All posts by h79snht.top

Conor McGilligan believes the possibility of Leeds United being relegated will put Rafael Benitez off the managerial role.

The Lowdown: A permanent manager is needed

After back-to-back solid performances against Manchester United which resulted in one point being picked up, some Leeds fans and people on the board may have seen Michael Skubala as a fine option moving forward until the end of the season.

However, they failed to get anything from their relegation six-pointer away to Everton yesterday and what’s even more damning is that they didn’t lay a glove on the Toffees registering zero shots on target.

Therefore, it appears clear the new coach bounce has already evaded Skubala and a new permanent manager with experience being a first team manager has to be put in place before the Southampton game this weekend.

The Latest: Benitez being linked

Benitez was a pundit on Sky Sports yesterday and insisted that he’s happy in England and wants a return to Premier League management, which is what could well see Leeds miss out on the Spaniard given their perilous position as McGilligan discussed on his YouTube channel.

He said: (17:38) “Obviously he’s worked at [Real] Madrid, he’s worked at Chelsea but I don’t think Rafa would come. He wants to stay in the Premier League, he wants a project. Are Leeds going to stay in the Premier League? Is he really going to take over a team that is where we are?

“I don’t think he’s ever taken control of a team that is in the position that Leeds are in.”

The Verdict: Leeds must go all out for Benitez

It’s safe to say that a permanent manager that can get a grip on this rather talented Leeds squad and ensure they maintain their top-flight status in any way possible is very much required as soon as possible.

Even if Leeds were to go down under the stewardship of someone such as Benitez then they can still look forward to a season in the Championship as he does have experience of getting promoted at the first time of asking as he won the title with Newcastle United back in 2017.

While Benitez certainly wouldn’t guarantee survival – he did relegate Newcastle – but with 173 Premier League wins under his belt he would be far more experienced at handling the pressure of the top flight than Skubala so Victor Orta should be working tirelessly to convince his fellow countrymen to join the Whites.

Liverpool defender Joe Gomez is unlikely to feature against Wolverhampton Wanderers tonight due to a muscle injury, according to expert Ben Dinnery.

The Lowdown: Gomez injured

Gomez started in Liverpool’s 5-2 defeat against Real Madrid in the Champions League, however he was forced off with just over 15 minutes to go, having picked up an injury, as confirmed by Jurgen Klopp.

The Reds have struggled with injury setbacks throughout this season, with Virgil van Dijk missing seven games due to a hamstring problem, while Ibrahima Konate has been unavailable for the last four Premier League games.

The Latest: Dinnery’s update

In an interview with GiveMeSport, Dinnery indicated that due to the nature of the Englishman’s injury, he is unlikely to be risked for tonight’s clash at Anfield.

The injury expert said: “That’s a muscle issue. It’s one of those that you don’t want to take too many chances with.

“There was a little bit of a question mark as to what the initial problem was when he limped off, but it transpired that it was a muscle problem.

“It’s probably just a bit of a quick turnaround as well for Gomez, with regards to that particular injury, because those are the ones that can easily be exacerbated.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/liverpool-transfer-news-and-rumours/” title=”Liverpool Transfer News and Rumours” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cropped-2021-03-07T155652Z_1459311687_UP1EH3718ASBK_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LIV-FUL-REPORT.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Another blow

It will be very frustrating for Liverpool that yet another centre-back is having a period on the sidelines, although they will be boosted by the fact Konate is in a good position to return to the squad this evening.

Hailed as ‘brilliant’ by members of the media, Gomez has made 29 appearances for the Reds in all competitions this season, highlighting his importance to the team.

While he is likely to play second fiddle to Konate and Van Dijk when both are fully fit, it is disappointing that Klopp will be without his back-up option tonight, considering the Reds have a busy period over the next couple of weeks.

As of yet, there is no timescale on when the defender could return to the first-team picture, but Klopp will be hoping he can make a swift recovery.

Leeds United’s recruitment has received decidedly mixed reviews, as there have been not only some high-profile blunders but some remarkable coups too.

Particularly their ability to locate and acquire youth talent is commendable, as highlighted through their summer signing of Wilfried Gnonto for just £5m. Already they are reaping the rewards of such a shrewd addition.

But in 2020 they seemed to strike gold with a similar feat when they parted with £1.5m to snatch Sam Greenwood from the Arsenal academy.

The youngster came with rave reviews, as a striker that could not stop scoring at youth level. Given how Leeds have just one goal in their last five games in all competitions, they could use someone with such scoring prowess now.

Although he is yet to truly cement a spot in the first team, the 5 foot 11 maestro has remained a dependable asset for various managers to call upon, making great strides in his development. This is best outlined through the steady growth of his valuation.

How much is Leeds starlet Sam Greenwood worth now?

Although he signed for an initial fee of £1.5m, the 21-year-old was seemingly only worth €200k (£178k) as of 2021 due to his lack of senior experience.

21 goal contributions in 39 games for the Gunners’ U18s was impressive, but hardly meriting a much higher value.

But now that the Sunderland-born forward has 29 senior appearances for the Whites under his belt, including a first goal and a handful of assists, that value has grown to an impressive €4m (£3.5m).

This marks an outstanding 1,866% increase in value in just one year of football; a figure that seems only set to grow as he establishes himself as more of a regular for Javi Gracia’s team.

Listed as part of a “bright” future at the Yorkshire outfit by journalist Alisa Cowen, his performances for his U21 side certainly suggest he is ready for increased action at the top level.

During the 2020/21 season, he would score 12 goals in 18 appearances, only to turn provider more often the season following as he notched 13 goal contributions in just 17 games.

With a soaring valuation and the quality in front of goal that Leeds have been lacking, Greenwood could soon be the answer to all their problems should he be handed some consistent game time under the new boss.

Tottenham Hotspur’s ability over the years to pluck unknown talent to be transformed into the next big thing has been unprecedented, with their team largely built around key figures who have been nurtured into a Champions League-level outfit rather than bought readymade.

Whilst the emergence of stars like Harry Kane and Heung-min Son might steal the headlines for their goalscoring feats in recent years, the acquisition of players such as Eric Dier for a cut-price has arguably been just as influential.

The hardy 29-year-old defender has spent periods of his career in central midfield, so makes for the ideal modern-day centre-back with his ability on the ball.

However, he still boasts that classic English spirit which sees him occasionally seek out a crunching tackle. It is for all of these reasons that he has been lauded, as the enforcer approaches the conclusion of his ninth year in north London.

His influence on this side cannot be understated, and this is best exemplified by his ever-increasing valuation.

How much is Eric Dier worth to Spurs?

Joining in 2014 from Sporting CP, the powerful stalwart was snapped up from the Portuguese outfit for just £4m.

v

The defender was one of Mauricio Pochettino’s first signings after his appointment earlier that year and would become a mainstay for the Argentine. Dier has since featured 352 times in total for the Lilywhites, and only seems poised to continue adding to that tally given how Antonio Conte now favours him.

He had the potential to become a “monstrous” midfield threat alongside Victor Wanyama, as noted by journalist Dan Kilpatrick, yet instead opted for defence where this season the machine has recorded 3.3 clearances and 1.2 interceptions per match alongside an 87% pass accuracy (via Sofascore).

As such, Football Transfers note that the apex of his expected Transfer Value, a metric used to determine an accurate transfer fee for players, sits at a lofty €40.7m (£36m); an outstanding 800% increase from the £4m that first brought him to North London.

Pochettino, therefore, struck gold for Spurs as his budget signing from the Portuguese league has gone on to soar in value and has been an excellent player for the club for many years, and potentially many more to come.

This is a figure that has likely only been bolstered by his continued inclusion within the England setup, as the 49-cap titan was branded a “beast” by journalist Nick Ralston after his work in the 2016 World Cup.

The 6 foot 1 stopper has impressed all who cross his path, with his career far from over. He will likely be desperate to add a trophy to his impressive time at Spurs, to cap off what has been a fine tenure at the club.

West Ham United winger Jarrod Bowen was hailed by the media for his performance against Aston Villa in the Premier League this afternoon.

The Lowdown: Points shared

The Hammers were undoubtedly the better team, recording far more shots and crafting more big opportunities than their opponents, but they were ultimately unable to make their superiority pay.

Villa opened the scoring in the first half through Ollie Watkins, before Said Benrahma converted a penalty less than ten minutes later to equalise, but given the chances his side created, David Moyes will be unhappy his side were unable to take all three points.

The Latest: Bowen praised

Despite Bowen being unable to weigh in with a goal or an assist, members of the media were quick to praise the impact that the winger had on the game.

ESPN analyst Luis Miguel Echegaray hailed the Englishman as being an ‘absolute nightmare’ for the Villa backline, while also praising him for the part he played in the first goal, and journalist Jonty Colman lauded him as ‘excellent’.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-news-6/” title=”West Ham latest news” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/cropped-david-moyes-premier-league-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Solid performance

Even though the former Hull City man was unable to produce a winning goal, he more than played his part in helping his side pick up what could prove to be a vital point in the Premier League relegation battle.

Not only was his work down the right essential in the build-up to Benrahma’s goal, his dribbling posed a constant threat for Lucas Digne throughout the game, completing five of the six dribbles that he attempted, the highest amount of any player.

Today’s result leaves West Ham well in the mix at the bottom end of the table, so it is absolutely vital Bowen continues his form into their next Premier League match, which is a real relegation six-pointer against Southampton at the beginning of April.

Liverpool are the most interested party in the race to sign Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Long-standing interest

The Reds have Naby Keita, Arthur Melo, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all out of contract at the end of the season, so reinforcements will definitely be needed in the upcoming window.

The Portuguese colossus made the move to Craven Cottage in July 2022 and has since taken the Premier League by storm, becoming Marco Silva’s top-performing defensive player.

Jurgen Klopp reportedly had the 27-year-old on his radar even before he joined the Whites and it appears that the boss is still keen to bring him to Anfield.

The Latest: Liverpool in pole position for Palhinha

According to The Daily Mail, FSG and Liverpool have emerged as the most ‘serious suitor’ at the front of the queue for Palhinha this summer, with several other vultures also ‘circling’.

The Cottagers are claimed to value their talisman at £60m, treble the £20m they initially paid for him, though they remain ‘confident’ that they will be able to retain his services for at least one more year.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/liverpool-transfer-news-and-rumours/” title=”Liverpool Transfer News and Rumours” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cropped-2021-03-07T155652Z_1459311687_UP1EH3718ASBK_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LIV-FUL-REPORT.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Get it done…

Palhinha has been dubbed an ‘artist’ and ‘sensational’ by journalist Josh Bunting, and Liverpool need to act fast should they want to get this deal over the line ahead of their fellow competitors.

The Fulham star ranks in the 99th percentile for tackles but is also strong in the offensive aspect of his game having netted four goals during his debut season in the capital, offering the mixture of energy, physical prowess and quality on the ball that is sorely lacking in the Reds’ midfield ranks.

The Lisbon native has also previously operated at centre-back, which will be an attractive attribute to Klopp given his side’s consistent defensive injuries.

Standing at 6 foot 2, Palhinha would add a different dimension to the midfield with his height, making him the perfect candidate to put pen to paper on Merseyside.

Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani is still keeping his options open regarding the managerial situation at Elland Road, according to Ben Jacobs.

The Lowdown: Gracia in charge for now

The Whites have suffered another tough season in the Premier League, once again battling relegation after surviving by the skin of their teeth last time around.

Leeds find themselves sitting 14th in the table with 11 matches remaining, with Javi Garcia coming in and doing an impressive job as the club’s manager on a short-team deal.

The Spaniard replaced the departed Jesse Marsch after the American struggled to ever properly get going in charge, and Saturday’s 4-2 win away to Wolves was one of the most important results of the campaign to date.

Gracia is only currently in the Elland Road hot seat until the end of the season, at which point Leeds will have a big decision to make regarding the situation.

The Latest: Radrizzani keeping options ‘open’

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs claimed that Gracia would likely get the job if Leeds stay up but Radrizzani and the 49ers are continuing to keep their cards close to their chest:

“We know that Andoni Iraola was a top choice, but there was no ability to get a deal done with Rayo Vallecano and Iraola wasn’t that intent on leaving mid-season either.

“There are lots of moving parts with Leeds at the moment, and the best way for Gracia to get the job beyond this season is to keep Leeds up.

“But I think all options are being kept open at this stage.”

The Verdict: Massive few months

In fairness to Gracia, it would be a huge surprise if he kept Leeds in the Premier League and was then disposed of by Radrizzani, given the job he would have done.

Assuming he wants to stay on as boss, keeping him in charge makes perfect sense, as the Whites look for some stability under a manager with genuine pedigree, having guided Watford to the 2019 FA Cup final.

Should Leeds go down, things could be different, in truth, while Radrizzani and the new 49ers group are understandably planning for a scenario where Gracia ends up not wanting to extend his stay at Elland Road.

As things stand, though, he is doing enough to guide the Whites to safety come May, and given the positive results he is picking up, the supporters will surely be perfectly content to see him remain as manager this summer and beyond.

Tottenham Hotspur want to open talks with Julian Nagelsmann about taking over as manager, in light of the recent departure of Antonio Conte, according to a report.

What are the latest manager rumours from Tottenham?

Tottenham's interim boss, Cristian Stellini, will be given the opportunity to be in charge until the end of the season, but there are four or five managers on the shortlist to take permanent charge at the end of the campaign, as reported by Fabrizio Romano.

At one stage, Marco Silva was reported to be in pole position to take over, while last week Brentford's Thomas Frank was said to be the frontrunner for the job, so it is clear there are multiple people under consideration by chairman Daniel Levy. After Nagelsmann was sacked by Bayern Munich, Tottenham ended their interest in Roberto De Zerbi, instead making the German their priority target, with the club's hierarchy viewing him as an elite-level manager.

Now, as per a report from The Daily Mail, the Lilywhites could be set to formalise their interest in the former Bayern boss, as Levy wishes to personally speak to him about the now-vacant position. The club have drawn up a list of potential options as they look to land a replacement in the summer, with Mauricio Pochettino also said to be in the frame, although there is some opposition to his appointment internally.

Other names linked with the job include the likes of Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner, and his preference for a three-at-the-back system with wing-backs could be a consideration, as the club have spent heavily to bolster those positions in recent times.

Would Julian Nagelsmann work at Tottenham?

The 35-year-old is reportedly open to talks about replacing Conte, but he may want a short period of time to decide on his next role, and with Stellini set to be installed as manager until the end of the season, taking over in the summer could be of great appeal.

Hailed as "fantastic" by sections of the media, the German won three trophies during his time with Bayern, and from the outside his sacking appears very harsh.

The reigning Bundesliga champions are through to the last eight of the Champions League, having defeated Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 over two legs, while they are just one point behind league-leaders Borussia Dortmund domestically. While he does not have prior experience in the Premier League, Nagelsmann is a top young manager, with a proven track record of winning trophies, and he would be a very exciting appointment for Tottenham.

Aston Villa are in a far better place under Unai Emery compared to when Steven Gerrard was in charge of the club. The Spaniard has pushed Villa away from the relegation zone and into a mid-table slot with the goal now being to push to the next step in 2023/24.

Emery has also signed Alex Moreno and Jhon Duran in January while recalling Bertrand Traore from his loan spell in Turkey, and it certainly looks as though he has everything in place to end the Premier League season strongly.

Along with these incomings, he also sent out Frenchman Morgan Sanson on loan to Ligue 1 side Strasbourg for the rest of the season, with it looking all the more likely that he doesn’t have a long-term future at Villa.

The midfielder has been a poor acquisition for the club and the 51-year-old will be aiming to move him on permanently during the summer transfer window in order to free up some funds for more signings.

How much has Morgan Sanson cost Aston Villa?

Former manager Dean Smith signed Sanson in January 2021 after he had impressed for Marseille and a fee of £16m looked as though it could be a wise investment, with the potential to perhaps move him on for a major profit in the coming years.

During his final full season with the French giants, Sanson registered nine goal contributions – five goals and four assists – created five big chances and made 1.1 key passes per game, displaying his attacking abilities. Indeed, Smith clearly felt he could replicate these impressive figures in the Premier League.

It didn’t quite work out like that and his signing has been a colossal waste of money by the club. Since joining just over two years ago, the 28-year-old has made a grand total of 23 appearances for the first team, starting just seven games across all competitions.

These are hardly numbers expected for a player that cost £16m and combining that transfer fee with his total wages – £48k-per-week in the first two seasons and £45k-per-week this term – the Frenchman has rinsed Villa out of £22m in total in just two years with that meaning he has cost the club a staggering £956k-per-outing.

This is a ridiculous number and considering he still has over two years left on his remaining contract, unless Emery can move him on this summer, they will have to continue to pay his hefty wage in full.

Going forward, the manager will be hoping to avoid past mistakes from his predecessors and avoid wasting precious funds in the transfer window.

For all the potential frustration surrounding Liverpool's potential lack of recruitment of late – particularly with regard to the midfield ranks – the Merseyside outfit have seemingly remained astute operators when it comes to moving players on, having recouped a tidy sum with player sales last summer.

Jurgen Klopp and co notably sold Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich for a fee of around £35m – despite the Senegalese forward having had just a year left on his deal – while also raking in around £16m with the departure of academy graduate Neco Williams to Nottingham Forest.

In hindsight, it also looks as if the Anfield hierarchy struck gold with the sale of Japan international, Takumi Minamino, with the 28-year-old having seen his stock plummet since joining Ligue 1 side Monaco on a £15.4m deal last June.

How much is Minamino worth now?

The Premier League giants had originally snapped up the dynamic forward for what appeared to be a bargain price of just £7.25m back in December 2019, with the 5 foot 8 ace having previously shone during his time at Austrian outfit Red Bull Salzburg, scoring 64 goals and registering 43 assists for the club in 199 games across all fronts.

Hailed as a "wonderful signing" at the time of his arrival in England by Klopp, Minamino was rarely afforded a real chance to prove his worth in the side on a consistent basis, having been unable to dislodge the starting trio of Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah in attack.

As it proved, the one-time Gamba Osaka man would go on to score 14 times in 55 games in all competitions during his time with the Reds, albeit with only four of those coming for the club in the top flight.

Despite having been lauded as a "machine" and described as someone who "defends like a Devil" by Klopp, the 47-cap menace was restricted to a sporadic, impact role at Anfield, having also spent the tail-end of the 2020/21 campaign on loan at Southampton.

After making just 11 league appearances last season, the diminutive playmaker was ultimately allowed to depart for Stade Louis II ahead of the current campaign, with Liverpool raking in almost double what they had originally paid for the player just a few years earlier.

That sale now looks even more impressive due to the decrease in Minamino's valuation, with CIES Football Observatory noting that the forward is now worth as little as £7m, despite still having just over three years left to run on his existing deal.

It has proven a difficult debut campaign in France, in truth, for the £78k-per-week man as he has been restricted to just seven league starts to date, chipping in with one goal and three assists in that time.

Those woes even ensured that the struggling figure was branded the biggest 'flop' of the season earlier in the campaign by French outlet, Quotidien Du Sport, while that claim was also backed up by journalist Nabil Djellit who claimed he was a "flop player".

As such, it truly looks as if Klopp and co pulled off a real coup by managing to sell the player for a handsome profit.