All posts by h716a5.icu

When Chelsea announced that they had won the race to sign Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk back in January for an £88.5m fee, you would be forgiven for thinking that he could be a player to take the club to the next level.

He had starred for Shakhtar Donetsk during the first half of the season, registering 18 goal contributions across all competitions, and he was one of the most sought-after wingers on the continent.

Since arriving at the Stamford Bridge outfit however, he has underwhelmed so far, grabbing just two assists, while the 22-year-old has an average Premier League Sofascore rating of 6.38/10, succeeding with just 27% of his dribble attempts and failing to score.

Would the Blues have been better off pursuing another January target instead – perhaps one who could have offered a greater attacking threat and settled in better than Mudryk? In Portuguese forward Rafael Leao, Chelsea appear to have missed a trick.

Did Chelsea miss out on Rafael Leao in the January transfer window?

The club were linked with the AC Milan player throughout the winter transfer window, with the Serie A side demanding a fee of €80m (£70m) in order for anyone to sign him, which would have worked out cheaper than the Mudryk deal.

There is no doubt Leao would have been a much better signing for Chelsea than Mudryk when you take a deeper look into their respective stats this season.

Across various attacking metrics, Leao has registered more goals (ten to six), shots per game (3.59 to 1.82), shot-creating actions per game (4.55 to 2.83) and delivered more crosses (57 to 11) this season than the Chelsea winger, suggesting that they may have signed the wrong player.

Leao ranks in the top 10% across Europe’s big five leagues for assists, progressive carries and successful take ons over the past year, whereas the Ukrainian barely ranks in the top 40% for the latter two statistics, clearly suggesting the Milan star is one of the finest on the continent in his position.

Having been dubbed “electric” by teammate Fikayo Tomori, the data does suggest he may have added more goals to a struggling Chelsea frontline and in turn, could have saved Graham Potter from the sack.

That is all conjecture of course, but the stats don’t lie – Leao has been in much greater form than the current Chelsea winger and perhaps in hindsight, would have made a bigger impact at the club.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has been urged by Darren Ambrose to go and hire Vincent Kompany as his next manager.

When will Tottenham appoint a new manager?

Cristian Stellini has been handed the reins in north London until the end of the campaign following the exit of Antonio Conte last month.

However, the search for the Italian's replacement is believed to be underway with a shortlist of potential options said to be on the radar of the Lilywhites.

The likes of Julian Nagelsmann has been linked with the club following his sacking from Bayern Munich, however, Spurs also face competition from Chelsea.

And with their former manager, Mauricio Pochettino, it is believed Real Madrid could provide Spurs with fierce competition in the summer for his services.

But there have also been links to Kompany who has done a sterling job with Burnley in the Championship where he has already secured their spot in the top flight for next season.

Speaking on talkSPORT, the former midfielder, Ambrose, has urged Levy to appoint the Belgian given his record as Burnley manager and illustrious career as a player:

(1:10) "I think he's a fantastic manager, won the lot as well. He'd go in there at Tottenham, no one can look at him as if what have you done? Because he's done more than most of them, if not all of them in that team. So I would be going all out to get Vincent Kompany."

Would Kompany be right for Spurs?

One thing which Ambrose made apparent and has been the case is the style of football which Kompany has brought to Turf Moor.

Under Sean Dyche, the Clarets were hit with a label of playing unattractive football, however, that is certainly not the case any more under the Belgian.

Burnley have recorded the highest average possession in the second-tier this season with a staggering 64% of the ball per game.

Only one other side – Swansea City – have even come close to matching that record which goes to show the huge turnaround in style of play under the 37-year-old.

But there has to be the notion of Kompany wanting to carry on what he has started at Burnley with his side now guaranteed to be playing alongside the likes of Tottenham next season.

Taking on the role at Spurs would naturally hand Kompany with the opportunity to work with a higher calibre of player, however, it would be a big step up.

And whether or not that step up is still too early in his career could be a major question he would have to ask himself with failure at Spurs potentially marring his reputation.

Whereas, if he is to remain put at Burnley, if they were not quite able to match their upward trajectory shown this season, then perhaps his reputation would not receive as much of a blow.

Arsenal's academy is one of the most revered across England, with some truly impeccable talent having gone on to achieve great things following their graduation.

What makes this impressive youth production even more special is the frequency with which they seem to produce and promote these gems, paving a fine pathway for these future stars to tread.

It hands them belief that there is a clear way into senior football should they reach the levels required, which in turn likely spurs on even more fine performances for the youth teams.

When a side is thriving it often makes it easier to disseminate these players into the first team, however, given their current title charge, there is arguably no greater high-pressure environment.

It forges an unenviable position, but one which should a youngster thrive, they instantly prove themselves to be a cut above the rest.

Given that Reuell Walters seems to be slowly earning this integration, given his presence on the bench in their last three consecutive Premier League games, clearly Mikel Arteta sees this promise in the teenage defender earning all the plaudits.

Who is Reuell Walters?

Having joined the club in 2020 after leaving Tottenham Hotspur, the 18-year-old quickly established himself as a mainstay in the U21 side despite his youth. This led to an impressive 36 games already for Mehmet Ali's outfit, which is a fine number for any academy player.

A solid defender with the athleticism to make an impact at both ends of the pitch, it is this consistency that has likely led to his increased involvement among the first team.

However, that consistency has often grown into a more expansive role that has been more than deserving of the praise given.

Journalist Layth Yousif had branded him an "outstanding prospect" just last month, however, it was his comment in November that outlines him as someone who could truly challenge Ben White for that right-back spot.

The writer would claim on Twitter that he was: "Very calm & assured with pace to burn."

Whilst the former Brighton and Hove Albion defender has enjoyed a near-faultless campaign in his makeshift role, despite preferring central defence, there is nothing wrong with some friendly competition to maintain those high levels.

His average Sofascore rating of 6.97 almost underplays just how integral the 25-year-old has been, with Arteta even infamously claiming: "I love the boy".

With Walters' chances of completely displacing the defensive hero unlikely, his similar skillset makes him the perfect foil for such a consistent star. In fact, both have form of featuring at centre back or right back and maintain a ball-playing philosophy no matter the consequences.

It seems that Hale End has done it once again with the production of yet another top talent, readymade to reach the top and save the club millions.

Manchester United playing in next season's Champions League is vital for summer spending – with or without the Glazers – according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

Will the Glazers sell Man Utd?

The ownership of the Red Devils is one of the biggest talking points in football at the moment, with the saga continuing to rumble on. Bids for the club have been tabled by Qatar's Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS Group, but the Glazers have rejected the first batch of offers.

Many United fans are desperate for the current owners to move on after an up-and-down era at Old Trafford, with many believing new owners could herald a new era, not least Gary Neville, who has spoken negatively about the Glazers, criticising their inability to redevelop Old Trafford, for example.

Tottenham's 1-1 draw away to Everton on Monday night has suddenly left United fifth in the Premier League, and while they are level with the north Londoners with two games in hand, there are now doubts over a top-four finish.

Will Red Devils secure a top-four finish?

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jacobs admitted that securing Champions League football is imperative in terms of summer spending, regardless of who the club's owners are moving forward:

"I think the most important thing for Manchester United is qualifying for the Champions League, regardless of who any new owner may be, because that will impact the budget.

"If the Glazers stay, it will be because they've decided to be invested in the football club. Although that won't be popular with the fan base, if Manchester United qualify for the Champions League, and they [the Glazers] remain, they will need to spend.

"If they depart, the Champions League will still impact the budget come summer."

There is no doubt over the importance of Champions League qualification, as despite United showing their capability of signing good players regardless of their situation in the past, they risk falling behind their rivals if they are able to offer an immediate pathway to that competition.

Thankfully, they have two routes to reach it, with Europa League glory also guaranteeing them a spot, but they should still be expected to finish fourth at worst in the league given their aforementioned games in hand on Spurs.

There may be worries that United are running out of steam a little following a long season, but there is clearly enough quality for the Carabao Cup winners to get over the line, and victory at home to Brentford on Wednesday evening would help get back on track.

Rangers could be set to lose Glen Kamara this summer, with Nantes continuing to eye a deal for the midfielder, according to a report from Football Insider.

Which Rangers players could be leaving this summer?

There is speculation regarding the future of multiple first-team players, with Alfredo Morelos edging closer to an exit, amid recent reports that Rangers are yet to offer the striker a new deal. With the Colombian's contract set to expire at the end of the season, the club are aware they will lose him for nothing if an offer is not tabled, amid interest in his services from France and Italy.

The same report also outlines that the Light Blues are at risk of losing Ryan Kent, with the winger's contract also due to expire, as he has shown no desire to extend his stay, despite the offer of a contract extension being put forward. Morelos is not the only Gers player attracting interest from abroad, with a recent report from Football Insider claiming Kamara is being targeted by Nantes, the club that also tried to sign him last summer.

The midfielder was linked with an exit in the January transfer window, with Serie A side Salernitana also believed to be interested, however no deal could be agreed. Rangers' resolve is set to be tested once again this summer, when it appears likely Nantes will make a fresh attempt to sign the Finland international.

Will Glen Kamara leave Rangers?

Judging by Beale's comments about the central midfielder, the manager has no desire to let him leave this summer, previously stating: "Glen has got 100 per cent of my trust. He was hugely important in my previous time here and while he’s still young, he’s coming into the prime of his career."

Since Beale returned to Ibrox, the 27-year-old has featured regularly in the first team, appearing in 14 of the last 17 Scottish Premiership matches, while also starting in the Scottish League Cup final, indicating how highly he is rated by the manager.

Over the past year, the £21k-per-week earner has flourished defensively, averaging 1.88 interceptions per 90, a figure that places him in the 96th percentile compared to other midfielders, also ranking in the 85th for aerials won in the same timeframe.

Kamara has been very solid for Rangers, and he is clearly thought of in high regard by Beale, so it would be a surprise if the club are willing to let him go in the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur managerial target Roberto De Zerbi shares a similarity with Antonio Conte, says reporter Alasdair Gold.

The Lowdown: De Zerbi linked…

The Brighton boss has been linked with taking over at Spurs over the last few weeks with Football Insider first breaking news that Lilywhites chiefs are impressed by him.

Having had really big shoes to fill, De Zerbi has thrived in the Seagulls hot seat since taking over from Graham Potter, who departed for Chelsea earlier this season.

The Italian has been praised by top flight rivals like Man City boss Pep Guardiola for his ‘incredible’ football and Brighton are well in contention for a European qualifying place.

His brilliant job at the Amex has reportedly alerted top clubs and Spurs remain linked with a move for the 43-year-old.

Chairman Daniel Levy and sporting director Fabio Paratici apparently have De Zerbi on their radar alongside Mauricio Pochettino, Luis Enrique, Thomas Tuchel, Marco Silva and Thomas Frank.

The Latest: Gold makes De Zerbi claim…

Speaking in a football.london Q&A, reporter Gold has said De Zerbi shares some similarities with Conte, namely that he is a ‘bit of a livewire’.

When asked about the 43-year-old and his links to Tottenham, the journalist also claimed he naturally falls into the category of summer managerial targets.

Gold said:

“The Italian would naturally fall into the summer category of candidates as it’s doubtful he would walk out on the Seagulls at this stage of the season. He would also be expensive with reportedly a big £11m release clause in his contract.”

“Like Conte, De Zerbi is also known to be a bit of a livewire behind the scenes, but his football would likely win over plenty of fans if he can get Tottenham playing as his Brighton team do.

“It’s all down to Levy really and what kind of direction he’s going to tread in next. If he wants a project manager then the 43-year-old is an up-and-coming coach and he could do a lot worse, but it’s whether the Spurs chairman is prepared to gamble again with all eyes on him or take a safer, but still not guaranteed to succeed, option.”

The Verdict: Exciting candidate…

The former Sassuolo boss would excite Spurs supporters with his brand of attacking football.

Gold also claimed in the Q&A that De Zerbi has adopted a similar formation to Pochettino with Brighton even scoring more goals than top-four hopefuls Man United and Newcastle so far this season.

This is despite Brighton having a far inferior squad in terms of depth and quality, so the ‘special’ De Zerbi deserves real credit.

While Pochettino remains the standout candidate, especially given his status as a free agent, De Zerbi could well be one to watch out for this summer.

When Jurgen Klopp took the reins at Liverpool in 2015, the prestigious Premier League outfit was a shadow of its former calibre, but the meticulous and mesmerising crafting of one of Europe's modern super-teams has reinstated authority and left the club competing for major honours across every angle once again.

The road has been rocky this season, with last season's FA Cup and Carabao Cup champions falling by the wayside and now languishing outside of the top four after 26 matches, exiting from each cup competition prematurely and 27 points behind league leaders Arsenal, with the two games in hand inconsequential given the insurmountable gulf between the Reds and the table-toppers.

Regardless, Liverpool's resounding success over the past years lies largely in Klopp's success on the transfer front, crafting his team with shrewd and well-placed acquisitions to ascend to prominence, with the dealings of peripheral figures during this time imperative toward clinching profits to set up the big buys. One such departure that helped with that was Dominic Solanke's.

How much did Liverpool sell Solanke for?

In 2019, Bournemouth registered their interest in the striker and eventually parted ways with £19m in order to acquire the striker from Anfield and bring him to the south coast.

That marks quite the piece of business with the Merseyside outfit initially bringing in the forward on a free transfer from Chelsea as a 19-year-old in 2017.

Indeed, Liverpool cashed in for a lucrative fee less than two years after the player's arrival at Anfield, with Solanke registering just one goal and one assist from 27 appearances under Klopp's tutelage.

It's well-known that Liverpool operate a largely self-sustaining model, and with Solanke's exit coinciding with the seasonal arrivals of Alisson and Fabinho, the Brazilians staples toward the recent silver-laden success, the feat in growing his value at such an important period in the club's modern history is exemplified.

Fortunes have been brighter on the south coast, with the 25-year-old scoring 53 goals and supplying 24 assists from 163 outings for the Cherries, including a mammoth haul of 29 strikes and seven assists in the promotion-clinching Championship campaign last year, but it is hard to envisage he would have been the catalyst for success had he stayed with the Reds.

Hailed for his "massive" contributions as a dynamic talisman by Bournemouth boss Gary O'Neil, Solanke has been vital to his current outfit's relegation dog-fight this term, scoring three goals and providing four assists in the Premier League from 22 displays, with the Cherries one point adrift from safety after 27 matches.

The one-cap England international is valued at about £17m by CIES Football Observatory, which does reflect the fee accepted for his departure from Anfield, but given the 6 foot 2 colossus arrived at Liverpool for nothing, Klopp and co were prudent to ship him on and cash in when they did.

Leeds United's illustrious history stretches back afar, and despite their 16-year hiatus from the Premier League, they have still boasted some incredible talent the likes of which many other clubs would have loved to have.

There is a reason why they were such a feared outfit in the late 90s and early 2000s, with George Graham and later David O'Leary crafting a squad laden with quality which would propel them to the Champions League semi-finals.

However, this burst of success actually marked the beginning of the end for the Whites, who quickly found themselves in deep financial trouble which brought the period crashing down.

Despite this, and the subsequent exit of most of their top assets, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink had left years earlier due to a dispute with the aforementioned O'Leary as he sought to make some quick cash.

He was quick to offload their prized player, who had starred ever since signing for the former boss in 1997. Leaving acrimoniously could have seen him fade into obscurity in the Leeds history books, but he remains an ever-present figure in best teams of the past few decades due to his undeniable talent. Were he at Elland Road now in his prime, relegation certainly would not be a threat.

How long was Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink at Leeds?

Although the Dutchman only spent two short years in Yorkshire, his impact was swift and spectacular.

A struggling first-half season quickly turned into a blistering second half, and he would score 16 times before turning that into 18 Premier League goals the campaign following.

With an electric burst of pace to partner with his powerful physique, his two-footedness made him a constant danger in front of goal for the opposition. The way in which he would score goals with such ease marks him out as a far cry from the struggling Georginio Rutter, who was brought in to uphold their survival bid.

The Frenchman is only 20 but boasts huge potential, despite only showing glimpses of the player he might become if he can find consistency.

Before moving he had just two goals to his name in this campaign for Hoffenheim, yet a club-record fee was unloaded to tempt him to leave.

Whilst he might one day be a success, Leeds needed tangible quality immediately to steer them to safety. The kind of quality that Hasselbaink had in spades, as he adapted to England with ease.

Despite their disagreements, O'Leary did praise the character of the forward by lauding him and Mark Viduka as "wonderful lads" as they returned to face their old club.

With a misfiring strike force that could see them fall further, Javi Gracia would surely be dreaming of a player like the legendary marksman who lit up the Premier League to come and have a similar impact on his side.

Liverpool would be making an ‘excellent signing’ should they land RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol, according to BBC pundit Alan Hutton.

The Lowdown: Gvardiol scouted

Alongside Jurgen Klopp and the Reds, Premier League rivals Manchester City and Chelsea are all reportedly interested in a deal for the 21-year-old, who has a £98m buyout clause.

The Croatian has previously made it public knowledge that it’s his dream to one day pull on the red shirt at Anfield having admired the club ever since his childhood.

According to 90min, the Merseyside outfit have sent scouts to watch their target in action so that they can keep regular updates on his situation ahead of the summer window.

The Latest: Hutton reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton claimed that Gvardiol could be the perfect profile of player for Liverpool to add to the heart of their backline. He said:

“I think he is an excellent player.

“We are talking about a lot of money, left-sided, great range of passing, he is physical, he is a good size. Him playing up with a Virgil van Dijk who is fully fit, I think a lot of fans would be very happy with that.

“It is going to cost a lot of money and whether they are willing to spend that on a centre-half we will soon find out.

“We are talking £80-plus million for him. But I think it is well worth it. He is only 21, it is crazy to think that he is playing at that level at such a young age and taking it all in his stride.

“So I think that would be an excellent signing.“

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The Verdict: Get it done…

Gvardiol has been dubbed a ‘monster’ and ‘warrior’ by journalist Sripad and Liverpool have to act fast should they want to get this deal over the line ahead of their fellow competitors.

The 6 foot 1 star is currently averaging 2.5 clearances and 1.4 aerial wins per game in the Bundesliga (WhoScored), but also has an attacking mindset.

The Zagreb native ranks in the 99th percentile for most passes attempted and the 98th for successful take-ons by central defenders across Europe, so he’s not afraid to play out from the back to move his team up the pitch (FBRef).

Gvardiol also has the ability to operate at left-back, which is an attractive attribute given Klopp’s squad has often suffered with injuries this term, making him the perfect candidate to put pen to paper.

Liverpool are in talks with Premier League rivals Chelsea over a deal for Mason Mount, according to BBC pundit Stan Collymore.

The Lowdown: Mount keen to join

The Blues playmaker has entered the final 18 months of his contract at Stamford Bridge and it’s likely that he’ll be on his way out this summer after rejecting an offer to extend his stay.

The Reds have been heavily linked with an interest in the 24-year-old, with reports suggesting that they are confident that an agreement can be reached.

Football Insider have since claimed that the England international is a huge admirer of Jurgen Klopp and would be keen to make the switch to Anfield.

The Latest: Collymore’s comments

Speaking exclusively to CaughtOffside, Collymore revealed that Liverpool and Chelsea are now in direct contact regarding a deal for Mount. He said:

“I’ve been told by two very reliable people, one of which being a person who knows Mason Mount personally, that his rumoured move to Liverpool this summer is very much on.

“It’s already being discussed within both clubs. There is a lot still to decide though, particularly at Chelsea. There will be a lot of outgoings and probably some more incomings so a lot will depend on what the club decides to do but the fact they’re already talking about the possibility of letting Mount go says a lot.”

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The Verdict: Splash the cash

Mount has got all of the creative qualities that Klopp looks for in his attacking midfielders so Liverpool should splash the cash to secure his services this summer.

The Portsmouth-born talent has clocked up 70 goal contributions in 192 appearances at the Bridge (prior to today’s game vs Leeds), ranking in the 92nd percentile for progressive passes.

The Nike-sponsored star has also operated in five different positions this season so would be a versatile option for the German boss to have in the building.

Naby Keita, James Milner, Arthur Melo and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will all be out of contract at the end of the season so Mount would be the perfect midfield reinforcement.