All posts by z3u9t.icu

A recent report has brought to light a fresh twist regarding the Fulham management situation.

It has been revealed that the recently relegated side will move for Steve Cooper if Scott Parker leaves Craven Cottage this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Sun, who claim that, should Parker go on to leave the Cottagers in favour of a move to Bournemouth, Shahid and Tony Khan’s number one target to replace the outgoing 40-year-old will be the Swansea City manager.

It is reported that Cooper and his coaching staff, including the 41-year-old’s highly-rated right-hand man Mike Marsh, would cost Fulham £3.5m in compensation, something which the club will be happy to pay as they could fund it with the money they would likely receive from Parker’s potential departure.

Fans should be buzzing

With Cooper having gained a reputation for developing young players and playing attractive football during his time at Swansea, should Parker indeed be moving on to pastures new this summer, the news that Fulham will be targeting the U17 World Cup-winning coach as the 40-year-old’s successor should have fans of the club buzzing.

Indeed, having taken over from Graham Potter’s Swansea side that had finished the previous Championship season in 10th place back in 2019, Cooper has since guided the Welsh side to back to back top-six finishes in the second tier, rather unfortunately meeting Brentford twice in the play-offs and losing on both occasions.

However, Swansea’s league finishes are very clear evidence that the club have made a great deal of progress under the 41-year-old, something that Gareth Ainsworth clearly agrees with, as the Wycombe Wanderers manager praised the job Cooper has done in making the Swans a “fantastic” side, while Andre Ayew also dubbed the Welshman a “quality” coach.

As such, with the background of turning a mid-table Championship side into one that is now a consistent promotion contender, should the Swansea coach inherit a side with a great deal of Premier League experience, as well as likely having a considerably bigger transfer budget to work with, the appointment of Cooper would certainly appear to bode very well for the Cottagers’ chances of going on to secure an immediate return to the Premier League next season.

If Parker is to leave, then Cooper is the ideal candidate to replace him and Fulham fans should be delighted that Shahid and Tony Khan seemingly agree.

In other news: Get it done: Khan must sanction Fulham summer swoop for “explosive” 15 G/A bargain

An exciting claim has emerged on Arsenal’s pursuit of Ben White this week…

What’s the word?

According to Goal.com reporter Charles Watts, the Gunners’ interest in the Brighton and Hove Albion centre-back is very much genuine, as he recently revealed during a fan Q&A session on his YouTube channel.

He said:

“Arsenal are certainly very interested in Ben White, they’re very serious when it comes to trying to sign him.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if they get it over the line but they’ve got to meet Brighton’s demands, and Brighton are in a very strong position when it comes to selling Ben White. He’s got a long-term contract, he’s young, he’s an England International, they’re not going to let him go on the cheap.

“So if Arsenal really want to get this done, then they’re going to have to come to some sort of compromise or just pay the asking price.”

Exciting news

Arsenal were first linked to the 23-year-old England international a week ago, when The Athletic’s David Ornstein claimed the North London outfit had a £40m bid knocked back by the Seagulls.

But the fact that the club is actively pursuing the centre-back is hugely encouraging and should delight much of the Emirates faithful, who are very eager to see him make the move from the south coast.

Understandably so, too.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has lost the services of David Luiz this off-season, so there’s certainly a position that needs filling and White is a strong candidate after an impressive breakthrough campaign in the Premier League.

He is able to slot in anywhere along the backline and even in defensive midfield due to his astute composure on the ball, something which has seen him rated as the second-best ball-playing defender under Graham Potter, having averaged a passing accuracy of 83.2% throughout the 2020/21 season.

Furthermore, averages of 1.4 tackles, 1.7 interceptions and 1.4 aerial duels won per game, via WhoScored, prove that he’s not just an orchestrator at the back but rather an all-round beast.

It’s no wonder he’s been lauded as a “warrior” and a “special talent” and of course, it makes it clear to see why so many, including Arteta, wants him at the club.

Arsenal only have to stump up another £10m to land him, so it could only be a matter of time before the Gunners cave into the demands, especially with several Premier League rivals also keen on him.

To add further encouragement over a potential deal, football.london have claimed that the North London giants remain in talks with Brighton as they ‘close in on him.’

This all will come as very pleasing news to those in N7.

AND in other news, Imagine him and Saka: Arsenal can strike gold in bargain swoop for “remarkable” beast…

A major update has emerged in Manchester City’s pursuit of Reece James this summer…

What’s the talk?

According to talkSPORT, Chelsea have told City that they are not open to cashing in on Reece James this summer, amid interest from Pep Guardiola in the defender.

The Blues are not willing to sell the one-time Wigan loanee and believe that he will be key to their first-team plans for many years to come.

This comes after a report from The Athletic earlier this week claiming that the Citizens had identified him as a potential target to improve the squad, with the former Barcelona head coach said to be a huge fan of his quality.

Fans will be gutted

City fans will be gutted by this news as it seemingly rules out any chance of the club being able to sign James from their Premier League rivals.

Thomas Tuchel’s side are adamant that they want to keep the right-back at Stamford Bridge, which suggests that no amount of money from City will allow them to snap him up over the course of the transfer window.

Therefore, the club has been dealt with a major blow and they will now need to look elsewhere for defensive reinforcements.

Supporters should also be frustrated as the England international could have been an excellent addition to the squad ahead of next season. James is a fantastic young talent, as emphasised by his former boss at Chelsea Frank Lampard’s effusive praise of him last year.

Lampard told BT Sport:

“So I’ve always been a big fan of his natural talent. There are things he’ll want to improve on his game and that I think he can improve on his game.

“So with his great natural talent that he’s got, his great physical attributes and the things we can work on, he’s going to be a fantastic player for this club for a long, long time.”

The £58k-per-week beast was exceptional for club and country during the 2020/21 campaign. He averaged a sublime WhoScored rating of 7.26 in 16 starts as a right-back and a score of 7.16 in 15 starts at right wing-back for Chelsea and England.

James also excelled in the Champions League final, in which Tuchel’s man overcame City to win the competition for the second time.

He ranked as the Blues’ best defender (7.3), as per SofaScore ratings, and did a number in keeping Raheem Sterling quiet as he registered seven tackles and five clearances as well as winning ten ground duels.

This illustrates the talent he possesses and shows why Lampard was keen to laud him whilst he was in charge at the Bridge. It is also why Txiki Begiristain may be eyeing up a swoop for the defender, as it suggests that he could be a top-class signing and elevate the standard of their fullback options.

Kyle Walker averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.84 in 37 starts at right-back for City and England.

This suggests that the £36m-rated James could be an upgrade on the former Tottenham man, which is another reason why fans will be disappointed with this news as that improvement to the team is now unlikely to happen any time soon.

AND in other news, Forget Kane: Txiki must seal deal for £54m-rated “game changer”, Pep would love him…

Crystal Palace have been linked with a move for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Thomas Delaney in recent days.

And, as to be expected, a number of Palace fans have been reacting to the transfer rumour on social media.

According to Sky Germany, relayed by TEAMtalk, Palace, Norwich City and Southampton are all keen on the 29-year-old this summer.

Delaney is currently with Denmark at the European Championships and has featured in all four games in the country’s run to the quarter-finals.

He’s valued at £13.5m by Transfermarkt and has just 12 months remaining on his Dortmund deal, and it seems as if the Eagles are one of a number of clubs interested in the central midfielder.

Palace had been in talks with former Dortmund boss Lucien Favre, only for a proposed deal to fall through, and it remains to be seen if the Palace links are as a result of the club’s discussions with Favre.

Palace fans react

@CPFCtransfersHQ shared the links to Delaney on social media on Tuesday. This is what these Palace fans had to say in reply, with one describing Delaney as ‘outstanding’.

“Yesss please”Credit: @mandyswagsta”OH HELLO”Credit: @CPFCMax9″He’s been outstanding for Denmark”Credit: @SoFLPalace”We’ve been missing Delaney diagonals for years now.”Credit: @hegdog88″The midfielder we need”Credit: @georgeteddyDF”I already have Palace x Delaney shirts!”Credit: @CrystalPalaceDC

In other news: ‘Parish is a failure’, ‘Can’t believe this’ – Many Palace fans react to the BBC’s Patrick Vieira report, find out more here.

Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan is now Ange Postecoglou’s top Celtic target, according to Scott Burns of The Daily Record.

The Lowdown: Hoops make Ryan promise

It took just three days for Ryan to be linked with a move to the club following Postecoglou’s switch to Celtic Park was confirmed.

The pair worked together during Postecoglou’s four-year stint as Australia boss, with the 55-year-old making Ryan his number one at the 2014 World Cup and 2015 Asia Cup.

Reports last month claimed that Celtic were putting a contract package together for Ryan and were ready to offer him the number one shirt at Parkhead.

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The Latest: Burns claim

Burns, who broke the news regarding Celtic’s move for Sheffield Wednesday defender Osaze Urhoghide on Thursday hours before it was announced, shared a story on Thursday evening.

He claimed that Postecoglou is likely to bring in a new shot-stopper with Ryan a top target.

The Verdict: Sign

If Postecoglou now sees Ryan as a top target, Celtic should do everything they can to grant his wish ahead of the new season.

He’ll know just what the 29-year-old would bring to Parkhead and could end up solving the club’s goalkeeping dilemma.

Vasilis Barkas, Scott Bain and Conor Hazard were all handed opportunities last season, with Neil Lennon unsure on who to stick with throughout the previous campaign.

Ryan, who has 58 international caps and 124 Premier League appearances under his belt could be the ideal addition and a deal looks financially doable.

A price between £3-5m has been touted, but Ryan may have to take a slight hit on his £35,000-a-week wage if he wants to move to Scotland, with Callum McGregor the club’s top earner on £20,000-a-week.

In other news: Sources claim Celtic could now make ace who has ‘got it all’ their fourth-biggest signing ever, find out more here.

Former West Brom winger Kyle Edwards has opened talks over a move to Celtic, which could in turn see the Baggies receive a compensation package after his deal expired [Football Insider].

The Lowdown: Baggies gear up for 2021/22 as incomings and outgoings expected

Looking ahead to 2021/22, newly appointed boss Valerien Ismael will be under no illusions about the scale of incomings and outgoings at the Hawthorns this summer.

One man who will not be returning to the West Midlands is 23-year-old Edwards. Despite this, he could now be set to pitch in some funds for his former club in a surprise turn of events.

The Latest: Departee Edwards could net West Brom six-figure compensation fee

Presently speaking, Celtic have entered discussions with a view to bringing the Englishman north of the border under freedom of contract, a Hoops source told Football Insider.

Edwards left the Baggies following a 17 year association with the club at the end of last month, as he was not named on their 2021/22 retained list due to not agreeing an extension with the Sky Bet Championship outfit [Express and Star].

Now looking to the next step in his career, his next move will not be a free transfer due to his lengthy spell in the West Bromwich Albion academy. Owing to lenient cross-border rules, Scottish giants Celtic would have to pay around £300,000 for his services [Football Insider].

The Verdict: Parting ways is the right decision for both player and club

All things considered, the decision for Edwards and West Brom to part ways is probably the right one for both parties.

Though the Dudley-born wide man is a talented asset who is capable of beating a man, he has struggled for game-time in previous seasons. In 2020/21, he made just seven first-team appearances, recording two assists [Transfermarkt].

Across his time with the Baggies, he has made a decent impact though, recording nine goal contributions within 49 outings; four goals and five assists [Transfermarkt], but a switch to pastures new may give Edwards the correct platform to excel as a footballer.

From the Hawthorns point of view, receiving a £300,000 boost to their transfer kitty for a player who was surplus to requirements and out of contract is a handy boost as well – this feels like a win win.

In other news, West Brom have been linked with a free agent striker.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Renato Sanches to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by French media outlet Le10 Sport (via Sport Witness), who claim that Spurs have a real interest in the LOSC Lille central midfielder, although Fabio Paratici is yet to make a concrete offer for the 23-year-old.

The report goes on to state that Barcelona are also keeping a close eye on the situation of the Portugal international, however, as a result of the La Liga side’s dire financial situation, they do not look likely to be able to afford a move for Sanches in the summer transfer window.

Nuno would love him

While Nuno Espirito Santo does already possess a number of options in the middle of the park, it is a very easy argument to make that Sanches would be an upgrade on the likes of Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko in the Tottenham midfield.

Indeed, over his 23 Ligue 1 appearances for Christophe Galtier’s Lille side last season – only 14 of which came as starts, largely due to a muscle injury – the £27m-rated midfielder scored one goal, registered three assists and created five big chances for his teammates.

Sanches also made an average of 0.6 interceptions, 0.6 tackles, 0.8 key passes and won 3.8 duels per game, with these metrics seeing the £51k-per-week man earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.90.

The 23-year-old’s performances played a massive part in helping his side rather miraculously pip Paris Saint-Germain to the Ligue 1 title, the club’s first league win in 10 years.

As such, the man the Bundesliga website dubbed “very much like Clarence Seedorf” would indeed appear to make a fantastic addition to Nuno Espirito Santo’s options in central midfield, especially considering just how better he performed than both of Winks and Sissoko last season, who earned seasonal SofaScore match ratings of 6.66 and 6.63 respectively.

So, should Paratici go on to get a deal over the line for the man Pep Guardiola labelled a “fantastic” player this summer, it would very much appear to be a transfer that Nuno would love.

In other news: Spurs dealt big transfer blow over “very strong” Paratici target, fans will be furious

Former Everton defender Michael Ball has told The Transfer Tavern that he expects a lot of players to leave Goodison Park this summer.

While new manager Rafael Benitez has only just arrived at Everton, it looks like the club have already made decisions regarding some individuals.

According to The Telegraph, the Merseyside outfit could part ways with James Rodriguez, Andre Gomes, Bernard, Fabian Delph, Yerry Mina and Cenk Tosun.

Moise Kean is thought to be one player Benitez would not mind keeping around, though the Italian striker is said to be keen on returning to Paris Saint-Germain following his loan spell there last season.

As for the previously mentioned names, Rodriguez only arrived at Goodison Park last summer. However, he is someone Ball can see leaving before the transfer window slams shut.

“I feel there’ll be a lot of ins and outs,” the ex-Everton defender said. “There’s question marks over James right now. Maybe even Allan, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, even Richarlison maybe.

“Everyone’s sort of future is up in the air right now.”

It is probably fair to say that Benitez is in quite a complicated situation right now. There is a lot of uncertainty at Goodison Park, while Richarlison’s involvement at the Olympics does not make his new boss’ life any easier.

Marcelo Bielsa will have back-up plans after missing out on Cagliari star Nahitan Nandez, former Leeds United midfielder Carlton Palmer has told Football FanCast.

According to Sportitalia (via Football Italia), the Uruguay international has rejected Leeds and decided to join Inter Milan in a blow to Bielsa.

It comes as another huge setback for the Argentine this transfer window, with Leeds also falling short in the race to sign long-term target Rodrigo De Paul, who recently joined Atletico Madrid.

The Whites first registered an interest in signing the former Udinese man last summer but were unable to get anything done and have since watched him move to the Wanda Metropolitano.

It now looks like they will miss out on Nandez, too, but Palmer is not too concerned, confident Bielsa will have contingency plans in place.

“I’m sure Bielsa will have back-up plans,” the ex-Leeds star said. “He’ll bring some players in, but obviously you want to bring players in that fit to the mould of how you want to play and it’s very difficult.

“There’s a small group of players, talented players, which a lot of clubs will all be in the same hunt for.”

It has not been all doom and gloom for Leeds this transfer window, though, with the Yorkshire club finally bringing in a specialist left-back in Junior Firpo from Barcelona.

The ongoing takeover saga of Derby County does not look likely to find a resolution anytime soon.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to a claim made by Alan Nixon, with The Sun journalist revealing in a post on Twitter that there has been “no progress” with any of the proposed takeover deals reported concerning Derby.

Having seen two bids for the Rams fall through over the course of last season, there was talk of an American consortium opening up dialogue with Mel Morris regarding the purchase of the club, however, it would seem these talks have not gone anywhere as yet.

Earlier this month, Derby’s chief executive Stephen Pearce stated that the Rams were “still working tirelessly on the ownership model with multiple parties.”

Fans will be fuming

With the new Championship season now just a matter of weeks from kicking off, everyone involved with Derby would have hoped that a takeover of the club would have been completed, or at least well underway, by now.

Indeed, although the Rams were recently given a reprieve from their transfer embargo in order to add five new players to their squad, the ongoing uncertainty regarding the ownership of the club, as well as their disastrous financial situation, would not appear to bode well for Wayne Rooney’s side’s prospects in the second tier in their upcoming campaign.

And, with there not looking to be any end in sight to the club’s off-field plight in the near future, the potential for the Rams’ perilous circumstances to continue into the new season and beyond looks extremely likely, something that will leave fans of the club fuming.

However, for Rooney and his players, these are issues that they must simply attempt to ignore, as, if the 35-year-old does not give his full concentration to somehow steering a skeleton Derby squad away from the relegation zone next term, things still could get a great deal worse for the club next summer.

In other news: Rooney may finally replace Johnson with Derby swoop for “outstanding” £1.62m-rated gem