All posts by z3u9t.icu

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.

Celtic have made West Ham United boss David Moyes their priority target to replace the outgoing Ange Postecoglou, according to journalist Santi Aouna.

Is Ange Postecoglou leaving Celtic?

Postecoglou has now been confirmed as the new Tottenham Hotspur manager, with the 57-year-old putting pen to paper on a four-year deal, and the Celtic board are now tasked with finding a suitable replacement.

Football Insider report that Manchester City assistant manager Enzo Maresca is emerging as a top target for the hoops, with club chiefs in the process of drawing up a shortlist of candidates who are capable of carrying on Postecoglou's impressive work.

Brendan Rodgers had been touted for a return to Glasgow, however The Scottish Sun report the Northern Irishman is not currently interested, as he wants to take some time away from the game before planning his next career move.

As such, Celtic have identified Moyes as their "priority" target to replace Postecoglou, according to a recent update from Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna on Twitter.

It remains to be seen whether West Ham are willing to part ways with their manager, who has led them to the final of the Europa Conference League, which is set to take place tomorrow night.

Should Celtic appoint David Moyes?

It is fair to say that Moyes has done a fantastic job with the Hammers, leading them to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League in the 2020-21 campaign, before following that up by finishing seventh in the following season.

Although the Hammers failed to reach their previous heights this season, finishing 14th, they have still managed to impress considerably on the European stage, reaching the Europa Conference League final.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is a big admirer of the Scot, recently saying: "He is a really nice guy, whenever I've met him he is a really good person. I like that he always finds a way – that makes a top manager. He gets a team going. It might not have worked out at United but that was the most difficult moment in history to take over."

That said, the 60-year-old has been criticised at times, with Hammers fans growing frustrated with his negative tactics back in April, which means he would not be a like-for-like replacement for Postecoglou, who is known for his attacking style of play.

As such, while Moyes has been impressive in his role as West Ham boss, Celtic would be better off targeting a coach who is more accustomed to playing an expansive brand of football, to pick up where Postecoglou left off.

Tottenham Hotspur could be given a cruel reminder of what could’ve been this weekend.

The north London outfit head to Anfield to face title-chasing Liverpool in tomorrow’s late kick-off in the Premier League. The home side will be looking to keep the pressure on Manchester City, whilst a place in the top-four is still up for grabs for Antonio Conte’s men.

Liverpool were always competing for the title heading into the season but their fortunes vastly improved following the January transfer window with the notable arrival of Luis Diaz.

And it is because of Spurs that he will be lining up in a red shirt, rather than a white one.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-spurs-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more” title= “Read the latest Spurs news!”]

If the Lilywhites didn’t register an interest in the then-Porto sensation, then it’s unlikely that the Colombian winger would be a Liverpool player today, as suggested by The Athletic’s James Pearce.

Diaz was a target for the summer but Spurs chairman Daniel Levy pushed to sign him in an initial £38m deal, potentially rising to £50m.

These negotiations quickly collapsed as the £40.5m-rated dynamo wanted to move to Merseyside, and by the time Levy came back with a guaranteed £50m offer, the 25-year-old was already on his way to Anfield.

The Athletic describe Levy as being ‘fuming’ with the decision at the time, and he may well get a taste of what he’s missed out on come tomorrow night.

Diaz has taken the Premier League by storm, managing three goals and two assists in 10 appearances, as per Transfermarkt.

“With a full pre-season under his belt I believe Luis will get better, which is scary; but what he has produced in the here and now is pretty special as well,” claimed Liverpool team-mate and left-back Andrew Robertson.

BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand has even lauded the 25-year-old winger as the ‘Signing of the Season’, as he told his podcast:

“You watch him play, on the ball he’s brilliant. But his reaction when they lose the ball is unreal. He’s like a trigger, bang, go go and get it back. For those reasons, he’s the standout signing of the season for me.”

Also lauded as “unplayable” by Robertson, Diaz is clearly an exceptional talent, and one who could seriously haunt Tottenham once the referee blows that whistle at Anfield tomorrow.

If Levy was already angry enough, just imagine the feeling in the boardroom should the Colombian star put on a show in front of his home crowd once again.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano drops Christian Eriksen update…

Leeds United are back in Premier League action this afternoon and they’ll be looking to get their survival bid back on track with a result down in the capital.

Jesse Marsch’s side travel to north London to face an in-form Arsenal side, who too need points to maintain ground in the race for the top four.

Last time out, the Yorkshire outfit were thrashed 4-0 by defending champions Manchester City but that is their only defeat in six matches.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more” title=”Read the latest Leeds United news and rumours!”]

After naming a back five against Pep Guardiola’s defending champions and sustaining a season-ending injury to the versatile Stuart Dallas, the American head coach is left with plenty to ponder in terms of team selection.

Here’s the XI we’re predicting at the Emirates Stadium today…

There should be no surprises between the sticks as tried and trusted no.1 Illan Meslier continues his shot-stopping duties.

However, it could be all change in the backline as club captain Liam Cooper is expected to start, according to LeedsLive reporter Beren Cross. “Cooper and [Diego] Llorente [are] expected to be available on Sunday. Marsch went as far as expecting his captain to play,” he tweeted ahead of the game.

That should see the Scotsman come straight in for Robin Koch, whilst we may also see the Spaniard return, too, taking the place of Junior Firpo, whose struggles in the top-flight continued last weekend.

The £55k-per-week flop’s defending was lambasted as “schoolboy” by former goalkeeper Paul Robinson to the BBC.

It’s a move that could see Pascal Struijk shift across to left-back, with Luke Ayling back in his natural right-back role.

With a tweak in formation, we’re likely to see Kalvin Phillips partner Mateusz Klich at the base of midfield, especially with Adam Forshaw absent through injury and they’ll be joined by Rodrigo in the no.10 role.

Out wide, it should be Raphinha on the right but there’s a tough dilemma on the left as Jack Harrison has flattered to deceive in recent outings. The American could turn to Daniel James after he was named among the substitutes at Elland Road last week.

Meanwhile, leading the line, we could see a rare start for young academy sensation Joe Gelhardt, given he’s the only fit and available striker. That would make him the fourth and final change from the City thrashing.

Predicted Leeds XI (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Struijk, Cooper, Llorente, Ayling; Klich, Phillips; James, Rodrigo, Raphinha; Gelhardt

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano relays big Kalvin Phillips update at Leeds…