Tag Futebol

Manchester United fans have slammed the performance of captain Bruno Fernandes as Erik ten Hag’s men succumbed to a 7-0 humbling at Anfield on Sunday.

The Lowdown: United thumped…

The Red Devils were thumped at Anfield as Ten Hag endured a real night to forget on Merseyside.

Three Liverpool stars bagged a brace for Jurgen Klopp’s side with Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunex and Mohamed Salah all notching two a piece before Roberto Firmino got in on the act.

The result severely dampens Man United’s recent impressive run and gifts Liverpool an almighty lift in their race for a Premier League top four finish.

The Latest: Fans slam Bruno Fernandes…

Taking to Twitter during their humiliation, United supporters appeared less than impressed with Fernandes – calling it one of his worst performances of the campaign.

The 28-year-old attracted criticism from former legend Roy Keane who questioned his body language throughout, with these supporters in total agreement as they replied.

They said:

“We’ll never move forward with that clown in the team. Get rid.” – @MikaelScofield_

“He was not in the game for a second.” – @Ihechiluru162

“There were a lot of pathetic performances today, but for me the worst one was Fernandes. A guy who is supposed to be a leader resorted to diving and whining. There was even a moment where someone ran past him and he didnt bother following them.” – @RunkeGlenn

“Him and Rashford, shocking!!!” – @Mufc_AS

“Flop of the match in most of the games so far this season, but yet fans adore him because of the passion he shows. Fernandes should not be a starter quality at a big club like manutd. He can start for clubs like sporting cp, but not manutd.” – @am_nimf

“Absolutely… I was disgusted.” – @iam_obago

The Verdict: Back to the drawing board…

United and ten Hag must somehow now resurrect the confidence and self belief to swiftly move past what was a horror result.

Next up, Real Betis in the Europa League – a match which will go some way in determining whether United can professionally get back to winning ways and kickstart a potential run in Europe.

Arsenal are interested in a summer deal for Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling, according to a report.

The Lowdown: Arsenal eyeing winger

Mikel Arteta has recently tied down Gabriel Martinelli to a new contract, with the Brazilian signing a deal that will keep him at the Emirates Stadium until 2027, and agreeing new terms with Bukayo Saka is the next thing on the agenda.

Even so, the Gunners are still trying to bring in a new wide option in the summer transfer window, recently being linked to Nico Williams, with Arteta wanting to add a top-quality back-up to Saka on the right.

The Latest: Monitoring Sterling

According to a report from 90min, Arsenal are monitoring Sterling for a move this summer, with the manager keen to bring in players with European experience.

Arteta is said to be a huge fan of the winger, who he worked with during his time at Manchester City, with the Gunners boss particularly impressed by his ability to play across the frontline.

That said, the player himself is not believed to be looking to leave Chelsea, which could make a deal more difficult to orchestrate.

The Verdict: Get it done?

If the 28-year-old does become available this summer, he would be an excellent addition, capable of helping Arsenal to cement their place as one of the dominant forces in the Premier League.

Hailed as ‘world class’ by members of the media, the former City man was fantastic during his spell in Manchester, hitting double figures for top flight goals in his last five seasons with the club, even managing to get as many as 20 in the 2019/20 campaign.

Unfortunately for Sterling, his current season has been blighted with injury issues, suffering hamstring and knee problems which have forced him to miss a total of nine games, meaning he has been unable to properly settle in at Chelsea.

When he is fully fit, however, the 82-time England international is a top class player, and Arteta should continue to monitor his availability.

West Ham manager David Moyes has praised defender Nayef Aguerd for one key reason as he makes an intriguing transfer claim on the Morocco international.

The Lowdown: Aguerd absence…

The centre-back, signed from Rennes in a £30 million deal last summer, has been absent from West Ham’s season for the vast majority of 2021/2022.

In total, Aguerd has missed around 15 Premier League games through injury since putting pen to paper on a transfer to east London – much to the frustration of Moyes and supporters.

The African, however, is now becoming a West Ham mainstay – starting their last three league matches and putting in a brilliant FA Cup display against Derby County.

The Latest: Moyes praises Aguerd…

Speaking after the win over Derby, Moyes heaped praise on Aguerd and drew particular attention to his ‘stylish’ play, also revealing that the Irons had been chasing the player for ages.

The Scotsman explained (via The Evening Standard):

“We really wanted to buy him two years ago.

“He’s a really good player, really good on the ball, stylish. He’s got some really good attributes and I think he will big a plus to us.”

The Verdict: Right to be impressed…

The 26-year-old, despite suffering reoccurring injuries at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar also, managed to contribute to their semi-final run in parts.

As per WhoScored, Aguerd averaged their joint-second highest rate of clearances per 90 at the tournament whilst also making Morocco’s third-most blocks per match as well.

This was perhaps a glimpse into the player’s defensive qualities with Aguerd now seriously coming into his own at West Ham.

Moyes also had praise for the ex-Ligue 1 star after his performance against Everton in a crunch relegation encounter, branding Aguerd’s display as his ‘best’ for West Ham to date.

If the central defensive ace continues in this form injury free, Irons supporters could be about to see a key player emerge.

Newcastle United are believed to be stepping up their approach for Everton sensation, Anthony Gordon, with the Magpies yet to strengthen the first-team squad this month.

What’s the word?

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, sporting director Dan Ashworth is seemingly readying an offer for the 21-year-old before the end of the window, albeit with the Tynesiders set to face competition from free-spending Chelsea for the Englishman’s signature.

Writing on Twitter about that battle to land the young forward, the transfer insider revealed: “Chelsea rekindle Anthony Gordon interest as Newcastle prepare bid for Everton star.”

In the attached piece for 90min, the report suggests that Ashworth and co have ‘done their homework’ on the Liverpool-born starlet and are said to have been ‘pleased’ by the reports that they have garnered.

The report also goes on to add that the Toffees could well consider offers for the versatile attacker – who has been valued at around £30m plus – after failing to agree a contract extension, with the player’s existing deal set to expire in 2025.

‘Unbelievable’

It looks as if Eddie Howe’s side are hoping to finally secure a high-profile addition before the window is out, with the high-flying outfit’s only signing to date having been that of Australian teenager, Garang Kuol – who subsequently joined Scottish Premiership side Hearts on loan.

While the acquisition of Gordon may not be the glamour name that some Newcastle supporters will be craving, the England U21 international has certainly shown flashes of his quality in recent years after making the breakthrough into the first team at Goodison Park.

Tipped to become an “unbelievable player” in the near future by pundit Paddy Kenny, the £10k-per-week dynamo enjoyed a standout 2021/22 campaign to truly announce himself at senior level, scoring four goals and providing two assists in 35 Premier League games.

While it has proven a far more difficult season this time around both on an individual and collective basis, the 6-foot speedster still has three top-flight goals to his name thus far, with that a greater tally than fellow wingers, Allan Saint-Maximin (one) and Jacob Murphy (one) have achieved at St James’ Park.

Equally, it is perhaps unsurprising that Gordon has been unable to truly flourish on Merseyside amid the ongoing turmoil surrounding the club, with manager Frank Lampard having been sacked on Monday with the struggling outfit languishing in 19th in the table.

Freed from the shackles of the pressure that has been put on his young shoulders at his current side, it could well be the case that the “frightening” talent – as lauded by Kenny – could go on to be an unbelievable addition if he is to link up with Howe and co in the next week or so, as he would help to supplement an already rampant outfit.

With the Magpies having previously shown interest in the much-coveted asset during the summer, the aforementioned Ashworth can now finally get a deal done this time around.

Tottenham Hotspur are set for new talks soon as they keep chasing the signing of Sporting Lisbon star Pedro Porro before January 31.

The Lowdown: Spurs make Porro offer…

The Lilywhites, earlier this week, made an official bid to sign the former Man City wing-back according to reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The offer amounted to one player plus guaranteed money to secure the services of Porro, but according to Romano, Sporting rejected this formula and continue to ask for his €45 million (£39m) release clause.

Antonio Conte is chasing Champions League qualification for the second-successive campaign and is reportedly after Porro to upgrade his options at wing-back.

The north Londoners squandered a two-goal lead on Thursday night as Premier League champions Man City sealed a 4-2 comeback win at the Etihad Stadium.

This result highlights the need to strengthen and it appears Tottenham haven’t given up on Porro.

The Latest: Tottenham set for fresh Porro talks…

According to The Daily Mail, Spurs are ‘due to resume talks’ with Sporting for the 23-year-old after making their offer earlier this week.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-updates-2/” title=”Tottenham latest updates!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/cropped-tottenham-fans.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

They add that Porro is ‘regarded as one of the best attacking right-backs in Europe’ but his club keep insisting that Tottenham must pay his exit clause.

It’s added that the Spaniard is keen on a move to north London.

The Verdict: Make the move…

The young defender, who has stood as one of Sporting’s best players so far this season, would undoubtedly boost Tottenham’s options at right-back.

As per WhoScored, his status as an elite attack-minded full-back is seriously backed by the numbers as Porro ranks in the club’s top two for shots at goal and key passes made per 90.

The defender also tops their charts for league assists over 2022/2023, something which will undoubtedly attract Conte to the signing of Porro this month.

Called a ‘special’ player by members of the media, Sky Sports pundit Kevin Hatchard has claimed Porro has gone up a level under Sporting boss Ruben Amorim and that he is ‘perfect’ for Conte.

It appears he could be the right answer to provide some more attacking flair on Spurs’ right-flank.

Glasgow Rangers failed to gain any ground in the Scottish Premiership title race following a 2-2 draw against Old Firm rivals Celtic in today’s New Year derby.

Michael Beale was taking charge of the Ibrox side for the first time in an Old Firm clash and he had to look on as Rangers were underwhelming in the first half, having just 40% possession and going in at the break a goal down.

The second half saw a marked improvement, with the Light Blues scoring twice in the space of six minutes to lead 2-1 and the performance was far more fluid.

A first derby win for Beale was snatched away by a late Celtic equaliser, however, and despite their best attempts, the Gers couldn’t find a late winner.

James Tavernier showed great composure to score the penalty while making four key passes during the tie, yet it was Fashion Sakala who was arguably Rangers’ biggest threat going forward.

Sakala had so far thrived under the 42-year-old in the four matches since the season resumed midway through December, scoring twice and grabbing an assist and he was deployed on the right wing for today’s match.

The 25-year-old received a solid Sofascore rating of 7.0/10 for his performance, which included 39 touches and 12 accurate passes, although it was his attacking prowess that nearly won the match for Rangers.

Sakala played one key pass, had a total of four shots, succeeded with three of his four dribble attempts, and won the penalty from which Tavernier coolly slotted away.

His unpredictable nature meant he was an absolute nightmare for the Celtic defence, with his darting runs and raw talent creating chances for his teammates throughout the encounter.

He was also praised for his “excellent driving run” to set up Ryan Kent’s equaliser by journalist Joshua Barrie, while Jordan Campbell claimed that Sakala “changed the game for Rangers” with his second-half performance.

Beale can take a lot of positives from this performance into the next few weeks, and despite the game finishing in a draw, it could have easily ended with the Light Blues securing all three points.

The difference at the top of the table is still nine points and the next two Old Firm clashes will be crucial unless the title has already been decided by then.

Scottish champions Celtic could well be facing the prospect of losing another exciting academy asset in the near future…

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Mail, promising Hoops defender Bosun Lawal is believed to be attracting notable attention from clubs in Europe, with Italian duo Pisa and Verona named as potential suitors.

The standout interested party named in the piece is Premier League outfit Brentford, with the Bees said to be ‘monitoring’ the 19-year-old’s progress at present, ahead of the January transfer window.

The young Irishman – who has 18 months remaining on his existing deal at Parkhead – only joined the Old Firm giants from Watford during the summer of 2021.

Ajer repeat

That apparent interest from Thomas Frank’s side will seemingly have a familiar feel as far as Ange Postecoglou is concerned, with the west London outfit having poached Kristoffer Ajer from Glasgow for a fee of around £13.5m just 18 months ago.

Although the Norwegian defender was a more established figure than Lawal at the time of his departure, his exit illustrated the notable pulling power of the Premier League, with clubs south of the border having regularly come calling for the Bhoys’ brightest talents.

That has also been evident in the case of Scottish sensation, Ben Doak, with the winger having made the move to Liverpool earlier this year, with recent reports having also claimed that midfielder Ewan Otoo is of interest to clubs in England.

In the case of Lawal, the teenager’s departure would be a particularly worrying blow due to his impressive rise through the ranks of late, with the former Hornets ace having notably been named on the bench for the recent victory over Aberdeen.

That inclusion was a sign that the towering centre-back has caught the eye of Postecoglou in recent times, having also been named as part of the first-team squad for the recent Sydney Super Cup.

The “outstanding” asset – as described by ‘B’ team coach Tommy McIntyre – has notably racked up five goals and two assists in just 13 games in all competitions so far this season, proving a real goal threat from his defensive berth.

The next step will now seemingly be for Lawal to truly establish himself at senior level, with the versatile ace – who can also feature in midfield – no doubt highly thought of by those at Paradise.

As Celtic found out in the case of the aforementioned Ajer, however – as well as others – it can often prove difficult for players to turn down the temptation of joining a Premier League outfit.

Chris Wilder is reported keen on becoming Queens Park Rangers’ next manager and Ethan Laird would surely flourish under the former Sheffield United boss at Loftus Road.

According to The Sun, the 55-year-old has thrown his hat in the ring as the Hoops look to appoint a successor to Michael Beale, who made the move to Rangers earlier this week after an impressive start to life as a manager with QPR.

Wilder was recently sacked by Middlesbrough after a difficult spell at the Riverside but boasts an impressive CV, which includes three promotions and two title wins with Northampton Town and Sheffield United respectively.

Steve McLaren hailed the work Wilder did with Sheffield United during his time as QPR boss, saying:

“I said ‘how are you doing and everything’ and he said ‘we’re a team which needs to be 100 per cent, every player, every week. If we are 99 per cent or 98, we lose games. We need to be 100 per cent.’“And what he’s doing, he’s getting 100 per cent – it’s phenomenal – (first) in the Championship and now in the Premier League.”During his time with the Blades, Wilder won a lot of plaudits for his 3-5-2 formation, which featured aggressive wing-backs and overlapping centre-backs.Should he arrive at QPR, he could definitely attempt to try and replicate that, which could be of huge benefit to Manchester United loanee, Laird.Since joining from the Red Devils in the summer, the 21-year-old has gone on to make 17 appearances, in which he has contributed one goal and two assists, averaging a solid 6.79 rating from WhoScored.The youngster already has nine assists to his name in a relatively short senior career, and with WhoScored suggesting that he excels at playing key passes and dribbling, it seems clear that he can be a huge threat in the final third.Laird’s current average of just 0.8 key passes and 0.6 dribbles per game suggest that he is not being utilised as effectively as he could be, but Wilder could get the best out of him by pushing him into a more attacking wing-back position.The defender has already been dubbed “outstanding” by goalkeeper Seny Dieng for his performances with QPR but he could really explode under Wilder in a more advanced position.Given the former Sheffield United boss’ impressive CV and the impact he could have on Laird, Lee Hoos should definitely consider Wilder as QPR search for a replacement for Beale.

Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate is ‘in line’ to start for France at the 2022 World Cup, according to a claim from reliable journalist Amy Lawrence.

The Lowdown: Konate on World Cup duty

Seven Reds players are taking part in the tournament in Qatar, with Konate representing Les Bleus, who as holders are one of the front-runners to lift the trophy.

The 23-year-old has only recently returned from injury but his influence has immediately shone through, especially in the 2-1 victory away to Tottenham, after which Jurgen Klopp said the “outstanding” defender had a “top game”.

It now looks as though Konate could be playing a prominent role for France as well, following a fresh claim.

The Latest: Konate could start for France

Taking to Twitter, Lawrence hinted that the Liverpool defender looks like the favourite to partner Raphael Varane at centre-back in Qatar.

Sharing a corresponding article for The Athletic, she stated:

“France have all sorts of uncertainty at the back ahead of their World Cup defence. So much rests on Varane, who is expected to be fit the first game. Konate is in the frame to partner him in defence.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-35/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Massive chance to shine

This would be a hugely proud moment for Konate if Didier Deschamps does opt to start him, following an injury to Presnel Kimpembe which has ruled him out of the tournament.

It is a wonderful opportunity for the Liverpool youngster to shine on the biggest stage of all, not only enhancing his reputation but also looking to become a world champion at the same time.

[freshpress-quiz id=“398089″]

The 23-year-old showed how much of a titan he can be at the back in the Reds’ win at Spurs a few days ago, winning a mammoth 11 duels against Antonio Conte’s side, the most of anyone on the pitch that day (Sofascore).

Konate may still be young but he is a player who likely won’t be overawed by playing on the world stage, and this could simply be the next pivotal moment in a career which is showing so much promise.

Crystal Palace could be set for an injury blow after Odsonne Edouard was forced off with an injury in last weekend’s game against Southampton.

What’s the word?

The Frenchman scored the only goal of the game at Selhurst Park to earn Patrick Vieira’s side all three points but it seems as if the former Celtic man could now be missing for the game against West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday.

Football.London confirmed yesterday afternoon that the striker would be a doubt for the game against the Hammers due to injury, writing:

“The Frenchman could be absent against West Ham. The striker was forced off 15 minutes from the end last Saturday after picking up a knock.”

Big blow for Palace

Edouard has enjoyed some strong recent form which has seen him contribute three goals and an assist in his last six appearances, so it would undoubtedly be a hefty blow for Vieira if he was missing on Sunday.

Only Wilfried Zaha has more goal contributions in the Eagles’ side this season which emphasises how important the 24-year-old has become in Palace’s side, with Jean-Philippe Mateta very much the second choice in Vieira’s thinking so far this campaign.

Since signing from the Hoops in the summer of 2021, Edouard has made 44 appearances for Palace, contributing ten goals and five assists, but he looks well on track to beat his tally of just six goals and three assists from the entirety of last campaign.

The young striker was certainly prolific during his time in Scotland, hitting 87 goals in 179 appearances for Celtic, which led Neil Lennon to praise him after scoring in a 3-0 win over Hamilton back in 2020.

He said: “He’s scored goals in cup finals, he’s scored goals in big games from the penalty spot and he took it brilliantly today. He looked far more like himself today and I thought he was magnificent. He’s a joy to watch at times, so he’s had a good day as well.”

While Edouard is yet to show that he can be a consistent goalscorer for Palace in the top flight, his recent displays have been very promising and Vieira will no doubt be gutted if he isn’t fit for the game against the Hammers this weekend.