All posts by z3u9t.icu

Burnley manager Vincent Kompany has made good use of his links to Manchester City over the past year, having brought in Arijanet Muric, CJ Egan-Riley and Taylor Harwood-Bellis to help with last season's successful promotion-winning campaign.

With Harwood-Bellis returning to the Etihad Stadium, the Clarets may well opt to use their City connection to bolster another position in the back line.

Transfer expert Sacha Tavolieri claims Burnley have reached out to City regarding a loan move for Sergio Gomez, but the Spanish left-back is stalling over a decision as he wants to try to win over boss Pep Guardiola first.

It is a loan move that makes sense for all three parties, though, with the 22-year-old likely to play regular Premier League football, while Burnley get a talented defender to help boost their survival hopes.

Is Sergio Gomez a good option for Burnley?

City signed Gomez for £11m from Anderlecht, where he spent time playing under Kompany, but he was restricted to only ten starts in all competitions in 2022-23 – just two of those in the Premier League.

Gomez showed he is capable of playing in a number of positions, as most players can under Guardiola, which is something the Spain U21 international prides himself on.

"I consider myself versatile. I'm available for whatever the coach asks," he told Spanish radio station Partidazo de COPE. "At City, they ask me to play full-back and with [Spain U21 boss] Luis de la Fuente, I'd always played right wing, and he likes me to play there."

It is at left-back Gomez is most comfortable – he started six games there last season, as per WhoScored – and from his limited time on the field, there are strong comparisons to be made with one of the finest around in that position.

Indeed, FBref's comparison model lists Liverpool's Andy Robertson as the player most like Gomez in terms of their statistical profiles. For example, Gomez averaged 0.25 assists per 90 minutes last season, compared to 0.28 for Robertson, with neither player scoring themselves.

The pair attempted 81.3 and 78.9 passes per 90 minutes respectively, averaged 91.8 and 86.5 touches, while they won the same amount of aerial duels per 90 (0.77).

Gomez has a long way to go to show he can be a match for Robertson, and a move to Burnley under Kompany is his first real step towards doing that.

With a relatively low salary of £50k-a-week, according to Capology, Gomez could also prove to be an upgrade on current left-back Ian Maatsen.

But as someone described as "a full-back, playmaker, king of assists and winger" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Kompany would not just be strengthening one position, but two or three with one deal.

Everton will be "absolutely delighted" with some exciting off-field news that has emerged, according to football finance expert and Sky Sports pundit Kieran Maguire.

Everton stadium updates

It's fair to say that it has been a taxing period at Goodison Park in recent years, with not much success to enjoy on or off the pitch and a number of Premier League relegation battles coming their way.

The Blues have got through various managers who have tried and failed to turn the tide, while off-field issues surrounding owner Farhad Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright have also led to plenty of unrest, and even protests outside the ground.

The hope is that things at Everton are gradually changing for the better, however, with Sean Dyche starting to pick up more positive results and a huge change arriving at the end of the season.

A move to Bramley Moore Dock is planned at that point, as the Blues move into a shiny new home on the River Mersey, heralding the start of an exciting new era at the club. It should generate more funds for signings and potentially attract better players, assuming Dyche's men remain in the top flight beyond the current campaign.

Bramley Moore Dock hosts Euro 2028 matches

Speaking to Football Insider, Maguire claimed that the Blues could be boosted hugely when Everton's new stadium is used as one of the ten grounds at Euro 2028, as was confirmed last week:

"I think Everton are looking to make a big statement with their new stadium. Being part of the Euro 2028 stadium shortlist will help to deliver that statement – and what a statement. We’ve seen the same in Manchester in the sense that the Etihad is going to be used instead of Old Trafford despite it having a smaller capacity.

"So I think Everton will be absolutely delighted and it will give them an opportunity to showcase the new stadium. On the back of that, they will earn other contracts for concerts and alternative uses for the Bramley Moore Dock stadium."

This is such a big coup for Everton, and perfectly outlines the importance of their stadium move, in terms of the club's growth moving forward, rather than simply staying at Goodison and being left behind.

Wembley

England

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Tottenham

Etihad Stadium

Man City

Villa Park

Aston Villa

St James' Park

Newcastle

Bramley Moore Dock

Everton

Hampden Park

Scotland

Principality Stadium

Wales

Aviva Stadium

Republic of Ireland

Casement Park

Northern Ireland

The fact that the new ground has even been picked ahead of Anfield speaks volumes, and is no doubt something that will aid local bragging rights with Liverpool supporters. As Maguire alludes to, the Blues could also become a venue for various other forms of entertainment, as the likes of Wembley Stadium and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium currently are, hosting music concernts, NFL matches and boxing events

This is all in the future for now, though, and it is essential that Everton's Premier League status is preserved this season, with relegation to the Championship having the potential to hold them back horribly.

The current signs are arguably promising, even though there have clearly been poor results so far in 2023/24, and fans should feel buoyed by one of football's biggest tournaments being featured in their new home in five years' time.

Newcastle United are reportedly one of a number of Premier League clubs interested in signing Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana this summer.

Who is Youssouf Fofana?

The 24-year-old has grown into an important figure at Monaco recently, shining in a defensive midfield role and protecting the back-line in impressive fashion.

Last season, Fofana started 35 of his side's 38 Ligue 1 matches, highlighting what an integral player he is, also making six appearances for France at the 2022 World Cup, two of which were starts.

The £7,300-a-week Frenchman is out of contract at Monaco next summer, meaning they could be forced to sell him this time around, rather than potentially lose him on a free transfer in 2024.

He is unlikely to be without suitors, and it looks as though Newcastle are right in the mix to sign him, as they look to make significant reinforcements ahead of next season.

Are Newcastle signing Fofana? According to L'Equipe, Newcastle and Arsenal have entered the race to sign Fofana this summer, with West Ham also credited with interest in him. The Hammers see him as an ideal replacement for Declan Rice, who looks almost certain to leave for pastures new, but they could find it difficult to have the pulling power to pip the others to his signature.

The report does stress that no significant progress has been made regarding a summer exit, however, with Monaco seemingly in no rush to sell despite his contract situation.

Fofana could be a really astute addition to Newcastle's squad this summer, at a time when Eddie Howe is likely to want an out-and-out defensive midfielder to allow Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes to dictate matches, especially with Champions League football also to contend with in 2023/24.

He averaged 2.3 tackles per game in both Ligue 1 and the Europa League last term – more than both Tonali and Bruno across all competitions – highlighting the defensive expertise he can provide, and he is at an age where his best years should still be ahead of him.

The Magpies are now at the stage where they need to be rotating regularly, in order to thrive across several different competitions. And he could even become an immediate key starter, considering he is more naturally defensive than those mentioned.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has hailed the Frenchman as "wonderful" – which could mean Newcastle's midfield ends up looking even more balanced moving forward.

Leeds United find themselves in a precarious position with just two Premier League games left this season as their future in the top flight hangs in the balance.

The Whites head into the weekend one point inside the relegation zone ahead of their clash with West Ham United tomorrow, and Sam Allardyce will be hoping he can do everything in his power to avoid sending the club back into the Championship at the end of next week.

It has been a tumultuous season for Leeds supporters, with the former England manager becoming the third man to take charge at Elland Road following the sackings of Jesse Marsch and Javi Gracia, with the board unable to find the recipe to replicate their more comfortable campaigns in the top flight.

As a result, all plans for the summer transfer window will likely be on hold until the West Yorkshire outfit seal their fate at around 6.30pm next weekend, but either way, Andrea Radrizzani will need to find ways to improve the squad and the performances on the pitch with the right recruitment strategy.

In fact, the Leeds owner could save millions in the summer by encouraging the promotion of young talent, with Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen thriving in the youth setup and already impressing Allardyce.

Who is Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen?

Last year, the young centre-back had his contract extended to 2025 after making impressive strides in his development and has since gone from strength to strength.

This week, Chilokoa-Mullen scored an incredible volley in a Premier League 2 play-off victory for the U21s against Nottingham Forest and was rewarded with a senior training call-up yesterday at Thorp Arch in the preparations for the crucial clash with West Ham.

Over his two Football League Trophy performances this season, the 18-year-old – hailed for his "really strong" partnership with Joe Littlewood by coach Mark Jackson – has been a huge defensive presence averaging 76 touches, 49.5 accurate passes, three interceptions, 3.5 tackles, 1.5 clearances and a whopping eight duels won per game.

The Scottish teenage sensation could even be the perfect player to develop into Liam Cooper's heir, which Leeds will eventually need as the club captain and experienced centre-back is now 31 years old and reaching the latter stages of his career.

With that being said, it is clear the future is bright for Chilokoa-Mullen if he continues to impress in the academy and senior training opportunities, and it will be interesting to see if the club push for his inclusion in the first team next season, especially if they suffer relegation to the second tier.

Rangers were beaten 1-0 at home to Celtic on Sunday afternoon and it has led to an interesting claim emerging over the future of manager Michael Beale, courtesy of journalist Jonny McFarlane.

What went wrong for Rangers against Celtic?

The Gers faced a huge Scottish Premiership clash at Ibrox on Sunday, as they hosted their bitter rivals, going into the match one point behind them after three matches. A win would be a much-needed boost for Beale, following their demoralising 5-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League last Wednesday, but it was clear that a loss would also be a damaging early blow in the SPL title race.

Rangers felt aggrieved when Kemar Roofe's goal was eventually disallowed by VAR in the first half, due to a foul in the lead-up to him finding the net, and from that point on, things only got worse. Kyogo Furuhashi fired home impressively just before half-time to give Celtic the lead, silencing the home fans, and despite pushing hard for an equaliser, Beale's men couldn't find one in the end.

It means that the Gers are now four points adrift of their adversaries, and while it is still clearly early days in the new season, it is already a deficit that is not going to be easy to claw back.

The result has further heaped the pressure on Beale, who appears to be on thin ice currently, not least because of the grim way his side exited the Champions League last week.

Is Michael Beale's job under threat?

Taking to Twitter after the defeat to Celtic, McFarlane was critical of the job Beale is doing, claiming he now has "major problems" as he looks to keep his job:

"Michael Beale has major problems. Hard to see the identity. A performance littered with mistakes. Toothless in the top end of the pitch and prone to errors at the back isn’t a great combination."

There is no question that Beale now has to be under huge pressure to stay in the Ibrox hot seat, following a terrible few days for him, both in Europe and domestically.

For too much of the game against Celtic, there was a lack of quality and genuine guile on show, with good chances few and far between, having only three shots on target. Granted, the Hoops' defence was opened up on occasions, but it always felt as though the visitors had more cutting edge in the final third, and they could easily have scored a second goal as the minutes ticked by after the break.

Read the latest Rangers transfer news HERE…

With the international break now arriving, those high up at Rangers now have a key period in which to make a big decision over Beale's future, with some supporters certainly keen on the idea of him being relieved of his duties, despite only taking charge last November.

There isn't enough patience in the modern game, so sacking Beale could still feel knee-jerk, despite the losses to PSV and Celtic, but if he is retained, performances and results have to improve drastically as soon as Rangers return to action, starting away to St Johnstone on September 16th.

Newcastle United supporters will be eagerly anticipating the club's transfer activity this summer after ending a two-decade absence from the Champions League and years of malaise under the ownership of the despised Mike Ashley.

Now, a Saudi-backed consortium have pumped fresh, lucrative life back into St. James' Park, making impressive moves on the transfer front, impressive decisions in appointing Eddie Howe as manager and Dan Ashworth as technical director, and achieving a major confluence as the facets combine.

A fourth-placed Premier League finish illustrates the meteoric ascent, but this is the most important phase of the process thus far, as the side must now demonstrate their calibre is perpetual and they will not be knocked from their pedestal among the division's elite, instead rising closer and closer to the creme-de-la-creme of European football.

By Howe's own admission, several 'marquee' moves might be taken this summer to cement the high-fliers' new position, but one which might just go under the radar is the attention on Wolfsburg's Felix Nmecha.

According to the Telegraph, the 22-year-old is attracting the Magpies' attention and could join the fold for around £15m, with Howe keen to bolster his thriving midfield with one or two astute options.

Should Newcastle sign Felix Nmecha?

Nicolo Barella and James Maddison are both making the headlines right now as the Toon look to please their fans with an established phenom, but signing Nmecha could prove to be a prudent move as Ashworth looks to craft lasting success.

The notion that Newcastle boast a bottomless pit of plunder has left Howe guffawing; the 45-year-old has always maintained that the diligence permeating through the outfit since the takeover will not crumble away, and Nmecha would be unlikely to cement a starting berth with regularity in his maiden season in England, instead absorbing the fruits of his peers' labour and creeping towards a standout role.

He has been in fine fettle in the Bundesliga this year, though, starting 19 times, scoring three goals and registering six assists after playing a peripheral role across past terms.

Niko Kovac said: "Previously, he never got into a rhythm. He played in so many different positions. Now he's playing in midfield and you can see his technical ability. He has [also] improved physically."

He would be the perfect partner for someone like Barella, who is reportedly closing on a £50m move to Tyneside this summer and is undoubtedly one of Europe's first-class midfielders, with the box-to-box midfielder one of the most impressive around, especially from an offensive standpoint.

The Italy international has been in scintillating form this term, registering 19 direct contributions, winning the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana, and being hailed as a "genius" by journalist Mike Piellucci.

Given that Nmecha has been dubbed "intelligent" himself by journalist Josh Bunting and already ranking among the top 22% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of non-penalty goals and the top 4% for rate of assists, as per FBref, he might just be apt for moulding into a prolific star of Barella's ilk.

Considering the various elements, Nmecha could be a shrewd signing to make, bolstering the ranks and ensuring the ambitious squad is layered with quality as it continues its soaring ascent.

He may not be an instant hit on Tyneside but rest assured a genius duo lies in wait, ready to dominate the domestic and continental stage with swashbuckling ease.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale failed to secure a trophy in his debut season in the dugout at Ibrox after replacing Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

The English manager joined during the break for the 2022 World Cup, having started the campaign with Queens Park Rangers, and used his knowledge of the Championship to bolster the squad during his first window in charge.

Beale signed former Norwich City wizard Todd Cantwell in January to bolster his forward options and the 25-year-old proved to be a sensational addition to the team.

How much was Todd Cantwell sold for?

According to The Sun, the Canaries cashed in on the attacking midfielder for a fee in the region of £1.5m, despite rejecting an offer for the same price from Blackburn Rovers earlier that month, as his contract was due to expire at the end of the season.

He proved his worth to the Light Blues with a string of fantastic performances across the middle of the park. Cantwell averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.36 across 16 Scottish Premiership appearances, which placed him third in the squad – only behind James Tavernier and Borna Barisic.

However, Beale could help the Gers number 13 to become even better by securing a deal for reported transfer target Jack Clarke, who could make his compatriot unstoppable at Ibrox by giving the opposition another threat to deal with.

Is Jack Clarke staying at Sunderland?

Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray recently claimed that the young winger is in no rush to leave Wearside but refused to completely rule out a transfer, which could open the door for Rangers to swoop over the coming weeks.

The "exciting" talent – as he was once described by ex-Premier League forward Noel Whelan – enjoyed a terrific campaign in the Championship to draw interest from the Scottish giants.

He produced nine goals to go along with an outstanding 11 assists in 44 league starts for the Black Cats, as the former Tottenham Hotspur man proved himself capable of making a significant impact at the top end of the pitch on a regular basis from a wide position.

To highlight how impressive those numbers are, Malik Tillman (ten) was the only Rangers midfielder with more than nine goals while none of Beale's stars from last season hit double figures for assists.

These statistics suggest that the £15k-per-week sensation has the potential to be an exceptional addition to the team if he is capable of translating his form at Sunderland over to Scotland.

Cantwell could, therefore, become unplayable in the number ten position as Clarke would provide a huge threat on the left flank that would cause opposition defenders to double up on him, subsequently opening up more space for the ex-Norwich ace to thrive.

The Sunderland star's ability to assist his teammates regularly could also allow Cantwell to improve his own goal return, after six goals in 15 league starts for the club last term, as the former Leeds starlet has proven himself to be more creative than any of Beale's existing options.

The Norfolk-born maestro was one of the team's top performers last season but the arrival of the Sunderland phenomenon could take his game to another level, making him an unstoppable proposition in midfield for the Light Blues.

West Ham are targeting Morocco international star Yassine ‘Bono’ Bounou as a possible heir to Lukasz Fabianski, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Fabianski deal expiring…

The Pole has been a faithful servant under manager David Moyes and was even rewarded with a new contract last summer, penning fresh terms until the summer of 2023 with an option to extend by one year.

Fabianski, having turned 37-years-old, is nearing the end of his twilight years and this season could be one of the last times West Ham supporters see him sport claret and blue.

The Premier League relegation-battlers, as a result, may have one eye on the veteran’s eventual heir or at least another shot-stopper to provide competition for Alphonse Areola.

The Latest: West Ham eye Bono…

According to a report in the print edition of AS (via Sport Witness), West Ham are one of the clubs in contention to sign Bono this summer.

The east Londoners are mentioned as an interested party when it comes Sevilla’s goalkeeper and the La Liga side apparently know important offers will be coming for him later this year.

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The Verdict: Fantastic option…

The 31-year-old seriously made a name for himself at last year’s 2022 World Cup in Qatar, standing out as a key player in Walid Regragui’s plucky Morocco side.

They became Africa’s first ever nation to reach a WC semi-final, making history and forever etching themselves into the memories of football supporters from that continent.

Bono started six tournament games and clinched a Man of the Match award before they were eventually knocked out by France.

Regragui called his keeper one of the best in football with members of the media also branding him ‘world class’ for his Morocco displays.

If West Ham are looking for a safe pair of hands alongside Areola, Bono could certainly be the man, especially considering league champions Man City even allegedly made an approach for him in January.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola isn't the world's best manager, according to former Citizens midfielder Didi Hamann.

Is Guardiola having a good season?

The Spaniard has arguably been the most influential figure of the Premier League era at the Etihad Stadium, inspiring City to a glorious period of success. Having arrived back in 2016, he has gone on to win four league titles, four EFL Cups and one FA Cup in the years since.

Granted, Champions League glory has continued to evade Guardiola at City – he won the competition twice during a prolific spell in charge of Barcelona – but he is surely the main reason among many for the club's success, playing some extraordinary football along the way.

This failure to win Europe's greatest club competition with the Citizens is a stick that is often used to beat the 51-year-old with, but he has the chance to silence the doubters this season, with City's quarter-final against Bayern Munich firmly under control heading into the second leg.

Is Man City boss the world's best manager?

Speaking to German outlet Solinger Tageblatt [via Sport Witness], Hamann appeared be one of those naysayers, assessing Guardiola negatively and saying he isn't the world's leading manager at this moment in time:

"In decisive situations, you need players who make decisions themselves. He takes that away from them. Julian Nagelsmann did that too. Tuchel doesn’t do that.

"Guardiola has not managed anything that others have not managed. Everybody tells you that a Pep Guardiola is the super father of coaches.

"But he was in a Champions League final in ten years with Bayern Munich and Man City – and he lost that himself. And now people tell me he’s the best manager in the world – sorry."

This is a strange take from Hamann, who admittedly isn't exactly shy when it comes to criticising great managers, quite often taking issue with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp down the years.

While City's failure to win the Champions League is clearly disappointing, the job that Guardiola is still doing remains magnificent, with a fifth Premier League title in the space of six seasons coming their way if they can pip Arsenal to the trophy in the next month or so.

Whoever the world's best manager happens to be is clearly a subjective call, but to actively make an effort to downplay Guardiola's achievements seems strange from Hamann, especially given the vast influence he has had on English football in terms of the way so many teams play out from the ball now, among other examples.

Newcastle United are battling Tottenham for the signing of Leicester City star James Maddison, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Has Maddison been linked with Newcastle move?

The Foxes were relegated from the Premier League last month and that will lead to a number of top players at the club moving on during the summer transfer window.

Maddison is arguably the star man at the King Power Stadium currently, having scored ten goals and registered nine assists in the league in 2022/23, and his exit is seemingly an absolute given. He has been linked with a number of clubs and Newcastle are one of them, with the Magpies viewing him as a primary summer target.

The £110,000-a-week star could like the idea of moving to St James' Park, especially as the Magpies sealed a top-four finish and a place in next season's Champions League.

It won't be easy for Newcastle to get their man, given the level of interest in him, but a new claim suggests that they are still right in the mix to acquire his signature.

Are Newcastle going to sign Maddison?

Taking to Twitter, Romano claimed that the Magpies and Spurs are "into the race" to snap up Maddison before the start of next season:

"Tottenham and Newcastle are into the race to sign James Maddison. He’s set to leave Leicester, negotiations will take place soon. Postecoglou asked for Maddison but Newcastle are working on this deal since last summer."

This is a really encouraging update surrounding Newcastle's potential move for Maddison, especially as Spurs are unable to promise him Champions League football in 2023/24.

That will surely play a role in the Leicester man's thinking, as he looks to test himself in Europe's best club competition, and also show England manager Gareth Southgate that he is worthy of playing a bigger role at international level moving forward.

Maddison's creative brilliance is summed up his aforementioned goal and assist return this season – he has 55 and 41 for Leicester overall respectively – and he was called "one of the best players" in the Premier League by former Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers earlier in the campaign.

At 26, the attacking midfielder should be heading into his peak years and he would add a different dimension to Newcastle's midfield, acting as a more attacking foil to the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sean Longstaff.