All posts by z3u9t.icu

Everton have reportedly made contact regarding a move for Burnley forward Maxwel Cornet, with the Toffees in dire need of new reinforcements this summer.

What’s the word?

As per BBC journalist Fraser Fletcher, the Merseysiders are believed to be among a handful of Premier League clubs who are “in talks” to sign the 25-year-old in the current transfer window. The player is believed to be available for a fee in the region of £17.5m, owing to a release clause in his existing deal at Turf Moor.

Writing on Twitter about the race to sign the Ivorian gem, the transfer insider noted: “Maxwel Cornet future will be decided this week I’m told, he will leave Burnley. Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Everton and 1 more unnamed club are in talks for the Burnley player, All pushing hard and keen on securing, best offer wins”.

As Fletcher mentioned, it would appear that the former Lyon man is set to move on from the Clarets following their recent drop into the second tier, having only arrived in Lancashire in a £12.9m deal last summer.

Supporters will love it

Following the club’s dramatic escape from relegation on the penultimate day of last season, the hope among Everton supporters would have been to see significant investment made in the playing squad this summer in order to avoid another relegation dogfight next term.

Alas, at present it would appear that Frank Lampard’s side have only been weakened by the £60m departure of former talisman Richarlison to Tottenham Hotspur, while the club’s solitary incoming at Goodison Park has been that of experienced centre-back James Tarkowski on a free transfer.

However, reports that the 29-year-old could be joined at the club by former team-mate Cornet should raise the excitement levels among the Everton faithful, with the £13.5m-rated man seemingly the type of player who can make an instant impact next season.

The £44k-per-week speedster offers undoubted quality in the final third, having chipped in with nine goals and one assist in his 26 Premier League outings last term, notably providing a goal and an assist against Lampard and co in the 3-2 victory for Burnley in April.

While largely deployed as an attacking left-back during his previous spell in France, the 25-cap machine proved himself a real menace in a centre-forward role under both Sean Dyche and Mike Jackson last term, having also shown his ability to feature on either flank.

That versatility will help to ease the blow of the departure of the aforementioned Richarlison, with the Toffees in need of another dynamic attacking presence who can feature all across the front line.

Indeed, the club appear to be in desperate need of additional quality, with their recent 4-0 defeat to MLS outfit Minnesota United in pre-season showcasing that an improvement upon last term is not a guarantee, as the threat of relegation remains a distinct possibility.

In truth, what will most please supporters about the potential Cornet deal will simply be that the club are making moves to strengthen, having been frustratingly inactive in the summer market thus far.

AND in other news – “We hear…”: Journalist drops major transfer update on £30m Everton target, it’s bad news

An update has emerged on Newcastle United’s interest in Harvey Barnes in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to The Sun, the Magpies are eyeing a swoop to sign the Leicester gem as Dan Ashworth looks to improve Eddie Howe’s squad.

The report claims that the Foxes are demanding a fee of £50m for the wizard and are not willing to budge on their valuation.

It is stated that the club are looking at Barnes after Everton set a £50m price tag on Anthony Gordon’s head, with the Toon valuing him at £25m.

Big upgrade on Ryan Fraser

By securing a deal to sign the Leicester attacker, Newcastle can land a big upgrade on current Magpies winger Ryan Fraser.

The Scotland international joined the club from Bournemouth on a free transfer in 2020 and he is yet to prove that he has what it takes to be a consistent starter in the Premier League.

In 2020/21, Fraser played 18 games for the Toon and registered two assists, whilst failing to score a single goal from out wide. He then followed that up with two goals and three assists in 27 outings last term, which shows that he has struggled to make a big impact in the final third.

Barnes, on the other hand, has been impressive for the Foxes in the last two campaigns as he has shown that he can be a reliable option at the top end of the pitch.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp previously heaped praise on the winger, saying: “Barnes is probably one of the biggest talents, I’m not sure if he is respected or appreciated as much as he should be, he is an unbelievable player to be honest, a proper Leicester product.”

His statistics suggest that he is deserving of that praise. In 2020/21, he produced nine goals and four assists in 25 Premier League appearances, before racking up six goals and ten assists in 32 matches the following season.

The 24-year-old has proven that he can make a bigger impact than Fraser in the final third, as he has a better record in terms of both scoring and assisting goals from out wide.

Therefore, Ashworth must work hard to get a deal over the line for the Englishman as he would improve Howe’s options in attack for the 2022/23 campaign by offering far more than the Scotsman.

AND in other news, Howe could land his own Dias for Newcastle in £38m deal to sign “underrated” colossus…

Arthur Masuaku has left West Ham United today in order to join Besiktas on loan.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to the club’s official channels, who reveal that the left-back has now joined Besiktas JK on a season-long loan deal, with the Turkish side possessing the option to make the 28-year-old’s switch a permanent one at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

The Evening Standard has since suggested that the club are hoping to bring Eintracht Frankfurt wing-back, Filip Kostic, in as the defender’s replacement.

However, with the 29-year-old said to be unsure as to whether he would be open to a move to the London Stadium this summer, the Hammers boss is believed to be keen to pursue other options in the position, with the new Premier League campaign fast approaching.

Moyes must now act

Considering just how unpredictable Masuaku has been for West Ham ever since his £6m move from Olympiakos back in the summer of 2016, the news that the 28-year-old is finally on the way out of the club is sure to come as a relief for many involved with the Irons.

This is an opinion it would appear supporters of the Hammers agree with, as the overwhelming majority revealed in a poll ran by Football FanCast that they feel the club should move the 11-cap international on this summer – and it is not difficult to see why.

Indeed, the £4.5m-rated left-back failed to cement a starting spot in the Hammers’ side over the past six years, starting just 79 Premier League fixtures since his move to east London – an average of 13-per-season – as well as making a further 26 appearances from the bench.

In terms of his level of performance when called upon, the results do not make pretty reading for the £43k-per-week defender, with the player who one West Ham analyst dubbed “terrible” averaging a disappointing SofaScore match rating of just 6.74 over his six top-flight campaigns for the Irons.

As such, with Moyes’ side undoubtedly once again hoping to mount a charge on the top six in the league in 2022/23, in addition to making a mark in their first ever Europa Conference League campaign, it is clear to see that an upgrade is required on the left of the Hammers’ backline – especially with Aaron Cresswell set to turn 33 later this year.

And, while the €22m (£18.5m) signing of the 67-goal and 102-assist Kostic would certainly represent a remarkable piece of business for the Hammers this summer, with the Serbian stalling and West Ham due to kick off the new Premier League campaign against Manchester City in five days time, Moyes simply must make a decision on the 29-year-old in the coming days – be that going all in for the Frankfurt star or making a move for another target in the position.

Jamie Carragher was left criticising Fred for his role in Brighton and Hove Albion’s second goal against Manchester United this afternoon.

The Lowdown: Poor start

Erik ten Hag’s Premier League reign as Red Devils manager got off to an inauspicious start, with his team finding themselves 2-0 down at half-time at Old Trafford.

Two goals from Pascal Gross put the Seagulls in control at the interval, before the hosts pulled a goal back in the second half after a mix-up between Robert Sanchez and Alexis Mac Allister.

The Latest: Fred criticised

Speaking live on Sky Sports, Carragher was critical of the reaction of Fred for Gross’ second goal, as he sneaked in ahead of the Brazilian at the back post to convert the rebound from a David de Gea save.

The former Liverpool manager hailed the Brighton player’s trickery earlier in the move but took aim at the Unietd midfielder, saying: “Absolutely fantastic – it started with a back-heel by their own corner flag.

“The reaction from Fred is a joke and Ten Hag needs to fix this right away… he has to get Ronaldo on now.

“These Manchester United players don’t know where these Brighton players are popping up and what is going on.”

The Verdict: Not good enough

Fred was simply not good enough and was rightfully substituted off for Cristiano Ronaldo early in the second half.

The midfielder lost out on all four of his duels, while he also made no tackles, was dribbled past twice and lost possession of the ball nine times in his 53 minutes on the pitch (SofaScore).

The Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor claimed that both Fred and Scott McTominay were ‘chasing shadows’ in the middle of the park during the match, which perfectly summed up how the game was going for the 29-year-old, who is no stranger to criticism during his Old Trafford career.

CBS Sports journalist James Benge has revealed that Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson faces a ‘couple of months’ out injured.

The Lowdown: Loan offers expected

It was expected that Mikel Arteta’s side would receive loan offers for Nelson as the transfer window progresses, which would have been considered to give him a chance to earn regular playing time in senior football.

The winger was on loan at Dutch outfit Feyenoord last season, where he managed four goals and seven assists in 32 games in total over all competitions (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Injury setback

Taking to Twitter, Benge has revealed that Nelson is now facing a ‘couple of months’ out after picking up an injury, in what is a ‘frustrating blow’ for the Englishman:

“Reiss Nelson facing a couple of months on the sidelines with a quad injury, I’m told. A frustrating blow for the winger at a pivotal moment in his Arsenal career.”

The Verdict: Big blow

Of course, it is a big blow for both Nelson and the North London club that he has now picked up this injury.

The Gunners would have wanted him to go out on loan again to further his development, while Nelson himself would have anticipated joining another club.

Now, it seems unlikely that any clubs will come in for him this window, given that he will not be able to play for two months, and so that move may not be able to happen until the January transfer window.

Nonetheless, the 22-year-old will be hoping for a swift recovery, so that he can get back playing as soon as possible.

BBC journalist Simon Stone has shared an update out of West Ham United, with the club in talks to sign Chelsea defender Emerson Palmieri.

The Lowdown: West Ham very busy…

The Hammers and their manager David Moyes are said to be very busy as the conclusion of the summer transfer window draws near.

September 1 is just over a fortnight away, with West Ham running out of time to make necessary Premier League additions, especially defensively amid their current crisis in that regard.

Angelo Ogbonna, Craig Dawson and new summer signing Nayef Aguerd are unavailable for selection, prompting Moyes to rely upon young full-back Ben Johnson to partner Kurt Zouma at centre-back so far this term.

The Latest: West Ham in Emerson talks…

As backed by BBC reporter Stone, the east Londoners have set their sights on Chelsea left-back Emerson as a potential alternative to Aaron Cresswell in that position.

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He claims that West Ham are in talks for signing the Italian as Moyes ‘has turned to’ the 28-year-old in search of defensive reinforcements.

The Verdict: Right man?

Emerson spent last season on loan at Lyon and went on to be a mainstay for the Ligue 1 giants, playing the sixth-highest number of league minutes out of their entire squad (WhoScored).

Although he has been unable to fight his way through the real left-back competition at Chelsea, his manager Thomas Tuchel has praised the Italy international’s ‘unbelievable’ qualities when he has been given an opportunity to impress.

Amassing 27 caps under Roberto Mancini for Gli Azzurri, there is clearly a quality player in there, and one which could really strengthen Moyes’ options on the left flank.

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Marco Asensio throughout the summer transfer window so far, and a new update has emerged on the player’s future.

What’s the latest?

According to Spanish news outlet Mundo Deportivo, football agent Jorge Mendes has offered the Reds the chance to sign the 26-year-old.

As per the report, the Real Madrid forward has been offered to a number of clubs including Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea as he is in the last year of his contract at the Bernabeu.

The report goes on to confirm that no official offer has been made for Asensio as of yet.

Imagine him & Nunez

There is no doubt that Liverpool already boast an extremely talented forward line with Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and new signing Darwin Nunez making up the new-look front three at Anfield. However, with so many outgoings in the attacking ranks over the summer, it could be a great piece of business to sign Asensio in the coming weeks.

Divock Origi, Sadio Mane and Taki Minamino all departed the Merseyside giants over the transfer window, so the offer from Mendes could be a golden opportunity to provide strength in the attacking third as the Reds seek challenge for multiple trophies yet again this season.

Asensio has enjoyed a very successful career at Real Madrid, playing a part in winning three Champions Leagues, three La Liga titles and three UEFA Super Cups since joining the club in 2016.

The Spaniard hasn’t been a consistent starter for Los Blancos but has been a reliable and consistent performer when called upon to make an impact on the pitch, scoring 49 goals and delivering 24 assists over 235 appearances.

Indeed, Salah has now signed a contract extension at Liverpool to extend his stay until 2025; and with Luis Diaz joining the squad earlier this year prior to Nunez, it would seem unlikely that Asensio gets guaranteed first-team football at Anfield. However, due to his versatility in positioning, he could be a huge asset to Jurgen Klopp.

The £25.8m-valued star, who Real Madrid legend Guti once claimed has the “future at his feet”, has ample experience in being deployed in both the left and right wing roles and in attacking midfield, so the Liverpool boss would be bringing in a player who can cover a number of positions should it be needed.

With his winning mentality built up over the last six years at Real Madrid and experience in playing alongside elite centre-forwards like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, he could be the perfect player to come into the Liverpool forward line to get the very best out of young Nunez.

The 23-year-old hasn’t had the easiest start to his Reds career after being sent off on Monday night following an incident with Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen, so it would be great to have an experienced player like Asensio to come in and work with the youngster alongside the other forwards in the team to help the Uruguayan fulfil his potential on Merseyside.

Signing the Spaniard would be a big coup for Liverpool, but with more pressing issues in the injury-ridden middle of the park, it may be a move which is put on the backburner, with potential midfield reinforcements becoming the priority at the club over the last two weeks of the transfer window.

Aston Villa appear to be close to the signing of Watford star, Ismaila Sarr, according to the latest reports.

What’s the word?

As per journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Midlands side are said to have agreed a fee with the Championship outfit for the 24-year-old winger, with Villa now pushing to wrap up an agreement regarding personal terms.

Writing on Twitter about that developing deal, the transfer guru stated: “Watford have accepted Aston Villa bid for Ismaila Sarr: €25m plus €3m add-ons. Full agreement now in place between clubs. Personal terms not agreed yet, as Aston Villa are pushing on player side.”

The Senegal international had been linked with a move to fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace earlier this week, while Manchester United have also been mentioned as a potential suitor in recent times.

Scary

That imminent deal would no doubt represent a real coup for manager Steven Gerrard, with the former Rangers boss likely to be in need of some positive news following what’s been a mixed start to the new season, with two defeats and a win thus far.

The addition of the 47-cap speedster would somewhat lift the doom and gloom surrounding Villa Park, having showcased just what an explosive talent he is during his time at Vicarage Road thus far.

Plucked from Stade Rennais back in 2019, the £24.3m-rated menace has gone on to score 25 goals and provide 19 assists in 95 games in all competitions for the Hornets, notably providing 23 goal contributions during the 2020/21 season in the second tier.

Despite his current side’s swift relegation last term, the £63k-per-week gem still chipped in with a respectable tally of five goals and two assists in the top-flight, while he has since begun the new season in fine fettle after scoring from the halfway line in the recent draw with West Bromwich Albion.

Clearly too good to be playing his trade in the Championship, the “frightening” talent – as dubbed by ex-teammate Will Hughes – belongs back at a higher level, with it set to be a real delight to see him lining up in a claret and blue jersey this season.

Also described as “scary” by former Watford stopper Ben Foster, the pacy wide man is the type of player who is likely to strike fear into any opposition defender, with his unpredictable and instinctive style of play set to be hugely beneficial to Gerrard’s side.

Set to be the sixth major deal that the Englishman has made this summer, the hope will be that Sarr can prove to be the man to kickstart Villa’s season.

Tottenham Hotspur have a ‘list’ of possible targets to pursue should Japhet Tanganga leave the club, according to transfer insider Dean Jones. 

The lowdown: Tanganga exit links

A product of the youth system at Spurs, the 23-year-old is currently a one-club man after coming through the ranks in north London.

The England youth international has made 43 appearances for the Lilywhites, taking his overall tally to 121 outings for the club across all levels.

However, seeming unlikely to feature prominently under Antonio Conte having failed to get a game so far this season, Tanganga has been linked with AS Roma, Inter Milan and AC Milan recently, and it has been suggested that there are already replacements lined up should he move on…

The latest: Spurs’ ‘list’ of targets

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones has claimed that Tottenham already have their options in mind to come in for Tanganga if his exit from N17 is sanctioned.

The Eurosport journalist said: “They’ve got a list of names they’re willing to go for, but I don’t think they will go for it if Tanganga doesn’t leave, that’s my understanding anyway.”

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The verdict: Numbers needed

Even if Tanganga leaves, Conte would still have Eric Dier, Ben Davies, Cristian Romero, Clement Lenglet and Davinson Sanchez as centre-back options. However, with the Italian manager almost exclusively utilising variants of a 3-4-3 formation, there is a requirement for considerable depth in the centre of defence.

As such, Tottenham have been linked with the likes of Trevoh Chalobah, Pau Torres and Rodrigo Becao in recent weeks, although those all now appear to be difficult to complete for various reasons.

Whether or not Tanganga – who was hailed as ‘really special’ by Gary Neville – leaves Spurs, it remains possible that they could welcome more incomings into the ranks as Fabio Paratici continues to pursue attacking reinforcements in the shape of Adama Traore, Anthony Gordon and Ruslan Malinovskyi.

The identities of the players who are on the aforementioned list is unclear, although it makes for a fascinating end to the transfer window for Tottenham.

Reliable journalist Graham Smyth says it would be a big shock if Leeds United sign a free agent at left-back before the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Free agents available

The summer window is now closed for another year, with the Whites now focusing on Premier League commitments as they look to respond after last weekend’s 5-2 defeat at Brentford.

That being said, there are still free agents available who could be signed at any point – Wolves look set to tie up a deal for Diego Costa for example.

Leeds had an impressive summer, splashing the cash after losing Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips, but left-back is an area of the pitch where the squad still looks light, and a host of free agents in that position have been linked with a move.

The Latest: Smyth rules out signing

Writing in a Q&A for The Yorkshire Evening Post, Smyth was asked by one supporter if Victor Orta and Jesse Marsch may look into the unemployed market to find their solution at left-back:

“I would be stunned if they dipped into the free agent market for any signing. It just doesn’t feel like the kind of thing Leeds do. They had quite specific plans going into the summer transfer window, for each position, and had there been someone available on a free it would have happened long before now.

“If you’re fishing in that pond it suggests something has likely gone awry and while I believe they are a little light in that position, Marsch and Orta are content with what they have at left-back, in Junior Firpo, Pascal Struijk and Leo Hjelde.”

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The Verdict: Enough depth to get by

While Leeds’ left-back options aren’t necessarily perfect – Junior Firpo has been inconsistent, Stuart Dallas is injured and Pascal Struijk is better centrally – there is enough quality to get by for the time being.

Signing a free agent would feel a little like a panic buy when one isn’t required and Marsch will have complete faith in the options at his disposal currently, especially with youngster Leo Hjelde continuing to mature.

Come January, the manager may return to the market to sign a left-back, but that is likely to depend on Firpo’s performances and the injury situation at that point.