All posts by h79snht.top

Glasgow Rangers have had their fair share of transfer disasters since returning to the Premiership in 2016. The likes of Umar Sadiq, Dalcio and Carlos Pena are still discussed amongst the Ibrox faithful, and they are hardly portrayed in the best light.

Recently, however, it has tended to be the players that Rangers could have signed which generates most of the discussion. The previous 18 months has seen the Light Blues miss out on Joey Veerman and Danilo Doekhi, two excellent players who are currently thriving for their respective clubs and could have arguably made the Gers much stronger with their presence in the starting XI.

Still, it might just be the failure to secure a deal for Nigerian striker Terem Moffi – who broke the record for Lorient’s most expensive sale of all time by securing a €30m (26.7m) move to Nice last month – back in 2020 which could prove to be one of the Light Blues’ biggest mistakes in the transfer market.

In that summer, Rangers were chasing Moffi, who was then playing for Belgian side Kortrijk and were demanding a fee of €5m (£4.5m) for the young striker. Steven Gerrard refused to budge and wasn’t willing to shell out that amount considering the player’s lack of experience.

It would prove to be a costly mistake, especially considering Moffi’s performances in the subsequent years. Ultimately Lorient made the call and decided to pay that fee to bring him across Europe, and it paid off massively.

The 23-year-old netted 35 goals in 90 appearances for the Ligue 1 club and attracted interest from the Premier League, with West Ham United eyeing a move for the young forward. The Irons even made a £20m bid for the player, which was swiftly rejected by Lorient.

Journalist Jacque Talbot sang Moffi’s praises last month by saying that the striker “looks deadly as they come”, and given the interest from the Premier League, missing out on the 23-year-old has been another transfer mishap for the powerbrokers at Ibrox.

Hopefully Michael Beale will learn from the mistakes of his predecessors as he aims to secure young talent without a subsequent sense of regret over what might have been, and by luring Nicolas Raskin and Todd Cantwell to the club, it is an ideal start for the Rangers boss in his first transfer window as Ibrox manager.

Leeds United are embarking on yet another journey to find the perfect manager, having reluctantly dismissed Marcelo Bielsa only to appoint Jesse Marsch, who ultimately failed despite significant investment.

There were plenty of names thrown about when the legendary Argentine was sacked, many of whom boasted a far greater standing than the American.

However, director of football Victor Orta and chairman Andrea Radrizzani opted for his appointment, and the rest was history.

Now seeking yet another replacement, they could do well to return to that list of which Marsch was once a candidate, to correct the mistakes of old by reigniting their interest.

Should the hierarchy be keen on taking another risk, albeit a slightly more calculated one, then signing Kjetil Knutsen could be the perfect path to now tread.

The Norweigan coach has been a thoroughly successful manager of FK Bodo/Glimt for some time now, having taken them on record-breaking adventures that have led to trophies and the most unlikely of European upsets.

He took over his homeland club in 2018, where he would first achieve an 11th-place finish. This would progress to second place, before the next season would see his side lose just one match as they cruised to the title which they would retain the following year.

That third campaign saw them break the record for most points, most wins, most home wins, most away wins, most goals scored and best-ever goal difference in the history of the competition.

Then, earning his way into Europe, he helped deliver one of Jose Mourinho’s biggest-ever defeats, as his plucky outfit thrashed AS Roma 6-1, the first side to score six past any of the Portuguese legend’s sides.

Knutsen has done this with a play style that too has captured the imagination, where he prefers to win the ball back almost instantly after losing it. The risks of this philosophy are well-known, but the rewards have seen Jurgen Klopp win everything with Liverpool.

It is a style which his club captain Ulrick Saltnes branded “kamikaze”, which can be seen as both a positive and a negative.

Whether this is suited for a relegation battle remains to be seen, but should he come in and save them he would likely build a foundation to avoid the possibility in the future.

He already has a tireless squad available, built off the backs of two high-octane bosses, so the pieces are in place for the 54-year-old to be an instant success. 

Especially with the recent form of Wilfried Gnoto, who has truly shone.

There is precedent to believe that Knutsen could help the Italian explode, as his style sees overloads created particularly in wide areas. Giving the 19-year-old additional space to thrive could help him catapult his ever-improving game even further, as he looks to build upon his three goal contributions in ten Premier League games.

He also has the work rate to help underpin such a philosophy. It could be a match made in heaven, should they return for his services.

Tony Scott has ripped into Everton manager Sean Dyche for his comments about the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Everton left themselves in trouble

Everton were already in a perilous position heading into the January transfer window as the club were engulfed in another relegation battle but they somehow managed to exit last month in a far worse position.

The Toffees released Salomon Rondon from his contract and sold Anthony Gordon for £40 million, however, they decided against bringing in anyone to improve or at the very least, replace those players.

Therefore Evertonians are far from pleased with the board and have staged numerous protests over the last few weeks, but Dyche failed to get involved in that and instead claimed it was a difficult window and that Everton have quality in their squad.

The Latest: Dyche drops interesting comments

Scott was left fuming with the new Everton boss on the All Together Now podcast after what he had to say in order to defend what was a shocking transfer window.

He said: (2:40) “Sean Dyche can come out with whatever he wants in the press conference Greg because to me it didn’t wash, it didn’t wash that it’s a tough market and there’s not too many strikers Premier League ready.

“This wasn’t about the last day of the window this was about the whole of January and being prepared throughout the World Cup and since August we needed a centre forward.”

The Verdict: Striker woes could cost Everton

Even from the outside looking in it was very clear that Everton needed to sign a proven striker both last summer and during the January transfer window but in both cases, the Toffees opted against doing that.

Last summer they recruited Neal Maupay – who is Premier League experienced – although he has netted double figures in one campaign so the idea of him coming in and shouldering the burden was always very unlikely.

Calvert-Lewin simply can’t be trusted to be Everton’s main source of goals going forward as he can’t keep himself fit having started just 24 league games since the beginning of last campaign, so for Dyche to defend the board by saying it was a difficult window to work in will have certainly lost him some respect and time from the Everton faithful.

Glasgow Rangers have produced a number of talented players in their academy in recent years, and Michael Beale has a plethora of options to call upon from the B team this season.

The likes of Adam Devine, Alex Lowry and Leon King have all played first-team minutes after graduating from the youth setup this term, and they will be looking to follow in the footsteps of players like Allan McGregor and Nathan Patterson, among others who successfully made the transition from academy to first-team.

However, Beale could have had another talented prospect to call upon at Ibrox if the Premiership club had not allowed winger Malcolm Ebiowei to leave in 2021.

Where is Malcolm Ebiowei now?

The forward spent around 18 months in the U18 side at Rangers after joining on a free transfer from Arsenal in 2020, before departing to join Derby County in England for nothing in September 2021.

He hit the ground running for the Rams by scoring seven goals in seven matches for their U18s and worked his way into the first-team setup at Pride Park. He then made 16 senior appearances and chipped in with one goal and two assists from out wide, which attracted attention from clubs higher up the pyramid in England.

Derby coach Justin Walker hailed the teenager’s quality in 2021/22, saying: “I think he has been a breath of fresh air. You can see how much the fans have warmed to him, he gets people out of their seats. He has got that little bit of X-factor, if you like, that creativity we have lacked at times in the final third.”

Ebiowei’s contract at Derby expired in the summer of 2022, and Premier League outfit Crystal Palace swooped to sign the talented teenager on a free transfer.

The wizard made an instant impression at Selhurst Park by scoring twice in three U21 outings, and Patrick Vieira drafted the dynamo into his first-team squad. That resulted in Ebiowei playing five senior matches for the Eagles in the first half of this season – including three games in the top flight of English football – before he joined Hull on loan in January.

Ebiowei has showcased his quality at both Derby and Palace, and Rangers fans may be wondering what the magician could have achieved had he remained at Ibrox.

The exciting teenager, who plays off the right, could have formed a frightening wing partnership with Ryan Kent, having shown at youth level that he has the quality to score goals on a regular basis.

Meanwhile, the current Light Blues star, who predominantly plays off the left, is a proven performer in Scotland, with 33 goals and 55 assists in 209 Rangers appearances in all competitions.

The former Liverpool man has the ability to deliver goals and assists from out wide, and Ebiowei’s form at youth level indicates that the young maestro could have grown to have a similar impact on the opposite flank for Rangers.

Therefore, the Light Blues dropped the ball by allowing the teenage English gem to leave in 2021, as Kent and the now-Palace attacker could have struck up an exciting wing partnership at Ibrox.

Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is set to leave the club this summer, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

The Lowdown: Limited game time

Aubameyang has only received limited game time in recent weeks, appearing as a substitute against Crystal Palace and Liverpool, before not being included in the squad at all for the last three Premier League matches.

The Gabonese forward was linked has recently been linked with moves to Everton and Aston Villa, and his future at the club will now be in even more doubt, given that David Dotro Fofana has broken into the first team of late.

The Latest: Set to leave

In an interview with GiveMeSport, Phillips indicated that the forward’s time at Stamford Bridge will come to an end in the summer, despite the fact he will still have one year left on his contract.

The journalist said: “I understand that Aubameyang is going to go in the summer.

“He wants to go and the club are happy for him to go, so I’m pretty sure that will happen.”

The Verdict: Right decision?

Hailed as ‘phenomenal’ by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, the marksman has shown flashes of brilliance this season, scoring twice in the Champions League, which indicates he still has the talent to compete at the highest level.

However, he has been less impressive in domestic action, netting just once in the Premier League, although he has mainly been limited to cameo appearances from the bench, rather than being given a consistent run in the team.

Given that Aubameyang is now 33-years-old, Graham Potter should allow him to leave in the summer, as not only does he have Fofana and Armando Broja at his disposal, but he has also compiled a shortlist of potential new signings, which includes Napoli forward Victor Osimhen.

Leeds United boast one of the country’s most prestigious academies, with a youth system that nurtures talent and a pathway to the first team that has been most recently paved by the likes of Joe Gelhardt, Sam Greenwood and Crysencio Summerville.

That’s not to mention the acquired youngsters from abroad, such as Wilfried Gnonto, who has captured the imagination this season since his summer move.

Despite the club not being where it wants to be in the Premier League, it remains an attractive place to be especially for those looking to gain a standing in the game.

With some of their recent transfer missteps too, it seems like the academy could be the only facet of the Yorkshire outfit which can truly be relied upon. January saw Jesse Marsch welcome three new faces into the first team, but it was a window largely dominated by big-money moves that dwarfed that of the Whites’.

Anthony Gordon was one in particular that raised eyebrows, as Everton seemingly stole an astronomical £45m fee from Newcastle United to tempt away their academy graduate. It marked the continued success of a rival academy, and a feat Javi Gracia might look to emulate by enlisting Sean McGurk into his squad.

Who is Sean McGurk?

The 19-year-old wide man bares many similarities to the 21-year-old scouser, with both of them having been born in Liverpool.

Gordon burst onto the scene for a struggling Toffees side, and offered flashes of brilliance but remained incredibly raw. Despite that, he remained branded as the club’s ‘starboy’, with Everton’s official account confirming as such.

McGurk seems to suffer from a similar issue but remains immensely talented. Journalist Lee Sobot even took to Twitter to dub him “a bag of tricks” after some “lovely footwork” for the U21s.

This season the teenage sensation seems poised to surpass his four goal contributions from last year, as he already boasts three from the left wing. Whilst his numbers are not incredible, the threat he poses with his unparalleled trickery is sure to frighten any full-back.

His emergence into the first team could be imminent, especially given the underperformance and injury woes of Jack Harrison and Luis Sinisterra respectively.

Should he successfully break through into the first team at Thorp Arch, perhaps he could offer even more output than the seven senior goals for the Blues that Gordon boasted to eventually command a similarly astronomical fee for the Whites.

Arsenal are interested in swooping for Real Betis winger Luiz Henrique, with the Brazilian prospect impressing during his maiden season in European football.

What’s the latest on Henrique to Arsenal?

Writing in his column for GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Dean Jones recently stated that Gunners technical director Edu will use Manchester United’s forthcoming Europa League tie against the Heliopolitans to his advantage, sending scouts to watch the winger at Old Trafford.

Signing from homeland outfit Fluminense last summer, the South American starlet has attracted the attention of a wealth of top outfits already, and despite his inconsistency, there is a discernibly first-rate talent awaiting nurturing.

Valued at £44m by his outfit amid interest from Aston Villa in January, Arsenal would have to make a sizeable bid to convince the La Liga outfit to part with one of their most exciting prospects, and a stellar showing against the Red Devils might enhance the chances of that happening.

Should Edu ditch Nelson for Henrique?

Henrique has made a steady start to life in Spain, scoring three goals and providing five assists from 30 matches – 20 starts – across all competitions, including two goals and assists apiece in the Europa League.

The 22-year-old’s standout moment with the Green and Whites came against holding Europa Conference League champions Roma in the group phase, where he scored a goal and an assist in Italy to clinch a pivotal victory.

As per FBref, the ace ranks among the top 4% of positional peers for tackles, 14% for clearances, 13% for aerials won, and 19% for successful take-ons in Europe’s top five leagues over the last 365 days, illustrating a robust and gritty side to the machine’s game that will serve him well when effectively contributing towards the defensive side of his game, tracking back to provide respite for the backline and aid the swift transitions away from danger.

Praised as a player who “makes things happen” by Jones when assessing the former interest from the Villa, Henrique is inching closer to prominence and when he channels the precision and fine-tunes the danger that lies at his feet, he could become a devastating cog for whoever has him.

With his acquisition, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta could finally ditch Reiss Nelson, who is seemingly entrusted with only a peripheral role this season, playing just 63 minutes in the Premier League all term.

With the 23-year-old out of contract at the end of the campaign, Arsenal could make fine use of a top-class replacement, an upgrade to coincide with the ascension under their Spanish boss that has left them topping the Premier League table after 24 matches, five points clear of current champions Manchester City.

Throughout his career, as per Whoscored, Nelson averages a match rating of 6.65, registering 1.1 shots and 0.8 key passes per match; Henrique, comparatively, averages 1.4 shots and 0.7 key passes, also boasting a superior average rating of 6.86 – suggesting that the Brazilian – who is younger than the Gunners forward – could provide a higher quality of performance week-in-week-out.

With Arsenal building the blocks for an illustrious new era in north London, landing a precocious phenom of Henrique’s ilk would embody the resurgence under Arteta’s wing.

No doubt, there will be more than a few Gunners eyes on the gem as the wizard takes to the field at Old Trafford, and should the gem impress, he might just find a move to the Premier League is forthcoming.

BBC pundit Alan Hutton has been reacting to Manchester United’s reported interest in Napoli forward Victor Osimhen.

The Lowdown: Top of shortlist

The Red Devils look set to be in the market for a high-profile attacking addition in the summer, with Osimhen thought to be of interest.

Reports in recent days have suggested that the 24-year-old is top of the shortlist at Old Trafford ahead of Tottenham’s Harry Kane, AS Roma’s Tammy Abraham and RB Salzburg’s Benjamin Sesko.

The Latest: Hutton reacts

Hutton was talking to Football Insider regarding the Red Devils and rival interest from Tottenham, who may see Osimhen as a Harry Kane replacement.

The former Spurs player, who also contributes to the BBC, labelled the Nigeria international as an ‘outstanding footballer’ who may come with a £100m price tag.

“First and foremost I think Napoli paid about £62m for him, so that has gone up.

“We are talking £100m. Do Tottenham need a player like that? Possibly if Kane were to move it could be a domino effect.

“Man United are looking as well, Harry Kane is a target for them so it could be that domino effect where if one leaves for that team, maybe there is a space opening up for someone else.

“Man United need a number nine, will Man United go and break the bank for somebody like him who is an outstanding footballer?”

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The Verdict: Pros and cons…

It could well come down to Osimhen or Kane at Old Trafford, with speculation claiming United have made contact with the Tottenham striker’s camp.

Osimhen has actually scored one more goal than Kane this season in ten fewer appearances and is five years younger than the England international. Therefore, you could argue that he may prove to be the better long-term addition, however, Kane’s unbelievable record in the Premier League is something Osimhen cannot offer, with Kane scoring 201 times and registering 49 assists in 308 top-flight appearances.

The Napoli man has experience in Serie A, Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga, but not knowing how he would fare in the Premier League could make a big money move more of a gamble.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte has heaped praise on Hugo Lloris stand-in Fraser Forster, calling him ‘fantastic’ and ‘reliable’.

The Lowdown: Forster called…

The former Celtic star, signed on a free transfer from Southampton last summer, has been forced to stand-in for the injured Lloris recently.

The France international suffered a knee problem last month, ruling him out of action for around six to eight weeks and forcing Spurs to cope without one of their figureheads.

Lloris has been out of form this Premier League season but his presence as a veteran with real experience is invaluable, making Forster’s job to replace the 36-year-old a great one.

The Englishman, however, appears to have earned the respect of Conte for his temporary job as Spurs’ number one.

The Latest: Conte praises Forster…

Speaking to the media on Thursday, via reporter Alasdair Gold, Conte heaped praised on Forster for his reliability – calling him a ‘fantastic signing’ for the club.

The Italian stated:

“For sure Fraser is playing very well. He’s showing to be a reliable player. He’s showing to be a really good guy.

“I remembered him well from in the Champions League when we played Celtic with Juventus. He impressed me and the way to be a keeper.

“At the same time, He’s a really good person, a positive person for this dressing room. I think it was a fantastic signing for the club and he’s showing he deserves credit.

“For sure Hugo is our keeper but before to come back he has to stay well. We won’t force the situation because he needs to be right and Fraser deserves credit. We are really happy with Fraser but when Hugo will be ready he is our first choice.”

The Verdict: Great player…

The 6 foot 6 keeper has been a brilliant stand-in for Lloris, but ahead of this summer, Spurs still need to contemplate the Frenchman’s long-term replacement.

It is believed that Spurs are looking for an heir with the north Londoners targeting Illan Meslier and Robert Sanchez from the English top flight.

Elsewhere, the Lilywhites have also been looking at Diogo Costa from FC Porto and Mike Maignan from AC Milan – so the club aren’t exactly short of options.

Whoever they opt to make their top target, it is perhaps one of sporting director Fabio Paratici’s most crucial decisions of the summer window, if he is in fact there for that long amid Juve’s financial scandal.

Newcastle United strengthened their top-four bid with victory over relegation strugglers Nottingham Forest on Friday evening, with a clinical brace from club-record signing Alexander Isak ultimately proving the difference in that 2-1 win.

The composed manner in which the Sweden international dispatched his stoppage-time penalty, in particular, showcased the growing confidence that the striker is enjoying of late, with the 23-year-old now benefitting from a consistent run in the side following his previous injury woes,

As a result of that double at the City Ground, the £63m marksman now boasts a haul of six goals in only ten Premier League games so far this season, with that tally just one shy of what teammate Callum Wilson has achieved despite the Englishman featuring in more than double the number of games.

The former Real Sociedad man's recent hot streak has illustrated just how crucial he can be to manager Eddie Howe over the coming months, albeit with the towering asset not the only Magpies man to have rubberstamped his importance to the side of late, amid Jacob Murphy's impressive, surprise impact.

How did Murphy perform against Forest?

As The Athletic's Chris Waugh noted, the 28-year-old has illustrated just why he is "so important" to the Newcastle boss despite rarely appearing from the start, having featured more than any player at the club since the Englishman's appointment, with 57 appearances in all competitions.

While largely restricted to cameo outings over the last 18 months or so, Murphy has shone in his starting role of late, having notably caught the eye in the win over Wolverhampton Wanderers last week, as he 'ran himself into the ground', in the words of the Chronicle's Lee Ryder.

With teammate Miguel Almiron ruled out for an extended period of time through injury, the former Norwich City speedster was again given the nod in attack against Steve Cooper's men last time out, ultimately making the most of that opportunity after registering a remarkable haul of five key passes in his wide berth.

The 5 foot 10 dynamo also attempted seven crosses as a marker of his desire to make things happen for his side, while putting in a typically relentless shift defensively as he won four of his eight ground duels, before making way in the closing stages.

That all-action performance saw the £35k-per-week man prove a 'real thorn in the side of Forest' – as per Ryder – having ultimately proved integral to Howe's men claiming a vital three points in their bid for Champions League qualification.

It is no surprise that Murphy has been on the receiving end of glowing praise from his manager in recent times, with the former Bournemouth boss stating following the win over Wolves:

“He’s brilliant behind the scenes. A real positive energy every day in training. He works and hones his skills meticulously. He’s a real player that wants to invest time and try and elevate his game to another level. I’m really pleased to see him come in and do well on the back of that work. I thought he was excellent last week.”

With January arrival and fellow winger Anthony Gordon also currently sidelined – and with Ryan Fraser having been banished from the first-team squad – there will likely be ample chance for Murphy to show his worth from the start following the international break.

On current form, it does appear that the Wembley-born machine could be something of a secret weapon for Howe moving forward.