All posts by z3u9t.icu

Tottenham Hotspur have now had a bid of €15m (£13m) plus Davinson Sanchez for centre-back Victor Nelsson accepted by Galatasaray, according to recent reports from Turkey.

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

According to Fabrizio Romano, both Micky van de Ven and Edmond Tapsoba are keen on a move to Tottenham, and next week is going to be important to understand if they can advance towards completing a move for the latter player.

If that is not possible, Spurs will close the deal for Van de Ven, however there are other centre-backs still being linked with a move to north London, with a deal for Barcelona's Clement Lenglet still very much in the works.

There is now growing a belief that a "deal can be struck" with Juventus to sign Brazilian defender Gleison Bremer, with manager Ange Postecoglou chasing multiple defensive signings this summer to shore up his backline.

Last week, it was reported that the Lilywhites are "insistently" pushing to sign Nelsson, who has a €25m (£21m) release clause included in his contract, although they were wary of competition for his signature from north London rivals Arsenal.

Now, however, it appears as though Tottenham may have won the race for the defender, as reports from Turkey now claim that Galtasaray have accepted an offer of €15m (£13m) plus Davinson Sanchez (via Sport Witness).

The player himself is keen on a move to Spurs, and Daniel Levy seems to have found a way of getting an unwanted player off the books while also bringing in a new centre-back, as long as Sanchez is willing to head in the opposite direction.

If the 27-year-old does not agree a move to Galatasaray, the Lilywhites will need to pay a flat fee of €25m (£21m) to secure the Dane's signature.

How good is Victor Nelsson?

The 24-year-old has emerged as a key first-team player for Galatasaray over the past two seasons, making a total of 80 appearances in all competitions, and he has been hailed for his performances by a member of the Turkish club's board.

Resit Omer Kukner has lauded the former FC Copenhagen man as a "Danish lion", praising him for his "attitude on and off the pitch", while also describing him as a "great athlete."

Last season, the Denmark international averaged 3.3 clearances per game, the second-highest total in the Galatasaray squad, and he made more blocks than any of his teammates, showcasing his defensive acumen.

Of course, Nelsson is, as yet, unproven in a major European league, but he has been very solid over the past two seasons, cementing himself as a vital player for Galatasaray, and he has earned a move to the Premier League.

A move for the Turkish Super Lig star also comes with the added bonus of Tottenham getting Sanchez off their books, which is probably the best outcome for all parties at this stage.

The 27-year-old was booed by the Spurs fans near the back end of last season, having been poor throughout the 2022-23 campaign, and it is the right time for him to move on.

Sunderland are showing serious interest in FC Sochaux striker Eliezer Mayenda, according to reports in France.

What's the latest news on Ross Stewart's contract?

Kristjaan Speakman and the Black Cats have been pretty open with fans when it comes to Ross Stewart’s future. The club’s star striker, who’s bagged 40 goals and eight assists in 80 appearances on Wearside, has struggled with injuries in recent times and is also attracting interest from elsewhere as his contract ticks down into its final 12 months.

"We're not getting into whether we've had bids," Speakman told The Athletic. "That's our private business.

"The situation is no different to where we have been: we are really keen to retain Ross and everything from his camp is that he'd like to stay.

"But we haven't got to an agreement that both parties would like to sign off. Externally that can seem strange, but we don’t think it is – Dennis Cirkin re-signed last week and we have been speaking to him about his contract for maybe six months."

Rangers, Middlesbrough, Blackburn Rovers, Stoke City, Crystal Palace and Brentford were all said to be keen on Stewart back in January, while it is apparently Stoke City and Luton Town that Sunderland fans will need to worry about now, as per Football League World.

And it looks like work has started on finding some young players who can eventually take over from Stewart, whether that is this summer or further down the line, after Portuguese starlet Luis Semedo was brought in early on in the transfer window, and there is now interest in another youngster.

According to Foot Mercato in France, the Black Cats are “very interested” in Sochaux star Mayenda, an 18 year-old Spain youth international.

The teenager, who has dual citizenship in Spain and France, is under contract until 2025, but with his club going through a “terrible descent into hell” he could now “slip away and discover the Championship”.

Indeed, Sochaux are going through something not overly dissimilar to what Sunderland fans endured a few years back, as this once top flight club has been demoted down the divisions via an “administrative relegation” due to financial crisis.

Many of their rising talents and best players have left the club and more are expected to follow, claim Foot Mercato, which is where Sunderland’s interest in Mayenda comes in.

Who is Eliezer Mayenda?

The teenager looks like he could be an exciting addition alongside Semedo, with the Black Cats perhaps banking on the fact that if even one of them fulfils their potential they could have a real star on their hands in the second tier.

Mayenda hasn’t got the best goalscoring record you’ll ever see, bagging only once during his first full season in Ligue 2, but his performances have been good enough to earn him three caps for Spain’s Under-17 side.

Of course, the ideal scenario for Tony Mowbray is Stewart stays put, Mayenda signs, and the boss has a recognised number nine to allow his two new youngsters to learn from. If the Scotland star goes, one would have to assume the club will splash out for a more senior addition alongside the likes of Semedo and Mayenda.

Tony Mowbray has declared himself pleased with Sunderland's transfer activity to date, but the Black Cats boss is eager to add at least one more centre-forward to his squad before the new Championship season gets underway.

What players have Sunderland signed?

The northeast outfit have been one of the busier clubs in the division in terms of their summer signings up to this point, with four new players – all aged 20 or younger – arriving at the Stadium of Light.

The signings of Nectarios Triantis, Jenson Seelt, Jobe Bellingham and Luis "Hemir" Semedo have helped to freshen up a side that fell just short of earning promotion via the play-offs last season.

However, Mowbray saw key loan star Amad Diallo return to parent club Manchester United last month at the end of his loan spell, whilst Ross Stewart will miss the start of the season through injury, and Jack Clarke remains a target for numerous Premier League sides.

Mowbray said at the weekend that Sunderland "could probably do with some help at the top end of the pitch over the next few weeks", and Ukrainian outlet TaToTake suggests Zorya Luhansk forward Nazariy Rusyn is one of those being eyed up by the Black Cats.

Who is Nazariy Rusyn?

Rusyn started his career at Dynamo Kyiv prior to joining Zorya in 2019, initially on loan, while he has also had spells at Dnipro-1 and Legia Warsaw.

Now aged 24, it is claimed the Ukrainian is ready to test himself in English football.

Whilst Rusyn's time at Legia did not go entirely to plan, he has shown plenty of promise at both Dynamo and Luhansk, with Dynamo Abroad podcast co-host 'Dima' previously describing him as an "excellent" potential signing for any interested club.

Valued at just €2m (£1.7m), according to Zorya Londonsk, the Novoyavorivsk native is coming off the back of an impressive campaign in which he scored 13 goals in 30 Ukrainian Premier League appearances, including 10 in 15 to see out the season.

As a player who is capable of playing across the forward line, there are many similarities between Rusyn and Diallo – the man he would effectively be replacing should he arrive on Wearside.

For example, both players scored 13 regular-season goals in their respective divisions last season.

Whereas Rusyn scored at a rate of 0.54 goals per 90 in the Ukrainian top flight, Diallo netted 0.45 goals per 90 in the Championship, as per FBref.

The Luhansk ace also just about edged things in terms of assists – he set up five goals to Diallo's three – though the quality of the two divisions must also be factored in.

Both players like to get on the ball and go for goal, while there are also strong similarities right down to their disciplinary records, with each picking up three yellow cards last season.

Mowbray has already accepted that Diallo will not be returning to the Stadium of Light next season. In relative unknown star Rusyn, he may just have the ideal alternative.

Arguably one of the best managers in Tottenham Hotspur history, Mauricio Pochettino had to give the best interview of his career in order to make those at Chelsea forget about his former club, upon taking charge at Stamford Bridge. His approach? Well, it appears to be one where he talks down about his former club with some less-than-subtle digs about how the Blues have been better than Spurs for years… The Argentine has got some mess to clean up in London, too, and he hasn’t got long to do it. So far this summer, Chelsea have endured quite the clear-out, mainly shipping players off to Saudi Arabia in a bid to finally make some space in a dressing room previously filled to the brim.As for incomings, the Blues have so far welcomed Nicolas Jackson and the long-awaited arrival of Christopher Nkunku, with plenty more time to potentially welcome more fresh faces this summer.

What did Mauricio Pochettino say in his first Chelsea interview?

Speaking to the club for the first time, Pochettino said all the right things from a Chelsea perspective, but potentially all the wrong things if you support Spurs. After all, he suggested that the Blues have been better than Tottenham for more than a decade, even when he was in charge.

Indeed, in part one of his interview, he said: “‘I think it’s important and it’s a culture of winning. In the last 10, 12, 15 years, Chelsea is the greatest team in England. I know very well the Premier League and what the culture of Chelsea means. I think our fans are excited to again be on the road of trying to win.

“Of course, we are excited. We are excited to work with a very young team, with a different approach than in the past. But I think we all need to understand that we have to work really hard and create a very good atmosphere at the training ground to build success for the team in the next few years.

The new manager then went on to say in part two: “I know very well that we need to build this relationship. Our past is our past, we respect and are proud of our past, but now is time to build at a new club, with different fans that behave and are different to other clubs.

“That is our responsibility to build a very good relationship with our new fans. We hope we can create as soon as possible this good feeling, but I know very well we need to create this good feeling around the signals the team sends to them.

“We need to be team that shows togetherness, cares about the club, cares about the fans, and that fights until the end for the badge. That’s the most important thing. The fans need to feel that all the players involved in the game are going to die for the club. That is the most important thing to create this good feeling and for sure feel proud of each other.”

How did the fans react?

It seems as though the interview managed to win Chelsea fans over, with many left excited after Pochettino’s first words as the new boss.

Some took to Twitter to share their thoughts as they were evidently left delighted by the dig aimed at their London rivals:

Tottenham Hotspur fans, meanwhile, were not happy with Pochettino, to say the least. No doubt, they would have been particularly upset with his claim that in the last “10, 12, 15 years” Chelsea have been the “greatest team in England”.

After all, he was coach of Spurs during this period, so he’s essentially admitted that the Blues were better than his former team even when he was calling the shots in north London.

Chelsea have been one of the busiest clubs on the continent in terms of transfer activity so far this summer, with Kai Havertz and Mateo Kovacic the latest big names to depart.

Edouard Mendy, N'Golo Kante and Kalidou Koulibaly have all moved to clubs in Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, and it looks likely that Ruben Loftus-Cheek will be next out the Stamford Bridge exit in a move to AC Milan.

Mauricio Pochettino is no doubt eager to replenish the squad, which was in clear need of a facelift, having so far brought in only Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig – a deal sanctioned well before he arrived at the club.

Who is Chelsea target Angelo Gabriel?

According to Nizaar Kinsella in a report for the Evening Standard, Chelsea are in advanced talks to sign Brazilian winger Angelo Gabriel from Santos in a deal worth around £15m.

It is unclear whether Angelo will slot straight into Chelsea's first-team squad ahead of the 2023-24 Premier League season, or instead go out on loan to affiliate club Strasbourg in Ligue 1.

As someone with 129 senior games to his name despite not turning 19 until December, it might well be that Pochettino – a coach well known for giving youngsters a chance – decides to see what the teenager is all about during pre-season.

Is Angelo Gabriel a good fit for Mauricio Pochettino?

Angelo, as he is known, has been on the radar of major clubs such as Real Madrid and Liverpool ever since becoming the youngest goalscorer in Copa Libertadores history at the age of 16 two years ago, a record that Madrid-bound Endrick has since taken.

In terms of his playing style, Angelo plays out wide and thrives when it comes to beating his opponent, as highlighted by his 4.55 successful take-ons per 90 minutes over the past year. Indeed, as per FBref, that places him among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across the eight leagues most similar in quality to the Brasileiro Serie A.

As pointed out by his former coach Betinho in an interview with Goal in 2021, Angelo "is like Neymar in terms of his dribbling at speed and his change of direction". Neymar, it is worth pointing out, did not make his Santos debut until a year after Angelo.

That is not to say Angelo is necessarily on the same path as his compatriot, who has starred for both Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, but Pochettino appears to be the dream manager to ensure he lives up to the hype.

After all, there are plenty of previous examples of Pochettino getting the most out of big-money players and indeed forwards looking to make their way in English football, arguably the biggest of all being Son Heung-min at Tottenham.

Son joined Spurs from Bayer Leverkusen for £22m in 2015 and initially struggled, but he became one of Europe's hottest talents in his four years working with Pochettino.

As Son said in 2016, he is "very grateful" that Pochettino persuaded him to stay at Spurs and become the player he is, with the South Korean going on to find the net 145 times for the Lilywhites to date, 75 of which came under the new Chelsea boss.

Known for his fleet-footed nature, it's easy to see how he and Angelo are alike.

Being compared to Neymar and Son means Angelo has a lot to live up to, but if he remains patient and takes the advice on board, Pochettino can make him a Premier League star.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their plans to bolster their attacking options in the summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Benie Traore to Celtic?

According to journalist Alan Nixon's Patreon (25/06/2023), the Hoops are one of a number of clubs showing an interest in Hacken centre-forward Benie Traore.

The report claims that the club have been trying to green-light a swoop for the 20-year-old marksman for over a week as Brendan Rodgers attempts to land his second signing of the summer, after the arrival of Norwegian midfielder Odin Thiago Holm.

It states that Premier League side Sheffield United and fellow Scottish outfit Rangers are also keen on the young attacker, who is set to be available for a fee in the region of £5m.

Who is Benie Traore?

The Ivorian could be a terrific addition to the club's squad as his form in Sweden this year suggests that he has the potential to be a dream heir to Kyogo Furuhashi at Parkhead.

Burnley, who have been promoted to the top-flight of English football ahead of next term, are reportedly interested in signing the Japan international and Celtic may have to start thinking about what life will look like after the 28-year-old moves on.

He has been a phenomenal performer for the Hoops since joining in the summer of 2021 and has proven himself to be a reliable Scottish Premiership goalscorer.

Kyogo averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.11 and plundered 27 goals in 31 league starts last season and that came off the back of 12 goals in 16 starts during his debut campaign in the division. As such, the exceptional finisher has scored once every 1.2 league starts on average for the club over the last two years.

These statistics suggest that it will be a tough task to replace his output in the final third. However, Traore's goalscoring record in Sweden indicates that the 20-year-old prospect could come in and enjoy similar success.

Indeed, the Hacken centre-forward, who was hailed as "talented" and a "jewel" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.25 across 13 Allsvenskan appearances and contributed with 12 goals and three assists.

Traore also produced three goals and three assists in six Svenska Cupen outings earlier this year on the way to helping his team win the competition.

At the age of 20, the star of the Swedish top-flight would come in as a player with long-term potential as well as being a striker who could make an instant impact at Parkhead, given his incredible form since the turn of the year, if he is able to adapt to Scottish football.

His goalscoring record in 2023 is extraordinary and Rodgers could, therefore, find the dream heir to Kyogo by bringing the prolific number nine to Celtic.

Liverpool are prepared to splash the cash to bring in Nicolo Barella it seems, with Italian journalist Marco Barzaghi, via Caught Offside, reporting that the Reds could offer up to £77m to bring the player in this summer.

Has Nicolo Barella been good this season?

The midfielder has been with Inter for four seasons now and has been able to help them to a Serie A title and a Champions League final along the way. This year, they almost conquered Europe but their league campaign led to only a third place finish.

The 26-year-old was once more an important part of the side and featured in 35 Serie A outings for the club over the course of the 2022/23 campaign. Even though he plays in the middle of the field, he was also able to chip in with six goals and six assists – his second-best goal contribution rate over the course of his career with 12.

A look at his FBRef scouting report also proves that the player is one of the best in his position in Europe. When you look at how he compares to others in midfield across the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues, there is a lot to like about Barella. He has a 0.22 non-penalty goal rate per 90, which puts him in the top eight percent in that category, and he also has 3.65 shot-creating actions per 90 too (88th percentile).

It means that not only is he hitting the net a lot more often than other midfielders he is excellent at creating goalscoring opportunities too, both for himself and his teammates.

Are Liverpool signing Barella?

Now, according to a report from Marco Barzaghi, via Caught Offside, the Italian may have earned himself a big money move to England.

That is because Liverpool are could be willing to stump up a lot of cash to bring him to the Premier League. It's believed that the side are preparing to offer a huge amount of £77m to lure him to Anfield and whilst there is no official bid on the table yet, FSG are finally willing to spend big.

Barella is certainly an exciting asset to have in any team, with football journalist Josh Bunting stating that the midfielder is a "difference maker" and can play "beautiful" football with a "winner's mentality" to boot.

He has a lot of positive attributes then and could bring that to a Liverpool midfield in desperate need of rejuvenation. Even if the fee is relatively steep, it could be a price worth paying for the Italy star.

Liverpool are working on a midfield rebuild this summer with the signing of Alexis Mac Allister already confirmed, and now a new update has emerged on the club's next move.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Tyler Adams?

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are one of the clubs interested in signing Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams this summer.

As per the report, the player has told his recently relegated club that he wants to play in the Premier League next season and the Reds are one of the top-flight clubs who have checked on Adams' situation.

It is claimed that Manchester United and Newcastle United also have the midfielder on their radar and Leeds will command a £40m fee to part ways with one of their biggest assets.

Would Tyler Adams be a good fit for Liverpool?

It is no secret that Liverpool desperately need reinforcements after a difficult and disappointing season with the club failing to qualify for Champions League football for the first time since 2016.

Not only that, several mainstays will leave the club when their contracts expire next month as Naby Keita, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Roberto Firmino all move on, paving the way for Jurgen Klopp to build the next generation of success at Anfield.

As a result, the Liverpool boss could repeat the same transfer masterclass he performed with Andy Robertson by saving Adams from his relegated side and turning him into a player who can take his career to the next level by winning trophies.

Robertson's incredible journey from being relegated with Hull City in 2017 to becoming a Champions League and Premier League winner in just three years would surely inspire any player and if Adams could seal a move to Merseyside he could emulate the left-back's fairytale.

Despite Leeds' struggles, the American midfielder has been a standout performer at Elland Road this season and boasts a clear ability to play top-flight football.

Over 24 Premier League appearances, the 24-year-old ace – once hailed "top-class" by journalist Josh Bunting – tallied up an 82% pass completion rate and created one big chance, as well as averaging one key pass, 1.5 interceptions, 3.7 tackles, one clearance and six duels won per game, proving that he is a solid and reliable defensive presence in midfield.

Not only that – to highlight just how impressive Adams has been for the West Yorkshire outfit – the prolific defensive midfielder matched Casemiro for tackles won in the top flight this season (89), which is made even more impressive when considering he played four fewer league games than the Manchester United superstar. Impressively, he also came second for tackles completed per minute in the entire league (22).

The opportunity to sign Adams could not come at a better time for the Reds with Thiago Alcantara in the last year of his contract next season and Brazilian midfielder Fabinho starting to show signs of a decline this season. That means the USMNT star could not only provide strong competition in the deeper midfield roles but could succeed either.

With that being said, if the club's hierarchy strikes up a cut-price deal for Adams it would be a no-brainer to snap up his services this summer, as the American could be a real asset in midfield for many years to come.

Aston Villa have been offered the chance to sign Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix this summer, and the club have refused to rule out a move, according to a report from Football Insider.

What's the latest Aston Villa transfer news?

Although talks with striker Ollie Watkins are reportedly advancing, Unai Emery remains keen on bolstering his attacking options this summer, having recently been linked with a move for Almeria forward Largie Ramazani.

Journalist Dean Jones reports that Emery is keen on signing a "top level striker" in the upcoming window, and the likes of Dusan Vlahovic and Ferran Torres are said to be on the manager's shortlist, although moves for both players would be very ambitious.

Tammy Abraham has also been touted for a sensational return to Villa Park, however he suffered an ACL injury on the final day of the Serie A season, which could make potential suitors think twice before launching a move.

According to a report from Football Insider, Villa have now been offered the chance to sign Felix, with the Atletico Madrid forward's agents trying to secure him a move ahead of next season, after recently spending time on loan at Chelsea.

The 23-year-old is set to seek another move this summer, after previously clashing with Atletico boss Diego Simeone, potentially opening the door for a move to Villa Park.

The Villans have refused to rule out a move for the Portugal international, despite his hefty reported wage of £244k-per-week.

Should Aston Villa sign Joao Felix?

The Viseu-born attacker already has some experience in the Premier League, spending the latter part of last season on loan at Chelsea, where he managed to score four goals in 16 league games.

That return was not enough to tempt Chelsea into pursuing the attacker on a permanent basis, however he has previously demonstrated a keen eye for goal with Atletico, recording eight goals and four assists in 24 La Liga games in the 2021-22 season.

Not only that, the former Benfica man is also a very impressive dribbler of the ball, ranking in the 93rd percentile for successful take-ons per 90 in the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

Hailed as "sensational" by members of the media, Felix has all the attributes to be a success at Villa Park, however his goal return indicates that he is not an out-and-out striker, and he should be brought in to play a supporting role.

Inter Milan are reportedly believed to be interested in signing Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah during the summer transfer window.

Is Chalobah likely to stay at Chelsea?

The £50,000-a-week Blues youngster has more than held his own this season, trying his best in a team that has struggled hugely in the Premier League.

Chalobah started 18 of Chelsea's 38 league games, which is a good return for an emerging talent, and he also enjoyed six outings in the Champions League.

Whether Mauricio Pochettino sees the Englishman as a key figure at Stamford Bridge moving forward remains to be seen, however, with the Blues' incoming new manager set to take a close look at his squad when the player return for pre-season.

Chalobah's current deal runs until the summer of 2028, though, so any potential interest in him would likely have to see a sizeable bid tabled.

Could Inter snap up Chalobah this summer?

According to Football Insider, Inter have "made a move" to snap up Chalobah in the summer transfer, seeing him as an exciting option to bring in. They have reportedly "contacted the Londoners to register their interest in a potential deal", with the player himself "keen to hold talks if permitted by his club".

It is even stated that the upcoming Champions League finalists "made enquiries over his availability in January as they were keen on a deal back then", suggesting that they have been long-time admirers of the Chelsea man.

This is a tricky one for the Blues, mainly because Chalobah remains such a big prospect who could potentially be a key man in west London one day, having been described as "the future of this club" by teammate Thiago Silva. Former Manchester United and England centre-back Rio Ferdinand also once called him "unbelievable", which futher outlines what a talent he is.

Should a huge bid arrive for the three-time capped England Under-21 international, however, Chelsea must at least consider it, with Pochettino arguably needing to bring in genuinely elite defenders in their primes this summer, especially with both Silva and Kalidou Koulibaly now in their 30s (the former is almost 40, in fact).

Chalobah's contract situation puts the Blues in a strong position, and while keeping hold of him remains the preferable outcome, given his long-term potential, if the player wants to move in order to get more minutes, it is something that should be considered by the club.