All posts by z3u9t.icu

Aston Villa have the potential to build something special this summer, with a host of star names being linked with a move to Villa Park.

Unai Emery and Monchi have already added Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres to the squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, however with a reported budget of £150m, activity isn’t expected to stop there.

The Villans have been linked to Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix over the past month, with news earlier this week suggesting that the pursuit for the £195k-per-week attacker isn’t over.

A report from Spain – relayed by Sport Witness – named Villa alongside Manchester United and Newcastle as the Premier League representatives to ‘make contact’ with the 23-year-old, who is ‘seduced’ by the English top-tier.

The Midlands club have also been heavily linked to Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby, in whom they are reported to have opened the bidding on, with Fabrizio Romano claiming this week that the Villans ‘plan to bid again’.

Valued at £50m by his club, as per reports, it could be a lucrative summer for Emery and Monchi, and the potential to send out a statement to the league should they move closer to claiming the signatures of both talents.

Where could Joao Felix and Moussa Diaby play at Aston Villa?

The Spaniard could unearth a frightening duo in deploying Felix alongside Diaby, with the two players possessing dynamic ability in the final third.

Hailed as a “dream” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the Portuguese gem could be handed a second shot at life in the Premier League, after an underwhelming loan spell at Chelsea.

Playing in a disjointed Blues side came at an inconvenient time for the Atletico Madrid maestro, as he bids to say farewell to the Spanish giants this summer.

In 16 Premier League appearances for the west Londoners, Felix contributed to four goals after joining the club in January.

While the numbers are less exciting than what was anticipated, the 23-year-old has plenty of talent to show, having already recorded 52 goal contributions in just 131 games for his current side, as well as 31 goals and assists in just 43 games for Benfica.

The versatile forward could be a deadly outlet for Villa, and particularly for fellow target Diaby, who too has impressed in the continent since his rise through the ranks at Paris Saint-Germain.

If given license to roam and express his talents, the Frenchman could be the perfect partner for Felix in attack, as suggested by his 97 goal contributions over four seasons for Leverkusen.

Lauded a “demon” by members of the media, the 24-year-old is a menace in the final third, not just for his goal-scoring ability, but his play-making attributes too, averaging an impressive 1.93 key passes per 90 last term, via FBref.

Such strengths could be the key ingredient to Emery unleashing a dangerous concoction in the Midlands, with the Portuguese gem being a pivotal player to target in play.

As per FBref, the former Chelsea man ranked in the top 2% in the Premier League last season in terms of total shots per 90, averaging a mammoth 4.40 to highlight his threat when given a chance in front of goal.

Combining a target man and a keen creator with an eye for goal could be pivotal in Villa’s expedition up the ranks under Emery, with the signings showing the progression mapped out by the two Spaniards in charge of orchestrating the transfer window.

Aston Villa are plotting a swoop to bring Sevilla star Yassine Bounou to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Yassine Bounou?

Bounou or 'Bono' is a goalkeeper who currently plays his football at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, having permanently moved there back in 2020 following a successful loan spell from Girona, as per Transfermarkt, and despite not being Jose Luis Mendilibar’s official number one, he’s a regular feature of his first-team.

In La Liga last season, the 32-year-old started 26 out of the 38 games so was his largely manager’s first-choice between the sticks, but it’s not just his consistent and impressive performances for his club that have attracted interest, more so on the international stage.

Back at the 2022 World Cup, the Morrocan was one of the standout stars for his nation and he helped to guide them all the way to the semi-finals of the major tournament, most notably with his heroics in the decisive penalty shootout against Spain, where he saved two spot-kicks, and this form has grabbed the attention of Unai Emery in the Midlands.

Are Aston Villa signing Bounou?

According to Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb (via Sport Witness), Bounou “could end up” at Aston Villa this summer. Sevilla’s shot-stopper “has said no” to a “rich offer” from Saudi Arabia as there could be a “crossover” with his side’s former boss.

Emery himself would personally “like to sign” the goalkeeper as a potential successor for Emiliano Martinez, who won't be short of suitors should he leave, but how much it would cost to prise him away from his club or if he would be open to the switch yet remains to be seen.

Where would Bounou fit in under Emery?

Ever since Argentina were crowned World Cup winners last year, Martinez has been heavily linked with a departure to more high-profile clubs in the Premier League – including Manchester United and Chelsea – so Emery will need a replacement should he depart, and Bono could be the perfect successor.

Sevilla’s 6 foot 4 colossus, who pockets £49k-per-week, kept five clean sheets from 25 La Liga outings last season and made a total of 66 saves from 106 shots on target against, so he isn’t afraid to come out on the net and put his body on the line to clear the danger for his side.

He's also shone on the European stage, making “monster” saves, as dubbed by CBS reporter Ives Galarcep, on route to a Europa League winners medal, and that experience could be vital for Villa this season.

The Montreal native has an extremely strong range of passing having successfully completed 100% of his short-length dispatches and 97.7% of his medium-length attempts last season, so he clearly has an eye for picking out balls to his outfield players and attempting to start off moves from the back in the hope of creating chances.

Finally, Bono has not only previously been named the Goalkeeper of the Season but he will know exactly what it takes to compete and be successful at the required level having twice won the Europa League, so he could help to create the mentality needed to come out on top against more difficult opponents overseas.

Arnaut Danjuma is hoping for a move back to the Premier League this summer, with Crystal Palace among his potential suitors, according to Jack Rosser of The Sun.

The London club will need to find a way to replace the impact of Michael Olise after the winger suffered an injury blow that will see him miss the start of the Premier League season.

Crystal Palace transfer news – will they sign Arnaut Danjuma?

With Danjuma keen on a move back to the Premier League, a move to Crystal Palace could be on the cards this summer.

The Villarreal winger spent the second half of last season on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, but struggled to ever really gain an influential role in a struggling side, playing just 162 minutes in the league – the equivalent of just under two games.

As per Rosser, Villarreal want £25m for Danjuma this summer, but are open to another loan move in which could be positive news for Palace.

Would Arnaut Danjuma replicate Olise's quality?

Without Olise, Palace are undoubtedly a worse side. Last season, the Frenchman was involved in 13 goals for the London side, with 11 assists to his name.

Replacing that quality will be no easy task at the start of the season, but Palace will be left with no choice after his recent injury. And that's where Danjuma could come in.

Although he struggled to make the desired impact at Spurs, the 26-year-old has previously shone in England for Bournemouth, where he scored 15 times in the Championship, earning a move to Villarreal.

It was his debut season in Spain when Danjuma really burst into life, scoring 16 goals in all competitions, including six in the Champions League as the Yellow Submarine reached the semi-final stage.

So, the quality is certainly there, it's just about unlocking it. It could be said that around more unorthodox players such as Eberechi Eze, the winger could rediscover his best form.

When compared, both Danjuma and Olise are glaringly similar at their best when it comes to output. The reported Palace target completed more take-ons per 90 at his best for Villarreal in his debut season, whilst also enjoying a better take-on success percentage.

So, the ability to take players out of games in one-on-one situations that Roy Hodgson would lose without Olise can be gained by bringing Danjuma to Selhurst Park this summer.

In the Netherlands winger, you wouldn't be getting a player who assists as often as his French counterpart, but you would be getting a more natural goalscorer. And, given that Palace's top scorer last season was Eze with ten goals, another player who knows where the back of the net is wouldn't go amiss.

Speaking on Danjuma's quality, Kevin Phillips told Football Insider back in 2022: "On his day he is a nightmare for defenders. He can create and score goals. He can hurt any defence with his pace and directness.

“I know it was in the Championship but he’s proved he can perform in this country. I think he’d be available for reasonable money as well. I don’t think he’d cost the world.

“He is a player who can hurt any defence on his day. He’s shown that countless times. Players like him are a rarity in this day and age.”

With that said, it is clear that, if Palace do sign Danjuma, they'd be getting themselves a solution to their enforced Olise absence.

Manchester United are set for talks with the entourage of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri.

Which striker will Man United sign?

Erik ten Hag is determined to bolster his squad with a world-class striker this summer, and Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane has been linked with a switch to Old Trafford, with Man United recently urging the England captain to hand in a transfer request.

The United hierarchy are ready to walk away from the deal due to difficulty negotiating with chairman Daniel Levy, so they could soon their attentions elsewhere, with journalist Dean Jones detailing that two forwards could be signed this summer.

Rasmus Hojlund is one potential option for the Red Devils, with Ten Hag still keen on the Atalanta forward, while they have also registered their interest in fellow Serie A striker Lautaro Martinez, who is expected to leave Inter Milan this summer.

Another striker who has been impressing in Italy is Osimhen, and Tavolieri has now taken to Twitter to claim Man United have a meeting planned with the entourage of the Napoli striker, however, they are not the only Premier League club interested.

Both Chelsea and Liverpool are also set to speak to the Nigerian, whose priority is to seal a move to the Premier League this summer.

How many goals has Victor Osimhen scored?

The 24-year-old found the back of the net 26 times in the Serie A last season, the highest number of any player, despite playing six fewer games than Martinez, who United are also interested in signing.

It was a fantastic season for the Nigeria international, who has been hailed as "world-class" by members of the media, meaning he will not come cheap, with some outlets reporting Napoli could demand as much as €180m (£154m) to sanction his departure.

Despite his fantastic 2022-23 campaign, that amount would be far too much for the Napoli star, so United's main aim should be to agree on a lower fee, after hopefully making progress on personal terms in the upcoming meeting.

With the Lagos-born forward contracted until 2025, his current employers are in a strong negotiating position, and it may be worthwhile moving on to other targets, if they are unwilling to budge on their asking price.

A move for Kane is not completely out of the question, and the 29-year-old would almost guarantee goals, having scored 30 Premier League goals in a Tottenham side that underperformed last season.

West Ham United appear to be leading the Premier League pack in the pursuit of Yunus Musah – and he could soon decide on his future, according to a report from AS, via Sport Witness.

Are West Ham United signing Yunus Musah?

The 20-year-old is already a Valencia regular despite his age and was initially thrown into the first-team fold at just 17-years-old. Despite being just a teenager at the time, he went on to play 32 times in La Liga that campaign and has gone from strength-to-strength ever since. In 2022/23, he managed a further 33 outings – meaning he has very nearly closed in on 100 league games for the club already.

He's also a regular for his country already too. He plies his trade for the USA and has 24 caps to his name so far, with the youngster already featuring heavily as part of their 'new-look' team in the middle of the field.

It's no surprise either when you consider how he compares to some of the other names in his position amongst the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe. With 3.07 progressive carries per 90 for example, he ranks within the top eight percent for that stat. It shows just how adept Musah is at being able to take the ball and drive up the field – the possibly outgoing Declan Rice ranks just below him in the top 15 per cent for that metric.

Now, according to a report from AS, via Sport Witness, the player could be about to get a chance in England and the Premier League. It states that West Ham are keen to do business for the player and that Valencia themselves are looking to sell him on to raise funds – which means that a deal to send him to the Hammers could happen.

No official bid appears to have been made yet but Musah himself is set to decide on where he will play next season very soon.

What is Musah's transfer value?

No official fee is mentioned in terms of what Valencia might want for Musah but CIES Football Observatory estimate this his value is around the 30 million Euros mark (or £25.7m). With the Spanish side desperately looking to raise money then, a fee of that amount or perhaps even less could well tempt them.

The signs are that he would most definitely be worth that fee too. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig called Musah the USA player with "the highest ceiling" in terms of his potential and added that he has an "elite engine" and that he is a "high-quality box-to-box midfielder".

It sounds as though he could tick plenty of boxes for the Hammers then and considering his talents, it could be worth the club forking out the money and brining him in this window.

Manchester United have earmarked Napoli defender Kim Min-jae as a top target this summer, but fear they could miss out on the South Korea international to Bayern Munich.

Reports of the Red Devils' interest in Kim have flooded in of late, with Erik ten Hag's outfit believed to have been leading the race over the past few weeks.

The player's €60m (£51m) release clause activates on July 1 and with United in the market for a new centre-back, the 26-year-old has been deemed the optimum choice to bridge the gap on the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal, who fought a fierce Premier League title battle this summer.

However, recent reports confirmed by Fabrizio Romano state that the Bavaria giants are getting closer to completing a deal, the German Bundesliga champions hijacking a move that seemed all but wrapped up for the Old Trafford side.

Romano does write that United are yet to present a fresh offer, and if they do look to reignite their pursuit, they could unearth their next Nemanja Vidic, at least, that's according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Speaking to Football FanCast, the journalist said: "United have always cried out for people to come in like Vidic, and if Kim [Min-jae] can be that character, then he'd be welcomed with open arms."

Could Kim Min-jae be the next Vidic?

Signing for Manchester United for £7m from Spartak Moscow in 2005, with the tough-tackling Serbian defender forging an incredible career on English shores, making 300 appearances, notably winning the Champions League and five Premier League titles – hailed as the most "consistent, influential player in the league" by teammate Gary Neville.

A truly fearless, unflinching centre-back, Vidic was the bedrock of Sir Alex Ferguson's success and epitomised the 'no-nonsense' tag, as he was described by the Guardian's David Pleat, often dealing with danger by meeting fire with fire.

The 36-cap Serbia star remains a coveted figure at the Theatre of Dreams and would undoubtedly steal the show if he, in his prime, was deployed into the current crop, and given that Kim has been heralded as an "iron barrel" by Napoli teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, he could adopt such a mantle.

The South Korean has been imperious for I Partenopei since arriving for just £16m last year, playing a central role in the club's Scudetto-winning campaign, making 35 Serie A appearances and earning an average Sofascore rating of 7.22, demonstrating his tenacity and 'no-nonsense' approach by making 1.6 tackles and 3.5 clearances per game, succeeding with 62% of his total duels.

Much like his now-retired peer Vidic, Kim could well be the "best centre-back in the world" – according to Luciano Spalletti, who recently left his managerial post in Naples – and would represent a return to defensive glory with a move to Old Trafford; an insurmountable wall to quell any threat opposition dare muster against Manchester United.

A move to Everton might be a "bit below the expectations" of free agent Moussa Dembele, believes transfer insider Dean Jones.

The ex-Lyon man would be available on a free transfer in the summer, but having been "linked to Man United in the not too distant past", a move to Sean Dyche's 17th-placed team might prove a hard sell.

What is the situation with Moussa Dembele and Everton?

After staving off relegation for the second year in a row thanks to a final-day victory against Bournemouth, the Toffees are reportedly looking to recruit 'at least two new strikers' in the summer, per the i.

Goal scoring has been a massive problem for the Merseyside outfit, with their 34 goals in the league only better than Wolverhampton Wanderers' paltry 31.

The 6 foot 'monster' as described by ex-Celtic legend John Hartson, would certainly help in that department, but a deal could prove difficult with several other Premier League clubs interested.

French outlet Foot Mercato reported earlier this year that Unai Emery's Aston Villa were considering a move for the dynamic forward.

It's also not the first time the Ex-Fulham man has been linked with a move to one of England's biggest clubs, with the Manchester Evening News reporting that the player's representatives were in talks with Manchester United just last year.

The good news is that any move would be unlikely to break the bank as the player was reportedly on just £52,000-a-week in France.

What has Dean Jones said about the potential transfer of Moussa Dembele to Everton?

Jones believes that attempting to sign a player with the quality that the Pontoise-born forward possesses is a good idea, but it might be unrealistic for the club in its current state.

Speaking to Football FanCast, the journalist said:

"I think it's worth a go for Everton to try and get a player like this. I would again just question whether they are a bit below the expectations he would have for a transfer at this moment in time.

"Moussa Dembele has got a good scoring rate, he's obviously been in England before and understands what it takes to be successful to a certain degree. So I think he'll have his own sights set on what he's capable of.

"Again, he's Man United linked, so I think that he would certainly have his eyes set on a club that's aiming for European football next season. I think that's probably the clearest way to put it."

Should Everton sign Moussa Dembele?

Everton can't have another season in which they survive relegation by the skin of their teeth, and for that reason securing the Frenchman would be fantastic business.

Former Celtic great Frank McAvennie seems to think so anyway, telling Football Insider: "I thought he was going to the top, I really thought he was that good.

"I think Everton fans will like him if he gets back to the form he had at Celtic. Going to Everton he will score goals."

Despite having a relatively poor season last year, he has still scored a very respectable 152 goals in 353 career appearances, per Transfermarkt.

Add to that the 47 assists he has notched up along the way, and that's a goal involvement every 1.77 games, something Everton desperately need.

WhoScored gave the ex-Celtic man an average rating of 7.21 across his 25 starts in Ligue 1 in the 2021/22 campaign.

Granted, he received an average rating of just 6.32 this year, but with only eight starts to his name, it hardly represents his true ability.

If Everton do have the opportunity to get this deal done and the player himself is eager to join, it seems like a no-brainer and could go a long way in preventing the all too familiar scenes of last-day survival the fans have become accustomed to.

An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their efforts to land a replacement for Alfredo Morelos in the summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Sam Lammers to Rangers?

According to Rangers Review, the Light Blues are closing in on a deal to sign Atalanta centre-forward Sam Lammers ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The report claims that the Gers are on the verge of bringing the Dutchman to Ibrox for a fee in the region of £3m, whilst they are also attempting to sign Cyriel Dessers from Cremonese.

It states that the ex-PSV number nine is keen on a move to Scotland, and he now appears set to become Michael Beale's fourth signing of the summer, following on from Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling, and Jack Butland.

What is Sam Lammers' style of play?

The 26-year-old is a forward who has the potential to be a dream Morelos heir having shown promise as a goalscorer who can also provide his teammates with chances to score.

Lammers has only registered five league goals combined in the last three seasons – playing in the Serie A and the Bundesliga – but his previous form in his home country suggests that there is still an excellent player to be unearthed as he enters his prime years.

The striker spent the 2018/19 campaign on loan at Heerenveen and enjoyed an exceptional campaign in the Eredivisie. He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.24 across 31 games and contributed with 16 goals and created 12 'big chances' for his teammates, to go along with 1.2 key passes per match.

At PSV, he caught the eye in the youth set-up with a stunning 46 goals and 21 assists in 101 matches for their U19 and U21 teams combined.

These statistics show that if Beale can get him back to his best, the marksman has the quality to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis from a centre-forward position, which is something that Morelos was able to do during his time at Ibrox.

The Colombian racked up 124 goals and 58 assists in 269 appearances for the Light Blues in all competitions. In 2021/22, the bullish attacker averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.32 across 26 Scottish Premiership outings as he plundered 11 goals and created nine 'big chances' for his teammates.

Morelos was able to regularly contribute at the top end of the box with finishes of his own and passes to set up others, which made him a double-edged threat in the final third.

Lammers, who was once described as "perfectly two-footed" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, certainly has the potential to be an excellent replacement for the now-free agent due to his goalscoring and creative talents as a centre-forward, which could make this £3m deal a possible coup for Beale.

Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani is yet to hear back from Manchester United following his latest takeover bid, according to The Guardian’s Jamie Jackson.

What’s the latest on a Man United takeover?

An Old Trafford takeover saga has dragged on over recent months, with Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe seemingly the frontrunners to take control from the Glazers.

Ratcliffe was thought to be closing in on purchasing United earlier this month in a deal that would have kept the Glazers on as minority stakeholders. However, Jassim went on to launch an 11th-hour bid in a final take-it-or-leave-it offer.

His latest offer, submitted two weeks ago, was a significant increase over the initial proposal and was once again for 100% of Manchester United and would clear all the debt at Old Trafford. However, since then, it has gone quiet, and it seems as if the Qatari group are none the wiser as well.

Jackson took to Twitter in the last 48 hours to share what he’s heard on Jassim and United. He said that the prospective new owner is yet to hear back from those at Old Trafford.

“As I understand it, Sheikh Jassim is still waiting to hear back from Glazers regarding his last bid for Man Utd…”

Time is ticking…

The Red Devils’ season comes to a close on Saturday in an FA Cup final showdown with rivals Manchester City at Wembley. After that, you’d expect that Erik ten Hag and co will be focusing on the summer transfer window, looking at various incomings and outgoings.

There were previous reports that those at Old Trafford were concerned the ongoing takeover saga could derail the club’s transfer plans, so hopefully, there will be further developments over a deal involving Ratcliffe or Jassim.

Despite the process not being resolved, United are already working on possible additions, with personal terms thought to be agreed with Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount. Meanwhile, a new forward is also on the agenda with discussions held for Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund and Frankfurt's Randal Kolo Muani.

Should Jassim win the race to take control in Manchester, he appears to have big transfer plans, with PSG star Neymar thought to be a player of interest to the Qatar group. It could well be a busy few months in regards to a takeover and transfers, and it will be interesting to see what the Glazers finally decide to do and when Jassim will be made aware if his bid is successful.

Glasgow Rangers finished their Scottish Premiership campaign with a 3-0 victory against St Mirren, with Michael Beale’s side ending the season positively.

The Ibrox crowd said their farewells to the likes of Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent, Allan McGregor, Filip Helander and Scott Arfield during their midweek draw against Hearts and the manager rotated the first team for this afternoon's tie, bringing back Robby McCrorie into the starting XI.

Rangers were bright in the opening exchanges, with Ianis Hagi dictating play by operating as a false nine, and it’s evident that the club have missed his creativity at times this season, especially during their dismal Champions League showings.

It took half an hour for the first goal, when Fashion Sakala cut inside from the left-hand side to slot a calm finish into the net to make it 1-0. He doubled the lead with his second just after halftime and the game eventually finished 3-0 to the visitors.

Sakala was clinical during his spell on the pitch, scoring twice while succeeding with two of his four dribble attempts, winning 50% of his total duels and ending his game with a 100% pass success rate, and he could still have a future at the Ibrox side next term on this form.

It was an impressive showing, yet it was Ridvan Yilmaz who took his opportunity vs St Mirren today.

How did Ridvan Yilmaz perform for Rangers today against St Mirren?

The Turkish defender hasn’t enjoyed the best of seasons, missing 29 games through injury, yet he managed to take his opportunity well today, with sections of the media praising him.

The Rangers Review journalist Joshua Barrie lauded the youngster, writing on Twitter: “Think Ridvan’s taken his chance well these past few games after a tricky season. Really impressive pass through the gap for Sakala to break the deadlock.”

Yilmaz received a rating of 7.6/10 for his performance against the Paisley outfit, showcasing his attacking abilities which proves he could well be an ideal heir to Borna Barisic.

The 22-year-old registered two assists for both of Sakala’s goals, while he also created one big chance, played two key passes, attempted one dribble and delivered two crosses, indicating that he was regularly bombing up and down the left flank with purpose.

He also managed 56 touches throughout and his passing was virtually spot on, achieving a 92% pass success rate while succeeding with all three of his long balls. And although he clearly didn’t have much to do defensively, Yilmaz still won one duel, made a clearance and wasn’t dribbled past once during his time on the pitch.

Next season will be massive for the youngster, and he has certainly given Beale food for thought over the previous few weeks, that’s for sure.