All posts by z3u9t.icu

Newcastle United have now reportedly set their sights on signing a Ligue midfielder if they fail in their pursuit to welcome young star Kees Smit in 2026.

Newcastle set to make Kees Smit move

It’s a fairly open secret that Newcastle are after a midfield reinforcement in 2026. The trio of Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali is undoubtedly impressive, but as Joelinton continues to struggle, Eddie Howe could certainly do with some quality in depth to make a change.

Names like Alex Toth have emerged on the Magpies’ radar in recent months as a result, though it seems like Smit remains top of their midfield shortlist.

Reports have even claimed that Newcastle are set to make their move to sign the AZ Alkmaar star, despite competition from the likes of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Such interest could hand those at St James’ Park some fresh Déjà vu after missing out on several big names in the summer. It’s only now that Howe is beginning to get his full squad together following the chaos of the summer window and instant injury to Yoane Wissa.

The Newcastle boss welcomed his forward into the squad for the first time on Saturday, telling reporters: “He’s got a lot more work to do to get to the very best level that he can. We hope to keep him available by managing correctly.

He once cost £38.5m: Newcastle plot concrete move to sign "brilliant" PL star

He desperately needs a move.

ByTom Cunningham 5 days ago

With Wissa back, the Magpies and their manager can turn their full attention towards avoiding a repeat of the summer chaos even if they miss out on Smit.

Newcastle eyeing move to sign Kevin Danois

According to the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, Newcastle have now set their sights on signing Kevin Danois if they fail to sign Smit in 2026. The AJ Auxerre midfielder has emerged as an ideal alternative as the Tyneside club continue to plan ahead.

Compared to Joao Neves and dubbed “intelligent” by Como scout Ben Mattinson, Newcastle would be wise to instantly move for Danois if they miss out on their Smit next year.

The Magpies have seemingly learned from last summer and have identified a cheaper alternative who is yet to attract the same intense interest as their main target. Whether they’re forced to turn towards the Ligue 1 star remains to be seen, however.

Newcastle star was entering Obertan territory, now he's their "best player"

Tottenham Hotspur’s attack in 2025/26 has fallen way below the standards Thomas Frank will have expected, with the Dane previously working with numerous elite-level talents.

During his time as Brentford manager, he oversaw the likes of Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo, with both players managing to register 20+ goal seasons in the Premier League.

At present, the Lilywhites don’t have a player capable of achieving such feats, with Richarlison the current top scorer on five goals from his first 12 appearances.

Investment is no doubt needed during the upcoming transfer windows to provide the manager with the ammunition he will need to take the club to the next level.

With January rapidly approaching on the horizon, the hierarchy have already wasted no time in targeting multiple players who will improve the situation within the final third.

Spurs’ hunt for added attacking signings this January

Over the last couple of weeks, Spurs have been named as just one of the Premier League sides interested in a move to land Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo.

They aren’t alone in their pursuit of the Ghanaian international, with Arsenal and Liverpool just two other clubs interested in a deal for the 25-year-old this winter.

According to TEAMtalk, the Lilywhites are willing to meet the attacker’s current £65m release clause, but it’s unclear if the player himself would be open to a move to North London.

However, he’s not the only attacker currently being lined up by the Spurs hierarchy, with Porto centre-forward Samu Aghehowa another talent the board are closely monitoring.

The Spaniard has already scored 11 times in his 18 appearances across all competitions, subsequently showcasing the impressive goalscoring nature he possesses in the final third.

The same news outlet has also confirmed that the Lilywhites are also willing to fork out a reported £80m for the 21-year-old’s signature, which could see the hierarchy splash £145m on the pair.

Why Spurs’ £102k targets would be Frank’s answer to Son & Kane

Over the last few seasons, the Spurs faithful have been massively blessed with numerous attacking talents, but none more so than Heung-min Son and Harry Kane.

The pair featured together for just shy of a decade in North London, with the duo breaking numerous long-standing records during their time alongside one another.

As a result of their success alongside each other in the Premier League, they combined between one another for a staggering 47 goals in England’s top-flight.

Such a tally is higher than any other partnership in the division’s 33-year history, highlighting the success they achieved when featuring together at the Lilywhites.

However, none of the players remain on the books in North London, with Son moving to LAFC in the recent summer window, whilst Kane joined Bayern Munich a little over two years ago.

Frank will no doubt be wishing he could rely upon such stars in the present day, but he could be about to get his own version, if the hierarchy complete deals for Semenyo and Samu this January.

The former of the duo would likely occupy the left-wing position, but did possess a huge attacking threat, as seen by his tally of nine combined goals and assists in the Premier League this season.

His underlying stats further showcase his talents in attacking areas this campaign, with the Ghanaian completing 1.9 dribbles and creating an average of 1.4 chances per 90.

Out of possession, the Cherries star has been just as impressive, subsequently making 5.3 recoveries and winning possession 0.9 times per 90 in the final third – with both ranking him in the top 15% of attackers in the league.

Games played

11

Goals & assists

9

Take-ons completed

1.9

Chances created

1.4

Progressive passes

3.6

Passes into opposition box

1.6

Shots on target

1.3

Recoveries made

5.3

However, he could form a deadly partnership with Samu in the years to come, with the Spaniard potentially being the beneficiary of Semenyo’s quality in North London.

During his spell in Portugal with Porto, the 21-year-old has already demonstrated his clinical nature, as seen by his remarkable tally of 36 goals in his first 60 outings for the club.

This campaign alone, he’s posted a 64% shot on target accuracy rate, whilst achieving a 0.86 goal per 90 record – ranking him in the top

8% of all strikers in Europe to date.

His tally of 5.9 touches in the opposition box per 90 showcases his picker instincts, which could see him getting on the end of Semenyo’s mazy runs in North London.

The duo, who earn a combined £102k, would cost a reported £145m this January, but such a figure would be superb business for two players of their quality.

Since Kane and Son’s respective departures, the club have been lacking quality in forward areas, with various moves for Semenyo and Samu finally handing Frank the talent he’s craved since taking the reins.

Frank must drop Bentancur to unleash Spurs star who's just "like Modric"

Tottenham Hotspur face PSG looking to claim revenge for the UEFA Super Cup final.

1 ByEthan Lamb Nov 26, 2025

Newcastle United head into the final international break of 2025 two points above the relegation zone in the Premier League after their 3-1 defeat to Brentford on Sunday.

The Magpies took the lead in the match, thanks to a brilliant goal from winger Harvey Barnes, but they were unable to press on and secure all three points.

Brentford went on to score three times after that opener from the English forward, and Eddie Howe will surely be disappointed with the defending that was on display from his players, notably Sven Botman and Dan Burn.

Why Newcastle should drop Sven Botman and Dan Burn

When Newcastle face Manchester City on the other side of the international break, the English head coach should drop both of those players from the starting line-up, although Burn has done the job for him by being sent off.

The makeshift left-back was given a second yellow card for giving away the penalty for Brentford’s second goal, as his lack of pace saw him caught out from a ball over the top, and a swing of the boot at the forward gave the referee little choice.

Burn was not the only underperformer in the defence, though, as Botman was also caught out, albeit via a deflection from Malick Thiaw, for the third goal of the game.

The Dutch centre-back, per Sofascore, lost four of his five aerial duels and did not win a single tackle during his time on the pitch, which was over 100 minutes with added time, which shows that Brentford’s players found it too easy to play against him.

Burn and Botman are not the only players who could lose their place in the starting line-up for the clash with City, as Sandro Tonali also struggled in midfield.

Why Newcastle should drop Sandro Tonali

The Italy international has been in fantastic form for the Magpies in the Premier League this season. He has been an engine in the middle of the park for Howe and has put in some brilliant displays.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Tonali has won 53% of his duels in the Premier League so far this season, per Sofascore, and created 1.3 chances per game for his teammates, but he was a shadow of his usual self in his performance against Brentford.

The former AC Milan midfielder earned a 4/10 player rating from Newcastle World for his display in the middle of the park against the Bees, and he was substituted for Joe Willock in the 77th minute, as part of a quadruple change by the manager.

Tonali was not at his best in the middle of the park and was too easy for the Brentford players to play against, as was the case with Botman, as he lost 75% (3/4) of his duels in the game.

Duels won

2.8

1

Duel success rate

53%

25%

Tackles won

1.1

0

Pass accuracy

86%

83%

Passes completed

43.8

33

Key passes per game

1.3

0

As you can see in the table above, the Italy international was nowhere near his usual standards in midfield for the Magpies, as he failed to make much of an impact in or out of possession.

These statistics show that he did not offer enough quality on the ball as a creative force with his passing, whilst the midfielder was also beaten too easily in physical duels.

Real Madrid prepared to make Tonali move as Newcastle star reveals exit stance

The Italian’s new deal was just announced.

3 ByTom Cunningham Nov 8, 2025

Therefore, Howe could ruthlessly drop the 4/10 flop from the starting line-up when they face Manchester City after the international break, with Burn missing out through suspension and Botman also potentially dropped for his dismal performance.

After months of misery and poor performances, there are now reasons for West Ham United to feel somewhat hopeful.

Yes, it’s still going to be a tough season for the East Londoners, but Nuno Espírito Santo got it spot on against Newcastle United and secured his first win with the club.

Moreover, several standout performers demonstrated they are ready for the fight, such as Freddie Potts.

The academy graduate was incredible and has to be a regular starter from this point onwards, even if that means it’s the end of the line for another West Ham ace.

The West Ham duds who need to be sold

While the win over Newcastle has certainly helped morale around the club, there remain more than a few players West Ham need to shift as soon as possible.

Fortunately, it appears that at least one of them is set to leave, with reports emerging that Niclas Füllkrug has his heart set on returning to Germany in January.

The former Borussia Dortmund striker has been a complete flop in East London, having scored just three goals and provided two assists in 27 appearances.

Appearances

20

7

Minutes

877′

385′

Goals

3

0

Assists

2

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.25

0.00

Minutes per Goal Involvement

175.4′

N/A

Someone who at least had a reasonably decent first season with the club, but needs to be sold nonetheless, is James Ward-Prowse.

The former Southampton captain was a constant problem in the middle of the park while Graham Potter was in the dugout, as he lacked the physicality and pace for the defensive side of the game and became increasingly ineffective going forward.

Moreover, with Nuno now freezing him out of the squad, selling him in January would be best for his own career.

Finally, although it may seem a bit early, it is likely in the club’s best interest to sell Mads Hermanssen before his value declines further.

The Danish shot-stopper might have looked good at Leicester City, but was woeful at the start of the season and miles off the level Alphons Areola is at today.

With all that said, there is one more player who might have been able to stay at West Ham were it not for Potts’ impressive display against Newcastle.

The West Ham ace whose time is up

While there were excellent performances across the pitch on Saturday, it would be fair to say Potts was one of the best players for West Ham.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The academy gem played with his heart on his sleeve, adding some real dynamism and power to the midfield, but at the same time, showed some real technical quality.

It was the sort of display that should see him start every game for the foreseeable future.

However, if he is to do that, and the likes of Mateus Fernandes and Lucas Paqueta are to play a major role this year, while Soungoutou Magassa is on the bench, the club need to trim their midfield options.

This, unfortunatly for him, leads to Andy Irving.

Unlike his teammates, the once-capped Scotsman doesn’t really bring any standout qualities to the team.He is not an overly technical player, and as fans have seen over the last few weeks, he is not nearly physical enough for the Premier League.

In fact, he started in the loss to Brentford last month, and in the aftermath, Jamie Carragher described the Hammers as “one of the slowest teams I’ve seen in Premier League history!”

Then, against Leeds when he was once again tasked with running the midfield, journalist Jordan Rushworth described him as a “National League standard” midfielder, adding that he “gets walked past every time an opposition midfielder has the ball.”

Ultimately, while that might be a step too far, it has become increasingly clear that Irving is not at the level to play for West Ham.

Therefore, with Potts now unignorable, the club should look to sell the Scotsman as soon as possible.

Tottenham receive response after contact to sign West Ham's Jarrod Bowen

Spurs are looking to raid their London rivals for another forward, having signed Mohammed Kudus in the summer.

ByDominic Lund Nov 4, 2025

David Moyes’ blistering start back to life in the Everton dug-out feels like a very long time ago now.

Indeed, the Scotsman was just the antidote the Toffees needed after the wheels came off Sean Dyche’s miserable reign, with just two defeats picked up from his opening ten games back in charge of the Premier League titans last season, steering them comfortably away from relegation.

The Merseyside outfit is still six points clear of that dreaded relegation zone in the here and now, but there are concerns in the air at the Toffees all the same, with Everton only coming out on top with a win in the league once across their last five matches.

A 3-0 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday would have only added to those worries, as former Everton hero Richarlison stood out for Thomas Frank’s away side.

Richarlison's potential Everton return

Richarlison has often found his time at Tottenham Hotspur to be fraught with bumps, but he would put the game beyond all doubt on Sunday evening when heading into the path of Pape Matar Sarr to make it 3-0.

The passionate Brazilian only has 23 goals next to his name for Spurs from 104 total appearances, but recent reports – as perTEAMTalk – suggest that the North Londoners are willing to cash in on their one-time £60m buy in January, and that Everton are circling.

It would well be a masterstroke of a return as the Toffees attempt to feel comfortable about their striker options again.

CF

77

23 + 6

LW

51

24 + 8

RW

22

6 + 1

While Richarlison might be remembered most fondly by those on Merseyside for his gung-ho performances down either wing, it feels unlikely that the South American – despite his previous heroics at the club – would be able to displace the likes of Jack Grealish on his favoured left channel at the moment.

Consequently, he stands his best chance at making waves on his return as an out-and-out centre-forward, when assessing Richarlison’s previous goal tally as a striker at Everton, with 23 goals picked up from 77 outings, leading to one of his ex-managers at Goodison Park in Carlo Ancelotti, hailing him as a “fantastic” finisher of chances.

Despite murmurs that Spurs want to offload their hot-and-cold number nine in the coming months, he is also able to boast a healthy haul of three goals and two assists next to his name from nine clashes this season.

Bringing back such a former beloved figure could signal the end for Beto in Everton blue, with the Lisbon-born striker struggling once again to get going yesterday evening, to the dismay of his impatient fanbase.

Why Beto is on borrowed time at Everton

You would think a striker in Moyes’ current set-up would be licking their lips at the prospect of how many goals they could put away, with the likes of Iliman Ndiaye and the aforementioned Grealish tricky customers intent on putting chances on a plate for the chosen marksman leading the line.

Unfortunately for Moyes and Co. though, Beto often fluffs his lines when a golden opportunity comes his way, with the former Udinese striker desperately unlucky not to find the back of the net on Sunday evening, when an acrobatic effort in the second half – with the scoreline still standing at 2-0 – was somehow clawed away by an alert Guglielmo Vicario.

That’s about as good as it gets for the under-fire 27-year-old, however, with his minimal 14 touches of the ball meaning he often cut an isolated figure at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, so much so that Jordan Pickford even managed to accumulate more touches himself, having tallied up 36 in total.

With just one goal next to his name in the Premier League this season, it isn’t a great shock to read all the widespread backlash he is receiving for his recent dismal displays, with Everton-based podcaster Paul Brown stating at full-time that the goal-shy number nine is “hopeless”.

Moreover, another Toffees podcaster in the form of Steven Kelly also stated that the ongoing striker situation is “killing” Moyes’ side at the moment.

It really does look like Beto is on borrowed time on Merseyside, therefore, with his precarious position in the starting XI becoming ever more shaky if the passionate South American potentially returns to the blue half of Liverpool shortly.

Alongside Beto: Moyes must drop 4/10 Everton star who lost possession 19x

Everton were humbled on their own patch as Tottenham Hotspur ran out convincing 3-0 winners.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 27, 2025