All posts by z3u9t.icu

Leeds United will no doubt still be reeling following their return to the Championship at the end of last season, with a rather turbulent 2022/23 campaign having ended in relegation after just three years back in the top flight.

That being said, the club will now be hoping for a brighter future under their prospective new owners – with the 49ers Enterprises having agreed a deal last month – while a new face in the dugout also appears to be on the horizon, amid rampant speculation that Daniel Farke is likely to be named as the permanent manager at Elland Road.

If and when the one-time Norwich City boss is handed the reins, the German will likely be in need of reinforcements in order to help oversee a push for promotion, with intrigue building as to just who will be welcomed through the door over the coming weeks ahead of the start of next term.

There has been speculation of late that Leeds are interested in a move for Swansea City marksman Joel Piroe, with the Yorkshire outfit having previously been linked with the 23-year-old – who has just a year left on his existing deal – last summer.

The club are, however, likely to face competition from fellow relegated side Leicester City in the bid to sign the Dutchman, with the Daily Mail reporting that the 6 foot 1 ace could be available for a fee of around £12m.

Should Leeds sign Joel Piroe?

The former Netherlands U20 international has warranted that interest in his signature after enjoying a standout 2022/23 campaign in the second tier, having scored 20 goals and provided two assists in 45 games in all competitions.

The one-time Sparta Rotterdam loanee had previously recorded 30 goal involvements for his current side the year prior, ensuring he boasts a respectable haul of 44 goals and eight assists in just 92 games during his time at the Liberty Stadium.

As talent scout Jacek Kulig stated, the impressive marksman has proven something of a "surprise" following that stellar hot streak, having previously been "unwanted" at former club PSV Eindhoven, where he made just 14 first-team appearances.

As Kulig also noted, Piroe was part of a "very interesting generation of PSV academy players born in 99" alongside the likes of his compatriot, Cody Gakpo, with the latter man having also previously been a target for Leeds a year ago.

Reports last summer indicated that Gakpo had even agreed a move to Elland Road only for the Eredivisie outfit to rebuff an approach from the Whites, with the towering forward subsequently going on to join Liverpool on a £35m deal in January.

Since then, Piroe's ex-teammate has quickly impressed at Anfield after bagging seven goals in just 21 league games in the second half of last season, having thrived through the middle and on the flanks for Jurgen Klopp's side.

Like his fellow Dutchman, the Swansea ace also possesses the ability to feature in a number nine berth or on the flanks if required, offering a useful creative force in that central role having averaged 2.40 progressive passes per 90 across the last 365 days, with Gakpo only just ahead having averaged 3.28 in that regard.

That should indicate that the signing of the "clinical" menace – as hailed by ex-Swansea boss Russell Martin – could prove to be Leeds' answer to Gakpo if a deal is to come to fruition, with the club having frustratingly missed out on the Reds ace prior to his move to Merseyside.

Everton have been strongly linked with a move for Viktor Gyokeres this summer and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player.

What's the latest on Everton's interest in Viktor Gyokeres?

According to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, Everton have had a bid rejected for the Coventry City striker.

As per the report, the Toffees have made their first offer for Gyokeres and have seen it rejected by the Championship club which has now put Sporting CP ahead in the race to secure his signature this summer.

Will Viktor Gyokeres sign for Everton?

It is no secret that Everton should be focusing on strengthening their forward line this summer after struggling to pose a consistent attacking threat last season, which ultimately contributed to their struggles in the Premier League relegation battle.

Sean Dyche will be likely keen to make his own mark on the squad he inherited from Frank Lampard in late January by bolstering key positions that have been neglected or weakened over the last 12 months, with the striker role probably the most pressing concern.

Indeed, Lampard did acquire the services of former Brighton and Hove Albion centre-forward Neal Maupay last summer in a £15m deal, however, it is safe to say that the Frenchman has failed to deliver since his arrival at Goodison Park and is already in dire need of replacing.

As a result, the signing of Gyokeres – who has a reported £20m price tag – would be warmly welcomed this summer as he could not only add quality depth to the forward line but would also be a significant upgrade on Maupay, especially if he can emulate his outstanding form in the Championship last season.

The Swedish striker has been a revelation for Coventry City and a standout performer in the second tier, finishing his 46-campaign as the second-highest scoring player in the entire league with an impressive 21 goals, but it's not just his conversion in front of goal that makes him a special prospect for Everton.

Over 46 league appearances, Gyokeres – hailed "confident" by Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray – delivered ten assists and created nine big chances, as well as averaging three shots on goal, 1.3 shots on target, 1.8 key passes and 2.1 successful dribbles per game, proving he offers a prolific and consistent attacking threat beyond scoring to improve his teammate's chances in the final third too.

In comparison, Maupay was a great deal less successful in his output, registering 0.3 key passes, 1.2 shots on goal, 0.6 shots on target and 0.3 successful dribbles per appearance over 27 Premier League performances.

To make matters worse, he only scored once and offered no assists or big chances, as per SofaScore.

With that being said, there is no doubt that Gyokeres would be a huge upgrade on Maupay this summer and if he could continue to dominate in front of goal would be a huge asset to Dyche next season.

Liverpool are keeping a watchful eye on Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze's situation this summer as sporting director Jorg Schmadtke considers lodging a summer transfer offer.

What's the latest on Eberechi Eze to Liverpool?

According to recent reports, Jurgen Klopp's outfit are "planning to check" on the 24-year-old this summer as they plan to recraft their midfield following the departures of James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Fellow Premier League sides Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are all said to be interested in the England international, with the Eagles willing to talk business for around €30m (£26m).

A mercurial midfielder with dazzling skills, Eze would be a stellar addition to the Anfield ranks, and with just two years left on his current deal, his club might seek to secure maximum value with haste.

How good is Eberechi Eze?

Considering Liverpool's problems throughout the 22/23 campaign stemmed from the stagnancy of a midfield depleted of energy and with a pervading loss of belief, signing a progressive menace in Eze, who finished the term atop the crest of a wave, could be an auspicious move.

Hailed as "magic" by former Palace teammate Christian Benteke, Eze scored ten goals and supplied four assists in the Premier League last season, indeed coming into his own in the business end and plundering six strikes from his final nine matches.

Having recently made his international debut, the one-cap England star's box-surging prowess and potency could leave him as the perfect alternative to Celta Vigo prospect Gabri Veiga, who has been in scintillating form in LaLiga this season, scoring 11 goals and supplying four assists, and subsequently leaving Liverpool considering paying his €40m (£34m) release clause.

Such similar returns indeed stand out among the aforementioned pair, but a deeper dive into their styles reveals that Eze could produce every bit the 'magic' that Veiga could, with the 21-year-old Spaniard being called a "wonderful talent" by journalist Josh Bunting.

As per FBref, Eze ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, the top 16% for progressive carries and the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90.

Veiga, comparatively, ranks among the top 1% for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 24% for shot-creating actions, and the top 12% for progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90.

The 24-year-old Eagle would indeed be a worthy alternative to Veiga, and Klopp must now choose carefully as he charts the best route to success on Merseyside.

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a "boost" over keeping star striker Harry Kane this summer as Real Madrid cool their interest, according to journalist Dan Kilpatrick in The Evening Standard.

Who could leave Spurs this summer?

It's new dawn at Hotspur Way with former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou officially set to begin preparations for next season on July 1, with chairman Daniel Levy thrilled by his appointment.

“Ange brings a positive mentality and a fast, attacking style of play," said Levy last week.

"He has a strong track record of developing players and an understanding of the importance of the link from the academy – everything that is important to our Club. We are excited to have Ange join us as we prepare for the season ahead."

However, with his imminent arrival, Spurs must also get to work on backing the Australian with transfer targets. The 57-year-old has reportedly green-lit the signing of a central defender, while Leicester City star James Maddison and a new goalkeeper to replace Hugo Lloris are on the agenda too.

To make room for these additions, Tottenham must undergo a major overhaul, with many players tipped to leave this window. As well as Lloris, Ivan Perisic, Davinson Sanchez, Ryan Sessegnon, Lenglet, Eric Dier and Ben Davies could be axed (The Telegraph).

Tottenham could also be planning to offload Giovani Lo Celso, Sergio Reguilon and Harry Winks with Tanguy Ndombele's future coming as uncertain (The Telegraph).

Kane, who is attracting interest from top sides this summer, has been a worry for Levy with just over 12 months remaining on his deal. Man United and Real Madrid have been credited with a serious interest, but according to Kilpatrick, the latter side have just dropped out of the race.

Coming as a "boost" for Spurs, the Galacticos are apparently set to turn their attention towards Paris-Saint Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe. It's added that this pursuit, in further good news for Postecoglou, could effectively "end" their attempts for Kane.

Who is Harry Kane?

The 29-year-old starred for Spurs last season, scoring 30 goals in 38 full starts whilst standing out as their best-performing player per 90 on average (WhoScored).

Karim Benzema's departure from the Bernabeu meant Madrid were considering a bid for Kane, which would have been concerning for Tottenham given the pull of such a huge club.

Alas, news of their cooled interest from a reliable source will come as a much-needed bit of positive news, yet his dwindling contract remains an issue. Kane, as things stand, can leave for free next summer.

Manchester United will be looking improve on 2022/23 when the new campaign rolls around in a matter of weeks, with Erik ten Hag just getting started at Old Trafford.

Last summer saw the likes of Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez and Antony arrive in Manchester, and despite the encouraging signs – a first trophy in six years combined with qualification for the Champions League next season – the onus will be on the Dutchman to ramp up his recruitment and bring some world-class players to the Red Devils to challenge Manchester City for the ultimate prizes.

With that in mind, United have been linked with a move for Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby this summer, and a fee of £65m has been touted due to the Frenchman still having two years left on his current contract at the Bundesliga side.

With Ten Hag looking at improving his attacking options ahead of next season, Diaby could shine on either the right or left wing for the Red Devils next term, especially considering his performances in Germany over the previous few seasons (31 goals and 25 assists) while he is also statistically similar to a current Premier League sensation in Mohamed Salah.

Could Moussa Diaby improve Manchester United?

Salah has become one of the finest attacking players in the English top flight since joining Liverpool from AS Roma in 2017, scoring 137 goals and registering 62 assists in what has simply been a stunning spell of success for the Egyptian, suggesting that it isn’t a bad comparison for Diaby to have.

The Liverpool star is the most comparable player to Diaby according to FBref, and if Ten Hag could land someone who can have a similar impact to that of the 31-year-old in the Premier League, it could prove to be an excellent signing.

Indeed, Salah and Diaby both rank in the top 10% across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shots on target per 90 (1.31 to 1.22 respectively) and the top 20% for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.55 to 0.33), while they have also registered similar statistics with regard to shot-creating actions per 90 (3.83 to 3.67) and successful take-ons (51 to 50).

The pair obviously are extremely dangerous from a wide position, scoring plenty of goals themselves while also generating plenty of chances for others, and this is something that Ten Hag could do with in abundance.

The nine-cap France international has also been lauded as a “demon” by 'Euro Expert' journalist Alex, and the speedy winger is simply a must-buy for United during this transfer window if they look to increase their goal output from the flanks.

With Ange Postecoglou now at the helm, Tottenham Hotspur are seemingly set to step up their summer transfer dealings, with the Lilywhites seeking to improve upon a rather turbulent and underwhelming 2022/23 campaign.

As per 90min, the 57-year-old has already given his approval with regard to certain transfer pursuits – including the club's interest in James Maddison – while there are also said to be fears among those at his former club, Celtic, that the Greek-Aussie may return to raid the Old Firm outfit.

The piece notes that among those who the one-time Australia head coach may be keen to reunite with is wing wizard, Jota, with the Portuguese sensation having dazzled under Postecoglou's watch over the last two seasons.

The 24-year-old was originally snapped up by the experienced coach on a season-long loan deal from Benfica back in the summer of 2021, before signing permanently with the Parkhead giants on a £6.4m deal a year ago.

That bargain capture already appears rather astute as the wide man is now said to be valued at around £12m, according to Football Transfers, with that a marker of the meteoric rise he has made of late.

Who is Celtic's Jota?

The £17k-per-week trickster could well prove to be the heir apparent to Heung-min Son on the left flank, with the Celtic star mirroring the South Korean international with his ability to offer quality service and a clinical presence in front of goal.

While Son endured a poor season by his own lofty standards – after scoring 'just' ten Premier League goals – the 30-year-old has typically been a consistent force for the Lilywhites over the years, bagging 145 goals and providing 80 assists in 372 games across all fronts.

Much like Jota would be to most Spurs supporters, the former Bayer Leverkusen ace was something of an unknown quantity after initially making the move to north London in 2015, although has gone on to establish himself as a "world class" talent, according to former boss, Antonio Conte.

While the Bhoys ace may not be quite at that level just yet, the Lisbon native has been something of a "revelation" in Scottish football to date, according to pundit Alex McLeish, having contributed 54 goals and assists in just 83 games in all competitions for his current side.

The 5 foot 9 ace notably showed flashes of his quality during the club's Champions League run having whipped in a delightful free-kick in the defeat to Real Madrid back in November, with pundit Frank McAvennie subsequently stating that it was "scary" that the playmaker could get even better, having not been fully fit at the time.

Evidently a man for the big occasion – having registered five goals and assists in just ten meetings with rivals Rangers – Jota also mirrors Son due to his creative quality having created 13 big chances and averaged 1.9 key passes per game in 33 Scottish Premiership games this season, while the current Spurs ace has created nine big chances and averaged 1.8 key passes per game from his 36 league outings.

Although Postecoglou is unlikely to upset the apple cart by replacing Son in the short term, the incoming boss could well find a suitable, long-term replacement for the long-serving speedster with the signing of his former asset.

Leeds United have found themselves in a precarious position with no sporting director or manager to lead them following relegation back to the Championship, but now a shortlist of potential managers has been revealed by a reliable source.

What's the latest on Leeds' interest in Carlos Corberan?

According to The Telegraph, the Yorkshire giants are interested in appointing West Bromwich Albion coach Carlos Corberan ahead of next season.

As per the report, Corberan is one of three options being considered by the club's hierarchy with Scott Parker and Steven Gerrard also named as potential options for Leeds.

Would Carlos Corberan be a good fit for Leeds?

The former Huddersfield Town boss will seem like a natural selection to the Elland Road faithful as he could inject some of Marcelo Bielsa's incredible influence back into the team, having been part of the Argentinian's set up at the club before branching out on his own managerial journey in English football.

Corberan became a first-team coach after his success with Leeds U23s and worked alongside the popular manager to successfully secure promotion to the Premier League, before making the move to become manager of the Terriers where he continued to thrive.

The 40-year-old attacking-minded tactician famously guided Huddersfield Town to the playoff final against Nottingham Forest at Wembley last summer but fell short at the final hurdle, which led to a short spell with Olympiacos before returning to the EFL via West Bromwich Albion to replace Steve Bruce at The Hawthorns.

Over 30 Championship fixtures with the Midlands club, the Baggies boss has tallied up 16 victories and four draws with an average 1.73 points earned per game, which put them in contention for a place in the playoffs on the final day of the season and led to a ninth place finish despite being in a vulnerable position near the bottom of the table when he arrived.

Corberan boasts a number of attributes that make him potentially the perfect appointment for the West Yorkshire giants including sound experience of Championship football, a philosophy that emulates Bielsa's successful style of play and will have relationships already cemented at the club with the staff and many members of the squad.

The former Leeds boss was full of praise for Corberan when they worked together and revealed how important the Spaniard's opinion was to him:

"Carlos is a good colleague, I have found that," Bielsa told.

"He is very talented. I listen more to his opinion than I give mine to him."

Whites chairman Andrea Radrizzani is heavily under-fire following a damning report that suggested he had explored the possibility of using Elland Road as collateral for a bank loan he was raising to buy Serie B-bound Sampdoria.

He could begin to win some supporters back, provided he sticks around, by swooping for Corberan, who himself will know too well what is required to bring the good times back to west Yorkshire, given the evidence above, his return would surely be a no-brainer.

When Jurgen Klopp decided to take a punt on Liverpool in 2015, Anfield had gone to seed.

Not literally – the chalky-topped stadium was very much in fine condition, though its inhabitants had fallen foul of a loss of identity and deterioration from prominence in the Premier League and Champions League.

The German manager, who had previously enjoyed illustrious success with Borussia Dortmund, winning two Bundesliga titles in succession and the DFB Pokal, took the reins and crafted a dynasty on Merseyside, with Liverpool having now won a Premier League trophy and their sixth Champions League.

While standout stars such as Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson are the salient acquisitions, the likes of James Milner and Joel Matip, both secured on free transfers, illustrate the shrewd moves that rooted the success.

The latter, Cameroonian Matip, was acquired from Bundesliga outfit Schalke on a free transfer in 2016 and has been integral in securing silverware under Klopp's tutelage, having forged 186 appearances.

Klopp could now replicate his success in delving into his homeland's league by signing Eintracht Frankfurt's Daichi Kamada, with the Japanese midfielder set for departure at the end of his contract in a matter of weeks.

According to the Express, the 26-year-old is on the shortlist of the Reds' imminent new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke, and could be a wise addition for a team looking to return to the fore after a wayward year.

Why should Liverpool sign Daichi Kamada?

Granted, Matip and Kamada don't bear many similarities in their respective skill sets on the pitch, but attempting to complete an astute deal for a player available on a free transfer from Germany could prove a fruitful avenue for Liverpool to delve down.

While embroiled in his outfit's issues this season, the 31-year-old has previously been lauded as "dominant" and "confident' by former Reds defender Sami Hyypia.

Notably, Matip provided the assist for Divock Origi's match-clinching strike in the Champions League final, and ranks among the top 3% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 9% for progressive passes, top 1% for progressive carries per 90 and the top 6% for touches in the attacking box, as per FBref.

The £34k-per-week Kamada, a two-footed and dynamic attacking midfielder capable of thriving across a multitude of central and wide positions, could be the perfect answer to Liverpool's woes, with the Merseyside outfit failing to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in seven seasons and in dire need of midfield reinforcements with a mass exodus forthcoming.

Liverpool need a new dimension, and with Kamada, lauded as a "hero" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, reaping 16 goals and seven assists from 46 appearances this year – including three goals in the Champions League – the Anfield centre could be rejuvenated with his arrival.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 5% of midfielders for non-penalty goals and the top 20% for assists per 90, mirroring Matip's natural instinct to surge forwards by ranking among the top 10% for touches in the attacking box per 90.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola heralded the "exceptional team" that Klopp has created, and Matip has indeed been a centrepiece to this, with his arrival helping to patch the side up when they needed defensive replenishment.

Now, the midfield needs the attention, and Klopp must mirror his past success in astutely targeting Germany to sign Kamada for free.

Glasgow Rangers followed up their impressive Old Firm derby win last weekend with a 3-1 win over Hibernian away from home on Sunday in the Scottish Premiership.

The Light Blues led 1-0 at half-time thanks to a stunning free-kick from captain James Tavernier. He shaped to cross the ball into the box before whipping a strike into the top corner, which caught out David Marshall at his near post.

Romanian international Ianis Hagi then made it 2-0 in the 55th minute as the attacking midfielder rebounded his own blocked shot to rifle a strike into the bottom corner from just inside the box.

Todd Cantwell completed the scoring for Rangers in the 86th minute. The Englishman followed in after Marshall's save from Tavernier and slotted the rebound into the back of the net before Paul Hanlon scored a consolation goal in stoppage time.

There were a number of impressive performers on the day for Michael Beale and one player who stood out alongside the skipper – who was involved in two of the three aforementioned goals – in a rare appearance was central defender Leon King.

How did Leon King perform against Hibernian?

The Light Blues academy graduate staked a claim for a starting position heading into next season with a composed and efficient display at the heart of the defence in his first start since November.

He was pivotal to what Rangers did, both in and out of possession, as they were able to completely dominate Hibs from start to finish.

Defensively, the 19-year-old gem could not put a foot wrong as he cruised through the game with impressive ease – as per Sofascore, the 6-foot enforcer won 100% (10/10) of his duels and made four clearances, two interceptions, and four tackles – no other Gers player won more individual battles.

King also won all six of his contests on the ground and both of his aerial duels and this shows that King was able to dominate the opposition attackers, who did not get any change out of the Scottish defender, which also increased the number of opportunities his side had to make things happen going forward.

The teenage titan was also key to what Beale's side did in possession of the ball – as per Sofascore, the 96-touch ace completed 85% (67/79) of his attempted passes, 100% (1/1) of his dribbles, and created one chance for his teammates.

This shows that the £4k-per-week tank was not a liability on the ball and was, instead, able to drive the team forward with the ball to find teammates in good positions, which then allowed them to showcase their quality in the final third.

Therefore, King's performance was exceptional at the back as the youngster was able to combine sublime defending with composure in possession to dismantle Hibernian alongside the usual protagonist in Tavernier, who himself created three chances and scored from right-back as he made a huge impact at the top end of the pitch.

Arsenal transfer target sign Declan Rice has sent Bukaya Saka a message of support on Instagram after the winger signed a new contract.

How much is Saka's new contract worth?

It was revealed this week that the England international has signed a new four-year deal with the Gunners which makes him the club's best-paid player. Indeed, as per Evening Standard, Saka will make at least £200k-p/w, but this can rise to £300k-p/w with bonuses.

It's a great moment for the player, the team and the fans and the 21-year-old seemed delighted about the deal, telling Arsenal.com: “I’m just really happy. There’s been a lot of talking and it’s been a while, but I’m here now. I think this is the right club, the right place to make the next step. It’s a beautiful club – look where we are."

And it seems someone else outside of North London is also delighted for Saka. Yes, West Ham United captain Rice sent his England teammate a message on Instagram to show his support.

The midfielder said: "Congrats brother! Fully deserved."

What's the latest on Rice and Arsenal?

The Gunners are in the market for a new midfielder this summer and appear to have identified Rice as a main target – alongside the likes of Brighton's Moises Caicedo, Chelsea's Mason Mount and Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan.

However, the West Ham man looks to be a priority with a bid expected to come in at the end of the season after the Irons have played their Europa Conference League final.

Seeing as Rice has publicly spoken about his desire for Champions League football, Arsenal look to be a great fit for the midfielder. Earlier in the season, he told The Guardian: “One hundred per cent I want to play in the Champions League,” he said. “For the last two or three years I’ve been saying that.

“I’ve been playing consistently well for my club and I feel like I really want to keep pushing. I see my friends here who are playing Champions League and for big trophies.

“You only get one career and at the end you want to look back at what you’ve won and the biggest games you’ve played in.”

Considering Mikel Arteta's men will be in the Champions League next term and Rice has been linked with a transfer already, his latest message to Saka could suggest he's already picturing life at the Emirates next term.

It's certainly something for fans to get excited about.