All posts by h716a5.icu

Tottenham manager target Julian Nagelsmann and his agents have ‘reached out’ to Spurs and are ready for talks, according to journalist Graeme Bailey.

What’s the latest on Nagelsmann to Spurs?

The 35-year-old is one of a few young, exciting managers who Spurs are targeting to replace Antonio Conte – with Burnley boss Vincent Kompany and Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim among the others.

Chairman Daniel Levy, after his side were embarrassed at Newcastle United on Sunday, make the big call to sack interim head coach Cristian Stellini – replacing him with Ryan Mason until the end of this Premier League campaign.

The result dealt Spurs a huge blow in the race for Champions League qualification, with rivals Man United and the Magpies both significantly out in front of Mason’s men with games in hand. Pressure is growing on Levy to nail his next decision, and it’s a big one – who will be Tottenham’s next manager.

Two big name free agent managers who have been heavily linked with a move to N17 lately are Nagelsmann and former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique. Both names could be attractive to supporters who want the return of attacking football and a coach with trophy-winning pedigree.

Nagelsmann has been mooted as a top target this month, with reporter Bailey sharing news on Twitter and in a collaborative 90min article with Tom Gott.

The journalist claims, in a big boost for Spurs, that the former Bayern Munich boss’ camp have ‘reached out’ to Tottenham with Nagelsmann now ready to speak with them over the manager role.

He explained:

Should Spurs go for Nagelsmann?

With Pochettino out of the picture, it makes perfect sense to throw the kitchen sink at trying to persuade Nagelsmann.

The former RB Leipzig boss was shockingly dismissed by Bayern, recently despite the Bavarians fighting on all fronts at the time, opening the door for Spurs to tempt him with an England move.

BBC Sport Writer Raj Chohan called Nagelsmann a ‘phenomenal’ tactical innovator after one of his Bayern solutions recently, stating:

“Switching to a 3 CB system to help solve Kimmich’s isolation issues in midfield as a lone 6, is another example of Nagelsmann being a phenomenal tactical innovator.”

This could be the kind of name needed at Spurs amid a very uncertain time.

West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta is “back in the squad” for their Europa Conference League game against KAA Gent, according to David Moyes.

What's the latest injury news on Paqueta?

The Brazilian arrived in the Premier League back in August when he put pen to paper on a five-year deal from Lyon and during his 28 appearances to date, has been a real standout performer at the London Stadium. As per WhoScored, the Irons talisman is currently the E20 outfit’s top-performing defensive player and second overall with a match rating of 6.85, but he has recently been on the sidelines.

The Nike-sponsored star was missing from the matchday squad for Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Fulham, with the boss detailing that he picked up a minor knock to the ankle during the previous 5-1 defeat to Newcastle United, though a positive update on his situation has now emerged.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Moyes confirmed that Paqueta will be available for selection for tonight’s fixture under the lights against Gent. As quoted by West Ham’s official website, he said:

"Paqueta got quite a bad knock [against Newcastle] and he trained a little bit on Friday. We thought he'd be okay [for Fulham], but his ankle was too puffy. But he's trained a couple of days [this week] and he's back in the squad."

Will Paqueta's return be positive for West Ham?

Paqueta’s technical ability has been lauded a “total joy” by journalist Josh Bunting and it’ll be a massive boost for Moyes to have him at his disposal for West Ham’s highly anticipated European showdown.

The Brazil Soccer client has provided three assists and scored two goals across all competitions this season, including one assist in six Conference League outings, so is capable of stepping up to the plate and contributing to efforts in the final third (Transfermarkt).

Even when he’s not on the scoresheet, the left-footed ace ranks in the 96th percentile for shots at a rate of 2.29 per game – higher than any other Irons midfielder – when compared to other players in his position at the top level over the past year (via FBref).

Paqueta is additionally a wonderfully versatile operator, having played in defensive, central and attacking midfield over the course of the current campaign, so is a useful option for the manager to have available for selection and he will undoubtedly have a huge role to play should he be given the nod tonight.

Liverpool are in desperate need of reinforcements this summer following a tumultuous season that has seen their once-successful squad turn stale in recent months.

The Reds have been knocked out of every opportunity to win a trophy this season and are currently ten points adrift of the Champions League qualifying spots inside the Premier League top four ahead of their clash with Arsenal this weekend.

Indeed, reinvestment into the forward line seems to have been the priority for FSG over the last two seasons, with Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo all making the move to Merseyside to compete for a spot in the club's infamous front three.

However, this focus on forwards has left other areas of the pitch to decline, with several key players reaching the latter stages of their careers – including Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Thiago Alcantara, Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip, who are all well into their 30s at this point.

As a result, it will be absolutely imperative that the Anfield powerbrokers utilise the summer transfer window to spark a youth revolution by adding young and hungry talents into the centre of the pitch and defensive setup ahead of next season.

One player who has recently been linked to a Liverpool move is PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Sangare, a player who could not only be a cheaper alternative to fellow transfer target Matheus Nunes, but be a better all-round player than the Wolverhampton Wanderers ace.

Will Liverpool sign Ibrahima Sangare?

Liverpool have failed to permanently sign a midfielder since Thiago joined from Bayern Munich back in 2020, so new additions to the midfield personnel will surely be warmly welcomed by the Anfield faithful.

Not only that, but Naby Keita, Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all set to make an exit this summer due to their contracts expiring, which only adds more pressure to the Liverpool hierarchy's efforts to identify and secure the services of quality midfielders who can add depth to the heart of the team.

There is no doubt that the signing of Sangare would be a major coup for the Merseyside giants this summer and would be a much better addition than long-term Liverpool target Nunes.

When comparing his positional peer's outputs this season, the PSV star has outperformed Nunes comfortably in several attacking areas, including goals scored (4 v 1), pass completion rate (84.3% v 80.2%), shot-creating actions per 90 (2.52 v 2.29) and progressive passes completed (158 v 73).

Meanwhile, Sangare has provided a much better defensive output with a better rate of successful take-ons (75% v 52.3%), more tackles and interceptions won (79 v 63), more ball recoveries (208 v 116) and a better success rate in aerial duels (62.7% v 45.9%) – as per FBref.

It is clear that Sangare – hailed "dangerous" by analyst Aad de Mos – is much more of a prolific and complete all-rounder in the centre of the pitch compared to the Portuguese ace, and would even cost Liverpool £5m less to sign with a price tag of £45m compared to the £50m fee reported for Nunes.

With that being said, it seems like it would be a no-brainer to snap up Sangare this summer, and if Liverpool could strike a good deal it could save the club millions to invest into other key roles that need addressing.

Insider Dean Jones has claimed that Mauricio Pochettino could reject any new approach from Chelsea as they didn't hire him in the past.

What's the latest on Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea?

The Blues suffered a fairly embarrassing Premier League defeat at Stamford Bridge on the weekend against Aston Villa, which leaves them 11th in the table with just ten games to play.

That turned out to be the final straw for Todd Boehly and co, who sacked Graham Potter the following day after less than seven months in charge.

Understandably, the big question now is: who will be the next Chelsea manager? A number of big names have been touted already, such as Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique, while former Tottenham Hotspur boss Pochettino is also on that list.

However, while talking about the links to the 51-year-old Argentine on Chasing Green Arrows, Jones explained why he felt this appointment won't happen.

The journalist said (9:45): "Pochettino is on the list. Pochettino though was also spoken to and about before Potter got the job.

“Now if Pochettino didn't get the job then, I find it hard to believe that Pochettino would want the job now.

"Maybe he does, but I just find it hard to believe that. He'd be like, okay, you didn't want me last time. Why should I take it now?"

Would Pochettino take the Chelsea job?

Speaking on Monday Night Football, Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville actually tipped Pochettino as his favourite to become the next Chelsea boss.

Indeed, he explained: "They've got to appoint a manager who is going to inherit and like the squad that they've got – a lot of them are young – and I think that man is Mauricio Pochettino."

However, it remains to be seen if the Argentine wants the job. For one, seeing as he has an established relationship with Spurs and their fanbase, he may opt to head back to north London instead of joining a London rival – especially as they are currently on the hunt for a new manager too.

On top of that – as Jones points out – when Potter was hired this season, Pochettino was a free agent – having been sacked by PSG in the summer but the Blues put their faith in the former Brighton man instead, even though the 51-year-old was interviewed too.

With that being the case, Pochettino might not like the idea of being Boehly's alternative option. You never know, though, so it will certainly be interesting to see how it all plays out in the near future.

Much of the recent conversation at Newcastle United has been about the club's inability to put the ball in the back of the net.

Ahead of the 2-1 wins against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest, Eddie Howe's side had failed to win any of their previous six Premier League games, scoring just twice in that run.

Callum Wilson deservedly came in for some criticism after a run of just one goal in 15 games for the Toon and was promptly replaced by Alexander Isak, who managed three goals in two before the international break.

With the 31-year-old striker misfiring and likely to find himself benched for the remainder of the season, Howe may be considering how he could be replaced in the long term.

Fortunately, the former Bournemouth boss could have an ideal candidate already at the club, as 18-year-old Garang Kuol looks destined to go to the very top.

Who is Garang Kuol?

Newcastle signed the Australia international from Central Coast Mariners in September 2022, having caught the eye with his performances in the A-league, with journalist Craig Hope labelling him a "wonderkid" shortly after his signature was confirmed.

The teenage forward managed seven goals and four assists in just 22 appearances in Australia before finalising his move to Newcastle in January, when he was quickly sent out on loan to Hearts.

Kuol first burst onto the scene when he impressed greatly in a charity match against none other than Barcelona. Aged just 17, he left both managers in amazement.

Mariners head coach Nick Montgomery said: "I put Garang in the first team midway through last season, and he was soon creating havoc against opposition defences in the A-League. Then an A-League All-Stars team managed by Dwight Yorke played Barcelona last May.

"Garang came off the bench for them with 30 minutes remaining and just completely ripped Barca to shreds. He literally ran past the whole team about three times and should have scored. Everyone just went, ‘Wow, this kid is unbelievable’ — including Xavi.

"Garang made some of the world’s best defenders look like mannequins. That’s not easy to do, but that is when the interest from Barcelona came. Xavi said, ‘This kid is really special’. When you’ve got someone like him talking like that then it’s pretty obvious these clubs are going to show some interest."

Although the 18-year-old's time at Hearts has so far been unsuccessful, with no goals or assists in his first seven appearances for the Jam Tarts, he did score his first goal for his country last week and looks set for a very bright future at St James' Park.

The teenager, who was named in the NXGN top 50 wonderkids in the world recently, could easily take over from Wilson in Howe's squad if he can live up to his immense potential.

Southampton “hope to keep” hold of midfielder Romeo Lavia beyond the summer, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

What’s the latest on Romeo Lavia’s future?

The Belgian only made the move to the St. Mary’s Stadium from Premier League rivals Manchester City back in July 2022 but has taken to life like a duck to water becoming one of his side’s most promising players. Ruben Selles’ star won’t be out of contract until 2027, but following his impressive level of performances on the south coast, has already been generating interest ahead of the upcoming window.

The Mail Online report that Chelsea, Manchester United and his former club the Sky Blues are all keeping tabs on the 19-year-old, who recently received his first senior international call-up for his nation’s Euro 2024 qualifier vs Sweden and a friendly against Germany which is set to take place on Tuesday.

Taking to Twitter, Romano revealed that Southampton would like to retain the services of Lavia but understand that it will be a difficult task considering the calibre of his potential suitors. He wrote:

“Romeo Lavia will be one to watch in the summer. Man City £40m buy back clause, valid in 2024. Chelsea [wanted him last summer] and Arsenal [still keen on Caicedo too] among clubs interested – Southampton hope to keep him.”

Should Southampton keep or sell Lavia?

Southampton’s manager Selles recently admitted that Lavia is “not impressing” him and that he “needs to step up” moving forward, but regardless of this criticism, the club should definitely keep him.

The Saints ace is naturally a defensive midfielder but offers versatility having operated slightly higher up in central midfield this season, which is a useful attribute to have should he ever be asked to play out of position in the future. The Brussels native currently ranks in the 90th percentile for most blocks by midfielders whilst averaging 1.9 tackles per top-flight game, highlighting his desire to get stuck in and win back possession for his team.

The £25k-p/w starlet can also pose a threat in the final third having scored one goal and provided one assist in his 24 appearances since joining, which makes it clear that he’s got so much potential to offer despite still being a teenager who is finding his feet at the highest level.

Should Southampton be relegated at the end of the season, Lavia will more than likely end up looking for a move elsewhere, so it’s vital that they maintain their top-flight status should they not want to lose one of their most prized assets.

Everton defender Yerry Mina is expected to leave the club this summer as his contract renewal ‘does not seem to be on track’, according to a report from Caracol Radio.

The Lowdown: Difficult season

It has been a difficult season for Mina personally, making a total of just three appearances in the Premier League after missing 14 matches through a ankle injury earlier in the campaign.

The defender’s current contract is set to expire at the end of the season, potentially bringing his time at Goodison Park to an end, having made a total of 95 appearances for the club since arriving from FC Barcelona for £27.2m in 2018.

Members of the media have praised the Colombian in the past, with Michael Ball describing him as a ‘monster’ when he is fit, in a Liverpool Echo article, however he could be set to leave the club this summer…

The Latest: Mina to leave?

According to a report from Caracol Radio (via Sport Witness), the centre-back’s lack of game time since the arrival of Sean Dyche means he is likely to be playing his last season at Goodison Park.

The lack of minutes at club level was the reason the 28-year-old was not called up to the most recent Colombia squad, and his desire to play for his national side again could cause him to seek pastures new in the summer.

Mina’s contract renewal ‘does not seem to be on track’ with Everton, indicating both parties may be happy to mutually part ways at the end of the season.

The Verdict: Correct decision

If the 39-time Colombia international does move on at the end of the season, it will be the right move for his own career, and a sensible decision from Everton, given that he has failed to hold down a regular place in the starting line-up under Dyche.

Despite recovering from his ankle injury, the 6 foot 5 colossus has been benched for the last eight Premier League matches, despite a decent showing in his last game, against West Ham United, ranked by Sofascore as the Toffees’ best-performing player after winning 11 duels and making 95 accurate passes.

That performance displayed what the former Barcelona man is capable of when fully fit, however he has been plagued by a whole host of injury issues throughout his time on Merseyside.

As such, offering Mina a new long-term contract would be a risk, because there is no guarantee he will be available for large parts of the season, so it is the right move for all parties if he is allowed to leave at the end of the campaign.

The major issue surrounding Tottenham Hotspur at present is the uncertainty regarding Antonio Conte's future at the club beyond the end of the season, with the experienced Italian having just a matter of months remaining on his existing contract.

While the club only recently acted to remove Rehanne Skinner from her post as manager of the women's team, the Lilywhites have seemingly yet to decide on how to proceed with regard to Conte, albeit with it looking as if the 53-year-old is destined to depart come the summer.

That has ensured that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is likely to be looking for a suitable replacement for the former Chelsea boss, with recent reports claiming that Fulham's Marco Silva could be a possible candidate for the role.

What's the latest on Silva to Spurs?

According to The Sun, the Portuguese coach is said to be viewed as the 'top contender' to replace Conte in the dugout should the latter man leave at the end of the season, with the 45-year-old having enjoyed an impressive season thus far in charge at Craven Cottage.

The Lisbon native – whose own contract is set to expire next term – has seemingly caught the eye of Levy and co as a result of the fine work that he has done in west London, having guided the Cottagers to promotion from the Championship at a canter last season.

Who could benefit from Silva's arrival at Spurs?

There is clearly merit in bringing Silva into the fold at N17 following the remarkable success that Fulham have enjoyed in the current campaign following their return to the top-flight, with the newly-promoted side firmly in the mix for European qualification, having also powered their way to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

The former Hull City man's arrival would also help to aid in rejuvenating a struggling figure in north London, with summer signing Richarlison likely to be delighted at the prospect of reuniting with a manager who has had a crucial impact on his career.

The Brazilian dynamo was notably signed by Watford during Silva's stint in charge back in 2017, before following the up-and-coming coach to fellow Premier League side Everton on a £40m deal just a year later.

While Silva was ultimately sacked by the Toffees in December 2019, that brief period working together across the two clubs proved particularly fruitful as far as Richarlison is concerned, as the versatile forward scored 26 goals and registered nine assists in 82 games while playing under his former boss.

The hope will be that bringing in the managerial gem – who has been hailed as "like a genius" by former Olympiacos asset Pajtim Kasami – could reinvigorate the £60m maverick next season, with the 25-year-old having endured a miserable debut campaign for Tottenham to date.

The 42-cap brute is still waiting to score his first top-flight goal for the club and only has two goals to his name in 26 games in all competitions, having only recently spoken out about his poor form following the Champions League exit at the hands of AC Milan.

With tensions clearly mounting between the one-time Fluminense ace and Conte, a change in the dugout could be what is needed for the hot-headed striker to truly catch fire, with the appointment of Silva – who Richarlison has described as like a "father" due to their close bond – set to do the trick.

Tottenham Hotspur could land an upgrade in the summer if Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is to move on from Goodison Park.

Do Spurs want to sign Jordan Pickford?

There have certainly been reports suggesting the north London side could be looking at the England number one as a potential successor for Hugo Lloris.

Spurs are believed to be looking for a new goalkeeper in the summer following a tricky season for their French shot-stopper who is currently out through injury.

The Lilywhites may not be the only side looking to the 29-year-old this summer, though, with Chelsea and Manchester United also linked with potential interest.

And with the Toffees staring at the possibility of relegation for the second consecutive season, TalkSport’s Darren Bent has insisted Pickford would be good enough to play for Spurs:

“I think he needs a move now. I know he’s just signed a new contract at Everton as well, but I think there are clubs up there.

“I think he could play for Spurs quite easily. You look at the form of Lloris hasn’t been great. Look at the form of Fraser Forster, [he’s] parried absolutely everything.”

Should Spurs move for Pickford?

The England goalkeeper – hailed “outstanding” by Leon Osman – has certainly not been error free this season having made two big errors which have led to Everton conceding.

In comparison, Lloris – who is having an awful season according to some – has been at fault for a further two but Pickford was also left to blame in their recent Merseyside derby.

Pickford completely misjudged his positioning as a cross came into his box allowing Mohamed Salah with a simple tap in into an empty net.

So the Everton goalkeeper would certainly not arrive in north London as an error-free goalkeeper.

In addition, the 29-year-old has only recently put pen to paper on a new deal at Goodison Park meaning the Toffees would be in a stronger position in the summer if he is to look for an exit.

Despite having spent the last month on the sidelines Lloris has been able to keep two more clean sheets than Pickford with just two of his five clean sheets coming since the end of October.

Tottenham have been linked with other goalkeepers over the past few weeks and there are options out there who could possibly provide them with a longer-term option.

What would be interesting to see is whether the Sunderland-born goalkeeper would be open to a move down south considering he has spent his career in the north of England.

West Ham’s 4-0 defeat against Brighton on Saturday afternoon has perhaps emphasised to fans that the club cannot be considered too good to go down this season.

The Hammers were completely outplayed on the south coast and have now mustered just 23 points from 25 games so far this term, with David Moyes under serious pressure at the London Stadium after another embarrassing away defeat.

Last season’s successes are still fresh in the board’s thinking but it seems clear that the east London outfit cannot be expected to progress any further under the Scottish manager after another lacklustre display at the weekend.

Should West Ham ditch Ben Johnson?

If the former Manchester United boss is to turn things around at West Ham, he must consider ditching Ben Johnson, who was well and truly given the run around by Kaoru Mitoma against Brighton, in what was another shocking display by the youngster.

As per Sofascore, the 23-year-old defender would earn a woeful 6.2/10 rating for his performance on the south coast, and he had a role to play in each of Brighton’s first three goals.

First, he would misjudge a pass to Mitoma on the left wing, which allowed the Japanese winger to progress into the penalty area, where he was fouled by the covering Jarrod Bowen.

Joel Veltman was then afforded the freedom of the six-yard box to score the second from a corner, with Johnson marking fresh air at the back post, before he lost Mitoma again for the third goal.

Unfortunately, the once-promising youngster has shown with his displays this term that he cannot be considered a long-term prospect for the Hammers, averaging a shocking 6.47 rating from WhoScored which ranks him as the 12th-best performer at the London Stadium.

With Vladimir Coufal sidelined through injury and Thilo Kehrer out with illness, Moyes was left with little choice but to deploy Johnson at right-back on Saturday, which perhaps emphasises the greater issue of a lack of quality in depth at the club.

Following the game, Moyes said: “Thilo Kehrer went down sick during the night last night so I didn’t have anything I could do to alter that at any time in the game, as far as a right-back went.

“It was a tough day for Ben but he’s a young boy, and that’s the way it is, you have to learn on the job sometimes and hopefully, he learns a lot from today.”

Despite what Moyes says, Johnson now has 81 senior appearances under his belt at West Ham, so he cannot still be considered an inexperienced prospect for the Hammers.

Given his lack of progression and struggles so far this season, Moyes must ditch the academy graduate for upcoming fixtures, or risk seeing his side fall back into the relegation zone.