All posts by z3u9t.icu

Former Celtic striker Charlie Nicholas has stuck the boot in on Rangers after their Scottish Cup victory over the Hoops, claiming their celebrations were ‘extreme’.

The Lowdown: Celtic stinging after defeat

Ange Postecoglou’s side were beaten in the semi-final on Sunday afternoon, suffering a damaging 2-1 defeat at Hampden Park.

Celtic threw away a second-half lead to eventually lose in extra-time, as their hopes of winning a treble went up in smoke for another season.

Rangers’ players and supporters celebrated wildly at Hampden after the final whistle, which doesn’t seem to have gone down too well with one person.

The Latest: Nicholas makes Rangers dig

Writing in his Scottish Daily Express column (via The Scottish Sun), Nicholas claimed the scenes at the end were over-the-top:

“Rangers’ celebrations at the end of their Scottish Cup semi-final win over Celtic were a bit extreme.

“They deserved to go through because they were the better team at Hampden but there is still a lot of work to be done before they can really celebrate.

“I am not being bitter towards Rangers because I know the intensity of the emotions after an Old Firm derby.”

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The Verdict: Sour grapes?

In truth, Nicholas’ comments could easily be construed as being sour grapes, with the ex-Celtic man no doubt aggrieved by the outcome at Hampden. Any win in the derby is invariably met in a similar manner.

Celtic can certainly use Rangers’ celebrations as inspiration for the rest of the season, however, ensuring they don’t witness those scenes at Ibrox when the Scottish Premiership title race concludes.

With a six-point cushion, Postecoglou’s men are the overriding favourites to be crowned champions next month – they just have to bounce back from the Scottish Cup setback and get the job done.

In other news, a journalist has provided a worrying Celtic transfer update. Read more here.

Everton are back in action this evening with another home clash in the Premier League, this time against Leicester City.

Heading in off the back of their 1-0 victory over Manchester United earlier in the month, Frank Lampard and the Everton fans will undoubtedly be looking to see their team secure another win this time out to move further away from the relegation zone.

Looking ahead to tonight’s showdown and their remaining league games of the campaign, it seems as though the Merseyside club have been handed a major boost over one of their key players.

What’s the news?

In a recent Twitter post from journalist Patrick Boyland relaying news from Lampard’s latest press conference, Toffees defender Yerry Mina will be in the squad to take on the Foxes.

The centre-back has been out of action since February with a hamstring injury and has only made ten league appearances for his side due to previous issues.

Great news for Lampard

With the Toffees only losing four of the ten league games that the Colombian has played in and only two of the games he completed a full 90 minutes in, having him back in the squad as another option will be a great thing for Lampard going forward.

To highlight what a useful option he will be, the 27-year-old has won nine tackles and made 14 blocks and 36 clearances in the league this season.

If he can make a return to action and continue being a tough figure at the back for his side, he could end up being the difference between Everton staying up or going down.

In terms of tonight’s showdown, it seems unlikely that the Toffees boss will immediately throw Mina back into the team considering how long he’s been out of action for.

With that in mind, if Lampard wants to have the defender available for the rest of the season, the 43-year-old will have to manage Mina’s minutes, for the time being, so he doesn’t risk getting injured again.

Also, with the centre-back pairing of Ben Godfrey and Michael Keane managing to keep a clean sheet last time out against the Red Devils, it would make sense for Lampard to stick with those two on this occasion to see if they can do the same again against Leicester.

In other news: Insider drops behind-scenes Finch Farm update that’ll leave Everton supporters furious

Keith Downie has now dropped some exciting Newcastle United transfer news involving Darwin Nunez.

The Lowdown: Offer reports

The St. James’ Park faithful have reportedly already made an offer for Nunez, as they look to chase a marquee signing in the summer window.

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He is one of the most sought-after players in European football at the moment after scoring 33 goals in just 38 matches in total over all competitions so far this season (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Nunez watched

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Sky Sports journalist and North East reporter Downie has now shared that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) have indeed ‘watched’ Nunez ahead of a potential move in the summer, although he did not confirm if an offer has been made:

“Nunez is someone they’ve looked at, they’ve watched. I think a proven goalscorer on the European stage will be one of the main priorities, if not the priority in the summer.”

The Verdict: Exciting

It is certainly exciting for the Toon Army to be linked with a player like Nunez going into the summer, even if Downie believes they are just at the scouting stage right now.

After their 1-0 win at home to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Wednesday night, they are almost certainly safe now on 40 points, and so can start planning ahead in the long-term project.

They will struggle to attract Nunez ahead of other teams with no European football to offer, but at 22 years of age, you would think that there could be another opportunity to sign him down the line, once the Tyneside outfit really start to make a name for themselves on the world stage.

In other news, find out what big NUFC update this transfer insider has now revealed here!

Sky Sports pundit Kevin Campbell believes that Manchester City will allow Gabriel Jesus to leave the club this summer, despite his recent impressive displays.

The Lowdown: Contact with Arsenal

The Brazilian, who first joined the Premier League giants in a £27m move from Palmeiras in 2016, has one year remaining on his current contract and has been in scintillating form of late, most recently getting his name on the scoresheet in the Citizens’ comfortable 4-0 victory against Leeds United.

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Despite this, The Athletic claimed just last month that Arsenal’s technical director, Edu, has been in talks with the 25-year-old’s representatives over a potential move to the Emirates at the end of the season, and the former Gunners striker has backed the club to sanction Jesus’ exit.

The Latest: Back-up option

When asked for his thoughts on the future of the 54-time international, Campbell told Football Insider: “Listen, Man City know the player and they know the value of who they’ve got.

“If they get Erling Haaland in though, he will be a starter. He will not be coming to mess around. He will be starting every game. That would then restrict the game time of Jesus.

“Jesus has been a good servant to Man City and he is proving that right now. But I think they will do the honourable thing and let him go. He will start somewhere else. At Arsenal he would start.

“There is no way he is going to sign a new deal if Haaland comes in because he won’t be starting. I think they will let Jesus go this summer to recoup some money.”

The Verdict: Game time needed

Jesus has been a brilliant servant for the Manchester outfit, making an outstanding 141 goal contributions in just 232 appearances during his time at the club, but as Campbell said, he wouldn’t get a look in if the Dortmund striker did end up putting pen to paper at the Etihad.

The Norwegian has been prolific in the final third in the Bundesliga this term, scoring 21 goals and registering eight assists in 22 outings, as per Transfermarkt.

The £45m-rated Jesus, who has been described as a “superstar” player by BT Sport pundit Steve McManaman, will need to look elsewhere at the end of the campaign if he desires the game time he deserves moving forward, and with the future of Alexandre Lacazette unknown, a surprising move to north London could well be on the cards for Jesus in the coming months.

In other news… a journalist has dropped a big claim on one of Man City’s summer targets.

Manchester United have joined the race to sign Eintracht Frankfurt’s 22-year-old centre-back Evan N’Dicka.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from Sport Bild, via Manchester Evening News, which claimed that the Frenchman has caught the eye of the Red Devils, who are keen on adding a central defender to their ranks this summer.

With N’Dicka’s contract expiring at the end of next season, it is said that Frankfurt will look to cash in on him whilst they still can. It is believed that a fee of €20m (£17.1m) will be enough to prise the starlet from the clutches of the Europa League finalists.

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Maguire’s successor

Featuring in 94% of Frankfurt’s Bundesliga season, the 22-year-old – who has been described by journalist Jacque Talbot as a “towering” presence at 6 foot 4 – has enjoyed a prosperous campaign which has seen him become a mainstay at the heart of the Eintracht defence.

With an average of 12.4 pressures and 2.34 blocks per game, N’Dicka has registered elite numbers in comparison to positionally similar players in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, as per FBRef.

Speaking of positionally similar players, being a natural left-footed centre-back with astonishing numbers in-possession (more on that later), he automatically poses a threat to Harry Maguire’s spot in the starting XI.

With Raphael Varane a natural right footer, Erik ten Hag would surely prefer the partnership of N’Dicka and Varane over N’Dicka and Maguire.

Remember N’Dicka’s match average of 12.4 pressures per game? Maguire registers around half of this total with 6.26 pressure per 90 and also loses out to N’Dicka’s average of 2.34 blocks, with the Englishman registering an average of 1.42 per game.

The best thing about N’Dicka is that he brings solidity at the back whilst driving his team forward in possession. He is fearless, achieving around 6.91 passes under pressure per 90.

With the caveat that he plays as a left-sided centre-back in a back-three, and is given licence to overlap, N’Dicka boasts some serious attacking numbers – having delivered four goals and four assists for Frankfurt in the Bundesliga this season – eight goal contributions as a centre-back!

With an average of 0.75 shot-creating actions per 90 and total match average of 1.06 carries into the final third, the 22-year-old is extremely well-rounded, with his defensive participations not faltering to this attacking display. Instead, N’Dicka makes his challenges high-up the pitch, with 0.85 of his 2.05 total tackles coming in the middle third of the pitch.

As a natural left-footed defender with a lot of potential and a fearless nature in possession, Evan N’Dicka could form a formidable French partnership with Varane at the heart of the United defence.

However, with the 22-year-old used to operating in a back-three, he would need time to adapt into a two-man partnership, with his attacking contributions bound to take a hit in the process.

In other news: Man United are now best placed to sign £83m “diamond”, just imagine him & CR7 

Former Premier League goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has backed West Ham midfielder Declan Rice to remain at the club from next season and beyond.

The Lowdown: Fighting off interest

Although his contract at the London Stadium is not set to expire until 2025, the 23-year-old has been the subject of huge speculation in recent weeks after being linked with a move away from the Irons, with the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea all said to be interested in his services.

However, it was claimed by The Daily Mail just last week that the east Londoners are confident that Rice will stay with them and become the new permanent club captain, and Kenny has insisted that the England maestro will commit his future to the Hammers.

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The Latest: Rice backed to stay at West Ham

When asked about the news that the 29-cap international is likely to remain at West Ham, former Ireland goalkeeper Kenny told Football Insider:

“That’s brilliant news for West Ham. We all know how good Rice is and I think West Ham lose quite a lot when he isn’t there.

“The simple fact is, I don’t think anyone will bid what West Ham will demand for him. The club has also proved it can take Rice into Europe and compete for cups.

“So why would he leave? Can I see Man City or Man United coming in him? Probably not.

“If they make him captain then that is a huge honour and I’m not sure he turns it down to go somewhere else if that is offered.

“He owes West Ham, they have given him a career. So I think he will stay and repay that.”

The Verdict: Rice could stay for another while yet

Rice has been a great servant at the club, having first joined from Chelsea’s academy at the age of just 14. He has since gone on to make 193 senior appearances in a claret and blue shirt, scoring ten goals and providing nine assists in all competitions during that time, as per Transfermarkt.

Such form has also seen him become a regular in Gareth Southgate’s England starting XI and he has enjoyed plenty of prominence on the world stage, having reached the Euro 2020 final with the Three Lions last summer. Therefore, you can see why Kenny feels that the 23-year-old owes a lot to his club.

It has been known that Mark Noble will hang up his boots and retire at the end of the season, so it wouldn’t come as a shock to see the £67.5m-rated Rice take over captaincy duties for the long-term and continue to provide inspiration from West Ham’s midfield for another few years yet.

In other news… one West Ham star has been praised for his outstanding performance against Norwich City

Victor Osimhen is ‘definitely’ on the ‘radar’ of Manchester United ahead of the summer transfer window, transfer insider Dean Jones has told GiveMeSport.

The lowdown

The Nigerian striker joined Napoli in a £67.5m move from Lille in September 2020, and his £112,000-per-week contract at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona still has more than three years to run.

He has scored 27 goals in his 60 appearances for Napoli to date, including 17 in 30 games this season. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the Azzurri will demand at least €100m (£85.6m) to let him leave in the summer.

United are gearing up for Erik ten Hag’s first transfer window in Manchester after he was announced as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s permanent successor as manager. However, the Red Devils appear to have lost out in the race for Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland, who now looks set to join local rivals Manchester City.

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The latest

Jones has said that Osimhen is an option for United as a centre-forward target in the upcoming transfer window. The player appears to boast the desired profile for Ten Hag, but his price tag could apparently be an issue.

The journalist told GiveMeSport: “He’s a really good player, and definitely somebody that’s on United’s radar for the summer.

“He is extremely expensive. That is a big drawback in terms of pursuing it. He does fit what they’re going to be looking for, though.”

The verdict

You can understand why Ten Hag would want to add a new number nine at Old Trafford.

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 24 goals this season but he is now 37 years of age, and he could leave at the end of 2022/23 when his contract expires. Meanwhile, fellow veteran Edinson Cavani is poised to leave in a matter of weeks as his deal winds down.

Marcus Rashford is capable of operating as a centre-forward, but he has endured a difficult campaign, scoring only five goals.

Osimhen may come with an eye-watering price tag, but he is only 23 and looks like an elite striker in the making.

The Serie A player of the month for March is a ‘thoroughbred bomber’ who can become ‘world-class’, in the opinion of his manager Luciano Spalletti, and he definitely appears to be a viable alternative to Haaland for United in the transfer market.

In other news, Sky Sports have dropped a live-on-air Paul Pogba update. 

Leeds United are among the clubs interested in signing Derby County midfielder Tom Lawrence, according to a report from the Daily Mail. 

The lowdown: Lawrence’s career so far

A product of the youth academy at Manchester United, the 28-year-old joined the Rams in 2017 following spells at Leicester City, Cardiff City and Blackburn Rovers among others.

Lawrence has been a star performer for the Midlands club since his arrival at Pride Park, directly contributing to 62 goals in 185 outings.

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However, following a troubled 2021/22 campaign off the field, Wayne Rooney’s side were relegated from the Championship and now look set to lose their captain and talismanic attacker.

The latest: Leeds linked with Lawrence

As per the Daily Mail, Lawrence has a long list of prospective suitors including Everton, Anderlecht, Burnley, Norwich City, Watford and newly promoted duo Fulham and Bournemouth.

Leeds are also said to be ‘admirers’ of the 23-cap Wales international, who is set to be out of contract at the end of June (Transfermarkt).

It’s claimed that the man once described as a ‘fabulous talent’ by Gary Bowyer has already ‘attracted a number of enquiries’ as a move away from Derby beckons this summer.

The verdict: No-brainer

Lawrence is largely unproven in the Premier League with only four top-flight appearances to his name, but as a free agent and with possible relegation contingency planning in mind, signing such a top-quality Championship operator for nothing would be a superb piece of business by Leeds.

The Wrexham-born winger is capable of playing in numerous attacking roles and possesses an array of attributes which would make him a worthwhile addition to the Elland Road ranks (WhoScored).

Despite the general plight at Derby this season, Lawrence still managed to score 11 times and register another five assists in the second tier, further evidence as to why Whites manager Jesse Marsch should be making a strong attempt to sign the Welshman.

In other news: Leeds also want this powerful 12-goal striker who is ‘ideal’ for the Championship

Rumoured Celtic transfer target Mohanad Jeahze would be ‘a great fit’ at Parkhead this summer, according to The Athletic’s Hoops correspondent, Kieran Devlin.

The Lowdown: Jeahze linked with Celtic move

Ange Postecoglou is certain to be eyeing up new signings during the summer transfer window, as he looks to take his squad up another level and compete on multiple fronts next season.

One player who Celtic have been linked with signing is Jeahze, with the 25-year-old shining at left-back for Hammarby this season, even being hailed as the best in Sweden in his position by Darijan Bojanic.

It looks like a move that could come to fruition in the coming months – Bhoys officials even visited Hammarby recently – and someone who clearly approves is Devlin.

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The Latest: Devlin excited by signing

Taking to Twitter, The Athletic journalist claimed Jeahze would be a ‘great’ addition at Celtic:

“Watched a lot of Jeahze last few days, and spoke to Frida Fagerlund (Swedish journalist), for background and tactical profile of the kind of player Celtic would get if he signed. No transfer is guaranteed to work out, but on paper he’d be a great fit.”

The Verdict: Sign him up, Hoops

Left-back is certainly an area where more depth is required at Celtic this summer, providing more competition for playing time for the likes of Josip Juranovic and Greg Taylor.

Jeahze looks like an exciting option to come in, with 25 an ideal age for a new signing and four caps for Iraq outlining his credentials as an international footballer.

The fact that Devlin sees him as an ideal tactical fit also means the transfer makes even more sense, with Postecoglou looking to bring in players ideally suited to his system rather than just quality individuals.

In other news, a Celtic signing could reportedly be announced soon. Read more here.

Liverpool have been heavily linked with Aurelien Tchouameni over the last few weeks but are facing competition from their Champions League final opponents Real Madrid, and now a reliable source has given a significant update on the current state of play.

What’s the latest?

According to Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, the Monaco midfielder is prioritising a move to La Liga this summer.

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Writing in his column for Caught Offside, Romano stated that Liverpool have held talks with Tchouameni’s agent. Although nothing has been set in stone with Real Madrid, his preference is to join the Spanish club over Liverpool or Paris Saint Germain, who are also keeping an eye on the ongoing situation.

Supporters will be disappointed

There is no doubt that Tchouameni is one of the hottest midfield prospects in world football right now, especially when you consider that three of the biggest clubs in the world are chasing him with Liverpool, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain battling it out for his signature.

Therefore, Reds supporters will no doubt be disappointed to hear that the player prefers a move to the Spanish capital over Anfield.

It is no wonder he is a popular option for clubs looking to strengthen in the centre of the pitch, as the 22-year-old has been an monstrous presence for Monaco this season.

Tchouameni has scored three goals and contributed two assists, creating six big chances, making 2.9 interceptions and 2.5 tackles and taking 75.5 touches per game. He has also won the majority of his duels (64%) and completed most of his dribbles (73%), proving that he is an absolute nightmare for opponents to handle.

Not only has the youngster offered a consistent and reliable output in both defensive and attacking play, he also ranks first in the top five European leagues for most interceptions completed this season (101).

With that being said, signing Tchouameni would have been a major coup for Liverpool as their current like-for-like midfielders Thiago Alcantara, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson are all in their 30s, and it is clear that Jurgen Klopp’s intention is to bring some youth into the squad so that the team can seamlessly transition in the years ahead.

There is still hope that the Reds could get a deal done for Tchouameni this summer as there has been no deal agreed with Real Madrid as of yet, so Klopp and FSG will need to try and find a way to attract him to Merseyside after the Champions League final this weekend.

AND in other news: Liverpool could unearth their own Heung-min Son by signing “special” £64m sensation