All posts by z3u9t.icu

According to The Northern Echo, Jonjo Shelvey is on the verge of signing a new contract with Newcastle United.

The 27-year-old will see his existing deal with the Magpies expire in the summer of 2021.

However, according to The Northern Echo, the midfielder is set to pen a fresh deal with Steve Bruce’s side.

Shelvey has struggled to earn a regular spot this season, but the Englishman was on the scoresheet in Saturday’s 3-2 win at West Ham United in the Premier League.

The former Liverpool midfielder has now managed two goals in just six league outings this season and will be hoping to build on his strike against the Hammers.

The Northern Echo claims that West Ham United and Crystal Palace have previously been interested in Shelvey, but the 2016 arrival from Swansea City is settled in the North-East.

As expected, a number of Newcastle fans have been on social media reacting to the contract report, a selection of which can be seen below:

A member of the Arsenal squad, who manager Mikel Arteta has described as “very important”, could be open to leaving the Emirates as La Liga giants Atletico Madrid express an interest in signing him.

Players linked with Arsenal exit in 2025

There are a few Gunners stars who could be set for the exit door at the turn of the year or next summer, despite Arteta having to deal with limited options due to injuries which have blighted his squad.

Arsenal officials sent to club in last few days as Edu eyes £83m Brazilian

The Gunners have reportedly held initial discussions already.

ByEmilio Galantini Oct 29, 2024

Uncertainty revolves around the futures of both Jorginho and Thomas Partey, which stands out as a key issue that sporting director Edu Gaspar needs to address before their respective contracts expire in 2025.

Partey in particular has impressed as a mainstay for Arsenal amid their injury crisis, showing that he’s still more than capable of contributing to Arsenal’s quest to win a first Premier League title in 21 years, and he put in a solid showing at right-back during their 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday.

Newcastle United (away)

November 2

Chelsea (away)

November 10

Nottingham Forest (home)

November 23

West Ham United (away)

November 30

Man United (home)

December 4

Conflicting reports have surfaced regarding the £200,000-per-week Ghanaian’s future in recent months. Some media sources claim Arsenal are keen to tie down Partey with a new contract, while others believe Partey is certain to leave north London next year.

Meanwhile, there are claims Arsenal could decide to sell Takehiro Tomiyasu, with the Japan international proving unreliable in terms of fitness and Edu prepared to cut his losses as soon as January. Poland defender Jakub Kiwior is expected to leave Arsenal as well, and the writing is on the wall for exit-bound Kieran Tierney who appears destined to find a new club next year.

Tierney has accepted that Arsenal want to sell him, with the former Celtic star still attempting to come back from a hamstring injury which has kept him out since Euro 2024.

One of the bigger names who Edu may well part company with at some point in the near future is out-of-form striker Gabriel Jesus. He’s yet to score a single goal in all competitions this season and has unfortunately not made the desired impact when called upon by Arteta.

This has led to speculation over his future, and Spanish media now claim Atletico Madrid could look to take advantage of the situation.

Gabriel Jesus open to leaving as Atletico Madrid express interest

According to a report, Atletico Madrid are expressing an interest in signing Jesus from Arsenal, and the Brazil international could “welcome a change of scenery”.

Simeone and co are being forced to contemplate a future without Antoine Griezmann, with Jesus emerging as a potential replacement for the 33-year-old who recently drew the curtain on a memorable international career with France.

It is unclear whether this could happen in January, or whether Atletico would have to wait until next summer, but Jesus’ contract isn’t set to expire until 2027 – giving Edu and co plenty of strength in possible negotiations to demand a reasonable fee.

Despite the South American’s lack of potency in the final third lately, Arteta has called Jesus a “very important” member of the squad.

Leeds United are already planning for the January transfer window and have already identified a pathway to first-team football for a gem from their academy.

Leeds pick up vital win

A 2-0 win over Sheffield United on Friday night moved Leeds up to third in the Championship, continuing their early push for promotion under Daniel Farke.

Goals from Pascal Struijk and Mateo Joseph were enough to inflict the Blades’ first defeat of the season and move Leeds level on points with their Yorkshire rivals, with Leeds’ only loss of the season having come against newly-relegated Burnley back in September.

It was a professional performance from the Elland Road outfit, not allowing Sheffield United a shot on target across the 90 minutes as they restricted Chris Wilder’s side to just 0.2 expected goals, while they themselves tested the opposition goalkeeper four times on top of their two goals.

Leeds United vs Sheffield United- Match Stats

Leeds United

Sheffield United

Possession

55%

45%

Shots

13

5

Shots on target

4

0

Expected goals

1.19

0.20

Yellow Cards

1

2

It comes against a backdrop of injuries for Farke, who has lost key midfield duo Ilia Gruev and Ethan Ampadu to long term knee injuries and who only has Joe Rothwell and Ao Tanaka as options in his engine room as things stand, though they are working to address that issue through the free agent market.

Their squad shortages meant that teenage duo Charlie Crew and James Debayo were among the substitutes against Sheffield United, though they were not required. However, it is another young talent at Elland Road that is being prepared for the first team.

Leeds make January decision on Thomas

That comes in the shape of young talented forward Luca Thomas, who is highly regarded among the setup at Thorp Arch.

The 20-year-old had scored six times in five Premier League outings before securing a loan move to York City earlier in the week. He enjoyed a dream debut as he scored his first goal for the club in a 4-0 thrashing of Ebbsfleet United just 15 minutes after coming on as they continued their strong start to the season.

Leeds open to selling £70k-p/w player who’s not happy with Daniel Farke

A former scout has made the claim.

1 ByHenry Jackson Oct 19, 2024

However, that loan is due to come to an end at the turn of the year, and now Football Insider have shared the latest on his future.

According to their report, Leeds are “planning” to “send Thomas to a more established Football League side” in January as they look to nurture his development to allow him to flourish.

There is no mention of what that level may be, and that may well depend on his performances in the National League, which may make clubs across the football pyramid sit up and take notice should he continue his goalscoring form from youth level.

Considered “one of Leeds’ most promising youngsters”, the club “believe the youngster will be ready for the next step by January”, and intend to help him take it.

After a tough start to the season that saw them drop points against Leicester City, Arsenal and Newcastle United, there is now an undeniable air of positivity around Tottenham Hotspur.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have turned their fortunes around with four wins on the bounce, and following their emphatic away victory against Manchester United on Sunday, they look ready to take on anyone.

The game saw Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke continue their good form in front of goal, although as impressive as the pair have been in the last few weeks, they are being outscored by a former Spurs flop who was sold for a pittance in the summer.

Johnson and Solanke's impressive form

While the mood around Tottenham is a positive one at the moment, and for a good reason, it certainly wasn’t a couple of weeks ago when Johnson felt he had to deactivate his Instagram account due to the amount of abuse he was receiving from fans over his perceived lack of form.

It wasn’t a nice situation, but where many players would understandably crumple under pressure, the Welshman pushed ahead and has answered his critics on the pitch, scoring in four games on the bounce.

He hasn’t just scored the fourth in a 4-0 thrashing, either; he has scored important goals: the winner against Coventry City, the opener against Qarabağ when the team were down to ten men, and the opener at Old Trafford.

In short, the former Nottingham Forest ace has become one of the club’s most important players over the last fortnight or so and now looks as much, if not more, of a goal threat than the club’s £65m striker, Solanke.

That said, while the former Bournemouth star had a slow start to life in North London this season, failing to score in his first three games, like Johnson, he has found his footing in the last couple of weeks.

The Englishman opened his account with a goal against Brentford, followed that up with another against Qarabağ, and finally against United on Sunday.

Overall, while Johnson and Solanke endured tough starts to the season, they are on fire now, although they are being outscored by a player sold by the club in the summer.

Giovani Lo Celso's recent form

Yes, the former Spurs flop in question is Giovani Lo Celso, who initially joined the club on loan in the summer of 2019 before completing a permanent move the following summer, which cost the club around £42.3m, including his loan fee.

There was plenty of excitement around the Argentine when he arrived in England, but it would be fair to say that he ultimately underwhelmed in N17.

Indeed, he made just 108 appearances for the club, scoring ten goals, providing eight assists and going on loan to Villarreal for a season and a half between January 2022 and June 2023.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.

After playing just 597 minutes last season, the two-time Copa América winner was finally sold on to former club Real Betis for a fee said to be as low as £8.4m, and since then, he has looked like a player reborn and would be the top goalscorer in Spurs’ squad had he stayed.

Appearances

5

8

6

Minutes

361′

544′

505′

Goals

5

4

3

Assists

0

0

1

Goal Involvements per Match

1

0.50

0.66

Minutes per Goal Involvement

72.2′

136′

126.25′

In just five appearances for Los Verdiblancos, the 28-year-old “leader”, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has scored five goals, including a brace in his first start for the club against Getafe, and his underlying numbers are just as impressive.

Moreover, according to FBref, which compares players in similar roles across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, the former Tottenham ace sits in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers for non-penalty goals, attempted passes, progressive passes and tackles, the top 2% for pass completion, the top 3% for shot-creating actions and the top 6% for expected assists, all per 90.

Ultimately, given his lack of impact last season and his uptick in form this year, selling Lo Celso in the summer was probably the right decision for all parties involved. Still, there must be a part of Postecoglou wondering why he couldn’t have shown this goalscoring touch for him.

Spurs wanted to sign £55m star for Ange but ended up with Brennan Johnson

The North Londoners could have ended up with another winger entirely last summer.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 1, 2024

Chelsea’s midfield has undergone a significant amount of change this calendar year.

The Blues have lost Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Conor Gallagher is now targeted by West Ham, who have just had a £40m bid rejected for the Englishman.

Chelsea aren't in the best position to lose Gallagher, as Enzo Fernandez and Carney Chukwuemeka are the only other two central midfielders in the squad.

Their pursuit of Moises Caicedo has been frustrating and unfruitful, with their latest bid of £70m instantly rejected by Brighton, who are demanding around £100m for the Ecuadorian.

The west Londoners may be forced to resort to different targets, and they still retain an interest in Romeo Lavia.

Who is signing Romeo Lavia?

According to Sacha Tavolieri, Liverpool are trying to close in on a £45m deal for Lavia, but Chelsea may attempt an “ultimate approach” thanks to Joe Shields’ "pressing".

It was previously reported by The Athletic that the Reds are set to make an improved offer for the Southampton gem, after having an opening offer of £37m be shunned by the Saints, who are holding out for around £50m.

However, the report says that Chelsea retain a firm interest and could have an advantage in the deal due to Shields’ connection to the player.

The 36-year-old was recruited from the south-coast outfit last summer as the club’s co-director of recruitment and was a leading figure in Lavia’s move from Manchester City to Southampton.

What position does Romeo Lavia play?

Despite Southampton’s abysmal season, in which their 11-year stay in the top-flight ended, the youngster emerged from the rubble with a prestigious reputation.

Lavia, who has been described as “incredible” by Pep Guardiola, has showcased he is a phenomenal ball player and a tenacious asset in central midfield.

Indeed, in 29 Premier League appearances, the Belgian averaged 2.1 tackles, an 86% pass accuracy, and completed 68% of his dribbles. Such stats are impressive, particularly considering only Enzo Fernandez (2.5) and N'Golo Kante (2.3) made more tackles per game of Chelsea's midfield players last season.

Arguably winning back the ball is his standout trait, as Lavia was one of only three U21 players who won possession in the midfield third 100+ times (114) to display how he excels in his age group.

Nevertheless, he is still extremely comfortable on the ball and holds supreme technical quality. This has been echoed by Jean Kindermans, Anderlecht's head of Academy, who said: “He’s always calm on the ball. You can give him it under pressure and he will solve the problem.

Paul Scholes has also recognised his all-round profile, adding: “He is a young player who can do both sides of the game, equally good defensively but also once he is on the ball he has tremendous feet and can pass it.”

Another player that Chelsea are linked with, who also exudes on-the-ball competence and eye-catching dynamism, is Mohammed Kudus.

In The Athletic’s Profiling of 50 exciting players under the age of 23, it is stated that the Ghanaian sees his best position in midfield and as a result, he could form an exciting partnership with Lavia if played slightly in front.

Last season, the 22-year-old recorded 100+ successful take-ons (104), 100+ ball recoveries (134), and scored 16 goals, ranking him as the highest for each metric in the Ajax squad.

This potentially new-look Chelsea midfield would also include Fernandez, who sits within the best 14% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for tackles per 90, as well as the highest 3% for progressive passes per 90.

These three players can do both sides of the game excellently and could propel Chelsea back into European contention.

Celtic appear to be edging closer to a move for Gangwon FC forward Yang Hyun-jun, with the situation “gradually being resolved”.

Are Celtic signing Yang Hyun-jun?

The Hoops and Brendan Rodgers have acted swiftly in the transfer market following the Northern Irishman’s return as manager at Parkhead, with midfielder Odin Thiago Holm and winger Marco Tilio joining from Valerenga and Melbourne City receptively on five-year deals.

Rodgers reportedly has a £30m transfer kitty to play with this summer, and that figure may have been boosted, with star man Jota since signing for Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad in a deal worth £25m.

As a result, Celtic appear to be on the hunt for another wide forward, with Yang a player they have been heavily linked with. Reports suggested that a £2.1m fee had been agreed between the two clubs, however, as we know, a move is yet to materialise.

Yang has been keen to make the move to Scotland and even previously admitted he would give up his salary to force through a deal with the Scottish Premiership champions.

"Celtic is a good offer, so I want to go. I have to do my best as a member of Gangwon. But I think the desire to go will still be there.

"I want to go to Celtic this summer. I hope Gangwon will allow me to transfer. If the transfer fee isn’t enough, I’ll even give my salary."

The Daily Record shared an update on Celtic and Yang in the last 48 hours, saying that a dream Hoops transfer for the forward is still on. They believe a £2.1m deal is still being floated and shared more comments from the player himself, who said that “situation is gradually being resolved”, with Gangwon re-evaluating Yang’s value following a meeting.

"The stagnant situation is gradually being resolved.

"The club have re-evaluated the value through CEO Kim Byung-ji during the one-on-one meeting. Still, there seems to be some progress. I think I hurt the fans too much. I want to make the fans smile and go to Celtic."

Who is Yang Hyun-jun?

Yang is valued at a career-high €700,000 by Transfermarkt and has made 71 senior appearances for his current employers, scoring nine times and registering five assists in all competitions.

The South Korea U23 international has previously been labelled as Gangwon's up-and-coming star who is unpredictable and eye-catching by K League United columnist Nathan Sartain, so could be a shrewd addition to come in and attempt to fill the void left by Jota.

Primarily a right-winger who can also play on the left or through the middle, the 21-year-old was hailed as “excellent” and a “level above” in the media following a pre-season performance against Tottenham last year.

By the looks of things, he could be the next attacking Asian player to move to Parkhead, following in the footsteps of the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda and Oh Hyeon-gyu, and it appears as if a deal in the region of £2.1m could be edging closer following the player’s recent comments.

Everton are one of the teams that currently in the running to land Allan Saint-Maximin on a deal this summer, according to a report from 90Min.

How many goals has Allan Saint-Maximin scored for Newcastle?

The 26-year-old has been with Newcastle for the last four seasons and has regularly produced the goods in front of goal for the Toon. He burst onto the scene back in 2019/20 and became an immediate first-team player, featuring on 26 occasions for them in the Premier League and bagging three goals with four assists.

He matched those totals a campaign later too, despite having less minutes on the field. With the club making gradual improvement, he then featured 35 times – his highest amount since his move to St James' Park – and rewarded Newcastle for their faith by hitting a double-digit amount of goal contributions for the first time (five goals and five assists).

In 2022/23 though, he struggled to maintain his place in the team and as the Toon fought for European football, Saint-Maximin's tally tailed off as well. He started just 12 league games and produced only one goal for the club, although he still managed five assists.

However, it led to his worst ever total in a Newcastle shirt and he could now be on the chopping block given Eddie Howe's penchant for playing either Alexander Isak or Joelinton in that left-wing role at St. James' Park.

Are Everton signing Allan Saint-Maximin?

It's led to suggestions that he could now be sold off this summer, with the Frenchman having fallen down the pecking order. According to a report from 90Min, there is certainly interest in his services and one of the clubs that is in the race to sign him is Everton.

The Toffees have "checked on" the situation of the winger and could therefore make a move if they think it is feasible to do so this summer window. However, they aren't the only club that seemingly want to try and sign him.

Crystal Palace also have an interest in keeping him in the top flight, whilst AC Milan could offer to take him to Italy. Most recently too, there is now an offer from Saudi Arabia on the table – so the player may have some decision making to do when it comes to selecting whether to stay with Newcastle or to head to a new team this window.

He clearly has talent in his locker when he gets on form too, with football journalist Josh Bunting stating that Saint-Maximin is "intelligent" and is "so good" at finding "pockets of space" while scout Jacek Kulig calls his dribbling "unstoppable".

It shows that the Frenchman is a winger who is not only excellent in one on one situation but also has the composure to pick a pass at the end of it. If Everton did seal a deal for the 26-year-old then, it would be a real boost to their forward line next season and certainly get the crowd off their feet at Goodison Park.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are keen to strike a summer deal to sign Manchester City defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

Who is Taylor Harwood-Bellis?

Harwood-Bellis is a centre-back who currently plays his football at the Etihad Stadium having graduated from his club’s academy to get promoted to the first-team back in 2021, but having only ever made eight senior appearances under Pep Guardiola, his future is up in the air.

Throughout his career, the England U21s international has been sent out on four development loans to build his experience and to help him receive more game time, the first being at Blackburn Rovers, the second Anderlecht, the third Stoke City and most recently last season he was at Burnley, helping them gain promotion to the Premier League.

The Sky Blues product will also be out of contract at the end of next season meaning that the ongoing window is likely to be his parent club’s final big opportunity to cash in should they not want to lose him for free, and following his impressive performances last season, he’s got a potential suitor waiting for him in Julen Lopetegui at Wolves.

Back in November 2022, reliable journalist Alan Nixon reported that the Old Gold were indeed keeping a close eye on the 21-year-old, and despite a deal failing to come to fruition back in January, it sounds like the Wolves hierarchy may be aiming to take a second bite of the cherry in the weeks ahead.

Are Wolves signing Harwood-Bellis?

According to TEAMtalk, Wolves hold a serious “interest” in Harwood-Bellis but are set to face stiff competition for his services with Brighton and Hove Albion, Everton and Fulham also wanting to reach an agreement for the defender.

Burnley are “battling” to try and re-sign the talented prospect following a successful loan spell with Vincent Kompany having already “asked” Man City to let him have his player back, but his former club are “yet to decide” whether they want to loan their product back out or even consider a permanent sale.

Where would Harwood-Bellis fit in at Wolves?

Wolves and Fosun have just sold Nathan Collins to Brentford for £23m so Lopetegui will need to enter the market to find a suitable successor at centre-back, and after being described as having the attitude of a “warrior” by journalist Josh Bunting, Harwood-Bellis could be the perfect candidate.

The 6 foot 2 colossus, who earns just £7k-per-week at the moment, impressed last season averaging 3.1 clearances, 2.8 aerial wins and 1.8 interceptions per second tier game, via WhoScored, so was a real rock at the heart of the backline for the Clartes. He also contributed in the final third with three goal contributions (two assists and one goal) to his name.

Harwood-Bellis, who will possess a winning mentality having not only achieved promotion with Burnley but also secured three trophies prior to that with Man City – albeit with fleeting appearances – also has the versatility to operate at right-back which is an extremely useful attribute for the boss to have available should any unexpected injuries occur.

Manchester United's ownership situation could impact their transfer plans, journalist David Ornstein has revealed.

What's the latest on Man United's ownership battle?

There is yet to be clarification on the outcome of the ownership bidding war between Sheikh Jassim Hamad Bin Al Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe for Man United, as the Glazer family are yet to decide the next steps in their running of the club.

Despite agreeing a deal for Mason Mount, Man United's budget could be limited this summer, and without clarity on their owners, they may not be able to pursue all of their targets.

Erik ten Hag would like a striker and a goalkeeper in addition to Mount, but he may have his hands tied.

Speaking on TalkSPORT, Ornstein revealed that at the moment, United have a list of targets which they will pursue, but it is unclear what budget they will have until the ownership situation is sorted out:

"It's quite complicated because of the ownership situation at Man United about exactly what they're able to do. It was always quite clear that there would be budget for a Mason Mount level deal, but beyond that, not so certain," he stated.

"Of course, many people want to see the ownership situation clarified as quickly as possible and if there is to be a takeover, maybe more funds will be released. In terms of the operations on a day-to-day basis. John Murtough leading the recruitment set up, being regarded as business as usual, and so they are pursuing options in their priority positions, which are striker, and also goalkeeper, midfield was one of those.

"You don't know exactly how the chronology will go and it seems that Mason Mount has fallen first but they'll continue those pursuits."

Who could Man United target?

Given the financial fair play limitations they are currently facing, United may not be able to pursue both a big-money goalkeeper and forward.

There have been links with Andre Onana, with the future of David De Gea thrusted into uncertainty as a new contract has still not been agreed, whilst striking a deal for Harry Kane looks increasingly unlikely this summer.

Hojlund has been linked, but with a reported £86m asking price, the Atalanta forward may be out of reach for United.

If the ownership situation is not resolved soon, then United could fall further behind if they are unable to fully operate in the transfer market, and could miss out on their main targets to rival clubs.

It was a disappointing season for Liverpool last year, and part of the reason for that was the lack of goals in the team, something Luis Diaz needs to work on in particular, claims RedMenTV presenter Paul Machin.

Liverpool – What's the latest on Luis Diaz?

Liverpool's £55k-per-week winger had a season to forget last term, more so than a number of his teammates, due to a combination of poor goal-scoring form and serious time on the sideline due to injury.

The Barrancas-born star had a decent start to the campaign, playing in all the team's opening eight fixtures, scoring three goals and assisting another two, but it all came apart at the Emirates.

During the game against Arsenal, Diaz went down in the 42nd minute following a knee injury.

After needing surgery, he would miss the next 21 games, not featuring again until April 17th against Leeds United.

His last nine appearances in the season only returned a single goal. However, it is worth noting he didn't play a full 90 once in those games.

What does Paul Machin think about Luis Diaz's lack of goals?

Machin was quick to stress his and the fans' love of the ex-Porto star for his exciting, attacking style of play but emphasised that he needs to add more goals to his game to kick on from here,

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: "I adore him. I think Liverpool fans absolutely adore him. He's one of the most electrifying players that I've seen at Anfield. 'It's can he score enough goals?' That's a big part, and that's the thing.

"I think stylistically a lot of the bits and pieces that he does are unique to Liverpool's squad, they are quite Mane-esque. He takes men on, he drives past people, he opens up space for others, things that Jota doesn't have, but Diogo Jota scores, lots and lots of goals, and presses brilliantly and wants to be in the 18 yard box. I think that's something that needs to be trained into Diaz."

How good is Luis Diaz?

People might look at his lack of goals over the previous campaign and conclude that he just isn't that good. Those people could, however, be incorrect.

As Machin points out, there is much more to the Colombian than just his goal-scoring. According to WhoScored, in his 11 starts in the league last season, he averaged a respectable match rating of 6.97 and, in his three Champions League appearances, managed a seriously impressive average of 7.23.

The underlying numbers help to show just how good of a player he really is as well.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, the tricky winger is in the top 6% for touches in the opposition box, the top 11% for progressive passes received and aerial duals won, the top 12% for pass completion and successful take-ons, and the top 16% for non-penalty goals, all per 90.

Diaz is clearly extremely talented, and his manager Jurgen Klopp certainly seems to agree, saying:

"He's so football smart, moving in the right areas, naturally defending from his position, goal threat, speed, cheeky. Very, very special player, I have to say."

With an injury-free run in the team next year, Diaz might rediscover his goal-scoring form again.