All posts by z3u9t.icu

Southampton have well and truly got the ball rolling in terms of their transfer activity this week with the signings of Shea Charles and Ryan Manning.

The pair arrived from Manchester City and Swansea City respectively, and follow in the steps of youngsters Derrick Abu and Josh McNamara in making the switch to St Mary's this summer.

Who are Southampton looking to sign?

The Saints are not finished there, however, as the Daily Mail reports they are considering a move for Hoffenheim winger Jacob Bruun Larsen ahead of kicking off their Championship campaign next month.

Southampton are said to view Larsen as a good option to replenish their squad in the wide positions after selling Mislav Orsic to Trabzonspor, on top of seeing Theo Walcott and Mohamed Elyounoussi depart as free agents.

Russell Martin's side are also expected to lose Romeo Lavia, Tino Livramento and captain James Ward-Prowse in the coming weeks, making it all the more important they appease supporters with more incoming activity.

Who is Hoffenheim winger Jacob Bruun Larsen?

In Larsen, Southampton would be signing a player described as a "mega talent" in waiting by Bundesliga writer Alex Chaffer following his emergence with Danish side Lyngby at the age of 16.

Borussia Dortmund won the race for the teenage talent's signature but, while he has earned six caps for Denmark and played 83 times in the Bundesliga, his career has not truly taken off – hence the links with a side in England's second tier.

Larsen spent the 2020/21 season on loan under Vincent Kompany at Anderlecht before returning to Hoffenheim, but he only started three times in the Bundesliga last time out due to injury issues.

However, the speedy winger – on wages of £30k-per-week, according to Capology – was back in action in the final stages of the season and a move to a new league could provide a platform to kick-start his career.

With four goals in 25 Bundesliga matches when fully fit two seasons ago, Larsen averaged 0.44 goals per 90 minutes, as per FBref.

That is a better return than any Southampton player managed in the Premier League last season, with Carlos Alcaraz leading the way on 0.35 goals per 90.

Southampton also have a good record when it comes to signing Danish players from a German club, as was the case when spending around £15m to land Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in 2020.

Hojbjerg made over 100 Premier League appearances for Southampton across four seasons as a regular and was named captain in December 2018, only to have it stripped off him further down the line as he pushed for a move to Tottenham Hotspur.

Like Larsen, Hojbjerg started off at a Danish club in Brondby before moving to Germany for spells with Bayern Munich, Augsburg and Schalke, the latter two on loan.

Hojbjerg was himself in need of a new challenge after his career started to stagnate at Bayern, which is also true of Larsen at Hoffenheim after four years at the club.

If Southampton do indeed make a move for the 24-year-old, they will be happy to get even half as much out of him as they did compatriot Hojbjerg.

Aston Villa are believed to be interested in signing Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie in the summer transfer window, according to a new update.

Was Weston McKennie a flop at Leeds?

The £49,000-a-week American is currently a Juventus player, with his deal there expiring in the summer of 2025, but it looks as though he is likely to move on in the current window.

Back in January, McKennie joined Leeds United on loan, coming in as what looked like an exciting signing for the Whites, and one that could help them pull clear from the Premier League relegation zone after a poor first half of the season. Instead, there is no question that he was a disappointment at Elland Road overall, ultimately failing to help his team remain in the top flight.

The 24-year-old made 19 appearances in the league for Leeds, not managing to score once and only registering one assist in that time, and his time there went "badly, very badly indeed". Unsurprisingly, there was little talk of McKennie joining permanently at the end of last season, given the Whites' relegation to the Championship, and the midfielder's future remains up in the air.

With Villa continuing to look at summer transfer business of their own, however, it looks as though the Juve man could be a target for them, according to a new update.

Are Aston Villa signing Weston McKennie this summer?

According to Italian publication Calciomercato [via The Boot Room], the Villans are keen on the idea of signing McKennie this summer, with the USA international wanting to prove himself again in the Premier League. They are far from alone in being the only club interested, however, with Borussia Dortmund and Galatasaray also mentioned in the report.

While Juve are believed to have wanted £34.2m for his services at one point, there are now willing to sell him for "drastically" less than that, accepting that his stock has fallen a little in recent months.

There is no doubt that some Villa fans would have reservations about the club bringing in McKennie, due to the level of his performances for Leeds, but they are in a better position than the Whites were, and he could thrive alongside superior players, also feeling more at home if the move is a permanent one.

It shouldn't be forgotten that the midfielder enjoyed a good 2022 World Cup campaign with the USA, making four starts in impressive fashion, and he has also been hailed as "excellent" by journalist Adam Pope during one performance for Leeds, so seemingly can turn it on in the right setting.

At 24, McKennie has lots of improving to do still, and could reap the rewards of playing under Unai Emery, so if the Villa boss sees him as a strong option, his superb performance as manager to date suggests that he and new transfer guru Monchi be trusted in their decision-making.

The Juve ace could come in and provide good competition for place in the middle of the park, while Villa's UEFA Europa Conference League commitments in 2023/24 also heighten the need for the squad to be rotated sensibly, and he could add the desired squad depth to aid that.

Manchester United's persistence to sign the highly rated Inter Milan keeper Andre Onana looks to have paid off as the deal has "progressed" as the club "look to close a deal out", claims transfer insider Dean Jones.

Manchester United transfer news – what's the latest on Dean Jones?

It could finally be the end of the road for David De Gea at Old Trafford as the Spanish goalkeeper's £375,000-a-week contract with the Red Devils runs out at the end of June, and any move to resign him look to have been put on hold.

According to the Athletic, the former Atletico man has communicated his desire to remain at United, but those within the club are 'relaxed' about the situation, feeling they have 'sufficient options to replace him.'

United's relative serenity around their goalkeeper situation probably stems from the club's chances of signing Cameroonian international Onana as a replacement for De Gea, as talks to bring him to Old Trafford have "progressed", per Jones.

According to transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, the Italian giants will want around €60m (£52m) for their brilliant shot-stopper, but that personal terms should be less of a problem as Erik ten Hag "knows the player very well since he was at Ajax, and they have a good relationship."

What has Dean Jones said about Andre Onana to Manchester United?

Jones spoke on the changing nature of United's transfer window and highlighted just how "game-changing" the signing of Onana would be for the Red Devils.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: "The signing of Onana would be game-changing for United – literally. The style of play would be altered and definitely for the better. What he has brought to the identity of Inter Milan's play is hard to praise enough, and as United look to close a deal out, it is pretty exciting.

"This was not a priority coming into the window but United are having to react to the circumstances they find themselves in and I am hearing this really has progressed."

Would Andre Onana be a good signing?

Onana would be an outstanding signing for ten Hag's project at United. Not only is there already a pre-established relationship between the player and manager, but he has also proven himself on the highest stage, the Champions League.

During Inter's run to the final, the 6 foot 3 colossus consistently impressed fans and pundits alike with both his brilliant skills with the ball at his feet and the fact that he still excelled as a traditional shot-stopper when the situation called for it.

Rio Ferdinand heaped praise on the player after their win against AC Milan in the semi-finals, saying:

"[As a] modern-day goalkeeper, he's top class. He takes the ball under pressure, doesn't panic, and brings the other team onto him, which creates space around that.

"He plays over or through the press. He was fabulous tonight in doing that."

He also had a great year in Serie A last season, with WhoScored giving him an average rating of 6.72 across his 24 appearances.

If the Red Devils can secure his signature in the coming weeks, they could be a completely different proposition for teams next season.

West Ham United star Declan Rice's "preferred destination remains" Arsenal and he's "settled in London", according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

Will Arsenal still sign Declan Rice?

Since the beginning of this summer's domestic window, which officially opened last week, reports surrounding the future of Rice have been ever-present.

It was long thought that Arsenal were in pole position for the England international ahead of other previously linked suitors, like Chelsea, but Man City recently entered the fray in their bid to source an Ilkay Gundogan replacement.

Pep Guardiola's involvement slightly complicates matters for Arsenal, who no longer have a clear-run at signing Rice. Some media sources, like Sky's Gianluca Di Marzio, have even claimed that City's talks for Rice are fairly advanced.

News from The Athletic's David Ornstein came in this morning, detailing that the Premier League champions lodged a formal offer for Rice last night, but their £80 million bid (plus £10 million in add-ons) has been rejected.

Arsenal apparently intend to bite back with an offer of their own, which would be their third after two previously rebuffed bids, so the race for Rice is certainly hotting up.

From the player's side, though, Sheth has some good news for Arsenal supporters which may help their side just edge City in the transfer battle.

Speaking on Sky Sports, the journalist claims that Rice's preferred destination remains north London, even if you can't rule out City entirely.

"One source has told us that Declan Rice's preferred destination remains Arsenal," said Sheth.

"Of course, we know in football that can change, if somebody like Manchester City or Pep Guardiola especially, go in for a player, how difficult would it be for someone like Declan Rice to turn down those advances.

"But then you've got to think of it from a human perspective as well, he's got a young family, he's settled in London, a move from West Ham United to Arsenal might be something that he's been thinking about and thinks 'this is where I want to be'.

"So, plenty to think about if you're Declan Rice."

What's been said about Declan Rice?

Called "world class" by sections of the press, West Ham's star 24-year-old showcased yet again why he is a man in demand this summer.

The Hammers captain marked himself out as their best-performing player by average match rating in the English top flight last season (WhoScored), with former England defender Matthew Upson calling him "very mature" for his age.

Chelsea have more attacking reinforcements in mind, namely Victor Osimhen, despite a deal being close for Nicolas Jackson, according to 90min journalist Graeme Bailey.

How many goals has Nicolas Jackson scored?

The current Villareal forward had the best season of his career to date in Spain in 2022/23, as the player plundered 12 goals over the course of just 16 starts in the division for his side. Previously, he had produced no goals for the team in La Liga, playing nine times in the last campaign with no return in front of goal.

This year though, the 21-year-old has emerged as a key player for the side and his goalscoring antics have even led to him outperforming some more experienced strikers across Europe. When you compare his stats to others upfront in the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe for example, he does compare well. With 0.68 non-penalty goals per 90 on average, he sits nicely in the top 6% for that stat – which shows just how clinical he has been in front of goal.

Chelsea have been the most keen to bring the player to the Premier League and it looks like the Blues will get their wish too. A recent report suggests that a deal is getting closer and closer, with Mauricio Pochettino's side ready to pay Jackson's release clause of 35 million Euros (£30m) to get a deal done.

Most notably though, Bailey believes that even if Chelsea get a deal over the line for the player, that will not stop them splashing out on a big name centre forward. It appears as though even if the Villareal man does make the jump to England, he might not be the guaranteed line-leader for the Blues – they remain interested in Napoli's Osimhen, despite a price tag of over £100m, which could make things difficult.

Should Chelsea sign both Jackson and Osimhen?

Despite his age, Jackson has already been highly praised for his contributions at Villareal. Having bagged goals and assists aplenty, football talent scout Jacek Kulig labeled him as La Liga's "MVP" over the last few weeks of the season and added that he had been in "incredible form."

If Chelsea manage to seal a deal for him then, they could be getting a really promising young forward who already knows where the back of the net is. The youngster can also play on either wing though, and that would make room for Osimhen, who boasts a quite ridiculous rate this season of 0.87 non-penalty goals per 90 minutes.

The Nigeria international, dubbed "incredible" and an "absolute beast" by Owen Hargreaves, could lead the line for years to come, with Jackson perhaps more targeted for the versatile role Kai Havertz has often filled.

Manchester City are interested in the services of West Ham United captain Declan Rice, per reports.

Manchester City transfer news – What's the latest on Declan Rice?

According to Sky Sports Italy reporter and transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio, Rice is "getting closer to" signing for Manchester City, who now have "confidence to reach a final agreement with West Ham."

The update comes after David Ornstein broke the news yesterday morning that the Citizens were "expected to submit an offer" to "rival Arsenal" for the England international.

The Premier League champions entering the race for Rice's signature has been an unexpected development.

Following David Sullivan's confirmation that his skipper would be leaving in the summer, it appeared that Mikel Arteta's side had been in the driving seat.

However, disagreements over fees and payment structure for the £120m-valued star seem to have left the door open for other teams to enter the race, and with the departure of Ilkay Gundogan to Barcelona this week, midfield reinforcements will be needed at the Etihad.

Could Declan Rice be the next Sergio Busquets under Pep Guardiola?

It's a massive question to ask of the 24-year-old.

Sergio Busquets is considered by many pundits and fans alike to be one of the best, if not the best defensive midfielder of the last two decades.

He was certainly a key figure under the stewardship of Pep Guardiola for four years, with the City boss being the man to unearth him from the famed La Masia academy back in 2008. Now, the Spaniard could find his next version of the colossal defensive midfielder in Rice, given the aforementioned reports.

With the massive potential West Ham's "monster" has, as once described by ESPN's David Cartlidge, Rice could certainly get close to emulating Busquets at the Etihad.

Former City legend Sergio Aguero believes the Hammers "destroyer" – who Paul Robinson previously hailed – is already at the level of the legendary Barcelona man.

Speaking to Stake (via football365), he said:

"For me, he is a great player and is at the same level as the best midfielders like Busquets, Rodri and Casemiro. But he has proven himself and I think he is one of the strengths of the England team at the World Cup."

His supporters also seem to think there is more than a passing similarity, dubbing him 'Basmati Busquets.'

The first comparison to make between the players is their physical characteristics.

There is little between them in terms of height, with West Ham's gem coming in at 6 foot 1, whereas the Spanish icon is ever so slightly taller at 6 foot 2. However, when it comes to their weight, the Kingston upon Thames-born titan has a slight advantage, coming in at 80kg compared to between 76-78kg for Busquets.

That may not seem like a massive difference, but it certainly helps in the more physical Premier League.

There is little to separate their seasons last year, either.

According to WhoScored, the Sabadell-born midfielder averaged a rating of 6.99 across his 30 La Liga games, whereas Rice averaged 7.01 across his 37 games.

What about their underlying numbers? Can we differentiate them that way?

Well, according to FBref, despite the La Masia graduate carrying the ball 52.6 times per 90 to Rice's 35, it's the Englishman who consistently moves the ball further into the oppositions half, averaging a progressive distance of 112.7 yards per 90 compared to Busquets 97.6.

It highlights one of the differences between the players, a contrast dictated by the system in which they have played most of their football.

Barcelona have always been more expressive, more about passing and moving, hypnotising the opponent with a dizzying array of passes, whereas, under David Moyes, the more rigid east London outfit have been far more direct, even counter-attacking at times, which Rice to be less expressive with his passing and instead focus more on driving at opponents to unsettle them.

That's not to say he couldn't work in a quick passing system as also, per FBref, he sits at a pass completion rate of 86.9%, just slightly behind Busquets on 89.3%.

The dynamic midfielder has also made no secret of his admiration for the World Cup winner, saying:

"Busquets is the one I've watched since I was a kid. He doesn't move from the centre circle. He plays with 360 vision."

Whether Rice comes to emulate Busquets completely or not, under Guardiola, he would certainly become a scary proposition for opponents.

An update has emerged on Chelsea and their plans to improve the quality of their attacking options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest on Kylian Mbappe to Chelsea?

According to The Times, the Blues are ready to register their interest in signing Paris St-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe if he becomes available in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the French international has told his current club that he will not be extending his current contract beyond 2024, which means that the dazzling attacker is set to be a free agent at the end of next season.

PSG are unwilling to lose him for nothing next year and will, therefore, be open to cashing in on the former Monaco starlet if there is no chance of the 24-year-old putting pen to paper on an extension, which could open the door for Mauricio Pochettino to swoop in.

How would Kylian Mbappe fit in at Chelsea?

The Chelsea boss could finally replace Eden Hazard for the club by snapping up the speedy Frenchman, who is valued at €136m (£116m) by FootballTransfers, as he could slot in on the left side of the manager's attack.

Since the Belgian international left Stamford Bridge, no winger has scored (15) or assisted (16) as many goals as he did in the 2018/19 Premier League campaign. Mason Mount's tally of 11 goals and ten assists in 2021/22 is the closest any midfielder has come to replicating those numbers.

Hazard, who plundered 110 goals and 92 assists in 352 outings for the Blues, was a mercurial talent on the left wing, one that was able to cut inside onto his favoured right foot with devastating effect over the course of several years.

Mbappe, who was described as an "alien" by Poland international Piotr Zielinski, is a player with the quality to have a similar, and potentially greater, impact in the Premier League for Chelsea.

The PSG no.7 struck 29 times and created 17 'big chances' for his teammates in Ligue 1 in 32 outings during the 2022/23 campaign. This came after the "electric" whiz – as he was dubbed by journalist Matt Lawton – racked up 28 goals and 17 assists in the French top-flight a season earlier.

These statistics suggest that the 2018 World Cup winner, who can play off the left and through the middle, has the ability, both in terms of scoring and creating goals, to be a Hazard-like figure for Pochettino at Chelsea.

Therefore, Mbappe could be a sensational addition to the squad and one that could elevate the club's attack next season in a way that has not been seen since the Belgian magician completed his move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2019.

Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter could still be in contention to become Leeds United's next manager, according to a key update from journalist Ben Jacobs.

Who's likely to take charge of Leeds?

There is a constant search going on to find the Whites' new boss this summer, as they prepare for life back in the Championship after three years away.

A host of different names have been thrown into the hat over the past couple of weeks, whether it be Steven Gerrard, Carlos Corberan or Scott Parker, among others, and Rodgers and Potter have also been named as potential candidates to come in.

The pair were sacked by Leicester City and Chelsea earlier in the season, respectively, and will no doubt be champing at the bit to get back into management.

While it has appeared unlikely that Leeds would be able to entice either of them to Elland Road, given the Whites' relegation, a new update does give them some fresh hope.

Are Rodgers and Potter in the mix?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs said that both Rodgers and Potter are still in the conversation to take charge of Leeds, even though their preference is to remain in the Premier League:

"There are obviously a few candidates that Leeds are looking at at the moment. We're hearing growing talk of names like Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter.

"I think both of those would see themselves as Premier League managers, but Leeds are a big club and in a year might be in the Premier League again, which is why Leeds may feel that they have that opportunity."

To get either Rodgers or Potter would be a major coup for Leeds, considering they are arguably seen as two of the best British managers around, even if things didn't end well for them at Leicester and Chelsea.

In many ways, it could be a major show of their own self-confidence if they decide to take charge of the Whites, in terms of backing themselves to get back into the Premier League straight away, and accept that they will spend one season managing in the second tier of English football.

It does still feel likely that Rodgers and Potter will be more unattainable than others, though – Gerrard will be desperate to test himself again and Corberan is still young, for example – but it is encouraging to see their names in the mix still, highlighting how big a club Leeds are.

Leeds United are unlikely to bring in either Brendan Rodgers or Graham Potter as their new manager this summer, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

Who has been linked with Leeds job?

The Whites ended up getting through three managers during the 2022/23 season, with Jesse Marsch eventually replaced by Javi Gracia, as his reign got progressively worse.

The Spaniard fared no better, however, and with Leeds spinning towards the Championship under him, Sam Allardyce was brought in to mastermind a recovery act. He didn't have long enough to make his presence felt, however, and he left the club last week after the Whites were relegated from the Premier League.

Those high up at Elland Road are now looking to nail the next managerial appointment this summer, with a number of individuals already linked with the vacant job.

Two of those are Rodgers and Potter, both of whom were sacked by Leicester City and Chelsea respectively earlier in the campaign, but are still considered good British coaches.

Are Rodgers and Potter unlikely to join?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs admitted that Rodgers and Potter are unlikely to want to head into the Championship, given their current respective statuses in the game:

"We're going to see other candidates linked, like Graham Potter and Brendan Rodgers, but I sense these are names that were being discussed when Leeds were still in the Premier League with a chance of safety.

"I think the likes of Rodgers and Potter can get quite big Premier League jobs still. Leeds are a big club, so if they were in the Premier League, maybe in the off-season and with new owners that would have been of appeal. But I would be surprised if Potter or Rodgers personally considered dropping down into the Championship."

In truth, this was always going to be a potential issue for Leeds when it came to finding a top-class new manager, with the Premier League seen as the holy grail, and dropping down to the second tier an understandable backward step in their career.

For that reason, both Rodgers and Potter have always felt a little pie in the sky, and it could be that someone like Steven Gerrard is the best option, with the Liverpool legend having something to prove after an underwhelming spell at Aston Villa.

Meanwhile, former Leeds Under-21s boss Carlos Corberan could also be a strong choice, with the 40-year-old already thriving in the Championship with West Brom, and possibly seeing a return to Elland Road as an exciting avenue to go down.

Jurgen Klopp was left angered at one incident involving Roberto Firmino in Liverpool's 4-4 draw away to Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

How did Liverpool fare at Southampton?

The Reds faced their final game of a hugely disappointing season, making the trip to an already-threatened Saints side who have also struggled in their own right. Fifth place was the best that Klopp's side could hope for going into the match, and it proved to be a crazy game at St Mary's, with neither side having much to play for.

Diogo Jota capitalised on a dreadful misplaced pass by rumoured Liverpool transfer target Romeo Lavia to give the visitors the lead, before Firmino made it 2-0 in his last-ever match in a Reds shirt.

Southampton fought back impressively, however, with James Ward-Prowse reducing the arrears with a well-taken effort, before Kamaldeen Sulemana equalised with a shot that Caoimhin Kelleher failed to keep out.

Early in the second half, he then put the hosts with a curled finish from the edge of the penalty area, as the Reds fell to pieces on the south coast, with some of the defending on show summing up their struggles in that area throughout the season.

Substitute Adam Armstrong made it 4-2 just after coming in to seemingly compound Liverpool's misery, but Cody Gakpo and Jota scored in the space of a few minutes to make it 4-4.

What did Firmino do wrong v Saints?

Taking to Twitter, Ian Doyle spotted Klopp's anger at one moment involving Firmino during the first half, in which he failed to make life easy for teammate Curtis Jones:

"Klopp not happy with Firmino after one very strongly hit pass gave Jones not much chance to control."

In truth, this wasn't a day to be too bothered about Firmino's negative involvement against Saints, instead focusing on a legendary career from the Brazilian.

The £180,000-a-week attacker has been a true modern-day great at Anfield, scoring 111 goals and registering 79 assists, with his selfless style the perfect foil for Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane at his peak.

He should be remembered as one of the most influential figures of the Klopp era, arriving in 2015 and spending eight iconic years on Merseyside, winning the Champions League and Premier League, among numerous other trophies. It is great to see him bow out with a goal in both his final home game and last-ever match for Liverpool, too, and the hope is that he continues to enjoy the rest of his career, wherever he ends up.