All posts by h716a5.icu

The whole Liverpool camp and its fanbase has been rocked by the news of Virgil van Dijk’s injury. Jurgen Klopp will likely be without his leading centre-back for the rest of the season whilst he recovers from anterior cruciate ligament damage picked up against Everton.

The Reds have been forced to deploy makeshift defender Fabinho alongside Joe Gomez, with Joel Matip also ruled out of action temporarily. It’s perhaps dawning on Klopp that he should have prioritised a move for a backup centre-half during the transfer window. Liverpool cashed in on veteran Dejan Lovren and opted not to replace him, which could prove to be a detrimental decision.

Jamie Carragher hit out at Klopp for this exact decision. The Anfield legend stated that a centre-back should have been high up the club’s priority list, to avoid situations such as this one. Should the Reds scramble to find a replacement for van Dijk, they will have to wait until January to get a deal over the line.

Speaking to Football FanCast, former Newcastle defender Steve Howey has tipped a surprise swoop for Wolves captain Conor Coady.

Should Liverpool re-sign Conor Coady?

“Look how well Wolves have done,” Howey commented. “And absolutely he is a catalyst with that. He’s marshalled that defence, he’s a footballing centre-half as well as a defender.”

Indeed, Coady has helped spearhead his side to a strong Premier League run since their promotion. They fell just short of a top six finish last season, losing out to Spurs on goal difference. This time round, top six or maybe even higher will be locked in Nuno Espirito Santo’s sight.

Wolves are currently in sixth place, level on points with Arsenal and Leicester City after enjoying three wins out of their five games played. Despite losing Diogo Jota to Liverpool, the Wanderers haven’t had trouble finding the back of the net with the likes of Raul Jimenez and Daniel Podence pulling the strings. However, letting captain and stalwart defender Coady leave to the same club is another story.

“No doubt,” Howey said on whether the Merseyside native would join the Reds. “Because he started there, if Liverpool came around, I think he would definitely think about it. Absolutely without a doubt. You’re an idiot if you turn Liverpool down.”

The 27-year-old started his footballing journey in Liverpool’s academy, before a move to Huddersfield took him away from his boyhood club. Should they come calling, Coady may be unable to resist the pull of the Premier League champions.

Howey wondered: “I think it’s definitely a good possibility, but how much would Wolves want for him?” Certainly, he will not come cheap and Michael Edwards may need to accept he will cost an eye-watering amount, should the Reds opt to pursue a move.

With van Dijk out and doubts cast over Gomez, the mother ship may decide to call Coady home in what would be a whole new era of his career.

In other news, Kostas Tsimikas shares positive message that will please Liverpool fans…

Ralph Hasenhuttl is on the brink of unearthing Southampton’s strongest senior squad in a long time. His dedication to seeing the club re-establish themselves in the Premier League has delivered some exceptional results for the Saints. One of note being their surprise win over league leaders Everton at St Mary’s last weekend.

The Austrian’s eye for talent in both the existing team and during the summer transfer window is already paying off. Danny Ings is running the show with his clinical goalscoring abilities, whilst loan signing and former south coast man Theo Walcott also looks to make a big difference.

However, there are several players currently on loan from the club. Mohamed Elyounoussi is making waves over at Celtic Park and could be looking at a spot in the starting lineup once he returns. But on the other end of the scale, outcast defender Wesley Hoedt may not receive the same warm welcome despite his strong stats at Lazio.

Does Hoedt have a future at Southampton?

It’s more than fair to say that the Dutchman and the Saints have a very turbulent relationship. Hoedt admitted that he regrets making the initial move from Lazio to Southampton back in 2017. Speaking to Sport Magazine in September 2019, the centre-back stated that he “decided to prove my worth elsewhere” after Hasenhuttl reportedly didn’t give him the second chance he was promised (via Daily Mail).

His return to Italy is now his third consecutive loan move away from the Premier League and he has slipped way down in terms of fan opinions. Any return to full-time football at Southampton will result in a sour reception from the Saints supporters, but he may be able to win them over.

In Lazio’s clash against Club Brugge on Wednesday, Hoedt stood out in the heart of the defence despite a 1-1 draw. The 26-year-old made an impressive 11 clearances and three tackles, including a contribution of five successful long balls out of his attempted nine (via Sofascore).

This shows that Hoedt cannot be written off by the Saints just yet and should the £60,000 per-week man finally be given another chance by Hasenhuttl, he could put pressure on Jannik Vestergaard, who has been questionable across the backline recently. There has also been speculation over whether he could be leaving the club. Should any talks come to fruition, it could leave the door open for a controversial return for Hoedt next season.

In other news, Southampton interest in Toby Savin could spell the end of Angus Gunn…

With Southampton eyeing LASK Linz winger Husein Balic ahead of the January transfer window, we feel that Nathan Redmond may struggle to keep his place in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s first team.

According to the Daily Mail, the Saints and Brentford are chasing the Austrian ahead of the winter transfer window, with Celtic also attributed with an interest in the 24-year-old.

The report suggests that Balic is regarded as one of the quickest players in world football, after clocking a running time of 39km/h during an Under-21 game against France, and he is nicknamed “the sprinter” due to his unbelievable speed.

The winger is currently valued at just £1.35 million by Transfermarkt, suggesting that he could be a very affordable option for the Saints in January.

Balic has enjoyed an excellent start to the 20/21 season, having contributed two goals and one assist in seven appearances in the Austrian Bundesliga for LASK Linz.

He has also impressed in their Europa League campaign thus far, with one goal and one assist in three appearances, which shows that he can perform at a high level, and is perhaps ready to make his mark in a more established league.

WhoScored suggests that Southampton like to play down the left-hand side, so should Balic join the club, you would imagine that he would have to become a big part of the way they play.

The 24-year-old’s pace could also help to significantly increase Southampton’s counter-attacking potential, as you imagine that his speed, alongside Che Adams and Danny Ings up top, would be enough to cause a lot of Premier League sides problems.

However, his potential arrival could spell trouble for Nathan Redmond. The 26-year-old has had a disappointing start to the 20/21 season, having contributed no goals and no assists in his five Premier League appearances thus far, which has seen him average a less than impressive 6.48 rating (per WhoScored).

Although he was excellent for the Saints at times last season, averaging a very solid 6.96 rating across the season, you would imagine that if his poor performances continue this season, Hasenhuttl would see no issue in replacing him with Balic in his starting XI.

It will be interesting to see if Southampton can see off competition from Brentford and Celtic in order to bring in Balic in January, and whether the speed-demon would be able to adapt to life in the Premier League quickly, which could see him keep the likes of Redmond on the bench.

Leeds defensive-midfielder Kalvin Phillips has been the subject of a lot of praise from the media in recent weeks, after he produced another superb display in the Whites’ 1-0 win against Everton last time out.

The 25-year-old academy graduate has established himself as an England international since Leeds’ promotion back to the top-flight during the summer and it is unsurprising therefore that he is attracting interest from sides such as Liverpool and Spurs in recent times.

Fortunately for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, if the ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’ does opt to leave the club in the near future, the club may already have a direct replacement lined up in academy talent, Nohan Kenneh.

Despite being just 17-years-old, he has been a regular in Leeds’ U’23 side this season having made three appearances in all competitions.

It has also been suggested recently that he has been training with Bielsa’s first-team, so he is clearly well-known by the Argentinian manager, and it perhaps won’t be too long until we see the youngster make his first appearance for the Elland Road outfit.

If he can go on to have anywhere near the impact that Phillips has had since his progression into the Leeds first-team, then he will surely prove to be a very popular player indeed.

Since making his debut for the club as a 19-year-old in 2015 under Neil Redfearn, the midfielder has gone on to make 188 appearances for the Whites, contributing 12 goals and 11 assists, per Transfermarkt.

Therefore, it seems that Kenneh has the ideal role-model in Phillips, and he will surely be hoping to emulate the 25-year-old’s career progression in the coming years, with both Leeds United and England, where he is currently playing at U’17 level.

Considering PSG have been linked with the youngster in recent times, you would imagine the club would need to promote him to the first-team quickly, otherwise, he may have his head turned.

With Leeds having been drawn away against League Two opposition in Crawley Town in the FA Cup third round, perhaps Bielsa could give Kenneh an opportunity to start there in January.

AND in other news, Elland Road fave who is “something special” surely running out of time over his Leeds career…

Steve Parish can deliver Crystal Palace their next Patrick van Aanholt in Marseille defender Jordan Amavi.

What’s the word?

According to L’Equipe, Marseille are worried about Amavi’s future at the Orange Velodrome as he is set to become a free agent at the end of the season.

The 26-year-old uncapped former France international has been linked with a possible move to Selhurst Park as the Eagles are tracking a number of potential replacements for Patrick van Aanholt, with his contract set to run out in the summer.

Palace prioritised several other positions in the off-season as Parish sought to bolster Roy Hodgson’s arsenal of attacking options in the summer after Alexander Sorloth left the club for RB Leipzig.

With the winter transfer window fast approaching, Marseille coach Andre Villas-Boas is believed to be concerned that the club are running out of time to sell one of their valuable assets before his contract expires, which is something that Parish could look to exploit.

Perfect PVA replacement

If Parish can get a deal over the line in January, Hodgson could see the Eagles land their next Van Aanholt, with the former Aston Villa starlet once described as a “terrific” talent after he signed a five-year deal at Villa Park.

Amavi spent two years at Aston Villa before joining Marseille in 2017, helping the Olympians reach the Europa League final a year later.

It goes without saying that he has become one of the top players in Europe in his position, with Villas-Boas recently heaping praise on the 26-year-old in an interview with La Provence.

The former Chelsea boss said: “Amavi is one of the players who has improved the most. He has a great frame of mind.”

His ability to break up attacks, combined with his ability to dribble past players as well as being a strong threat in the air, is something that sets him apart from the rest of his competitors, as Marcos Alonso has often been criticised for his lack of pace.

Valued at £9m via Transfermarkt, in eight appearances in Ligue 1, the left-back has scored one goal so far this season, whilst he is averaging 1.4 tackles, 3.3 interceptions and 2.9 clearances per game, via WhoScored.

In contrast, even Van Aanholt has only mustered 1.3 tackles, 0.5 interceptions and 0.8 clearances on average per game in the Premier League this season so far, as per WhoScored.

Suffice it to say the young Frenchman would be an upgrade on the 30-year-old, who didn’t cover himself in glory against Newcastle United last month, and is arguably entering the twilight of his career.

AND in other news, Parish masterclass: Crystal Palace struck gold by signing Eberechi Eze from Queens Park Rangers…

Marcel Brands must seal a January loan move for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite after Carlo Ancelotti lauded the turnaround of Yerry Mina’s season.

What’s the word?

Branthwaite smashed into the senior fold as Ancelotti faced an injury crisis at centre-half last season, but took to the top-flight like a duck to water with the Italian left impressed by how the 18-year-old coped with replacing Mason Holgate at home to Aston Villa.

The Carlisle-born teen had only played 45 minutes of Premier League football before replacing Holgate after he suffered a recurrence of a shin problem, yet settled in as if he had played alongside Michael Keane for years.

Ancelotti lauded Branthwaite as being a “fantastic player” for Everton and one the former Chelsea boss felt was calm with the ball yet aggressive in chase of possession. He has, however, been unable to see more from the January arrival after the towering 6 ft 4 prospect tore ligaments in his left ankle against Salford City in the Carabao Cup.

Branthwaite stepped up his recovery with an impressive performance for David Unsworth’s Under 23s as they beat West Ham United 2-1 on Monday, catching the eye with a vital recovery early in the first-half to deny Sean Adarkwa a certain goal.

But the route back to senior football at Goodison Park is blocked, with Ben Godfrey, Holgate, Keane and Mina all securing minutes thus far this term and Ancelotti growing increasingly pleased with the efforts of his Colombian rock.

“I am happy with his level. He is doing better. He had some problems in some games but is now more focused and playing with confidence,” Ancelotti said of Mina, via quotes by the Liverpool Echo.

One door closes, another opens

Mina has been the focus of criticism at times this season, with Ancelotti forced to defend himself from accusations the Italian’s decision to favour Holgate earlier in the term led the former FC Barcelona flop to collapse mentally.

Ancelotti had also questioned the level of Mina’s performances, stating “sometimes he makes mistakes”, but is clearly fond of how the 26-year-old has responded to the situation.

But Mina’s turnaround has closed the door for Branthwaite to worm his way back into the fold, and Everton Director of Football Brands must now see that another opens by securing the 18-year-old a move away on loan this winter.

Branthwaite will struggle to move up the pecking order on Merseyside without seeing those currently in favour sustain any injuries, and will be eager to earn another taste of first-team action than being stuck in the reserves biding his time.

Plenty of sides should show an interest in signing Branthwaite on a temporary deal if Ancelotti and Brands do put his services on the market, as the £1.8m-rated talent has plenty to offer.

Aside from being praised by Ancelotti for his calmness in possession and aggression to snatch the ball back, Dominic Calvert-Lewin also praises the youngster for being one of the fastest men at Everton.

“If it was a flat-out race, 100-metre race, you would have me, Ben Godfrey, probably Jarrad Branthwaite and I probably have to throw Richie [Richarlison] in there,” the frontman told Sky Sports, via quotes by the News and Star.

AND in other news, “Do they need him?” – Exclusive: Pundit rejects Ancelotti’s desire to sign £185k-p/w outcast.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former footballer and current pundit Carlton Palmer has discussed the future of Ralph Hasenhuttl with Southampton.

The Austrian manager is likely to attract interest from other clubs having enjoyed a superb run of form with the Saints, that currently sees them sit third in the Premier League ahead of this weekend’s fixture against Manchester City.

Southampton had a poor start to the 2019/20 season and it seemed as if the former RB Leipzig manager could lose his job with the South Coast club after the infamous 9-0 defeat against Leicester City, but the board kept faith in him and they have been on a superb run of form in 2020 thus far.

Hasenhuttl was touted as a potential replacement for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United recently but Palmer seems confident that his future lies with Southampton.

Here’s what Palmer had to say about the Austrian manager when asked by Football FanCast whether he thought he would stay with Southampton…

“Absolutely. They’re third in the Premier League, there’s nowhere for him to go right now. They’re playing really good football, they’re doing well. It’s a fantastic football club, I had a lovely time down there, the supporters are fantastic. I don’t see any reason for him to want to go, I really don’t. The club are doing very well, if they were to get a top-five/top-six finish, that would be some achievement for Southampton wouldn’t it?”

Palmer credits Hasenhuttl for the way Southampton are playing at the moment and suggests that even if there was interest from another club in the Austrian manager, he should be keen to stay with the South Coast club, because of how well they are doing in the Premier League at the moment.

If the Saints can win Saturday’s game against Manchester City, they will solidify their place in the top-four spots in the Premier League, so perhaps a spell in the Champions League is not too far away for the Saints, in which case Hasenhuttl would surely want to stay so he could continue his project with the club.

And, in other news… Southampton will surely rue not completing £15m deal for “terrific” winger dominating the PL

Glasgow Rangers manager Steven Gerrard currently has a wealth of wide options at his disposal.

Ianis Hagi has cemented his place on the right wing opposite the ever-reliable Ryan Kent, and that’s without even mentioning the likes of Glenn Middleton, Brandon Barker and Jordan Jones, whose places in the squad are by no means secure.

And emerging reports this week have seemed to suggest that the trio face an uncertain future at Ibrox.

What’s the word?

According to The Daily Record, Charlton Athletic boss Lee Bowyer has resigned himself to losing Alfie Doughty, who has entered the final six months of his contract.

Bowyer said: “There is interest but there was interest in the summer.

“If Alfie does leave then it will have to be the right thing for the football club.

“No one player is bigger than the football club – and Alfie is no different.

“Alfie’s agent has told us he won’t sign a new deal and I’m disappointed with that.”

Doughty has been heavily linked with a switch to Ibrox but Celtic are also believed to keen on landing the left-sided midfielder who is available to sign on a pre-contract agreement.

More recently it’s claimed English Championship club Stoke City have made a bid for the 21-year-old, which is precisely why Ross Wilson must act swiftly in the January transfer window.

Davie Cooper 2.0?

With Barker bound for the Ibrox exit, Rangers could be on the verge of finally landing a significant upgrade in the form of the wantaway midfielder, who is also capable of playing as a left-back.

Doughty has made 41 appearances for the Addicks, having scored one goal and supplied two assists in League One this season so far, via Transfermarkt.

Standing at 1.83m tall he is similar in stature to legendary Rangers left-winger Davie Cooper, who was once named in Ruud Gullit’s Greatest XI, and the comparisons don’t stop there, either.

Like Cooper, the fleet-footed winger is similarly light on his feet, often leaving helpless defences trailing in his way, with The Athletic’s Nick Miller identifying his ‘relentless pace’ as one of his main strengths.

Doughty has been described as a decent dribbler and is considered to be one of the best up-and-coming prospects of his generation.

The Charlton boss was effusive in his praise for his “outstanding” young charge after he was one of the few bright sparks during the 3-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in 2019.

Cooper wrote his name into the history books after he scored against Celtic in the 1979 Dryburgh Cup Final, which is widely regarded by some Rangers fans as one of the greatest goals of all time.

Doughty could have a similar impact at Ibrox and he may be the perfect replacement to provide cover and competition for Ryan Kent on the left-wing if Wilson can steal a march on their closest rivals.

AND in other news, Glasgow Rangers must get Kai Kennedy to sign new deal after Gerrard transfer U-turn…

Portuguese publication A Bola reported earlier this week that Felipe Anderson is on the verge of returning to West Ham United following his failed loan spell with FC Porto, and that could present David Moyes with the chance to save the Brazilian’s London Stadium career.

Anderson departed for Portugal at the climax of the last international transfer market, aiming to rediscover his form by playing time for a Champions League side, but the move has not benefited either the one-time international or the Liga Nos outfit.

Dragoes boss Sergio Conceicao has called on Anderson to feature in just five fixtures across all competitions for a woeful total of 218 minutes to date, with his last league outing coming in October,  after which, his work-rate came into question.

Moyes, likewise, had called on Anderson to make the step up with his performances, after an underwhelming spell last season left the forward outside of the Scot’s starting line-up.

“Both had big reputations [when I arrived] and I think the games that they have played everybody had the chance to see their performances,” Moyes said of Anderson and former teammate Sebastien Haller in September, via quotes by the Evening Standard.

“I’ve got to say, the two of them are great to work with, the two of them are really good lads – I like them a lot. Felipe is a terrific lad, so is Seb. But what I want them to be is terrific players every time they play, and I want them to make a difference. They were bought by the club to make a difference, one to be a major goalscorer and one to be a major assist maker.”

Anderson failed to show that he was a ‘major assist maker’ amid his struggles with Porto and he may now return to east London but not for long, with A Bola adding that Everton are interested in taking the forward on loan as Carlo Ancelotti looks to add depth ahead of the likely departure of AS Roma target Bernard.

The Toffees are not alone in monitoring Anderson’s situation, either, as the Daily Mail have touted Serie A leaders AC Milan as another potential suitor, should the San Siro natives seek to sign options who can strengthen Stefano Pioli’s title-chasing squad.

It is also noted by The Guardian that West Ham will look to secure another loan move for the 27-year-old, as the Irons fear that him not playing games will lead to them struggling to demand a lucrative price if the club look to sell him in the summer, as is expected.

However, Moyes opting to allow Anderson the chance to stay and fight for his future in east London may deliver the Scot an option he currently lacks in his players, with quality depth in terms of wide players thin and far between beyond regular starters Jarrod Bowen, Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma.

Last season was far from perfect for Anderson as he offered just 1.0 key balls and 0.6 shots per Premier League appearance, after his impressive debut campaign which returned 1.8 key balls and 1.1 shots a game, per SofaScore.

Yet ,West Ham did not see a decline in his successful dribbles as they actually rose from 2.1 to 2.5, which would be enough for Anderson to rank first among all of Moyes’ current midfield and forward options, with Michail Antonio’s 1.56 a game the current best at the London Stadium.

Anderson would also rank first for key passes, with Bowen’s 0.88 the best at present, whist Andriy Yarmolenko – often Moyes’ go-to from the bench when fit – is ninth with 0.33 and ninth for shots, again with 0.33 a game.

If Anderson does return to the Premier League and stays put at the London Stadium, it might be worth the manager giving him another chance in and around the first team.

If things went well or the winger, he could prove to be the game-changing option Moyes is sometimes lacking, and it could indeed open the door for the £22.5m-rated maestro to save his West Ham career.

His stats from a few years ago were very impressive, if he could recreate them in 2021, he’d certainly provide Moyes with an effective option, he might just need to be given a chance to prove to his manager, and maybe even to himself, that he is still that same player.

AND in other news, GSB must back Moyes with WHU move for “devastating” 17-goal star with “explosive pace”.

Farhad Moshiri must sanction a new contract for Everton’s Director of Football Marcel Brands with the Dutchman yet to be offered a new deal.

What’s the word?

According to The Athletic, Moshiri is refusing to rush any decision over Brands’ future and may wait until the end of the season to retain the 58-year-old.

Brands is inside the final six months of his current contract but wishes to continue at Goodison Park beyond 2020/21 and into at least a third campaign.

His position on the Everton board as a Director is said to be an overriding factor in the delaying of any new terms, as the board cannot freely meet to discuss the Dutchman’s situation.

Moshiri has also not yet decided whether he wishes to retain Brands’ services or not, having spent almost £200m on transfers since hiring the former PSV Eindhoven chief to succeed Steve Walsh as Everton’s second Director of Football.

Those deals include paying £50m for Richarlison, £34m for Alex Iwobi, £27.5m for Moise Kean, £27m for Yerry Mina, £25m for Jean-Philippe Gbamin and £10m for Fabian Delph, beside the arrivals of Lucas Digne, Allan, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Ben Godfrey.

Should Everton retain Brands?

Brands’ record as Everton’s Director of Football has not been perfect, with Kean and Delph two prime examples of players moving to Goodison Park and not hitting the desired level.

Kean managed just two goals in 33 games last season while Delph has made only 27 appearances across all competitions, but the likes of Richarlison, Digne, Allan, Doucoure, Godfrey, James Rodriguez and even Iwobi this term have shown there to be far more hits than misses.

That was not the same for his predecessor, Steve Walsh, who few could argue against Everton firing in 2018 after a string of poor decisions as the Toffees adopted the Director of Football model.

Brands has also been credited with playing a pivotal role in a number of other deals, such as Niels Nkounkou’s move from Olympique de Marseille as a free agent last summer. He also helped to convince Digne to leave FC Barcelona for Merseyside, where the Frenchman has resurrected a career beginning to be lost on the sidelines in Spain.

And while Everton are expected to be quiet on the incomings front this month, Brands is already planning for the club’s future – one he may not be a part of – but how would he convince potential targets of a move to Goodison Park and to dedicate their career to a side where the person responsible for their arrival may soon leave?

Moshiri needs to realise the strength Everton would gain from further continuity with Brands in his current position, one that has seen his signings help turn the club into a side competing for qualification for Champions League football – just three years on from hiring Sam Allardyce to avoid relegation.

Brands has also built a strong relationship with head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who lauds the work the 58-year-old has carried out both before and after the Italian’s arrival.

“I have a good relationship with him, but apart from this a friendship. I think he is doing a fantastic job, he’s been at this club more than me,” Ancelotti said, via quotes by the Liverpool Echo.

“I found the club really well organised. I found a really important scouting department. So, I think it will be important for him to continue and to find a deal with the club.”

Moshiri risks making a grave error by not retaining Brands, and must swiftly sanction a new contract for the Dutchman and set the club up to succeed in the summer transfer window.

AND in other news, Everton have been dealt a huge blow in their pursuit of a £13.5m beast…