All posts by z3u9t.icu

Nottingham Forest made a whopping 21 signings over the summer transfer window, wasting no time or resources in building a squad that they believe would be fit to compete in the Premier League to help the promoted side retain their top-flight status by next summer.

Morgan Gibbs-White, Jesse Lingard, Dean Henderson, Neco Williams and Renan Lodi are just a few of the players who have joined the ambitious project at the City Ground, and Steve Cooper will be hoping that they have done enough in terms of quality to compete at the highest level.

Forest are currently 19th in the Premier League table following a disappointing defeat to Bournemouth at the weekend, when they went from 2-0 up at half-time to 3-2 down when the final whistle was blown. It was a second-half performance that the Reds manager will want to forget but must improve upon if they are to stand any chance of staying up this season.

Despite making numerous signings to bolster every position this summer, Forest did miss out on one target who could’ve been a game changer for the Reds this season, with Houssem Aouar coming extremely close to making the move to Nottingham.

The £62k-per-week Lyon star was a prime target for Forest but it was reported that the club pulled out of their pursuit after completing a £42.5m deal for Wolves gem Gibbs-White, and the decision to do so could be a move that Cooper and Evangelos Marinakis deeply regret this time next year.

Over the last 12 months, Aouar – who was dubbed a “special talent” by former journalist Andrew Gibney – ranked in the top 1% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for pass completion and the top 20% for progressive passes, tackles and dribbles completed.

The Frenchman also had Philippe Coutinho, Angel Di Maria and Riyad Mahrez named as three of the most comparable players to him according to FBref, whicg further suggests that he would have been a major coup for Forest.

Pass completion was something that Cooper detailed as one of the key areas that he wanted to strengthen after the team’s first outing in the Premier League against Newcastle United, when they lost 2-0.

Following that game, the 41-year-old said (via Nottinghamshire Live): “We were not right today in possession, and there were not enough passes when we could get them off, and that ultimately cost us the two goals.”

With that in mind, it is surprising that Forest opted out of signing the “unreal” Frenchman considering his passing range in the middle of the park; and it could be a decision which comes to back to bite them, especially after losing their last three league games and conceding 11 goals in the process.

West Bromwich Albion continued their winless run today, but the shared points against Norwich City represent a good result for an out-of-form Baggies side.

Steve Bruce’s men were winless in five matches in all competitions, but when they took the lead early on it looked like they might spring a surprise result. However, Sam Byram’s goal with just under 20 minutes to go resigned Albion to a respectable point at Carrow Road, with the hosts starting the day second in the Championship table.

Despite being limited to just 35% possession, the visitors took as many shots as Norwich (11) and had as many big chances (one).

The goalscorer for West Brom was Dara O’Shea, who continues to impress for an underperforming team. He crashed in the opener with a fine header, but it was the magical delivery from John Swift which made the goal.

The 27-year-old impressed today in the heart of midfield, with a busy performance which outlined him as someone desperate to make something happen for his team.

Having lost possession 23 times, this statistic could be compared to someone like Trent Alexander-Arnold who often loses possession in pursuit of the spectacular. This has resulted in a full-back who recorded 12 assists last season.

Swift also completed one key pass and had 69 touches today, further reinforcing his status as a busy midfielder.

Considering West Brom’s lack of possession, it took bravery from him to try the unorthodox in an attempt to win the game for Bruce. He is a maverick of a midfielder but also a workmanlike one, as he chipped in with three tackles, three clearances and one interception at Carrow Road.

As the games go on, despite West Brom struggling for wins, Swift seems to be growing in his number ten role. He is shouldering most of the creative burden for the Baggies, especially given that he is supported by the likes of Jayson Molumby and Jake Livermore.

Perhaps to further enhance the 27-year-old’s influence on the game, Bruce must experiment with some more expansive options. For now, though, Swift continues to impress.

Tottenham Hotspur sporting director Fabio Paratici is targeting Sassuolo midfielder Davide Frattesi as reports from Italy share an update.

The Lowdown: Lilywhites display ambition…

In a showcase of real ambition, Spurs and Paratici certainly attempted to back manager Antonio Conte in the summer window after he guided them to a top four Premier League finish last year.

The north Londoners sealed deals for Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma, Richarlison, Clement Lenglet, Djed Spence, Destiny Udogie and a permanent move for Cristian Romero.

Currently one of only two teams yet to taste defeat in the top flight, with the other being champions Man City, Spurs have managed to make themselves extremely difficult opponents to beat even when not playing at their very best.

As the squad continues to change and evolve, Paratici never stops, and it appears the transfer chief has now set his sights on Frattesi.

The Latest: Paratici eyes Frattesi move…

Indeed, according to reports out of Italy, the 23-year-old is on Spurs’ wanted list.

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La Gazzetta dello Sport claim Sassuolo ‘held out’ on selling Frattesi in the summer window, counting on ‘competition from Tottenham’ to raise an auction.

The report adds that Paratici has ‘certainly not let go’ as Tottenham remain very much in the race for his signature.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Called a ‘very interesting’ player and ‘the next big thing’ Sassuolo have, Frattesi has also been compared to Italy and Inter Milan superstar Nicolo Barella (Fabrizio Romano).

As per WhoScored, the Azzurri’s starlet has continued to shine at the Mapei Stadium this season, already ranking as Sassuolo’s second best-performing player by average match rating.

He’s also bagged two Serie A goals thus far whilst completing their second-highest rate of successful take-ons per 90 – highlighting the traditional defensive midfielder as a real all-rounder.

Taking all of this into account, it’s clear as day why Paratici and Spurs hold a firm interest.

Everton have had their fair share of injury problems over the last 12 months but are comfortably competing in the Premier League this season after their relegation struggles, with a reliable source now gifting supporters more good news.

What’s the latest?

According to journalist Simon Phillips, Nathan Patterson could return to action sooner than expected after sustaining an ankle injury whilst on international duty with Scotland this month.

Phillips told GIVEMESPORT:

“I did speak to my source on his injury, and there’s some positivity that he might be back sooner than six weeks, more sort of four to five weeks.

“So, we’ll have to see the full impact of that one and how quickly he recovers, but it’s not all doom and gloom, there’s a bit more positivity that he might come back sooner than first expected.”

It’s a boost for Lampard

There is no doubt the news that the young Toffees right-back could return sooner rather than later will be a big boost for Frank Lampard, as Patterson has been a standout performer in the team since taking over the role from Seamus Coleman.

The 20-year-old Scotsman has made the position his own despite having big boots to fill in replacing the club captain, and over his first seven Premier League outings has proved that he is now a key player to the team.

Patterson has created one big chance, making 1.3 interceptions, four tackles, 2.7 clearances and has won six duels per game, proving that he is a dominant presence on the right side of the pitch and his inclusion has contributed to Everton’s improved performances over the season so far.

For comparison, no player in the Goodison ranks has made more successful tackles a game this term with Amadou Onana next up, although a considerably way behind on 2.6.

The £15k-per-week talented youngster’s influence has not gone unnoticed either as Danny Murphy lavished praise on Patterson during an analysis of his performance against Liverpool in the Merseyside Derby:

“This young lad, Nathan Patterson, seems to have the lot. He is only 20, he came in January, physically, he is very, very good.

“He’s got this desire to get forward and have an impact on the game, which I think is great. His defensive work is good, you can see the strength to keep the ball under pressure.

“He is a diamond, they really have got themselves a good player in the market. He is a terrific young player.”

With that being said, the return of Patterson will be warmly welcomed by both the manager and supporters when he does recover from his injury as he is already shaping up to be a huge future prospect for Everton and has come at the perfect time as Coleman nears the end of his career.

Sheffield Wednesday correspondent Joe Crann believes Plymouth Argyle captain Joe Edwards was lucky to avoid a red card on Tuesday evening.

The Lowdown: Injury-time heartbreak

The Owls made the long trip back from Home Park empty-handed after an injury-time goal from Sam Cosgrove gave the hosts all three points.

Liam Palmer cancelled out Ryan Hardie’s opener in the first half in a lively top-of-the-table encounter, with Darren Moore bringing off Barry Bannan and Josh Windass with 20 minutes remaining – a decision that puzzled some.

The result leaves Wednesday four points off the automatic places and five off table toppers Plymouth in League One.

The Latest: Edwards tackle

Reece James was on the receiving end of a challenge from Edwards just before half time, with the Plymouth man shown a yellow card.

However, taking to Twitter, Crann said that it ‘looked REALLY bad on the replay’, believing the player may have seen red if VAR was in use.

The Verdict: Not good

James was forced off at half time for Dominic Iorfa as a result of Edwards’ challenge, and it seems as if the Plymouth man was lucky to avoid a red.

Wednesday impressed at Home Park and on another evening would have come away with three vital points, however, attention may turn to Moore’s substitute decisions and the failure to take chances.

Hopefully, the Owls will get back to winning ways against Cheltenham on Saturday and James can make a swift recovery.

Rangers’ recruitment record has come under scrutiny of late with sporting director Ross Wilson having failed to adequately strengthen the Ibrox outfit with quality additions, although the transfer chief seemingly played a blinder with regards to one missed opportunity over the summer.

Former Gers man Craig Moore revealed back in July that he had pushed the club to sign current Celtic midfielder Aaron Mooy prior to the Australian’s move to Parkhead, while pundit Alex McLeish also suggested at the time he had “heard whispers” regarding the club’s interest in the player.

That inability to land the 31-year-old ahead of their Old Firm rivals had looked like something of a blow for Wilson and co at the time, with the playmaker having previously impressed during his time in the Premier League with both Brighton and Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town, with former Terriers boss David Wagner lauding him as a “top-class player” a few years ago.

Managing to secure that free transfer had appeared a real masterstroke for Ange Postecoglou’s side, although just a few months into the season and the 53-cap gem has struggled to make his mark in his new surroundings, making just two starts in all competitions thus far, including one in the League Cup triumph over Ross County.

The £4.5m-rated man’s only Scottish Premiership start saw him distinctly underwhelm in the Hoops’ defeat away to St Mirren prior to the recent international break, having been hauled off at half-time after seemingly being bullied by a physical Buddies outfit, as he failed to win a single duel in that 45-minute outing.

Former Bhoys midfielder Stiliyan Petrov notably criticised the 5 foot 9 dud for his role in the home side’s opener after failing to track his man, stating: “The attitude when you don’t play regularly, Aaron Mooy, that was his man.

“If he doesn’t usually play, he isn’t on the field all the time, then you get sloppier. You don’t track runners, you do the right things you do, especially off the ball.”

Pundit Charlie Nicholas was equally as critical as he suggested that the one-time Bolton Wanderers man has struggled to get up to speed, writing that:

‘I also feel that every time Aaron Mooy has come into the side he looks a yard off the pace. He needs more minutes and a run of matches but I’m not sure he’s going to get them.’

To compound matters, Mooy – who has been unable to provide a goal contribution in 11 appearances in all competitions this term – is currently out of action due to injury, with his capture already looking like a potential mistake for those at Celtic Park.

As such, it may well have been a bullet dodged for Rangers, with the Glasgow side avoiding a repeat of their signing of another “technical” asset – as described by Amiens sporting director John Williams – in Bongani Zungu, with the South African also failing to make his mark in Scottish football.

The 29-cap midfielder had joined on loan from Amiens in October 2020, with the aforementioned Williams suggesting that the club were getting something of a “bargain” at the time, such was his quality.

Much like with the case of Mooy, however, the 6-foot machine was unable to make an impact during his solitary season in Scotland, making only 20 appearances and also failing to provide a single goal contribution under Steven Gerrard.

Zungu appeared to struggle to get up to speed in his new surroundings, with his woes notably seeing him win just 43% of his total duels in 14 league games, having never truly showcased his potential talent.

Throwing another creative asset such as Mooy into the engine room at Ibrox could have seen a similar scenario occur, with the club arguably thankful not to have won the race for his services.

Manchester United right-back Diogo Dalot is Barcelona’s ‘best placed’ target for the January transfer window, according to reports from Spain.

The Lowdown: Dalot linked with Barcelona

The 23-year-old has enjoyed an upturn in fortunes so far this season, becoming United’s first-choice right-back and making eight starts in the Premier League.

Dalot has been linked with Barcelona in recent days, as the La Liga club’s manager Xavi eyes up defensive reinforcements, with reports that the Blaugrana have already commenced negotiations over a possible move for the Portugal defender.

Another update suggests that this is a transfer rumour which very much has legs to it.

The Latest: Barcelona’s ‘best placed’ target

According to Spanish outlet Sport [via Sport Witness], Dalot is Barcelona’s ‘best placed’ target at right-back, with ‘appropriate decisions’ to be made regarding a January move.

The 23-year-old’s current United deal expires next summer, at which point he would be able to depart on a free transfer.

The Verdict: Dalot having a good season

Losing Dalot would be a blow for United, with the defender taking his new game to another level so far this season and even scoring twice for Portugal in their 4-0 UEFA Nations League win over Czech Republic in recent weeks.

At 23, he still very much a maturing player, so the Red Devils could end up losing him at just the wrong time, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka their only other natural option at right-back.

The hope is that Dalot decides to extend his stay at United but the lure of Barcelona can be huge for Portuguese players, with past greats such as Luis Figo and Deco representing the Catalan giants.

They also seem to be on an upward trajectory under Xavi, who currently has them top of La Liga, so that too could tempt the right-back into joining Barca.

Tottenham Hotspur boast a rather chequered history when it comes to transfers, having pulled out some true blinders, but failed dramatically in equal measure. It could even be argued that the latter have been far more prevalent over the last decade, given their adversity to silverware which spurred Daniel Levy to change the direction of the club.

Enjoying steady progression under Mauricio Pochettino, the chairman saw a struggling start to the 2019/20 season and acted decisively, dismissing the former Southampton boss and instead opting for Jose Mourinho.

This kickstarted a spiralling turn of events which saw the club without any European football after last term's disaster, as Antonio Conte became the latest manager to face the chopping block.

It is now Ange Postecoglou tasked with reigniting this once great institution, and the Australian has already made great strides towards achieving the long-term goals that even Levy likely did not expect would be hit with such speed.

The future is exceedingly bright under the admired coach, who can only go from strength to strength.

His transfer business too has been surprisingly impressive, after years of numerous missteps. After all, despite Pochettino being a truly revered tactician, his business in the market was somewhat underwhelming.

Acquisitions like Tanguy Ndombele and Moussa Sissoko do little towards easing such a narrative, but his work in acquiring, nurturing and subsequently selling Kevin Wimmer marked a refreshing change of pace, as a successful example amongst a sea of failures.

Who is Kevin Wimmer?

Having shone in Germany, the Austrian defender was snapped up in 2015 for just £4.3m. Given the immense accolades the colossus was amassing, this marked an insane coup, as his FC Koln side earned promotion from the second tier of German football, conceding just 20 goals in 34 games.

The 30-year-old would then translate such sparkling solidity into the Bundesliga as they finished 12th on their return term, boasting the fifth-best defence in the division.

It marked a no-brainer to secure the services of a man so integral in one of Europe's best defensive units, and the hope was that he could challenge Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderwerield, forging a fine dynamic between the trio. After all, the latter was only signed later in that same summer.

Whilst this would fail to come to fruition, unsurprisingly so given how the Belgian centre-backs would instantly strike up one of the paramount partnerships in Premier League history, there was little pressure applied by the Austria international, who would amass just 31 appearances across just two years in N17.

That's not to suggest that the move did not show promise, with his debut season offering a glimpse into what might have been. An average rating in the league of 7.00 marked a fine return, and was buoyed by an 89% pass accuracy alongside two interceptions and 4.9 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

However, in the end they were to cut their losses, yet still managed to turn a healthy profit on the defender.

Stoke City were the willing recipients as they now saw him as the foundation of what was a mini-revolution at the Bet365 Arena that eventually fell flat, but not before the man seeking to lead it, Mark Hughes, praised him: "Bringing Kevin here is a real coup in my view, because he is a hugely talented young player who will undoubtedly add further quality to the group.

"There is a lot of money being spent this summer, so for us to get a player of Kevin's calibre through the door for the price we have paid, in my opinion, is something we will really appreciate for years to come. As soon as the possibility of bringing Kevin here presented itself to us we moved quickly on it, and have managed to get the deal done, so we are understandably delighted to have brought him in.”

How much did Spurs sell Kevin Wimmer for?

Given the lack of game time he was offered, it was impressive how Levy managed to hang onto the starring qualities that they had been initially seduced by.

After all, recouping an £18m fee marked sensational business, especially given they would hardly rue their decision to sell as Wimmer failed to kick on elsewhere in England.

In fact, the centre-back would feature even less for the Potters, making a total of 19 league appearances before being branded a flop by sections of the media. His fitness was low and confidence even lower, making for a terrible combination as they desperately sought to recoup some of their investment.

Loans to Hannover 96, Mouscron and Karlsruher SC all failed to reignite the spark, and in the end, his contract would be terminated in 2021 to allow him a free return to his homeland.

What is Kevin Wimmer worth now?

Given how promising Wimmer's career was with FC Koln, to see how far he has fallen has made for a truly tough watch.

The defender underpinned a record-breaking backline in Germany that had spearheaded a promotion push, and with a move to Spurs under a coach who prides himself on promoting youth, it seemed like the perfect partnership.

However, it was not to be, and even featuring for Rapid Wein clearly could not recapture that passion for the game as they would see out his contract once again, sanctioning another free transfer.

The nine-cap dud now plays his football for Slovenian side Slovan Bratislava, as if to emphasise just how far he has fallen, and his depreciating transfer value makes for depressing viewing.

2021

€1.5m (£1.3m)

35% decrease

2020

€2.4m (£2m)

41% decrease

2019

€4m (£3.4m)

46% decrease

2018

€7.5m (£6.4m)

37% decrease

2017

€12m (£10.3m)

71% increase

2016

€7m (£6m)

6% decrease

2015

€7.5m (£6.4m)

N/A

Transfer valuations via Transfermarkt.

Reaching a peak of €12m (£10.3m) in 2017 whilst still at Stoke, having previously been worth around €7m (£6m) with Spurs, every permanent transfer would see a slight decrease in that value, via Transfermarkt

It has since settled at a measly €500k (£432k) via Transfermarkt, but at an even lower £260k, as per Football Transfers, suggesting that the Lilywhites actually enjoyed a huge success with Wimmer given the manner of his north London exit.

Having recouped £18m for a man whose value has plummeted so quickly is indicative of a rare Levy success, of which there might be plenty more under Postecoglou's watch.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Public Investment Fund (PIF) are reportedly set to offer Miguel Almiron a new contract at Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Great season so far

The Paraguayan is having a great season at St James’ Park so far, scoring six goals in 12 games in the Premier League, averaging a goal every two matches (Transfermarkt).

Five of those have come in his last five appearances as he has helped the Magpies rise to an impressive fourth place in the table.

The Latest: Contract offer pending…

Writing in his latest piece for The Telegraph, reliable journalist Luke Edwards has revealed that Almiron is set to be offered a new deal on Tyneside in order to end ‘talk’ of him leaving next year.

The Paraguay international is ‘likely’ to attract interest from rival clubs in the January transfer window, so a new contract would protect his value and offer long-term assurances to him and his family.

It is likely that a two-year extension will be offered as Newcastle try to tie him and team-mate Bruno Guimaraes down for the future, with plans already afoot over a possible new deal for the Brazilian maestro.

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The Verdict: He’d deserve it

Given how much Almiron has thrived under Eddie Howe this term, a new deal would be thoroughly deserved.

He is currently the Magpies’ top scorer in the top flight and ranks highly among the squad in terms of average tackles, shots and dribbles per match (WhoScored).

His all-round game has improved drastically, and so the 28-year-old can still be a key player for Newcastle in their long-term project under PIF.

Transfer expert Graeme Bailey has now revealed that Edu’s ‘aim’ is to bring a first Premier League title to the Emirates Stadium amid contract talks for the Arsenal transfer guru.

The Lowdown: League leaders

The North Londoners are currently sitting pretty at the top of the table, despite dropping points in the 1-1 draw away at Southampton on Sunday afternoon.

They have not won the league title since the famous Invincibles season in 2003/04, and have failed to lift the trophy in the Emirates era so far.

The Latest: Edu ‘aim’

Taking to Twitter, Bailey has now revealed that Edu’s ‘aim’ is to win the Gunners’ first ever top-flight title at the Emirates, amid ‘talks’ over a new long-term contract for the technical director following interest from PSG:

“Arsenal in talks with Edu over new long-term contract. His work has impressed a number of rival clubs, including PSG. But sources tell us his aim is to bring a first ever Premier League crown to the Emirates.”

The Verdict: Ambitious but not impossible

Given the dominance that Manchester City have shown over the past few seasons, it will take a very good team to stop them lifting the title again this year, and for the next few campaigns to come.

However, Mikel Arteta’s side do sit top of the tree, and so a first league title in nearly 20 years should not be out of the question.

Nonetheless, Edu has helped a lot in bringing the club back on track, signing the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus with his Brazilian connections, and will no doubt play a key part of Arsenal’s future at the Emirates.