All posts by n8rngtd.top

Fabrizio Romano has said that Manchester United is ‘an option’ for Ajax star Antony, as per GiveMeSport.

The Lowdown: Antony linked with Man Utd

The Red Devils were first linked with a move for the right-winger following Erik ten Hag’s appointment towards the end of April. Rumours have continued in recent months, with journalist Alex Crook stating that United are ‘working hard’ on a move for Antony.

Hailed by Dutch football pundit Johan Derksen as a player who gives defenders ‘sleepless nights’, the 22-year-old has scored 26 goals during his club career, 12 of which came under Ten Hag last season.

The Latest: Romano’s claim on Antony

Talking to GiveMeSport, Romano said that Antony is ‘an option’ for United, although he claimed that agreeing on a fee could prove tricky.

The Italian transfer guru stated:

“At the moment, we have to consider Antony as an option for Manchester United.

“The real point will be the fee, I think, because Ajax have already lost many big players and the feeling around Lisandro Martinez is for him to go this summer.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-man-utd-news-4/” title=”Latest Man Utd news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Needed

United could do with bolstering their attacking ranks ahead of the new season, and Antony could be the perfect addition both in the short run and over the long-term.

He has just come off the back of his best season in front of goal and was used solely as a right-winger by Ten Hag.

The United boss has limited senior options on the right in Manchester, so signing Antony – who has seen his Transfermarkt valuation rocket to a career-high £31.5m – could be just what he needs.

Ten Hag knows how to get the best out of Antony, and you’d like to think that he’ll only get better. He could solve United’s problems on the right flank going forward, with the likes of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga battling it out for a spot on the opposite wing.

Manchester City have now emerged as ‘favourites’ to sign Everton youngster Emilio Lawrence, according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, and there could even be an announcement made soon.

The Lowdown: Heading for the exit

The 16-year-old is a product of the Toffees academy system but hasn’t yet signed on as a scholar at Goodison Park, meaning that he is free to be snapped up by any interested potential suitors for a small compensation fee.

Despite having a successful youth career on Merseyside, the exit door seems to be the direction he’s heading in, namely to the Premier League champions after fending off competition for his signature.

The Latest: City favourites to land Lawrence

Taking to Twitter, Romano confirmed that City are now in pole position to sign Lawrence this window with the announcement of his next destination expected imminently. He wrote:

“Scottish top talent Emilio Lawrence (16) will leave Everton this summer. He has played for U23 team last season – Manchester City are now favourites to sign him.

“Lawrence attracted interest from big six, expected to announce new club soon.”

The Verdict: Exciting

City are renowned for having an outstanding academy set-up, and that will only be strengthened with the addition of Lawrence, who looks a fantastic long-term signing.

The Scot, who was once hailed for possessing a major ‘threat’ by Everton’s U18s manager Paul Tait, has been a revelation for the Toffees over the past two seasons, making ten goal contributions in just 21 outings in the U18 Premier League, via Transfermarkt.

This is the kind of form that is bound to catch the eye of Pep Guardiola and co as the Spaniard introduces more youth players into the first-team fold, and Lawrence could follow in the footsteps of the likes of Phil Foden to become a regular face at the Etihad in years to come.

Aston Villa have entered the race for PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Sangare. 

What’s the word?

That’s according to sources at Football Insider, who claim that the Ivory Coast international is on the radar of several Premier League clubs.

Other than Villa, Leicester are another standout candidate vying for his signature. Both clubs have made contact with PSV over the 24-year-old.

A great signing for Gerrard

Although Steven Gerrard and NSWE have already invested heavily into the Villa squad this summer, one more addition would certainly not hurt their chances of advancing up the league table.

This tough-tackling brute has been linked with many high-level clubs over the years, earning particular praise for his most recent campaign with PSV as he helped his team to finish second in the Eredivisie, just two points behind champions Ajax.

He featured in 29 league games last season for the Eindhoven outfit, even managing five goal contributions from a defensive midfield role.

He could perhaps pair well with Villa’s other new signing Boubacar Kamara, as the two fit similar profiles and could form a powerhouse midfield partnership.

Sangare boasted a phenomenal average SofaScore rating last season too, with his 7.38 only beaten by two of his teammates to have played more than five games.

It is this form which led Dutch football analyst Aad de Mos to label the midfielder “exceptional” upon his initial links with Leicester.

He continued: “Ibrahim Sangaré is better on one leg than Leicester’s midfield. He has been the king of PSV. You only miss Sangeré when he’s not playing.”

The deep-lying midfielder has earned praise for his ability to dictate play for his team, whilst his dynamism has allowed him to also threaten in the opposition’s penalty box.

He averaged 0.8 key passes in the Eredivisie, increasing this to 2.3 per game during the Africa Cup of Nations. His pass completion rate of 86.1% further outlines him as a reliable set of legs in midfield.

Reportedly valued at just over £20m, he could prove a huge coup for whoever signs him. Gerrard should act quickly to get in another highly-rated midfielder to add a touch of class and another hard-working set of legs to help take his team to the next level.

AND in other news: “Pacey” £30m machine would give “serious thought” to Villa move, imagine him & Watkins.

Newcastle United are reportedly ready to make ‘contact’ to sign Girondins de Bordeaux forward Sekou Mara, according to journalist Loïc Tanzi.

The lowdown: Rise to stardom

Previously a member of the youth system at Paris Saint-Germain, the France youth international arrived at Bordeaux in 2017 on a free transfer.

The 19-year-old has flourished since, directly contributing to 11 goals in 36 senior outings for Les Girondins, and he has already attracted the attention of fellow French clubs AS Monaco and Lyon.

After Newcastle’s lengthy pursuit of compatriot Hugo Ekitike came to an end, a claim has emerged suggesting that the Magpies could be about to begin negotiations for Mara…

The latest: ‘Contact…’

Taking to Twitter, Tanzi – a journalist for reputable French outlet L’Equipe – has suggested that Newcastle are set to make their move to sign the France under-20 sensation.

He stated: “After the failure of the Ekitike track, Newcastle will embark on Sekou Mara. The Magpies will contact Bordeaux, which is asking for 15 million euros excluding bonuses and % on resale. Atletico, who need to sell first, are there too.”

The verdict: Minimal risk attached

Signing Mara at the suggested €15m (£12.7m) fee would represent a relatively risk-free investment from the St James’ Park hierarchy given the forward’s age, potential and ever-rising stock, along with the Newcastle owners’ vast riches.

While still vastly inexperienced at an elite level, the exciting teenager – who was described as an ‘all-round finisher’ by reputable analysis site Breaking The Lines – netted six times in 26 Ligue 1 outings last term, highlighting an ability to make an impact despite his tender years and his team’s relegation.

Boasting similar stylistic traits to such renowned target men as Olivier Giroud, Gianluca Scamacca and Jonathan David (FBRef), the talented teenager should be regarded as a top target for Dan Ashworth and the Tynesiders for the remainder of the summer transfer window.

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has finally found his dream replacement for Armando Broja in the form of striker Sekou Mara from Girondins de Bordeaux.

Saints confirmed on Thursday that they have reached an agreement to sign Mara from French side Bordeaux subject to international clearance. He is set to become their sixth summer signing and finally adds much-needed quality to their forward line.

According to The Atheltic, the fee agreed is €13m (£11m) with Mara becoming an integral part of their squad, filling the void left by Shane Long and Armando Broja, who departed the club at the end of the season.

Long left St Mary’s Stadium on a free transfer joining Reading, and Broja returned to Chelsea following a successful loan spell.

Mara represents manager Ralph Hasenhuttl’s dream replacement for Broja, being a young talented centre-forward who can hopefully replicate the goal tally reached by the Albanian last season.

At least 6 feet tall he brings a physical presence that is perhaps lacking from their current options of Adam Armstrong and Che Adams, and at just 19 years old he had years ahead of him to only get better.

Last season in Ligue 1 Mara made 26 appearances and scored six goals in a Bordeaux side that finished bottom of the table. He seems far too good to be playing in France’s second division so a move to Southampton is a step in the right direction.

Journalist Josh Bunting also thinks the same and recently described Mara as a “very exciting young talent”.

He will get great exposure in the Premier League and replicating his form will ensure the Saints aren’t in a battle for relegation themselves.

If you compare him to Broja, the man he will be replacing, they produce identical statistics in many areas. Not 0nly did they score the same number of goals but Mara has a pass accuracy percentage of 68% which compares to Broja’s 61%.

The Frenchman also made 1.5 shots per game in comparison to the Albanian’s 1.4.

Supporters will be able to breathe a sigh of relief now that the club have finally signed a striker. It is still set to be a difficult season but they are in a much better position now that Mara is part of the squad.

AND in other news, Hasenhuttl could make big “improvement” in £21m Saints swoop for “Ibrahimovic-machine”…

West Ham United have put an offer on the table for Burnley winger Maxwel Cornet, according to journalist Fraser Fletcher.

The Lowdown: Cornet’s absence

The 25-year-old was not involved in Vincent Kompany’s squad for the Clarets’ opening Championship game of the season against Huddersfield Town on Friday.

The Belgian manager revealed that the Ivory Coast international was not at the ‘right physical level’ for the game, meaning he sat out for the 1-0 victory at The John Smith’s Stadium.

Cornet has been the subject of heavy transfer speculation since Burnley were relegated from the Premier League last season.

According to The Athletic, the winger has a £17.5m relegation release clause in his deal at Turf Moor.

The Latest: Fletcher’s news

Fletcher has shared an update on the transfer speculation surrounding Cornet.

Taking to Twitter, the journalist claimed:

“Maxwel Cornet future getting closer. Newcastle pushing for deal while Burnley and West Ham have offer on table now as winger looks set to leave as expected.”

The Verdict: Great signing

For the low fee involved, West Ham would be getting a proven Premier League goal-scorer in return if they signed Cornet.

The forward bagged nine goals in 26 top-flight appearances last season, scoring over a quarter of the Clarets’ campaign goals on his own.

After arriving at Turf Moor, journalist Andy Jones described Cornet’s debut for the club as ‘electric’, with the player having made a fantastic start to life adjusting to English football.

If David Moyes’ side are secure the Ivorian’s signature this summer, they will have to fend off competition from the likes of Newcastle, Everton and Nottingham Forest, making this a difficult signing for the East London club to pull off.

Glasgow Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara has been the subject of interest from clubs across Europe this summer, throwing his future at Ibrox into doubt.

What’s the word?

Recent reports have suggested that the 26-year-old is a target for the likes of Nottingham Forest, Galatasaray and Marseille in the current transfer window, with the Premiership giants said to value the Finland international at around £10m.

Reliable journalist Pete O’Rourke has now delivered his verdict on the future of the former Dundee man, insisting that it would likely need a sizeable offer for the Light Blues to even contemplate the 42-cap gem’s exit from Ibrox.

Speaking with Football FanCast, the transfer insider stated: “I think again, like some of the other players we’ve talked about, it would take a big transfer fee for Rangers to agree to sell Glen Kamara as well.

“He is still a key man for Giovanni van Bronckhorst and I’m sure he would ideally like to keep hold of the midfielder.”

Rangers must keep him

As O’Rourke stated, the versatile midfielder is a crucial figure in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side, with the Dutchman unable to afford to lose yet another highly-rated talent this summer.

Rangers have already seen Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo departing for Ajax and Southampton respectively, with losing another key asset potentially set to derail the good work which had been done last season in reaching the Europa League final.

Kamara proved integral to that lengthy European adventure, scoring once and providing two assists in 14 outings in the competition (11 of which came from the start), while also proving his worth in a defensive sense by averaging 1.2 interceptions per game.

His most telling contribution came in the semi-final as he netted in the 3-1 second leg victory over RB Leipzig to help secure a place in the final in Seville, where the Gers were only narrowly edged out by Eintracht Frankfurt on penalties.

Dubbed a “monster” by his former boss Steven Gerrard, the £21k-per-week Kamara represents a colossal figure in the centre of the park for Rangers, and it’s hard to imagine being able to secure a like-for-like replacement between now and the summer transfer deadline without breaking the bank.

Having signed for just £50,000 three-and-a-half years ago, there is the chance to make an immense profit on the former Arsenal man with a sale in the coming weeks, although it could well prove more valuable to keep him at Ibrox beyond the current transfer window.

Patrick Vieira is reportedly looking to add a highly rated Championship striker to his ranks… 

What’s the word?

According to Alan Nixon of The Sun, Crystal Palace have switched their attention to Antoine Semenyo following the departure of Christian Benteke.

The Eagles have dipped into the Championship on numerous occasions, having success with the likes of Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise.

They could now be set to add another young talent to this list, with the 22-year-old potentially costing £12m should they make their interest more concrete.

He could challenge Edouard & Mateta

With Benteke leaving the club, and a Championship striker set to be his replacement, many could be fooled into thinking Semenyo will be brought in simply to make up the numbers as their fifth deal of the summer.

However, this move could be deceptively impressive for Vieira, who will add a young and hungry striker who will want to challenge both Odsonne Edouard and Jean-Phillipe Mateta for that starting spot.

Last season was something of a breakout season for the Ghana international, as he scored eight and set up an astounding 12 in a Bristol City side that slumped to a mediocre 17th-placed finish.

Edouard only mustered six goals last season, whilst Mateta could only manage five. Semenyo could surely achieve numbers similar to this with a season to acclimatise, having proved both his proficiency and creativity last year.

His 7.03 average SofaScore rating also suggests that he would be a consistent performer across a long campaign, and averaging 1.1 key passes per game only reinforces how the £3.5k-per-week earner, who has been dubbed a “nightmare for defenders” by Nigel Pearson, has the ability to forge chances in every game he plays.

The exciting prospect who Martin Keown dubbed “a really good target man” has all the ability to step in and perform straight away for Vieira’s exciting youthful side, and would offer a fierce new dynamic alongside the other Championship graduates.

He would bring a freshness to Palace’s striking position that the somewhat stiff Mateta and Edouard lack, and would make Eagles fans quickly forget all about the departure of Benteke.

Glasgow Rangers strolled to a comfortable 4-0 victory over St Johnstone at Ibrox in the Premiership clash at Ibrox on Saturday afternoon.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst made a few changes from the Champions League qualifier against Union Saint-Gilloise on Tuesday night, with Ben Davies, Ryan Jack, Rabbi Matondo and Scott Wright coming in. They took the places of James Sands, Tom Lawrence, Scott Arfield, and Ryan Kent.

It only took until the 32-minute mark for Malik Tillman, who scored the goal that took the Ibrox side through to the Champions League play-off round, to net his second goal for the club.

Antonio Colak added his third strike in as many matches for the Gers with a nice turn and finish, before substitutes Scott Arfield and Tom Lawrence made it three league wins from three. There was one player that stood out from the rest, however.

Matondo stole the show

Welsh winger Rabbi Matondo, who was dubbed “electrifying” by former Wales manager Ryan Giggs in 2020, certainly has pace to burn and isn’t shy in going for goal either judging by an effort against St Johnstone crashing off the woodwork.

Rangers Review journalist Joshua Barrie described Matondo as “excellent” following his performance today and it’s clear to see why.

The winger drew an 8.2 rating from SofaScore, the joint-highest on the pitch alongside his captain James Tavernier.

His 52 touches were the most of any other attacking player in the Ibrox team and he also made four key passes, registered two assists, and succeeded with 60% of his attempted dribbles.

The Scotsman’s David Oliver also appeared impressed with the efforts of Matondo on Saturday afternoon, awarding the Welshman a seven in his own player ratings, as well as stating of the 21-year-old:

“No end product in the first half despite plenty of pace but more than made up for that afterwards. Denied a delicious goal by the crossbar shortly after the break then tenacity to win ball back from Drey Wright in the box for Colak’s strike then supply Arfield. Continues to excite.”

Rangers have been over-reliant on Kent out on the wing over the previous two seasons, and while the former Liverpool man has nailed down a starting spot on the left, the manager went through a host of names last term to fill in on the right-hand side.

Ianis Hagi, Scott Wright and even Joe Aribo all tried but it appears Matondo could well be the answer to a longstanding problem for the Dutchman, even if today he deputised exceptionally well for Kent.

Manchester United are edging closer to the signing of Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro, and his arrival at Old Trafford could allow Erik ten Hag to finally get rid of Scott McTominay.

What’s the word?

After links emerged earlier in the week, talks between United and Real Madrid have accelerated, and it now seems likely that the 30-year-old will join Ten Hag’s side this summer in a deal potentially rising to €70m (£59.4m).

Fabrizio Romano tweeted on Friday morning: “Manchester United are working to get Casemiro deal approved in the next hours – medical expected within 48 hours, once Real Madrid will approve the proposal. Four-year deal for Casemiro, option for further season also confirmed. €60m & €10m add-ons bid on the table.”

Will Casemiro be a good signing?

Casemiro has been a mainstay in Real Madrid’s side since signing for Los Blancos from Sao Paulo in 2013. He has gone on to make more than 330 appearances for the club and has won an impressive five Champions League titles, so it is clear that he is a serial winner.

The “world class” midfielder – as described by journalist Josh Bunting – was in excellent form for Carlo Ancelotti’s side last season as they won La Liga, making 32 appearances as he averaged a superb 7.26 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

That was the third-highest rating of anyone to feature more than three times in that triumphant league campaign.

The Brazil international vastly outperformed McTominay, who averaged a 6.89 rating in the Premier League. The Scotland international also averaged fewer tackles (2.5 vs 0.8), shots (1.3 vs 0.9) and clearances (1.8 vs 0.8) per game than Casemiro last season, which suggests that the Real Madrid man is a much better defensive midfielder than the 26-year-old.

McTominay’s shocking performances in the opening two fixtures of the current campaign – which have seen him average a paltry 6.44 WhoScored rating – emphasise that he is not good enough to be a regular in Ten Hag’s midfield.

Paul Scholes was highly critical of the midfielder’s performance in the 2-1 defeat against Brighton, saying: “McTominay was always trying to run with the ball, ridiculous. The quality in the middle of the pitch was really poor.

‘I was happy he didn’t get sent off [for a high challenge] but I think he was slightly lucky. Again he’s running with the ball, absolutely ridiculous.”

The 25-year-old, who reportedly earns £60k per week at Old Trafford, could well find his game-time limited by the impending arrival of Casemiro; and if the Brazilian’s deal goes through in time for him to feature against Liverpool on Monday, the shambolic performance at Brentford – which included one particularly woeful pass – could be the last we see of McTominay in a United shirt.