games.
While there are many fans who have mourned the fact that they didn’t get to see the former England international in claret and blue, there are plenty of others who simply see this as Vardy having a lucky escape.
The opinion seems to be that he would have been ruined at West Ham, getting injured or failing to adapt to the direct style of football Allardyce played, before being shipped off to a team lower down the footballing pyramid.
A selection of Twitter reaction to the revelation, including posts from doubtful West Ham fans, can be seen below:
This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
They have to find a solution, but they might not be in the biggest rush to get it done.
After his mistake against Fulham on the weekend, Lee Camp’s position within the Birmingham City starting eleven might finally be in jeopardy.
After the game, boss Pep Clotet said that he would be speaking to the club’s goalkeeper coach about his error and that’s been enough to suggest that change might be in the air.
Although whether or not they change from within or bring someone else in is a different matter.
What’s he said?
Speaking during a Q&A on Birmingham Live, journalist Brian Dick hinted that the Blues might be tempted to go into the transfer market to find a solution to the goalkeeping problem:
“If the perception is that there’s someone out there who is cost effective and who could take the team forward then they are obliged to look at it because I don’t think this side is too far away from mounting a decent challenge.”
Try before you buy
Whilst Dick thinks that the Blues should wait until the January transfer window to find a replacement for Camp, that doesn’t mean that his place should effectively be safe until the window opens.
We’ve spoken many times on FFC before that the club have options within their ranks, most notably Connal Trueman and Moha Ramos who could both seem to be listed as options ‘for the future’.
But just because they are listed as such it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be given the chance right now. If you give each of them a couple of games before the January transfer window, you get to see just what they can offer.
You might find out that one or both of them are better than Camp and that will save you dipping into the transfer market and spending money when it isn’t necessary.
If they aren’t up to scratch, you know where you stand and you put Camp or even David Stockdale back in goal as you start looking for other options.
At this stage of the season, you really haven’t got much to lose, and if the choice is between dropping points with Camp and dropping points with someone you’re looking to develop, is there really that much of a difference? At least the young player can learn from his mistakes, whereas Camp clearly isn’t.
Aston Villa sporting director Monchi has claimed one Villa Park youngster has all the attributes to become world class in the years to come in news that will be music to the ears of their fans.
Villa building for the future
It was a tough transfer window for Unai Emery's Aston Villa as they battled to comply with the Premier League's financial fair play rules, an issue that forced them to sell Douglas Luiz and also saw them part ways with Moussa Diaby, with the pair fetching close to £100m combined.
However, eight new faces also arrived, with Amadou Onana setting the club back £50m from Everton, a club record signing, while Ian Maatsen also arrived for £37m.
Aston Villa's new signings (summer 2024)
Player
Age when signed
Fee
Amadou Onana
23
£50m
Ian Maatsen
22
£37m
Cameron Archer
22
£14m
Jaden Philogene
22
£13.5m
Lewis Dobbin
21
£8m
Samuel Iling-Junior
20
£11.8m + add-ons
Enzo Barrenechea
23
£6.7m + add-ons
Ross Barkley
30
£5m
One of the key ideas was to reduce the squad age while also adding depth to Emery's ranks. Speaking after the transfer window, Villa's hierarchy hinted as much when discussing the deal to bring Juventus pair Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea to the club from Turin.
“Samuel and Enzo are young players we trust. Maybe we knew they wouldn’t be ready to play for us immediately, but both are young, talented, sustainable salaries and in the next year they’re going to be good assets", Villa's Damian Vidagany told The Athletic.
And The Athletic added that "among Villa’s chief intentions was to lower the group’s average age" over the summer, something that was undoubtedly achieved, with the average age of new additions just 23.7 years old, well below the squad average of over 26. But now, Monchi has hinted that the best young player in Villa's ranks may well have been there the whole time.
Aston Villa chief backs "special" striker to be world class
That comes as the Aston Villa Sporting Director has backed Jhon Duran to become World Class at Villa Park. The Colombia international was used mostly off the bench by Emery last season, but was dubbed "special" by the Villa boss after helping them to a draw with Liverpool with two late goals.
Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran
"Jhon Duran is a special player. We have to try and help him. He is a good guy, and he needs a team behind him. He is getting our demands better. He was very clinical and today was important for him", Emery explained.
Linked with moves away from Villa Park over the summer, he held talks with West Ham and Chelsea only to ultimately stay in the Midlands. And Monchi has revealed that the club in fact turned down a mammoth forty offers for the 20 year old, who he and Emery believe could become a world class talent.
"There are no fewer than 40 clubs who want Durán”, he explained. “But Emery is very confident with Jhon. He thinks Durán he can become one of the best strikers in the world”.
Aston Villa plotting free transfer for £27k-p/w "phenomenon" Emery loves
He could be a major coup for Aston Villa if they can pull it off.
ByBen Browning Sep 10, 2024
"He wanted to leave, yes. Just because he wants to play, normal. But now it’s all good, he’s happy”, he added. “If there is a club that really thinks Duran can become one of the top strikers in the world… then that one club is Aston Villa, and that one manager is Unai Emery.”
Villa fans will be hoping that Duran can make the step up this season, and hand Ollie Watkins some well needed rest across the course of what promises to be a long and gruelling campaign.
Aston Villa might well look to add to the eight signings they have made so far this summer before Friday’s transfer deadline. Ahead of a return to the Champions League, the Villans have looked to bolster their squad in all areas this summer, with their marquee signing being a £50m move for Amadou Onana from Everton.
With just over 24 hours left before the 2024 summer window slams shut, Unai Emery’s side have been linked with one player who could add quality and experience to their squad before they return to European football’s most elite club competition.
Aston Villa target Eredivisie defender
The player in question here is Feyenoord and Netherlands international defender Lutsharel Geertruida. According to a report from Graeme Bailey, the 24-year-old is a key target for Emery, who ‘has made clear to Monchi’ that he wants to sign the defender before tomorrow’s deadline.
Feyenoord's Lutsharel Geertruida
Bailey reports that a price of £35m would be enough to get a deal over the line, with 'confidence' remaining that the move can be completed, albeit with the need for Monchi to make room in the squad.
That said, the Villans are now facing competition from RB Leipzig in the race for the defender, with it yet to be seen just whether he will end up at Villa Park this summer.
Why Geertruida would be a good signing
The Dutchman was a crucial player under new Liverpool boss Arne Slot last season in his native Netherlands. He played 34 times in the top flight, scoring eight goals and registering five assists, an impressive return. He was an ever-present in the Rotterdam side’s victorious Dutch Cup campaign, too.
One of the biggest strengths of the Feyenoord academy graduate is his versatility. He can play right across the back four, which might well make him such an attractive prospect for Emery and Villa this summer. Last season, he played 35 times at right-back, nine times at centre-back and even three games at left-back.
Not only that, but the Dutchman can also bring more leadership to Emery's side. He captained the Dutch giants on 25 occasions last season and was described as a "leader" by football analyst Ben Mattinson. One thing is for sure, you can never have too many leaders, and this experience could be crucial for Villa to lean on next season.
Indeed, the 24-year-old is statistically comparable to one of Emery’s crucial defenders at Villa Park, Ezri Konsa, who played 35 times in the Premier League last season. According to FBref, the pair are similar players statistically, and it means the Spaniard could have the second coming of the England international in his side.
Where the pair are most comparable is from a defensive point of view. The FBref stats suggest they are neck-and-neck in terms of all-round ability, with Geertruida last season averaging 5.38 ball recoveries and 2.37 combined tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes. In comparison, the Villa number four averaged 4.16 ball recoveries and 2.4 tackles and interceptions.
Stat (per 90)
Geertruida
Konsa
Ball recoveries
5.38
4.16
Tackles + interceptions
2.37
2.4
Blocks
0.53
1.06
Clearances
1.45
2.14
Aerial duel win %
63.6%
68.2%
Where the Feyenoord defender edges it over the England international is his ball-playing abilities. By no means is this a weak point of Konsa’s game, but his stats are far lower than the Dutchman. Last term, Geertruida averaged a whooping 7.93 progressive passes and 2,54 progressive carries each game, compared to 3.99 progressive passes and 1.09 progressive carries.
It is worth considering that the in-possession stats for the Feyenoord number four have been boosted by the fact he spent large parts of last season playing right-back, a position where he would naturally progress play more regularly.
Lutsharel Geertruida for the Netherlands.
For a fee of around £35m, singing Geertruida could cap off an excellent window for the Villans. They would bring in a very similar player to Konsa, plus add someone with impressive versatility into the squad. It could be an extremely smart move by Villa, who have a huge season ahead.
He's like Salah: Aston Villa chasing late move for Joao Felix upgrade
Unai Emery may have some more transfer business to conduct between now and the Friday evening deadline
Despite only signing for the Blues last summer, one of the many names that seem to be on the chopping block at Chelsea this summer, is French defender, Axel Disasi.
Since the arrival of new manager, Enzo Maresca, the importance of on-ball qualities in defense has risen, and therefore it is believed Disasi could be further down the pecking order, than defensive peers such as Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill.
Disasi – who has caught the eye of Newcastle United – made 44 appearances for Chelsea last season in all competitions, scoring three goals, and contributing to ten clean sheets in his 3,690 minutes played, although the belief is that he could now be shown the door.
In turn, the Blues could look to acquire a suitable upgrade…
Chelsea transfer news
According to reports from TEAMtalk, Chelsea could make a move to sign Liverpool defender, Joe Gomez, before the end of the summer window. The Merseysiders are reportedly keen to sell the England international, and are willing to accept an appropriate bid.
The reports claim Maresca has made it clear to the club chiefs that he wants defensive reinforcements in the centre-back position, with Gomez being high on their shortlist.
Liverpool defender Joe Gomez
Gomez made 51 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool last season, providing three assists, and contributing to 14 clean sheets in his 3,133 minutes played. He also played a variety of positions, making 25 appearances at right-back, 19 appearances at left-back, five in central defence, and even two as a defensive midfielder.
Gomez vs Disasi comparison
Like Gomez, Disasi did have to fill in at right-back a few times last season, due to the injuries of Reece James and Malo Gusto. The 26-year-old made eight appearances at right-back, and due to James's injury issues, any defensive acquisition would need to have that same versatility shown by Disasi, something Gomez has in abundance.
Stats (per 90 mins)
Gomez
Disasi
Passes Attempted
69.7
78.6
Pass Completion %
82.6%
90.0%
Progressive Passes
4.89
3.90
Progressive Carries
1.98
1.05
Passes into Final Third
4.20
4.01
Tackles
2.37
1.15
Blocks
1.30
0.91
Interceptions
1.09
0.59
Aerials Won
1.83
2.51
Back in 2018, Troy Deeney described the £85k-per-week star as a "beast" of a player, claiming he could be England's centre-half for the next 15 years. Since then, it hasn't quite worked out that way for Gomez, only making 15 appearances for England, and not nailing down a starting spot for the Three Lions.
However, you can see the value in Gomez as a player, putting up good defensive action numbers, and being able to do so in a variety of positions. He doubled Disasi's tackle numbers, averaging 2.37 per 90, and nearly doubled his interceptions too, with 1.09 per 90.
Joe Gomez in action against Manchester City
Whilst Disasi averages more passes attempted than Gomez, and a higher pass completion percentage, this could be down to two factors. One being Gomez featuring more as a fullback last season, getting fewer touches and build up involvement than the central defenders, or secondly, due to the more progressive nature of his passes (higher risk).
Gomez averages 0.99 more progressive passes than Disasi per 90, 0.19 more passes into the final third, and 0.93 more progressive carries. This would be important for Maresca's system, having the ability to progress play through the lines, whether that's through passing or carrying.
As such, the Liverpool man could represent the perfect upgrade in the backline, while also allowing Maresca to finally show Disasi the door.
Imagine him & Colwill: Chelsea make contact over move for Chalobah upgrade
He could be set to leave his current side before the transfer window.
West Ham United have been linked with a surprise move for Kyle Walker this week.
The England international played a huge part in Manchester City's famous treble-winning campaign, but the versatile defender could be about to leave the Etihad Stadium.
Having won 12 major honours across six years at City, it has been reported the 33-year-old will be allowed to leave by Pep Guardiola this summer.
Big-spending clubs from Saudi Arabia are inevitably interested in signing Walker, who is capable of playing on the right side of defence or in the middle, while 90min reports that the Hammers are also keeping tabs on the situation.
Signing the Sheffield-born star would be a huge coup for the Hammers, who recently ended their 43-year wait for a major trophy and are about to balance another season of European and domestic football.
What can Kyle Walker bring to West Ham United?
West Ham are no strangers to bringing in an experienced full-back from City, having recruited Pablo Zabaleta on a free transfer during the same summer that Walker arrived in Manchester.
Zabaleta would go on to play 80 times for West Ham over three seasons, before announcing his retirement in an emotional open letter on the club's official website in 2020.
At an almost identical age as Zabaleta was at the time, West Ham will hope Walker can have an even bigger impact than the Argentinian should he arrive at the London Stadium.
Walker was used 39 times in all competitions by City this past season, which ended last week with the Citizens adding the Champions League to the Premier League and FA Cup trophies collected over the previous fortnight.
The 33-year-old was called out by Guardiola in March for his "stupid" off-field antics, but arguably a more damning verdict came the following month when the Catalonia-born boss admitted Walker could no longer play in his tactical system.
That came at a point when Walker had lost his place in the side, but he soon returned – as John Stones was used in a hybrid role between centre-back and holding midfield – with the Sheffield United academy product's quality shining through in the end.
While boasting quality in many different areas, Walker's ability to prevent players running in behind – just ask Real Madrid's attackers – particularly stands out, with his pace not being impacted despite now being 33.
"I'm convinced that Kyle Walker could beat a cheetah over 30m. He's absolutely rapid," football writer Tom Young said last year. Indeed, with a top speed of 21.13mph recorded by Speedsdb, Walker is one of the swiftest defenders around.
Walker, unsurprisingly for a player moulded by Guardiola, is also strong with the ball at his feet. This is reflected by his 83.69 attempted passes per 90 minutes over the past 12 months, as per FBref, which places him in the top 3% of his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues.
The former Tottenham Hotspur dynamo also ranks highly for passes completed percentage (87) and progressive passes per 90 (6.95). To put that into some context, Declan Rice was West Ham's best performer last season in terms of passes attempted with just 58.7 per 90.
Walker, who is currently valued at around £17m by FootballTransfers, would invariably be an upgrade on Vladimir Coufal, West Ham's most used player at right-back last season.
It would also give Irons supporters a new hero to worship, much like Zabaleta, as they look to push on from their European joy last season.
Sergio Aguero has revealed that he has already trolled Lionel Messi about Inter Miami’s lowly position in the league.
What position are Inter Miami in MLS?
It was revealed this week that the former Paris Saint-Germain star would be swapping Ligue 1 for MLS after two seasons in France.
There had been reports that he was wanted by both Barcelona as well as teams in Saudi Arabia, but – perhaps surprisingly – Messi will be going to America instead.
However, Inter Miami aren’t exactly in the best shape right now having just fired head coach Phill Neville amid an awful run of just two wins in their last 13 games.
As a result, Messi’s new team are dead last in the Eastern Conference and Aguero wasted no time in ribbing his close friend about this.
Indeed, speaking to ESPN Argentina (via Felipe Cardenas), the retired striker claimed that he chatted with the 35-year-old recently and sent him a screenshot of the Eastern Conference standings.
Aguero explained his conversation with Messi saying: “Your team is behind! You have to move up to 8th/9th.”
He then revealed the 35-year-old attacker’s response: “Messi cracked up. He said we have to make the playoffs.”
On top of this, as reported in a follow-up Tweet, Aguero was also asked if he’ll watch Messi’s games in Miami in person.
He replied: “They are no tickets! It’s sold out. But I think he arrives in mid-July.”
Who is Messi’s godson?
Messi and Aguero of course played together for Argentina and appear to be pretty close. After all, the new MLS star is actually godfather to Sergio’s son.
What’s more, Benjamin appears to be quite happy to defend the World Cup winner too. Indeed, he recently
trolled PSG when they announced Messi’s departure, saying: “He was too big for you.”
Well, if the 35-year-old was too big for the Ligue 1 champions, one can only imagine the sort of impact he’ll have in America. He’s already helping grow Inter Miami’s social media brand.
For instance, since his transfer was announced, the club’s Instagram account has gone from one million followers to over 6.5 million.
Glasgow Rangers will certainly miss Alfredo Morelos, despite his sharp drop-off in the previous few seasons. The Colombian striker scored 124 goals across just 269 games for the Ibrox side, yet his final two campaigns saw him net only 30 times, looking like a shadow of his former self at times.
Michael Beale decided not to offer him an extended contract, along with Ryan Kent and three others, and in time, it could perhaps be looked upon as the best choice for both parties.
With his departure, the Light Blues will require some attacking reinforcements ahead of next term, especially with Celtic racing away with the Premiership title last season, scoring 21 more goals than the Gers, an area which needs vast improvement.
The club have been linked with a move for West Bromwich Albion striker Karlan Grant according to Mirror journalist Darren Witcoop, who tweeted: “West Brom will listen to offers for striker Karlan Grant this summer. Grant has Championship admirers while Scottish side Rangers have registered an interest. Grant signed a six-year deal when he joined the Baggies for £15m in 2020 but he can now leave Albion.”
The forward is now valued at €4.5m (£4m) by Football Transfers and with three years left on his current deal, Beale may have to pay this sort of fee to secure his signature.
Could Karlan Grant replace Alfredo Morelos at Rangers?
Like Morelos, Grant had a fairly underwhelming 2022/2023 season, scoring just five times for the Baggies across all competitions, however, this shouldn’t put Beale off a potential move.
During 2021/2022, Grant netted 18 goals and grabbed six assists across 44 Championship matches, demonstrating how effective he can be in front of goal, while ranking first in the West Brom squad for goals, scoring frequency and big chances created as well as ranking second for shots per game, clearly suggesting his attacking talents were the best in the squad and if he could replicate this sort of form in Scotland, Grant could cause havoc for opposition defenders.
Presenter Colin Murray lauded the striker for being “clutch”, such is his talent for scoring vital goals and Beale would love a forward who could arrive at Ibrox and hit the ground running straight away.
West Brom forward Karlan Grant.
77 goals and 22 assists in 274 matches isn’t the most prolific strike rate in the world, however his ability to float between a centre-forward role and coming just off the left wing means he can offer more than just goals for this Rangers side next season, with one of his key strengths being his ability to cut inside effectively as per WhoScored.
There will likely be more than one attacking option joining the club this summer, however, signing Grant, should remain top of the priority list, especially considering Beale lured Todd Cantwell to Ibrox following a disappointing six-month spell for Norwich in the Championship and he has already shone – bagging six goals and four assists in just 16 Premiership appearances.
Burnley romped their way to the Championship title in exciting fashion as they accumulated 101 points to secure their promotion to the Premier League.
Vincent Kompany must now use the upcoming summer transfer window to build a squad that is capable of surviving, and thriving, in the top-flight, instead of suffering an instant relegation back down to the second tier.
One area in which he is reportedly looking to strengthen is the centre-forward position following the departure of Ashley Barnes on a free transfer to Norwich City.
It was recently reported that the Clarets are one of the teams interested in signing Metz number nine Georges Mikautadze, who has been the subject of a €10m (£8.7m) offer from Italian giants AC Milan.
Who is Georges Mikautadze?
He is a 22-year-old Georgian international who has caught the eye with his impressive performances in the second tier of French football this season and the ace could come in as a big upgrade on current Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez.
In the Championship this term, the ex-Southampton man averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.93 and contributed with ten goals and two assists in 28 appearances – a strike every 2.8 outings on average.
Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez.
Mikautadze, however, averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.25 and plundered 23 goals and eight assists in 36 clashes in Ligue 2 for Metz – a goal every 1.56 matches on average.
This shows that the marksman has been lethal in front of goal as the gem has been able to score more than once every other game, which is far more impressive than Rodriguez's return.
The dynamo also produced 1.5 key passes per appearance and delivered seven 'big chances' on a plate for his teammates throughout the campaign, which shows that the young whiz has the vision and passing range to regularly open up the opposition's defence.
Meanwhile, the Englishman created 0.5 chances per game for his teammates in the second division and this indicates that the Metz star would provide far more creativity in the number nine role, as Rodriguez does not set up his fellow attackers on a regular basis.
Mikautadze, who writer Andres Ramos claimed is "shining" in Ligue 2, could, therefore, come in and provide Kompany's side with far more quality in the final third.
Their respective statistics this season suggest that the Georgian has the quality to score more goals and create more chances for others in comparison to Rodriguez, which is why he would come in as a big upgrade on the English veteran.
Tottenham Hotspur managerial target Ange Postecoglou "may be tempted" to accept the job in the Premier League, according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook.
What's the latest news on Ange Postecoglou to Spurs?
The Greek-Australian has reportedly “always” been one of the main candidates on Daniel Levy’s shortlist to replace interim coach Ryan Mason heading into the new season and his future north of the border is uncertain as a result of him being on a 12-month rolling contract, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the campaign due to him not yet signing an extension.
Football Insider claim that Celtic are preparing to table the 57-year-old a record-breaking offer that would make him the club’s best ever paid manager in their history to try and fend off interest from N17, but that doesn’t seem to have stopped the chairman from wanting to take a bite at the cherry.
The Daily Record state that the Lilywhites are readying an official approach for the Parkhead boss, with Levy holding a “concrete” interest in his target, and he’s now been backed to successfully secure his services in the weeks ahead.
Speaking to GiveMeSport, Crook claimed that Postecoglou could listen to any offers that come his way from Tottenham as a result of already achieving pretty much everything possible at Celtic. He said:
“Yeah, I’ve been down their list, and I think Postecoglou may be tempted. He would be giving up Champions League football at Celtic, but he might just feel he’s done all he can.”
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou.
Is Postecoglou the right candidate for Spurs?
Since Celtic appointed Postecoglou back in 2021, he’s completely transformed the squad and has even been dubbed “mental” for his front-foot approach by compatriot Jackson Irvine, so should Tottenham be able to secure his services in the dugout, it would be a massive coup for Levy and the rest of the hierarchy.
The Hoops coach, whose preferred formation is a 4-3-3 attacking, has so far taken charge of 112 games with the green and whites, winning 82, drawing 12 and losing just 18 of those fixtures whilst averaging 2.30 points per match, via Transfermarkt.
The Champions League manager has seen this form turn into silverware having secured four titles in Glasgow which are part of the 17 trophies that he’s collected at both club and international level since the beginning of his career on the sidelines.
Finally, Postecoglou shares the same agent, CAA Base Ltd, as Son Heung-Min, Pedro Porro and Richarlison, so this existing connection his representative has to the club could potentially give them a small advantage when it comes to the two parties trying to reach an agreement.