All posts by z3u9t.icu

Liverpool could be set to bolster their attacking options with the signing of PSV hitman Donyell Malen.

According to Calciomercato, the Reds are interested in the prospect of swooping for the Dutchman at some point in the near future in what would be an excellent transfer.

A product of the Arsenal youth set-up, Malen has thrived in his time back in his home country.

He has made 108 appearances in all competitions for the club since his arrival in 2017, netting 50 goals and providing a further 22 assists.

The 22-year-old is also in the midst of his most lethal season thus far, having struck 14 times in the Eredivisie.

His quality has also come to the fore on the European stage, too, hitting five goals in just eight UEFA Europa League appearances in 2020/21.

Should he presumably play second-fiddle to current first-choice Anfield forward Roberto Firmino, he will certainly be a better prospect than Divock Origi.

Throughout this season, Malen has averaged 3.4 shots per game, 0.8 key passes, and 1.3 dribbles per match according to WhoScored. The fact that he is confident enough to consistently try his luck and take players on only bodes well for a Liverpool side usually famed for its attacking style of football.

When compared to Malen, Origi’s number almost pale into insignificance. Albeit in limited opportunities this season under Jurgen Klopp, the Belgian is averaging just 0.7 shots, 0.3 key passes and 0.1 dribbles per game.

Last week, Neil Jones of Goal reported that Origi is for sale this summer and if he does leave, then Malan could be the ideal replacement.

The stats indicate that the Dutchman would certainly improve Liverpool’s squad and rated at just £22.5m, it is certainly an affordable and attractive deal.

After all, having signed the likes of Luis Suarez and cult hero Dirk Kuyt from Ajax and Feyenoord respectively, Malen could well become another Eredivisie success story on Merseyside.

AND in more news, read our evaluation of Mo Salah’s awful performance in the Reds’ 1-0 defeat at the hands of Fulham…

According to The Sun, Manchester United are monitoring Hoffenheim midfielder Christoph Baumgartner.

What’s the word?

With Paul Pogba’s future at Old Trafford so far unresolved, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may find himself short of options in the midfield.

And now, The Sun claim the Red Devils are reportedly eyeing up a move for Baumgartner, who has been dubbed the new Michael Ballack in a nod to the former Chelsea great.

The £16m-rated 21-year-old, who favours playing in the No.10 role, has made 17 Bundesliga appearances so far this season and has three goals and five assists to show for his 15 starts, per Transfermarkt.

United’s very own Michael Ballack?

For all the wealth of riches Solskjaer possesses in terms of his attacking resources this season, there has been one constant when it comes to the team selection in attack.

Bruno Fernandes is one of a very select group of players to have appeared in every Premier League game for United so far this season.

But it’s fair to say that United’s overreliance on Fernandes has slowly started to take its toll, having now gone four league games without a goal or an assist.

Meanwhile, Baumgartner has burst onto the scene this season, scoring five goals and supplying seven assists across all competitions, making six appearances in the Europa League alone.

And when you look at the impact Ballack had at Chelsea – one Premier League title and three FA Cup trophies – it’s easy to see why the Austrian midfielder would make a fine addition to Solskjaer’s squad and be someone Fernandes could mentor in the No.10 role at Old Trafford.

In his heyday, Ballack was widely considered to be one of the most complete and versatile midfielders in the country – he scored 17 goals and supplied ten assists in 105 Premier League appearances, and showed a predatory instinct inside the box, as seen by his goal in the 2-1 win at home to Porto in 2007.

When you consider the fact that Solskjaer seems prepared to wave goodbye to Jesse Lingard – considered to be a future club great – coupled with the fact that Pogba’s future remains uncertain, the next logical step would be to bring in a replacement with an eye on the future. Baumgartner could be the player to do precisely just that.

AND in other news, Manchester United striker Anthony Martial was shocking in Sheffield United defeat…

Glasgow Rangers fans are livid at an article from The Daily Record journalist Gordon Parks saying this season has been a “joyless” one.

For the Gers supporters, this has undoubtedly been a fabulous campaign. They currently lead the Premiership by a huge 18 points with just eight games to play (BBC), while they are also within touching distance of the Europa League round of 16. They have lost just one game in all competitions (Sky Sports) – Steven Gerrard’s side have passed almost every test this term with flying colours.

However, Parks does not seem to be sharing the Gers’ pleasure. He has called this a season without enjoyment, saying that nobody appears to be having fun. His article was shared by The Daily Record’s official Twitter account, and it has infuriated the Rangers fans.

They took to the social media platform to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about the article from Parks

“Joyless for Rangers haters”

Credit: @BarryMa89455852

“get well soon Gordon.”

Credit: @ShanksyRuns

“Plenty of joy here, pal! Your pain is delicious!”

Credit: @alrocks1978

“I’ve quite enjoyed this season. After 9 years of vitriol from certain media members it’s particularly amusing watching a certain fanbase struggle to cope with it being directed at them and their club. In short Gordon Park take your medicine”

Credit: @derekj79

“What a pointless piece of garbage. These papers are so out of touch it’s unreal.”

Credit: @Paulrei240682

“”Joyless” – Not a chance.”

Credit: @jamesblack1986

In other news, Rangers fans rage at this SFA statement.

Liverpool face Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Wednesday evening in a top-of-the-table clash, where a win would see the Reds move top of the Premier League.

The Reds could be without Joel Matip, after the Cameroonian defender went off injured in the 1-1 draw against Fulham at the weekend and if he cannot play, Klopp should put his faith in Nathaniel Phillips.

The 23-year-old defender has impressed in both of his Premier League appearances this season, picking up solid ratings against both West Ham and Brighton, suggesting that he can be relied upon against Jose Mourinho’s side.

Whoever Klopp opts to play in defence will be in for an extremely tough match, considering the way both Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son have started the season for the North London club but Phillips’ no-nonsense physical style could see him get the better of the England captain on Wednesday.

Whilst Kane is perhaps best known for being a goalscorer, this season has seen him drop deeper where he has shown his superb passing range, having registered 10 assists already in the top-flight this season.

However, if Phillips can win the physical battle against Kane and limit his influence on the game, then it would give the Reds an excellent chance of winning Wednesday’s game.

If the Spurs striker isn’t given any space to work in by Phillips and co, then he’s much less likely to be able to play one of his trademark through balls to his South Korean teammate.

Liverpool are, of course, without Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, meaning that if Matip isn’t fit to play against Spurs, they won’t have a single senior centre-back available in their squad.

Fabinho has shown his class in that position since returning from injury but playing another player out of position in Matip’s potential absence could spell disaster for the Reds’ defence, and Klopp must trust Phillips to produce another strong display against the league leaders.

After his Premier League debut against West Ham, former Liverpool man Jamie Carragher was full of praise for the £70k per week man, saying:

“It was what he did aerially. What Fabinho and [Joe] Gomez lack is domination aerially, and when you play against some teams, not necessarily the top teams, but many teams will look to set pieces, direct balls, crosses into the box, second balls, and Liverpool didn’t deal with that at all against Sheffield United, and that’s what caused them big problems.

“But today, that header at the end from a corner, one of the last kicks of the game, to be the leader and make sure you get your head on it, normally that would be Van Dijk’s role. That was a vital header, and it won Liverpool the game really.

“I love the maturity he showed in the game.”

Therefore, considering that Phillips has done an excellent job in both of his Liverpool appearances this season, he should be the man to start at centre-back on Wednesday if Matip isn’t fit, and perhaps his aerial strength will prove vital if it can help him keep Kane quiet.

And, in other news… Forget Clarkson: Liverpool have the long-term successor to Jordan Henderson’s throne in teenage sensation…

Southampton are reportedly interested in signing Northampton Town striker Caleb Chukwuemeka with the 18-year-old having established himself as a first-team player with the Cobblers in League One.

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Mail, Southampton and Club Brugge have both expressed an interest in signing the young forward, who has broken into the first-team after a sensational season with the U18s.

Last season saw Chukwuemeka contributed 16 goals and 14 assists for Northampton’s U18 side and as a result, he has been promoted to Keith Curle’s first-team in recent weeks as they look to avoid relegation back to League Two.

Southampton’s next Che Adams?

Comparisons could be made with Che Adams, who also established himself in the lower leagues before earning a move to Southampton in the summer of 2019.

The English forward had spells with Sheffield United and Birmingham City in League One and the Championship before making the move to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side.

After a slow start, he has established himself as a key player in the Austrian’s side, forming an excellent partnership up front with Danny Ings.

Chukwuemeka has shown that he also has an eye for goal, based on his superb statistics from last season and now he has some first-team experience under his belt, with 17 appearances and two goals to his name, the Saints should certainly consider a move for him now, before he begins to attract more interest.

Northampton manager Keith Curle was full of praise for the young striker back in September 2020, saying:

“Caleb has got an unpredictability about him and he can be unorthodox at times. What we’re trying to do is get the fundamentals in place in his play without taking away that excitement and that freedom in his play.”

Therefore, it seems as if Chukwuemeka is destined for a big future in the game and if Martin Semmens can seal a move for the youngster, it could represent an excellent piece of business for the South Coast club, especially as he is yet to sign a professional deal with the Cobblers, so he would be available for a small compensation fee.

AND, in other news… Southampton signing “brave” beast will be the nail in the coffin for forgotten 25 y/o dud…

Many Wolverhampton Wanderers fans have been reacting in anger to the changes that have been made to their side’s fixtures.

The Premier League announced the changes on Thursday afternoon to accommodate television listings, while some games will continue to play behind closed doors after the Government’s announcement.

The Athletic’s Tim Spiers highlighted that the schedule for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side replicates what happened last year.

He revealed that Wolves had just under two days to prepare for a home tie against Manchester City and a trip to Anfield with 66 hours of recovery in 2019. While this year, the West Midlands outfit only have five extra hours in between their home tie against Tottenham and their trip to Manchester United.

As a result, supporters were not impressed with the decision made by the Premier League and broadcasters, with some claiming there is a bias towards the big clubs.

Fans fume at fixture pile-up

And in other news, Agent of Wolves loanee claims his client has ‘gone into oblivion’ after slow start.

Celtic move a step closer to closing the gap on runaway Premiership leaders Rangers thanks to their Wednesday win over Ross County. The reigning champions secured a convincing 2-0 win over the Staggies, who remain bottom of the table having won just three matches this season.

It’s a big ask for Neil Lennon and co to go on and win this term’s title, but they have enough time for their luck to turn. They also have strong players who have been impressing in recent weeks. One man who will be crucial in any potential Celtic comeback is Ryan Christie.

The midfielder has got many singing his praises since he helped Scotland secure their qualification for the Euros. His hard work and skill on the ball left Chris Sutton in awe, describing him as a “manager’s dream” in a recent column for the Daily Record.

Ryan Christie vs Ross County

Not only did Christie provide the assist to set up Leigh Griffiths’ goal, but he put in a superb shift in the middle of the park. According to Sofascore, the 25-year-old made four key passes, five tackles and completed 100% of his attempted dribbles.

His enviable balance between his attacking contributions and his ability to defend is what makes him a driving force in Lennon’s engine room. Christie is one of the only players who has survived the manager’s recent changes in his lineup. Even Scott Brown has been axed from the starting XI on several occasions, but Christie is a player that Lennon simply cannot afford to keep on the bench.

The Scotland international has been linked to a potential move away from Glasgow, with both Leeds United and Leicester showing keen interest in his services. There will be a gaping hole in this Celtic squad if the £5.8million-rated workhorse is to leave the club. Fans will certainly be heartbroken if he leaves, especially during these recent tough times.

In other news, Odsonne Edouard was disappointing yet again vs Ross County…

New Southampton signing Theo Walcott has discussed his excitement to be back at his former club, even if it’s only for the short-term. The Everton winger has penned a one-year loan deal with the Saints, making himself part of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s project to see his side climb the Premier League table.

Speaking to Hampshire Live, Walcott admitted that when news of the potential move came through, he was on board straight away.

“As soon I heard about it I said: ‘This had to happen, this needs to happen. I really want this to happen,'” he said. “Carlo [Ancelotti], Marcel [Brands] and myself have a really good relationship where we can get things sorted and they helped to make it happen in the end which I was really grateful for.”

A permanent Saints move for Walcott?

Now 31, Walcott could be entering the final years of his professional career. His most recent season with Everton saw him become more of a fringe player than he would have perhaps wanted. The winger made just 29 appearances across all competitions and missed a total of 13 Premier League matches (via Transfermarkt).

Ancelotti recruited well this summer and has so far spearheaded the Toffees to a perfect start to the season. Key attacking players Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be untouchable, meaning there’s little room at the inn for Walcott. If the Italian decides the former England international is surplus to Everton’s needs, he could hope for a permanent move to the south coast, especially when you consider how keen he was to make the initial loan move happen judging by his recent quotes.

It certainly seems like a plausible deal, with Hasenhuttl already making it clear that he’s an admirer of Walcott’s.

“There is a lot of history between this club and Theo, so I know how special this will be for him and for our supporters,” the Southampton boss told Hampshire Live after the player signed. “But what is most important to me is that we have signed a player who can help our squad and give us another strong option in our attack.”

Hasenhuttl went on to discuss the other benefits of having Walcott in the squad, including helping to integrate the young talents into the first team. As a three-time FA Cup winner – who spent an astonishing 12 years with Arsenal – the forward has a lot of seniority and knowledge to implement into the team. Bringing him to the club full-time is definitely an option Hasenhuttl and co should be considering next year.

In other news, Southampton cashed in on Morgan Schneiderlin at the exact right time…

After starting off the Premier League campaign like a house on fire, Aston Villa suffered their first defeat of the season with a 3-0 reverse to Leeds United.

On Sunday, Dean Smith’s side will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways and ensure that the result against the Yorkshire club was merely just a blip.

Standing in their way is Southampton, who have picked up their form recently, and whilst England international Danny Ings looks set to be their main threat, Villa may want to pay close attention to his strike partner, Che Adams.

Villa fans may be familiar with Adams, after seeing him turn out for rivals Birmingham City, and unless they keep him in check at the weekend, he could really deliver a painful blow to their side and leave them fuming.

The 24-year-old appears to finally be finding his feet at St Mary’s, netting two goals and providing a further two assists in his last four Premier League games, including a pair of goal contributions in a thrilling 3-3 draw away at Chelsea.

Adams’ ability to link up well with his strike partner but also pull defences out of shape with his clever running could bright yet more nightmares for a Villa defence that struggled to cope with Leeds’ intensity last time out.

Hilariously obscure Premier League players – Can you name them all?

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

Speaking earlier this year, Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl opened up on his attacking style of play, and why someone like Adams is crucial to his side’s success.

He said: “They are the guys who have to sprint the most, press the most, they have to cover the highest intense runs and the most distance and this is why they are normally the first guys substituted.”

If Villa focus too much on stopping Ings, then they could well be burned by a man signed from Birmingham for £15m. And that really wouldn’t go down too well with the Villa Park faithful.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek could be looking at a fringe role with Chelsea as Frank Lampard plans for the future.

The England international missed almost the entirety of last season due to an achilles injury. He made a mere ten appearances overall, with one coming from the reserve league (via Transfermarkt).

Loftus-Cheek started Chelsea’s first match of the season against Brighton, but had little impact on the game. After making just 11 successful passes and losing ten of his 13 duels attempted, he was substituted off for Ross Barkley slightly after the hour mark (via Sofascore).

The 24-year-old could be dropped to the bench once Hakim Ziyech and key player Christian Pulisic return from injury. Gary Neville also believes this is the case and thinks Chelsea should cash in sooner rather than later.

“I thought he was really disappointing. I don’t think Loftus-Cheek can complain. He’s been given games,” the Manchester United icon told Sky Sports (via Independent). “I don’t think he’s ever grasped his chance yet. There’s going to come a point when they’re going to cash in and get £25million for him.”

As a product of the Chelsea academy, Frank Lampard may be reluctant to let Loftus-Cheek leave the club. Despite a loan move to Crystal Palace in 2017, the midfielder has never played for another side. However, at 24, he should be playing regular football, if not being the focal point of the team.

Lampard defended the player’s performance and role at the club following their win over Brighton on Monday.

“We certainly have to give him a bit of time on those fronts. It’s a position that Ruben can play for us,” he said in a post-match interview.

It certainly seems as though Lampard values Loftus-Cheek as a senior member of the team. Only the season will show whether he is strong enough to be included ahead of some of Chelsea’s best players.

Do you think Chelsea should keep or sell Loftus-Cheek? Have your say in the comments below…