All posts by h716a5.icu

Tottenham want to sign Robin Koch to replace Juan Foyth this summer. 

Foyth, who was once considered a Mauricio Pochettino prodigy, has struggled to settle down at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Indeed, the Argentine has fallen out of favour with his compatriot’s successor and seems set to leave north London.

According to Bild (as per GGFN), as relayed by Ricky Sacks, Spurs are interested in signing Koch as he has reportedly told Freiburg he won’t sign a new deal.

His current contract is set to expire in 2021 which could put Freiburg under pressure in the transfer window.

The Lilywhites have conceded more goals than their Premier League rivals Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City this season.

As it stands, they clearly have problems at the back that need addressing, and Koch may be the perfect solution.

Much has been made of Spurs’ ageing defence, as the usually watertight pairing of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld has proven shaky at best.

The German international has played 31 games in the Bundesliga so far, scoring 1 goal, making 1.1 tackles per game, averaging 1.5 interceptions, and completing 3 clearances on average (via WhoScored).

Given his young age, the 23-year-old could turn out to be a risk worth taking, as he is still in the early stages of his career.

Freiberg rebuffed a €15m (£13m) bid from RB Leipzig in January but his valuation will likely have dropped as a result of the pandemic.

Spurs could therefore take advantage of the situation and sign him at a cheaper price.

Tottenham fans, do you think the board should replace Juan Foyth with Robin Koch? Let us know down below!

The Daily Record has suggested that Glasgow Rangers’ Steven Gerrard could make a move for out-of-contract winger Jordon Ibe.

The 24-year-old recently left Bournemouth after his deal at Dean Court ran out, and he would now be available on a free transfer. The newspaper has acknowledged that Ibe has been linked with a move to Celtic (The Sunday Mirror, 28/06, p74) but has suggested that, given his previous associations with Liverpool, he could be a player that Gerrard could have his eye on.

Ibe’s time with the Cherries was far from successful. The south-coast side spent £15m on his services, despite him scoring just four times in 58 matches with the Reds. And that record didn’t exactly get better with Bournemouth, with him scoring just four times in 95 matches for the Premier League side.

There must be something to his game, though, if he is able to play almost 60 matches for one of England’s biggest clubs, and a further 95 for a side also in the country’s top flight. It is clear that he is yet to match his potential, but at the age of just 24 he has the time to rejuvenate himself.

Before he left the Cherries, he was on £38,000 a week, and so the Gers would likely need to negotiate a smaller salary. Still, the lack of a transfer fee would make it a more interesting deal, and Gerrard could certainly do with a new right-winger after the departure of Sheyi Ojo, who has returned to Liverpool after his loan spell.

As such, this is indeed a deal that the 54-time Scottish champions should consider if the opportunity arises.

Let us know what you think below!

Somehow Arsenal have found themselves in a nightmare scenario with their star player’s contract again.

You’d think they would learn their lesson after losing both Robin van Persie and Alexis Sanchez to Manchester United in the final year of their contracts, but once again, arguably Arsenal’s most important player’s contract is running down.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has just a year left on his deal, and with the striker yet to put pen to paper, the Gunners need to have a plan for if he does leave.

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Fortunately, Arsenal have been linked to a few alternative options.

What’s the story then?

Le10Sport are reporting that Arsenal have their eyes on a plethora of new attacking options such as Raul Jimenez, Moussa Dembele, Memphis Depay and most interestingly Allan Saint-Maximin.

Jimenez is apparently their top priority, but if they do end up landing Saint-Maximin, you have to wonder if that’s going to work.

Square peg, round hole

Now, we’re not saying that the Newcastle winger isn’t a fantastic player, his hat-trick of assists earlier this month proved that he’s dangerous when he’s on form, but we just can’t see how he replaces Aubameyang.

The Gabonese forward’s game is all about goals, he’s hit 50 Premier League goals quicker than any other Arsenal player while also picking up a Golden Boot last season, and Saint-Maximin just doesn’t have that type of end product.

With just three league goals to his name this term, it would take around 17 seasons for him to hit 50 Premier League strikes if he continues at this rate, in comparison, Aubameyang did it in just two and a half terms.

Saint-Maximin would certainly add something to Arsenal’s side, he’s the second-most proficient dribbler in the Premier League and he’s incredibly exciting to watch, but you can’t help but feel they’d be making a grave error if he was signed as Aubameyang’s replacement.

Leeds United appear to be on the hunt for an additional striker this summer and a new name has been mooted by The Athletic’s Phil Hay…

What’s the word?

On the latest episode of the Phil Hay Show, he said: “One that’s definitely of interest is Michy Batshuayi down at Chelsea. Bielsa knows him from Marseille and he knows a lot about his game. He wouldn’t have to adapt massively. Despite it not happening for him at Chelsea he’s at a prime age, 26. Leeds will want to see progress in the next week or two.”

It’s not the first time that the Belgian has been mooted with a switch to Elland Road with Football Insider claiming he could cost less than £25m earlier this month.

Batshuayi is entering the final year of his contract at Chelsea and has started just one game all season across the Premier League and the Champions League.

Super-sub

Despite having Olivier Giroud and Tammy Abraham in front of him in the pecking order, a swoop for the 26-year-old would be perfect as Marcelo Bielsa needs a viable back-up to Patrick Bamford – especially with the Jean-Kevin Augustin saga up in the air.

One of the biggest problems surrounding the Yorkshire giants has been their tendency to suffer from burnout, it may have been what caused them to stumble last season and this year’s stop-start campaign, may have helped push them over the line finally.

This can’t happen in the top-fight otherwise they’ll be at risk of becoming a one-season wonder, which is why squad depth is needed. Batshuayi can provide that.

Over the last few seasons, he’s become widely known as the ‘super-sub’ for the Blues, so he’d be perfect for Bielsa to throw on when Bamford is in need of a break.

The Leeds boss helped Batshuayi to break onto the scene in France whilst Frank Lampard believes he’s “top class” and “hard-working”.

Victor Orta must push ahead with this move if United are to truly compete in the top-flight next season.

AND in other news, Leeds may have found the next Trent Alexander-Arnold…

It looks like things are beginning to pick up pace on the transfer front at Leeds United.

Having done the business on the pitch by securing promotion to the Premier League, Marcelo Bielsa’s side are acting like a big team off it too, making some serious moves already.

The Whites have recently sealed high-profile deals for the likes of Rodrigo and Robin Koch, and now, Spanish publication SPORT claim that they are lining up a move for Barcelona midfielder Rafinha.

Is it Haaland Snr or David Hopkins? Your Leeds knowledge will be put to the test with this quiz…



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The report claims that Leeds are knocking on the door for the play-maker, although negotiations for a potential transfer is still in the early stages and that an agreement is a long way off at this stage.

It’s added that whilst the Whites have the means to match Barcelona’s asking price, they hope to bring that fee down, with Rafinha understanding that he will have to leave the Camp Nou in order to secure regular football.

The Brazilian, who won the Champions League back in 2015, spent last season on loan at Celta Vigo, where he performed impressively, averaging 1.2 shots, 0.8 key passes and two dribbles per game in the league – the latter stat being more than what Leeds’ new signing Rodrigo managed (0.8).

Capable of playing out wide or through the middle, Rafinha would bring yet more top-level experience as Leeds look to ensure their return to the Premier League is a memorable one.

Leeds United’s hunt for a new centre-back continues to rumble on this week…

What’s the word?

According to 90min, the Yorkshire giants are one of several top-flight teams taking an interest in versatile Shakhtar Donetsk defender Mykola Matviyenko this summer.

It’s claimed that Everton, West Ham and Wolves are also keen along with many clubs across Europe.

There is a belief that the 24-year-old could be available for just £20m which would make him a rather affordable asset for the Premier League newcomers.

Left-sided Ayling

Aside from being able to play centre-back, the Ukrainian international is able to play at left-back too and we know how much Marcelo Bielsa likes his players to be multi-positional.

Think of Stuart Dallas, who is really United’s utility man, Gjanni Alioski and the more comparable Luke Ayling.

The 29-year-old is primarily a right-back but has filled in at centre-back when Bielsa opts for that infamous 3-at-the-back system, so Matviyenko could become a similar option especially as the pair are around the same height.

He’s picked up bags of experience at an elite level already, ranging from 20 appearances across the Champions and Europa League to his 26 caps for Ukraine.

Matviyenko’s performances for Shakhtar saw Arsenal come in with a bid during the January transfer window but that never came to fruition.

His suitability for Bielsa is reinforced when delving into the stats – he attempts, on average, 70 passes per 90 minutes of which 94% are accurate and the defender also wins just under 5 interceptions per 90 too.

The 6-foot star may not be the Ben White that many are looking for at Elland Road, but he could be quiet easily another gem that Bielsa unearths to the rest of the league.

AND in other news, Leeds set for Orta mistake as transfer target edges towards rival move…

Despite spending big-money to sign Ollie Watkins from Brentford, it looks like Aston Villa aren’t done with splashing the cash in this summer transfer window.

According to French publication Foot Mercato, Dean Smith’s side have made an approach for Lyon star Bertrand Traore, with Villa offering around €17m (£15.7m) for the winger.

However, it’s claimed that the Premier League team’s offer isn’t deemed enough, and that Lyon are holding out for a fee in the region of €25m (£23m).

Spot the fact from the fib: Are these Premier League records true or false?

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The report adds that Traore is keen on securing regular first-team football, which is why a potential transfer away from Ligue 1 is on the cards.

Anyone following the Premier League a few seasons ago will remember Traore for being a part of the Chelsea squad, where he failed to make the grade.

The 25-year-old made just ten appearances in English football’s top-flight, scoring only two goals and providing one assist.

After enjoying an impressive start to life at Lyon – he scored 13 goals in 31 league games in his first season in France – Traore has struggled for regular game-time, and played just 23 times in the 2019/2020 campaign.

The 52-cap Burkina Faso international is an exciting attacker, having a career average of 2.6 shots and 1.7 dribbles per match, and has built up considerable European experience by playing for Lyon.

If Villa can find the money for him, then he could be a shrewd signing for Smith.

West Bromwich Albion’s pursuit of a new striker has taken a damning twist this week with fresh reports emerging from a reliable source…

What’s the word?

According to the Telegraph’s John Percy, the Baggies are eyeing up a loan swoop for Leicester City outcast Islam Slimani with just days remaining in the current transfer window.

He claims that Albion have made an inquiry for the once £28m club-record man and are considering taking him on loan for the rest of the 2020/21 season.

The Foxes have loaned out the 32-year-old three times since 2018 and would prefer to sell him permanently this summer. His contract is set to expire in under 12 months time.

Same old, same old

You have to wonder when West Brom will get it right with their strikers. Romelu Lukaku was a mere needle in the haystack as it’s been year after year of disappointing flops.

Rickie Lambert, Nicolas Anekla, Georgios Samaras, Victor Anichebe, Brown Ideye are just a few from the last decade whilst it seems as if both of last summer’s signings, Kenneth Zohore and Charlie Austin, could soon join that list as neither have featured in Slaven Bilic’s plans this campaign.

The Algerian colossus would surely be another one you’d expect to fit in with these names, having cost a whopping £28m, he has only managed to score 13 goals in 46 appearances for the Midlands rivals. He’s clearly none done enough whilst on loan to convince Brendan Rodgers either.

French newspaper L’Equipe described Slimani’s performances for Monaco last season as “magnificent,” “a constant danger,” and “he offers solutions” yet he’s still not in the first-team plans at the King Power.

The 6 foot 2 forward is also sitting on extortionate wages of around £80k-per-week, meaning it’s still one hell of a gamble for Luke Dowling to sanction despite it only being a temporary switch.

Just go and pay what’s required for Karlan Grant, there’s a thousand times more upside there than adding to the list of Baggies flops.

AND in other news, Dowling on verge of West Brom masterclass if he lands £5m man…

West Bromwich Albion could well be sat just one point off the bottom of the Premier League table by the time they return to action against Burnley on Monday night.

But it would be no more than what they deserve as Slaven Bilic’s side simply cannot stop leaking goals – in fact, no other team in the top-flight has conceded more than 13 times.

You have to go down to the doldrums of the Football League to see that only League One outfit Burton Albion and League Two strugglers Oldham Athletic match that number, so the Baggies have the tied-worst record in English professional football right now.

However, the Croatian is yet to tinker with his backline, which simply seems like a disaster waiting to continue.

Both Kyle Bartley and Semi Ajayi have struggled immensely with the step up to the Premier League with neither player managed above a 6.25 average rating on WhoScored.

The pair are even averaging the fewest amount of tackles per game at the moment, meaning even Grady Diangana and Matheus Pereira are contributing more defensively and they are two players you certainly don’t expect to be tracking back.

Therefore, it’s time for Bilic to call upon ageing veteran Branislav Ivanovic as a risky throw of the dice, though let’s face it, he can’t be much worse than what’s happening at the moment.

The 36-year-old, if partnered with a quicker presence like Ajayi, could be the man to herald the backline and make it come together with his experience and leadership.

Jose Mourinho once lauded the Serb as one of his greatest ever signings at Chelsea, he said: “Is he one of the club’s best ­signings? I think so. He came immediately after I left [after my first spell in charge] and after that he made a fantastic contribution for this club. He is a competitive animal with a big heart.”

It’s players like this that Albion desperately needs right now – even at his old age – so Bilic must pull him off the bench with Bartley, unfortunately, making way.

AND in other news, West Brom reject, who is now worth £15m plus, has THRIVED since 2013 exit…

Fulham haven’t spent all that much in this transfer window, with the majority of the deals they’ve completed being loan moves.

Alphonse Areola, Ola Aina and Ademola Lookman have all arrived on loan from abroad so far, while Mario Lemina joined on a temporary basis from Southampton.

The signing of Lemina means that, due to the rules, the Whites can only bring in one more Premier League player on loan, and with both William Saliba and Ruben Loftus-Cheek on the Whites’ radar, they may soon have a big decision to make.

Only one of Saliba or Loftus-Cheek can now be brought in on loan, and with both of those players seemingly being better options than Lemina, Fulham’s August swoop for the Gabonese midfielder is beginning to look rather silly.

Would you rather have a centre-back valued at £27m and an England international or a Southampton flop? It seems like a no-brainer to us, and Tony Khan’s move for Lemina is already starting to look daft.

Khan wasn’t to know that Saliba and Loftus-Cheek would become viable moves on deadline day, but using up a valuable loan spot on a midfielder who can’t even get into your first-team wasn’t the best idea in hindsight.

Lemina is yet to start a single league game for the Whites, and if Loftus-Cheek is brought in he may drop even further down the pecking order, and even worse, that would leave the London club unable to sign Arsenal’s French defender.

Fulham are no strangers to bad decisions in the transfer market, but their bad signings usually take more than a couple of months to be judged as such.

Khan has now been left with a huge dilemma to choose between the Chelsea man and the Arsenal youngster, and it will be interesting to see who they opt for.