All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Graeme Jones is set for his first match in charge of Newcastle as interim manager against Crystal Palace in the Premier League today.

Steve Bruce was relieved of his duties earlier this week and Jones now faces the unenviable task of trying to pick up the Magpies’ first win of the league campaign at Selhurst Park.

Bruce’s denouement came in the form of a 3-2 defeat to Tottenham last week, with Newcastle 3-1 down at half-time before Jonjo Shelvey was sent off in the second half.

How many changes will Jones make to the side? Here is our predicted XI for today…

We are predicting that he will make four changes to the side from last week, with Miguel Almiron, Fabian Schar, Jeff Hendrick and Jamal Lewis all coming in.

In defence, Schar and Lewis could come into the XI for Ciaran Clark and Matt Ritchie. We published an article explaining why the Northern Ireland left-back should start, with the ex-Norwich man deserving of a chance to show that he can be an upgrade on Ritchie in the Premier League following the £39k-per-week dud’s disappointing showing against Spurs.

Clark has started six Premier League games and averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.62. He has won 64% of his duels and made four clearances per match. Meanwhile, Schar has achieved a score of 6.75 in two league starts, winning an exceptional 83% of his duels and making 4.5 clearances per game. This suggests that the Swiss defender could come in and be an upgrade alongside Jamaal Lascelles, which is why Jones could select him for this match.

In midfield, Hendrick could start ahead of Sean Longstaff. The Newcastle academy product had a nightmare against Spurs as he was hauled off after 60 minutes and was given a SofaScore rating of 6.4 as he lost half of his duels. The Irishman scored in his last appearance against Wolves, which suggests that he could come in and add a goal threat to the team.

Almiron watched on from the stands as Newcastle lost to Tottenham due to his late return from international duty, which means he could now be fresh and raring to go for this clash with Palace. The wide midfielder could come in for Joelinton, who we have urged Jones to axe, and play out on the right, with Allan Saint-Maximin switching out to the left-hand side.

We are predicting that the rest of the XI will stay the same, with Callum Wilson, Saint-Maximin, Lascelles, Javier Manquillo, Karl Darlow, Isaac Hayden and Joe Willock all retaining their places.

AND in other news,  Jones must ruthlessly axe £80k-p/w NUFC flop who’s “offering nothing”, he’s dreadful…

Tottenham Hotspur have suffered a huge injury setback over defender Matt Doherty this week…

What’s the latest?

Spurs manager Antonio Conte has revealed that the full-back will miss the remainder of the campaign due to his injury, despite the club hoping that he will be able to return without going under the knife.

The ex-Wolves man was forced off during the first half of the 4-0 win over Aston Villa last weekend and will now have to wait until 2022/23 to play in a competitive match again.

Charlie Eccleshare Tweeted: “Conte says that a doctor has told Doherty that he can recover without surgery, but #THFC are going to get a second opinion. His season is definitely over.”

The head coach also said: “This is really bad news for us. We know very well the improvement in our team and it is a pity because to lose a player like him for the rest of the season. We have to try and cope in the best possible way until the end of the season.”

Supporters will be infuriated

This confirmation from Conte that Doherty will play no further part this term will surely leave the fans furious as it comes as a major blow to the side.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-spurs-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-martinez-dybala-spence-conte-2” title= “Read the latest Spurs news!”]

The Ireland international averaged an impressive SofaScore rating of 7.06 in the Premier League across 15 outings this term. In those matches, he won 56% of his duels, made 2.1 tackles and interceptions per game and created three ‘big chances’, showing off his consistency and ability at both ends of the pitch.

He managed two goals and three assists in his six appearances leading up to the clash with Villa. This shows that he was getting into his full stride and making a huge impact for Conte’s team playing on the right and the left of the defence when needed.

Therefore, losing him is a major blow as they will now be without his attacking talent from wing-back for the final seven matches of the league season. This has come at a terrible moment for the club as they are in a tight battle to finish in the top four, currently sitting three points clear of Arsenal in fifth – who have a game in hand – and six points ahead of West Ham in fifth in the Premier League table.

Fans will be worried with the timing of the blow and will be praying that other players at the back are able to step up in his absence to ensure that the team can secure Champions League football for next season.

AND in other news, “Paratici is crazy…”: Insider delivers big Spurs transfer claim that’ll excite Conte…

According to reports by Gazzetta dello Sport (via SportWitness), Tottenham are looking at Dušan Vlahović alternatives, leading to the monitoring of Sassuolo’s Gianluca Scamacca.

The Lowdown: Spurs need goals

Ever since Fabio Paratici arrived in London, Spurs have been linked with a move for Fiorentina’s Vlahović. The 21-year-old striker is in fantastic form this season, having scored 15 goals in 17 Serie A appearances, making him the league’s top goalscorer. Fabrizio Romano has claimed that it will take a bid of £59.5m to lure the youngster away from the Italian side.

These links emerged after Manchester City offered £125m for Harry Kane in the summer. Spurs of course rejected this offer, but retrospectively this seems like a hasty decision. Kane has struggled this campaign, having scored just one goal in 13 Premier League appearances.

At 29-years-old, the Englishman is in the prime years of his career. If Tottenham did decide to sell the striker, they may never receive an offer anywhere near this previous sum, and perhaps that is why they are searching for cheaper alternatives to Vlahović.

The Latest: Spurs monitoring Scamacca

According to a report by Gazzetta dello Sport (via SportWitness), Tottenham remain extremely interested in the signing of Vlahović.

However, the newspaper claim that Sassuolo’s Scamacca is currently being monitored by a couple of major English teams, and is deemed ‘popular’ in the Premier League.

Tottenham are allegedly one of the teams interested in the player, especially if Kane parts ways with the Lilywhites in 2022.

The Verdict: Sound alternative?

Vlahović is also on Manchester City’s radar, as Pep Guardiola remains without a proper striker. If the Premier League winners decide to not go in for Kane in the summer, it is expected that they will pursue the Serbia international, and perhaps that will take the decision out of Paratici’s hands.

However, Scamacca could prove to be a good alternative. Despite scoring just five goals in 17 appearances this season, the youngster has shown enough potential for Davide Ballardini, one of his managers at Genoa, to liken the 22-year-old to a young Christian Vieri.

The 6 foot 5 Scamacca is described by Whoscored as strong in the air and someone who ‘likes to tackle’, so perhaps he could be the perfect man to spearhead Antonio Conte’s new look Tottenham, performing the sort of role that Romelu Lukaku did for the manager last season at Inter.

A number of Liverpool supporters are fuming after journalist Fabrizio Romano claimed there has been ‘no negotiation’ for Porto attacker Luis Diaz.

The Reds are preparing for life without Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane in January, with the pair on Africa Cup of Nations duty, along with Naby Keita.

It leaves Jurgen Klopp short of attacking options this month and there is of course the potential to sign someone to help fill the void.

[freshpress-quiz id=“375258″]

One player who has been linked with a move to Anfield is Diaz, who has impressed for Porto this season, scoring 12 goals in 15 Primeira Liga appearances.

Taking to Twitter on Saturday, however, Romano claimed that Liverpool have not started negotiations regarding a move for the Colombian, perhaps further suggesting no signings will be made in January.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-16/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Liverpool fans unhappy at Diaz latest

It is an update that hasn’t gone down well with these Reds fans on Twitter, who bemoaned the club’s lack of spending.

“Stand still FC”

Credit: @garylouth

“Confirmed we are not signing anyone this window”

Credit: @taylorblueslim

“Foolish club”

Credit: @Jezscy

“Gerrard time soon”

Credit: @footnut

“We are actually finished. We go again, another 30 years trophyless”

Credit: @notyrgoku

“Every transfer rumour about Liverpool is NO”

Credit: @dondarius471

In other news, some Liverpool fans love David Ornstein’s transfer claim. Read more here.

Glasgow Rangers dropped what could be two vital points in the race for the Scottish Premiership title at Saturday lunchtime ahead of the Old Firm derby.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team were pegged back deep into injury time by Matthew Wright, after twice taking the lead through debutant Amad Diallo and later Connor Goldson.

James Tavernier had equalised for the visitors after Jordan White and Regan Charles-Cook answered Diallo’s opener with two quick goals before half-time, in what was a really poor defensive display in particular from the Light Blues.

The Transfer Tavern have now used statistical experts SofaScore to analyse who the three worst performers (to have played at least 45 minutes) were for the Gers on the day, and they may now be looking over their shoulder regarding their place in the XI against Celtic…

Cedric Itten

Itten ranks third to last as he was given a 6.7 overall rating by SofaScore.

The Switzerland international was hauled off just before the hour mark for Kemar Roofe with the score still level, emphasising the lack of impact he made on the game.

He lost six of his seven duels, and failed with both of his shots on goal, while he also could not manage a single dribble, and lost the ball a total of 10 times.

Itten was the only Gers starter to have recorded fewer touches than his own goalkeeper Allan McGregor, and fans were particularly critical of his display above others in the team.

Calvin Bassey

Bassey had a poor match by his standards, making a silly mistake that led to the second goal being conceded, and justifiably was only given a 5.9 rating.

The central defender lost out on two of his duels, and also failed to block any shots or make any interceptions, while he was guilty of giving the ball away on seven separate occasions.

Allan McGregor

Unsurprising, McGregor was given the lowest rating (4.6) after his two bad errors which both led to goals.

The Scotsman was simply not himself, recording just a 76% pass accuracy, one of the lowest out of his teammates, while he also lost possession six times in total, and only managed to make one save.

In other news, find out what contract update has Gers gushing here!

[ad_pod ]

Football Fancast is embarking on a new series, in which we take a look at some of the hottest young prospects currently playing in the Championship…

This time around, we’ll be taking a look at Queens Park Rangers hotshot Eberechi Eze, whose performances in England’s second tier have been eye-catching to say the least.

The Greenwich-born attacker is reminiscent of a young Wilfried Zaha – his ability to beat a man and deliver a cross into the box is currently second to none in the Championship.

Having said that, one thing that the 20-year-old could perhaps be criticised for is his end product, similar to the way in which Zaha used to be by Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer.

Both are mercurial talents who are worth the admission fee alone at times, but Eze would be wise to track the Ivorian’s career progression and learn how he turned his flicks, tricks and skills into goals and assists.

Anyway, back to Eze. The R’s starlet has notched four goals this season, as well as recording three assists, proving why he was handed the No.10 shirt back in the summer and showing why he has been compared to former Loftus Road entertainer Adel Taarabt.

The youngster who was released by Millwall and told he was ‘too small’ by Arsenal has been a key man for Steve McClaren this season, so much so that Premier League clubs were swarming to Loftus Road like sharks to blood in September.

That being said, Zaha had hit eight goals and recorded nine assists for Palace at the same age as Eze, on his way to earning a £15m move to Manchester United and helping them to promotion via the play-offs.

This stat is not meant to besmirch the obviously talented England Under-20 international, but Eze must realise that football is a results industry in which goals and assists are of the upmost importance, and whilst dazzling skills attract the fans, ruthless efficiency brings the top clubs to your door.

After pursuing him over the course of the summer transfer window, Aston Villa must finally sign River Plate star Julian Alvarez amid a recent update.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent months had claimed that Fernando Hidalgo, the agent of the 21-year-old, is set to meet with Villa’s representatives over a move to Dean Smith’s side ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

Now, Argentinian publication Ole (via Sport Witness) have claimed that the Midlands club have been “studying” Alvarez’s profile for the past year, and are willing to negotiate a deal for the versatile attacker.

Forget Buendia

Despite signing another creative Argentine in the summer – Emi Buendia from Norwich City – Villa haven’t really seen the best out of him just yet, with Smith’s insistence in seeing him operate as a number ten failing to bring its rewards (he’s managed just one goal and no assists in eight Premier League games).

In Alvarez however, they can find someone who is considerably younger at 21, but has already been making waves in his native Argentina.

The River Plate youngster is someone who can play anywhere across the frontline, and after a highly impressive campaign in his native Argentina, he was named as part of his country’s Copa America squad this summer.

Like Buendia, he is very much a creative attacker bagging four goals and setting up another seven in just 20 appearances last season – including a couple of games where he plundered a hat-trick of assists against Godoy Cruz and Central Cordoba respectively.

This campaign has seen him take his game to another level, scoring 11 times and providing another six assists in just 15 games in the Argentina top-flight.

It’s no surprise then that Marcelo Gallardo, his manager at club level, has previously hailed the young Argentine as someone who “every coach would love to have.”

The £18m-rated star could come in and even usurp his international compatriot Buendia at Villa Park.

Meanwhile, Villa have now made contact with this man…

The departure of Celtic midfielder Ben Doak has all but been confirmed after the 16-year-old agreed a deal in principle with Liverpool.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Football Insider, who claim that sources close to the Reds have revealed that the teenager has now come to an agreement with the Premier League side ahead of his well-reported switch from Parkhead to Anfield.

The report goes on to state that Jurgen Klopp’s side will pay Celtic around £600k in compensation for the attack-minded midfielder, who made his first-team debut for the Bhoys against Dundee United earlier this year.

Bad news for Celtic

Considering how high the hopes for Doak were in Glasgow, the news that the Scotland U17 international looks as if his departure will be confirmed in the near future is undoubtedly bad news for Ange Postecoglou and his Celtic side.

Speaking about the youngster’s move south of the border, finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley recently explained to Football Insider that, due to FIFA regulations, the Bhoys are always at risk of losing their most promising talents to English sides.

Plumley said: “It’s largely because of FIFA regulations. England and Scotland are classed as different countries and they can settle on a compensation fee that is far lower than a transfer fee.

“Celtic do this in reverse as well, so you have to be mindful of it in this model. The player has a choice to stay at Celtic and develop into a £20m-plus player or move on and do the same at another club.

“Celtic have to be aware that big clubs will be looking at their players and are well placed to capitalise. For every [Kieran] Tierney you manage to keep and sell for a big fee, you might have a few of these along the way.”

Indeed, Doak very much looked to be heading down the same path Tierney was on back in 2015 – when the left-back made his Celtic debut as a 17-year-old against Dundee FC, with the defender bursting onto the scene before eventually sealing a £25m move to Arsenal four years later.

However, while Doak – who Bhoys Analytics dubbed a “generational talent” – did make his Celtic bow earlier this year, it now looks as if the midfielder will make his switch to the Premier League a great deal sooner than his predecessor as the Hoops’ next big thing.

As such, it is clear for all to see why the 16-year-old’s departure is bad news for the Premiership leaders, as not only will Celtic miss out on a potentially huge transfer fee further down the line, but also the services of an exceptionally talented young playmaker during his development.

AND in other news: Sold at £1.8m, now worth £25m: Celtic had a nightmare on “imposing” £48k-p/w machine

Crystal Palace have joined Brentford in the race to sign free agent Christian Eriksen.

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

Eriksen is currently without a club after leaving Inter Milan last month and has been offered a return to the Premier League with Brentford.

The Bees have tabled an initial six-month contract with the option of a further year for the 29-year-old, however, Palace are also circling.

90min suggest that the Eagles and Championship leaders Fulham have also made contact with the attacking midfielder, who has made 226 appearances in the Premier League, scoring 51 times and providing 67 assists.

Eriksen left Tottenham in 2020, but it seems as if a return to England is on the cards with multiple clubs keen on his services.

Palace fans react

@CPFCtransfersHQ shared the update regarding Palace’s interest in Eriksen on Twitter. This is what these Eagles supporters have had to say in reply, with many surprised at the links.

“Please @CPFC”

Credit: @joshstoneham03

“Maybe Eriksen is coming? Seems interesting”

Credit: @byson_matrix

“I’m going to pretend this is happening and have a fantastic Monday night”

Credit: @erictwigs

“Let’s get him!”

Credit: @SidViscous9

“Beautiful player, who I would LOVE to see in red n blue, BUT – can he really be allowed on a pitch after his last appearance? There’s a reason why his last contract was annulled…”

Credit: @Promo_man

“Erm”

Credit: @matthew_poole30

In other news: Crystal Palace now move for Celtic defender with transfer on the cards – journalist. 

An update has emerged on Newcastle’s transfer plans, regarding Tottenham central midfielder Harry Winks.

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Mail, the English dynamo is set to become a key target for the Magpies in the January transfer window.

The report claims that Eddie Howe wants players with Premier League experience and has identified Winks as someone who could come in and improve the squad.

Dream signing

Howe could land his dream midfield signing in Winks as the 25-year-old has the ability to control games and function effectively in a possession-based side.

Earlier this week, the ex-Bournemouth boss picked out Jonjo Shelvey as a player who could help him change the style of play at St. James’ Park due to his quality on the ball – suggesting he wants to move to a progressive, possessional play, side. He said:

“I think we’ve got some very good technical players. Just picking one, for example, in Jonjo Shelvey. I knew how good Jonjo was on the ball technically having played against him and seen him many times.

“But having worked with him, you realise he’s a great technician and he can play passes all over the pitch — long, short. He’s someone I’ve looked at in terms of our philosophy, how we want to play and he will become very important for us as we develop.”

In a similar vein, Winks has previously been lauded for his quality on the ball. Back in 2019, ex-Spurs and Leeds player Paul Robinson praised his ability to dominate matches. The 41-year-old said:

“For me, I think Harry Winks is one of the best of the bunch. He dominates the game, defensively and offensively he offers you both and his ball retention, the stats speak for themselves.

“A fit Harry Winks is an important selection for England.”

This shows how the £91k-per-week dynamo could be perfect for the way Howe wants to play, making him a dream signing for the Magpies. Winks has a career average pass completion of 90%, along with 2.0 tackles and interceptions per game, showing that he is an effective passer of the ball who could dictate the flow of games for Newcastle.

Therefore, PIF must ensure that they are able to thrash out a deal with Spurs in January as he could play an important role in Howe implementing an exciting brand of football on Tyneside. If he can get Winks back to his best and dominating matches in midfield then he could be a dream addition to the team.

AND in other news, Howe could find Newcastle’s next Cabaye with swoop for “intelligent” 40-goal beast…