All posts by n8rngtd.top

Lee Ryder has shared some insight from sources close to Mike Ashley regarding the potential takeover of Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Ashley takes his stand

According to the The Shields Gazette, Ashley and the club are looking to take the Premier League to court for what they believe to be anti-competitive behaviour in their decision-making process on the proposed takeover by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) group.

The St. James’ Park faithful have also taken on an anti-competition case given to them by Newcastle Consortium Supporters Limited (NCSL), with the top flight given fresh legal papers and Ashley looking to force them to put through the bid.

The Latest: Ashley determined to get takeover done

As shared by Ryder in his latest piece for The Chronicle, the chief executive of Sports Direct is understood to be “hellbent” on getting the proposed takeover approved, and sources close to him have indicated that his anti-competition legal battle is a signal of intent as he seeks justice from the PL over the failed bid from the KSA consortium.

Ashley wants damages, costs and interest from the division, as well as the whole takeover process restarted and ultimately that it is finally approved.

The Verdict: Arbitration a key indicator in takeover saga

While Ashley is now pursuing another big legal battle against the Premier League, the pending arbitration case between the two parties will be a key indicator over where the potential takeover heads.

A positive result for the Toon and the North East club could pave a pathway for a potential revival, but a negative one may be very difficult to come back from, especially with Ashley now seemingly starting a war on multiple fronts.

In other news, find out what big blow NUFC have received before Leicester City here!

Former Manchester United midfielder Keith Gillespie has exclusively told The Transfer Tavern that it’s impossible not to like Paul Pogba.

The French World Cup winner has often been criticised for failing to live up to his world-record fee following his move from Juventus back in 2016.

But Pogba has performed impressively for United in recent months and is just 90 minutes away from securing a second Europa League title later this month after their victory over Ajax four years ago under Jose Mourinho.

And the 28-year-old’s numbers epitomise his good form. Pogba has been involved in 14 goals in 39 appearances in all competitions, scoring six times, whilst chipping in with eight assists.

The £290,000-a-week ace is back to playing some of his best football under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with the Frenchman recently praising the United boss for never going against his players when taking a swipe at former boss Mourinho at the same time.

He starred once again at Aston Villa on Sunday, assisting Edinson Cavani’s goal to seal yet three more points on the road.

And Gillespie told The Transfer Tavern that he’s a huge fan of the midfielder:

“I think it’s hard not to be a Paul Pogba fan when you see how good he can be. But it’s just about getting that consistency.

“Sometimes you think, is his head in the right place? He’s so strong on the ball at times – he can make things happen.”

‘No formal negotiations have taken place’ with Derby County’s out-of-contract trio Andre Wisdom, Curtis Davies or Martyn Waghorn.

That’s according to Ryan Conway, the club’s correspondent for The Athletic.

The lowdown

Derby finished the season just a point clear of the relegation zone after a dramatic final day clash against Sheffield Wednesday.

The club are set to face sanctions for a breach of financial rules, but reports suggest that those won’t be imposed until next season. That means the Rams can tentatively begin planning for another year in the Championship.

Wisdom is among those who will depart as a free agent unless an agreement can be reached in the coming weeks. He made 38 appearances for the Rams over the course of the season, missing the last three games through injury.

Meanwhile, Davies was limited to 13 outings after sustaining an Achilles tendon rupture in December. He returned to the action for the final eight minutes against Wednesday.

Finally there’s Waghorn, who finished the season as the club’s second top-scorer with five goals. He was the hero on the final day, twice hauling his side level.

The latest

According to The Athletic, the club have only held ‘informal chats’ with the players up to this point ‘as all parties wait to discover the fate of the takeover’.

Conway reported that Davies would like to stay for another season and accepts he will not be able to play every week at the age of 36. Waghorn is also said to be happy at Pride Park and shares a close relationship with manager Wayne Rooney.

The verdict

It’s very difficult to plan for next season with so much uncertainty surrounding the club. Every effort should be made to retain Wisdom, while Davies’ presence could be valuable.

In the case of Waghorn, he may be a decent backup option, but it’s clear that Derby need to bring in more firepower if possible. Their dismal tally of 36 goals was the lowest in the division.

In other news, read Derby fans’ reaction to this takeover update.

It didn’t seem so long ago that Leeds United were looking forward to their return to the Premier League, and yet in a blink of an eye, the season is almost over.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side have enjoyed a quite incredible first season back in the top-flight, enjoying some truly special performances and results.

But this afternoon’s final day clash against West Brom might just be the cherry on the cake, especially given that fans will finally be allowed in at Elland Road to see their Premier League dreams right in front of their very eyes.

The Leeds boss also has some major decisions to make regarding a few players who are set to leave the club this summer, while he may also be tempted to hand out a few debuts too.

And, with that in mind, below is a look at how Leeds might line up when West Brom turn up to Elland Road on Sunday afternoon.

In goal, Illan Meslier will be hoping to end the Premier League season with a third successive clean sheet after shutting out Burnley and Southampton in the last couple of games.

With Diego Llorente out injured, the Leeds manager may opt to give Gaetano Berardi a send-off in front of the home fans.

Further ahead, if Bielsa decides to axe Gjanni Alioski from the starting line-up, then 19-year-old starlet Jack Jenkins could make his full debut for the club after coming on as a half-time substitute in the FA Cup clash against Crawley Town earlier this season.

The club also confirmed that Pablo Hernandez would be leaving the club in the summer like Berardi, and given everything the Spaniard has done for the Whites over the years, he surely deserves to have the chance to say goodbye to the Elland Road faithful.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-transfer-rumours-and-news” title=”Read the latest Leeds transfer rumours and news!”]

Hernandez could replace his fellow Spaniard, Rodrigo, with the rest of the line-up remaining the same.

Predicted XI: Meslier; Ayling, Cooper, Berardi; Phillips, Jenkins, Dallas, Hernandez; Harrison, Raphinha, Bamford.

Meanwhile, Leeds MUST start this man vs West Brom today…

West Bromwich Albion have ‘shown interest’ in Liverpool striker Taiwo Awoniyi, according to a report from The Athletic.

The lowdown

It was reported this month that the Nigerian has finally secured his work permit and can ply his trade in the UK. He joined Liverpool in 2015 but has been unable to play for the club, instead being sent out on loan seven times, most recently to Bundesliga outfit Union Berlin.

Awoniyi has been directly involved in nine goals (scoring five and assisting four) for Urs Fischer’s side, who finished seventh in the table and qualified for the Europa Conference League.

West Brom could be looking to bolster their striking ranks after they confirmed the release of Hal Robson-Kanu and Charlie Austin.

The latest

According to Liverpool correspondent James Pearce for The Athletic, the Baggies are among the clubs eyeing a move for Awoniyi.

Their competitors include two Championship rivals in the form of Fulham and Stoke City, with Liverpool willing to let him go for a fee of around £8m.

That would put him just outside in the top 10 in the list of West Brom’s all-time record signings.

The verdict

A fee of £8m seems a little steep for Awoniyi, who is unproven in English football, but perhaps Liverpool could be persuaded to lower those demands.

He is only 23 years old and, having done reasonably well in the German top flight, Albion could be confident of a double-figure haul from him in the Championship if they fend off the competition for his signature.

In other news, Carlton Palmer has set out his expectations for West Brom in the transfer market.

Matty Longstaff reportedly wants to leave Newcastle United once the summer transfer window opens.

The Lowdown: Longstaff barely played

Longstaff barely played for the senior side under Steve Bruce in the 2020/21 season, featuring in just five matches in total in the Premier League (Transfermarkt).

With the likes of his brother Sean Longstaff, Isaac Hayden, Jonjo Shelvey and Jeff Hendrick seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order in the centre of the park, it is hard to see how he will get much more game time once again going into the new campaign.

The Latest: Longstaff furious

As per Football Insider, Longstaff was reportedly left ‘furious’ after he was not brought on when the St. James’ Park faithful beat Fulham away from home on the last day of the top-flight season.

A source from the North East club has told the news outlet that he was left both ‘angry and upset’ at the fact that Hendrick was brought on in front of him.

As a result, these frustrations seemed to have grown to boiling point, resulting in Longstaff wanting to move on from Tyneside once the market opens.

The Verdict: Longstaff deserves to move on

Longstaff has every right to feel anger at the fact that Hendrick was brought on in front of him against the Cottagers, given that the former Burnley man has not exactly proven his worth to the team in far more appearances, recording just two goals and a further assist in 23 matches in total over all competitions last term (Transfermarkt).

The Englishman, who currently earns £24,000-per-week at the Toon, should be playing regular football at 21 years of age, but it is clear that he will not get that if he stays.

Thus, the Magpies should demand a suitable fee to sell him, in a move which would suit all parties involved, as they could then reinvest that money into a new player, and Longstaff could play more regular football.

In other news, find out which ace with an £88m release clause NUFC have enquired about here!

Leicester City have been linked with a move for Burnley defender James Tarkowski ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

What’s the story?

According to Lancs Live, the Turf Moor outfit are anticipating renewed interest in their centre-back after another impressive campaign.

Brendan Rodgers’ charges tabled a bid for Tarkowski last summer, along with West Ham United, but both offers were rejected after failing to match Burnley’s £50m asking price.

Rodgers needs him

The Foxes missed out on a top-four finish by a single point in the recently-concluded campaign after a final day defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

Injuries to all of Leicester’s key centre-backs throughout the season hampered the progress of the 2016 Premier League champions, with Jonny Evans, Wesley Fofana and Caglar Soyuncu all spending significant periods on the sidelines.

Their lack of strength in depth, combined with the departure of club captain Wes Morgan, has left the Midlands outfit prioritising a new defender this summer, meaning that another move for Tarkowski is expected.

The Leicester Mercury claimed that the Rodgers’ men are favourite to secure the England international’s signature over the coming months as the Northern Irish manager looks to bolster his first team squad for next season.

Tarkowski has won many plaudits for his impressive displays since arriving at Burnley back in 2016, earing high praise from his manager after a standout performance on his debut.

“Keano (Michael Keane) often gets the story, but that’s Tarky’s first Premier League start, I think that’s outstanding, to play against someone like (Christian) Benteke, get hit by a lighter, stay focused, get the job done,” Dyche said.

“I’m not interested in talking about Keano because Tarky’s been absolutely outstanding.”

Since then, the £22.5m-rated beast has gone from strength to strength, making 182 appearances for the Lancashire side as they’ve continued to defy expectations and maintain their Premier League status.

It’s no surprise that the Burnley hierarchy are trying to convince Tarkowski to extend his current contract with the club, which is set to expire in the summer of 2022.

“We have open lines of communication with him and his agent, as we do with all the players, and as far as I’m concerned he’s a Burnley player,” Dyche recently revealed.

“Contractual situations are private and personal, or they should be, they’re often not, but he’s been fantastic. He (Tarkowski) knows my thoughts on his future here, he knows I want him here. He knows his contract is where it is, everyone knows that, but he’ll be here as far as I’m concerned, it’s simple

“If someone wants to write a cheque for an immeasurable amount then that might be different, but at the moment he’s a Burnley player, and he’s done very well again for us this season. He’s a quality player.”

It remains to be seen whether Leicester can finally land their man this time around, but with Morgan’s departure and Rodgers’ ambitious hopes, director of football Jon Rudkin must do all he can to land Tarkowski as the Foxes attempt to secure a Champions League qualification spot at the end of next season.

In other news… Leicester City must seal swoop for 13-assist speed-demon, Rodgers needs him 

Aston Villa are interested in moving for Metz midfielder Pape Matar Sarr, as reported by the Birmingham Mail.

Enjoying an impressive breakthrough campaign in 2020/21, the defensive midfielder made 22 appearances for Metz scoring three times [Transfermarkt].

His performances have yielded a senior international call-up to his native Senegal at just 18 years of age [One Football], whilst he has previously attracted interest from the likes of Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Monaco [Get French Football News].

Achieving a pass accuracy of 85.3% in Ligue 1, the anchor man holds a knack of being able to rotate the ball efficiently [WhoScored]. Also renowned for his insatiable capacity to win the ball in the challenge, he is rumoured to cost the Villains around €25m to €30m (£21.5m-£25.8m) this summer if he is to make the move to Villa Park [Joris Crolbois, via Sportslens].

Given his prodigious talent, it’s little wonder that loads of Aston Villa fans took to Twitter to voice their excitement over this latest development. One has called on sporting director Johan Lange to make the deal happen, while another fan has dubbed him the “next Vieira” in reference to the combative Arsenal and France legend.

Villa fans react:

Replying to popular Aston Villa fan outlet @villareport, here is what some of the fans had to say on the matter:

“Go on then. Give me the 18 year old star boy to run the prem. give me the next Vieira, that’s absolutely fine”

Credit: @HarryUTV

“The Senegalese Jude Bellingham. I’m convinced. Johan Lange, make it so. UTV.”

Credit: @OllieUTV

“It’s an 18 year old wonderkid, main position is DM, but can also play CM and AM. Very versatile and bags of talent.”
Credit: @JayVtid

“DONE DEAL. Saw him in Selfridges earlier today buying a Kappa tracksuit.”

Credit: @Mr_B_solihull

“If we get him we will have a DM better than Kante, get it done“
Credit: @VillaWatch_

“Might as well just give us the league now”
Credit: @mark_gilfillan9

In other news, these Villa fans loved what Emiliano Martinez did.

Aston Villa are eyeing a move for Fulham centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo, with a major transfer update hinting that a move could be more likely this summer.

What’s the story?

Despite having a firmly established centre-back partnership in Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings – the latter of course now with the England squad for Euro 2020 – it appears that Dean Smith is keen on reinforcing in that area.

According to Complete Sports, Villa are among a host of Premier League clubs interested in signing Adarabioyo, with West Ham and Southampton also said to be keen on him.

The report follows on from Fabrizio Romano’s claim that the centre-back has a release clause of just £10m in his Fulham contract.

Premier League proven

While the centre-back might have been playing for a Fulham side which was relegated, that certainly doesn’t take away from how impressive he has been at Craven Cottage, or how good he could potentially become at Villa – you only have to look at Liverpool signings the likes of Georginio Wijnaldum and Andy Robertson in recent years to see that.

Having been described as a “high quality, class player” and “immense” by Tony Mowbray, his former boss at Blackburn, Adarabioyo has the kind of pedigree which could really bolster Smith’s side.

Mowbray said: “The reason we brought him was because of his attributes. He’s 6ft 5in, he’s very very quick, his distribution is as a good as any centre-back in the division.”

The former Manchester City starlet is also significantly better than any of Villa’s defensive options when it comes to playing out from the back, and even anyone in the entire squad – his 57.7 average passes per game at an accuracy of 86.2% would rank him top among all of Villa’s players.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/aston-villa-dean-smith-transfer-window-premier-league-villa-park-emi-buendia-gregg-evans-gossip-rumours-update-news” title=”Read the latest Aston Villa transfer rumours and news!”]

It’s no surprise that City manager Guardiola has previously called him “exceptional”, or why Villa are keen on landing him this summer.

Given his tender age of 23, his Premier League experience and his homegrown status, Adarabioyo fits everything that Smith recently suggested Villa would be targeting in the transfer window.

It’s exactly why the Villa boss would surely love to have him at the Midlands club.

Meanwhile, Ashley Preece has dropped an exciting Aston Villa transfer claim…

In a recent interview, former Southampton sporting director Les Reed has confirmed that Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy was once on the Saints’ transfer radar.

Speaking to The Transfer Tavern in an exclusive interview, Reed confirmed that Vardy is one of a number of Leicester players who was admired by Southampton during his time at the club.

Since signing from Fleetwood Town in 201,2 the striker has well and truly established himself as a legend at the King Power Stadium, playing a key role in their shock title win in 2015/16.

In 352 appearances for the Foxes, he has contributed an impressive 147 goals and 61 assists, whilst he also earned 26 caps for England.

Whilst he is now 34-years-old, he shows little sign of slowing down, as he managed 15 goals and nine assists in 34 Premier League appearances last season, earning a superb 7.11 average rating from WhoScored for his performances.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-southampton-transfer-rumours-and-news” title=”Read the latest Southampton transfer rumours and news!”]

Although Southampton have a talismanic striker of their own in Danny Ings, the former Liverpool man has hit just 55 Premier League goals in his career, which is significantly fewer than the 118 scored by Vardy.

That Southampton were interested in the “unbelievable” Vardy during his time at Fleetwood, when he cost Leicester just £1m, then he surely would’ve proven to be a superb bargain signing at St Mary’s had they made a move for him,

It is difficult to know whether he would’ve enjoyed the same almost inconceivable success he has managed with Leicester City with the Saints, but it’s hard to think he wouldn’t have justified that £1m, at worst, so looking back with hindsight, Reed not managing to bring him to St Mary’s looks like a bit of a disaster.

And, in other news… Semmens signs Danjuma, no Djenepo: How Southampton could look under Hasenhuttl next season