Tag Futebol

Glasgow Rangers have reportedly been ‘knocked back’ in a bid to bring an English attacker to Ibrox on loan for the rest of the season.

The Lowdown: Raskin transfer confirmed

Earlier this evening, the Premiership club confirmed the transfer of midfielder Nicolas Raskin, who has joined on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee.

There have been claims that the Light Blues are working on at least one more signing before tonight’s deadline, so it will be interesting to see if they complete any more business in the next few hours.

The Latest: Palmer interest ‘knocked back’

As shared by The Sun’s live transfer blog (11:15 am), their journalist Phil Thomas claims that Rangers have been ‘knocked back’ in a bid to sign Cole Palmer on loan from Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola has blocked the move, having already blocked inquiries from both Brighton and Hove Albion and Sheffield United for the 20-year-old.

The Verdict: Move on

Michael Beale and Rangers need to move on from Palmer now and try to get another attacking body in at Ibrox before the deadline.

Tom Lawrence is injured, while no other winger in the squad has scored more than three goals in all competitions so far this season.

The Gers have scored 18 fewer goals than bitter rivals Celtic at the top of the Premiership, and they need more help in the attacking third.

Hailed by City coaching staff as ‘exceptional’ and a ‘talent’ with ‘great quality’ (talkSPORT), Palmer scored a stunning 42 goals and supplied a further 19 assists at youth level for City, and he has made 30 senior appearances at the age of just 20 (Transfermarkt).

The Englishman would have been an exciting signing for Rangers, but Beale and co will now have to look elsewhere.

Aston Villa are reportedly set to complete their first, and potentially only, big sale of the January transfer window as Danny Ings closes in on an exit from the club.

The former Southampton centre-forward is said to be on the verge of securing a transfer to fellow Premier League side West Ham for a fee of £15m.

It remains to be seen whether or not Unai Emery will be eyeing up a deal to sign a direct replacement for the English number nine but there is one position in which the Spaniard does want to make an addition.

The Times’ Charlotte Duncker has revealed that the Villans are in the market to improve their options out wide after bringing in Jhon Duran from Chicago Fire.

She Tweeted: “A right winger, which Emery has identified as a position they need to strengthen, still needed with Duran a centre-forward. Ings’ goal contributions will be a miss but #avfc had the chance to get around £15m for a player who isn’t in Emery’s long-term plans.”

Villa must now swoop to sign Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma to fill that gap in the squad as the Netherlands international has the potential to be an excellent addition to the team.

The Spanish outfit have given the forward permission to speak with interested clubs as they are willing to sanction a loan move for the second half of the campaign.

When asked about a possible move to Villa Park for the attacker, journalist Ryan Taylor told GIVEMESPORT:

“I don’t think there has been interest from Villa, whenever I’ve asked a question, it’s been shot down, but obviously, we know how good Danjuma was under Emery last year at Villarreal. So, hypothetically, that’s an avenue that could be explored.”

Emery must now explore a deal to sign the Dutchman as the pair worked well together in Spain and the forward could thrive under his management in the Premier League.

During their time at Villarreal, Danjuma, who journalist Casey Evans claimed is capable of conjuring “pure magic”, plundered 19 goals and four assists in 43 appearances in all competitions and this means that the winger averaged a goal contribution every 1.87 matches.

The former Bournemouth dynamo scored 16 times and assisted four in 27 starts in La Liga and the Champions League last season, averaging a goal involvement every 1.35 starts, and has, therefore, proven that he can make a big impact at the top end of the pitch whilst playing in Emery’s system.

Meanwhile, no Villa midfielder or winger managed more than six goals, or six assists, in the Premier League in 2021/22, something that indicates that Danjuma could be a big upgrade on the manager’s current options in those positions, which is why they must explore a deal to sign him.

Insider ExWHUemployee has mooted Sean Dyche to come in until the end of the season if West Ham United sack David Moyes as manager.

What’s the latest?

Seeing as the Hammers, have not won in the Premier League since a 2-0 home victory over Bournemouth back in October, it’s not hard to see why talks continue around the possible exit of their current boss.

However, for now, all the reporting seems to suggest that Moyes will be given every chance to turn things around. And seeing as the managed to at least pick up a win in the FA Cup away at Brentford, things are starting to look a little better for the manager.

However, this doesn’t change the fact that West Ham are still only out of the relegation zone due to a superior goal difference. And so, the club may well be eyeing up possible new managers.

While speaking about it all on The West Ham Way podcast, Ex revealed that the Irons will likely just want to initially hire someone to see out the rest of the season if Moyes goes.

He then also personally tipped Dyche to come in and do the job, saying: “What I think they would do, if he was to be sacked, I think they would go for a short-term manager till the summer.

“I think they are under the impression – as I’ve said in my updates before – that there is no perfect candidate to replace Moyes at the moment.

“So I think a manager – probably Sean Dyche would be my bet – would be given a six-month contract to keep West Ham up.”

Right man for the job?

Seeing as the Hammers are so close to the bottom three, if Moyes was sacked in the near future they may well have to find a manager capable of leafing them out of a relegation dogfight.

With that in mind, ex-Burnley boss Dyche, who did an “unbelievable” job at Burnley, could be a perfect candidate. First of all, he would be free to come in immediately as he is out of work after leaving the Clarets last April.

On top of that, between the 2016/17 and 2020/21 seasons, he kept his former side in the Premier League, finishing as high as seventh on one occasion in 2018. So he has plenty of experience in navigating the threat of the drop.

Interestingly enough, he also has a pretty good head-to-head record against Moyes so the board may well already be impressed. Indeed, in nine meetings, he has won four games, drawn three and lost just two.

Arsenal are currently leading the chase for Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his squad in the January transfer window.

What’s the news?

According to Gazzetta Dello Sport (via Sport Witness), the Premier League pace-setters are ‘in the lead’ to sign the 27-year-old ahead of Juventus and AC Milan.

The Serbian midfielder also has no intention of extending his contract, which is due to expire in 2024, which means that Arsenal can secure his signature for a fee of just €50m (£43.6m) according to the report.

Arteta’s own Jude Bellingham

Milinkovic-Savic was in Qatar representing Serbia at the World Cup, where he earned a 7.00 Sofascore rating despite his team finishing bottom of their group, and he has performed commendably at club level in recent years.

Last season, he registered a stunning 22 goal contributions in Serie A (11 goals and 11 assists) from the heart of Lazio’s midfield, and having a genuine attacking threat from the middle of the park could be vital for Arteta heading into the second half of the campaign.

Furthermore, in 2021/22 the Serbian also created 11 big chances, made 1.4 key passes per match and took 81.2 touches per game, so it’s no wonder that he was described as “magic” by Lazio team-mate Ciro Immobile earlier this season.

Arteta could even land his own version of Jude Bellingham by signing the midfielder. According to FBRef, the sought-after Dortmund star is the second-most similar player to Milinkovic-Savic; and considering just how good the Englishman is at only 19, it isn’t a bad comparison to have.

This season has seen the two players register similar statistics when it comes to goals (three each), dribble success rate (46.9% to 43.3%, Bellingham first), goal-creating actions (6 to 10), and aerial duels won (62.9% to 58.5%), which shows that they are both excellent all-round midfielders.

Indeed, over the previous 365 days, the Lazio star has been one of the continent’s finest players, ranking in the top 5% for non-penalty goals, assists, touches in the attacking penalty area and progressive passes recovery among positional peers.

With the Spaniard ideally looking to add another midfielder and centre-forward to his squad during the January transfer window, he should be looking to tie down a deal for Milinkovic-Savic as soon as possible.

Given the aforementioned quote of just £43.6m, Arsenal could have their own Bellingham for a fraction of the £130m that Borussia Dortmund are demanding for their prized asset, and this is a move which could help the Gunners to land their first league title in 19 years if it comes off.

Tottenham Hotspur have set their sights on Lille star and Arsenal target Jonathan David, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Spurs transfer planning?

The Lilywhites find themselves chasing Champions League qualification for a second-successive campaign but manager Antonio Conte may need to be backed again in the transfer market to make this a reality.

Currently sitting fourth in the Premier League table, Spurs’ form before the 2022 World Cup endured a patchy spot, with the north Londoners losing three of their final five league matches.

In that time, they conceded 11 goals, potentially highlighting some vulnerability and the need to strengthen their ranks further.

Conte also has just Harry Kane as his natural senior striking option, but a recent claim has suggested that Spurs may want to change that.

The Latest: Spurs eye David move…

Italian sources state that Conte’s side hold a real interest in signing Canada international David amid his impressive season in Ligue 1.

This information comes from Calciomercato, who report that Tottenham are ‘very interested’ in signing the 22-year-old – but they’re not alone.

Arch rivals Arsenal are also hot on his trail and it is believed that a ‘heated north London derby could arise’ for David’s signature.

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The Verdict: Make the move?

In terms of back up for Kane, the French top flight forward possesses undeniable quality.

He’s bagged a quite brilliant nine goals and three assists in just 15 league starts this season, backing Iain Hume’s verdict that he is a ‘world class’ player.

However, with the presence of Arsenal, a potential auction could arise for David’s signature and any inflated price demands could thwart Conte’s attempts to bring him to N17.

This may well be one to keep an eye on heading into January.

Wolverhampton Wanderers finally have a new manager. It has been over a month since they sacked Bruno Lage, however, Julen Lopetegui was confirmed as their new boss on Saturday and he faces a tough challenge in keeping the Old Gold in the Premier League this season.

It looks like the 56-year-old has already turned one eye to potential future transfers, and according to Alan Nixon, Wolves are keeping a close eye on Manchester City defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who is currently on loan at Burnley this season.

Leicester City are also monitoring the centre-back and with the Molineux outfit having just four central defenders, Lopetegui will be surely prioritising that area of the squad.

The 20-year-old scored his first City goal at just 17 years of age in an FA Cup tie against Port Vale back in January 2020, but he finds himself in the Championship this season, gaining crucial first-team experience.

Under the tutelage of former City defender Vincent Kompany, Burnley are thriving. They are top of the division and are aiming to bounce back from relegation last season.

Harwood-Bellis has achieved a SofaScore rating of 7.24/10 for his performances in the Championship this term, a number that impressively ranks him second in their squad.

He ranks first for accurate passes per game (68.9), clearances per match (3.4), and interceptions per outing (1.9) proving that he not only can he play out from defence, but he also knows how to do the basics of defending well.

His former manager at Blackburn Rovers, Tony Mowbray, described the defender as having a “warrior attitude” and it certainly looks like he is demonstrating this so far, especially during the current campaign with his excellent showings.

Although a move will more than likely have to wait until the summer, with his stock rising and City having an abundance of centre-backs, Lopetegui could yet seal a dream first signing by making an offer in January.

Indeed, with a lack of centre-backs and a defence that has shipped 22 goals in just 14 games, bringing in a classy defender such as Harwood-Bellis should be of utmost priority.

Thus, it could well be the catalyst that saves their season if it already isn’t too late by that point.

Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a double injury setback ahead of their Premier League meeting with AFC Bournemouth on Saturday.

What’s the latest?

Speaking in his pre-match press conference (via football.london), Antonio Conte revealed that both Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison remain unavailable for Spurs’ trip to the Vitality Stadium tomorrow afternoon, as the duo are yet to recover from their respective injuries.

When asked for an update on his team news ahead of Saturday’s fixture, the 53-year-old said: “No news, nothing new. Richarlison and Kulusevski are still out.”

Huge blow

Considering just how impressive both Kulusevski and Richarlison have been for Tottenham since their respective moves to the club, coupled with how short the absence of the duo leaves Conte of options in his three-man attack, it is clear that the fact the Italian will remain without the services of the forwards on Saturday will come as a huge blow to the 53-year-old manager.

Indeed, following Kulusevski’s January switch from Juventus, the £69m-rated winger has been in sensational form for Spurs, scoring six goals and registering 11 assists over his 29 appearances for the north London side – averaging a direct goal contribution every 114 minutes – as well as averaging a SofaScore match rating of 7.06 over his 25 league outings for the club.

Meanwhile, since Richarlison’s £60m move from Everton this summer, the £60m-rated striker has also impressed, scoring two goals and providing three assists over his 13 appearances for the club – averaging a direct goal contribution every 139 minutes – in addition to averaging an eye-catching SofaScore match rating of 7.20 over his four Champions League outings for Spurs.

As such, with the continued absence of the Swede and the Brazilian leaving Conte with only the option of deploying either Lucas Moura or Bryan Gil – who have played a combined 147 minutes of first-team football this season, proving how little the Italian trusts the duo – in his three-man attack, it is evident just how much of a blow being without the stricken pair is for Tottenham.

Indeed, with Spurs currently on a run of three games without a win – over which period the Lilywhites have bagged just two goals – it is clear that Kulusevski and Richarlison’s respective returns to action can not come soon enough for Conte – who will undoubtedly be hoping his side can get back to winning ways against the Cherries tomorrow afternoon.

Sunderland podcaster Philip West has given his verdict on some early team news for this weekend involving Aji Alese.

The Lowdown: At least three weeks out

Speaking to the media ahead of their game against Burnley in the Championship at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon, Tony Mowbray has confirmed that Alese is out for the next three or four weeks with injury in a ‘best case scenario’.

This comes after he left Ewood Park with a protective boot on his foot after being on the end of a heavy challenge in their 2-0 loss away at Blackburn Rovers last time out.

After having his scan, Mowbray suggested that Alese will now use the weeks leading up to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar to get himself fit, so is likely to be out of action until the tournament finishes.

The Latest: West stunned

Taking to Twitter, Roker Report’s West gave his instant reaction to the news on Alese, claiming that it is a ‘huge blow’, adding that it is now a ‘big test’ for the Wearsiders’ defence to play without him:

“Huge blow to lose Aji Alese. He’s been nothing short of immense in recent weeks, and he was getting better game by game. Big test for our defence without him.”

The Verdict: Massive miss

Alese will no doubt be a massive miss for the team, given that he had started the last seven matches in the Championship, including against Blackburn.

He has played in three different positions already for the Black Cats, and his versatility has been so key for Mowbray when other players have been unavailable.

Nonetheless, Alese’s recent performances have been very impressive, deservedly winning praise by the media, and so it will be more difficult for Mowbray’s side to get a positive result against Burnley without him.

Rangers have no doubt come under fire of late as a result of their recruitment record in recent years, although any of the new arrivals under Giovanni van Bronckhorst will have to go someway if they are to make a worse impact at Ibrox than that of Joey Barton.

The polarising midfielder was plucked by then-Gers boss Mark Warburton on a free transfer back in 2016, having helped Sean Dyche’s Burnley secure promotion back to the Premier League the year prior.

That stint at Turf Moor had showcased the on-field talent of the Englishman, as he was ultimately named in the Championship Team of the Year as a result of his fine performances, with the Glasgow side subsequently taking the gamble to bring the ageing figure to the club.

Such a move had come with obvious risk as a result of the former Newcastle United man’s reputation throughout his career, having been at the centre of controversies both off the field and on it, with his infamous fiery temper regularly getting him into trouble.

Those demons would come back to haunt him during his time in Scotland, although prior to his ultimate demise the Liverpool-born playmaker had made headlines after suggesting he wanted to be the “best player in the country” upon his arrival.

That prophecy proved more of an albatross than anything as the 5 foot 9 dud almost instantly set himself up to fail, as he went on to make just eight appearances for the club in what was a dismal spell north of the border.

The £20k-per-week maverick notably underwhelmed in his one and only Old Firm clash, as Warburton’s men were on the receiving end of a 5-1 thrashing from Brendan Rodgers’ relentless Celtic outfit.

As with his earlier statement, Barton had stolen the headlines prior to the match after suggesting that Hoops skipper Scott Brown was “nowhere near” his quality as a player, only to then go on to lose out in the battle against the ferocious Scotsman.

That measly start to life at Ibrox then got even worse as the one-time Manchester City man was handed a six-week suspension as a result of an altercation with teammate Andy Halliday, with the club subsequently opting to cut ties just a matter of months in his time with the Gers, having originally signed a two-year deal.

Following that “failure” – in the words of pundit Kris Boyd – Barton only served to make matters worse with regards to his relationship with Rangers following his explosive comments regarding his time there last year, with the typically opinionated figure seemingly blaming everyone but himself for his woes.

Indeed, speaking of Warburton, the former midfielder noted he was “miles out of it” when it came to galvanising a group of players.

Although it takes some doing, the current Bristol Rovers boss made even a free transfer appear a real costly error.

Manchester United made ‘last-minute’ enquiries over potential striker signings as a Deadline-Day contingency plan, transfer insider Dean Jones has told GiveMeSport. 

The lowdown

The Red Devils have two centre-forwards at their disposal in the form of Cristiano Ronaldo and Anthony Martial.

The former pushed to leave Old Trafford during the summer transfer window in the hope of securing Champions League football, while the latter’s prospects at the club appeared bleak after he was loaned to Sevilla last season.

At least Erik ten Hag did manage to strengthen his frontline, with the £86m signing of right winger Antony confirmed on the final day of the transfer window.

The latest

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones said that United weren’t actively looking to sign another striker but did make contact over some potential options ‘just in case Ronaldo left’.

He stated: “They were happy with the Antony signing once they could announce that. Once it was clear that Ronaldo was staying, nobody was going to be coming in.

“Obviously, they made enquiries just in case Ronaldo left last minute, but none of that came to anything.”

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The verdict

United probably will need another striker next summer.

Even if he changes his mind about wanting to leave, Ronaldo will be 38 by the end of the season, leaving the Red Devils in need of a long-term successor.

There must also be doubts about Martial’s capacity to play in that role regularly after he was deemed surplus to requirements in the second half of last season, being loaned out to Sevilla.

Who might they be looking at as a successor to that duo?

One potential option is Napoli’s Victor Osimhen. Sky Sport Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg recently reported that the Nigerian has been placed ‘on the list’ because Old Trafford officials see ‘a lot of quality and development potential in him’.

It may be that the 23-year-old is their ‘top target’ in future windows, and having hit double figures in each of his last four league campaigns, he could be an astute option to bring in.