All posts by h716a5.icu

Former Scottish Premiership striker Frank McAvennie claims that Glasgow Rangers do not have the money to sign Malik Tillman this summer.

The Lowdown: Tillman offered

It has been reported that Bayern Munich are happy for Rangers to sign Tillman on a permanent deal once his loan spell ends.

However, they want £6.2m for a permanent sale, which is thought to be ‘prohibitive’ for the Ibrox outfit.

Alfredo Morelos has reportedly signed a pre-contract agreement with Sevilla, meaning that they will not receive a transfer fee for him, while Ryan Kent is also out of contract this summer, and has reportedly been approached by Leeds United.

The Latest: ‘Diabolical’

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie did not hold back when asked about the Gers’ potential summer transfer window, claiming that they will not sign Tillman as he is too expensive, and running both Morelos and Kent’s contracts down is ‘diabolical’:

“Rangers have not got the money to buy Tillman.

“That is not going to happen. Whoever makes these decisions at Rangers should be sacked.

“To let Kent’s and Morelos’ contracts run down is nothing short of diabolical. Why would you want to do that? I was sure they would have been out in January.“

The Verdict: Money wasted

Losing Morelos and potentially Kent on free transfers is certainly money wasted by the Light Blues, and explains why they may not be able to afford Tillman.

Lauded as an ‘epic talent‘ by former Teddy Bears manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst, the loanee has settled in well in Scottish football, with nine goals and five assists in 37 matches in total over all competitions so far this term (Transfermarkt).

Michael Beale’s side simply need to do all that they can to make this deal into a permanent one, and that may lead to having to sell one or two squad players in order to help fund the move.

Arsenal fans will be extremely excited about the future of Folarin Balogun given his superb performances in Ligue 1 with Stade de Reims so far this season but Mikel Arteta could have another superstar waiting in the wings at London Colney.

Nikolaj Moller arrived at the Premier League leaders with a big reputation and will be hoping to make an impression in the first team in the coming years, having spent time away from the Gunners on loan in recent seasons.

Who is Nikolaj Moller?

The 20-year-old joined Arsenal from Malmo in October 2020 and was an instant hit with the U23s side, hitting seven goals and three assists in 18 appearances in the Premier League 2 in the 2020/21 campaign.

He was sent out on loan to FC Victoria Koln the following season, and while he failed to find the back of the net in ten appearances in Germany's third tier, he did score three times and assist once in just two appearances in the DFB Pokal.

The Sweden U20 international has spent time with FC Den Bosch in the Netherlands in each of the last two campaigns, notching a combined five goals and two assists in just 27 appearances, which suggests that he is not struggling to adapt to senior football.

Moller, who is described on Arsenal's website as "a towering striker with devastating finishing ability and strong link-up play", will draw natural comparisons with legendary Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, because of his style of play and 6 foot 4 stature.

Indeed, he has already been compared to the great Swede, with one of Moller's former youth coaches, Robin Asterhed, not only labelling him a "super talent" but suggesting "there are some similarities with a young Ibra."

The former Barcelona and Inter forward is still going strong at the age of 41 with AC Milan and boasts an incredible record of 493 goals and 202 assists in 819 club appearances across his career thus far.

He has also scored a phenomenal 62 goals in 121 appearances for his country and has won a plethora of awards across a glittering career that has spanned across Europe and America, with 32 club trophies under his belt.

Naturally, if Moller was able to reach anywhere near that level in his time with Arsenal, then he could prove to be a huge success at the Emirates, and fans will be hoping that they can finally possess their own Ibrahimovic, having famously failed to sign the striker when he was just 19.

With Balogun attracting interest from across Europe after hitting 17 goals in 25 Ligue 1 appearances so far this season, Arsenal may have to look towards Moller as their next young striker to take up the wonderkid mantle.

Tottenham Hotspur's reported managerial target, Julian Nagelsmann, is keen to join a club who has a solid project in place and where he can form a good relationship with the board.

Could Nagelsmann replace Conte?

Reports are suggesting the German manager is now a front-runner and target for Daniel Levy after the north London club announced the sacking of Antonio Conte on Sunday night.

The announcement brought an end to the Italian's one-and-a-half-year stint in north London where he leaves behind Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason until the end of the season.

However, it seems as if Spurs could be looking to act quickly and move for the 35-year-old coach who has also recently been relieved of his duties by Bayern Munich.

And speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has provided an insight as to what Spurs will need to demonstrate if they are to persuade Nagelsmann to join:

(4:10) "For him, it's crucial to have a project. It's not just about the money, the contract, he wants to see a project, a vision. He wants to have an influence and also a good relationship with the board. This is really crucial for Julian Nagelsmann after what happened at Bayern.

"And so this is why at the moment we have lots of stories, but from my understanding, Nagelsmann will take some time and then will make a decision on when he will be ready to return to coaching."

Would Spurs be right for Nagelsmann?

There could well be some concern from Nagelsmann's side in terms of what the future now looks like for Spurs after two of the game's biggest managers (Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte) have left prematurely.

And this will be a concern which is also shared by a lot of Spurs fans who may feel they are not in a better position than they were just over three years ago when Mauricio Pochettino was sacked.

There are 10 games remaining in the 2022/23 campaign and Spurs are now up against it if they are to secure a spot inside the top four with some huge games ahead next month.

Whether Spurs land a spot in the Champions League could well be a deciding factor for Nagelsmann who may see Europa League football – or worse – too big of a step-down having managed Bayern.

And the future of Harry Kane will undoubtedly be a question mark which Nagelsmann may have given he has just left a club who are reportedly interested in him ahead of the summer.

But perhaps the biggest concern may be the potential relationship he could have with Levy who Conte did not hold back in calling out recently in a post-match press conference.

However, on the back of their shortfallings under Mourinho and Conte, it may be seen as the only way to move on is to invest in a long-term manager.

And Nagelsmann could certainly offer that at the age of just 35, but it will remain to be seen whether he is convinced of what he could inherit in the north London side.

Tottenham sporting director Fabio Paratici ‘loves’ former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique as reporter Alasdair Gold shares what he knows on the tactician.

The Lowdown: Conte leaving?

Spurs head coach Antonio Conte is thought to be slipping closer and closer to the N17 exit door with reports suggesting that he has no future at the club.

The Italian’s contract is set to expire at the end of this Premier League season, and while Spurs have the option to extend his stay by 12 months, that is currently very unlikely to happen.

Conte is allegedly set to be sacked by the Lilywhites and chairman Daniel Levy as Paratici is tasked with finding his replacement.

A shortlist has already been drawn up with many names in contention. including Mauricio Pochettino, Roberto De Zerbi, Luis Enrique, Thomas Tuchel, Marco Silva and Thomas Frank.

Conte’s outburst after Spurs’ 3-3 draw at Southampton last weekend appears to have been the final with Chelsea’s former head coach seriously not holding back.

“We are 11 players that go into the pitch. I see selfish players, I see players that don’t want to help each other and don’t put their heart (in),” said a furious Conte at St. Mary’s, continuing further to lash out at the board and club as a whole.

The Latest: Gold shares Enrique to Spurs update…

Speaking in a football.london Q&A, the reliable Spurs reporter claims Paratici ‘loves’ the former Spain manager and he could be a ‘fascinating’ option.

He adds that Enrique could be a risky option considering his lack of experience in England and the fact his football is ‘very different’ to Conte’s.

Gold said:

“Luis Enrique would be a fascinating choice and he’s someone Fabio Paratici loves, along with Porto boss Sergio Conceicao, who is reportedly considering stepping down at the Portuguese side.

“Enrique’s football is very different to Conte’s and would require a revamping of the squad, which might be no bad thing. There’s also a element of risk with the Spaniard when it comes to his lack of success outside of his club management in his homeland, mainly those two seasons at Barcelona, and trying to apply his methods quickly at a Premier League club aiming to remain a top four club would be a big task.”

The Verdict: Perfect Pochettino alternative?

The Champions League-winning boss is certainly an option with real pedigree given he has managed some of the biggest names in world football and competed for the biggest prizes.

We believe Enrique would be a perfect Pochettino alternative given the Spaniard’s status as a current free agent and emphasis on attacking football.

Reports have also suggested that the 52-year-old is a real frontrunner for the Spurs job so this could well be one to keep a close, close eye on.

Liverpool will travel to west London this evening for their Premier League clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and Jurgen Klopp will be hoping that his squad can quickly recover from their 4-1 defeat against Manchester City.

The Reds are now eight points adrift of the Champions League qualifying spots inside the top four and a win over a managerless Chelsea will be integral to their chances of closing that gap between themselves and Tottenham Hotspur in fourth.

Something needs to change as the side put in another uninspiring shift at the Etihad and Klopp hinted in his pre-match press conference that the side could look different to the one he lined up on Saturday:

"We need a reaction badly. It was a super strange game (v City). Second half was not acceptable, but it happened anyway."

"Short turnaround means I have no clue who I can line up. We give the boys as much time as possible to recover but there will be changes, definitely."

As a result, it could be a great opportunity for the German coach to give starts to players who haven't had many opportunities to prove themselves this season with Curtis Jones available for selection.

Will Curtis Jones start vs Chelsea?

It is no secret that the midfield has suffered this season with multiple injuries hindering Klopp's opportunity to select his very best options in the centre of the pitch, alongside a lack of quality and pace, as many opponents have outrun Liverpool in the Premier League this term.

Naby Keita, Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara remain unavailable for selection due to injury issues, which means that the Liverpool boss will have his options limited when trying to add fresh perspectives and fresh legs into the midfield this evening.

Jones has made just 13 appearances this season as the academy graduate has struggled with injury issues himself.

However, he will be an option for the starting XI against Chelsea and could replace Harvey Elliott after he was 'caught up in the City whirlwind' – as per journalist Ian Doyle – having failed to offer 'enough defensively' in the words of Matt Addison during that encounter.

Jones is a variable alternative as a result of his efforts at both ends of the pitch, but it's in attack where he could make the biggest difference against a beleaguered Chelsea.

The £15k-per-week "massive talent" – as dubbed by Klopp – has tallied up eight goals and ten assists over his 86 senior appearances so far and, like Elliott, is a player who is keen to break the lines to become part of the attacking threat.

That could be incredibly valuable to his team against Chelsea in the pursuit of gaining an early lead.

With that being said, the Liverpool boss must unleash Jones against Chelsea. After such a restricted season, he has a point to prove and could inject some life back into the midfield three, giving the team something different to improve upon the uninspiring display seen just a few days ago.

Tottenham Hotspur have their eyes set on potentially appointing Roberto De Zerbi as their next permanent manager to replace Antonio Conte.

Would De Zerbi leave Brighton for Spurs?

It has been a turbulent season for the north London side who now sit outside of the Champions League spots having taken just two points from their last two games against Southampton and Everton.

Their poor form on the road has also left Spurs susceptible to Brighton & Hove Albion who could overtake the Lilywhites if they win their two games in hand.

And they could make big strides to do so on Saturday when they travel to north London where they will face Cristian Stellini's Spurs.

This could potentially be seen as De Zerbi's audition in front of Daniel Levy with the Italian believed to be one of the options on Tottenham's shortlist.

However, reports recently have suggested that after Spurs made an approach to the Italian's camp, the noises they have heard back have not been overly positive.

And speaking on the Gold & Guest Talk Tottenham podcast, Alasdair Gold has claimed those around the Italian have suggested he is a bit emotional and mad behind the scenes:

(52:20) "I know it will be another Italian and he's quite emotional Italian from what it sounds like and I think behind the scenes, he can be a bit of a madcap chap from some of the people I've spoken to that know him.

"But I do think he's another character that would step in and try to grab Spurs by the scruff of the neck and that's what they need."

Would De Zerbi bring Conte similarities?

Perhaps the biggest issue for Spurs fans regarding Conte was his negative style of football which saw many grow tiresome of the Italian.

And in this sense, there is a stark contrast between the two Italian bosses with De Zerbi's Brighton demonstrating themselves to be one of the most exciting sides to watch in the Premier League.

Only the Premier League's top two sides have recorded a higher average possession than the Seagulls (59.9%) this season which is considerably higher than that of Spurs.

However, it is perhaps what De Zerbi is extracting out of the players he has available which is most impressive.

Youngster Evan Ferguson is a great example. Under the Italian, the Irishman is quickly emerging as one of the Premier League's brightest talents and is being given a real opportunity in the side.

And with a number of players at Spurs, like Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski, struggling to find any kind of form, the prospect of an attack-minded manager has to be a big appeal.

But perhaps the 43-year-old does not carry only positives with him as Gold suggests there is also a fiery side to the Italian.

Spurs will be all too familiar with Italian managers so it would be interesting to see whether Conte's time at Spurs may have scarred Levy slightly.

Insider Dean Jones has claimed that Todd Boehly wants Julian Nagelsmann at Chelsea as his preferred next manager.

What is the latest Todd Boehly news at Chelsea?

The Blues American co-owner has stolen plenty of headlines since becoming a central figure with the Premier League club.

For instance, Boehly his board members Behdad Eghbali and Hansjorg Wyss visited the Chelsea dressing room after the recent loss to Brighton and supposedly told the squad that their season had been “embarrassing” (via Evening Standard).

Perhaps the team would look a little more stable on the pitch if there was any sense of stability off it. After all, with Frank Lampard now in charge as interim, the Blues have already had three managers this season with Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter sacked earlier in the campaign.

It now seems that Boehly has his heart set on the next man to take charge of his club. While speaking on the latest episode of Chasing Green Arrows, Jones explained as much.

The journalist said (10:40): “I know Chelsea have spoken to him [Luis Enrique] and liked what he had to say.

"I know that… I get the feeling that ideally Todd Boehly would still go for Nagelsmann."

Is Nagelsmann or Luis Enrique better for Chelsea?

As Jones references, the Blues have also been heavily linked with a move for Spanish manager Luis Enrique, with reports suggesting Tottenham Hotspur are also keen on the 52-year-old.

However, if the quotes above are indeed accurate, it seems Boehly would prefer 35-year-old Nagelsmann to take over from Lampard next season instead.

The German is younger and so has less experience than Luis Enrique, but has still won the Bundesliga as well as two German Super Cups with Bayern Munich.

The Spaniard, on the other hand, won it all essentially with Barcelona as his team lifted La Liga, the Champions League, the Club World Cup and much more during his spell with the Catalan giants.

With that in mind, it remains unclear as to why exactly Boehly might prefer Nagelsmann instead. After all, he did just sack Potter who is also relatively young and inexperienced compared to many.

Although, he did also hire the former Brighton boss hoping he could fulfil his potential with the Blues.

Perhaps the American sees Nagelsmann are another Potter-like manager with plenty of talent, except his recent experience with Munich makes him slightly better suited for arriving at Chelsea and handling the immediate weight of expectation.

Chelsea are likely to be in the market for a striker this summer, and their new manager could be presented with a number of options ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.

Goalscoring has been a major issue for the Blues in the top flight so far this campaign, with just 30 goals in 31 outings, and it appears that a clinical forward is required if the west London outfit are to challenge at the top again next season.

Although Romelu Lukaku could still return after his loan spell with Inter, Todd Boehly could find a significantly more reliable option in Brentford talisman Ivan Toney.

Could Chelsea sign Ivan Toney?

In a recent article for GiveMeSport, journalist Dean Jones detailed five different striker options for Chelsea ahead of what will be a vitally important summer transfer window for the club, while touching on the chances of Toney moving across west London.

He wrote: "Toney has proven himself to be a regular goalscorer in the Premier League and he has a confidence in his own ability that Chelsea have been crying out for.

"A ban is looming over his betting investigation and that needs to be factored into the potential of any pursuit, but it is true that he has caught the eye of Chelsea recruiters who feel he could be a good fit with the other attacking players available to them.

"Brentford will not let him leave easily. They sold Ollie Watkins to Aston Villa for £33m at a time when he had not even played in the Premier League. Toney eclipses anything he had achieved and will easily be valued at over £50m by the Bees."

Would Toney be an upgrade on Lukaku?

As Jones suggests, Toney has developed a supreme confidence in his own ability which has been cultivated in a series of phenomenal goalscoring seasons in the lower leagues and the top flight.

He crashed in 49 goals in 94 appearances for Peterborough United before earning a move to the Bees, where he broke a long-standing record in the Championship for most goals scored by a single player, hitting 33 as Thomas Frank's side were promoted through the play-offs.

The English forward enjoyed a strong debut campaign in the Premier League with 12 goals and five assists, while he has been one of the most consistent players in the division so far this season, registering 18 goals and four assists in just 29 appearances.

Frank was full of praise for his star striker in 2021, saying:

"If you want to be a top player you need to work hard, constantly reflect and want to learn and then of course you need to have that confidence that he’s got so naturally.

"He’s coming across so fantastically: he’s humble, calm, but with a mindset of a lion."

By comparison, Kai Havertz is the top scorer at Stamford Bridge this term with just seven Premier League goals, while the £97.5m spent on Lukaku in 2021 has also gone down the drain as he continues to struggle out on loan with Inter.

The Belgian forward would manage just eight top-flight goals last season and has registered just three in Serie A during his current loan spell, so looks unlikely to be the saviour at Chelsea next year.

Not only is Toney a younger, more confident goalscorer than Lukaku, but he has also averaged far more shots (3 vs 1.7), aerials won (3.4 vs 1.6) and average passes (23.1 vs 13.2) than the 29-year-old this season, so could represent a significant upgrade at Stamford Bridge should Boehly bring him in.

When asked to reel off the star names at Parkhead this season, Celtic supporters would be quick to put forward the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate and Cameron Carter-Vickers, with that trio having yet again been integral to the club's title charge.

One man who is perhaps a more unsung hero, however, is first-choice left-back, Greg Taylor, with the Scotland international having been something of an everpresent for Ange Postecoglou's side this term.

Despite the Old Firm outfit splashing out £3.75m to sign a direct rival to the £8.2k-per-week menace in the form of Alexandro Bernabei, the former Kilmarnock man has more than risen to the challenge, having started 35 games across all fronts this term.

That consistent run of form – which has seen the 25-year-old provide three goals and three assists in all competitions – has followed the full-back's "wonderful" performances in last year's glorious campaign, as per pundit Frank McAvennie, having been an obvious beneficiary of Postecoglou's arrival in the dugout.

As McAvennie also noted last year, the ten-cap rock has "improved so much" since the Greek-Aussie took charge in the summer of 2021, with that resurgence having been evident amid the defender's soaring valuation.

How much is Greg Taylor worth now?

Plucked from Rubgy Park by then-Hoops boss Neil Lennon for an undisclosed fee just under four years ago, Taylor initially endured a difficult time of it at the club, with ex-Bhoys playmaker Kris Commons noting that supporters had been "slaughtering his performances" in those early days.

The diminutive asset had been dealt a "raw deal" – according to Commons – after being forced to fill the void of Kieran Tierney on the left side of the defence, with the latter man having made the move to Arsenal for £25m in 2019.

As Commons has since stated, however, it looks as if Taylor has now "stepped out of Tierney's shadow", emerging as a real "leader" in Postecoglou's starting lineup, according to pundit Mark Wilson.

That change in fortunes is showcased by the fact that back in February 2020, during the 5 foot 7 man's first season at Celtic Park, he was valued at as little as £1m, according to Transfermarkt, albeit with that valuation now soaring to £5m – representing an increase of 400% in the last three years.

As the aforementioned Wilson stated earlier in the campaign, the Greenock-born ace has enjoyed a "tremendous season" for the rampant league leaders, having been "playing some of the best football of his career" in recent times.

Encouragingly, however, it does not appear that Taylor is the finished article just yet, as – in the words of Postecoglou – "there is more to come from him"…

Leeds United have been plunged further into crisis following Sunday's shambolic defeat away to AFC Bournemouth, with recent reports suggesting that manager Javi Gracia – who only took on the job back in February – could already be set for the scrap heap.

For all the scrutiny that will be on the under-fire Spaniard, the players themselves must surely take a fair chunk of responsibility for the club's ongoing woes, with the backline, in particular, having been culpable so far this season.

The Elland Road outfit currently have the worst defensive record in the division having shipped 67 goals in just 34 Premier League games to date, with that grim tally having not been aided by recent, dismal showings against the likes of Liverpool, Crystal Palace and the Cherries.

That latter, 4-1 result proved another rough day for struggling centre-back, Robin Koch, with it perhaps time for the Whites to simply admit that the German defender is just "not good enough" – as per pundit Gabby Agbonlahor – and remove him from the side with immediate effect.

How did Koch perform against Bournemouth?

With recent reports suggesting that the former Freiburg man – who has just over a year left on his current deal – could be set to depart the club this summer, amid interest from Tottenham Hotspur, it may well be a real blessing if the 26-year-old is shown the door ahead of next season.

Previously lambasted as being "horrible to watch" by journalist Beren Cross, the £11.5m addition was again something of a liability against Gary O'Neil's men on Sunday, notably failing adequately to clear his lines in the build-up to the hosts' third goal of the day.

The manner in which the eight-cap dud clumsily tried to intercept Dango Ouattara's rather tame pullback truly did epitomise his overall woes, with Leeds Live's William Jackson writing that the 6 foot 4 man 'never looked comfortable in the backline and committed a number of needless errors.'

Also described as having looked 'shaky' by the Yorkshire Evening Post's Graham Smyth, Koch's shortcomings were showcased by the fact that he was dribbled past on three occasions and lost possession nine times on the day, having also made just a solitary tackle.

Unsurprisingly, the £40k-per-week brute recorded a dismal match rating of just 5.7, as per Sofascore, with only teammate Illan Meslier (4.5) having recorded a worse rating among any player for either side at the Vitality Stadium.

With the Yorkshire side – who also shipped a staggering 79 goals in the top flight last season – in desperate need of results over the final four games of the season, it should well be time that Koch is ruthlessly ditched from the starting lineup, having endured yet another horror show on the south coast.