All posts by z3u9t.icu

Giovanni van Bronckhorst is reportedly leading the race to be named the new manager of Rangers following Steven Gerrard’s departure from Ibrox to Aston Villa last week.

According to The Athletic, discussions are ongoing between the two parties as the Dutchman attempts to piece together a backroom staff, as the ex-Liverpool man left alongside a number of key staff members.

If appointed, van Bronckhorst will be thrown in at the deep end as Rangers look to compete in the domestic cups, Premiership and Europa League in the coming months.

Save millions

He could also have key decisions to make when it comes to transfers. One call he could make in the January transfer window is to recall forward Cedric Itten from his loan spell with Greuther Furth in Germany.

Ianis Hagi and Alfredo Morelos have both been linked with Ibrox exits in recent months and Ross Wilson could need to dip into the transfer market to replace them if moves materialise.

However, van Bronckhorst could save the Gers chief plenty of cash by unleashing Itten and attempting to get the best out of him in Glasgow instead of splashing out on fresh additions to the squad.

The Swiss international was sent out on loan to Furth in the Bundesliga in the summer and has shown signs of promise for the German side. He has scored two goals in eight league appearances, starting six, and won 28 aerial battles, averaging 3.5 per game.

This highlights the physical quality he offers at the top end of the pitch, whilst also showing that he can score goals in one of Europe’s top divisions.

Switzerland under-21 boss Mauro Lustrinelli previously hailed Itten’s strength and work rate on the pitch. He said:

“Itten is a player with incredible physical strength and a great mentality.

“He proved to have a great mentality and personality. He worked a lot and never gave up.

“Cedric is very quiet and intelligent but on the pitch, he changes completely; he fights for every ball, giving everything for the team.”

This aligns with his impressive aerial success with Furth and shows the qualities van Bronckhorst could get from him.

The Dutch manager could bring him in from the cold over in Germany and reintegrate him into his side to unlock his full potential. His statistics in the Bundesliga suggest he has the quality to potentially be a key player for the Gers and the 46-year-old would surely come in and give him the confidence to hit his top form.

Therefore, the £14k-per-week beast who was once dubbed “superb” by Gerrard, could potentially end up saving Wilson and Rangers millions if van Bronckhorst is able to extract his quality and inject it into the XI at Ibrox.

If Itten is able to become a regular goalscorer for Rangers, as he was at St Gallen with 36 goals in 63 games, then they may not need to buy a replacement for Morelos, should he leave the club.

AND in other news, Deadline set: Report details Rangers manager timeline that’ll surely have fans excited…

Nottingham Forest could be set for a difficult battle in the summer to keep ahold of star centre-back Joe Worrall, who is attracting significant interest from Premier League clubs ahead of a potential transfer at the end of the season.

It will be difficult to replace the defender, who has become a key man in manager Steve Cooper’s side, who are looking to reach the play-offs with a view to earning promotion and a return to the top flight for next campaign.

Should the club fail to secure their ticket into the Premier League, they might have to smartly replace Worrall with a transfer with good value for money – and Zulte Waregem central defender Cameron Humphreys could prove the solution to the problem.

What’s the news?

According to The Daily Mail, the Manchester City youth academy graduate is a hot property among Championship clubs, with Luton, Blackburn and Huddersfield just three of the teams believed to have enquired in his services.

Forest are also interested, and with the 23-year-old set to leave the Belgian Pro League club at the end of the season with his contract expiring – meaning the East Midlands club would be able to replace Worrall with a solid free transfer for a player that would be able to develop with the team.

He’s a top flight level defender

Former Manchester City U23’s coach and current Anderlecht assistant manager Simon Davies once tipped the £675k-rated star to realise his potential of becoming a “real leader'”, and while in Belgium, he has become a more experienced man who could bring maturity and composure to the Forest back-line.

Averaging a 6.62 match rating according to SofaScore for the struggling Pro League outfit, Humphreys is outshone by Worrall in a number of defensive areas.

That includes tackles per game (Worrall’s 1.8 vs Humphreys’ 1.3), clearances per game (Worrall’s 3.3 vs Humphreys’ 2.9) and league clean sheets (Worrall’s 11 vs Humphreys’ 4).

Without context, it might look like the Forest star is miles ahead of the former Man City prospect, however, given that Humphreys is playing in a top-flight European league, it is understandable that he would appear behind the former Rangers loanee playing in the second tier.

However, bearing in mind his leadership skills, he’d certainly be a suitable replacement for Worrall.

Aged just 23, the potential transfer would most likely prove to be an excellent move, and even if it doesn’t work out for him with Forest, he would likely command a healthy profit for the club given that he would sign for free this summer.

In other news: Imagine him & Watkins: AVFC can save millions with £25k-p/w gem who’s “got everything”

According to a report by RMC Sport, West Ham have been linked with a loan move for Paris Saint-Germain defender Abdou Diallo.

The Lowdown: Centre-back crisis

The Hammers have suffered from a variety of defensive injuries this season, and it is those affecting the centre-backs which have hit the hardest.

Centre-half pairing Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma are currently out of action, leaving Craig Dawson and Issa Diop as the only senior defenders available for David Moyes to play centrally.

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Whilst Zouma is set to return in the next week or so, Ogbonna suffered a serious cruciate ligament rupture in early November which is expected to keep him out until after the end of this season.

As a result, the Irons have been on the hunt for centre-back options as they search for greater depth in that position.

The Latest: Hammers linked with Abdou Diallo loan

According to a report by RMC Sport (as relayed by Claret & Hugh), West Ham have been linked with a loan move for PSG centre-back Diallo.

The Hammers are reportedly interested in bringing in the 25-year-old on loan, as the French giants are looking to offload a number of fringe players.

The two clubs are yet to discuss a deal, but with the Irons looking to bring in a central defender, it would not be surprising to see the east London club exploring a multitude of avenues.

The Verdict: Good move for both parties

The Senegal international, who can also be utilised as a left-back, joined PSG as an exciting youngster from Borussia Dortmund in a £28.8m deal in 2019.

Despite being hailed as “strong in the air and shrewd in the challenge” by Rouven Schröder, then-sporting director at his former club Mainz, Diallo has not held down a regular place as a member of PSG’s star-studded line-up, having made just nine appearances in Ligue 1 this season and two in the Champions League.

With his lack of game-time in mind, he could be open to a move to West Ham if he seeks more first team football in preparation for the World Cup later this year.

Therefore, a loan deal could prove to be a good option for both the player and the club. Diallo could use the Hammers as a way of getting back into PSG’s first team plans, and Moyes could utilise the defender when necessary for the remainder of the season without the financial commitment of a permanent deal.

In other news: West Ham could battle La Liga giants for the ‘new Vidic’, came ‘very close’ to a deal in 2021

With 2021 almost over, let’s take a look back over what was a turbulent year for Everton and their fans.

Having started it with Carlo Ancelotti at the helm at Goodison Park, only for him to leave in the summer to be replaced by Rafa Benitez, this certainly caused waves at the Merseyside club.

While the end of the 2020/21 season may have ended in a rather flat manner, the first few weeks of the current season under Benitez saw the Toffees get off to a flyer by winning four of their opening six league games.

Things took a major dip for Everton through that saw them go through October and November without a win in the league, resulting in fan unrest towards Benitez and the club’s hierarchy.

All in all, the majority of Everton’s loyal supporters will undoubtedly be hoping that the rest of the season will pan out in a similar way to how it started and that the rest of 2022 will be very fruitful for the club.

How well do you remember Everton’s 2021? Test your knowledge with our Big Fat Everton quiz of the year to find out!

Many Everton fans have been left fuming over some news that has emerged involving Yerry Mina.

The central defender has now been called up by the Colombia national team for their upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifying games against Peru and Argentina, which are due to take place on January 28th and February 1st.

They would want Mina to join up with the squad early as well for training, and so there is a chance that he could now miss the Goodison Park faithful’s match at home against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday lunchtime, as well as their FA Cup tie at home to Brentford on February 5th, due to potential fatigue.

The Merseyside club have only lost two games in the top flight so far this season when he has played, and so he is clearly a key part of the team.

Thus, losing him potentially for their next two fixtures will be a big blow.

Everton fans on Mina news

These Toffees supporters fumed as the news was shared on Twitter, with one Blue even going as far as to claim that it was ‘ridiculous’:

“Please tell me he said no.”

Credit: @jet_pinnacle

“Jesus Christ..! Here we go again..”

Credit: @Kieranbuckley5

“Nooooooooooooo….don’t do it!”

Credit: @JohnDiazTheOne

“What a joke”

Credit: @JayKennedyEFC

“Shouldn’t be allowed to go. End of”

Credit: @chriswatson187

“Ridiculous”

Credit: @GedEFC1878

In other news, find out what manager update has Evertonians buzzing here!

The Liverpool Echo journalist Adam Jones was left hailing Alex Iwobi for his display as Everton beat Manchester United 1-0 at home in the Premier League.

The Lowdown: Huge win

The win and three points for the Merseyside club at Goodison Park are simply huge for their chances of avoiding relegation down to the Championship.

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It has moved Frank Lampard’s team four points clear of Burnley in 18th place in the table, with just eight games for them left to play.

The Latest: Iwobi hailed

Taking to Twitter, Jones was left hailing Iwobi’s performance, in particular the energy and hard work that he showed on the pitch:

“Alex Iwobi’s energy today, absolutely fantastic.

“He’s a changed man under Lampard in terms of that off-the-ball work, I’d argue.”

The Verdict: Big shift

Iwobi certainly put in a big shift for his side, as the winger once again played in an unnatural position in the centre of midfield.

However, he did not disappoint, especially defensively, as he won three of his duels, and also made two interceptions, one clearance and one tackle (SofaScore).

Iwobi also made one key pass and successful dribble (SofaScore), in an overall display that surely would have pleased the Toffees supporters, as well as Lampard.

Nonetheless, the Nigeria international now needs to keep up this level of performance for the rest of the season, as the Blues look to get themselves out of trouble.

In other news, find out what big EFC update this transfer insider has now ‘heard’ here!

A promising update has emerged on Newcastle United centre-back Paul Dummett regarding his current injury situation.

What’s the latest?

According to Lee Ryder of The Chronicle, the defender is poised to make his comeback in December to hand Eddie Howe a boost ahead of the festive period.

He has been missing for the entire season so far with a calf injury but is now just ‘weeks’ away from making his return and being a first team option again.

Fans will be delighted

Newcastle fans will surely be delighted by this update as it will provide Howe with another player to call upon as he attempts to revive the club’s fortunes. The Magpies are currently bottom of the Premier League table and have only six points after 12 matches.

They are five points off safety and are the only team in the division yet to win a game, whilst they have also failed to keep a single clean sheet. They are letting in 2.3 goals per game and Howe needs to change something to improve the defensive setup in order to stem the tide, as needing to score three goals per game on average to win is a tall order for a team currently netting 1.3 per match.

Last season, Dummett averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.76 as he was deployed at centre-back and left-back. He made 4.7 clearances and completed 2.2 tackles and interceptions per game, displaying his defensive qualities as he put in solid performances on a regular basis for Steve Bruce’s side.

In 2021/22, Emil Krafth (6.60), Ciaran Clark (6.64) and Fabian Schar (6.70) have all averaged lower ratings in the Premier League, suggesting that Dummett could potentially be an improvement on some of the current centre-back options. Therefore, his return will surely leave fans delighted, as he could bolster the team and improve their chances of keeping the ball out of their own net.

Hopefully the Welshman will be back in action within the next couple of weeks and be able to play a part in Newcastle’s Premier League matches in December. Keeping within touching distance of safety heading into January could be crucial in landing transfer targets in the next window, and given his statistics last season, Dummett’s return could help with that.

AND in other news, Paid £12m, now worth £4.5m: Newcastle had howler with dud accused of trying to “cheat”…

Pep Guardiola will have to endure a double defensive setback in Manchester City’s quarter-final clash against Atletico Madrid.

The Lowdown: City’s UCL form

Sky Blues fans will be hoping for a strong start to the Champions League quarter-finals in which City kick off their first-leg against Madrid in tonight’s clash at the Etihad.

City destroyed Sporting Lisbon in the opening leg of round 16 with an emphatic 5-0 win, before coasting to a 0-0 stalemate in the return fixture.

Guardiola will be aiming to make amends for his side’s loss in the final last year, in which they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Premier League rivals Chelsea.

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The Latest: Guardiola’s team news

The Catalan boss is set to face a defensive headache in his team selection tonight as both Ruben Dias and Kyle Walker are unavailable for the game, after the latest team news emerged from Manchester Evening News.

Man City will be without centre-back stalwart Dias, who has been missing for around a month now, as the manager confirmed on Friday that he would need another ten days to two weeks to get back up to full fitness.

Walker will also serve the last of his three-match ban against the Spanish outfit, following his red card which he sustained against RB Leipzig.

The Verdict: Dias will be missed

Guardiola’s men will be ready to face a tough Madrid side tonight, who have scored 57 goals in La Liga this season – the Premier League leaders have been solid defensively in the English campaign, having lost just three top-flight games and conceded a mere 18 goals.

Despite this, City would have been hoping that Dias could have made his return in time for the opening leg, as he has been a key figure in the side’s defensive success. He has earned himself praise as “a man mountain”, who could be considered “the best centre back in the world”, with fellow defender John Stones hailing his ‘outstanding’ impact.

The boss will have been praying throughout the international break that his defensive leader could have returned early enough to play tonight, but it looks as though Stones and Aymeric Laporte will have to step up.

In other news: Manchester City: Pep Guardiola in awe of Ilkay Gundogan

Many Sunderland fans have been left buzzing over some news that has emerged involving Trai Hume.

As per the official website of the Stadium of Light faithful, they have now signed the youngster from Linfield for an undisclosed fee on a four-and-a-half-year deal, with the option of a further year.

He can play both at right-back and in midfield, and will now give Lee Johnson another handy option in his squad ahead of their promotion push.

Hume has previously been dubbed as one of the hottest properties in the Irish League, and had scored three goals and made a further two assists from 17 games this season (Transfermarkt) before moving to the North East.

Nonetheless, at just 19 years of age, he is no doubt an exciting prospect, and one that can Johnson can now integrate into his team.

Sunderland fans on Hume transfer news

These Black Cats buzzed as the transfer news was shared on Twitter, with one SAFC supporter claiming that they were ‘delighted’ while another even went as far as to say that he will be a ‘cracking signing’:

“Yes lads, this fella’s going to be a cracking signing for us.”

Credit: @stuorr

“Delighted with this, people only seem to have positive things to say about both his ability and attitude. Welcome on board kidda, go make yourself a legend!!!”

Credit: @Blackcatlife197

“5 and a half years essentially. Love to see it.”

Credit: @adamguest

“I love you”

Credit: @1879Fans

“Get in!”

Credit: @GazJFisher

“Things you love to see”

Credit: @callumwoodley2

In other news, find out what fresh injury update Johnson has dropped here!

Many Everton fans have been left fuming as some early team news has emerged ahead of their game against Arsenal in the Premier League on Monday.

Speaking in his pre-game press conference ahead of the match against the Gunners, Rafael Benitez has now revealed that Dominic Calvert-Lewin is ‘still a couple of weeks’ away minimum from recovering from his injury setback, having not played since August.

The striker scored three goals in the first three games of the season prior to the injury (eight matches in the Premier League without a win after their 4-1 drubbing at home by Liverpool in midweek.

Considering such dreadful form, the last thing that Everton supporters wanted to hear was that they will be without the 24-year-old marksman throughout the pre-Christmas period.

Everton fans on Calvert-Lewin news

These Blues fans fumed as the team news involving Calvert-Lewin was shared on Twitter, with one going as far as to claim that it was ‘ridiculous’:

“The never-ending injury. He won’t be fully fit until about March as it will take him 6-8 games to build back up. Ridiculous.”

Credit: @jimefc81

“Every single week it’s the same answer!”

Credit: @karlriley_1997

“Excuses excuses”

Credit: @Grahamb75

“Why only Everton…shameful”

Credit: @Jesudian15

“WEEKS???”

Credit: @sebellis09

“It’s been a couple of weeks for about two months”Credit: @MainManMinaIn other news, find out what Benitez claim has left these Evertonians fuming