All posts by z3u9t.icu

Some players at Newcastle United have reportedly been left to rage at Miguel Almiron in a behind-the-scenes claim by Football Insider.

The Paraguay international, who Alan Shearer claimed was ‘magnificent’ in a 3-2 home win over Southampton back in February, has recently made an admission at a local radio station that he would like to play in a team that ‘fights more’, which has reportedly caused a big stir among several players in the Magpies squad.

A source in the northeast has since said that a lot of players at the Tyneside club have been left to feel ‘extremely unhappy’ with the comments that he made, and believe that he is trying to distance himself from some recent bad displays in the hope of potentially engineering a move away in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Almiron’s comments suggest that the squad are not fighting enough to stay in the Premier League, to which there is ‘anger’ among the camp.

Not what Newcastle need right now

This behind-the-scenes claim of tension among the Newcastle players is certainly not what the Toon Army want to or need to hear right now as they look to try and avoid being relegated from the Premier League.

Whatever disagreements they may currently have at this moment in time, the players at St James’ Park must stick together in order to try and get themselves out of the mess in which Steve Bruce’s team find themselves.

In other news, find out what inside claim Mark Douglas has dropped on two potential managerial candidates at Newcastle!

Former Manchester United man Keith Gillespie has exclusively told Transfer Tavern that he’s surprised to see Southampton striker Danny Ings linked with Manchester City.

The Premier League leaders are in the market to replace Sergio Aguero, having announced that the Argentine will be leaving the club at the end of the season.

He has been a remarkably reliable goalscorer for the club, scoring 257 goals in 384 games for the club.

Indeed, Aguero has scored 20 goals across a Premier League season no fewer than six times, and has scored more than 15 goals on eight occasions. He has had 10 seasons in the Premier League.

Sky Sports reported that Ings was a target for City as they explore their options when it comes to recruiting a forward.

The 28-year-old, by comparison, has scored 51 goals in 133 Premier League games across his career and has only broken the 20 mark once, last season.

And Gillespie believes the link is bizarre, especially when his injury record is also taken into account; Ings has had four hamstring injuries since his move to Southampton, and ruptured his cruciate ligaments at Liverpool.

Speaking to TT, he said: “It’s a strange one that.

“I really like Danny Ings as a player, but you look at the injury record that he’s had over the years, at Liverpool and Southampton, plenty of injuries.

“Is he on the same level as Aguero? I don’t think so. But Aguero’s exceptional. Danny Ings is a really good Premier League player.”

City have also been linked with a potential swoop for Borussia Dortmund superstar Erling Haaland, who has scored 21 Bundesliga goals in 21 games this season, and Gillespie thinks that makes more sense, again claiming that he would be shocked if Ings did end up at the Etihad Stadium.

He added: “I’d be very surprised if that happens, because you’re talking about Man City, you’re talking about them going for Haaland, somebody like that, somebody that is young.

“Danny Ings we know has had his injury problems so I would be surprised if that happened. I have heard it mentioned and I’m sure it’s raised a few eyebrows with a lot of people.”

Many Wolves fans have been left to slam an update from Duncan Castles on Fosun and some of their key players.

As per the football journalist and transfer guru (via Talking Wolves), the financial backing from Fosun will not be as strong at the Midlands club as it has been previously, while Pedro Neto, Ruben Neves and Adama Traore will all be made available for sale for substantial prices in order to generate cash.

Selling any of these players would of course come as a big blow to Nuno Espirito Santo’s team given that they sold the likes of Diogo Jota and Matt Doherty in the last summer transfer window, and will not want to have to lose their best players again.

Even besides the news on those players, the reduced financial backing from Fosun will also come as a blow given that they need to strengthen the squad in order to push up the table in the Premier League – with a quality deputy for Raul Jimenez surely a priority.

Wolves fans on Fosun update

These Wanderers supporters slammed the update on Twitter, with one WWFC fan even going as far as to claim that it was ‘disgraceful’:

“Well, expect relegation next season, as Jeff, Mendes & Nuno will be bringing in some more shocking signing, all under the age of 20 I expect!!”

Credit: @SteveWiles20

“I am done with football.”

Credit: @WhoIsCav

“If this happens again I wanna go back to the Championship”

Credit: @Harley_V12

“We’re in the mud next season @jordanawale”

Credit: @Joshua93Ww

“I said Traore would be sold this summer. What Fosun are doing to our club is disgusting and disgraceful, they’ve completely lied to and conned a fan base. There has to be mass protests and banners against these crooks. They’re prepared for relegation to the Championship.”

Credit: @TommyH_1990

“If this is true they have lost the plot, we should be building our team around Neto and Neves, not selling them”

Credit: @wellygoggs

In other news, find out which key star’s absence has been bemoaned by Wolves fans here!

Manchester United have reportedly once again reignited their interest in Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Red Devils are expected to express their intentions to sign the Serbian in the summer, having been linked with a move for his signature on numerous occasions in the past.

With the 26-year-old’s agent Mateja Kezman saying that he “can’t rule out” a move away from Lazio for Milinkovic-Savic, now is the time for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men to make a move and make him the natural successor to Nemanja Matic, with the current Red Devils ace suggesting that he would “think about” a move back to Benfica.

Having been with Lazio since 2015, Milinkovic-Savic has developed a reputation as one of the most impressive all-around midfield players in Europe. He has so far made 241 appearances for the Serie A giants, scoring 46 goals and providing a further 37 assists.

That has seen his transfer valuation rise exponentially, having been rated at £5.4m following his arrival from Genk. He is now sitting at more than ten times that amount at a £63m rating from Transfermarkt.

It could be argued that Manchester United simply do not need another midfielder, with the likes of Scott McTominay, Paul Pogba, Fred, Donny van de Beek and Matic all competing for places.

However, Milinkovic-Savic would certainly be a better option in the squad than his compatriot. Comparing the two players’ league statistics this season, it is no surprise to see the Lazio man come out on top.

He completes more tackles, wins more aerial duels and contributes more blocks than the current Red Devil, whilst also being far more of an offensive threat with more shots per game, key passes and dribbles according to WhoScored.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/the-latest-man-united-transfer-rumours-and-news-old-trafford-macheda-solskjaer-lingard-ousmane-dembele-anthony-martial-injury-rabiot-van-de-beek” title=” The latest Man United transfer rumours and news from Old Trafford…”]

Should Milinkovic-Savic indeed be on the move this summer, as has been suggested, Manchester United should be the first to make a move for the 26-year-old.

AND in more news, take a look at how Jesse Lingard’s red hot form is a positive for many reasons for Man United…

A number of Liverpool fans have been calling for Marko Grujic to leave the Reds permanently this summer, following reported interest from Porto.

Jurgen Klopp acquired the services of the midfielder back in January 2016, interestingly making him his first-ever signing at Anfield.

Grujic has had a frustrating time of things at Liverpool, however, making just 16 appearances to date and scoring one solitary goal.

[freshpress-quiz id=“350790”]

The 25-year-old Serb has found himself way down the midfield pecking order, leading to loan moves to Red Star Belgrade, Cardiff City, Hertha Berlin and now Porto.

According to Record [via Sport Witness],  the Portuguese giants want to sign Grujic permanently this summer, following an impressive spell there.

It is believed that Porto will try to sign the 10-time capped Serbia international for less than the €23million Liverpool wanted for him last season.

Liverpool fans call for Grujic to leave

It is a report that has gone down well with some Liverpool supporters, with a selection taking to Twitter to provide their thoughts on the matter, hoping to see their side make a quick buck off a youngster who seemingly isn’t going to break into the first team…

“Never really been given a chance for us, if we can get a good fee for him it makes sense to let him go”

Credit: @EESX1LFC

“Time for Michael Edwards to work his magic”

Credit: @velvet_thunder1

“Enter Mr. Edwards to work his magic”

Credit: @Yardie742

“Sell sell sell”

Credit: @Eric61342617

“Anything over £15million I’d take”

Credit: @TemnoLFC

“Yes please”

Credit: @ektelfc_petter

In other news, some Liverpool fans are unhappy with claims regarding two Reds players next season. Read more here.

Former Norwich City star Jon Newsome has told The Transfer Tavern that the club will try to bring Tottenham Hotspur loanee Oliver Skipp back to the club next season.

The Canaries were the first Championship club this season to seal promotion to the Premier League, a feat that was confirmed at the weekend.

Skipp has been integral to that success, playing in all 42 of the club’s games in the second-tier this season.

A defensive midfielder, he has even chipped in with a goal and two assists as Norwich have swept all before them to confirm their return to the top-flight.

As it stands, Skipp is scheduled to return to Spurs at the end of the season but Newsome believes it is almost certain that Norwich will try to find a way to keep him at Carrow Road, so impressive has the 20-year-old been.

Speaking exclusively to TT, he said: “I would imagine as a management and recruitment team, they will be looking at him and saying, ‘well, we know he does a good job for us, we know he fits into our style of play, he’s good around the players, he’s happy here. We’ve got to try and secure him’.”

Skipp has experience of playing for Spurs, having made 23 senior appearances before his loan move.

Carlo Ancelotti must ruthlessly axe Alex Iwobi when Everton travel to Arsenal on Friday night, having been his side’s worst-performing player against Tottenham Hotspur last time out.

Iwobi has struggled to establish himself as a key part of Ancelotti’s plans over recent months but was given the nod to start for the visit of Jose Mourinho’s Spurs, in what proved to be the Portuguese’s final game in charge.

A brace from Harry Kane either side of strikes from Gylfi Sigurdsson ensured the points were shared, but the axe fell on Mourinho’s tenure after 17 months despite guiding the north Londoners to this Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.

Iwobi has been given frequent chances to inspire a turnaround of his form with starting roles in four of the Toffees’ last five Premier League games, yet he has not scored since January 12 or provided an assist since December 16th.

His goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers to help to a 2-1 victory at Molineux remains the Nigerian winger’s only strike of the top-flight campaign, while being without an assist in 15 appearances after ending an eight-game drought with his second of the term at Leicester City.

Ancelotti must now call time on Iwobi’s run in the starting line-up with the Italian set to welcome 14-goal top-scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin back from an abductor injury, after seeing Iwobi flounder against Tottenham as the worst of Everton’s starting options.

The Liverpool Echo graded Iwobi with their joint-lowest match rating at just four out of 10, having carelessly turned over possession throughout the first half, including in the build-up to Spurs’ opening goal, while The Guardian described his performance as ‘anonymous’.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-everton-news%2c-views-and-gossip” title=”Latest Everton news, views and gossip!”]

Iwobi was even given the worst match rating of any player for either side by SofaScore at 6.1 out of 10, while WhoScored graded the Toffees’ £50,000-per-week winger at six out of 10 – only Tanguy Ndombele (5.9) was given a lower score for an outfield player.

The Blues’ £34m former Arsenal dynamo earned such woeful grades having missed the target with his only shot of the night, created no goalscoring chances, made fewer accurate passes (18) than goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (21) and lost a whopping 87% of his duels.

Iwobi contested eight challenges at home to Tottenham last Friday but emerged victorious in just one of seven battles on the ground and lost his only aerial contest. He also failed to beat a visiting player with either of his two attempted dribbles.

It was a performance miles from his normal standards, having averaged a modest 51% duel success over his 27 Premier League appearances (16 starts) this season, with success in 2.9 ground challenges (53%) and 0.1 aerial (27%), while making 1.6 successful dribbles (64%).

Altogether, Iwobi’s shocking efforts before being hauled off in the 61st minute meant he earned his lowest SofaScore match rating in 46 appearances across all competitions for Everton – dating back to a 5.3 out of 10 achieved during a 3-1 win over Chelsea at Goodison Park in December 2019.

Ancelotti cannot reward Iwobi for a performance that off the pace by starting him away to his former side on Friday night, and the return of top-scorer Calvert-Lewin will ensure the Italian has an option to slot straight into his starting line-up.

AND in other news, Everton have been told to pay £34.5m for a 23-year-old that Carlo Ancelotti would welcome at Goodison Park…

Crystal Palace’s managerial hunt has taken another fresh twist this week, if emerging reports are to be believed…

What’s the word?

According to Football Insider, the Eagles have made Burnley manager Sean Dyche their top choice to replace Roy Hodgson at the end of the season.

The 73-year-old is out of contract in the summer and has remained coy over his future at Selhurst Park in recent weeks. It is thought that the long-serving Clarets stalwart is now the favourite to take over from him.

Palace have also been linked to the likes of ex-Chelsea boss Frank Lampard, former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira and likely Celtic-bound Eddie Howe.

One step closer

This latest development should come as a huge boost towards the south Londoners as it means Steve Parish is edging closer to resolving their immediate future.

Palace’s campaign is all but over – they sit in mid-table with nothing left to play for, so it seems right that they focus on next season. All of the four names mentioned are worthy targets but it makes a lot of sense to opt for the 49-year-old Burnley boss given his longevity at this level.

It appears that many supporters have grown tired of Hodgson and his lack of ambition, especially following signings like Eberechi Eze and the emergence of Tyrick Mitchell, who both should play a major part in their long-term plans.

Burnley’s style of football isn’t the most attractive but it breeds results, with the Lancashire outfit qualifying for the Europa League in 2018. That is something Palace have never achieved.

The Eagles are in need of a rebuild and that does seem like something Dyche is best equipped to deal with. For instance, Lampard may be the best candidate on paper in terms of youth development, but he was handed several big-money signings in the summer and all of them have improved since his departure.

Dyche has a proven record on a shoestring budget and working with what he’s got.

With this latest update heading in the right direction, it’s time for the supporters at Selhurst Park to start getting a little more excited as they close in on a new era.

AND in other news, Crystal Palace handed managerial boost amid Roy Hodgson claim

Daniel Pinder, the editor-in-chief of Get German Football News, has exclusively told This is Futbol that Stuttgart striker Sasa Kalajdzic could be an ideal fit for Liverpool.

Kalajdzic has scored 14 times and added five assists in 29 Bundesliga appearances this term, with his impressive numbers catching the attention of several Premier League sides.

Along with both West Ham and Merseyside rivals Everton, the Reds are reportedly interested in signing the Austrian international, who’s previously spoke about his love for the club by saying that Liverpool are “simply special” to him.

Liverpool meanwhile are in desperate need of a prolific goalscorer following Roberto Firmino’s struggles in front of goal this season.

The Brazilian has scored just six times in 43 appearances in all competitions this term, with the Reds’ lack of goals one of the many reasons they could miss out on Champions League football.

Jurgen Klopp’s men scored 85 times in their title-winning campaign, and are a massive 30 goals short of that total with just five games remaining.

The addition of Kalajdzic could help them challenge Manchester City again next season, and Pinder told This is Futbol that the striker would be a good signing for the Reds:

“He’s a completely different player to Firmino. He’s two metres tall – even despite his height he’s got a good first touch, movement, composure, and great anticipation.

“And in an interview, he said he likes to drop deep which could suit Liverpool with their style of play.”

Southampton picked up a rare three points as they secured a comeback win against Crystal Palace on Tuesday evening, although there will still some poor performances on show from Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side, with Liverpool loanee Takumi Minamino particularly disappointing.

As per SofaScore, the Japan international would earn a less than impressive 6.4/10 rating for his performance, with only Jan Bednarek (6.2), who was substituted at half-time, earning lower of any player who started the game.

Since signing on loan from Jurgen Klopp’s side in the winter transfer window, the former RB Salzburg man has flattered to deceive, contributing two goals early on but struggling to have any real impact since then, and it was another below-par performance from the 26-year-old on Tuesday evening.

During the game, Minamino would complete just 24/38 of his passes, resulting in a less than impressive 63% pass success rate, which is lower than the 70.1% he has averaged during his time at Southampton.

Despite having the fewest touches of any Southampton midfielder, he still was clearly the weak link, as he lost possession a remarkable 22 times during the game, which was the most of any player who featured in the game.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-southampton-news%2c-transfer-rumours-and-more” title=“Latest Southampton news, transfer rumours and more!“]

He also failed to contribute a single successful dribble, cross or shot on target during the 90 minutes, and he was perhaps lucky to stay on the pitch considering the options Hasenhuttl had on the bench.

Of the 10 ground duels he was involved in during the game, he would also win just three, so it was no surprise that Hampshire Live journalist Tom Leach was critical of him in his player ratings following the game, saying:

“Minamino really struggled, back in the side. He looked weak and seemed to concede possession more than he turned it into anything creative.”

Given that Southampton are now completely safe from relegation, you could argue that Minamino should never play under Hasenhuttl again, as his performances since joining have been poor, and this time of the season is the ideal time for youngsters such as Moussa Djenepo and Nathan Tella to get more regular game time under their belt.

Given how poor he’s beenin recent weeks, Minamino should not be a player who Southampton look to sign on a permanent deal, so there’s no reason to pick him again between now and the end of the season.

And, in other news… Semmens disaster: Southampton missed out on “perfect” 18 G/A gem