All posts by z3u9t.icu

The door could well be open for Tottenham Hotspur to strike a deal for Japanese international, Daichi Kamada, following the midfielder's recent exit from Eintracht Frankfurt.

What are the latest Tottenham transfer rumours?

According to 90min, the Lilywhites have reportedly been offered the chance to land the free agent this summer following the collapse of his proposed move to AC Milan, with the north Londoners – as well as Newcastle United – having been 'informed' about the 26-year-old's situation.

As per the piece, the 6 foot sensation – who has been without a club since coming to the end of his contract at Frankfurt last month – had reached an agreement regarding a move to San Siro, albeit with subsequent changes to the hierarchy at the Serie A outfit leading to the club pulling out of a deal.

This follows reports in Germany that revealed Tottenham's interest in the former Sagan Tosu man heading into the January transfer window, following the playmaker's impact at the World Cup in the winter.

Who is Daichi Kamada?

The 29-cap dynamo notably started all four games for his country during their run to the last-16 in Qatar, having also impressed in the Bundesliga last term after scoring nine goals and chipping in with six assists from his 32 league outings.

Prior to that, Kamada had been part of the Frankfurt side that claimed Europa League glory during the 2021/22 campaign, notably scoring five goals in 13 appearances in the competition that season, including in the first-leg, semi-final victory over West Ham United.

As journalist Josh Bunting stated back in August, the exciting gem is not only an "incredible talent" but is also simply a "joy to watch", hence why the likes of Spurs and Newcastle have been paying such close attention to him of late.

If Ange Postecoglou is to seal a deal for Kamada ahead of those rival suitors over the coming weeks, the 57-year-old could seemingly find a perfect partner for recent addition, James Maddison in the centre of the park, with the latter man having joined on a £40m deal from Leicester City.

With the ex-Celtic boss likely to utilise his preferred 4-3-3 formation next season which includes two advanced midfielders – or number eight's – then the Greek-Aussie could be able to slot Kamada in alongside Maddison in that system.

Like the Englishman – who notably averaged 1.7 tackles per game in the Premier League in 2022/23 – the Frankfurt machine can also muck in defensively having averaged 1.6 tackles per game last term.

Also lauded as a player with "intelligent movement in and around the box", according to Bunting, Kamada showcased a real desire to get forward and impact proceedings in the final third as he ranks in the top 10% among midfielders for touches in the attacking penalty area, with Maddison sharing that front-foot approach as he ranks in the top 1% in that regard.

The duo are also alike due to their ability to net themselves or tee up others with quality service, with the former Foxes ace – who registered 19 goal involvements in the top-flight last season – ranking in the top 1% for both non-penalty goals and assists, while Kamada is not too far behind as he ranks in the top 5% and the top 15% for those same two metrics, respectively.

To potentially have two players who possess that same attacking and creative intent is a truly exciting prospect as far as Spurs are concerned, with it no doubt set to be a real bargain if Postecoglou can snap up the in-demand asset on a free.

Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur has been left "very impressed" by new manager Ange Postecoglou as he undertakes his first pre-season at the club, according to Alasdair Gold.

What impression has Postecoglou made at Spurs?

Arriving at a club rife with disharmony and frustration can be a difficult task for any manager.

However, this is the challenge that has faced Postecoglou at Tottenham following his arrival from Celtic as he aims to put right the wrongs of the coaches that preceded him.

Last season was arguably a new low in terms of cohesion and optimism for the Lilywhites with Antonio Conte's turgid football draining the life out of players and supporters alike.

An eighth-placed Premier League finish does not quite capture the level of discontent surrounding the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with match-going fans wondering what on earth they had done to deserve such punishment.

Postecoglou's arrival has brought new hope, however, and not just by virtue of him not being Conte or Jose Mourinho.

The Australian won a domestic treble at Celtic last season and has transformed every club he has been at. Now, he has to do the same at Spurs, which promises to be the 57-year-old's sternest challenge yet.

He has got off to a great start though despite a ball not having been kicked, with journalist Gold suggesting that everyone at Tottenham is already enamored with the coach.

Speaking on the Gold and Guest Talk Tottenham podcast, he stated: "I spoke to a very, very wide spectrum of people, or people involved with people involved. And, do you know what, this is probably the first time that I can genuinely say, certainly for a long time, that everyone was very, very impressed.

"It's been a blanket, 100%, yeah this guy is good kind of thing. Real excitement around a lot of the players as well. He's just made a really kind of quick, positive impression on people, especially the players. A lot of the players are very enamored with what he's been doing, with the way he does things."

He continued: "Postecoglou is a very strong communicator. The players, whether they're young or old, very quickly understand what he wants from them is the best way to put it. He's a very clear speaker."

Such a strong first impression can only be positive news for Tottenham's hopes of challenging for Champions League football next season following a disappointing campaign.

Postecoglou will need to get his new players in tip-top shape during pre-season, while also bedding in some of his new signings such as James Maddison and Guglielmo Vicario.

Tottenham currently have four friendlies scheduled with the Lilywhites facing West Ham, Leicester City, Roma and Shakhtar Donetsk before the league opener away at Brentford on August 13th.

What kind of manager is Postecoglou?

Becoming the first Australian to manage in the Premier League, all eyes will be on Postecoglou.

Having began his career in his homeland, Postecoglou certainly doesn't share Tottenham's trophy woes. He won four top-tier Australian titles, two with South Melbourne and two with Brisbane Roar.

He had great success coaching Australia's youth team before later taking the senior team's hot seat and winning the Asian Cup in 2015. Moving to Yokohama Marinos in 2018, Postecoglou won the J-League title before moving onto Celtic and claiming seven trophies in a little over two years.

Usually favouring a 4-3-3 formation, the Australian is an offensive-minded coach, relying on hard work and counter-pressing to help smother opponents. Playing this way in the Premier League will prove a unique challenge for Postecoglou, but he certainly has an abundance of talent to choose from at Spurs.

One of his key attributes at Celtic was his knowledge of the Asian market, brining in a number of players from the continent and quickly developing them into stars. Postecoglou's ability to improve players quickly makes him a desirable asset for chairman Daniel Levy.

Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Ruben Neves was unsure whether or not to move to Saudi Arabia, according to Dean Jones.

What's the latest on Ruben Neves?

After years of speculation linking Neves with a move away from Molineux, the time has finally come for the 26-year-old to make his long-awaited switch.

However, his dreams of playing for Barcelona or Manchester United have been put firmly to rest, with the Portuguese instead swapping Wolves for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia.

The midfielder became one of the younger players to make the move to Asia this summer, finalising a transfer worth £47m, and subsequently giving up on his dream to play under Xavi at Camp Nou.

According to journalist Dean Jones, Neves was sceptical over a move to the Saudi Pro League, and the 41-cap international would have much preferred a destination closer to home.

Speaking to Football FanCast, Jones said: "I know that Ruben Neves was really umming and ahing over whether to actually go through with that [move to Al Hilal]. Like, it's not an easy decision to make on a personal level.

"Financially, it's obviously tough to turn down. But I think in a dream world, Ruben Neves would have gone to Barcelona or another even club in the Premier League. The problem with Ruben Neves is he was never anyone's absolute priority to get through the door, and that's why he's ended up there."

Neves was wanted by Barcelona, but the Spanish side's financial situation would have made a transfer problematic, while their priority target Ilkay Gundogan has since joined on a free transfer.

Julen Lopetegui will have to fill the hole left behind by Neves next season and how the manager reinvests the £47m will be pivotal in how Wanderers perform.

What's the latest Saudi Arabia transfer news?

Cristiano Ronaldo's high-profile move to Al-Nassr started the ball rolling, but few expected what was to come in terms of the sheer volume of players arriving in the country.

Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante and Kalidou Koulibaly have all made the switch, while dozens of others from Europe's top leagues are expected to follow.

Some of the latest links involve Marcelo Brozovic, who could be joining Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, while former Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino appears to be on his way to Al-Ahli.

Celtic's 24-year-old winger Jota also appears to be on his way to Al-Ittihad, showing, much like Neves, that it isn't just more senior players making the switch.

Tottenham Hotspur are “moving quickly” to tie up the signing of Empoli goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and are “wary” of late hijacks, according to 90min journalist Sean Walsh.

Who will join Spurs this summer?

Spurs are targeting new signings for various areas of Ange Postecoglou’s squad as the incoming new manager prepares to officially start work on July 1.

Despite not commencing his role until the start of next month, Postecoglou is rumoured to have already held transfer strategy meetings with chairman Daniel Levy behind-the-scenes.

During these internal discussions, the former Celtic manager and Levy apparently shortlisted a few players, including the likes of Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher.

Meanwhile, other reports have suggested that Postecoglou has green-lit the signing of a star centre-back, with Spurs also looking for new additions both in midfield and further forward.

A new goalkeeper to replace the potentially departing Hugo Lloris is firmly on the cards as well, and reliable media sources have confirmed that Vicario could be on his way to north London.

Renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano even gave his famous “here we go” to the transfer and Vicario will apparently put pen to paper on a deal until 2028.

However, coming after that news, reporter Walsh has claimed that it isn’t exactly a foregone conclusion just yet and Spurs are “wary” of late hijacks from the likes of Inter Milan or AC – who are looking for new shot-stoppers.

As a result, the Lilywhites are “moving quickly” to complete his signing and want this deal done “asap”.

Who is Guglielmo Vicario?

The 26-year-old was one of Empoli’s star players last season, with only Fabiano Parisi averaging a higher Serie A match rating per 90 than the goalkeeper (WhoScored).

Gianluigi Buffon has also heaped praise on Vicario, calling him “out of the ordinary” for his showings over the 2022/2023 campaign.

” Vicario is doing things out of the ordinary,” said Buffon

Then there is also Meret with a exceptional season in Naples together with the team and now Carnesecchi is also back and he must be taken into consideration because he has champion shots. The reservoir of Italian goalkeepers is important.”

Aston Villa are reportedly edging towards a Liga Portugal gem, as Unai Emery bids to bolster his attack this summer.

The Spaniard will be joined by Monchi as president of football operations, adding a presence of experience in striking strong deals in the transfer window.

Emery has taken Villa to new heights, which Monchi could add to in signing the latest player linked to the club who has emerged as one of the continent's best performers this season.

What’s the latest on Pedro Goncalves to Aston Villa?

As reported by Portuguese outlet A Bola – relayed by Sport Witness – earlier this week, Aston Villa are continuing their pursuit of Sporting CP attacker Pedro Goncalves.

The report claims that Villa are ‘insisting’ on signing the forward, however, aren’t keen on paying the €80m (£69m) release clause set by the Portuguese giants for their star player.

A Bola suspect that the Midlands club are wanting to pay a fee in the region of €40m (£34m) for the winger, adding that Sporting have ‘no reason’ to negotiate a lower price for their player due to the near sale of Manuel Ugarte to Paris Saint Germain.

What could Pedro Goncalves offer to Aston Villa?

Monchi will have to pull off his first masterclass in order to get Sporting to budge on their price tag for Goncalves, with the winger shaping to be a marquee signing for the Villans if a deal can be reached.

Registering 26 G/A in 33 Liga Portugal appearances for his club this season, the 24-year-old isn’t a player that the Lions are going to see depart without a fight.

Securing an average match rating of 7.51 this campaign, the winger ranked as the club’s second-highest performer in the league as per Sofascore.

The Chaves-born ace could offer an abundance of talent to Emery’s side, who are preparing to challenge in Europe next term after securing a spot in the UEFA Europe Conference League.

The heights reached by the versatile attacker have seen him linked statistically to Premier League ace Kevin De Bruyne, setting the tone for the calibre of player Monchi could deliver to Villa Park.

Hailed as a “superstar” by pundit Jack Collins, Goncalves compares closely to De Bruyne based on their numbers recorded over the past year, with FBref showing the Portuguese star’s influence in the final third.

When comparing the two via FBref, the 24-year-old averages fractionally better than the treble-winning maestro in terms of non-penalty goals, registering 0.30 per 90 to the Belgian’s 0.26.

The 31-year-old crept just ahead in providing successful take-ons, averaging 1.21 to Goncalves’ 1.19 per 90, insinuating the threat that he could pose in the Premier League with consideration of the Manchester City ace’s dominance.

As well as being a threat in front of goal, the Sporting gem is a keen creator too, averaging a huge 2.3 key passes per game, providing the potential to be a diamond asset to the rest of the squad at Villa Park. Indeed, like the City ace, this is a player who is equally good in front of goal as he is creating for others.

As such, Monchi could cement himself as a hero around the Midlands if he can reach an agreement to secure the signature of the 24-year-old, who could thrive under the genius stroke of Emery.

Son Heung-min has thrown shade at the Saudi Pro League after he was asked about potentially leaving Tottenham Hotspur and following the likes of Crisitiano Ronaldo to the country.

What's the latest on Son Heung-min?

With his future currently up in the air, there's been a lot of talk surrounding what's next for Son, with many believing his time at Spurs could be drawing to a close soon.

After a fairly disappointing season, where the winger had just 14 goals and six assists in all competitions – a major drop-off compared to the year prior where he scored 24 times and created 10 assists – his future in the Premier League has been a topic of conversation, and it was recently reported that Al-Ittihad have made an offer of £50m for Son, with the 30-year-old the latest in a long line of stars being touted for a move to the Saudi Pro League.

With a reported salary offer of £25m a season, the South Korean would join forces with Karim Benzema if he were to join the side, with the Frenchman recently leaving Real Madrid for the club.

Following Ronaldo's move to Saudi Arabia late last year, numerous teams in the Pro League have begun splashing the cash on numerous high-profile names such as Benzema, Ruben Neves and N'Golo Kante, with Son expected to be the next man to make the switch.

The 30-year-old has spoken out, though, denying any intention of moving to the Saudi Pro League and even throwing a hint of shade at the division.

What did Son Heung-min say about the Saudi Pro League?

When questioned about a potential move to the country, Son shut it down immediately, claiming he wasn't finished in the Premier League and had things he still wanted to accomplish before he could leave.

Following South Korea's recent 1-1 draw against El Savador, telling the press: "I have many things to do in the Premier League and the pride of playing football, to play in my favourite league is important."

He went on to admit that he wasn't quite ready to leave Spurs and wanted to stay at the club this summer, saying: "I want to play more for Tottenham in the Premier League. I'll prepare well when I'm back to Spurs."

In what could be viewed as a dig at the Saudi Pro League's spending power, Son said: "Money doesn't matter to me now."

With several stars being paid absurd amounts of money to make the move, the comment reiterated the 30-year-old's desire to put his ambition over his desire for riches, something not often seen in football's current climate.

Everton are in the market for a new centre-forward this summer after another disappointing season in the Premier League and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Everton's interest in Brandon Vazquez?

According to The Athletic, Cinnicinati FC are reluctant to part ways with their star striker this summer and any deal done would likely result in snapping up the services when the MLS season ends.

As per the report, Everton and Hoffenheim are named as potential suitors for Brandon Vazquez, but with another one of their strikers (Brenner) also touted for a move away from the MLS club, the Toffees may be forced to wait until January to bring the centre-forward to Goodison Park.

Would Vazquez be worth the wait for Everton?

It is no secret that Everton found it difficult in front of goal this season due to Richarlison and Anthony Gordon's departure and Dominic Calvert-Lewin continuing to struggle with fitness problems.

The lack of consistent and reliable performers in the final third resulted in the Merseysiders getting caught up in a tight relegation scrap at the bottom of the table and tallying up the second-fewest goals (34) in the entire Premier League.

As a result, the signing of Vazquez would be a massive boost for Sean Dyche as he endeavours to improve the performances, increase goal contributions and lead Everton into a position where they can more comfortably compete.

Over 107 appearances for his current club, the 24-year-old has proven himself to be a "ruthless goal-scoring machine" in the words of journalist Chris Smith.

Indeed, the £3m-rated forward has scored 32 goals and registered 14 assists, averaging a goal contribution every 134 minutes, an output that would be a huge asset to Everton next season and could see him become the perfect Calvert-Lewin heir.

The Toffees striker has been a talisman for the team in the past and been influential when it has mattered most to the club, notably scoring 16 league goals in the 2020/21 campaign. However, over the last 18 months, his constant injury issues have massively hindered his ability to get a run of form going, finding the net just nine times since.

Dyche will surely now be desperate for more consistency in the role to ensure mistakes are not repeated in relying on the striker's return, and their top-flight status won't be compromised again next season, so Vazquez could be the perfect player to succeed the 26-year-old.

Unlike the Premier League, the MLS runs by calendar year so currently Vazquez is playing an integral role in America whilst Europe breaks until August, so it is understandable why Cincinnati would be reluctant to part ways with such a huge asset mid-season.

Having said that, Everton are at a point where they have been riding their luck in the top flight for too long and after only being saved in the final 45 minutes of the season from dropping into the Championship, waiting another six months for a striker could be detrimental.

Tottenham Hotspur are now close to agreeing personal terms with David Raya over a potential move to north London this summer.

How much does David Raya earn?

A difficult campaign for the Lilywhites has seen the expected departure of Hugo Lloris emerge with the Frenchman enduring a particularly difficult season.

The 36-year-old only made 25 appearances in the Premier League with injuries seriously hampering his game time as Fraser Forster stepped up in his place.

However, even when he was fit enough to play, the veteran did not exactly impress having conceded 39 goals in those games and only managing to keep seven clean sheets (via Transfermarkt).

It is believed Lloris now has an opportunity on the table from Saudi Arabia to make a big-money move to the Middle East and even the possibility to return to OGC Nice.

And with this in mind, it is said the Lilywites are looking for their Lloris successor this summer and Brentford's Raya is believed to be on their list.

Despite being out of contract in a year's time, the Bees are thought to hold the high valuation of £40m for their shot-stopper this summer.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has claimed the north London club are ahead of any other club in the race to potentially sign the Spaniard:

"Tottenham are now ahead of any other club because they are on the verge of reaching an agreement for personal terms with David Raya.

"The player said yes, they are finalising the contract so everything is almost ready between David Raya and Tottenham as new goalkeeper to replace Lloris.

"But the agreement between Tottenham and Brentford is still not completed. Brentford want £40m, for Tottenham, this is way too much especially because the player is out of contract next summer."

Who wants to sign David Raya?

Clearly, the north London side are keen to bring in the Brentford goalkeeper this summer with Tottenham close to agreeing personal terms with the player.

And this is a significant update as it seems the 27-year-old is keen to make the move across London to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

This comes amid reported interest from other clubs with both Manchester United and Chelsea also linked with a potential move for him this summer.

Raya has now established himself as a highly-regarded shot-stopper in the Premier League with Sky Sports man Dan Bardell hailing him as "next level with his feet".

And this is something which could be massively improved on at Spurs with Lloris boasting just a 64.3% pass success rate this season (via Fbref).

In comparison, Raya was able to rack up an impressive 77.1% pass success rate as he outperformed the Frenchman in short, medium and long-range passes (via Fbref).

Spurs will be hoping Brentford evaluate the possibility of losing Raya for nothing next summer and lower their price tag, however, it is apparent his manager, Thomas Frank, thinks very highly of him:

"We are very happy with David here, everybody knows he is a £40million-plus goalkeeper if anyone is interested. There is a possibility he will maybe leave this summer for the right price. If that happens we need to be prepared like we are at left-back, right-back, striker."

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been linked to a goal machine ahead of the summer transfer window, as Julen Lopetegui looks to fix his side’s scoring woes.

Wolves found the net just 31 times in 38 games this season, making them the Premier League’s lowest scorers.

The club could end their low scoring streak in one signing this summer, despite pressures of FFP putting strain on the Spaniard’s ability to spend.

What’s the latest on Georges Mikautadze to Wolves?

According to French outlet le10sport last week, the Midlands club are “ready” to position themselves to sign FC Metz striker Georges Mikautadze.

The report states that the asking price from the Ligue 2 club would be around the €20m mark, making him available to Wolves for just £17m.

What could Georges Mikautadze bring to Wolves?

For only a snip price, Lopetegui could get his hands on a prolific goalscorer who has found the net on 24 occasions in all competitions this season.

Playing in Ligue 2 with Metz, the 22-year-old ended the campaign as the league's top scorer, with 23 strikesin the competition, as well as scoring one in the Coupe de France.

Hailed as “incredible” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the young forward has more than just goal-scoring ability in his arsenal, having registered nine assists across all competitions also.

His talents could provide Wolves with an essence of the spirit at Molineux when Raul Jimenez was firing, and the club were pushing towards the top six.

In both the 2018/19 and 2019/20 campaigns, the Midlands club finished seventh in the Premier League under Nuno Santo, with the two recurring successes in those seasons being the form of the Mexican striker.

The talisman scored a combined total of 30 goals and registered 14 assists over the impressive terms, however, since his devastating injury the goals have dried up and so has Wolves’ form.

Lauded as “remarkable” by former teammate Conor Coady back in 2020, the forward was the battery fuelling Nuno’s attack, and inspired his team to dream about competing with the big fish in the Premier League.

What Wolves relished in having during those years is what the club is missing now, being absent going forward which has punished their performance in the competition, with the club sitting bottom of the table on Christmas day last year.

Lopetegui must improve his side’s ability to find the net, which he could do so in signing the “Georgian killer” Mikautadze, who has an innate ability to contribute to goals, just as Jimenez did in those glory years.

This season, the Georgian has a scoring frequency in Ligue 2 of every 134 minutes, averaging 1.1 shots on target per game, similar to that of the Mexican in 2019/20 who averaged 1.2 on target per game and a frequency of 191 minutes – as per Sofascore.

At just 22-year-old, the Spaniard could have a talent to lead the line at Molineux for years to come in a player that would cost the club less than £20m.

Newcastle United's fate has been sealed and the Tyneside giants will compete in the Champions League next season after emphatic seasonal success this year, and requisite moves on the transfer front must now be made.

What's the latest on Newcastle's pursuit of Harry Maguire?

One name that has entered transfer circulation is Manchester United's world-record £80m centre-back Harry Maguire, with a recent update from Dean Jones stating that the defender is set to depart Old Trafford this summer after falling out of favour under the tutelage of Erik ten Hag.

While there is a vested interest in the 30-year-old from Serie A outfits such as AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus, Newcastle have also been credited as possible suitors, should the Red Devils grant Maguire's departure to a top-four Premier League rival.

It's thought a potential loan move could even be on the cards for the centre-back.

Should Newcastle sign Harry Maguire?

While Maguire has endured a turbulent ride in Manchester at times, perhaps none more so than this season where he has found a regular starting berth hard to come by, he is a commanding and aerially superlative "colossus" – as dubbed by Simon Jordan – to wield at the foot of the pitch.

In March, 90min reported that Maguire was among the players at the Theatre of Dreams informed that they are free to depart at the conclusion of the season, with the Magies stated to be 'monitoring' the situation.

Maguire has made 31 appearances across all competitions this term but has started only eight times in the Premier League, and with £190k-per-week wages, it is unlikely he will remain beyond the summer with a utility role.

Praised for his "dominating" demeanour on the pitch by Ten Hag, Maguire would be a good addition for Newcastle because injecting an imposing presence into a defence that boasts the joint-meanest defence in the English top-flight this term – alongside champions Manchester City – will only enrich the flourishing current crop.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 17% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues for pass completion, the top 20% for progressive carries, the top 11% for rate of blocks and the top 12% for aerials won per 90.

He would surely thrive alongside Sven Botman, who has been a revelation at St. James' Park since signing for £35m from Lille last summer.

While Maguire isn't the most mobile of defenders, he does boast an imposing physicality, which could run in tandem with Botman's own brutish approach to his play.

Indeed the £90k-per-week Dutchman has been lauded as a "leader" by journalist Josh Bunting, a quality he certainly shares with Maguire, while averaging a Premier League match rating of 6.99, as per Sofascore, completing 87% of his passes, making 3.3 clearances per match and winning 67% of his duels.

Such a tenacious and iron-clad partnership would only bear fruit for Howe, and signing Maguire might actually be a shrewd move to take as the Magpies continue their ascent.