All posts by n8rngtd.top

Tottenham Hotspur manager candidate Ange Postecoglou is a 'concrete option' for the Lilywhites in their hunt for a permanent successor to Antonio Conte, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

What's the latest news involving Ange Postecoglou?

As per The Sun, Tottenham look likely to announce Postecoglou as their new manager and could do so by early next week, bringing their long search for a new boss to an end.

The report states that Celtic are 'resigned' to losing the 57-year-old and have already started to look at potential replacements, with West Ham United coach David Moyes said to be 'a likely front-runner' for the position.

talkSPORT have also chimed in and offered an update on the future of the former Australia boss, detailing that Celtic are 'bracing themselves' for Postecoglou to take up the vacant role at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Talks are set to ramp up following the Hoops' Scottish Cup final clash with Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Saturday where Postecoglou could lead his side to a domestic clean sweep of trophies in 2022/23.

Sky Sports revealed on Wednesday that Postecoglou was now Spurs' 'preferred candidate' for the job after they failed in their pursuit of Feyenoord's Arne Slot.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Romano has detailed that Postecoglou is a 'concrete option' to step in as manager in N17.

Romano said: "Postecoglou is a concrete option, for sure. He's on the list, but he is not the only one.

"After what happened with Arne Slot, Tottenham want to be careful and also have different options."

What has Ange Postecoglou achieved in his managerial career?

Interestingly, the Celtic boss, whose side play some "beautiful" football, recently broke a record at Parkhead as his side recently netted an 114th goal, which is the highest total seen from the club since the 1937/38 season.

A shed load of trophies, to put it bluntly. Postecoglou is an experienced figure in football management and has achieved remarkable success at both club and international level, making it no surprise that a club like Tottenham would be interested in his services.

In his time at Celtic, the 57-year-old has won consecutive Scottish Premiership titles and two Viaplay Cup trophies. At the same time, he will have the chance to add the Scottish Cup trophy to his lengthy list of honours if Celtic can defeat Inverness at Hampden Park on Saturday evening.

Before crossing into Europe, Postecoglou raked in trophies in both Asia and Oceania, racking up four A-League titles, One J-League triumph, one OFC Champions League and winning the Asian Cup with the Australia international side, among other impressive achievements, as per Transfermarkt.

His distinctive brand of high-intensity attacking football has caught the attention of Premier League and other English clubs and Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion, Everton, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United have all tracked his progress across the last year.

Postecoglou is a man in demand and it looks as if fans of both Celtic and Tottenham won't have to wait too long to find out where his future lies.

Everton are interested in a summer deal to bring Angers SCO midfielder Batista Mendy to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Batista Mendy?

Mendy first arrived at the Raymond Kopa Stadium from FC Nantes on a free transfer back in 2021, and he’s since gone on to make a total of 73 appearances to date. The Frenchman started 35 out of the 38 Ligue 1 games last season and established himself as Alexandre Dujeux’s third best-performing defensive player, but despite his displays, his future is up in the air.

The Kelyxane Sport Agency client will be out of contract at the end of next season meaning that the upcoming window will be his club’s final big opportunity to cash in should they not want to risk losing him for free in 12 months time, and if he was to depart, he won’t be short of potential suitors in the top-flight.

Are Everton signing Mendy?

According to L’Equipe (via Sport Witness), Mendy is being “followed” by Everton, Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers, with the midfielder having “emerged as a target” for the trio ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Angers are expected to sell their prized asset in the coming weeks and months and have already placed a €6m (£5m) price tag on his head, a fee that they would be happy to receive in order to “part ways” with him.

The Toffees and Sean Dyche “want to take advantage” of his side’s relegation to see if they could “lower” the demanded sum, but it’s currently “not clear” whether they would be willing to do such a thing.

Should Farhad Moshiri move for Mendy?

Everton will be in need of several new reinforcements over the summer to ensure that they don’t find themselves in danger of relegation again next season, but Mendy is not a player that they should be aiming to bring to Merseyside.

France’s former U19s international was ranked by WhoScored as Angers’ 16th overall worst-performing player last campaign with a match rating of 6.35, not to mention that he was averaging 1.9 fouls per league game which was higher than any other of his fellow teammates.

The 6 foot 3 defensive midfield colossus also lacks any kind of threat going forward having posted zero goals or assists across all competitions during the previous term, so fails to have a positive impact at either end of the pitch, therefore making this a deal that the hierarchy should avoid.

Manchester United look set to finally complete a deal for Kim Min-jae, with a report from Il Mattino, via Sport Witness, stating that the club will pay his release clause and that the player has agreed terms.

Is Kim Min-Jae joining Manchester United?

The defender has been in fine form for Napoli this campaign, featuring in 35 Serie A games for the side and bagging two goals with two assists along the way. Despite it only being his first season in Italy, he has already become an important member of the first-team and has helped his side to a league title victory along the way.

Despite having to adapt to a new country, Kim has shown no signs of letting it deter him. In fact, he has ranked as one of the best in his position amongst those in the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues. His ability with the ball at his feet is clear to see, with the centre-back ranking within the top ten percent for his pass completion rate (90.2%) and his 4.81 progressive passes per 90 puts him in the 88th percentile too. It means that he is excellent at playing out from the back, a trait required to play in Erik ten Hag's defence.

He could suit the Man United team well then and it appears as though a deal is pretty much done to send him to the Premier League. According to a report from Naples-based outlet Il Mattino, via Sport Witness, a move is "sure" to go through on July 1, as the Red Devils have agreed to pay his 60 million Euro (or £51m) release clause. With the player having also accepted personal terms according to this report, it seems as though the only thing left to do is to finalise the deal when the clause officially becomes active in July.

"From July 1st he will be at Manchester United who will pay the 60 million clause," their report reads.

When does Kim Min-jae's contract expire?

The defender's current deal expires in 2025 too, so for the player to leave already having spent only one season with Napoli would be a blow for the club. When you consider how highly he is regarded too, it means the Italians won't be happy to see him leave the side.

Former player Park Ji-Sung for example has been impressed with Kim, stating that he is an "extraordinary" talent because of his showings in the Serie A.

Kim then looks like he could soon be unveiled as a United player – and if he is, then it would certainly be a welcome addition to their backline.

Liverpool are interested in completing a swoop for Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker in a move that will undoubtedly come as a surprise to many Premier League supporters.

What's the latest on Kyle Walker to Liverpool?

That's following a recent report from the Daily Mail, who claims that while Manchester City are pushing for a contract extension and German Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich have been engaged in negotiations for a transfer, Jurgen Klopp's Reds are rumoured to be a potential suitor too.

With just one year left on his current deal at the Etihad Stadium, Walker will likely be sold this summer if an extension cannot be agreed, and Bayern are believed to have offered £15m for the distinguished full-back.

Liverpool are believed to be in the market for a right-back this summer despite emphasising the reconstruction of the midfield, and Walker would be a shrewd signing to bolster the ranks and add a dimension as the Reds chart a course back to prominence.

Should Liverpool sign Kyle Walker?

Given his age, Walker would not be a signing to stake his claim for a regular starting berth over the next decade, instead bringing his experience and physicality to bolster the Reds' right flank for the next couple of years.

Hailed as "one of the best, if not the best, right-back" in the Premier League by Tory Deeney, Walker has made 254 appearances for the Sky Blues since signing from Tottenham Hotspur for £53m in 2017, and has won the Champions League, five Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four League Cup honours.

Despite his age, Walker has maintained impeccable performances this year and played 39 times across all competitions as Manchester City historically won the European treble, being praised for "incredible" defending that was "equivalent to a goal" by talkSPORT's Stuart Pearce.

As per FBref, the 75-cap England international ranks among the top 6% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues for pass completion, the top 3% for passes attempted and the top 5% for progressive passes per 90, underscoring his ball-playing aptitude that could be invaluable to Klopp as he adds a facet to his Liverpool team.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is Liverpool's star right-back and boasts a passing prowess of a different kind, heralded for his scintillating cross-field attempts and unparalleled vision, with Goal's Neil Jones writing that he is a 'genius'.

The Scouse-born star ranks among the top 8% of full-backs for assists, the top 4% for shot-creating actions and the top 2% for progressive passes per 90, and has recently found success in a new inverted role that drives him into the Liverpool centre after his defensive frailties have inhibited his progress this term.

With the distinguished Walker providing the sturdy base that Liverpool would need at right-back, Alexander-Arnold would have the license to drive forward and play with freedom from the middle, and it could be the genesis of an impeccable duo, as well as an illustrious new era at the club.

Leeds United are considering a summer swoop to sign Queens Park Rangers talisman Sam Field, according to reports.

Who is Sam Field?

Field is naturally a defensive midfielder who’s been playing his football at Loftus Road permanently since 2021, having joined from West Bromwich Albion following a successful loan spell, as per Transfermarkt. He’s gone on to become an integral member of the squad having started all 46 Championship games last season.

However, the 25-year-old’s contract is set to expire at the end of the next term meaning that the ongoing window is likely to be Gareth Ainsworth’s final opportunity to cash in on his prized asset, who will be in-demand having emerged as his boss’ top-performing defensive player during the previous campaign.

Are Leeds signing Field?

According to Football Insider, Leeds are "plotting" a move to sign Field alongside Burnley ahead of the 2023/24 season.The Whites are "keen to bolster" their central options and have identified the midfielder as an ideal target due to the fact that he has "big admirers" among the hierarchy at Elland Road.

The Yorkshire outfit are "ready to test" QPR's resolve as they weigh up whether to submit an official offer with their newly-promoted competitiors, so this could be one to watch closely in the weeks and months ahead.

Leeds are likely to have a bit of money to spend should they receive respectable funds for some of their top players, and with Field potentially being available for a cut-price due to his contract situation, the 49ers should definitely submit a bid to see if QPR could be tempted to sanction his sale.

The Hoops’ left-footed gem, who pockets £7k-per-week, last season ranked in the 99th percentile for clearances and the 97th percentile for blocks amongst midfielders last term, also winning 65 out of his 113 tackles, which was the highest success rate throughout his squad, as per FBRef.

The Whites’ “fantastic” target, as lauded by his former West Brom teammate turned Wrexham goalkeeper Ben Foster, is also capable of contributing to efforts in the final third having scored two goals and provided the same number of assists, alongside recording 75 shot-creating actions which was the second-most in his squad.

Finally, Field is a versatile operator having been deployed in six various positions since the start of his career, including everywhere across the midfield and even at centre-back, so he would be a real asset for whoever the new manager will be to have at his disposal at the start of the new campaign.

Crystal Palace need the "best proposal in their history" to keep Wilfried Zaha at Selhurst Park next season, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Is Zaha leaving Palace?

As things stand, Zaha will be leaving Crystal Palace on June 30th following the expiration of his contract. The 30-year-old has amassed 458 appearances over several spells with the Eagles, but could be bringing his most recent stint with the club to an end.

The winger has attempted to leave Selhurst Park in the past, but has never managed to force a move away from the club, normally due to the large transfer fee that would have been required to prise him away from Palace.

While there is still a chance he opts to stay with Roy Hodgson's side, Fabrizio Romano believes that the Eagles would need to offer a colossal proposal to the former Manchester United man.

Speaking on his Here We Go podcast, Romano said: "I can guarantee Lazio had a meeting and a contact with people close to Wilfried Zaha. So, there is a conversation, but, first of all it is not a done deal, and second I posted it is a complicated deal for Lazio because of the salary."

The Italian continued: "Zaha has some possibility in Saudi [Arabia], but at the moment he is not that keen on that kind of move. Zaha has some possibility in Europe in terms of other clubs, especially in France. So, he wants to take his time."

"For sure, Crystal Palace need the best proposal in their history to the player because the contract proposal is really huge, is really important, and they still hope he will say 'Okay, I'm staying here'"

According to the Guardian, Zaha was already offered a £200,000-a-week deal to stay at Palace in April, which would make him "by far" the highest paid player in the club's history and would offer him a £70,000-a-week pay rise.

Given that Zaha is yet to accept that lucrative deal, it suggests maybe he feels his future lies away from Selhurst Park.

Who will sign Zaha?

As Romano states, Lazio are very interested in Zaha. Maurizio Sarri is seemingly keen to add him to an attack that already contains former Premier League wingers Pedro and Felipe Anderson, although the former runs out of contract this summer.

However, as Romano adds, Lazio will struggle to compete with the financial proposals of the other clubs vying for Zaha's signature, despite not even needing to cough up a transfer fee for the 30-cap Ivory Coast international.

Zaha has reportedly rejected a £30m-a-year deal to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr in favour of staying in Europe, perhaps reassuringly showing that money is not the biggest influence in his decision-making process.

Paris Saint-Germain, who are not shy of splashing the cash themselves, are also keeping an eye on the Palace attacker, as well as fellow Ligue 1 side Marseille.

Aston Villa have submitted an enquiry to ask about the summer availability of Leicester City forward Harvey Barnes, according to reports.

Is Harvey Barnes leaving Leicester?

The Foxes academy graduate has overcome loan spells at MK Dons, Barnsley and West Bromwich Albion to become a regular first-team feature at the King Power Stadium, where he made 32 starts from 38 Premier League games last season, establishing himself as the club’s best-performing offensive player.

Despite still having two years to run on his contract with Enzo Maresca’s side, the 25-year-old is expected to be one of the next prized assets to get cashed in on following James Maddison’s move to Tottenham Hotspur, and should he depart, he’s got admirers in Unai Emery, Monchi and NSWE.

During a Q&A for BirminghamLive, Villa Park reporter John Townley confirmed that the left-sided winger is indeed a “target” for this window and broke the news that he would be “open to joining”, and this appears to have prompted the hierarchy to make their first official move.

Are Aston Villa signing Barnes?

According to The Daily Mail, Aston Villa have "enquired" to discover the chances of a swoop for Barnes ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. Premier League rivals West Ham United and Spurs have also made contact, whilst Newcastle United are credited with an interest as well.

Leicester's attacker is "set to leave" this summer and clearly isn't short of potential suitors in the top-flight, but where his next home will be is "not yet known". The Foxes are "optimistic" that they will be able to demand a fee of £35m for their youth product, though it remains to be seen whether this is a price that any of the mentioned clubs would be happy to meet.

What could Barnes bring to the Midlands?

Aston Villa will recognise Barnes being Leicester’s top-performing offensive player last season, showing his ability to step up and making an impact in a struggling side – that type of mentality could serve him well on the European stage.

He is of course naturally a wide player, possessing a creative flair that's led him to be labelled a “livewire” in the final third, as lauded by BBC pundit Alan Hutton, but he would also bring an extremely prolific edge to Emery’s attacking ranks should he put pen to paper.

During the 2022/23 campaign, England’s former international clocked up 14 goal contributions (13 goals and one assist) in 34 outings and over the course of the term and recorded a total of 72 shots, which was the second-highest number throughout the whole of his squad, as per FBRef, showing that he always has an eye on hitting the back of the net.

The Burnley-born talent, who has experience of playing in the Europa League, would also provide the boss with remarkable versatility having operated in nine various positions since the start of his career, including everywhere across the frontline and in the midfield, making him a great option to have when competing in several competitions.

Finally, Barnes shares the same agent, Wasserman, as Tyrone Mings and Leander Dendoncker, so this existing connection that his representative already has to the club could give them a small edge over their competitors should they try and pursue a deal in the weeks ahead.

Leeds United have agreed on a deal with Aberdeen to sign young forward Lewis Pirie, according to the reliable Fabrizio Romano.

Who could Leeds sign this summer?

The Whites look set for an extremely busy summer under new owners the 49ers Enterprises, with Daniel Farke brought in as the club’s new manager.

A two-time Championship winner with Norwich, Farke has signed a four-year deal at Elland Road and has around four weeks until the season opener against Cardiff City.

There is a lot to do during that time, especially in the transfer window, with Leeds bringing in Nick Hammond as interim football advisor to oversee transfer activity this summer.

A number of incomings and outgoings are expected in Yorkshire, with centre-back Robin Koch the first high-profile player to secure a move away after joining Eintracht Frankfurt on loan.

In terms of potential signings, Phil Hay believes a new goalkeeper, left-back, centre-back, midfielder and forward could be on the agenda for the 49ers and Farke.

The reliable reporter stated in the week that Newcastle United’s Karl Darlow is rated, as are Freddie Woodman and Angus Gunn of Preston North End and Norwich City.

At left-back, former Swansea City man and now free agent Ryan Manning has been linked alongside Burnley and former Whites defender Charlie Taylor.

Liverpool centre-back Nat Phillips also appears to be of interest in defence, and further forward in midfield, there is a long-standing interest in Coventry City’s Gustavo Hamer.

In attack, Swansea City’s Joel Piroe and Nottingham Forest’s Sam Surridge are possible signings, but it looks as if the club are about to sign a highly-rated teenage attacker in Pirie.

Are Leeds signing Lewis Pirie?

Transfer expert Romano took to Twitter on Friday morning to share an update he’s heard on Leeds and Pirie, with the youngster first linked with a move to Yorkshire last year.

It is believed that a £200,000 transfer has now been agreed, with Pirie, described as a “rising star”, set to sign a three-year deal through to 2026.

“Understand Leeds United have agreed a deal worth £200k with Aberdeen to sign Scottish rising star Lewis Pirie, born in 2007.

“Pirie scored 51 goals for club & country last season and will join Leeds on a contract to 2026.”

Pirie’s 51 goals at youth level speak for themselves, so it looks as if Leeds could be making an extremely shrewd signing in the long run. You’d expect that the 16-year-old will initially ply his trade in Leeds’ youth sides at Thorp Arch, looking to develop even further and eventually break into the first team.

Leeds have shown in the past that they are willing to trust in their academy ranks, becoming the first team in Premier League history to hand eight teenagers their debuts in a single campaign back in 2021/22 under Marcelo Bielsa.

The likes of Joe Gelhardt, Sam Greenwood and Crysencio Summerville all spent time at Thorp Arch before making their way into first team contention, and by the looks of things, Pirie could be the next to break through at Elland Road in years to come.

Southampton are now just three weeks away from beginning their first season in the Championship since 2011-12, yet there are still question marks over a number of first-team players, including both Romeo Lavia and Tino Livramento.

What players are Southampton selling?

With a host of Premier League clubs, it is tough to see how either Lavia or Livramento will still be at St Mary's come the end of the transfer window on September 1.

Perhaps a more pressing matter is that of the future of captain James Ward-Prowse, who continues to be linked with Premier League pair Fulham and West Ham United.

While players of Lavia and Livramento's quality come and go – a stark reality for a team outside of the elite – replacing Ward-Prowse could be even tougher.

That is down not only to the unique set-piece ability he brings to the side, but also his leadership qualities. After spending more than a decade as a regular, the past three of those years as captain, Ward-Prowse would leave a huge void to be filled.

However, it was recently suggested by talkSPORT that former Saints defender Jose Fonte could return to the club this summer, and that now looks an even stronger possibility after Lille president Olivier Letang confirmed the Portuguese is set to leave the Ligue 1 side.

Is Jose Fonte a good option for Southampton?

Fonte made close to 300 appearances for Southampton across a seven-year spell at St Mary's that came to an end in January 2017 when moving to West Ham.

The 50-cap Portugal international spent two-and-a-half years as captain of the Saints, meaning he is a natural ready-made replacement for Ward-Prowse in that regard should he return.

Indeed, he continued to prove a real figurehead when moving to West Ham, with goalkeeper Darren Randolph hailing him as a "leader". "He is loud and vocal and organises well," Randolph added.

Southampton have plenty of quality in their ranks for new manager Russell Martin to call upon, but they do not possess many capable of stepping up and leading in the way of Fonte, who Capology claims is on wages of £28,000 a week at Lille.

Being able to bark out instructions is one thing; having the quality to perform in the Championship at the age of 39 is another. However, Fonte started 30 games for Lille in Ligue 1 last season, suggesting he is more than capable of playing regularly despite his advancing years.

In fact, Fonte ranked in the top 12% of all centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues for passes attempted last season (68.72 per 90), as per FBref, and in the top 11% in terms of pass completion (90%).

That ability to pass the ball out from the back is a huge plus given that is exactly what Martin was after during his time as Swansea City head coach.

In terms of the more defensive metrics, Fonte won two aerial duels per game in Ligue 1 last season, as per WhoScored, which compares to 2.1 for Saints centre-back regular Jan Bednarek in the Premier League.

Fonte's team-high 3.5 clearances per game, meanwhile, was bettered by only three Southampton players who started 10 league matches or more.

While he may not be the colossus he was six years ago, Fonte showed last season he is still capable of doing a job at a high level. That, combined with his leadership qualities, make his arrival on a free transfer a no-brainer.

England legend Wayne Rooney has claimed it looks as though Harry Kane is "being held as a prisoner" at Tottenham Hotspur amid persistent exit rumours.

What did Rooney say about Kane?

It wouldn't really be a transfer window without there being a whole load of speculation about the future of the Spurs striker. And it wouldn't really be a transfer window without a load of pundits, managers, and fans weighing in on the debate of where Kane should go next.

Well, Rooney is the latest man to offer his opinions on the matter, suggesting Kane would be "ideal" for his former side Manchester United to sign this summer.

Indeed, when speaking in a recent interview with The Athletic's David Ornstein, the current D.C. United manager made his feelings about his former England international teammate clear.

Rooney said: "Harry Kane would be the ideal player, for me, to go and join Manchester United.

"It looks like he's being held as a prisoner at Tottenham. It's very difficult for him to get out of there.

"But yea I think if Manchester United had Harry Kane there, then I think that gives their chances of going to win and compete… makes that a lot easier and better.

"But whether that happens remains to be seen."

As things stand, it seems more likely that Kane will end up in Germany with Bayern Munich instead of heading to Old Trafford. The Bundesliga giants have already had two bids rejected by Spurs this summer, the latest understood to be worth about £70m plus add-ons.

What did Rooney say about Maguire?

In the same interview with The Athletic, Rooney also weighed in on Harry Maguire with the centre-back having recently been stripped of the captain's armband.

On the matter, the club legend explained how this proves Maguire's not in manager Erik ten Hag's plans and so the defender should probably leave this summer.

He said: “To have the armband taken off you, how does he move forward with the club?

“That shows the manager really doesn’t believe in him. It leaves Harry in a position where he has to think on what he does moving forward.

"The manager has shown he is not part of the plans. I’m sure Harry will want to go and play — for himself, for his England career — to put himself in the best position to be as successful as he can. The best thing now is probably for him to move.”

At the moment, West Ham seem likely the most likely destination for Maguire. Indeed, transfers expert Fabrizio Romano claimed that "it is true" there is "interest" from the Hammers.

However, the Italian journalist did note that there are "also other clubs keen" on the England defender and so his future remains up for grabs for the time being.

Maybe the player will prefer to stay and fight for his spot in Ten Hag's team but it does feel as though the writing is on the wall for Maguire and with Rooney urging him to move on too, perhaps it's best to heed that advice.