All posts by h716a5.icu

Rangers have been handed a huge lift ahead of their Premiership clash on Saturday afternoon…

What’s the word?

Speaking ahead of that fixture, as per the club’s official Twitter channel, Ibrox manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has revealed that striker Alfredo Morelos is in line to make his long-awaited return from injury this weekend.

Asked about the fitness of his squad heading into the home clash against Kilmarnock, the Dutchman stated: “The squad is looking good. The biggest change will be Alfredo will be in the squad. He’s been training really hard with the team and he’s ready to be in the squad for tomorrow and hopefully play some minutes as well.”

The Colombia international has been absent since sustaining a thigh injury in April, with that issue ultimately ruling him out of the final few weeks of last season.

Massive boost

Amid what will already be a frenzied atmosphere at Ibrox as supporters return for the first home game of the season for the Light Blues, news of the 26-year-old’s return will only add to that bubbling excitement, with the crowd surely desperate to see the former HJK Helsinki man back in action.

While there are still lingering doubts over the £11.7m-rated marksman’s future in Glasgow with less than 12 months remaining on his existing deal, for now those of a Rangers persuasion will simply be delighted to see him fit and firing again, with Van Bronckhorst’s side having sorely missed the talismanic figure of late.

Tuesday night’s Champions League defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise in particular, showcased the void that the £33k-per-week menace leaves behind when he is unavailable, with summer arrival Antonio Colak having proven to be a “waste of time” in Belgium, according to pundit Mark Hateley.

In truth, while seeing the 11-cap brute in action this weekend would be a welcome development, the onus will be to ensure that Morelos is raring to go in the second leg of their European tie in midweek, with Van Bronckhorst seemingly in need of his talisman to help overturn the two-goal deficit.

The odds are stacked against them, although if ever there were a man to pull a rabbit out of the hat for Rangers, it is ‘The Buffalo’. The 5 foot 10 titan has been prolific for the club in recent years, with his tally for the Light Blues now standing at 113 goals in 224 games in all competitions.

The belief will be that he can add to that haul against Kilmarnock this weekend if he features, gearing him up for the pivotal European encounter on Tuesday evening.

After the disappointment in Belgium earlier this week, Morelos’ return could be the welcome boost that the Ibrox faithful need.

West Ham United have suffered a body blow ahead of their opening Premier League fixture of the season against Manchester City today.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to Manchester Evening News, who quoted David Moyes’ response to injury updates as the Irons manager coyly claimed: “We’ve got quite a lot of concerns but I’m not going to give you them.”

He continued by ruling out the Hammers’ new signing Gianluca Scamacca due to fitness issues, saying: “Gianluca has only just joined us and he’s a little behind so I’m not expecting him to be available this weekend. He’s not played any minutes in pre-season so it makes it very difficult to put him out so soon…”.

Moyes will be gutted

Although Scamacca is yet to play for the Hammers, both Moyes and the club’s supporters will be disappointed to see their marquee summer signing ruled out for what looks the most difficult opening game that any Premier League side could be handed.

Michail Antonio has struggled with injury problems over his West Ham career, although he managed an impressive 36 league appearances last season, scoring ten goals.

In all honesty, though, the club were very lucky that the 32-year-old did not break down and leave them without a senior striker for some time.

Although that issue is now resolved with the arrival of Scamacca, his absence will be frustrating given his proficiency in front of goal last season, when he netted 16 goals in Serie A. The Irons are unlikely to get a host of chances against title holders Manchester City, so to be without the forward for today’s clash is a huge blow for West Ham.

Also, with an expected goals (xG) of 11.13, he overperformed in front of goal by 4.87. This outlines his clinical nature and his tendency to score from positions of little opportunity.

For comparison, Antonio’s xG of 12.79 represents a 2.79 underperformance. While over a league season one might prefer the striker who gets in the right positions, for games such as this a wildcard would often be prepared in order to stand a chance.

Moyes has been vocal in his admiration for the player, claiming that the Irons had “been watching him [Scamacca] for some time and even considered going for him last January. He has a presence as a player with his size and his ability to take the ball in, retain possession.

“We see him helping in maybe a different way to what we’ve had and his youthfulness means we know there is more room for improvement. It’s very rare you can have a top striker at 23 years of age – but he is.”

The absence of this kind of presence could be felt heavily by West Ham today, and Moyes will surely be gutted to be without his Italian recruit for their all-important opening league game.

Celtic youngster Matt O’Riley is not wanted by Leicester City in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh report which has emerged.

The Lowdown: O’Riley an exciting talent

The attacking midfielder only played a small role in the Hoops’ Premiership title win last season, making 12 appearances in the top flight, half of those as a substitute.

O’Riley has been linked with a move to Leicester recently, with Brendan Rodgers potentially looking to raid his former club.

However, a new report has contradicted those rumours linking the youngster with a move to the King Power Stadium.

The Latest: Leicester not interested in O’Riley

According to 67HailHail, the Foxes will not look to bring O’Riley to the Premier League this summer, despite not yet signing a single player in the current transfer window.

The 21-year-old’s current contract expires in the summer of 2026.

The Verdict: One for the future

This is good news for Celtic, with O’Riley someone who should be regarded as a hot young prospect after joining from MK Dons in January.

Stilliyan Petrov has said that he has been ‘really impressed’ with the midfielder so far at Parkhead, and there is no reason why the Denmark under-21 international can’t continue to prosper with Ange Postecoglou at the helm.

O’Riley may need to accept that some patience is required, with more experienced players ahead of him in the Celtic pecking order, but he should be afforded more opportunities in 2022/23, having registered three goals and three assists in the Premiership last season despite not featuring regularly.

Manchester City have emerged as frontrunners to sign Lyon star Lucas Paqueta for manager Pep Guardiola this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Eastlands overhaul taking shape…

The Premier League champions, after retaining their domestic crown in sensational fashion last season, are beginning to see a real summer of change with major players coming through the door and long-serving big names having departed.

Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Fernandinho come as the high profile Eastlands exits of this window while the likes of Erling Haaland, Stefan Ortega, Kalvin Phillips and Julian Alvarez have put pen to paper on moves to City.

Reports have suggested there could be even more movement as the Sky Blues remain linked to even more new additions like Brighton star Marc Cucurella and Villarreal defender Pau Torres.

The Latest: Man City one of ‘most credible’ Paqueta options…

Indeed, according to L’Equipe (via GFFN), it appears City have now emerged as one of Lyon star Paqueta’s ‘most credible’ options this summer.

It is claimed that, out of all interested sides, Guardiola’s side are the ‘most advanced’ but even that isn’t particularly far and a move may depend on midfielder Bernardo Silva’s mooted potential exit.

The Verdict: Make the move?

If Bernardo does in fact end up leaving Manchester, with the Portuguese coming as arguably irreplaceable, Paqueta could be an interesting option.

The 24-year-old finished last season as one of Lyon’s best-performers by average match rating whilst making a serious contribution going forward with nine goals and six assists in Ligue 1 (WhoScored).

Back in January, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas claimed any interested side would have to pay around €80 million (£68m) to seal a move for Paqueta but the Brazilian has no shortage of plaudits.

Newcastle United podcaster Dave Harvey, for example, has called the Lyon star ‘sensational’ and it will be interesting to see if City end up advancing before the Magpies or other suitors wade in.

Nottingham Forest have been extremely active in the summer transfer window with 11 signings already secured, and a new potential transfer target has now been revealed.

What’s the latest?

According to RMC Sport (via Sport Witness), the Reds have joined the race to sign Borussia Mönchengladbach forward Alassane Plea this summer.

As per the report, the newly-promoted Premier League club will compete with Everton, Marseille and Nice for the signature of a player who has just one year left on his contract and a reported price tag of €8m (£6.8m).

Imagine him & Lingard

Despite signing a number of new players at the City Ground, it is reported that Steve Cooper still wants another striker in the squad ahead of their return to top-flight action next month, and it looks like they’re quickly identifying players who can fill that role if the reports are true.

Plea has been a creative and reliable attacking threat for Gladbach, scoring 47 goals and delivering 28 assists over 142 appearances for the German club, with a goal contribution every 129 minutes.

Over 32 appearances in the Bundesliga last season, the 29-year-old scored nine goals, delivered six assists and created a whopping 14 big chances, making 1.8 key passes, winning 2.8 duels and taking 1.9 shots per game, showing that he is a creative force who could be a valuable asset to Cooper next season.

Plea has been the recipient of high praise, with Borussia Mönchengladbach’s former sporting director Max Eberl saying of the player when he signed for the club in 2018: “He’s a versatile, quick and clever forward who has put his talent on full display in Ligue 1.”

Cooper could even establish a formidable attacking partnership between the Frenchman and new Forest signing Jesse Lingard in the Premier League next season, which could help them massively in their pursuit to retain their top-flight status.

The prospective signing of Plea could be a major fillip for Cooper and the powers at the City Ground. If he comes to Nottingham and emulates his Bundesliga form, it would put Forest in a great position to compete among the elite of English football.

AND in other news – “Would be…”: Journalist drops huge Forest transfer update, supporters will be gutted

West Ham United transfer target Oleksandr Zinchenko now seems poised to join Arsenal.

What’s the word?

That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, who had the following to say on Twitter: “Arsenal and Manchester City have reached an agreement for Zinchenko in the morning. £30m fee. No doubt it’s done between clubs. Negotiations ongoing on player side for personal terms and salary details, then it will be completed”.

West Ham had shown reported interest in the Ukrainian as far back as June.

Supporters will be gutted

Although only a tenuous interest, Zinchenko would’ve been a fine addition to West Ham’s squad. Admittedly, he would have been for most Premier League clubs.

With incredible versatility, an eye for a pass and multiple years being coached by Pep Guardiola, the Ukrainian international offered it all for just £30m.

An incredibly well-rounded player, he featured just 14 times in the league last season for Manchester City. However, he still managed four assists whilst largely filling in positions in which Pep Guardiola was lacking.

He also managed a remarkable SofaScore rating of 7.07, which shows just how dependable he could be. If he was to make the step down to West Ham, he would have been guaranteed game time in his preferred central midfield position.

When viewing his stats on FBref, it makes for astounding viewing. He ranks in the 96th percentile for shot-creating actions and in the 99th percentile for both progressive passes and carries.

He has deputised as a defender, but his creativity is wasted there and would be a welcome addition to Moyes’ midfield.

Guardiola has been vocal in his admiration for the pass-master in the past, claiming:

“He is well-educated, he knows exactly what it means. He adapted and said: ‘Okay, what does the team need? I’m going to do it.’

“He is a reliable player, honestly. He is focused, a guy who handles the pressure, otherwise he would not have played the final of the Champions League.”

It therefore makes it even more frustrating that the Hammers seem poised to miss out on the 25-year-old to London rivals Arsenal. Supporters especially have reason to be frustrated because of this, as Moyes looks set to miss out on a top target.

AND in other news: “Still talking to..”: ExWHUemployee drops big WHU transfer update supporters will love

Manchester City are monitoring the possibility of a move for Bayern Munich star Serge Gnabry this summer, according to one German outlet.

The Lowdown: Three-horse race

The 26-year-old’s contract at the Allianz is set to expire in just under 12 months, making this a pivotal window to decide his future in the Bundesliga.

It was reported just last month that the winger had turned down a new deal from Bayern, suggesting that he is looking for a move away, and there have been a couple of potential suitors already name-checked.

The Sky Blues, alongside Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester United, have all been credited with an interest in the forward, but in a fresh update, it’s the top-flight champions who appear to be the most serious contender.

The Latest: Gnabry on City’s radar

In an article published by German outlet SportBILD (via Sport Witness), it’s claimed that Man City have Gnabry firmly ‘on their books’, and are ‘looking at’ him as competition for Riyad Mahrez in that right-wing position.

The source states that the attacker’s transfer situation ‘remains uncertain’, with talks of an extension ‘on ice’ having stalled due to the player’s earlier contract rejection.

It’s reported that there is ‘no truth’ in the rumours that Chelsea are interested in a deal, meaning that a switch to another big English club like City is ‘therefore possible’.

The Verdict: Premier League return

Pep Guardiola is clearly having an attacking overhaul of his squad, with Gabriel Jesus leaving for Arsenal and Raheem Sterling recently ann0uncing his departure to become a Chelsea player, so the boss will be left light in the final third, but that’s where the addition of Gnabry comes in.

The 34-cap international, once hailed a ‘world-class’ player by BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand, was a revelation up top for Bayern last season, recording 27 goal contributions in 45 appearances across various positions, via Transfermarkt, exactly the profile of player that the Spaniard loves in his starting XI.

Gnabry will already be used to life in the Premier League having previously spent three years at Arsenal, but any kind of return to England could now see him changing the colour of his shirt from red to blue.

Liverpool will look to secure new contracts for Diogo Jota and Naby Keita this summer, according to a report from The Mirror. 

The lowdown: Ward at work

Following the departure of highly-regarded sporting director Michael Edwards, the passing of the baton to Julain Ward has seemingly proved to be a seamless transition.

So far in his first summer in the role, the 41-year-old has already secured the arrivals of Fabio Carvalho, Calvin Ramsay and the big-money capture of Darwin Nunez, the club’s record signing at £85m.

Ward has also overseen the departures of Takumi Minamino, Sadio Mane and the imminent exit of Neco Williams, along with successfully completing contract negotations for Joe Gomez and Mohamed Salah.

It now looks as though the man behind the deals is setting his sights on securing the future of two more current Reds…

The latest: Keita and Jota next

As per The Mirror, Liverpool are now turning their attentions to contract extensions for midfielder Keita and forward Jota.

It’s claimed that the Anfield club will look to open discussions in the ‘coming weeks’, with the Merseysiders ‘keen to extend’ the stay of the £22.5m-rated Guinea captain, who is already into the final 12 months of his Reds deal.

The report added that £54m-rated Jota, who was branded ‘exceptional’ by pundit Tony Cascarino earlier this year, is also ‘in line to receive a bumper pay rise’ following a brilliant start to life under Jurgen Klopp which has seen the 25-year-old score 34 times in 85 outings.

The verdict: Show of faith

Handing former Wolves star Jota a fresh contract is somewhat of a no-brainer, given the remarkable impact he has had since arriving at Liverpool, surpassing the expectations of most.

However, the decision to offer Keita a renewal at this juncture could still be considered a risk when taking into account the Guinean’s wretched injury record, having missed 62 matches following his move from RB Leipzig in 2018.

While there were signs of a marked improvement in terms of availability last season as the dynamic midfielder made 50-cap midfielder during the upcoming campaign.

That said, securing the futures of those within first-team plans will add to the stability that Klopp himself has enhanced when signing his own contract extension in April, and this is just another sign of the German getting his ducks in arow for the long-term at Anfield.

Tottenham Hotspur have made a ‘late move’ for Leeds United target Sonny Perkins following his departure from West Ham.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Perkins

Described as a ‘stand out’ player for the Hammers’ youth teams, the 18-year-old has been linked with a move to Elland Road this summer.

Phil Hay reported at the beginning of June that Leeds were lining up deals for both Perkins and Birmingham City’s George Hall.

West Ham confirmed on Friday evening that Perkins had left the east London club, but it looks as if the Whites have competition for the teenage forward.

The Latest: Spurs move for Perkins

According to ExWHUemployee, Premier League giants Spurs have made a ‘late move’ for the youngster, who is a boyhood fan of the north London club.

The Irons insider said that Perkins ‘was meant to be going to Leeds’, but it looks as if Tottenham’s move for the 18-year-old could throw a spanner in the works for the Elland Road hierarchy.

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The Verdict: Not ideal for Leeds

Perkins appears to be a future star and contributed to 11 goals in 22 games for West Ham’s under-23 side. Therefore, a move to Thorp Arch could be an extremely shrewd one by Leeds chiefs, where you’d expect he could initially start for the under-23s.

The Whites have reaped the rewards of bringing in young attackers in recent years, with Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood helping the club to stay in the Premier League last season, with 27 appearances and two goals on Friday evening between them in the top flight in 2021/22.

Perkins could become Leeds’ next main man in attack for the under-23s with a view to breaking into the first team, but it seems as if he could now join Spurs, which would be a blow for Jesse Marsch and Victor Orta.

Leeds United are following £9m-rated FC Nantes forward Moses Simon, according to RMC Sport.

The Lowdown: January offer

The Whites are on the search for attacking reinforcements ahead of the new season, with a number of players linked with a move to Elland Road.

Simon has seemingly been on Andrea Radrizzani and Victor Orta’s radar for some time now, with the player confirming that he actually already had an offer on the table from Leeds during the January window.

Capable of playing anywhere in attack, Simon is entering the final two years of his contract with Nantes and still appears to be of interest to the Whites.

The Latest: Leeds links

RMC Sport provided an update regarding Simon on Wednesday afternoon, where Leeds were once again brought up in conversation.

They claim that Simon is being followed closely by both Leeds and OGC Nice and could be allowed to leave “if there are very interesting offers”.

Nice may have taken the first step however, already agreeing terms with the player, so Orta will have to act fast.

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The Verdict: Cheaper option?

Simon has scored 67 goals for club and country during his career so far, with Belgian defender Jules Van Cleemput claiming that Simon has made him suffer the most out of any player in a game, describing him as ‘fast’ and a ‘real nightmare’ (RTBF via Pulse Sports.

The 26-year-old is valued at just £9m by Transfermarkt, so he could be viewed as a much cheaper option to someone like Cody Gakpo.

Leeds have been linked with the PSV star but will need to smash their transfer record to secure his services, so Simon could be an alternative target and may well be one to keep an eye on.