All posts by n8rngtd.top

Sunderland are set to embark on their first Championship campaign since the 2017/18 season and will be looking to avoid relegation at the first attempt.

Alex Neil and Kristjaan Speakman will be working hard to improve the squad in the coming weeks and months in order to give themselves the best chance of competing in the second tier.

One player who has been tipped to make a move to the Stadium of Light is young Tottenham centre-forward Troy Parrott, who spent last season on loan at MK Dons in League One.

Former Black Cats striker Stephen Elliott has suggested that a move to Wearside would suit the 20-year-old, saying: “For him to keep improving, he needs to move himself up a level. I think somewhere like Sunderland – they need a couple of strikers – they’ve got Ross Stewart there at the moment but he could do with a little help in there.

“I think if Troy Parrott came to Sunderland, I think he’d embrace playing for a club like that with the big crowds, the atmosphere at the games and that feeling of doing well there and thriving there. He looks like the type of player that thrives on playing on the big occasion and I think it could be a really good move.”

Sunderland’s own Harry Kane

By securing a deal for Parrott, either on loan or permanently, Speakman can find the club’s own version of the England captain.

The obvious links between the two players are that they are both Tottenham academy graduates who play up front and both spent time on loan at Millwall early in their respective careers.

Along with that, they are both strikers who are equally capable of scoring and assisting goals from the number nine position.

In the 2020/21 campaign, Kane won the Golden Boot and the Playmaker award in the Premier League with 23 goals and 14 assists. Meanwhile, Parrott has just enjoyed an impressive year out on loan with MK Dons in League One as he offered a glimpse of what he can be capable of at a higher level.

Keith Andrews said that the youngster is “flying” with Ireland at international level. The striker has three goals in 13 matches for the Boys in Green so far, which shows that he can handle the pressure of playing for his country.

At the age of 20, the £7k-per-week gem is in the early stages of his career and has the potential to develop further and hit higher numbers with his contributions in the final third.

Sunderland must now act on Elliott’s advice and swoop for the youngster, who has been dubbed “incredible” by compatriot and former MK Dons team-mate Connor Coventry, as he can develop into the Black Cats’ own version of Kane – scoring and creating goals in equal measure in the Championship.

AND in other news, Speakman eyeing SAFC deal for “top quality” £33k-p/w wizard, imagine him & Pritchard…

Manchester City have reportedly agreed terms with Brighton & Hove Albion left-back Marc Cucurella over a potential move to the Etihad Stadium.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from Football Insider, the Citizens have agreed personal terms with the player and are in “advanced talks to finalise a fee with Brighton.”

The report also adds that the left-back “has accepted City’s contract offer and made it clear to the Seagulls he wants to quit for the champions.”

Back in May, it was reported that the Manchester club were linked with a £30m move for the full-back.

Having spent the majority of his career in Spain and had time in Barcelona’s youth ranks, the full-back made his move to Brighton during the previous summer transfer window in a deal worth £15.4m.

His debut season in England turned out to be a rather successful one for the player and Brighton as he ended up playing more minutes than any other outfield player at the south coast club.

In his 35 league appearances, the Spaniard won more tackles (62) and made more successful pressures (201) than any other Brighton player as well as making more blocks (72) and interceptions (72).

He also delivered more crosses (94) than any other player in Graham Potter’s squad throughout the campaign.

Guardiola will be buzzing

Despite only scoring one goal in the league, many City fans will be pleased that this goal came against Manchester United in Brighton’s 4-0 win over the Red Devils.

Labelled as a “refreshing” player by former Seagulls defender Dan Burn, Cucurella would surely be a solid addition to City’s ranks given how capable he proved himself to be with and without the ball in the Premier League last season.

Also, with the Barcelona connection, seeing the Brighton star make his way to the Etihad Stadium will surely leave Pep Guardiola buzzing given his knowledge of the Spanish club and their youth ranks.

Moving forward, with his Premier League credentials confirmed and an apparent eagerness to join the club, perhaps the left-back could be the next player in line to follow the likes of Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland to the Etihad and join City’s ranks.

AND in other news: Man City can land their own Alexander-Arnold as Pep eyes move for £18m-rated “engine”

Leeds United have been handed a huge boost in their bid to bring Cody Gakpo to Elland Road this summer.

What’s the talk?

In a recent post on Twitter, Voetbal International journalist Marco Timmer revealed that, despite the PSV Eindhoven winger having previously held talks with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City regarding a summer move, the 23-year-old is now becoming increasingly open to the idea of a move to Leeds – with Victor Orta said to be in talks with the player’s representatives.

Timmer goes on to state that the Eredivisie side are demanding a figure of around €40m (£35m) in order to part with the Netherlands international – who is now said to be considering taking a similar route to that of Georginio Wijnaldum in order to secure a move to one of Europe’s elite clubs further down the line.

In his tweet, the journalist said: “The management of Cody Gakpo speaks with Leeds United as it has previously spoken with, among others, Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal. PSV want about €40m for Gakpo. He now also sees a route a la Wijnaldum via the foreign sub-top to the top.”

Massive coup

Considering the sheer level of interest in Gakpo’s services this summer, in addition to the fact that the 23-year-old very much looks to be one of the most exciting prospects in European football, should Orta manage to convince the Dutchman of a move to Elland Road in the coming weeks, it would undoubtedly represent a massive coup for the Spanish sporting director.

Indeed, over his 27 Eredivisie appearances in 2021/22, the £27m-rated forward was one of the stories of the season, scoring 12 goals, providing 13 assists and creating 11 big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 3.0 shots, making 2.6 key passes and completing 2.9 dribbles per game.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more-2″ title=”Read the latest Leeds news, transfer rumours and more!”]

These metrics saw the £7.4k-per-week talent average a simply sensational SofaScore match rating of 7.51, not only ranking him as Roger Schmidt’s best performer in the division but also as the fourth-best player in the league as a whole.

The winger who Pain in the Arsenal dubbed a “supreme talent” also caught the eye over his four Europa League fixtures, bagging two goals and creating two big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 3.0 shots, making 2.8 key passes and completing 4.0 dribbles per outing – with his average SofaScore match rating of 7.47 ranking him as the fourth-best player to feature in the competition.

Further still, Gakpo also played a key role in PSV’s run to the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League, scoring three goals, registering one assist and creating one big chance over his five appearances in the tournament – with his average SofaScore match rating of 7.42 ranking him as the joint 10th-best player in the competition.

As such, it is clear for all to see just how exciting a prospect the 23-year-old is, leading us to believe that, should Orta indeed manage to get a deal over the line for the flying Dutchman ahead of the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City this summer, it would certainly be one of the most impressive signings of the window.

AND in other news: “It’s done”: Fabrizio Romano drops big transfer update, Leeds supporters surely gutted

Wolverhampton Wanderers are interested in signing HSV Hamburg defender Mario Vuskovic this summer but face competition from three clubs in the Bundesliga.

What’s the story?

According to German outlet MOPO, some reports suggesting the player was travelling to Wolves to complete a medical are untrue, but the club remain interested in the player.

Other Bundesliga clubs are interested in the player with the price tag for him currently standing at €10m (£8.4m). The Wanderers are considering whether to contact Hamburg over the transfer, but the player is currently happy in Germany so wouldn’t push for a move away.

The 20-year-old is highly rated and has been described as “exceptional” by Aleksander Holiger.

Imagine him and Coady

One player that he would line up alongside if he did make the move to Molineux would be fellow defender and club captain Conor Coady. The Englishman has been an influential part of Wolves’ back line for several years now and Vuskovic could learn a lot from him.

Vuskovic made 24 league appearances last season as Hamburg secured a return to the Bundesliga via the play-offs. He was key to their promotion success so it’s not surprising that he’s attracted interest from others.

When you compare both players statistically they score similar in some areas. Both made 0.8 tackles per game in the league last season, but it’s the Croat who made more interceptions per game with 1.1 compared to Coady’s 0.7.

Vuskovic also won a higher percentage of his duels last season at 65% compared to the Wolves’ skippers 53%, proving that he doesn’t shy away from a battle.

Obviously if he was to make the move to the Wanderers then the Premier League would represent a much tougher challenge, but if he can replicate the numbers he’s shown previously then it will be a great signing.

At such a young age he has great potential also, so the club would definitely be getting their money’s worth if he signed a long-term deal.

If Wolves want to make improvements and get stronger defensively then moving for Vuskovic, who ticks almost every box, would make the most sense and provide Bruno Lage with all he needs.

IN other news: Bruno Lage plotting bid for £15m “goal king”, he’d be a “phenomenon” for Wolves…

Jim White has revealed that Glasgow Rangers are now working hard ‘behind the scenes’ to bring Tom Lawrence to Ibrox.

The Lowdown: Won the race?

According to The Glasgow Times, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team have now ‘won the race’ to sign the Wales international on a free transfer, after he left Derby County on 30 June at the end of his contract.

He would become their second signing of the summer, joining former PAOK striker Antonio Colak as a new face at Ibrox.

The Latest: Working hard

Taking to Twitter on Friday, White has revealed that the Gers are now ‘working hard behind the scenes’ to bring Lawrence to the club, suggesting that a deal could be in place very soon.

The talkSPORT broadcaster tweeted: “Being told @RangersFC working hard behind the scenes to bring @dcfcofficial forward Tom Lawrence to the club.”

The Verdict: Exciting

It is certainly exciting for Rangers fans to see the club bringing in a player of Lawrence’s quality, especially considering that he would not cost a penny in transfer fees.

The winger managed an impressive 11 goals and five assists in 38 games in the Championship last season (Transfermarkt) for a Derby team which was relegated to League One.

Lawrence also Premiership title back from their bitter rivals Celtic.

Tottenham Hotspur could be about to finally wrap up a deal to sign Djed Spence…

What’s the word?

That’s according to journalist Pete O’Rourke, who delivered a fresh update on the north Londoners’ attempts to sign the 21-year-old from Middlesbrough.

Speaking to Football FanCast this week, he said:

“Djed Spence wants to go to Tottenham.

“Tottenham are close to agreeing that fee for the defender as well, so I think this one will get wrapped up pretty quickly and then Middlesbrough will be looking to use the funds to strengthen their squad elsewhere.”

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-spurs-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more-2″ title=”Read the latest Spurs news, transfer rumours and more!”]

Supporters will be buzzing

The England U21 international looks set to be Spurs’ sixth signing of the summer and that will surely leave supporters around N17 absolutely buzzing as the rebuild continues ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

Sporting director Fabio Paratici and chairman Daniel Levy have delivered something of an unprecedented transfer window thus far, backing their manager, Antonio Conte, with quality additions.

Their £60m swoop for Richarlison from Everton was certainly a signal of intent, whilst the likes of Yves Bissouma, Ivan Perisic and Clement Lenglet will all play an important role throughout the 2022/23 campaign.

Bolstering the Italian’s squad with strength in depth was vital as the Lilywhites will be competing in the Champions League, meaning the prospect of two games per week is soon on the horizon – and if Spurs are wanting to remain competitive, then Conte needs quality in even his backup players.

Spence would be another fine arrival in north London and one that plenty of fans will be delighted to see finally get over the line, having been linked with him for much of the off-season. Spurs even had two bids knocked back for him in January.

Therefore, O’Rourke’s suggestion that this deal could be finalised quickly is sure to leave many around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium thrilled.

AND in other news, “I’ve been told..”: Transfer insider drops late Spurs claim, supporters surely excited…

Journalist Josh Holland has suggested that Aston Villa should make a move for Paris Saint-Germain striker Mauro Icardi this summer, amid the club’s search for a new centre-forward.

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the transfer insider mentioned the Argentine marksman as a possible option for the Midlands outfit, with Villa potentially able to capitalise on the 29-year-old’s uncertain future at the club, following reports he is one of a number of players up for sale.

Holland stated: “I’m thinking now PSG have signed Ekitike, that could maybe pave the way for Icardi, who’s obviously been linked with a move away.”

As alluded to above, the arrival of former Newcastle United target Hugo Ekitike at the Parc des Princes has pushed the one-time Inter Milan skipper – who has just two years remaining on his existing deal in Paris – further down the pecking order.

Suarez 2.0

It is no real secret that the Villans are in the market for a new striker in the current window, with manager Steven Gerrard having reportedly been considering a move for former Liverpool teammate Luis Suarez earlier this summer.

Available on a free transfer following his departure from Atletico Madrid, a move for the 35-year-old hotshot could well have made a lot of sense, with it hard to look past his remarkable tally of 436 goals and 238 assists in his club career thus far.

Alas, the suggestion is that the Premier League outfit have opted against signing the 132-cap, Uruguay international, leaving Gerrard with Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings as his senior, forward options – that pairing having only netted 18 goals combined in all competitions last term.

It would potentially be something of a wildcard move, but turning to Icardi as the man to provide that much-needed goalscoring touch could well prove a masterstroke, with the £157k-per-week menace seemingly the ideal alternative to fellow South American, Suarez.

That is claim is not without merit, however, with the pair said to share a number of statistical and stylistic similarities, according to FBref.

Like the former Barcelona man – who has often stolen the headlines for all the wrong reasons – the Rosario-born hotshot has been no stranger to controversy throughout his career to date, although perhaps their greatest likeness lies in knowing how out to put the ball in the back of the net.

Icardi is certainly proficient at doing just that having fired in 203 goals in just 383 club career games thus far across spells in Italy and in France, having notably netted 124 goals in 219 outings across all fronts during his time at the San Siro.

Even while taking on a bit-part role with PSG, the £19.8m-rated ace has still been a regular source of goals for the Ligue 1 giants, scoring 38 times in 92 games thus far, albeit with just five goals to his name last term.

Dubbed “lethal” by journalist Siavoush Fallahi, the 5 foot 11 maverick is a true, old-fashioned number nine, possessing that poacher’s instinct to find himself in the right place at the right time in the opposition penalty area, much like that of Suarez.

There may well be sizeable baggage that comes with signing such a high-profile figure, although Icardi could be just what Gerrard needs to solve his striking woes.

If the 42-year-old can’t lure his former colleague to Villa Park, then the eight-cap gem is the next best thing.

AND in other news, Lange eyeing Villa move for £30m “goalscoring machine”, he’d be their own Darwin Nunez

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United’s interest in Benjamin Sesko in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the Magpies are keeping tabs on the teenage centre-forward ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

He tweeted: “Manchester United are well informed on Salzburg talent Benjamin Šeško. He’s one of the players monitored, considered ‘really talented’ – but it’s not imminent or advanced deal as of now. #MUFC Man Utd are aware of Šeško as other clubs are informed too, including Newcastle.”

Red Bull Salzburg reportedly want a fee in the region of £55m for the young attacker, and it remains to be seen how much PIF are willing to pay for his services.

New Erling Haaland

By striking a deal with the Austrian club to sign the young goal-poacher, PIF can land the next version of Manchester City’s Norwegian superstar.

He has been dubbed “the new Erling Haaland” and a “killer in the making,” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, whilst Goal editor Tom Maston once called the young Slovenian a “mini Haaland”. 

The former Borussia Dortmund predator made the move to England this summer after scoring 85 goals in 88 matches in Germany. He enjoyed a terrific spell with Salzburg prior to his time in the Bundesliga as he scored a whopping 29 goals in 27 outings for the Red Bull-owned club.

Sesko is yet to reach those heights but he has found the net 12 times in 38 games for Salzburg’s first-team, after scoring nine goals in 13 matches for their youth sides. He also enjoyed a terrific loan spell at FC Liefering in 2020/21 as he fired in 21 goals in 29 appearances.

The 19-year-old has shown great promise in his fledgling career so far. He has showcased his potential to be a consistent goalscorer at the top level by putting in brilliant displays at such a young age.

Whilst it remains to be seen whether or not he will end up scoring as many goals as Haaland has managed in a major European league, Sesko is a talented young player and someone who Newcastle can bring in with a view to the future.

He is a gem that the club can sign to develop over time as Eddie Howe works with him to help the young predator fulfill his potential. This means that he could make an instant impact on the team, with his goal threat, whilst potentially becoming the next Haaland in the years to come.

AND in other news, In talks: NUFC make “contact” for “extraordinary” £25m target, he can be Howe’s Zidane…

Recent reports have seen Liverpool linked with a move for Santos starlet Marcos Leonardo, with the Brazilian striker making waves following his impressive form of late in his homeland.

The 19-year-old, who reportedly has a release clause of around €60m (£50m), has seemingly been on the radar of clubs in Europe over the past few years after catching the eye due to his sparkling form at youth level, having reported netted more than 100 goals after joining his current club as an 11-year-old.

The teenager has begun to translate that form over to senior level, having scored 15 goals and provided five assists in all competitions so far this season, taking his total haul to 28 goals and six assists in 102 games for the club – a respectable return for a player so young.

Likened to compatriot Romario for his lethal goalscoring touch, the 5 foot 9 menace has also been described as the “the greatest jewel of the Santos academy” by his former boss Jesualdo Ferreira, with Reds manager Jurgen Klopp seemingly set to have a real explosive talent on his hands if a deal can be struck.

Also labelled “the most exciting striker of his generation” by Andre Noruega a few years ago, all the signs point to the £6.3m-rated gem becoming a real standout figure in the game in the coming years, with a move to Europe likely to only enhance his already burgeoning reputation.

A prodigious, rare Brazilian talent coming out of Santos can only evoke memories of current Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar, with Klopp and co potentially set to have an equally as gifted asset on their hands if they can land Leonardo.

The second-highest scorer in Brazil’s history with 74 goals in 118 caps, Neymar has undoubtedly been one of the finest talents in world football over the last decade or so, exploding onto the scene as a teenager with Santos before rubberstamping his quality during a trophy-laden spell at Barcelona.

While his subsequent £200m move to the Parcs des Princes in 2017 has at times been blighted by accusations of disinterest as well as injury occurrences, the 30-year-old still boasts an impressive record for the Ligue 1 champions, with 102 goals and 60 assists in just 142 games across all fronts.

His club career tally now stands at a truly staggering 277 goals and 171 assists in 465 games, with his recent delightful free-kick in the Trophee des Champions victory over Nantes seemingly indicating that he still has plenty more to give in the years to come.

Those on Merseyside will be hoping that, if he comes to Anfield, young Leonardo can replicate the success that his fellow Brazilian has enjoyed in Europe since arriving at Camp Nou nine years ago, with plenty of signs that he has the talent to make just as devastating an impact as the PSG star.

Arsenal have received a big boost in their pursuit of James Maddison this week…

What’s the word?

The Gunners are said to be interested in the Leicester City star and as per The Sun back in April, are willing to battle it out with arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur for his signature.

The Foxes need to sell some of their key players if they are to make any moves in the transfer market before the September 1st deadline and the 25-year-old is someone who could garner a substantial fee, with his asking price thought to be in the region of £50m.

And now, according to transfer insider Dean Jones, the one-time England international would be very keen on a move to the Emirates Stadium.

“I don’t get any signs so far that James Maddison actually wants to join Newcastle. From what I hear, James Maddison wants to join Tottenham or Arsenal,” he told ‘The Done Deal Show’ earlier this week.

Special signing for Arsenal

After bringing in no fewer than five new signings, Gunners technical director Edu Gaspar could well seal his biggest coup yet in Maddison, who would add an abundance of quality to Mikel Arteta’s midfield.

Once lauded as “a special talent” by The Times’ chief football writer Henry Winter, the 25-year-old put his name on the map with a standout campaign last term.

Maddison provided Leicester with an eye-catching 18 goals and 12 assists across 53 appearances in all competitions, which included a run in the Europa League and Europa Conference League.

It’s all the more impressive considering the fact that the Foxes’ overall season was pretty subpar as they finished eighth in the Premier League standings and were knocked out of the Conference League by eventual winners AS Roma in the semi-finals.

Edu has already sealed the arrival of Fabio Vieira, who adds another dimension to the engine room but the talents of Maddison may just be too hard to ignore, especially when thinking about the prospect of him linking up with fellow homegrown talents Emile Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka and maybe even Eddie Nketiah.

Compared favourably to Chelsea’s Mason Mount and Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes by FBref, it’s evident that Maddison is an elite playmaker as he also ranks inside the top 10% of all midfielders in the Premier League for non-penalty goals (0.44 per 90), as well as the top 12% for passes into the final third (2.89 per 90).

That’s not to mention his stunning ability from dead-ball situations, having earned comparisons to that of David Beckham, due to his free-kick taking skills.

Also dubbed as a “genius” by BBC Norfolk presenter Rob Butler, it’s clear that Maddison would be a fantastic sixth signing of the summer window and one that Edu must look to complete, given Jones’ latest comments.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano: Edu can seal “phenomenal” £38m signing, he’d be Arsenal’s next Henry…