All posts by z3u9t.icu

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.

Aston Villa are reportedly already looking to the summer transfer window in order to strengthen ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The Villans have enjoyed a season that has surpassed expectations, mostly attributable to the work of Unai Emery since his arrival in October.

The Spaniard has been nominated for Premier League manager of the season for his work at Villa so far, taking the Midlands side from lurkers at the bottom of the table to European hopefuls.

His first half-year at Villa Park is just the beginning of the 51-year-old’s success at the club, who has expressed his plans to improve his squad this summer.

While the four-time Europa League winner is ready to spend in the window, he could save the club a fortune with a certain academy star that could offer a lot in a position he wishes to strengthen; Cameron Archer.

Who is Cameron Archer?

The Villa Academy product has been at the club since U9s level and has progressed through the system since.

Now 21, the attacker is due to return from a successful loan spell at Middlesbrough after the club failed to reach the play-off finals following defeat to Coventry City which ended their impressive season.

Despite only making the switch in January, the Walsall-born forward has found the net 11 times in 20 appearances and recorded six assists in an electric cameo to Michael Carrick’s side’s push to promotion.

The youngster maintained a Sofascore match rating of 7.11 in the Championship, making him the club's second-highest performer behind top-scorer Chuba Akpom.

Carrick praised the loanee to TeesideLive, describing him as a player that “loves scoring goals” as well as lauding the forward for being “unselfish” in his attacking play in a way that benefits the team.

It’s been speculated that Boro could see a more permanent future for the striker at the club, or even a further loan, with his contract due to expire at Villa Park in 2027.

For his parent club, his success in the Championship should be seen as an opportunity to allow him to integrate into the first team, rather than an option to send out once more.

When speaking to The Athletic last month, Emery expressed his desire to add another striker to his squad, however, the Spaniard could save the club millions by giving the proven goal-getter an opportunity to shine on the big stage.

Called "bullish" by former loan boss Ryan Lowe while at Preston North End, Villa have a real talent on their hands and one that could benefit them in the future.

Whether it be at the club or in business terms, the young Englishman is one to watch next season.

Brenden Aaronson will undergo his Leeds United medical imminently ahead of his summer move to Elland Road, according to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.

The Lowdown: Aaronson deal on the brink

The American has been a long-time target for the Whites and was even the subject of two bids from Marcelo Bielsa and Victor Orta back in January.

Unsurprisingly, with Jesse Marsch working alongside him during their time together at RB Salzburg, the Whites’ interest hasn’t waned with the change of manager.

Aaronson scored twice in eight Champions League appearances for Salzburg this season, as well as averaging 1.6 key passes per game in the competition, and on Monday, it emerged that a deal to sign the 21-year-old is now close, following Leeds’ Premier League survival being secured on Sunday.

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The Latest: Medical imminent

Taking to Twitter on Monday evening, Sky Germany reporter Plettenberg claimed that Aaronson would have his Whites medical in the near future, with everything else agreed:

“Update #Aaronson: There is a total agreement with #LUFC and between the clubs. Everything is clear but no signing yet. Medical soon. Total transfer between €28-30m. He is one of the desired players of the clubs. Great transfer.”

The Verdict: Fantastic summer signing

Aaronson has seemingly been a primary target for a long time, so getting this deal over the line is huge, further highlighting the importance of staying in the Premier League.

The USA international should bring a huge amount of quality with him to Leeds’ midfield, providing more end product than the current crop, following 13 goals and 15 assists in 65 matches for Salzburg.

At 22, he is someone who can mature into a star figure at Elland Road during the Marsch era, excelling alongside his compatriot and helping take the Whites up another gear.

In other news, Leeds are eyeing up a second signing after Aaronson. Find out who it is here.

Everton have survived their desperate relegation battle and will remain in the Premier League next season after a disastrous campaign, but Frank Lampard and his team can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

It wasn’t a comfortable game for the Toffees by no means, but the manager will be proud of the resilience his team showed in the second half of the game to come back from 2-0 down against Crystal Palace to score three in the final 45 minutes at Goodison Park.

Despite being at home Everton had less possession (43%), fewer big chances and completed over 100 less accurate passes than Patrick Vieira’s side yesterday evening, but even without domination of the ball, the team took their chances when they needed to.

In the first half, the Toffees struggled to impose themselves on their visitors and started massively on the back foot which ultimately cost them when Jean-Philippe Mateta found the back of the net in the 21st minute but the first goal wasn’t enough to wake the home team up as they conceded a second 15 minutes later when Jordan Ayew scored to double Palace’s lead.

Lampard quickly realised that he needed to make some ruthless changes to his team if he was going to have any chance of securing safety ahead of the final game of the season, swapping out an uninspiring Andre Gomes for Dele Alli and that one change may have been the catalyst in changing Everton’s fate on Merseyside.

Michael Keane and Richarlison brought their team back into the game with goals in the second half, but it was Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s killer goal in the 85th minute that made every Blues supporter’s dreams come true, with a goal that has now saved Everton in their penultimate game of the campaign.

One player who deserves a huge amount of credit for the win tonight is Demarai Gray, who came on the pitch for Anthony Gordon in the 61st minute, a substitution that was worth its weight in gold.

The 25-year-old who was hailed a “game-changer” by former manager Gary Rowett proved just how effective he can be in important moments even with just 13 touches of the ball he made every single one count.

Gray won 100% of his ground duels, was successful in 100% of his dribble attempts, creating one big chance and making one key pass proving that although he didn’t make many touches he was effective in achieving what he was brought onto the pitch to do.

Lampard, the squad and the supporters will be massively relieved and overjoyed to have taken themselves out of the relegation fight ahead of the last day of the season, but now the club must focus on the future and there is some serious work to do to make sure they don’t fall into the same situation again next season.

AND in other news: Everton eye a move for 18 y/o “shining light”, he could be the next Calvert-Lewin

19-year-old Wolves striker Fabio Silva is reportedly the subject of interest from Real Madrid.

That’s according to reports in Spain via Caught Offside, who claim that the Spanish champions are looking to add a young striker to their ranks this summer with Karim Benzema entering the final years of his career.

The West Midlands outfit broke their club-record transfer fee to lure Silva from FC Porto to Molineux as an 18-year-old for a whopping £35.6m in September 2020, a transfer that Tariq Panja of the New York Times journalist described as “baffling.”

However, that price tag is yet to be justified.

Wolves can allow Silva to leave

Since becoming another of many talents to leave Portugal for Wolves, Silva has made 61 appearances for Wolves, although the striker averages 41.2 minutes per appearance.

In that time, the teenager has scored four goals and registered six assists. However, all of the goals and half of the assists came last season with the forward yet to find the back of the net this term.

Although he didn’t sign Silva, Bruno Lage has shown evidence of being a fan of the youngster, handing him plenty of opportunities in the second half of the season.

Moreover, the Portuguese was voted as Wolves’ player of the month for April despite Wanderers losing three in a row and the forward failing to register a goal or an assist.

Of course, at a very young age, Silva has an abundance of potential, hence why Wolves paid the serious money that they did. It is just a case of demonstrating that quality in matches for the 19-year-old.

Goals have been at a serious shortage for Lage’s side this term, with just three sides scoring fewer than their 37, two of which have already been relegated in Watford and Norwich City.

Therefore, investing in high quality forwards that can score will certainly be a priority, something that Silva hasn’t shown many signs of doing over his two seasons.

If Real Madrid were to offer similar money to what Wolves spent on the striker, they could be tempted to allow the forward, who was labelled as a “hindrance” by journalist Liam Keen, to depart after a frustrating spell at Molineux.

However, there is also the suggestion that if Wolves cut ties with Silva early, they may find themselves regretting their actions in years to come.

Based on what the striker has shown in a Wolves shirt thus far though, the West Midlands outfit can afford to allow him to depart.

AND in other news: Wolves can get summer off to a blinder with “unplayable” £46k-p/w brute who Lage wants

Wolverhampton Wanderers have cast their sights towards Huddersfield Town midfielder Lewis O’Brien, with the Old Gold interested in signing a midfielder in this summer’s transfer window.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, who claim that Wolves are among a sextuple of clubs who are interested in signing the 23-year-old.

The mentioned sides who are vying for his signature are Wolves, Leeds United, Crystal Palace, Burnley and Southampton.

It is said that the Englishman’s fate could be settled as early as next week as it is believed that the Terriers’ midfield man has a release clause in his contract to the tune of around £12m.

As per the report, there is a slim chance that O’Brien could stay, with Huddersfield Town involved in the play-offs, so if they were to earn promotion to the Premier League, the 23-year-old would not have too much to gain.

Ready for the Premier League

It is no secret as to why so many top-flight outfits are sniffing around O’Brien ahead of this summer’s transfer window.

The 23-year-old, who has been described as “terrific” by writer George Smith, has been a vital part of the Terriers’ Championship campaign, having played 93% of Huddersfield’s games this season, and still has a part to play in helping them to achieve their ambition of promotion to the top flight.

The Englishman has “ran the show” according to Smith and has drummed up metrics that would see him slot right into Lage’s Wolves side.

Having created 44 chances in the Championship this season, he would rank first in Wolves’ squad, jumping ahead of Daniel Podence who has created 35 openings in the Premier League this term.

With six goal contributions in the form of three goals and three assists, he has bettered that of Joao Moutinho, who has been mooted to leave Molineux this summer.

Defensively he is sound also, and his average of 1.3 successful tackles per 90 would see him rank fourth among the Old Gold squad for this metric.

Overall, his £12m release clause represents somewhat of a bargain for a player of his calibre who is clearly ready for the Premier League.

Wolves would be right to move for O’Brien, who could offer Lage’s side a much-needed burst of creativity and defensive stability in midfield.

In other news: Forget Sa: “Ridiculous” Wolves dud who lost the ball every 5 touches let Lage down