Southampton’s list of recent signings does not make for good reading, with the south coast club having brought in a bunch of players of late who have struggled to make much of an impact at St. Mary’s.
The likes of Mohamed Elyounoussi, Guido Carrillo and Wesley Hoedt to name a few, have all failed to deliver, which has undoubtedly been a factor in the Saints’ massive decline.
As a result, the Premier League outfit now look set to change their transfer strategy.
According to the Daily Mail, the Southampton recruitment team, led by director of football operations Ross Wilson, will target homegrown players this summer as they look to build a British core similar to the one that included Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw and Nathaniel Clyne.
Given the success the club had with that one, it is something some supporters would probably like to see at St. Mary’s.
Whether the Saints’ recruitment team can deliver, however, remains to be seen. Landing someone like Harry Wilson early in the transfer window, though, would show fans that the club are indeed trying to do the above.
Wilson, of course, is a Wales international and is currently being linked with a move to the south coast after an impressive loan spell with Derby County (Sky Sports).
After consecutive transfer windows of splashing out on players who have not done much since arriving at St. Mary’s, perhaps it is time for Southampton to shake things up. And signing Wilson could be the development that kicks things off.
Southampton fans, do you want to see the club approach this transfer window differently? Let us know in the comment section below!
Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty looks to have played his last game for the club after Thursday reports he is due to return to Glasgow to discuss the terms of his departure from Ibrox.
Clyde 1 reckon that he has already been told by manager Steven Gerrard he will play no part next season and has been instructed to find a new club.
The player is due to join up with the Northern Ireland squad for matches next month but will first hold talks with his advisers and the club to find a way forward, according to the report.
Watch the video below to find out which derbies the Pl>ymaker squad have picked as the most entertaining, fierce and passionate in the world…
Lafferty joined from Hearts last summer on a two-year deal as competition for Alfredo Morelos, although it quickly became apparent he was not good enough to make the step up and impress during his second spell at Ibrox.
Scoring just five goals for Rangers across the season, he was barely used after the January transfer window allowed Gerrard the opportunity to bring in Jermain Defoe.
Fans won’t exactly be disappointed to see him go, with many feeling like he should never have been signed in the first place.
Rangers will need better recruitment this summer as they look to end years of trophy drought and pick up major honours next term.
These supporters have taken to Twitter to share their thoughts on his exit…
Reports in the Yorkshire Evening Post have linked Leeds United with a loan move for 21-year-old Brighton centre-back Ben White.
The young defender spent the second half of last season out on loan at Peterborough United, but his impressive performances for The Posh have seen him attract interest from the Championship.
On the chalkboard
If this move does materialise, it is unlikely that White will join Bielsa’s side as a starting option considering the strength of Liam Cooper and Pontus Jansson’s partnership.
With the preferred centre-back duo not looking like being split up anytime soon, White would most likely be arriving as an option to bolster the strength in depth.
With Bielsa preferring to operate with a very small squad, the role of a reserve centre-half can be vital.
This was shown towards the back end of last season as Jansson missed the Whites’ playoff run and Gaetano Berardi had to step in after recovering from his own injury problems.
The Swiss defender played brilliantly in the first leg against Derby but, in the second match, he completely lost his head and was sent off.
Berardi out of favour
Berardi has been linked with a move away from Elland Road this summer.
It is unknown whether this move for White will indicate a departure for the 30-year-old, but it certainly demonstrates that he has slipped down the pecking order.
The former Sampdoria man has been Bielsa’s go-to man when there has been a gap to plug in the backline – whether it be at left-back or centre-back – but after his dismissal against Derby gave the Argentine reason to doubt his reliability next season.
White’s arrival will hand Berardi a major challenger and his game-time could diminish significantly as a consequence.
Given Berardi’s actions in the playoffs, that may well be for the best.
Christian Eriksen has confirmed that he wants to leave Tottenham Hotspur this summer, per Ekstra Bladet.
What’s the word?
The playmaker has long been linked with Real Madrid and, following the Lilywhites’ Champions League final defeat to Liverpool, he has finally admitted that he would be open to a move away from north London in the transfer window.
Eriksen played a key role in Spurs’ season, making 51 appearances in all competitions, but his contract expires next summer and he has shown no desire to commit to fresh terms.
He said: “I feel that I am at a stage of my career where I would like to try something new.
“I have the deepest respect for everything that is happening at Tottenham and it would not be something negative to stay. But I have also said that I would like to try something new.
“I hope that something will be decided this summer. That is the plan. In football, you never know when there could be a decision like that. It could be at any point. The best thing is always for it to happen quickly but in football things take time.”
Eriksen has also touted the idea of a move to Real Madrid, though he does not know if the Spanish club have expressed their interest.
He added: “Real Madrid is a step up but then it would take Real Madrid picking up the phone and making contact with Tottenham and say that they want Christian. And they haven’t done as far as I know.
“It all depends on Daniel Levy and there has to be another club too. Or I will sit down myself at the table and negotiate a new contract. You can’t set a date yourself. There aren’t many boxes that Tottenham don’t tick so if I have to move away, it would have to be a step up.”
The Guardian report that Eriksen could cost Real Madrid in the region of £130m should they attempt to extricate him from north London.
Can splash the cash
Spurs are set for a busy summer, by all accounts.
They have been linked with midfielders Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele along with Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon, by the London Evening Standard, along with Celta Vigo’s Maxi Gomez.
To secure all four would cost in excess of £150m – Lo Celso has an £88m release clause while the deal for Ndombele has been touted as costing over £70m – and the money has to come from somewhere.
Pocketing over £100m for Eriksen would go a long way to kick-starting their business.
He may have done the club a favour, then, by fluttering his eyelashes at Zinedine Zidane’s men, as chairman Daniel Levy now has no excuse not to get his chequebook out.
The Spurs squad that took on Liverpool and lost was almost identical to the one that was pipped to the title by Leicester in 2016, and Eriksen’s desire to leave may force the club to finally shake things up.
Tottenham have reportedly rejected an opportunity to sign Edin Dzeko.
As per Football Insider, Spurs have turned down the opportunity to sign veteran forward Dzeko this summer after he was made available by Serie A side Roma.
The former Manchester City man has been sporting Roma’s colours for three years now but at 33-years-old and with just one season remaining on his current deal, which is set to expire in 2020, his representatives are said to be looking for one last hoorah in what has been a wonderful career.
However, it seems Spurs are not feeling particularly charitable this summer – having waited since the winter of 2018 to introduce a new face – and they will turn down the opportunity to recruit the Bosnian as they apparently do not believe he represents a good-value signing.
The 14-goal forward has been linked (as per Sky Sports via CalcioMercato) with a move to Inter Milan as well as Spurs, but if reports are correct, I Nerazzurri have the advantage (in what appears to be just a one horse race).
This is the second big profile name Spurs have rejected this summer with the Mirror reporting that Gareth Bale has received the cold shoulder; and we don’t doubt some fans will be inspired by the positive decision – knowing full well the mammoth £600,000 the Welshman earns per week would certainly a wage structure previously reported to pay highest earner Harry Kane £200k.
Though he likely wouldn’t demand the same sort of wage package, signing Dzeko would be a step backwards for a club that is surely looking to improve on their season with young, vibrant talent. Despite his performances towards the latter stages of the Champions League campaign, it’s fair to say the Fernando Llorente experiment hasn’t worked too well (the Spaniard has scored just 13 goals since his arrival from Swansea) and, while there are obvious differences, perhaps relying on a veteran marksman to back-up Kane isn’t the best way to go here.
Pochettino’s project has largely been built on youth since his arrival in North London and despite the fact he has called for a change in tact this summer, moving for someone like Dzeko clearly does not fit that mould at all. A prolific marksman no doubt but the fact those behind the scenes at the club apparently do not see any value in moving for him shows Tottenham, once again, know what they’re doing.
Spurs fans, are you pleased that Pochettino has turned away Dzeko? Who would you like to see brought in? Let us know in the comments below…
After eighteen months of injury problems, loss of form and a crisis of confidence, it’s fair to say Alexis Sanchez hasn’t enjoyed the greatest of times at Old Trafford since joining Manchester United in January 2018.
The former Arsenal man has been the target of some severe criticism from many sections of the United faithful and his astronomical wages probably don’t help with endearing him to supporters either.
But the forward still seemingly has a lot left to give judging by his international performances. The 30-year-old scored one and made one in Chile’s opening Copa America game against Japan and his performance certainly raised a few eyebrows in the red half of Manchester.
Many United fans took to Twitter after the game to vent their frustrations at seeing the Chilean put in a starring display for his country, but failing to produce anything even remotely similar during his time at Old Trafford.
Whilst a few on the other hand felt a solid campaign for Chile in the tournament might do Sanchez’s confidence a world of good, others were far less forgiving of the winger’s previous form for the club and instead urged United to cash in on him whilst his stock might be high.
Either way, check out some reactions from surprised United fans down below:
According to El Gol Digital, Everton are willing to pay €40m (£35.7m) to Atletico Madrid in order to sign right-back Santiago Arias.
The Colombian international made 31 appearances for Diego Simeone’s side last term, scoring one goal and recording one assist, form which has clearly caught the Toffees’ eye.
Everton Sporting Director Marcel Brands has already praised the 5 ft 8 full-back in the past having worked with Arias at PSV Eindhoven, so the Merseysiders will know all about the 27-year-old.
The fans in the video below had some very strong words for Michel Platini who was detained over alleged corruption this week…
He only arrived in the Spanish capital last summer in an €11m (£9.8m) move from PSV, but if Everton stump up the cash that they are reportedly willing to, then the Spaniards could be set to make a major profit on the player very quickly.
Marco Silva has lost one right-back already after loaning Jonjoe Kenny out to Schalke, but Mason Holgate’s return from a loan spell with West Brom and Seamus Coleman’s presence means there are two senior figures to play in the position.
So, would Everton be right to shell out such a large fee on Arias? Football FanCast’s writers have their say…
Matt Dawson
“Arias is a player who sticks in my mind for his bullish attitude against England at the last World Cup. He is a typical South American player, boasting a fearless and determined nature that has clearly got him to where he is today. A move to Everton from Atletico would be a step-down but for the Toffees it would be brilliant business, even despite the high fee. Coleman is clearly getting on and therefore a replacement should be on the cards. Arias’ qualities going forward aren’t as good, finding himself involved in just two goals last season, but that shouldn’t put Everton fans off the potential signing.”
James Beavis
“On the face of it signing a right-back from Atletico Madrid would seem like a great thing for Everton, but when you delve a little deeper it would be a deeply confusing move – especially for €40m.
If the Toffees want to push on and progress again next season they surely need a player who can make a similar impact in terms of goals and assists as Lucas Digne did last term (four of each in 35 Premier League outings), but recent stats from the Colombia international don’t suggest that he would as he only managed one of each in 25 La Liga appearances for the side from the Spanish capital in 2018/19.
For the reported fee you would expect a lot more than that, and Everton would be better off sticking with Seamus Coleman.”
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Charles Jones
“When you look along the Everton backline, right-back does stand out as one of the biggest problem positions at this time. Seamus Coleman isn’t getting any younger and Arias would be coming from working with one of the best defensive coaches in Europe in Diego Simeone, so for me this one makes sense.
The Toffees achieved great success when shopping in La Liga last season with Andre Gomes and Lucas Digne amongst their best players last term, and they could repeat the trick here. People may say €40m is a lot for a full-back, but all the top teams in the world have strong players in those positions.”
Mauricio Pochettino will be working hard behind the scenes at Tottenham to get his squad ready for the upcoming season. Today’s Spurs transfer roundup includes an update in the pursuit of a Ligue 1 star, one of the club’s youngsters exiting the club on a temporary basis and a rival entering the race for a La Liga midfielder.
Ndombele signed
Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of Lyon’s Tanguy Ndombele, per the club’s official website. Spurs will reportedly pay a club-record fee of £53.8m for the French midfielder.
Amos joins QPR on loan
It was confirmed on Monday that Luke Amos will join Championship side QPR on a season-long loan. “I know the quality that Luke has and how he can impact matches. I am very grateful to Mauricio Pochettino, his staff and John McDermott who have helped to make this loan happen,” said manager Mark Warburton.
United rival Spurs for Lo Celso
Marca (via Sports Witness) is reporting that Manchester United are very interested in signing Giovani Lo Celso from Real Betis. Gianluca Di Marzio had previously reported that Tottenham had made a €70m (£62.7m) bid for the player, but it appears United are very keen to land the midfielder as well.
Arsenal are looking to reinforce their left-back options and are pursuing a deal for highly rated Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney, according to the BBC.
David Ornstein, who’s been a voice of authority on the subject of Arsenal for many years, reported that the Gunners were confident of securing a deal despite an opening bid being rejected by the Scottish treble winners, who are demanding upwards of £20m.
And now Football Scotland have claimed that Celtic have rejected a fresh bid worth £17.5m.
The left-back position has caused selection headache for Unai Emery all season, with Sead Kolasinac proving a powerhouse going forward, though struggling defensively, and Nacho Monreal showing more defensive resilience and awareness but lacking the drive and quality in attack.
Kieran Tierney is considered an option who fits the best of both worlds, but what have those in the know had to say about the young Scotland international?
Brendan Rogers – Leicester manager
Leicester City manager Rogers worked with Tierney during his time at Celtic and has helped develop the youngster into the star he is today, adding significant value to the player in the process.
Speaking after a 2-0 win over Aberdeen, Rogers praised Tierney’s physical attributes as he scored the second goal of the game after a brilliant sprint up the pitch to finish a Celtic counter-attack.
“He has this great capacity to keep going and like you see in the 84th minute of the Aberdeen game, he’s able to get there before anyone else and make a good finish,” said Brendan Rodgers. “He’s an absolutely brilliant young player who has so much more to come.
“Sometimes people will have certain perceptions about players and I don’t think anyone would have thought he would be the fastest player in this squad. His power and speed off a standing start is fantastic. My teams tend to have dynamic players with speed in them and he’s a player who can carry out that role.
“He’s unique, Kieran, because he’s very robust and very strong for a young player. He’s worked very hard on his body and his intensity is incredible, he trains to the max every day and he’s got stronger and more powerful since I’ve been here. We had some measurements on that in Dubai and he was the quickest player in our squad.”
Arsenal fans will be very encouraged by the comments, especially as Emery’s first 12 months in charge at the club have shown the value he places on the energy and physicality of his full-backs.
The Gunners have been criticised in the past for lacking a physical presence that others possess, and Tierney would certainly add some steel to the back line.
James Forrest – Celtic teammate
Soccer Football – Champions League – First Qualyfing Round Second Leg – Celtic v Alashkert – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Britain – July 18, 2018 Celtic’s James Forrest celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Speaking to the Daily Record, Forrest said:
“I’ve faced Alba, Vertonghen and Kolarov. There are a lot of top ones when you go into the Champions League or Europa League or are playing with Scotland.
“But Kieran’s right up there. You can see the way he bombs up and down how fit he is and he’s good defensively as well. He’s a great athlete.
“He’s been training with the first team for a good four years now so I’ve played against him a lot in training.
“Whether you are playing against him or he’s in your team, you can see the quality he’s got.
“When you go away with the Scotland team others players who play against him realise how good he is.
“You’ve seen that with his performances in Europe and at international level.
“He can also play a couple of different positions. When you play in Europe all the left-backs tend to be good.
“There’s nothing between him and Andy. They are two great players for Scotland.”
Once again his physical attributes are top of the list for appraisal, but Forrest suggests the Gunners may be getting a more versatile player than they think.
The youngster can play on the left-wing as well, another position that’s caused problems for the Gunners, and is even competent at centre-back. He’s ticking a lot of boxes for Emery, even if he’s predominantly a left-back by trade, versatility is a useful quality in any player.
To be compared to the Champions League-calibre names above is very high praise indeed, and will surely get Arsenal fans excited over the possibility of a move to north London.
Celtic fans aren’t happy about Arsenal’s bid for one of their key players…
Charlie Adam – Ex-Scotland international
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Stoke City’s Charlie Adam in action against Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard
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Speaking to the BBC, former Scotland international and soon-to-be free agent Charlie Adam said:
“I think it’s probably now time for him to leave Celtic.
“It’s the next progression for his career. Seeing how well Andrew Robertson’s progressed at Liverpool, as a player you’ve got to be thinking, ‘I want some of that.
“He’s done amazing at Celtic, winning the treble treble. It’s going to be difficult for him to leave because he is a big Celtic fan but if Arsenal do want him, they’ll have to pay serious money for him.”
The comparisons with Andy Robertson have been thrown around ever since the links between Tierney and Arsenal, and it’s easy to understand why.
There is certainly the sense that if Tierney is to develop into an elite player, a move to one of the major European Leagues is inevitable, in the same way it was for Moussa Dembele, or more notably Virgil van Dijk.
There’s been little-to-no bad press or reaction to Arsenal’s move for Tierney. The only criticism that could be thrown at the deal would surround the Gunners’ budget: if it really is just the reported £40m, is £20m+ on a left-back necessary? Kolasinac may be inconsistent but he’s not a priority to replace.
Whether finding a suitable left-back should be a priority or not, Arsenal would certainly be bringing in a top player if Tierney were to sign.
Yesterday’s West Ham transfer roundup brought you an update in the pursuit of a La Liga ace, a new bid being prepared for a West Brom striker and Serie A interest in one of the club’s midfielders. Today’s edition concerns news on a Bundesliga striker, more Italian interest in Pedro Obiang and the potential exit of a wantaway forward.
Weghorst watched
According to reliable West Ham insider ExWHUemployee, the Hammers watched Wolfsburg striker Wout Weghorst last season. The 26-year-old Dutch centre-forward scored 18 goals in 36 games for Die Wölfe last term.
Bologna talks for Obiang
Journalist Alfredo Pedulla is reporting that Bologna have made contact over a potential swoop for Pedro Obiang. It had been reported that Parma were interested in the player, and now Bologna are keen on the Spaniard’s services as well.
West Ham to sell Arnautovic
West Ham are to sell wantaway striker Marko Arnautovic according to Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol. It had previously been reported that West Ham would only let the Austrian go for £40m, but Solhekol has now said that a Hammers source has told him that they allow him to leave in a “terrible deal” because the “manager, players and staff want him out”.