All posts by z3u9t.icu

Flocking to Twitter, many Fulham fans have erupted over their side’s six-word message involving Jean Michael Seri.

Marco Silva’s men, looking to bounce straight back to the English top flight after being relegated last season, have certainly made a brilliant start – currently sitting third and well in contention for an automatic spot.

The Cottagers have many players to thank for their start to the Championship campaign but one of the main men is arguably Seri.

Starting 10/12 second tier games under Silva, the 30-year-old has been a composed and assured figure in the middle of the park – averaging the highest pass accuracy (89.1%) out of any Fulham player who’s played more than 90 minutes (WhoScored).

Now, in recognition of his fine form, Fulham have dropped the six-word message ‘Ladies and gentlemen…Jean Michaël Seri’ whilst sharing an exclusive interview with the midfield man.

Indeed, Seri shared his gratitude for the backing of Fulham fans with many erupting in response.

Some are even overjoyed that they ‘finally’ get to hear more from the player.

Find all of their reactions from Twitter down below.

Fulham fans erupt over Seri post…

“Best midfielder in the division. The Seri revival has been glorious”

Credit: @SeeJayFFC

“weeeeve got seriiii”

Credit: @DanFoard1

“Great to finally hear from him. Fans need to be able to understand who our players are as people, not just what they do on the pitch”

Credit: @AdamBrightPhoto

“Great to hear such positivity. We are now seeing why the club spent so much on him.”

Credit: @RogerBurbridge

“What a hero, glad he is enjoying his stay now even if it isn’t for a long time top man”

Credit: @Nathan_Footy

“I love this man more than words could possibly describe. The revival of his fulham career has been nothing short of glorious.”

Credit: @SumptuousSeri

“I am in love”

Credit: @AFreitas1308

“Top lad! inspirational! COYW”

Credit: @secravencottage

Gianluca Di Marzio has dropped an update on Tottenham Hotspur’s reported interest in a move for Lautaro Martinez.

What’s the talk?

In recent comments cited by FcInter1908 (via Sport Witness), the Sky Sports Italia journalist revealed that, following earlier reports suggesting that Antonio Conte has made the Inter Milan centre-forward one of his priority targets in the summer transfer window, there is a very good chance Fabio Paratici does make another move for the 24-year-old at the end of the current campaign.

Speaking about Spurs’ interest in the Argentina international, Di Marzio said: “Who will Tottenham go to if they qualify for the Champions League? Surely Antonio Conte wants another striker.

“We know that, even before he arrived in London, Fabio Paratici had tried to take Lautaro Martinez, but then Inter sold Lukaku and could not sell both.

“I expect a possible Tottenham offensive for him. Then it is true that he has renewed, but it is possible that Tottenham could present themselves again and we’ll see what kind of offer they might present.”

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Spurs supporters will love Di Marzio’s update

With backup and competition for Harry Kane having been something of an issue for Tottenham in recent years, with the club’s last permanent signing of a centre-forward being Fernando Llorente back in August 2017 – who subsequently left Spurs for Napoli just two years later – the suggestion that Paratici could pursue a deal for Martinez this summer is sure to be an update the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium faithful will love.

Indeed, the thought of the £63m-rated Argentine and Kane linking up in a front two in north London is an incredibly exciting one – not to mention being a duo that would somewhat replicate Conte’s devastating attacking two during Inter’s Scudetto-winning campaign under the 52-year-old.

Last season, in the Italian manager’s preferred 3-5-2 formation, Romelu Lukaku and Martinez scored 41 goals and registered 17 assists between them in the league, with Lukaku averaging an incredibly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.32 and Martinez averaging a 7.17 rating – ranking the duo as Conte’s first and third-best performers in Serie A respectively.

As such, it is clear for all to see that the prospect of Kane – who himself has scored 12 goals, provided six assists and averaged a SofaScore match rating of 7.29 in the Premier League this season – taking the place of Lukaku in this tandem will be a thought that terrifies defenders up and down the country.

And, with it being reported that Inter will be willing to listen to offers beginning at €70m (£59m) for the €125k-per-week (£105k-per-week) striker this summer, a deal for Martinez is one that Daniel Levy could very much afford to sanction.

AND in other news: Conte can finally axe “horrendous” liability as Spurs plot talks for £17m “revelation”

Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge would have liked to have seen Cristian Romero and Toby Alderweireld play together for Tottenham.

Alderweireld departed the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer after six years with Spurs.

The 32-year-old made 236 appearances during his time in north London, scoring nine goals and assisting a further five, before joining Qatari side Al-Duhail for a fee reported to be £13m this summer [The Guardian].

Cristian Romero joined Spurs from Atalanta this summer on a loan with the option to buy for £42.5m [Alasdair Gold]. The defender was named Best Defender in Serie A last season after making 42 appearances for Atalanta, scoring three goals and providing five assists, and he helped the club to a third-place finish Serie A.

But Bridge wanted to see Alderweireld and Romero play together in Spurs shirts, feeling the latter could have done with the former’s experience.

He told Football FanCast: “Romero, top-class centre-half, but he might need a bit of experience in the Premier League and if he’s got Toby with him, that’s what I wanted to see but I suppose it was a pretty good fee and good wage for Toby.”

Spurs got their Premier League campaign off to a brilliant start and kept a clean sheet, beating Manchester City 1-0 last weekend.

Leicester City will be hoping to make it three wins from a possible four in the Premier League when they welcome Manchester City to the King Power Stadium this afternoon.

A victory over Norwich City saw the Foxes bounce back from a crushing 4-1 defeat at the hands of West Ham United and give them confidence coming into this one.

Brendan Rodgers’ charges have received some huge selection boosts following the international break, with Jannik Vestergaard, Jonny Evans, Ricardo Pereira and Ryan Bertrand all making significant progress in their recoveries from injury and illness.

“Ryan Bertrand will be back and available. Jonny Evans and Jannik Vestergaard are progressing very well. We’ve had a good international break with players increasing their fitness levels,” Rodgers revealed in his press conference on Thursday.

“Hopefully, all those players should be fit and available. (Ricardo) trained today. He was out on the pitches yesterday and came through a session today and looked very good.”

On Evans and Vestergaard, the manager: “They’re not going to be 100 per cent. We only have three substitutes so there’s a strategy going into the game, so we have to be as sure as we possibly can in terms of how long the players can last. We’ll see where we’re at before we finalise the team.

With that in mind, here’s how Football FanCast expects Leicester to line up at the King Power Stadium, with four changes from the side which started against Norwich last time out…

In goal, the virtually ever-present Kasper Schmeichel will keep his place between the sticks after making a solid start to the new season, and he could be called upon on several occasions when the current champions visit.

Ahead of the Denmark international, there is expected to be a rather unfamiliar-looking backline. Bertrand should replace 20-year-old Luke Thomas at left-back, while a string of errors for club and country could result in Vestergaard coming in for the £40.5m-rated Caglar Soyuncu.

Daniel Amartey and Timothy Castagne are likely to complete the defensive unit, with Rodgers set to bring Evans and Pereira back into the starting XI over the coming weeks as the latter gives way to the Belgian on this occasion.

The engine room will be made up of the usually dependable duo of Wilfried Ndidi and Youri Tielemans, who will provide a solid base for the more attack-minded James Maddison.

Completing the lineup will be Harvey Barnes, Jamie Vardy and Ademola Lookman. The RB Leipzig loanee should replace Marc Albrighton on the right wing, providing more pace on the counterattack for the Midlands outfit.

In other news… Rodgers could beat Man City again by unleashing Leicester’s “top talent” 

Paddy Kenny thinks Everton have a chance of pulling off ‘an unbelievable deal’ for Real Madrid’s Isco. 

The former Sheffield United and Leeds United goalkeeper was speaking to Football Insider.

The lowdown

According to a report from Mundo Deportivo last week, Isco is facing an ‘untenable situation’ at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Real Madrid are keen to sell him in January in order to prevent him walking away for nothing when he reaches the end of his contract come June.

And so it’s down to the player to decide whether he’ll leave mid-season, with Everton one of his ‘more likely’ destinations.

Isco was limited to just eight La Liga starts last season in Zinedine Zidane’s final season at the helm, and new boss Carlo Ancelotti has only picked him for two of the first eight top-flight fixtures (via WhoScored).

The 29-year-old, who’s valued at £16.2million by Transfermarkt, has made 342 appearances for Los Blancos, scored 52 goals and provided 56 assists.

The latest

Kenny was effusive in his praise of Isco despite his struggles for gametime in the Spanish capital.

He thinks the player’s previous experience of working with Rafael Benitez could give Everton an ‘edge’ if there proves to be a battle for his signature.

“I think if this one comes off, it would be an unbelievable deal,” he said.

“You don’t play all those games for Real Madrid over the last ten years without being an absolute superstar.

“He is a talented player, someone I’ve always looked up to as a fantastic midfielder. What a player.

“If there is an opportunity to sign him, he’s someone the fans would like to see play for them.

“Benitez managed him when he was at Real Madrid too, which could give them a bit of an edge.”

The verdict

The parallels with the James Rodriguez are hard to ignore.

James was also 29 when he swapped Madrid for Merseyside, having fallen down the pecking order.

The Colombian did show his quality on the pitch, but his wages soon become a real problem for Everton.

Isco’s £225,000 pay packet should force the Toffees to think twice, especially when they compare his extensive injury history to that of Rodriguez.

In other news, Greg O’Keeffe offers his insight on reported Donny van de Beek interest.

Leeds United have made ‘no progression’ in their efforts to sign Noa Lang, with a financial issue being the hold-up on any potential deal, a source close to the player revealed to LUFC Fanzone.

The lowdown

Lang has only been with Club Brugge permanently since July 2021, after the Belgian club opted to sign him for good following an impressive loan stay.

He has made 41 appearances in total for Club Brugge, chipping in with 18 goals and 13 assists.

Leeds United have held an interest in signing the young forward, with The Telegraph reporting that Marcelo Bielsa’s side are in the mix to land his signature.

The latest

Leeds’ potential move for Lang has made no progression though, with a ‘financial issue’ to blame according to LUFC Fanzone.

“There has been no progression in the last month regarding Leeds.

“From what I understand, there is a financial issue from inside Leeds which is why they are moving slow in the market.”

The verdict

It’ll be interesting to see whether they can reach an agreement to land his signature this summer, and you would imagine that it could be a sizeable fee involved in any potential deal.

He’s only just signed permanently for Club Brugge, and is contracted with the Belgian side until the summer of 2024, which means they’re likely to command a high price to move him on.

Lang was lauded as a ‘phenomenon’ by Belgian journalist Peter Vandenbempt back in April 2021, and it appears as though his strong performances haven’t gone unnoticed – perhaps Victor Orta and co may have to change tact and offer a player-plus-cash deal to have any hope with this one.

Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard posted a picture in West Ham colours on his Instagram story recently.

A number of Red Devils fans have hit out at the 29-year-old as a result, with the player wanted back at the London Stadium in a possible January switch.

Lingard is yet to feature under Ralf Rangnick in the Premier League and has made just two starts all season. The Englishman is out of contract at the end of the campaign, meaning that he could technically pen pre-contract terms now with a club outside of England ahead of a free transfer in the summer.

However, the Hammers are still interested in Lingard, who relayed a Premier League post on his Instagram story alongside Declan Rice, Pablo Fornals and Tomas Soucek from when he was on loan with the east London club last season.

United fans react

The United Stand shared the screenshot of Lingard’s social media post on Twitter. Here is what these United supporters had to say in reply, with many not pleased and one describing it as ‘disrespectful’ to his current club.

Indeed, it is not the first time that the 29-year-old has enraged some of the Old Trafford fan base over his social media antics, and given his inactivity this season, some supporters feel that it is time for him to be moved on.

“Genuinely can’t believe we didn’t sell Lingard in the summer. Sell him in January. Try and get something for him.”

Credit: @Daniaal_7

“He’s becoming disrespectful”

Credit: @YourstrulyKemar

“get this man out of the club”

Credit: @lwsn___

“He should be banned from kicking ball at my club for life”

Credit: @Dope_Sbu

“Let him go, we don’t need him, we don’t play him, get him off the books”

Credit: @Acro_ManUtd

“I really hope he leave this club”

Credit: @AidanUTD7

In other news: ‘Pathetic’ – Many Man Utd fans fume over ’embarrassing’ behind-the-scenes revelation

Leeds United will ‘definitely’ target a new striker this summer to provide cover and competition for Patrick Bamford.

That’s according to transfer insider Dean Jones, who was speaking to This Is Futbol.

The lowdown

Bamford enjoyed a fine 2020/21 season upon Leeds’ return to the Premier League, scoring 17 goals, providing eight assists and – crucially – featuring in every single game (via Transfermarkt). However, this season he has been ravaged by injury, limiting him to just seven starts out of a possible 32 in the top flight.

An ankle injury kept Bamford out from the end of September until the start of December, and he then suffered a hamstring problem upon his return against Brentford. Having returned to the fold in March, he was forced off in the win away to Wolves and has missed the team’s subsequent two games (via Transfermarkt).

Amidst these woes, Leeds have often turned to summer signing Dan James – who is predominantly a winger – to lead the line, and the Welshman has only scored four goals.

The latest

Jones has said that Leeds believe they need a more effective centre-forward ‘backup’ for Bamford and have made it a priority ahead of the summer transfer window.

He told This Is Futbol: “Leeds are definitely going to look to sign a new striker. I think irrelevant of whether Bamford is fit or not. We’ve seen that you have to have backup for him.”

The verdict

Bamford’s availability was excellent in 2020/21 but his injury nightmare this season has exposed a hole in Leeds’ squad, so who could they potentially sign to strengthen their centre-forward ranks?

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, the Whites have entered the race to sign Ben Brereton Diaz from Blackburn Rovers. The £9m-rated Chile international has been prolific for the Lancashire club in the Championship, bagging 20 goals in 34 appearances so far this season.

In addition to his goalscoring, the 22-year-old offers an ‘extraordinary’ work rate, according to his manager Tony Mowbray, so he could potentially be a favourite at Elland Road if he were to join Leeds and carry across that industrious trait.

In other news, Phil Hay has shared an update on this injured Leeds midfielder

An update has emerged regarding interest from Newcastle United in RC Lens beast Seko Fofana.

What’s the talk?

According to Foot Mercato, via Get French Football News, the Magpies are showing an interest in the Ivorian as they consider their options ahead of the January transfer window.

The report claims AC Milan and Marseille are among the other clubs keen on the midfielder, whilst Lens will only cash in on him if they receive a huge offer.

Sissoko 2.0

Eddie Howe could land Moussa Sissoko 2.0 for Newcastle by securing a deal for Fofana, whilst solving a major issue for the club.

Isaac Hayden’s average WhoScored rating of 6.53 is the highest out of all of Newcastle’s midfielders in the Premier League this season, whilst Jonjoe Shelvey topped the list with 6.80 last term. This suggests that the Magpies are desperately lacking in quality options in the middle of the park, and Howe could solve that problem by signing Fofana as he has shown his class for Lens.

Foot Mercato claims that he is fourth in Ligue 1 for distance covered this season, on 143.5 kilometres; whilst it was revealed in 2015 that Sissoko was the fastest player in the Premier League for Newcastle, clocking in at 35.3 kilometres per hour as his top speed.

The 6 foot 1 Sissoko averaged an excellent WhoScored rating of 7.04 in his final season on Tyneside, playing 37 of their 38 league matches in 2015/16. Fofana, who stands at 6 foot tall, is a rangey midfielder in a similar style to the 32-year-old and has averaged a sublime rating of 7.22 for Lens in Ligue 1 this term.

Fofana previously admitted that Manchester City legend Yaya Toure inspired him, admitting that the Ivory Coast legend was one of his role models whilst at the Etihad Stadium.

The 26-year-old said: “He inspired me a lot. When we went on tour, we spoke about everything and nothing. I had some times that I will never forget. And on the pitch, he was a role model for me, with his long runs forward, his assists, his goals. He was able to do almost everything, he was complete.”

Fofana’s form for Lens this season shows that he has the quality to impress at the top level, averaging 3.9 key passes and dribbles per game, along with 1.7 tackles and interceptions. Much like Sissoko was for Newcastle, he has proven that he can make an impact as a box-to-box midfielder and perform consistently, which is why Howe must ensure that he can get a deal over the line for him in January.

AND in other news, Offer on the table: PIF working to land NUFC deal for beast which will leave fans buzzing…

Celtic’s majority shareholder Dermot Desmond has been described as a ‘benevolent dictator’ by financial football expert Kieran Maguire.

The Lowdown: Desmond oversees glorious period

The 71-year-old has a 35% stake in the Hoops, who he has supported throughout his life, having initially owned a chunk of Manchester United during the 2000s before selling his share to Malcolm Glazer.

Desmond has overseen a great period in Celtic’s history, with trophies coming thick and fast and another Scottish Premiership title looking likely to arrive next month.

At a time when billionaires own clubs and don’t necessarily care deeply about them, Demsond’s Hoops roots make it a different situation at Parkhead.

The Latest: Maguire praises ownership

Speaking to Football Insider, Maguire discussed the Irishman’s frugal ownership style, praising it overall:

“If you’re a fan first and an owner second, you’re going to do what you think’s best for the club’s best interests. I’ve always said that the best ownership model is one of a benevolent dictator, who will act in the best interest at heart.

“He’s a billionaire that happens to be a fan, rather than a billionaire who wants an executive toy.  It’s slightly different because he is a very prudent owner. Could Celtic have accelerated the gap between them and Rangers in recent years? Perhaps.

“But I think they have always taken the view that they have got the biggest stadium and some of the biggest commercial deals, and that is sufficient.”

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The Verdict: Positives outweigh negatives

Football club owners are almost never universally popular among supporters and that is no different with Desmond, with fans criticising him numerous times in the past.

That being said, the positives outweigh the negatives with him and he is ensuring Celtic are run in a sensible fashion, often spending within their means.

Desmond cares deeply about the Hoops, which immediately works in their favour, and when he eventually sells up, it could be a case of only appreciating him when he’s gone.

In other news, a report has made an exciting Celtic transfer claim. Read more here.