All posts by h716a5.icu

A crazy statistic has emerged about Allan Saint-Maximin as Newcastle United have averaged 1.89 points per game when he has started this season so far, compared to just 0.73 when he has not, according to Whoscored (via NUFC 360).

Based on these stats, if the 23-year-old had started every game in the Premier League for the Tyneside club, including their upcoming fixtures, then Steve Bruce’s team would have earned 72 points over the 38 matches.

Given that Chelsea are currently in the last guaranteed UEFA Champions League spot on 54 points with just six games to play, they could only reach a maximum of 72, meaning that it would all but guarantee the Magpies a place in Europe’s elite competition.

On the other hand, the Toon would have picked up just 28 points from their 38 games if he had started in none of them. On the basis that Aston Villa and Bournemouth are in 18th and 19th place in the Premier League table respectively on 27 points, they would have each potentially only needed a couple more points from their last six matches to finish above Newcastle, which would likely have seem them relegated from the top flight.

Saint-Maximin has therefore been a revelation in the Premier League so far in the 2019/20 season, averaging 4.7 successful dribbles and 1.3 key passes per game, as well as creating eight big chances, scoring three goals and making four assists, according to Sofascore.

These kinds of stats show just how much the Frenchman has been relied upon during his debut campaign at St. James’ Park, and perhaps the rest of the side need to step up to his level.

Geordies, has Saint-Maximin been your best player this season? Comment below with your views!

Having won the Champions League last season, and run away with the Premier League this year, it’s difficult to really make an argument for how Liverpool can genuinely make the kind of signing that could improve their starting eleven.

After all, the Reds have won the two biggest trophies on offer, and last summer saw them didn’t even make a big splash in the transfer market either.

But reports in recent days have suggested that Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago could be set for a move to Anfield, with negotiations between both the player and the club at a very advanced stage and that “only the economics have to be worked out between the two sides”.

The Greatest Bargains in Premier League history – How much did they cost?

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If Jurgen Klopp’s side can manage to pull off a deal for the Spain international, then it could be the kind of signing that just gives them with that added creative spark in the middle of the park.

Having come through the Barcelona academy, and then playing for the first-team there and then moving to Bayern Munich, Thiago has played for teams that have dominated the ball, and that’s shown by the quite ridiculous passing averages he has managed.

Even this season, where he has not featured as regularly, he averages a whopping 74.9 passes per game at an astonishing accuracy of 90.5% in the Bundesliga. In comparison, Jordan Henderson is the Liverpool midfielder with the most amount of passes, and his average is at just 62.2 and an accuracy of 84.5%.

Thiago is someone who can control the tempo of the game and dictate the play, and it’s not the kind of player the Reds currently have in their arsenal. It could potentially change the way Liverpool attack, ensuring that they perhaps don’t have to rely upon counter-attacks led by the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane up top.

And with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola signing him for Bayern, and then wanting him again as Citizens boss last summer, what a hammer blow that could be if Klopp ends up bringing him to Anfield instead.

Having just beaten them to the Premier League title rather comprehensively, Klopp can send out another major statement of intent by luring one of Guardiola’s former targets to the club.

It would be the kind of psychological advantage that Liverpool can take into the new season, and a reminder of why they are at the top of the totem pole now, and not City.

Former Manchester United ace Dion Dublin has lauded Olivier Giroud for his performance against Wolves on Sunday.

Chelsea’s final victory of the Premier League season sees them secure Champions League football for the 2020/21 campaign. They finish this term on 66 points, level with Manchester United who sit ahead only on goal difference.

Mason Mount and Giroud were the men to bank the three points and cement their spot ahead of Leicester, whose declining form saw them drop out of the Champions League race.

During BBC Sport’s coverage of the Stamford Bridge fixture, Dublin was full of praise for the Frenchman after his goal doubled Chelsea’s lead (via The Sport Review).

“That’s what big players do, they give you big performances – and Olivier Giroud has never let Frank Lampard down,” he stated. “Goals, assists, this is the kind of player you need in a position like this.”

It took until Tammy Abraham’s injury earlier this season before Giroud was called upon to lead the front-line. Since football restarted, the 33-year-old has been one of Chelsea’s most clinical in front of goal. According to Transfermarkt, Giroud has scored in six out the nine games following the break, which takes his season tally up to eight Premier League goals.

Even after Abraham returned from injury, Lampard relied on Giroud despite the England international having the better goal return, with 15 for the campaign (as per Transfermarkt).

Timo Werner recently touched down in England and will undoubtedly become Chelsea’s first choice striker next season. Now, Lampard has a huge task on his hands as he decides who will be the German’s immediate back-up between Giroud and Abraham.

How would you describe Olivier Giroud’s performance this season, Blues? Join the discussion in the comments below!

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly pursuing Metz striker Habib Diallo this summer, reports say. 

According to L’Equipe, as cited by Sport Witness and relayed by Ricky Sacks, Tottenham and newly-promoted Premier League rivals Leeds United have reached out to Metz to enquire about his availability in the summer.

Diallo scored 12 goals and supplied three assists in 26 games in Ligue 1 last season.

The 4-cap Senegal international, who hails from the same Generation Foot academy where Liverpool forward Sadio Mane earned his stripes, broke through the ranks after arriving at the Stade Saint-Symphorien in 2014.

The Lilywhites and Leeds are both in need of a striker, as Spurs are desperate to find a backup for Harry Kane, while the Whites largely depended upon former Chelsea man Patrick Bamford last term.

The French publication claims Metz will let the 25-year-old go so long as they receive a “satisfying offer,” believed to be in the region of  €20m (£17m).

Spurs have a history of signing cheap firepower from the French top flight, only for the transfers to go horribly wrong, as ended up happening with Clinton N’Jie and Georges-Kevin N’Koudou.

N’Jie’s ill-fated spell in the English top flight was an experience many will want to forget.

The Cameroonian did not start a single Premier League game for former boss Mauricio Pochettino, making a mere fourteen appearances in total, and an assist against Manchester City remained his only contribution of note until he was shipped out on loan to Marseille the following summer.

His time in north London was blighted by a knee injury, before he was finally put of his misery by leaving the club for good a year later.

Granted, Diallo has survived his career relatively unscathed so far, but he has never been tested at the top levels of the game. Whether or not his body will be able to cope with the rigorous demands of the Premier League remains to be seen and this may be a risk that is not worth taking.

Moreover, the Senegalese striker has holes in his game he still needs to work on before he can even be considered a serious option, as he must improve his passing and his ability to hold onto the ball, and Daniel Levy may decide to look elsewhere instead.

Tottenham fans, do you think Levy should sign Diallo this summer? Let us know down below!

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley is said to have been left baffled by a legal bill worth more than £500,000 accrued by Henry Mauriss in the latest news involving the takeover saga.

As per The Chronicle, talks between the chief executive of Clear TV and the lawyers of Ashley were ongoing over the summer but the CEO of Sports Direct has been left mystified by the slow nature of the discussions since the Kingdom of Saudi Arabian (KSA) group officially decided to withdraw their own £300m bid after losing patience with how much time it was taking for the Premier League and Richard Masters to decide whether or not to approve their bid.

Nevertheless, the paperwork of the Mauriss bid is said to be examined very carefully by the current owner at St James’ Park. However, it is his failure to follow up on the £350m verbal agreement on a deal earlier this year that has left Ashley casting his own doubts on the intentions of the businessman.

Nonetheless, the approach has still cost Mauriss big in legal fees, which has left Ashley baffled. Indeed, the English tycoon looks more unlikely by the day to come to an agreement with Mauriss over a serious offer, as Ashley is expected to label both the American and the Bellagraph Nova (BN) group as “time-wasters” when he addresses the matter publicly.

It seems as if a prospective takeover of the Tyneside club by Mauriss is all but dead, as the Saudi-led consortium continue to play the waiting game in order to try and get their own deal with Ashley back on track.

Geordies, do you think a Mauriss takeover is still possible? Comment below with your views!

Tottenham Hotspur could be closing in on a new central defender if fresh reports emerging from Italy are to be believed…

What’s the word?

According to Corriere di Verona, Spurs hold ‘strong interest’ in Hellas Verona colossus Marash Kumbulla, who did appear to be set for a move to Inter Milan until recently.

Gianluca Di Marzio claimed last month that a €30m (£26.5m) deal had been agreed between the two Serie A clubs but it now appears Antonio Conte will target other options.

The 20-year-old is valued at £22.5m by Transfermarkt despite his lack of experience at the top of the game.

Needed addition

With Jan Vertonghen out the door and Juan Foyth likely to follow suit, it would be wise for Jose Mourinho to add another defender before the window closing next month.

And in Kumbulla, they’d be getting a really impressive addition.

The young Verona colossus has been likened to Milan legend Paolo Maldini due to his aggressive nature and ability to read the game.

In 25 appearances in Serie A last season, Kumbulla averaged 3.3 clearances, 2.6 aerials won, 2 interceptions and 1.6 tackles per match, via WhoScored, which only goes to show that he’s a complete beast at the back.

Others have compared him to Giorgio Chiellini as he has the “classic frame of a long-serving Serie A defender” with that being tall in stature, broad shoulders and the ferocity to overpower the opposition.

No centre-back in the Italian top-flight won more defensive duels before lockdown than Kumbulla either.

The 6 foot 1 monster would be an ideal signing to strike fear into the rest of the Premier League, either to replace Vertonghen or Foyth. Pair him up with Toby Alderweireld and it’ll be like his fellow Belgian counterpart never left.

£26.5m may seem a little pricey, but that’s a mere scratch on the £80m paid for Harry Maguire.

AND in other news, Mourinho could unleash frightening Spurs attack with £45m speedster…

According to Sky Sports, reported Leeds target Rhian Brewster could be allowed to leave Liverpool on a permanent basis in this summer transfer window.

What’s the word?

The England U21 international spent the second-half of last season on loan at Championship side Swansea, and enjoyed an impressive spell at the Liberty, scoring ten goals in just 20 league games.

Is it Haaland Snr or David Hopkins? Your Leeds knowledge will be put to the test with this quiz…

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Reports in recent weeks have claimed that Marcelo Bielsa’s side are very much interested in luring him to Elland Road for the upcoming campaign, and it looks like their chances of signing him have been significantly boosted.

Sky Sports claim that rather than just another loan deal, Liverpool are considering letting Brewster go permanently, although with the caveat of a buy-back clause being potentially added.

A diamond for Bielsa

At just 20-years-old, Brewster has the world at his feet, and has shown at youth level he has all the hallmarks of being a top-level striker, with various people stepping up to rave about his abilities.

Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman remarked: “He’s got this explosive burst of pace and he seems to have really good football intelligence, so his movement is very clever and, when I watch clips of him finishing, there’s such a variety.”

And his current teammate at Liverpool, Georginio Wijnaldum, simply declared that his “finishing is unbelievable”.

With new signing Rodrigo not really a true out-and-out goal-scorer – he managed just seven goals in 34 games last season – Leeds could do with someone who can be relied upon to bag at least 15 to 20 goals in a campaign.

Whilst Brewster hasn’t really shown he can do that at Premier League level just yet, his age makes him the kind of prospect that could prove to be a superb signing for Leeds down the line. And with Liverpool contemplating selling him outright, Victor Orta must surely seize this perfect chance to land a striker of the 20-year-old’s potential.

Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti and Director of Football Marcel Brands are set to weaken the unbeaten Toffees on Deadline Day by offloading Moise Kean to Paris Saint-Germain with no intentions of signing a replacement.

What’s the word?

According to the Liverpool Echo, Everton head into Deadline Day with a sense of content with their current attacking line-up despite agreeing to send 5-cap Italy striker Kean to last season’s Champions League finalists PSG on a one-season deal.

Kean completed his temporary move to the Ligue 1 giants on Sunday having struggled to establish his importance at Goodison Park either this term or last, with the 20-year-old starting just six Premier League fixtures since his £27.5million transfer from Juventus in 2019.

Ancelotti is said to have discussed potential offensive moves with the Everton hierarchy earlier in the window, having considered a pursuit of his former SSC Napoli striker Fernando Llorente, but the Italian is happy with what he’s seen from his current options to cool his stance.

Everton consider Richarlison’s talents as a central figurehead enough to cover for any potential injury to star striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, while Cenk Tosun and Theo Walcott will be considered should neither land transfers before the window slams shut at 11pm.

Under 23s sensation Ellis Simms may also expect to be given chances in the first-team given that he trains regularly with the senior squad.

Kean’s exit weakens Everton

Despite the Liverpool Echo’s belief that Ancelotti is content with utilising Richarlison, Walcott, Tosun and potentially Simms as cover for any time Calvert-Lewin is forced to spend off the pitch, Kean’s exit will weaken the Toffees’ squad and Brands, therefore, should have ensured a direct replacement was lined up – regardless if Walcott and Tosun also leave.

Walcott has shown throughout his time at Goodison Park that he is no longer the player who scored 19 goals across all competitions in the 2016/17 season, having only struck home 11 times in 85 games since his move to Merseyside in 2018, a transfer worth in excess of £20m.

The same goes for Tosun, who boasts just 10 goals from 51 appearances since joining Everton in a £27m deal from Besiktas in the same window that Walcott departed north London. While Simms, albeit just 19-years-old, is yet to make his senior debut having only been included as a substitute twice thus far.

Richarlison is capable of playing centrally if needed, as evident by his seven goals and two assists from 21 games last season, but Ancelotti would then miss out on the Brazilian’s driving runs that cause full-backs so many issues if the 23-year-old departs the flanks to cover for Calvert-Lewin.

AND in other news, a Premier League rival is considering a late move to sign an Everton player who recorded just 0.8 key balls a game in 2019/20.

Outcast Southampton winger Mohamed Elyounoussi appears to be flourishing during his time away from the south coast. His numbers at loan side Celtic have been impressive, but he also put in a solid shift on the international stage on Sunday.

As Norway made easy work of securing a 4-0 win over Romania in the UEFA Nations League, Elyounoussi dropped into midfield to operate behind his side’s double strike force. Alexander Sorloth and Erling Haaland both played superbly up front, but the midfield four helped command the play.

Elyounoussi could be important for Hasenhuttl

Although he wasn’t directly involved in any of the four Norway goals scored, Elyounoussi arrived with a lot of creativity. According to Sofascore, the Saints loanee made two key passes and 100% of his shots hit the target. He also contributed two tackles, one clearance and won 6/9 ground duels.

Elyounoussi boasts extreme versatility and could be an important asset to Ralph Hasenhuttl once he returns from his spell in Scotland. Not only can he play across any position in the front three, but is comfortable being deployed at both left and right midfield as well as in a more attacking role.

The 26-year-old was shipped out on loan after failing to make an impact at St Mary’s. However, since he joined Celtic he has unleashed his true potential. Last season, he tallied seven goals and six assists in just 20 appearances for the Hoops and has already made three contributions in front of goal this campaign (via Transfermarkt).

Whilst Theo Walcott is only with Southampton for the short-term and Nathan Tella yet to really prove himself, Elyounoussi could slot into the right side of the team when he returns. His goal and assist return alongside his driven work ethic will have certainly turned Hasenhuttl’s head.

In other news, Southampton should move to sign Troy Deeney before EFL window closes…

Leeds United’s first-team have been very exciting to follow this season, but their U23s outfit have arguably been just as interesting this term too.

The Whites signed many young talents this summer with the likes of Sam Greenwood, Cody Drameh and Joe Gelhardt joining the Elland Road outfit, but perhaps the most exciting player in that team joined last year.

Indeed, Stuart McKinstry looks like he’s ready to make in-roads towards a place in the first-team at Leeds and we can understand why.

Phil Hay has recently speculated that he’s close to the first-team picture at the club on a recent episode of The Next Big Thing podcast, saying:

“It’s development for him at the moment, but you’ll be noticing that quite a few younger players are starting to go out of Leeds on loan now.

“McKinstry’s still in the building and I think is most likely to stay in the building for now, and those that [Marcelo] Bielsa feels are closest to the first-team picture are the ones that he wants to stick around.”

You can understand why Bielsa wants to keep McKinstry close by, the winger has undergone a meteoric rise since joining Leeds last summer, quickly making the jump from U18s football to the U23s despite being just 16 at the beginning of the season.

He was an excellent addition to the U23s as well, netting two goals in seven appearances while working under Carlos Corberan last term.

McKinstry has just turned 18 and he’s already training with the first-team and impressing the manager while doing so, and it isn’t just Bielsa who has been impressed by what the Scot offers.

When McKinstry signed his new deal last year, Danny Mills described him as a ‘very talented’ player, and that is high praise from a former England international.

Of course, senior football is a massive step up, but it looks as though McKinstry is getting closer and closer to making his United debut and everyone close to the club can’t stop raving about him.