All posts by z3u9t.icu

With the Premier League season now at a close, Manchester United will now be turning their attention toward Saturday's FA Cup final showdown with Manchester City, with Erik ten Hag and his men having the chance to cap what has already been a fine debut season in charge for the Dutchman.

With Champions League qualification having been clinched – as well as Carabao Cup glory – the aim for the Red Devils will be to end their season on an even greater high by stopping their treble-chasing rivals in their tracks.

Ahead of this weekend's mouthwatering showpiece meeting, one United man who looks unlikely to play a central role in proceedings is club captain, Harry Maguire, with the Englishman having largely been on the periphery this term after making just eight top-flight starts – the last of which came against Fulham on Sunday.

That outing against the Cottagers could well prove to be the 30-year-old's 'final start' for the club – as per GOAL's Richard Martin – with speculation mounting that the £80m addition could be among those to be shown the door by Ten Hag this summer.

While the season-ending injury to Lisandro Martinez had looked to have offered the former Leicester City man the chance of a more prominent role in recent weeks, the £190k-per-week dud has been usurped in the defensive pecking order by Victor Lindelof, with the impressive Swede likely to line up alongside Raphael Varane once again this weekend.

With even Luke Shaw – who started in a centre-back berth in the Manchester derby back in January – having been given the nod over Maguire at times this season, it is difficult to see where the 6 foot 4 brute goes from here…

Will Maguire play for Man United again?

The fact that the one-time Hull City man is set to be restricted to a potential late cameo appearance – if that – against Pep Guardiola's men is a stark indication of his decline, with the 55-cap asset having fallen by the wayside since making an early strong impression upon his arrival back in 2019.

The towering defender initially shone on debut in the 4-0 thrashing against Chelsea at the start of the 2019/20 campaign, with The Guardian's Andy Hunter writing at the time:

'A serene start to life as the world’s most expensive defender. Won every header, distributed cleanly and instigated the crucial second goal.'

Fast forward just under four years and Maguire now looks like a shadow of that once-dominant gem, having been described as a "walking disaster" by Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst amid a turbulent campaign for United last season.

As for the 2022/23 campaign, the ailing talent has been resigned to a role as third or fourth-choice centre-back at times, while failing to make his mark when he has featured, notably looking "lost" after starting in the FA Cup clash with Cottagers back in March, according to former MEN writer Hesham Bilal-Hefiz.

The experienced dud was also notably culpable in the dismal Europa League defeat away to Sevilla last month after gifting possession to the La Liga outfit in the build-up to the game's opening goal, having earlier scored an unfortunate own goal in the first-leg stalemate in Manchester.

Those woes have ensured that a departure now looks a mere certainty for Maguire, with Ten Hag himself having only recently stated that the skipper has a "decision" to make over his future, amid the "high competition" for places.

As such, it could well be that the weekend win over Marco Silva's side proves to be the last time the England regular is seen in a United jersey – aside from potentially holding the FA Cup trophy aloft on Saturday…

Manchester United have reportedly made new direct contact over a summer move for Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news?

The Red Devils appear to be making transfer plans despite the ongoing takeover saga at Old Trafford. Erik ten Hag seemingly wants to bolster his squad with midfield and attacking additions, with Rabiot a long-term target.

A move last summer was on the cards with a deal even agreed between the two clubs. However, as we know, a transfer failed to materialise, but it looks as if United, and specifically Ten Hag, are still keen on sealing a deal, with Rabiot set to become a free agent over the coming months when his contract expires.

Italian outlet CalcioMercato provided an update regarding Rabiot in the last 48 hours, saying that sides from the Premier League are making concrete moves for the Frenchman. One of those is from Old Trafford, with officials making new direct contact. Newcastle are also name-checked with an interest alongside German giants Bayern Munich.

Who is Adrien Rabiot?

Rabiot is 28 years of age and is primarily a central midfielder who can also play in a holding role or out on the left. The France international, sponsored by Adidas, has won 24 major honours during his career and has made exactly 450 senior appearances for club and country, contributing to more than 70 goals.

He has been on the books with Juventus since 2019 and has been a regular this season, turning out on 45 occasions in all competitions.

David Trezeguet appears to be a fan of the midfielder, labelling Rabiot as “world-class” back in December during the World Cup and describing his contract situation as a problem for Juventus.

"[With Rabiot] we are talking about a problem for Juventus because in Italy, he may have been targeted for criticism, but in France, it's completely different.

"He is world-class, an extraordinary player. Now, he will evaluate his options and will go back to being the important player he always was.”

Therefore, Juventus’ possible pending loss could be United’s gain, and with Rabiot’s experience and versatility, a free transfer for the €30m-rated midfielder could be an extremely shrewd move, similar to the one the club made for Christian Eriksen last season.

It looks as if the club are pushing to make a move possible, and who knows, should United finish in the top four, it could increase their chances of securing the player's services.

Sunderland's impressive season came to a disappointing end on Tuesday night as they fell 2-0 against Luton Town in the playoff semi-final second leg.

Having won 2-1 at the Stadium of Light last week, Tony Mowbray's side looked to be in a strong position against the Hatters and would have been hoping to make it to Wembley, where they would have been one match away from securing back-to-back promotions.

What happened in Luton vs Sunderland?

Unfortunately for the Black Cats, that dream wouldn't become a reality as the aggregate score was levelled at 2-2 within ten minutes as Gabriel Osho smashed home from a corner.

Mowbray's side were trailing on aggregate before half-time as centre-back Tom Lockyer headed in Alfie Doughty's wicked delivery, with injuries in defence leaving Sunderland exposed in the air against a physically dominant Luton side.

It was always going to be tough for Sunderland given that the likes of Dennis Cirkin, Danny Batth and Ross Stewart were all absent from the matchday squad.

This forced Mowbray to play both Lynden Gooch and Patrick Roberts as full-backs at Kenilworth Road, despite them being short tricky wingers, and this certainly backfired against Rob Edwards' giant Luton side.

How did Roberts play against Luton?

As per Sofascore, the former Manchester City man would earn a shocking 6.2/10 rating for his performance, which was comfortably the worst of any player to start the game from both sides.

It is perhaps harsh to judge the 26-year-old given he was playing in an unfamiliar position, but it wasn't just his defending which let the Black Cats down on Tuesday night.

Mowbray will have selected Roberts on the right in the hope that he could attack and link up with Amad Diallo, so it was perhaps no surprise that the slight winger struggled against Doughty down the left, as he was dribbled past three times and won just eight of 26 duels during the 90 minutes.

However, his performance going forward was a real letdown and arguably a major factor in Sunderland's failure to find the goal which could have taken the game to extra time or taken the north-east club to Wembley.

The English winger lost the ball on a remarkable 23 occasions against Luton, as just one of his five crosses and none of his three long balls found a teammate.

Roberts is certainly known for his dribbling ability but tried to do it far too often at Kenilworth Road, succeeding with just four of his 12 attempts on the night, although he did nearly score a wonder goal after beating a number of Luton defenders on a mazy run.

With Sunderland struggling to create chances late on, the right-winger engineered the space for three shots but put every single one off target, when a pass would have perhaps been the better option.

His greediness was disappointing on a night when Sunderland needed to be at their best as a team to get through, and his underwhelming performance was no doubt one major factor in the 2-0 defeat.

Aston Villa are reportedly preparing a move to sign Real Madrid attacker Marco Asensio this summer.

What’s the latest transfer news coming out of Aston Villa involving Asensio?

It looks like it could be an extremely busy summer at Villa Park ahead of Unai Emery’s first full season in charge, with the manager currently leading a late push to qualify for European football in the Premier League.

Plans for the summer are already being put in place, though, with Barcelona director Mateu Alemany reportedly reaching a ‘full agreement’ to move to the Midlands this summer.

He looks set to work closely with Emery when it comes to transfer targets, and it appears as if they have identified Asensio as one of their first possible signings together, with the manager on board over a swoop for the Madrid man.

Reliable Spanish outlet Marca shared an update on Asensio, who is out of contract at the Bernabeu at the end of the season. They said that Alemany and Emery are going to launch an Aston Villa move for the player through his representative, Jorge Mendes.

Asensio would like to renew his Real Madrid contract, however, Villa may well submit an offer for the left-footed winger that could be worth around €8m-a-year (£6.9m), working out at £132,000-a-week and double his Madrid salary.

What would Asensio bring to Villa?

Asensio, described as "sensational" for the impact he's made from the bench back in October, was valued at a whopping €90m by Transfermarkt back in 2018 and is now valued at €25m, so you can see why Alemany and Emery could launch an eye-catching contract offer with no transfer fee required.

The 27-year-old can play on either wing or in an attacking midfield role, so would offer plenty of versatility in the final third. A three-time Champions League winner, the Spaniard has made 281 appearances for Madrid, contributing to 92 goals.

He has plenty of experience in the Champions League, a competition Villa would love to be playing in further down the line under Emery, while Asensio also has 35 caps to his name at international level for Spain.

Therefore, for free, he could prove to be a smart signing by Villa this summer as they look to go to the next level, and it looks as if Alemany and Emery are working on a move.

Leeds United are expected to make a "big appointment" to replace Victor Orta this summer, according to an update from journalist Ben Jacobs.

Has Orta left Leeds?

It has been another tumultuous season at Elland Road, with the Whites still heavily threatened by relegation from the Premier League. Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Manchester City was at least a spirited effort, but it was still a loss in Sam Allardyce's first game in charge.

The Englishman replaced Javi Gracia after his recent sacking – he had initially taken over from Jesse Marsch – and Victor Orta also departed his role as director of football at Leeds. The Italian was a big figure at the club during his time there, so it is vital that his replacement is nailed in the near future, regardless of where the Whites are playing their football next season.

Who will replace Orta this summer?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs touched up on the importance of the appointment, in what could be such a key summer at Elland Road:

"49ers Enterprises are well aware of the importance of the next four games. They were also extremely involved in Orta’s departure and the hiring of Sam Allardyce, as they were in the appointment of Gracia.

"But the one thing that each departure and appointment has in common is that it clears the slate a little bit. Gracia was only temporary, and now he's gone. Allardyce has come in, but he's only temporary. Orta has gone, which means there's a big appointment and window of opportunity to bring in someone new with a different approach and a new strategy."

As mentioned, the importance of Leeds bringing in a top-quality director of football cannot be overstated enough, with Orta such an influential figure, even if he could prove to be a divisive figure at times. He was still the brains behind the signings of players such as Raphinha, Jack Harrison and Mateusz Klich, outlining the job he did, and he was hugely passionate at the same time.

Whether Allardyce stays put beyond the summer remains to be seen, but whatever happens with him, having someone as good as, or hopefully even better than, Orta is vital for the Whites, ensuring they continue to be a well-run club.

It will clearly be easier to appoint an elite director of football if Leeds' Premier League status is preserved, which should act as an extra incentive for Allardyce and his players to get the job done in the coming weeks.

Manchester United's chances of signing Goncalo Inacio have been rated in Portugal as "becoming likely" after a meeting with his agent.

The summer transfer window beckons and despite a good season, it's clear that further investment into the side Erik ten Hag has improved is needed.

What's the latest on Goncalo Inacio to Manchester United?

A report from Portuguese outlet O Jogo, via Sport Wtiness, states that a move to Manchester United "appeals to the player".

United have approached Inacio's agent already after a meeting was organised with Miguel Pinho.

Sporting planned on extending his contract in order to increase his release clause to around €60m (£53m). Not to squeeze more value out of a potential exit but to keep the player.

Still only 21, there is a bright future ahead of Inacio and is viewed as a replacement for Harry Maguire, United's third most expensive signing in history.

A move to Old Trafford "appeals to the player" and with O Jogo claiming a switch to the Premier League club is "becoming likely".

Is Inacio what United need in the transfer market?

In short, yes, While ten Hag has no doubt done an excellent job compared to his predecessors, there is still a long way to go.

He still an "underrated" player and while that may change with a move to the Premier League, he could quietly walk into the United setup and lift the quality immediately.

The defeat to Brighton summed up the issues facing United in the long term. They remain without a midfield capable of outplaying the Seagulls, but they still don't have the depth in quality in defence required to go from top four hopefuls to serious title challengers.

With Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez injured, the remaining options simply aren't enough. Inacio would immediately make centre-back a strong area of the pitch for United, replacing Maguire and competing with Martinez.

The 21-year-old is a fighter but also remarkably calm when in difficult situations. Most of his strengths are issues United have currently and that he could solve.

Despite being an aggressive player, Inacio is not reckless in the way he pursues defenders. Think more Ruben Dias than Cristian Romero.

Most excitingly, the young defender has excellent distribution. According to Fbref, Inacio is in the 92nd percentile for passes completed and in a ten Hag side, strong passing is a must.

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a huge injury boost ahead of their Premier League clash against Norwich City on Sunday afternoon.

What’s the latest?

In a recent post on Twitter, Alasdair Gold relayed the comments of Antonio Conte concerning the fitness of Harry Kane, in which the 52-year-old Spurs manager confirmed that the England international will be available for selection for the final day trip to Carrow Road, despite earlier reports suggesting that the centre-forward had been taken ill with food poisoning.

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In his tweet, the football.london journalist said: “Antonio Conte on whether Harry Kane will be fit for Sunday: ‘Yes for sure, and because in the last game we had Deki Kulusevski and he didn’t train on Saturday but was good to play. Harry doesn’t want to miss this type of game’.”

Conte will be buzzing

Considering just how important the Norwich fixture is in Tottenham’s bid to seal a top-four finish in the league, coupled with how important Kane has been for Spurs this season, the news that the 28-year-old will be fit to feature against the Canaries is sure to have left Conte buzzing.

Indeed, over his 36 Premier League appearances in the current campaign, the £90m-rated centre-forward has been in breathtaking form, scoring 16 goals, providing eight assists and creating 18 big chances for his team-mates, along with taking 3.5 shots, making 1.4 key passes and completing 1.4 dribbles per game.

These metrics have seen the £200k-per-week striker average a quite astonishing SofaScore match rating of 7.34, not only ranking him as Tottenham’s second-best performer in the league but also as the joint eighth-best player in the division as a whole.

As such, the England captain’s availability will undoubtedly come as a huge boost to Spurs’ chances of leaving Norfolk with all three points on Sunday, a result which would subsequently see Conte’s side qualify for the Champions League in 2022/23 – a prospect which will certainly delight everyone involved with the north London club.

AND in other news: Spurs now “tracking” £17m “incredible” talent, he’d be “one of the leaders” for Conte

An update has emerged on Rangers and Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s pursuit of a goalkeeper to bring to Ibrox in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

According to Glasgow Times, Rangers have identified a player to potentially replace Allan McGregor for the 2022/23 campaign.

The report claims that the Gers want to bring in Bosnian shot-stopper Vladan Kovacevic, with the current Light Blues number one ‘certain’ to retire with his contract expiring this summer. 

Polish outfit Rakow are said to be willing to cash in on Kovacevic in the coming months, and it is stated that Champions League football may be a draw for the goalkeeper.

Gio van Bronckhorst needs him badly

Van Bronckhorst will be delighted with this news, as he badly needs a new number one heading into next season.

If McGregor decides to hang up the gloves, that would leave 35-year-old Jon McLaughlin as the only senior option in that position next term. The ex-Burton Albion man only played eight times in the Premiership and once in the Europa League and seems best suited to playing a backup role.

Promoting a 35-year-old to being the number one would be short-term thinking and would suggest that the club are not building a squad to develop over time. This is why bringing in a younger goalkeeper to come in and compete with McLaughlin is crucial for Rangers.

Kovacevic (24) fits into this mould, and his statistics in the 2021/22 season suggest that he would be an excellent addition to Van Bronckhorst’s team. The Bosnian recently won the award for being the best goalkeeper in the Ekstraklasa as he enjoyed a fine campaign in Poland.

In the Polish top flight, the 6ft 3 colossus kept 11 clean sheets in 27 matches and averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.93 as he made just one error leading to goal. He proved that he can deliver impressive performances on a consistent basis and was rewarded for his efforts by being named as the best in his position in his domestic league.

At the age of 24, he is a full 16 years younger than McGregor and can be the Rangers number one for many years to come if he moves to Glasgow and is able to adapt to Scottish football. This means that signing him could result in Van Bronckhorst not having to worry about the number one position for several years, which is why this is a much-needed prospective signing for the club.

AND in other news, Rangers can finally replace Defoe in deal for lethal 29 G/A gem who “never gives up”…

Liverpool must seal a move for Benfica striker Henrique Araújo this summer, as he could be manager Jurgen Klopp’s next Diogo Jota.

According to a recent report from Mexican outlet Mundo Deportivo, the Reds are interested in signing the player but face competition from Premier League rivals Manchester City and Spanish giants FC Barcelona.

The 20-year old has produced some impressive performances in Benfica’s youth set-up this season and as a result, has admirers across Europe. He has appeared 34 times this season scoring 17 goals including one for the senior team.

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It includes an impressive hat-trick in Benfica’s victory over RB Leipzig in the UEFA Youth League final, which were his first goals in the competition. With that in mind, it’s hardly a surprise that he’s been described as a “poacher” by scout Jacek Kulig, who also hailed his finishing, instinct and movement.

Despite the interest he has received from abroad, Benfica are reluctant to let him go. At such a young age he could have more of an impact on the team and eventually fetch a higher fee if he stays longer. He’s contracted until 2024 so it would take a big offer to get hold of him now.

He is represented by super-agent Jorge Mendes which may be one of the reasons he has been linked to some of Europe’s biggest sides. Liverpool are no stranger to dealing with Mendes, having negotiated a £41m move for Diogo Jota, who is also represented by him, back in 2020.

They could repeat this move by signing Araújo who could learn from his compatriot and work with one of the best managers in the world in Klopp who could transform him into a world star.

Liverpool also require a replacement for Divock Origi who is likely to leave when his contract expires in the summer.

The Reds seem to have an advantage over their rivals when it comes to signing him, Barcelona are ‘not in the mood’ to make a big investment, and it’s likely any move for the Portuguese U21 international would require that.

Man City also have their sights set elsewhere after they have reportedly agreed terms with Erling Haaland. With others distracted it may be the perfect opportunity for Liverpool to swoop in and secure the deal. Whilst they might have to pay more, they will face stronger competition in the future.

IN other news: Liverpool plot bid to sign “unplayable” £31.5m-rated gem, he could be another Diaz…

Aston Villa are lining up a bid for Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill as Steven Gerrard continues his rebuilding job at the Midlands club ahead of next season.

What’s the word?

That’s according to 90min, who reported that Villa are interested in signing the Clarets ace to bolster their squad.

However, they could face competition from Premier League rivals West Ham, who are seemingly the frontrunners for the midfielder due to a long-standing interest.

It could cost up to £15m to sign the 26-year-old, which could be a bargain for Villa when considering Brownhill’s performances this season.

Brownhill could be a replacement for Sanson

With Football Insider revealing last month that Villa had set their price for Morgan Sanson amid interest from Marseille, Brownhill could be a more than suitable replacement for the Frenchman, who will likely depart the Midlands this summer.

Burnley team-mate Jack Cork dubbed the 26-year-old “brilliant” following their recent victory against Watford, and there seems little doubt that Brownhill would improve and stabilise the Villa midfield.

His tackling average of 2.1 per game would put him third in the Villa squad, while attacking-wise he would be joint third for assists with three so far this season, proving he is competent at both ends of the pitch.

Given the inflated fees being thrown about for players on the continent, Gerrard could grab a bargain with Brownhill, and as a player with prior Premier League experience, he could quickly become a vital cog in the Villa midfield rather than needing time to settle into the division.

With Johan Lange set to back the manager with the necessary funds in order to bring success to Villa Park, there is no excuse for a poor start to next season. Therefore, the club must do all they can to try and lure the Burnley ace to the Midlands, and if it means cutting Sanson loose once and for all, so be it.

AND in other news, Villa eyeing £16k-p/w ace who “gives absolutely everything”, he’s better than Mings