All posts by z3u9t.icu

Wolverhampton Wanderers losing Max Kilman this summer would be a 'bizarre' situation amid interest in his services from Napoli, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Max Kilman and Napoli?

According to 90min, Wolves are open to letting Max Kilman go this summer despite rejecting an opening bid of around €35 million (£30 million) for the 26-year-old from Serie A champions Napoli.

The report states that Napoli defender Kim Min-jae is set for Bayern Munich, which looks to have stemmed their interest in taking Kilman, who could be tempted to leave Molineux on a personal level if an agreeable fee arises between both parties.

Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam via Football Daily gave an update on the state of play surrounding Kilman's future, stating: "The spotlight is on another defender in Max Kilman, they have rejected an offer from Napoli for Kilman; we understand the offer to be around £30m, Wolves value him at £35m plus. So Napoli not far away, they're losing Kim Min-jae to Bayern Munich, so they need to replace him, and they have identified Max Kilman as the one to do that."

As per David Ornstein of The Athletic, Wolves are set to demand £34 million for Kilman as they look to maximise their profit this summer on key assets.

Defensive duo Conor Coady and Nathan Collins have already left the building this window at Molineux to join Leicester City and Brentford, respectively.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones has stated his belief that the notion of Kilman leaving the Old Gold is a 'bizarre' prospect for him to comprehend.

He said: "It is a bit of a bizarre bid; I really wouldn't expect them to be looking to do that. Kilman has obviously had interest in the Premier League as well, but the fact that Wolves fans don't seem that fussed about losing him suggests it would be quite a strange transfer."

Should Wolves look to sell Max Kilman this summer?

Wolves find themselves in a strange situation this summer with Financial Fair Play; however, Sky Sports News have reported that the Old Gold are now not in a position where they are desperate to sell players, with their official account on Twitter stating: "Wolves are now under no further financial pressure to sell any more players this summer, following Nathan Collins' £23m move to Brentford."

Nevertheless, Napoli don't seem to be budging in their interest surrounding the talented Englishman, leaving Julen Lopetegui with a big decision to make heading into the new season over whether Kilman is kept or sold.

Last campaign, the 26-year-old was virtually ever-present for his current employers, making 41 appearances in all competitions for his side, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored show that Kilman excelled in sniffing out danger in 2022/23, completing an average of 4.4 clearances per match in the Premier League.

It remains to be seen what the future may hold for Kilman as both he and Wolves evaluate his next career steps ahead of 2023/24 commencing.

An update has emerged on Manchester United and their plans to add a central defender to their squad in the summer transfer window…

What’s the latest on Benjamin Pavard to Manchester United?

According to FootballTransfers, the Red Devils have turned their attention to Bayern Munich stopper Benjamin Pavard ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The report claims that the Premier League side are looking at alternative options to Napoli’s Kim Min-jae, who is said to be on his way to Bavaria, with Erik ten Hag now eyeing the Bundesliga monster.

It states that the German outfit are set to demand a fee of at least €30m (£26m) for the French international, although it remains to be seen whether the English outfit are willing to match that figure or not.

Where would Benjamin Pavard fit in at Manchester United?

The very versatile former Stuttgart enforcer played the majority of his matches at centre-back for Bayern last term and his arrival could spell trouble for Raphael Varane next season.

Pavard is a right-sided player, who can also be deployed as a full-back and could partner the left-footed Lisandro Martinez at Old Trafford as part of a rather balanced-looking back four.

Varane averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.85 across 24 Premier League outings in the 2022/23 campaign as he contributed with one tackle and 0.5 interceptions per game.

The ex-Real Madrid star, who also won 64% of his duels, did not rank among the top ten performers for United for tackles or interceptions per match, whilst he also placed 13th overall in the team when it came to his Sofascore rating.

The Bayern titan, meanwhile, made 2.3 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per Bundesliga outing, along with a duel success rate of 67%, and no player in ten Hag’s squad made as many, which suggests that the 27-year-old machine could be an outstanding addition to the defence.

Pavard's average Sofascore rating of 7.36 across 30 league matches was only bettered at Old Trafford by Bruno Fernandes' rating of 7.56. This illustrates how impressive the French tank's displays were for the German champions and why United must swoop for him this summer.

Once described as "underrated" by current Bayern head coach Thomas Tuchel, the Frenchman is also an exceptional ball-playing defender who could provide Ten Hag with an upgrade on Varane in possession.

The £83k-per-week talent has averaged 7.59 progressive passes per 90 across the last 365 days, which ranks among the top 1% of players in his position across Europe's top five divisions.

Meanwhile, the current United centre-back has averaged 3.23 per 90 over the last 365 days and is in the 52nd percentile, which suggests that he is a fairly average player at progressing the play with the ball at his feet.

Therefore, the signing of Pavard would be bad news for Varane as his international colleague could provide more quality on and off the ball as a central defender, which could leave the 30-year-old colossus out of the starting XI on the right side of the backline.

Everton are interested in the services of Fenerbahce defender Attila Szalai, as per reports.

Everton transfer news – What’s the latest on Attila Szalai?

According to the Turkish publication Star, the Toffees are among several ‘European giants’ that have taken notice of the Hungarian defender for his performances with the Istanbul club, as well as his national side this term.

The other teams reportedly circling the player include Anderlecht, Wolfsburg, Valencia, and Zenit St Petersburg.

The Yellow Canaries have set an asking price of €20m (£17m) for the 25-year-old colossus, which could represent something of a bargain in today’s transfer market.

With the decision not to keep Conor Coady at the club for another season and the departure of Yerry Mina, Sean Dyche could certainly use some defensive reinforcements.

Could Attila Szalai be Everton’s own Virgil Van Dijk?

Could Everton replicate their neighbours across Stanley Park with the signing of Szalai and get their own talismanic centre-half to build a winning team around?

Well, Hungarian journalist Bence Bocsak certainly seems to think so, having dubbed him the “Hungarian Van Dijk” after a masterful international performance against England last summer.

The first thing instantly recognisable between the two players is their height – the Budapest-born titan is 6 foot 4, and Virgil Van Dijk is only just slightly taller at 6 foot 5.

However, the major difference in their physical attributes is their weight, as Liverpool’s Dutch destroyer comes in at a heavy 92kg, whereas Everton’s potential signing is just 82kg, as per Eurosport.

That’s not to say the difference couldn’t be cut down with the proper training and dietary programme, but it does mean that at this moment in time, the Dutchman is a more imposing figure for attackers to deal with, but that is also expected in the English top-flight.

One of his strengths, akin to the superstar he is compared to, is his work rate.

Petros Konnafis, the sporting director of his old side Apollon Limassol heaped praise on the player for his work ethic, saying:

“He’s a 100% professional. He is one of the most intensive and focused football players I have ever met in my life.

“Attila was always doing extra training, he was always trying to learn and trying to work on his body. He worked a lot, and he worked very hard, he’s not just a football player, he’s the full package.”

It was another good season for the Hungarian last year, as he was heavily involved yet again, playing for his club side 52 times, scoring three goals and creating three assists along the way.

According to WhoScored, he averaged a respectable rating of 6.75 across his 32 league games, whereas the Breda-born colossus just edged him out on 6.97.

Interestingly he averaged 1.1 tackles per game to the Dutchman’s 0.8 and 1.1 interceptions to one, per WhoScored, granted in an easier league, but that suggests he has a strong foundation to build upon.

Whether he can quite be the next Van Dijk for Dyche or not, he would certainly be a great addition to the Toffees’ back line next season, given the evidence and clamour above, and for £17m, it’s undoubtedly worth the risk.

Robin Koch would be a disappointing downgrade for West Ham United if they're to replace Declan Rice this summer.

What's the latest West Ham news?

The biggest story of the summer for the Hammers is Rice's dubious future as the English midfielder looks set to leave the club after nine years, with both Arsenal and Manchester City reportedly interested.

Having come through the academy system, the 24-year-old has been a key fixture in the side since breaking through in 2017 and will leave a large hole to fill for David Moyes' team as they look to replace him.

One man that is reportedly on their radar as a potential replacement for Rice is Leeds United man Robin Koch.

According to Sport BILD reporter Tobi Altschäffl, the Hammers have joined Eintracht Frankfurt in their interest for the German and view him as a possible replacement for their star man.

"In addition to Eintracht Frankfurt, West Ham entered the race for Robin Koch. At West Ham he is being discussed as a six and a possible Rice successor. Koch's tendency is more towards the Bundesliga," he tweeted.

Would Robin Koch be a good Declan Rice replacement for West Ham?

As West Ham look to fill the monumental hole that Rice will leave in the team, Koch is not the right player to step into the 24-year-old's place.

While he has looked serviceable at times during his spell at Leeds, the German struggled towards the end of last season, with his performance against Fulham labelled "horrific" by Youtuber and MEN contributor Conor McGilligan.

"[Max] Wober came in and did okay, was probably you know, head and shoulders above Koch who was horrific. Can't pass the ball at the minute. Was struggling with defensive headers.

"Robin Koch is having an absolute shocker now and when I'm looking at men to step up right now, I'm looking at someone like him, he doesn't look bothered."

That's not the mindset the Hammers will want in Rice's successor, with the Englishman known for always giving 100% whenever he took to the field for both club and country.

Defensively, Rice shines in the middle of the park, putting up 2.1 tackles a game and 1.7 interceptions a game, numbers Koch fails to reach, with the defender averaging 1.5 tackles a game and 1.2 interceptions a game in comparison.

It's not just his defensive output that makes the midfielder such a vital component of Moyes' side, though, with his playmaking ability also shining this season. Making one key pass a game and averaging 4.1 long balls per game, with a pass success rate of 88%, Rice's ability to dictate play from the middle of the park is second to none and Koch just isn't up to that standard.

Averaging just 0.2 key passes a game and 2.1 long balls per game with a pass success rate of 77.3%, it's clear the German flop falls way short of Rice in that department, without even factoring in the pair's respective goal contributions this season, with the Hammers' midfielder having five goals and four assists in all competitions, while Koch failed to score or assist at all.

All in all, Koch falls short of Rice in every key area, and his WhoScored rating of 6.52, which pales in comparison to the 24-year-old's 7.01, is just the icing on the cake.

The Leeds man may be a fine signing for a Premier League side, but a worthy successor to Rice? Absolutely not.

Manchester United lead the chase for Portuguese striker Goncalo Ramos, with Erik ten Hag looking to bolster his attacking options ahead of next season.

What’s the latest on Goncalo Ramos to Manchester United?

According to Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manhã (via Football 365), United are ‘in the lead’ over Paris Saint-Germain as they chase a move for Ramos this summer.

The striker is currently in high demand and Benfica will be aiming to receive a fee of around €80m (£68m) for the 21-year-old and with the club seemingly diverting their interest away from a move for Harry Kane, Ramos could be the new focus of attention during the transfer window.

Could Goncalo Ramos sign for Manchester United?

It’s no secret that Ten Hag wants to sign a world-class striker ahead of next season, with Anthony Martial and Wout Weghorst netting just 11 goals between them and although the Dutchman will be aiming to strengthen all over the pitch, luring a player who has the capabilities to score over 20 goals a season must be a priority.

The 2022/2023 season was arguably Ramos’ breakthrough, as he scored 27 goals across all competitions, also grabbing 12 assists for good measure and by unleashing him as his main centre-forward, Ten Hag could allow Marcus Rashford to cement a spot on the left wing, where he flourished last term.

The Englishman registered 22 goal contributions – 16 goals and six assists – from the left flank and he showcased his attacking capabilities by ranking in the top 8% across Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty goals, total shots per 90 and touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, certainly indicating that he is among the finest in the continent for these metrics.

Ramos would take the pressure off of Rashford in a goalscoring sense and with the youngster already starring on the international stage, his future is extremely bright.

During his first-ever World Cup start last year, he scored a stunning hattrick against Switzerland in the last 16 and he managed six shots in total during the tie while also creating a big chance and making two key passes, suggesting that he can do more than just score.

It was an excellent way to announce his talents on the big stage however and United wouldn’t go wrong by luring him to Old Trafford, especially with his limitless potential and the fact they so desperately require a ruthless striker.

Having posted “outrageous numbers” according to Jacek Kulig for Benfica B just a couple of years ago, he has taken to the senior stage with ease and Ten Hag will feel he can lead the United line over the next few seasons.

That addition would, in turn, allow Rashford – who was described as "unstoppable" by his manager earlier this year – to feature consistently in his preferred position off the left, ensuring the 25-year-old could become even more unplayable in the Red Devils' attacking unit.

Aston Villa are targeting Southampton defender Armel Bella-Kotchap after his relegation to the Championship, according to talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook.

Who could Villa sign this summer?

Unai Emery's side enjoyed a rip-roaring finish to the 2022/2023 Premier League season, winning 10 league games and losing just twice since early March.

Their exceptional form in the latter stages saw them finish seventh and qualify for the Europa Conference League, and it's now Villa's task to build upon that and back Emery in the summer transfer market.

According to recent rumours, Villa appear to be targeting central midfield signings, with Fulham's Joao Palhinha, Southampton star James Ward-Prowse and Leicester City's Youri Tielemans linked most recently.

The Villans want to strengthen in defence as well, with Villarreal star Pau Torres, a player who Emery knows well, being repeatedly mentioned by the press.

Arsenal's Kieran Tierney is another player garnering Villa's interest as they look to shore up their back line, with talkSPORT's Crook now saying they're targeting Bella-Kotchap from Southampton too.

Writing for talkSPORT, the journalist says Emery and co are eyeing a move for the German as he pushes for a move away from the south coast. Southampton are apparently bracing themselves for a bidding war over Bella-Kotchap, as clubs in Italy and Germany are in the mix as well.

It will apparently cost interested sides around £30 million to prise the centre-back away from St. Mary's, but little else is said on whether Villa believe this is a price worth paying.

Who is Armel Bella-Kotchap?

The 21-year-old, who has two caps at international level for Germany, arguably stood out as one of the Saints' shining lights last season during their relegation campaign.

As per WhoScored, he finished the season as Southampton's third-best performing player by average match rating – having made their second-highest rate of interceptions per 90 in that time.

Speaking last August, Saints legend Francis Benail raved over Bella-Kotchap's impact on BT Sport (via The Daily Mail).

"He is one of five or six players that have had an instant impact," said Benail.

"What we've been seeing is maturity beyond their years. He takes up great positions and recognizes danger."

Journalist Felix Keith has called the starlet defender "exceptional" for some of his performances last campaign, and for £30m, he'd come to Villa Park with plenty of potential at just 21.

This could be a move worth exploring for Emery.

The West Ham board has been teetering for a while, endlessly agonising over David Moyes’ uncertain future.

The Scotsman has bought so much joy to East London. Incredibly, he managed consecutive top-seven finishes, as well as a commendable European excursion last season that was halted in the semi-finals by the eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt.

This term, the Irons have gone one step further on the continent and made it to the Europa Conference League Final.

Moyes and his squad are on the cusp of immortality, but failure to win this competition could spell the end for the veteran coach.

According to the Guardian, the Hammers are giving fresh consideration to Moyes’ dismissal to heighten the pressure on the game on Wednesday evening in Prague.

His fate rests upon reversing history and securing West Ham’s first major trophy in 43 years.

However, as per Foot Mercato’s Santi Aouna, Brendan Rodgers is a “leading candidate”, should Moyes fail at the last hurdle.

Would Brendan Rodgers be a good fit at West Ham?

A victim of recency bias would wrongly discount the obvious quality of Rodgers. The 50-year-old has endured a difficult campaign, unable to stem Leicester City’s downward spiral that culminated in a surprising relegation.

The club only signed two players last summer to leave Rodgers exposed and unevenly supported.

Prior to this tumultuous year at the King Power Stadium, the Northern Irishman had deservedly developed a prestigious reputation as quite simply, an unbelievable coach.

He first announced his managerial brilliance to British football with Swansea, securing promotion to the Premier League in 2012 via the play-offs.

The tactician was then announced as the boss of Liverpool and although it didn't quite go according to plan there, Merseyside legend Steven Gerrard was one effusive voice, heaping praise upon his managerial style.

He said: “His one-on-one management is the best I have known. He makes you go out onto the pitch feeling a million dollars — full of confidence and belief. He is a very confident manager.”

In more recent times, Rodgers managed the Foxes to their first-ever FA Cup victory in 2021 and had the club on the cusp of Champions League football.

Jurgen Klopp has expressed his admiration for his peers' work and said: “Leicester are built like you would like to build a team. Brilliant team. What they do is really good. Exciting, fresh; defend well; play football and are especially threatening in counter-attacks."

After an £166m outlay last summer, Moyes conceded that the spending “has not worked as well” as he would’ve liked, and given Rodgers' ability to pinpoint a player’s best role and mould a squad, his arrival at the London Stadium could be the perfect scenario.

Described as “unbelievable” by Michail Antonio, a player he could end up coaching, the appointment of Rodgers would herald a new era that could reignite the squad and the fan base.

With the summer transfer window now on the horizon, Tottenham Hotspur will no doubt be looking to strengthen their squad following what has been a turbulent campaign thus far, with the Lilywhites still seeking to find a suitable successor to Antonio Conte in the dugout.

One area that any new manager may well be looking to address is the defensive ranks, with the north London outfit having been particularly porous this season after shipping 62 Premier League goals to date – the sixth-worst record in the division.

While not solely culpable for those woes, one man who has been under the microscope of late is long-serving asset, Eric Dier, with journalist Ryan Taylor having suggested that the 29-year-old is "nowhere near the required level for what Spurs are trying to achieve".

Although it has been revealed that the England international had been playing through an injury in recent months, there will still be concern over the £85k-per-week man's woes, with pundit Alan Hutton only recently stating that he is "not so sure" that supporters would be happy to see the centre-back handed a new contract, amid talk that an extension is on the cards.

As Hutton also noted, the struggling side "need reinforcements" as they look "poor defensively", with Dier, in particular, having 'played poorly since the World Cup', in the words of pundit Tony Cascarino.

Amid that need for fresh faces, a potential dream target for chairman Daniel Levy could have presented itself in the form of England youth star, Ronnie Edwards.

Who is Ronnie Edwards?

The 20-year-old is a promising centre-back who currently plies his trade for League One side, Peterborough United, with Football League World recently reporting that the one-time Barnet man has been watched by those at N17 for an extended period of time.

The report suggests that the 5 foot 11 ace could be among those to depart London Road this summer following the club's failure to secure promotion to the Championship, with Darren Ferguson's men having squandered a four-goal advantage to crash out in the play-off semi-finals.

While that grim defeat to Sheffield Wednesday would have been particularly disappointing for Edwards and co, the exciting youngster was something of a shining light despite the end result, having been a "one-man defensive wall" in the second leg, according to journalist Ben Jones.

That outing epitomised what has been a fine season for the £2.7k-per-week gem in the third tier, having averaged two tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game from his 42 league outings, while also keeping 15 clean sheets in that time.

Such defensive prowess from the young "Rolls Royce" – as hailed by Peterborough chairman, Barry Fry – is seemingly superior to what Dier has achieved in the top-flight this term, with the 49-cap dud having averaged just 0.9 tackles and 1.1 interceptions from his 33 league appearances, keeping nine clean sheets in that time.

With the latter man having spent almost a decade in north London it could well be an opportune time for Spurs to consider acquiring a younger replacement, such as Edwards, to lead the club forward for the foreseeable future.

Todd Boehly's Chelsea reign has certainly been a tumultuous one, with the Blues now certain to finish in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter were both sacked by the American, who was keen for instant success following an investment of over £550m on new signings.

However, this will not stop Chelsea from spending big again this summer, so long as they can move on some of the deadwood at Stamford Bridge in order to abide by Financial Fair Play rules.

One man who has been linked with a summer move to the Blues is Jules Kounde, in what would be an opportunity for Boehly to avenge his 2022 heartbreak over the Frenchman after he joined Barcelona ahead of Chelsea last summer.

Could Chelsea sign Jules Kounde?

According to Diario Sport, the France international is now keen to leave Camp Nou this summer as Xavi has rarely utilised him in his natural centre-back position, instead playing him as a right-back – or even as a midfielder, as he did in the recent game against Real Sociedad.

The Spanish manager had reportedly promised to play Kounde as a centre-back, and as that has not materialised, he is now considering his future with the La Liga champions, with Barcelona more than willing to sell if he isn't fully committed to the club.

It is suggested that Chelsea would be willing to renew their interest in the 24-year-old and would be willing to pay more than Barcelona paid to Sevilla last summer, with previous reports suggesting that a fee of €75m (£65m) would be enough to see him leave.

Would Kounde be a good signing for Chelsea?

It is easy to understand why Boehly was so keen to sign Kounde last summer given he was rated as one of the best young centre-backs in Europe, and he has only enhanced that reputation with Barcelona and France this season.

In 27 La Liga appearances, the versatile defender has one goal and three assists with a strong 6.97 rating from WhoScored for his performances, which is only bettered by Reece James and Thiago Silva in Chelsea's squad.

While Boehly already has young centre-backs such as Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile at his disposal, Kounde already has experience at the very top level, having won the Europa League with Sevilla and appeared in a World Cup final with France.

Football analyst Marcus Bring dubbed him "sensational" back in 2021, while sports technology manager Alan Feehely labelled him as an "absolute baller" that year, which suggests that he has been highly rated for a number of years now.

While it would be another expensive outlay for Boehly, Kounde has what it takes to be a top defender for the next decade and there will be few opportunities to prise him away from one of Europe's elite clubs, so the chairman must take advantage of his unhappiness at Barcelona and sign him this summer, one year later than originally planned.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly plotting to make a fresh move for Villarreal defender, Pau Torres, with the Lilywhites having seemingly missed out on the exciting centre-back last summer.

What's the latest on Torres to Tottenham?

According to Italian outlet, Tuttosport, the north Londoners are seemingly ready to rival Serie A side Juventus for the signing of the 26-year-old, with the Premier League outfit said to be ready to 'try again' this summer after failing to sign the defender last year.

As per the Daily Mail, Daniel Levy and co were reportedly attempting to sign the 6 foot 3 gem ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, albeit with the Spaniard ultimately staying put with the La Liga side.

The latest indication is that Spurs will push to make another attempt ahead of next season, with the report suggesting that the 23-cap ace could be available for lower than his reported €65m (£57m) release clause, as his existing contract is set to expire next year.

Who could Torres replace at Tottenham?

The signing of the Villarreal rock could well spell bad news for long-serving Tottenham defender, Eric Dier, with the England international only set to find himself pushed further down the defensive pecking order, following what has been a dismal campaign on both a collective and individual basis.

The 29-year-old – who has been at the club since joining from Sporting CP back in 2014 – has formed part of a backline that has shipped 62 Premier League goals so far this term, with that the sixth-worst record of any team in the division.

Dier, in particular, has had to endure his fair share of the blame for those woes, with journalist Ryan Taylor stating earlier this year that the experienced dud "is just nowhere near the required level for what Spurs are trying to achieve".

As such, bringing Torres into the fold could well be the defensive upgrade that Tottenham are evidently in need of, with the left-footed ace having enjoyed another solid campaign in Spain so far, with his average match rating of 7.06 – as per Sofascore – far greater than what Dier has achieved in the Premier League (6.86).

The notable difference between the pair is their ability in possession, with the Spain international ranking in at least the top 3% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for progressive passes, progressive carries and successful take-ons, proving just why he is "wonderful on the ball" – as per talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Dier, by contrast, is far less comfortable at playing out from the back as he ranks in just the bottom 41% for progressive passes, the bottom 25% for progressive carries and only the bottom 20% for successful take-ons – a stark illustration of the contrasting abilities of the pair.

Torres is also no slouch when it comes to carrying out his defensive duties as he has averaged 1.3 tackles per game in La Liga this season and won 66% of his ground duels, while the current Spurs man has averaged only 0.9 tackles per game and won just 52% of his ground duels.

While it is yet to be seen just who will be in charge next season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Levy would be wise to give any new manager a welcome gift with the signing of Torres.