All posts by z3u9t.icu

2022 has been a testing year for Chelsea: penalty shootout defeat in both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup at the hands of Liverpool; the departure of long-time endeared owner Roman Abramovich; the dismissal of Champions League-winning manager Thomas Tuchel.

And now the west London giants languish in eighth place in the Premier League 14 matches into the 2022/23 campaign, with manager Graham Potter, signed from Brighton & Hove Albion in the early stages of the season, tinkering away at a fix for the issues the side are beset with.

Having scored just 17 goals in the league – the lowest tally of any side in the top half – Chelsea have unsurprisingly been linked with a host of striking talent to slot into the fray.

Regardless of the issues, Chelsea are tenacious and determined, and still jam-packed with an abundance of supreme talent; it is a matter of time until the cogs fall into place and the Blue machine is whirring once again.

On the chalkboard

One player of high quality who can make a defining impact is Kai Havertz, with the forward returning from a disappointing World Cup campaign with Germany, who exited in the group phase for the second successive tournament.

Despite Die Mannschaft’s subpar Displays, Havertz impressed in his solitary start against Costa Rica, scoring two goals and serving as the offensive focal point, recording a stunning match rating of 8.89.

Signed from Bayer Leverkusen for £75.8m in 2020, Havertz has split opinion since his arrival on English soil, having bursts of brilliance but often falling wide of the mark and failing to display the same prolific return that alerted Europe’s elite outfits to his name while plying his trade in his homeland.

His return of 27 goals and 14 assists from 112 appearances is not the most impressive return for a forward of his calibre and price, yet his breezy style of play and seamless transitional movement does plenty for Chelsea’s offensive surges.

Not to mention his winning goal in the 2020/21 Champions League final against Manchester City. Sadly, his stock has fallen since then with the German not even starting their last league match, a defeat to Newcastle.

The “outstanding” maestro, as lauded by prominent journalist Raphael Honigstein, can provide the key to the bolted door that is prohibiting the Blues from clinching the free-flowing attacking aura that will propel their standing in the Premier League.

Over his final two campaigns with Leverkusen, the 23-year-old scored 38 goals across his final two seasons.

And as per FBref, the gem ranks within the top 10% for pass completion, 5% for touches in the attacking penalty area and 16% for progressive passes – indicating a diverse and dynamic approach to his play, all that is missing is the consistent direct goal threat.

The pieces of the puzzle are there, scattered on the floor, and a footballing mind of high intellect, such as Potter’s could finally complete the jigsaw and unleash Havertz on the Premier League, where his unique approach play could rekindle and save the Blues’ campaign.

Everton might have made an emphatic breakthrough in their pursuit of offensive reinforcements to get the club back on track, according to exciting reports…

What’s the word?

Everton are one point off the relegation zone, battered and bruised down in 17th place, and with just 12 goals from 16 appearances in the top flight this term, something needs to change up front.

And now, according to The Daily Mail, the Toffees have identified 20-year-old Manchester United winger Anthony Elanga as an addition that could magnificently bolster the frontal efforts.

Elanga is understood to be disconcerted at United following a lack of first-team opportunities and might look to depart the club on loan for the remainder of the campaign.

This could play into Toffees manager Frank Lampard’s hands with great effect, with the Merseyside outfit earning an exciting prospect to ply their trade at Goodison Park and a potential opportunity to forge a permanent deal in the future. 

“Great talent”

Elanga burst onto the scene with the Red Devils last year, scoring two goals and registering two assists in the Premier League after earning his shot in the latter stages and scoring against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League round of 16.

This season, however, Elanga has found opportunities harder to come by, starting only six times across all competitions and registering one assist as his solitary contribution in the final third.

The £22m-rated Swede will certainly be disgruntled by the lack of action and success on the pitch since the turn of the football season, and at Everton, his fortunes could change.

Demarai Gray, Anthony Gordon, and Dwight McNeil – Everton’s three starring wide players – have all failed to clinch more than three goals this term, with the 376-minutes-per-goal Gordon the fastest striking rate.

Elanga, while not finding the net this term, has already demonstrated an aptitude for finding the net, and at just 20 years old he could nurture his skill set in a more central role at Goodison, slowly integrating into the squad and proving a new dimension to the attack.

With Everton attempting to ward off the threat of relegation, Elanga’s defensive metrics will do little to deter Lampard; as per FBref, the ace ranks within the top 22% for tackles and 24% for blocks, while also ranking within the top 9% for aerials won, when compared to positional peers across Europe’s big five leagues this past year.

Once hailed as a “great talent” by his legendary Swedish compatriot Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Elanga will undoubtedly rue Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag’s decision to push him closer to the periphery, but a move to Everton could erect the perfect platform to kickstart a very promising career.

Journalist Beren Cross has reported that Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch has complained that the technical area was too small for him at Newcastle amid telling off from officials.

What’s the latest?

In their latest Premier League fixture, the Whites managed to pick up a decent point on the road against high-flyers Newcastle United.

Indeed, the game ended all square as a goalless draw in what turned out to be a bit of a heated encounter, with the two sides caught up in a bit of a brawl towards the end of the game.

Only adding to the drama, it seems Marsch managed to get himself told off by fourth official Craig Pawson after he’d left his technical area to have a word with winger Jack Harrison.

Indeed, Cross noted as much for LeedsLive, writing: “Marsch ventured out of his technical area to give instructions early in the first half. Not to be shackled by the white paint on the grass, the American went a few yards down the touchline to get Jack Harrison’s attention.

“While he got his message across, fourth official Craig Pawson was not happy with his raid down the touchline and had words with him. Marsch was quick to comment on how small the area was and not fit for purpose.”

Marsch the rule breaker

Seeing as Harrison didn’t have the best of days – he was given a 4/10 for his efforts in the LeedsLive player ratings – it’s easy to understand why Marsch was keen to get some kind of message across to the player mid-game.

The American certainly hasn’t been shy of breaking the rules in the past either. For instance, earlier on in the season, he was hit with a touchline ban and a fine by the FA after using improper language during his side’s 5-2 defeat at Brentford.

However, seeing as how that incident resulted in a direct punishment he may have to be careful not to overstep the line – even if he might not be alone in thinking the technical areas in the Premier League are too small, with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta frequently leaving his own one too.

Manchester United solidified their place in the top four with victory over struggling Bournemouth on Tuesday evening, with Erik ten Hag’s side strolling to a 3-0 victory for what was their fourth successive Premier League win.

Summer signing Casemiro had got the hosts underway at Old Trafford with a well-taken strike midway through the first half following Christian Eriksen’s delightful free-kick, before Luke Shaw doubled that advantage after the break having rounded off a sweeping team move.

Despite having to withstand a brief rally from the Cherries, the Red Devils made sure of the points just minutes from time as Marcus Rashford continued his hot streak in front of goal, netting for the 12th time this season from close range.

Although the margin of victory may have been rather comfortable, Ten Hag admitted that it had not been the “best game” from his side, with the home side having rode their luck at times on the night.

One man who endured a shaky return to the starting lineup was captain Harry Maguire, with the England international something of a surprise inclusion alongside Victor Lindelof, with Raphael Varane dropping to the bench.

Although the £80m man did show signs of promise as he won 100% of his ground duels against Gary O’Neil’s men, the 29-year-old did appear distinctly uncomfortable at times, having at one stage produced a slack, errant pass that drifted out for a corner.

That epitomised what was ‘not a wholly convincing’ display from the former Leicester City brute – as per Manchester Evening News’ Samuel Luckhurst – with it easy to see why he has made just four top-flight starts this term.

Maguire was not the only villain in that win, however, with teammate Anthony Martial having also been something of a “no-show” in his centre-forward berth, according to the aforementioned Luckhurst.

The fleet-footed Frenchman notably missed a gilt-edged chance to get on the scoresheet after failing to make adequate contact on Casemiro’s stunning cross, with the striker seeing his header agonisingly flash wide of the post.

That was arguably one of few moments in which the 27-year-old was involved in proceedings as he made just 25 touches in his 69-minute outing, before being withdrawn after sustaining a potential injury issue.

The former Monaco man also lost possession on six occasions and won just one of his five total duels, having unsurprisingly recorded a rather meagre match rating of just 6.4, as per Sofascore, with that the worst of any player in Ten Hag’s side.

With United seemingly on the hunt for a new centre-forward, Martial has hardly done himself any favours with what was another abject performance, having also missed a clear-cut opening in the recent win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The marksman’s reputation had arguably been enhanced in the early months of the campaign as both the club and supporters alike eagerly awaited his return from injury, although on the evidence of recent games that faith in his ability to perform consistently may well have been misguided.

Liverpool are surprisingly eyeing a move for Fulham’s robust midfield engine Joao Palhinha, and could swoop for the ace in 2023 after consistently eye-catching displays for the flourishing London outfit…

What’s the word?

According to a report from GIVEMESPORT’s Dean Jones, the Reds have been ‘keeping an eye’ on Fulham’s Portuguese midfielder, who has captivated supporters with his work in re-establishing the club as a solid Premier League force after promotion from the EFL Championship last year.

Having penned a deal with the Cottagers for £17m last summer, the industrious gem has arguably been one of the division’s signings of the summer, having started 17 of the 18 league matches and threading the defensive and offensive departments together, integral in the club’s laudable seventh place position after 18 matches.

While Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been linked with a multitude of high-profile central targets due to the Merseyside outfit’s languishing status in the English top-flight, the prospective acquisition of the 27-year-old Palhinha could prove to be a shrewd move indeed in instilling composure and a robust presence to charge down enemy attacks.

Henderson heir

Having failed to secure top-flight status on their past two terms in the Premier League, the pieces have fallen into place this time around and the west London club are set to not only secure their status in the division, but challenge for a coveted spot in the top seven: European qualification.

It is no mere coincidence that Palhinha’s arrival at Craven Cottage runs parallel with the fantastic form of late, with his all-encompassing and tenacious work in the centre of the park providing the likes of Alexander Mitrovic to flourish in the talismanic role, while also anchoring the ship in front of the defensive bedrock and easing the workload.

Having made 18 appearances for the Whites across all competitions, scoring three goals the former Sporting Lisbon brute has succeeded in grasping his opportunity in the Premier League and earning acclaim for his dogged work, with Sofascore ranking his average divisional rating at 7.16 – the highest of any midfielder in the side.

Incredibly, he has made 4.7 tackles per outing, illuminating his diamond addition to the team; with the rate of sweeping success he is having, it is no wonder that his team is flourishing.

Liverpool supporters can only lick their lips at the prospect of having such a tireless presence in their midst, with the current crop of Anfield players looking limp and lifeless, failing to emulate the intensity levels that have gone so commendably in tandem with Klopp’s Merseyside tenure.

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has long been the industrious and diligent presence in the centre of the Liverpool squad, but with his age creeping toward the twilight period of a professional Premier League footballer, and his average league rating of 6.92 the first time he has dropped below the 7.0 mark for three campaigns,

Hailed as an “engine” by Statman Dave, Liverpool must move with swift conviction to clinch the signature of the 18-cap phenom; Henderson is now 32-years-old, and Palhinha can take the baton, breathing vibrant life into the ambitious squad once more.

Newcastle United defender Dan Burn was playing a dangerous game on Sunday with his defending potentially risking a penalty being awarded against him.

What’s the latest?

Eddie Howe’s side battled until the very end on Sunday afternoon on Tyneside to prevail with all three points against Marco Silva’s Fulham.

Having seen Aleksandar Mitrovic’s penalty disallowed, Alexander Isak was able to pop up with a late header to seal the points for the Magpies.

However, the defending in the lead-up to the penalty award from Burn has been heavily criticised as dangerous having put his hands on Andreas Pereira.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, pundit Stephen Warnock has slammed the Blyth-born left-back and believes he is walking on thin ice when he is defending like that:

“I thought it was a penalty. I thought the arm on the shoulder is so, so dangerous. When you’re running as well and you get that arm on the shoulder. The slightest pull when you’re running at speed can cause so many problems. I thought that was a penalty and a sending-off.”

Another let-off?

It is crucial to mention that this incident was looked at by VAR and the decision came back as no penalty just moments before the penalty was awarded for the incident involving Kieran Trippier.

And there is certainly minimal contact made which is probably not enough to see Pereira fall to the floor from the slightest of pulls.

However, we do have to agree with Warnock in the sense Burn is playing a very dangerous game by giving the referee and VAR even the opportunity to consider giving it as a penalty.

The 30-year-old was beaten to the ball by the Fulham midfielder who was then bearing down on goal before Burn placed his hands on him.

And the challenge did almost have a sense of last-ditch desperation about it to prevent Pereira from being able to get a shot away on Nick Pope’s goal.

Again, we do not think there was enough of a pull on the Fulham man to bring him down.

But from a Fulham perspective, you could well argue that what Burn did shouldn’t be tolerated with Pereira being pulled – albeit minimally – inside the box.

And this is not the first time Burn has been at the centre of VAR controversy this year with the defender accused of pulling on Arsenal’s Gabriel inside the box earlier this month.

So with this in mind, it is perhaps wise for the Newcastle defender to perhaps cut this out of his game as it does feel as if it could potentially catch up with him soon.

Manchester United have identified rising Sporting Lisbon centre-back Goncalo Inacio as an option to assume a pivotal role at the heart of the defence over the coming years and could make a move this January…

What’s the word?

The Red Devils expressed an interest in the Portuguese ace’s signature last summer, with A Bola (via the Express) suggesting they had made a bid in the region of £35m for his services, with manager Erik ten Hag said to be a big admirer.

And now, O Jogo suggests that intrigue in his signature has been maintained by John Murtough and co, with his left-footed skill set a defining factor behind the desire to bring him to Old Trafford.

In the summer, Ten Hag ultimately went with Ajax Amsterdam’s Lisandro Martinez, signing the gem for £56.7m, but the allure of bringing another quality option into the fold, to partner Raphael Varane within the centre of the backline, could lead to a return.

Ruben Dias 2.0

Having won the past eight fixtures across all competitions, United are in contention for silverware once again. Indeed they are the only established ‘big six’ side to remain in the semi-final phase of the Carabao Cup and host EFL Championship outfit Reading in the FA Cup fourth round.

A forthcoming Europa League knockout tie against FC Barcelona will be a true test of the side’s abilities, but the varying elements have contributed to a navigated direction towards success once again, rather than the wayward, meandering travails that the club have been at the centre of over the past several years.

In order to maintain success, someone of Inacio’s ilk will indeed need to be slotted into the fold, cementing the resilience of the backline for years to come, and at just 21 years old the young titan could be the exact signing Ten Hag needs to ensure the ship does not sink.

As per FBref, the starlet ranks within the top 1% for passes attempted and progressive passes over the past year, also in the top 2% for pass completion and the top 9% for rate of assists, when compared to centre-backs across Men’s Next 8 leagues over the past year.

This innate ball-playing aptitude and knack for instigating offensive transitions, partnered with his Portuguese roots and career birth in his homeland, means that he could emulate the success of Manchester City titan Ruben Dias, who has flourished as one of European football’s supreme defenders since his arrival onto the major scene.

Forging 109 appearances for the Sky Blues, scoring four goals and five assists, the 25-year-old has become integral in his team’s exploits, winning two Premier League trophies, the Carabao Cup, and the 2020/21 Premier League Player of the Year.

And having not dropped below 90.5% in passing accuracy since arriving in Manchester, as per Whoscored, the phenom certainly stakes a claim for a pedestal among the very best passers of the ball within the game.

Inacio can replicate the feats of his positional peer by arriving in Manchester himself, but etching his name into prominence by plying his trade among the red half of the prestigious footballing city.

Liverpool are in a period of transition in terms of their midfield personnel at Anfield and Jurgen Klopp will surely be hoping that FSG will give him an opportunity to rebuild and refresh the centre of the pitch in 2023.

The Reds are currently ninth in the Premier League after a string of inconsistent and uninspiring performances in the top flight this season and are ten points adrift from the Champions League qualifying spots inside the top four ahead of the second half of the season.

Indeed, the powers at Anfield did already dip into the transfer market this month with the acquisition of Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo early into the window but it remains to be seen whether Liverpool will further strengthen prior to their challenging pursuit of a top-four place over the coming weeks and months.

There is no doubt that the midfield is the area of concern for the Merseyside giants with a number of players either coming to the end of their contracts at the club this summer or in the latter stages of their careers.

Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner are set for an Anfield exit at the end of the current campaign, whilst Fabinho would be the only experienced midfielder left in the squad who isn’t over the age of 30 with younger players Curtis Jones, Stefan Bajcetic and Harvey Elliott still finding their feet and best positions in the team at the moment.

As a result, a midfield rebuild is becoming a pressing issue for the Reds and whilst they need a youthful injection, finding a player who can offer them experience combined with longevity would also be hugely advantageous.

One player who has been linked with a move to Merseyside is Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Ruben Neves, a player who could not only be the perfect profile in terms of Premier League experience and energy but also a much cheaper alternative to reported target Declan Rice.

Over 18 Premier League appearances this season, the Portuguese ace – who was dubbed a “joy to watch” by Shrewsbury’s Elliott Bennett – has scored four goals and successfully completed 54% of his dribbles, as well as averaging 2.1 shots on goal, 2.6 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and 2.4 clearances per game.

Not only that, but according to FBref, Rice has been one of the most similar players over the last 12 months to Neves with the two midfielders sharing many similarities in their output throughout 2022/23 so far including pass completion (82.3% v 88.6%), goal-creating actions (2 v 3), dribbles completed (46.7% v 52.4%), tackles won (22 v 19) and progressive passes (80 v 77).

With that being said, the signing of Neves would be a major coup for the Reds and with a reported £70m transfer fee that appears to be lowering all the time, it would be a steal compared to the £100m that West Ham United will demand for Rice.

Tottenham Hotspur will be willing to allow a right wing-back to depart the club this month regardless of whether they bring in Pedro Porro.

What’s the latest?

There is the belief a deal for the Sporting CP right wing-back, Porro, is edging closer, with Fabrizio Romano sharing the details of the clubs’ meetings over the last 24 hours.

Porro’s potential arrival in north London would mean Antonio Conte would then have four right wing-back’s to choose from with Matt Doherty, Emerson Royal and Djed Spence already at the club.

However, there has been a report from the reliable Alasdair Gold suggesting Spurs would now greenlight Spence’s potential departure on loan this month.

And speaking on the Last Word on Spurs podcast, Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has claimed Porro’s possible arrival will not determine whether a right wing-back will leave the club:

“The information that I’ve got is that Porro arriving is completely independent of any departures. It’s not a case of Porro comes [in] so we can let Djed Spence go. I don’t think that’s the case at all.”

Spence searching for game time

The reports surrounding a possible deal for Porro will make positive reading for Spurs fans with the likes of Romano claiming the meetings on Wednesday went well for the Lilywhites.

However, it does make us wonder what Spence would have been able to provide Spurs this season had Antonio Conte offered him a serious opportunity in the XI.

Right wing-back has been a real issue for Spurs this season with Doherty and Emerson only returning two goals and one assist between them this season.

With this in mind, it is pretty obvious why Spurs are looking to bring in Porro when he has returned Sporting with three goals and 11 assists across all competitions this season.

But it does beg the question as to whether Spence could have provided the Italian with an improvement on the likes of Doherty and Emerson.

Since landing in north London over the summer, the 22-year-old has been offered just 41 minutes of competitive football under the 53-year-old manager.

Yet in the winter friendly game against Motherwell, Spence was one of the players who impressed the most with Gold hailing the youngster’s attacking threat:

“Showed some lovely footwork in getting high up down the right-hand side and put in a couple of dangerous early crosses.”

“This was an eye-catching performance from the 22-year-old,” Gold wrote.

However, the opportunities after the World Cup break have not come for Spence with his only appearances since coming in the final 13 minutes of the FA Cup and the final two minutes against Aston Villa.

There are clubs believed to be interested in taking Spence off Tottenham’s hands this month and we do think regardless of whether they land Porro, Spence’s departure should be approved before the end of the month.

Crystal Palace have been linked with Antalyaspor striker Haji Wright recently, and his arrival at Selhurst Park could allow Patrick Vieira to finally ditch Jean-Philippe Mateta.

According to journalist Tom Bogert, the Eagles – along with Brentford and Southampton – are interested in the 24-year-old as a result of his impressive performances in the current Turkish Super Lig campaign.

The versatile attacker boasts ten goals in just 16 league appearances this term, with WhoScored awarding him a strong 6.94 rating for his performances.

Considering that this would rank him as both the top scorer and best performer had he produced the same displays in a Palace shirt, it is easy to see why Vieira would be keen on bringing him to Selhurst Park.

Wright also caught the eye with his performances for the USA at the World Cup in Qatar recently, scoring against Netherlands in the round of 16 with an audacious flicked finish.

Back when he was first establishing himself with Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga, the American earned plenty of praise from academy coach Norbert Elbert, who said: “I always describe Haji as a bag of surprises. He’s yet to have consistency in his game. He has a lot of pace on and off the ball, has no weaker foot, his dribbling is good and he is a threat on goal.”

The young attacker now seems to have found that consistency with Antalyaspor this season, and given Palace’s worrying form in front of goal since the World Cup, Vieira could do a lot worse than bringing the American striker to Selhurst Park this month.

The Eagles have managed just four goals in their past seven games, with the likes of Odsonne Edouard, Jordan Ayew and Mateta all failing to fire under the 46-year-old, with the latter having been linked with a move to Turkey this month.

Since signing for the Eagles, the former Mainz marksman has managed just nine goals in 54 appearances, including a woeful return of one goal in 19 senior appearances this term, so it is surely time that he is offloaded for good.

Vieira needs a regular source of goals, and if he is to take a punt on Wright in the final week of the transfer window, it could duly see Mateta jettisoned after his underwhelming form in recent months.