All posts by n8rngtd.top

Sean Dyche has reinvigorated Everton since his arrival following the sacking of Frank Lampard, winning three Premier League matches so far and although there is work to do, there is a new-found energy about Goodison Park.

If he does manage to survive, Dyche has a tough job on his hands this summer in terms of improving the team, especially in the forward areas. The club haven’t scored nearly enough goals that they should, ranking as the top-flight's joint-lowest scorers with just 22 goals scored.

Striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin should have been at the forefront of their attack this season and living up to his early promise at the club, yet having suffered injury issues which have restricted him to just 12 appearances and one goal, proving that the Toffees need someone better ahead of next season.

Dyche would surely love to bring back a few players from Everton’s illustrious history in order to bolster their stagnating frontline, with talisman Duncan Ferguson the ideal candidate to transform their fortunes.

Is Duncan Ferguson one of Everton’s finest forwards?

The case for Ferguson being one of the club’s finest strikers, especially across the last 30 years, is a strong one, such is his association with the Toffees.

The enigmatic Scot first joined the Merseyside outfit back in 1994 from Glasgow Rangers on an initial loan move, before being made permanent by Joe Royle. He entered Everton folklore by becoming part of the team which secured the FA Cup following a historic victory over Manchester United in 1995.

He scored 35 goals during his first spell at Everton before being sold to Newcastle, yet his spell in the Northeast wasn’t a success, netting just 12 goals, and he secured a return to his beloved Toffees in 2000.

His later years saw Ferguson use his stature and frame to great effect, becoming a battering ram as he terrorised opposition defences and this further endeared him to the Everton faithful. He failed to score over ten goals during his final six seasons of his career but his impact more than made up for it.

Ferguson would be a standout in Dyche’s Everton side, bringing some character and heart to a team that badly need an influx in both.

The former striker has received praise from fans and pundits alike throughout his career and boxer David Price even claimed that Ferguson was “always a threat” whenever Liverpool faced their fierce rivals, and judging by his career at the club, it was high praise indeed.

If only Dyche could bring a prime Ferguson into his starting XI for the final few weeks of the season, he could make all the difference and would've surely got Goodison rocking again.

Everton ended their unbeaten run in the Premier League yesterday when they faced Manchester United at Old Trafford and manager Sean Dyche will be frustrated with the way his team performed from the opening minutes.

The Toffees are teetering on the edge of the relegation zone – matching Nottingham Forest on 27 points – and are only outside the bottom three on goal difference following their defeat to Erik ten Hag's side on Saturday afternoon.

Everton failed to dominate in any area of the pitch with just 36% possession of the ball, far fewer shots on target (1 vs 11), fewer big chances created (1 vs 7) and less than half accurate passes completed compared to their opponents (236 vs 535), via Sofascore.

It was a miracle in itself that the Merseysiders managed to hold off Man United's attacking threat over the first half an hour, with Jordan Pickford putting on an incredible goal-keeping display to deny the home side multiple times before Scott McTominay finally converted one of their 21 shots on goal in the 36th minute to take the lead at half-time.

Dyche sought out solutions to avoid another 45 minutes of being smothered by Man United's pressing machine that was dominating the left side throughout the first half – bringing on Vitaliy Mykolenko for Ben Godfrey.

However, it was the right side that found themselves punished when Seamus Coleman switched off to allow Anthony Martial to easily tuck away the final blow in the 71st minute, making the scoreline 2-0 at the final whistle.

How did Ben Godfrey get on vs Manchester United?

The centre-back has suffered injury issues this season but has always been an attractive prospect to his managers at Goodison Park, with Dyche the latest manager to find ways to fit him into the team.

Godfrey has been playing in the left-back position since returning to action under the Everton boss and more recently, has been preferred in the position over his Ukrainian teammate, however, he had an absolute disaster against Man Utd.

Over his 45-minute performance, the £75k-per-week dud was completely outrun by Antony and struggled to make his presence known with just six accurate passes completed, misplaced 100% of his long balls, had one error led to a shot and had fewer touches of the ball than Pickford.

Dyche quickly put Everton supporters out of their misery by hooking Godfrey at half-time, but not before England legend Stuart Pearce offered a scathing assessment of the player's display on talkSPORT's commentary of the game:

"It’s awful defending. If I was Dyche I would take Godfrey off the pitch. I think he’s having a disaster.

"Even at this stage of the game I’d get him off the pitch, because he’s going to cost you a goal.

"He just wasn’t at the races for whatever reason, Ben Godfrey.

"I like him, a very genuine player, but too many straightforward balls dissected him."

With that being said, there is no doubt that Godfrey's struggles against the Red Devils will give Dyche plenty to think about ahead of the Toffees' next game against Fulham.

And it will be interesting to see whether he keeps the faith in the player or opts for Mykolenko instead.

Newcastle United midfielder Joelinton left club legend Alan Shearer stunned on Wednesday night by his display in their impressive 5-1 victory.

Will Newcastle secure Champions League football?

After a difficult spell earlier in the year when the Magpies were looking ahead to their Carabao Cup final trip to Wembley, their form did noticeably dip.

However, now that final is over and done with, Eddie Howe's men have been able to return to their best form which saw them mixing it with the top four in the first place.

And it is apparent they are keen to capitalise on the struggles of other clubs like Tottenham Hotspur as they have now opened up a three-point gap on the Londoners with a game still in hand.

Not only did Newcastle secure three important points on Wednesday in the capital, but they sent a real message out to their top four rivals by scoring five goals away from home.

One of the players who got in on the act at the London Stadium was the Brazilian, Joelinton, who netted in both halves as the Toon ran riot in the capital.

And it was apparent the £85k-per-week midfielder had impressed Shearer who took to the Brazilian's post-match Instagram post to hail his display against West Ham United:

How good was Joelinton against West Ham?

The midfielder had a difficult start to life on Tyneside having joined as a forward who then found goals incredibly hard to come by in a black and white shirt.

However, the arrival of Howe at St. James' Park has transformed Joelinton's career at Newcastle with the 26-year-old now proving many of his doubters wrong.

“I don’t think I’ve seen a transformation in any player ever that’s better than Joelinton!” Said Ally McCoist on talkSPORT following the 5-1 victory on Wednesday night.

And it has to be said, the Brazilian's turnaround has been sensational having already equalled his best return in a Premier League season but doing so in a deeper position (via Transfermarkt).

On top of adding two goals to his tally, the Brazilian's 55-touch display saw him help out defensively with one tackle, one interception and one clearance (via SofaScore).

The Brazilian made his return to the starting XI having only featured from the bench in the victory on the weekend against Manchester United, but he certainly made a statement on his return to the fold against the Hammers.

Having now racked up 24 appearances in the Premier League this season, Howe will be hoping the Brazilian can avoid any injury issues in the run-in as Newcastle sit firmly in the driving seat for a spot in the top four.

Rumoured Liverpool transfer target Alexis Mac Allister could be available for £60m this summer, with Brighton potentially willing to sell for that amount.

Has Mac Allister has a good season?

The 24-year-old is having a season to remember currently, shining on both the club and international stage and seeing his reputation enhanced greatly. He has been a key figure for Brighton, scoring eight goals in 26 Premier League games and helping them sit seventh in the table.

Meanwhile, Mac Allister also tasted World Cup glory with Argentina, proving to be an important box-to-box figure and even assisting Angel Di Maria in the final victory over France, following a superb team move.

The Argentine's performances mean that Brighton could find it difficult to keep hold of him beyond this season, with a number of top clubs circling for his signature. Liverpool are believed to be one of them, as they look to make noticeable changes to their midfield.

Now, a new update has emerged – one that suggests the Seagulls could be willing to sell Mac Allister on one condition.

Could Liverpool sign midfielder for £60m?

According to Football Insider, Brighton "could accept offers" for £60m this summer, with Liverpool and rivals Manchester United very much in the mix. When it comes to the Merseysiders, he is described as "one of their top targets", having backed out of making a move for Borussia Dortmund and England star Jude Bellingham.

The Seagulls are hopeful that a "bidding war" could take place for their player, upping the price in the process, with Chelsea also mentioned as possible suitors.

Mac Allister could be exactly what Liverpool are looking for in the summer transfer window, possessing the all-round game to be a hit at Anfield. His aforementioned eight league goals is an impressive return – the fact that none of the Reds' current midfielders have even scored twice in the competition this season sums up their issues in the middle of the park.

The Brighton has been hailed as "incredible" by compatriot and Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero and he could slot nicely into one of the No.8 roles, combining end product with a superb work ethic, having averaged 2.1 tackles per game in the league in 2022/23 to date.

The fact that Mac Allister now has Premier League experience is an added bonus, meaning he could come in and make the move seamlessly, rather than having to take time to adapt to his new surroundings.

Newcastle United cannot be discounted in the potential race to sign Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane ahead of the summer window.

How much would Harry Kane cost?

Eddie Howe's side face a big clash on the weekend against the England captain and his north London side with the Lilywhites attempting to close the gap on the top four.

And the future of the 29-year-old remains up for debate ahead of the summer transfer window with a number of clubs believed to be showing an interest.

Spurs are also still keen to tie their all-time record goalscorer down to a new deal with the upcoming summer marking the final year on his current deal.

However, the issues in north London could potentially see the striker seek a move as he did back in 2021 when Manchester City came calling.

With Manchester United believed to be interested in the striker, insider Graeme Bailey has mooted the Toon as a potential landing spot in the summer.

Indeed, speaking on the Talking Transfers podcast, Bailey noted the owners' long-standing interest in potentially making a huge statement with the possible signing of England's captain:

(31:45) "This is the one player, guys, if you remember going back 18 months to when Eddie Howe was appointed, Harry Kane was the one who Newcastle always highlighted as being their marquee number nine signing.

"He hasn't been linked again but I wouldn't rule [them out]. You see Newcastle starting to have little conversations – we're going to talk about another player coming up – I wouldn't discount them making a little sneaky offer for Harry Kane. I wouldn't discount them"

Would Kane be a good fit for Newcastle?

The £200k-per-week Spurs striker is perhaps the only reason the north London side are going into this weekend's clash on Tyneside with even a glimmer of hope of playing Champions League football next season.

Only Erling Haaland has outscored Kane this season with the 29-year-old having provided an impressive return of 23 goals in the league and has more than doubled the tally of the next-highest scorer at Spurs.

Journalist Alasdair Gold has hailed Kane as a "machine" in the past and that is certainly the case as he chases down Alan Shearer's all-time Premier League goals record.

However, would he fit the current set-up at Newcastle?

Alexander Isak has begun to establish himself as the main man in Howe's attack having netted eight Premier League goals in just 906 minutes (via Transfermarkt).

In that sense, a potential arrival for Kane could cause a huge disruption in Howe's squad with their current record signing likely to be shifted out wide where he has played sporadically in the past.

Goals aside, Kane has provided Tottenham with a real creative outlet over recent years and that can be seen through his return of 3.57 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes – significantly higher than Isak's 2.13 (via FBref).

But with the north London side expected to be looking for in excess of £100m for Kane, could this be money spent better elsewhere when they seemingly already have a promising long-term option up top?

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly on the hunt for new recruits as the summer transfer window beckons and the 2022/23 Premier League campaign nears a close. The Midlands side have had a season of ups and downs, but look to be finding confidence under the guidance of Julen Lopetegui.

As relegation looked possible back in October resulting in the dismissal of Bruno Lage, Wolves have since pushed on and now sit comfortably in 14th but have a lot to improve on if they are to progress in the league next season. With only 10 wins in 34 games, changes are due to be made in the summer, with one target already emerging as a potential improvement.

What is the latest on Hirving Lozano and Wolves?

It’s been reported by Mexican news outlet TV Azteca that Napoli winger Hirving Lozano has been linked to Wolves, with his contract expiring in Naples next summer.

It’s believed that the pending Italian champions would rather cash in on the Mexican this transfer window, rather than see him leave as a free agent when his current deal expires.

It is also speculated that the winger is worth “at least €50m” (£44m). However a move to Wolverhampton could be likely due to his agency being the company that already represents seven current players at the club, including Craig Dawson

What could Lozano bring to Wolves?

Lozano, who was once dubbed a 'phenomenon' during his time at PSV, has three goals and three assists in 30 appearances in Serie A this season.

The 27-year-old is an intricate right-winger with an eye for goal and enjoys to run at defenders, his qualities would be perfect for Wolves, who are expected to lose Adama Traore in the summer as a free agent.

The Mexican international is tenacious on the flanks, highlighted not just through his direct nature of play, but his ability to fight for possession.

Lozano ranks in the top 10 in Serie A for highest percentage of tackles won, as well as ranking 11th in the league for dribbles (111).

The tricky winger, who is an international teammate of Raul Jimenez, was even likened to Lionel Messi during his time at PSV by former Everton sporting director Marcel Brands, commended for his “low centre of gravity” and being “explosive and agile”.

With the powerhouse's expected departure from Molineux on the horizon, the Spaniard leaves a huge gap to fill in terms of his ridiculous pace and direct play on the right wing.

Traore has been criticised at times for his progression down the flank to no avail, this is where Lozano could prove to be a worthy investment.

The £97k-per-week forward has outscored Traore for the previous five seasons, as well as ranking more efficient in terms of created chances and assists – as per Squawka's comparison matrix.

The Mexican would be a worthy investment for Wolves that could see Lopetegui’s side push on higher up the table next season.

Chelsea are enduring one of their worst seasons in recent memory as the prospect of playing European is almost out of the equation, and they are closer to the relegation zone than the top six.

Since Thomas Tuchel’s abrupt sacking, both Graham Potter and Frank Lampard have failed to find the solution to revive this horribly out-of-sorts club.

In particular, watching the Blues attack has been an uneasy experience as their array of offensive talent has been unable to show any consistent creative spark.

One player who has criminally underperformed is Christian Pulisic who looks set for a departure from Stamford Bridge.

What has gone wrong for Christian Pulisic at Chelsea?

The American is having a nightmarish campaign, having only recorded one goal and two assists in 27 appearances, whilst being dismally ranked as the 27th-worst Blues player in the league.

The former Borussia Dortmund man seems to have lost all motivation and wasn’t even included in the matchday squad against Arsenal.

However, Chelsea Joe Cole has defended the £150k-per-week man’s patchy form and said: "He's a super talented footballer. He's won the Champions League with Chelsea and he played a big part by scoring important goals. It's just, I feel sorry for Christian the amount of injuries he's got. It's really stopped his development.

"I think he needs to find his happiness again in a Chelsea shirt. It's very difficult and there's always competition. There are 31 players playing in the Chelsea squad, world-class players a lot of them. He has to find his rhythm again."

However, for a player that has been in West London since 2019 and approaching the prime of his career, it is difficult to justify such wretched performances.

This view was echoed by Jamie Carragher, who delivered a damning indictment of the forward.

He said: “I don’t think he’s good enough to play for Chelsea. I think he’s been there for a few years now. I think he’s had enough opportunities.

“To play week in, week out and make a difference for one of the best teams in the world, he’s not good enough for that right now.

“I’ve said before, I think he’s got great ability. Some of those things I’ve seen him do for Chelsea, the goals he’s scored. But it’s not consistent enough, and he gets injured quite a lot.”

These words have stemmed because of a lengthy run of poor performances, having hardly been too much better last term with eight goals in 38 outings.

The squad must be trimmed this summer and with the star linked to a range of clubs including Manchester United, an exit in the coming weeks looks like a serious possibility that would be best for both parties.

Tottenham Hotspur and chairman Daniel Levy by extension are considering Mainz boss Bo Svensson for the job, according to broadcast giant ESPN.

Who could replace Conte at Spurs?

There has been no shortage of managerial candidates who could replace Conte at Spurs, with the likes of Julian Nagelsmann, Arne Slot and even Brendan Rodgers mentioned in the last few days.

Levy is still well and truly searching for a new manager candidate to take the reins at Tottenham as interim boss Ryan Mason becomes tasked with leading them to the end of this Premier League season.

Spurs are outliers in the race for a top four finish after a series of dampening results, including an abysmal 6-1 loss to Newcastle United which cost former temporary head coach Cristian Stellini his job.

The Lilywhites will have one eye on next campaign and whoever Levy appoints to take over from Conte will be crucial, both for reinstalling positivity as well as attracting world football's brightest stars.

Alongside the likes of Nagelsmann and Slot, it is believed that a new name has entered contention for the role, with one source telling ESPN that Mainz boss Svensson is now being considered.

He joins the likes of Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi and Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou alongside the usual suspects to be linked with the Tottenham job.

What could Svensson bring to Spurs?

While the 43-year-old arguably comes as a lesser known name compared to the likes of Nagelsmann, he could still be a brilliant candidate for Spurs, especially going by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp's glowing recommendation.

Commenting on the 3-4-2-1 tactician two years ago, Klopp has given his thumbs up in regards to Svensson's work in the Bundesliga with his former club, stating to Bild (via Bundesliga):

“We spoke on the phone Thursday,""I only saw him as a player for a year. As a guy, he was a grenade even then. As a coach, he's a great, great talent and has done an outstanding job so far."And he has a heart for Mainz 05, that's important. He brings the right mood to the club again. I'm very optimistic that things are going in the right direction with him now."

Svensson could be an outside contender and less well-known name to help build a project at Tottenham, with former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino's time at the club showcasing that a trophy-laden star coach isn't always the best solution.

Arsenal have registered their interest in signing Ajax right-back Devyne Rensch this summer, according to a recent report from Football Insider.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

The Gunners are keen on bringing in a new right-back in the summer, with it recently being reported they are poised to make a bid for Real Valladolid's Ivan Fresneda, having missed out on the 18-year-old in the January transfer window.

Ben Jacobs has also linked the north London club with a move for Southampton's Tino Livramento, if the youngster is able to put his injury problems behind him, although Fresneda remains the priority.

However, given that Borussia Dortmund are now leading the race for the Valladolid ace, Mikel Arteta may have to consider other options, and Football Insider report they have registered their interest in signing Rensch from Ajax.

The Gunners are excited by the potential possessed by the 20-year-old, however the indication is he will only be targeted as a back-up option, if they miss out on Fresneda, which is now looking more likely.

It is also detailed that a new right-back is being targeted to replace Ben White, as Arteta plans to play the Englishman in a central role next season.

Should Arsenal sign Rensch or Fresneda?

There is some evidence Fresneda is more solid defensively, given that he ranks higher than Rensch for blocks and clearances completed per 90 over the course of the past year, however he does play in a weaker side, meaning he has more defensive duties.

Furthermore, the Ajax man seems to be more of a threat on the front foot, averaging more non-penalty goals and assists during the same time period, which is a crucial part of the game for modern-day full-backs, that White has flourished at this season.

The 25-year-old has amassed two goals and five assists in the Premier League this season, so if he is going to be utilised in a more central role, Arteta needs to make sure he brings in a player who is capable of replicating similar numbers going forward.

As such, while Fresneda is undoubtedly a top talent, being dubbed "superb" by football scout Jacek Kulig, Rensch should be the Gunners' priority signing this summer.

Hailed as "incredible" by Kulig, the £21k-per-week 20-year-old has already been capped by the Netherlands, and he is more than capable of holding down the right-back position at Arsenal for years to come.

Liverpool have been credited with surprise interest in Roma striker Tammy Abraham, and could make a swoop for the dynamic striker this summer as manager Jurgen Klopp looks to bolster his ranks.

What's the latest on Tammy Abraham to Liverpool?

According to Spanish reports, it is reported that Abraham could be 'considering a move back to the Premier League' after two impressive years in Italy, having signed for Jose Mourinho's outfit from Chelsea for £34m in 2021.

The 25-year-old has been a key component to his team's success, having won the Europa Conference League last season and leading Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 after the first leg of this year's Europa League semi-finals.

Touted at £40m this season, he could be an affordable option for a host of English sides, with the Reds joined by Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United, Newcastle and Aston Villa in completing a long line of admirers for the talisman.

Should Liverpool sign Tammy Abraham?

While Liverpool's forward ranks seem congested, completing a signing for someone of Abraham's ilk could be the optimum way to complete the forward line, and at an affordable price.

Coveted forward Roberto Firmino is leaving the club after eight years of illustrious servitude in less than two months, having scored 109 goals and served 79 assists from 360 appearances, leaving Anfield with a legacy cemented by glory in the Premier League and Champions League, among other major honours, hailed as "world-class" by teammate Andy Robertson in 2019.

Klopp has attempted to bolster his attacking options over the past few years with Sadio Mane's departure last summer; Darwin Nunez was signed for a club-record £85m in the summer, while World Cup phenom Cody Gakpo arrived from PSV for £35m in January.

But in Abraham, a devastating striker of both direct threat and creative efficiency could provide a scintillating new dimension to Klopp's system, with the former Blue describing himself as a "monster" after plying his trade under Mourinho's wing in Rome.

Last term, when i Lupi triumphed in Europe, the 11-cap Englishman was instrumental and scored 27 goals and provided five assists from 53 outings across all competitions.

This term, he has failed to reach the same prolific heights and yields only nine goals, though he has registered seven assists and now ranks among the top 14% of strikers across Europe's top five leagues for rate of assists per 90, as per FBref, highlighting his similarity to the aforementioned Firmino.

The £98k-per-week gem was even once hailed as "Drogba-esque" by Rio Ferdinand after one goal-scoring performance against Lille in the Champions League for Chelsea.

Didier Drogba was a serial winner – gleaning the Champions League, four Premier League titles and four FA Cup trophies at Stamford Bridge, and a truly blistering dynamic forward, and given Abraham's swelling trophy cabinet, a collection of silver that could yet welcome an addition this season, and selfless eye for creativity, he is indeed the perfect choice to replace the all-encompassing Firmino at Liverpool.