All posts by n8rngtd.top

Manchester City have been linked with Napoli midfielder Fabian Ruiz recently and he could form a superb partnership with Kevin De Bruyne in Pep Guardiola’s midfield should he make the move to the Etihad Stadium this summer.

According to Don Balon, City are in talks with the Spain international after making contact with Napoli ahead of a potential summer move.

The “spectacular” 25-year-old – as hailed by Quique Setien, his former boss at Real Betis – has made 127 appearances for the Serie A side since joining from the Andalucian outfit in 2018, contributed 15 goals and 10 assists in his three years in Italy.

He has continued as a regular at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium this season, making 32 appearances in Serie A, with three goals and one assist to his name, which has helped him average an impressive 6.97 rating from WhoScored.

This is enough to rank him as the fifth-best performer in Gennaro Gattuso’s squad this season, which emphasises that he will surely be highly valued at Napoli this summer and that they won’t be keen to lose him.

Transfermarkt currently values the Spaniard at £39.6m and he is contracted until 2023, which suggests that any potential deal for Ruiz this summer would not be cheap. However, his style of play suggests that he would be a perfect fit in Guardiola’s side next season, and he could compliment De Bruyne excellently in midfield.

According to WhoScored, the 25-year-old’s main strengths are passing, through balls, key passes, long shots and concentration, which immediately suggests that he would adapt well to the demands of playing in a Guardiola team.

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Ruiz’s has registered a 90.5% pass accuracy in the Italian top flight this season, which would rank him as the ninth-best passer in Guardiola’s side this term had he averaged the same rate in the Premier League.

It seems that the Spanish midfielder could fulfil a similar role to Ilkay Gundogan at the Etihad, in the sense that he could help City retain possession and allow De Bruyne to take up a more attacking role, whilst his 1.8 tackles per game in Serie A also demonstrates that he can be solid defensively when required.

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Therefore, City sporting director Txiki Begiristain should definitely consider a move for Ruiz this summer, as the 25-year-old could prove to be a superb addition to Guardiola’s side next season.

In other news… Man City handed huge boost in race for “special” Premier League beast, Txiki must deliver

Some Everton fans have been buzzing as an update emerged on James Rodriguez.

As cited by the Daily Mail, the Colombian FA released a statement claiming that the former Real Madrid ace was ‘not at optimum level to compete’ in this summer’s Copa America and was subsequently  dropped from the squad with question marks over his fitness.

Rodriguez missed numerous games for the Goodison Park club through injury in the 2020/21 season, which ended up proving costly as they missed out on European qualification for next term.

While it is a shame that the 29-year-old will be missing out in playing for his country in the Copa America, some Everton supporters have taken a positive view from the update, as it means that he will now be able to fully focus on getting himself 100% fit in time for the new club season.

Everton fans on Rodriguez update

These Toffees were buzzing as the update was shared on Twitter, with a couple of fans branding it as ‘good news’:

“Gutted for him but that’s really good for us. He can a proper rest this summer now and hopefully have an excellent run at next season”

Credit: @AshleyAbbott09

“Good news for Everton and everyone”

Credit: @Jesudian15

“Remarkable. Looks like he’s gonna have to put a shift in for us to get back into Colombia. Might work out for us.”

Credit: @Jaypers3

“A mega plus for us this one!!!”

Credit: @croupier1970

“Good news for Everton, not so much for James and Colombia.”

Credit: @petduff

“This is good for Everton”

Credit: @nickweinstein27

In other news, find out who some Everton fans have been pleading for the club to sign!

A number of Liverpool supporters have been calling for Takumi Minamino to leave the club this summer following an update on his future.

The Reds could be set for a busy time of things in the next transfer window, with numerous incomings and outgoings expected at Anfield.

One player who has had a curious Liverpool career to date is Minamino, with the Japanese forward arriving from RB Salzburg in December 2019.

The 26-year-old has been limited to just 31 appearances for Jurgen Klopp’s side, having been loaned out to Southampton in January and not being considered a key part of the Reds’ plans. He has found the net just six times in 42 matches since moving to England, a far from encouraging return for a forward. He has also been questioned over his physicality, being deemed a “lightweight” by some pundits.

It remains to be seen whether Minamino has a future at Liverpool, but the Liverpool Echo claimed that the Merseysiders are open to the idea of selling him this summer.

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Liverpool fans want Minamino to leave

These Reds fans took to Twitter to provide their thoughts on Minamino’s future. with many believing that he doesn’t have the right attributes to succeed at Premier League level.

“Imagine signing a player for £7m and still getting ripped off. Wanted him to do well but he isn’t built for the Prem”

Credit: @RizAhmed98

“He’s good for 45 mins then goes missing in the 2nd half of games”

Credit: @Euphoria1983

“Minamino has proven he’s not good enough and would probably get more for him, we would get more than £15m for Origi, don’t underestimate Michael Edwards. I would prefer us to get Malen and Daka with an attacker and maybe Aouar or Renato Sanches if we are going into Ligue 1”

Credit: @GerWillzLFC

“Sell. We’re just wasting his talent”

Credit: @DpainTedRed

“Sell imo, he’s not good enough”

Credit: @kingcurtis100

“Sell”

Credit: @NPhillipsthe

In other news, one Liverpool star could reportedly extend his deal at Anfield. Find out who it is here.

Sheffield United centre-forward Oli McBurnie could be looking for a new challenge away from Bramall Lane this summer.

What’s been said?

That’s according to Kevin Campbell, who claimed in an interview with Football Insider that the 24-year-old Scotland international may well be looking for a move away from the club in the upcoming transfer window, following the Blades’ relegation to the Championship.

Indeed, the Daily Mail recently reported that Steven Gerrard’s Rangers side are considering a £15m move for the £24k-per-week man this summer, and Campbell appears to believe the forward would thrive in the Scottish Premiership.

He said: “I think he would be a great signing for Rangers, I really do. He is something different to what they have already got. I’d expect him to score a bucketload of goals up there if he went.

“Rangers dominate the ball and get plenty of crosses into the box which suits his game. He is very good at that so I think he would cause a lot of problems in Scotland.

“I think McBurnie might be looking for a new challenge as well given that Sheffield United got relegated.”

Fans will be fuming

While McBurnie has not exactly set the world alight since joining Sheffield United back in the summer of 2019, the prospect of losing the £10.8m-rated striker ahead of the club’s Championship campaign is likely to leave fans of the Blades fuming.

Indeed, in stark comparison to the 24-year-old’s form in the Premier League, a competition in which he has scored just seven goals and provided two assists over 75 appearances, McBurnie has proven that he very much knows how to find the back of the net at Championship level, scoring 31 goals and registering four assists over his 59 appearances in the second tier.

As such, if Slavisa Jokanovic’s side were to lose the forward – whom Chris Iwelumo once dubbed as “unplayable” – ahead of next season, it would appear to seriously dent the Blades’ hopes of going on to secure an immediate return to the Premier League come next summer.

Furthermore, considering the fact that United signed McBurnie for £20m just two years ago, if the club were to sanction his sale for the £15m fee that is reported, it would also represent a rather significant financial loss on a player who, at just 24 years old, still has a great deal of developing to do as a footballer.

So, while Campbell may well believe that the Scot would be a good fit for Steven Gerrard’s side this summer, Sheffield United fans will undoubtedly be hoping to keep a hold of the striker, as McBurnie would appear to be a key part of Jokanovic’s side heading into next season.

In other news: Jokanovic must sanction £10m Sheffield United swoop for “outstanding” £27k-p/w dynamo

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former West Brom midfielder Carlton Palmer believes Lincoln City manager Michael Appleton would have been a good fit for his old side.

Ex-Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder was thought to be the frontrunner to replace Sam Allardyce in the Hawthorns dugout. However, according to Football Insider, West Brom have ended their interest in the 53-year-old and have since considered Appleton – though it looks like he will miss out to David Wagner.

While the 2020/21 season ended in disappointment for Appleton and his Lincoln side, it was a strong campaign overall.

The 45-year-old managed to guide the Imps to the League One play-off final, where they were narrowly beaten by Blackpool, after finishing fifth in the table.

Asked by FFC if he can understand West Brom’s thinking behind considering Appleton, Palmer said:

“Yeah, one hundred percent. I mean, their budget at Lincoln City would have them relegated or certainly in the bottom half of the table, so he worked on a shoestring budget and did fantastically well.

“He’s shown he can work within the restraints and still get success, so that might be a good fit for them.”

Appleton is, of course, a former West Brom player and has also had a very short spell as caretaker manager there, so there is obviously that connection.

All things considered, there is a lot of logic behind West Brom looking at the Lincoln boss.

Alan Nixon has dropped the amount of cash that he believes Newcastle United have as a transfer budget for the summer window.

The Lowdown: Window open

The summer transfer window is officially open, meaning that the St. James’ Park faithful can start to look at which players they would like to bring in, and also who they would like to leave the North East.

Nonetheless, with the takeover arbitration case against the Premier League looming as well, it is set to be a very interesting one with the Tyneside club.

The Latest: £50m budget

As per reliable football journalist Alan Nixon, ‘Bruce will get a transfer war chest’ from Mike Ashley of around £50m for the window.

That, of course, could increase through player sales, as Steve Bruce’s team try to improve upon their respectable 12th-placed finish in the top flight.

The Verdict: Promising

£50m is certainly a promising figure in terms of a transfer budget for a Premier League side finishing in the bottom half of the table, and it is one that Bruce can work with.

Of course, the Magpies ideally would like to have the abundance of riches that would have come from a completed takeover, but nonetheless, it is certainly a good amount to get started.

The Toon will no doubt be looking at trying to sign Joe Willock on a permanent deal from Arsenal following his successful loan spell, and £50m would certainly give room for one of two more first-team targets, as well as the young midfielder.

In other news, find out what Mike Ashley has told the takeover consortium about arbitration here!

Everton need to sign competition for Dominic Calvert-Lewin if they are to challenge for European football, says former Toffees defender Michael Ball.

Calvert-Lewin did his best to fire Everton into Europe last season after scoring 16 goals in 33 appearances.

However, the Merseyside club still fell short, finishing 10th and behind the likes of Tottenham, West Ham and Leicester City, who all managed to grab Europa League and Europa Conference League places.

And now Ball is calling for his old side to bring in new additions this summer, including a striker, in order for Everton to make that next step.

“Everton want to be challenging for Europe,” the retired full-back exclusively told TT. “I think you need competition in all positions. 

“I think a striker, maybe an experienced striker alongside him. I don’t know who’s about who will be happy to come to Everton and probably sit on the bench but also have that experience. [He] could help his game develop to the level he wants it to be at.”

When you look at Everton’s squad, it is probably something Rafael Benitez, who is set to be in the Goodison Park dugout this upcoming season, will probably agree with.

With Cenk Tosun and Moise Kean far from the first team with both spending the 2020/21 campaign out on loan, the Toffees are simply not blessed with forward options.

Tottenham Hotspur ‘like’ Norwich City’s Max Aarons but are waiting for a ‘reasonable bid’ for Serge Aurier, according to football.london’s Alasdair Gold.

The lowdown

Aarons started 45 of Norwich’s 46 Championship matches in 2020/21 as they secured immediate promotion back to the Premier League. The England under-21 international scored two goals over the season, creating 1.4 chances and averaging 1.4 successful dribbles per game (via WhoScored).

It was reported by The Times in April that Norwich, who have recently lost another star of their promotion campaign in Emiliano Buendia, would demand £30m for the right-back.

Aurier wants to leave Spurs and it was suggested by journalist Rudy Galetti last week that he was close to rejoining Paris Saint-Germain, who are managed by former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino.

The latest

Gold says that the situation with Aurier is ‘quite simple’ – Spurs won’t stand in his way if their demands are met. That price tag is thought to be lower than the €20m (£17.1m) quoted in the PSG links from Galetti.

If Aurier does leave, Tottenham will make a move for a replacement, and Aarons is a possible option, particularly as the club ‘need some homegrown signings’ according to Gold.

The verdict

Aarons would be an exciting addition if Spurs can bring him in, potentially slotting straight into the first team ahead of Matt Doherty, who struggled for regular game-time and form in his first season in North London.

The Norwich starlet part of a hugely exciting generation of English right-backs which also includes Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James.

He may not be an assist machine at the outset – he only delivered 0.8 crosses per game at Norwich last season – but there is plenty of time for his game to develop, and his homegrown status serves only to add further weight to him being an ideal candidate to fill the void that Aurier could leave.

In other news, Fabrizio Romano has dropped an update on Spurs’ manager hunt. 

Sheffield Wednesday are believed to have rejected Millwall’s bid for midfielder Josh Windass, as his Owls future continues to hang in the balance.

The Lowdown: Windass could leave Sheff Wed

Darren Moore’s side suffered the agony of relegation to League One last season, following heartbreak at Derby County on the final day of the campaign.

A number of established players could now leave Wednesday this summer, with Windass one of those who could move on, following strong interest from Millwall.

The Latest: Millwall bid rejected

According to the Sheffield Star, however, the Owls have rejected the Championship side’s first bid for the 27-year-old, with a ‘much-improved’ offer required to prise him away from Hillsborough.

A number of clubs are thought to be interested in signing Windass, including Preston North End, QPR, Fulham and West Brom.

The Verdict: Expect midfielder to move on

Windass was Wednesday’s top scorer in the league last season with nine goals, highlighting why it would be preferable to keep hold of him.

That is going to be difficult, unfortunately, with the Englishman no doubt keen to be playing Championship football in 2020/21, rather than dropping into the third tier.

Only a sizeable bid should be accepted, however, with that money then being spent on the right signings this summer, in order for Wednesday to earn immediate promotion on the first attempt.

In other news, Sheff Wed have reportedly suffered a blow in their attempts to sign one player this summer. Find out who it is here.

Everton are reportedly among some of Europe’s top clubs keen on signing Joao Palhinha in the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Midfielders needed?

Given that both Gylfi Sigurdsson and James Rodriguez have recently been linked with moves away from Goodison Park, the Merseyside club may need to invest in more midfield players ahead of the new 2021/22 season.

They have been strongly linked with a move for Matheus Nunes, but may assess other options the further into the window that they go.

The Latest: Palhinha eyed

As per Record (via Sport Witness), the Toffees are keen on signing Palhinha, although they face competition from Tottenham Hotspur, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla for his signature.

However, the news outlet claims that while the Blues are interested, they have ‘other priorities’, namely his teammate at Sporting – Nunes.

They also cite that Palhinha is currently away with Portugal at Euro 2020, and claim that he was one of their ‘best performers’ when he came on in the 2-2 draw with France in the group stages.

The Verdict: Sign

If EFC were to lose a few midfielders, and were not able to sign Nunes, then Palhinha would certainly be a good player to bring in and help bolster the squad.

He was such a key player in Sporting’s recent domestic title win, winning a tremendous 9.1 duels a game, while also averaging a whopping 3.3 tackles, 1.5 interceptions and 1.2 clearances per match (Sofascore).

At just 25 years of age as well, Palhinha still has potential to improve further, and that could well be fulfilled at Everton.

In other news, find out what transfer update has Evertonians buzzing here!