All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Carlton Palmer has backed Harry Kane to guide Manchester City to the quadruple if he manages to force through a move from Tottenham Hotspur.

Kane has made it clear he wants to leave his boyhood club before the transfer window shuts at the end of the month, with the marksman aiming to challenge for more trophies after growing frustrated with Spurs’ lack of progress on the pitch.

Although Spurs are eager to keep their star man, they suffered a further blow when the England captain failed to return to Hotspur Way for pre-season training on Monday.

Premier League champions Manchester City have been keen to do business with Spurs since Kane publicly confirmed his intentions to leave. Pep Guardiola’s side have been looking to sign top transfer targets Kane and Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish for a combined fee of £215million.

Former midfielder Palmer believes Kane, who is seventh in the Premier League’s all-time top scorers list after finding the back of the net 166 times, would get City firing on all fronts and bolster their chances of securing a first-ever Champions League title.

He exclusively told Football FanCast: “If he were to go to Man City, they would be looking at possibly the treble and maybe even the quadruple. They’d certainly be in great shape for doing that.”

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, Peterborough Director of Football Barry Fry has slammed West Ham’s Felipe Anderson for a lack of effort.

Much was expected of the Brazilian when he joined in a then club-record fee from Lazio in 2018, but Anderson has often been branded lazy by supporters, and spent last season on loan with Porto.

But Anderson’s fortunes hardly changed in Portugal, making just one league start, part of only 10 appearances and played just six minutes from the middle of February onwards.

Anderson initially made a bright start to English football, scoring some impressive goals in his first campaign at the London Stadium, but the West Ham faithful quickly became frustrated by his lack of work-rate.

Such is Anderson’s recent miseries with the Hammers, Sky Italia believe that he could return to Lazio this summer, with West Ham set to recoup just 25 percent of the £36m they paid for him three years ago.

Fry, meanwhile, has not been impressed by Anderson. He told Football FanCast:

“He’s got talent, there’s no doubt about that, but you need more than talent, you need effort, if you haven’t got the ball you have got to contribute something, and he’s limited.”

Kevin Phillips has dropped an intriguing verdict surrounding Ange Postecoglou’s prospective role in Celtic’s recruitment process [Football Insider].

The Latest: Celtic finally have a new man in the dugout after nearly four months of limbo

After nearly four months in the managerial wilderness, Celtic officially confirmed 55-year-old Ange Postecoglou as their new head coach on Thursday 10th June 2021 [Celtic FC Official].

Though youngster Liam Shaw is set to be the Hoops’ only playing summer arrival as of yet, Celtic have been linked with moves for Charlie Wyke and Mat Ryan as they look to build for 2021/22

As reported by the Scottish Sun, the Australian is set to have the final say over incomings and outgoings at the Glasgow giants. In response, Phillips was quick to share his take on proceedings, as the Australian is thrust into the Scottish football goldfish bowl.

The Latest: Phillips agrees that Postecoglou should have autonomy over transfer activity

Speaking in an interview with Football Insider, Phillips signified that Postecoglou should have full power to cultivate his own squad, stating:

“That’s one of the biggest things as a manager going in. They want to keep control of who comes in and who doesn’t because then there’s nobody to blame. There’s no director of football to blame, you take sole responsibility.

“It’s brave because if signings don’t work out, you get the blame for it.

“But I think it’s great that managers are going in there with full control because ultimately they’re the ones that have to work with them.”

The Verdict: Postecoglou should be given every chance to succeed at Celtic

Upon reflection, the ex-pro turned pundit makes an interesting point. If the former Yokohama Marinos manager is to be a smash hit at Parkhead, he should be given every opportunity to operate in an agreeable environment.

By having full control over his own acquisitions, Postecoglou will be able to tactically mould a side that is comfortable within the realms of his high-octane style of football.

Ultimately, this will create the fairest reflection of his capabilities to handle the pressure of being a Celtic manager without interference.

If he can get it right, the Hoops could mount a serious challenge as they look to reclaim the Scottish Premiership title at the first attempt.

In other news, Olivier Ntcham nears an exit from Celtic Park.

Everton’s managerial saga may be in full swing but that hasn’t deterred the Toffees hierarchy from making moves in the transfer market.

An agreement to sign Matheus Nunes has been reached but he’s not the only iron in the fire.

What’s the word?

With a deal to bring Rafa Benitez to Goodison Park on the verge of completion, Everton are doing their best to conclude some early transfer business.

Reports from Italy this week suggests that they have a strong interest in Roma defender Chris Smalling.

Gianluca Di Marzio claimed on Wednesday that Everton were interested in the centre-back before Il Sussidiario revealed an offer had actually been made for his services.

New Roma boss Jose Mourinho has no plans for the 6 foot 4 colossus this summer and thus, he could return to England.

Transfermarkt currently values the defender at just £10.8m so Marcel Brands and co may not have to break the bank.

A big upgrade

Towards the climax of last season, individual defensive errors really started to cost Everton at the back.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-everton-manager-transfer-nuno-conte-wood-marcelo” title= “Read the latest Everton manager and transfer news!”]

Mason Holgate was made to look out of his depth when Manchester City beat them 5-0 on the final day but Carlo Ancelotti had warnings of his ineptitude a few weeks prior.

Holgate received the ball inside his own half against Aston Villa under no pressure but he turned back towards his own goal and was then robbed by Ollie Watkins.

The forward took possession and then slotted the ball calmly beyond Jordan Pickford. It was a terrible moment for the young defender but Everton must be ruthless with him this summer.

By signing someone like Smalling, they’d land a huge upgrade.

The 31-year-old has improved immensely in Italian football and has registered some fabulous defensive numbers.

Once of Manchester United, Smalling has caught the eye with his ability to play out from the back, registering a pass success rate of a whopping 90.8%.

On top of that, he won 3.2 aerial duels per game in the 2019/20 season and then registered 1.8 interceptions in Serie A last term, showcasing his ability to read situations.

Talking about the defender previously, incoming Spurs manager, Paulo Fonseca, raved about his abilities: “He’s an extraordinary guy, very intelligent. He has characteristics that I really appreciate in the centre. He’s fast, nearly unbeatable in one-on-ones. He has a great ability to read the play and anticipate.”

Based on that, he’d certainly be an upgrade on Holgate, someone who struggles to time interceptions and loses concentration.

AND in other news, Everton must complete swoop for “phenomenal” 28 y/o, he thinks Nuno Santo is “amazing”…

Patrick Vieira is on the verge of taking over at Crystal Palace and could have up to £80m to spend this summer, according to The Daily Mail.

And, as to be expected, a number of Eagles fans have been reacting to the news on social media.

It looks set to be third time lucky for Steve Parish and the Palace hierarchy when it comes to finding Roy Hodgson’s successor.

The Eagles came close with Nuno Espirito Santo and Lucien Favre, but it seems as if Vieira will be the man through the door at Selhurst Park.

He’ll have a busy few weeks before the start of the new season, with a significant player rebuild required.

The new Palace manager, according to The Daily Mail, is expected to have as much as £80m to spend on new players in the transfer window.

Palace fans react

Both @cpfc_xtra and @CPFCtransfersHQ shared the news on Twitter on Wednesday.

These Palace supporters were stunned at the claim…

“Can’t believe this. Would’ve thought if Favre was offered a kitty of £80m he’d of taken the job”Credit: @smupp1″My god”Credit: @Kevbartleyy”A what?”Credit: @JoelGray_”Where’d we get 80 million”Credit: @Crypto_Horse28″Huh?”Credit: @cpfc_rozay”Must of mistyped that”Credit: @FiachraFurlong

In other news: Many Palace fans buzz at club’s interest in Borussia Dortmund man, find out more here. 

Olivier Ntcham could be about to receive an exit route from his Celtic nightmare, with Greek giants AEK Athens preparing a move.

What’s the story?

According to The Scottish Sun, the 25-year-old midfielder may be about to finally get his wish and depart the Hoops on a permanent basis following a hugely disappointing loan spell in the second half of last season.

The report claims Athens are prepared to offer Ntcham wages of around £20,000-per-week in order to lure him to the Olympic Stadium.

He’s not good enough

Ntcham has been open about his desire to move away from Scottish football in the past, previously claiming to be too good for the Scottish Premiership.

“Celtic has given me a lot but leaving is the best solution for my development. We can do as many matches as we want but, with all due respect for my opponents, if the level in front is not high, you do not progress,” the Frenchman said back in 2019.

However, after joining long-term suitors Marseille on loan in January, Ntcham failed to impress, making just two league starts for the Ligue 1 outfit.

On both occasions, he was substituted at half-time due to his dire displays and he was also hauled off after just 45 minutes during a French cup game against fourth-tier minnows Canet RFC.

Jorge Sampaoli’s men fell to an abysmal 2-1 defeat on the day, but it was Ntcham who took the majority of the flack, being labelled “unacceptable” by local newspaper La Provence (as reported by Sport Witness) after receiving three 1/10 ratings from journalists covering the game.

A summer rebuild is required at Celtic Park following a disastrous 2020/21, where the Hoops finished 25 points behind table-toppers Rangers.

Former Australia national team coach Ange Postecoglou is thought to be close to succeeding Neil Lennon in the Celtic hot seat, but it doesn’t seem as though he will have to deal with an unhappy Ntcham for very long.

The former Manchester City man is a very talented footballer on his day, yet his attitude and application leave a lot to be desired, and the former champions will be better off without the want-away flop. He’s not good enough of a player for Celtic to put up with any of those types of distractions.

And, in other news…Major Celtic transfer news emerges over £2m liability, fans will surely be buzzing 

During the last few years, Wolves have had a phenomenal record of beating the biggest and best teams in the Premier League.

This season alone, the Old Gold have defeated Arsenal on two occasions and also swatted aside Chelsea at Molineux, while they did the double over Manchester City last term and beat Manchester United twice in three weeks in 2019.

Therefore, they will have every right to feel confident when they face Tottenham on Sunday afternoon.

On the chalkboard

One player who has had a habit of destroying teams in the top flight is Adama Traore.

The Spaniard has had a particularly disappointing season by his high standards and has scored just two goals all term. That’s a far cry from the 13 goal involvements he managed throughout 2019/20.

Traore has been so off the boil that he didn’t even start against Brighton last time out. Nuno Espirito Santo instead decided to look towards the future as he started Vitinha, Fabio Silva and Morgan Gibbs-White in attack.

After going 1-0 down, Nuno turned to the swashbuckling winger, and he had a devastating impact during his 30 minutes on the pitch.

Traore crashed home the equaliser and completed all three of his dribbles. His ability to be a nuisance also wreaked havoc with the Seagulls defence as they seemingly had no answer to his speed, trickery and strength.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-wolves-transfer-rumours-and-news-soumare-dias-dembele-marques-nuno-santo” title=”Read the latest Wolves transfer rumours and news!”]

They aren’t the only team to feel his wrath. Once dubbed “unplayable” by Jurgen Klopp, the £46,000-per-week attacker is one of the most dangerous players in the Premier League.

Despite his measly goal tally this term, no player has completed more dribbles in the top flight than Traore’s 140. That’s 52 more than the next best player in the division, Fulham’s Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa.

With that in mind, the 25-year-old could terrify Tottenham on Sunday afternoon. Instead of starting on the bench, Nuno needs him playing from the off and causing havoc, rather than relying on someone like Daniel Podence, who last scored a full five months ago.

The Spaniard’s mesmerising impact against Brighton last weekend proved that, even when he’s not completely in form, he has to play. Traore is capable of producing moments of magic from absolutely nowhere which against one of the sides aiming for European football, could be crucial.

He scored against the Lilywhites last term, too, running riot by winning ten ground duels and completing all five of his dribbles.

Nuno will need the speedy Spaniard at his best on Sunday.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Neto: Wolves must sign “spectacular” £32m beast, he’s shades of Ronaldo…

Brian Deane has exclusively told Football FanCast that he would welcome the addition of Ryan Bertrand at his former club West Ham.

The left-back recently announced that he will be leaving Southampton after seven years of service at the end of his contract, meaning the Hammers could snap him up for nothing.

Bertrand, who turns 32 in August, has remained as Saints’ first choice left-back – until his recent injury – despite his imminent departure and already has a number of clubs queuing for his signature.

Arsenal, who failed in their January attempts to sign the England defender, Crystal Palace and Leicester are all set to battle it out to sign the free agent this summer.

But Deane believes that he’s gone under the radar during his time on the south coast and would be a great signing for West Ham.

David Moyes currently has two recognised left-sided players at his disposal, but Arthur Masuaku prefers to play in a more advanced role, which would leave Bertrand to battle it out for the number one spot with Aaron Creswell, should he decide to return to the capital.

Deane told Football FanCast:

“Somebody who’s very good, mobile, quick. For me, if I am somebody who’s building a team, I am always looking at the mobility and Ryan Bertrand has played for a lot of seasons and gone under the radar at Southampton for a long time.

“He’s probably in the second-tier of full-backs and could kick on.”

Manchester United are set to initiate contract talks with key midfielder Paul Pogba as they look to build a title-winning side.

What’s the story?

According to ESPN, the Red Devils will begin negotiations with the 28-year-old amidst fears that he could leave on a free transfer next summer.

Pogba has just 12 months left to run on his current deal with United, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is desperate to retain the World Cup winner’s services.

Fans will be buzzing

The upcoming transfer window will be the last opportunity for the Old Trafford outfit to receive a substantial fee for their record signing.

However, the report claims no solid contact has been made regarding the French international’s services from any interested party.

It goes on to state that Paris Saint-Germain would be interested if Pogba was available for free in a year, with foreign clubs able to negotiate a pre-contract agreement from January.

His controversial super-agent, Mino Raiola, has previously declared that his client will not put pen to paper on a fresh deal at Old Trafford, although it’s believed that United have not given up hope over extending the former academy graduate’s stay.

After an inconsistent spell with the 20-time English champions, Pogba enjoyed one of his most successful seasons in 2020/21.

A string of impressive performances saw the former Juventus man score six goals and provide nine assists for his teammates in 42 appearances, achieving a highly respectable WhoScored rating of 7.06 in the process.

He played a crucial part in United’s second-place finish in the Premier League but was unable to lift his second Europa League crown with his boyhood club as Villarreal came away victorious following a dramatic penalty shootout win.

Pogba’s growing importance to Solskjaer’s side has been clear for all to see, and the news that the Red Devils’ hierarchy are attempting to tie him down to a new contract will surely have the supporters buzzing as he is, on his day, a truly elite footballer.

Upon his return to the national team at the end of last year, Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris praised his compatriot’s array of qualities.

“Very present, he wanted the ball. He put on his voice. He is a leader, and we felt it,” revealed Lloris.

At a time when United are attempting to reel in their local rivals and return to the summit of English football, keeping hold of their star players and key leaders is essential.

Losing Pogba, especially for free, would be a huge setback to the progress made under Solskjaer and could leave United further away from a league title than they’ve ever been under the Norwegian’s reign.

And, in other news…Man United dealt major transfer blow over £8.1m-rated prodigy, it’ll leave Ole gutted 

Everton are keen on signing Pape Matar Sarr, according to L’Equipe (via Sport Witness).

However, as per the news outlet, the Toffees face competition from Chelsea for the signature of the Metz talent. The report added that both Premier League clubs will have to move quickly if they wish to sign him, as Nice are already prepared to pay  €12m (£10.5m) to sign him in the summer transfer window.

Given that he is currently valued at £2.7m by Transfermarkt, that is nearly four times his value. The Merseyside club’s interest in Sarr would fit Marcel Brands’ model of signing young players and developing them for the future, but only time will tell whether Carlo Ancelotti’s team act on their reported interest.

Sarr one for the future

Sarr certainly seems a player for the future and, at just 18 years of age, he seemingly has a lot of potential to fulfil. He is already playing senior men’s football on a regular basis, having racked up 20 games in total for Metz so far this season (Transfermarkt).

A defensive midfield player from Senegal will sound very familiar to Toffees fans given their previous association with Idrissa Gueye, and if Sarr turns out to live up to the ability of the current Paris Saint-Germain ace, he would become a popular player very quickly for the Blues should they decide to sign him.

In other news, find out what transfer update from Alan Myers has piqued the interest of many Everton fans.