All posts by z3u9t.icu

Lots of Glasgow Rangers fans have been left buzzing over some news from the club’s youth ranks.

As shared by the official Twitter page of Rangers B & Academy, the B team defeated Berwick Rangers 6-1 away from home with six different scorers in what was described as a ‘great performance’ with ‘brilliant team play’.

Robbie Fraser, Leon King, Alex Lowry, Ross McCausland, Kyle McClelland and Tony Weston all managed to get themselves on the scoresheet as Rangers B followed up their 3-0 win at home to Hammarby on Tuesday night.

The young Bears are in a very good place at this moment in time, and some of their performances should certainly catch the eye of Steven Gerrard, who may now think about giving one or two of them a chance in the first team.

Rangers fans on B-team’s result

These Ibrox supporters were delighted as the result was shared on Twitter, with one Gers fan saying that it was ‘excellent’ from the youngsters:

“Brilliant result”

Credit: @Tracey49876558

“FT: Berwick Rangers – 1 Rangers B – 6. Great win lads”

Credit: @BobSteele55

“Fantastic result”

Credit: @Papa_291

“What a future for a club if handled correctly”

Credit: @RFCGW

“Excellent again by the youngsters”

Credit: @4ladshadadream

“Nice one young Gers”

Credit: @Rabg1872

In other news, some fans criticised this first-teamer’s performance against Hibernian

Everton manager Rafa Benitez could secure a transfer masterclass after being linked with a move for Brentford defender Pontus Jansson in the January transfer window.

What’s the story?

According to The Guardian, the Toffees are one of three Premier League clubs eyeing up a potential swoop for the 30-year-old, with Newcastle United and Leicester City also listed as potential suitors.

With Jansson’s current contract at the Brentford Community Stadium set to expire at the end of the current campaign, an imminent exit could be on the cards as several sides look to secure a cut-price deal.

The report states that: “Pontus Jansson is wanted by Leicester, Newcastle and Everton in January after they were alerted to the Brentford captain’s contract situation.”

Transfer masterclass

Everton’s defence has been extremely porous in the opening 16 games of the top-flight campaign, heavily contributing to their recent run of poor form.

Benitez’s charges have conceded 28 goals so far, the fourth-highest amount in the Premier League, and seven more than relegation-threatened Burnley, highlighting their extensive troubles at the back.

And things could get worse for the Merseyside outfit over the coming months.

Reports have suggested key centre-back Yerry Mina could depart the club during the winter as he seeks pastures new, leaving Everton desperately short of quality at the back, and Benitez will be in desperate need of reinforcements if his proposed exit is confirmed.

With the Merseyside outfit also having to tighten their budget significantly in order to comply with Financial Fair Play restrictions, securing Jansson’s signature for a bargain price would be a masterstroke by the Spanish tactician.

Since arriving in west London back in July 2019, the £4.5m-rated beast has been a key figure in Brentford’s defence, and manager Thomas Frank made no effort to hide his excitement following his arrival.

“Pontus is a top defender who brings immense professionalism, a great attitude, experience, defensive robustness, leadership qualities, and threat from set-pieces to our side,” said Frank upon his unveiling.

“Everyone knows about the Brentford model but to develop the young players we have here, we also need experience and quality in the squad to get the perfect balance.

“To have someone with his CV turn down other offers to join us shows where we stand as a club now.”

After playing a key role in the Bees’ promotion from the Championship last term, Jansson has showcased his quality on the Premier League stage on a consistent basis throughout 2021/22.

The 6 foot 4 colossus has started all 16 of the capital club’s league encounters, averaging 1.4 interceptions, a whopping 4.8 clearances and 0.4 blocks while winning 2.8 aerial duels, as per WhoScored.

Those figures place Jansson in the top three for each metric when compared to his teammates, and illustrate how the Swede could be an extremely astute purchase for Benitez and Everton.

With Mina departing, they will need someone with height and power to add to their ranks and fortunately, those are two attributes the Brentford giant has in abundance.

And, in other news…More misery: Everton could be set for a big blow in January, Rafa would be devastated – opinion

West Bromwich Albion legend Ally Robertson has called for the club to prioritise attacking reinforcements during the summer transfer window. 

The lowdown: Blunt Baggies

Under the stewardship of Valerien Ismael and more recently Steve Bruce, the Baggies have struggled to score freely throughout the course of the 2021/22 campaign.

Currently sat in 12th in the Championship standings, eight points adrift of the play-off places, West Brom have scored 45 goals in 41 matches so far – less than every club above them in the table aside from Milwall.

Robertson believes that the departure of creative midfielder Matheus Pereira to Al Hilal has been the biggest factor in the decline of attacking flair at the Hawthorns…

The latest: Pereira 2.0 needed

Writing his column for the Express & Star, the 69-year-old suggested that the disastrous defeat to Stoke City revealed where Bruce must strengthen at the end of the season.

“They were compact and organised and difficult to break down. But we didn’t have anyone who could make something happen. We didn’t have anyone who could change the game.

“And the truth is we haven’t had that player ever since Matheus Pereira left. Adding more flair to the squad is absolutely imperative this summer. I think we need more creativity in central midfield and also in the forward positions. We need players who are better on the ball and who make better runs.”The verdict: Spot onThere is a genuine dearth of creativity in the West Brom ranks at present, with the likes of Grady Diangana, Adam Reach and Matt Phillips all struggling to fill the void left behind by Pereira.The Brazilian creator finished the 2020/21 Premier League season with 17 direct goal contributions from 33 outings, whilst summer signing Diangana currently has just two goals and one assist from 37 second-tier appearances.

With striking firepower such as Andy Carroll, Daryl Dike, Karlan Grant and Callum Robinson all in situ in the Midlands, getting the right players in behind could see the Baggies become a much improved attacking force next term.

In other news, pundit discusses future of West Brom star. Read more here

Many Everton fans have been left fuming over some transfer news that has emerged on Lucas Digne.

As per Goal, the Goodison Park faithful are now offering the France international to various teams ahead of the January transfer window, with Chelsea thought to be one of those clubs interested in his signature.

They are trying to convince the Merseyside club to loan Digne to them until the end of the season, following the news of Ben Chilwell’s ACL injury.

After a reported row with Rafa Benitez, Digne has now missed the Toffees’ last three matches in the Premier League, and so speculation over his future remains, while Chilwell will be out for the remainder of the season due to surgery required on his knee.

However, given that Digne still remains the Toffees’ only senior left-back in the squad, it would seem silly to loan him out next month, especially without at least a couple of replacements lined up.

Everton fans on Digne transfer news

These Blues fumed as the exit claim was shared on Twitter, with one EFC supporter even going as far as to claim that it was ‘crazy’:

“If that’s true it’s crazy”

Credit: @RyLondon

“WHY?!?!?!?”

Credit: @_luke1878_

“Jesus Christ. Rafa out”

Credit: @Robbdoogan1

“If Everton are open to loaning Digne, France’s left-back, experienced player and always top statistically in his position, we are being more inept and brainless than first thought.”

Credit: @followeverton

“The stupidest idea I’ve ever heard, sick of Rafa now”

Credit: @_luke1878_

“This really would be such an Everton thing to do.. letting Digne go is ridiculous as it is but to let him go out on loan in January is insanity”

Credit: @DeanOverton

In other news, find out who has now been backed to join Everton here!

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United’s pursuit of Aleksandr Golovin from AS Monaco in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

According to Russian outlet MetaRatings, the Magpies are set to join Everton and West Ham in the race to land the 25-year-old’s services this month.

The report claims that the player is keen on a switch to St James’ Park, which could give them an advantage in their efforts to bring him in during the January window.

Cabaye 2.0

Eddie Howe must secure Golovin’s services, as he could find Yohan Cabaye 2.0 for Newcastle with a deal for the playmaker this month. The 25-year-old is a midfielder who can have a telling impact on games with his ability to make things happen in the final third.

The Russia international has enjoyed a strong spell in Ligue 1 and proven his quality at the top level in recent years. Since joining Monaco in 2018, he has produced 13 goals and 18 assists from a midfield position in the French league, with Golovin capable of playing in a number of roles across the middle of the park.

Last season, he managed five goals and nine assists in 21 Ligue 1 appearances (12 starts), averaging a goal contribution every 1.5 games. He averaged 1.7 key passes per match as he showed off his creative quality from midfield, regularly providing his team-mates with chances to score.

Niko Kovac, his former manager at Monaco, previously heaped praise on the talented Russian, saying: “Golovin is a fantastic player. For his first start since August, he’s scored three goals. He’s a world-class player. He delivers delicious passes. I know the quality of his passing. That’s why I asked him to take the free-kick that led to the third goal.”

In 93 games for Newcastle, Cabaye managed 18 goals and 14 assists for the Magpies, which shows that – like Golovin is for Monaco – the Frenchman was a midfielder who could score and create goals in the Premier League. He was also known to score some sublime free kicks from time to time, and Golovin has shown that he too can be a threat from a dead ball situation.

Therefore, the 25-year-old could be a terrific signing for Newcastle, as he has shades of Cabaye to his game and could be Howe’s midfield maestro for years to come, which is why the Magpies boss must try to get a deal over the line for him in the coming weeks.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano drops exciting Newcastle transfer update, fans will be buzzing…

Southampton’s transformation under Ralph Hasenhuttl has seen a clear shift towards a high-press philosophy with Shane Long and Nathan Redmond preferred to press from the front, leaving Charlie Austin surplus to requirements and edging towards the January exit door. 

There was a point when Austin was regarded as the club’s most potent goal scoring threat, but Hasenhuttl seemingly prefers the presence of a quick and diligent centre-forward rather than a natural goal scorer.

The arrival of Danny Ings in the summer had already placed Austin’s place in the team under serious threat, and developments in recent weeks suggest he would be wise to leave before the deadline passes on Thursday.

But Austin’s exit may not leave Hasenhuttl short of an extra option in attack, as Sky Sports journalist Pete Hall has suggested Southampton are hoping to sign Birmingham City’s Che Adams this week.

Recent reports have linked the Saints with a move for Adams and Hall’s comments while speaking on Sky Sports’ Transfer Talk podcast added a further weight of legitimacy to those reports.

“Southampton are in talks with Birmingham’s Che Adams, who’s scored 14 goals this season, a number of Premier League clubs are interested, so they’re lining up a replacement.

“It certainly makes sense for Austin to go and, while his stock is still high, there are clubs who could do with a striker like Charlie Austin.”

Birmingham signed Adams from Sheffield United for a measly fee of just £2 million in 2016 and he has blossomed into a fine goal scoring talent in the Championship ever since.

Now 22-years-old, Adams has already bagged 15 times and provided three assists in the Championship this season from 29 appearances.

With his prolific record in mind and his scope for potential at just 22, it is absolutely no surprise that Southampton are in talks over a potential deal.

It’s unlikely that Birmingham will be anything other than incredibly reluctant to let him leave midway through the season, especially while they sit just six points behind Derby in the final playoff position.

But if Southampton are able to pull off a deal which would allow them to replace Austin with Adams it would represent another fantastic progressive step forward under Hasenhuttl,

Southampton fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

Sky Sports journalist Pete Graves has relayed news that Newcastle United are eyeing up Luis Campos as the club’s new sporting director.

What’s the story?

Writing on Twitter, he said: “My colleague @gary_cotterill tells me on @SkySportsNews that world renowned Sporting Director Luis Campos would be interested in a role at #nufc and that he expects him to be under consideration by the clubs new owners. Campos helped Lille and Monaco beat PSG to the French title.”

Could be game-changing for Newcastle

While PIF may be the wealthiest owners in the business, that shouldn’t just mean throwing big money at new players for the sake of it.

Bringing someone like Campos into the fold would give Newcastle the kind of respected presence behind-the-scenes who has proven in his time around Europe that he is among the best around when it comes to talent spotting.

For those who aren’t aware of the kind of genius that the Portuguese man possesses, then look no further than his work at AS Monaco and Lille.

The likes of Fabinho, Bernardo Silva, Anthony Martial, Nicolas Pepe and Victor Osimhen all arrived under his watch, with everyone barring the latter leaving for the Premier League for big sums of money.

The 57-year-old has clearly got a nose for identifying talent before they’ve really established themselves on the world scene, and getting that extra edge in the transfer market could be crucial to Newcastle in these early years of PIF’s revolution.

Campos has got the pedigree and profile to be a real game-changing appointment for the Magpies, and ensure they sign the best up-and-coming players around.

Newcastle fans will surely be excited about their links to Campos.

Meanwhile, George Caulkin has dropped a Newcastle manager update…

Some Wolves supporters are in confident spirits after Wanderers were drawn at home to Sheffield United in the third round of the FA Cup.

It has been a largely positive start to the season for Bruno Lage’s men, who sit eighth in the Premier League with 15 matches played.

There is still plenty of work to be done if Wolves have genuine hopes of securing a European finish but the positives outweigh the negatives currently.

Away from the Premier League, there is always the chance of silverware in the FA Cup, as Wanderers look to lift the trophy for the first time since way back in 1960.

On Monday evening, Wolves were pitted against the Blades in the third round draw, with the tie taking place at Molineux early next month.

United are currently 10th in the Championship so all things point towards Lage’s team making it into the fourth round.

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Wolves fans happy with FA Cup draw

These Wolves fans reacted positively to the draw on Twitter, after it was confirmed on the club’s official channels.

“Come on boys!”

Credit: @XXXTANNERTACION

“Decent”

Credit: @wwfcglover

“Happy with that tbh”

Credit: @eve_elizabethxx

“The Morgan Gibbs-White derby”

Credit: @krittterrr

“I’m happy we got a home tie, but I was hoping for Kidderminster!”

Credit: @AdeTWG

“I’ll take that tbf. Would love to see us take the competition seriously though and have another decent cup run/give it a good go at least”

Credit: @WwfcAj_

In other news, Tim Spiers has made a big Wolves claim ahead of the January transfer window. Read more here.

Liverpool are plotting a move for Swedish star striker Alexander Isak this summer and he would be a perfect partner to Diogo Jota.

What’s the story?

Manager Jurgen Klopp is said to be willing to break the club’s transfer record in order to land the striker from Real Sociedad for a whopping £77m, according to reports in Spain, via Liverpool.com

The player is highly rated having been linked with a number of moves in recent transfer windows, including Premier League rivals Manchester United and Arsenal.

He could partner Jota perfectly

While Liverpool usually play Jota in the middle of a front three, they have many talents to choose from with Luis Diaz and Roberto Firmino also available.

Isak could also easily slot into that central role and link up with Jota out wide, or Klopp could opt to play a more traditional partnership of just the two of them.

Jota has proven he can excel when working with a strike partner, before he made the move to Anfield the Portuguese striker had an ‘amazing’ partnership at Wolves with Raul Jimenez.

In their final season together they had a combined average of just over three shot-creating actions per 90 minutes played.

Isak is great on the ball and his stats when it comes to goal and shot creation are on par with Jota – both players rank in the 90th percentile in Europe’s top five leagues this season for dribbles that lead to a shot attempt.

On that evidence, it’s clear to see why he’s been described as a “special talent” by ESPN FC.

At only 22-years old he still has a lot of time to develop, and with Jota 25 years of age, they could forge a long-lasting partnership that could naturally succeed the Reds’ pairing of Salah and Mane.

Currently playing his trade in La Liga for Real Sociedad Isak moved to Spain from Borussia Dortmund in 2019 for £13.5m.

However, Liverpool need to be willing to pay much more than that to land him. His contract doesn’t run out until the summer of 2026 so Sociedad have the bargaining power here.

His goal scoring form has been good at all of his clubs and so far he’s scored 41 times in 122 appearances for the Spanish club.

Isak also stands at 6 foot 4 which means he would be a threat in the air as well, something which Liverpool currently lack in their attacking line.

All three of Jota, Mane and Salah are no taller than 5 foot 8 so he’d certainly provide a different but exciting new dimension to the forward areas.

IN other news: Another blow: Liverpool suffer huge injury setback, Klopp surely gutted – opinion…

Wolves midfielder Leander Dendoncker is not expected to leave the club at the end of the season, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Dendoncker continues to shine for Wolves

Dendoncker has been a strong performer at Molineux over a sustained period. The Belgian has made 148 appearances for Wolves, starting 15 Premier League games this season and being hailed as ‘brilliant’ by team-mate Max Kilman.

However, the 26-year-old’s current contract expires at the end of next season, so this summer could be the last opportunity for Wanderers to receive a fee for him unless he signs a new deal.

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The Latest: Journalist discusses Dendoncker’s future

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke has backed the midfielder to stay put at Molineux, admitting that it would be a surprise if Wolves were to entertain letting him leave, despite some reports to the contrary.

The journalist stated: “I’d be surprised if Wolves listen to offers for Dendoncker.”

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The Verdict: Important squad figure

Dendoncker may not be one of the leading cast members in this Wolves side – he is ranked outside their top 10 performers as per WhoScored and has only started half of his team’s league matches so far this term – but he is still an influential figure who is well worth retaining.

He is often a strong foil for more creative midfielders such as Neves and Joao Moutinho, with his 95.8% pass completion rate in the Carabao Cup this season highlighting his ball retention skills.

At 26, Dendoncker is also in and around his peak years, so it would make sense to extend his stay at Wolves eventually before they potential risk losing him on a free transfer in 2023.

In other news, a journalist has hinted at one Wolves player leaving this summer. Find out who it is here.