Tag Futebol

Liverpool choosing to snub their pursuit of Jude Bellingham could help to accelerate the progress of discussions with other midfield targets at Anfield, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest news involving Jude Bellingham?

As per ESPN, Liverpool pulled out of making a move to try and sign Borussia Dortmund sensation Bellingham in order to focus on rebuilding their squad this summer.

The report states that the Reds would've been committing a large portion of their spending power in the forthcoming transfer window to the deal and wouldn't have been able to strengthen adequately ahead of 2023/24 in other areas.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has since updated the world with the news that Bellingham looks set for a move to La Liga giants Real Madrid on Twitter, stating: "Real Madrid are already preparing the official bid for Jude Bellingham. After personal terms agreed on long-term deal 2 weeks ago, proposal will be sent to BVB and it will include add-ons. Timing also depends on Bundesliga title race; Real will be respectful with Dortmund."

In 2022/23, the 19-year-old has made 42 appearances in all competitions for his current employers, registering 14 goals and seven assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs has indicated that he expects Liverpool to have a busy transfer period this summer.

Jacobs told FFC: "I sense with the whole, pulling out of the race for Jude Bellingham was not only Liverpool not wanting that to eat up a large proportion of their budget and the saga drag out. It was also a situation whereby they will have known that there were other gettable targets that they could focus their attention on and as a consequence, I expect Liverpool have lined things up and, in the early part of the window, be really quite busy."

Who else have Liverpool targeted in terms of midfielders?

Liverpool have targeted several midfielders ahead of the summer as Jurgen Klopp looks to beef up his engine room with some fresh legs.

As per Football Insider, Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount has been mooted as a possible target and it is said that the Blues will sell him in the transfer window if they cant get him to agree to a contract extension.

Bayern Munich anchorman Ryan Gravenberch is also someone of interest to Liverpool and is believed to be open to a move to Anfield due to frustration over a lack of regular minutes, according to The Mirror.

PSV Eindhoven enforcer Ibrahim Sangare has also attracted attention from the red half of Merseyside, signifying that Liverpool fans are in for an exciting few months ahead as they plot a squad restructure ahead of 2023/24.

Manchester United return to Premier League action at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers this afternoon, with Erik ten Hag's men in desperate need of a positive result following a particularly disappointing last week or so.

Having edged past Aston Villa in their last Old Trafford outing, the Red Devils have since continued their woes on the road by suffering 1-0 defeats at the hands of both Brighton and Hove Albion and West Ham United, ensuring they have now lost eight of their 18 away league games this season.

That grim record has ensured that Champions League qualification is now no guarantee with bitter rivals Liverpool impressively gaining ground in fifth, albeit with United's top-four hopes still very much in their own hands with just four games of the season left to play.

Ten Hag and co could well be facing a major blow ahead of today's encounter, however, with the former Ajax boss revealing that leading scorer Marcus Rashford – who scored the winner in the reverse fixture at Molineux – is "more than doubtful" for the visit of Julen Lopetegui's men, albeit with both Raphael Varane and Alejandro Garnacho in contention to feature.

With that in mind, Football FanCast has predicted how the hosts could line up against the Old Gold later today.

What will Man United's starting XI be vs Wolves?

Following on from the frustrating loss at the London Stadium, there could be as many as five changes this time around, albeit with David De Gea set to retain his place in the sticks despite proving culpable for Said Benraham's winner last time out.

Ahead of the long-serving Spaniard, Diogo Dalot could take the place of Aaron Wan-Bissaka at right-back, while a further defensive shake-up could see club captain Harry Maguire recalled at the heart of the defence alongside Victor Lindelof, allowing Luke Shaw to revert to his usual, left-back berth – with Ten Hag avoiding the temptation to rush back the aforementioned Varane.

As for the midfield ranks, despite having been 'bossed' by the Hammers – as per Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst – experienced ace Casemiro will likely retain his place in the side, with it perhaps a chance for Bruno Fernandes to slot in alongside the Brazilian in a deep-lying role.

That would see Christian Eriksen ditched from the starting lineup after the £150k-per-week "genius" – as described by Statman Dave – was 'overwhelmed' against the Irons, according to GOAL's Richard Martin, with January arrival Marcel Sabitzer taking his place.

Amid the possible loss of Rashford, it would seem wise to recall Anthony Martial to the side ahead of the struggling Wout Weghorst, with the wide berths likely to be taken up by Antony and Jadon Sancho, as young Garnacho may need to be eased back in off the bench after his recent injury layoff.

Predicted Man United XI – (4-3-3) – De Gea; Dalot, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw; Casemiro, Fernandes, Sabitzer; Antony, Martial, Sancho

Manchester United's owners have been urged by Rio Ferdinand to improve their communication with the fans amid the ongoing takeover talk.

What's the latest in Man United's potential sale?

Last month, it was reported the club were to receive improved bids from the likes of Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe who were the main two interested parties.

It was also suggested there had been a bid arrive from a Finnish entrepreneur but it's believed he has since withdrawn from the race.

However, progress has seemingly slowed of late with suggestions that the Glazer family, in fact, could look to remain in power at Old Trafford.

Indeed, a report has claimed the American owners are considering the possibility of staying at the club for another decade to increase the return on their original investment.

ESPN have claimed there is a growing confidence between the Glazer brothers that they could potentially double the current return which they could make currently if they were to remain at the club.

And speaking on the Stretford Paddock YouTube channel, Rio Ferdinand has expressed his concerns and urged the owners to improve their communications with the fans:

(5:00) "I've always said this, if they communicated with the fan base much better, much more clearer, open and transparent. They might have a better reaction from the fans.

"Or at least a bit of back and forth with the fans just to humanise the situation because they're so far removed from the fan base and the fans understanding or knowing where they are with things."

"I would urge them to speak to the fans, man. Or at least put a face to these words."

What could this mean for United's future?

Since Erik ten Hag's arrival at Old Trafford, United have progressed well on the pitch with the Red Devils looking good for a finish inside the top four.

United have already been able to get their hands on the Carabao Cup and the Europa League is still there to play for if they can progress past Sevilla in the second leg.

With this in mind, it does feel as if the club are heading in the right direction with the addition of players like Casemiro playing a big role in that.

However, there will be questions whether United would be able to close the gap on their city rivals with the current ownership at the helm.

Regardless of the opinions on this, an answer does feel like it is needed before the summer transfer window.

If the Glazers are to remain at the helm, then it will be in the interest of all involved that they confirm it over the coming weeks, therefore, plans can be put in place for the summer window.

If this is the case, there may be concerns as to whether United will go after a big-name striker such as Victor Osimhen who is expected to cost over £100m.

And it seems as if Ferdinand does believe the owners could escalate the frustrations of some of the United fans if they were to open up the conversation further.

Newcastle United's season has been unprecedented, as somehow Eddie Howe managed to carry their blistering form from the second half of last campaign and turn it into a genuine push for Champions League places.

Such has been their impressive work, amidst the disappointment of that EFL Cup final loss, the Magpies are now firmly in the driving seat to remain in that coveted third-placed spot which has been hotly-contested.

Should they achieve this unthinkable accomplishment, fast-tracking the development of a club still buoyed by their new ownership, it will likely widen their opportunities for player acquisition too. Previously, money was no object, but now with the promise of European football assured, suddenly Tyneside once again becomes an attractive proposition for Europe's top talent.

That would therefore explain the shift in focus to this summer, which promises to be an enthralling transfer window for a team that has already bolstered with intelligence.

The likes of Sven Botman and Bruno Guimaraes were immediate hits at St James' Park, but Alexander Isak has had to bide his time before truly showcasing his talents. His return to fitness has proved vital, and now the hulking forward cannot stop scoring.

That makes the links to Moussa Diaby all the more frightening, as adding another top-quality asset to this ever-improving outfit could not only push the team even further forward, but offer a fine creative presence to provide for the Swedish international.

Could Newcastle sign Moussa Diaby?

Having been noted among the favourites to acquire the Frenchman earlier in the week, this new development almost encourages them to act with haste among the growing list of suitors. They will likely still have to overcome the reported €75m (£66m) price tag that was touted in January too.

The interest this tricky wide man has drummed up hardly comes as a surprise given the consistency of the 23-year-old, who continues to thrive for Bayer Leverkusen.

Explosive with his turn of pace and possessing lightning-quick feet, these intangible qualities gave way to what has also been a fine goalscoring season for the former Paris Saint-Germain star. He boasts nine goals and seven assists in the Bundesliga, seeking to surpass his 13-goal and 12-assist tally from the season prior.

Such consistency across various campaigns only adds to the intrigue of this potential move, which Isak would likely endorse given the space and added chances someone like Diaby would command.

With five goals in his last five games, the club-record acquisition has thrived even when surrounded by the likes of Jacob Murphy and Sean Longstaff. Although both have impressed this season, to instead replace them with the talent being mentioned could see the 6 foot 4 finisher explode on Tyneside.

After all, his potential new teammate does average 1.9 key passes per game alongside the 46% dribble success rate that likely spurred journalist Julien Froment to laud him as someone who "creates gaps and danger as soon as he touches the ball," back during his time in the French capital.

With the future on Tyneside brighter than ever, and a calibre of players like Diaby potentially on the horizon too, Isak must be licking his lips at the prospect of this future superteam he will spearhead.

Tottenham Hotspur manager target Mauricio Pochettino is in 'pole position' for the Spurs job alongside Julian Nagelsmann, according to reports.

Could Pochettino re-join Spurs?

The Argentine has been very seriously linked with a sensational move back to Spurs nearly four years after chairman Daniel Levy sacked him in 2019. Pochettino, after Tottenham agreed to part company with Antonio Conte by mutual consent, has been billed as one of the candidates to succeed him with Luis Enrique, Zinedine Zidane and Nagelsmann also listed as targets.

In the meantime, as Levy scours the market for Tottenham's next permanent boss, it is the task of Cristian Stellini and assistant coach Ryan Mason to deliver a top four Premier League finish – something which could be crucial in helping to attract some of world football's most sought-after bosses.

Reports have suggested that Pochettino would be very open to re-joining Spurs while other sources, like Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth, have claimed that he'd rather wait until the summer.

Of course, until the Lilywhites and Levy finally seal a new manager, there will be conflicting claims on Pochettino's chances of securing a north London reunion. In a latest development, a report by Portuguese news outlet A Bola, as translated and shared by Sport Witness, has made a claim on the South American's chances of becoming Spurs boss.

The newspaper states that Pochettino, accompanied by Nagelsmann, are both in 'pole position' to take over from Conte with both managers seemingly at the front of the queue.

Pochettino or Nagelsmann?

Both coaches have their serious credentials when it comes to becoming Tottenham's next manager, not least their trophy-winning pedigree. Indeed, Nagelsmann and Pochettino boast league titles on their CVS – all while encouraging an attack-minded brand of football.

The former has been hailed for his 'outstanding' methods of coaching in attack while the latter has been called 'world class' and lead Tottenham to a Champions League final in 2019.

It's clear the duo would be a marked footballing improvement in terms of excitement beyond the more pragmatic eras of Conte and former Spurs boss Jose Mourinho. As things stand, however, we believe Pochettino would be the safer pair of hands in what is a turbulent, uncertain time for Levy.

The 51-year-old's popularity with the Tottenham fan base, and his experience working at the club, could be a major incentive to move for the former Southampton head coach. Spurs supporters have already been pictured singing his name and Pochettino's return would be a very popular move.

Sky Sports presenter Joe Thomlinson has slammed David Moyes for the way he’s failing to get the best out of West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca.

The Lowdown: West Ham continue to struggle

The Hammers have been brought crashing back down to earth this season after back-to-back European finishes as they’re now engulfed in a relegation scrap.

West Ham currently sit above the relegation zone by goal difference with just 12 games left to play, with clashes against five of the current top six still to come, which will almost certainly have alarm bells ringing in and around the fanbase.

What will have left the West Ham faithful very annoyed is that when they were chasing three points on Sunday, Moyes opted against throwing on £35.5m striker Scamacca, despite the Hammers being desperate for a goal.

The Latest: Moyes unable to get the best out of Scamacca

It’s now the second big-money striker that has seemingly flopped under Moyes after Sebastien Haller – albeit brought to the club by Manuel Pellegrini – failed to impress at the London Stadium, which is something Thomlinson alluded to on the Football Daily YouTube channel.

He said: “When you add the context of £180m spent in the summer and big names arriving at the club ie Scamacca and Paqueta, it becomes problematic when Scamacca is an unused sub in a 1-1 draw [against] Villa where you need points because you’re in a relegation battle and Maxwel Cornet comes on up front ahead of you.

“I know Cornet was also a summer arrival, but I just think his usage of Scamacca is becoming extremely troublesome, and his quotes after the game here, saying ‘his physical data has got to be much better than it is’.

“That’s fine, but I remember a similar narrative developing with Seb Haller when he was there – that he didn’t do the runs into the channels that he wanted and we’ve seen what Seb Haller has been able to achieve subsequently to leaving West Ham and what he managed to at Ajax and [his] goalscoring rate.

“Just 11 starts in the Premier League for the Italian. That’s pretty underwhelming given that he was £35m, the big name coming in.

“Three goals. It’s just very, very underwhelming.”

The Verdict: Scamacca is yet to justify big price tag

It has certainly been a disastrous debut season in England for Scamacca, who tore up Serie A last campaign with 16 goals to his name, with his performances seeing West Ham fork out a huge amount of money for his services.

However, he just hasn’t been able to step up to the level of the Premier League, or perhaps Moyes hasn’t been able to get a tune out of the big Italian, as he can’t put up the physical data and numbers required.

If that’s the reason for Scamacca’s lack of form and starts in the Premier League, Moyes and the West Ham scouting team need to be looking at themselves if they didn’t see this potential flaw in Scamacca’s game displaying itself prior to paying so much money for him last summer.

Javi Gracia’s future at Leeds United may not be guaranteed even if he keeps the club in the Premier League, according to Ben Jacobs.

The Lowdown: Flexible deal

The Whites officially confirmed Gracia as their new head coach on Tuesday afternoon, with the Spaniard agreeing on a flexible contract in Yorkshire.

Gracia’s short-term task is to keep the club in the top flight, and there was a claim in the media that there is an agreement to make a move permanent should he do just that. However, Jacobs has had his say on Leeds’ managerial situation, believing that the 52-year-old could be a victim of his own success.

The Latest: Jacobs’ comments

Speaking to TEAMtalk, Jacobs said that the Whites could keep their managerial options open even if Gracia guides them to safety. He added that the 49ers Enterprises would more than likely take complete control at Elland Road and will want their say on manager decisions.

“If they secure their Premier League status – and therein lies the paradox – because if Leeds stay up, then Gracia you know, shouldn’t really be replaced. Surely because he’ll have done his job. But I do think that leads to Leeds keeping their options open.

“That is, ultimately, why the contract is flexible, because they don’t yet know what’s going to happen with their league status.

“And we also have to bear in mind that if everything still goes according to plan, 49ers Enterprises will be coming in and taking full ownership of Leeds United.

“And as the full owner of Leeds United, should that progress, they will also want their say on who is in charge of Leeds United, both now and in the long run.”

The Verdict: Walk before you can run

Leeds’ full focus both on and off the pitch at this moment in time should be on getting out of the relegation zone and ensuring a fourth successive season in the Premier League, beginning against Southampton tomorrow afternoon.

Should Gracia manage to achieve that, then discussions should take place on his future at the end of the campaign. Hopefully, that’s what Elland Road officials have in mind, but with a flexible deal in place and a takeover by the 49ers a real possibility later this year, it could be a busy time off the pitch in Yorkshire.

Celtic’s latest Premiership triumph away to St Johnstone saw midfield maestro Aaron Mooy once again steal the limelight, with the Australian having rubberstamped his growing importance to Ange Postecoglou’s side.

The classy playmaker produced a “filthy” touch and finish (as per journalist John McGinley) to dink the ball over the onrushing Remi Matthews, with that moment of magic epitomising the summer signing’s stunning run of recent form.

The experienced asset – who arrived on a free transfer last July after a spell in the Chinese Super League – has been a “key contributor” for the Old Firm outfit since the World Cup according to his manager, with this latest effort in Perth having been his 12th goal involvement of the season so far.

While not one to bask in the limelight, the former Brighton and Hove Albion man is rightly receiving all the plaudits at present, with team-mate Greg Taylor having lauded him as “unbelievable” following Sunday’s 4-1 win over the Saints.

It does appear that the 57-cap Australian could be in it for the long haul in Glasgow, with Postecoglou having teased his desire to keep Mooy at the club beyond the end of his contract – which expires next year – amid the 32-year-old’s rampant form.

Due to his age, however, it remains to be seen just how long the former Huddersfield Town ace will be able to continue flourishing for the Hoops, with Postecoglou likely to already have one eye on the future with regards to finding a potential heir in the coming years.

One suitable candidate for that role could well be promising teenager Ben Summers, with the 18-year-old also currently thriving for the club’s B team in an attacking midfield berth – much like Mooy is at senior level.

The sparkling Scotsman – who can also feature on the flanks – has scored five goals and laid on four assists in 27 games in all competitions so far this season at youth level, again almost mirroring Mooy’s impact in the first-team.

Just like the latter – who simply “dictates the game” according to Frank McAvennie – Summers also appears to be a truly gifted technician in possession, having been described as “beautiful on the ball” and “aesthetically pleasing” by former youth coach Greig Robertson.

Although the youngster is yet to feature at senior level, he is clearly a player on whom Postecoglou has a firm eye, having been one of eight up-and-coming assets who were included for the pre-season trip to Austria.

The next target for Summers will be to make that step-up on a permanent basis sooner rather than later, before eventually taking on Mooy’s creative role in the Celtic team in the long-term.

Manchester United are among the clubs monitoring Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic with a view to a summer transfer, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

What’s the word?

The Serbian striker could leave Juventus this summer, as the club look to aid their financial struggles, and he has now been linked with a number of clubs.

United are reportedly targeting a long-term number nine at the end of the season, with Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen linked, and Vlahovic could be another viable option.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Galetti revealed the price that Juventus could accept, as well as the clubs interested in a move.

“The Bianconeri have already set his price tag at around €80m,” he stated.

“In the Premier League, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal are interested in him. They are monitoring the position of Dusan Vlahovic very carefully.”

A backup target?

Given Osimhen’s form for Napoli this season, as well as Kane’s experience in the Premier League, Vlahovic, who has been hailed as “unbelievable”, is arguably the least attractive of the three options, but if United cannot land either of the other two, he could be a viable alternative.

Whilst the 23-year-old has had a mixed season at Juventus, his goal record last season both there and at Fiorentina was nothing short of spectacular, scoring 29 times in 45 appearances.

Micah Richards described the forward as “lightning” during his hot spell at La Viola, and if he can replicate that form at Old Trafford, he could be the key to help Erik ten Hag’s side challenge for major silverware.

He was signed at Juventus as an eventual replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, and could be set to do the same at United, with the Portuguese superstar leaving the club by mutual consent in December.

If he does make the move, then he could form a deadly attack alongside Marcus Rashford, and at over 6″2 tall, he could replace the physicality that loanee Wout Weghorst has brought to the side.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Joao Gomes, as they are still short of Lyon’s bid for the midfielder.

The Lowdown: Battle for Gomes

Wolves are reportedly keen on bringing Gomes to the club, tabling a £15m offer for the Flamengo midfielder, however Lyon have since made an attempt to hijack the move, offering £2.5m more to the Brazilian club.

The Daily Mail report also states that the 21-year-old has already travelled to England, as he is personally keen on the switch, however there is now a chance that he does not get his wish…

The Latest: Stand-off

According to the Express & Star, the three clubs have been in a stand-off this week, with Flamengo adamant that they want to sell the youngster to Lyon, given that they are offering more money.

However, the player himself still remains determined to join Wolves. The Old Gold are hopeful of finding a solution to the saga in the next few days – which one would assume involves stumping up the additional difference between their bid and Lyon’s – with the report claiming they do not want to wait until the closing stages of the window.

The Verdict: Get it done

It appears as though the only thing preventing Julen Lopetegui from getting his man is that £2.5m, so if that is what it takes to bring a player of his quality to Molineux, then Wolves should stump up the additional amount.

Hailed as ‘unique’ by scout Jacek Kulig, while also being labelled a ‘midfield destroyer’, the Flamengo ace is a no-nonsense central midfielder who is tough in the tackle, as indicated by him ranking in the 99th percentile for tackles per 90 in the past year, averaging a whopping 4.26.

However, his game is not limited to simply defensive attributes, with the starlet also specialising in carrying the ball, placed in the 92nd percentile for dribbles per 90, with an average figure of 1.37.

Gomes is clearly a quality young player with tenacity off the ball and composure on it, and he is well worth spending some extra money on if it means winning the race for his signature.