Well, it would be fair to say that the West Ham United fans are not overly pleased with their Spanish goalkeeper Roberto.The 33-year-old joined the Hammers on a free transfer over the summer after leaving Espanyol, where he had spent three years.Lukasz Fabianski is currently on the sidelines with a hip injury, meaning that Roberto is the number one for the moment.The Spaniard was again between the sticks for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Burnley, and after failing to cover himself in glory for the home side’s second of the match, he dropped a real clanger for the third.Indeed, Roberto punched the ball into the back of his own net in the 54th minute, which pretty much decided the match as a contest.West Ham are on a rotten run of form at the moment having failed to pick up all three points in the Premier League since overcoming Manchester United on September 22.
And the recent form of Roberto is not helping their mood, with some claiming that they do not want the stopper to ever represent the club again.
A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:
This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Dwight Gayle has been ostracised from the first-team since his return from a loan spell at West Brom, but he deserves to have played more than the five minutes he’s spent on the pitch this season.
On the chalkboard
Attack has been a key problem for Newcastle this term, and although there has been recent improvement they still only have 11 goals from 12 league games.
However, there is now greater confidence in the team, with players like Allan Saint-Maximin excelling going forward, except when it comes to finishing chances.
Now the Magpies are at a point where there is good balance throughout the team so they are in a good position to score more regularly, but for that to happen they need a natural finisher to play – which Joelinton simply isn’t.
Too often this season the Brazilian has disappointed, and on occasion has failed to offer much in the opponent’s final third, both in terms of scoring and setting up chances.
Gayle, meanwhile, is an excellent finisher according to his manager, and that means it is surprising he hasn’t played more often. Joelinton failed to score with his four shots last weekend, though, and if Gayle can impress over the international break he could get a chance.
Watch Newcastle United Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below
Alternative option
So far this season it is clear that Steve Bruce has preferred Joelinton to act as the focal point of his attack, with wingers Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron often running in behind to great effect.
It is a system which has flourished recently, but also one that suits Gayle.
He has the pace and movement to keep up with those attackers, and considering the number of shots they have that are saved, Gayle could be the perfect option to play alongside them as he could mop up any rebounded chances.
In addition to that, he could also work well with midfielders Sean Longstaff and Jonjo Shelvey. The latter has experienced an upturn in form which could prove particuarly useful, as his average of 3.1 long balls per game means he could provide service to Gayle, who would be able to run beyond the defence – unlike Joelinton.
The 29-year-old’s poaching instinct is different to the attributes of other strikers in the squad, and is likely a big reason why Bruce admitted last month he was “delighted to have him” in the squad.
The Magpies boss also praised his popularity amongst the other players, so it is surprising that he hasn’t been given a chance, although his eagerness to impress could make him seize any opportunity with both hands.
Manchester United bounced back from a disappointing defeat against Liverpool at Old Trafford two weeks ago to beat Southampton 3-0 at St Mary’s. The Red Devils put in an impressive performance, with goals from Matthijs de Ligt, his first for the club, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho sealing the win.
It was no doubt a relief for the Red Devils to get the three points, after two defeats in a row. They will no doubt be hoping this win can give them confidence going forward, and they certainly put in a commanding performance on the South Coast.
Erik ten Hag’s side were dominant for much of the game, dominating the ball according to SofaScore. The Red Devils had 56% possession and had 20 shots compared to just six for the Saints, who also missed a penalty.
There were some great performances from those in Blue today, although Marcus Rashford was particularly impressive.
Marcus Rashford’s stats against Southampton
It was certainly an impressive showing from Rashford, who has come under fire so far this season for his performances despite playing well. He has created three big chances this campaign, more than any other teammate in the Premier League as per SofaScore.
The England international scored his first goal since March at a sunny St Mary’s, a well-taken strike from distance which bent past Aaron Ramsdale and into the back of the net. It was a goal that put the Red Devils in a comfortable position after Archer’s missed penalty.
He looked electric throughout the match and received a 7/10 rating at the final whistle from the Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst. The journalist noted that the 26-year-old was able “to build on the chances he created” against United’s arch-rivals Liverpool the other week.
Indeed, the impressive performance from United’s number ten was also reflected in his SofaScore stats. Rashford had 31 touches of the ball, winning three duels and two fouls. He also created one chance and, of course, scored his goal.
He was certainly looking at his fluent best for United, but there was a fellow attacker who was arguably even better than the 26-year-old on Saturday afternoon.
Amad’s stats vs. Southampton
The player in question here is Ivorian winger Amad. He has made that right-wing position his own this season, starting three of the four Premier League games, coming off the bench in the previous game against Arne Slot’s Liverpool.
Ten Hag gave the 22-year-old his starting spot back at St Mary’s and was rewarded. Amad was once again superb against the Saints, assisting Rashford’s goal, which came from a well-worked corner routine.
Indeed, this was a view that was shared by Luckhurst, who actually gave United’s number 16 an even higher rating than his teammate Rashford. The journalist was full of praise for the man he gave an 8/10.
Luckhurst praised Amad for his performances, explaining he was “quick, strong, and almost always made the right decision”. He called him an “integral” player for the Red Devils on the South Coast this afternoon.
That was certainly reflected in his SofaScore stats, with the youngster getting 67 touches of the ball, creating an impressive six key passes, and grabbing the assist for Rashford’s goal. Off the ball he was superb, too, winning five out of eight duels and four out of four tackles.
Stat
Number
Passes completed
51/57
Pass accuracy
89%
Duels won
5/8
Chances created
6
Tackles won
4/4
Assists
1
It was a mesmerising performance from the youngster, who will be hoping he can keep up those performances in the coming weeks as he looks to help push United up the table and pick up some good momentum.
Manchester United are said to already have key positions identified for next summer, and they are plotting a move for a Premier League player, according to a new report.
The Red Devils endured a busy summer, as they made several changes to their squad in the hope that they could improve on last season’s poor campaign, but so far it has been a slow start for Erik ten Hag’s men.
Man Utd teenager wows on international duty and sets new goalscoring record
Erik ten Hag may soon have another promising youngster emerging from the Red Devils’ academy.
ByBrett Worthington Sep 9, 2024 Manchester United transfer news
The summer transfer window only shut over a week ago, and already United have their eye on a few targets that they may look to add to their squad in the next transfer window and beyond.
The Premier League side have been linked with a move for Brighton & Hove Albion defender Lewis Dunk recently. It is stated that the defender’s “experience and leadership” qualities have made him stand out, but given the fact that he is 32, Dunk may not be the ideal candidate for United were they to sign another defender in the upcoming transfer windows.
Leny Yoro
Lille
Joshua Zirkzee
Bologna
Matthijs de Ligt
Bayern Munich
Noussair Mazraoui
Bayern Munich
Manuel Ugarte
PSG
United have also said to have watched defender Ali Şahin Yılmaz in action for Turkey’s under-20s against England during this international break. The Red Devils had scouts in place at the game, and they were said to have been left impressed by the player’s performance.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that Newcastle United are keen on signing Antony once the January transfer window opens. The Red Devils are said to value the £200,000 per week player at £40 million, and despite his struggles in England, Eddie Howe is said to be “highly appreciative” of his ability, with United ready to cash in for about a 50 per cent loss on their £80 million+ investment.
Man Utd plotting to replace Antony with “wizard”
According to the Manchester Evening News, Manchester United are interested in signing Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace. The report states that the 26-year-old is among the players United are monitoring ahead of a possible move next summer.
The Red Devils are said to be looking at signing a defender, midfielder, and winger next summer, and Eze is the man they have identified for the latter, replacing Antony if the Magpies bring him north. Surprisingly, Eze, who has been described as a “wizard” by Declan Rice in the past, remained at Selhurst Park this summer despite a whole host of interested parties.
He is under contract with the South London side until the summer of 2027, but the England international has a release clause of £68 million, which can be reactivated next year. Therefore, if United were to sell Antony for £40 million, they could upgrade on their struggling Brazilian for about £28 million.
Eze has started this season strongly, as he’s got one goal to his name in three league games – in total he's racked up 28 goals and 17 assists in 128 games in all competitions for the Eagles.
Aston Villa have had a strong start to the season, despite a defeat in their second game. The Villans have an exciting campaign coming up in 2024/25, with their return to the Champions League set for after the international break.
Their opening game of the Premier League saw Unai Emery’s side overcome a tough away fixture at West Ham United, winning 2-1 thanks to a debut goal from Amadou Onana and a Jhon Duran strike.
Their second outing saw them suffer a 2-0 defeat at home to Arsenal before they bounced back with a 2-1 win over Leicester City. Across the three fixtures, there has been one player in particular who has impressed, Morgan Rogers.
Morgan Rogers transfer value in 2024
22-year-old attacker Rogers joined the club from Middlesborough last January, making the switch from the North East to the Midlands for a fee in the region of £8m, with the deal potentially rising to £16m.
He has really impressed for the Villans and has improved leaps and bounds under Emery so far. The former Manchester City academy player has worn the claret and blue shirt 19 times, and has three goals and an assist to his name so far.
He particularly impressed this season against Arsenal. Rogers received an 8/10 rating from 90Min journalist Tom Gott for his performance against the Gunners, who praised him for the “massive influence” he had.
Indeed, that was reflected in his stats from Sofascore. Rogers was spellbinding with the ball at his feet and competed five out of seven dribbles, as well as creating two chances and one big chance.
Touches
48
Ground duels won
8/10
Dribbles completed
5/7
Key passes
2
Big chances created
1
Given his impressive performances for Emery thus far, it might be surprising that his value is less than the £16m overall fee they may end up paying. According to Transfermarkt, he is valued at just £13m and is one of the lower-valued players in their squad.
In fact, one of his midfield colleagues who is valued higher did not even cost the club a penny.
Youri Tielemans value in 2024
The player in question here is Belgian Youri Tielemans. The 27-year-old signed for Villa on a free transfer after leaving Leicester City at the end of the 2022/23 campaign and had a big impact on their midfield during his first season at the club.
The former Anderlecht wonderkid, who was described as an “outrageous” midfielder by football scout Antonio Mango, has become an important cog in the machine that is Emery’s midfield following a slow start to life in claret and blue.
Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans.
He has played 49 games for the Villans to date and could bring up his half-century in their next game against Everton on Saturday afternoon. In that time, the Belgian has scored three times and grabbed eight assists.
Market Movers
Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?
Like his teammate Rogers, the Villa number eight has started the season impressively and has played 90 minutes in all three of their games so far. He already has one assist to his name, setting up Onana for his debut goal against the Hammers at the London Stadium.
It is no surprise, then, that the Belgian’s value has spiked dramatically since he made the move to Villa Park. Tielemans is now worth an impressive £21m, more than Rogers, which certainly reflects his performances over the past 12 months.
Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans.
Given the fact he did not cost the Villans anything, the 27-year-old can certainly be considered a wonderful piece of business from the Midlands outfit. Tielemans has already had a superb impact on the squad, and he will be hoping he can continue this form ahead of a historic season at Villa Park.
Aston Villa struck gold on £12m titan who's now worth more than Martinez
Former manager Dean Smith knew how to spot a talented player…
Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah won't be going anywhere this summer despite reports suggesting a shock exit is on the cards, according to reliable journalist David Lynch.
How many goals has Mo Salah scored?
The 31-year-old has etched his name into Reds folklore since arriving back in 2017, arguably becoming one of the greatest players in the club's history.
He has amassed a staggering tally of 186 goals in 305 appearances, and few players have had a greater impact for any club over recent decades. He has won all there is to win, whether it be the Champions League in 2019 or the Premier League title the following year, among numerous other trophies.
Worryingly however, Salah has been linked with a shock move to Saudi Arabia, where clubs are offering eye-watering amounts of money to top players, and the idea of Liverpool losing him at this point is something that doesn't bear thinking about.
The £350,000-a-week Egyptian has two more years remaining on his current Reds contract, putting them in a slightly precarious position, should he suddenly decide that he wants to move on. That being said, it doesn't look as though he intends on doing that any time soon, following a new update.
Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp
Is Salah staying at Liverpool?
According to Football Insider's Lynch, Salah is "set to stay" on Merseyside this summer, despite reports suggesting that he could depart for a new challenge. It is stated that a move there one day remains "probable", though.
This is clearly a massive boost for anyone of a Liverpool persuasion, with Salah a genuine world superstar who remains a priceless player for the Reds. He has been rightly hailed as "world-class" by Jurgen Klopp down the years, and while so many players struggled last season, he still found an incredibly high level, scoring 30 times in all competitions.
He may be 31 years of age now, but he is a physical machine who is rarely injured, and with players managing to be at an elite level well into their 30s these days – Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are two obvious examples – there is no reason why Salah can't be a force for years to come still.
Next summer could be a tricky situation for Liverpool, with Salah having one year remaining on his contract at that point, but for now, fans should appreciate him while he is still at Anfield, as he looks to spearhead their resurgence in 2023/24.
Brighton & Hove Albion are reportedly interested in the services of US international Tyler Adams, per reports.
Brighton transfer news – What's the latest on Tyler Adams?
According to GOAL, the Seagulls are 'weighing up' a move for the 24-year-old American, who was relegated from the Premier League with Leeds United last season.
The South Coast club aren't the only team interested in the player's services, though, as Everton, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forrest are also said to be keen on sealing his signature ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
The former RB Leipzig man still has four years left on his £55k-per-week contract, but Roberto De Zerbi's men are said to be considering an initial offer of £25m, which is £5m short of his current release clause.
Whilst the offer is certainly lower than Leeds would be hoping to receive for their dynamic midfielder, their relegation to the Championship might necessitate selling players on high wages.
Soccer Football – Premier League – Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers – Elland Road, Leeds, Britain – August 6, 2022 Leeds United’s Tyler Adams applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Craig Brough EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for furt
Would Tyler Adams make for a great Moises Caicedo replacement?
Albion might be so keen on Adams for the simple reason that they look set to lose their star midfielder, Moises Cacido, to either Chelsea or Arsenal in the summer.
In that eventuality, the signing of the young American "leader", as once described by former Leeds boss Jesse Marsch.
That leadership and maturity beyond his years is something that has been lauded by his national team coach, Greg Berhalter, who said:
"He's the general, he's the strategist. He's the guy that goes out there and leads by example. When he talks, people listen."
But how does he compare to the man he might be replacing?
The first thing to note is that they share a similar physical profile, with both players having had experience playing in midfield and on the right-hand side of defence.
The Ecuadorian is 5 foot 10 and 73kg, whereas the American dynamo is 5 foot 9 and 72kg, per Eurosport.
What may surprise a few is that according to WhoScored, their average performances across the league season have been remarkably similar in quality. The much sought-after Brighton man has achieved an average rating of 6.92, whereas the Wappinger Falls-born gem averaged 6.73.
Considering the consistently strong performances by the entire Seagulls team and the dysfunctional disaster at the Peacocks, that's very impressive.
However, the Santo Domingo star comes out on top regarding passing – according to FBref, he attempts 64.5 passes per 90 to Adams' 56 and completes a higher percentage at 88.5% to 82.5%.
It's the same story with the attacking side of the game. "La Joya", as he's known back home, produces an impressive 2.52 shot-creating actions per 90 to his competition's 1.79.
However, where the American "machine", described by writer Wes Rucker, thrives most is his defensive numbers.
Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Group B – England v United States – Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar – November 25, 2022 England’s Bukayo Saka in action with Tyler Adams of the U.S. REUTERS/John Sibley
Also per FBref, he tackles 3.71 times per 90 compared to 2.87, blocks 2 times a match compared to 1.23 and most impressively, makes no errors which leads to the opponent taking a shot, whereas Caicedo averages 0.09 per 90.
Granted, there might be a slight difference in the players' raw ability and ultimate ceiling, but signing Tyler Adams for just £25m would be a great decision and would go some way in helping to replace Moises Caicedo.
Chelsea and Inter Milan are set for key transfer discussions involving several different players, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Who are Chelsea linked with?
The two huge clubs could end up being busy together during the summer transfer window, with various individuals potentially moving from one to the other.
For Chelsea, this summer represents a huge period in their recent history, with Mauricio Pochettino coming in as manager and looking to turn their fortunes around. For that to happen, the right signings need to come in, though, and it is also a case of getting rid of the dead wood, allowing the Argentine to work with exactly the players he wants to.
It remains to be seen who will come in, but Romelu Lukaku could possibly return from his loan spell at Inter, while Andre Onana has been continually linked with a move to Stamford Bridge.
Romelu Lukaku for Inter Milan
Are Chelsea and Inter set to discuss transfers?
Taking to Twitter, Romano provided an update on the current situation, saying that Lukaku's future is a big talking point in the coming days, but also mentioning other players who could head either way:
"Chelsea and Inter are set to schedule a meeting in the next days, as called yesterday.
"Understand Inter will ask about Kalidou Koulibaly as priority target. Romelu Lukaku’s future, main topic; but Trevoh Chalobah for Inter, Andre Onana for Chelsea will be also discussed."
This is an encouraging update from a Chelsea perspective, suggesting that the club are working hard on sorting both incomings and outgoings early in the transfer window – it hasn't even officialy opened yet (June 14).
Lukaku's future is arguably the most intriguing piece of business out of those mentioned, with the Belgian a striker with so much pedigree, but also someone who there are still doubts over.
His cameo in the Champions League final against Manchester City summed up why his critics often don't rate him, with two huge spurned missed in Istanbul, and at 30, it may be more beneficial for Chelsea to sell him permanently – potentially to Inter – and look to bring in a younger striker this summer.
Meanwhile, seeing both Kalidou Koulibaly and Trevoh Chalobah head to Italy would divide opinion, with the former an experienced head who could come good and the latter a big young prospect,
Onana would surely be an upgrade on Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy between the sticks at Chelsea – Pep Guardiola called him "exceptional" before the Champions League final – so hopefully his arrival is confirmed sooner rather than later.
Fans online have been left stunned after Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku accidentally blocked an effort at goal off the line in the Champions League final.
What’s the latest on Man City?
Playing in Istanbul, Manchester City were hoping to complete a treble, having already won both the Premier League and the FA Cup this season.
Their opponents, however, were seeking a double with Simone Inzaghi’s men already lifting the Coppa Italia earlier on in their campaign.
Pep Guardiola and co came into the game favourites but Inter probably had the better first half, with the most notable incident being an injury that forced Kevin de Bruyne off early.
However, the game burst into life when Rodri struck an opener in the 68th minute of the game to put City into a 1-0 lead – which was ultimately enough to win the game.
Less than two minutes after that goal, though, Inter came forward with an attack and Federico Dimarco’s header looped over Ederson and bounced off the bar and back into the six-yard box.
The Italian then had another attempt at goal, and it looked as though his header was destined for the back of the net, only for Lukaku to inadvertently block it on the line.
You can see the footage on the BT Sport Football Twitter account below.
After witnessing the crazy incident, fans online couldn’t believe what had happened. They quickly flocked to social media to make their feelings known.
Here are the best reactions…
He’s even got previous of doing this before…
To make things worse, Lukaku then missed a sitter with just moments to play.
Liverpool are set for a transformative summer following a disappointing campaign this season and now a new update has emerged on the club's potential targets.
What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Orkun Kokcu?
According to Football Transfers, Feyenoord captain Orkun Kocku remains high on the agenda in Liverpool's midfield rebuild this summer.
As per the report, it is claimed that Jurgen Klopp and the club's new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke will be relied upon to work on a deal to secure the signature of the talented midfielder, whilst also aiming to bring in Kephren Thuram and Manu Kone too.
Who would Kokcu replace in the Liverpool squad?
Despite being only 22 years old, the Turkish sensation has already demonstrated his clear ability to lead his team to victory with a monumental Eredivisie title win this season, which is only the second time in a century that the Dutch club have earned the accolade.
Now Liverpool could capitalise on Kokcu's winning mentality and leadership skills by bringing him to Merseyside where he could eventually replace the role of Jordan Henderson, with the Liverpool captain now 32 years old and reaching the latter stages of his career.
Over 32 league appearances, the Feyenoord skipper – hailed a "true leader" by scout Jacek Kulig – has scored eight goals, delivered two assists and created nine big chances, as well as averaging a whopping 91.8 touches, 2.8 key passes and one shot on target per game, proving he is a huge all-round presence on the pitch.
Kokcu-feyenoord-liverpool-transfer-news
According to Sofascore, Kokcu boasts strengths in play-making, high pressing and long shots which makes him the perfect versatile midfielder that would fit like a glove in Klopp's tactical philosophy.
As such, he would likely be best suited to playing in a box-to-box role for maximum impact, similar to Henderson, but providing more energy and injecting much-needed youth.
Feyenoord will reportedly command a transfer fee of just €40m (£35m) this summer which will suit the strict and tight budgets that are uncompromising in FSG's recruitment strategy, making the chances of a deal getting done even more achievable for the Merseysiders as they set out to sign multiple additions to bolster the squad.
That said, Kokcu could be an incredible signing for Liverpool if he can continue to thrive in the Premier League next season and at such a young age he could become a high-quality asset to the club for years to come.