All posts by z3u9t.icu

Tottenham Hotspur are facing stiff competition in their attempts to bring Christian Eriksen back to the club this summer…

What’s the word?

According to the Mirror, Premier League rivals Manchester United have entered the race to sign the Denmark playmaker, with new manager Erik ten Hag joining the north Londoners and Everton in the fight.

The 30-year-old spent seven years at Spurs before moving to Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan for £17m and now could be available on a free transfer this off-season as his contract is set to expire at Brentford, who are thought to have offered him a long-term extension.

Bargain swoop

Conte and co must ensure a sensational return for Eriksen as interest starts to mount heading into next season.

The Lilywhites have suffered for creativity ever since his departure in January 2020, with club-record flops Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso, as well as Dele Alli and many more failing to step up to the mark.

None of those three players remained at the club past the recent winter transfer window, leaving the Italian head coach with very few options in the no.10 role.

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Now, Conte’s current system does not cater for an out-and-out playmaker behind Harry Kane but that doesn’t mean it’s never an option.

And deeper in the engine room, he could do with some further creativity as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Oliver Skipp and Rodrigo Bentancur are all more defensively sound choices instead.

Eriksen still remains one of the best attacking midfielders across Europe – as per FBRef, he ranks amongst the top 1% of his positional peers for assists (0.38 per 90), expected assists (0.35 per 90), and shot-creating actions (5.08 per 90).

None of the aforementioned trio can match these returns, with Dejan Kulusevski and Kane the nearest with an xA of 0.25, also via FBRef.

“He is so special and we always call him Golazo, because he is capable of scoring unbelievable goals. The recognition from us is massive. It is true he is so quiet, so calm. He is a very relaxed person but he loves football,” once claimed his former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Meanwhile, also lauded as a “wizard” by journalist Josh Wright and “dangerous” by Conte himself after the two teams played out a draw earlier this season.

Considering the £13.5m-rated dynamo wouldn’t cost a penny to chairman Daniel Levy, the north Londoners should be going all out for Eriksen’s signature. He could be a huge addition heading into a Champions League campaign next term.

AND in other news, Conte’s wish list: Gold drops “big” Spurs transfer claim, supporters will be buzzing…

Aston Villa target Calvin Bassey looks set to make a decision on his Rangers future after he returns from international duty.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from Daily Record who claim that Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard is keen on a reunion with the 22-year-old former Leicester City youth prospect, with the player set to decide before returning to Rangers for pre-season.

Amidst Gerrard’s desire to coax Bassey out of Ibrox, the report states that the Nigerian is attracting interest from across Europe, after what was an impressive end to the season with a stellar performance in the Europa League final.

As per a report from Birmingham Mail, it is said that a £25m asking price could be enough to dissuade Villa from a deal, with the club weighing up other options for the man who is rated at £900k as per Transfermarkt.

Best business of the window

The signing of Bassey could be Aston Villa’s best piece of business of the entire summer window.

He’s an astute and versatile defender who has shared duties as a left-back and a centre-back this season, playing the most vital game in the Europa League final as a left centre-back, and doing so extremely well.

Defensively speaking, he is more than sound, hence being dubbed “The Great Wall”, offering up numbers that place him in and around the elite category amongst positionally similar players, with his average of 2.45 tackles and 8.11 pressures in the defensive third further evidence of the stability he offers.

Whilst he could turn out to be the long-term successor of Tyrone Mings, he will most certainly provide much-needed competition for Lucas Digne at left-back after the sale of Matt Targett to Newcastle.

His versatility is attractive, but his defensive dominance is what has made him the sought after prospect we see today.

The Villans have landed the signings of Boubacar Kamara, Philippe Coutinho and Diego Carlos but such is the potential of Bassey and his familiarity with Gerrard that this could well be their most shrewd deal yet.

In other news: Lange could land the new James Milner as AVFC plot bid for “athletic” £14.4m-rated gem

Fabrizio Romano has dropped a big Manchester United transfer claim which will leave new manager Erik ten Hag gutted.

What’s the news?

A move for Ajax star Antony might not be as straightforward as Ten Hag thinks, according to the Italian journalist.

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Sky Sports recently reported that United have made enquiries to Ajax about the player, with some suggestions that the Premier League club would bid €50m (£42.8m) for the 22-year-old, but there has been no progress on that front in recent days.

Romano told GiveMeSport: “The real point is about Ajax because Ajax would love to keep the player for one more season. They want an important fee for Antony. When I see about a potential proposal for €45m or €50m, I’m told Ajax actually want way more than this for the Brazilian, so it’s not going to be an easy one.”

This is a potential blow to Ten Hag and his transfer plans for the Brazilian, with a much bigger fee now being demanded in order to secure his services.

Big blow for United

The Ajax player would likely fit in well at United, having worked under Ten Hag in Amsterdam, and he could offer an extra dimension to their struggling attack.

The only Red Devils forward to score more than ten goals last season was Cristiano Ronaldo (24), and this is an area which needs improvement if they wish to get back to winning trophies.

Antony scored 12 times in all competitions and grabbed a further ten assists, and if he did make the move to Old Trafford, there seems little doubt that he could replicate or even better these numbers.

As per FBRef, the Ajax winger ranks in the top 1% for both assists (0.78) and total shots (4.08) per match among positional peers in major European competitions last season, displaying his attacking attributes on a consistent basis.

The 22-year-old also illustrated how keen he is to burst into the box and either score or set up a team-mate, ranking in the top 10% for touches in the opposition penalty area with 6.59 per match.

A reunion between Ten Hag and Antony may have looked likely at one point, but with this news from Romano, it might not be as close as some may have believed. It’s a development which is likely to leave the new United manager gutted.

AND in other news, MUFC in “direct discussion” to sign gem with 236 Premier League appearances, he’s Pogba 2.0

Tottenham Hotspur are still trying to sign Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni despite being told that he is not for sale, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

The Lowdown: Top target

The 23-year-old has emerged as one of Antonio Conte’s top targets as a left-sided centre-back this summer after it was revealed by Sky Sports that Spurs’ pursuit had progressed, with talks ongoing between the two clubs.

However, Lilywhites chief Fabio Paratici suffered a serious blow in his negotiations when Bastoni’s agent Tullio Tinti revealed that his player “will certainly remain at Inter” after he met with the Serie A club’s directors.

The Latest: Sheth’s claim

Nonetheless, Sheth doesn’t believe that Tottenham’s chances of signing Bastoni are completely dead.

In an interview with GiveMeSport, he claimed: “The Bastoni one is a very interesting one because Tottenham are still pushing to sign Bastoni from Inter Milan.

“It should be said, Inter Milan do not want to lose him, and the agent has come out and said he’s happy at Inter Milan, he’s not going anywhere, but is that a screen where Inter Milan protect their investments so if they do sell, they get the maximum amount of money?”

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The Verdict: He’d be a good fit

Described by Italian football expert Conor Clancy as a ‘phenomenal’ defender, Bastoni’s underlying statistics clearly illustrate why Tottenham are so keen on securing his signature.

When compared with positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, the 23-year-old ranks in the 99th percentile for progressive passes received and the 97th percentile for shot-creating actions (via FBRef).

Considering Conte’s preferred three-at-the-back formation, these figures suggest that Bastoni would slot into Spurs’ back-line with ease, playing on the left-hand side of the defence.

Whilst the transfer currently seems unlikely, Inter’s financial issues could force them into selling some of their most prized assets, so some hope remains in Paratici’s pursuit of the defender.

In other news: This ‘massive’ Tottenham transfer news has prompted plenty of media reaction

West Ham United insider Claret & Hugh say ‘lots of talks’ have been held as GSB eye a ‘very clever’ signing for David Moyes.

The Lowdown: Hammers eye striker move…

After the arrival of Nayef Aguerd in a £30 million deal from Rennes, the Hammers are reliably tipped to carry that momentum long into the summer amid ‘very busy’ times at the club.

As backed by Sky journalist Dharmesh Sheth, Moyes and the club are seeking at least six new additions as they gear up for what will be a very intriguing 2022/2023 Premier League season.

The east Londoners narrowly missed out of Europa League football for next campaign and this may have come as a warning sign for West Ham who wish to keep chase with England’s elite.

The Latest: Insider shares ‘lots of talks’…

As per insider C&H, sharing a message from their source, it is believed that ‘lots of talks’ are being held through agents for one forward.

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Indeed, according to their information, Chelsea striker Armando Broja is indeed Moyes’ top target amid these regular discussions with intermediaries and the 20-year-old is open to joining the club.

West Ham apparently wish to pay £30 million for the Albania international but whether that proves to be enough will be found out soon enough.

The Verdict: Make the move…

Even though Broja tailed off towards the end of 20/21 on his Southampton loan spell, potentially signing him for £30m could be seen as good business.

He dazzled in all matches against West Ham last season and attracted plenty of praise over the course of his St. Mary’s temporary deal.

Pundit Noel Whelan, speaking to Football Insider, claimed an Irons swoop for Broja would be a ‘very clever’ signing for Moyes and we’re inclined to agree given he is still just 20-years-old and already proven in the top flight.

Aston Villa will have to trigger Otavio’s release clause soon to sign him from FC Porto, according to Portuguese newspaper Correio de Manha (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown

The paper claims that Villa’s last offer was worth an initial €30million with a further €5million in bonuses (£30.2million in total).

But that will not be enough to land the 27-year-old, who has a release clause of €40million (£34.5million) in his contract.

Otavio is a highly versatile player, predominantly a right winger but also capable of playing on the left and as a number ten.

The Athletic reported in May that another attacking option may be on Steven Gerrard’s wish-list for the summer window.

The latest

The report says that Porto will simply point Villa towards the €40m rather than negotiating a sale for a lower price.

They don’t feel any pressure to cash in after selling Fabio Vieira to Arsenal and Vitinha to Paris Saint-Germain.

Intriguingly, Otavio’s release clause is due to rise by a full €20million on 15 July, so Villa may be under pressure to act fairly quickly.

The verdict

The key question is whether Otavio is worth a full £34.5million. That would, after all, virtually match the record fee Villa paid to sign Emiliano Buendia last summer..

He doesn’t score too many goals – he only bagged five last season – but he’s an immense creative weapon, based on his tally of 14 assists.

For reference, no Villa player set up more than six goals last season (Buendia and Danny Ings were tied).

Otavio made the Primeira Liga Team of the Season and has been called ‘phenomenal’ by Portuguese football journalist Alex Goncalves.

There’s certainly a compelling case for Villa to go ahead and swoop in the next 13 days.

Tottenham Hotspur sporting director Fabio Paratici could be about to deliver another masterclass in the transfer market.

The Italian chief has had mixed success since he took the helm in north London a little over a year ago but on the whole, it’s edging towards success so far.

Bryan Gil has failed to make his mark, though he’s still young, whilst Emerson Royal has flattered to deceive despite regular game time but the same cannot be said for the likes of Dejan Kulusevski, Cristian Romero and Rodrigo Bentancur.

All three have made an instant impact in Antonio Conte’s squad, emerging as three regular starters for the former Inter Milan coach.

Now, as Spurs close in on the signing of Clement Lenglet from FC Barcelona, Paratici could well have struck gold once again, even if it doesn’t look like it beforehand.

Indeed, the arrival of the French flop is hardly going to excite many around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but the same was said for Bentancur, and to some extent, Kulusevski.

These so-called European misfits have hit the ground running with a bit of love and affection from those at the club, and they have since thrived from it.

“Lenglet’s situation with Barcelona reminds me of Bentancur’s at Juventus,” claimed Spurs podcaster Charlie Parrish. “A talented player in need of a fresh start (and a bit of love from fans and coaches) after getting slightly lost in the shuffle playing for a mega club going through a weird period of their own.”

That’s all Lenglet needs to refind his former glory – after all, he’s still ranking as a solid option when compared to his peers across Europe.

The 27-year-old centre-back, who is now valued at £26m by CIES Football Observatory, only managed to play 724 minutes in LaLiga in 2021/22 but according to FBref, he’s amongst the top 1% of central defenders for passes attempted, progressive passes and progressive carries per 90 minutes.

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They also liken his playing style to that of Premier League champion Ruben Dias and to some extent, Spurs’ very own Ben Davies, so that only goes to show that he could well be the perfect fit in not just England but in Conte’s system too.

Lenglet is likely to replace the Welshman in the starting XI in that left-sided role, given he is a natural centre-back.

The FC Barcelona flop could be a “smart” addition for the north Londoners, just as Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano explained to GIVEMESPORT this week. He said:

“It’s a loan deal, so it’s a smart deal for Tottenham because they’re not spending crazy money on the centre-back, on a player who has good experience. Conte wanted him, so he’s a smart deal for Tottenham.”

Whilst Lenglet isn’t going to thrill many supporters, Paratici has earned the right to be trusted with his signings, certainly if it’s had the seal of approval from Conte himself, too.

Just like with Bentancur, the Italian chief could be onto yet another masterclass with this low-risk move.

AND in other news, Fee agreed: Spurs get green light to seal “incredible” signing, Conte will be buzzing…

Tottenham Hotspur are leading the race to sign Oscar Gloukh this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Sunday Mirror (10/7; page 74), who claim that, despite the interest of clubs such as Borussia Dortmund, Ajax, Glasgow Rangers and AS Roma, Fabio Paratici is confident that Spurs will win the race for the Maccabi Tel Aviv attacking midfielder – for whom the Israeli side are believed to be demanding a figure of around £10m in order to part with.

However, a report by The Sun earlier this month revealed that, after starring for Israel in the U19 European Championship this summer, Maccabi are also looking to extend the 18-year-old’s current contract at Bloomfield Stadium – despite the youngster having already signed a two-year extension earlier this year – beyond the summer of 2024.

“Revelation”

Considering just how exciting a prospect Gloukh proved himself to be at the U19 European Championship, it is not difficult to see why Paratici would be keen to bring the 18-year-old to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer, as the teenager undoubtedly possesses the potential to become a leading Premier League player in the not too distant future.

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Indeed, over his five appearances for Israel U19s this summer, the £450k-rated talent was undeniably one of the stand-out performers of the tournament, scoring three goals and registering two assists for Ofir Haim’s side – playing a starring role in Israel’s widely unexpected run to the final of the competition – in which they were defeated 3-1 (AET) by England.

However, despite this loss, Gloukh still managed to catch the eye against the Three Lions, giving Israel a first-half lead after an incredibly deft turn in the box, before powerfully firing home past a helpless Matthew Cox between the England sticks – as can be seen below:

It was trickery such as this that led to Gloukh being named in UEFA’s Team of the Tournament, while his performances also drew praise from Scouted Football’s Llew Davies – who dubbed the 18-year-old a “revelation” – and Stephen Ganavas, who said of the forward on the Scouted Football podcast:

“Gloukh was the key player to a lot of what Israel did in attack. For all the ability that he has in terms of his ball control, his vision was the stand-out. He could see passes that a lot of other players couldn’t. He couldn’t just see them, he was executing some really nice through balls around the corner, he was playing those killer passes that really started to energise attacks – he’s that attack developer, almost.”

As such, should Paratici manage to get a deal over the line for the talent who Bruno Alemany also dubbed “sensational” ahead of the likes of Dortmund, Ajax and Roma this summer, it would undoubtedly be a major coup for Spurs – as it is clear to see that Gloukh possesses the potential to become one of the next big things in European football.

AND in other news: Tottenham confirm arrival of “brilliant” new “secret weapon”, Conte will be buzzing

West Ham have had a second bid rejected in their pursuit of Lille midfielder Amadou Onana.

What’s the word?

That’s according to Dharmesh Sheth, who wrote the following on Twitter:

“Had it confirmed West Ham United have had a second bid rejected by Lille for midfielder Amadou Onana.

“The offer was believed to be around €30m. While West Ham haven’t closed the door on pursuing the player, it is thought they are looking at other options.” 

Supporters will be gutted

West Ham appears to only have been embroiled in this transfer saga for a short time, but after having a second bid rejected it finally seems like it may be coming to an end.

The workmanlike midfielder would have made a fine addition to David Moyes’ squad and would’ve allowed for greater rotation between himself, Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek.

Having featured 31 times in the league last season, he also earned priceless Champions League experience as he featured in all eight of their games.

This kind of experience could prove invaluable to a West Ham team that are desperate to make the next step up from Europa League football.

His average SofaScore rating of 6.85 is also certainly impressive, as his solid showing across the season earned praise from many who play with and against him.

AS Monaco manager Philippe Clement spoke of how he had attempted to sign the midfielder from Hamburg initially, and how highly he rates him.

He said: “I believe very strongly in Onana’s quality. Consequently, we didn’t get the chance to work with him, but for me, he’s a player with a big future.”

The midfielder ranked in the 94th percentile for tackles per 90 and utilises his 6 foot 4 frame to win 2.06 aerials per 90. He would prove another dangerous set-piece threat for Moyes’ side that sits fifth in goals scored from set-pieces in 2021/22.

Supporters will be gutted to see another bid rejected, as this goliath of a midfielder seems to be destined to stay at Lille. The price tag seems insurmountable, but he could’ve been the perfect midfielder to complement those already at the club.

AND, in other news: West Ham eyeing move for “devastating” £30m-rated gem, he’s better than Antonio.

Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph has dropped a claim regarding Celtic’s reported transfer interest in Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Edouard Michut.

What’s the talk?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Joseph had this to say on the matter: “Michut has played six games in Ligue 1 and is very much seen as a hot prospect at PSG, but there’s been a falling out with the hierarchy and the new manager.

“Well, not a falling out, but he’s not seen in the first-team plans, so he’s looking to move and because of that he could go for quite cheap.

“One source had told us that Celtic were looking at coming with a £2m offer, but I believe it’s probably going to take £4m-£5m for him to move, so I think that’s still one to watch.”

Celtic fans will be buzzing

After it emerged that the Bhoys were looking to secure a deal for the 19-year-old, Ange Postecoglou poured cold water on the subject by saying that the club were not in for the youngster.

However, taking into account what Joseph has now said on the matter and how highly he claims the player is rated at the French club, this should have a lot of Celtic fans excited over a potential move for the 19-year-old this summer.

Over five league appearances last season, the teenager completed 52 of the 55 passes he attempted, while also making three shot-creating actions.

From a defensive point of view, the Frenchman won two tackles and made two clearances, two blocks and 22 pressures.

This shows how well-rounded midfield a option he could be for Celtic should they end up securing a deal for him this summer.

Even though it has been confirmed by the Hoops on Tuesday afternoon that they have signed 31-year-old Aaron Mooy, securing a much younger midfielder such as Michut could be a great long-term investment for the club given his age and clear talent.

Also, having seen the likes of Ewan Henderson, Luca Connell and Kerr McInroy leave the club recently, there is certainly room for another young midfield prodigy to join the ranks at Parkhead and see if they have what it takes to break into the first team.

AND in other news – Celtic set to sign £5.9m dynamo, it could be bye-bye £20k-p/w outcast