All posts by z3u9t.icu

Sky Sports pundit Ally McCoist has been waxing lyrical over a moment of “absolute magic” from Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn on international duty over the weekend.

The Lowdown: Vital win

The 26-year-old started and scored at Hampden Park on Saturday evening as Scotland came from behind twice to earn a vital win against Israel in their World Cup qualifying group, Scott McTominay netting a stoppage time winner for the Tartan Army.

In his 39th cap for his country, the Villa midfielder scored his 11th international goal and his first since a brace in the 4-0 win over the Faroe Islands in March. He netted from the edge of the penalty area after good work by Andy Robertson and Che Adams, McGinn taking a pass from the Liverpool defender and curling the ball beyond opposition goalkeeper Ofir Marciano.

The victory leaves Scotland four points ahead of Israel with three games to go, with Steve Clarke’s side on course to qualify for the play-offs.

The Latest: McCoist hails McGinn “magic”

Speaking to Sky Sports about McGinn’s goal, Scotland’s first of the match, the former Rangers boss was full of praise for the Villa midfielder.

“What a finish,” he raved. “What a goal and what a finish. Absolutely magic. Don’t underestimate the work of Tierney and Robertson. Brilliant.

“They work their way, they gave the angle, it’s a lovely bit of give and go. A lovely one-two with Adams (from Robertson). He (McGinn) opens himself up and look at that (curling finish).

“That is absolutely magic. That is the only word for that. Magic. Ohh, brilliant. It’s fantastic. John McGinn, what a goal.”

The Verdict: McGinn is vital for club and country

McGinn’s influence for both club and country has been evident in recent years and he showed that again on Saturday evening for Scotland.

Since his 2018 move from Hibernian to Villa Park, the midfielder has made 117 appearances, scoring 14 goals and setting up another 19. His importance to Dean Smith’s midfield is reflected in his industrious qualities (1.8 tackles per game, joint-second highest in the squad) as well as his attacking influence (1.7 shots and 1.3 key passes per game, second highest in the squad for both)

Scotland travel to the Faroe Islands tomorrow night hoping to stretch their lead over Israel, and there is every chance that the 26-year-old could have a big say on proceeding in that game too.

In other news, rumours have started to surface about Villa making a move for a Serie A maestro. Find out more here.

Some Liverpool supporters are fuming after it was revealed that Alisson and Fabinho are likely to miss Reds action this month, due to international duty.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are on Premier League duty this weekend, with Manchester City heading to Anfield for a huge meeting on Sunday.

Liverpool are top of the league currently but are only one point ahead of Pep Guardiola’s side, as the title race continues to hot up.

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Two players who will be vital for the Reds against City are Alisson and Fabinho, with the duo both proving to be modern-day Anfield heroes.

According to This is Anfield [via LFC Transfer Room on Twitter], however, they will both head out on Brazil duty later this month, meaning they will likely miss the league clash at Watford on October 16th, due to having to quarantine.

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Liverpool fans react to Alisson and Fabinho news

These Liverpool fans took to Twitter to show their dissatisfaction with the news.

“Genuinely who even likes international football. Just scrap it.”

Credit: @chielinilooked

“Great. Aerial assault incoming from Watford”

Credit: @rylands72

“Wish international football would just do one”

Credit: @footyfiend1

“What a joke, stop this madness”

Credit: @StannisTheGod

“Oh no”

Credit: @TrentXtraa

“Someone throw international football out the window please”

Credit: @Sundinho6

In other news, some Liverpool fans love a video that has emerged at Anfield. Read more here.

Former Premier League manager Alex McLeish believes that Harry Kane may refuse to play for Tottenham Hotspur for fear of picking up an injury [Football Insider].

The Lowdown: Harry Kane rumours continue to swirl

As the 2021/22 Premier League campaign finally gets underway, newly appointed Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo will be well aware of the storm that could continue to surround Kane, amidst continued links with Premier League champions Manchester City [Guardian].

Ironically, his side’s first game in the top-flight happens to be against the Citizens at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Latest: McLeish questions whether Kane will take part

Speaking in an interview with Football Insider, former Scotland manager McLeish indicated that the England international may choose to sit out the encounter when asked if he would be shocked if Kane played a part in the clash, as he stated: “I would, yeah. Is his heart really in it?

“I don’t know him personally but I know through seeing him speaking and the way he plays, he would go on the field and do everything he could for his team.

“The other risk is an injury. Can you see the player saying I’m not going to risk injury if I’m on the verge of a move?”

“That is another agenda.”

The Verdict: Spurs fans will be desperate to see Kane again

In 2020/21, the boyhood Lilywhite was outstanding for his current employers, notching 50 goal contributions in 49 appearances; 33 goals and 17 assists [Transfermarkt].

Moreover, his rate of 3.9 shots per game in the Premier League showed exactly why he was able exert his goal-scoring exploits across the season, proving a constant menace to opposition defences [WhoScored].

Going into this weekend, Spurs supporters will be desperate to see their star man in action once again, as whether he plays could perhaps prove to be an indicator of where his head is truly at in regards to a move to Manchester.

In other news, Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a Primeira Liga ace.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made a ‘schoolboy error’ by picking a fight with Jurgen Klopp against Liverpool, according to journalist James Pearce.

The Lowdown: Liverpool destroy Arsenal

The Reds romped to a 4-0 win against the Gunners on Saturday evening as they highlighted the current gulf between the two teams.

Sadio Mane opened the scoring with a header, before Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah and Takumi Minamino all found the net in the second half.

The game sparked into life when Arteta and Klopp exchanged angry words on the touchline at 0-0, with the incident seemingly giving Liverpool an extra spring in their step.

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The Latest: Pearce critical of Arteta over Klopp row

Speaking in a Q&A for The Athletic after the match, Pearce claimed it was naive behaviour from the Arsenal boss, given how it energised the Liverpool supporters inside Anfield

The journalist said of the Spaniard’s involvement in the incident: “Such a schoolboy error. For half an hour Arsenal really frustrated Liverpool. They were well drilled and denied them space. But Arteta’s touchline antics ignited the atmosphere and Klopp’s players seemed to be energised by that noise from the stands.”

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The Verdict: Undoubted turning point

Up until Arteta lost his head, the game was 0-0 and Liverpool were actually looking fairly clueless, failing to create chances of note. The Spaniard’s antics allowed the crowd to get involved, though, and it genuinely felt as though the entire feel of the match changed from that moment on.

It was reminiscent of Frank Lampard taking on Klopp back in 2019/20, with his behaviour having a similar impact on the Reds as they beat Chelsea 5-3 on the night that the Merseysiders held the Premier League trophy aloft.

As Pearce said, Arsenal were frustrating Liverpool up until the touchline row, and Arteta may well look back at that moment as an unwanted turning point from his perspective.

In other news, some Liverpool fans think Klopp has hinted about his Reds future. Read more here.

According to an update in the paper edition of Corriere dello Sport, via Sport Witness, Tottenham Hotspur managing director Fabio Paratici is only €3 million (£2.5m) from Bologna’s valuation of defender Takehiro Tomiyasu.

The Lowdown: Tottenham in Tomiyasu talks…

Spurs have been attempting to tie up a deal for the Japan international since the beginning of July, with Sky Sports lifting the lid on an initial opening bid from Paratici being rejected.

The Athletic then dropped a promising update last week, claiming that Tottenham were ‘closing in’ on Tomiyasu and that the two clubs were finalising details.

The Latest: Spurs only £2.5m away…

As per this update by Corriere dello Sport, Paratici is only €3 million (£2.5m) from Bologna director Riccardo Bigon’s demands for Tomiyasu after their latest bid for the player.

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The same outlet stated on Tuesday (via Sport Witness) that Bologna’s valuation is around €25 million (£21.4m) and they continue the story with a fresh update, going on to claim that the Serie A side will not lower their asking price for the defender.

This is despite the fact negotiations over Tomiyasu’s sale are in fact slowing down their own transfer market activity, with there apparently being a need to get something done soon.

Bologna’s chairman, however, has made it clear they will not sell below his valuation and Paratici may just need that little bit more to seal an agreement.

The Verdict: Pay the money…

Tomiyasu, as well as being described as a ‘warrior’ by teammate Mitchell Dijks (Tuttosport), played a starring role under manager Sinisa Mihajlovic last season.

Indeed, he started 31 league matches for Bologna over 2020/2021 whilst averaging the joint-most clearances per 90 out of Bologna’s entire squad (WhoScored).

He is also versatile and able to deputise at both centre-half and right-back, potentially shoring up two problem positions for Spurs in one swoop.

Therefore, we believe Tottenham should get this over the line as soon as possible.

In other news: ‘News regarding Tottenham’…Sky Sports drop big transfer update on live TV, find out more here.

Aiden McGeady’s dazzling footwork was once again not enough to get Sunderland back into the Championship, but he is still yet to sign a new deal on Wearside and former Newcastle United defender Steve Howey believes the winger will be holding out for more money from the club.

During the second half of last season, the Black Cats were eventually taken over by Kyril Louis-Dreyfus who became the youngest owner in English football, and with a lot of financial power himself and in his family, Sunderland could splash the cash this summer.

McGeady was shunned out of the first-team picture during the first half of the season under former boss, Phil Parkinson, however Lee Johnson brought him straight back in and despite playing just 24 league games he managed to top the assist chart with 16 and get into the WhoScored team of the season with a 7.4 rating.

It would be a huge blow for Sunderland to lose McGeady although it could be for the best to move him on if he is holding out for more money because the club has new owners – something Howey spoke exclusively to Transfer Tavern about:

“He might be holding out for more money or he could be a little bit annoyed with how he was treated because he was exiled a little bit earlier but ultimately, that wasn’t under the manager who is there now.

“He made the League One Team of the Season this year, so even though the club is not basking in money, they do have new owners and he could want them to pay him more.”

There is no doubting McGeady’s qualities on the ball as he is carried Sunderland numerous times to victory or back into games, however at 35-years-old he may now see this as his final big payday before retiring or returning back to Ireland.

Another contract rebel is Charlie Wyke, who is also set to become a free agent later this summer unless he decides to sign the new deal that is on the table for him but after scoring 25 goals in League One he may want to test himself in the Championship.

Tottenham Hotspur have been left frustrated in their attempts to bolster Nuno Santo’s playing squad before tonight’s transfer deadline…

What’s the word?

That’s according to football.london reporter Alasdair Gold, who delivered an update on Spurs’ plans ahead of the final day of the transfer window on Monday.

He wrote:

“Coming in the door has been the big new defender signing in Romero, a potential Hugo Lloris successor in Pierluigi Gollini, one of Spain’s brightest young prospects in Bryan Gil and one of Ligue 1’s top young talents in Pape Matar Sarr, who has been loaned back to Metz to continue his rapid development.

“However, more needs to be done and the problem for Tottenham is that many of their moves in recent days have hit dead ends or are dependent on players leaving.

“Paratici has had a busy weekend, having spent time in Barcelona trying to find some bargains to be had amid the Catalan giant’s financial chaos before flying back for the match against Watford.”

Fans won’t be happy

Indeed, the north London outfit have struggled to get a couple of deals over the line in recent weeks, namely the potential signing of Barcelona wonderkid Ilaix Moriba and Danny Ings, who The Telegraph claimed was Nuno’s top target to partner Harry Kane.

On the other hand, new sporting director Fabio Paratici has completed some decent bits of business, ranging from a new marquee centre-back in Cristian Romero from Atalanta and rising Spanish prodigy Bryan Gil, but it appears that this isn’t enough for the Lilywhites’ faithful.

As relayed by This is Futbol, many were far from happy with this latest update from Gold.

Some suggested that the Italian supremo was a “fraud” and that it was time to show he was “worth the hype”, whilst others believe this is the exact reason why Kane wanted to move to Manchester City, as well as others throwing the blame at chairman Daniel Levy, a notoriously tough negotiator.

Whether Spurs can bring in at least one more name remains to be seen, with reports suggesting that right-back Emerson Royal could join from Barcelona, though it may depend on whether or not Serge Aurier can be moved on, otherwise Nuno will have as many as four options in the role.

Just as Gold says, a lot of their negotiations have come to dead ends in recent days and very much depend on whether or not Paratici can move on more players from the previous eras.

Only time will tell as the deadline approaches, but on the above evidence, there aren’t many pleased in north London right now.

AND in other news, Paratici could find Spurs their next Dembele in late swoop for £40m “wonderful talent”…

Liverpool supporters have been starved of excitement throughout the current transfer window, with Ibrahima Konate the only arrival so far, but that could change before the August 31st deadline.

What’s the story?

According to the Liverpool Echo, the Reds have West Ham United winger Jarrod Bowen on their watchlist, although it remains to be seen if they’ll make a move for him this summer.

The departure of Xherdan Shaqiri has freed up funds for Jurgen Klopp and director of football Michael Edwards, but the report claims that any incoming may hinge on Divock Origi also departing Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp will love it

Last season was a hugely underwhelming affair for Klopp’s charges. The Anfield outfit surrendered their Premier League crown without a fight, slipping to third in the top-flight standings, ending the season a whopping 17 points behind champions Manchester City.

As a result, the German tactician is thought to be in the market for at least one attacking target before the summer window closes.

The normally dependable duo of Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino suffered a severe drop-off in form in 2020/21, scoring 11 and nine goals respectively in the league, while Shaqiri and Origi failed to adequately replace them.

It’s led to Klopp attempting to make significant alterations to his options in the final third of the pitch, although his limited budget has left him playing the waiting game.

However, now Shaqiri has been snapped up by Lyon, and with Origi appearing to be getting nudges towards the Anfield exit door, a move for Bowen could be on the cards.

The 24-year-old impressed in the Championship after rising through the ranks at boyhood club Hull City, scored double figures in consecutive years for the Tigers as they toiled in the second-tier of English football.

And although he’s struggled to replicate the same form in front of goal at the London Stadium, scoring nine goals and providing 10 assists in 55 appearances for the Hammers, Bowen’s overall play has seemingly impressed Liverpool.

His unquestionable work rate, stamina and ability with the ball at his feet make him a good fit for Klopp’s unique gegenpressing style, meaning the former Borussia Dortmund boss would surely love to be able to call upon his services.

It remains to be seen whether Liverpool do make a formal offer for Bowen, but his proposed arrival has the potential to have the same impact that Diogo Jota’s had just 12 months ago.

And, in other news…Heir to Shaqiri: LFC eye move for “special” £19.8m-rated wizard, Klopp will love him

If and when a new manager is announced at Celtic, fans will finally be able to sit back and breathe a huge sigh of relief.

This has been a testing time for the Parkhead faithful but there could be a light at the end of the tunnel in the near future.

What’s the word?

Celtic are closing in on the appointment of Eddie Howe with a deal reportedly agreed between the two parties for him to arrive in Glasgow.

The board have been pressed to wrap things up quickly but it has now been an arduous three months since Neil Lennon resigned from his position.

However, it now looks as though they’re heading towards a position where they can formally announce the appointment of a new boss.

That’s according to the Celtic hierarchy themselves who in a statement on Wednesday afternoon, wrote the following: “We understand how difficult this year has been for you and understand the disappointment you have felt, it is something shared by us all at the Club.

“We had hoped to have announced the Manager before providing this update, and we do intend to finalise the appointment of the next Celtic Manager shortly, however we have been encouraged by the recent announcement of crowds at sporting events across Scotland this summer.”

Timely appointment

The fact that Celtic are finally closing in on the hire of a new manager should leave supporters buzzing.

They haven’t had much excitement this season with a trophyless campaign but this will do enough to whet the appetite ahead of the new season.

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It should also fill them with enthusiasm ahead of the transfer window. No longer will the recruitment think tank include Neil Lennon, Nick Hammond or Peter Lawwell.

Instead, it will be made up of Howe, Dominic McKay and whoever the club’s new director of football is.

Celtic’s recruitment was incredibly abject last summer with the best part of £9.5m being wasted on the error-prone Vasilis Barkas and the sluggish Albian Ajeti, someone who scored just six times all season.

Having someone in place ahead of the transfer window opening has been a necessity and if you believe the word of the club, everything should be concluded before then.

With so much to address and fix, it was absolutely imperative that Howe was in place before it actually opened.

Considering Kristoffer Ajer and Odsonne Edouard are likely to leave, they’ll need to identify replacements swiftly. Without a new head coach, identifying new faces would have been virtually impossible. Thus, having Howe in place will certainly help kick start proceedings on the transfer front.

This is exceptional news for everybody at the club.

AND in other news, Celtic must sign 6 ft 6 man-mountain, Howe dubbed him the “ultimate professional”…

Leeds United sent scouts to watch Timo Hubers in action this weekend, according to reports…

What’s the word?

Football Insider claim that the Yorkshire giants were in attendance as FC Koln defeated Arminia Bielefeld in the Bundesliga on Saturday afternoon.

The 25-year-old centre-back played the full game but conceded an own goal in their 3-1 win, though he seemingly impressed. He registered five clearances and three interceptions, whilst he also won seven duels, per SofaScore.

United are in the market for a new central defender and the club have stepped up their interest in the 6 foot 3 German colossus, who is also believed to have a £6.7m release clause at the RheinEnergieStadion.

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Marsch mission

After the weekend’s Premier League fixtures, only rock-bottom Norwich City (69) have leaked more goals than the Whites (68), so it’s abundantly clear that manager Jesse Marsch needs to bolster his backline heading into next season.

Their fortunes defensively have gradually improved but he is still light on solid and reliable options, so Hubers represents a cheap but viable option.

Indeed, journalist Pete O’Rourke believes he’d be an ideal signing for the former RB Leipzig boss. He told GIVEMESPORT:

“He’s a talented young player from Koln as well, so he definitely fits the bill for Leeds United because they’ve been forced to have a bit of a makeshift central defence this season.”

Hubers has been Steffen Baumgart’s standout player with Koln on the cusp of qualifying for a place in Europe, having averaged a squad-high average WhoScored rating of 7.09.

Only one other player is winning more aerial duels per game than the 25-year-old (2.5), whilst he leads the way for interceptions (2.7 per game) and isn’t far behind for tackles either (2.1 per game).

Once lauded for being an “exemplary” professional by Hannover 96’s sporting director Gerhard Zuber, it certainly appears as if Hubers would be a player that Marsch would love to sign heading into next season, one that wouldn’t take too much out of the transfer kitty.

After sending scouts to watch him excel, it seems only right that the German titan is amongst their top targets this summer.

AND in other news, Orta had a Leeds disasterclass on “outrageous” £50m dynamo, he’s better than Rodrigo…