All posts by z3u9t.icu

After suffering a disappointing defeat at the hands of Manchester United last week, Newcastle United will be hoping to finally get their Premier League campaign on track when they take on Leeds United on Friday night.

Steve Bruce’s side currently lie 19th in the top-flight after a winless start, tonight facing a Leeds side who are also struggling at the start of this new season and still in search of their first win.

The Magpies boss will surely have some big calls to make after the torrid nature in which they threw away a 1-1 draw into a 4-1 defeat at Old Trafford, and one man who will be sweating on his place is Ciaran Clark.

The Republic of Ireland international was hardly alone in enduring a nightmare afternoon against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, but his mistakes last week were costly’ and when you think of the kind high-pressing, high-intensity side that Leeds are, those errors could rear their ugly head once again.

As per Sofascore, he lost both of the duels in which he was involved, made no tackles whatsoever and was dribbled past once as Cristiano Ronaldo and co ran riot in the second half.

What will also be worrying is that he looked shaky on the ball too, conceding possession on seven occasions, the most of any Magpies defender aside from Matt Ritchie, who should be noted played as more of a wing-back. He also found his mark with just one of his four attempted long balls.

Writing for The Shields Gazette and The Chronicle respectively, both Miles Starforth and Lee Ryder were critical of Clark’s second-half performance in particular, giving him a measly five and four in their post-match player ratings.

Given the nature of how Marcelo Bielsa’s side look to press from the front and put players under pressure when on the ball, Clark might just well be a liability once again – as per WhoScored, his 77.8% pass accuracy this season is worse than the likes of Federico Fernandez, Jamaal Lascelles and Isaac Hayden among others.

If Clark plays, then there’s every chance Leeds will look to test both his ability on the ball and his questionable positioning, both of which let him down against Manchester United last week and could cost the Magpies once again.

The £35k-a-week earning ace simply has to be dropped tonight when the Whites come to town.

Meanwhile, Newcastle United are interested in this Championship star, he’s better than Almiron…

The dying embers of a summer transfer window are always carnage and for Wolverhampton Wanderers, they will find that out in the coming days.

The Old Gold still have a number of deals to complete before the market slams shut next Tuesday.

What’s the word?

Wolves are interested in signing a plethora of players before the deadline with a central defender topping their list.

Sven Botman, Duje Caleta-Car and Tosin Adarabioyo have all been linked for instance.

Also at the height of their agenda will be keeping Ruben Neves at the club. The midfielder has been linked with the exit door for the vast majority of the summer but Bruno Lage now anticipates him to stay.

However, they may have to fight off late interest from Juventus. That’s according to Gazzetta dello Sport who suggest they want to do a swap deal involving Aaron Ramsey.

Should they do it?

If Wolves swapped an injury-prone 30-year-old for a midfielder who is still yet to reach his prime then questions would have to be asked of Jeff Shi and co.

That being said, there would be worse deals the Old Gold could negotiate this summer.

After all, Ramsey seems to fit the bill when it comes to replacing Joao Moutinho in the Wolves ranks.

The Portuguese maestro is now 34 and past his best but he gave us a timely reminder of his immense qualities when the Molineux outfit dispatched Nottingham Forest 4-0 in midweek.

Though, he has already been tipped to start winding down his football with Tim Spiers suggesting last term that it would be his last as a regular in the side.

As such, luring Ramsey to the club does make a degree of sense. Capped 67 times by Wales, the former Arsenal man has Premier League experience in abundance and has been described as “outstanding” by Martin Keown.

He also offers similar qualities to Moutinho. Despite having more energy in his younger legs, the Welshman offers creativity in the final third but a protective screening in front of the back four.

Famed for scoring 16 goals in a single campaign when Arsenal ended their trophy drought, it was in Arsene Wenger’s final season that he became more disciplined in the middle of the park.

During the 2017/18 campaign, he won 1.5 tackles per game in the top-flight and 2.2 tackles per match in European competition.

Compare that to Moutinho and the similarities are clear. He was successful with 2.3 challenges per game in the Premier League last term.

With Moutinho ageing and Ramsey having plenty of experience in his locker, he wouldn’t be the worst signing. They would, however, be mad to swap him for Neves.

AND in other news, Lage could complete Wolves’ summer business by signing “electric” £36m-rated dynamo…

Leeds United could choose to sell a big-name player in order to follow the Leicester City model, according to journalist Graham Smyth.

The Lowdown: Leeds in a great place

The Whites are enjoying a wonderful period in the club’s history, with Marcelo Bielsa guiding them back into the Premier League and establishing them as a top-half team, playing exhilarating football along the way.

Leeds now have a formidable squad capable of battling across various competitions, and in someone like Kalvin Phillips, they have a genuine international star in their ranks.

[freshpress-quiz id=“359346″]

The Latest: Star player could be sold

While Phillips isn’t specifically mentioned, the Yorkshire Evening Post‘s Smyth has responded to a question on Twitter and claimed that Leeds could eventually opt to sell one of their prized assets, hinting at the way Leicester City have cashed in on players before reinvesting:

“No I don’t imagine so. But if they’re going to follow the Leicester model someone’s likely to be sold at some point aren’t they?”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-15/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Inevitability about it?

In truth, the Whites will find it impossible to keep hold of their best players forever – sadly, that is the nature of modern football, with richer clubs eventually getting their own way.

It could be that an enormous offer comes in for Phillips next summer, for example, at which point Leeds may feel selling him on and building the squad with those funds could be more beneficial in the long-term.

In an ideal world, someone of Phillips’ calibre would remain at Elland Road forever, but it may end up making more sense to part ways and use it to their advantage, assuming he wants a fresh challenge.

In other news, Leeds have been tipped to sign one player in January. Find out who it is here.

Former Wigan Athletic manager Paul Jewell believes that Liverpool defender Nat Phillips will want to depart Anfield this summer.

What’s the story?

The 24-year-old performed admirably last season after filling in for the injured trio of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip, but their returns to fitness and the arrival of Ibrahima Konate has seen the £7.2m-rated beast slip down the Reds’ pecking order.

As a result, Phillips has been linked with a departure in recent weeks, with Brighton & Hove Albion, Southampton, Newcastle United and Burnley all credited with an interest in the centre-back.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Jewell claimed that Phillips would not be content with returning to the bench in 2021/22 after playing such a key part last term.

“I would imagine that once you’ve had the taste of playing at the top level, you want to play week in, week out, whether that’s for Liverpool or not,” Jewell said.

“There’s nothing quite like playing, and I’m sure Nat Phillips doesn’t want to go back to playing in League Cup and FA Cup games five or six times a season.

“That’s the problem you have when you give players a chance – the hunger and taste for it is there now,” he concluded.

He’s not good enough

It’s hard to criticise the 6 ft 2 beast after his admirable showing throughout the second half of 2020/21 when he made 15 Premier League appearances for Liverpool, playing a crucial part as Jurgen Klopp’s finished third in the top-flight standings.

However, while Phillips obviously excels at the traditional aspects of defending, he evidently struggles with some of the modern demands placed upon a centre-back.

As per WhoScored, Phillips recorded 0.8 blocks per league game in 2020/21 and 4.8 clearances, the highest tallies compared to his teammates.

He won several plaudits after answering Klopp’s desperate cry for help, including former England and Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp.

“Nat Phillips has had an unbelievable time, he’s full of confidence. He’s a throwback defender,” said Redknapp.

“He wants to make blocks, he wants to make tackles, he’s got great anticipation. He knows his limitations. Right now, he must think he’s in dreamland.”

But it was a very different story with the ball at his feet. He completed just 87.2% of his passes, made only 2.90 progressive carries per 90, and attempted a single dribble.

Therefore, Phillips’ proposed exit could be the ideal solution for all parties. Liverpool receive a significant boost to their depleted transfer kitty, Phillips gets regular game time and his buyer purchases a quality, old-fashioned defender.

And, in other news…Fabrizio Romano drops exciting Liverpool transfer update that’ll have the fans buzzing 

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith could sign his club’s new Tony Daley in Bayer Leverkusen flier Leon Bailey.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent days have suggested that the Jamaica international is now very much a target for the Midlands club as they look to strengthen their attacking options ahead of the new Premier League season.

The Birmingham Mail’s Ashley Preece claimed that with Villa having moved on from their pursuit of Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe, Bailey is firmly on the club’s radar now.

Villa’s new Daley

The Jamaican winger enjoyed a superb campaign in the Bundesliga last season – he scored 15 times and provided another 11 assists, which when compared to Villa’s current squad favours very well (only Ollie Watkins scored more with 16, and only Jack Grealish set up more with 12).

The £43m-rated Bailey can play on either flank, and what really makes him a true successor to Daley is his speed and incredible dribbling.

Ajax’s former youth coach, Ronald de Boer, once said of Bailey: “He’s so fast it’s not normal. His speed, combined with his technique, is very rare. Exceptional. He has no weak points.”

And, after helping to bring him to the club, Leverkusen’s sporting director, Rudi Voller, added: “He’s got extraordinary pace, he’s very skilful with the ball, and he will give further impetus to our attacking department.”

That pace and trickery is what made Daley an absolute nightmare for opposition defences back in the mid 80s and 90s for Villa.

A profile done by The Birmingham Mail on some of the most exciting wingers in Villa’s history, said of him: “It was not just the tarantula-esque haircuts that frightened defenders. The eight legs of many a back four struggled to contend with Tony Daley.

“Injuries and inconsistency probably prevented the softly-spoken Brummie from becoming a true turbo-boosted claret and blue legend. But the wing wonder certainly provided entertainment for the Villa Park faithful, down both flanks, between his debut in 1985 and his departure in 1994.

“The pick of Daley’s 38 goals in 298 appearances for his boyhood club was arguably his scorching solo effort in a 2-0 home win over Luton in March 1990, when he span sharply near the half-way line and darted past the Hatters defence, before scoring from an impossible angle.”

That “turbo-boost” and ability to beat players for fun and then deliver a vicious strike at goal is everything that Bailey brings to the table, and exactly why Smith could deliver a throwback to Villa’s past by landing the Jamaican this summer.

Meanwhile, this Aston Villa target now has his heart set on Villa Park…

The Athletic’s Crystal Palace reporter, Matt Woosnam, has revealed the fresh dimension Conor Gallagher will bring to the club as a loan move edges closer with a medical due today, speaking to The Transfer Tavern.

The Chelsea midfielder has been linked with a potential move to the Eagles in recent weeks following the appointment of Patrick Vieira as manager at Selhurst Park, and TEAMtalk confirmed on Thursday that he had rejected a switch to Leeds United to sign for the Eagles.

The South London outfit’s likely addition of Gallagher comes on the back of signing Joachim Andersen from Lyon following his loan spell at Fulham last term, as their summer business goes from strength to strength.

The 21-year-old has a contract with the Blues until 2025 but has yet to make his senior debut for the club, going on loan to Charlton Athletic, Swansea City, and West Bromwich Albion.

He made 30 appearances in the Premier League last term for the Baggies as they were relegated and Woosnam believes that Gallagher will only be leaving Stamford Bridge on loan this summer.

And he does believe that the youngster would be a fine signing for Vieira’s side.

He said: “Whether that would be a loan or that would be permanent is also unclear.

“I think Chelsea might see that as a better opportunity to loan him out for another year and then if he doesn’t make it into their first team then to maybe sell him but certainly, he would fill that more attacking kind of role in the midfield that Palace need at the moment. Most of their midfielders, if you take away Jeffrey Schlupp, are quite defensive, relatively speaking.”

Sheffield United forward Daniel Jebbison could be heading for the Bramall Lane exit door on a temporary basis, Slavisa Jokanovic has revealed. 

The lowdown

Jebbison burst onto the scene for the Blades, as he scored on his debut against Everton in a 1-0 win over the Toffees towards the end of the 2020/21 season.

It was a frustrating league campaign for Sheffield United, as they were relegated from the Premier League after a disappointing campaign in the top-flight.

Jebbison made four appearances in all competitions last term for the Blades, and is likely to be behind a number of other options Jokanovic has at his disposal this season.

The Sun have recently reported that the likes of Sunderland, Burton Albion and Doncaster Rovers are all rumoured to be interested in a deal to sign Jebbison on a temporary basis this summer.

The latest

Speaking in an interview after Jebbison featured in their 1-0 win over Carlisle United in the First Round of the EFL Cup (quotes sourced from The Star), Blades boss Slavisa Jokanovic revealed that Jebbison could head out on loan for the 2021/22 campaign.

“When one guy is out [Mousset], it’s a chance for all the players and Jebbo is one of the important products from our academy. We believe he has to be on the field, which is the only reason we’re thinking about a situation of loaning him.”

The verdict

A loan move elsewhere is likely to be the ideal option for all parties involved here. Jebbison impressed in his breakthrough season last term, but it’s understandable that he might not feature much this season, as Jokanovic has more experienced options to call on in the Championship.

The likes of Lys Mousset, Oliver McBurnie, Rhian Brewster, Billy Sharp and David McGoldrick are all likely to be ahead of Jebbison in the pecking order at Bramall Lane this term, and a loan move elsewhere could provide him with the ideal opportunity to further his development in senior football.

BBC Sport’s Garth Crooks labelled Jebbison as an ‘interesting’ talent as he named him in his Team of the Week back in May 2021, so it will be beneficial for the Blades to see that talent develop week in week out.

Watford have been linked with a move for Jens Stryger Larsen recently and given his impressive performances for Denmark at Euro 2020, he would surely be a good addition to Xisco Munoz’s side ahead of next season.

What’s the word?

According to 90min, Watford have set their sights on signing the 30-year-old after he helped Denmark to the semi-final of the European Championships this summer and given that he currently plies his trade at Udinese, the Hornets are unlikely to encounter any difficulties in a potential deal due to the link between the two clubs.

Would he be a good signing?

Stryger Larsen was a regular in Kasper Hjulmand’s side this summer at right wing-back, making six appearances in total and producing superb displays in the wins against Wales and the Czech Republic in the knockout stages.

Whilst his performances in Serie A last season were much less impressive, as he averaged a poor 6.42 rating from WhoScored across his 33 appearances in the Italian top-flight, he is capable of playing in a number of positions in defence and midfield and would offer Munoz some valuable experience ahead of their return to the Premier League.

Given that the defender is currently valued at just £3.6m by Transfermarkt, this seems like a very low-risk transfer for Watford to complete and should it not work out, then the Pozzo family could always just send him back to Udinese next summer, so the move makes perfect sense from the Watford perspective.

The versatile Dane’s contract with Udinese is also set to expire at the end of next season, so it makes sense for the Serie A side to cash in on him now on the back of an impressive Euro 2020 campaign, rather than potentially losing him for nothing next summer.

Although Munoz already has two strong options at right-back in Kiko Femenia and Jeremy Ngakia, Stryger Larsen would be a great, experienced option for the Spanish manager to have next season, so sporting director Cristiano Giaretta should definitely look to bring him in.

And, in other news… Watford should swoop for 22-goal beast loved by Aubameyang

Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa is eyeing a move for Blackburn Rovers star Ben Brereton.

What’s the story?

With the Whites still having yet to clinch a new signing ahead of the start of the Premier League season, Victor Orta will be hoping to get things underway at Elland Road as soon as possible.

And, according to the Chilean publication, Red Gol, Bielsa is interested in signing Brereton this summer.

The report adds that the versatile 22-year-old has been on the Leeds boss’ radar since a couple of seasons ago when they met in the Championship, while there is said to be positive relations between the Whites and Blackburn Rovers.

Shrewd signing for Bielsa

Able to play as a number nine, but also out wide on both flanks, Brereton enjoyed his most prolific campaign to date in the Championship with Blackburn last season, bagging seven goals and providing five assists in 40 league games.

Dubbed a “wonderful talent”, his Rovers manager, Tony Mowbray, said: “Brereton’s like a beast now, and he can score goals. I see it every day in training. He’s a brilliant lad and all our lads absolutely love him. He’s filled out now and he will work so hard for this team. He’s very gifted and can score goals.”

Meanwhile, Brereton’s Chilean compatriot, Carlos Villanueva, said: “He’s going to make a good contribution to the national team, especially in a position where we had been looking for variants years ago.  There has always been talk of that spare 9 and he gives you different characteristics… He comes from a football much more physical than the South American. He also has Chilean and South American blood, which puts in and fights.”

The £4.5m-rated ace sounds like the kind of give-it-his-all player that Bielsa wants in his squad at Elland Road, and at just 22, is still nowhere near the prime years of his career.

Given that the Leeds boss apparently wanted him years ago too, a move for a more well-rounded Brereton now – and especially off the back of his most exciting campaign – seems like it could well be a shrewd deal for Leeds.

Meanwhile, Leeds must land this EURO 2020 star…

Unsurprisingly, with a £340 million deal potentially just around the corner, Mike Ashley is all in on getting PCP Capital Partners in at Newcastle United, but Shields Gazette journalist Liam Kennedy has told FFC that there is one potential buyer with quite a lot of money behind them that could rival the potential new owners.

The consortium that are attempting to buy Newcastle are the only group to have stumped up the cash and proved they have the sufficient funds to not only buy the club immediately, but also be able to take the Magpies forward.

PCP Capital Partners, which is led by Amanda Staveley, had huge plans to transform Newcastle and not just the club, but also the city and surrounding area which may have changed the way players and pundits viewed the North East.

However, with Newcastle being such a big club historically and many viewing it as a sleeping giant, there is no surprise that other parties are constantly linked with taking over from Ashley. Kennedy has confirmed that there is one other seriously wealthy interested party if the current takeover deal falls through, and he spoke about that potential buyer to Football FanCast:

“You always hear things about potential buyers and I got one put to me about a week ago who has some quite big money and family links, so they would definitely be of interest if it could progress.”

July appears to be a critical month for everyone involved with Newcastle United as the anti-competition case and arbitration are set to come to fruition and with Ashley’s bold statement released on Thursday evening, it will have only stirred things up further.