All posts by z3u9t.icu

Crystal Palace are now considering a shock move for Aymeric Laporte, with the defender unsettled at Manchester City after falling down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium, according to a report from The Daily Star.

What's the latest Crystal Palace transfer news?

Palace may need to bring in a couple of new centre-backs this summer, amid the uncertainty surrounding the futures of Joachim Andersen and Marc Guehi, and journalist Dean Jones thinks they would do well to keep hold of the duo, recently saying:

"At this moment in time, keeping those two together would probably be Palace's biggest statement in terms of signings over this summer because they've done a brilliant job. I mean, Guehi, they're trying to price out the market and Andersen, they're just hoping he decides to stay with them."

It appears as though the plan is to keep hold of the two centre-backs, but if they are forces into sales, they could make a move for Torino defender Perr Schuurs, with it recently being reported they are in advanced talks over a deal for the 23-year-old.

The Daily Star now report that Laporte is also being eyed by Roy Hodgson, in what would be a shock summer transfer, with Pep Guardiola's side ready to accept a loss and sell the centre-back for a fee of around £35m.

The defender cost Man City £58m back in January 2018, however he has recently become unsettled at the Etihad Stadium, given that he has fallen down the pecking order considerably in recent times, potentially opening the door for a move to Selhurst Park.

Hodgson wants to strengthen the centre-back area ahead of the new season, and the manager is focussing on bringing in players who are assured in possession, and also possess top-flight experience.

At the moment, the Eagles are reluctant to match City's asking price, and they would prefer to launch a bid later in the transfer window.

How good is Aymeric Laporte?

The Man City ace certainly ticks plenty of boxes for Palace, given that he has made 120 appearances in the Premier League, and he is very assured in possession of the ball.

Although his game time was heavy limited last season, making just 24 appearances across all competitions, the Spaniard impressed with his passing ability whenever he got the chance.

Over the past year, the France-born centre-back has averaged a pass-completion rate of 92.7% per 90, which places him in the 97th percentile compared to his positional peers, while he also ranks in the 99th percentile for number of passes attempted.

The 29-year-old has been lauded as "fantastic" by journalist Simon Bajkowski, who has also praised him for his ability to set up opportunities for his teammates, previously saying: "Aymeric Laporte showing again why he is the best defender City have got for creating chances from the back."

It is certainly ambitious for Palace to be considering a move for Laporte, however he has proven he could be an excellent replacement for Guehi and Andersen.

Arsenal are reportedly interested in Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Martin Baturina as Mikel Arteta considers his options in attack ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The Spaniard and sporting director Edu Gaspar have made an impressive start to the transfer window, securing the signings of Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice, in the bid to push on from the highs of last season’s second-place finish.

The Gunners’ business may not be over yet, with Croatian starlet Baturina reported to be of interest.

Could Arsenal sign Martin Baturina?

As reported by the Express this week, Arsenal have ‘tracked’ Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Baturina, with the Gunners seeking added cover in the middle of the park.

The report adds that the representatives of the north London outfit have scouted the 20-year-old on a number of occasions, with speculation rising over a potential summer move.

Valued around the €20m (£18m) mark by FootballTransfers, Arteta could capture a rising talent at an efficient price this window.

How good is Martin Baturina?

Rising through the ranks at Dinamo Zagreb, the midfielder made a breakthrough last season at the club, making a mammoth 48 appearances in all competitions, including five in the Champions League.

Seen as a key player for the Croatian side, the 20-year-old gem registered an average match rating of 7.13 in the Hrvatska Nogometna Liga (HNL), ranking within the top ten individual performers for the club, via Sofascore.

Having previously been hailed as “technically outrageous” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the promising talent could be a huge coup for Arsenal in years to come, showing signs of living up to the potential of captain and creative genius Martin Odegaard.

In 34 league appearances last term, the Croatian registered 18 goal contributions, scoring six and assisting 12, similar to the Norwegians' 22 contributions through 15 goals and seven assists in the Premier League.

While the Gunners captain is just 24-years-old himself, moving for Baturina could be a positive addition for the future, in a talent that could one day surpass his talent and importance at the Emirates.

Described as having strengths in his ‘vision and high football IQ’ by The Scouting App, the midfielder could be the perfect addition to one day take the throne from Odegaard, as well as adding significant depth to Arteta’s squad.

His scouting report, also via The Scouting App, also highlights Baturina’s main threat as his passing, saying that he possesses ‘huge vision, creativity and accuracy’ in his passing strengths, as supported by his numbers accumulated last season.

As per Sofascore, the 20-year-old averaged 1.6 key passes per game, as well as maintaining a phenomenal passing accuracy rate of 89%, alongside creating 10 big chances.

For Arsenal, adding quality in numbers is essential this summer, as they aim to make further progress in the Premier League, as well as in their return to the Champions League, where they have not featured since the 2016/17 campaign.

Equipping his side with a budding young talent that excels in the final third could be a perfect match for Arteta, who has shown since his arrival the success he can gain in placing high levels of trust in the youth of north London.

Having penned a new deal at Zagreb in April, it may take a significant pull to secure the Croatian, who is contracted to the club until 2028.

Leeds United target Charlie Taylor is a 'dependable' player that wouldn't be a risky signing for the Whites this summer amid speculation linking him with a move to Elland Road, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Charlie Taylor?

According to journalist Phil Hay of The Athletic, Taylor is a target for Leeds United and could be brought in as a replacement for Junior Firpo this summer.

Hay wrote: "Defensively, Leeds require a left-back having decided to listen to enquiries for Junior Firpo. They have been repeatedly linked with Ryan Manning, who is on a free transfer after parting company with Swansea City, and they are pondering bidding for Burnley’s Charlie Taylor, the defender who came through the academy at Elland Road".

Of course, Taylor was at Leeds United between 2011 and 2017, amassing 104 appearances for the Whites in all competitions and notching three goals and and 13 assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Nevertheless, the £25k-a-week ace left a bitter taste in the mouth of the Leeds United support when he turned down a new contract at the club to head to Burnley in 2017, as per Sky Sports.

The 29-year-old was berated by then-Leeds United boss Garry Monk just before he left to join Burnley and reportedly refused to play in the last match of their 2016/17 campaign against Wigan Athletic, as the former Whites manager revealed: "There's no sugar-coating this – Charlie refused to play the game."

Now he could be set for a dramatic return to his former employers in a deal that would divide the support of the Elland Road side down the middle.

Speaking to Football FanCast, transfer insider Jones believes that Taylor would be a 'dependable' asset for Leeds United should he indeed make a comeback this summer.

Jones told FFC: "Certainly the new manager Farke will be helped by a deal like this and we've seen what Charlie Taylor's capable of, he's a very dependable player. That's the sort of thing that Leeds need next season, they don't want to take any risks and they don't want anyone letting them down. Charlie Taylor wouldn't do that."

Would Charlie Taylor be a good signing for Leeds United?

As always, the Sky Bet Championship is an extremely difficult division to navigate and having players like Taylor around with plenty of previous experience can prove to be pivotal to a side like Leeds United's promotion hopes.

Last term, the York-born left-back was almost ever present for Burnley, featuring 41 times in all competitions and producing two assists as the Clarets strolled to a return to the Premier League, as per Transfermarkt.

Defensively, Taylor stood up to the challenge for Vincent Kompany's side in 2022/23 and completed around 1.8 clearances per match in the English second tier, according to WhoScored.

In the eight league competitions ranked below Europe's top five divisions, Taylor has excelled in terms of passes attempted, getting through around 76.28 per 90 minutes across the last 365 days, putting him in the third percentile for this metric, as shown on FBRef.

Despite the obvious negativity that may emerge from some quarters if he was to rejoin the club, there is no doubt Taylor is an experienced performer that could help make Leeds United a solid outfit in 2023/24.

Journalist Pete O'Rourke has shared a "major" Harry Kane update after Tottenham Hotspur's "jaw-dropping" behind-the-scenes contract offer recently.

Will Harry Kane leave Tottenham?

This isn't the first time Spurs' star striker has been linked with a move away from north London, with treble-winners Man City showing a very serious interest around two years ago.

Pep Guardiola's side lodged bids in excess of £100 million for Kane, who was rumoured to have a "gentleman's agreement" with Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy to leave the club. That ultimately didn't come to fruition, and City instead ended up capturing star striker Erling Haaland one summer later.

Tottenham were in a strong position to refute City's advances back then, but with Kane's contract expiring in 2024, they're in a far more precarious situation this year. The England star has just 12 months remaining on his current deal, meaning he can leave for free next year.

Ange Postecoglou, speaking in his first Spurs press conference the other day, is in no doubt that Kane would prefer to stay at the club and battle to make them successful.

"Kane is one of the premier strikers in the world and I want him involved here," Postecoglou said.

"I just want to introduce myself to Harry, give him my vision, get an understanding from him over what his vision is and try to be successful.

"My conversation with him will be about how we can make this club successful and there is no doubt that is what he wants as well."

Bayern Munich, though, are seriously knocking at the door for Spurs' talisman and have made a second proposal to Levy – an offer apparently amounting to around £68.5 million plus add-ons.

According to Football Insider and O'Rourke – who claim to share a "major" Kane update in the last 24 hours after Tottenham's "jaw dropping" contract offer – Spurs are set to reject Bayern's second bid and will refuse all offers for him this window.

Despite this, it's believed Kane still has no intention of signing a new deal, regardless of the mammoth numbers behind it, before the window shuts – meaning a stalemate is on the cards.

The 29-year-old is keen to join Bayern in the coming weeks, despite Tottenham's offer to make him one of England's top earners, but Levy is set to dig his heels in over Kane.

Spurs have privately made it clear that their superstar is not far sale under any circumstance.

How good is Harry Kane?

The Three Lions forward has thrived at Tottenham over the last 12 months, scoring 30 league goals in 38 matches last season.

Former Spurs boss Antonio Conte heaped praise on Kane for his quality and attitude, calling him "world class" in an interview with the press last season.

"I am happy for him because we are talking about a world class striker,” he said.

“He deserves the best because he's a great worker, hard worker… this is not normal because usually the players that have talent many times don't like to work hard because they have talent.

“In my career I didn't have great talent [so] for this reason I worked hard. What I liked about him from the first time was his ability. He was a big example for his team-mates."

Burnley are closing in on the signing of Borussia Dortmund teenager Soumaila Coulibaly, according to Fabrizio Romano.

What’s the latest Burnley transfer news?

The Clarets and Vincent Kompany haven’t wasted any time in preparations for the new Premier League season, with some players even reporting back for pre-season at the beginning of the month – before the Champions League final.

In the transfer market, the club have also been making swift moves, with defenders Jordan Beyer and Dara O’Shea joining on permanent deals from Borussia Monchengladbach and West Brom respectively.

Meanwhile, an offer has been made to sign Anderlecht defender Noah Sadiki, whereas Burnley are also preparing a new offer to sign Millwall star Zian Flemming.

To top things off, it looks as if the club are about to break their transfer record to sign Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford following his loan spell with Bolton Wanderers.

Reports have claimed that the 20-year-old, who is currently away with England’s U21s at the European Championships, is close to a £19m move to Turf Moor, and it appears as if Coulibaly is also on the way to Lancashire.

Romano took to Twitter in the last 48 hours to share an update on Burnley and Coulibaly. He revealed that the player is on course to join on a season-long loan which will then become permanent in a transfer worth around €15m (£12.9m).

“Understand Burnley are now closing in on Soumaila Coulibaly deal — it’s gonna be loan from Borussia Dortmund with mandatory buy clause.

“Understand value of the deal is gonna be around €15m total fee. Here we go soon.”

Who is Soumaila Coulibaly?

Coulibaly is just 19 years of age and is primarily a left-footed centre-back who has two caps for France at U20 level.

The defender made the move to Dortmund from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer back in 2021 and has been making the majority of his appearances for the reserve side. Coulibaly has turned out twice for Dortmund at senior level and currently holds a €1m Transfermarkt valuation.

Recently, Coulibaly has been compared to Bayern Munich centre-back Dayot Upamecano, with the media saying:

“At 6'3" Coulibaly has an imposing build, but while the teenager will undoubtedly fill out to add muscle to his wiry frame, he also has the footballing ability to make him the complete package, just like Bayern Munich man-mountain and France international, Dayot Upamecano.”

Coulibaly also appears to be catching the eye of Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic, who said:

"He trains with us regularly. He's been getting better and better and finding consistency in the third tier."

Should he complete a move to Turf Moor as expected, Coulibaly may rival the likes of Beyer, Hjalmar Ekdal, Ameen Al-Dakhil and O’Shea for a starting spot in Kompany’s side.

He could well be viewed as a future star, though, so securing his services could turn out to be an extremely shrewd move in the long run, and by the looks of things, it may be just a matter of time until a transfer is announced.

Jurrien Timber “wants to join Arsenal,” and with the deal getting “the green light by all parties”, it shouldn’t take long for the player to officially join the North London side, claims journalist Paul Brown.It has been a busy start to the transfer window for Arsenal, with the deal for Chelsea’s Kai Havertz reportedly reaching its conclusion, the ongoing saga over West Ham United’s Decan Rice, and now the rapid pace at which the deal for Timber seems to be developing.

Arsenal transfer news – what’s the latest on Jurrien Timber?

The Dutch defender has impressed for Ajax for several years now, and this time last summer, it looked like his performances had earned him a move to Manchester United with former manager Erik ten Hag.

However, Mikel Arteta’s side now looks to be in the driving seat for the player’s signature, with David Ornstein first confirming the Gunners’ interest in the 22-year-old on June 19th.

The deal looks to have rapidly developed since then, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that Arsenal have submitted a second bid for the 5 foot 10 dynamo in the region of €45/48m (£39/41m) and that the Timber “loves Arsenal’s project and wants to join them.”

What has journalist Paul Brown said about Jurrien Timber to Arsenal?

Brown was very confident that Timber’s move to North London was just around the corner as all parties seemed to be nearing an agreement on the transfer.

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: “Timber clearly wants to join Arsenal. It seems to have been given the green light by all parties so far, so I do think that one will happen and it won’t take very long to get done.”

How good is Jurrien Timber?

Timber has been one of Ajax’s stand-out stars for a couple of years, first making his debut for the club on March 7th 2020, in a 3-1 win over SC Heerenveen.

Since that game, he has pulled on the famous red and white of the Netherlands’ biggest team 121 times, scoring six goals and assisting another four.

Despite not getting his move to United last summer, he still had a great season in the Dutch capital, averaging an impressive rating of 6.89 across his 34 Eredivisie matches, per WhoScored.

One of the Utrecht-born gem’s biggest strengths is his positional versatility, having played as both a centre-half and right-back during his career, something that has unsurprisingly caught the eye of Arteta.

The Spaniard has developed a system in which the team’s right-back often tucks in as a third centre-half when the team has the ball, and while Ben White has proven to be excellent in this role, he would likely benefit from some competition and some cover, which is where Timber could truly add value to the team.

If Arsenal really are about to sign the “unbelievable” player – as once described by national teammate Daly Blind – their backline could be much scarier next season.

Leeds United are yet to make their first move in the 2023 summer transfer window with the 49ers club takeover yet to be concluded, but that has not stopped rumours of Jayson Molumby's possible transfer to Elland Road.

The West Bromwich Albion star has been in fine fettle and one of the centrepieces behind the Championship outfit's resurgence after a dismal start to the most recent campaign, and Leeds have taken note.

That's according to The Sun's Alan Nixon, who has recently claimed via his Patreon account that Leeds have earmarked the dynamic midfielder as a top target this summer.

Rated at £4m by Football Transfers, Molumby would be an excellent fit for the West Yorkshire outfit, at least, that's according to transfer insider Dean Jones – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – who said: "You need players that the Leeds fans can trust and identify with. And this is someone who would certainly show all the determination and drive that you would really expect from Leeds and want in his position.”

How good is Jayson Molumby?

If Leeds could pull off what would be a signing to catalyse the central midfield's robustness and effectiveness, it could represent the dream replacement for Weston McKennie, who endured a lacklustre six-month loan spell with the Whites after signing from Juventus in January.

This is not to explicitly say that Molumby is a 'better' player than McKennie, who, of course, boasts a wealth of experience across multiple top-flight European leagues and has starred for USA at the 2022 World Cup, but it simply didn't work out for the industrious midfielder at Elland Road, and he floundered to an average rating of 6.67 – as per Sofascore – across his 19 matches in the division. This was just the 13th-best rating in the squad last term.

Hailed as "an insane talent" by journalist Rudy Kinsella, Molumby is tried and tested in the second tier and would surely view a transfer to Leeds as a step up in his career and the chance to cement a starting berth in an outfit hoping to rectify the past wrongs with a swift return to the Premier League.

The omens are certainly promising, with the Waterford-born ace playing 43 times in the Championship this season as West Brom eradicated the concerns over relegation and forged a path to promotion contention, missing out on the play-offs by just three points.

The 23-year-old recorded an average rating of 6.83 after posting four goals and assists apiece, also completing 86% of his passes and averaging 1.4 tackles per game.

Praised as an "animal" by manager Carlos Corberan, the Republic of Ireland international seemingly boasts the tenacity and guile to succeed in the Championship, and he would certainly be a massive upgrade on McKennie, who was indifferent during his time at Elland Road.

Ah, transfer season, welcome back! We’ve missed the famous Fabrizio Romano “Here we go”, the outrage you cause, and the joy and heartbreak that you bring. But, most of all, we’ve missed your ability to turn day-to-day people into the next Sherlock Holmes.Arsenal fans have become the latest to put on their detective hats, and long – almost Arsene Wenger-like jackets – to reveal the latest status on reported target Jurrien Timber, going as far as tracking the Ajax defender’s flight.

What is the latest on Jurrien Timber to Arsenal?

The news of Arsenal’s pursuit of Timber really did seem to come out of nowhere, especially considering the fact that the Ajax man was at the FA Cup final between Manchester United and Manchester City earlier this month.

According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, however, the Gunners have made an opening bid worth £30m to Ajax for Timber, and have agreed personal terms with the Dutchman.

Ajax reportedly want £50m for the Arsenal target, but there is optimism over a compromise taking place to get a deal done.

Mikel Arteta and co have certainly been busy so far this summer, amid links to moves for Declan Rice and Kai Havertz accompanying the news of their pursuit of Timber.

After finishing second in the Premier League last season, it looks as though the North London club will be looking to take things up yet another level next term, no doubt hoping to claim some major trophies.

Arsenal fans track Jurrien Timber’s flight

It’s only June, and yet we’ve already reached the flight tracking stage of the transfer window, courtesy of Arsenal fans.

Taking to Twitter with his findings, @Gunner_Things posted:

Fans were quick to react to the news of Timber’s potential flight, with many taking to Twitter to hilariously react to the tracking of the plane by Gunners supporters, some of which you can see below:

Arsenal are edging closer to signing a Premier League ace, as the Gunners aim to make a dominant start to the transfer window.

Mikel Arteta will be hoping to build upon his title-challenging season in north London by making strong reinforcements this summer.

The latest talent speculated to be Emirates-bound poses as a significant figure to bolster the squad.

What’s the latest on Kai Havertz to Arsenal?

As initially reported by journalist Alex Goldberg via AFCStuff last week, Arsenal are interested in Chelsea forward Kai Havertz.

The speculation has gathered significant pace since the official opening of the transfer window.

Journalist Angelo Mangiante stated yesterday that the Gunners are “very close” to signing the German star, naming him a player with “great class”.

Valued around £60m by FootballTransfers, it’s believed that Chelsea are wanting a fee in the region of £75m for the 24-year-old, who has two years remaining on his current contract.

What could Kai Havertz offer to Arsenal?

Lauded as a “generational talent” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Germany international could be a revelation in north London.

While this season was damningly underwhelming in the west of the capital, Havertz has unquestionable talent outside of his form and contribution to Chelsea’s 12th-place finish.

Deployed primarily as a forward at Stamford Bridge, the former Bayer Leverkusen star is versatile in his positioning in attack, having innate playmaking skills which make him a strong asset in central midfield.

During his rise to senior football in the Bundesliga, the Aachen-born gem contributed to 61 goals in 118 league appearances, including a glamorous individual campaign in which he was voted Transfermarkt Player of the Season for 2018/19.

That year, the then-20-year-old scored 17 goals and added four assists in 34 appearances, showing the threat the talent can provide if stationed in a fluid attack.

Arsenal ended the season as the Premier League’s second-highest scorers in a delightful term for the Gunners, with Arteta creating a flourishing young attack Havertz could undoubtedly thrive within.

Due to his creative ability, the Champions League winner could add a playmaking spark if deployed to lead Arsenal’s line, which could significantly benefit Gabriel Jesus.

The Brazilian scored 11 goals in his first term at the Emirates, as well as registering six assists, showcasing his own creative ability aside from putting the ball in the net.

This campaign, the German averaged 3.12 progressive passes per 90 via FBref, highlighting his ball-playing competency and multi-dimensional approach to leading the line in a style that could reach new heights in Arteta’s system.

Jesus followed closely behind Havertz in terms of progressive passes, averaging 2.76 per 90 – suggesting that he could be complemented by the German in the similarities to their games.

The duo could form a balanced partnership with their goal-scoring and creative ability, supplying the squad with unlimited chance creation in attack.

If Arteta is capable of unlocking the past form of Havertz in a positive environment in north London, having two creative forwards could be the key to unlocking another title charge at the Emirates.

Chelsea's need for a consistent goalkeeper has been apparent for a while now, with neither Kepa Arrizabalaga nor Edouard Mendy managing to go more than a few games without coming in for criticism.

The Blues made strengthening elsewhere – namely in attack – their priority in the past two windows, but that may well change this summer with new head coach Mauricio Pochettino now in place.

Illan Meslier recently emerged as a surprise option to join Chelsea in Pochettino's first transfer window in charge, and the Leeds United goalkeeper has not exactly ruled out a move to the Blues.

What is the latest on Illan Meslier's future?

Meslier has spent the past three seasons with Leeds, coinciding with their relatively short return to the Premier League, and has had a rather mixed time of things.

The Frenchman still has another three years to run on his contract at Elland Road, explaining his valuation in the region of £17m, as per Football Observatory.

When asked about his future by RMC Sport on Sunday, Meslier admitted the situation is "complicated" following Leeds' relegation to the Championship, while also opening the door for a move to Stamford Bridge – though only if he is installed as first-choice goalkeeper.

"If it's to go there and be on the bench, that doesn't interest me," he said. "If it's to be number one, obviously you can't say 'no, I'm not interested in Chelsea."

Is Illan Meslier good enough for Chelsea?

Meslier conceded 67 goals in the Premier League last season, which is at least ten more than any other 'keeper in the division, as per FBref. Having started 34 of Leeds' 38 matches, that translates to 1.97 goals against per 90 minutes – once again the worst return in the league.

For comparison, Kepa conceded 1.16 goals per 90 minutes last season, ranking him ahead of David De Gea (1.13) and on par with Alisson (1.16), while Mendy conceded 1.47 goals per 90 minutes across ten appearances.

Looking at the numbers a little deeper, Meslier saved just 59.5% of shots faced last season – only Southampton's Gavin Bazunu (54.2) fared worse. In terms of basic metrics, then, Meslier is not good enough to be Chelsea's number two, let alone their number one.

Meslier's biggest strength – and something that not should not be easily discredited – is his ability to cut out opposition crosses. The 23-year-old stopped 7.9% of crosses faced last season, which was bettered by only four others.

Indeed, FBref ranks Meslier in the top 13% among his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year, though that metric alone is hardly likely to get Chelsea supporters' pulses racing.

Of more relevance will be the fact he is in the bottom 2% among his peers across Europe's elite leagues in terms of save percentage with an average of 59.5 over the past year.

Meslier declaring himself interested in a move to Chelsea – or at the very least not ruling it out for now – is not to say the Blues actually have a concrete interest in the former Lorient stopper.

But if the speculation is indeed true, signing a player described as a "liability" by Forbes writer Barry Collins would hardly be the ideal way for Pochettino to begin yet another new era at Stamford Bridge. Indeed, his would surely be his first disaster.