All posts by n8rngtd.top

Having recently waved an emotional goodbye to club legends Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery, Bayern Munich are in the market for a new winger and Manchester City’s Leroy Sane has emerged as a surprise target.

Reports from German news outlet Bild suggest that Bayern president Uli Hoeness is incredibly keen on bringing the lightning-quick forward back to the Bundesliga, where he departed in 2016.

The report goes on to confirm a few details we are already aware of, including the fact that Pep Guardiola, former boss at the interested club, has given the go-ahead for a Sane exit, with the winger surprisingly no longer a preferred choice in the starting line-up – despite claiming 10 Premier League goals and 11 Premier League assists this term.

Despite contract negations between City and Sane hitting a dead-end, it is expected that the Sky Blues will slap a mammoth €100mÂprice-tag on him this summer, which could be a major sticking point as Hoeness has recently stated that Bayern would not be willing to drop more than €80million on any player this summer: “We’re not playing Monopoly here. We’re a soccer club. We have reached a limit with €80 million, and I don’t think that we’ll exceed it in further transfers.â€

A fact Duncan Castles has confirmed on Twitter…

However, we don’t believe for one minute that the Bavarian giants, ranked as one of the wealthiest clubs in world football, would be prepared to bow out of the chase that easily, especially with the market heading in the ludicrous direction that it is. Give it a few more years and a Sane deal worth 100m will seem like pennies.

With that being said, to lose Sane at this stage in his development, when there is evidentlyÂso much more to come from him – which is quite frankly frightening – would be a travesty of the highest order. This lad is going to be one of the best, we all know it. Heck, Pep Guardiola probably even knows it.

We’d argue that Manchester City, for all their current depth, scouting expertise and a seemingly endless pot of money will still almost certainly struggle to identify and sign a player of the German’s stature and ability for a considerable amount time; all while watching their disregarded star turn into a world beater. Sad times.

Manchester City fans, how sad would you be to see Sane go? Is this a demonstration of just how strong your current squad is or is it a case of negligence on Guardiola’s part to let Sane slip? Join the discussion by commenting below…

[ad_pod ]

Daniel James has all but agreed his big transfer from Swansea to Manchester United, Sky Sports understands, as personal terms have already been dealt with.

The young winger is set to follow the footsteps of many more before him and is bound to become another player on the Swans’ departure list for a reported fee of £15m.

The story behind the talk

Sky Sports believe the deal is yet to be fully concluded but it is definitely close. James was Leeds bound in January but that transfer broke down on deadline day.

The 21-year-old forward seems to be keen to leave Swansea behind as his contract comes towards its end with one year left to go. Seeing how that’s the case, the Red Devils will get a discount as the sellers risk losing a big asset for free if they don’t act now.

The same source also claims that a number of other suitors are following the situation closely so the outcome is still pretty much in the air.

Demons of the past

While the general opinion is very much Manchester United oriented and in praise of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s bold and ambitious move, it’s still an easy trap for Swansea and James to fall into.

Sure, the big money move to a Premier League giant is a clear dream for any Championship players but it also isn’t necessarily the right one by default. James doesn’t have to look far back to find clear proof of this being the case as the peculiar case of their ex-star Wilfried Bony.

The Ivorian national was quite a big thing for the Swans but a change of scenery as big as a move to Manchester City pretty much put his development and a bright future on hold. Fast forward a season later and he’s out of the team and cutting through loan deals like a hot knife through butter.

A big transfer can break a career just as easily as it can make one and choosing the right time, as well as the right destination, is key here. Swansea might very well be a selling club and one showing a clear lack of ambition at the moment, but they should also be an option James shouldn’t discard so quickly for the sake of his own development.

Newcastle fans have had it tough for a lot of the season and it looks like yet again they could be set to suffer in a transfer window. Rafa Benitez isn’t tied down to a new deal yet and Mike Ashley is walking a fine line. Assuming Benitez stays, though, business should go ahead as usual, and one man who would be a star at St James Park is Mario Fernandes.

According to The Mirror, the Geordies could be set to make a move for one man that you may not have heard of, and even if you have the chances are you won’t know the details on him. Mario Fernandes, CSKA Moscow’s 28-year-old full-back has been both a defensive and offensive force for the Russian side this season, providing ten assists and helping towards 18 clean sheets for the club in all competitions.

As the rumours are circling that the 16-cap international could be on his way to the Premier League, the Geordies have something to get excited about. The 28-year-old has starred in big games this season, and he was one of those to star at the Bernabeu for CSKA in their final Champions League group game when they blew away the holders 3-0 in their own backyard.

That’s what makes the Russian the sort of player that the Magpies are after, and considering that the two right-backs at Newcastle at the moment are DeAndre Yedlin and Javier Manquillo, there is certainly room for improvement there. No Newcastle player could equal or better Fernandes’ return of ten assists this season either, so for every reason can think of, Fernandez would be a great fit at St James Park.

Newcastle fans, do you want to sign Mario Fernandes this summer? Comment below!

After such a dominant season in League One, it is understandable that Luton Town’s stars have attracted some interest heading into the summer.

The likes of James Collins and Jack Stacey are expected to lure in some big offers as the transfer window gets underway, but one name so far has stood above the rest as the market opens for business, defender James Justin.

The Luton fullback has been sensational this season, scoring three and assisting eight as the 21-year-old guided the side to the League One title, and now with the transfer window open, Justin has already been at the centre of interest from Premier League clubs.

Leicester City (per the Daily Mail) are reportedly interested in Justin with the club looking for £5 million for the prized defensive asset, and although Luton will be trying all they can to hold onto their fullback, the youngster’s future could be better off at the Foxes.

Brendan Rodgers’ side are one of the most exciting in the Premier League with a fantastic mix of youth and experience that make Leicester a team to keep an eye out for in the not too distant future, and it is the perfect environment for Justin to improve his game as well as have a genuine shot at first-team football.

Being able to play at both left and right-back makes Justin a valuable commodity to have, and with Ben Chilwell, the subject of interest this summer, the defender could be seen as a replacement to the England international by Leicester, and that is an opportunity the Luton prospect can’t turn down.

At 21, Justin has firmly established himself as a promising player for the future who could easily make it in the Premier League one day, and after such a solid season in League One with the best team in the division, the defender has earned his chance for a step up into the big leagues.

Luton will be doing all they can do convince Justin to stay for another season, but for the defender, a move to the Premier League seems to be a sensible career move for the fullback, who could be playing in the top-flight next season.

Luton fans, what do you think the future holds for Justin this summer? Let us know!

[ad_pod ]

Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Daniel James from Swansea, but one stat has got fans very worried indeed.

The Red Devils have completed their first signing of the summer, the club confirmed on Friday.

James will join in an £18m deal, £15m up front with a possible £3m in further add-ons, reports Sky Sports.

Could Harry Maguire be on his way to Old Trafford? Check out the video below to see why it would make so much sense…

The former Swansea starlet, who was moments away from joining Leeds United in January, scored four times and added seven assists in the Championship last season.

And while those stats aren’t terrible for a 21 year-old winger, they look a lot worse when taken on a per-game basis, so much worse that they look eerily similar to Alexis Sanchez’s stats.

While James tops the Chilean in shots, and by some distance, they average the exact same amount of goals and assists per game.

Sanchez has become the scapegoat amongst United fans, and deservedly so if truth be told, so it’s perhaps no surprise these stats have got people talking.

Just take a look at some of the Twitter reactions down below…

[ad_pod ]

Leeds United are seemingly in the market for a new number 10 with Harry Wilson and Luke Freeman both strongly linked with a move to Elland Road.

The Whites have been looking for a new attacking midfielder as it seems clear that Samu Saiz is on his way out of Elland Road permanently.

With United already linked with a number of different wingers, if they signed Wilson it is likely that he would be seen as a Saiz replacement after showing he can play through the middle on several occasions for Derby last campaign.

Their stats show how brilliant they’ve been in the past 12 months, but they also reveal which player United should prioritise signing.

The first thing that stands out is the discrepancy between the number of goals each player put away. Wilson heavily outscored Freeman last year, netting nine goals more than the QPR man.

His assist tally makes up for that though as he created more than the Welshman. The number of assists the 27-year-old crafted would have been higher had it not been for some poor finishing from his teammates, as he made two key passes per game.

Compare this to the 22-year-old who was playing alongside the likes of Jack Marriott and Martyn Waghorn, and you can see why the assist tally is so close despite there being a gap in the number of key passes each player makes.

The number of times each player was dispossessed is also telling. Wilson is seemingly the stronger dribbler and the smarter passer out of the pair as he was dispossessed only 0.7 times per game compared to his counterpart’s 2.7.

It’s clear that the pair are two of the most supremely talented players in the division, but for Leeds the Liverpool man is just a better fit.

The stats clearly show that Freeman is more of a playmaker while the Wales international is more of a goalscoring threat.

Creating chances hasn’t been a problem for Leeds but finishing them has, so if Marcelo Bielsa’s side were to sign one of these players then it would be the former Derby man who would solve more of the issues the Argentine’s team have been susceptible to.

[ad_pod ]

Former Celtic player and manager Davie Hay is encouraged by the reported transfer activity at the club this summer, as reported by The Evening Times.

What’s he said?

Despite winning another treble of trophies last season, Celtic do need to recruit well this summer to freshen up their squad and maintain the success they’ve enjoyed over the last few years.

The Daily Record claimed on Thursday that the Hoops have opened negotiations with French club Toulouse about a potential transfer for central defender Christopher Jullien, with the deal potentially as expensive as £10m.

Obviously that would be a significant outlay for a team in Scotland, but one that would significantly strengthen Neil Lennon’s squad.

Hay reckons it’s a sign that the Hoops could be set for a big summer after disappointing so many supporters during last year’s window.

How does Neil Lennon turn his doubters into believers? The answer lies in the video below…

As quoted by The Evening Times, he said:

“They certainly don’t seem to be hanging about this time, and want to let it be known to the fanbase that they mean business.

“As well as the David Turnbull bid, the interest in Christopher Jullien is intriguing. He certainly has the physical presence, and the French market is one that Celtic have exploited well in the past.
“Talk of a potential bid of £10m coming from Celtic, which would break the transfer record for the second summer in a row, is a reflection on how important this season is with nine-in-a-row up for grabs, as well as the fact that they want to back the new manager.
“The team definitely needs freshened up a bit, and they recognise that.”

Can Celtic fans expect big business to be done?

It remains to be seen whether the club will be going out and spending £10m on players in their prime, such as Jullien. It’s really something without precedent at the club and there is still an element of the silly season transfer rumour about that potential deal in particular.

Hay is right though, it does seem as if the club are ready to make the improvements they need over the next few months.

With a number of high profile players like Dedryck Boyata and Emilio Izaguirre being shed from the wage bill, as well as last year’s exits of Moussa Dembele and Stuart Armstrong, there’s certainly room for a bit of quality.

Next season is such an important and potentially historic one, so you’d have to think that the club won’t let it all slip through their fingers because of a lack of investment.

[ad_pod ]

It’s been a long season for Derby County and even though the last step was not as successful as they would’ve liked, Frank Lampard can be happy with what he has achieved there.

Jayden Bogle was a big part of it, playing a total of 40 games throughout the campaign, even scoring twice and assisting nine goals in the process.

Now, however, Bogle is enjoying his long-awaited holiday at the seaside and his latest Instagram snap has him riding a jet ski, which was, of course, soon enough noticed by some of his fellow rivals and friends.

Max Aarons and Ben Godfrey, both Norwich players and Bogle’s direct rivals, were first to commend the 18-year-old for a rather cool snap and both were there to show support with a series of emojis directed at Derby’s star.

Bogle will be looking to replicate and even improve on the results of last year and if Lampard does end up staying, which is definitely uncertain at the moment, they can always dream of a potential step up.

[ad_pod ]

Per a report from Mundo Deportivo, West Brom are showing an interest in Spanish midfielder Jordi Quintilla.

What’s the word?

After losing James Morrison and Gareth Barry this summer following their releases, West Brom will need to be in the market for more central midfielders.

The fact they could also lose Rekeem Harper who is yet to agree a new contract only makes the need even greater.

Vincent Thill and Tolgay Arslan have reportedly been lined up as midfield targets but another central player they have an interest in is Quintilla.

Mundo Deportivo claim that the St Gallen man is wanted by both West Brom and Stuttgart.

Previously a product of Barcelona’s heralded La Masia academy that’s produced the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Iniesta, he’s had further spells in America and Switzerland.

Watch West Bromwich Albion Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Barry replacement on the cards?

Barry may only have spent two years at West Brom but Quintilla could represent his long-term replacement if he signs for Albion this summer.

The former England international was a fine deep-lying playmaker back in his prime and shone for Manchester City in that role, helping them to win a Premier League title in 2012. The Baggies’ Spanish target is a very similar player.

Standing at 6 ft 1, Quintilla is the same height as the former Albion man and has comparable traits, boasting the ability to dictate the play from deep and play in a holding role and slightly further forward too.

Last season, the 25-year-old played 34 matches as a defensive midfielder but wasn’t afraid to carry the ball forward, showing his creative nous as well as his defensive capabilities.

In the Swiss Super League last term, he scored twice and also claimed three assists.

Watch fans explain why the Football League is better than the Premier League in the video below…

There is another comparison to be made in the feet that they use too. Both the 38-year-old and the ex-Barcelona man are left-footed, although one of Quintilla’s downfalls is his inability to use his right regularly.

The fact he claimed ten yellow cards in the league throughout 2018/19 shows he isn’t afraid to get stuck into a challenge, whilst his five goal contributions demonstrate he’s also capable in the final third.

[ad_pod ]

Leeds United fans on Twitter are much happier after Phil Hay confirmed that the club would be receiving an initial fee of around £10m for Jack Clarke.

It was previously thought that the initial sum that the Whites would receive for the 18-year-old would be £8.5m. This first report from The Sun caused uproar amongst the fanbase.

The Whites still aren’t getting close to the £20m they wanted earlier this summer, but supporters are pleased that it is still a higher fee than what was originally reported.

It’s hard to argue that getting £10m for a player who has started just four games in his entire career isn’t a good bit of business.

Of course, the teenager has potential, but there is always the risk that he won’t reach the heights that are expected of him.

With United apparently working on a sell before they buy policy, this deal may allow the Yorkshire side to begin bringing in new faces.

Here’s what the Elland Road faithful have been saying on Twitter…