All posts by z3u9t.icu

With star defender Virgil van Dijk having been ruled out for the majority of the season, Jurgen Klopp will surely be keen to have him back as soon as possible.

That is completely understandable considering the Dutchman’s immense influence at Anfield and the dramatic way in which the Reds have collapsed without him in the side this season.

With van Dijk taking “another step closer” towards being fully recovered, there was fleeting hope that he may be able to take part in the closing months of the season, but bringing him back far too soon could destroy Liverpool’s season and future campaigns even more.

According to orthopaedic surgeon Bas Pijnenburg, it would be a “considerable risk” for Van Dijk to return in any capacity this season.

Should he suffer another recurrence of the injury or indeed another problem, this would once again rule out Liverpool’s best centre-back, possibly for an even greater period of time.

Since signing for the Reds from Southampton in 2017, van Dijk has played 130 games, winning 92. This gives him a hugely impressive 70% win percentage when appearing. However, without the Dutchman, this drops sharply to just 52%.

Whilst the club will not want that poor record to continue this season by any stretch of the imagination, Klopp will simply not want this drop off in form to spill into next season at any cost should Van Dijk be ruled out again.

With just the UEFA Champions League left for the Merseysiders to feasibly win during the current campaign, it surely makes no sense to rush Van Dijk back and risk yet more damage.

After all, should he get injured once more then Liverpool will be back to where they started, putting unnecessary strain on an already threadbare position within their squad.

Despite Van Dijk being labelled as “unbelievable” by Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson, it is best for the £180k per week defender to be kept under wraps until next season.

AND in more news, read which relegation-threatened star could be the perfect replacement for Georginio Wijnaldum at Anfield…

Plenty of Crystal Palace fans have been reacting to an update regarding left-back Patrick van Aanholt on social media.

According to the Daily Mail, Turkish giants Galatasaray have offered the 30-year-old a three-year deal.

Van Aanholt’s current Palace deal expires at the end of the season, and it seems as if Galatasaray’s proposal could see the Dutch defender earn more than his current £55,000-a-week Eagles pay packet.

The former Sunderland man has been with Palace since a £9.45m move back in 2017 and has turned out on 130 occasions for the club during that time.

He’s only started 17 Premier League games this season, though, with youngster Tyrick Mitchell battling van Aanholt for a place in Roy Hodgson’s XI in recent months.

Palace fans react

@cpfc_xtra shared the Daily Mail’s report on Twitter on Monday afternoon. Their post received plenty of interaction, with these supporters not too worried over a Selhurst Park exit for the full-back.

“Seems ideal for everyone if he takes that tbh”

Credit: @Phillyconcarne

“I reckon he’s off then. He’ll do his thing there the style of football suits him better, he’ll play European football & get a pay rise.”

Credit: @diyar_kurnaz

“Sounds a great deal which I doubt we can match”

Credit: @StevofY

“Not bothered either way, wouldn’t break the bank to keep him.”

Credit: @SLN100

“Take it and go. You’re all over the place as a defender.”

Credit: @bellabiteme

“That’s great news for Patrick, the reality is that he is 31 and on big wages, it could well make sense for both club and player, if he goes then it should be with best wishes..”

Credit: @grovesymarmotte

In other news: Palace make enquiry for internaional midfielder on big money, find out more here. 

Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing up a move for Sevilla colossus Diego Carlos this summer, according to Spanish newspaper La Razon.

It’s claimed that Jose Mourinho has pushed the Spurs hierarchy to make a move for the 6 foot 1 Brazilian ahead of the transfer window, though he’s thought to have a whopping €75m (£64m) release clause.

However, Davinson Sanchez could be made available to send in the other direction to sweeten negotiations.

The search for a new centre-back shouldn’t come as a surprise after the ever-reliable Alasdair Gold at football.london revealed that the arrival of a new defensive leader was Spurs’ top priority going into next season.

Many names have surfaced since then, including former target Milan Skriniar, Fulham loan sensation Joachim Andersen, and Brighton veteran Lewis Dunk.

Carlos is a rather intriguing option, not at least because of his ties to current Spurs star Sergio Reguilon, who joined from Real Madrid in the summer.

The 24-year-old left wing-back has excelled in the English capital as one of Mourinho’s star performers, with three assists (only better by two players) and an average rating of 6.89, as per WhoScored.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-this-weeks-april-latest-spurs-news-transfer-rumours-and-more” title=”Read this week’s latest Spurs news, April transfer rumours and more!”]

But this form is a mere continuation from his sparkling exploits on loan to Sevilla last season, where he thrived alongside Carlos at the back. Indeed, the duo formed a formidable partnership.

In 35 appearances together, the La Liga outfit lost only four games, with a win rate of 65.7%. The pair played five times on their way to clinching the Europa League trophy, including in the final, where they defeated Inter Milan 3-2, as per Transfermarkt.

Carlos contributed towards 21 clean sheets throughout the campaign too, keeping the likes of Edin Dzeko, Raul Jimenez, and Barcelona’s frontline of Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi silent.

It’s no wonder he has been nicknamed the “beast,” and this has been reverberated by Spanish football expert Domagoj Kostanjsak, who told the Liverpool ECHO’s podcast that the £45m-rated defender is “built like a tank” and that he’s “not called ‘the beast’ for nothing.”

Carlos and Reguilon evidently struck up a lethal partnership at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, and that’s something that Daniel Levy must recreate at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Mourinho has been dealing with individual errors and defensive mistakes all season despite having the third-tightest backline in the Premier League, so pairing two players that have that proven track record together could be a game-changer for Spurs.

Levy must sanction this deal, whatever the price.

AND in other news, Forget Nagelsmann: Spurs should appoint “unbelievable” 48 y/o gem next…

Former Scottish Premiership striker Noel Whelan believes that Eddie Howe fits the profile to become the next permanent manager of Celtic.

Howe to Parkhead?

Neil Lennon recently resigned after his second stint in the hot seat – leaving the Hoops well adrift of rivals Rangers in the standings.

But the former Bournemouth boss has been heavily linked as a target for the Bhoys and was described as “incredible” by Bournemouth legend Brett Pitman after leaving the Vitality Stadium last summer.

Howe famously guided the Cherries all the way from English League Two to the Premier League in the space of six seasons, in what was a remarkable rise to stardom for the South Coast side.

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan insisted that Howe would be the man to bring the best of the Hoops’ talented players.

When asked if Howe is the right man for the job, he said: “Yeah, absolutely. Thank god. Thank god someone has actually seen sense.

“I think a change of direction, a change of style. Fresh ideas is what I’ve been saying at Celtic. I think the players will become better players with Eddie Howe there.

“I’m surprised that no one’s taken a little chip at him yet outside of Scotland. I’m very happy if that’s the direction they’re looking.

“I think that’s the right direction with Celtic. I think he’s a fantastic manager, great ideas. He’s fresh, he’s very intelligent and he’s got that know-how with younger players as well.

“He’s not that old himself. He knows how to man-manage players, he knows how to get the best out of players. I think that would be a great move for Celtic if they can get it signed, sealed and delivered.”

Transfer Tavern Verdict

Not only has Howe got an impressive CV, but he has also proved himself to be an inspirational figure, despite suffering relegation from England’s top flight last season.

However, whether Celtic need more than just a psychological lift, remains to be seen. But with reports suggesting that mass changes are due to take place at the end of the season, the stage could be set for Howe to work his magic.

That said, we doubt that a decision will be made on the manager until the new chief executive Dominic McKay comes in.

In other news, Kieran Maguire believes key Celtic board member should be axed on one condition.

Liverpool are reportedly looking at signing West Ham centre-back Issa Diop this month following the injuries to Joel Matip and Fabinho earlier this week, and if he were to rediscover some of his old form, then he could prove to be a strong addition to Jurgen Klopp’s squad.

What’s the word?

According to The Athletic, Liverpool have enquired about taking the Frenchman on loan this month, as they look to add defensive reinforcements to their side.

However, it also suggests that any potential loan deal would likely include an obligation to buy for £20 million, due to the close proximity of the two clubs in the Premier League table.

A replacement for Matip?

If he were to join the Reds on a permanent deal, then he could well prove to be a long-term replacement for Matip in this Liverpool side, with the Cameroon international’s injury problems having caused frustration in his time with the club, none more so than this season, when he has regularly been sidelined at a time where Klopp needed him to stay fit.

Since joining West Ham from Toulouse in 2018 for a club-record £22 million, the defender has gone on to make 78 appearances for West Ham, contributing five goals and one assist.

After making 32 appearances in the top-flight last season, Diop has struggled to establish himself in the Hammer side this season, having made just four appearances in the Premier League.

The Frenchman has slipped down the pecking order in David Moyes’ side as a result of the strong form they have enjoyed with Craig Dawson and Angelo Ogbonna at the back.

The defender’s performances in the 2018/19 season suggested that he could be a star of the future in this West Ham side but his performances have declined ever since.

However, if Klopp could get the best out of him, he could prove to be a solid addition to his side, especially in the current defensive crisis, where the German manager is desperate for some experience at the back.

Back in 2019, Jose Mourinho was full of praise for Diop after he impressed against his Manchester United side, saying:

“(He had a) fantastic match. Congratulations to the scout that found a 21-year-old kid Diop – a monster who dominated in the duels.”

Therefore, considering Diop is just 24-years-old, it could be worth the risk for Michael Edwards to bring him to Anfield this month, especially if he can produce those sorts of performances on a more regular basis under Klopp’s tutelage.

And, in other news… Edwards swoop for 6 ft 2 beast with a “big voice” would leave both Klopp and FSG satisfied

According to Football Insider, Glasgow Rangers star Alfredo Morelos is likely to be sold this summer, with Steven Gerrard’s side banking at least £15m from the striker’s potential sale.

What’s the word?

Morelos has been nothing short of a revelation for Rangers since joining the club from HJK Helsinki on a three-year deal in 2017.

Since his debut, he has scored 90 goals, recording a further 42 assists, in 171 appearances across all competitions during his time in Scotland and has already broken Ally McCoist’s European goalscoring record this season.

The 24-year-old had apparently made up his mind to leave Rangers last year and his desire to leave the Light Blues was no secret in the summer.

However, Rangers refused to sell their prized asset, and the centre-forward has continued his fine form in the Europa League, racking up three goals and six assists in eight appearances in the competition this season.

Football Insider claims this would in turn significantly increase his market value if he can continue to repeat his Europa League exploits for the remainder of the campaign.

His stats suggest he should be able to do this, given his excellent goal record for Rangers, having made 33 appearances this season with 13 goals and 12 assists to show for his 27 starts.

Good news for Ross Wilson?

Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson has developed a reputation as one of the most successful negotiators in the transfer market, and his handling of this ongoing transfer saga should only reinforce that view.

It seems Morelos is now worth at least £15m, showing Rangers have benefited from refusing to sell him in the summer, as this figure could rise between now and the end of this season.

Reports at the time revealed French Ligue 1 leaders Lille were apparently only willing to offer €15m (£13m) plus €2m (£1.8m) in add-ons for the Colombia international, which was swiftly rebuffed by the 54-time Scottish champions.

With Rangers posting an annual loss of £15.9m in their most recent financial report, selling a top-class centre-forward for such a huge amount of money would make perfect business sense.

Wilson, therefore, should be praised for making the most of the situation and maximising the value of an unsettled player potentially set to depart Ibrox this summer.

AND in other news, Nathan Patterson earns shot at redemption amid James Tavernier injury blow…

Former Premier League striker Marlon Harewood has given his backing to Crystal Palace forward Christian Benteke in an exclusive interview with Football FanCast.

Benteke has had some difficult spells during his time at Selhurst Park, enduring campaigns where finding the back of the net proved to be a huge challenge.

Last season, the 30-year-old only managed to score two goals in the Premier League as Palace went on to finish in 14th place. His numbers the season prior do not make for good reading either, with Benteke only managing to score once.

Despite his struggles, Harewood has hailed the Belgium international, stressing just how difficult it can be to lead the line. Speaking exclusively to FFC, the ex-West Ham and Aston Villa No.9 said:

“As a striker it’s so hard really because you’re there to score goals. And if you’re not getting that, that’s what you’re judged on. Benteke is a very, very good player when he gets given the service, so it’s just very hard for him as a striker.”

Speaking on Benteke further, Harewood added: “I think he’s a top-class player and hopefully he gets back to his [old] form.”

It has been quite the decline since the 2016/17 Premier League campaign, where Benteke was excellent. He scored 15 goals that term as he reminded English football of his ability after enduring a hard time at Liverpool.

Benteke’s £120,000-a-week contract expires in the summer, so it will be interesting to see what happens regarding his future at Selhurst Park, especially if manager Roy Hodgson, whose contract is also set to expire, ends up departing. The 73-year-old has constantly backed the former Villa striker during his time in south London.

Manchester City cruised into the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 3-0 win against Birmingham City on Sunday afternoon.

Two goals from Bernardo Silva and one from Phil Foden in the first-half did the damage for the Citizens, who were rarely troubled by the Championship strugglers.

Whilst the Portuguese winger will pick up a lot of the plaudits for his display, and two goals, against Aitor Karanka’s side, the performance of Kyle Walker should not go unnoticed.

The Englishman was playing for the first time since recovering from the current viral outbreak and featured in an unfamiliar centre-back role in the first-half, but he was superb throughout the game.

As per SofaScore, the former Tottenham Hotspur man picked up a 7.5 rating for his display, with only Kevin De Bruyne, Silva and Foden rated higher.

The 30-year-old also enjoyed a staggering 133 touches during the game, completing 111/117 passes, which resulted in a hugely impressive 95% pass accuracy.

He also contributed one key pass, whilst five of his seven long balls found a Manchester City shirt.

Therefore, whilst Pep Guardiola has a plethora of options available to him at centre-back, with John Stones and Ruben Dias in particularly good form as of late, he is safe in the knowledge that Walker, who earns £110k per week at City, can do an excellent job there when relied upon.

It may also give the Spanish manager a selection headache ahead of the midweek game against Brighton when selecting a right-back, so perhaps we will see the in-form Joao Cancelo switch back to left-back as he did earlier in the season, in order to accommodate Walker against Graham Potter’s side.

Either way, Walker’s performance against Birmingham was extremely impressive and he deserves a lot of credit for his versatility in defence.

And, in other news.. Man City must axe “superb talent” amid exit link; Txiki can make a huge profit

Crystal Palace have been handed a major transfer boost in their pursuit of Jean-Philippe Mateta after Rouven Schroder said he’s open to selling the Mainz striker.

What’s the story?

Speaking to Bild, the Mainz sporting director has told the German publication that he will consider selling the former France U21 international if the right offer arrives in January.

It’s been suggested by The Guardian, as quoted by TEAMtalk, that the Bundesliga outfit rejected a bid from Roy Hodgson’s side in the summer, believed to be somewhere in the region of €15.5m (£13m).

But Palace chairman Steve Parish must surely consider a return with a new and improved bid when the winter transfer window opens in just a few weeks time.

Better than Batshuayi

Having torn his meniscus last year, which ruled him out of action for 131 days, Mateta was determined to make amends, and it’s fair to say that he has barely put a foot wrong this season so far.

In eight appearances in the Bundesliga, the 23-year-old has scored seven goals and supplied an assist, whilst he is averaging 2.5 shots, 1.1 key passes and at least one dribble per game, via WhoScored.

It goes without saying that the last time Michy Batshuayi scored for Palace was when he bagged a brace against Bournemouth during his first loan spell at Selhurst Park back in 2019.

Batshuayi missed a golden chance to spare Hodgson’s blushes as the Eagles were beaten by Burnley at Turf Moor on Monday night.

By comparison, Mateta has been in red-hot form in Germany, as he can’t seem to stop scoring at the moment, having scored his first hat-trick of the season as Mainz cruised to a comfortable 3-1 win over Freiburg in the Bundesliga at the weekend.

Palace already have several strikers on their books, including Jordan Ayew, Christian Benteke and Connor Wickham, but the Frenchman would be a real upgrade on most if not all of the aforementioned options available.

Whilst both Mateta and Batshuayi have averaged similar numbers in terms of the amount of times they have been dispossessed this season, the Mainz striker is consistently outshining the Belgium international in regards to their goal-to-game ratio.

The £30k-a-week Mateta could be a natural goal threat for Palace in the middle of the pitch, whilst he would also be able to offer them more in terms of his attacking output overall, as he has shown that his all-round game is good as he can create chances for others whilst getting on the scoresheet himself.

AND in other news, Crystal Palace striker Michy Batshuayi massively let Hodgson down vs Burnley…

Glasgow Rangers secured a top seed place in Monday’s Europa League last 32 draw after Steven Gerrard’s side beat Lech Poznan in Poland on Thursday night to win Group D.

The Light Blues need to match or better Benfica’s result against Standard Liege to finish top of the group, and they passed with flying colours as goals from Cedric Itten and Ianis Hagi gave them the deserved victory.

Itten opened the scoring before half-time and Hagi scored his first goal since August after Connor Goldson’s header hit the bar to double the lead.

The 22-year-old has copped a fair amount of stick in recent months but put in a performance to remember on Thursday night.

Per SofaScore, the Romania international received a high rating of 8 out of ten for his efforts – he took 50 touches of the ball, three shots on target, provided 25 out of 31 passes, produced two key passes, won five out of his seven duels overall, and was fouled twice.

Glasgow Live gave Hagi a grade of 7/10, claiming he ‘made sure Goldson’s header cross the line and grew in confidence as the game went’, whilst The Daily Record awarded him with a similar score, insisting he ‘has been operating on the fringes of late but given an opportunity to shine as part of a three-pronged attack and was unlucky not to score with deflected shot before nodding home the second goal.’

In 20 appearances for the Gers, the attacking midfielder has scored two goals and supplied eight assists in all competitions, via Transfermarkt, whilst he is averaging 2 shots and 1.7 key passes per game, as per WhoScored.

Hagi has arguably struggled to hit the ground running at times since making the move permanent in the summer, having started just three out of six games in the Europa League so far this season.

But it’s fair to say that this was a big step in the right direction and will have gone some way towards silencing any lingering doubts about his obvious talent, as he mustered more shots on target than any other player on the pitch.

AND in other news, Glasgow Rangers striker Cedric Itten was Gerrard’s hero vs Lech Poznan…