All posts by n8rngtd.top

[ad_pod ]

Tottenham Hotspur continue to be linked with a move for Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon, per the Daily Mail.

Spurs are keen to pay £25million for the left-back, who can also play as a left-winger, though the Cottagers want closer to £40m.

On the chalkboard

Sessegnon has endured a difficult season in the Premier League, with Fulham relegated to the Championship.

The 18-year-old nevertheless made 35 appearances, scoring two goals and laying on six assists.

It remains to be seen, however, where he would fit in at Spurs.

Per Transfermarkt, Sessegnon has been deployed in six positions this season.

He has played on the left wing five times, in an advanced role, and on the right wing seven times.

The teenager has been played as a left-back six times and right-back once while playing on the left of midfield 14 times, and the right once.

It appears that his managers – Slavisa Jokanovic, Claudio Ranieri and, now, Scott Parker – have been confused about Sessegnon’s best position and have subsequently moved him around the pitch in a bid to unlock his potential.

Instead, it has limited him and has surely played a part in Fulham’s relegation.

Pochettino can’t make a similar mistake

This will prove a puzzle for Mauricio Pochettino if Sessegnon does move to Spurs.

He will have to ensure that he knows exactly where the England youth international is to be played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

It seems obvious but, judging by his season at Fulham, it isn’t.

He could perhaps replace Ben Davies, the left-back who is clearly second-choice behind Danny Rose; or he could provide depth on the left flank further forward, perhaps providing some competition to Son Heung-Min, the club’s Player of the Season.

One thing, however, is clear: Spurs cannot make the same mistake that Fulham have as they look to bring out the best in the teenager and receive value for their money.

[ad_pod ]

Celtic fans are keen to see their club make a move for Motherwell star David Turnbull this summer after an exceptional season in the Scottish Premiership.

The 19-year-old has scored a fantastic 15 goals from midfield in the top-flight this term despite only beginning to start matches in October, winning plaudits from supporters and pundits for his exciting, dynamic all-round game.

As reported by BBC Scotland at the weekend, he’s been tipped to break Motherwell’s outgoing transfer fee when he does move on by club Chief Exec Alan Burrows, who is clearly expecting interest in the player this summer.

The comments came after Turnbull scored another double in ‘Well’s last match of the season against Livingston.

The Steelmen have already seen another of their talents, Jake Hastie, agree a pre-contract with Rangers ahead of the transfer window.

Celtic fans feel he’s a talent that the club can’t miss out on and are eager to see business done for the player before another club steps in.

These supporters have taken to Twitter over the last 48 hours to share their thoughts on it all…

A tinge of Spanish flavour is something Rafa Benitez seemingly really craves for in his team.

At Newcastle United, Ayoze Perez has (somewhat) provided him with that treat, with the less said about Joselu the better. Well, with the Magpies defence needing serious reinforcements, Benitez is apparently aiming to add some Spanish spice to fire up their topsy-turvy backline.

As a result, Newcastle have started their pursuit from a rising left-back in La Liga. Indeed, according to reports (via Chronicle Live), the Magpies are interested in Barcelona’s Marc Cucurella. The 20-year-old had an impressive debut first-season in the Spanish top-flight with Eibar, even netting his first senior goal against his parent club in the final week.

Lacking in proper left-backs for over a season, they need someone trustworthy outside of Paul Dummett. So, while Cucurella’s a promising prospect, proving a formidable force going forward with his speed along with incisiveness, his experience is still lacking.

Granted, the 20-year-old stood firm against intimidating opposition in La Liga, but facing the Premier League heat is another case altogether. At this stage in his career, he could be overpowered physically,  outwitted tactically and could possibly be chewed up by the tricky opposition wingers. Benitez requires a stronger mental fortitude to solidify his back-line, as relying on youngsters isn’t the right option.

Cucurella’s a fine future prospect. Buying him won’t do any harm and actually hand the Magpies an ambitious left-back who can bloom over in the long-term. However, to fix Benitez’s immediate defensive issues, the 20-year-old’s just too young and defensive unstable to be handed the pressure of first-team Premier League action.

Newcastle fans, do you think Cucurella can solve the left-back issues? Join the discussion by commenting below…

[ad_pod ]

Liverpool are reportedly chasing Lille sensation Nicolas Pepe.

What’s the story?

According to Sunday Times reporter Duncan Castles, Pepe is a target for the Reds as they look to boost their attacking depth.

“From what I’ve been told, Liverpool have been in contact with Pepe’s agent to discuss a deal, his interest in coming and what it would cost to come. Lille are aware of this and are waiting for a bid,” Castles said on the The Transfer Window podcast.

Xherdan Shaqiri has been linked with a £22.5m move to West Ham, so could Pepe be the perfect replacement for the Swiss international?

Has Alisson been Liverpool’s most important signing of the season? Check out the video below to find out why Jurgen Klopp thinks so…

Perfect upgrade?

Shaqiri had a good debut season on Merseyside, but after signing the winger for just £13m (BBC) last summer, the Reds may well be tempted to cash in while they have the chance.

And in Pepe they would have not just a replacement for the former Stoke City wing wizard, but an upgrade.

The Ivory Coast international just enjoyed a stunning breakout season, firing Lille into a second-place finish in Ligue 1 with 22 goals and 11 assists in 37 league starts.

Contributing to a goal nearly once per game, the 24 year-old can play on either wing, has explosive speed and a knack of scoring outrageous goals, so he is basically a younger, better version of Shaqiri.

The Reds need to build depth if they want to challenge Manchester City again, so selling Shaqiri for nearly double the fee they paid for him only makes sense if a better player arrives instead, and Pepe is exactly that.

[ad_pod ]

Fernando Llorente insists that he is not thinking about leaving Tottenham Hotspur ahead of the Champions League final, per Mundo Deportivo.

What’s the word?

The Spanish striker’s contract expires this summer, with the Daily Mail reporting that Spurs will allow him to walk when his deal ends.

He has played a key role in helping Spurs to the final, scoring the decisive goal in the quarter-final against Manchester City as well as turning the game on its head after coming on as a substitute versus Ajax.

He maintains that he is only currently thinking about the final in Madrid, with Mauricio Pochettino’s men set to take on Liverpool at the Wanda Metropolitano, and says that his team-mates have yet to truly grasp the enormity of the occasion.

He said: “I’ll give another interview after the final because now I do not think about my future.

“It’s not time yet or it’s not the right time. I prefer to enjoy what remains because it is something historic and unforgettable for this Tottenham. It is indescribable.

“I sincerely believe that today we are not yet aware of the greatness that would be to win the Champions League. We play forever in our memories.”

The wildcard

Llorente could yet have a major say on where the trophy ends up.

The 34-year-old has been there and done it all; he has won the World Cup and is a genuinely experienced campaigner.

His influence, then, will be indispensable in Spain and he is also an excellent option as a substitute.

A rangy striker who is excellent in the air and holds the ball up brilliantly, Llorente has proved this season that he can still influence the biggest games on the biggest stage.

And if he manages to score again against Liverpool, he absolutely deserves that new contract.

Perhaps, then, he is singing for his supper in the biggest game in the club’s history.

[ad_pod ]

According to Express & Star, West Brom are in danger of losing Jay Rodriguez this summer with Bournemouth holding an interest in the player.

What’s the word?

Rodriguez was brilliant for the Baggies in 2018/19, finding the back of the net on 22 occasions.

However, after failing to achieve promotion, Albion could now lose their star striker.

Express & Star suggest that Bournemouth could be in for the player, just over a year after they first registered their interest.

Back in 2018 the Midlands club wanted £20m for the player but it remains to be seen how much they now value him at.

Last summer Burnley had a bid of £16m knocked back for the forward, but it may not be as easy to keep him on this occasion after Luke Dowling admitted that Premier League quality players may leave.

Disaster on the cards for West Brom

If Rodriguez does depart then it would continue to plummet Albion into mediocrity.

After declaring they wouldn’t be able to hold onto Dwight Gayle due to financial reasons, they simply must keep his strike partner from the recent campaign.

There is a serious rebuilding job facing whoever walks in as the next permanent boss at the Hawthorns but one of his first tasks must be to ensure the 29-year-old stays.

Following the climax of Gayle’s loan spell, they were staring at a lack of goals but if another player with over 20 strikes to his name walks through the exit door it would spell disaster.

Regardless of financial restrictions, the 6ft 1 attacker is a player they must keep at the club.

As another cracking Championship season draws to a close, check out the top 5 fan chants from 2018/19 in the video below…

Craig Dawson has been the subject of a possible move to Burnley and it’s players like him that they’d be better shipping on, rather than someone who is guaranteed to score goals at Championship level.

At the moment, Albion are in real danger of dropping off the pace altogether next term. Things are far from certain in most facets of the club but selling Rodriguez would only make things worse.

They cannot afford to let it happen.

[ad_pod ]

According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds United want to bring Ryan Kent in on loan next season after his impressive spell at Rangers.

This wouldn’t be the 22-year-old’s first spell in the Championship, nor would it be his first time playing for a Yorkshire club after spending the 2016/17 season on loan at Barnsley.

His time at Oakwell may give us an indication as to how he would perform if he came to Elland Road, so let’s look at how he played for the Tykes back then.

The first thing that immediately sticks out when you look at Kent’s stats during his time at Barnsley is his poor amount of goal contributions.

Three goals and just one assist in 44 appearances for a winger doesn’t make for great reading, and Marcelo Bielsa would want those numbers to drastically increase if he brought him in next season.

It’s not as if he wasn’t getting chances either. The Liverpool man was taking 1.4 shots per game, but he only found the back of the net three times all season showing how inaccurate he was when taking aim at goal.

He did successfully complete 2.6 dribbles per game, so he clearly wasn’t scared of running with the ball. Unfortunately, the stats indicate that he wasn’t very good at it as he also averaged 2.3 unsuccessful dribbles per game. For all of his attempts, not many of his runs led to anything as he got only one assist that season.

Leeds fans must hope that he has improved since his time in Yorkshire as his first stint in the Championship certainly wasn’t impressive, and if the Whites want to go up next season they need better performances than the ones Kent was putting in at Barnsley.

[ad_pod ]

Tottenham Hotspur starlet Dele Alli is still enjoying his holiday with Borussia Dortmund’s wunderkind Jadon Sancho. The tandem has now met with Umar Kamani in Melrose Avenue, as Alli’s latest

/By8h40wHC11/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link” data-lasso->Instagram snap shows.

Naturally, when superstars meet, it attracts a lot of attention and this snap was no different. Players and fans alike were quick to react to it in the comment section below.

Raheem Sterling, who is still on a holiday himself, has responded to the picture calling the lads “star boys”, as the tandem was seen taking a photo with Kamani, CEO & Founder of PrettyLittleThing, a UK-based fashion retailer.

Izzy Brown, who spent last season in Leeds United’s treatment room while on loan from Chelsea, was also on the scene, and simply called Alli and Sancho top tier, followed by a single emoji.

Despite his big name and even higher potential, Alli has had a rocky season with Tottenham. The 2018/19 campaign ended with two bitter defeats for the young Englishman, first at club and then international level.

He was beaten by Liverpool in the Champions League final and then crashed out of the Nations League with England.

It was a rough year and Alli very much deserves a step away from football, with his fellow superstars clearly in agreement.

[ad_pod ]

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to Sky Sports, Sheffield United are closing in on their first signing of the summer. Luke Freeman is reportedly about to come to Bramall Lane in a deal worth more than £3m.

The Blades have repeatedly looked at signing new attacking midfielders this summer with Jota and Kieran Dowell linked, but now it seems that Chris Wilder has settled on the QPR star.

What’s the story?

Freeman was linked with the Blades last week by The Sun, but it seems as if talks have progressed and Sky are now reporting that the deal is imminent.

The attacking midfielder hasn’t been short of suitors this summer. Leeds United were also reportedly interested in his services.

Watch Sheffield United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Fits their policy

Freeman fits everything we know about Sheffield United’s transfer policy this summer.

He is a proven Championship star, and the Blades have been chasing plenty of second division talents such as Britt Assombalonga, Jota and Oliver McBurnie.

Freeman proved last term that he is one of the best players the Championship has to offer after producing seven goals and six assists in a struggling QPR side.

On top of that he is English. Chris Wilder has a huge domestic player bias having been promoted with a squad full of British and Irish footballers. Freeman doesn’t upset that policy at all so he will be a good fit for the Blades.

Check out the transfer rumour that has Sheff Utd fans both drooling and laughing in the video below…

He is also a bargain signing by modern day standards. With the Yorkshire club’s ownership issues not fully resolved yet they aren’t currently able to spend massive amounts, but around £4m for the 27-year-old would indicate good value-for-money considering the form he showed last season.

Competition for a midfield spot is set to be fierce at Chelsea next season.

Frank Lampard, if he is appointed manager as expected, will be able to call upon the likes of N’Golo Kante, Jorginho, Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek when he returns from injury.

Bearing that in mind, even though he has already worked under Lampard at Derby, you could excuse Mason Mount for feeling a little anxious as he prepares for a possible Chelsea stay next season.

Factor in the potential signing of Mateo Kovacic, something which Mundo Deportivo (via The Chelsea Echo) expects to happen, and things do not get any better some might argue.

But does Mount really have anything to fear if it comes down to a straight shootout between himself and the Croatian? On last season’s showing, probably not.

All things considered, the 20-year-old looks capable of offering so much more going forward than Kovacic and that will arguably be hard to ignore. Yes, he played his football in the Championship. But even so, his numbers still make for good reading. For example, Mount made just under 2.0 key passes per game, a display of the kind of creativity he can bring to attacks. To give some context, Kovacic, in contrast, averaged 0.8 (as per WhoScored).

With 1.1 crosses and 1.6 long balls compared to Kovacic’s 0 and 0.9, Mount also looks like an option in the middle of the park who is willing to go for the more brave and riskier passes — or at least compared to the former Inter Milan man.

If that is what Lampard wants, then Mount will surely fancy his chances against Kovacic in the battle for a starting berth in the midfield.

Chelsea fans, who would you prefer to see in the engine room next season, Mount or Kovacic? Let us know who and why in the comment section below!