All posts by z3u9t.icu

The process that took Rafa Benitez to Everton was an incredibly longwinded one.

The Spaniard revealed his desire to return to the Premier League back in March and, four months later, he’s had his wish fulfilled.

That said, if you told him at the beginning of the year that he’d be heading to Liverpool’s Merseyside rivals at Goodison Park, he’d have probably laughed.

What’s the word?

Benitez has been in the Everton hotseat for 48 hours now and details are beginning to emerge surrounding why he wanted the job.

According to Ian McGarry of the Transfer Window Podcast, the 61-year-old was given assurances over the club’s transfer budget.

Speaking this week, McGarry said: “We understand that Benitez spoke to his predecessor Carlo Ancelotti before that meeting to ask what it had been like managing the Merseyside club, which was a positive conversation.”

The reporter added: “Benitez has been assured that he will have money to spend in order to improve the squad with the aim of playing European football and also being in the space where they are considered to be on the up in terms of challenging.”

Exciting news

This news should be music to the ears of Everton supporters and the club’s new manager.

The Toffees haven’t been afraid to lash out vast sums of money in years gone by, with a grand total of £448.98m spent since the 2017/18 campaign.

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What’s happened with that money has been a rugged state of affairs. Despite Farhad Moshiri’s immense spending power, they’ve not been able to claim an elusive spot in the Champions League or even the Europa League.

Not since the days of David Moyes have the Toffees reached the qualification stages for Europe’s top club competition, so it will take a great deal of planning and work to get them back there. After all, it doesn’t matter how much you spend if the deals you’re concluding aren’t on top players.

A small improvement has been made in recent years with James Rodriguez, Ben Godfrey and Richarlison becoming regular starters and key players during Carlo Ancelotti’s tenure. However, you sense that Benitez will relish the opportunity to sink his teeth into a hefty budget as promised.

The Spaniard impressed at Newcastle by guiding them to promotion from the Championship but, once he was back in the top flight, Mike Ashley presented him with very limited funds, breaking promises in the process. Those were ultimately the main reasons behind Benitez’s departure from St James’ Park.

Consequently, the opportunity to spend more money at Everton should be enthralling for the new Toffees manager.

It should also be exciting news for supporters. If the money available is really going to be spent on players who can help them break into the top six, this could be a campaign to remember.

Perhaps this is the catalyst for supporters to back Benitez rather than grill him. They should be delighted with initial events following his appointment.

AND in other news, Everton eye swoop for “superb” 69-goal colossus, it could mean the end for DCL…

Rangers picked up their eighth consecutive win in the Premiership on Saturday as they scraped a 1-0 victory over Dundee United to extend their lead at the top of the table to seven points.

Right-back James Tavernier received the plaudits after his penalty proved the difference in what was a hard-fought victory for the Gers, who maintained their 100% winning record in the league under Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Despite the 30-year-old’s winning goal, it was his fellow defender Connor Goldson who particularly impressed and played a vital role in securing the Light Blues’ fifth Premiership clean sheet in a row.

Gold-standard display from Goldson

The 29-year-old won nine of his duels as well as making three tackles, whilst not being dribbled past once as the Gers edged to victory. Goldson also managed an impressive 86% passing accuracy whilst having 112 touches, a significant tally for a centre-back.

The £6.75m-rated defender has been a kingpin for Van Bronckhorst’s side, both before and after Steven Gerrard’s departure for Aston Villa last month.

Having missed just two games in all competitions all season, playing the full 90 minutes for the remaining 30, the Englishman really has been a colossus for the Gers this term.

Rangers’ entire defensive unit has been a marvel this season, conceding just 14 goals in 19 games. However, what is particularly impressive is that they have only shipped four goals in the last eight league matches, going five consecutive matches without being breached.

Following today’s win over Dundee United, Football Scotland writer Euan Robertson stated that Goldson “is getting back to his dominant best”, but admittedly “breezed through the game in second gear” despite the narrow scoreline.

There is no doubt that the 29-year-old is a key fixture in this Rangers setup, and the Scottish champions will need the defender at his best and fully fit throughout the campaign if they are to retain their league title.

In other news – Forget Tavernier: Rangers gem who won 6 of his duels ran the show v Dundee United

Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie thinks that a new left-back will be the first thing the club will seek in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Left-back issues; Buchanan links

Ange Postecoglou has been tested at left-back in recent weeks after positional regular Greg Taylor had to undergo shoulder surgery.

The Scot has missed the last 11 games in all competitions as a result, with the likes of Boli Bolingoli, Adam Montgomery and Josip Juranovic being used in Taylor’s absence.

Celtic have also been linked with Derby County left-back Lee Buchanan in recent weeks, with reliable reporter Alan Nixon believing that the Rams may sell in the next transfer window.

The Latest: McAvennie reacts

McAvennie was talking to Football Insider about the Hoops’ left-back ranks, which he labelled a ‘problem position’ based on the instability in the role in recent weeks.

He has tipped the club to remedy that in January by making a ‘quality’ left-back addition, saying:

“Left-back is the problem position.

“We just can’t seem to get it right. I don’t think Postecoglou is happy. Juranovic is a right-back but he plays left-back quite a lot of the time.

“Taylor is in and out and Bolingoli can’t get more than a couple of games even though he’s the best of the lot.

“That tells me Ange isn’t completely happy and I think a new left-back will be first through the door in January.

“I think we will spend, the money is there. The defence is definitely the problem.

“But the same centre-backs start every week and it’s usually Ralston at right-back.

“A top-quality left-back would improve us to no end.”

The Verdict: Over to Nicholson…

With no director of football or head of recruitment in place at Parkhead, you’d expect that the club’s winter window business will be down to interim CEO Michael Nicholson at this moment in time.

A left-back appears to be needed with Postecoglou so far struggling to find the answer without Taylor, so Buchanan could be a shrewd addition.

Wayne Rooney has tipped the Derby youngster to go on and play for England, and with the player out of contract at the end of the season, January could be the perfect time for the Hoops to make their move.

In other news: ‘It’s a small fee’ – BBC pundit reacts as Celtic make first move to sign ‘incredible’ defender

Noel Whelan has been left fuming at what he has now heard from an Everton source involving Richarlison in the build-up to the clash with Leicester City.

The Lowdown: Agent talk

Speaking to Football Insider, a source from the Goodison Park faithful has revealed that Richarlison has now told his agent to find him a new club in the summer as another crucial fixture looms this evening, when the Toffees welcome Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes to Goodison Park.

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The Brazil international still has over two years left of his contract remaining on Merseyside, but given how the season has gone, it looks as if he wants to bail out now.

The Latest: Whelan fumes

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan, who regularly used to feature as a pundit for the BBC, fumed when he heard the news, claiming that ‘it’s not right’ that Richarlison is ‘plotting’ a way out of the Toffees when they are struggling near the bottom of the Premier League:

“That doesn’t surprise me at all.

“I’ve said all along that I wouldn’t want to be in the trenches with him, and that just proves my point.

“You just knew all along, once Everton got into this struggle, he would be sitting at home and plotting his way out.

“That’s not commitment to me. That’s not fighting for the cause. It’s not right.

“Will he get the move? Of course he will. He’s Brazil’s number nine, and he had Barcelona at his door only a couple of years ago.

“I’m sure he’ll get the move he wants, but it won’t be cheap. Everton will hold on for what they think he’s worth – provided they’re still in the Premier League.”

The Verdict: Sell

Richarlison has often been criticised for having problems with his attitude, and this seems no different as he reportedly looks to force his way out of the club.

He has not exactly been on top form either this season so far, with just six goals to his name in the top flight, and at 24 years of age, Frank Lampard’s team could demand a sizeable fee for him this summer.

Nonetheless, the Blues could then use that money to strengthen in other key areas of the pitch, so letting a player go who is seemingly unhappy would not be the worst thing.

In other news, find out which ‘fantastic specimen’ EFC are now eyeing here!

Wolves have a track record when it comes to signing players from Portuguese clubs over recent years.

Players such as Fabio Silva, Raul Jimenez, Chiquinho and Toti Gomes have all made their way from Portugal to Molineux in recent memory.

The Old Gold also have a significant number of Portuguese players in their squad brought in from other clubs across Europe and beyond.

With the upcoming summer transfer window on the horizon, it seems as though the Midlands club could have their sights set on signing another young talent making a name for himself in Portugal.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from The Sun, Wolves have identified Benfica youth talent, Martim Neto, as a potential long-term replacement for Ruben Neves should he move away from Molineux this summer.

With 71 youth appearances for the Portuguese club under his belt, the 19-year-old midfielder has scored six goals and provided four assists along the way.

This shows how capable he is of being an attacking threat from the middle of the pitch.

Their next Neves?

Taking into account how Neves has delivered 36 goal contributions in 207 appearances for the Old Gold, this could be why Neto is on the club’s radar for a potential summer swoop.

To demonstrate what sort of talent the youngster possesses, his stunning 30-yard strike versus Barcelona in the UEFA Youth League was lauded as a “missile” by journalist Luís Cristovao.Neves has a penchant for scoring goals from outside the box so this is one particular trait the Old Gold and Fosun may be looking at when assessing whether the Benfica prodigy is a suitable long-term replacement.Having had a potential price tag of £100m put on him by Bruno Lage, Neves would be a big miss for the Molineux outfit should they see him wave goodbye to the club in the summer given the number of appearances he’s made since his arrival in 2017.While it could give the Wolves boss a chance to unearth the club’s next version of their midfield maestro, perhaps signing a young player such as Neto that has no senior experience under his belt at this moment in time could be a gamble from the Old Gold.An ideal situation could be for them to keep hold of Neves and still sign Neto as a future first-team star for them once he gets enough experience in him.In other news: Sky Sports: Wolves may now lose “sensational” £36m-rated “maestro”, Lage surely fuming

Manchester United may have already uncovered their next homegrown star before the last batch have even had the chance to make a real mark on the club.

Joe Hugill arrived from Sunderland in a £300,000 deal last year and has gone from strength to strength since joining the 20-time English champions.

The 6 foot 2 striker bagged an impressive 16 goals and provided a further three assists in 27 outings for United’s youth sides during his maiden campaign, but one performance in particular really caught the eye.

Despite being just 17-years old, Hugill grabbed the headlines back in February after scoring four goals as United’s U23s thumped bitter rivals Liverpool 6-3 on their own patch.

His quadruple didn’t go unnoticed by Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who lauded the youngster when asked about whether Amad Diallo, who had recently joined in a £37m transfer from Atalanta last month, would get some first-team action soon.

The Norwegian replied: “We’re gonna give him the time to settle in. If we go from that game (vs Liverpool), I’d pick Joe Hugill.

“Four goals by Hugill, he’s a top striker as well, we’re looking forward to seeing his development. Amad gets a good start, and why Joe didn’t take the penalty himself to get five goals, I’m going to ask him.”

Hugill has the chance to follow in the footstep of previous academy graduates such as Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood, but it’s another United fans favourite who the teenager resembles more closely.

His devastating finishing, wand of a left foot, tall, lean frame and technical ability all closely resemble that of Robin van Persie, and he’ll be hoping to have a similar impact upon the Old Trafford outfit as the legendary Dutch striker did.

Although he’s not blessed with pace, Hugill has no problem finding the back of the net having done so on four occasions already this season.

Only time will tell if the youngster can succeed the aforementioned stars, but if he continues to progress at his current rate, then it’s surely a matter of when and not if he makes it into Solskjaer’s first-team squad.

And, in other news…Ole could solve big MUFC problem by signing “sensational” 19 y/o who fans would love 

Manchester City have been dealt a blow to their hopes of beating Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, with reports suggesting that Harry Kane could feature for the hosts, which could certainly make things difficult for Pep Guardiola’s side.

The England captain has been heavily linked with a move to the Etihad throughout the transfer window and made it clear that he was keen to leave Spurs earlier in the summer, with the North London side set for a second successive season out of the Champions League.

Guardiola’s side have already reportedly seen a £100m bid for the striker rejected, with Daniel Levy insistent that he will remain a Spurs player, despite Kane reportedly feeling that he had a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ with the chairman to leave.

After an impressive summer at the European Championships with England, the 28-year-old was always likely to miss the majority of pre-season at Spurs, but reportedly failed to show up for training when he was expected back at Hotspur Way, which only increased rumours that he was set to depart.

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However, reports are now claiming that it will be increasingly likely that he will stay with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side this summer, with some claiming that he could even feature against the Citizens on Sunday in the opening game of their Premier League season.

If he were to start, then it would certainly give the hosts a huge boost, as regardless of whether he is fully focused on winning the game for Spurs, he is still a world-class striker who is more than likely to cause City problems.

Last season saw Kane finish as both the top goalscorer and top assister in the Premier League, despite Spurs’ less than impressive form, which emphasises just how dangerous he can be.

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Given that City have lost all three of their trips to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, failing to score a single goal despite dominating the games, you worry that the return of Kane could easily help to extend their away day hoodoo in North London.

And, in other news… Guardiola dealt huge injury blow ahead of Spurs, Man City fans will be fuming

Newcastle United are reportedly among seven clubs in the Premier League now eyeing up a transfer move for Dusan Vlahovic.

The Lowdown: Back of the queue…

It seems like every man and his dog wants to sign the 21-year-old, and the St James’ Park outfit are no exception.

Corriere Fiorentino reported earlier this week (via Sport Witness) that they joined the race to sign the Serbia international, although it will not be easy for them to meet Fiorentina’s demands.

Nonetheless, more clubs seem to be entering the hunt for his signature as the January transfer window draws closer.

The Latest: Premier League interest

As per 90min, Newcastle are one of seven English top-flight clubs now eyeing Vlahovic, with the others being Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Everton, while Juventus are also credited with an interest.

The player’s agents were in England earlier this month to engage in talks with Premier League sides, as their client is likely to be available for around £70m.

A well-placed source told the news outlet that some scouts think he could be a ‘better option’ than Borussia Dortmund superstar Erling Haaland, as he is ‘that good’ and ‘really at the top of his game’.

Vlahovic is under contract until 2023 but has rejected an offer to extend it, so Fiorentina now want to cash in and duly maximise the transfer fee they would receive by selling him.

The Verdict: Impossible?

With the sheer amount of competition for his services, coupled with the fact that the Magpies currently find themselves in a relegation scrap, it seems almost impossible that they would be able to attract Vlahovic, even with their new mega-rich owners.

Lauded as an ‘incredible’ striker by Serie A expert Conor Clancy back in June, Vlahovic has scored no fewer than 12 goals in just 14 matches in total across all competitions so far this season, also pitching in with three assists (Transfermarkt).

The 6 foot 3 beast will no doubt have bigger suitors than the Magpies over the next coming months, so it is now up to the new owners to show just how much ambition they have for the long-term project at St James’ Park.

In other news, NUFC are also tracking this famous ‘box killer’

Leeds United loanee Ian Poveda has suffered suspected ankle ligament damage on loan at Blackburn Rovers, according to journalist Rich Sharpe.

The Lowdown: Poveda sent out on loan

Marcelo Bielsa deemed the 21-year-old surplus to requirements during the summer, with a lack of first team football not expected to come his way at Elland Road.

For that reason, Poveda was sent out on loan to Championship outfit Blackburn in order to play regularly and continue to mature as a footballer.

It hasn’t panned out that way to date, however, with the attacking midfielder only starting four league games thus far at Ewood Park.

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The Latest: Poveda suffers ankle injury

Poveda started Saturday’s 1-1 draw away to Bristol City but unfortunately he didn’t even make it to half-time, leaving the pitch through injury.

Taking to Twitter after the game, Sharpe confirmed the Leeds man’s injury, giving a worrying six-word verdict that it is “suspected to be ankle ligament damage”.

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The Verdict: Big blow for Poveda

This is a big setback for Poveda, who will have been desperate to prove to Bielsa that he can be a key squad member for the Whites in the future.

Not only that, but if Leeds had been planning to sell him, it was an ideal opportunity for him to be in the shop window and outline his class, having being hailed as ‘incredible’ by Pep Guardiola, under whom he worked at Manchester City.

As it is, Poveda will now likely face a lengthy spell on the sidelines, potentially further damaging his hopes of altering Bielsa’s thought process, having not started a single Premier League game in 2020/21.

In other news, Leeds are reportedly eyeing up a move for a striker. Find out who it is here.

Ange Postecoglou wants Ryan Christie’s Celtic contract to be extended, according to journalist Ekrem Konur.

The Lowdown: Christie’s situation

It emerged back in April that Christie has less time on his Hoops contract than many thought. The 26-year-old penned a Parkhead extension back in 2018, however, that deal expires in January, not next summer.

That means that the attacking midfielder can now talk to clubs outside of Scotland ahead of a potential pre-contract agreement.

As we know, that is yet to materialise and Christie’s situation remains the same, but it seems as if Postecoglou wants to tie the Scot down to a new Celtic Park contract.

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The Latest: Konur’s claim

According to Konur, who was the first to share Celtic’s interest in Aurelio Buta last week, ‘Postecoglou wants Christie’s contract extended’.

Konur adds that talks have been held with Christie’s representatives. The midfielder’s current deal is worth £12,000-a-week.

The Verdict: All down to Christie…

Christie appears to be a man in demand this summer, and ultimately, he’ll decide what he wants to do with his contract running down.

Reports earlier this month suggested that Al-Hilal were poised to offer the midfielder a life-changing deal, whereas rumours before then claimed Sampdoria were keen on his services.

Celtic could do with knowing Christie’s stance on his future as soon as possible, as the Hoops could then look at selling this summer instead of losing him on a free in January.

In other news: Pundit drops verdict on left-back Celtic want to sign.