All posts by n8rngtd.top

Reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has now shared a ‘crucial’ Wolves transfer update involving Atletico Madrid defender Felipe.

The Lowdown: Wolves making moves…

Old Gold boss Julen Lopetegui and the Wolves hierarchy have been busy behind-the-scenes in this January transfer window having already completed deals for Mario Lemina, Pablo Sarabia and Matheus Cunha.

According to recent reports, the Molineux side could also be close to the signing of West Ham defender Craig Dawson with both clubs apparently agreeing a fee for the Englishman.

Wolves are not only adding firepower, but also shoring up defensively, as Lopetegui attempts to steer the Midlands outfit away from Premier League relegation.

However, despite the links surrounding Dawson, it is believed that Wolves could also still add fellow defender Felipe to their ranks before deadline day.

The Latest: Romano shares ‘crucial’ Felipe update…

Taking to Twitter, journalist Romano claims the next 24/48 hours will be ‘crucial’ as Wolves attempt to close an agreement for the Brazilian.

They are apparently set to be in contact with Atletico again in that time in what could be a transfer-defining next two days.

He explained:

“Atlético Madrid and Wolves will be in contact again to close Felipe deal in the next 24/48 hours. It’s crucial moment for the negotiation.”

The Verdict: Good news…

The fact Wolves appear to be going for both Dawson and Felipe signals real intent from the Old Gold and a willingness to back Lopetegui.

In terms of quality, Felipe would be a real coup given his trophy-winning pedigree and potential experience he would bring to the Wolves dressing room.

The South American ace has two league titles across two clubs under his belt, not to mention a FIFA Club World Cup winner’s medal to boot.

Making 113 appearances for Atletico and 142 appearances for FC Porto across all competitions respectively in his career, he has also been capped twice by Brazil (Transfermarkt).

The 33-year-old would undoubtedly bring a mature head and one capable of inspiring others in Lopetegui’s ranks.

Felipe is out of contract at the end of 2022/2023, meaning Atletico may let the player join Wolves for a very reasonable fee.

There appears to be little roadblocks for this move as Wolves look to seal the £127,000-per-week player’s signing.

Greg O’Keeffe has slammed Farhad Moshiri’s managerial choices at Everton after the club were linked to Marcelo Bielsa.

The Lowdown: Bielsa the number-one target

It was reported pretty soon after Frank Lampard was sacked as Everton manager that the club were keen to appoint Bielsa as the Englishman’s successor, although could now be under threat.

Reports started to emerge about Bielsa having concerns over the squad and if they would be good enough and physically up to the standard his tactics required, something O’Keeffe hinted at last night.

Bielsa famously brought about very intense and gruelling training and pre-season sessions during his time at Leeds United when he was very big on ‘murderball’ – something that some Everton players may struggle if the injury records of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Yerry Mina and Seamus Coleman are anything to go by.

The Latest: Another Moshiri mistake waiting to happen

Perhaps in light of this, having also expressed doubts over Bielsa’s character, O’Keeffe stated his belief on the All Together Now podcast that people at Everton and the Argentine may not be able to thrive together, but felt it was exactly the kind of wrong fit Moshiri would bring to the club.

He said: “I have to say I’m not convinced by the idea. I think it sounds like the sort of thing that Farhad Moshiri playing Football Manager would try – who’s available, who’s got a big reputation and is a name – so he might swing his neck towards Bielsa.

“I have got a lot of respect for what Bielsa achieved in getting Leeds out of the Championship and then making them a competitive unit in the season before last. Obviously, a great manager elsewhere, but I just don’t think he’s a fit for Everton – certainly not at the moment.

“If he comes in, the chances of him being able to come in and bring any of his own players in time with the window ticking down – Everton are struggling to do any business in it, anyway – would be slim.

“If you look at the current squad, it’s not a fit for him. How are any of these players going to pick up the sort of intense fitness, the man-marking and the very, very onerously technical side of the way he wants to play football? They struggled to play a 4-3-3 under Lampard and low-block sometimes as well in different ways. I just don’t think it works.”

The Verdict: Moshiri must make a sensible appointment

Given the high turnover of managers at Goodison Park under Moshiri, we can totally understand O’Keeffe’s scepticism ahead of his latest appointment – particularly as Everton’s top-flight status is on the line and looking even more precarious than it did a year ago before Frank Lampard was brought in.

There has rarely been stability in the dugout since Moshiri became majority shareholder at Everton in February 2016. Then-manager Roberto Martinez was sacked just months later, bringing an end to a three-season reign.

However, no one since has lasted as much as half that length of time, with Marco Silva and Carlo Ancelotti each scraping to around 17 months in charge.

And with managers ranging from those with European-winning pedigree in Ancelotti and the relative inexperience of ex-Chelsea and Derby County boss Lampard, there appears to be a lack of identity at the club, leading to a mismatch of players being brought in at the expense of some €700m (£618m) and subsequent Financial Fair Play constraints.

The one constant in that time has been Moshiri, and you can see how replacing Lampard with Bielsa would have those connected to the club, such as O’Keeffe, worried about what the consequences of such a decision could be.

Newcastle United are ready to make an offer for Lille defender Tiago Djalo, according to reports from France

The Lowdown: Newcastle’s transfer business

The Tyneside club have been busy in the latter weeks of the January transfer window, recently agreeing a £45m deal to sign Everton Anthony Gordon, while they are still eyeing a potential move for West Ham United defender Harrison Ashby.

Eddie Howe has been looking to strengthen his backline throughout the month, with the Newcastle manager also said to be keen on right-back Ivan Fresneda, and a new target in that area of the pitch has now emerged for the Magpies.

The Latest: Djalo in Newcastle’s sights

According to a report from French outlet Foot Mercato (via Sport Witness), Newcastle have set their sights on Djalo and are ready to make an offer in excess of €20m (£17.5m) to take him away from Lille.

The Magpies will need to act fast if they are to sign the 22-year-old, but they seemingly have a decent chance, as the report adds that his departure ‘could be expected’ in the coming days.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/newcastle-news-7/” title=”Newcastle news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Get it done

Hailed as ‘dominant’ by football scout Jacek Kulig, who also likens him to Raphael Varane, the 6 foot 3 colossus is quite versatile. He has played all across the defensive line during his last 50 games, although he has predominantly featured at centre-back.

The Portuguese titan is a no-nonsense defender, averaging 2.02 tackles per 90 over the past year. He is also very comfortable in possession, as indicated by his ranking in the 84th percentile for dribbles completed, and in the 91st percentile for pass completion, compared to other centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues.

Newcastle’s defence has been very strong this season, conceding the fewest goals of any team in the Premier League – just 11 with more than half of their matches played – so Djalo may not break into the team immediately.

Nonetheless, he would still be a very nice option for Howe to have at his disposal, especially with the added workload of European fixtures next season looking increasingly likely to materialise.

Everton are reportedly interested in signing Sheffield United star Iliman Ndiaye before the transfer window shuts next week and his arrival at Goodison Park could allow Farhad Moshiri to move on from the Arnaut Danjuma disappointment.

The Dutch winger was expected to join on loan from Villarreal but changed his mind after the sacking of Frank Lampard, subsequently scoring on his debut for Tottenham Hotspur against Preston North End last weekend.

New manager Sean Dyche will undoubtedly need attacking additions before Tuesday’s deadline if he is going to keep the Toffees in the Premier League, especially after Anthony Gordon’s move to Newcastle United was confirmed.

Therefore, it is no surprise to see them linked with one of the Championship’s brightest young talents in Ndiaye, who is playing a huge role in Paul Heckingbottom’s side this season as they aim to return to the Premier League.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed the interest last week, suggesting that Everton are “tracking” the youngster.

The Senegal international, who is valued at around £15m, has made 28 appearances in the second tier, contributing ten goals and seven assists in that time, earning a superb 7.22 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Considering no player with more than five appearances in Everton’s squad has averaged above a 6.90 rating this season from WhoScored, while Alex Iwobi has the most goal contributions with six, it seems clear the quality that Ndiaye could add at Goodison Park.

Ndiaye is showing similar form in the Championship to Danjuma, who starred with Bournemouth before his move to Spain, contributing 17 goals and seven assists for the Cherries in the 2020/21 campaign.

However, his form in Spain this season had seen him manage just two goals for Villarreal, so Everton would certainly be landing the more in-form player if they can complete a deal for the “outstanding” – as dubbed by reporter Alan Biggs – Ndiaye this month.

Like the Dutchman, the second-tier star excels at dribbling and could feature anywhere in the final third for Everton, so could definitely fill the gap left by the failed signing of Danjuma in Dyche’s squad.

Therefore, Moshiri should definitely be looking to get a deal done for the Sheffield United star before Tuesday’s deadline.

Newcastle United welcome West Ham United to St James’ Park in the Premier League this evening, with a victory strengthening the Magpies’ new-found standing within Champions League contention under Eddie Howe’s management.

Currently third in the table with 39 points and just one solitary defeat across the first 20 matches of the top-flight campaign, Howe’s system could not be more fluid, and his well-oiled high-octane team have emerged as genuine contenders for Champions League qualification.

Victory over West Ham – who in contrast have plummeted from prominence under David Moyes this seasonm winning just five league matches and only one point above the relegation zone – would be another step towards a top-four finish, potentially stretching six points above Tottenham Hotspur in fifth, who face Manchester City on Sunday.

However, Newcastle have been beset with several injuries of late, with Bruno Guimaraes’ suspension after his red card against Southampton in midweek hardly helping matters. Nonetheless, Howe will maintain his belief that this high-flying outfit can overcome adversity and continue to ride towards a monumental finish this season.

Here’s the starting line-up that we expect from the Magpies, with two changes from Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup win over the Saints.

Predicted Newcastle starting XI – Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Willock, Longstaff, Joelinton; Gordon, Wilson, Saint-Maximin

Nick Pope will hold his untouchable place in goal, having kept clean sheets across his past six Premier League matches in succession.

The established back-four will likely also remain unchanged, with Howe seeking to maintain the cohesive resilience which has formed the bedrock of his team’s endeavours. Newcastle have the best defensive record in the top flight, shipping only 11 goals up to this point.

Guimaraes picked up a late red card in the midweek Carabao Cup win and will consequently miss the next three matches; in his stead, Joelinton could move into midfield alongside Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock.

Having signed from Everton for £45m earlier this week, the “frightening” Anthony Gordon – as dubbed by Paddy Kenny – might be in line to make his Newcastle debut, with Allan Saint-Maximin returning on the other flank.

That means the impressive Miguel Almiron could be relegated to the bench after failing to score across his past seven appearances, having netted seven goals in as many league matches during the autumn.

Up front, Alexander Isak was forced off against the Saints after experiencing dizziness, with the 23-year-old having been struck on the head by a fierce James Ward-Prowse free-kick. As such, Callum Wilson could look to add to his six goals this season in the centre-forward role.

The path of Emerson Royal has been a painstaking one for Tottenham supporters ever since his move from Barcelona.

It has been full of many spills but unfortunately not many thrills.

Having reportedly favoured Spurs over Arsenal, the Brazilian had already ticked one box as far as the Lilywhites faithful were concerned.

Sadly, that moment has unfortunately been one of the best of his rather dismal time in north London.

A bubbly and jovial character, the wing-back has been an effervescent threat on the right of Antonio Conte’s team.

Though, just why the Italian has continued to put so much faith in him is perplexing.

In Spurs colours, Emerson has been nothing short of a “liability” as talkSPORT pundit Jamie O’Hara once eluded to, but the club must see something in him.

After all, in January Fabio Paratici and Conte combined to keep him at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium despite a wave of departures, particularly in his position.

Djed Spence, a man afforded very little time due to Emerson’s presence was loaned out to Rennes in France on deadline day, but another of his competitors in Matt Doherty saw his contract terminated so that he could join Atletico Madrid.

Amid all of that excitement, Pedro Porro signed for Conte’s men. An exciting young Spaniard, he possesses an array of tools that may well frighten Emerson into his losing his place.

Porro has joined on loan initially with the view to potentially signing on a permanent basis for £39m in the summer.

It did look as though the Sporting Lisbon defender would be able to walk straight into the team such are the calamitous fortunes of the man ahead of him in the pecking order.

However, on a triumphant and historical day for Spurs, the 24-year-old sent a defiant message to his manager, one that indicated he wouldn’t be pushed aside by Porro easily.

The former Barca ace rocked up against Manchester City and in the eyes of many onlookers, turned in his classiest display yet since his £26m arrival.

That was the view of Football.London’s Rob Guest who took to social media in the aftermath of Spurs’ 1-0 win to claim that this was the right-back’s “best performance in a Tottenham shirt by some way.”

The Express’ Ryan Taylor went on to declare that it was a “defensive masterclass” in a rare tribute to a player who usually looks lost in the last third of the pitch.

On this occasion, he had kept £100m man Jack Grealish quiet, subsequently earning widespread praise, with Emerson’s outing being “cheered to the rafters” as per Tim Spiers come full time.

Having scored against Pep Guardiola’s men just a few weeks ago, it would appear that the Brazil international is in love with the sight of sky blue, having looked even more imperious this time around.

As per Sofascore, Tottenham’s number 12 was an absolute rock at the back, winning a whopping eight duels, two of which were successful tackles.

The most vital of interventions came in the second period as Grealish aimed to dart into the penalty area only to be thwarted.

Emerson made a further six clearances during the encounter and was fouled a mammoth five times, a marker of the havoc and annoyance he caused among the City players.

This was a rare day of triumph for the Spurs wing back with the idea of some true competition in Porro potentially igniting a spark in his career. If that is the case, then the carnage that played out in regards to Tottenham’s late January business may well serve as a Paratici masterclass.

Indeed, if Emerson continues in this light then it will be a real boon to Conte to be able to rely on a player clearly so important to his system.

On his day, he is an incredibly difficult player to stop but as Spurs fans will tell you, that is rather rare.

The task now for the São Paulo-born gem will be to find consistency. Alongside Porro, Spurs could well wield two dangerous options, options capable of firing them towards a place in the top four. Time will tell.

Everton have had few shining lights throughout this abysmal campaign, which culminated in Frank Lampard’s sacking late last month.

It has left Sean Dyche with the unenviable task of fixing a club in complete disarray, as they seemed destined to fall to the first relegation in their history.

To turn things around he must fundamentally change everything that his predecessors before him have done, except perhaps one thing.

How did Lampard get the best out of Iwobi?

One of Lampard’s few impressive feats was to transform the career of Alex Iwobi, which had been dwindling out following his £34m move back in 2019. His transfer was almost a microcosm for the whole club, as his aimless purchase mirrored a career that had stagnated. The Nigerian’s best position was unknown, and his untapped potential remained just that.

But, when the 44-year-old came in, he chose to move the £120k-per-week winger centrally, where he operated as part of a three-man midfield.

Instantly, he became a revelation.

His tireless work rate in the engine room was finally realised, and at the start of this season, he boasted six goal contributions before the World Cup began.

What has happened to Iwobi since?

Since then, however, he has struggled, and in Dyche’s first game in charge, he returned to the right wing.

Whilst his 4-4-2 system might not facilitate an attack-minded central midfielder like Iwobi, to truly reignite him to those levels he must find a way to fit him in centrally.

In the long-term, he could actually operate in the role undertaken by Abdoulaye Doucoure against Arsenal, partnering the striker as the first line of press.

Anything to return him to the area where he is most deadly.

Former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson was full of praise for him earlier on in the campaign, as he claimed: 

“He was brilliant at the weekend.

“He is looking like a top player. We are seeing more quality from him in a deeper role. He is just getting better and better. The system that Frank plays really suits him. Iwobi is a much better player than he was two years ago. He is improving game by game.”

This came just before Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison had suggested he “should be creating more” for the Toffees.

Whilst he had initially proved him wrong, he must now recapture that form to ensure it was not simply a purple patch. Iwobi’s revival could be integral to their survival bid, and Dyche must prioritise it.

Manchester United are monitoring Mason Mount’s contract situation at Chelsea ahead of a potential summer move for the midfielder.

What’s the latest on Mason Mount to Man United?

According to ESPN, the Red Devils – alongside Liverpool and Manchester City – are monitoring the Englishman’s contract situation ahead of the summer transfer window.

Mount’s contract expires at the end of next season, although there has been little progress in terms of an extension, with the midfielder seemingly unwilling to commit to one of the long-term deals which appears to be commonplace under Todd Boehly.

Erik ten Hag faces stiff competition and will need to act swiftly in order to persuade the 24-year-old that the project he is overseeing at Old Trafford is something worth being part of ahead of next season.

Would Mason Mount improve Manchester United?

This season, the £80k-per-week Chelsea maestro has been one of his team’s better performers, registering nine goal contributions (three goals and six assist) across all competitions to make him the club’s joint-highest contributor alongside Raheem Sterling, underlining just how important he is to Graham Potter.

Once heralded as a “manager’s dream” by former Blues star Joe Cole, the 24-year-old is also statistically similar to Man City sensation Kevin De Bruyne, which suggests that he could be an incredible prospective addition at Old Trafford.

According to FBref, the Belgian star is the second-most similar midfielder to Mount across Europe’s top leagues; and considering just how effective De Bruyne has been at City over the years – scoring 90 goals and registering 139 assists – it certainly isn’t a bad comparison to have.

Indeed, this season has seen the two players register similar returns when it comes to goals (four to three), shots on target per game (2.43 to 1.81), pass success rate (75.2% to 71.4%) and progressive carries (78 to 46).

Despite United having a midfield containing the likes of Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen, adding someone of Mount’s quality can only be an advantage judging by his similar metrics to De Bruyne.

His nine goal involvements this term rank him behind only the three aforementioned United players in the Red Devils’ midfield, which suggests that he could add an extra attacking spark at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag will have been well aware of just how good De Bruyne has been in the Premier League, and securing a statistically similar player in Mount would be a major boost for United, while also weakening a direct rival in the process.

Journalist Sam Blitz has blasted the Wolves quartet of Daniel Podence, Diego Costa, Raul Jimenez and Joao Gomes for their second-half displays.

The Lowdown: Wolves struggle in the final third again

It looked as though Wolves had turned a corner under Julen Lopetegui in terms of scoring goals – something they’d struggled with under Bruno Lage – having netted five in the previous two matches.

However, yesterday’s slog against Bournemouth certainly brought them back down to earth at Molineux as they managed just four shots on target in the entire game despite having 67% possession (FBRef).

That suggests Wolves were – once again – dominant in their build-up play but were let down by their more attack-minded players with that result seeing them get dragged right back into a relegation scrap.

The Latest: Lopeteguis’ changes fail to make an impact.

Blitz analysed the encounter post-match and between Podence, Costa, Jimenez and Gomes they have just one goal since January 14th so they were unlikely to make an impact and certainly didn’t.

He said: ‘You can also look at the substitutes that Lopetegui brought on this Saturday. Daniel Podence, Diego Costa, Raul Jimenez and Joao Gomes were all brought off the bench – but all of them looked below par and only one of them has scored since January 14.’

The Verdict: Attacking woes persist

Wolves struggling in the final third is nothing unusual as last season they finished in the bottom four for goals scored and this term they have found the back of the net just 17 times which puts them in the bottom two.

However, the fact that three Premier League proven players and a new signing in Gomes couldn’t make an impact against a Bournemouth side who hadn’t kept an away clean sheet all season should set alarm bells ringing.

It’s not just that these Wolves attack-minded players failed to make an impact in the final third and rescue at least a point for the hosts, but they also only managed to record 59 touches between them during their second-half appearances which also shows a lack of willingness to get on the ball and make something happen.

West Ham United manager David Moyes needs a positive result against Nottingham Forest if he wants to save his job, so it’s time for the Scotsman to unleash Said Benrahma at the London Stadium.

The Times have suggested that a negative result for the Hammers on Saturday could be the final straw for the 59-year-old manager after last weekend’s defeat against Spurs saw them drop into the relegation places in the Premier League.

That game saw Moyes select an inexplicably defensive side, with five defenders and Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio arguably the only attacking selections from the start, with Benrahma unsurprisingly failing to turn the game around in his brief time on the pitch.

Will Said Benrahma start against Forest?

Throughout his time at West Ham, the former Manchester United and Everton boss has seemingly had a problem with starting Benrahma, with the Algerian featuring just 12 times from the start so far this campaign.

Despite this, the former Brentford man ranks third for shots, third for key passes and first for dribbles per game in West Ham’s squad this term, which emphasises the quality he can add in the final third for the Hammers.

Considering Moyes’ side are one of the lowest scorers in the division, it seems clear that they need their best attacking players on the pitch when they take on fellow strugglers – the Tricky Trees – this weekend, as they look to distance themselves from a relegation battle in the top flight.

There is no doubt that Benrahma, who earns around £55k-per-week, can be inconsistent but at his best. He makes West Ham a far more dangerous outfit, as was emphasised by BT Sport pundit Joe Cole after a dazzling display against Genk in the Europa League last season.

He said on BT Sport (via Read West Ham):

“Tonight at times he was unplayable. Fantastic, that’s how good he is, as soon as he saw the defender and squared him up, he knew he was in control of the situation. The finish was exquisite.”

Steve Cooper’s side have shipped 38 goals already this season and must be seen as defensively vulnerable by Moyes, so selecting another defensive lineup for such an important home game would arguably be worthy of the sack in itself, and he must give the fans something to shout about by selecting the exciting Benrahma on Saturday.