All posts by n8rngtd.top

Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League action tonight as they look to bounce back from last weekend’s disappointing defeat against Manchester United.

Jose Mourinho’s side make the trip to Everton knowing that a defeat could see them leapfrogged in the table, and that would all but end their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

Spurs, once again, were victims of their own downfall, with defensive mistakes continuing a worrying trend in north London. They have now dropped 18 points from winning positions – had they held onto all ot them, they’d now be sitting in second place behind Manchester City.

And after a surprise recall to the side last time out, it’s time for Mourinho to axe Serge Aurier from the starting XI once again because he instantly proved that he doesn’t warrant a spot from the off.

On the Chalkboard

Japhet Tanganga excelled against Aston Villa before the international break, keeping a clean sheet after the club had endured a tough week in losing to both Arsenal and then Zagreb in the Europa League.

The 21-year-old gem wasn’t at fault for either of Newcastle’s two strikes up at St James’ Park either, so his absence last Sunday was a little perplexing.

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It then became even more baffling as the game went on, as Aurier was a total calamity against the threats of Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes and Edinson Cavani.

Speaking on Sky Sports throughout their Super Sunday coverage, Roy Keane didn’t hold back in his verdict of the Ivorian right-back, he said (via Football Daily):

“He’s got a rick in him. He has caused loads of problems. I have described him as a bit of a car crash. Nice powerful boy, [he] keeps going forward but defensively, I think he doesn’t smell danger or see the danger. And that’s been a huge problem for Spurs, the right-back position.”

Of course, this isn’t the first time that Aurier’s performances have been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.

In the past, he has been dubbed a “liability” by former Spurs striker Darren Bent and even Mourinho himself admitted that he was scared of his defending (in more colourful terms) during Amazon’s ‘All or Nothing’ docuseries last year.

The Toffees have a very lethal frontline, namely Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has bagged 19 goals this campaign, which has put him firmly as England’s second choice behind Kane going into this summer’s European Championship.

On Aurier’s side is likely to be Richarlison, who has long been a nuisance. He’s been fouled 2.4 times per 90 minutes in the league this season. Given Spurs’ £18m-rated defender commits 1.4 fouls per 90, it could be a recipe for disaster.

Not to mention the prospects of also facing Lucas Digne and James Rodriguez, too.

If Mourinho starts Aurier against Everton tonight, then Carlo Ancelotti could well target his side as a weakness and as a result, the former PSG star could well get absolutely terrorised.

AND in other news, Bye-bye Lamela? Spurs could land bargain in “child prodigy” rated by Eriksen…

David Moyes must convince Manuel Lanzini to consider taking a pay cut in order to leave West Ham United in the summer, after Noel Whelan expressed concerns of a deal falling through.

Lanzini is reportedly eager to pursue the next stage of his career away from the London Stadium after struggling to establish himself under Moyes, and has been linked with clubs in Turkey and the Middle East.

West Ham are not expected to stand in the way of their Argentine playmaker, either, with the Hammers likely to look to move Lanzini on in a permanent deal for the third-straight window after setting a £15m asking price in January.

Lanzini has only started three of his 14 Premier League appearances and been left among the unused substitutes on 15 occasions this term, including eight of the Irons’ last 13 games.

Andre Villas-Boas was keen to sign Lanzini during the winter market but was denied by the Olympique de Marseille leadership, while Paris Saint-Germain were previously claimed to have shown an interest in the 28-year-old before Moyes blocked a Deadline Day deal.

And Whelan expects the Hammers will now struggle to find a suitor for Lanzini at the end of the season, as the five-cap maestro will still have two years to run on his lucrative £70,000-per-week contract.

“Look, I mean, it’s not easy with the epidemic. Clubs have lost money,” Whelan told Football Insider. “It’s not an easy one to get players out and command wages. Everyone’s trying to make a cut to keep their financial system and status in as happy a way as possible.

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“That might mean they can’t pay out big wages to players that are already on big contracts. It’s not going to be an easy one to force players out of a club or find suitable buyers that have that amount of money that will match the players’ expectations.”

Whelan’s concerns are well placed, with market analyst KPMG claiming earlier in the year that 20 of Europe’s biggest clubs had lost in excess of €1bn (£863m) as a result of the pandemic, while around 10% had been taken off the average value of players.

With fans still locked out of stadiums, clubs will have continued to lose millions in gate revenue, which could see West Ham and Lanzini struggle to find a side willing to pay both what the Irons will request and a salary that the midfielder feels he deserves.

If Lanzini does want to pursue an adventure away from the London Stadium after spending the campaign on the fringes of Moyes’ plans, particularly after the mid-season arrival and form of Manchester United loanee Jesse Lingard, he may face some tough decisions.

One of those will undoubtedly be his wage and Moyes may have to step in to urge the 28-year-old to accept a pay cut in order to play regular football again, with the Hammers keen to retain Lingard long-term.

Signing Lingard on a permanent deal would all but slam the door shut for Lanzini to regain a prominent role in east London, where he has scored 22 times and offered 23 assists in 154 games across all competitions since his initial arrival on loan from Al-Jazira.

But as only one of his goals and three of his assists have come this season, Lanzini has become a “luxury” player in the opinion of Franck McAvennie – one that Moyes needs to see West Ham move on from when the campaign draws to a close.

AND in other news, West Ham have been rocked by a double injury blow ahead of hosting Chelsea…

Everton have been dealt a potentially huge blow in their pursuit of Max Aarons after Daniel Farke questioned why the defender would leave Norwich City.

What’s the word?

Via quotes by The Pink Un, Farke has insisted that he can only see Aarons leaving Carrow Road at the end of the season to join one of Europe’s elite clubs after Norwich clinched their return to the Premier League.

Aarons has been heavily linked with a potential move to Everton this summer with Carlo Ancelotti on the hunt for his long-term Seamus Coleman successor, and is reportedly keen on a move to Goodison Park.

But a deal for the right-back is expected to cost any suitor around £30m, which the Toffees are reluctant to pay despite believing Aarons has the potential to deliver a similar impact to that seen from Ben Godfrey since he made the move from Norfolk in October.

Aarons has previously been linked with Manchester United and Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich. FC Barcelona also explored a deal last year and agreed personal terms with the England U21 international, but Norwich blocked the loan transfer due to the lack of an obligation to buy.

Farke is adamant that it is those sort of clubs Aarons should be striving to join, otherwise it would be a mistake to leave Norwich where he is loved and trusted by staff, teammates and fans.

“If I walk in his shoes it makes no sense to travel to a different club where he might be able to earn a few more pounds,” the Canaries boss said. “In the end, it makes no sense to move to a club in Germany or Spain who play for position 10 in the table or right here a team in England playing for position 14.

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“My gut feeling is it makes no sense at his age to move somewhere where he is a backup. For me, he has the potential and quality to play for the best clubs in the world. Either a top club in England or a top-four club in Germany or Spain.”

Should Everton sign Norwich’s Aarons?

Farke’s comments will likely come as a huge blow to Everton amid their rumoured interest in Aarons, as the Norwich right-back will no doubt be considering the same topics as his head coach mentioned when he assesses his situation at the end of the season.

Aarons would be foolish not to consider whether he will be the starter or not at whichever side he plays for next term, and will be certain to have his choice of suitors with West Ham United the latest club to be linked with David Moyes planning for the Irons’ future.

Tottenham Hotspur are also said to be interested, despite the sacking of Jose Mourinho, while AS Roma weighed up an approach in January for the 21-year-old who has been a fixture of Farke’s plans as Norwich sealed their immediate return to the top-flight.

Ancelotti would be gutted to miss out on Aarons to one of the Toffees’ various rival suitors by failing to offer him the first-choice position at Goodison Park ahead of Coleman next season, despite the 32-year-old proving he can still offer a lot with his recent performances.

What will be of comfort to the Italian is that Fabrizio Romano has claimed Everton are leading the race and hope to reach an agreement soon after holding advanced negotiations with Norwich, who are expected to keep to an agreement with Aarons that he will be sold.

The Canaries allegedly told Aarons – who Alex McLeish feels would be an “excellent” replacement for Coleman – that he could leave Carrow Road in 2021 if he stayed for the current season, it just remains to be seen if he still wishes to leave or join the Toffees.

AND in other news, Everton have been urged to sign a £30m star who “doesn’t have limits” despite Carlo Ancelotti’s concerns…

Former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips is delighted after Lee Johnson revealed that Dion Sanderson should be available for the League One play-offs.

Phillips delighted with Johnson’s Sanderson claim

The 21-year-old has been an important player for the Black Cats so far this season, playing 26 times in League One (Transfermarkt).

Unfortunately, he has missed the last three games with injury, and there were fears that he would not be available to play between now and the end of his loan spell. However, Johnson has revealed that the youngster should be available for the end of the campaign (Chronicle Live), and speaking to Football Insider, Phillips shared his delight at this news. The man affectionately known as ‘Super Kev’ said:

“Sanderson has been an amazing player for them this season in the heart of the defence.

“If he was back for the play-offs it would be a huge boost for Sunderland and for the player himself.

“He will be gutted watching Sunderland struggling at the moment. You can see that the defence is not the same without him.

“If they can get him back for the play-offs it would be a big boost. They are going to go into the play-offs a little disappointed because three or four weeks ago they were looked like they were nailed on to go up automatically.

“Mentally, to have him come back would be a big boost for everyone.”

Important

Sanderson has been a crucial player this season, especially since Johnson took over from Phil Parkinson in the dugout. In the 26 matches in which he has appeared in the third tier, Sunderland have lost on just four occasions – without him at the back, it is hard to see how they would have been able to mount a promotion challenge.

No wins in five (Sky Sports) has meant that the Wearside outfit will likely have to make do with a place in the play-offs. It’s not what they will have wanted, of course, but it still gives them a chance to go up to the Championship, and having Sanderson back will give them a far better chance of doing just that. It’s no surprise that Phillips is thrilled with Johnson’s encouraging update on the youngster.

In other news, many Sunderland fans react to this club statement.

Kevin Phillips has claimed that Raphinha will not play for Leeds United again this season after Marcelo Bielsa’s latest injury update.

The Argentine confirmed on Thursday morning that the 24-year-old would not be available for their game at Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League this weekend, which the Whites lost 2-0, and admitted that it is ‘difficult to give a prognosis’ on when he could return.

Raphinha has been suffering from an internal hematoma, and speaking to Football Insider, Phillips has boldly claimed that the 24-year-old’s season is over. He said:

“I don’t think it’s worth the risk.

“Internal hematoma, that’s a blood clot. You have to be very, very careful with those. Why risk him? They are not in any danger of going down.

“You want to finish as high as you can but they’ve already shown this season that they can perform without some of their top players.

“So why rush it? You could potentially mess him up further. I don’t see the logic there. 

“If the manager’s come out and said it’s more serious than we thought then you kind of have to say his season is done, get yourself ready for next season.”

Raphinha a big loss to Leeds

Raphinha has certainly emerged as one of Leeds’ key players over the course of the campaign, and if he were to miss the final few games, it would be a big loss for the Whites.

The Brazilian has tormented defences at times, with his compatriot Fred hailing him as “a standout star player for Leeds” prior to Manchester United’s recent visit to Elland Road.

Raphinha has averaged the most key passes (2.1), dribbles (1.9), crosses (1.3) out of all of his teammates so far in the Premier League, contributing a respectable six goals and six assists in the process (Whoscored).

The winger is clearly an important player for the Whites, and they will be hoping that he can return at some point before the end of the season despite Phillips’ ominous claim.

In other news, Leeds are prepared to pay a club-record fee for this player!

Football FanCast broke the news exclusively on Wednesday evening that Everton’s priority in the upcoming transfer window was to sign a right midfielder.

With Theo Walcott and Bernard linked with the exit door, it would leave the Toffees a little short in wide areas.

With that in mind, we’ve focused upon viable solutions to Everton’s problem this summer.

Amazing Antony

One player who Everton should look to sign is dazzling Ajax winger Antony. The Brazilian became the most expensive signing in Eredivise history last year when he penned terms on a deal from Sao Paulo that was worth in the region of €28.8m (£24.9m).

South American’s sometimes struggle to make an immediate impact on European shores but he has been electric for the Dutch giants since arriving. Antony has nine goals and ten assists this season, proving to be a superb replacement for Hakim Ziyech who left for Chelsea.

There is a lot to like about the 21-year-old’s game, and if Everton does sign him, he could be game-changing for a certain Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

The striker has been imperious throughout the current campaign and now has 20 goals in all competitions. A tremendous header of the ball, he could prosper from the rate at which Antony creates opportunities to score.

The Brazil youth international is a classic inside forward. Playing on the right-hand side, he takes the ball inside with his left foot before playing a deep cross towards the back post. Throughout 2020/21, Antony has completed 5.21 crosses per 90 minutes.

That ranks him as one of the best crossers in the whole of Dutch football, ranking at just over 96% out of 100. This could be an absolute dream for Calvert-Lewin, an attacker who has scored seven of his 15 league goals this season with his head.

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When it comes to chance creation, there are few inside forwards better than Antony in the Netherlands. The youngster is ranked over 96% again for key passes; 1.21 per 90 minutes.

Hailing from Brazil, you’d expect him to be a tricky winger and that’s exactly the danger with which he’d provide Carlo Ancelotti at Everton. Blessed with captivating energy and speed, he completes 4.77 dribbles per 90 minutes, which puts his percentage rank at 93.6%.

This type of attribute is duly backed up by analysis on Dutch television show Veronica Insider. Wim Kieft commented: “I think this boy is so good. He’s also very young. What I like to see about him is that he uses his speed. He often comes in where he has doubts, but if there is room and he leaves, then he cannot be stopped. It also has a time control over the speed. In addition to being talented, he also has power in his game.”

His colleague Johan Derksen added. “As a left-back you have sleepless nights if you have to play against him the next day. If he has any space, he’ll wipe you out of the game altogether. These other Ajax players only offered themselves so close to him that there really was no way to go.”

Antony is a captivating individual, someone whose key attacking attributes are some of the most impressive around. He is ranked at 95.2% out of 100 for assists per 90 and 92% for goals per 90 minutes.

He’d be perfect for Calvert-Lewin and the entire Toffees squad, and they must consider him in a few months’ time.

AND in other news, Everton must swoop for £250k-p/w gem Ancelotti dubbed “dangerous”…

If last night’s 4-0 win for Celtic was the only Hoops game that incoming manager Eddie Howe had ever seen, it’s likely Ryan Christie would be part of the club’s future.

Sorry folks, but the Scot actually looked much improved while playing in a central position for the Bhoys on Wednesday evening.

In fact, Celtic as a whole looked a lot more promising. The Glaswegian’s have endured a torrid season but on Scott Brown’s farewell to Paradise, they put in a performance the midfield veteran would be proud of.

John Kennedy’s men swept aside St Johnstone 4-0 in a clash that for once, put a smile back on the player’s faces.

Brown may not have been lifting the Premiership title but there were plenty of positives on Wednesday to think that a brighter future is possible at Celtic.

The fact Christie even stood out said a lot.

The Scotland international has had a torrid campaign and has been relentlessly hounded by members of the Green Brigade for his shooting.

With James Forrest out injured for such a long period of time, the attacker was forced to play in a wide position, away from his favoured area centrally.

Last season Christie produced 20 goals and 16 assists but 2020/21 has been incredibly unkind to him. The 26-year-old has scored just seven times in comparison and has only found the net twice in his last 23 league outings.

That said, when afforded the chance to play through the middle against St Johnstone, he took the opportunity with aplomb.

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Christie’s goal drought wasn’t ended but alongside David Turnbull in midfield – someone who did find the net – he looked incredibly comfortable.

There will be tougher and sterner tests to come but Christie was one of Celtic’s most important players.

The vast majority of the play came through him with the attacking midfielder having more touches (126) than any other player on the field. Meanwhile, Christie’s tally of 97 passes was only third to the centre-back pairing of Stephen Welsh and Kristoffer Ajer.

Keen as ever to get on the ball and make things happen, the Scot provided three key passes; the same number as James Forrest and one fewer than Turnbull.

Christie has been torn apart this term but instead of looking to score from impossible positions on the field, he looked to create more for his teammates on Wednesday. The fact he picked up his fourth assist in his last seven games was a testament to that.

It’s hard to suggest his performance was out of this world but judging by some of the other displays we’ve seen from him this term, it was a great improvement.

If Christie is in the shop window ahead of a potential summer move, he will have done his cause no harm here.

AND in other news, McKay must wield the axe on 5ft9 Celtic dud, Sutton dubbed him the “new Ryan Christie”…

Leeds United are reportedly keen on signing Cagliari midfielder Nahitan Nandez this summer, looking to prise him away from the Serie A side.

The Lowdown: Reinforcements needed this summer

The Whites’ excellent season continued on Saturday afternoon, with Marcelo Bielsa’s side cruising to an emphatic 4-0 win away to Burnley.

Despite Leeds’ brilliance in 2020/21, there may be a need for new signings this summer in order for the team to continue its upward trajectory.

The Latest: Leeds keen on signing Nandez

One player who has been linked with a move to Elland Road is Nandez, with the 35-cap Uruguay international making 30 league starts this season, registering two goals and two assists.

According to Corriere dello Sport [via Sport Witness], Leeds are still believed to be interested in the 25-year-old, for whom Cagliari will demand €25m (£21.55m).

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The Verdict: A shrewd acquisition

Midfield is one area of the pitch that the Whites could improve ahead of next season, with Kalvin Phillips needing a tailor-made rival in his role.

Nandez could be that man, playing one key pass per game to Phillips’ 1.2 this season, as well as enjoying 1.2 dribbles to the England international’s 0.7, suggesting he is arguably a little more expansive on the ball than the 25-year-old.

Increased squad depth could hold the key to Bielsa’s team pushing towards the European places next season, so having Phillips and Nandez battling for a place in the starting XI, or playing together at times, could be something for Leeds fans to anticipate eagerly if they secure the Cagliari midfielder.

In other news, a former Leeds hero has tipped the Whites to move for a Scottish Premiership star this summer. Find out who it is here.

Speaking to Sky Sports (via Football Daily), Spanish football journalist Alvaro Montero has shared news involving Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane – with Barcelona not prioritising a move for the striker and Man City now favourites to sign him. 

The Lowdown: Kane exit saga underway…

After Sky Sports broke the news that Kane has reiterated his desire to leave north London, many Premier League clubs have been linked with a swoop for the superstar hitman.

This includes the likes of City, Manchester United and Chelsea on the domestic scene – with chairman Daniel Levy remaining firm on his Kane stance this summer.

Sky believe that Levy values him at ‘well over’ £120 million and any club who wants to sign him will have to invest heavily in a very difficult financial climate.

The Latest: Journalist shares news involving Kane

Speaking to Sky and sharing his information on the saga, journalist Montero has effectively ruled out Barca as serious contenders for Kane’s signature this summer.

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“After asking, I believe that Harry Kane is not the priority number one of Barcelona,” he explained (via Football Daily).

“Once you ask inside the club, the feeling inside Barcelona is that Harry Kane is going to stay in the Premier League.

“Here in Spain, we are talking about Manchester City as the next team.”

The Verdict: Bad news for Spurs…

Ideally, if Kane is to leave north London at all, Lilywhites supporters will surely want him to move abroad in his quest to win silverware.

Manchester City being touted as the favourites for Kane could present a problem for fans who don’t want him leaving to a rival – especially given City are one of the only clubs in world football who could probably afford his sky high valuation.

As per this development, it appears the 27-year-old’s likelihood of choosing a move abroad has just grown that little bit slimmer.

The only hope for Spurs supporters may be Paris-Saint Germain due to their backing, especially given the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona are suffering from crippling financial problems.

Could Mauricio Pochettino have a say in stopping Tottenham’s rivals from snatching Kane away this summer?

In other news: Spurs now eyeing this Kane replacement from a Premier League rival, find out more here.

Noel Whelan has urged Glasgow Rangers to sign Lewis Ferguson from Aberdeen this summer.

The Lowdown: Ferguson wants Dons exit

Earlier this week, the youngster handed in a transfer request at Pittodrie (BBC) and therefore seems eager to move on to bigger and better things this summer.

The Gers have been linked with a move for his services, with sources believing that the 21-year-old would be keen to make the switch to Ibrox.

The Latest: Whelan urges Gers to make signing

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan has urged the Gers to sign the midfielder this summer. When asked if the 55-time Premiership champions could blow away their rivals in the race to capture the Scotland under-21 international, the 46-year-old said:

“Yeah, absolutely. Again, getting a player at a good age for the future. For Rangers, this is what they’re looking to build now.

“It’s all about longevity now for Rangers. Keeping what they’ve got and making it even stronger.

“Going into the transfer market to take, probably, one of the best young players in the Scottish Premiership would be a massive coup for Rangers.”

The Verdict: Enticing

Ferguson has enjoyed a good career so far at Aberdeen. In 138 senior games in all competitions, he has managed 21 goals and 27 assists, while also picking up 11 Scotland caps at under-21 level (Transfermarkt). He is clearly ready to take the next step in his career, as there is only so much he can achieve with his current employers.

Aberdeen have revealed that they received an “insulting” offer from an English club (Herald Scotland). That is believed to be Watford, with the fee said to be around £2m (The Scottish Sun) – Dons legend Willie Miller has said it would take at least £4m to prise him away (Evening Express).

Such a sum would represent a decent outlay for the Gers, but Ferguson may well be worth every penny given his fledgling talent.

In other news, many Rangers fans are livid at this article from The Times.