All posts by z3u9t.icu

Leeds United have been dealt a huge injury blow ahead of their Premier League meeting with AFC Bournemouth this weekend.

What’s the latest?

Speaking to reporters on Thursday afternoon (via The Athletic), Jesse Marsch revealed that the injury sustained by Luis Sinisterra – who was withdrawn in the 3-2 loss to Fulham after picking up a knock to his foot – is worse than first feared, with it now looking as if the winger will be ruled out of action until after the World Cup.

Regarding the 23-year-old’s setback, Marsch said: “Luis has a foot injury, more than we originally thought. A specialist looked at it, and they worry that it could be a Lisfranc injury. He is probably out until after the World Cup break.”

Huge blow

While it is true that, as a result of a number of niggling injuries, Sinisterra’s career at Elland Road is yet to fully take off following his summer switch, the fact that the forward has been ruled out for the Whites’ fixtures against Bournemouth, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur will nevertheless have come as a huge blow to Marsch.

Indeed, despite only starting six of Leeds’ 12 Premier League fixtures this season, the £35m-rated forward has nevertheless shown in flashes why Victor Orta paid £21m for his services back in July, bagging a goal in a 1-1 draw with Everton as well as notching in the 5-2 loss against Brentford.

Furthermore, the Colombia international more than proved over his 30 Eredivisie appearances for Feyenoord last season just how big of a talent he truly is, scoring 12 goals, registering seven assists and creating nine big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 2.6 shots, making 2.0 key passes and completing 3.6 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the attacker average a simply sensational SofaScore match rating of 7.51, not only ranking him as his club’s second-best performer in the league but also as the joint fourth-best player in the top flight of Dutch football as a whole.

As such, the loss of such an attacking threat for the next three games will undoubtedly come as a major setback to Marsch and his side – who will certainly be looking to pick up where they left off in the 2-1 win over Liverpool last time out when Bournemouth make the trip to Elland Road tomorrow afternoon.

Everton travel to AFC Bournemouth tonight in what will be the first of two meetings at the Vitality Stadium this week. This particular clash will occur in the EFL Cup, with Saturday being the last Premier League game before the World Cup commences.

The Toffees will be hoping to end this portion of the season with two wins against a Cherries side in poor form, having lost all of their last four games.

It seems like Gary O’Neil’s magic has finally worn off.

Frank Lampard has a few injuries to contend with, as well as the weekend’s fixture which arguably holds more weight for a side now just two points from the relegation zone.

With that in mind, here’s the Everton XI Football FanCast are predicting for tonight’s match…

The 44-year-old is expected to make eight changes from the side that fell to defeat against Leicester City.

Jordan Pickford is expected to get a well-earned rest, with Asmir Begovic a fine deputy to take his place.

The cup match offers opportunities for players just recovering from injury, and after two substitute appearances on his road to a comeback, Nathan Patterson is now expected to start.

He will flank Yerry Mina, who Lampard confirmed was in contention for this game after recovering from his opening-day injury. The Colombian “leader”, as dubbed by Dominic King, will partner James Tarkowski, who was ever-present for Burnley.

Ruben Vinagre is expected to get a rare start on the left-hand side of defence at the expense of Vitaliy Mykolenko.

Due to injuries to Idrissa Gueye and Amadou Onana in their last game, James Garner will finally be handed a start alongside Alex Iwobi. Tom Davies will earn a recall, acting as the man to do the dirty work in the absence of their Senegalese stalwart.

Having spoken about hoping to give some youngsters an opportunity, the “outstanding” Stanley Mills – in the words of coach Paul Tait – could replace Anthony Gordon on the wing given the 19-year-old’s fine performances for the youth sides.

Demarai Gray is expected to continue on the opposite flank while Neal Maupay is the only real option to replace Dominic Calvert-Lewin in attack.

He was another unfortunate casualty in their clash with the Foxes and is expected to now be out until the World Cup.

Arsenal have been dealt an injury blow ahead of tonight’s Carabao Cup meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion.

What’s the latest?

Speaking in his pre-match press conference (via football.london), Mikel Arteta confirmed that, after picking up a knock in the Gunners’ 1-0 win over FC Zurich last week, Takehiro Tomiyasu will remain unavailable for selection for the visit of the Seagulls this evening.

However, the Spaniard went on to state that the right-back should return to full fitness in around seven days’ time, suggesting that the 24-year-old will be ready for Japan’s World Cup 2022 opener against Germany on November 23.

Reagrding the fitness of the defender, the 40-year-old said: “It’s a small injury for Tomi, he did well to stop during the match, so it’s not going to be a big issue. I think he will be back in a week or so, so hopefully he will be fine to start at the World Cup.”

Silver lining

While the loss of Tomiyasu will undoubtedly have come as a blow to Arteta ahead of both the Brighton and Wolverhampton Wanderers fixtures this week – as regular squad rotation will be key to Arsenal competing on as many fronts as possible this season – the Japan international’s unavailability could well bring with it a silver lining.

With reports revealing that 17-year-old Reuell Walters was training with Arsenal’s first team squad on Tuesday, Tomiyasu’s absence could well see the Gunners U21 right-back be handed at least a spot on the bench against Roberto De Zerbi’s side – or perhaps even a place in the starting XI.

And, considering just how exciting a prospect the England U18 international looks to be, his potential first-team debut on Wednesday night could well represent the emergence of one of Arteta’s next stars of the future.

Indeed, the £1.7k-per-week teenager caught the eye during the Gunners’ pre-season tour of America, playing out of position at left-back against fellow Premier League side Everton, an appearance which was reported to have excited the Arsenal fanbase.

The defender – who has made 14 appearances for the U18s and 27 appearances for the U21s since his move to London Colney – has also earned a considerable amount of praise, with Layth Yousif dubbing the youngster “calm and assured” and suggesting that he has “pace to burn”, while Kaya Kaynak claimed the right-back “really impressed” during pre-season.

As such, while Tomiyasu’s setback is undoubtedly a blow, it does present Arsenal supporters with the possibility of seeing one of their most promising talents in action at The Emirates tonight – something that is sure to excite everyone involved with the club.

Glasgow Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst is under pressure in the dugout at Ibrox and it remains to be seen whether or not he will still be in the post on the other side of the break for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Football Insider recently reported that the Dutchman is hanging on by a thread and that it is ‘increasingly likely’ that the Gers board will dismiss him in the coming weeks.

However, journalist Marcel Van Der Kraan has claimed that the manager is “counting” on being in charge when the Light Blues return to competitive action in December.

These conflicting reports make it difficult to gauge where van Bronckhorst’s future is heading, although he remains the first-team manager of the club at the time of writing.

If Rangers do decide to sack the former Feyenoord coach, though, who could they bring in to replace him? Charlie Nicholas recently named former Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl as one of the managers who could be a “serious” contender to take over at Ibrox.

The Light Blues could finally unlock the potential of Alfredo Morelos and Antonio Colak as a strike pairing by appointing the Austrian as a replacement for van Bronckhorst should the Dutchman loses his job.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola previously stated that he was “impressed” by the way Hasenhuttl set his Saints team up to face the Premier League giants.

That was not a one-off appraisal, as the Spanish coach previously said: “Southampton have an exceptional manager. I know him a little bit from my time in Germany. He was at many clubs, Leipzig played in a specific style.

“So no surprise in their success. Southampton for many, many years have been working well – so no surprise.”

These comments, and the 55-year-old keeping the English side in the top flight for four successive seasons, suggest that Hasenhuttl is a brilliant coach who could be a strong appointment for the Gers.

It is his style, however, that could be the most appealing part of bringing him in. The former RB Leipzig boss typically deploys a 4-4-2 with a double six pivot, essentially making it a 4-2-2-2 in possession with the midfielders sitting deep and the wingers pushing on to support the strikers.

This means that he could play Morelos, who has 161 club career goals, and Colak, who has 162 goals for his respective clubs, as a pairing up front at Ibrox and he could, therefore, unlock an unstoppable duo in the Premiership.

The Croatian summer signing has plundered 11 goals in 14 starts in the Scottish top-flight and has established himself as van Bronckhorst’s go-to number nine in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 set-up.

Morelos, meanwhile, has only started one match but does have three goals and one assist from 12 appearances in total. The Colombian is being wasted on the bench as he has scored 68 goals and provided 29 assists in 147 Premiership games for the club in his career to date.

These statistics suggest that they could come together to form an unstoppable pairing for opposition defenders to deal with, as both of them have proven, in the present and the past, that they can score goals on a regular basis at this level.

Therefore, Rangers could get the best out of both of them by appointing Hasenhuttl to deploy his 4-4-2 hybrid in the second half of the Premiership season.

Glasgow Rangers are plotting a move to sign Kenny McLean in 2023, according to reports.

The Lowdown: McLean profiled

The Norwich City midfielder worked his way up through the academy ranks north of the border, but was released by the Light Blues in 2008 before going on to join St. Mirren and Aberdeen.

The Scottish Premiership side soon lost the 30-year-old to the Canaries where he’s been a expire at the end of the season, a return to Ibrox could be on the cards.

The Latest: Rangers eyeing McLean

According to the Scottish Daily Express, Gers are ‘considering a move’ for McLean, and he is someone who is on the club’s ‘radar’ ahead of next year.

Given his situation, he will be able to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with potential suitors from January onwards, though a small ‘fee’ would be required to secure his services in the New Year.

Last summer, the Carrow Road ace admitted that he would be open and keen on a return, though whether that will happen, only time will tell.

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The Verdict: Potential bargain

Should Rangers be able to reach an agreement with Norwich for the sale of McLean, he would be an absolute bargain buy considering his impressive record in the final third.

The 6 foot maestro has registered 17 assists and netted 11 goals during his time with Dean Smith’s side and is a versatile player, having previously operated at left-back alongside three different midfield positions (Transfermarkt).

Once described as ‘too hot to handle’ by Josh Bunting, McLean would be a welcome addition in Glasgow as the Light Blues start preparing for life after Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Liverpool have been long-term linked with a move for Moises Caicedo and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the club’s pursuit of the player.

What’s the latest?

According to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool remain interested in signing the Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder.

Plettenberg tweeted:

“News Caicedo: MUFC is planning to enter the race! Bosses highly interested. Also on the list of LFC – next to Bellingham – & spotted by many other top clubs. Teammates say he is an “exceptional player & character”. Brighton hopes that he will stay beyond 2023.”

Imagine him & Bellingham

It is no secret that Liverpool are in desperate need of reinforcements in the centre of the pitch, with many of their current midfielders either coming to the end of their contracts or in the latter stages of their career.

Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner are all entering the last six months of their contracts at Anfield, whilst Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara are well into their 30s, leaving only Fabinho, Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones as the longer-term prospects in midfield.

As a result, Jurgen Klopp and his sporting director Julian Ward will need to come together to establish the best way to rebuild the midfield personnel in the team, and with speculation mounting about a move for both Caicedo and Jude Bellingham, it is clear that they are opting for a youth revolution on the red side of Merseyside.

Caicedo has been a stand-out performer for Brighton and at just 21 years old is already proving that he has the confidence and talent to take the next step in his career.

Over 14 Premier League appearances this season, the £85m ace – who was hailed a “serious talent” by producer Aden-Jay Wood – has scored one goal and won 58% of his duels, as well as making an average of 1.1 key passes, 1.4 interceptions, 3.1 tackles and enjoying 67.8 touches per game.

Like Bellingham, the Ecuadorian midfielder offers both an attacking threat and a solid defensive presence in the centre of the pitch, so you can only imagine what the pair could achieve if their talents were combined should they both make a move to Anfield next year.

Indeed, both midfielders are capturing the attention of many elite clubs, so it won’t be easy for Liverpool to secure their signatures, but the investment in the pair could set up the Merseyside giants’ midfield for many years to come.

With that being said, the signing of Caicedo would be a major coup for the Reds and it could be the perfect parting gift from Ward before he leaves Liverpool in the summer.

Newcastle United defender Dan Burn will travel to Saudi Arabia to join the mid-season training camp ‘within the next 24 hours’, according to journalist Jordan Cronin.

The Lowdown: Injury scare?

The Premier League side jetted out to Riyadh on Sunday to begin a week-long camp in the Middle East to prepare for the return of domestic action following the conclusion of the World Cup.

However, supporters noticed that the 30-year-old was missing from the squad’s official team photo upon arrival, prompting concerns that he may have picked up an injury during the break.

The Latest: Cronin’s update

Taking to Twitter, Cronin confirmed that Burn didn’t make the initial flight, but is set to join his teammates imminently.

“Dan Burn did not travel with his NUFC teammates to Saudi Arabia yesterday but told he is due to link up with the squad within the next 24 hours.”

Expanding in his column for Newcastle World, the reporter claimed that the centre-back’s absence was ‘because of illness’, though the fact he is already jetting out suggests it was not serious.

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The Verdict: Boost for Howe

Newcastle learning that Burn hasn’t sustained an injury or any major issue will come as a huge boost to Eddie Howe given the rock he’s been at the heart of his backline this season.

The 6 foot 4 colossus has been averaging 3.2 clearances and 2.1 aerial wins per league 90 minutes, alongside offering versatility having operated at left-back for a large majority of the term so far (WhoScored).

The Magpies are set to face Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup last 16 in just over a fortnight, and Burn being available for selection will only increase the chances of his side progressing to the quarter-finals.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been credited with an interest in Sevilla full-back Marcos Acuna recently and the Argentine could be Julen Lopetegui’s own version of Arsenal star Oleksandr Zinchenko.

According to Spanish news outlet Vamos mi Sevilla, Wolves are one of four clubs keen on signing the versatile defender in next month’s transfer window.

They claim that the La Liga side want around €12m (£10m) from his sale, after informing the 31-year-old that he is now surplus to requirements at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.

The former Sporting Lisbon man is well-known to Lopetegui, having made 84 appearances under the Spanish manager during his time with Sevilla, so it is perhaps no surprise that he is keen to reunite with the Argentina international at Molineux.

Should he swap Sevilla for the Midlands in January, he could perform a similar role to Zinchenko’s at Arsenal and Manchester City in recent seasons.

The Ukraine international has struggled with injuries since signing for Mikel Arteta’s side in January but has impressed in his seven appearances in the Premier League, averaging a strong 6.90 average rating from WhoScored for his performances.

According to FBref, the versatile 25-year-old is the seventh-most similar player to Acuna when compared to other full-backs across Europe’s top leagues.

This season has seen the two defenders register similar statistics with regard to goal-creating actions per 90 minutes (both 0.16), progressive passes received (10 vs 11) and aerials won (both 10).

According to WhoScored, both Zinchenko and Acuna excel at passing, holding onto the ball and playing key passes, which is perhaps exactly what you would expect from two full-backs who have featured in midfield on a regular basis in their careers.

Considering how good Zinchenko has been for Arsenal and City since his move to England, Lopetegui would surely be foolish to turn down a player so statistically similar, especially one who he has worked with before and clearly trusts.

Therefore, owner Jeff Shi should definitely look at bringing Argentina’s World Cup star Acuna to Molineux in January as he looks to provide Lopetegui with the signings he needs to turn the Old Gold’s fortunes around and stave off relegation.

Manchester United are believed to be keen on a move for Leeds United starlet, Illan Meslier, having previously been linked with the Frenchman during the summer window.

What’s the word?

According to Media Foot, the Red Devils – as well as Premier League rivals Chelsea – are believed to be eyeing a deal for the 22-year-old in 2023, with it looking as if the youngster will move on from Elland Road in the near future.

This follows previous reports in the recent window that suggested the Old Trafford outfit were interested in the former Lorient sensation, albeit with journalist Fabrizio Romano having suggested at the time that the player was viewed as “untouchable” by the Whites.

Despite the 6 foot 6 menace still having three-and-a-half years left to run on his existing deal in Yorkshire, this latest report from France suggests that a departure may well be a possibility next year, with Jesse Marsch and co said to be eyeing Croatian star Dominik Livakovic as a replacement.

Repeat Ferdinand masterclass

A new goalkeeping addition remains a notable priority as far as Erik ten Hag is concerned, with current number one David De Gea facing something of an uncertain future at the club with just six months remaining on his contract, albeit with United having the option of triggering a 12-month extension.

Should the club be looking for a possible replacement for the Spaniard – who is reportedly willing to take a pay cut to remain at the Theatre of Dreams – turning to Meslier could well be a strong solution, with the towering stopper having sparkled in English football in recent years.

The “ridiculous” talent – as described by The Athletic’s Phil Hay – notably made the most saves in the division last term (143) to help steer his current side to safety, after previously finishing fourth in that metric the year prior with 140 saves to his name.

Signed for just £5m back in the summer of 2020, the £22k-per-week ace – who has started 14 league games this season – is now said to be worth around £50m, according to Phil Hay of The Athletic, with such an exciting asset unlikely to come cheap for Ten Hag and co.

Although it may well prove controversial to land the France U21 international from their bitter rivals, United could well repeat the success that they had after signing club legend Rio Ferdinand from Leeds back in 2002.

That £30m swoop ultimately proved a real masterstroke for the Red Devils as the Englishman went on to enjoy a glittering 12-year stay in Manchester, racking 455 appearances in all competitions in that time.

The 81-cap titan would help the club to clinch six league titles and the Champions League, among other major honours, during his more than decade-long spell at Old Trafford, having even been named as the Premier League’s best-ever defender by Liverpool star, Virgil van Dijk.

Ten Hag could now look to repeat that transfer masterclass and prise Meslier from Elland Road in the near future, with the young stopper also potentially set to prove a long-term option for the club, much like Ferdinand.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in signing Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper, Yann Sommer, as sporting director Fabio Paratici looks to strengthen the club’s goalkeeping ranks.

What’s the word?

That’s according to transfer insider Dean Jones – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – who noted that fresh interest in the Switzerland international ahead of the January transfer window, with the 34-year-old having just six months remaining on his existing deal in Germany.

The respected journalist stated: “Yann Sommer is one that I’ve been told is on the radar. They’re just looking to see what he’s looking to do next. So, I think various things will crop up.”

The former Grasshoppers man is also reportedly a target for Premier League rivals Manchester United when his contract expires at the end of the season, with the veteran gem having also been linked with a move to Old Trafford during the summer.

True Lloris heir

This talk of interest in the one-time Grasshoppers loanee comes following reports earlier this season that suggested the Lilywhites are already drawing up replacements for long-serving skipper, Hugo Lloris, with the experienced Frenchman set to leave N17 when his contract expires in 2024.

While a “legend” at international level – according to compatriot Clement Llenglet – the 145-cap colossus has regularly come in for criticism as a result of his mistakes for his club over the years, notably ranking joint-top for most errors leading to goals in the Premier League this season.

The 35-year-old has also made 22 errors leading to goals in his top-flight career in England to date, with that record the third-worst in the competition as a whole, proving him something of a liability at times.

That knack for a blunder also saw the £100k-per-week man criticised by talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor earlier this year for his mistakes in the derby defeat to Arsenal, with the former England international stating: “It’s really poor goalkeeping from Hugo Lloris.”

Also questioned for having gone “walkabout” during the recent Champions League meeting with Sporting Lisbon, in the words of journalist Jonathan Veal, it looks as if age could well be catching up with the former Lyon man at present.

Although Sommer is no spring chicken himself, the 80-cap “monster” – as described by journalist Okon Nya – has remained in sparkling form for Gladbach in the current campaign, notably recording a Bundesliga-record haul of 19 saves in the draw with Bayern Munich back in August.

The 6-foot titan has thus made 47 saves in total from his ten league outings this season and conceded just 14 goals, while Lloris has conceded 18 goals from his 15 league games this season, making 45 saves in that time.

Sommer has also racked up an average match rating of 7.4 per game, as per Sofascore, with that record also better than the current Spurs captain who has averaged just 6.88 match rating this season.

As such, the Gladbach sensation could well be an ideal heir to Lloris moving forward as far as Paratici is concerned, with that bargain acquisition likely to be an attractive one for the north Londoners.