All posts by z3u9t.icu

Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff “won’t be involved” in the Premier League game vs Brighton and Hove Albion tonight, according to Eddie Howe.

What's the latest injury news on Sean Longstaff?

The Magpies academy graduate was involved in a heavy challenge during the 4-1 win against Everton last month which saw him sustain a foot injury and he therefore hasn’t featured since, missing the three matches against Southampton, Arsenal and Leeds United.

Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie confirmed that the 25-year-old was set to go for a follow-up scan to further assess the extent of his problem, and whilst ChronicleLive soon after revealed that he had suffered no broken bones, not to mention that the manager admitted last week that fans "could see him as early as next week if he improves quickly", he still isn’t ready to stage his comeback to the first-team.

Speaking during Wednesday’s pre-match press conference, Howe confirmed that Longstaff is ruled out of this evening’s fixture vs Brighton, whilst also providing an update on the fitness of Jacob Murphy. As quoted by Newcastle’s official website, he said:

“I think we’re quite clear on the injury but it’s just how long it takes to heal. He made good progress yesterday so let’s see how he feels today but he won’t be involved for this game. Jacob is probably the one doubt we’ll have for the game."

Will Longstaff's absence be a blow for Newcastle?

After Brighton, Newcastle only have two games of the 2022/23 season remaining against Leicester City and Chelsea, so Howe will be hoping to have Longstaff back at his disposal before the conclusion of the current campaign, but in the short-term, it’s definitely a blow for the central midfielder to be ruled out once again.

The St. James’ Park star, who pockets £50k-per-week, has posted seven goal contributions (four assists and three goals) across all competitions this season and has been a regular feature of the first-team having made 27 starts in the top-flight, so he’s clearly viewed as an important member of the squad.

The Magpies’ “superb” dominator, as once lauded by journalist Josh Bunting, also offers wonderful versatility with his ability to operate in five various positions over the pitch, including four in the midfield and even as a second striker, so the sooner he returns to action in the northeast to help try and nail down a place in the Champions League, the better as far as the manager is concerned.

Arsenal are known for giving a platform to young stars to succeed and have stuck by their philosophy under Mikel Arteta, which has paid dividends in a successful 2022/23 campaign that has yielded Champions League qualification.

Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have blossomed this term under the Spaniard while William Saliba has become a mainstay in the backline at the Emirates.

One talent who has struggled to break into the side over the last year has been Emile Smith Rowe, who has made just 14 appearances in competitions for the Gunners, registering a solitary assist, as per Transfermarkt.

Incredibly, Smith Rowe is still only 22-years-old and there is every chance that he could return to the fold in 2023/24 and play a key role for his boyhood club in north London.

What's the latest news involving Emile Smith Rowe?

As per talkSPORT, Aston Villa have been linked with a move for Smith Rowe in the summer transfer window and are willing to 'chance their arm' to see if they can land the England Under-21 international.

Unai Emery, who gave the London-born midfielder his debut at Arsenal, is said to be the motivation behind their interest as he eyes adding some gloss to his Aston Villa side.

The Daily Mail report that Smith Rowe could be part of a four-man clearout this summer alongside Folarin Balogun, Kieran Tierney and Rob Holding as Arteta looks to raise funds for a transfer window spending spree.

On the contrary, Football London's Kaya Kaynak has signalled that there might be a twist in the tale in an online Q&A that Smith Rowe has been training in a different position from his usual number ten role at London Colney, writing: "It's a bit of a mystery why he’s [Smith Rowe] hardly playing. I guess you could argue that Reiss Nelson is ahead of him at the moment, but Smith Rowe has been training as a central midfielder, so it's probably more apt to say that it's Fabio Vieira whose in front of him in the queue."

Kanak then added: "I'd be surprised if he were to leave this summer myself. He's got three years left on his deal still, and would probably need to force a move away if he wants one. No doubt there's plenty of interest from teams in the Premier League and abroad, but I think he'll stay put as things stand."

It is difficult to judge his exploits this term; however, in 2021/22, Smith Rowe bagged an impressive 11 goals and two assists in 37 outings, showing that he can be an important asset to Arsenal when fully fit, as per Transfermarkt.

Altering his position slightly could also help the Gunners to save significant expenditure in the transfer market and avoid paying over the odds for the likes of Declan Rice, Mason Mount or Moises Caicedo, all of whom have been mentioned as potential transfer targets.

Journalist Mark Mann-Bryans has previously labelled the £40k-a-week ace as a "game-changer" and it is easy to see why, taking his talent into account.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Paul Brown has predicted that Smith Rowe will be given an opportunity to shine next season.

Brown told FFC: "I think he knows he'll get minutes next season, he'll get a chance to force his way back into that team. The only way I think Smith Rowe leaves Arsenal is if another big Champions League team comes in for him and says you're going to go right in, you'll be playing virtually every week; this is where we're going to give you a key role. But is there a Champions League team that wants to do that? I don't think there is."

Smith Rowe's ability isn't in doubt and he deserves a place in Arteta's squad next year to show his capabilities on a weekly basis.

Members of the media praised midfielder Granit Xhaka for his brilliant final day contribution on what could be his final game for Arsenal.

Arsenal stroll to victory

The Premier League side missed out on their first league title in nearly 20 years, with Man City beating them to the punch, but that didn’t stop Mikel Arteta’s side from putting on a show as they thrashed Wolves this afternoon.

Arsenal didn’t take long to open the scoring, with Xhaka scoring inside the first 12 minutes and netting another one just a few moments later.

The Switzerland international’s multiple final day goals come as a fairytale, specifically because he could well be leaving this summer for Bayer Leverkusen according to multiple reliable sources.

The Bundesliga side are pushing to secure a deal for Xhaka and today’s comfortable victory over Wolves may be his last ever appearance for Arsenal.

Supporters were filmed singing his name during and before kick off, with the 30-year-old’s strikes today putting the cherry on top of a sweet potential farewell for him.

Members of the media fittingly paid tribute, with journalists Sam Dean (The Telegraph) and Buchi Laba (Wazobia FM, Kenya) saying this on the Swiss:

Weighing in on the praise for Xhaka, other reporters had this to say, with Simon Collings of The Evening Standard drawing attention to the fact Arsenal paid just £13 million to originally sign the player – a figure some would consider a steal.

Who is Granit Xhaka?

Signed from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2016, Xhaka has gone on to amass nearly 300 appearances for the Gunners in all competitions.

Xhaka is also a hero at international level, becoming a centurion with Switzerland, yet reports suggest he has now played his last game in north London.

If Leverkusen secure a summer deal for him, they could be getting a player of both real quality and experience.

Rangers' move for Los Angeles FC midfielder Jose Cifuentes is "starting to progress", according to an update from transfer expert Dean Jones.

Is Cifuentes thriving in the MLS?

The 24-year-old has been strongly linked with a move to Ibrox this summer, as the Gers look to make significant inroads in the transfer market. He has enjoyed a good spell in the MLS with Los Angeles, making 111 appearances in total since arriving from Universidad Catolica in 2020, and chipping in with 14 goals and 19 assists.

Cifuentes has also won 15 caps for Ecuador, making two substitute appearances at the 2022 World Cup, and he is clearly someone who Rangers believe could be a shrewd addition to their midfield. It could be that a move to Europe appeals to the player himself, given the step up in quality, and his current deal expires in December of this year, means Los Angeles could be willing part ways and receive a fee in the summer.

Could Rangers be set to sign Cifuentes?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones claimed that talks over a move for Cifuentes are progressing well, suggesting that other deals are also being worked on:

"We're starting to hear quite a few rumours about transfer deals that are starting to progress. They're linked with José Cifuentes from MLS, and deals like that one starting to progress just make me feel like there are a few of the old faces that aren't going to be around for much longer."

Cifuentes could be an ideal summer signing for Rangers, at a time when Michael Beale will be aware that the gap on Celtic needs to close as soon as possible. Granted, they have still had a decent season overall, but silverware has evaded them, which has to be the benchmark every year.

The Ecuadorian could add a mixture of quality and bite to the Gers' midfield, having registered two assists and averaged 1.7 tackles per game in the MLS this season, and at 24, he is at a brilliant age to come in and develop as a player, enjoying his peak years into his mid to late 20s.

It certainly feels as though a move is likely at this point, and as Jones alludes to, this could hopefully be the start of an influx of signings in the summer transfer window, with fellow midifelder Kieran Dowell already acquired from Norwich City earlier this week.

Hibernian are keeping tabs on defender Morgan Feeney as they look to bolster their defensive options ahead of next season.

What’s the latest on Morgan Feeney to Hibs?

According to the Daily Record, Hibs are eyeing up a move for Carlisle centre-back Feeney as Lee Johnson aims to bolster his back line.

The 24-year-old is out of contract at the English side this summer, meaning Hibs could secure him on a free transfer, although they could face competition from fellow Premiership sides Hearts and Aberdeen, while there is also interest from League One – suggesting that the Easter Road outfit face a tough battle to sign him.

Could Morgan Feeney improve Hibs?

In the top flight last term, Johnson’s side conceded 59 goals, which was the joint fifth lowest across the whole league, however, they face a big problem in terms of centre-back options ahead of 2023/2024.

The departure of Mikey Devlin leaves Hibs with just two senior centre-backs at the moment and there will need to be a few additions over the coming weeks in order to improve the depth of the squad.

Johnson could secure a reunion with Feeney, having coached him during his spell as Sunderland manager and the 6 foot 2 gem could certainly come in and solve their defensive problem, no doubt about it.

The Englishman made his debut for Everton when he was just 17, and although he didn’t make the grade at Goodison Park, he has played for Tranmere Rovers and Sunderland, before finally enjoying a solid run of matches at Carlisle, featuring 76 times for the club.

The defender played 31 times in League Two as Carlisle secured promotion via the playoffs, however Feeney missed the end of the season due to injury. The 24-year-old did play a big part in the club achieving a top seven spot however, achieving a Sofascore rating of 6.96/10, which ranked him as the third-best player in the squad.

He also ranked in the top five for accurate long balls per game (2.2), interceptions per game (1.3) and clearances per game (2.8) to further underline his importance to the team and Johnson must act sooner rather than later to snap him up ahead of next term.

Journalist Nathan Ridley lauded the player following his injury in April which ruled him out for the rest of the season, saying: “A real shame if Morgan Feeney's time at Carlisle ends like this. He's more than capable of playing in League One.”

Luring him North of the border for nothing would represent a good piece of business for Hibs, and they need to make defensive signings a priority considering just how thin they are at the back.

Celtic are "very interested" in appointing Daniel Farke as their new manager, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

What's the latest Celtic manager news?

Celtic have identified Manchester City coach Enzo Maresca as one of their main targets to replace Ange Postecoglou, and Football Scotland report the Champions League winners will not stand in his way, should he make it clear he wants to leave.

Former Hoops assistant manager Johan Mjallby has urged the board to look at appointing either Kjetil Knutsen or Graham Potter, with Pat Nevin branding the latter coach "superb" and echoing Mjallby's calls for him to take over at Parkhead.

Other names linked with the vacant post include former Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch, as well as Andoni Iraola, with the former Rayo Vallecano boss set to apply for the job after leaving the La Liga club.

In a recent update on Twitter, Plettenberg has now claimed that Celtic are also interested in appointing Farke, having already made contact with the former Norwich City manager.

The Sky Sports reporter states that "first talks" have already taken place, with the Hoops "very interested in signing him as a replacement for Postecoglou", while the manager himself is "ready to take over a new club".

Should Celtic appoint Daniel Farke?

RB Leipzig manager Marco Rose has hailed the 46-year-old for his "attractive" brand of football, while Chris Kamara also praised him for the "attacking" style of play he implemented to great success against Manchester City in 2019, with his side winning 3-2.

Setting out that way against a team like Man City indicates the two-time Championship winner is unwilling to compromise on his expansive style of play, regardless of the opposition, which suggests he could be a perfect replacement for Postecoglou.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman has recently praised the club's new manager for his attacking outlook, and it could be vital that Celtic appoint a new head coach who is capable of playing a similar way, to ensure a seamless transition.

Hailed as "brilliant" by members of the media, Farke has enjoyed success in England's second tier, however he did not manage to do quite as well in his last job, being sacked by Borussia Monchengladbach after finishing 10th in the Bundesliga.

As such, despite the fact he plays attractive football, Celtic should look at appointing a manager who has more recent experience of success in a top league.

Leeds United are in a major period of transition with a drop back into the Championship and a change in hands of ownership confirmed over the last few weeks.

The Whites are still on the hunt for the next manager to lead the squad at Elland Road after parting company with Sam Allardyce following Premier League relegation last month, but have managed to appoint an interim football advisor in former Newcastle consultant Nick Hammond.

Whilst there are many major loose ends to tie up before Leeds can start planning for their next chapter, it will be essential for the club's hierarchy to start thinking about the recruitment and squad personnel who will remain to compete for an instant bounce back to the Premier League next season.

Indeed, it has been reported that the appointment of a manager will be finalised next week and the club will surely be keen to allow the new boss to come in and make his own assessments before making solid moves in the summer transfer window, but there are certainly players worth taking a look at as soon as possible.

One player who was linked with a move to West Yorkshire back in January is Axel Tuanzebe, with the young talent offered to the club for a six-month loan spell before he went to Stoke City instead.

Now the Manchester United academy graduate has been released by the Red Devils and it could be the perfect opportunity for Leeds to snap up a free agent with huge potential.

Who would Tuanzebe replace in the Leeds team?

It is looking increasingly likely that Robin Koch will depart this summer as the pair are attracting a lot of interest, meaning there is a huge opportunity to snap up the services of a right-sided centre-back this summer.

Koch – who has been branded "not good enough" by pundit Gabby Agbonlahor – has somewhat surprisingly been linked to a number of Premier League sides including Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Newcastle United this week.

As a result, the release of Tuanzebe could not have come at a better time for Leeds and if they can move fast, there is no reason why the defender couldn't bolster the centre-back options at Elland Road next season, especially considering he is available for free.

The 6 foot 1 titan – hailed "unbelievable" by David de Gea – has struggled with injuries which have plagued his ability to find some consistency in his football, but has shown glimpses of his talents and strengths.

Tuanzebe's best period in his career so far came at Aston Villa where he helped the side earn promotion to the Premier League through the second-tier play-offs.

Over 25 Championship appearances, the 25-year-old tallied up an 85% pass completion rate and successfully completed 79% of his dribbles, as well as averaging 59.6 touches, 1.2 tackles, four clearances and 5.6 duels won per game, demonstrating that he can be a huge presence when playing consistently and has sound experience of playing in the second tier, which could be a huge asset to Leeds next season.

With that being said, although it may be risky to put trust in Tuanzebe to be available over the entire campaign, he could still be valuable to Leeds in their pursuit for promotion and would be a good piece of business for the club as a free agent.

Arsenal are "progressing" in talks to sign Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia and are "close" to an agreement on personal terms, according to reports.

Who will Arsenal sign this summer?

The north Londoners have their eyes on multiple additions this summer as they look to strengthen Mikel Arteta's ranks and challenge again for next season's Premier League title.

Central midfield is the position to really look out for, as a wide variety of sources claim they're stepping up their pursuit of West Ham star Declan Rice and have already had bids rejected for the England international.

They're apparently "serious" about signing Rice and remain confident of doing a deal, having already agreed personal terms, while the likes of Man City star Ilkay Gundogan and Lavia are also being repeatedly linked.

Further forward and in defence, Gunners supporters could see the likes of Kai Havertz join from Chelsea with talks advancing and terms also agreed there, and Ajax defender Jurrien Timber is at the centre of real interest.

Following Southampton's relegation from the top flight, Lavia is a player who could well be on the move, as he attracts interest from Arteta, Chelsea, Man United and Liverpool (The Independent).

Arsenal have been in talks for the 19-year-old, as reported elsewhere, but Football Insider have a really promising update on their efforts to sign him.

According to their information, Arsenal are "progressing" in negotiations for Lavia, with personal terms "close to agreement". This is part of a potential quadruple spending spree and Arteta could see as much as £300 million spent in total this summer.

As well as Lavia, it is believed Rice, Havertz and Timber are all still in ongoing discussions to make a move to the Emirates Stadium.

How has Romeo Lavia done at Southampton?

Having signed for the Saints last year on a deal from Man City, Pep Guardiola has since been very impressed with his efforts at St. Mary's.

Speaking to City's official website, Guardiola held special praise for the Belgium international, who has gone on to make 29 league appearances.

“I am really impressed with what Romeo has done and is doing,” said the City boss.

“(It’s a) good experience to go to the Premier League and play at this early age. So important.”

Lavia also averaged a higher pass accuracy (86.4%) than any Southampton player in the Premier League last campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur will need to 'clarify' their position on who they may bring in as their new sporting director, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest news involving Tottenham Hotspur's search for a sporting director?

Tottenham's search for a sporting director looks to have gone quiet for now as they search for a replacement for the departed Fabio Paratici, who's appeal against a two-and-half year global ban from football from FIFA was rejected, as per The Daily Mail.

Last month, The Guardian reported that Brentford technical director Lee Dykes alongside former Bayer Leverkusen man Tim Steidten are potential candidates to assume the vacancy in north London.

The Daily Mail claimed in May that Roma general manager Tiago Pinto, Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krosche and Johannes Spors were also under consideration for the position; however, it is no clearer right now who could replace Paratici at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Scott Munn is now in place as Spurs' chief football officer and chairman Daniel Levy is believed to want a new director of football in place sooner rather than later.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs believes that Tottenham will need to clarify their situation regarding the sporting director role as soon as possible.

Jacobs told FFC: "The other thing to say about Spurs is that because they haven't yet appointed a sporting director and because Scott Munn is new in his role and because Ange Postecoglou has only just come in, anything that was planned under Paratici, in terms of longest standing targets may change over the coming weeks.

"Tottenham are going to have to move fast on the sporting director and if they're fortunate, they'll be able to bring somebody in that can start work as soon as possible."

Who have Tottenham Hotspur targeted this summer?

Despite not having a sporting director in place, Tottenham have been active in the transfer market as Ange Postecoglou kicks his transfer proactivity up a notch in north London.

Football Insider report that Brentford goalkeeper David Raya has been identified as a target by the Australian manager and state that Spurs are determined to land the Spaniard for a cut-price fee this summer.

The Northern Echo also claim that Spurs are leading the chase to sign Leicester City midfielder James Maddison amid competition from Newcastle United.

According to The Sun on Sunday (print edition, 18/6; page 62) via The Chelsea Chronicle, Tottenham could also make a last minute bid to try and snatch Villarreal striker Nicolas Jackson away from the clutches of Chelsea, demonstrating that plenty of exciting developments could be in the pipeline over the next few months at Hotspur Way.

Manchester United have made an enquiry regarding a potential move for Ajax star Mohammed Kudus as Erik ten Hag looks to raid Ajax once again.

What’s the latest on Mohammed Kudus to Man United?

With the Old Trafford side having had a third bid rejected for Mason Mount, it appears as though the deal is stalling, and Ten Hag must now surely be considering making moves for alternative targets.

According to ESPN, United have enquired about a move for Kudus this summer, and he is currently valued at around £40m by Ajax, which could be appealing as Ten Hag will still have funds to strengthen elsewhere.

A move for Mount isn’t yet over, but unless United and Chelsea can agree a fee in the coming days, the Dutchman will have to turn to other names in order to boost his attacking options.

Should Man United sign Mohammed Kudus this summer?

The Old Trafford side enjoyed a decent campaign under Ten Hag, winning their first trophy in six years while securing Champions League football for next season and this in turn has led the manager to seek improvements to his squad ahead of the rigours of playing higher quality opposition.

Upon his arrival last summer, Ten Hag subsequently went on to lure two players from Ajax, Lisandro Martinez and Antony, and it was the former who enjoyed a wonderful campaign in Manchester.

The Argentinian centre-back settled into life in the Premier League with ease, ranking as their third-best performer in terms of overall rating via Sofascore, while also ranking in the top five across the whole squad for clearances, tackles and interceptions per game, underlining his importance to the team.

A such, the Dutchman must repeat this Martinez masterclass by making a move for Kudus this summer.

The Ghanaian starlet is versatile, being able to play either as a centre-forward or attacking midfielder and with United back among the big boys next term, Kudus has already demonstrated his qualities in Europe’s premier club competition.

He scored four goals, grabbed two assists and succeeded with 1.8 dribbles per game – a success rate of 79% – and these figures were good enough to rank him as first in the squad for those metrics, showcasing his ability on the biggest stage.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig was full of praise for the youngster when he joined Ajax in 2020, stating that he had “electric pace” and is “creative at his off the ball movements” and there is no doubt that he has shone during his three years at the club, registering 34 goal contributions in just 84 matches.

Ten Hag knows him well, and for a price of around £40m, it could turn into a wonderful investment for the Red Devils.