All posts by z3u9t.icu

Newcastle United have made an enquiry for Aston Villa left-back Matt Targett.

That’s according to 90min, and their update has had a number of Villa fans talking on social media.

Targett has been a regular for Steven Gerrard in recent months, missing just two games under the Villa boss. The 26-year-old signed a new Villa Park contract last year through to 2025 but could now be second choice following Lucas Digne’s arrival.

Targett dropped to the bench against Manchester United last weekend for Digne to make his debut after his move from Everton, and it seems as if Newcastle are keen on the Englishman as a result.

90min revealed on Wednesday that the Magpies have approached Villa over a possible move for Targett, who could now be available to leave the Midlands.

Villa fans react

Both The AVFC Faithful and Total Villa shared the news regarding Targett on Twitter. This is what these Villa fans had to say in reply, with one wanting Allan Saint-Maximin in any deal.

“I’ll drive him up to Scotland myself”

Credit: @BenevolentBarry

“Saint-Max swap deal”

Credit: @charliepowellm1

“No way does Targett get sold. You don’t solve a problem then unsolve it immediately. Summer may be a different matter”

Credit: @TheHolte1874

“Crazy to sell him as we can’t just have Ash. Matt is great backup and would hope he wants to fight for his place rather than go elsewhere!”

Credit: @k1eranw

“No. Targett is ahead of Young on the pecking order for LB by a long shot. It would be silly for him to be sold.”

Credit: @AvfcUncut

“We want a squad now. So he has to stay unless he wants to go.”

Credit: @ch1992_ch

In other news: ‘Give them what they want’ – Many Villa fans flock to transfer update on potential ‘superstar’. 

As per a report by La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), there has been a big development in the race to sig Dusan Vlahovic and it involves Tottenham Hotspur.

The Lowdown: Conte era begins…

The new era of Antonio Conte has officially begun at Tottenham and it’s safe to say that his arrival comes with plenty of excitement and anticipation.

Tipped to bring a high intensity style of football back to Spurs by Serie A experts, the promise of how he can implement a more exciting brand of football is matched only by his pull in the transfer market.

Claims from Italy suggest that the 52-year-old’s presence at N17 could open the door for Tottenham to bag a host of Serie A stars and one of the biggest names is Fiorentina striker Vlahovic.

There have been no shortage of links to the player since Conte came through the door and now La Gazzetta have made a pretty exciting claim.

The Latest: Meeting held in London; Spurs favourites

As per their sources, via SW, a meeting has already been held with Tottenham in London as La Viola officials fly to discuss a deal which could be worth around €70m (£59.9m) to the Serie A side.

What’s more, Vlahovic could personally earn around €6m-per-year (£5.1m) in a possible Spurs move with the Lilywhites and managing director Fabio Paratici potentially prepared to pay big.

La Gazzetta also say that Tottenham are ‘perhaps the favourite’ to get a deal done for Vlahovic.

The Verdict: Exciting claim…

Given his phenomenal goalscoring haul of 21 in Serie A alone last season, not to mention the fact he has continued in that vain so far this year, we believe he is the first priority for Spurs going forward.

Refusing to put pen to paper on a new deal, with his contract expiring in 2023, Tottenham are in a fairly strong negotiating position and could even whittle the £59.9m price down theoretically.

Lauded as a ‘really crazy’ player by former Bulgaria international Valeri Bojinov, we believe this update should come as exciting for Spurs fans with a meeting now held.

In other news: Conte now plotting to sell ‘very talented’ Spurs player who Nuno called ‘unique’, find out more here.

West Ham are open to offers for Andriy Yarmolenko in January, according to a very reliable source…

What’s the word?

Irons insider ExWHUemployee believes David Moyes will not offer the 32-year-old forward a new contract, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season.

He has also claimed that the Hammers would be willing to offload him this winter should they receive a decent offer for him.

“There’s a few other contracts that are up. Yarmolenko is one, I don’t think we’ll renew that,” Ex explained to his ‘The West Ham Way’ podcast earlier this week.

“In terms of player departures in January. I mean, I think if an offer came in for Yarmolenko, you could probably expect that to happen.”

Bye-bye Yarmolenko?

The vastly-experienced 106-capped Ukraine international has hardly been a hit since joining from Borussia Dortmund nearly four years ago.

He cost around £17.5m, as per Sky Sports, and is supposedly one of their highest-earners on around £115k-per-week at the London Stadium. However, across only 66 appearances, he has only provided ten goals and six assists.

[snack-amp-story url = “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-west-ham-news-transfer-updates-gsb-kretinsky-moyes” title=”Read the latest West Ham news, transfer updates and much, much more!”]

Yarmolenko’s last top-flight goal came nearly two seasons ago in 2019/20 and he made just one league start last term, as per Transfermarkt.

The 6 foot 2 winger, who can also play up top, is struggling for game time once again this campaign, having featured for just 358 minutes across all competitions, which is rather telling with the Hammers competing in the Europa League.

Now valued at just £3.6m by Transfermarkt, it’s evident that the 32-year-old veteran has overstayed his welcome in east London. He’s not offering Moyes anything right now, so it’s hardly a surprise that Ex believes he could be moved on at the turn of the year.

In a poll conducted by Football FanCast, 90% of fans agreed that Yarmolenko should have been sold in the summer transfer window, so this latest update should leave them excited heading into the winter.

If the Irons can get him off the wage bill, then it could give them a nice little boost to bring in further additions, another encouraging factor to why many will be thrilled by this news.

AND in other news, West Ham eye Jesse Lingard alternative in “god-given” Premier League talent…

Celtic have been handed a double injury boost ahead of their upcoming Europa League fixture.

What’s the latest?

In recent comments cited by the Daily Record, Ange Postecoglou revealed that the injuries picked up by Stephen Welsh and Anthony Ralston during Celtic’s 1-0 win over Hearts on Thursday evening do not appear to be anything serious, despite both players being substituted in the fixture.

Speaking about the current condition of the duo, the 56-year-old Bhoys boss said: “Stephen Welsh and Anthony Ralston doesn’t look like anything serious.”

Postecoglou will be elated

Considering just how unlucky Postecoglou has been with injuries in his short tenure as Celtic’s manager thus far, the news that both Welsh and Ralston do not look as if they will be required to spend an extended spell on the sidelines is sure to have left the Greek-Australian coach elated.

Indeed, Ralston has been one of the surprises of the season so far, as, over his 13 Premiership appearances, the £270k-rated right-back has helped his side keep five clean sheets, scored three goals, provided five assists and created nine big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 1.8 key passes, 2.1 tackles and winning 7.1 duels per game.

These returns have seen the 23-year-old average a highly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.72, ranking him as the third-best player in the Scottish top flight.

Meanwhile, over Welsh’s seven league fixtures, the £1.08m-rated centre-back has helped keep two clean sheets, in addition to making an average of 1.7 interceptions, 0.9 tackles and winning 5.6 duels per fixture – with these metrics seeing the 21-year-old average a SofaScore match rating of 7.16.

As such, while there is nothing left to play for in Thursday evening’s Europa League fixture, the news that both Ralston and Welsh look as if they will be available for selection is undoubtedly a huge boost for Celtic – with fans sure to be delighted after finally hearing some positive injury news out of Parkhead.

In other news: Ange can save millions with “Roy of the Rovers” who’s got a “big future at Celtic”

Southampton’s hopes of getting rid of Wesley Hoedt look to have suffered a blow, with a recent report suggesting that the Dutch defender is ‘destined’ to return to the south coast club this summer.

According to reports from Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, the 27-year-old will return to Southampton this summer, despite Lazio holding an option to buy the centre-back as part of the deal which saw him join on loan this season.

Southampton signed the defender from Lazio in 2017 for £15m but he has endured a nightmare time with the Saints thus far, having made just 45 appearances in all competitions before a series of disappointing loan spells. He has described his move to St Mary’s as a “mistake” and criticised Ralph Hasenhuttl for not giving him a chance to prove his worth, as per Daily Mail.

He initially joined Celta Vigo for the second half of the 2018/19 season before spending last season on loan with Royal Antwerp, but it seems clear that Hasenhuttl has never been convinced by the defender as he was sent back to Lazio on loan for this season.

He has been limited to just 15 appearances in Serie A for Simone Inzaghi’s side, where he has averaged a lowly 6.36 rating, so you can hardly blame them for not wanting to make his stay a permanent one.

The £5.4m-rated Dutchman’s four-year Southampton nightmare looks set to continue in the summer as he will return to the Saints, where he is presumably unwanted by Hasenhuttl and will likely struggle to move ahead of any of Jannik Vestergaard, Jan Bednarek, Mohammed Salisu or Jack Stephens in the pecking order with the south coast club.

Unfortunately for Martin Semmens, Hoedt’s contact with Southampton doesn’t expire until the end of the 2021/22 season, so he will surely be desperate to sell him this summer; otherwise it seems likely that he will depart on a free transfer next year.

This latest update is frustrating for Southampton, as they perhaps thought they had seen the last of Hoedt when he rejoined Lazio, but his poor performances have ended up costing both clubs, as the Saints will now have to look elsewhere if they want to sell him permanently in the summer.

And, in other news… 62% duels lost: £70k-p/w Saints gem failed to repay Hasenhuttl’s faith vs Man City

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in CF Montreal’s Djordje Mihailovic.

What’s the talk?

According to 1000Cuorirossoblu, PIF are plotting a swoop for the attacking midfielder at the end of the season, alongside a number of other clubs.

The report claims that Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Leverkusen and Leeds are also keen on the gem, whose contract with the MLS side expires in December 2023.

Huge Almiron upgrade

Newcastle must secure a deal to sign Mihailovic as he would be a huge upgrade on Miguel Almiron heading into the 2022/23 campaign.

In 26 Premier League appearances, Almiron has scored one goal and provided one assist for the Toon. Whilst his strike against Crystal Palace earlier this month was a terrific finish and one for the fans to enjoy at St. James’ Park, he has not been able to produce that level of quality on a consistent basis and his lack of impact in the final third is a cause for concern.

Two goal contributions in 15 league starts is a dismal return from a winger, particularly after he managed five (four goals and one assist) in 28 starts last season (34 appearances). He has not been a reliable player for the Magpies in the final third and that is why the club should be looking to sign Mihailovic to take his place in the team.

The Montreal midfielder has had a sensational start to 2022 as he has racked up four goals and two assists in eight appearances. He has averaged a sublime SofaScore rating of 7.61 as he has created 2.5 chances per game, showing that he can consistently deliver at the top end of the pitch.

This comes after he managed four goals and 14 assists in 32 starts in 2021. In the 2020/21 campaign, he created a whopping 18 ‘big chances’ and made 2.3 key passes per game and these statistics suggest that he can be a creative force for the Magpies – with journalist Chris Smith dubbing him a “gorgeous passer”.

He can, therefore, be a big upgrade on the Paraguay international if he is able to translate his form for Montreal over to the Premier League next season.

The American dynamo, who has 40 MLS goals and assists combined in his career, is also five years younger than Almiron and has scope to develop further over the years. Howe can work with him on the training pitch to hone his skills and this means that he can be a player for the short and long-term future of the club.

AND in other news, 71% duels won: £19k-p/w NUFC titan brought his “passion off the pitch” onto it vs NCFC – opinion

If there was one guarantee about how Leeds United’s first season back in the Premier League would be like, then it would have been about how entertaining life would be.

And boy have the Whites served up some real treats this season. The last two games in the top-flight alone have seen 15 goals in total, with Marcelo Bielsa’s side thrashing Newcastle 5-2, before receiving a taste of their own medicine with a 6-2 drubbing at the hands of Manchester United.

That heavy defeat at Old Trafford may have left Bielsa pondering about making some changes to his starting eleven for the clash against Burnley, and below is a look at just how Leeds might line up.

In front of regular number one Illan Meslier, the likes of Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas (the latter two of course being Leeds’ goal-scorers against United), should all keep their place, whilst Liam Cooper’s injury might finally see Diego Llorente get his chance.

One change Bielsa might consider making to his back-line is unleashing Leif Davis – the 20-year-old came off the bench at Old Trafford, and could bring some energy and drive in his more usual left-back slot.

Further forward, the Leeds boss may also be tempted to start Pablo Hernandez from the off. The Spaniard rather unsurprisingly has only been sparingly used, what with him now being 35, but with Rodrigo not really hitting the ground running at Elland Road, could give the Whites that extra bit of creativity and cutting edge.

Predicted XI: Meslier; Dallas, Ayling, Llorente, Davis; Phillips, Hernandez, Klich; Raphinha, Bamford, Harrison.

Steve Bruce has confirmed Martin Dubravka will make his return from injury in Newcastle United’s FA Cup tie with Arsenal, but will be without Jamal Lewis and Ryan Fraser at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

The Toon are chasing only their second win over the Gunners since 2010 after losing 14 of their past 17 meetings with the north London side, who boast an imperious FA Cup record having scored in 31 of their last 32 fixtures in the competition.

Mikel Arteta’s side, who won the oldest national football tournament last season, have also found the back of the net exactly two times in each of their last five FA Cup ties and rediscovered their form this term, highlighting the scale of the task Bruce and his defenders face this weekend.

So, with a trip to an Arsenal side who have won their last three fixtures coming on Saturday night, here’s a predicted line-up Bruce could favour in search of an end to Newcastle’s six-game winless streak…

Dubravka is yet to play a single minute of football this season after sustaining a heel injury in pre-season, but Bruce has confirmed the Slovakia international will replace Karl Darlow between the sticks in north London.

Lewis will not take to the pitch at the Emirates Stadium after he and Fraser were ruled out through injury, but Jamaal Lascelles is in contention for his first outing since November after recovering from coronavirus.

Ciaran Clark has started Newcastle’s last nine fixtures across all competitions and will expect to see his run continue on Saturday beside Fabian Schar and DeAndre Yedlin, after Federico Fernandez proved the weakest link in central defence against Leicester City last time out.

Sean and Matty Longstaff endured a troublesome afternoon in the engine room at home to Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes and would count themselves lucky to start alongside one another at Arsenal, where Bruce will have Isaac Hayden available again.

Hayden missed the Leicester clash through suspension after receiving his fifth yellow card of the campaign against Liverpool, and will likely start at the Emirates next to Joelinton after the Brazilian did well on the left-wing in defending from the front last weekend.

Miguel Almiron also worked hard to help defensively against Leicester but the £42,000-per-week Paraguayan offered little with one off-target shot, no key passes or successful tackles to his name, per WhoScored, and will likely be replaced by Jacob Murphy in north London.

Bruce may consider handing Callum Wilson a rest at Arsenal with the 28-year-old playing 1,358 minutes across all competitions this term, but would face questions over whether Dwight Gayle or Andy Carroll can lead the line on Saturday night.

AND in other news, Steve Bruce has no alternative but to perform a U-turn and tie a £4.5m-rated Newcastle star down with a new deal now…

Newcastle have suffered a blow before their Premier League clash against Leicester City, with Steve Bruce revealing that 18-year-old Elliot Anderson is set to miss out.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the game against the Foxes, the Newcastle manager said: “He picked up a knock in the last game he played and it’s set him back a little bit. We’re not sure how bad it is but it’s a hip problem. He’s going to be struggling for the next couple of weeks.

“We’re delighted with his progress – he’s only 18 – and he’s got a big future, we hope, as long as he keeps his head down and keeps working well. But, as I said, he’ll be struggling a bit for the next couple of weeks I would have thought.”

The news came just after Bruce had admitted that Anderson had a good chance of featuring for the first team in the Premier League before the end of the season, saying: “There’s a chance. We understand that he’s making big strides. And he’s only 18, the boy, but he’s in and around us. Yeah, he might get a chance before the end of the season. I’ll look at it, and what we’ve got. We’ve got our big players fit at the top of the pitch, of course, in Allan, Callum and Joelinton. He’s got fierce competition.”

Anderson has played just three minutes of top-flight football all season, coming on in the closing stages of the 3-0 defeat to Arsenal back in mid-January. The lack of game-time for the talented teenager has led to plenty of Newcastle fans on different occasions calling for Bruce to bring him into the first team fold, but that has fallen on deaf ears.

Just recently, Magpies supporters voiced their anger at seeing him fail to even make the matchday squad against West Brom, while after he made his debut for England’s under-19s, they urged Bruce to unleash him in the Premier League.

Anderson has already earned rave reviews for his ability and potential, with his former youth coach John Forrest telling The Athletic: “He knew how to dominate a game, which is a natural skill that’s hard to coach. He really was an outstanding footballer. He stood out, even then.”

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/newcastle-steve-bruce-premier-league-transfer-gossip-rumours-news-st-james-park-joelinton-shelvey-max-aarons” title=”Read the latest Newcastle transfer rumours and news!”]

In fact, several of his former Magpies academy team-mates said he was the “most talented player” in the team, and that he was also “supremely driven”.

News of him now missing out on a chance to make a rare appearance in the Premier League will no doubt leave many Newcastle fans gutted – and especially the player himself, having been deprived of what seemed a likely chance to feature in the top flight.

Meanwhile, Newcastle boss Steve Bruce must drop this “liability” tonight…

Plenty of Liverpool fans had their say on James Milner during their Premier League encounter against Fulham on Sunday.

The 35-year-old made just his eighth league start of the season as manager Jurgen Klopp made seven changes to the team which lost 1-0 to Chelsea in midweek.

Milner, who earns £140,000-a-week at Anfield, was notably complacent in the midfield as his team attempted to overturn their wretched domestic form, gifting the ball to Ivan Cavaliero as the Cottagers almost scored as a result. Per Fotmob, Milner lost seven duels, misplaced three long balls and committed three fouls.

Manager Jurgen Klopp surprised many when Georginio Wijnaldum was brought off on the hour mark for Sadio Mane, with The Athletic’s James Pearce calling for Fabinho to take the veteran’s place in the second half.

With this in mind, some Liverpool supporters slammed Milner for being “miles off the pace” and a few even suggested that his time at the club may have come to an unfortunate end.

Milner lambasted by Kop faithful

“Milner has to come off! He is done at this club.”

Credit: @Andy_Melville

“Probably the worst I’ve seen Milner play for us!”

Credit: @aaron_price88

“GET MILNER OFF THE FIELD NOW!!!”

Credit: @b_t_jones

“Mr reliable James Milner having a stinker too.”

Credit: @LFC_talk_YNWA

“Get Milner off, he’s miles off the pace and get Fabinho back on in midfield”

Credit: @p_cord23

“Milner is not very good anymore”

Credit: @TimGale031181

In other news. Liverpool blockbuster move in trouble as ‘unplayable’ star’s hefty demands emerge