All posts by z3u9t.icu

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.

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.

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.”

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.

Leeds United may still be completely unsure of the division they'll find themselves in next season but that hasn't stopped reports linking them with big-money new signings ahead of the summer window.

One man who has been linked with a move to Elland Road recently is Barcelona winger Abde Ezzalzouli, and the 21-year-old could prove to be a dream successor to Wilfried Gnonto, should he move on to bigger things.

Could Leeds sign Abde Ezzalzouli this summer?

According to Spanish news outlet Sport, Leeds would be willing to pay €40m (£35m) to sign the Morocco international this summer as Barcelona look to cash in on some of their young talents in order to balance the financial books.

The Yorkshire outfit have been linked with him in the past, with reports claiming that Leeds held talks with his agent in April, which suggests that he is certainly on their shortlist of potential signings ahead of the summer.

The prospect of spending so much with an impending relegation seems unlikely but if Leeds were able to retain their Premier League status this season, perhaps they could invest some money in Ezzalzouli, in the hope that he could reach his potential at Elland Road.

Should he arrive at Leeds, he could prove to be a replacement for Gnonto, who looks increasingly likely to depart after catching the eye in his debut campaign in England, with the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea all linked with his signing.

Would Ezzalzouli be a good replacement for Gnonto?

While Gnonto has endured an up-and-down season with Leeds that started so promisingly before he was inexplicably benched by Javi Gracia, he does boast two goals and four assists in just 22 appearances so far this term.

An exciting dribbler who likes to cut inside, the Italy international has consistently gotten Leeds fans off their seats in another disappointing campaign, and it would be frustrating for fans to lose him after just one season in Yorkshire.

However, Ezzalzouli – also known as Ez Abde – could be a similarly exciting prospect for the Elland Road outfit given that he has already made 12 appearances for Barcelona's first team, and has contributed six goals and two assists in a loan spell with Osasuna this term, with Barca boss Xavi singing his praises last season.

"Extraordinary Abde, Gavi and Nico. They are supporting the team in difficult moments. The effort is extraordinary. Young people make a difference and that is difficult to digest. It is positive and negative because they will not always perform excellently because they are young," he said.

"Abde’s game is spectacular, and also Nico and Gavi’s. Abde is a differential player. He can make a difference, it is not because of the goal. He is a dagger. A marvel."

Like Gnonto, the Moroccan's most dangerous attribute is arguably his dribbling as WhoScored suggests that he is very strong at it, so the youngster could be a dream replacement in this Leeds side, should they fail to keep hold of their Italian teenage wonderkid this summer.

Rangers ended their 2021/22 campaign on a high as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Ibrox side won the Scottish Cup final last weekend in their final game of the season.

Ryan Jack scored a stunning volley from distance and Scott Wright produced a composed finish as two substitutes sealed the win in extra time for Rangers.

It was van Bronckhorst’s first trophy in charge of the Premiership club, and the focus must now turn to what the Gers need to do in the summer transfer window to win multiple competitions in 2022/23.

Ross Wilson and the Dutch coach will be identifying targets to come in and improve the team and/or replace current stars who may be on their way out of Ibrox.

One player for whom the club have been linked with a move is Bolton winger Oladapo Afolayan. Journalist Alan Nixon previously claimed on his Patreon site that the Light Blues are looking at him as a potential £1.5m replacement for Ryan Kent, who may leave the club.

Nixon has since confirmed that the Gers are still eyeing up a potential deal for the attacker, although there were no other updates aside from that.

Dream Kent heir

By signing Afolayan, Rangers can land the dream heir to Kent’s throne at Ibrox, as the 24-year-old is a talented and exciting winger who can contribute in the final third.

He has been dubbed an “asset” by Bolton manager Ian Evatt, who also heaped praise on the winger’s playing style by saying: “The way that Dapo plays out wide is that he’s always drifting inside into pockets of space into half spaces and then looking to thread passes or dribble and drive and shoot, so as a number 10, he can really affect the game from that position.”

In League One this season, he managed 12 goals and four assists in 38 starts for Bolton. Although he only picked up four assists for his efforts, Afolayan was a constant threat when it came to creating chances, as he provided 1.6 key passes per game and created eight ‘big chances’ in total.

The 24-year-old, who completed 1.4 dribbles per game in the recently-concluded campaign, has the ability to have a huge impact in the final third, as he has shown that he can score goals and provide his team-mates with opportunities on a regular basis.

Meanwhile, Kent produced two goals and eight assists in the Premiership for Rangers in 2021/22. He created 10 ‘big chances’ and delivered 1.7 key passes per match as he made himself a reliable, exciting option for Van Bronckhorst on the left flank.

Albeit in a different league, Afolayan’s statistics suggest that he can have a similar – potentially bigger – impact in front of goal if he is able to adapt to Scottish football. They both play out on the left flank and can score and create goals, which is why the Ibrox club must try to strike a deal with Bolton to land the English attacker as Kent’s heir.

AND in other news, Rangers can finally replace Defoe in deal for lethal 29 G/A gem who “never gives up”…

Tottenham Hotspur know a point will secure them a place in the Champions League next season as they travel to Norfolk to face Norwich City at Carrow Road.

Antonio Conte has transformed the north London outfit since arriving in November as Nuno Santo’s replacement and in recent weeks, their hard work on the training pitch has come to fruition.

Last week, Spurs defeated arch-rivals Arsenal and then Burnley to move into that fourth spot with everything in their own control. Now they go up against a side already banished to the Championship.

After an illness scare in midweek, it will be interesting to see what sort of side the Italian head coach names, here’s what we are predicting…

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In goal, Hugo Lloris is expected to remain, given he is the no.1 choice and the club captain. And with the Lilywhites still without Cristian Romero, there should be no changes to the backline either.

That means Ben Davies, Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez continue in a back three, with Ryan Sessegnon and Emerson Royal on either flank as wing-backs. Sergio Reguilon is also still absent through injury.

In midfield, it would be a surprise to see any changes, so Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg partners Rodrigo Bentancur again.

But further up the pitch, we could see the one and only change to the starting XI as Dejan Kulusevski comes in for Lucas Moura.

The £18m-rated Brazilian, described as a “nightmare” by Dier in the past, just hasn’t offered as much threat as the Swede since he arrived on deadline day in January.

He comes back into a front three involving Heung-min Son and Harry Kane, who was a big doubt heading into kickoff due to illness. There’s no way he misses a game of this nature.

Predicted Spurs XI (3-4-2-1): Lloris; Davies, Dier, Sanchez; Sessegnon, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Emerson; Son, Kulusevski; Kane

AND in other news, Conte must ruthlessly axe Spurs’ £34m-rated liability today, he’s been “horrendous”…

According to a report by The Daily Mail, a major West Ham United transfer update has now come to light involving Man United attacker Jesse Lingard.

The Lowdown: Hammers eye move…

Since the Englishman’s phenomenal spell on loan in east London, manager David Moyes has been eager to bring him back to West Ham on a permanent deal.

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Lingard looks set to leave Old Trafford as a free agent upon the expiry of his contract in June, potentially gifting the Premier League side a chance to re-sign him on a Bosman deal.

Big name players like Lingard and fellow midfielder Paul Pogba are edging closer to the Man United exit door and it is now claimed that Moyes has made an ‘early move’ for his former star.

The Latest: Mokbel shares big Lingard update…

According to The Mail, West Ham’s manager has in fact moved early ahead of the competition to try and seal a summer switch for the 29-year-old.

Indeed, with the Hammers ‘making an offer’ to Lingard, they’re now ‘looking to secure him’ as they seek to get ahead of the competition for his signature.

The Verdict: Promising…

Lauded as a potentially ‘huge’ and ‘massive signing’ at West Ham by pundit Paul Robinson, sealing an agreement for the soon-to-be free agent comes as a no-brainer for the east Londoners.

He is already proven under Moyes and knows the club well having thrived there for the second half of 2020/2021, not to mention the fact Lingard would arrive at zero transfer cost.

Taking all of this into account, agreeing a move for the Red Devils ace should be one of Moyes’ first items on the to-do list as he prepares for a busy window.

In other news: Talks held: West Ham are also pushing to sign £20m ‘beast’ as club green-light summer sale…find out more here.

Liverpool are believed to be edging closer to the signing of Aberdeen right-back Calvin Ramsay, according to a report from 90min. 

The lowdown: Rise to stardom

A graduate of the youth academy at Pittodrie, the 18-year-old starlet has enjoyed a breakthrough couple of seasons north of the border.

Following a fleeting Scottish Premiership debut in March 2021 against Dundee United, Ramsay has now made 39 appearances for the Aberdeen first-team, racking up nine assists during that time – it is perhaps no surprise to see the team so renowned for using their full-backs as playmakers now on the hunt.

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Albeit only a sample size on which to base an opinion and despite his fledgeling years, a big move may already beckon for the Scottish youth international…

The latest: Liverpool in pole position

As per 90min, Liverpool are said to be ‘confident of winning the race’ to sign Ramsay this summer.

It’s claimed that the Reds will beat interest from Leeds United, West Ham United, Burnley and Crystal Palace in order to land the teenager who was described as being among the ‘elite’ bracket of young talents in Europe by Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack.

Furthermore, the report states that ‘sources close to the Reds now believe a deal is close’ as Jurgen Klopp and new sporting director Julian Ward look to kickstart their summer transfer window early.

The verdict: Smart move

Although it’s currently nigh on impossible to envisage a world in which Ramsay can usurp Trent Alexander-Arnold, the ability to rest and rotate the three-cap Scottish Under 21 ace’s compatriot Andy Robertson with Kostas Tsimikas has proven invaluable this term.

Following a successful loan spell at Fulham it’s expected Neco Williams could look to move onto pastures new and as such Klopp will want an immediate replacement.

So far this season Ramsay – who boasts very strong crossing, key passes and set-piece ability (WhoScored) – has scored once and provided nine assists in 33 appearances, highlighting similarities with Alexander-Arnold that make it clear to see why Liverpool and Klopp would be keen on bringing the youngster to Anfield.

In other news, Liverpool have been boosted by a fresh transfer update. Read more here.

Graham Smyth has dropped a promising injury update on Leeds United centre-back Liam Cooper ahead of Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Arsenal.

What’s the latest?

In a recent article for the Yorkshire Evening Post, the journalist revealed that Jesse Marsch is optimistic the sensation the defender felt in his knee ahead of the Manchester City loss last weekend is not a serious injury, before going on to state that it is possible the Scotland international plays against Arsenal on Sunday.

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Smyth went on to write in his piece: “Cooper has been described at Leeds as the master of getting himself right for matchdays even after a disrupted week of training and if he’s in any way close to contention, he’ll push to be involved in such a big game.”

Marsch will be buzzing

Should Cooper indeed be deemed fit enough to feature at The Emirates this weekend, it would certainly be an outcome that will have Jesse Marsch and the Elland Road faithful buzzing.

Indeed, while injury has severely limited the 30-year-old’s game time this term, the £6.3m-rated Scot has nevertheless proven his importance to the Whites over his 18 Premier League appearances, helping his side keep five clean sheets, as well as making an average of 2.1 interceptions, 2.1 tackles, 3.4 clearances and winning 6.9 duels – at a success rate of 67% – per game.

These returns have seen the £35k-per-week defender average a highly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.07, ranking him as Leeds’ best performing outfielder in the top flight.

As such, considering just how important the Arsenal fixture is in Leeds’ season – with the Whites currently sitting just two points above the relegation zone – Cooper’s return would undoubtedly come as a huge boost for Marsch, something the 48-year-old manager desperately needs at present.

AND in other news: Sources: Orta eyeing Leeds bid for £19.8m-rated ace, he’s like “Messi inside the area”

Aston Villa forward Leon Bailey has been dealt a blow after picking up another injury in the win over Norwich City on Saturday.

What’s the word?

Speaking in his post-match press conference following the 2-0 victory over Dean Smith’s side, manager Steven Gerrard revealed that the Jamaican speedster faces a race to be fit for next week’s trip to Turf Moor, having been withdrawn just 40 minutes into the clash with the Canaries.

Asked about the summer signing’s status, the Villa boss said: “It’s an ankle issue. In terms of the extent and the damage I’m sure he’ll be MRI scanned in the next 24 to 48 hours. I’m really disappointed and frustrated for him because he’s worked really hard to get back, he’s been training ever so well.”

The Englishman then went on to add: “He said there was a bit of a twist after the contact so we’ll get him looked at. He’s obviously going to be a major doubt for the next game against Burnley because it’s very rare that you come off the pitch and you’re available for the next game, so we are concerned about it.”

Huge Blow

That frustration for all concerned stems from the fact that it has been a disrupted debut campaign for the 24-year-old since his £25m move from Bayer Leverkusen, having been restricted to just seven Premier League starts for the Midlands side.

The £27m-rated man had missed a fair portion of the season over the festive period with a thigh injury, although since his return to action in February he has failed to nail down a regular starting berth, despite the club’s inconsistent form.

He had arrived last summer with a big reputation after providing 65 goal contributions in 156 games in all competitions for the Bundesliga side, although has since chipped in with just one goal and two assists in the top-flight during his brief stint at Villa Park.

Nevertheless, he had begun to show signs of life in his recent outings, notably going close to scoring early on in Saturday’s win, only to be denied by a fine save from opposition stopper Tim Krul, while Birmingham Mail writer John Townley wrote that he looked “lively in spells” prior to his withdrawal.

With Gerrard’s men still not certain of survival – despite reaching the ‘magic’ 40 point mark with that latest victory – they are still in need of all the help they can get, with Bailey’s potential absence in the coming weeks far from an ideal situation.

Yes, it has not gone to plan so far, but there is certainly an immense talent in there somewhere, with his former coach Heiko Herrlich previously suggesting that he “can do anything” such is his undoubted quality.

He looked as if he had begun to build some rhythm in recent weeks, although this latest setback is set to be a huge blow for both his manager, the supporters and the player himself.

In other news, “I’m told”: Journo gives huge Aston Villa transfer boost, Gerrard will be delighted…