All posts by z3u9t.icu

Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku guarantees goals, says former Manchester City player Paul Stewart.

The Premier League champions are in the market for a new No.9 following Sergio Aguero’s departure and have launched a £100m bid for Tottenham’s Harry Kane, according to Sky Sports.

However, they have also shown interest in Lukaku after a season where the 28-year-old managed to score 30 goals in all competitions.

Ultimately, for Stewart, Lukaku is a player who would definitely bring goals to the Etihad, though he feels Kane should remain the priority.

“Lukaku is guaranteed goals,” the ex-City star told TT when asked if he could see his old side making a move for the Belgium international this summer.

“He’s done it in the Prem. Alright, he didn’t have the best spell at United, but United were going through a spell where it wasn’t just Lukaku, it was the club. He’s proven it now at the Euros that he’s still a more than capable striker. But I think I’d [rather] spend £100m on Harry.”

If City cannot get Kane this summer, when you look at his goal record, Lukaku would obviously be a great alternative.

However, like the England captain, it is going to be hard to get him out of his club. The former Manchester United man has already stated that he plans on staying at Inter.

According to Spanish news source Fichajes, there has been a development as Liverpool eye a January swoop to sign Villarreal attacker Arnaut Danjuma.

The Lowdown: Reds very keen…

As per multiple reports, manager Jurgen Klopp and owners Fenway Sports Group are apparently very keen on the former Bournemouth winger as a transfer target.

Indeed, reliable reporter Fabrizio Romano claims that he is a player Liverpool ‘love’ (Here We Go podcast via Rousing The Kop), while Football Insider revealed in September that the club have set their sights on signing him .

However, despite Romano claiming it could be ‘impossible’ to sign him this window (Here We Go podcast via Football Insider), Fichajes have now come out with some big news.

The Latest: Spanish source shares Danjuma update…

Liverpool boss Klopp has personally identified the Dutchman as a ‘new wish for the winter transfer market’, it is claimed.

The Reds also ‘want to close’ his signing ‘as soon as possible’ with FSG now having a ‘first offer ready’ to tempt his club into selling this month.

This offer, according to Fichajes, is said to be around €45 million (£37.5m).

The Verdict: Exciting update…

Given both star attackers Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are now unavailable for Klopp due to their involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations, this update comes as a potentially exciting bit of news.

Title rivals Manchester City appear to be running away with the Premier League crown as they currently sit 11 points clear of third place Liverpool, meaning the club will need all the help they can get to catch up Pep Guardiola’s side.

Danjuma, who has been in scintillating form for Villarreal this season, could be a fine addition – especially considering only Salah (4) and Mane (3.1) have averaged more shots at goal per 90 than the 24-year-old (3) out of Liverpool’s squad (WhoScored).

Speaking to the Official EFL podcast (via This is Futbol), former Middlesborough defender Jonathan Woodgate called the Netherlands ace an ‘exceptional player’ and we believe he could be a brilliant signing for Klopp if they can get it done in January.

In other news: ‘Wow’, ‘I beg’, ‘Mane + 35 mil’…Liverpool fans go wild as FSG also eye ‘great signing’, find out more here.

A report has now revealed that Newcastle United attempted to sign Cole Palmer on loan ahead of the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Big future

Coming through the ranks at Manchester City, there is no doubt that Palmer has a big future ahead of him.

He has scored goals for fun at youth level, and has since earned call-ups to the senior team, despite being just 19 years of age.

He is a player that Pep Guardiola is especially fond of, having dubbed him ‘exceptional’ and a ‘talent’ with ‘special quality’ when he gets in front of the net (talkSPORT).

However, with the array of talent that City have at their disposal, a loan move away could suit Palmer as he aims to develop quicker by playing more regular football.

The Latest: Attempt rejected

The Athletic have now revealed that the Sky Blues have ‘knocked back’ an attempt from the St. James’ Park faithful to take Palmer on loan for the rest of the season.

Representatives of the North East club ‘suggested’ the idea of a loan deal, but were told that the striker is in Guardiola’s plans for the next few months.

The Verdict: Shame

It is certainly a shame that the Tyneside outfit now look set to miss out on bringing Palmer in, given the circumstances that they currently find themselves in.

A loan move would have suited them, as if the worst case scenario happened and they were to find themselves relegated from the Premier League down to the Championship at the end of the term, then Palmer could have just been sent back to the Etihad Stadium.

Callum Wilson is by far their top scorer this campaign with six goals, and has not really been helped by his fellow strikers.

Nonetheless, Palmer has shown that he knows where the back of the net is, and could have aided Wilson in that sense to get as many goals as needed to stay up.

In other news, find out which ‘world-class’ ace NUFC are now ‘most likely’ to sign here!

Newcastle United are eyeing an ambitious transfer swoop for Bayer Leverkusen starlet Florian Wirtz.

What’s the story?

According to a report from German publication SportBild, the Magpies have joined a number of clubs in keeping a track of the young German, and that they had sent a scout to watch him during Leverkusen’s Bundesliga clash against FC Koln at the weekend.

The report does add however that the 18-year-old is unlikely to leave in the near future, and any potential fee to let him go would be very expensive to say the least.

He’s a massive Almiron upgrade

When Newcastle signed Miguel Almiron from Atlanta United a few years ago for what was then a club record fee, Magpies fans were no doubt hoping that he would come in and add some much-needed goals from midfield.

Instead, the Paraguayan has been a complete let-down with his end product, being a bundle of energy but without any calmness or conviction – in fact, in 100 games for the club, he’s scored just 13 goals and provided only five assists.

On the other hand, Wirtz has proven already in his fledgling career with Leverkusen that he is destined for the big time, already making a major impact for one of the biggest sides in German football.

This season alone has seen him net six goals and set up another six in just 12 games in all competitions, including bagging two in the Europa League and striking against Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga.

It’s no surprise then that plenty of people have delivered some rave reviews, with former teammate Aleksandar Dragovic even comparing him to a current Premier League star.

He said: “The lad has a lot of potential and if he keeps his feet on the ground, he could be another Kai Havertz.”

And, one of his current teammates, Julian Baumgartlinger, added: “He’s really emerged quickly. During the lockdown, he came to first-team training, and you could see he’s a special player even though he’s young.”

As per Whoscored, Wirtz averages significantly more shots, key passes and dribbles per game than Almiron, while his average match rating completely trounces the Newcastle man – 7.58 to a measly 6.54.

With his age and goal-scoring record already – he is the youngest scorer in German top-flight history –  there’s no questioning that Wirtz is not only a major upgrade on Almiron already, but could leave the Paraguay international in the dust in the future.

The starlet valued at a mammoth £127m by CIES could be the poster boy of this Newcastle revolution under PIF.

Meanwhile, Newcastle could get St James’ Park rocking by hiring this man…

Newcastle United are eyeing a move for Leeds United star midfielder Kalvin Phillips this summer according to a report in The Mail.

What’s the story?

The report says that the Magpies are willing to offer Phillips a substantial wage of £125k-p/w which is a colossal £87k more than he is currently on at Elland Road.

It emerges as journalist Mark Douglas reported that the English midfielder is on the shortlist for Newcastle this summer as they look to strengthen their squad greatly in order to compete at the top.

He has become a key player for Leeds and has also shone for his country with Ian Wright labelling him “phenomenal”. Previous reports state that he could cost a jaw-dropping £60m.

He can link up with Bruno

If a move for the 26-year-old proved successful, he could link up with January recruit and fellow midfielder Bruno Guimaraes in the North East.

The Brazilian midfielder arrived from Lyon earlier this year for £37.9m, with the Toon fending off interest from Arsenal to complete the first huge signing under their new ownership.

Phillips has hardly featured for Leeds this season having sustained a hamstring injury at the beginning of December which has seen him miss 19 games for the Whites.

He’s been a big miss which is further proven by their struggles this season, they are currently in a relegation battle and sit nine points clear of the drop zone.

Whether they maintain their Premier League status or not may be a determining factor as to whether Phillips decides to stay.

It’d be harsh to say that he’d be motivated to move to the Toon because of the huge wage increase on offer, but many would argue that his form has proved he deserves the pay rise.

Despite being out through injury he still ranks highly in Europe’s top five leagues when it comes to defensive statistics, ranking in the top 1% for successful pressures.

If he were to partner up with Bruno they would complement each other very well. Whilst Phillips has great defensive skills, Bruno can be a threat going forward.

He ranks in the top 4% across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes and passes into the penalty area compared to those in his position.

Ultimately Phillips would be a great fit for Newcastle, and with the ambitions they have to compete for silverware, it would be hard to turn the opportunity down.

IN other news: NUFC plot bid to sign £31.5m-rated star who’s on “fire”, he could be their own “Salah” – opinion

Some Glasgow Rangers fans have been left buzzing as some news emerged on their game at home to Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

As per the official website of the Ibrox faithful, no Light Blues supporter will be refused entry into the ground, despite it being used as a ‘test event’ by the Scottish government.

This comes after Gers were told that they must show a vaccine certificate if they wish to go into the stadium, and must be fully vaccinated and able to show proof of such, unless they are exempt.

While the restrictions are not ideal for some of the fans, the latest information about not being refused entry has at least lightened the mood of those planning to go to the match tomorrow afternoon.

Rangers fans on Hibernian news

These Light Blues buzzed as the news was shared on Twitter, with one RFC supporter even going as far as to claim that it is ‘fantastic news’:

“Yessss finally!!”

Credit: @laurenrfc96

“Ideal”

Credit: @JordanCowie72

“Fantastic news”

Credit: @sc__morton

“Great news and what a relief for anyone who was concerned about getting in on Sunday”

Credit: @HeartAndHamez

“This is amazing.”

Credit: @BrianSpanner1

“My club”

Credit: @RFCGW

In other news, find out what one pundit has heard about Connor Goldson’s contract here!

West Ham United are keen on signing Luka Jovic this month…

What’s the word?

According to Eurosport, the Irons are considering turning their attention to the Real Madrid striker, who is said to be a long-term target.

It’s claimed that Jovic is not in Carlo Ancelotti’s plans for the new season, so the La Liga giants are prepared to let him leave before the transfer deadline on August 31st.

David Moyes and co have struggled to find a new forward and are desperate to find competition for the injury-prone Michail Antonio.

However, the Hammers face competition for the 23-year-old from at least three Bundesliga sides. It remains to be seen just how much Jovic will command, with both Transfermarkt and CIES Football Observatory valuing him at £18m.

 A statement signing

Whilst the 6-foot Serbian has struggled to make much of an impact at the Bernabeu since a €60m (£50m) move in the summer of 2019, even returning to his former club Frankfurt for a loan spell last season, he would still be quite the coup for the East Londoners.

During the 2018/19 season, Jovic bagged a whopping 27 goals in 48 appearances in all competitions, via Transfermarkt, also striking up quite the partnership with Sebastien Haller, whose own exploits saw him make the switch to the London Stadium.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-west-ham-news-transfer-rumours-the-latest-gossip-and-much-more-3” title= “Read the latest West Ham news, transfer rumours, gossip and much more!”]

His form, particularly that year, earned glowing acclaim from teammate Filip Kostic, who described the talisman as “just unbelievable” to Bundesliga.com.

Furthermore, Jovic has been likened to Radamel Falcao, largely due to his ability to use either foot, as well as his head, to find the net. It’s perhaps why another former teammate, Kevin-Prince Boateng dubbed him a complete striker.

“He has everything to become [a world-class striker]. You see that in training. He has football in his genes, he’s a street footballer, and he has a nose for goal,” Boateng said. “He scores with his head, right or left foot. He is technically good and can shoot well with both feet. He just has everything a striker needs.”

Also lauded as “fast, robust and technically savvy” by Haller, it’s easy to see why Madrid splashed the cash on the 14-cap Serbia international and you could forgive him for not living up to the expectations and pressure that comes with playing for Los Galacticos.

Hammers boss Moyes should absolutely consider a move for Jovic before the end of the month. Given his impressive goalscoring record and experience across Europe, he could be exactly the sort of signing that takes the club.

The self-proclaimed “fox in the box” is well worth a late punt to solve the Scot’s striker nightmare.

AND in other news, Imagine him and Antonio: West Ham must seal move for “special” £31.5m-rated goal machine…

An update has emerged on Newcastle’s transfer plans, regarding Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie…

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Mail, the Magpies are eyeing up a potential swoop for the USA international as Eddie Howe plots his targets ahead of the January transfer window.

The report claims that the Italian giants are open to allowing him to leave on loan, which could allow Newcastle to snap him up for the second half of the season.

New Lewis Cook

Howe managed a number of talented players at Bournemouth and one of them was midfielder Lewis Cook, who was previously named in one of Gareth Southgate’s England squads under the 43-year-old’s management.

In McKennie, he could find his new Cook at the base of his midfield. The 23-year-old has played ten games in the Serie A this season, averaging a WhoScored rating of 6.74, showing the experience that he already has under his belt at the top level. Howe could look to unlock his full potential, given his young age, and mould him into his new midfield sensation.

Former Schalke coach David Wagner lauded the gem’s ability to play in the number six or eight roles in the midfield. He said:

“He’s an outstanding talent. In the No.6 or No.8 position he has the mentality, a real working mentality that you need. And he’s brave on the ball as well.

“He’s also very good in the air and he’s young, so there is a lot more to come but we’re very happy to have him in our team.”

Wagner mentioned McKennie’s hard-working attitude and Howe once lauded Cook’s work rate for the Cherries. He said:

“He was hugely impressive. He’s missed a lot of football but he has done everything right in his recovery. He has put the yards in. I’ve never seen a player run as much as he has.”

This shows how similar the £37k-per-week Juventus beast is to Howe’s midfield protege at the Vitality Stadium, with their ability to play in the deep-lying anchor role whilst working their socks off for their respective sides.

That is why Howe would love to have McKennie in his squad for the second half of the campaign, which is why PIF must now ensure that they can get a deal over the line for him.

AND in other news, Howe could land dream NUFC signing in £91k-p/w dynamo who “dominates the game”…

The Express and Star’s Luke Hatfield has delivered an update on Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings amid speculation linking him with a move to Newcastle United in the January transfer window.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent days have suggested that the newly-minted Magpies will be turning their attentions towards Villa’s club captain, but Hatfield has now played down those links.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “I’d be surprised. Tyrone Mings is obviously a massive player for Aston Villa.”

Could back-fire massively

While Mings has endured a very disappointing start to the Premier League season – so much so that Dean Smith even dropped him from the starting line-up against West Ham – there’s no questioning that when the 28-year-old is on song, he can be a very commanding and authoritative presence at the back.

The defender was one of the stars of England’s run to the final of Euro 2020 over the summer, with former Three Lions centre-back Rio Ferdinand waxing lyrical about him after the first couple of group games.

The ex-Man United stalwart said: “I think he’s done really well in the games. Tyrone Mings has probably been one of the standout players over the first two games.

“I was one of the people who was quite sceptical of him going, let alone playing. But he’s done really well, you have to take your hat off to him. He’s played two games that have probably suited his way of playing. But you’ve still got to put the performance in and he’s done that.”

While the £27m-rated centre-back may not have been at his best this season, it would be a very hasty call by Villa to get rid of him completely, especially to a Premier League rival like Newcastle.

The Magpies find themselves just five points behind Villa and will likely be major players in the transfer market come January. Signing Mings would not only strengthen them, but weaken a team who they feel they could overtake not just this season, but in the years to come too.

Gerrard simply has to keep the 28-year-old away from Newcastle’s clutches and avoid making a mistake which could backfire massively in both the short- and long-term.

Meanwhile, Ashley Preece has revealed what Gerrard has “transformed” at Bodymoor Heath…

Leeds United youngster Lewis Bate could feature for Marcelo Bielsa’s side as early as this season, according to former Whites striker Noel Whelan.

The Lowdown: New season close

Leeds enjoyed a superb first year back in the Premier League in 2020/21, finishing ninth in the table and producing lots of eye-catching football.

The aim now is for Bielsa’s men to build on that achievement, pushing towards the European places instead of going backwards.

[freshpress-quiz id=“359346″]

The Latest: Pundit tips Bate to feature

One player who has been tipped to feature at some point next season is young midfielder Bate, who joined from Chelsea earlier this week.

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan claimed the midfielder could be given his Leeds bow sooner rather than later:

“I think there’s opportunities for everybody to break in. I do think midfield players right now is an area where, you know, we are a little bit sparse on. We could have more competition in that area of the field.

“He’s playing under-23s football despite his age. That’s probably a lot more difficult than the under-18s. It’s a lot stronger with bigger players that you’re up against. The fact that he can hold his ground there shows real promise.

“This season might be a little bit too much of a stretch but we could very much see him next season.

“Once you’ve got to know the club, the players around him and got used to the system, you’ll know what it’s like to play at Leeds United.

“There’s an absolutely massive opportunity there for everybody in that under-23 squad, to maybe progress through this season, especially in cup competitions.

“We could get a glimpse of these young stars that could be playing for the first team year in the next year so.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-10/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Is he ready?

At 18, Bate is clearly still a young player learning his trade, but it would be hugely encouraging to see him given some minutes by Bielsa.

As Whelan says, it would be a surprise if he was used in the league too regularly, although central midfield is arguably one of the Whites’ less well-stocked areas of the pitch so he, like a few of Leeds’ other youngsters, may get a chance to prove themselves in cup games.

Over time, Bate could feature prominently, but for now, the odd appearance in the cup competitions would be ideal for him as he continues his development.

In other news, Leeds are reportedly closing in on a move for one player – find out who it is here.