All posts by z3u9t.icu

Liverpool are believed to be considering lodging a formal offer for Real Madrid star Federico Valverde this summer, with Jurgen Klopp desperate to revive his midfield.

Alexis Mac Allister has already been signed from Brighton & Hove Albion for just £35m, while the likes of Khephren Thuram and Dominik Szoboszlai have both been linked with a move to the Anfield side of late.

Perhaps a more difficult target comes in the form of Valverde, with the Merseyside outfit previously credited with an interest in the Uruguayan midfielder last summer.

And now, according to Spanish sources, Liverpool are preparing a mouth-watering €90m (£77m) offer for the 24-year-old, with the club's German manager said to be a huge admirer of the dynamic ace.

While a transfer might seem unlikely, Valverde's future at the Santiago Bernabeu has come into question following a string of central signings over the past several years, condensing the position with a wealth of first-rate talent, and Florentino Perez might just consider a bid if the sum is appealing enough.

Should Liverpool sign Fede Valverde?

While many will think Liverpool might be deterred by Real's demands, there is every possibility that concrete negotiations could commence if both outfits can find common ground.

And while Valverde was hailed as "untouchable" by Carlo Ancelotti one year ago, there is maybe cause for hope at Anfield following Los Blancos' acquisition of Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund for an initial €103m (£88.5m).

Valverde is exactly the sort of profile Klopp needs to rejuvenate his side following a disappointing campaign that resulted in a fifth-place finish in the Premier League and a failure to add to the silverware gleaned across the past six years.

He could even emulate the role of Ilkay Gundogan at Manchester City, with the 32-year-old general joining Barcelona on a free transfer this summer after making 304 appearances for the Citizens, registering 100 direct contributions and being heralded as "incredible" and "intelligent" by Pep Guardiola.

Gundogan offers a different dynamic from the centre and is adept as both as a playmaker and a box-to-box midfielder, ranking among the top 6% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 17% for shot-creating actions, the top 12% for pass completion and the top 20% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

Valverde, who has been called "unbelievable" by Joe Cole, also flourishes across a wealth of positions and could offer Liverpool the kind of dynamism they need to challenge across multiple fronts next term.

And given the likeness to Gundogan, it might be the perfect formula for success, given Klopp's past with the 67-cap international; the Liverpool manager secured the sensation for Borussia Dortmund for €4m (£3.5m) in 2011, where he would forge 157 appearances for the Yellow Wall, winning the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal in his first season at the club.

The £135k-per-week Valverde – dubbed an "absolute machine" by BBC Sport's Raj Chohan – also ranks among the top 7% of positional peers for goals, the top 16% for assists, the top 16% for pass completion and the top 9% for progressive carries per 90.

Valverde is the driving force Klopp craves and while a deal might prove somewhat strenuous to get over the line, if he is indeed available for transfer the kitchen sink must be thrown at bringing him to Liverpool.

Celtic could look at a season-long loan move for Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney this summer, according to reports.

Could Celtic sign Kieran Tierney?

The Hoops have made a head start on their summer business under new manager Brendan Rodgers, with 20-year-old midfielder Odin Thiago Holm signing a five-year deal.

He looks set to be the first of many through the door, with Parkhead officials reportedly handing Rodgers a £30m transfer budget over the coming months.

One player who has been linked with a reunion with Rodgers is Leicester City defender Daniel Amartey, who will soon be out of contract with the Foxes, and another player who the Northern Irishman knows well is Tierney, with speculation over a return emerging.

The Scottish Sun shared an update in the last 48 hours regarding Celtic and Tierney, claiming the former Hoops defender would consider a return to Parkhead in what ‘would be a stunning statement of intent’.

They say that a season-long loan could be a possibility if a substantial loan fee and compromise over wages can be agreed with Arsenal and the player.

However, the report adds that Premier League side Newcastle United are the favourites to sign Tierney, who is weighing up his future following a frustrating 2022/23 season.

Kieran Tierney’s career…

Tierney, dubbed an ‘absolute baller’ by talent scout Jacek Kulig, progressed through the Celtic academy and made 170 senior appearances for the Hoops, scoring eight times and registering 37 assists.

The 26-year-old won 11 major honours with Celtic and made a £25m move to Arsenal back in 2019, where he has gone on to win the FA Cup and Community Shield.

The Scot, on £110,000-a-week at the Emirates, shares the same agency as Hoops midfielder Aaron Mooy and has turned out on 123 occasions for the Gunners, however, he started just six times in the Premier League last season.

Celtic brought in left-back Alexandro Bernabei last summer, but after making more appearances under Rodgers than Mikel Arteta, perhaps a reunion with the Hoops boss could appeal to Tierney. Celtic can offer Champions League football and possibly regular game time back in Scotland, making this one to watch.

Leeds United are set to lose star forward Rodrigo Moreno for pennies on the dollar as former Sporting Director Victor Orta looks to bring him to Sevilla.

Leeds United transfer news – Rodrigo Moreno

Since Leeds were officially relegated from the Premier League, there have been rumblings of a player exodus.

A lower level of competition and huge wage cuts make it hard for relegated sides to keep a hold of their star players, and that certainly looks to be the case for striker Rodrigo.

According to Spanish outlet El Paritdazo de COPE, the Spaniard is set to join Sevilla on a free as the Yorkshire club looks to free up their wage bill going into next season.

The fact that the current sporting director of the Spanish giants, Victor Orta, is also Leeds' former Sporting Director probably helped, despite Orta denying it, saying: "With this rumour, maybe from there, things have got a bit exaggerated."

What has Conor McGilligan said bout the situation?

McGilligan was quick to point out that the idea of losing a player for such a small amount of money was a painful one, especially as it's their former sporting director that has seemingly got him.

Speaking on the One Leeds podcast, he said: "It hurts the fact that we've spent £31m on a player and our recruitment director is going to go back to Seville and then pinch him for €3.5m."

However, McGilligan was eager to point out that the problem could be much bigger than just Rodrigo and that Orta could know a lot more about the inner workings of the club than the fans realise, adding: "Now I think my worry with all this is that Victor Orta was top of Leeds United transfers because Andre Radrizzani didn't have a clue about football and Orta was running everything especially when it came to player contracts, release clauses, everything.

"I am massively worried that he knows the release clauses, he knows the players, and he knows what moves they may favour. Victor Orta has got a lot of our future in his hands now he's part a system at Sevilla which is a winning system when it comes to European trophies, and it's massively attractive it will be attractive for any of our players to go to Sevilla."

How good was Rodrigo last season?

The departure of the Rio-born forward will certainly be a blow to the Peacocks, as he scored a respectable 13 goals in the Premier League last season and produced one assist.

According to WhoScored, he also averaged a decent match rating of 6.81 across his 31 games last season, which considering the dysfunctional nature of Leeds last year, looks quite good.

His underlying numbers look strong as well. According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, Rodrigo is in the top 12% of players for non-penalty goals and, surprisingly, the top 11% for tackles per 90, showing that he isn't afraid to do the defensive work.

The club will miss him for his off-the-pitch influence as well.

Following a game with the Leeds development squad in 2021, Mark Jackson, the team's coach, hailed the Spaniard as "a fantastic influence on the young players."

With Rodrigo looking as good as gone, only time will tell if Orta plans on taking any more of his ex-players.

Tottenham Hotspur have seemingly identified one of their top targets for the summer…

What's the latest on Edmond Tapsoba to Tottenham Hotspur?

That's according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, who took to Twitter earlier today to issue an update on Ange Postecoglou's progress in the transfer market.

With Edmond Tapsoba a highly-rated centre back across Europe, his name being touted with a move to north London is one which will have fans excited. The journalist wrote: "Understand Tottenham have started concrete contacts to be informed on Edmond Tapsoba as new CB.

"He’s on the list since long time — and Spurs are now exploring conditions of the deal on both player and Bayer 04 side. Nothing advanced yet — Tapsoba, keen on the move".

It's been claimed by other reports that any such deal could cost an eye-watering £61m.

Would Edmond Tapsoba improve Tottenham Hotspur?

Whilst it is certain that the addition of such a defensively dominant titan would improve Spurs, the fact that it could spell bad news for Eric Dier might make this move even more worthy of the astronomical expected price tag.

After all, the England international struggled last term under the ever-changing leadership, proving himself underwhelming in a back three, and flat-out useless in a back four.

Cristian Stellini showcased this for all to see when he opted for the latter system in April only to see his side ship six goals to Newcastle United. Dier was, unsurprisingly, at the heart of this. For the rest of the term, he maintained an underwhelming 6.86 average rating.

Meanwhile, the Burkina Faso international has been ever-present at the heart of his team's back line, showcasing immense skill with the ball at his feet, and unparalleled power in his defensive work.

Whilst maintaining 1.1 interceptions, 1.5 tackles and three clearances per game in the Bundesliga is admirable, it is his 86% pass accuracy and astronomical 89% dribble success rate that truly makes him the perfect modern-day centre-back, via Sofascore.

This notion is only emphasised through Opta's player analysis tool, which showcases how the 24-year-old is a true standout in both touches and possession won. He snatches the ball back from the opposition with ease but then has the poise and skill to stride out from the back and kickstart an attack.

Standing at 6 foot 4 too, such an imposing figure that marries his power with fleet-footedness makes him a true physical marvel, and a certainty to thrive in English football. After all, he has been noted as something of a "monster" by scout and writer Antonio Mango.

His arrival to play as a right-sided centre-back would in turn make Dier obsolete, relegating him to the backup role that many would agree he suits. With 361 games for the club under his belt, the 29-year-old has been a loyal servant during his tenure.

However, as Postecoglou seeks to usher in a new, brighter era, this level of player must be removed and replaced with a higher quality. Tapsoba would mark just the start of this revolution.

Newcastle United are interested in raiding Southampton for their star right-back Kyle Walker-Peters following the south coast club's relegation from the Premier League.

What's the latest on Kyle Walker-Peters to Newcastle?

The Telegraph states that the Magpies are intrigued by the possibility of bolstering their ranks by signing the 26-year-old defender.

A previous report from the publication claims that Newcastle are interested in a full-back this term, and given the Englishman's aptitude across both flanks, he could be the optimal addition.

Valued at around £15m, Walker-Peters could address the defensive dilemma for an affordable fee and provide study cover and an opportunity to cement a regular starting role as Newcastle enter Champions League competition after two decades away.

Should Newcastle sign Kyle Walker-Peters?

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe does not boast a bottomless hoard of cash despite popular belief following the lucrative PIF takeover in 2021, and with several high-profile names being targeted, a shrewder route must be taken to reinforce the remainder of the squad.

Given Walker-Peters' supposed availability and proven top-flight experience, he would likely make a marked impact on the depth and dynamism of the Tyneside squad, who, despite an incredible 2022/23 campaign, will now know the pressure is on to emulate the success and perhaps even sniff out some silverware – all the while enduring the increase in competition that comes with European football.

Kieran Trippier was the recipient of the club's Player of the Season award and he will likely be at the forefront of the team's exploits once again, but at 32 years old, the imperial right-back will not be an ever-lasting presence in this new Toon dynasty – and signing an heir will be firmly in the mind of technical director Dan Ashworth.

Having signed for the Saints from Tottenham Hotspur for £12m in 2020 after impressing on loan, Walker-Peters has made 120 appearances, scored three goals and supplied seven assists – dubbed an "outstanding talent" by Danny Higginbotham.

Having also attracted attention from the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United this term, the two-cap England international is clearly a top-class talent and was indeed one of the "star" performers in a woeful year for Southampton, as remarked by reporter Alfie House.

As per FBref, the £20k-per-week ace ranks among the top 10% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries, the top 8% for successful take-ons and the top 9% for blocks per 90, which illustrates his first-rate driving presence that would only enhance the Magpies' prospects as they seek forward-thinking outlets across the park.

His skill set does differ from pass-master Trippier's, who ranks among the top 1% of full-backs for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for assists, the top 5% for passes attempted and the top 4% for progressive passes per 90, but this level of dynamism in the ranks would only add to the multi-dimensional squad at Howe's disposal.

Considering that Newcastle might make several lucrative additions over the coming months, Walker-Peters would be a brilliant signature to obtain, prudent and brimming with potential, while finally being able to demonstrate the full scale of his abilities in a thriving outfit.

Incoming Tottenham Hotspur boss, Ange Postecoglou could already be eyeing up a first signing of the summer at N17, following an update regarding the club's pursuit of Leicester City star, James Maddison.

What's the latest on Maddison to Tottenham?

According to journalist Sean Walsh, writing on Twitter, the 57-year-old is said to have "approved" of the Lilywhites' pursuit of the England international, with the ex-Celtic man having been named as the new permanent head coach on Tuesday.

In his attached piece for 90min – alongside colleague Graeme Bailey – Walsh adds that the north London outfit are set to rival Newcastle United for the signing of the 26-year-old, with the playmaker in line to leave his current home following the Foxes' recent relegation.

This follows a previous report from The Sun which also claimed that both Spurs and the Magpies are 'pushing hardest' to sign the former Norwich City man ahead of next season, with the two-cap gem set to be available for around £40m with just a year left to run on his existing deal.

Would Maddison be a good signing for Tottenham?

The fleet-footed "magician" – as previously hailed by Statman Dave – would likely prove an astute capture for new man Postecoglou, with the Coventry-born sensation having proven his credentials in the Premier League in recent years, with 75 goals and assists in 163 games in the competition to date.

Despite forming part of a Leicester side that only recently suffered relegation, the £110k-per-week maestro did still enjoy a positive individual campaign after racking up 19 goal involvements in 30 league appearances, with only Harry Kane contributing more goals and assists (33) among the Spurs squad.

That ability to make a telling impact in the final third could ensure that Maddison proves to be a dream partner to Kane at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next term, with the latter man likely to thrive off such elite service.

Hailed for his "world class" delivery in the past by Three Lions boss, Gareth Southgate, Maddison notably recorded 12 big chances and averaged 2.3 key passes per game in 2022/23 as a marker of his creative prowess, with that illustrating that he can be the man to deliver the goods on a plate for Tottenham's free-scoring, talisman.

Previously hailed as "the best centre-forward in world football" by his England colleague, Kane has been linked with a departure in recent times, although the current suggestion is that the 29-year-old will not be sold this summer, despite having just 12 months to run on his current deal.

As such, the 280-goal marksman would likely thrive off having quality figures around him under Postecoglou next season, such as Maddison, with the latter man clearly an asset who seeks to play forward at every available opportunity as he ranks in the top 15% among his European peers for progressive passes, as per FBref.

With Spurs seemingly "in need of that creativity" – as pundit Noel Whelan previously stated – the signing of the Leicester man could well have Kane licking his lips this summer…

Following the culmination of a dramatic final day in the Bundesliga, champions Bayern Munich have turned their attention to the transfer market and specifically one of the league's standout players.

According to Italian outlet ilBiancoNero, Bayern are looking to sign Frankfurt forward and French international Randal Kolo Muani for an estimated €80m (£69m) this summer.

Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic is another option for Thomas Tuchel up front, and could be available for a similar price.

Why are Bayern Munich looking at Kolo Muani?

Kolo Muani is one of the hottest prospects in European football. At just 24, the striker is on the radar of multiple clubs around Europe as he enters the prime of his career.

It’s not hard to see why Bayern are considering Kolo Muani as their signature signing of this summer window.

The Frenchman is predominantly a No.9, playing as the central striker in Frankfurt’s front three. Kolo Muani has the ability to play both on the left wing and the right wing, and provides both goals and assists to his current Frankfurt side.

Kolo Muani notched 15 goals and 14 assists this season in the Bundesliga for Frankfurt, meaning the 6 foot 1 forward was involved in exactly 50% of the teams goals during the 22/23 campaign.

The Frankfurt frontman also contributed six goals and three assists in the German cup this season and finished as the top goalscorer in the competition.

The striker’s form was rewarded by France manager Didier Deschamps, giving Kolo Muani his international debut in September 2022. So far, the former Nantes player has made six appearances for his country, netting one goal.

Are Bayern Munich likely to sign Kolo Muani?

Having joined Frankfurt from Nantes just last summer for an estimated €16m, Kolo Muani will be a cheap option this summer. The player is contracted to the winners of the 2022 Europa League winners until 2027, so Frankfurt will have a strong hand in negotiating a hefty fee for the sought-after target.

Bayern have a history of sweeping up talent from within the Bundesliga. Mats Hummels, Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski were all signed from title rivals Borussia Dortmund, while defender Dayot Upamencano and Marcel Sabitzer were both signed from RB Leipzig in the same summer transfer window.

It’s part of the reason Bayern have 11 straight Bundesliga titles, and the signing of Kolo Muani could help take Thomas Tuchel’s side to the next level, replacing the aging Thomas Müller and Eric Choupo-Moting up front.

An update has emerged on Burnley and their plans to bolster their attacking options heading into the summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Jack Clarke to Burnley?

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Clarets have made a bid to sign Sunderland winger Jack Clarke ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Fellow Premier League rivals Brentford and Crystal Palace are also said to be in the race for the Englishman's signature, but the Black Cats are going to make it hard for them as they want to keep hold of their star forward.

The reporter tweeted:

"Burnley, Brentford and Crystal Palace have all submitted bids for Sunderland talent Jack Clarke. #SAFC Understand Sunderland are currently negotiating a new deal for Clarke as he’s considered ‘vital’ for the club to get promoted."

How did Jack Clarke perform this season?

The £15k-per-week gem enjoyed a stunning campaign in the Championship with Tony Mowbray's side and would arrive at Turf Moor as a big upgrade on Anass Zaroury.

Clarke averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.00 across 45 appearances in the division and contributed with nine goals and 11 assists as he proved himself to be a reliable option in the final third at that level, with journalist Josh Bunting going as far as to say that the homegrown talent is "unplayable" at times.

The former Tottenham Hotspur attacker was clinical in front of goal as he scored nine times from 6.92 xG, which shows that the gem outperformed the quality of chances that were presented to him.

Zaroury enjoyed similar success in the Championship as the Moroccan wizard plundered seven goals from just 4.0 xG and this indicates that there is not a major difference between the two in terms of their finishing as neither of them were wasteful with their shots.

However, Clarke does have a much greater edge when it comes to creating opportunities for others – the 22-year-old racked up 13 assists in all competitions and amassed 11.10 xA, with 6.8 xAG in the league, whereas the Burnley star, who averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.94, only registered six assists and an xAG of 6.0.

These statistics suggest that the Sunderland magician, who also completed 0.4 more dribbles per match (2.0) than Zaroury (1.6), could offer far more creativity from the left wing by providing his teammates with a higher quality of chances.

When you also factor in that they are both impressive finishers, Clarke could come in as a big – and instant – upgrade on the Clarets dynamo to improve Kompany's squad ahead of the upcoming Premier League campaign.

Leeds United winger Raphinha has now agreed on personal terms with Barcelona ahead of a summer move, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Final home appearance?

The Whites travel to Brentford on Sunday for the final game of the season, with relegation back to the Championship still a major possibility for Jesse Marsch’s side.

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Leeds managed to take a point in their last home game of the campaign against Brighton which took them out of the bottom three for the time being, with Burnley set to travel to Aston Villa on Thursday night.

Raphinha played the entirety against the Seagulls and came back out to an empty Elland Road following the final whistle, sitting on the turf, with some believing that was his final home appearance for the club.

The Latest: Terms agreed

Goal Brazil provided an update regarding Raphinha and Barcelona on Tuesday. They claimed that the winger has now agreed on personal terms ahead of a move to the Nou Camp which will see his current salary doubled through to 2027.

The Catalan giants will be able to sign the 25-year-old for €25m if Leeds are relegated and are yet to put an official offer on the table, as reports have recently suggested.

The Verdict: Sunday huge

Raphinha has made it clear to Leeds chiefs that he wants to depart this summer, so a transfer to the Nou Camp seems to be a matter of when and not if, following Laurens De Bock as the second man out of the door after the left-back signed a one-year deal with Zulte Waregem.

However, if the Whites manage to remain in the Premier League, they’d hold the cards when it comes to a deal. You’d expect that the attacker would go for much more than €25m if Leeds avoid the drop, another reason why Sunday’s trip to Brentford is absolutely huge both in the short and long term.

In other news: Radz and Orta have had enough of Leeds ‘liability’; now set to be released from Elland Road. 

Rangers duo Ross Wilson and Gio van Bronckhorst are set for a busy few months of work as they look to shape their squad heading into next season.

The Ibrox giants will be buying and selling players as the Dutch head coach will get his first summer transfer window in charge of the club. It is his first real chance to bend the team to his will as he has more than just one month – as he had in January – to bring in his own gems to improve the side.

Van Bronckhorst bringing in his own recruits will mean that other players will need to be let go and this means that we could see a number of departures from the club in the coming months.

One of the players who could be on their way out of the Glasgow giants this summer is central midfielder Glen Kamara.

FFC recently published an article explaining why this summer may be the perfect time for the club to cash in on the Finland international. Wilson can sell him before his value plummets if he continues to decline next season, after his recent poor form for the Gers – with journalist Andrew Dickson recently dubbing his play against Motherwell as a “shambles”.

However, selling Kamara will leave a vacant spot in the squad for a defensive midfielder, which the club should look to fill before they move the ex-Arsenal man on.

Rangers are reportedly interested in a deal to sign RB Leipzig brute Eric Martel and van Bronckhorst must now secure a deal to sign the German youth international in order to axe his Finnish conundrum in the middle of the park.

This season, he has averaged a score of 7.01 on loan at Austria Wien as he has shown that he can perform consistently at senior level, despite only turning 20 last month. He has made a whopping 5.1 tackles and interceptions per game and won 56% of his individual duels and can bring a steeliness to the Rangers midfield next term.

The £1.8m-rated gem has “huge potential” – according to journalist Pete O’Rourke – and this means that the Gers would be signing a player with the scope to improve as well as someone whose statistics this season suggest he can be an asset to the side in the immediate future.

This is why he must be brought in to Ibrox this summer as he can be a fantastic signing for van Bronckhorst, given his potential and current ability as a defensive midfielder, and come in to allow Kamara to be sold.

AND in other news, Wilson must reignite Rangers swoop for “impressive” 28 G/A flier, GvB needs him…