All posts by h716a5.icu

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According to Soccer Link, Manchester United are considering a swoop for Paris Saint-Germain centre-back Presnel Kimpembe in this summer’s transfer window.

The 23-year-old came through the youth system at PSG and has made 112 appearances for the French giants in all competitions.

Soccer Link have named United, Chelsea and Arsenal as potential suitors for the Frenchman ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.

However, it would be fair to say that the majority of United fans do not believe that their club will be signing Kimpembe this summer, almost branding the transfer report fake news.

It is generally accepted that the Red Devils will be moving for a new centre-back due to their defensive troubles last season.

However, it remains to be seen whether Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side can get a deal over the line before the end of the transfer window.

Watch a Man Utd fan’s epic Ed Woodward rant in the video below…

A selection of the Twitter reaction to Kimpembe, who helped United overcome PSG in the Champions League last season by giving away a late penalty in Paris, can be seen below:

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Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is looking forward to working with Joe Aribo and has highlighted the player’s key attributes that he thinks will make the midfielder a success at Ibrox, as reported by The Daily Record.

What’s the story?

Aribo has still not been officially unveiled as a Gers summer signing but is reported to have agreed to sign with the Ibrox outfit after leaving Charlton at the end of his contract.

With Gerrard now speaking so openly about what the player will bring to Rangers, it’s clear he is on his way to becoming a member of the squad in Glasgow.

The Gers boss appears massively excited about working with the 22-year-old, feeling that the player will bring a unique style of play to the middle of the park at Ibrox.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

As quoted by The Daily Record, he said:

“He’s mobile and dynamic. He can burst past a player, create and score goals.

“There’s still many areas of his game where he can develop but he’ll give us something we’ve not got in the midfield department.

“That’s the key. We have a good midfield, experience and young ones. But we don’t have this type of midfielder with the characteristics of Joe. I’m really looking forward to working with him.

“He’s a guy who can unlock defences. He’s left footed, which is something we don’t have in midfield. So he’ll give us more balance.

“Joe’s tall, athletic and quick. He’s a box-to-box player and is not afraid to open the door when he gets around the box.

“Last season he got into double figures for goals at Charlton so he’ll help in that department too.”

Turning draws into wins

Rangers finished nine points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership and outside of two derby defeats at Celtic Park, what was most damaging about their title bid was the amount of draws throughout the season.

The club racked up nine across the campaign, often failing to kill off matches in style despite playing against lesser opposition.

If what Gerrard says about Aribo is true, he could be exactly the kind of player they’ve been missing in the final third that can turn those draws against packed defences into victories.

It appears that Aribo is expected to have the vision that will allow him to play the killer ball for poachers like Alfredo Morelos and Jermain Defoe to feed off of.

As the Gers boss notes, he scored ten goals of his own for Charlton last season, also contributing five assists. That kind of contribution plugged into the Rangers team could prove to be vital in a long title race.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets… 

After his incredible 2018/19 season, Kalvin Phillips has attracted interest from several Premier League clubs. Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Norwich have all apparently been looking at the defensive midfielder.

With all of this speculation, Leeds have been thinking about other options in Phillips’ position, and one name that has continuously cropped up is Ander Iturraspe. The Whites were linked with the Spaniard back in March (AS (11/03), reported via Sport Witness), but his recent comments may indicate that a move could be on the horizon.

If Iturraspe joined the Whites they would be getting an experienced player from La Liga, but his recent performances may show that he isn’t as good as Phillips.

The above image takes stats from Iturraspe’s most recent full La Liga campaign as he made just three appearances last term, and compares them to Phillips’ incredible 2018/19 season.

As you can see in the infographic, the 5 ft 10 man outshines the Spaniard in multiple areas.

In terms of defensive output, the 23-year-old is clearly the better option that Iturraspe.

He completes almost twice as many tackles per game, and when playing as the holding midfielder in Bielsa’s 4-1-4-1 formation that is vital.

Of course, in his younger years, Iturraspe played under Bielsa, but even then his tackling numbers aren’t quite at the level of Phillips’ last season as he made just 2.1 and 1.9 tackles per game during his two seasons under the Argentine.

In terms of winning aerial battles, Phillips also trumps the 30-year-old, which is another crucial component in the English leagues.

It’s not only the defensive output where the current Leeds man is triumphant. He takes four times as many shots as the Bilbao midfielder per game, and plays almost 20 more passes per match.

Perhaps the only area of Phillips’ game that Leeds would want to change is his disciplinary record, but Iturraspe actually picks up more yellow cards per 90 mins than the Englishman, too.

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You’ve got to feel for Newcastle United fans, haven’t you? A huge club with unwavering loyalty from their fans, held to ransom by an owner who vows to sell the club yet doesn’t seem interested in matching the ambitions that the players, staff and fans all hold together.

The standard and norm have fallen so far for the Magpies, and after Rafa Benitez left the club struggling to agree on a new contract, a star player in Ayoze Perez has also moved on to new ventures as Leicester City forked out £30m for the foward.

Now let’s get this right. Few would have expected this fee to be paid when Ayoze’s time at the club would come to an end. But it has, and the valuation is far higher than any would have anticipated, and as if Benitez’s departure wasn’t painful enough, the agreed fee is only further testament to the amazing job he did on Tyneside.

Ayoze was a somewhat confused player during his Newcastle days. To the naked eye he had skill, plenty of speed though, quick feet, intelligence, a good passing range and certainly an eye-for-goal. However, despite these wonderful traits, his stats are fascinatingly underwhelming, and no one quite new what his best position was.

In 143 Premier League appearances for Newcastle, Ayoze managed just 33 goals, one every four games. That’s not terrible considering some of the players and managers he’s had to work with. However, when you factor that 12 of those came this season, you’re left with 21 goals in 106 appearances, which is distinctly average. Coupled with his grand total of just nine assists over his whole Premier League career, his statistics are nothing to gloat about.

Statistics don’t always tell the story though. I for one have always liked Ayoze Perez and call on Newcastle to start him regularly. Why? I don’t know really, I just like him. Sometimes the naked eye and what’s in front of you is all you need to make your mind up on a player. Stats can go only go so far, and I’d be very surprised if Brendan Rogers opted to bring Ayoze to the King Power based off his all-time Premier League stats.

However, in his final season at St. James’ Park, Benitez managed to get the best out of a previously inconsistent forward. His 12 goals in 37 league games is a strong tally, especially as he found form just when Newcastle needed it most, to round off another strong league campaign, scoring nine goals in the final 12 games of the season.

Quite frankly, without Benitez, Newcastle may never have got the money for Ayoze that they did. He improved the forward immensely in his time up north and discovered a work rate to go with it. Ayoze made 60 tackles in his final season at St James’ Park, 42 interceptions and 28 clearances, whereas in his first season he made just 38 tackes, 27 interceptions and 21 clearances. His second season yielded 56 tackles, 28 interceptions and 13 clearances, some way off the impressive numbers Benitez got from his forward.

Watch Newcastle United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

It will have been this aggression and work-rate that has appealed to Rogers as much as any of the attacking talent. The Leicester boss is renowned for setting his teams out to press the opposition and work relentless all over the pitch.

Benitez’s departure will always bring the question of ‘what could have been’ at Newcastle, especially if they are bought by a new owner. However, the more immediate questions will now have to be answered by the current crop of players, a group Benitez was able to get the best out of, elevating their performances to new levels time and time again.

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Per a report from the print edition of The Daily Mirror (July 2, page 49), Aston Villa are interested in Southampton defender Jack Stephens.

The report emerged just a day after the Villans brought one former Saints man to the club, landing left-back Matt Targett as they bolstered their defensive options.

Villa have already added Kortney Hause to their ranks on a permanent basis but it appears as though their fans are strongly against the idea of signing Stephens.

Taking to Twitter, a host of supporters revealed their displeasure. One individual called the 25-year-old hopeless whilst another said they’d rather they pursued Adam Webster or Gary Cahill.

The former is someone who has been engulfed in a transfer saga after Villa had a bid rejected. Bristol City initially wanted £30m for the player but it’s thought a compromise of £20m-£25m could be reached. Cahill, meanwhile, was linked back in May.

A further supporter reacted to the news surrounding Stephens by claiming it didn’t look as though the club knew what they were doing.

Watch Aston Villa Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

The Saints defender played 24 times in the Premier League last term, as well as making five outings in cup competitions.

Here’s the best of the reaction.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

When you’re down and out, sometimes all you need is a bit of a kick-start to help get things going again. Since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson from Old Trafford, Manchester United have been in a bit of a slumber.

The Red Devils are well and truly the sleeping giants of the Premier League and have had to sit and watch their two greatest rivals, Manchester City and Liverpool, win the two biggest titles on offer last season.

After an underwhelming end to the campaign, United’s struggles have seemingly continued into the transfer window. Aside from deals for Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side remain distant from completing another significant signing, whilst the futures of Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku remain uncertain.

Check out the below above to see football played as you’ve never seen it before… in a maze!

Indeed, the off-the-pitch problems with wanting the Glazer family out is certainly symbolic of the entire mood surrounding the club.

But, with reports suggesting United’s main target at centre-back, Harry Maguire, will cost a world-record fee for a defender, there may be a silver lining to it all. Whether the England international is adjudged to be worth the £80m to £90m being quoted for him is rather irrelevant; more important would be the statement behind United getting a gargantuan deal done for the 6 foot 4 defender.

The club are in dire need of a blockbuster move that can help propel them back into the debate surrounding the biggest and best clubs. Being able to parade a world-record fee for a defender could have the sort of galvanising effect that they desperately desire; it would reinforce the mentality of United being one of the elite sides, a fact that has arguably slipped the mind of most during their recent struggles.

Watch Manchester United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Aside from the potential transformational effect Maguire could have on the side on the pitch, United would feel like a powerhouse once more off it. It may be a cliche, but sometimes looking good on the outside is the key to feeling good on the inside.

Paying a world-record amount for a new signing would generate headlines and bring Solskjaer’s side back to the centre of attention once more. It would reinvigorate the fans, the players and the club as a whole. And boy do United need it.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

In quotes relaid by The Telegraph, Jadon Sancho has tipped Liverpool’s Rhian Brewster for a big season, heaping praise on the starlet.

What’s he said?

Sancho has become one of the finest young talents around, starring for Borussia Dortmund last season, scoring 12 goals and notching 14 assists.

However, Brewster, who is the same age as Sancho, also seems to be rising through the ranks well and after being included in the squad for the Champions League final, it’s clear Jurgen Klopp rates him.

The pair have both featured for England’s youth sides together, even winning the U17 World Cup whilst playing alongside each other.

Yet, after a strong start to pre-season, the Dortmund man has now tipped the Liverpool youngster to go onto bigger and better things. He told The Telegraph:

“I feel like he can do it. I have played with him. I know how good he is. He causes defenders nightmares.”

“He is a great player. I feel like he is at the right club, he is developing and he is still so young. He is developing and that is the main thing. Just give him the time and patience and you will see.”

Tough ask for Brewster

There is no doubting the talent the 19-year-old has, especially after winning the U17 World Cup Golden Boot.

The teenager endured a tough previous campaign and has only just bounced back from an injury that pushed back his development.

But Brewster has got off to a flyer in pre-season, scoring a penalty against Sancho’s Dortmund last Friday which signalled his fourth goal in three matches.

Despite that, it could still be an uphill battle for the Reds academy product.

Check out James Milner’s, Olivier Grioud’s and Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s hilarious attempts at the bottle cap challenge in the video below…

The fact of the matter is that it feels incredibly unlikely that he’ll be able to break up the scintillating attacking triumvirate of Roberto Firmino, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane.

After all, this will be a Liverpool side unlikely to take any prisoners in 2019/20 following missing out on the title by the slimmest of margins last term.

Brewster has shown in pre-season that he’s ready for more first-team football but in terms of making an effective breakthrough at Liverpool next season, it may be too soon.

In that case, Sancho is right to urge for patience with him.

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Newcastle United confirmed the club-record signing of Joelinton from Hoffenheim on Tuesday.

The deal comes to £40m, per the BBC, or double what the Magpies paid for current club-record buy Miguel Almiron in January.

Having seen Joselu, Ayoze Perez and Salomon Rondon head out the exit door already since the 2018/19 campaign ended, the Tyneside outfit are lacking options up front beyond Yoshinori Muto and Dwight Gayle, neither of whom are proven marksmen in the Premier League – the pair have one goal in 17 appearances and 21 in 99, respectively.

The signing of 22-year-old Joelinton has, first and foremost, provide some much needed depth at centre-forward, although Bruce will no doubt be hoping that the former Sport Recife striker can lead the line for much of if not the entire season – his 11 goals and nine assists in Germany last term suggest that he can be a success in another of Europe’s top-five leagues.

What then, besides goals, can the Toon Army expect from the 6 foot 1 star?

Tackling

Sure, tackling ability is rarely talked about when it comes to number nine’s but Joelinton’s stats in this department suggest that he’ll be just as much of a menace out of possession as he will be in it.

The right-footer completed 1.3 tackles per game last season and his willingness to press high up the pitch will undoubtedly endear him to the Newcastle faithful who, after a stressful summer, will surely be looking to see a bit of passion from the players.

Not only will this make him a huge hit at St James’ Park, but the Alianca-born hitman’s dispossession of defenders could also lead to plenty of chances for both he and his teammates.

Players such as Roberto Firmino and Shane Long, while very different, go beyond the call of duty as a striker.

Newcastle fans can expect a similar level of effort from Joelinton.

Key passes

Unlike the recently-departed Rondon, whose main appeal was his physical presence up top, Joelinton is more than just a flat-track bully, completing an impressive 1.5 key passes per game for Die Krauchgeier last term – comparatively, Venezuelan Rondon managed 1 per game.

While WhoScored suggests that the forward likes to shoot from distance, Joelinton is far from selfish and the frequency at which he creates opportunities for a teammate to score will get far better out of Almiron, who failed to score in nine appearances for the Magpies following his mid-season move from Atlanta United.

The speedy Paraguayan took 1.9 shots per game last term and this figure will likely rise once he starts linking up with Joelinton.

The video below highlights just how mad Newcastle were to let Ayoze Perez go…

Dribbling

Perhaps the most surprising of the player’s stats from the 2018/19 campaign, Joelinton completes an impressive 1.7 dribbles per game – more than Almiron (0.7) and Christian Atsu (0.9) managed between them last term, according to WhoScored – illuminating yet another dimension to this star’s game.

This is where he really sets himself apart from strikers of a similar physical mould, who hasten to run with the ball and would instead prefer to shield it before offloading it to a quicker, more technical teammate.

Joelinton’s ability to spearhead a counter-attack either facing or with his back to goal will make Newcastle a much more fluid unit going forward – the Brazilian is highly unpredictable and he’s sure to ruin plenty of defenders’ afternoons in the top-flight this season.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

West Ham are interested in striking a deal to sign Gary Cahill on a free transfer, per Football Insider.

What’s the word?

The Hammers have yet to strengthen their defence in this transfer window.

They have instead signed striker Sebastian Haller and attacking midfielder Pablo Fornals.

And the club have added Cahill to a shortlist of potential defensive acquisitions following a pre-season in which they have shipped a total of 10 goals in games against SCR Altach, Manchester City, Newcastle United, Fulham and Hertha Berlin.

The centre-back, who has won 61 caps for England and made 290 appearances for Chelsea, left Stamford Bridge at the end of the 2018/19 season.

Watch West Ham United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

A dependable option

This could be a good piece of business from the Hammers.

Separate reports have claimed that the club have significantly less than £5m with which to strengthen their squad in the coming week, with the transfer deadline coming next Thursday.

And a deal to sign Cahill would not eat up any transfer budget and would allow for those funds, however depleted they may be, to be reinvested elsewhere.

Cahill is a proven winner – he has won the Champions League, two Premier League titles and two FA Cups, as well as the Europa League twice – and it would be a surprise if he expected to play 38 games in a season.

As a back-up to Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena, then, he would be a shrewd acquisition.

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Celtic fans aren’t happy with Kristoffer Ajer being linked with a move to European giants AC Milan.

According to Italian outlet Tutto Mercato Web, Celtic’s Norwegian defender is an option for the seven-time Champions League winners, alongside Liverpool’s Dejan Lovren.

The report details how Milan manager Marco Giampaolo is looking to sign younger players and develop them with the idea of making a profit in the future.

It would appear that Ajer fits that mould more than Lovren, so the Celts supporters are right to be a bit worried by the rumours, especially given what a key player he has become at Parkhead.

The 21-year-old has been at Celtic since February 2016, signing from IK Start in his homeland, and has become a regular fixture in the side since.

Ajer’s importance at the club, coupled with the potential departure of Kieran Tierney, has got fans worried as they don’t want to see two exciting youngsters depart in the same window.

Some of the best comments from the fans reacting to the news on Twitter can be found down below…

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