Tag Futebol

Glasgow Rangers endured another difficult night in the Champions League at Ibrox as they lost their fourth group stage match of the season.

The Light Blues were hammered 7-1 by Liverpool on their own turf, a week after losing 2-0 to the Premier League outfit, as the Reds came from behind to win the match comfortably.

Scott Arfield had given the hosts the lead after 17 minutes when he fired past Alisson and the score was 1-1 at half-time, which put Gio van Bronckhorst’s team in a great position to win the game heading into the second half.

Instead, they capitulated as Mo Salah came off the bench to score a six-minute hat-trick and Jurgen Klopp’s team scored six times in the second 45, with Allan McGregor conceding seven of the nine shots on target against him.

Whilst it was a disappointing night for the 40-year-old, as Liverpool’s players beat him with ease, another player was the true villain of the night for the head coach – Antonio Colak.

The Croatian has been in phenomenal form this season, with ten goals in nine Premiership matches and is the type of player who Rangers need to be on top form to get a result in big games.

Instead, he let van Bronckhorst down with a shocking performance in the number nine position, as he struggled badly in and out of possession in his 76 minutes on the pitch.

Off the ball, he was dominated by the opposition and failed to hold his own. Reporter Joshua Barrie noted that the team had no outlet to hit at the top end of the pitch and Colak’s statistics back that up as he lost a whopping 12 of his 13 individual battles – including nine of his ten in the air.

This meant that he could not hold the ball up to allow the rest of the team to push up the field, which allowed Liverpool to press higher and higher until they pinned the Light Blues in their own third of the pitch.

In possession, the dud failed to deliver when it mattered as he missed a ‘big chance’ to make it 2-0 after Arfield’s opening goal, as his effort went wide of Alisson’s post with only the goalkeeper to beat.

The mentality of both sets of players may have changed if he had converted that opportunity and the entire game could have been different. Instead, Roberto Firmino equalised shortly after that and the rest is history.

Colak also struggled with his passing as he completed 50% of his ten attempted passes and lost possession seven times from 15 touches – conceding the ball every 2.1 touches.

The former PAOK dud failed to live up to the high standards he has set in Glasgow so far as he let the manager down which is why he was the villain of the match, as he negatively impacted the team’s chances of winning in and out of possession.

Aston Villa target Mauricio Pochettino is keen on potentially taking over from Steven Gerrard, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Pochettino rumours

Speculation first emerged towards the end of August regarding Pochettino and Villa. FI stated that Pochettino was on a list of targets for NSWE, stating that they wouldn’t be afraid to part ways with Gerrard, should results fail to improve.

Gerrard has guided Villa to a draw with Manchester City and a win over Southampton since then, however, rumours regarding the former Tottenham and PSG manager moving to the Midlands are still circling.

The Latest: Update

FI shared a story in the last 48 hours regarding Pochettino after he turned down the job at Ligue 1 side Nice.

They claimed that the Argentine ‘would be very open’ to the possibility of taking over at Villa Park, with his next role in management not depending on Champions League football.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/aston-villa-latest-news-2/” title=”Aston Villa latest news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Pressure still on Gerrard?

Villa may have picked up three points prior to the international break, however, it wasn’t a convincing display.

The much-needed victory took Villa into 15th place with seven points from seven games, but the six games in October could be crucial in regards to Gerrard’s future.

If things don’t improve further, then perhaps NSWE would be willing to pull the plug and step up their interest in Pochettino, especially as he is now keen on a possible return to England.

Everton failed to meet Blackburn Rovers’ asking price for Ben Brereton-Diaz on deadline day, in a move which could prove to be a disaster by Kevin Thelwell.

The Toffees’ priority for much of the summer has been focused on signing a striker to replace Richarlison in Frank Lampard’s side and while Neal Maupay was signed from Brighton, the Merseyside club still look very short on attacking options following the transfer deadline.

Mike McGrath suggested that both Everton and Fulham lodged £12m bids for the Chile international but Blackburn held out for £20m and he will remain at Ewood Park until January at least.

Maupay’s form in recent seasons, when he has managed just 16 goals in his last two Premier League campaigns, does little to suggest that he can replace the talismanic Richarlison at Goodison Park, after the Brazilian’s ten goals proved vital in Everton’s survival last season.

Brereton-Diaz meanwhile, hit 22 goals in the Championship last season and has three goals to his name already this season, so could have offered a real goalscoring threat in Lampard’s side, particularly with Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s fitness issues over the last year.

He has scored just twice in the last year and is evidently a player they can no longer rely on for large portions of a campaign.

Thus, the former Nottingham Forest product could have been an inspired signing. The forward has proven himself to be a phenomenon in Chile, who he represents because of his mother’s heritage, and the national team manager Eduardo Berizzo sang his praises last season.

He said: “Brereton is very intelligent in his movement and found himself behind rival defenders several times.”

“He is a footballer with many qualities… He is a player of interesting movements. He will be an important reference for us.”

His former manager, Tony Mowbray was another to wax lyrical over his performances, hailing the Chile international as an “extraordinary” player.

[freshpress-quiz id=“638086″]

Lampard is now left with just Maupay, an injury-prone Calvert-Lewin and Salomon Rondon as his main striking options until January, which won’t inspire much hope that the Toffees can avoid another relegation battle this season.

Therefore, it seems a risky move by Thelwell to turn down the option to sign a goalscorer in such a confident mood, as it could leave Lampard very short of attacking threat in his side until the next transfer window. If they continue their current slump, not signing such a feared prospect in front of goal will undoubtedly be considered a disaster.

At just £20m, this was an ideal and cost-effective way of improving the team.

Former Premier League striker Noel Whelan has urged Glasgow Rangers to find a replacement for Alfredo Morelos at Ibrox. 

The lowdown: Uncertain future

Seemingly perennially linked with a move away during his five years with the club, the 26-year-old Colombia international has avoided all speculation thus far and amassed a staggering 164 direct goal contributions in 224 outings for the Light Blues.

Having entered the final 12 months of a deal in Glasgow though, Morelos, along with Ryan Kent, has reportedly opened discussions with the Gers’ hierarchy regarding a new deal.

Reacting to the discussions, one pundit has urged Rangers to seek a long-term replacement in the ongoing window regardless of whether Morelos commits his future…

The latest: ‘Got to be looking’

Speaking to Football Insider, ex-Leeds United frontman and former BBC Radio show host Whelan suggested that Giovanni van Bronckhorst should take a leaf out of Celtic’s book and sign competition for the 11-cap ace.

He said: “I think with a year left, Morelos is in control of the situation – Rangers aren’t. So they’ve got to be looking now for a striker who can have longevity at the club.

“Morelos has been around a long time. He’s been fantastic, but he’s always talked about leaving – the speculation has been constant. The time has probably come for him to have a change, and Rangers need the security of having a top striker at the club if that does happen. They need to look for the new Morelos.

“January might be a sign of what is to come, but they need to cover their backs this summer. You can never have too many options in these attacking areas, just look at Celtic.”

The verdict: Options required…

As things stand, Van Bronckhorst has Fashion Sakala, Kemar Roofe and summer signing Antonio Colak at his disposal as alternative centre-forward options to Morelos, albeit Roofe is currently sidelined due to an injury setback.

Ultimately, it’s been injuries to Roofe that have shone a light on the lack of depth in the attacking department previously, a problem Rangers will hope the signing of 28-year-old Croatia international Colak will address.

Long term, signing a successor to the £11.7million valued Morelos and indeed an injury-prone Roofe would be a shrewd move from the Light Blues, particularly given that the Colombian missed 15 games through a thigh problem last season.

Linked with the likes of Ellis Simms and Patrick Cutrone this summer, there is clearly a desire to add more firepower to the armoury at Ibrox and during the remaining time in the window, another signing could well be forthcoming regardless of the potentially imminent new in-house deals.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has refused to rule out a potential West Ham United swoop for Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe as Irons manager David Moyes seeks more attacking options.

The Lowdown: West Ham moving…

After they sealed agreements for defender Nayef Aguerd, midfielder Flynn Downes and goalkeeper Alphonse Areola on a permanent deal, it is believed that the Hammers are certainly not done there.

Fabrizio Romano backs that West Ham are currently in talks to sign both Gianluca Scamacca (Sassuolo) and Filip Kostic (Eintracht Frankfurt), while reports suggest that they’re also trying for Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski.

Moyes may also need to bolster his ranks further forward if they’re to keep chase with England’s elite and potentially compete for a Premier League top-four finish.

The Latest: O’Rourke teases Pepe swoop…

As per O’Rourke, Gunners forward Pepe may be ‘coming into the thinking’ for Moyes.

Speaking to This Is Futbol, while the links to Arsenal’s winger arguably come as a ‘surprise’, the journalist hints that the 27-year-old could emerge as an option for West Ham.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-updates-2/” title=”West Ham latest updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

O’Rourke stated: “It’s a bit of a surprise link, really, when you see the problems that Pépé’s had at Arsenal.

“He’s never really lived up to expectations after his big-money move and you’re thinking, do West Ham really need him?

“But we all know that David Moyes is looking to add attacking reinforcements to his squad out wide and up front as well, so maybe Pépé is coming into the thinking.”

The Verdict: Make the move?

Depending on the price tag, West Ham taking a gamble on Pepe could be worth it, going by his brilliant form for Lille before completing a transfer to north London. After all, he once cost £72m for a reason.

The £140,000-per-week forward could rediscover his best form under Moyes, but it remains to be seen whether the Irons will offer Pepe a route out of the Emirates.

A big Tottenham Hotspur claim has emerged on their plans to add to their defence in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

Transfer insider Dean Jones has claimed that Fabio Paratici may wait until January to bolster that area of the pitch as he weighs up what to do between now and the end of August.

When asked about the club’s pursuit of a centre-back, he told GIVEMESPORT: “I think that situation is on pause right now unless a great situation lands on their doorstep.

“I think it’s one they might look at in January after the World Cup. If they feel the first half of the season hasn’t gone their way or it’s left them short, that’s when I think they might look to get another one.”

Antonio Conte will be worried

This claim from Jones will surely leave the Italian head coach worried as the centre-back position is in need of strengthening ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-spurs-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more-2″ title=”Read the latest Spurs news, transfer rumours and more!”]

In the Premier League last season, Japhet Tanganga and Joe Rodon ranked 21st and 23rd in the Spurs squad for average SofaScore ratings. They both averaged scores of 6.65 or lower and Conte rarely looked to them as they made 14 appearances between them in the top flight.

This suggests that the manager does not trust them with regular minutes on the pitch and their dismal ratings indicate that he is well within his right to make that decision.

Ben Davies, who is a left-back by trade, was the main option on the left side of the back three in the Premier League for Conte. He averaged a solid SofaScore rating of 6.88 and won 54% of his duels in the division as he made himself a reliable option.

Whilst he was not a major liability to the team, there is plenty of room for improvement in the left centre-back position. You only have to look at Christian Romero and the impact he made to see how much Spurs could benefit from signing another central defender.

The Argentine international averaged a sublime rating of 7.15 in the top-flight and won 62% of his individual duels as he delivered quality displays on a regular basis for the club.

This is why Conte will be worried by the lack of urgency in the pursuit of a new centre-back as it is a position that is in need of reinforcement ahead of a gruelling Premier League and Champions League campaign.

AND in other news: “Now likely…”: Kilpatrick reveals Spurs transfer update, supporters will be buzzing

Fabrizio Romano has some exciting transfer news for Leeds United fans this week…

What’s the word?

The Italian transfer guru recently appeared on CBS Sports’ football podcast, ‘Que Golazo’, where he revealed that the Yorkshire giants were targeting a further three new signings.

“But let me say for Leeds that from what I’m told, they will invest on three players now,” Romano said.

“So they already signed three players and they want to sign three more players after selling Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips. They will reinvest [a] big part of the money they’re receiving.

“So I think it’s a very good and smart strategy. They want to restart with new talents. They already signed three and they’re going to continue in the coming days.”

Elland Road will be bouncing

Indeed, the Whites have already made some exciting moves in the transfer market, signing RB Salzburg duo Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen for a combined £35m, as well as bringing in Marc Roca from Bayern Munich.

Leeds manager Jesse Marsch is expected to lose two of his key stars in Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips, both of whom are seemingly set to join Premier League rivals in the coming weeks, if not days.

They will both need to be replaced, and some intriguing names have been linked as a result.

Club Brugge sensation Charles De Ketelaere is thought to be among the priorities, as per Belgian journalist Alexandre Braeckman, whilst PSV Eindhoven winger Cody Gakpo is being touted as a potential successor to the top-scoring Brazilian.

Meanwhile, the links to Marsch’s former club aren’t slowing up either, as RB Salzburg midfielder Mohamed Camara has emerged as another target according to the Daily Express’ Ryan Taylor, who also suggests that Leeds have been “in direct contact with his representatives”.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more-2″ title=”Read the latest Leeds news, transfer rumours and more!”]

All three players would be eye-catching additions at Elland Road, and given the fact that Romano believes the club will make at least another three signings, it’s certainly going to raise excitement and expectations around the club’s supporter base.

Whilst Raphinha and Phillips appear to be on their way out, Leeds’ hierarchy is doing all it can to bolster Marsch’s playing squad heading into the new season on August 6.

AND in other news, Leeds now leading race for “indispensable” £25m target, it’d be an “amazing signing”…

Aston Villa have been urged to make a move for soon-to-be free agent Gareth Bale.

What’s the word?

The 32-year-old Welshman’s contract at Real Madrid expires at the end of this month, so he will be able to sign for whichever club he chooses via the Bosman rule, and Gabby Agbonlahor believes that Steven Gerrard should duly pounce.

Asked whether Villa should move for Bale on talkSPORT [via Birmingham Mail], the club’s former striker said: “I’d take him, yeah. Because Leon Bailey had his injury problems and not performed. Aston Villa have got options in Coutinho and Buendia but Bale would offer something different coming from the wide position.”

A shock signing?

Villa’s name being mentioned in conjunction with Bale may come as something of a shock. Amid reports mooting several clubs with a possible move for the Wales forward, the Midlanders have been conspicuous by their absence.

While Agbonlahor may be among the first to cite Villa as a possible destination for the 32-year-old, it is certainly not the worst shout in the world.

When Bale – who has been dubbed “unplayable” by Seb Stafford-Bloor – returned to the Premier League on loan in autumn 2020, there was plenty of scrutiny surrounding him. However, he inevitably delivered for Jose Mourinho at Spurs, with 13 attacking returns in 20 top-flight appearances in the form of 11 goals and two assists.

Despite Carlo Ancelotti’s return to Real Madrid, Bale has not been given a chance at all under the manager who first brought him to the Bernabeu in 2013, making just five appearances in La Liga with one goal to show for it. Nonetheless, they all add up, with Bale’s career total now sitting at 183 goals.

A switch to an ambitious Villa side under perhaps a more trusting manager in Gerrard could be enough to rejuvenate Bale’s passion for the game and would likely help the Villans to make a stronger push for European qualification.

This is a prospective move which could pay dividends for both parties, giving Bale the opportunity to gather strong club form ahead of the World Cup with Wales later this year.

Agbonlahor has got this completely right, in our view.

In other news: Gerrard must pounce on Villa swoop for £263k-p/w “stallion” who supporters would love 

TalkSPORT reporter Alex Crook has now made a Southampton transfer claim involving electric Lyon forward Tete ahead of the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Saints prepare?

Following the 2021/2022 Premier League season’s conclusion, all eyes will be on how the Saints can back manager Ralph Hasenhuttl after their tame finish.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/southampton-latest-developments-2/” title=”Southampton latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The St. Mary’s side won just once in their final 11 top flight matches, perhaps highlighting how much they need to strengthen ahead of next year or suffer the threat of potential relegation.

Hasenhuttl’s side finished just a few points off the drop zone with reports suggesting they are looking to bolster their attacking areas.

The Latest: Crook makes Tete claim…

Speaking to GiveMeSport, talkSPORT’S journalist Crook now claims that Southampton will be in the mix to sign Ligue 1 star Tete this summer when his loan spell there comes to an end.

However, they will face competition from the likes of West Ham and Brentford.

He explained: “Tete is definitely someone they were in for before he went to Lyon and I think it’s transpired that it’s only a loan deal because there were complications on the Shakhtar side of the paperwork due to the war in Ukraine.

“They will be sniffing around again, but so are Brentford and so are West Ham, so there’s some big clubs looking at Tete.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers may face a battle to keep hold of Barcelona-loanee Francisco Trincao for next season, should Bruno Lage consider him part of his plans.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from Sport Witness  (via TEAMtalk), who claim that the West Midlands side face competition from Liga Portugal side Sporting CP, who have made the former Braga man a “priority.”

As per the report, Sporting manager Ruben Amorim is the man who has made Trincao the club’s priority signing, with the 37-year-old having managed the Barcelona-loanee when the pair were at Braga.

Sporting understand that Wolves have an option to buy clause as part of the loan deal that saw him make the temporary switch to Molineux, though reportedly remain confident in completing a deal for the 22-year-old with Wolves undecided on activating the option to buy clause.

According to Transfermarkt, the loan cost Wolves £5.4m with the option to buy clause set at £25m.

Goncalves 2.0

Trincao’s future at Wolves is entirely dependent on Lage’s decision. Whilst he has managed just two goals and one assist in 27 Premier League games, there have been glimpses of the player that struck eight assists in 27 appearances for Braga just two seasons ago.

Going by the expected goals tally, Trincao, who has been described as a player who can make a “massive impact”, should have four goals this season, which whilst is still not exceptional for a player of his talent, would see him rank as the Old Gold’s third-highest goalscorer behind Hwang-hee Chan and Raul Jimenez who have notched five and six goals respectively.

With Trincao being one of two left-footed forwards at the club, he offers Lage an unorthodox option throughout the role of an inverted winger, and with the recent switch in tactics to a counter-pressing 3-5-2 system, the Portuguese attacker could massively benefit from such a direct approach.

As it stands, the Barcelona loanee has just two more games to prove his worth, with Lage yet to make a formal decision on the matter. He will have to decide pretty soon though amidst the expiring loan deal and severe interest from Sporting.

However, judging by the impact Pedro Goncalves has made since swapping Wolverhampton for Lisbon, the Old Gold could be staring down the barrel of another disastrous transfer decision.

Since moving away from Wolves, the fellow Portuguese star has scored 38 times in just 77 outings. The last thing Lage would want is a repeat scenario of that.

In other news: Wolves plot bid to sign “terrific” £12m-rated gem who “runs the show”, Lage needs him