All posts by z3u9t.icu

Crystal Palace are having a quiet transfer window so far, as Patrick Vieira’s side have enjoyed a comfortable start to their season, currently 11th in the Premier League, but with three weeks to go there is one player that has been repeatedly linked to signing for the side in January.

What’s the word?

Journalist, Pete O’Rourke, added new claims to the ongoing speculation surrounding the potential signing of Eddie Nketiah, confirming that other clubs are interested in the Gunners forward.

O’Rourke told GIVEMESPORT:

“There’s other clubs interested in Nketiah,” he began.

“The likes of Brighton have been mentioned but Crystal Palace have held a long-term interest in Nketiah. They tried to get him in the summer but it didn’t happen in the end.”

With Brighton speculated to be in hot pursuit of the 22-year-old too, Vieira will need to make a decision on whether he wants to sign the player or not, as he could be beaten to securing his signature by another Premier League club, especially now that he is in the final six months of his contract with Arsenal.

Fans will be buzzing

Nketiah would be a great addition to the youth revolution that Patrick Vieira has imposed since being appointed by the London club in summer last year, and has the potential to become a fantastic player if his current form is anything to go by.

As a result, fans will surely be elated to see another young player in Nketiah becoming part of the future that the Palace manager is already building, with many taking to social media to discuss the potential signing.

One fan Tweeted: “Palace need to bag Nketiah, imagine the front 4 of Nketiah, Olise, Eze and Gallagher.”

The Arsenal striker has not been in Mikel Arteta’s favour for too many Premier League starts, with just three appearances so far, but has been able to prove his worth and showcase his talents in the EFL Cup.

In that competition, he has scored five goals in three games, leading the Gunners to a semi final that is important for the club this season, as they can only compete in domestic competitions due to failing to qualify for European football for the first time since 1995.

Crystal Palace could lose one of their strikers this January, as Jean-Philippe Mateta is strongly linked to a move away from the club, ending his loan and joining Saint Etienne, and if this was the case, Vieira could swoop to secure the signing of Nketiah in the next few weeks to fill the hole that his current striker would leave.

In other news: Mateta likely to leave the club in January

Celtic forward Giorgos Giakoumakis could be out for three more weeks, Ange Postecoglou has revealed.

The Lowdown: Giakoumakis’ struggles

The 26-year-old has struggled during his first season as a Celtic player.

Signed on transfer deadline day for £2.5m after scoring 26 Eredivisie goals last season, Giakoumakis struggled to get up to fitness and even picked up an injury during the warm-up in Celtic’s clash with Raith Rovers in September.

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He has made just two starts in green and white and has been missing recently due to a knee issue.

The Latest: 2-3 weeks away…

Postecoglou was talking to the media, as relayed by The Go Radio Football Show, following Celtic’s 1-0 victory over Hearts on Thursday night.

He stated that defender Cameron Carter-Vickers will be available against Dundee United this weekend before revealing that Giakoumakis, labelled as ‘special’ by Dutch reporter Rik Elfrink after a four-goal performance in one match last season, is another two or three weeks away from returning.

Should he miss three more weeks of action, that would keep the striker out until Christmas, and he would therefore miss Celtic’s next six games in all competitions.

The Verdict: Ange needs a break

The latest news regarding Giakoumakis has theoretically kicked Postecoglou while he was down following injuries to Anthony Ralston, Jota and Stephen Welsh against Hearts.

Celtic have a busy schedule in December and the 56-year-old has had little luck when it comes to injuries ever since making the move to Scotland.

He could have done with having a fully fit squad before the winter break, but it seems as if he will need to keep relying heavily on top scorer Kyogo Furuhashi in a central role following the news on Giakoumakis.

In other news: Nicholson ‘plans’ to sell ‘terrific’ Celtic ace in record-breaking £25.5m deal. 

With recent reports claiming that Newcastle United have hired an external recruitment firm to help in their search for a director of football, the club’s new hierarchy may not need to look too far to find someone that could play a vital role in the way the Tyneside club is run behind the scenes.

Speaking to City A.M., Rob Lee has been sharing his thoughts on the possibility of former Toon striker and club legend Alan Shearer taking a role at the club.

He said: “I would get someone who knows Newcastle and the club and sits as an adviser to everybody, to the board – even above a director of football.

“Because if we get the top job wrong, every other job is wrong. I think it’s imperative to get it right behind the scenes before we get it right on the pitch because it starts at the very top. I’m a great friend of Alan but he would be my choice. You know he’s not going to be influenced by anybody. He’ll make decisions because he loves Newcastle.

“He’ll give his honest opinion. He’s not scared of anyone, he won’t be bullied by agents. They can trust him to give them the right call.”

With 206 goals scored in 405 appearances for the Toon across all competitions, it’s safe to say that he is a club legend and well-loved by the masses at St James’ Park. Thus, they would presumably love to see him take a role at the club.

He absolutely adores not only the city but also the football club and any advise he can offer the likes of Amanda Staveley and those who now sit in the boardroom will be considered with his heart and soul.

A managerial stint with the Toon didn’t go well back in April 2009 as he failed to steer them to safety, eventually seeing his beloved side relegated to the Championship.

Yet, the 51-year-old is now wiser, older and not constrained by the dreaded Mike Ashley so an arrival back in the northeast would be rather suitable for all parties.

Although PIF have plenty of riches, one thing they don’t have yet is a connection with the city and the club’s supporters. Shearer, however, could fix that early issue and help bring the new ownership closer to the fanbase.

Staveley revealed back in October that she had been in contact with Shearer over a potential role for him at the Tyneside club, and it seems as though something could potentially be in the pipeline for him at some point in the future. Should he be hired by the club, it would surely leave a lot of Toon fans buzzing and coupled with PIF, would be a dream come true for both them and the former striker.

If Newcastle struggle to secure a permanent director of football in the coming weeks, PIF should definitely make a formal approach to the ex-England international to work out what position he could have at the club that would be beneficial when considering his love and knowledge of everything connected to the Magpies.

In other news: NUFC could land the next Xavi with £31.5m-rated gem who “always finds the best escape” – opinion

Celtic are interested in a deal to bring Marco Bizot to Parkhead in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by French media outlet Homme du Match (via The Scottish Sun), who claim that Ligue 1 side Stade Brestois are looking to offload their £5m summer signing during the winter window, before going on to state that Celtic are one of the clubs considering making a loan offer for the 30-year-old goalkeeper.

However, it is then reported that, despite Ange Postecoglou’s preference of a short-term move, Brest would not be willing to sanction the departure of the shot-stopper on a temporary basis – unless a mandatory clause to purchase the Netherlands international is included in the deal.

Nicholson must move

With it being reported recently that two of Celtic’s current options between the sticks, Vasilis Barkas and Scott Bain, look as if they will be on their way out of Parkhead this January, a move for a goalkeeper in the winter market would appear to be a rather necessary one for Michael Nicholson to make.

And, while it is true that Bizot has not been in the best form of his life over his 16 Ligue 1 appearances so far this season – with the 30-year-old averaging a SofaScore match rating of 6.67 – the Dutchman nevertheless proved during his final two campaigns with AZ Alkmaar that he would make a fantastic option for Postecoglou to be able to call upon at Celtic.

Indeed, over his 57 Eredivisie appearances over the last two seasons, the £4.5m-rated goalkeeper kept a whopping 27 clean sheets, as well as making an average of 2.4 saves per game – with these returns seeing the 30-year-old who has been nicknamed The Wall average a highly impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.97.

As such, a move for the £7.5k-per-week shot-stopper would indeed seem a highly advisable one for Nicholson to make this winter, as Bizot appears to not only possess the ability to be Joe Hart’s backup in the squad but also to push the former England international for his starting spot at Parkhead.

In other news: “I can’t..”: Ange drops transfer claim on £6.5m gem that may annoy Celtic fans

As per 90min, Aston Villa sporting director Johan Lange appears to be eyeing a fresh transfer pursuit ahead of January as he aims to bolster Steven Gerrard’s options.

The Lowdown: Gerrard era begins…

The sacking of Dean Smith brought forward a new era at Villa Park with Premier League big name and SPFL title-winning boss Gerrard taking to the helm.

As Liverpool’s club legend takes on his first ever first team managerial role in the English top flight, he has been linked with possible raids in the winter window in an effort to reshape the squad.

Indeed, the forward positions in particular appear to be taking priority going by recent claims, with Spanish outlet Fichajes claiming Gerrard has personally requested Rangers star Ianis Hagi.

Meanwhile, Villa and Lange have also been tipped with a move for South American striker Julian Alvarez as the Argentine sensation dazzles with impressive form.

The Latest: Lange now eyeing Barbosa move…

As per 90min and transfer ‘insider’ Graeme Bailey, Aston Villa, and by extension sporting director Lange who is known for the club’s transfer activity, are weighing a move for Flamengo star Gabriel Barbosa.

The former Inter Milan striker is said to be attracting Villa’s interest with Gerrard’s side now among a plethora of Premier League teams ‘considering a bid’.

As Barbosa actively seeks a move away in January, with this report claiming he is ready to push for a move, it is also believed that the player’s agents are ‘actively looking at his options’ behind the scenes.

The Verdict: Ideal option?

If Villa want to add more forward depth for Gerrard, they couldn’t do much better than the 25-year-old in terms of electric form.

Indeed, Barbosa has bagged a prolific 29 goals across 2021 for Flamengo in all competitions, certainly demonstrating his killer instinct in front of goal after a spell to forget at Inter.

As he eyes a move back to Europe, the player may have emerged as a solid option for Lange and Villa ahead of January and it is believed Barbosa could depart his current club for a fee ‘in excess of £30 million’.

Bailey, explaining in the piece, says that clubs in the race for him consider that price tag worth it – citing the fact it’s unusual for a ‘top class’ striker to be available and seeking a move mid-season.

Taking this into account, we believe he could certainly come as an astute purchase for Villa and Gerrard.

In other news, whose fitness update is attracting interest from Villa fans? Find out here!

Aston Villa forward Keinan Davis has been pictured back on the training pitch at Bodymoor Heath.

Davis has yet to feature for the Villans this season, having sustained a knee injury in pre-season.

His last action came as a substitute in the 3-2 defeat at Crystal Palace back in May, but he’s now closing in on a comeback.

Dean Smith says he’ll be available for selection once he’s demonstrated his fitness.

What role does Davis play for Villa?

The 23-year-old has started five Premier League games since Aston Villa were promoted in 2019.

The vast majority of his top-flight action has come as a substitute, with 28 separate run-outs from the subs bench.

With Wesley loaned out to Club Brugge, it will fall to Davis to provide cover and competition for Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins alongside youngster Cameron Archer.

The official Aston Villa Twitter account posted the snap of Davis, and here’s what supporters had to say in response.

These Villa fans celebrate Davis’ return

“Season saved, Europe here we come”

Credit: @AVFCAlex18784

“He’s going to score a hat trick in the FA Cup”

Credit: @TheAsgardian

“Kieeeeeeeeeeeeeenan”

Credit: @utv_phil

“Good to see him back!!!”

Credit: @RichieLionel81

“omg welcome back”

Credit: @catrinavfc

“Keinan is back, the Europe push is on”

Credit: @SamH_84

In other news, Villa have competition in their pursuit of this target.

Sunderland will take on Arsenal in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after the draw took place on Saturday.

As to be expected, a number of Black Cats supporters were quick to give their thoughts to the news when it was announced via the club’s social media channels.

Sunderland are the only team outside of the Premier League left in the competition following a penalty shootout win over Queens Park Rangers in midweek. Lee Johnson admitted after the game that he would like to face either Arsenal or Tottenham in the last eight, and he has got his wish with a trip to the Emirates Stadium.

The quarter-final will be played in the week commencing 20 December, with Sunderland having 10 League One fixtures before then.

Sunderland fans react

Sunderland posted on their official Twitter channel regarding the cup draw with Arsenal on Saturday lunchtime and here is what these fans had to say in reply, with one labelling it as ‘mental’ that the Black Cats were drawn against Mikel Arteta’s side, whose character has been called into question in recent months.

“Here we go!”

Credit: @gavingeorge88

“Finally a draw that might actually earn us some money”

Credit: @DreamingDejaVu

“mental that a League One team will be in the semis for the Carabao”

Credit: @richard_acw

“Fantastic! I was worried we would get a big club”

Credit: @Dale_seaham

“We’ve been waiting for this for so many years, it feels so good … the boy is finally coming home”

Credit: @_EAEGG

“Fantastic. Doesn’t matter if we lose, this season is about promotion but I bet they underestimate us. Anything can happen.”

Credit: @petercarneyH

In other news: Many SAFC fans slam ‘appalling’ ace who lost 75% of his duels vs Rotherham. 

After a disheartening 2020/21 season which saw Sheffield Wednesday relegated from the Championship, Darren Moore’s side have had a mixed start to their League One campaign.

With nine games played prior to today’s clash against Oxford United, the Owls have won four, drawn three and lost two, with their latest match seeing them beat Wigan Athletic 2-1 at the DW Stadium.

Looking ahead to the game against Oxford, Owls manager Darren Moore revealed in his latest press conference that Sam Hutchinson and Lewis Gibson have both trained ahead of today’s clash but that George Byers will not be available. With this in mind, here’s how we feel the Owls will set up against Oxford, with two changes from the team in midweek.

Will Wednesday pick up another win this weekend?

In goal, Bailey Peacock-Farrell has been a regular for Wednesday so far this season and should continue there to face Oxford.

The defence could see full-backs Marvin Johnson and Liam Palmer retain their places in the team after the midweek victory, with the duo making a total number of seven tackles and five interceptions between them against Wigan, proving themselves to be useful defensive outlets for Wednesday.

There could be some change in the centre-back position, though, with Hutchinson taking Cheyenne Dunkley’s place at centre-back alongside Dominic Iorfa, who also impressed in midweek, earning himself an overall match rating of 7.1/10 (as per SofaScore).

This could then lead to Barry Bannan coming back into the squad after being an unused substitute against Wigan.

Elsewhere, the other change we think Moore should consider for the Oxford match would be to take Jaden Brown out of the team after failing to make an impact against Wigan from the left-midfield position, taking 27 touches and losing possession on 12 occasions, ultimately earning a rather lacklustre overall match rating of 5.8/10, making him Wednesday’s lowest-rated player on the day according to SofaScore.

In his place, we feel Moore should give Olamide Shodipo, who replaced Brown in midweek, a chance from the start to see if he can do a better job than the 22-year-old did against Wigan.

On the other side, Moore should stick with Dennis Adeniran on the right to see if he can have some sort of attacking threat, even though his two league goals this season have come from when he’s played in the centre of midfield.

Finally, Wednesday should continue with Lee Gregory and Callum Paterson, who scored against Wigan, as their two strikers to hopefully fire the club to another three points.

In other news: Sheff Wed handed big injury boost ahead of Oxford clash, fans will be delighted – opinion

Glasgow Celtic had a nightmare by failing to secure a deal to bring Lyndon Dykes to Parkhead back in the summer of 2020.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Barry Ferguson, who claimed in a recent interview with Go Radio (via the Daily Record) that it was a mistake neither of the Old Firm managed to seal the signing of the centre-forward prior to his move to Queens Park Rangers back in 2020.

Indeed, reports that summer had suggested that both Glasgow clubs were interested in the then-Livingston striker, who had scored 12 goals over 33 appearances for the Lions in the 2019/20 campaign.

Speaking about the Scotland international’s move south of the border, Ferguson said: “I’m disappointed Rangers or Celtic didn’t go for him. I’d have liked him to stay up here. What did he go for, just over £1m? I’d have liked to see him stay in Scotland.

“Maybe Rangers or Celtic made contact, I don’t know. He’s started the season well down there though, so if he keeps his form up, you never know.”

He could’ve fired Celtic to 10IAR

While Celtic fans may often disagree with Ferguson’s opinion, it is difficult to argue with his claim regarding Dykes, as the striker has proven since his move to QPR that he would have made an excellent addition to the Bhoys’ attacking options both last and this season.

Indeed, over his 42 Championship appearances following his £1.98m from Livingston last summer, the £3.15m-rated man scored 12 goals, registered five assists and created six big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.4 shots and making 0.8 key passes per game.

These returns saw the player Alex McLeish dubbed a “brilliant find” earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.84, ranking him as Mark Warburton’s 10th-best performer in the second tier of English football.

Dykes has also started the 2021/22 season in fantastic form, scoring four goals and registering two assists over his nine Championship appearances, as well as bagging four goals over his last four World Cup Qualifying fixtures for Scotland – all four of which, quite remarkably, have been the match-winner in each respective fixture.

As such, while it was not simply Celtic’s lack of goals that saw them cede their Scottish Premiership crown last season, it would be a difficult argument to make that Dykes would not have been a much better signing – not to mention a cheaper one – than the £4.95m capture of Albian Ajeti – who scored just six goals over his 20 league appearances for the Hoops last term – as well as one who could well have fired Celtic to their much-desired 10 league titles in a row.

In other news: Fresh injury update emerges on £15k-p/w Celtic “leader”, Postecoglou will be buzzing

Nuno Santo is dealing with further injury woes as his Tottenham Hotspur side look to bounce back against Chelsea in the Premier League this afternoon.

The north London outfit have endured a tough week, seeing their unbeaten record in the top-flight come to an end at the hands of then-winless Crystal Palace before they had to settle for a point against Rennes in the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Now they face the small matter of the Champions of Europe at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a bid to get back on track.

But what sort of XI could we see from the Portuguese head coach? Here’s what we are predicting…

Nuno has been without the services of no fewer than six first-team players this week and on Thursday, their mounting problems got worse as both Steven Bergwijn and Lucas Moura picked up knocks – neither could feature here.

Eric Dier is also likely to still be on the treatment table.

However, it’s expected that Heung-min Son will be able to make a much-needed return after picking up an issue during the international break, whilst the South American trio of Giovani Lo Celso, Davinson Sanchez and Cristian Romero are finally available for selection, having returned to the UK on Saturday.

We expect club captain Hugo Lloris to take up his usual spot between the sticks, replacing Pierluigi Gollini from midweek, whilst it could be an entirely different back four, with Japhet Tanganga absent through suspension.

Sergio Reguilon and Emerson should come in for both Ben Davies and Matt Doherty – the 29-year-old struggled against Rennes – on the flanks, whilst the aforementioned central defensive duo of Sanchez and Romero could well be thrown straight in, given the club’s threadbare options in the role.

In midfield, Tanguy Ndombele should keep his place after making an impressive statement on his first start of the season in France and he could be joined by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Dele Alli in the engine room, meaning there is no place for Oliver Skipp.

Should Son return, then he may well have to be joined by summer signing Bryan Gil, whilst Harry Kane will undoubtedly lead the line.

Predicted Spurs XI vs Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Reguilon, Romero, Sanchez, Emerson; Hojbjerg, Ndombele, Alli; Son, Gil, Kane.

AND in other news, 0 dribbles, 0 key passes: £14.4m-rated Spurs passenger badly let Nuno down once again vs Rennes…