All posts by z3u9t.icu

Aston Villa winger Anwar El Ghazi faces an uncertain future at the club…

What’s the word?

According to journalist Ashley Preece – in a Q and A for Birmingham Mail – the Midlands outfit are yet to receive an approach for the 27-year-old this summer, with it looking as if Villa could be forced to sanction another loan departure for the Netherlands international.

Asked if there ‘any takers’ for the former Lille man, the trusted insider responded: “Not just yet. Haven’t heard or been told of any interest. Villa might have to shake hands on a loan. His contract expires next summer (June 2023).”

The 6 foot 2 menace – who signed for the Villans on an initial loan deal back in 2018 – appears to be surplus to requirements under manager Steven Gerrard, having been shipped out on loan to fellow Premier League side Everton in the second half of last season.

El Ghazi has netted 26 goals and provided 16 assists in 119 games in all competitions for his parent club thus far.

Supporters frustrated

That news will no doubt come as a source of frustration for supporters, with most seemingly keen to see the £8.1m-rated man moved in the current window, both for the sake of the team but also for the player himself.

It would appear to make little sense to keep hold of a player who looks unlikely to feature under Gerrard next term, with it having been telling that the 42-year-old was willing to let the versatile forward depart in January.

El Ghazi could well have used that as motivation to prove the Englishman wrong during his temporary spell at Goodison Park, although was ultimately reduced to a bit-part role with the Toffees, making just two top-flight appearances for the club – both of which came from the bench.

That dismal stint on Merseyside has done little to enhance the £38k-per-week man’s status back at his parent club, with it difficult to see the one-time Ajax man managing to force his way back into contention, particularly with the wealth of attacking talent at the manager’s disposal.

In truth, it would be best for all parties if a move could be secured – even if it were to be another temporary exit – with frustration no doubt growing among supporters that Gerrard has not been able to trim what he described as a “bloated” squad.

Having to deal with possible outgoings could well hold up any potential incomings, with the sooner the ‘deadwood’ is moved on, the better.

AND in other news, Lange eyeing Villa move for £30m “goalscoring machine”, he’d be their own Darwin Nunez…

Nottingham Forest attacker Xande Silva is set to leave the club imminently and seal a move to Dijon, according to French journalist Loic Tanzi.

The Lowdown: Silva on the periphery

Steve Cooper’s side enjoyed a memorable 2021/22 season, securing promotion back to the Premier League and playing some excellent football along the way.

While many players were key to Forest’s success, someone who played a minimal role was Silva, limited to just two Championship starts all season.

The 25-year-old has one year remaining on his current deal and it looks as though he has played his last game for the Reds.

The Latest: Attacker set to leave

Taking to Twitter, L’Equipe’s Tanzi confirmed that Silva is on the verge of joining French side Dijon:

“Xande Silva (25, under contract until 2023) will join Dijon and sign a three-year contract. This Portuguese winger was playing at Nottingham Forest after playing at West Ham. Transfer amount not disclosed.”

The Verdict: Right decision for all parties

Given Silva’s lack of playing time last season, and his contract situation, it makes complete sense for Forest to let him enjoy a fresh chapter in his career this summer.

With more attacking signings made by Cooper, he is only going to get pushed further down the pecking order, potentially limiting his playing time even more.

In the end, a record of no goals in ten appearances for Forest means Silva will be a forgettable signing at the City Ground but he could still thrive in France at a lower level.

Aston Villa could use the money from Carney Chukwuemeka’s sale on new signings before deadline day on September 1st, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke…

What’s the word?

The Midlands outfit completed a lot of their business early with sporting director Johan Lange bringing in as many as five signings, including a £26m swoop for Diego Carlos from Sevilla and Boubacar Kamara on a free transfer from Marseille.

Chukwuemeka, who had rejected Villa’s latest contract offer, is now on the verge of signing for Premier League rivals Chelsea in a £20m deal, as per The Athletic, and O’Rourke has tipped them to reinvest instantly.

And PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Sangare is one name that has been ‘mentioned’ around Villa Park. The Ivory Coast international has been linked with a move to B6 throughout the summer window.

Speaking to Football FanCast, the reporter said:

“I think it gives Steven Gerrard more money and space in the squad maybe to go and bring in another new signing as well.

“Obviously they were quite busy at the start of the window, bringing in Diego Carlos and Boubacar Kamara, but I’m sure Steven Gerrard would like to add further to his squad.

“Sangare has been mentioned as a possible target. He’s had a couple of really good seasons as PSV Eindhoven. I think he’s got a buyout clause in his contract as well. He looks a talented player.

“I’m sure Aston Villa will be exploring the market right now to see what they can do to try and improve their squad.”

Sangare swoop

With uncertainty over the future of Douglas Luiz – who is courting interest from AC Milan – and a gap opening up in Gerrard’s squad, a move for Sangare could make a lot of sense but Lange and his recruitment staff will need to act quickly to get their man.

It’s thought that the release clause that O’Rouke has mentioned is in the region of €37.5m, meaning Villa would need to stump up around £31m to secure his signature, as per Voetbal International.

Premier League rivals Liverpool and Newcastle United have also been mooted with interest in Sangare, only increasing the pressure on the Midlands hierarchy to deliver, sooner rather than later.

The 24-year-old PSV star could be an instant hit in England as he has been likened to two former top-flight monsters in Michael Essien and Yaya Toure.

“Physically, he’s like Yaya Toure but he reminds me of Michael Essien,” African journalist Alpha Balde claimed (via GOAL). “I saw Essien at the start of his career and they had the same physical strength at an equal age. Sangare is also passionate.”

The 6 foot 3 brute, who has also been dubbed a “complete player” by former Toulouse boss Alain Casanova, was a key cog in PSV’s midfield last term, having averaged a squad-high 3.3 tackles and 2.6 interceptions per game, via WhoScored.

Meanwhile, only Cody Gakpo managed a better average rating for the whole campaign, which highlights his impressive consistency and reliability in the engine room.

As such, he could be a mighty fine addition to Gerrard’s squad this summer transfer window and now that the club have seen their coffers bolstered with a nice £20m, it would make sense for that to be reinvested in a talent like Sangare.

AND in other news, Talks ongoing: Lange could strike gold at Villa as Ashley Preece drops 9-word contract update…

Southampton are not likely to secure another transfer deal for Chelsea striker Armando Broja.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to journalist Ryan Taylor who had the following to say about the striker’s situation when speaking to GIVEMESPORT:

“From what I understand, Southampton have accepted that Broja’s moved on now.

“That said, never say never. It was obviously a great move for him because he really put himself in the shop window and started to show what he could do; Hasenhuttl could build around him.

“Obviously, as I mentioned, Southampton need goals. So why not? If a loan move is something that Chelsea grant because, at the moment, from what I understand it’s not going to happen.”

A big blow for Hasenhuttl

The Saints signed Broja on a season-long loan deal during the previous summer transfer window and with 38 appearances under his belt last season across all competitions, the Albanian racked up nine goals in total. With that in mind, not being able to re-sign him should come as a gutting blow to the manager.

He was incredibly dangerous inside the penalty box, something that was further highlighted by his productivity, with only James Ward-Prowse (51) and Che Adams (49) attempting more shots at goal than the 20-year-old (48).

Since the striker made his return to Stamford Bridge following his loan spell at St. Mary’s, the south coast club have brought in another centre-forward in the shape of Sekou Mara from Bordeaux.

Even with this signing, Hasenhuttl has spoken about how he wants to see another striker brought in before the window closes.

That’s precisely why this will come as a blow to the boss. His goals won’t just be a miss to Southampton, but Hasenhuttl knows the Chelsea figure can do a productive job for the team. Crucially, he already knows the Austrian’s tactics and the surroundings at St Mary’s so would have been the perfect addition to their forward line this summer.

With the Broja ship now looking to have left the harbour and set sail, the best thing Southampton could do is to focus on other potential striker targets that they can bring in before deadline day. It’s time to move on from the Albanian for good.

West Ham United are believed to be considering a move for Fenerbahce defender Attila Szalai, with manager David Moyes eyeing up a new defensive recruit.

What’s the word?

According to Sky Sports Germany, the Hammers have turned their attention towards the Hungary international this summer, with uncertainty mounting over their ability to convince Paris Saint-Germain defender Thilo Kehrer to join the club.

The report suggests that the latter man’s preference is to stay in France at present, while the east Londoners are also seemingly unwilling to pay the required €20m fee for the German’s services, with just a year remaining on his existing deal at the Parc des Princes.

That fact has seen Szalai – who only made the move to Turkey 18 months ago – emerge as a potential alternative for those at the London Stadium, with further defensive cover needed following the long-term injury to summer signing, Nayef Aguerd.

Ogbonna heir

A left-footed centre-back standing at an impressive 6 foot 4, Szalai would appear to be the ideal heir to that of current West Ham man Angelo Ogbonna, with the veteran Italian likely to be approaching the end of his time at the club sooner rather than later.

The 34-year-old, 6 foot 3 brute – who is also left-footed – has been a sparkling performer for the London Stadium outfit since joining from Juventus back in 2015, racking up 200 appearances for the club in all competitions thus far.

A hugely reliably figure for the Irons, particularly under Moyes in recent years, the one-time Torino man was notably lauded by teammate Declan Rice back in 2020, with the Englishman stating that: “He’s so good. Honestly, he’s gone to another level this season. He looks like a real top, top centre-half and he’s stepped up when it’s really mattered.”

His fine form was cruelly disrupted by a long-term injury last season, however, with the £1.08m-rated man eventually missing the majority of the campaign, while he is still yet to fully recover despite the season having already got underway.

Having reportedly signed a new one-year extension the likelihood is that the 13-cap gem will be at the club until next summer at least, although the feeling is that a younger replacement could well be needed, particularly with it unclear if he will be able to recover his previous form after such an extended period out of action.

That is where Szalai comes in, with the Hungarian colossus having caught the eye of late, having notably been the subject of interest from fellow Premier League side Chelsea last year.

An imposing presence, the “exemplary” 24-year-old, as described by Emre Belözoğlu, also mirrors Ogbonna in his ability to also feature on the left of a back three – as he notably did in the 4-0 thrashing of England back in June – while he can also slot in at left-back if required.

That versatility would surely see him become a real key figure under Moyes, both this season and beyond, with the £10.8m-rated man seemingly the perfect fit to step into Ogbonna’s shoes.

Glasgow Rangers icon Ally McCoist has named one player that he would love to see the Light Blues sign in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

The former Ibrox frontman has said that Dele Alli, who joined Everton in a deal worth up to £40m in January, would be a good signing for the Premiership club amid reports linking him with a move to Turkey.

Speaking on the talkSPORT breakfast show [August 17, 6:23am], the 59-year-old said: “Would I take him at Rangers? All day man. All day. Yeah. I do, I really do [think he’d do a good job]. I’d take him all day man.

“He’s completely and utterly lost his way. It’s not easy, don’t think for a minute it’s easy. You look at the players that have come to Rangers beforehand, I’m not saying they’ve struggled but they’ve not been as big a success as people would have thought. And Celtic.

“It’s a difficult place to play. But if you do play there, it’s a fantastic place to play.”

Paul Gascoigne 2.0

Besiktas have reportedly agreed a deal with Everton for the England international and they are now waiting on a decision from the player.

Rangers should now act on McCoist’s suggestion and Alli’s indecisiveness over a move to Turkey by attempting to convince him to come to Scotland, as he could be Paul Gascoigne 2.0 for the Gers.

In fact, Barcelona manager Xavi – whilst he was still playing – once compared Alli to Gascoigne, with the obvious Tottenham, England and positional links.

The mercurial attacking midfielder played 74 league matches for the Light Blues during the 1990s and smashed in 30 goals, whilst also scoring nine times in 28 cup outings.

He was capable of making a huge impact in the final third whilst playing as a number 10 and Alli has the potential to do the same.

Former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino previously compared him to the late Diego Maradona, saying: “You smell Maradona’s energy, his charisma is amazing.

“Ronaldinho at Paris Saint-Germain was similar. And it’s similar with Dele. People love him in this way. When you add the charisma to the talent, that’s what makes a special player. When he was scoring goals, kids loved him like he was Ronaldinho.”Kids feel this charisma, this energy, and with Dele it’s the same; he has this charisma that kids love and follow.”At the height of his powers, the former Spurs playmaker was phenomenal in the Premier League. Between the 2015/16 and 2017/18 campaigns, Alli scored 37 goals and set up 29 more in the English top flight as he consistently delivered at the top end of the pitch.As recently as the 2020/21 season, he scored two goals and provided three assists in eight Europa League outings, which suggests that he also has the quality to perform in Europe.Whilst he has flopped at Everton, with zero goal contributions in 13 games at Goodison Park, he still has plenty of time to reignite his career at the age of 26. He could do that by joining Rangers to become their next Gascoigne – scoring and creating goals regularly from midfield – if he is able to recapture his best form.

Nottingham Forest are reportedly interested in signing Tottenham Hotspur defender Sergio Reguilon this summer and his arrival could see the Reds rectify their failed attempt to sign Alex Moreno from Real Betis.

Despite the summer additions of Harry Toffolo and Omar Richards, Steve Cooper is clearly keen to sign another left-back before the transfer window shuts later this month after the latter suffered a leg fracture in pre-season.

Cooper looked to have found his man when the Reds were in pole position to sign Moreno recently, but the 29-year-old rejected Forest to remain with Betis.

The Reds boss has since turned his attention to Reguilon, who looks surplus to requirements at Spurs after he was left out of the pre-season squad by Antonio Conte, who has Ivan Perisic and Ryan Sessegnon available as his first-choice left-back options.

Reports have suggested that Forest could look to bring the former Sevilla man in on loan as competition for Toffolo, the only natural left-back option in Cooper’s squad, with the manager seemingly unlikely to trust Jack Colback in that position in the top flight.

Reguilon was a regular for Spurs last season, making 25 appearances in the Premier League, in which he contributed two goals and three assists, averaging an impressive 6.95 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

This was an improvement on the average ratings of both Toffolo (6.81) and Richards (6.54), despite Reguilon playing in a tougher league, and considering his experience in the top-flight, he could definitely be a solid addition to Cooper’s squad.

The Spanish full-back excels in an attacking aspect, as evidenced by his statistics from FbRef, which emphasise that he loves to get forward, as he scores above the 90th percentile for full-backs in expected goals, expected assists and progressive passes received.

Reguilon, who earns £53k per week at Spurs, was praised by Football.London correspondent Alasdair Gold when he first joined the club.

He said: “You don’t want to overshadow Sergio Reguilon, who I think is going to be one of the best left-backs in Europe – probably almost is. With Sevilla, he was phenomenal: had a great season, won the Europa League. He’s got incredible confidence. He’s come straight into the group and everyone loves him.”

At 25, Reguilon still has plenty of potential to improve, and regular football at the City Ground could see him rediscover the form that made him such a hit at Sevilla, where he excelled in the 2019/20 season, in particular, averaging a superb 7.10 rating from WhoScored.

Therefore, this deal makes sense for both parties, and Cooper will be hoping that Forest can put the Moreno disappointment behind them by bringing a fellow Spaniard in Reguilon this month.

Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka appears to be closing in on a move to Premier League rivals Manchester United, according to the latest reports.

What’s the word?

As per Football Insider, the 33-year-old has reached an agreement regarding personal terms with the Old Trafford outfit, with the Red Devils reportedly plotting a loan swoop with a £5m option-to-buy fee included in the deal.

This latest report suggests that those at St James’ Park would prefer a permanent exit, having already bolstered their goalkeeping ranks with the signing of former Burnley ace Nick Pope earlier in the summer.

Dubravka had previously been linked with a move to Old Trafford in January, amid talk of Dean Henderson heading in the other direction, although the former Slavia Prague man ultimately rejected the proposal.

Howe finally ditch Dubravka

That news appears to suggest that Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is close to offloading the veteran, with the interest from Erik ten Hag’s side allowing the 44-year-old to part ways with a player who would likely have been playing second fiddle at St James’ Park this season.

With the £3.6m-rated man has racked up 127 top-flight appearances for the Tynesiders to date, the addition of the aforementioned Pope has shunted him down the pecking order, with the latter having started all three league games so far this term.

The Slovakia international’s reduced status was highlighted even further in midweek as team-mate Karl Darlow was handed the nod between the sticks as a much-changed side triumphed over Tranmere Rovers in the Carabao Cup.

At one stage an “inspirational signing” for the club – in the words of former England ‘keeper Paul Robinson – Dubravka has seemingly underwhelmed of late, having notably been criticised for a “poor” mistake by pundit Tim Sherwood against Brighton and Hove Albion last term.

The £38k-per-week dud did make 26 league outings last season, although he was once again hampered by injury in the early months of the campaign, having previously endured a lengthy spell on the sidelines in 2020/21 due to a heel problem.

Those albeit unfortunate stints on the treatment table have made him something of an unreliable presence for the club in recent years, while the 30-cap stopper is also prone to the odd blunder, having notably made the most errors (five) leading to goals in the league during the 2019/20 campaign.

That fact will ensure that few tears will be shed on Tyneside if his departure is confirmed, with Howe likely to be glad to get the Slovakian out of the squad.

Newcastle United are reportedly eyeing up a move in the January transfer window for Benfica left-back Alex Grimaldo.

The Lowdown: Champions League stunner

The 26-year-old scored a stunning goal in the Champions League group stages in midweek, unleashing a thunderbolt from outside of the box which went in off the underside of the crossbar.

It put Benfica 2-0 up on the night against their opponents Maccabi Haifa, and it is an early contender for goal of the tournament.

The Latest: Newcastle interest

As per Tutto Juve, Newcastle – along with Premier League rivals Arsenal – are interested in signing Grimaldo in January.

Despite his Champions League heroics, he could still be sold for less than €10m (£8.7m).

The Verdict: Bargain

If Newcastle club can sign Grimaldo at that kind of price, then it would be an absolute bargain.

At 26 years of age, the Spaniard has already played more than 250 times for Portuguese giants Benfica, and more than 30 games in the prestigious Champions League (Transfermarkt).

The Magpies would likely have to sell either or both of Jamal Lewis and Paul Dummett to make room for Grimaldo, as they would have too many left-backs in the squad, but it is a deal which would surely be worth it in the long-term.

Incidentally, the Benfica defender shares the same agent as Eddie Howe, so this could also give the Toon an advantage when it comes to January.

Glasgow Rangers brought in seven players during the summer transfer window as Giovanni van Bronckhorst plotted an overhaul of his squad.

Some deadwood was also cleared from the Dutchman’s side, with the likes of Niko Katic, Glenn Middleton, Cedric Itten, and Jake Hastie all moving on having not made an impact at the Light Blues.

With the Ibrox side qualifying for the Champions League group stages for the first time since 2010/2011 after a playoff win against PSV Eindhoven, there could have been a few more additions to the squad, especially with the riches due to come the Light Blues’ way.

The club were linked with a host of names over the summer, but Van Bronckhorst missed an opportunity with Norwegian player Erik Botheim, with the club linked with the 22-year-old following the cancellation of his contract at FC Krasnodar.

Rangers’ own Haaland

Botheim is a good friend of Erling Haaland’s, with the two forming a band together called Flow Kingz when they were both youth players in Norway.

The 22-year-old is very like his friend on the pitch too, having a keen eye for goal and, although he hasn’t hit the superstardom levels that the Manchester City frontman has hit, he would have made a great signing for Rangers.

The Norway U21 international has scored 32 goals and registered 13 assists during his senior career and, despite these stats being considerably less than Haaland’s, Botheim still has a knack for scoring and setting up teammates whenever he can.

Jacek Kulig, who runs Football Talent Scout described Botheim as a “complete forward” and his stats clearly show he can do just about everything while leading the line.

The Dutchman missed a major opportunity in the 22-year-old, with Serie A side Salernitana signing him on a four-year deal a few weeks after the links to Rangers emerged – especially considering the fact he was available on a free transfer.

Van Bronckhorst went out and bought Antonio Colak and with seven goals already, it has turned out to be a solid move, but having Botheim in the side would have undoubtedly given the club an extra boost in the attacking department – and perhaps even proven to become Rangers’ own version of the goal machine that is Haaland.