All posts by z3u9t.icu

Leeds: Further Florian Grillitsch update emerges

by z3u9t.icu Uncategorized

Further updates have now emerged regarding reported Leeds United target Florian Grillitsch.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Grillitsch

Hailed as ‘exceptionally gifted’ by Hoffenheim director Alexander Rosen, the Bundesliga club’s midfielder was linked with a move to Elland Road in April.

Transfer insider Dean Jones revealed in recent weeks that the Austria international is still a target for the Whites and could come to Yorkshire even if Kalvin Phillips remains at the club.

Valued at £14.4m by Transfermarkt, the 26-year-old is out of contract at Hoffenheim at the end of this month, with Leeds still name-checked with an interest in recent reports.

The Latest: Romano provides Grillitsch transfer latest

MOT Leeds News relayed an update regarding Grillitsch from Austrian newspaper Die Presse Am Sonntag. They claimed that he has rejected a new contract offer from Hoffenheim, with Leeds, Arsenal, Everton, Lazio and Fiorentina all keen.

The report stated that Fiorentina have reached a verbal agreement, but according to an update from transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on Saturday night, ‘there’s still no agreement’ between the Serie A club and Grillitsch.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-updates-4/” title=”Latest Leeds United updates!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Time for Leeds to swoop?

Romano’s update is an apparent boost for Leeds, who still appear to be interested in securing Grillitsch’s services over the coming weeks.

However, they seem to be busy at this moment in time in looking to wrap up the signing of defensive midfielder Marc Roca from Bayern Munich.

It seems as if Victor Orta may want Grillitsch alongside Roca in midfield, with Phillips now expected to move to Manchester City, so the Whites may need to act fast in order to snap up the Austrian on a free transfer.

In other news: Leeds now won’t sign ‘superb’ midfielder despite Phil Hay revealing talks

Villa: Josh Holland makes triple exit claim

by z3u9t.icu Uncategorized

Midlands journalist Josh Holland has claimed at least three first-team Aston Villa stars could all leave this summer. 

The lowdown: Swift operators

Villa have already shown their hand in a big way this summer having completed deals for Diego Carlos, Boubacar Kamara, Robin Olsen and Philippe Coutinho, all following the eye-catching January signing of Lucas Digne from Premier League rivals Everton.

More incomings are expected at Villa Park as Steven Gerrard attempts to build his own squad having taken over from Dean Smith midway through the 2021/22 campaign.

However, one journalist has shed some fresh light on the other side of the coin as the club potentially look to balance the books with some outgoings…

The latest: Trio named

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Holland suggested that Douglas Luiz, Danny Ings and Morgan Sanson could all be facing uncertain futures as Villans.

He explained: “I think they could be in trouble. Douglas Luiz, Sanson and Ings, they are my three that I think we could see moving away from Villa Park.”

The verdict: One out two in

Valued at a combined £63.9million (Transfermarkt), ownership group NSWE could feasibly recoup a vast proportion of their expenditure and in turn, further furnish the budget by selling the aforementioned trio.

However, only signed last summer for £25million and under contract until 2024 (Sky Sports), the departure of Ings seems highly unlikely at this juncture as Gerrard will be looking to the proven goalscorers in the squad to drive a charge up the table next season.

Keeping hold of Luiz meanwhile could prove a difficult task however as the Brazilian has been the subject of interest from Arsenal previously having made great strides since joining Villa.

Despite being under terms until 2025, Sanson could well be free to leave the club in the summer after the French midfielder made just ten outings under Gerrard, starting on three occasions.

In other news, Aston Villa are eyeing a Champions League star Gerrard saw up close on a scouting trip. 

Nottingham Forest suffer first transfer blow of the summer

by z3u9t.icu Uncategorized

Rangers defender Connor Goldson has signed a new contract at Ibrox in a huge blow to Nottingham Forest’s transfer plans.

The Lowdown: Goldson pens new deal

The 29-year-old first completed the switch to Glasgow from top-flight side Brighton and Hove Albion back in 2018, where he put pen to paper on a four-year deal, making a staggering 222 senior appearances for the club since that time.

The centre-back’s spell with Gio van Bronckhorst’s side looked to be coming to an end this summer, but the Gers shocked fans on Wednesday by announcing a four-year extension.

The Latest: Forest were about to move

The Scottish Sun revealed late on Monday night that the Reds were about to ‘step up’ their interest in Goldson.

Steve Cooper is said to be ‘huge fan’ of the player and the Premier League new boys were ‘ready to make their move’.

The Verdict: Huge blow

The 1-0 victory against Huddersfield Town in the play-off final at Wembley last weekend will see the club receive an astonishing £170m cash boost for making the jump up to the top division.

Goldson, once dubbed an “incredible” player by former Gers boss Steven Gerrard, would have been a superb way to start off their summer business, immediately granting Cooper one of his top targets without paying a penny on transfer fees due to his contract situation.

Averaging 3.3 clearances and 1.2 tackles per league game this season, via WhoScored, he’s been an absolute rock in Rangers’ back-line, also racking up 13 Europa League appearances.

A reunion with Joe Worrall would have provided Cooper with a truly solid pairing of two colossal defenders ready to take the top flight by storm, but the manager will now have to look elsewhere for defensive reinforcements, and it’s extremely unlikely he’ll find one he likes so much on a Bosman deal.

Hutton: Bassey a ‘no-brainer’ for Villa

by z3u9t.icu Uncategorized

Aston Villa’s potential swoop for Rangers defender Calvin Bassey has been labelled as a “no-brainer” by former Scotland defender Alan Hutton, who played for both clubs during his career.

What’s the story?

Speaking to Football Insider, the 37-year-old was full of praise for the Nigerian international, stating: “He was outstanding in the Europa League final, and he carried that on in the Scottish Cup too.

“He’s growing in stature game-on-game. It doesn’t matter where he plays, centre-back or left-back – he gives you an unbelievable presence. He’s got such versatility – and that’s an attribute Villa will value so highly.

“For him to be putting in these kinds of performances at his age, and showing his capability at the highest level – it’s a no-brainer for someone like Villa to come in.

“If he can maintain that level and that consistency week-in, week-out – then wow, he could be an incredible player.”

Villa manager Steven Gerrard has already worked with the 22-year-old from his time in charge of Rangers and is reportedly keen to reunite with the versatile defender, with Sky Sports confirming the Midlanders’ interest earlier this week.

Villa must secure deal for Bassey

Having already signed Philippe Coutinho on a permanent deal whilst completing swoops for Boubacar Kamara and Diego Carlos, all before June, the West Midlands club have already laid down a marker this summer.

Gerrard and co undoubtedly have plenty of ambition when it comes to signings in the off-season, and Bassey would be another excellent addition.

The Nigerian played at left-back for a good chunk of 2021/22, but with the January signing of Lucas Digne, you would expect the 22-year-old to be regularly deployed as a centre-back at Villa.

Having made 49 appearances across all competitions this term, the former Leicester youth player has been instrumental at Ibrox, with Rangers reaching the Europa League final whilst narrowly losing out on the Premiership title to Celtic and winning the Scottish Cup.

Labelled “astonishing” by Owen Hargreaves after a tremendous display in the European final in Seville, Bassey is valued at a fee in excess of £25m by the Glaswegian club.

However, it already appears that, with the backing of NSWE, Villa will have deep pockets this summer, so a deal shouldn’t prove too complicated to complete.

AND in other news: “Interested in signing…”: Ex drops huge WHU transfer claim that supporters will love

West Brom played a blinder with Berahino

by z3u9t.icu Uncategorized

As recent as 2015, former West Bromwich Albion attacker Saido Berahino had the world at his feet.

He’d just come off the back of a Premier League campaign with West Brom that saw him bag 14 goals as a promising player in his early 20’s.

The summer of 2015 saw the Baggies turn down multiple offers for what was their star striker at the time, with Spurs placing a reported £25m bid in order to prise him from the clutches of the Baggies.

Naturally, West Brom rejected the offer for their star academy graduate whose goals had helped the Baggies achieve a 13th place finish in England’s top flight the season prior.

Though, this exact moment can be traced back to the ignition of Berahino’s downward spiral.

In the run-up to the August deadline, Tottenham were desperate in their attempts to sign the forward and Berahino made the feelings mutual, with the whole debacle made even worse when he found out that the Baggies had blocked his dream move.

He took to Twitter to state his frustration, saying he would never play for Chairman Jeremy Peace again and consequently went on strike.

This strike lasted for the first half of the season, until Tony Pulis was appointed as manager and tried to reintegrate the forward back into the starting XI.

Though it was a move that did not play out how the Welshman would have expected it to, and as a result, he lost patience with Berahino – whose career was now starting to pass him by.

Pulis sold the striker onto former club Stoke City, who were willing to take a chance on Berahino and splashed a total reported fee of around £15m back in 2017.

It took the forward 35 appearances to grab his first goal in a Stoke shirt and after suffering relegation with the Potters and failing to find form in the Championship, he was released just one month after a conviction for drink driving.

The now 28-year-old is meant to be in the prime of his career and after three attempts to get his career back on track in the form of Belgian top-flight sides Zulte Waregem and RSC Charleroi, along with a season at Sheffield Wednesday, he now finds himself as a free agent, after being released from the latter – despite grabbing nine strikes and four assists.

It’s all gone so wrong for the player who Joe Chapman dubbed “quiet” after he burst onto the scene for West Brom.

And whilst he cost the Baggies nothing, they cashed in at the right time to coup a sweet £15m in total fees for a player who is now worth just £1.35m.

In other news: Bye-bye: Bruce heading for disaster over West Brom’s 43-goal “baller” 

Newcastle transfer news on Ekitike

by z3u9t.icu Uncategorized

Newcastle United are reportedly now ‘working’ on signing Hugo Ekitike in the summer.

The Lowdown: Newcastle confident on Ekitike

Taking to Twitter, transfer insider Graeme Bailey has recently revealed that the St James’ Park faithful are ‘confident‘ of signing Ekitike this summer.

Expanding in his latest article for 90min, the journalist added that they hope to wrap up a deal ‘soon’ after Eddie Howe ‘pinpointed’ the 19-year-old as a target back in the January transfer window.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/newcastle-news-6/” title=”Newcastle news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

A reported £33m move for Ekitike to move to the North East from Ligue 1 club Reims fell through on January’s transfer deadline day, and now it looks like the Tyneside outfit are going to return for him once the summer window opens.

The Latest: Romano’s update

Taking to Twitter, Italian football journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has now revealed a ‘key’ update with regards to the Magpies and Ekitike.

He outlined: “Key days ahead for Hugo Ekitike’s future, he’s expected to leave Reims after great season. Newcastle are still working to sign him after January late negotiations, now hoping to beat Borussia Dortmund in the race.

“Ekitike will make his choice on the future soon.”

The Verdict: Get it done

With clubs like Dortmund – who will be playing in the Champions League next season and have lost Erling Haaland to Manchester City – showing interest in Ekitike, the Toon need to wrap up this deal  quickly if they are to secure his signature.

Dubbed a ‘very special‘ player earlier this season by his manager Oscar Garcia, the 19-year-old seems to have a huge future ahead of him, and some in France truly believe that he could be the ‘next Mbappe‘.

With 11 goals and four assists in 26 games across all competitions this term (Transfermarkt), Ekitike has burst onto the scene in his home country, and he would no doubt be an exciting signing if Newcastle can land him.

In other news, find out which ‘golden boy’ NUFC are still interested in here!

Man City: Romano shares major Pogba transfer update

by z3u9t.icu Uncategorized

Fabrizio Romano has now shared a major transfer update out of Manchester City involving Manchester United star and controversial target Paul Pogba.

The Lowdown: Guardiola eyes move…

After sealing an agreement for Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland, putting an end to City’s long search for Sergio Aguero’s heir going forward, manager Pep Guardiola has allegedly set his sights on a new midfielder.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/man-city-latest-developments-3/” title=”Man City latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Premier League champions are set to lose club legend Fernandinho who is now confirmed this season will be his last at Eastlands, drawing the curtain on a near-10 year stay.

City’s veteran fan favourite will be sorely missed as club officials are now tasked with securing a marquee signing who can fill the void left by his departure.

Barcelona ace Frenkie de Jong is reportedly on the radar with another big name in Pogba also having been mentioned.

The rival midfielder, who is out of contract at the end of this campaign, has been targeted by City chiefs in a potentially head-turning move, with Romano now sharing what he knows.

The Latest: Romano reveals Man City ‘approaches’….

The reliable transfer source, making a claim on Twitter, says the Sky Blues have indeed made contact to sign Pogba – revealing their ‘approaches’ and attempts to sign the 29-year-old on a Bosman deal.

However, as per Romano’s information, the Red Devils ace has turned them down.

He explained:

“Meeting still ongoing between Paul Pogba’s agents and Juventus in Turin as expected, with Raiola group’s lawyer Rafaela Pimenta taking care of the negotiations. Pogba has already turned down Man City approaches, while there’s Paris Saint-Germain still in the race.”

The Verdict: Blessing in disguise…

Signing the France international, arguably sensational on his day, would make sense on paper and from a business perspective.

Called a ‘world class’ player by former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell, the pundit also claimed City would be ‘crazy’ not to pursue a deal for Pogba given his soon-to-be free agent status (Football Insider).

Bypassing his £49.5 million estimated valuation (Transfermarkt) would’ve seemed like a masterstroke by sporting director Txiki Begiristain, but there’s also reasons for City to turn elsewhere.

Pogba’s age and rumoured attitude problems behind-the-scenes would’ve been big issues for Guardiola and City, not to mention his status as a major rival player from Old Trafford.

The likes of de Jong, while more costly, could prove a far better potential signing in the long term.

In other news: Talks opened: Man City have also made contact to sign ‘phenomenal’ £85m man! Find out more here.

Curtis Davies could now leave Derby

by z3u9t.icu Uncategorized

Derby County manager Wayne Rooney is reportedly set to face a huge battle to keep hold of first-team star Curtis Davies amid new transfer interest, according to The Mirror.

The Lowdown: Facing an uncertain future

After going into administration last September, the Rams were hit with a 12-point deduction from the English Football League, and after a second points hit ended up getting relegated to League One following a 1-0 Championship defeat at the hands of QPR.

Despite preferred bidder Chris Kirchner being granted an exclusivity period extension by Quantuma in his mission to take over the club, the fact that they currently don’t have any financial stability, in addition to a deal not yet being agreed, means that all of the County staff and players are in limbo when it comes down to trying to complete any upcoming transfer window business.

The Latest: Davies attracting interest

In a transfer update published in the last 48 hours by The Mirror, it’s claimed that Davies is just one of several Derby players now being ‘chased’ after their drop down to the third-tier.

The source further states that the centre-back would be ‘open to staying’, but is ‘attracting interest’ from his former club Hull and Championship side Bristol City.

The Verdict: A hammer blow

If the Rams colossus were to depart Pride Park this summer, it would come as a huge blow to Rooney as the experienced defender has been an absolute rock at the heart of that backline this season, despite failing to avoid the drop.

Davies has been a regular feature of Rooney’s matchday squads, having started all 46 league games this term, scoring four goals during that time, as per Transfermarkt.

Given the fact that the veteran is out of contract at the end of June, not to mention the current financial struggles that the club currently find themselves in, it will prove to be a difficult task to keep hold of the Leytonstone-born talent and deny him the opportunity of a move to a team in the division above.

In other news… Derby could be set to face a new threat ahead of the start of next season.

Leeds dealt setback ahead of Arsenal clash

by z3u9t.icu Uncategorized

Leeds United have been dealt a huge setback ahead of their upcoming Premier League meeting with Arsenal on Sunday.

What’s the latest?

Speaking in his pre-match press conference (via Evening Standard), Gunners boss Mikel Arteta revealed that Ben White, who missed Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over West Ham United last weekend due to a hamstring injury, is now back in contention for the clash against Leeds tomorrow afternoon.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more” title=”Read the latest Leeds United news and rumours!”]

Regarding the current condition of the centre-back, the Spaniard said: “Ben White is still in contention. He needs to train [on Saturday] to make sure that he is available to play.”

Marsch will be gutted

Considering how just how important it is for Jesse Marsch and his side to pick up a positive result from their trip to north London on Sunday, coupled with how impressive White has been for the Gunners this season, the news that the England international is in contention to feature against Leeds is sure to have left the American gutted.

Indeed, over his 31 Premier League appearances this term, the £36m-rated defender has been extremely solid in the heart of the Arsenal backline, helping his side to keep 13 clean sheets, along with making 1.4 interceptions, 1.4 tackles and 3.1 clearances and winning 4.4 duels (at a success rate of 59%) per game.

These returns have seen the £120k-per-week talent average a SofaScore match rating of 6.94, ranking him as Arteta’s joint 10th-best player in the top flight.

As such, it is clear  to see that the return of the former Leeds loanee would come as a huge blow to the Whites’ chances of leaving the Emirates Stadium will a decent result on Sunday afternoon – with a loss potentially seeing Marsch and his side fall into the relegation zone with just three matches left to play.

AND in other news: Leeds now plotting bid for “fabulous” £45k-p/w target, Orta should “take him all day”

Everton: Iwobi praised by Dominic King

by z3u9t.icu Uncategorized

Dominic King has been full of praise for Alex Iwobi’s performance as Everton won 1-0 at home to Chelsea in the Premier League this afternoon.

The Lowdown: Big win for Everton

It was a big win for the hosts at Goodison Park as they climbed to within two points of both Leeds United and Burnley in the table, courtesy of a goal from Richarlison in the early second half exchanges.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/everton-news-5/” title=”Everton news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Toffees still have a game in hand on their two relegation rivals as well, so their destiny is still in their hands.

The Latest: Iwobi hailed by King

Taking to Twitter, Daily Mail journalist King was especially pleased with Iwobi’s performance, claiming that the 25-year-old may have gone ‘under the radar’ given some huge saves that Jordan Pickford made in the second half.

King gushed: “It may go under the radar but the shift Alex Iwobi has put in needs highlighting. He’s a player Frank Lampard loves because of his attitude and determination to play wherever for the team. He hasn’t put a foot out of place, superb.”

The Verdict: Huge shift from Iwobi

Like the rest of the team, Iwobi put in a huge shift for Everton to ensure that they took all three points on Merseyside today.

The former Arsenal ace won four of his duels in total and also recorded one successful dribble, three clearances, one interception, two tackles, one key pass and three accurate long balls (SofaScore).

He had 47 touches of the ball in total, more than any of his team-mates, showing his bravery to get his team out of tight situations in what would have been much appreciated by Lampard and the supporters, as King pointed out.

In other news, find out what ‘very strange’ incident from today’s match left Adam Jones stunned