All posts by h716a5.icu

West Ham United are now eyeing a move for Colombia international and big name player James Rodriguez, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Hammers keep busy…

The Hammers and manager David Moyes have been busy in this summer transfer market as the club set sights on an emergency centre-back signing and the possible addition of a new midfielder.

Having missed out on a place in the Premier League top six last season, West Ham appear determined not to miss out on Europa League/Champions League qualification again.

Nayef Aguerd, Flynn Downes, Alphonse Areola, Gianluca Scamacca and Maxwel Cornet have arrived at Rush Green as news now emerges on a head-turning new target.

The Latest: West Ham eye Rodriguez move…

Indeed, according to reports out of Spain, the east Londoners are now targeting former Everton playmaker Rodriguez amid his uncertain future at Al Rayyan in the Qatar League.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-news-4/” title=”West Ham latest news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Marca claim West Ham, Galatasary and a ‘couple of teams in Greece’ have expressed an interest in the 31-year-old this summer.

The Verdict: Avoid…

Rodriguez’s quality has been evident in the past with footballing legend David Beckham even once tipping him to ‘become one of the world’s best players’ after a ‘spectacular’ game at the 2014 World Cup against Brazil (via Daily Express).

And he backed that form up at Real Madrid, contributing to 78 goals in 124 games,  winning two Champions League and two La Liga titles.

However, his unceremonious exit from the Toffees last summer could indicate an attitude problem which Moyes will be unlikely to try and tame at the London Stadium.

The Scotsman carefully vets transfer targets to pass his personality test and we believe Rodriguez could be a case West Ham will want to avoid.

Manchester City could be set to tie down the future of midfielder Bernardo Silva beyond his current contract at the club.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from The Athletic, some people behind the scenes at the Etihad Stadium believe that Silva could be open to discussing a potential extension to his current contract at the club, which is set to expire in the summer of 2025.

The Portugal international had been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona this summer until the same report from The Athletic claimed that the player has now stuck his focus on staying with Pep Guardiola’s side.

City signed the 28-year-old back in the 2017 summer transfer window from AS Monaco in a deal worth £43m.

Since then, Silva has gone on to make 253 appearances for the Citizens across all competitions, scoring 48 goals and providing 50 assists along the way, in addition to winning numerous domestic trophies.

A big boost for Guardiola

If Silva is indeed focused on remaining at City and potentially open to discussing a new deal, it will come as a seismic boost to Guardiola.

The Portuguese playmaker is a hugely important cog for the champions, particularly last season when only Kevin De Bruyne (139) produced more shot-creating actions than Silva (127), who also only saw Rodri (171) make more successful pressures than him (143).

With that in mind, it’s clear that he is the epitome of a Pep player; someone who works hard but still finds a way to fashion goal-scoring opportunities.

He ended the campaign with a very strong overall performance rating of 7.27/10 from WhoScored, making him the fifth-highest rated player at City, indicating just how impressive he can be with and without the ball and why he’d be a big miss for the team if he were to leave.

Last September, the City boss had this to say about the Portugal international and what he means to him.

“(He is) an exceptional player. All I want for Bernardo is to be happy, here and everywhere, number one is his happiness because he’s a guy who deserves the best.”

Thus, if City can get through to the end of the summer transfer window with Silva in their squad, they should definitely make an approach to the player to see if he would indeed be willing to either sign a contract extension or improve his current terms, as keeping such a talented player at the Etihad would undoubtedly be a boost to everyone associated with the Citizens.

Manchester United could bring Barcelona forward Memphis Depay back to Old Trafford this summer, according to reliable journalist Samuel Luckhurst.

The Lowdown: Depay return rumours

Erik ten Hag is working hard on making some key reinforcements before the end of the summer transfer window, with a new forward at the top of his wish-list.

A move for Ajax attacker Antony looks to be progressing well but United have also been strongly linked with bringing Depay back to the club after he left in 2017.

The Dutchman, who can play anywhere across the front, flattered to deceive in his first spell at Old Trafford but Ten Hag appears to see him as a primary target.

The Latest: Ronaldo replacement?

The Manchester Evening News‘ Luckhurst has now backed the Depay rumours, saying United ‘have not ruled out’ the idea of re-signing Depay, with Barca ‘prepared to sell’ the 28-year-old.

The aim is to seal Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit and sign a replacement, with Depay looking like a strong contender to come in alongside Antony, who would of course be designated for the right-wing role if he signs.

He scores goals galore! Pay homage to one of his best with this amazing t-shirt! Click here to buy…

The Verdict: Is he good enough?

There will be some understandable trepidation from some United fans if Depay rejoins this summer, considering his struggles the first time around, but Ten Hag has to be trusted in the transfer market.

There will be a reason why he likes him so much – Ronald Koeman once said he is a ‘joy to watch’ – and he will believe he is someone who can provide regular end product in his attack, as well as impressing in his off-the-ball work.

There would be a risk element in signing Depay – Barca want to sell him for a reason, after all – but he has matured as a player and his record of 42 goals in 80 caps for the Netherlands is hugely impressive.

Newcastle United have entered the final week of the summer transfer window and time is running out for them to finish their business.

Dan Ashworth recently smashed the club’s transfer record to bring in Swedish striker Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad, making him the fourth arrival on Tyneside.

Nick Pope, Sven Botman, and Matt Targett have also joined the Magpies on permanent deals from Burnley, Lille, and Aston Villa respectively.

The ex-Brighton chief now has until Thursday to make any further additions to Eddie Howe’s squad and one area in which they may look to strengthen in is the middle of the park.

ESPN recently reported that the club are one of the teams interested in signing midfielder Matt O’Riley from Scottish giants Celtic, who could be available if a bid of up to £20m is lodged.

Newcastle must now push to sign the Denmark U21 international before the deadline passes as he could form an exciting pairing with Bruno Guimaraes in midfield.

First and foremost, would the 21-year-old suit the way Howe wants his team to play? It has been noted that being able to counter-press by reading the game is one of his skills and this suggests that he would fit in with the manager’s aggressive pressing system.

This shows that O’Riley is capable of pushing on from midfield to engage in a high press and this could help the Magpies to force mistakes in the opposition third.

He also has the quality to be a creator for his team. Former Hoops boss Paul Lambert previously heaped praise on the midfielder’s ability in possession, saying:

“The space he can generate for himself is really good, and he makes the game look easy by doing the simple things well. That’s not always an easy thing to say to footballers, to just keep it simple, they want to do the flashy side of the game. But he does the simple side of the game really well.”

In the Premiership this season, the ex-MK Dons machine has created three chances per game and assisted three across five appearances. This comes after he provided 2.2 key passes per outing in the Scottish top-flight last term and ended the campaign with four goals and three assists in 16 matches, whereas no Toon player managed more than 1.6 key passes per game in 2021/22.

The young talent has the potential to be a creative force in the Magpies midfield and Brazilian dynamo Bruno Guimaraes could benefit from that.

In the 2021/22 Premier League campaign, the Brazil international scored five goals in 11 starts and having a player alongside him who is capable of consistently creating opportunities could allow him to add to his Toon goal tally.

The ex-Lyon man has also shown that he can be a creator. In the last 365 days, Guimaraes ranks in the 96th percentile out of players in his position in Europe’s top five leagues for expected goals assisted at 0.19 per 90, which suggests that he is one of the best midfielders around when it comes to creating high-quality chances.

Now, imagine him and O’Riley playing alongside each other in the English top-flight and ripping teams open with their terrific ability on the ball.

Rangers had one of their better summer transfer windows in recent memory, adding in some much-needed quality to boost the Ibrox side ahead of a busy campaign.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst signed Malik Tilman, Ben Davis, John Souttar, Ridvan Yilmaz, Antonio Colak, Tom Lawrence, and Rabbi Matondo this summer and with four wins from five in the Premiership and qualification for the group stages of the Champions League, there has been an instant impact from some of the new arrivals.

It could have been better though, with the manager concluding early on deadline day that there would be no last-minute arrivals. It was slightly disappointing news for the supporters, especially with the Champions League riches that are sure to line the Ibrox coffers.

One player that the club missed out on was Billy Gilmour, who joined Brighton and Hove Albion for £9m on deadline day, and it was a tough one as the Gers had been linked with a move for the player during the summer.

The Scot actually started out his career at Rangers, being developed through the Ibrox academy before Chelsea secured his signature when he was just 15.

His spell in London has allowed him to develop properly and he got his opportunity under Frank Lampard, with Roy Keane lavishing praise upon him following an FA Cup tie against Liverpool in 2020, saying it was a “world-class” performance.

Under Thomas Tuchel, Gilmour won the Champions League in 2021 but spent last season on loan at Norwich to gain regular game time.

The Canaries were relegated but Gilmour was one of the better performers when he got a chance in the side, making one key pass per match while on average, taking 61.9 touches each game, showing his desire to constantly get on the ball.

His experience in the Premier League and at international level for Scotland – where he was man of the match against England in Euro 2020 – would have made him an important signing for Rangers if he returned to Ibrox.

Henry Winter has described Gilmour’s move to Brighton as a “steal” for the seaside club and despite the Light Blues receiving around £1m from the transfer, the Dutchman would much rather have the 21-year-old in his squad.

Finance expert Dr. Dan Plumley has saluted Manchester City after the Sky Blues confirmed some lucrative off-field news this week.

The Lowdown: CFG agree Unilumin renewal…

The City Football Group, as announced by the Premier League champions on Tuesday via their official website, agreed to renew their partnership with LED display solutions firm Unilumin.

Working in tandem since early 2021, the Citizens claim their agreement with the LED display partner has made them the most ‘commercially valuable’ side in England when it comes to pitch side media.

Utilising the latest innovative technologies, as stated, has allowed City greater scope to communicate with supporters on match days through these state of the art screens and picture quality.

The Latest: Finance guru hails off-field Man City deal…

Dr Plumley, speaking to Football Insider, now claims agreements like this can help CFG grow the Sky Blues further and further – praising the club for their deal.

“I think we could see some technological improvements as part of the deal here.

“That is the message that is coming out of the club. They claim that the company has made them the most commercially valuable club in the Premier League in that advertising space.

“City are most definitely the benchmark in this area. When you have deals like this in place, that then allows you to grow even further.

“They have been innovative in this area among others in recent years. You can see the rewards already. I expect them to continue to push on in this area in years to come too.”

The Verdict: Growing and growing…

From investing £200 million into a state of the art academy to pledging their efforts in rejuvenating Manchester’s housing community, CFG are continuing to build City both on and off the pitch.

This latest agreement to extend their partnership with Unilumin is yet another signal that City chiefs are looking to seriously grow the general brand as well as Pep Guardiola’s first team.

The Blues’ stock and value continues to rise year-by-year yet it appears there is no sign of slowing down as CFG continuously look for more ways to innovate.

Mauricio Pochettino is an ‘attractive proposition’ for Aston Villa if Steven Gerrard is sacked as the club’s manager, according to reliable journalist Ashley Preece.

The Lowdown: Gerrard under pressure

It has been an underwhelming start to the season for Villa, who are in the bottom six in the Premier League and struggling to pick up positive results.

There are reportedly doubts regarding Gerrard’s position in the Midlands, and defeat away to Leeds United on Sunday afternoon could put him under the spotlight even more.

Pochettino has been linked with replacing the 42-year-old if the former Liverpool captain is dismissed, and a new update has emerged in that regard.

The Latest: Preece talks up Pochettino

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Preece admitted that chief executive Christian Purslow and those high up at Villa Park like the idea of the Argentine as the club’s manager. The journalist said:

“This type of calibre of manager would be an attractive proposition for the owners and for Christian Purslow, himself, as well.

“Villa like a big name and they’ve got one at the moment, with Steven Gerrard at the helm.”

The Verdict: Exciting potential Villa boss

Pochettino’s stock may have fallen a little in recent times, following a forgettable spell in charge of Paris Saint-Germain, but there is no denying that he is an exciting manager.

He took Tottenham to the Champions League final in 2019, the club’s first and only appearance at that stage of the competition, and was renowned for playing an exciting brand of football, so he could be the ideal man to potentially replace Gerrard at Villa.

The hope is that the current boss turns things around, having certainly done good things in his time at Villa Park, but the pressure is set to be cranked up by the week until results start arriving more consistently.

Rangers have no doubt come under fire of late as a result of their recruitment record in recent years, although any of the new arrivals under Giovanni van Bronckhorst will have to go someway if they are to make a worse impact at Ibrox than that of Joey Barton.

The polarising midfielder was plucked by then-Gers boss Mark Warburton on a free transfer back in 2016, having helped Sean Dyche’s Burnley secure promotion back to the Premier League the year prior.

That stint at Turf Moor had showcased the on-field talent of the Englishman, as he was ultimately named in the Championship Team of the Year as a result of his fine performances, with the Glasgow side subsequently taking the gamble to bring the ageing figure to the club.

Such a move had come with obvious risk as a result of the former Newcastle United man’s reputation throughout his career, having been at the centre of controversies both off the field and on it, with his infamous fiery temper regularly getting him into trouble.

Those demons would come back to haunt him during his time in Scotland, although prior to his ultimate demise the Liverpool-born playmaker had made headlines after suggesting he wanted to be the “best player in the country” upon his arrival.

That prophecy proved more of an albatross than anything as the 5 foot 9 dud almost instantly set himself up to fail, as he went on to make just eight appearances for the club in what was a dismal spell north of the border.

The £20k-per-week maverick notably underwhelmed in his one and only Old Firm clash, as Warburton’s men were on the receiving end of a 5-1 thrashing from Brendan Rodgers’ relentless Celtic outfit.

As with his earlier statement, Barton had stolen the headlines prior to the match after suggesting that Hoops skipper Scott Brown was “nowhere near” his quality as a player, only to then go on to lose out in the battle against the ferocious Scotsman.

That measly start to life at Ibrox then got even worse as the one-time Manchester City man was handed a six-week suspension as a result of an altercation with teammate Andy Halliday, with the club subsequently opting to cut ties just a matter of months in his time with the Gers, having originally signed a two-year deal.

Following that “failure” – in the words of pundit Kris Boyd – Barton only served to make matters worse with regards to his relationship with Rangers following his explosive comments regarding his time there last year, with the typically opinionated figure seemingly blaming everyone but himself for his woes.

Indeed, speaking of Warburton, the former midfielder noted he was “miles out of it” when it came to galvanising a group of players.

Although it takes some doing, the current Bristol Rovers boss made even a free transfer appear a real costly error.

While Wolves’ depleted side were suffering a 3-0 loss against Chelsea on Saturday afternoon, Dion Sanderson was inspiring Birmingham City to a 3-0 win in the Championship.

The Wolves academy graduate was sent on loan to the Blues this summer despite a lack of defensive options at Molineux, and the Old Gold are now paying the price.

During the summer, Bruno Lage felt it best to send the 22-year-old back on loan to St Andrew’s, with Conor Coady and Willy Boly following him out of the door after Romain Saiss had already left.

This left Wolves with very few central defenders at the club, as only Nathan Collins was brought in, which left just the inexperienced Toti and Yerson Mosquera available as backup options to the preferred duo of Collins and Max Kilman.

Wolves have already emphasised why this was a poor decision, as Collins’ sending off against Manchester City first forced Lage to deploy Ruben Neves at centre-back in the defeat against West Ham, before Toti started at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

The Old Gold could have had a more experienced option available in Sanderson, as the young defender has already enjoyed loan spells with Birmingham, Sunderland, Cardiff and QPR in the past.

During his time with Sunderland, Sanderson earned a lot of praise from former manager Lee Johnson.

He said: “He’s a centre-half and at his age level he is an absolute Rolls-Royce.

“Obviously he is stepping up to men’s football and when you do that you come up against different challenges, as Dion did yesterday and he came through that.

“In the Championship when he was on loan at Cardiff he played at right-back, which suited the style they were playing at that point, quite a direct style when he had Sean Morrison next to him.

“He has competence on the ball as a right-back, he’s very good on the ball as a centre-half, and obviously he has still got a bit of physical maturation still to come.”

He has been a vital member of Birmingham’s side this season, playing every minute in the Championship, and he produced another superb display on Saturday, scoring and keeping a clean sheet in a 3-0 win over Bristol City, with WhoScored awarding him a strong average rating of 6.85 for the season so far.

While Lage’s mistake may haunt Wolves this season, the incoming manager at Molineux – which looks likely to be recently sacked Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui – will know that they can save millions on a potential Coady replacement by giving Sanderson a much-deserved chance in the first team.

Journalist Dean Jones has claimed that Matheus Nunes is ‘where he wants to be’ at Wolverhampton Wanderers and that the team’s early-season struggles will not have an impact on his long-term career.

The Lowdown: Nunes at Wolves

In August, it was revealed that the Old Gold had broken their club-record transfer fee with the arrival of the 24-year-old from Sporting Lisbon in a £42.2m deal.

Since arriving at Molineux in mid-August, the Portugal midfielder has featured in Wolves’ starting XI in every match in the Premier League.

However, after a poor run of form at the start of the campaign saw manager Bruno Lage relieved of his duties at the start of this month, the Midlanderss sit just above the relegation zone in 17th place.

The Latest: Jones’ claim

Amid claims from one of his former coaches that Nunes won’t be at Molineux for long,  Jones believes that the player will stand by his decision to join Wolves despite their disappointing start to the Premier League season.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, the journalist said of the 24-year-old: “I don’t think this move is going to do him any harm.

“He’s landed in the Premier League, where he wants to be. He has started well and if things don’t go to plan with Wolves, his individual showings will still ensure his career has a big projection.”

The Verdict: Huge talent

When looking at Nunes’ underlying figures , it is easy to see why Wolves were so quick to break their previous transfer record with the purchase of the Portuguese midfielder.

As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe’s major leagues over the past year, the 24-year-old ranked in the 99th percentile for dribbles completed, the 96th percentile for progressive passes received, the 88th percentile for assists and the 86th percentile for touches in the attacking penalty area.

Dubbed ‘superb’ by journalist Josh Bunting, the arrival of Nunes at Molineux was a signal of huge intent by Wolves.

Therefore, the Black Country faithful will surely be hoping to enjoy his talents for years to come.