All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Rangers got off the mark in their Europa League group on Thursday night as they beat Danish side Brondby 2-0 at Ibrox.

Kemar Roofe and Leon Balogun scored the goals for the Gers as Steven Gerrard led his team to their first three points in the group after losing to both Lyon and Sparta Prague.

They now return to Premiership action as they travel to face St Mirren on Sunday. Rangers are top of the table and could extend their lead if other results go in their favour.

Gerrard could make some changes to his starting line-up to keep the players fresh and offer opportunities throughout the squad to see what the lesser-seen options are capable of doing. One player he must ruthlessly axe from Thursday’s team is midfielder Steven Davis.

The Northern Ireland international was not at his best in the Europa League clash and the veteran’s time should be up ahead of this clash with St Mirren. At the age of 36, he should not be relied upon to play week-in, week-out, as he is heading towards the end of his career and his performance against Brondby suggests that it is the right time for Gerrard to pull him out of the starting XI.

As per SofaScore, Davis lost 66.6% of his duels in the match, winning one in total. He also failed in 100% of his attempted dribbles and managed one tackle in the game, whilst failing to make a single clearance, block or interception. This suggests that he was lacking defensively and unable to impose himself physically on the opposition.

He came on for 12 minutes against Hearts in the last Premiership outing and failed to win a single duel, completing seven passes and doing little else. Davis has not shown enough in recent games to be deserving of a starting berth this weekend.

Dropping him from the team gives a chance to another midfielder to show that they deserve to be a regular in the side moving forward. Scott Arfield and Juninho Bacuna were both on the bench against Brondby and could be motivated to put in a top performance to nail down a place in the starting XI.

Therefore, Gerrard must ruthlessly axe Davis from the team. His display against Brondby was not good enough to secure his spot against St Mirren and should open the door for others to prove that they can perform to a high standard, which will hopefully be the case on Sunday.

AND in other news, Gerrard could unearth McGregor 2.0 in Rangers gem who has shown “excellent progress”…

Liverpool have been handed a huge boost in their bid to bring Red Bull Salzburg forward Karim Adeyemi to Anfield in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, with the Italian journalist revealing in a recent post on Twitter that the Austrian side have now completed the signing of Shakhtar Donetsk’s Brazilian striker Fernando, after reaching an early agreement to sign the 23-year-old from the Ukrainian outfit.

In an earlier tweet, Romano had claimed that Fernando will be the replacement for Salzburg’s Karim Adeyemi – who himself has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool this summer.

A huge boost

With the latest news from Romano announcing RB Salzburg’s capture of the Brazilian, it opens up Liverpool’s move for Karim Adeyemi.

Following on from his break-out season for Salzburg last year – that saw him conjure up seven goals and nine assists in 29 league appearances – the German has continued his electrifying development this term.

Indeed, Adeyemi’s 20 goals and five assists from top of the Austrian Bundesliga and into the final of the Austrian Cup.

Furthermore, his three goals and two assists over competition for the youngster’s signature from Klopp’s old side Borussia Dortmund.

His game as a forward is well-rounded and, at the tender age of 20, he has done enough to prove his efficiency as a Firmino-type centre-forward – one who can both score and create goals. His 11 assists last season demonstrate this nicely.

The £31.5m-rated starlet has garnered some impressive numbers this season – seeing him rank equal with Roberto Firmino with around three shot-creating actions per 90 minutes.

However, the German massively outdoes the Brazilian when it comes to goal-creating actions, with his 0.60 GCA per 90 placing him in the elite category for this metric, in comparison to positionally similar players over the last year.

In recent years, Liverpool have been incredibly impressive in the transfer market, and this feels like another deal that could go down as a huge success in the club’s history.

AND in other news: Klopp can unearth Liverpool’s new Michael Owen in rarely-seen 40-goal teenager

Celtic star David Turnbull looks set to be sidelined for at least two months with a hamstring issue, according to The Scotsman’s Andrew Smith.

The Lowdown: Ange’s injury woes

Ange Postecoglou has had to deal with multiple injury problems in his first season in charge at Parkhead.

In recent weeks, he’s had a shortage of attacking options, with the likes of Giorgos Giakoumakis, Albian Ajeti, Kyogo Furuhashi, Jota, James Forrest and Karamoko Dembele all missing.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/celtic-updates-20/” title=”Celtic updates!!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Turnbull, who Postecoglou called ‘outstanding’, even filled in at centre-forward earlier this month, but he hobbled off with a muscular problem in Celtic’s League Cup final triumph against Hibernian and hasn’t been seen since.

The Latest: 10 games…

Smith shared an update on Turnbull’s situation in a story for The Scotsman on Monday evening.

He claimed that Turnbull would be out for a minimum of two months, which would make him unavailable for the Glasgow derby with Rangers on February 2 and the Conference League matches against Bodo/Glimt.

A two-month timeframe from the story on December 27 could see him miss a total of 11 first-team fixtures up until the end of February.

The Verdict: Will it ever end?

The winter break appears to have come at the right time for the Hoops, who were seemingly suffering fresh injuries every week.

Hopefully, the break will give Postecoglou time to get a number of players back from injury, but, unfortunately, Turnbull won’t be one of those.

He’s been an ever-present figure in midfield this season, making 34 appearances in all competitions. His absence should present a chance to another player, though, and who knows, that could be a January signing, with midfielders Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi both linked with moves.

In other news: Celtic set sights on move for ‘quality’ Scot who has the same agent as Turnbull. 

Wolves continued their 100% start to 2022 with a 3-1 win over Southampton at Molineux as Bruno Lage’s men moved back into eighth place.

Raul Jimenez’s first half penalty and second half goals from Conor Coady and Adama Traore secured the points, but it was young left-back Rayan Aït-Nouri who was particularly impressive for the Midlands outfit, standing out as arguably the manager’s real hero throughout the match.

The 20-year-old hadn’t started a Premier League match since the 1-0 defeat at Manchester City in mid-December and impressed on his return to top-flight action, having started his first game in a month last Sunday in the 3-0 FA Cup success over Sheffield United.

The Wolves wing-back was credited with the assist for Jimenez’s penalty after being fouled by Saints defender Jan Bednarek, and he was a real livewire in the final third all afternoon.

According to SofaScore, the Frenchman contributed two key passes as well as creating two big chances for Lage’s men whilst also enjoying a 75% dribble success rate, being awarded a hugely impressive 8.1/10 rating. Moreover, Aït-Nouri completed 74% of his passes, as well as two of the three crosses he attempted.

As a wing-back, the youngster succeeded with his defensive duties too, making two tackles and two interceptions whilst also winning 62% of his duels. However, the home side were unable to keep a clean sheet as Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse scored a sensational free kick from distance late on.

The victory was only the 10th league appearance this season for the Frenchman, but with performances like this one, he will heavily boost his claim for a regular starting spot in Lage’s side.

Granted, a groin injury hasn’t helped the £33k-p/w defender stake his claim for a regular spot, forcing the 20-year-old to miss Wolves’ busy festive period having enjoyed a run of eight consecutive starts prior to that setback.

Aït-Nouri’s main competitor for a place is arguably Marçal, with the Brazilian left-back featuring in Lage’s first eight games as Wolves manager. However, the 32-year-old has only played three league games since and was absent from the squad on Saturday. He may find it hard to get back into the team based on his younger team-mate’s performance this afternoon.

In other news – Imagine him & Neves: Wolves must secure deal for £27m-rated beast who has “a lot of character”

Lucas Moura has given Antonio Conte plenty to think about as Spurs advanced into the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday evening.

The north London outfit welcomed top-flight rivals Brighton and Hove Albion to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on their return from the winter break and they ran out 3-1 victors.

Goals from Harry Kane, either side of a Solly March own goal and Yves Bissouma consolation strike, sealed the win.

With the Lilywhites in cruise control for much of the game, the Italian head coach was able to hand debuts to both Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski following their deadline day moves from Juventus last week.

And the latter particularly impressed in a 22-minute cameo from the bench.

His brilliant movement on and off the ball should’ve seen him earn a near-perfect maiden outing. The Swede laid on the perfect ball for Steven Bergwijn, only for the winger to sky it into the stands.

The Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick dubbed his short outing as “eye-catching” after the game. The same cannot be said for the vastly-experienced Brazilian, who for large parts of the match went missing.

‘Barely registered in an unusually subdued display,’ is how the reporter described Moura’s performance as he ranked him amongst Spurs’ worst players on the night.

Indeed, across his 68 minutes on the pitch, the 29-year-old managed only 44 touches, in which he lost possession 17 times, meaning he handed the ball back to the Seagulls once every four minutes.

Wasteful.

Elsewhere, he failed to register a single shot on target, pulled off just one successful dribble from three attempts and made only 19 passes at an accuracy rate of 70%, as per SofaScore.

Ineffective.

The £18m-rated lightweight, who also lost 60% of his battles, has now given Conte a massive dilemma. This sort of disappointing display has come at the worst moment as his potential successor – Kulusevski – looked the part instantly.

Once claimed to be a “nightmare” to train against by teammate Eric Dier, it would not be a surprise to see Moura’s place in the starting XI at risk heading into the next couple of matches – and importantly, their return to the Premier League, where a place in the top four is still up for grabs.

The former PSG star can ill-afford more matches like that now that he has serious competition for places – whether Conte drops him or not remains to be seen but the Italian has plenty to mull over before they host Southampton on Wednesday night.

It could also be too soon to trust Kulusevski but that cameo was too good to ignore, thus the 52-year-old has been left with a major dilemma this weekend.

AND in other news, Forget Kane: £31.5m-rated Spurs “animal” with 97% pass accuracy stole the show vs Brighton…

[ad_pod ]

Sadio Mane struggled for form as Liverpool drew 0-0 with Bayern Munich in the Champions League Round of 16 on Tuesday.

The Reds had the chance to take advantage of home comforts in the first leg but drew a blank, with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino also in frustrating form.

But it was Mane who seemed to be at the centre of every major chance that fell Liverpool’s way.

Indeed, he showed signs that it might not be his night in the 15th minute, as he faced up Joshua Kimmich, turned him inside out and worked an angle for a shot. It was a wild effort and flew wide.

In the 32nd minute, he twisted to shoot first-time after a Naby Keita shot was deflected into his path, but he scuffed the effort and it did not trouble Manuel Neuer. An overhead kick in the second half was not even close.

Late on, a fine diving header drew an excellent save from the Germany goalkeeper but it was his only shot on target in the game.

While a member of a trio, when Mane fails to fire, Liverpool often struggle to create genuine moments of danger.

This was true on Tuesday, too, as, per WhoScored, Mane touched the ball just 37 times, the fewest of any Reds outfield player.

He completed just one dribble throughout the game, too, and was dispossessed five times, the most of any player on the pitch.

In total, Mane also committed three fouls, the joint-most of anyone except for Robert Lewandowski.

The Senegal international attempted a mere 17 passes, the least of any Liverpool player that started the game, and 13 lower than Alisson, who had the second-lowest tally for the home side.

Mane’s misfires ultimately stunted Liverpool’s attacking rhythm and robbed them of the dynamism that usually defines their forays forward.

Because of his poor form, the Reds could not sustain their pressure and now find themselves in need of a classic performance in Germany if they are to progress to the next round.

Former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan has hailed the brilliance of the Whites’ youth system, with individuals making positive progress into the first team.

The Lowdown: Youngsters progressing at Leeds

Marcelo Bielsa’s side have had a tricky start to the season, but while they have struggled on the pitch, it hasn’t been all negative at Elland Road.

One undoubted positive has been the impact of some academy prospects, with Jamie Shackleton and Joe Gelhardt making 14 appearances between them in all competitions.

England under-21s manager Lee Carsley has even hailed the youth system at Thorp Arch, praising the Yorkshire club’s ability to unearth exciting talent and saying that Leeds are doing a “great job” in bringing through players.

[freshpress-quiz id=“375277″]

The Latest: Whelan lauds youth setup

Speaking to Football Insider, Leeds ambassador and BBC radio pundit Whelan also waxed lyrical over the Thorp Arch youth setup as the Whites continue to build for the future. He said:

“I think it’s not only Leeds United fans who are recognising what’s happening within the academy. There’s a lot of work going into developing these young men coming through the academy and into the first team.

“It makes it even sweeter to hear Lee Carsley recognising that as well. It’s amazing to hear these young guys getting recognition because it means the process is successful.

“Sometimes you don’t have to go out and spend £60m, £70m, when you have that pathway which can bring players through gradually.

“That pathway is really bearing fruit now as we are seeing a lot of youngsters in the first team.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-24/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Great to see

It is easy for football clubs to be impatient and only focus on the here-and-now, but Leeds’ approach is shrewd in terms of its academy excelling and youngsters being given a chance to shine.

The likes of Shackleton, Gelhardt and previous academy graduate Kalvin Phillips are proving their worth in the first team, and even if some don’t find success long-term with the Whites, they could still fetch hefty price tags further down the line, bringing in valuable funds for the club.

The key is to ensure that Leeds don’t fall into decline again once Bielsa moves on, and having a strong youth system can only be a positive in that respect, with the development of exciting homegrown potentially enabling the club to become somewhat self-sufficient in constructing future first team squads.

In other news, Leeds are keen on signing a ‘big six’ player – find out who it is here.

Leeds United and Tottenham are interested in Scottish teenager Calvin Ramsay, according to The Daily Record’s Scott Burns.

The Lowdown: Ramsay profiled

Ramsay is just 18 years of age and is primarily a right-back who can also play as a right midfielder.

Contracted until 2024 with Aberdeen, Ramsay is claimed to be “in the elite upper bracket” of his position by Dons chairman Dave Cormack.

He’s made 20 appearances in 2021/22 and has racked up an impressive eight assists, and it seems as if he is a player now on Victor Orta’s radar.

The Latest: Burns’ claim

Reliable reporter Burns shared a story late on Wednesday evening, leading with a title that Leeds and Spurs ‘ramp up interest’ in Ramsay.

It is believed that scouts from both sides were at Pittodrie on Tuesday to watch Ramsay against Rangers, joining officials from Leicester City, Manchester United and Southampton.

The Verdict: Drameh replacement?

Leeds youngster Cody Drameh has recently moved to Cardiff City for the second half of the season, a decision Marcelo Bielsa wasn’t exactly thrilled about.

The youngster pushed for a loan to the Championship side, and should Bielsa remain in charge next season, there may well be no place for the youngster following his recent decision.

So, bringing in Ramsay, who is clearly a future star and is already impressing on the first-team stage, could be a wise move. Leeds could find that difficult, though, with a number of top Premier League sides also keen.

In other news: Leeds now want ‘lively’ speedster as well as Aaronson; he wants a Ballon d’Or within 3 years. 

Former Premier League Golden Boot winner Kevin Phillips has delivered a damning verdict on the transfer of Dele Alli to Everton. 

The verdict: In the wilderness

Signed from Tottenham Hotspur on a permanent basis in a deal which could rise to £40million if all clauses are met (Sky Sports), the 25-year-old has struggled so far on Merseyside.

Left on the bench for each of the Toffees’ last four Premier League matches, the one-time England regular has failed to recapture his best form so far since arriving at Goodison Park.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/everton-news-4/” title=”Everton news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

In fact, Alli has only played 169 minutes under Frank Lampard, starting just once and failing to complete a full match.

The latest: Summer exit pending?

Following a recent report from The Telegraph suggesting that the Englishman could leave the club as soon as the summer, 48 year-old Phillips told Football Insider that the attacking midfielder may indeed need to move on again but called the news he’s heard a ‘surprise’.

“There have been suggestions that his time at Everton is going to come to an end. That’s a real surprise, for me. I thought a fresh challenge would get him back to the level we saw from him before.

“It’s a really difficult period for Dele Alli and his career. He’s got to find somewhere where he can thrive, and it’s not looking like that’s going to be Everton.

“It’s disappointing for player and club, but the reality is that he has been so far from his best.”

The verdict: What happens next…

Under contract until 2024 (Transfermarkt), it’s difficult to envisage that the club would cut ties with the 37-cap England man as early as the upcoming summer window.

Still just 25 and with undoubted quality, Lampard may well give Alli time in pre-season to prove that he can be part of plans moving forwards.

However, should the 43-year-old succeed in retaining Everton’s top-flight status then the manager will be on the lookout for players to take the side to the next level, something Alli has so far proven to be well below in his fleeting outings.

So far, the man once hailed as ‘amazing’ by Jose Mourinho at Spurs has lost possession on 43 occasions during six league outings for the Blues (Sofascore) and is seemingly in dire need of a career reset.

In other news, three players struggle despite victory. Find out who here!

Newcastle United are reportedly set to seal their first signing of the upcoming summer transfer window after agreeing a fee for Matt Targett…

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Mail, the Magpies are expecting to complete a deal to sign the Englishman on a permanent basis from Aston Villa at the end of his loan spell.

The report claims that the Toon are on the verge of securing a £15m swoop for the former Southampton full-back, making him their first addition ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Eddie Howe will be over the moon

This update will surely leave Newcastle manager Eddie Howe over the moon, as it means that the left-back position is not a cause for concern heading into next season.

Instead of worrying about who his first-choice will be in that position, the 44-year-old can plan ahead knowing that Targett will be slotting in on the left of the backline.

The likes of Matt Ritchie, Jamal Lewis and Paul Dummett are also at the club and can provide competition for the 26-year-old’s place, which means that there is no need for any more signings in that area of the pitch after this deal is completed.

Upon Targett’s arrival at St James’ Park on loan, Howe said: “We have gone into this transfer window with a plan to add strong competition in specific areas of the team and Matt will be a fantastic option for us on the left.

“He has important Premier League experience and know-how at this level, so I’m really pleased we’ve been able to add him to the squad.”

These comments highlight how highly the Newcastle head coach rates the defender, whose performances in the top flight have lived up to the hype. He has proven himself to be a reliable option in the Premier League, with an average SofaScore rating of 6.87 across 26 appearances for Villa and Newcastle this term.

The left-back has created 1.3 chances per game and showcased his defensive quality with an impressive 3.3 tackles and interceptions per match. He is a modern day full-back who can excel at both ends of the pitch, and this is why the ex-Cherries boss will surely love to keep him heading into next season.

At the age of 26, the Magpies can get many more years of service out of Targett, whose performances on the pitch suggest that he could nail down the left-back spot for the foreseeable future at St James’ Park. Signing a player who could be a regular for the next four or five seasons for £15m seems like a bargain on paper, and Howe will be delighted with this prospective deal.

AND in other news, NUFC now eye swoop for “breathtaking” £36m-rated phenomenon, he could be Ginola 2.0…