All posts by z3u9t.icu

Newcastle United have had a relatively understated summer transfer window thus far as Sandro Tonali has been their only first-team addition.

The Magpies snapped the Italy international up from Serie A giants AC Milan for a reported fee in the region of £55m, after they signed youngster Yankuba Minteh and loaned him to Feyenoord.

There is still more than a month to go before the deadline passes, which means that sporting director Dan Ashworth has plenty of time left to prepare the squad for Premier League and Champions League action for the 2023/24 campaign.

Eddie Howe's side have been linked with a move that would represent a significant splash in the market, however, as they have been touted with a €90m (£77m) swoop to sign Napoli superstar Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

How good is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia?

The 22-year-old is a sensational forward who would arrive as a statement signing for Newcastle after his terrific season in Italy.

He helped Napoli to secure the Serie A title with his stunning performances on the left flank as a right-footed winger, as the Georgia international contributed with an outstanding 12 goals and ten assists in 34 appearances.

To put that amazing accomplishment into context, no Toon wide attacker managed more than 11 goals or five Premier League assists last term, whilst Kieran Trippier led the team for assists with seven.

This suggests that the Napoli wizard would be a significant upgrade on the manager's current options out wide, due to how frequently he is able to punish teams in the final third.

With such a claim in mind, Howe could now unearth the club's next version of Hatem Ben Arfa – another magical forward who entertained crowds – by snapping up the talented youngster.

Between 2011 and 2015, the ex-Paris Saint-Germain talent racked up 14 goals and 15 assists in 86 appearances for the Magpies as a left-footed right winger.

The French wizard was also capable of the sublime as he dazzled supporters with his ability to score fantastic individual goals, with his strikes against Blackburn and Bolton in 2012 standing out as two of his best.

Ben Arfa, who averaged at least two dribbles completed per match throughout his Premier League career, had the quality to conjure something out of nothing, which left fans excited when he picked the ball up in any position on the pitch as they knew that something could happen.

Kvaratskhelia is a player with the same kind of star power. The terrific maestro, who completed 2.2 dribbles per match in the Serie A, was dubbed 'Maradona-esque' due to his knack for scoring incredible solo goals, with one of his strikes in August of last year described as a 'wonder goal'.

He has the talent to make things happen in a flash due to his phenomenal dribbling ability coupled with his reliable end product, which is proven by his impressive return for goals and assists last season.

Therefore, supporters could get excited whenever the Georgian sensation, who journalist Paolo Del Genio claimed is "irreplaceable", picks up possession because they would know that the potential is there for something truly special to happen at any moment.

Arsenal have now made an approach to sign Galatasaray right-back Sacha Boey, who is also being targeted by Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, according to recent reports from Turkey.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

Mikel Arteta is set to use Jurrien Timber at right-back next season, meaning the manager is now well-stocked in that area of the pitch, with the likes of Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White also at his disposal, however the Gunners continue to be linked other options.

With Fabrizio Romano recently detailing that Cedric Soares could be sold, Arteta may want to bring in some more competition at right-back, and Manchester City's Joao Cancelo remains a potential target, as reported by journalist Dean Jones, who said:

“My information is that if Cancelo is still there for the taking later in the window, Arsenal may well look to strike a deal. It’s not been totally forgotten about, it’s just not a main priority. More of a luxury.”

Boey has also been named as a target for Arsenal, with reports from earlier in the window claiming they went as far as making an "official offer" of £12m, and they have now re-emerged as potential suitors for the defender.

That is according to reports from Turkey, which state that both Arsenal and Tottenham have been in contact with Galatasaray to discuss a potential summer move, with Newcastle and Juventus also following him closely. (via Sport Witness)

The Frenchman has previously admitted that he is flattered by the reports linking him with a switch to the Emirates Stadium, and he has made it clear that he wants to play in the Premier League.

However, it appears as though a move is very unlikely this summer, with Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk expressing his desire to keep him, saying: "We want to continue with Boey and [Victor] Nelsson. We have a Champions League goal and this goal can be achieved if the players stay in the team."

Who is Sacha Boey?

Lauded as a "true warrior" by members of the Turkish media, the £9k-per-week defender has started to make a name for himself at Galatasaray over the past few seasons, making 31 league appearances en-route to his side winning the title last season.

With an average WhoScored match rating of 7.31 in the Turkish Super Lig, the right-back was ranked as Galatasaray's fifth-best performing player across the campaign, impressing both defensively and on the front foot.

The former Rennes man weighed in with four assists, the joint-fourth highest amount of any player in the squad, while he also averaged a total of 2.8 tackles per game, the joint-highest amount alongside former Arsenal man Lucas Torreira.

Boey appears to be a very well-rounded full-back, and so it is disappointing that he will seemingly not be available this summer, but a new right-back should not be a priority target for the Gunners.

Arteta has Timber, Tomiyasu and White to choose from, but if he really feels he needs another option, he could launch a move for Cancelo, who already has Premier League experience.

Aston Villa are not looking to slow their pursuit of Nottingham Forest ace Brennan Johnson, with details emerging of a potential swoop for the promising speedster.

Unai Emery’s interest in the 22-year-old stems back as early as May, with FootballTransfers adding the Villans as one of the clubs eyeing the Welshman.

What is Brennan Johnson’s market value?

Valued by FootballTransfers at €36.7m (£31.4m), Villa’s long-standing pursuit of the forward could come to an end this summer.

As reported by the Daily Mail, Villa have held 'conversations' regarding a move for the youngster, with the piece suggesting that Forest may reluctantly accept an offer in the region of £40m in order to ease Financial Fair Play (FFP) concerns.

The initial report from FootballTransfers in May told of the Reds’ refusal of offers for Johnson, however the tides may turn as we delve into this window.

How good is Brennan Johnson?

Hailed as “unbelievable” by Wales coach Robert Page, via Wales Online, the 22-year-old has been a standout figure in Steve Cooper's side since their promotion to the Premier League in 2022.

In his first season in the top tier, the Welshman contributed to 11 goals in 38 appearances, scoring eight and assisting three as a versatile gem at the City Ground.

Forest value their forward highly, shown by him appearing in every Premier League game last term, as well as making 46 Championship appearances the year prior.

In the second division, Johnson managed to net 16 goals and assist nine times in the 2021/22 campaign, showing just how deadly he can be if equipped in a bright side.

Under Emery, the youngster could come to life and hit higher levels in the Premier League, in a side that has progressed massively since the Spaniard’s arrival in the Midlands.

One player that has elevated his performance and reaped the benefits since the 51-year-old’s appointment has been Jacob Ramsey, who could be a shining light for Johnson to play alongside.

The Englishman will miss the start of the season after suffering a broken metatarsal at the U21 European Championships, which is said to leave him sidelined for 10 weeks, however his return could be made brighter should the Villans capture Johnson’s signature.

Deployed in midfield, the Villa man highlighted his strengths going forward last season, scoring six goals and assisting seven in the Premier League.

As per FBref, the 22-year-old flexed his creative ability in the final third in recording an average of 1.43 key passes per 90, showing his playmaking capabilities in midfield.

The Birmingham-born ace could see his intricate vision and passing strengths pay off with the introduction of Johnson, who proved to be a livewire in attack last term.

Ranked as hitting the second-highest top speed in the league last season at 36.70 km/h, via OptaJoe, the Welshman is a lot for defenders to handle and could be a valuable asset for Ramsey to aim for going forward.

Lauded as a “great finisher” by Cooper, Villa could unleash a new level to the 22-year-old, just by integrating him into a more fluid, attacking side than what’s on show at the City Ground.

Emery could complete a strong deal in securing the signature of the Forest academy graduate,

Leeds United supporters would love Liverpool defender Nat Phillips should he complete a move to the Championship, according to reliable journalist Neil Jones.

What position does Nat Phillips play?

Phillips is naturally a centre-back who has been at Anfield ever since 2016 when he initially joined the U23s side, but despite having since been promoted to the senior fold, he’s fallen significantly out of favour having been handed just one top-flight start last season by Jurgen Klopp.

The Reds boss already has Virgil Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez as his preferred options at the heart of the backline so the 26-year-old isn’t likely to get a look in moving forward, hence why it’s been reported that they are happy to listen to offers for him.

The Athletic’s Phil Hay was the first to credit the Whites with an interest in the 6 foot 2 colossus just last month and he revealed that the Merseyside outfit are looking to receive a fee of £10m in order to sanction his sale, and the admiration makes sense because the journalist claims that the player was previously wanted by Daniel Farke during his time at Norwich.

Are Leeds signing Nat Phillips?

Writing in his column for CaughtOffside, Jones claimed that Leeds would be a perfect fit for Phillips, but insisted that it could prove difficult to complete a deal should he also be targeted by more high-profile clubs overseas. He said:

“Leeds have been linked as well, and if I was a Championship team looking to get back into the Premier League, I’d definitely go for him as a reliable performer at centre-back. I think Leeds fans would warm to him – he’s that kind of no-nonsense, body-on-the-line kind of player that crowds love, he does the basics of defending well, and he’s underrated on the ball as well.

"So I think he’d be a great signing for someone like Leeds, but if he’s also getting offers from clubs in the Champions League or Europa League that’ll obviously appeal as well."

How good is Nat Phillips?

Leeds will know that Phillips hasn’t been given a fair chance to prove what he’s capable of at Liverpool but he’s more than shown his potential when handed the rare opportunity to play, having been dubbed a “monster” in the air by Klopp himself, so the centre-back could definitely excel further under the guidance of Farke.

The PLG client averaged two aerial wins per top-flight outing last season so is strong at using his height off the ground to win physical battles, but he’s also calm and composed in possession having recorded an 86.6% pass success rate, which was higher than any of the regular starters at Elland Road.

Phillips, who has previous experience of competing in the Champions League, would also provide the boss with some versatility with his ability to operate out at right-back alongside his usual role, which would be great quality to have in the building considering the long-term injury to Stuart Dallas, so all in all, this move would be a risk worth taking.

Manchester United’s potential deal for Andre Onana could become much clearer in the next 24 hours, according to Dean Jones.

Is Onana going to Man United?

Despite much of the attention prior to the transfer window being on United’s need for a new number nine, it looks as if the Red Devils’ first signing of the summer could be at the opposite end of the pitch.

With David De Gea’s contract expiring in several days, it is unclear whether or not the stopper will still be at Old Trafford next season, with Erik ten Hag keen to move to a more technically-gifted goalkeeper.

While De Gea could yet sign a new deal with United, Ten Hag has seemingly turned his attention to a new shot-stopper in the form of Inter’s Andre Onana.

The Cameroon international is much more accomplished with the ball at his feet, something which was perfectly exemplified by his fantastic Champions League final performance.

According to Dean Jones, a transfer to Old Trafford could be getting closer, with the next 24 hours set to answer some important questions on Onana’s future.

Speaking on The Football Terrace, Jones stated: “This is really a situation I didn’t expect to unfold. I thought the De Gea stuff would be sorted out.

“I said a minute ago, all briefings said the number nine was an absolute priority, and suddenly here we are, and De Gea hasn’t signed. And Onana might be sorting out a deal to join Man United tomorrow.”

He continued: “Onana changes the dynamic of what Man United are capable of immediately. Like, in terms of the style of goalkeeper he is, he’s the best in class. The passes he can pick out, genuinely, have been so important to Inter Milan. He can see something, pull it off and immediately the opponents are on the back foot.

“There are very few goalkeepers that can implement this style of play like so directly themselves. He’s basically like an outfield player in goal, he’s that good.”

Jones is clearly excited by the prospect of Onana reuniting with Ten Hag, also saying that “in the next 24 hours” the situation regarding Onana to Manchester United will be much clearer for all to see.

The 27-year-old goalkeeper is likely to command a fee north of £40m but may prove an absolute bargain in the current market, especially if De Gea’s £375,000-a-week wages are off the books.

Why do Man United want Onana?

As one of the key figures in Inter’s push to the Champions League final last season, it is unsurprising that Onana has attracted interest from across Europe.

Compared to other goalkeepers in the Champions League per 90 last season, Onana boasts an 80.7% save percentage and a 61.5% clean sheet percentage, conceding an average of under one goal a game.

Onana averaged 6.46 passes completed over 40 yards per 90, with a 44% accuracy putting him in the top 29% of goalkeepers. His average pass range of 34 yards shows that he is willing to attempt long passes and play the ball directly into midfield to beat the press.

Described as a “front-foot goalkeeper”, Onana’s ability to play out from the back is exactly why he is so sought after by Ten Hag, who needs a number one that can fit his passing philosophy.

Watch more of The Football Terrace on YouTube now!

Leeds United finally seem poised to appoint the man who will lead them into the future…

What's the latest on Daniel Farke to Leeds United?

That's according to the Daily Mail, who offer a slice of information regarding their manager search that bodes well for fans.

Despite the report focusing on their interest in Liverpool defender Nat Phillips, one line reads that they "are expected to finalise Daniel Farke as manager".

Having yet to spark up their transfer activity this summer, it seems that with this appointment the 49ers can now truly get to work in building a squad that can propel them towards instant promotion from the Championship.

Is Daniel Farke a good fit for Leeds United?

Given the German's history at this level, it could be argued that there are few active head coaches that could achieve what this new ownership will strive to attain with such precision.

The former Norwich City boss earned promotion on two separate occasions with the Norfolk outfit and boasts a stellar record in the second division. Across 138 games in the league, he has maintained a points-per-game average of 1.82, having lost only 29 times.

Although he may have struggled in the Premier League, the 49ers will likely look past that flaw given he is best placed to simply get them out of the Championship at the first time of asking.

However, it is not just his aforementioned fine record which will have earned him this post. The 46-year-old boasts a style of play that will likely resonate with the Elland Road crowd, as an all-action heavy metal philosophy that adds a little bit more structure to the similar outlook Marcelo Bielsa had.

If anything, Farke would draw more comparisons to Jurgen Klopp, given their shared nationality and alliance regarding the classic German Gegenpressing style.

The Liverpool boss has earned widespread success since his move to Anfield, curating a squad perfectly aligned with his disruptive game plan. As such, his tenure boasts a Premier League title, Champions League success and various domestic honours too without straying too far from these ideals.

In appointing their own German manager, the 49ers will hope that Farke can create a dynasty of his own in Yorkshire, spending many successful years there and slowly improving the club as a whole.

With a 4-2-3-1 brand that seeks to win the ball high up the pitch and forge chances from there, the tools would be in place to mimic the earlier years of the 56-year-old's impeccable Merseyside reign.

To emphasise these similarities further, it is clear that Klopp was a keen admirer of his compatriot's Canaries side back in 2021. He suggested that their manager was "world-class" for what he had done at Carrow Road before their clash.

Perhaps they could once again be set to lock horns in the near future, should Leeds earn that promotion they so desperately seek. If so, it will be interesting to see whether he can finally topple the legendary Reds coach, who has paved the way for many managers to follow in his ever-successful footsteps.

Football can be a cruel game sometimes, in many ways. But, perhaps no more so than when a player scores the goal of their career, only for it to be a consolation goal in a defeat to forget that everyone quickly fails to remember.Instead, the focus is on the winning side and the goals that they score to seal victory, no matter the quality of the strikes. Players will rightly say that they prefer the three points, too, but sometimes there’s nothing quite like striking to ball clean into the top right, leaving even two goalkeepers with no chance.So, we’re here to remind you of the forgotten and most underrated goals in football – as ranked by Football FanCast.

6 Davide Zappacosta vs Qarabag

Arguably one of the strangest goals scored by a Chelsea player, we’ll give Davide Zappacosta a break and say that he meant to shoot and not cross for his superb goal against Qarabag as the Blues won 6-0 in the Champions League.

Driving down the right-hand side, the fullback carried the ball a great distance before catching the goalkeeper off guard by shooting from way out wide to score what remains an underrated goal.

5 Joe Willock vs Liverpool

Liverpool vs Arsenal always produces fireworks, from thrashings to the tightest of encounters. And this was no different back in 2019 when the two sides battled out an incredible 5-5 draw in the Carabao Cup, before the Reds went through on penalties.

5-4 down in the dying minutes of the game, Divock Origi was of course the man who stepped up to equalise late on for Liverpool in the memorable moment of the game.

It’s worth reminding everyone of Joe Willock’s stunning strike, however, even as his side crashed out.

4 Robin van Persie vs Charlton

Robin van Persie loved a volley, didn’t he? That left foot of his could find the corner of the net first time from just about anywhere, whether it be for Arsenal or dare we say Manchester United.

Many remember the Dutchman’s strike against Aston Villa, and rightly so, but his goal against Charlton should not be forgotten, either.

3 Matt Phillips vs QPR

Team moves are always a nice watch, but sometimes goals don’t get better than a pure strike from range. An unstoppable effort into the top corner just feels fitting in some games.

It’s a shame that results can see some goals of this calibre forgotten, including Matt Phillips’ goal in Queen Park Rangers’ 3-1 loss against Crystal Palace back in 2015.

Three goals down, Phillips scored the goal of the game late with his futile, but glorious, consolation strike.

2 Aaron Ramsey vs Galatasaray

Aaron Ramsey scored some incredible goals during his time at Arsenal, and if it wasn’t for injuries, we could be talking about one of the best Premier League midfielders.

The Welshman’s goal against Galatasaray was particularly impressive, as he struck the ball first time to send the ball flying in pinpoint fashion into the top corner. It’s about as accurate a strike you’ll ever see.

1 Tomas Rosicky vs Sunderland

Even in the later days under Arsene Wenger, Arsenal played some of the best football that you’re likely to see, culminating in some world-class goals.

In the same season that Jack Wilshire scored a stunning team goal against Norwich City – one of the best Premier League goals of all time – Tomas Rosicky netted a similarly impressive goal against Sunderland.

It feels fitting that the most underrated goal was scored by one of the most underrated players in Premier League history.

Nottingham Forest target Roman Saiss could add some much-needed leadership to the club's defence as they prepare for their second season back in the Premier League.

The latest Nottingham Forest transfer news – Roman Saiss identified

After a wild transfer window last summer, it seems the Midlands outfit aren't afraid to splash the cash again, with the club linked to a number of different players already.

With several key figures leaving the club, such as Keylor Navas, who will return to PSG following his loan spell, and Jack Colback, who hasn't been offered a new contract,

Steve Cooper's side have plenty of recruitment to do to replace the outgoing talent.

One name the side have been linked with is free agent Aaron Martin who could be a strong successor for Renan Lodi who has returned to Atletico Madrid.

The Spaniard isn't the only defender the club is interested in, though, with Forest identifying former Wolverhampton Wanderers man Saiss as a strong addition to their backline, according to reports in Turkey.

What would Roman Saiss bring to Nottingham Forest?

If Forest were to land Saiss, the club would secure a strong leader who would be vital in the side's bid to avoid relegation this season.

The defender has been hailed as "Maldini from Morocco" by his former manager Bruno Lage due to his incredible leadership at the heart of a team's defence, and it's an attribute Cooper's side would benefit tremendously from.

That ability to come up with the goods when his team needed it the most would be crucial for Forest if they're to stay up this year.

Not only would his Maldini-like leadership benefit Forest, but the former Wolverhampton Wanderers titan's defensive ability would be a huge upgrade on the defenders currently at the club.

In a back line that struggled to stay fit, only Joe Worrall played as often as Saiss, who stands at 6 foot 3 in stature, last season.

It's been said that availability is the best ability, so adding the 33-year-old "leader" – as also lauded by Lage -, who has played at least 25 league games for four straight years, could bring a level of stability to a defence that was repeatedly chopping and changing last year, struggling to gain any level of consistency.

Furthermore, only Serge Aurier played as often as Saiss did last season, and had a better average WhoScored rating, with the £5.8m-rated Besiktas defender's rating of 6.83 dwarfing the rest of Forest's defenders.

Defence was a big issue for Cooper's team last season, but adding a leader like Saiss who has consistently stayed injury free in recent years could be a huge boost to the side and go a long way to helping their bid to avoid relegation next year.

Wolves are still battling Tottenham for the potential summer signing of Sporting CP midfielder Joao Palhinha, according to the latest transfer update from Portugal.

The Lowdown: Palhinha a primary target?

With Ruben Neves seemingly leaving Wanderers at the end of the season – his waves to the crowd last weekend suggested as much – Bruno Lage will need to make a key midfield addition.

It looks as though Palhinha is Wolves’ No.1 target in that area of the pitch, having emerged as one of the Sporting’s most influential players in recent years and constantly drawing links to the Black Country.

The 26-year-old as enjoyed an 87.8% pass completion rate in the Primeira Liga this season, also winning 1.5 aerial duels per game.

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The Latest: Offers ready

According to Jornal de Noticias [via Sport Witness], the Premier League is still the ‘most attractive’ proposition for Palhinha, with Wolves and Spurs leading the way in pole position.

Wanderers ‘want to reinforce their midfield’ and ‘initial offers’ are expected to be made imminently, with Sporting wanting at least €30million (£25.4m) for the Portuguese.

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The Verdict: Tough to beat Spurs

It seems clear that Wolves see Palhinha as one of their main summer transfer targets but the main thing holding back a possible deal is the presence of Spurs.

In Antonio Conte, the north Londoners have one of the world’s best managers and they are also on the verge of qualifying for the Champions League – a competition that appeals greatly to most top players.

Both of those things arguably make Spurs the front-runners, although Wolves’ Portuguese connection can always be helpful in these situations, with Palhinha hailed as a ‘special player’ by Sporting manager Ruben Amorim.

In other news, a journalist has dropped an interesting Wolves transfer claim. Read more here.

Former Leeds United defender Danny Mills has implored Raphinha to come good for the team’s final Premier League game of the season. 

The lowdown: Treacherous times for Leeds

As things stand, the Whites are one point outside the relegation zone, having played a game more than Burnley in 18th.

Therefore, the Whites could conceivably be in the bottom three when Jesse Marsch’s side travel to west London to take on Brentford on the final day of the 2021/22 campaign next Sunday, should the Clarets avoid defeat to Aston Villa on Thursday.

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Ahead of the potential showdown, one former Elland Road player has urged a modern-day icon to stand up and be counted…

The latest: Raphinha told to ‘step up’

Speaking to Football Insider, regular talkSPORT pundit Mills called upon Raphinha to live up to his ‘top class’ billing when the stakes are at their highest.

The 44-year-old said of the Brazilian: “I keep hearing that he’s a top-class player. He’s got to start doing it and it’s games like these where you have to step up.

“I was in a Leeds side that went to Arsenal on the penultimate day of the season and we needed to win to stay up, not dissimilar to the position Leeds were in at home to Brighton.

“We went to Arsenal, if they won they were still in the title race. We went there and won because Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka stepped up that day.

“They were top-quality players who maybe hadn’t performed as you’d expect through the season but they turned up that day and were sensational. That’s the sort of performance you need from Raphinha.

“When games are tight you need your star players to shine and I don’t think we’ve really seen it in the past few weeks.”

The verdict: Big-game players needed

There can be no doubt that Marsch will be looking to the likes of Raphinha to earn what could be a crucial three points in the final game of the season.

Despite the struggles across the board at Elland Road this term, the 25-year-old Brazilian has managed eight goals and registered 11 assists in 38 appearances across all competitions.

However, the seven-cap Brazil ace is now without a direct goal contribution in five games at the most pivotal time of the campaign – missing one big chance in a 7.5-rated Sofascore performance against Brighton – and Mills is right to deliver such a call-to-arms of someone with Raphinha’s unquestioned ability who has had some tame performances of late.

Moreover, should the £40.5m-valued winger fail to deliver on Sunday and Leeds suffer the indignity of relegation as a consequence, then a long-mooted move away from Yorkshire could loom closer on the horizon for the Samba star.

In other news: Leeds want this powerful 12-goal striker who is ‘ideal’ for the Championship