All posts by h716a5.icu

TalkSPORT pundit Jamie O’Hara has praised Manchester City star Phil Foden, claiming he would be worth £200m in this market.

How has Foden performed for Man City?

The England international has found himself on the bench at times this season, with just 16 of his 24 league appearances coming from the start, but opened the scoring in City’s crucial victory over Newcastle.

The 22-year-old has scored 13 and assisted five times in this campaign, as the Champions attempt to keep pace with league leaders Arsenal, and has earned praise for his level of performance.

Speaking on Sky Sports, O’Hara lauded Foden, claiming that he could be worth double what record signing Jack Grealish is to City.

“Whenever I watch him play, he’s just so good,” he stated.

“We talked about Jack Grealish being a £100m player, but he’s been around for a long time. Phil Foden’s really still a kid, and he’s doing things that I’ve never seen before in a young player.

“He’s born and bred through Manchester City’s Academy, and they have got a £200m player in Phil Foden, and every time I watch him play, I’m just mesmerised. I really am. I don’t think we appreciate how good he is.”

Should Foden be starting more games?

The versatile winger has to compete with Grealish and Riyad Mahrez amongst others for a starting position in City’s large squad, and regular rotation means none are guaranteed starters.

The departures of Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus in the summer opened up more potential game time for City’s wingers, but there is a case to be made that Foden should be starting more.

Guardiola has admitted that he is playing Foden less, partially due to the form of Grealish and Mahrez, with the more experienced players performing well.

The Spaniard previously claimed that Foden was “the most talented player” he had ever seen, indicating that he does rate the Englishman highly despite his inconsistent starts, but Foden may have to improve his consistency if he is to become a more regular fixture on the team sheet.

Leeds United fell to their first Premier League defeat under Javi Gracia over the weekend, as they handed Graham Potter’s struggling Chelsea side just their second win of 2023.

It was admittedly a disappointing effort from the travelling Whites, who surely would have seen this as one of the best opportunities in recent memory to turn over the Blues at Stamford Bridge.

But where the Yorkshire outfit normally enjoy plenty of the ball, they were restricted to just 43% of it which was converted into just two shots on target. If they struggle to score when they boast the majority of possession, that task was made even more troublesome by their lack thereof.

It was difficult to retain the ball when the central striker, Georginio Rutter, was enduring such a tough first start in the league.

As such, the Frenchman was raw, lightweight, and ultimately dragged off after 68 minutes. Perhaps his Spanish boss will think twice about reinstating him to the lineup after his performance.

How did Georginio Rutter play vs Chelsea?

Although one of the tougher full Premier League debuts to be handed, it was still expected that the tricky 20-year-old could threaten a threadbare back four. However, the former Brighton and Hove Albion coach instead opted to revert to a back three, which crowded out the diminutive striker amongst a trio of hulking defenders.

As such, Rutter was limited to just 34 touches, of which he only managed to complete four passes all game.

His anonymity throughout the game came as a huge detriment to his side, as he lost possession 21 times in a desperate attempt to create anything. Whilst there were flashes of his quality, and he nearly found the back of the net if not for a fine block.Just one successful dribble all game truly highlights just how little space he was afforded.

Even journalist Beren Cross took to Twitter to claim that he was “virtually a non-entity against three defenders”, suggesting he is far from up to speed when it comes to the physicality of English football.

Although he is now their club-record signing, Gracia must try to alleviate the pressure currently suffocating Rutter if he is to help him shine. There is clearly an abundance of talent waiting to be unleashed, but perhaps dropping him for their next match could be the best move as he slowly integrates him through short cameos rather than tough starts.

Journalist Chris Waugh has revealed that Sven Botman cannot believe he didn’t score for Newcastle United on Sunday.

The Lowdown: Howe’s side back to winning ways

Newcastle’s summer recruitment looked impressive at the time, but the displays from players such as Botman, Nick Pope and Alexander Isak throughout the season have gone on to show it was far more than that.

One of the most successful recruits from the summer will have been Botman, given that the Magpies wanted to sign him in the prior January window before finally managing to beat off stiff competition from Serie A champions AC Milan.

While Botman has been in impressive form defensively this season – losing just two league games as a Newcastle player – he’s not been able to impose himself as a threat in the final third, and may not get a better chance to open his account than against Wolves on Sunday.

The Latest: Botman yet to find his goalscoring touch

After speaking to people close to Botman, Waugh has revealed on Pod on The Tyne that the Dutch defender doesn’t believe he’ll get a better chance than the one he squandered late on against Wolves.

He said: “I spoke to someone close to Sven Botman today [Tuesday] and they were saying how he realises he’s probably never going to have an opportunity like that to side-foot a finish from inside the area in open play.”

The Verdict: Newcastle can be delighted with Botman

While some goals would have been the icing on the cake for Howe from Botman this season – especially given he got five goal involvements during his time with Lille – as long as he’s performing in the heart of defence, there won’t be many complaints.

Botman has taken to English football like a duck to water and he’s a huge part of the Premier League’s meanest defence this term, which makes his £35m price tag appear an absolute bargain.

In fact, all members of Newcastle’s regular back four and goalkeeper can be viewed as bargain deals, with Dan Burn costing £13m and Fabian Schar a jaw-dropping £3m, while La Liga winner Kieran Trippier was just £12 million and top shot-stopper Nick Pope was a mere £10m signing.

So given how things have started for Botman on Tyneside, we wouldn’t be surprised if he has his moment in front of goal before too long.

Football content creator and Newcastle United supporter Kendall Rowan has claimed that it would be ‘stupid’ of PIF to sign Scott McTominay this summer.

The Lowdown: Newcastle to make McTominay move

As per The Daily Telegraph, Newcastle are set to make a move for McTominay this summer, after already expressing an interest in him in the January transfer window.

Eddie Howe reportedly feels that McTominay has the physical attributes to succeed in his system, and McTominay is worried about his lack of game time at Old Trafford.

Indeed, the central midfielder has been limited to just Premier League, as he has seemingly fallen down the pecking order behind new signings Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Bayern Munich loanee Marcel Sabitzer under new manager Erik ten Hag.

The Latest: McTominay move would be ‘stupid’

Taking to Twitter, Rowan, who has featured on Sky Sports’ The Overlap, has claimed that the St. James’ Park outfit would be ‘stupid’ to sign McTominay after hearing the news:

“I trust that my club isn’t stupid enough to sign Scott McTominay and that’s all I’ll say.”

The Verdict: Avoid at all costs

It is true that the North East club need to sign a new midfielder in the summer, having let Jonjo Shelvey move on to Nottingham Forest in the January transfer window, while both Matt Ritchie and Matty Longstaff’s contracts run out at the end of the season.

However, McTominay is not the answer, and would struggle to break into their starting line-up for next term.

The Scotland international has been criticised for his performances by Red Devils supporters in the past, while United midfield legend Roy Keane has even gone as far as to claim that he is ‘not good enough’ for the club.

With the Magpies only three points behind United in the Premier League table, having played the same number of games at this stage of the season, this would suggest that McTominay is also not the level-raiser that they would be looking for in order to help bolster their own midfield options.

McTominay ranks among the worst midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for a number of key metrics over the past year, including assists, xAG, shot-creating actions, passes attempted, progressive passes, progressive carries and interceptions made per game.

Nonetheless, United could demand a sizeable transfer fee for him by selling him to a Premier League rival, and so the Toon could be wasting a fair chunk of money if they decide to make the move.

Arsenal fans have been left bemoaning the news that Takehiro Tomiyasu has been ruled out for the rest of the season with injury.

The Lowdown: Out for the season

As confirmed by Arsenal’s official website, Tomiyasu has now been ruled out for the rest of the season after having surgery on his right knee.

He sustained the injury in their last-16 second leg tie against Sporting in the UEFA Europa League at the Emirates Stadium last Thursday, and the North London club is aiming that he can join in pre-season training with them ahead of the next campaign.

The Latest: Arsenal fans react

Taking to Twitter after the news was announced, Gunners supporters were stunned by the fact that Tomiyasu is now out for the season, with some wishing him well:

“Noooooo” – @BraveSoul90

“Such a huge loss. Get well Tomi.” – @AkachJ

“Massive blow. Get well soon Tomi” – @Sir_Eghan

“This is all Ten Hag’s fault.” – @Andysimmons615

“Awful news…such an unlucky season for Tomi” – @fryfishandbammy

“Dreadful news. All the best TT” – @Curva_NorthBank

The Verdict: Big blow

The latest update on Tomiyasu will no doubt come as a big blow to Mikel Arteta and his team.

The Japan international has filled in at right-back and even left-back when needed at times this term, making a total of 32 appearances over all competitions, with 13 of them starts (Transfermarkt).

His absence just leaves Ben White in terms of natural right-back options that Arteta can pick in his senior squad, and so he will be praying that the Englishman can now keep himself fit for the run-in.

Arsenal already have a squad clearly capable of winning the Premier League. As they enter their final ten games of the season, they sit eight points clear of their nearest rivals, as Mikel Arteta closes in on his ultimate prize.

The Spaniard is owed a lot of praise for his work in forging this outfit, taking no prisoners as he uprooted experienced members of the squad and replaced them with youth, all of whom seem hungry for success.

Whether they see it out or not, there is a need to keep evolving in this game where it has arguably never been more difficult to win the elite honours. Manchester City will forever spend to maintain a regular title charge, whilst Liverpool can never be discounted. Meanwhile, Manchester United and Chelsea are overseeing expensive rebuilds which could also see them return to the mix soon.

The Gunners cannot afford to stand still, especially when the core of their squad could soon require a refresh. With Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey aged 30 and 29 respectively, they are soon to be entering their twilight years.

Arteta needs a new set of enforcers to replace their ageing stalwarts, but they must retain that silky skillset that allows them to uphold their free-flowing philosophy.

With this criteria, it is no surprise to therefore see them once again linked with West Ham United captain Declan Rice.

How much is Declan Rice worth?

It was only late last week when journalist Simon Phillips suggested that the north London outfit led the race for the 24-year-old, as he told GIVEMESPORT: "A lot can happen in the next two months until the end of the season. That one could go either way, but Arsenal feel like they're in the lead for that at the moment."

The Times also reported back in January that they had made Rice their top summer target, despite the £80m fee demanded, as this actually represents something of a bargain compared to the British transfer record David Moyes threatened; this truly seems like a deal destined to happen.

Especially when it makes this much sense.

Partey is imperative for Arsenal, with his defensive work in the engine room key in protecting their back four. As such, he maintains 2.3 tackles and one interception per game, alongside an 87% pass accuracy. The Ghanaian also marries this with the occasional screamer, of which he has three this season, via Sofascore.

Now compared to Rice, it is clear why Arteta remains so keen. He also records 2.2 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per 90, yet brings that pass accuracy up to an impressive 89%. This is partnered with four goal contributions too, as per Sofascore.

Their similarities are striking, and his role in dictating the play for the Hammers has seen him branded a "midfield maestro" by journalist Josh Holland.

However, this compliment was blown out of the water by fellow writer Jai McIntosh, who simply wrote: "Imagine thinking Declan Rice isn’t world-class."

This potential deal would further revolutionise a squad already bursting with talent, and make them even more dangerous on all fronts for many years to come. The fact that he is young and English helps the cause too, as he only adds to their impressive statistics as the youngest average squad in the league.

Manchester United forward Anthony Martial has been slammed after walking straight down the tunnel on Sunday as his teammates offered their appreciation to the travelling fans.

Will United still finish in the top four?

It was a dismal display at St. James' Park from Erik ten Hag's side who comfortably beaten by Newcastle United and that was acknowledged by the Dutch manager: “Today the best team won, I hate to say it,” he said after the defeat.

The loss on Tyneside saw Eddie Howe's men climb above the Red Devils in the table and up to third spot with Tottenham Hotspur playing their game on Monday night.

United still have games in hand over the north London club so the defeat has not put too much of a dent in their hopes, however, it was the manner of the defeat which will hurt most.

And for the travelling fans, the least they will expect is to be thanked by the players on the back of such a poor display away from home.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Alex Crook learned the £250k-per-week Martial was a player to ignore the fans as he headed for the dressing room which enraged the pundit:

(0:35) "That is shocking from the Manchester United players. If they're not wanting to salute the away fans, Martial in particular, where have you been all season, fella? You make one appearance and think you can skulk off down the tunnel. Unbelievable!"

Does Martial have a future at Old Trafford?

The Frenchman's big-money arrival from Monaco has failed to really match the expectations set on him, however, this is something which is unlikely to go down well among the fans.

Martial now has just over one-year remaining on his current deal with the Red Devils and it could certainly be envisaged that a potential move could be lying ahead in the summer.

Having made 10 appearances this season in the Premier League, Martial has returned three goals and two assists (via Transfermarkt).

Considering he has only played 489 minutes of league action, this is actually not too shabby of a return, however, it is evident he is not in the immediate plans of Ten Hag.

It is apparent why Martial will have frustrations over his lack of game time and on the back of a dreadful display from all in a red shirt.

He came on with around half an hour remaining, but he failed to provide much of an impact having only recorded 16 touches of the ball (via SofaScore).

But failing to acknowledge the travelling fans will certainly fail to endear the Frenchman with the United faithful ahead of what could be a pivotal summer in his career.

Liverpool have long been linked with a move for Moises Caicedo and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the club's pursuit of the player this summer.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Moises Caicedo?

The Athletic's Liverpool correspondent James Pearce has confirmed that the club are now looking at a long list of potential midfield targets with the Brighton and Hove Albion ace named.

As per the report, Liverpool are cooling their interest in Jude Bellingham and are instead focusing their attention on multiple targets who could improve the squad.

Indeed, Caicedo is one of the players who remains a top target for the club.

Will Liverpool sign Moises Caicedo?

There is no doubt that a midfield rebuild is desperately needed for the Merseyside giants following a disappointing campaign over the season so far, with the Reds failing to compete for trophies and looking more unlikely to be in contention for a Champions League qualifying spot as Premier League fixtures pass by.

Indeed, the lack of midfield personnel will no longer be a situation that the Liverpool powerbrokers have the luxury of ignoring with Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner set for an Anfield exit upon their contract expiration this summer.

Not only that, the quality of those who are set to remain has come under question this season with Brazilian ace Fabinho looking like a shadow of himself so far, struggling to be the huge influence he once was in front of the back four.

As a result, the signing of Caicedo – who has a reported eye-watering £100m price tag – could provide Klopp with the dream heir for Fabinho in the summer as the manager attempts to bring his team back to life next season.

The Ecuadorian sensation has comfortably outperformed his Merseyside-based positional peer in several attributes this season so far including pass completion rate (88.6% v 87.2%) and progressive passes per 90 minutes (6.17 v 5.09), demonstrating he's a more forward-thinking asset.

Not just comfortable with the ball at his feet, the Seagulls sensation tops Fabinho in a defensive capacity too. His 4.67 tackles and interceptions per 90 are better than the Brazilian's 3.43, while the former's 7.2 ball recoveries every 90 minutes are also better than the Liverpool stalwart's 6.25, proving that Caicedo is a far more consistent presence in the centre of the pitch.

Not only that, the young Premier League talent – who was dubbed a "serious talent" by producer Aden-Jay Wood – would be an incredible long-term prospect for the Reds. He is eight years younger than Fabinho and would be a worthy successor due to his wealth of top-flight experience.

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for Liverpool to sign Caicedo this summer and if FSG does sanction the worthwhile investment in the young player, it could provide quality in the defensive midfield position for years to come.

Tottenham Hotspur are monitoring Bayern Munich midfielder Marcel Sabitzer, who is currently on loan at Manchester United, according to a recent report from the Daily Star.

Which midfielders could Tottenham sign this summer?

Tottenham are searching for a new midfielder ahead of the summer transfer window, and they are said to be leading the race for Leicester City's James Maddison, having leapfrogged Newcastle United into pole position. Much of Spurs' transfer business will be impacted by who the board appoint as manager, however Maddison will remain a key target regardless of who takes charge, as they do not want to risk losing their lead.

Other potential targets include Sporting CP's Manuel Ugarte, although the 21-year-old would not come cheap, as there is believed to be a €60m (£53m) release clause in his contract, as well as FC Lorient's Enzo Le Fee. According to a report from The Daily Star, Tottenham have also now joined the race for Sabitzer, having been impressed by his performances in the Premier League for Man United since arriving on loan from Bayern Munich in January.

Erik ten Hag is, as yet, undecided about whether to keep the midfielder at Old Trafford, but he will now have to pay £30m if he wishes to do so, with Bayern increasing their asking price in recent weeks.

There is no option to buy included in the Red Devils' loan agreement, meaning that there could be an open race for his signature this summer, with West Ham United and Aston Villa also interested.

Should Tottenham sign Marcel Sabitzer?

It would not be a surprise if Ten Hag is eager to keep the "sensational" 29-year-old, in light of his fantastic performances since coming in as a replacement for Christian Eriksen back in January.

Although he has mainly been utilisied in a central midfield role, the Austrian was given the freedom to play further forward against Sevilla in the Europa League quarter-final, and he scored two goals, highlighting his attacking prowess.

Not only that, but the maestro has been hailed as "diligent defensively", which was most notably on display in Man United's 2-0 victory against Leeds United earlier this season, making a higher amount of both tackles and interceptions than any other player.

As such, Sabitzer would be a versatile option for Tottenham in midfield, and they should continue to monitor his performances for the rest of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur are a confusing club who manage to blur the lines between being part of England's elite without actually challenging for any silverware.

Their pursuit of such a feat, to cement them as part of that traditional top six, was likely the chief instigator behind the appointments of both Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, both of whom failed in their pursuit.

Throughout all the turmoil suffered in north London of late, whether it be manager upheavals or personnel changes, there always remains one constant: Harry Kane scoring goals.

The England captain remains one of the Premier League's most dependable marksmen, breaking scoring records at every turn on his way to Alan Shearer's ultimate prize.

However, his is a career laden with world-class quality that, just like the Lilywhites themselves, lacks trophies.

Given that innate desire that he will definitely have, there is every chance that each season could be his last at the club with which he burst onto the scene.

With Manchester United continuing to be linked as each transfer window goes by, perhaps Daniel Levy could seek to jump the gun, cash in on his prized asset, and seek to invest in a brighter future where the team is less reliant on the magnificent exploits of one man.

Who could replace Harry Kane at Spurs?

Having scored 23 league goals this season despite all the struggles, most of what the 29-year-old does nowadays serves as no surprise to the everyday viewer of this division.

This marks the ninth consecutive season where the striker has hit 17 goals or more in the league, and having recently become England's leading scorer as well as Spurs', the £200k-per-week animal is just 54 shy of becoming the all-time top scorer in the Premier League too.

It begs the question: who could possibly replace him?

Perhaps Levy should cease searching for a like-for-like alternative, as one simply does not exist. Instead, he could focus his efforts on the newest generation of striker, who personifies the modern game with fine link-up play and the flexibility to adapt to any system that the new manager might employ.

Few exemplify these characteristics like Brighton and Hove Albion's Evan Ferguson, who has been one such name linked with a move to N17.

Although incredibly raw and enjoying what is only his breakout season, the Republic of Ireland international has mustered four league goals in just 12 appearances as well as a further four goals across cup competitions too.

The 18-year-old manages all this with a blistering turn of pace despite standing at 6 foot 2, and also the ability to drop in and help with the build-up. As such, when compared to other strikers across Europe, he sits in the top 5% for pass completion.

This mesmeric emergence has drawn understandable praise, with BBC pundit Danny Murphy telling Match of the Day after Ferguson's brace against Grimsby Town: "This kid is a superstar, honestly. He’s got great feet, technical ability. He’s calm, powerful and plays the role really well. You don’t see him out wide, he stays central and is always a target.

“I can’t see a weakness in his game at the moment. For 18 years old, the maturity he shows in his game is phenomenal."

Few could possibly seek to replace Kane and the legacy he will leave, but in this teenage sensation, there is a striker who could star in the role for almost as many years as his potential predecessor has done.