All posts by n8rngtd.top

West Bromwich Albion have been dealt a blow in their attempts to bring Trevoh Chalobah to The Hawthorns this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by the Express & Star journalist Joesph Masi, who revealed in a post on Twitter that a number of Premier League clubs have joined the race for the Chelsea midfielder.

It had previously been reported that the 22-year-old looked on course to complete a switch to the Championship side in the summer transfer window, however, in Masi’s latest article for the Express & Star, the journalist claims that Brentford, along with a number of other top-flight teams, are now also in the race for the former England U21 international.

Ismael will be livid

Considering that it very much looked as if West Brom had a deal for the defensive midfielder all but done, the fact that a number of other sides are now also reported to be in the race for the Chelsea youngster is sure to make Valerien Ismael livid.

Indeed, during a loan spell at FC Lorient, Chalobah proved that he boasts a considerable amount of talent, so, in all honesty, it is unsurprising to learn of interest in his services from the Premier League.

Over his 29 Ligue 1 appearances for the Ligue 1 side last season, the £3.15m-rated man made an average of 2.4 interceptions, 1.6 tackles, 1.9 clearances and won an impressive 5.2 duels per game.

The player Paul Lambert dubbed a “complete” midfielder also impressed in an attacking capacity, scoring two goals, providing two assists and creating one big chance for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 0.5 shots and making 0.3 key passes in each league appearance.

These returns saw the £12k-per-week man earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.87, ranking him as Christophe Pelissier’s joint fourth-best performer in the top flight of French football.

As such, getting a deal over the line for Chalobah this summer would have undoubtedly been a fantastic signing for Ismael, particularly considering the fact Chelsea are willing to let the midfielder leave for free, as well as the Frenchman’s current lack of options in the middle of the park at Albion.

However, with Brentford now firmly in the race for the youngster, the 45-year-old Baggies boss will have his work cut out in convincing the 22-year-old of a move to the Championship rather than the Premier League this summer.

In other news: Percy drops transfer update on “quality” £21k-p/w beast, West Brom fans surely buzzing

West Ham fans do not need to fret too much about Declan Rice leaving the club this summer, because the Hammers hold all the power, says football.london’s Sam Inkersole.

Rice has been heavily linked with a move away from the London Stadium, with Chelsea said to be keen.

According to The Telegraph, the 22-year-old has also turned down two new contract offers from the east London outfit, adding fuel to the fire.

On top of that, the same report states that Rice is waiting for a bid from either Chelsea or Manchester United, so you cannot blame West Ham supporters for feeling worried.

Inkersole, however, does not believe it is time to hit the panic button due to Rice still having three years to run on his current deal.

“He’s still got a long-term contract at the club, so it’s not like there’s any real panic,” Inkersole said in a chat with FFC.

“West Ham hold all the cards with him, so I don’t think West Ham fans should be concerned that he hasn’t signed these new contracts yet. He’s still got plenty of time to run.”

Given that West Ham have made their intentions clear when it comes to Rice, it will now be interesting to see whether Chelsea or Manchester United actually do make a bid for him this summer.

Kevin Phillips has predicted that Kyle Edwards would excel in the Premiership amid growing links with Scottish giants Celtic.

The Lowdown: Celtic set to scour far and wide for talent

With the 2021/22 season set to get underway, new Bhoys manager Ange Postecoglou will be keen to cast the net far and wide to find financially viable deals to facilitate a Premiership title charge.

Relaxed cross-border rules have proved to be an avenue of acquiring quality signings for nothing more than small compensation fees, illustrated by the additions of former Sheffield Wednesday pair Liam Shaw and Osaze Urhoghide in the last few weeks [Yorkshire Live].

Another man who would fall into this category is former West Bromwich Albion winger Edwards, who would be available for a development fee of just £300,000 due to his extensive upbringing in the Baggies academy.

The Latest: Phillips backs Edwards to ‘do really well’ in Glasgow

Celtic have opened talks with Edwards over a possible move to Parkhead, which has prompted Phillips to respond positively in an interview with Football Insider about the impact the 23-year-old could have in Glasgow. He said:

“If you’re going from the Premier League to the Scottish Premiership, I think he’d do really well up there.

“I think he needs a change of scenery. He can go and play regularly or hopefully at least be involved in matchdays, on the bench or whatever just to show what he can do.

“So it wouldn’t surprise me if he went up there and did really well. Then all of a sudden it might be one of those where West Brom fans are asking: ‘Why did we let him go?’”

The Verdict: Edwards would be an astute signing for Celtic

Former Sunderland striker Phillips correctly identifies Edwards’ previous disposition within an elite-level division such as the Premier League, which could bode well in the pressure-cooker environment at Parkhead.

He registered four goal contributions in 13 matches combined for West Brom’s first team and under-23s last season, with one goal and three assists [Transfermarkt].

Intriguingly, despite his limited time on the field, Edwards recorded a commendable 91.2% passing accuracy, which was actually the highest in the West Bromwich Albion squad across the campaign [WhoScored].

Lacking depth on the left hand-side of attack, Celtic should look to tie up a deal for Edwards as soon as possible, especially if they could get him for a measly six-figure fee.

In other news, Celtic have opened talks with this England international.

West Bromwich Albion are battling to secure a move to bring Adam Reach to the Hawthorns this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Alan Nixon, with The Sun journalist revealing in a post on Twitter that Albion are fighting Blackburn Rovers for the signature of the former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder, who is a free agent after leaving the Owls at the end of last season.

In response to a fan asking whether Rovers were close to signing anyone this summer, Nixon said: “[Blackburn are] still in Reach race despite the West Brom interest.”

Reach could solve problem

With Valerien Ismael often setting Barnsley up in a 3-4-2-1 formation last season, it would appear logical to assume that the Frenchman may well look to once again call upon this formation following his appointment at West Brom.

And, although Reach was playing his football for a Sheffield Wednesday side who ultimately finished bottom of the Championship last term, the 28-year-old nevertheless demonstrated he possesses a significant amount of ability, while the left midfielder’s positional versatility could also solve something of a problem for the 45-year-old Albion manager.

Indeed, over his 44 Championship appearances for the Owls last season, the £2.52m-rated man scored five goals, registered three assists and created five big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.3 shots and making 0.8 key passes per game.

The man Tony Pulis dubbed a “top player” also impressed in a defensive capacity, making an average of 0.9 interceptions, one tackle, one clearance and winning 2.8 duels per match.

These returns saw the £23k-per-week midfielder earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.82, ranking him as Darren Moore’s sixth-best performer in the second tier of English football.

As such, it would very much appear as if Reach would be capable of doing a job for West Brom, but, the exact job he may be asked to perform is what could make the former England U20 international an extremely astute piece of business by Ismael.

Indeed, with the Frenchman stating shortly after his arrival at the club that he doesn’t “need the most expensive player or the best player” but rather the “right player for the position,” Reach looks as if he could be something of a perfect candidate for the role as the 45-year-old’s left wing-back.

And, with only Conor Townsend in the Albion squad who is a natural left-back, it would very much seem as if Ismael will require far greater depth in the position over the course of an arduous Championship campaign.

So, all of the above would lead us to believe that the signing of Reach could solve one of the manager’s big issues at The Hawthorns ahead of next season, and, with the 28-year-old being available on a free transfer, he would also represent something of a bargain.

In other news: Hatfield drops West Brom transfer claim on “complete” £12k-p/w ace, Ismael must act

Leeds United can finally land Manchester United’s Dan James amid a recent transfer twist in their pursuit of the winger.

What’s the story?

According to recent reports from The Scottish Mail on Sunday (p129: 11/07), as transcribed by TBR Football, Marcelo Bielsa’s side are continuing to track the Wales international as they look to bolster their wide options ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

It was then suggested that Manchester United actually had no plans of letting James go this summer, despite the recent arrival of Borussia Dortmund flier Jadon Sancho.

However, ESPN now claim that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have had a change of heart, with the Welshman among a group of players who are now available for the right offer.

Bielsa really wants him

Speaking on his eponymous The Phil Hay Show, the journalist said: “That’s a question for Bielsa because Bielsa’s forever interested in Dan James, and you probably remember last summer that before they did the deal for Raphinha, they were looking into the possibility of bringing Dan James in on loan from Manchester United.

“I don’t think it was ever really a possibility because it didn’t seem as though Solskjaer wanted him to go. I get the feeling that Bielsa will consistently be interested in Dan James, because he was very big on him when Leeds nearly got him from Swansea.”

The £60m-rated winger is clearly someone for whom Bielsa has longed for a considerable time, especially given that the Whites were close to signing him when he was still at Swansea.

That extra pace and ability to be a real threat in the opposition box – he has managed six goals and seven assists in 48 Premier League games – could add another dimension to Leeds’ attack, particularly off the bench if Raphinha and Jack Harrison continue as the two starting wingers.

His Old Trafford teammate Andreas Pereira lauded the 23-year-old as being “explosive and so fast” in an interview with the club’s official website last season.

With Bielsa clearly desperate for him, this latest twist over James’ future should see Leeds finally pounce for the Welshman this summer.

Meanwhile, Leeds United have had a bid accepted for this player…

A number of Liverpool supporters have been hailing Naby Keita, following footage of a brilliant piece of skill in the friendly defeat to Hertha Berlin.

The Reds were back in pre-season action on Thursday night, taking on the Bundesliga side in Innsbruck.

Jurgen Klopp’s men ended up losing 4-3 in an entertaining encounter, but they played some good football and it was another good run out for the players.

[freshpress-quiz id=“359326”]

One individual who stood out in the first half was Keita, who looked slick in possession and played a key role in Takumi Minamino’s goal, winning the ball back with some relentless pressing.

The Guinean looks fit and in-form, which is encouraging, and he produced one lovely turn that caught the eye, completely bamboozling a Hertha player in the process.

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Liverpool fans laud Keita

The skill was shared by @PassLikeThiago on Twitter and these Liverpool fans took to the social media platform to laud Keita in the process.

“Ah, stop it, Naby lad!”

Credit: @AmiyraBader

“Pre-season Neymar. Please we need you to do this in the league”

Credit: @the_Gee_Lad

“Just inject this directly into my vein”

Credit: @WattsAthletix

“Stay fit and let him cook, NabySzn is inevitable”

Credit: @kabakkrew

“Magic”

Credit: @mabdallah222

“This man is so talented”

Credit: @lolo_davids

In other news, one European giant are reportedly eyeing up a move for a Liverpool player. Find out who it is here.

Steven Gerrard has been handed a boost at Rangers, with influential midfielder Ryan Jack close to a return from injury, which would be a huge positive for the Ibrox side.

What’s the word?

Jack has been sidelined since February with a calf injury that was initially expected to keep him out for a few weeks, but it ultimately ended his season and led to him missing the European Championships with Scotland.

After a number of surgeries and a long break, it seems as if the former Aberdeen man is finally closing in on a return, as Gerrard confirmed ahead of the weekend’s game against Livingston that:

“We still have Ryan Jack to return, he has one more appointment in a few weeks to get the green light to fully return.”

Whilst the 29-year-old is unlikely to feature against Malmo on Tuesday evening, he could feasibly make his return in a few weeks time, which is undoubtedly a boost for the Gers.

A huge boost for Gerrard?

Last season saw the midfielder make 19 appearances in the Scottish Premiership, contributing two goals and one assist, which helped him average an impressive 7.03 rating from WhoScored.

Jack’s performances in midfield were a key factor in Rangers’ incredible defensive record last season and Gerrard will undoubtedly be keen to have him back fit now that the 2021/22 campaign has begun.

With Glen Kamara set to miss the next three European games through suspension, it would be ideal timing if Jack can make his return during the time that his Finnish teammate is out, otherwise, Gerrard might be a little low on defensive-midfield options.

The Rangers manager is clearly a big fan of the 29-year-old midfielder, as he sang his praises last season, saying:

“When we came in we inherited a good player, without a doubt. Aberdeen had done a really good job with Ryan in terms of his development and giving him the opportunity to play at the top level. He obviously became a leader.

“So there was coaching prior to us that deserves a lot of credit in Ryan’s development. We obviously saw a winner when we came in.”

[freshpress-quiz id=“593776”]

Therefore, it is clearly a huge boost for Gerrard that he will have such an influential part of his side back fit in the near future, and Rangers fans will be hoping that he can play a big part this season as they look to retain their Premiership title.

And, in other news… Rangers miss out on “fantastic” transfer target, Gerrard surely gutted

Speaking to talkSPORT (Wednesday 12:25pm), via Read West Ham, journalist Alex Crook has dropped a West Ham United transfer hint involving Liverpool forward Divock Origi.

The Lowdown: West Ham in Origi chase?

As manager David Moyes’ options for a new striker grow thin, Reds forward Origi has emerged as a target, with club insider ExWHUemployee believing a move could become close at the end of the transfer window (Twitter).

Meanwhile, other sources like Football Insider say that the Hammers have already opened preliminary talks to sign the Belgium international after Liverpool slashed his asking price.

Now, Crook has come out with own update on the situation with a West Ham transfer hint.

The Latest: Origi transfer hint dropped…

As per the talkSPORT reporter, speaking on live radio (via Read West Ham), West Ham could make a move for the 26-year-old and Crook has implored supporters to ‘keep tabs’ on the saga ‘in the coming weeks’.

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“The other name to look out for is Divock Origi at Liverpool,” explained the journalist.

“He’s on the books of agent Will Salthouse who is very close to the West Ham hierarchy.

“They do need a striker so keep tabs on that one in the coming weeks. Year left on his contract and probably not going to get game time. But they don’t want decent money.”

The Verdict: Nowhere else to turn?

Both Origi and Barcelona forward Martin Braithwaite have been the most heavily-linked strikers to West Ham over this past fortnight, perhaps indicating that their options are running a bit low.

Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic is another name to have emerged over the last few days (Eurosport), but his possible price tag and sky high wages (£163,000-per-week) indicate a move is unlikely.

As such, Origi arguably comes as the best possible last option for West Ham given Liverpool are open to selling and he already has experience in the Premier League.

The attacker, amassing a career total of 59 goals, also has a fair few years left to develop further going by his age and he may even bring some sell-on value as a result.

In other news: West Ham weigh swoop to sign ‘world class’ striker, club prepare to sell…find out more here.

After a less than impressive display at Ibrox against Malmo in midweek, Steven Gerrard should drop Leon Balogun from his Rangers side to face Dunfermline Athletic tonight.

Gerrard’s men begin their Scottish League Cup campaign against the Championship side at Ibrox on Friday night, hoping to end their run of three consecutive losses.

The Light Blues manager spoke earlier in the week about how he planned to take domestic cup competitions very seriously this season, with Rangers’ last success in the League Cup coming in 2010/11 season.

The 41-year-old said: “We made it abundantly clear to the squad this season that the domestic cups are important and we want to go all the way in both. You will see in my squad selection how serious we are taking the competition, we will be going full throttle.”

Therefore, it seems as if Gerrard will be selecting a strong side at Ibrox despite the lower-tier opposition, and for that reason, he should drop Balogun from his starting XI.

Should Gerrard drop Balogun vs Dunfermline?

The former Wigan Athletic man, who reportedly earns £12.5k per week at Rangers, struggled immensely in the second half against Malmo in midweek and was definitely culpable for the Swedish side’s second goal. He was far too slow to close down Antonio Colak from a throw-in, and the Croatian turned inside the box before firing past Allan McGregor to give the 10 men of Malmo a 4-2 aggregate lead.

After the game, Nigerian news outlet Punch were extremely critical of Balogun for his disappointing performance, writing: “Balogun endured a miserable night on his return to Rangers starting lineup as the Gers crashed out from the UCL qualifiers.”

It was a surprise that Filip Helander was dropped from the starting XI in the first place after Gerrard described his first leg performance as “Champions League level”, so it seems likely that the Swede will resume his partnership with Connor Goldson, or even one of Jack Simpson or Nikola Katic, when Rangers face Peter Grant’s side this evening.

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Regardless of who comes in for the Nigerian centre-back, they will struggle to perform as badly as Balogun did in the second half against Malmo, so the 33-year-old should definitely be dropped to the bench.

In other news… Wilson can sign Rangers’ next Ryan Kent with transfer swoop for 23 y/o “top player”

Former Leicester City star Steve Howey insists that Wilfred Ndidi will only leave the club for a huge fee this summer.

The midfielder has been linked with a potential move to Manchester United this summer as they look to bring in defensive midfield reinforcements.

Ndidi has emerged as a star during his time with the Foxes, with the 24-year-old making a total of 178 appearances for the club throughout his stay.

He is tied to a lenghy contract that runs until 2024 and he is valued at £54m by Transfermarkt.

The Nigeria international would be a hugely expensive acquisition for United but Howey believes that Leicester would be able to effectively replace him because of how “shrewd” they are in the transfer window.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, Howey said: “Of course, if Ndidi did go, they’d be looking for big money. Knowing Leicester and how shrewd they are, and the manager is, they’d probably pick up two or three players who again, we’ll turn around in a season or two and go ‘wow, where’s he come from?’”

Ndidi primarily operates as a defensive midfielder but also has the ability to play in defence, and has done previously during his time at the club, per Transfermarkt.