All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

[ad_pod ]

Michail Antonio scored West Ham United’s third goal in their 3-1 win over Fulham at the London Stadium on Friday night.

And it would be fair to say that the West Ham fans were absolutely delighted with what they saw from the attacker during the Premier League clash.

Even before Antonio had scored late on, a whole host of the club’s supporters took to social media to lavish praise on the Englishman.

It has not always been that way, though, with Antonio the subject of a lot of criticism in the past.

The 28-year-old has been a regular under Manuel Pellegrini this term, however, and he has now chipped in with four Premier League goals this season.

Antonio will never be the silkiest footballer in the world, nor will he please everyone inside the stadium.

However, the West Ham fans loved his performance against Fulham, as can be seen by the Twitter reaction below:

Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic extended their lead at the top of the Premiership table with a 2-1 win in the Old Firm clash on Sunday.

It was a horror start for the Hoops as Aaron Ramsey put the hosts in front early on. Josip Juranovic was caught out from a ball in behind as he allowed Ryan Kent to breeze past him to tee up the Welshman for his strike.

Postecoglou’s men were able to turn it around before half-time, though, as Tom Rogic equalised quickly after the opener as he reacted quickly in the box to sweep the ball into the net. Cameron Carter-Vickers then fired home just before the break as he pounced on a loose ball to make it 2-1.

The second half was a tense affair as both sides pushed and pulled throughout the 45 but Celtic were able to hold out for the three points.

Despite the positive result, one player almost cost Postecoglou on the day – central midfielder Reo Hatate. The Japan international did not raise himself to the high standards the majority of the team set on the pitch.

Against the ball, he offered nothing. As per SofaScore, he lost 100% of his duels on the pitch as he failed to win a single individual battle. He made zero clearances, interceptions, blocks, or tackles throughout the match as he was unable to keep up the physicality of the occasion.

Ally McCoist noted in the Sky Sports commentary that he was “absolutely spent” in the second half as Aaron Ramsey raced past him down the wing with ease, with Postecoglou taking him off not long after that incident. This illustrated how sluggish he looked at Ibrox as he struggled with the pace of the game.

In possession, he did very little to justify his inclusion. Although his shot led to the opening goal, his effort was poor and should have been held by Allan McGregor as the 40-year-old gifted it to Rogic. Via SofaScore, he failed with all of his attempted crosses and long passes, whilst also failing to create a single chance.

This means that he did nothing on or off the ball to contribute to the team and that is why the £14.5k-per-week dud almost cost his side with a poor display and was lucky that his teammates were able to bail him out with an excellent team performance. Postecoglou will surely be hoping that he can quickly get over this poor display and get back to his best sooner rather than later.

AND in other news, £3m wasted: Celtic had a shocker on £7.9k-p/w “loner” who rinsed Desmond for 129 weeks…

A number of Liverpool supporters were left frustrated after the Reds reportedly distanced themselves from a move for midfielder Denis Zakaria.

Liverpool have not made any additions to their midfield since Thiago arrived in September 2020, with Jurgen Klopp making do in the meantime with what he has at his disposal.

There could be a need to sign someone in that area at the end of the season, though, with James Milner now 36 and both Jordan Henderson and Thiago in their 30s as well.

[freshpress-quiz id=“375258″]

One player with whom Liverpool have been linked is Zakaria, who has continued to shine for Borussia Monchengladbach this season, making 15 Bundesliga starts and standing out as one of his team’s best players in a difficult campaign.

According to The Liverpool Echo [via Anfield Watch on Twitter], though, a move now looks increasingly unlikely, with the Reds distancing themselves from the Switzerland international, who will be out of contract in the summer.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-18/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Liverpool fans unhappy at Zakaria latest

These Liverpool fans have reacted negatively to the update on Twitter, with some expressing their ire towards the notoriously frugal club owners FSG.

“Smh”

Credit: @NegusSabali

“Why aren’t we interested??”

Credit: @TrentinoProp

“I won’t be surprised if either Arsenal, Man U, Tottenham or Chelsea signed him. We scout for players and other PL top 4 teams signed them. This has been the routine. Good luck to whoever eventually signs him”

Credit: @Femmyontop

“What a waste of a chance. He can be a good backup for Fabinho. Atm, we don’t have any player who can play CDM except for Fabinho and Morton who is too young”

Credit: @luqvanderlinde

“Interested FC”

Credit: @NoelPhils

“What else do FSG want? He’s free!!”

Credit: @Yasoofi5

In other news, some Liverpool fans are excited by the Reds’ interest in one player. Find out who it is here.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke believes Leeds could make a January swoop for Cagliari midfielder Nahitan Nandez, Give Me Sport report.

The Lowdown: Nandez a long-term target

Leeds are yet to sign a central midfielder on a permanent basis under Marcelo Bielsa but are thought to be after a defensive and attacking midfielder this month due to the club’s injury woes.

One player who was linked with a move to Elland Road back in the summer was Nandez, with rumours resurfacing in recent weeks.

The 26-year-old is valued at £16.2m by Transfermarkt and has made 16 appearances in four different positions in 2021/22, perhaps suggesting he could solve Victor Orta’s quest for a number six and number eight in one swoop.

The Latest: O’Rourke’s comments

O’Rourke was talking to Give Me Sport regarding Nandez and a possible move to Yorkshire this month.

He labelled a winter window transfer as ‘a real possibility’, with reports suggesting he could be available for half the price compared to last summer.

“I think they tried to sign him from Cagliari in the summer but weren’t able to. So, if they think they can get him on a cheaper deal this January, there’s a real possibility that they maybe could come back in for him.”

The Verdict: Time to swoop?

It seems as if Nandez is a player who has been on Orta’s shortlist for a while, so now could be the ideal time to bring him to Yorkshire.

Described as a ‘powerful’ midfielder by Serie A expert Conor Clancy, Nandez fits the Bielsa profile when it comes to being versatile.

He’d bolster the club’s wide ranks, while also being able to play in a defensive or central midfield role. That could be needed straight away, should he arrive at Elland Road, especially as Kalvin Phillips has been ruled out until March.

More updates on Nandez will more than likely emerge before the end of the month, but as like in the summer, it could be one to keep a close eye on.

In other news: ‘This is huge’ – BBC pundit reacts to ‘massive’ Leeds news he’s heard from Elland Road. 

An update has emerged on Rangers midfielder Scott Arfield, regarding plans for his future at Ibrox…

What’s the talk?

According to the Glasgow Evening Times [29 January, page 47], the Gers are poised to enter contract talks with the Canada international.

His contract is up at the end of the season and the Scottish giants now want to offer him fresh terms in an attempt to keep him at the club moving forward.

GvB needs it

Gio van Bronckhorst will be buzzing with this news as he needs Arfield to put pen to paper on a contract extension before his deal expires in the summer.

The 33-year-old has dipped in and out of form this season and there have been moments where it has looked as if he needs replacing. He has lost 59% of his duels this term and missed a whopping five ‘big chances’ in front of goal, which highlights some of the issues he has had throughout the campaign.

However, just when you may think his time is up at Ibrox he pops up with another moment to show why he needs to stay. He came off the bench against Livingston earlier this week and scored the winning goal with a sublime first-time, improvised, finish into the far corner in a 1-0 win for the Gers, proving that he still has it in him to be a huge player for the club.

Earlier this month, van Bronckhorst admitted that he does not want to see the veteran leave at the end of the campaign, saying: “Scott is an important player to have around. He is definitely someone I want to have longer at Rangers.

“Hopefully we can welcome him next season as well.”

The £16k-per-week beast is still capable of producing moments of magic to win vital points for Rangers and that is why the Dutch head coach needs this key deal to go through. Arfield still has value to offer to the Light Blues and Ross Wilson must ensure that he is able to agree terms with the midfielder over a contract extension in the coming weeks and months.

Hopefully, the ex-Burnley man will continue to provide big goals to help Rangers on their way to another Premiership title and can then celebrate with the trophy and a new contract to head into the 2022/23 campaign.

AND in other news, Rangers could replicate Amad masterclass with swoop for “exceptional” £3.1k-p/w gem…

Marcelo Bielsa isn’t likely to be at Leeds United past the current season, according to emerging reports…

What’s the word?

Football Insider claims that the Argentine head coach is under increasing pressure following a string of heavy defeats in the Premier League and he could be sacked as early as January.

A source at Thorp Arch has told the website that Bielsa “won’t be at Leeds next season” as many of the club’s senior figures are beginning to accept that his fourth season in charge will be his last.

It’s thought that the Yorkshire giants will look to bring in a replacement if their fears of getting sucked into a relegation battle grow in the coming weeks.

The 66-year-old remains popular amongst the club’s fanbase despite their poor season as he has endured quite a nightmare with injuries throughout the campaign.

Bye-bye Bielsa?

Bielsa only signed a one-year extension on the eve of the new season and has only ever agreed to short-term deals, so there is always the risk that he moves on each and every summer.

Despite finding themselves only five points above the drop zone and at risk of being drawn into the relegation mire, around 66% of supporters polled by The Athletic still have faith in the Argentinan, whilst only 10% of fans had low or very low confidence in him turning things around.

It’s evident that he’s still an icon around west Yorkshire, so these reports suggesting that this season could well be his last are certainly worrying and it will surely leave much of the Elland Road faithful worried heading into 2022.

Sacking him as early as January would be pretty harsh considering everything he has done for United, even more so when you factor in the massive injury crisis at his door.

Nine of the 11 players that missed Saturday’s 4-1 defeat to Arsenal were key first-team players. That is a major contributing factor to their struggles and they can rectify it at the turn of the year in the transfer window.

No one wants to see Bielsa and Leeds part ways in an acrimonious fashion, so this huge update from Thorp Arch is certainly a cause for concern.

AND in other news, Leeds can seal Bielsa’s dream signing in £18m-rated “machine”, he’s better than Klich…

Keinan Davis is a target for former Aston Villa boss Dean Smith in his new post as Norwich City manager, according to Football Insider. 

The lowdown

Davis has been limited to just 11 minutes of football so far this term after sustaining an injury in August.

That injury actually saw a mooted loan move to Championship side Stoke City called off.

The 23-year-old has been with Villa for six years, making 86 first-team appearances and recording 13 direct goal contributions (six goals, seven assists).

He’s apparently earning £45,000 per week at Villa Park, more than the likes of Matt Targett, John McGinn and Douglas Luiz (via Spotrac).

Former Villan Jack Grealish said after the Premier League’s restart last year that Davis was ‘unplayable’.

The latest

Smith wants to bring a ‘Premier League-calibre frontman who can spearhead the attack’ to Carrow Road, and believes Davis fits the bill.

He’s confident that a deal can be done, with his price tag believed to be somewhere between £2million and £4million.

Smith ‘has always rated Davis highly’ and he apparently played a key role in discussions over a new Villa contract last year.

The verdict

In previous years, Villa have rejected ‘multiple bids’ for Davis, but that stance may now have changed.

Indeed, they were seemingly ready to let him join Stoke before injury intervened.

The signing of Danny Ings in the summer has pushed him further down the pecking order, and that’s not all.

Teenage sensation Cameron Archer may well have nudged ahead of him after snatching his EFL Cup opportunity with a hat-trick against Barrow and a goal at Stamford Bridge.

Davis may be open to a reunion with a manager that clearly admires him, and back-to-back wins for the Canaries will give him hope that he wouldn’t be joining a sinking ship.

In other news, fans react to this behind-the-scenes reveal. 

Celtic have witnessed some huge success in the transfer market since Ange Postecoglou touched down at Parkhead, bringing in a colossal 14 new faces.

What the vast majority of those acquisitions have done is sensational, with the Hoops now in the running to win the treble.

Postecoglou’s men have won the Scottish League Cup, now hold the advantage in the title race and face their biggest rivals in the Scottish Cup semi-finals next weekend.

However, there have been some blunders, as there is with every team.

Ivan Toney is a classic case of one that got away but there are plenty of other players who the Bhoys will rue not signing.

Take Brenden Aaronson for instance, someone whose stock has risen quite considerably since Celtic were interested in acquiring him.

Back in 2020, he was linked quite regularly with the Hoops but a move didn’t materialise and that’s something they should now regret.

Of course, in the context of how Celtic have done this term it’s not mattered. Yet, had Aaronson joined last season it’s unlikely they’d have witnessed such a dismal year.

Instead, he signed for RB Salzburg in January 2021 in a deal worth £4.6m and he has gone from strength to strength since.

The attacking midfielder has totalled ten assists and five goals throughout the current term and has earned considerable praise as a result.

He was dubbed “special” by his manager, Matthias Jaissle, and also hailed as a “mentality monster.”

That acclaim has now seen calls for a Premier League move with Leeds United’s interest in the American incredibly well documented.

They wanted to sign him in January and still hold interest ahead of a summer move but with Transfermarkt rating him at £18m, any chance of Celtic finally bringing him to Scotland is now impossible.

Ranking in the top 11% of players across Europe for goal-creating actions per 90 minutes and in the top 1% for pressures, it’s evident just how well the 21-year-old would have fitted into Postecoglou’s ranks.

It’s a shame they didn’t sign him but in Tom Rogic, David Turnbull and Matt O’Riley, the Hoops certainly have reason to be happy about their options.

AND in other news, Get rid: Ange must brutally axe Celtic’s £14k-pw “terrible flop”, he’s Shane Duffy 2.0…

As per a report in The Mirror’s live blog (Saturday, 11:46), West Ham United – and by extension their head of recruitment Rob Newman – are weighing up a last-minute push to sign Blackburn Rovers star Ben Brereton-Diaz this month.

The Lowdown: West Ham in striker hunt…

The signing of a new striker is one of David Moyes’ transfer priorities before January 31 as the Hammers eye a few targets who could bolster their forward line.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-updates/” title=”West Ham latest updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Flamengo forward Gabriel Barbosa has been most heavily linked with a move to the London Stadium (Sky Sports), while club insider ExWHUemployee believes that a ‘deal is there’ to be done for Sparta Prague sensation Adam Hlozek.

As we enter the final week of the winter window, Moyes and Newman are running out of time to confirm the signing of a top centre-forward, with Daily Mirror reporter Tom Hopkinson now lifting the lid on a potentially crucial decision in the coming days.

The Latest: Newman weighs Brereton-Diaz push…

According to his sources, West Ham and Newman will ‘make a final call’ on whether or not to ‘push’ for the signing of Rovers marksman Brereton-Diaz.

The Chile international is apparently high on Moyes’ list of transfer targets for January, with the Irons even sending scouts to watch his last Championship outing against Hull City.

The Verdict: Good option?

While Brereton-Diaz has been in sensational form for the Ewood Park club this season, scoring a brilliant 20 goals in 27 league appearances so far, his reported price tag could well be a major hurdle for West Ham.

Journalist Alan Nixon of The Sun has claimed that Rovers value their star forward at around £25m if they’re to consider a sale, which could come as a financial gamble for the Hammers given the Chile international’s lack of experience in the Premier League.

While his manager Tony Mowbray is certainly an admirer, even calling the 22-year-old a ‘beast’, West Ham may also have to weigh up other options before deciding to prioritise a swoop for the South American.

Rovers are well in contention for promotion back to the big time and could make the Irons’ life difficult if the east Londoners wish to prise away their key player.

In other news: ExWHUemployee: West Ham eyeing ‘absolutely incredible’ ace with loan-to-buy move in discussion, find out more here.

A number of Manchester United fans hit out at right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka for his performance against Young Boys on Wednesday.

Ralf Rangnick made several changes to his squad with United already through, with eight players in the squad below the age of 20.

Wan-Bissaka was one of 11 changes to the starting line-up, making his 18th appearance of the campaign in the 1-1 draw and needed to be stretched off after colliding with the advertising boards towards full time.

However, plenty of United fans didn’t like what they saw from the 24-year-old at Old Trafford. The full-back lost possession on 19 occasions, the most out of any home player. [SofaScore]

He also failed to complete a cross or make a key pass all evening, with Luke Shaw on the opposite side registering an assist for Mason Greenwood early on.

<iframe width=”890″ height=”501″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/VSqwYjR8Xbo” title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>

United fans react

This is what these United fans had to say about Wan-Bissaka on social media, with many wanting him sold and another believing he won’t survive the Rangnick era.

“I don’t mean to be horrible, truly I don’t, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka has just produced the most horrific disasterclass of a performance I have ever seen. He is absolutely awful. Don’t even wait for the summer, just sell him in January.”

Credit: @MarkLenehan

“Wan-Bissaka is not surviving the Rangnick era.”

Credit: @Alex_Bentham

“sell awb asap he’s finished”

Credit: @afiqimrann

“Wan-Bissaka is playing against us. Sell this guy already”

Credit: @Melussi2

“I’ve seen the light AWB is a terrible footballer. Sell him, Lingard and Mata in January”

Credit: @utdHarryy

“Awb can’t press. He’s lazy. With that Ole as our manager we thought he’s the best because they don’t even train all was vibes n cruise. He was nowhere to be found today and the gegen pressing is too intense for him. We should sell him by January.”

Credit: @nestaseyi

In other news: ‘Revamp continues’ – Lots of Man Utd fans erupt as two ‘big’ arrivals are named.