All posts by z3u9t.icu

Suadi Arabian club Al-Ahli are "pushing" to sing Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Algerian joined the Citizens in the summer of 2018, and has won every trophy possible during his five-season spell in Manchester.

Is Mahrez leaving Manchester City?

The 32-year-old looks set to depart this summer and head to the Saudi Pro League.

According to reports, the Algerian is flying out to Dubai to undergo a medical with the same club that recently announced the signing of former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino. The Jeddah based club have reportedly offered the winger a whopping contract worth £43m plus bonuses a year to make the switch.

The forward joined the Manchester club from Leicester City for what was then a club-record fee of £60m. In his five-season stint, the Algerian has made 236 appearances for the club, scoring 78 and assisting 59 en route to winning a mind-blowing 10 trophies with the club, including four league titles, one Champions League and the historic treble that was completed last season.

Whilst losing a player of Mahrez's quality would be a blow to any side in the world, The Athletic are reporting that the Citizens are stepping up their plans to sign a winger ahead of Mahrez's impending departure, with the side set to receive a potential fee in the region of £30m.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that despite Man City not receiving an official bid yet, Al-Ahli are really trying to get a deal over the line for the former PFA Player of the Year:

"Al-Ahli are pushing to sign Riyad Mahrez. The agreement with the player is almost done but not yet with Manchester City, Manchester City do not yet have any official bid, any official documents so Man City will get back to work on Monday, and will start conversations with Mahrez to understand the state of his conversation with Al-Ahli, and then negotiate with Al-Ahli in case the player gives the final green light"

How can Manchester City replace Riyad Mahrez?

There are a number of intriguing options that Pep Guardiola could explore to replace the Algerian.

One option could be to utilise Phil Foden on the right wing. In his career, the England international has only played on the right 18 times, but his returns from that position are incredible, with 10 goals and 4 assists.

Last campaign, Foden was deployed on the right-hand side a number of times at the beginning of the campaign, and his iconic hat-trick in the Manchester Derby came as a right-winger, showcasing that he can perform at the highest level against the toughest opposition in that right-wing role.

However, with the departure of Ilkay Gundogan and the continued uncertainty around the future of Bernardo Silva, the 23-year-old could find himself deployed in a more traditional central role next season, forcing Guardiola to find a different solution.

Should City delve into the transfer market like reports are suggesting, some players who share very similar statistical profiles to Mahrez include Jadon Sancho, Serge Gnabry and Ousmane Dembele. However, one of the best potential matches is Napoli star Khvica Kvaratskhelia who has reportedly caught the attention of City.

The 22-year-old enjoyed a breakout season for the Italian side last season, making 43 appearances and recording 31 goal contributions as the Naples side won their first league title in over 30 years.

Reports have recently come out about fellow Premier League side Newcastle United preparing a bid for the Georgian attacker, which could prompt the Premier League champions to swoop in. Kvaratskhelia has played 14 games on the right-wing in his career before, but a player of his quality when working under a legendary manager such as Guardiola could easily be able to adapt their game to the other side.

Whether either replacement option for Mahrez can replicate the impact the 32-year-old had at Manchester City, only time will tell, but it will be an incredibly hard ask.

Sean Dyche will be hoping to lead Everton to a more productive campaign in 2023/24 as he looks ahead to his first full season in charge.

Having recently signed Ashley Young on a free transfer, the Toffees could now look to lure a current Manchester United winger to the club this summer…

Could Everton sign Anthony Elanga?

According to The Athletic, the Goodison Park outfit are interested in a move for Anthony Elanga during the transfer window, although they could face competition for the youngster from Nottingham Forest.

Everton were close to securing a loan move for him back in January, yet United pulled the plug at the last minute. Could it be second time lucky for the club this month?

The Old Trafford side have slashed their asking price for Sweden international to just £10m and this could represent a good piece of business by Dyche, who will be aiming to lead the Toffees into the top half of the table next term.

Who is leaving Everton?

A move for Elanga would be just the second player to arrive at Everton this summer after Young however there has already been a few faces heading in the opposite direction. Moise Kean joined Juventus permanently, while the likes of Tom Davies, Andros Townsend and Ellis Simms have also departed, leaving the former Burnley manager short of attacking options.

Winger Demarai Gray has also been linked with a move to fellow Premier League clubs Crystal Palace and West Ham United this summer and despite the Jamaican international scoring six goals last term – the second-highest total in the squad – it appears he could be on the move.

Elanga would make for an ideal heir to the former Premier League winner and aged just 21, still has plenty of time to develop into the player that was dubbed a “breath of fresh air” by former United defender Denis Irwin back in 2021.

Last season proved to be a tricky one in his ascent to becoming a regular for the Red Devils, making just seven starts in all competitions and contributing just two assists during that time. The season prior however, he gave everyone at Old Trafford a glimpse of his immense talents.

Elanga registered five goal contributions for the first team – three goals and two assists – that included scoring away to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, while also impressing at youth level too and with his adaptability across the front three useful for both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick, it looked as though he could be a star of the future.

Indeed, from 14 fewer starts than Gray during that campaign, Elanga managed just five fewer goal contributions (nine to four), created just three fewer big chances (six to three) and won more tackles (1.2 to 0.9) and more total duels (four to 3.6), showing that despite the lack of experience, he wasn't that far off the Everton winger.

Of course, the 5 foot 10 speedster will be hoping last term was just a bump in the road, yet a move to a club like Everton, where he will surely get many more starts, could be vital for his long term progression, and he certainly has the ability to succeed Gray on the left wing.

West Ham United will 'test the water' to see if they can land Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha this window as David Moyes looks to replace Declan Rice, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Joao Palhinha?

According to The Daily Mail, Fulham have slapped an incredible £90 million price tag on Palhinha this summer as they look to ward off interest from suitors in the £50k-a-week ace.

West Ham United are believed to be one side that are keen on the Portugal international; however, Fulham are said to have benchmarked their demands against the Hammers' £100 million asking price for club captain Rice.

Football Insider have claimed that Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Bayern Munich have all monitored Palhinha following his impressive debut campaign in English football, though they are looking towards alternative targets.

The Sun via TEAMtalk indicate that Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is an admirer of Palhinha and has urged Spurs' chiefs to make a move to acquire the former Sporting Lisbon man.

Palhinha was an influential figure for Fulham during last term and was the most frequent tackler in the Premier League, winning 147 challenges in total.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones thinks that West Ham United will try to test Fulham's resolve to see whether a swoop to try and land Palhinha is attainable.

Jones told FFC: "They'll go and test the water for Palhinha as well, I fully expect them to go and do that, but Fulham, if they do that, will give West Ham a taste of their own medicine. West Ham have just held out for £105 million for Declan Rice and Fulham are not going to cave in on Palhinha's valuation and that's why there's little leaks that they'll look to for £90 million and it was just to know to West Ham that you've lost your best player, we're not about to lose ours."

Would Joao Palhinha be a good addition for West Ham United this summer?

In light of West Ham captain Rice closing in on a move to Arsenal, the Irons will need a suitable replacement and bringing in Palhinha would be an exciting addition at the London Stadium.

Last term, the 27-year-old made 40 appearances in all competitions for Fulham, registering four goals in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored show how monstrous Palhinha was in the tackle during 2022/23, winning an average of 4.2 challenges per match in the Premier League.

Intriguingly, the Portugal international also excelled aerially in comparison to his positional peers across Europe's top five divisions, coming out on top in around 2.06 duels per 90 minutes across the last 365 days, putting him in the eighth percentile for this metric, as per FBRef.

Consistent displays on the field for Fulham throughout the season earned Palhinha a SofaScore average match rating of 7/10 in the English top flight, signifying that he could be the man to fill Rice's large boots at the club in the engine room if the Hammers were to land Palhinha this summer.

With Steven Gerrard announced as the new Ettifaq Club manager, it always seemed obvious that he would come calling for his past teammates, who are at an age that a move to Saudi Arabia would sound attractive, especially after running the numbers.

According to The Daily Mail, the Liverpool legend is targeting a move for Reds midfielder Jordan Henderson this summer, who may see his game-time at Anfield significantly cut following the arrivals of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai this summer.

The England international, now 33, wouldn't be the first to make the move, and certainly won't be the last in the coming months, should he decide to join Gerrard's new side.

What's the latest on Jordan Henderson and Liverpool?

As things stand, Henderson has just two years left on his current, £140k p/w deal, and as the Reds look to rebuild their midfield this summer, an offer from elsewhere could tempt both parties.

Having just lost James Milner to Brighton & Hove Albion, however, it remains to be seen if Jurgen Klopp would be willing to lose another member of his leadership group – particularly the biggest part as club captain – in such a short space of time.

The 33-year-old is reportedly being lined up as a big-name signing alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Philippe Coutinho, the latter of which worked under Gerrard at Aston Villa and was a teammate of his at Liverpool.

Henderson's departure could disrupt what has been an incredibly successful summer so far for Liverpool. They've managed to welcome two midfielders – high-profile ones at that, too – and have been linked with a move for Southampton's Romeo Lavia on top of that.

The former Sunderland man isn't the only Liverpool midfielder linked with a move away, either, after Thiago Alcantara's social media activity seemed to drop an alarming hint over his immediate future, suggesting he could be off in the near future.

By the time the new Premier League season begins, in an ideal world, the Reds have signed at least three midfielders, and have not seen any needless departures take place.

Jamie Carragher backs Jordan Henderson

After a difficult season last time out, Henderson's popularity among Liverpool fans wasn't exactly boosted, especially given how much Klopp's side struggled in the middle of the park.

Amid links to a move to Saudi Arabia, some fans may be ready to happily wave goodbye, perhaps forgetting that this is a Champions League, Super Cup, Club World Cup, Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup-winning captain of theirs. He has simply won it all in club football. And it wasn't by luck.

However, section of the fanbase have, to their credit, jumped to Henderson's defence, with one fan Tweeting: "The disrespect he gets on here is embarrassing yeno. He's been an unbelievable servant for us.. he's not good enough to be starting every week anymore, but he's captained us to win every trophy in club football, and there are people on here abusing him."

Carragher liked the Tweet, suggesting that he agrees that the Liverpool captain gets too much disrespect from fans. And it could suggest that he doesn't want Henderson to be sold just yet either.

Manchester United "may be looking at Adrien Rabiot" this summer, who would be available on a free transfer, Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has told GIVEMESPORT.

Manchester United transfer news – what's the latest on Adrien Rabiot?

After a summer move for Mason Mount looked almost set in stone over the last few weeks, the Red Devils have reportedly cooled their interest after becoming increasingly frustrated with the demands of Chelsea following the rebuttal of their third bid, per the Manchester Evening News.

The alternative option, however, looks to be a player the club where already in for last season, Rabiot, with negotiations between the Juventus and United getting as far as agreeing to a £15m fee.

Everything looked good to go, and the former Paris Saint-Germain man looked on the brink of joining United until talks collapsed due to an inability to agree upon wages, with the Manchester Evening News reporting that the Frenchman wanted an 'obscene salary.'

Well, with his £149,000-a-week contract set to expire at the end of the month, he could finally be set to make his move to the theatre of dreams after all, as the Athletic have reported that United have once again made contact with the player's representatives over a potential deal.

What has Dharmesh Sheth said about Rabiot?

Sheth pinpoints that the midfield area is a part of the team that United are looking to strengthen over the summer window, with Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo a potential target.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: "We know the midfield area is somewhere that they want to strengthen. Albeit not in the same position as Mason Mount, Moises Caicedo is a player that they're looking at, among other players.

However, he also highlighted that the opportunity to sign Rabiot on a free might have intrigued the United board, adding: "There are noises now that they may be looking at Adrien Rabiot, who is a free transfer as it stands, as well. Juventus are trying to tie him down to another deal."

Would Adrien Rabiot be a good signing for Manchester United?

The short answer to that question is yes. Rabiot is an extremely talented player, and signing him for a fee would still be a great opportunity, so to sign him for free is something that United shouldn't be turning their noses up at.

According to WhoScored, the ex-PSG man averaged a seriously impressive rating of 7.11 across his 32 Serie A games last season and did even better in his eight games at the World Cup, averaging a brilliant 7.25.

It's perhaps no surprise then that during their World Cup campaign, coach of the French National team, Didier Deschamps hailed his player as the "complete midfielder." Going on to say: "He's a balanced player, but he's capable of doing well both in defense and in attack. He's intelligent, and he always knows where he has to be."

His underlying numbers only further his case.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, he sits in the top 4% for non-penalty goals, the top 9% for non-penalty expected goals, the top 12% for touches in the opposition's penalty area and the top16% for progressive carries, all per 90.

If United do bring Rabiot in on a free, it could prove to be one of the very best deals of the entire summer.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.