Tag Futebol

Sunderland were forced into a change of manager earlier this season after Scottish head coach Alex Neil opted to leave the club to sign for Championship rivals Stoke City at the end of August.

This left Kristjaan Speakman scrambling around to find a replacement for him and he swooped to snap up the experienced Tony Mowbray, after he left Blackburn Rovers at the end of the 2021/22 campaign.

The 58-year-old arrived on Wearside at the tail end of the transfer window and this meant that he was unable to have a major say in how the squad was shaped in the summer.

Sunderland allowed a number of players to leave the club ahead of 2022/23 and one of the faces they released was 36-year-old Irishman Aiden McGeady, who was signed by Simon Grayson back in 2017.

The winger’s time in England came to an end as he moved to Hibernian but imagine what he could have achieved under the ex-Rovers coach if he had played for him in the pomp of his Black Cats career.

Mowbray’s favoured formation is an attacking 4-3-3, according to Transfermarkt, but the manager has used a 3-4-2-1, a 3-5-2, and a 4-4-2 set-up in his time at the Stadium of Light so far.

McGeady would be ideal in a wide or attacking midfield position in a 4-3-3, 3-4-2-1, or a 4-4-2 as that is where he has played for the majority of his career.

Journalist Josh Bunting described him as “pure magic” and claimed that he has the quality to be a “match-winner” on his day, which is backed up by his statistics with the Black Cats.

In 92 League One appearances for the club, the Irishman racked up 22 goals and 25 assists from out wide – a direct goal contribution every 1.96 matches on average.

Unfortunately, the attacker only played in the Championship for one season during his spell on Wearside and he racked up seven goals and five assists in 35 outings, creating 11 ‘big chances’ for his teammates and making 1.6 key passes per match in 2017/18.

In his last two third-tier campaigns with Sunderland, McGeady created 2.4 chances or more per game and this shows that he had the quality to regularly deliver opportunities for his teammates to score.

Ben Brereton Diaz is one player who benefited from Mowbray’s coaching as he plundered 22 goals and set up three in 34 starts for Blackburn last season, which suggests that the manager can get the best out of his attacking players.

Now, imagine him playing in one of the ex-Rovers boss’ attack-minded formations in the Championship whilst he was in the prime of his Black Cats career.

He would have thrived under Mowbray and made a huge impact in the final third at that level with his ability to score and assist goals. Unfortunately, he had to play in League One instead, as the club spent four years below the second tier.

Aston Villa take on Manchester City this evening in what is simply a match that Steven Gerrard can’t afford to lose, especially with his side’s woeful start to the campaign.

Villa have lost four out of their five Premier League matches thus far and a visit from Pep Guardiola’s City juggernaut comes at a dreadful time for Gerrard and his men.

City have shown some chinks in their armour recently, conceding three goals against Newcastle United and two against Crystal Palace, however, their sheer grit and quality meant they didn’t lose either match.

Aston Villa’s last match against Arsenal in midweek saw the side come close to gaining a positive result, with only a Gabriel Martinelli strike 13 minutes from time denying a confidence-boosting result at the Emirates.

With Gerrard looking to shuffle his pack for the visit of Man City, here is how we at Football Fancast expect the Englishman to set up his team.

Emiliano Martinez will unsurprisingly keep his place in goal, while we predict that Gerrard could make a change at the heart of defence – with “outstanding” centre-back Ezri Konsa being dropped for new signing Jan Bednarek in a bid to improve the backline. Tyrone Mings will partner him, with Matty Cash and Lucas Digne operating on the right and left respectively.

The midfield also sees one change, with Jacob Ramsey – who has been poor so far this season, averaging a WhoScored rating of 6.48 – being dropped for Douglas Luiz, who has scored in his last two matches. He will be joined by John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara.

Philippe Coutinho – dubbed a “phenomenon” by Thiago – will take Emiliano Buendia’s place on the left wing in the third and final change from the starting XI at Arsenal – with Leon Bailey keeping his place on the right, aiming to provide excellent service to Ollie Watkins who will be deployed through the middle.

Gerrards men are the underdogs in the tie and although a win seems a bit too much to ask for considering City’s form this season, if the front three perform to the best of their ability, they could maybe grab a goal or two and then it could well be anyone’s game.

Leeds United are keeping tabs on Ollie Watkins’ situation at Aston Villa, according to Ben Jacobs of CBS Sports.

The lowdown

Football Insider reported last week that Villa would listen to offers for Watkins in the remaining weeks of the transfer window.

They claimed that, as a per a well-placed source, he does not ‘see eye to eye’ with manager Steven Gerrard.

Watkins was a substitute on the opening day of the season against Bournemouth, but started and set up two goals in a 2-1 win over Everton at the weekend.

The latest

In a Twitter thread, Jacobs runs through some possible striker targets for Leeds in what is expected to be ‘a busy week in the transfer market’.

He identifies Che Adams, Martin Terrier and Brandon Vazquez as options and then says ‘a final name to mention is Ollie Watkins’.

‘Villa sources’ have dismissed the the idea that there’s ‘tension’ between the forward and Gerrard and ‘maintain they don’t want to sell’.

‘Leeds [are] monitoring’ developments, along with Crystal Palace.

‘Key will be whether Watkins pushes for an exit’, he explains.

While Villa remain ‘calm about [the] situation’, this is ‘no doubt one to watch’.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-updates-7/” title=”Latest Leeds United updates!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The verdict

It sounds like Leeds need Watkins to submit a transfer request. Is that a possibility?

Well, transfer insider Dean Jones told GiveMeSport on Friday that the Englishman could go somewhere ‘he’s actually wanted’ if ‘he’s getting negative vibes from inside his own club’.

Watkins would be quite a coup for the Whites given that Villa actually finished three places and seven points above them last season.

The former Brentford man, who’s scored 25 Premier League goals and provided nine assists, has won seven caps for England.

Villa manager Gerrard reckons he’s similar in profile to former team-mate Fernando Torres. Not to mention ex-Liverpool star Michael Owen has called Watkins a ‘top, top player’.

West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Bruce has delivered an injury update on the situation of striker Callum Robinson.

The Lowdown: Robinson’s injury concern

The Baggies kicked off their new Championship season with a 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium last weekend, but were without the services of the 27-year-old.

The Republic of Ireland international was forced off the pitch after sustaining an injury during his side’s pre-season friendly with Northampton Town last month, and has not featured since, causing concern surrounding his fitness.

The Latest: Bruce’s fitness update

Speaking after the game vs Boro (as quoted by the Express and Star), Bruce shared an update for West Brom fans on Robison’s current injury latest. He said:

“He took a knock against Northampton and he’s still a while off. It’s nothing serious, he’s been scanned, but it’s obviously enough to keep him out for a couple of weeks.”

The Verdict: Time to cash in

Robinson has already been the subject of plenty of transfer speculation in recent weeks, with a move away from the Hawthorns consistently talked about after suffering a lack of game time.

The 5 foot 10 talisman, once dubbed ‘perfect’ by Sky Sports commentator Don Goodman, has only made 16 appearances under Bruce since his arrival in February.

The injury coming into play, mixed with the fact that he was out of favour before being ruled out of action, will only push him even further down the pecking order upon his return to fitness, so the Baggies should consider cashing in and letting him leave the Midlands in the coming weeks.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Public Investment Fund (PIF) are reportedly going to make a ‘final push’ to sign Moussa Diaby for Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Offer made

It has previously been reported that the St James’ Park outfit have made an offer to Bayer Leverkusen for the 23-year-old, but both clubs have not been able to come to an agreement as of yet.

It is thought that the Premier League side are considering other forward options, with Armando Broja and Jack Harrison named as potential alternatives, but it looks as if they have been prioritising the signing of Diaby to strengthen in the final third of the pitch.

On Thursday, The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards reported that the Magpies had abandoned their pursuit of Diaby, although it seems that Wilson is not sounding the death knell on the transfer rumour just yet.

The Latest: ‘Final push’

Taking to Twitter, The Northern Echo journalist has revealed that the Tynesiders are now set to make a ‘final push’ to try and sign Diaby, who remains their ‘number one’ target.

He tweeted: “#NUFC to make a final push for Moussa Diaby – with Bayer Leverkusen winger still their number one target for the rest of the summer. Mixed signals coming out of Bayer about what it might take for them to sell…”

Expanding in his article for The Northern Echo, Wilson added that Leverkusen are currently holding out for €60m (£50.8m) to sell the Frenchman, although the Magpies could potentially go up to £40m.

The Verdict: Get it done

There is plenty to suggest that Diaby is an exceptional player, so Newcastle simply need to pay whatever transfer fee it will take to get the deal done.

The Chronicle journalist Aaron Stokes has previously hailed the 23-year-old’s ‘electrifying’ pace, being ‘good with both feet’ and ‘fearless’ on the ball, claiming that it would be a ‘remarkable’ deal if the Magpies could pull it off.

His numbers speak for themselves, too scoring 17 goals and supplying a further 14 assists in all competitions last season from the wing (Transfermarkt), so Diaby is a prospective signing who would certainly lift the St James’ Park faithful off their feet.

However, given the contrasting news lines from Edwards and Wilson, we will simply have to wait and see which report comes to fruition.

Tottenham defender Japhet Tanganga is in talks over a potential move to newly-promoted Premier League side Bournemouth, according to The Athletic.

The Lowdown: Multiple roadblocks

Antonio Conte has recently completed the loan signing of Barcelona’s Clement Lenglet and is still believed to be interested in a move for Villarreal’s Pau Torres, which creates a huge problem when it comes to the future of the 23-year-old Spurs academy graduate.

After sustaining a serious knee injury in February, the centre-back’s season was ended prematurely, compounding the considerable lack of game-time that he experienced beforehand. He only made 11 league appearances for the Lilywhites last term and 19 in total, which may suggest that a move away from N17 could be on the cards.

The Latest: Tanganga in talks with Bournemouth

The Athletic claimed on Friday that Tottenham are ‘in talks’ with Bournemouth to discuss a deal for Tanganga.

The report stated that sources have confirmed that ‘both a loan move and permanent transfer’ are being considered by the two clubs, but it’s understood that there is also ‘interest’ in the £10.8m-rated gem from Italy, with AC Milan and Napoli ‘monitoring’ the situation.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-developments-2/” title=”Tottenham latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Time to move on

It’s unfortunate that Tanganga has been on the sidelines for such a long period of time, with Conte creating and typically sticking with a back three of Cristian Romero, Eric Dier and Ben Davies in his absence, and it seems like an impossible task for the 23-year-old to force his way back into the manager’s thoughts.

The 6 foot powerhouse, who was once dubbed ‘solid as a rock’ at the back by sports journalist Josh Bunting, only made six outings in the top flight under the current Spurs boss prior to his injury. If he stays, the likelihood is that he would only be pushed further down the pecking order as a result of Lenglet’s arrival in north London.

The best option for Tanganga would be to complete a move away to get some regular football under his belt, whilst Spurs would be able to cash in and financially reap the benefits which could be used to generate future transfer funds.

Fabrizio Romano has shared news on transfer chief Fabio Paratici’s plans for Tottenham Hotspur amid their attempts to seal an agreement for Premier League star Yves Bissouma.

The Lowdown: Lilywhites start strong…

As Spurs close in on the Mali international, who is looking very likely to become their third summer signing, it’s safe to say this may be the north Londoners’ strongest start to a window in recent memory.

Deals for both Fraser Forster and Ivan Perisic, who both arrived at Hotspur Way as free agents, preceded Bissouma and it’s reliably believed the Lilywhites are certainly not done there.

Head coach Antonio Conte reportedly has his sights on even more additions with reliable reporter Romano now sharing ‘talks’ and an update for supporters.

The Latest: Romano shares Spurs ‘talks’…

Amid the drama surrounding Bissouma, Romano claims Spurs and Paratici have been making moves for other targets with negotiations even held in the meantime.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-developments-2/” title=”Tottenham latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Replying to supporters on Twitter, the big name journalist says they are ‘for sure’ eyeing a move for Middlesbrough starlet Djed Spence and have had ‘talks with his agents’.

However, it is believed that the Championship side are still waiting for an ‘official proposal’ from N17.

The Verdict: Get it done…

Only 21-years-old, homegrown and possessing a abundance of quality – Spence should ideally follow Bissouma through the door at Tottenham.

Called the ‘perfect player’ for Conte by members of the press (talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook), his arrival would also help to balance the club’s homegrown quota books and help solve that troubling issue.

Valued at around £20 million, Spence’s potential and brilliant performances on the road to promotion with Nottingham Forest last year make him a standout right-wing-back candidate.

In other news: Meeting held: Tottenham now enter ‘extraordinary’ defender talks as Sky Sports news emerges! Find out more here.

Liverpool have been reportedly interested in Raphinha for a long time, and following a recent update from Fabrizio Romano, it should give clarity to the Reds on what they need to do this summer to secure the 25-year-old’s signing.

What’s the latest?

The Italian journalist and transfer insider has revealed an update on Barcelona’s pursuit of the Leeds United winger which details the expectations that the Yorkshire club would demand from any potentially interested parties this summer.

Romano tweeted: “Not less than €55m, no payments in many years/instalments. Leeds have not changed their conditions for Raphinha’s transfer.

“Barcelona are in advanced talks with the player since February, but talks with Leeds are definitely not easy.”

Klopp’s Mane heir

There is no doubt that losing Sadio Mane will be a huge blow for Liverpool, as it is reported that he will leave Anfield this summer, but there could be a silver lining if the Reds can hijack Barcelona’s move for the Brazilian winger, for whom the Whites rejected a transfer offer of €55m (£47m) recently.

Raphinha has been a consistent attacking threat for Leeds and was integral in their survival in their Premier League relegation battle this season.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-liverpool-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-salah-gnabry-isak-romano” title= “Read the latest Liverpool news!”]

The 25-year-old, who was dubbed “unbelievable” by his team-mate Illan Meslier, was the top scorer for Leeds this season with 11 goals, but it’s not just his penalty box potency which has attracted interest from some of the biggest clubs in world football.

As per SofaScore, Raphinha also delivered three assists and created 10 big chances this season, making 1.9 key passes and 1.5 tackles, taking 2.5 shots and winning 5.2 duels per game, demonstrating that his work ethic in the team in both offensive and defensive play is very strong.

Given the predicament in which Liverpool find themselves in with their Senegalese winger, Leeds’ Brazilian star could be the perfect replacement to offer the attacking output that the Reds will require in order to fill the void that Mane would leave if he does move on this summer.

It’s clear that the Brazilian is attracting plenty of interest and Barcelona are keen to get a deal done, so if FSG are interested in securing the signing of Raphinha this summer, they will need to act fast and offer him an attractive proposal to move to Merseyside instead.

AND in other news – “Talks will..”: Fabrizio Romano drops big transfer update, it’s bad news for Liverpool

Leeds United remain firmly in the race for the signing of Aberdeen youngster Calvin Ramsay this summer, according to reports from Italy.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Ramsay

The Whites have been linked with a move for the 18-year-old following some impressive performances for the Scottish Premiership club.

The teenager made two league appearances in 2021/22 and seven in all competitions, and has been described as an ‘elite’ player by Pittodrie chairman Dave Cormack.

It appears as though Leeds continue to view the right-back as a long-term transfer target, with reports of their interest refusing to go away.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-44/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Latest: Leeds still interested in Ramsay

According to Italian outlet Tutto Bologna Web [via Sport Witness], the Whites remain in the conversation regarding Ramsay, but that also remains the case with Bologna and Liverpool.

However, it is suggested that Aberdeen could be looking to increase their asking price for the player amid the renewed interest of two Premier League clubs.

The report suggests that a heightened asking price could eliminate Bologna from the equation, coming as an undoubted advantage for Leeds.

The Verdict: Hugely exciting prospect

Ramsay looks like an exceptional prospect, and it would feel like a significant coup if he opts to join Leeds over Liverpool it would feel significant, given the Reds’ current standing in the European game.

The Whites need to be looking at long-term right-back replacements for Luke Ayling, who turns 31 later this year, and the Aberdeen youngster could fit the bill perfectly, slowly becoming a regular in years to come and suiting Jesse Marsch’s style of play with his attacking forays.

There would surely be more chance of him earning playing time at Elland Road than at Anfield, too, considering that Trent Alexander-Arnold is virtually unmovable in Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI and is still only 23 years old, therefore looking set to nail down the position for another few years yet.

Leeds also set a Premier League record for the most teenage debutants in a season (eight) in 2021/22, so there is a clear first-team pathway for Thorp Arch’s top talents.

In other news, a worrying Leeds transfer update has emerged. Read more here.

West Ham stands on the brink of a historic season, with David Moyes and his men close to a Europa League final appearance and challenging for a top-six spot in the Premier League.

This has been a remarkable turnaround since Moyes took charge of his second spell at the Hammers and is a direct product of his excellent recruitment that have propelled them to unparalleled heights so far this term.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-this-weeks-latest-west-ham-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-more” title= “Read the latest West Ham news!”]

Recruitment is key for success obviously but promoting youth talents should also be deemed paramount to long-term glory and West Ham have a fair few talents blossoming in the U23 squad.

One such player is left winger Armstrong Okoflex, who signed from Celtic last summer and is one of the squad’s brightest talents.  As a result, Moyes should get ready to unleash him in the near future as he could cause all kinds of threats.

The 20-year-old has 11 goals and two assists in 21 matches in the Premier League 2 this season and this is the type of form that Moyes will be paying close attention to.

Former Hammer Carlton Cole dubbed him as a “revelation” just a couple of months ago and with 17 goals in all competitions, it’s hard to argue with this sort of praise.

Okofloex could well be Said Benrahma 2.0 as the two are rather similar, with both playing in the same position and the pair having a similar eye for goal.

Indeed, the young talent even dreams of following in the Algerian’s footsteps, revealing in an interview: “The likes of Said Benrahma and Jarrod Bowen, I’ve been trying to learn as much as I can, especially Benrahma because of the way he dribbles with the ball and is creative. I’m happy to be here around the first team whenever I can.”

It would be nice for Moyes to have some added competition in the first team, especially for the likes of Benrahma and although this season could be a step too soon for the 20-year-old, the manager might unleash him after the summer.

The future is bright for Okoflex, the main question is, will he take his opportunity when it comes?

AND in other news, Contact made: West Ham plot bid for 14-goal gem, he could become a £63m-rated talent