All posts by h716a5.icu

Memphis Depay, currently captaining the Olympique Lyonnais men’s team in their pursuit of their first Ligue Un since their seven-successive title wins ended in the 2008/2009 season, is linked with a transfer to Liverpool almost every season. His contract with Lyon ends at the end of this season, and by all indications it looks like he won’t resign with the club. He is twenty-seven years old now, entering his prime. It’s likely, regardless of what happens in the Ligue Un title race, he wants to test himself elsewhere.

Since Ronald Koeman became Barcelona manager, many Dutch players – including Liverpool’s Georginio Wijnaldum, whose deal is up at Anfield this summer too – have been touted to join him at the Camp Nou. It’s widely anticipated that this is where Memphis ends up. However, Marca are suggesting Liverpool and Juventus have tabled offers, trying to sway the Dutchman away from it seems he may well inevitably end up.

Liverpool

As things currently stand, the Premier League’s defending champions will fail to retain their title. For those who enjoy placing the odd bet on football, this current position translates to them being 1000/1 longshots with eight games to go. It’s been a tough season for the Reds, losing three starting centre-backs to season-ending injuries, and then having key players miss games throughout the season with minor knocks and muscle issues. However, for fans, pundits, and journalists, Liverpool’s squad was entering into a rebuild phase this season or next anyway.

The signing of Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig is reportedly all but completed, with minor details being ironed out before the player undertakes a medical. This is the first step in organising a long-term picture for the defence. It’s highly likely Liverpool make Kabak a permanent signing too. Van Djik will come back into the team, but he’s approaching thirty years-old and after recovering from such a major injury there will be uncertainties about how well he’ll perform. Injuries can not only deliver physical blows but also mental and emotional issues in their wake. The same goes for Gomez. Both Konate and Kabak are low-risk-high-reward signings who offer on-field value now and in the future.

Up the other end of the pitch is where there will be serious questions asked. All of their front three are aging. They are approaching the point where their value will only depreciate. To rebuild, Liverpool will need money. Salah has been hinting at leaving, which could become more concrete if Liverpool fail to qualify for the Champions League, and he will be the most expensive sale. Liverpool won’t want to lose their star player. Firmino’s performances, at least in terms of goal output, have dwindled, and it’s likely he could be sold before Salah. Mane, though, in an ideal world, could be the one to sell right now. His talent is undeniable, and, due to his incredible fitness, it’s likely the age curve could be kind to him, meaning his “peak” could well extend into his thirties, making him an attractive transfer for some teams and, therefore, holding a better price than Firmino. This is where Memphis could fit in.

Depay of Previous Years

In his time at PSV, he looked like a shot monster. Some of the locations were questionable, with many being for distances which made the likelihood of goal very, very slim. However, on the whole, there was promise as this many shots and scoring at the rates he was scoring suggested it could well be translatable to “tougher” leagues, which was why Manchester United took a chance. It didn’t work out for him in Manchester. He failed to become a regular under the two managers he worked under in his two seasons at the club before seeking a move in January of 2017. United do have a buy-back clause, but that won’t mean much now he’s free to discuss contracts with other clubs without them needing to negotiate transfer fees.

Depay Now

Right now, Memphis is, as mentioned, captaining Lyon and is an integral cog in their offensive unit. He had a high usage-rate at his time in Holland – meaning that his team’s possessions often ended with Memphis taking a shot – and that appears to have translated to Lyon. His shot numbers are solid as are his creative ones, according to fbref.com. He plays in a team which plays through him. Will this happen at Liverpool?

In the Liverpool Team

Jota was brought in with a view to the future. He’s a great player now, but he is pre-peak. He will get better. His versatility offers the Liverpool recruitment team a wonderful opportunity to build a front three however they want. Jota can play off either wing or through the middle. Memphis can do this too. He can play through the middle, both as a striker who is able to drop deep to retain the ball or play progressive passes and as an in-behind and box threat. He began his career as a winger, and he would be able to do similar things with the ball that he’d be able to do if he played centrally, but his orientation on the pitch will be different. In essence, he’s as flexible as Jota. Signing Memphis on a free transfer will make this move all the more appealing.

Charlie Adam has shared his delight after Glasgow Rangers confirmed that Steven Davis has signed a new one-year contract at Ibrox.

Adam delighted at Davis news

Davis was set to be out of contract at the end of the campaign but, despite being 36 years of age, the Gers have decided to keep him at the club for another 12 months.

The 55-time Scottish champions shared the news on their official Twitter account, and former Rangers midfielder Adam responded by saying this was “great news”.

Big news

Adam is far from a popular figure among many supporters, but surely Gers fans will have trouble disagreeing with him on this one. While Davis does not have long left in his career, he boasts plenty of experience; and with 40 appearances in all competitions so far this term (Transfermarkt), he has played a vital role in the Gers’ 2020/21 success.

With 45 goals and 94 assists throughout his time in the game, he can contribute directly to goals, but his importance to this Rangers side cannot be measured solely in that way. He is a cool, calming influence in the middle of the park, and he deserves all the accolades he continues to get. Who knows, he may even get himself another deal at the end of next season as well.

In other news, many Rangers fans are livid at this pundit’s comments.

Celtic may be without a manager but transfer preparations at Parkhead are well and truly underway.

What’s the word?

The Hoops have already wrapped up a deal to bring Liam Shaw to Glasgow but two other players who could join are more youngsters from the EFL; Kyle Joseph and Kwadwo Baah.

However, they’re now looking to sign an explosive winger in the shape of Aaron-Salem Boupendza.

That’s according to 90min, who suggest that Celtic are one of a number of teams vying for the winger’s signature.

Boupendza currently plays in Turkey for Hatayspor where he’s been seriously impressive. Arsenal are one of the sides chasing his signature with the Bhoys facing plenty of competition from south of the border.

Southampton, Tottenham, Leicester, West Ham, Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Brighton and Wolves are all monitoring his development while Rangers are also an interested party.

Christie upgrade

This will be music to the ears of Hoops supporters; Boupendza should be an upgrade on the much-maligned Ryan Christie.

The Scot has been in shocking form lately, scoring just twice in his last 25 outings for Celtic. For someone who found the net on 20 occasions last term, he has been abject at best.

Christie’s end product has often been left wanting and that has never been more evident than in the 1-0 defeat to Ross County.

He played as a striker next to Odsonne Edouard but spurned four chances, including an opportunity from just a matter of yards out that not only cleared the crossbar, but also the stand behind the goal.

With that in mind, signing someone like Boupendza would undoubtedly help Celtic. He is capable of playing on either flank, as well as through the middle as a central striker.

He has been electrifying for Hatayspor this season, scoring 18 times in just 28 outings. He’s failed to register an assist but with players like David Turnbull and James Forrest in the side, that should be of no concern.

Vital to the 24-year-old’s style of play is his dribbling. When one-on-one with the defender, Boupendza often gets the better of them. He has attempted 109 dribbles this season, completing 69 at a rate of 2.7 per match.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-celtic-transfer-news-onuachu-edouard-dembele-turnbull” title=”The latest Celtic news and views!”]

For context, no player at Celtic has recorded more than the 1.6 dribbles amassed by Tom Rogic and Edouard.

Clearly, he could offer something different to the new manager at Paradise. On top of that, he could even be a more potent goal threat than someone like Christie.

As Celtic try to reclaim their dominance of the SPFL, finding more goals will be of utmost importance. Boupendza would offer than in abundance.

AND in other news, Forget Christie: Celtic must unleash rarely-seen 23 y/o next term, he’s “outstanding”…

Carlo Ancelotti must shoulder part of the blame for Mason Holgate feeling that his performances have not been up to his normal standards for Everton this season.

The 24-year-old earned his 14th start of the Premier League campaign during Saturday’s Merseyside derby win away to Liverpool, partnering Michael Keane and Ben Godfrey in central defence in the absence of the injured Yerry Mina.

Holgate had earned just four of his 13 prior top-flight appearances in his natural centre-back position this term, with Ancelotti often fielding the Doncaster-born talent at right-back.

Ancelotti’s selection of Holgate at full-back initially came through a need to plug a gap in defence following Seamus Coleman’s hamstring strain, but soon saw the £16m-rated ace establish himself as the Italian’s secret weapon amid calls to strengthen in the position.

At centre-half or right-back, praise has since come Holgate’s way, with former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch only able to wax lyrical over the ex-England U21 international following the Merseyside derby.

“Mason Holgate was brilliant. He needs to be mentioned, he’s different class and is going to be a top player,” Crouch noted in his column for the Daily Mail.

And yet Holgate believes that his performances still have a sizable margin for improvement.

“We have to stay level-headed and keep going. I am coming into it [reaching form] a bit more,” Holgate told EvertonTV.

“I am not where I’d like to be and hitting it consistently, but I can only work as hard as possible. I have not done too badly but am not near my normal standards.

“It is hard to come to the season partway through, but I am feeling stronger and fitter now and am happy the way things are going. Hopefully, I can keep it going.”

Holgate missed the first seven games of the Premier League campaign with a toe injury sustained during a pre-season friendly with Preston North End, which sparked Everton to explore central defensive signings before the £20m capture of Godfrey from Norwich City.

Rarely has Holgate been given a look in at his preferred position since and, despite the high moments occasionally seen at full-back, Ancelotti should accept some of the blame for the 6 ft 1 defender feeling as if he is yet to reach his best levels this term.

Holgate’s longest run of appearances in a single position for top-flight fixtures so far has lasted just four games, when fielded at right-back for much of December whilst Coleman was back in the treatment room after aggravating his hamstring issue.

One game back at centre-half then resulted in Holgate returning to right-back for four of the Blues’ following five games, before going back and forth between the two roles this month.

Never having a settled role to play in the Toffees’ push for European qualification is likely holding Holgate back from reaching his max potential, all the while Godfrey puts his teammate in his shadow.

“He’s really stepped up to the plate. We all knew he was a good player when Everton signed him and had high hopes, but he’s exceeded those expectations by the level of his performance, both in central defence and also in full-backs as well,” former Everton defender David Weir told Football Pass of Godfrey.

So, while Holgate’s injury meant the 24-year-old’s season started later than for some, Ancelotti must accept part of the responsibility for how his campaign has since turned out, for better or worse.

AND in other news, Everton face widespread PL competition for the transfer of an £18k-p/w beast this summer…

Newcastle United striker Dwight Gayle must question Steve Bruce’s tactics after being left a passenger of Friday night’s 1-1 draw with Aston Villa.

Bruce recalled Gayle to the Magpies starting line-up for the visit of Dean Smith’s side to St James’ Park, having only opted to name the 31-year-old as a substitute for his last three Premier League squads.

However, the forward’s return did not come in his natural and preferred central position, with Gayle instead forced into occupying a role on the left wing in the absence of Allan Saint-Maximin after the Frenchman sustained a groin injury and was ruled out until April.

Gayle kept pushing to try and influence proceedings against Aston Villa but rarely managed to deliver a key impac, in what was only his second start of the season across all competitions, having missed the beginning of the campaign with a medial collateral ligament injury.

Being played out of position further meant Gayle rarely got on the ball in dangerous positions, was unable to get on the end of crosses into the Villans’ box and often cut a frustrated figure yards from Emiliano Martinez’s area.

Changes were made at the break with Gayle moving into a false nine role and Ryan Fraser shifted onto the wing in a direct swap from the first half, yet Bruce’s switch still continued to see the £40,000-per-week striker occupy positions too far from goal to cause any real problems.

Of Gayle’s 27 touches registered on Friday night, only three came inside the Villa box, with three taken on the edge of the area and seven in United territory, per WhoScored. Jacob Murphy, who came on in the 79th minute, registered four touches in Martinez’s box, while Fraser took five and Joelinton registered six.

It was a similar story for Gayle against Chelsea when fielded on the right wing during his first start of the season last month, as the London-born forward could only register one of his 16 touches inside Kepa Arrizabalaga’s penalty area at Stamford Bridge.

Gayle’s difficulties in adapting to a wide or false nine role were further hammered home in how little he could produce against Aston Villa, with the £7.2m-rated striker completing just 14 of his 17 passes – only Emil Krafth (13) completed fewer among those who started for Newcastle, per Sofascore.

Goalkeeper Martin Dubravka completed 17 of his 29 attempted passes against Aston Villa for the third-least among those who opened the action for the Toon. Only Bertrand Traore (6), who came off in the 21st minute; Morgan Sanson (9), who came on in the 59th; and Martinez (12) completed fewer passes than Gayle for the away side, per Sofascore.

Similarly against Chelsea, Gayle completed just six of his eight passes before being taken off in the 64th minute, which was the least achieved by any player for either side who started at Stamford Bridge.

Gayle must be questioning what more he has to do for Bruce to realise that he is not accustomed to occupying a deep or wide role and that he should be deployed as an out-and-out centre-forward, as the Toon coach’s current system is not working for him at all.

AND in other news, Newcastle eye summer swoop for £16k-p/w maestro once lauded for being “the most gifted” player…

Ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s Premier League clash with arch-rivals Chelsea this evening, Jose Mourinho has been cruelly dealt some troubling injury news…

What’s the word?

According to the Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick’s update ahead of tonight’s game against Chelsea, two of Spurs’ injured players have now seemingly been ruled out for the remainder of February.

Giovani Lo Celso has been absent since pulling up with a hamstring problem in their 2-0 defeat to Leicester City on December 20th, and the reliable journalist claims ‘there is little prospect of the midfielder returning for at least three weeks.’

While Sergio Reguilon is another who is currently on the treatment table at present.

Kilpatrick has also delivered an update over his progress as he too is out with hamstring trouble, though just like the Argentine, he’s ‘set to miss most of February.’

Cruel blow

Given Spurs’ current form, this will quickly become a nightmare for Mourinho as he could really do with both players right now. Indeed, they have lost back-to-back matches and now face the Blues, who have a bit of a new manager bounce after appointing Thomas Tuchel.

Spurs have missed both players and their attacking influence substantially over the last few weeks and would have hoped to have them back as soon as possible.

Across their two defeats to Liverpool (3-1) last week and then Brighton (1-0) on Sunday, Mourinho’s side have only amassed an xG of 0.47 as per Understat.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s strike against the defending champions was a rare scorcher from long-range, so without that, they’d have failed to score in successive outings.

Lo Celso ranks third for key passes per 90 (1.88) but when you factor in those that have played at least ten league games, he sits top of the tree, so clearly, Spurs have lacked his presence in attacking midfield as he’s been the man providing those valuable chances to Kane and co.

Similarly, only Kane (11) and Heung-min Son (six) have delivered more assists for Spurs than Reguilon (three) in the Premier League this term, as per WhoScored.

No left-sided full-back is managing as many as his 0.7 successful crosses per 90 either. And that’s a problem as they attack most down this flank (37%).

It’s no wonder that Spurs have struggled to score in the absence of the duo, so to be without them throughout the rest of the month with games against Everton in the FA Cup, league leaders Man City and for the return of the Europa League knockout stages, is potentially one cruel blow to their chances of stopping the rot anytime soon.

Even when Kane hopefully returns next week, he’s going to struggle to score goals himself if Spurs aren’t creating chances, so having Lo Celso and Reguilon sidelined for such a long time is certainly going to keep Mourinho up at night.

AND in other news, Mourinho must unleash “exciting” £26m-rated beast tonight, he could be Spurs’ game-changer…

According to The Daily Record, Glasgow Rangers outcast Jordan Jones is set for a six-month loan away from Ibrox at the Stadium of Light with Sunderland.

What’s the word?

After falling out of favour with Steven Gerrard for breaching Covid-19 rules with George Edmundson, Jones has found himself playing very little football this season and has been deemed surplus to requirements by the Ibrox boss.

It’s claimed that he had attracted interest from clubs across Scotland but favoured a move south of the border.

And now, he may have already played his last game for Rangers.

End of the road?

Jones, 26, has been nothing short of a flop since he first arrived at Ibrox from Kilmarnock, having been the subject of a failed bid from the Light Blues the year beforehand.

When he arrived on the scene in in 2019, he took to social media to share his delight, writing it was an ‘unbelievably proud day for me and my family’, adding ‘I’ve waited for this moment for a long time and today is a dream come true!’

However, despite being capped nine times by his country, the Northern Irishman has failed to rediscover the form he enjoyed at Kilmarnock.

In 19 appearances across all competitions, Jones has scored just once, as per Transfermarkt, which is a pretty measly return for a player who contributed to 33 goals in 119 games during his time at Rugby Park.

Gerrard praised him for his impact in the Europa League qualifier against Willem II at the start of the season, calling him a “real threat”, but he has been unable to break into the starting XI after his latest indiscretion. In fact, he is yet to feature since the turn of the year.

With Rangers recently confirming they have signed left-winger Scott Wright on a pre-contract agreement from Aberdeen, it might be the end of a chapter for Jones in his faltering Ibrox career.

AND in other news, Why Glasgow Rangers should give Ryan Kent whatever he wants…

It seems that a new central defender is high on the list of priorities for new West Brom boss Sam Allardyce in the upcoming transfer window…

What’s the word?

According to The Sun on Sunday (December 20th, page 65), the Baggies manager is eyeing a move to sign West Ham defender Issa Diop on loan in January.

It’s claimed that the Irons are open to shifting the Frenchman out on loan and could even sanction a sale should they receive a decent offer.

Big Sam is a big fan and could look to sign Diop, who cost the east Londoners £22m back in the summer of 2018. He is thought to also be on wages of around £67k-per-week, according to Spotrac.

Colossal upgrade

It is no wonder the 66-year-old is eyeing defensive reinforcements as his first port of call as Albion are among the Premier League’s leakiest teams.

Indeed, only Leeds United (30) have conceded more goals than West Brom (29). Both are near-enough still deploying their Championship XIs, so it is hardly a surprise.

The Baggies hierarchy sold Ahmed Hegazi behind the back of former manager Slaven Bilic, and aside from Branislav Ivanovic, who is getting on a bit at 36, Allardyce has been left with vastly inexperienced players.

Diop has played 69 times in the English top-flight and 85 times in Ligue 1, as per Transfermarkt, so he certainly seems a good option to fill the void. Even more so after the Hammers once valued him at £75m amid interest from Manchester United.

Jose Mourinho once dubbed him a “monster” capable of dominating duels after he nullified the threat of Paul Pogba two years ago and whilst his current valuation of £18m suggests things haven’t gone to plan, he has still performed at a decent enough level.

Paul Robinson also told Football Insider: “Diop’s proven this season that he’s reliable, strong, very very capable and he’s been a part of West Ham’s success. He is good enough for a top-four team.”

High praise indeed.

Last season, Diop averaged 5.1 clearances, 2.5 aerials won, 1.5 interceptions and 0.8 tackles per game, via WhoScored.

Albion’s current partnership of Semi Ajayi and Dara O’Shea barely have a fraction of the games played of the French colossus, and neither is managing more clearances per game this term either.

Diop would be an ideal upgrade from Luke Dowling and co next month.

AND in other news, Luke Dowling heading for a familiar mistake as GIANTS eye young sensation…

Speaking exclusively to FootballFanCast, Steve Howey has suggested Leeds United re-sign Eddie Nketiah from Arsenal in this January transfer window.

The England U21 international of course spent the first-half of last season on loan at Elland Road, where he made 19 appearances in all competitions and notched five goals, before returning back to Mikel Arteta’s side in January.

The £18m-rated ace hasn’t quite kicked on in this current Premier League campaign however with just one goal in 12 top-flight games, and Football Insider claim that a second loan move for the forward could be on the cards for Leeds, although it isn’t a priority at this stage.

And speaking to FootballFanCast, Howey delivered his verdict on a potential Elland Road return for Nketiah.

He said: “It’s clear he’s not really in the team (at Arsenal). (Bukayo) Saka seems to be the man who’s kind of getting everybody’s attention at the moment. Nketiah certainly, was one that was, but it’s an opportunity for him to go there.

“We all know how exciting Leeds are under Bielsa. What a force they are going forward, they’ve shocked everybody. I’ve watched them a couple of times this season and I’ve absolutely loved watching them.

“Again, for Nketiah, from now until the end of the season, and he’s been there before and knows what it’s about, absolutely. Why not?”

Whilst his loan spell may have end up being cut short, Marcelo Bielsa was always quick to hail Nketiah’s talents.

Speaking after the English starlet’s return to the Emirates, the Leeds boss said: “He’s a specialist great player with a lot of resources and our play is a collective way of playing and one player needs to adapt to this style. For this reason when we felt he was part of the team we thought that we were going to feel the same and that he would continue with us.

“He didn’t take this decision but he is a great player, an excellent professional and he had very good behaviour, he is a gentleman in every sense.”Whilst it may not have ended the way anyone would have wanted, Leeds could land a superb alternative to Patrick Bamford were they to bring back Nketiah this month.

Sunderland are in a weird place at the moment.

Eight points off top spot, it’s difficult to envisage a scenario where the Black Cats get automatic promotion again.

Despite the takeover talk, it has been a troublesome period but they have received some good news in the last few weeks with Elliot Embleton returning to the fray.

On the chalkboard

Sunderland don’t particularly have too many troubles in central midfield. After all, it’s an area where they are particularly well-stocked.

At Phil Parkinson’s disposal, he has Grant Leadbitter – a scorer against Doncaster – and Max Power. The manager also has Josh Scowen and George Dobson who can play in that area of the pitch.

You can argue that all of those players are fairly one-dimensional midfielders, however, so perhaps some added impetus from elsewhere would go down nicely.

That could start with a certain Embleton, someone who picked up a serious hamstring injury which ruled him out for around five months last season.

However, he’s now back and according to Sunderland Echo journalist Phil Smith, “we’re going to see plenty of Elliot Embleton in the coming weeks.”

The next Honeyman?

Embleton is one of the most promising players to have come through Sunderland’s academy in recent years and is highly-rated in various circles.

He is capped nine times by England U20s and scored four goals in 30 appearances during a loan spell with Grimsby in 2018/19. The midfielder also registered four assists.

Unfortunately, though, the 21-year-old was limited to a solitary first-team outing at Sunderland last season. That being said, we’re now seeing a resurgence from a man once tipped to replace former captain George Honeyman in the Black Cats’ squad.

When he left for Hull in the summer of 2019, Jack Ross had the following to say:

“We don’t have any immediate thoughts about bringing another one in that position. We feel we have good options there. Unless anything untoward happens, especially with Elliot’s emergence and continued progression hopefully, then that helps us as well.”

Ross is someone who rated the youngster highly during his stint at the Stadium of Light, also commenting: “Embleton has been terrific since he came back for pre-season. You can see what he can provide in the final third, so I was pleased with that.”

That impact in the attacking third of the pitch from a midfielder right now would be absolutely ideal.

That being said, it’s crucial that Parkinson is careful with his fitness. Embleton has only eight minutes of League One action in 2020/21 so his sharpness will need to be built up sufficiently before any regular starts.

Meanwhile, check out how the biggest WINNER could be from Sunderland’s takeover…