All posts by z3u9t.icu

Slavisa Jokanovic is set to make a call regarding Ismaila Coulibaly at Sheffield United this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Yorkshire Live, who revealed that the 20-year-old has qualified for a visa to play in England a lot sooner than expected.

After joining Sheffield United from Sarpsborg 08 FF on a five-year deal last September, the central midfielder was sent on a three-year loan deal to the Blades’ sister club Beerschot V.A. in order to work towards acquiring a visa.

However, after just one season in the Jupiler Pro League, the £2.7m-rated man is now eligible to play in England, with the Sheffield United hierarchy set to offer Jokanovic the chance to bring the Mali U20 international back to Bramall Lane this summer.

Jokanovic must act

Considering how impressive Coulibaly has been this season in Belgium, it would appear a very wise move for Jokanovic to take the club up on their offer and add the 20-year-old to his squad ahead of next season.

Over his 22 Jupiler Pro League appearances for Will Still’s side, the central midfielder scored five goals, as well as making an average of 1.5 interceptions, 1.9 tackles and 0.4 key passes per game.

These metrics saw the youngster earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.87, ranking him as Beerschot’s fifth-best performer in the Belgian top-flight – something that is no mean feat considering Coulibaly’s age and inexperience in an unfamiliar league.

Indeed, it is reported that, as a result of his displays in Belgium, both AC Milan and Galatasaray are considering a move for the midfielder, suggesting that a few clubs in Europe believe that the 20-year-old could operate at a much higher level than he currently is with Beerschot.

As such, there should be no doubt in Jokanovic’s mind about bringing Coulibaly back to Sheffield this summer, as, if he doesn’t, and the player’s head is turned by the growing amount of interest in his services, it could easily be argued that the issue has the potential to be the first major mistake of the 52-year-old manager’s time in charge of the Blades.

In other news: Transfer news emerges over “outstanding” £38k-p/w gem that’ll make Sheff Utd fans buzz

West Ham United’s European quest gets back underway this evening as they welcome Eintracht Frankfurt to the London Stadium for a tricky – but historic – Europa League semi-final clash.

The first of two legs takes place in east London, likely to be in front of a near sell-out crowd with a place in the final in Seville the reward.

Irons boss David Moyes is left with plenty of selection decisions to make – last time out, he rested several key stars against Chelsea in what was a bold call indeed, whilst the Hammers breezed past Lyon by a 4-1 aggregate to make it to this stage of the tournament.

Among the surprise names on the bench at the weekend was Jarrod Bowen and he’s surely a shoo-in to start against Die Adler tonight.

The 25-year-old dynamo, who is currently valued at £31.5m, has been one of West Ham’s standout stars in this exciting campaign, where he has provided a whopping 15 goals and 11 assists across all competitions, via Transfermarkt.

These include a pair of strikes against the Ligue 1 outfit in the last round and his importance is signified by the fact that Moyes’ side lost three of five games without him in the squad due to injury.

Bowen is also the Hammers’ highest-rated player in the Premier League, as per WhoScored figures, and has proven to be more than just a creative and goalscoring threat in the final third.

An average of one tackle per game suggests he can trackback and do his defensive duties, something that he may well need to do against the Bundesliga outfit in the absence of a few out-and-out senior centre-backs – Moyes is going to have to do some shifting around indeed.

Meanwhile, no other Irons star has managed more successful dribbles per game in the league (1.4) than Bowen, suggesting that he’s capable of taking on his man, beating him and then delivering with a goal or assist.

This sort of threat is going to be needed against a side that knocked FC Barcelona out in the last round.

The 5 foot 9 machine, previously lauded as “unplayable” by his former Hull City boss Grant McCann and as an “absolute manager’s dream” by Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson, evidently has all the skills to hurt and terrify Frankfurt, who have leaked more goals than they have scored, at the London Stadium.

As such, Moyes must let Bowen off the leash this evening.

AND in other news, Sources: West Ham eye swoop for “brilliant” 21 y/o, he’s “similar to Eden Hazard”…

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Derby County manager, Paul Jewell, admits that he can’t see Jose Mourinho getting the Celtic job, despite just being sacked by Tottenham Hotspur.

Since Daniel Levy decided that time was up for Mourinho at Spurs, the Portuguese manager has been linked with a move north of the border to Celtic with their number one target, Eddie Howe, stalling over whether he wants to take the hot-seat.

Mourinho failed to push Spurs onto the next level as they appeared to be out of the race for the top four and were also dumped out of the Europa League by Dinamo Zagreb, despite winning the first leg 2-0.

Speaking on how he can’t see Mourinho wanting to take the Celtic job but how it would be a great challenge for him, Jewell told FFC:

“I don’t see Mourinho there for whatever reason I don’t see it happening but I might be wrong.

“He might see the challenge of now trying to overturn Rangers and Steven Gerrard, but just for some reason I don’t quite see him wanting to go to Glasgow.”

The 58-year old had managed to guide Spurs into the Carabao Cup final, however, that was not enough to keep him his job with his departure coming at the same time as the European Super League was announced.

Celtic have reportedly held more talks with Roy Keane recently as they continue to look for an alternative manager to Eddie Howe.

According to The Telegraph, Southampton are interested in signing Manchester City midfielder Yangel Herrera this summer.

The Lowdown: Saints prepare for new campaign

Ralph Hasenhuttl is preparing his squad for the new season as the Saints aim to improve on their 15th-placed finish in the Premier League last term.

Only Romain Perraud has been added to their squad so far this summer, though (Transfermarkt), and we are fast approaching the start of the new season.

The Latest: Saints eye Herrera

The Telegraph reported that Southampton are interested in Herrera, who spent last season on loan at Granada in Spain.

West Ham United and Crystal Palace are also in pursuit of the 23-year-old, but the Hammers have the advantage of being able to offer European football to the Venezuela international.

The Verdict: Emerging talent

While Herrera is yet to make a single appearance for the Citizens, he has already proven himself elsewhere throughout his career, right from when 2010 World Cup winner David Villa said that he was “the best player in the 2018 season in Major League Soccer” (The Manchester Evening News).

He has made 82 appearances across two seasons for Granada (Transfermarkt), helping them reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League in the process, and he also has 24 caps for his country.

Valued at £16.2m by Transfermarkt, it is said that City are looking for up to £20m to part ways with him. That would be a significant outlay for Southampton, but sometimes you must speculate to accumulate. If they don’t take this calculated gamble, they may end up regretting missing out on the 23-year-old.

In other news, Southampton also want to sign this Premier League defender.

Leicester City could form a formidable midfield partnership this summer after being linked with a move for Lazio’s Joaquin Correa.

What’s the story?

According to Italian newspaper La Repubblica (as reported by Get Football News Italy), the Foxes are lining up a potential €25 million (£21.2m) offer for the 26-year-old over the coming months, although the player himself may have to be convinced on the move.

Correa would be Leicester’s fourth signing of the current window following the arrivals of Patson Daka, Boubakary Soumare and Ryan Bertrand, who have all arrived as very useful additions to an already impressive first-team squad.

Imagine him and Youri Tielemans

Correa enjoyed a fabulous 2020/21 campaign, bagging 11 goals and providing six assists in 38 games for Lazio, achieving a highly respectable 6.90 WhoScored rating as a result.

His impressive exploits at club level earned him a call-up to the Argentine national team setup for the recent Copa America tournament, where Correa made three appearances for Lionel Scaloni’s successful side.

These returns saw Rahul Warrier dub the South American a “menace” and clearly caught the eye of clubs across the continent.

Leicester’s apparent interest in Correa comes as little shock then, with the Midlands outfit believed to be in the market for another attacker ahead of the upcoming campaign.

After the departure of Cengiz Under following his unsuccessful loan spell, Marc Albrighton is the only natural right-winger available to Brendan Rodgers, something the Northern Irish tactician is keen to address.

And although Correa is more comfortable playing through the middle, his versatility could be an extremely appealing asset for the former Liverpool boss.

The Lazio ace has established a reputation as a fine technical player, blessed with incredible dribbling ability and an eye for a pass, skills which would perfectly compliment Youri Tielemans in the Leicester engine room.

Correa is comfortable playing on either flank, in the No.10 role, or even slightly deeper in the No.8 position, but he’d be capable of developing a potentially devastating partnership with the Belgium international wherever he lined up, such is the quality that both men possess.

It remains to be seen whether the Leicester hierarchy follow up their interest with a concrete offer, but the club’s supporters will surely be urging director of football Jon Rudkin to stump up the money and add another quality addition to Rodgers’ ranks.

And, in other news…Leicester must land “extraordinary” £30m gem who’s “so fast”, Rodgers needs him 

Many Rangers fans have been left to buzz as Ross Wilson has shared an update on the proposal of a Gers ‘B’ team in the Lowland League.

As per a video shared by the official Twitter page of the Glasgow club, the Sporting Director has confirmed that George Fraser, who is the chairman of the SLFL, has reached out with an invitation to them to potentially consider joining the Lowland League, initially for one season.

It would mean that the Ibrox faithful could give more senior game time to their youth prospects, not just to help develop them as they would be playing men’s football, but also for the other teams around them, as they get to play against some of the rising stars of Scottish football and it would also draw more eyes to the lower tiers of the game.

Managing Director Stewart Robertson and Head of Academy Craig Mulholland are also on board with the idea in the Gers’ video, which could help develop Scottish football as a whole, as they await approval from the SFA.

Rangers fans on Lowland League update

These Rangers supporters buzzed upon listening to the update, with one fan saying that they were ‘delighted’ while another even went as far as to claim that it would be ‘brilliant’:

“I know myself I would try make a lot of these games. I know thousands of Rangers fans would actually could picture few thousand turning out would be brilliant”

Credit: @bnziebryan

“Delighted to see/hear our club calling out the SFA/SPFL for their lack of leadership.”

Credit: @ScottSmcg10

“Excellent video. I can’t believe @ScottishFA have dragged their heels over this. I am looking forward to hearing more about this as the discussions progress.”

Credit: @onlyoneamoruso

“Its a great move for a developing side. Will improve the grassroots standards in the league”

Credit: @BillyKsOpinion

“Spot on”

Credit: @King_Kamara18

“Rangers leading the way & firing the bullets. Class”

Credit: @Ryan59226753

In other news, find out what SPFL update has left Gers fuming here!

Cristiano Ronaldo has won the GIVEMESPORT Fans’ Euro 2020 Group Stage award following a blistering opening to the tournament.

In a poll run by fan engagement experts Snack Media the Portuguese superstar earned a whopping 47% of the vote, finishing comfortably clear of Romelu Lukaku in second place to secure a landslide victory.

Lukaku has been in scintillating form for Belgium but only accrued 20% of the vote, with fans clearly left in awe of Ronaldo’s longevity having watched him score five goals in his opening three games – the 36-year-old’s best ever goal scoring return at a major international tournament.

Elsewhere, Manuel Locatelli managed to scoop 13% of the fans’ vote after an auspicious opening to the tournament at the heart of Italy’s midfield, though the fact he was rested in the final group game against Wales may well have swayed opinion towards Ronaldo here.

Sceptics will argue that three of Ronaldo’s five goals have arrived from the penalty spot, but his 100% strike rate from 12-yards has almost single-handedly secured Portugal’s place in the last-16 of the competition.

And when you consider his form has arrived in an ultra-competitive Group of Death, it’s easy to see why Ronaldo secured such an overwhelming proportion of the vote.

Patrick Schick, Emile Forsberg and Frenkie de Jong made up the rest of the vote, with all three failing to break the 10% mark.

The full list of contenders from the final shortlist polled as follows:

Cristiano Ronaldo (47%) Romelu Lukaku (20%) Manuel Locatelli (13%) Patrik Schick (8%) Emil Forsberg (7%) Frenkie de Jong (5%)

The next Euro 2020 vote for Player of the Tournament will kick off on 12 July.

Crystal Palace confirmed on Monday that stock for the 2021/22 Eagles home shirt will be arriving this week.

And a number of Selhurst Park supporters were quick to flock to the official news on social media.

Palace wore their home strip against Leicester City on Sunday, coming from two goals down to take a point thanks to second-half goals from Michael Olise and Jeffrey Schlupp.

There appears to have been a shortage of stock for fans to pick up a home shirt, with Palace providing an update in September regarding the delay.

However, that is now set to be resolved. Palace revealed on their official Twitter page that stock is arriving in-store this week and presumably sent out in the post for fans who pre-ordered the kit before October 3.

Palace fans react

This is what these Palace supporters had to say in reply to the official post, with many happy and one labelling it as ‘great news’.

“Finally I’ve been waiting months to get the home kit!”

Credit: @alex_westry

“Anyone excited”

Credit: @JoWillis28215

“Whayyyy finally”

Credit: @bradhcpfc

“Nice”

Credit: @englund_elias

“great news”

Credit: @busboy67

“Finally! Only ordered it at the start of august!!”

Credit: @JoeThompson95

In other news: ‘I was told’ – Sky Sports journalist makes huge claim about £18m-rated Crystal Palace gem. 

Flocking to Twitter, many Arsenal fans have been left raving over official news involving their manager Mikel Arteta.

The Spaniard, who was under-fire at the start of the season after a string of poor results and performances, has seemingly managed to turn things around at The Emirates.

Guardiola’s former pupil oversaw a productive summer transfer window in north London, landing six major signings in Ben White, Martin Odegaard, Aaron Ramsdale, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares (Transfermarkt).

Despite their shrewd business, Arsenal got off to a slow start and lost their first three Premier League matches of the season without scoring single goal.

What followed, though, was a resurgence by Arteta’s men as they clinched a trio of deserved victories in September – including a 3-1 win over bitter rivals Tottenham.

Now, in an official announcement, the Spaniard has handed the Premier League Manager of the Month award.

Flocking to this news, it’s safe to say Gunners fans are overjoyed – find all of their best reactions down below.

Arsenal fans rave over Arteta announcement…

“MY MANAGER”

Credit: @AaronDohertyyyy

“Yesssss buzzing for him!!!”

Credit: @Smokey_Itz

“the best in the world”

Credit: @abusinomar

“My manager

More to come, boss!”

Credit: @Umar__farruk

“Great news”

Credit: @legend_mikel

“think I’m getting emotional”

Credit: @TypicalJock

“Our first one in 6 years‼️‼️ This is massive”

Credit: @U_SCUTI

Manchester City have been handed a huge boost in their reported hopes of signing Danny Ings this summer after he rejected a new contract at Southampton.

What’s the word?

As per The Athletic, Ings has rejected a new four-year deal at the South Coast club, which could well force Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side to cash in on the England international this summer, or risk losing him for nothing at the end of next season.

The former Liverpool man was linked with a move to Manchester City by Sky Sports earlier this year, as he was touted as a potential replacement for outgoing legend Sergio Aguero, and if City retain an interest in signing the Southampton man, then a move this summer definitely now looks like it could be on the cards.

Would he be a good signing for Guardiola?

Although Ings perhaps wouldn’t be as glamourous a signing as Harry Kane or Erling Haaland, Guardiola suggested recently that City were being priced out of a move for a striker this summer, and Ings could represent a much cheaper option who is almost guaranteed to score goals in the Premier League.

Injuries meant he managed just 12 goals in a poor Southampton side last season but his 22 goals in the top-flight in the 2019/20 campaign saw him finish as the joint-second top scorer, which suggests that he could certainly be a good fit at the Etihad, where he’d be surrounded by better players.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-manchester-city-transfer-rumours-and-news” title=”Read the latest Manchester City transfer rumours and news!”]

Eddie Howe was full of praise for the striker’s performances in the 19/20 season, saying:

“The most impressive thing about Danny is, of course, he’s an outstanding player.

“Technically he’s very good, plays with real intelligence and the way he’s come back from his disappointments, the injury setbacks he’s had, the way he’s fought back and kept his mental strength has been hugely impressive.”

[freshpress-quiz id=“577936″]

City need a goalscorer and given that Ings is valued at £19.8m by Transfermarkt and has only one year left on his contract, he could be a much cheaper alternative for Guardiola’s side this summer and given his record in the top-flight, this seems like a deal that sporting director Txiki Begiristain should definitely be looking to complete.

And, in other news… Guardiola dealt transfer blow with “different level” beast, City fans should be fuming