All posts by h716a5.icu

Chelsea were perhaps always going to rue letting Antonio Rudiger leave on a free transfer last summer but the German's impressive form ahead of the Champions League quarter-final next month will hammer home the Blues' mistake.

How much is Antonio Rudiger worth now?

Chelsea signed the powerful centre-back from Roma in the summer of 2017 in a deal worth £29m, with the German defender signing a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge.

Crucially, that contract length would hurt the Blues as despite him being a regular with the west London outfit for that five-year period, he would never sign a contract extension and was therefore free to leave last summer when Real Madrid came calling.

During his time at Stamford Bridge, Rudiger would make 203 appearances, contributing 12 goals and seven assists, winning an FA Cup and Champions League with the Blues.

Reports from Germany had suggested that the Germany international was keen to extend his stay at Chelsea and had agreed to a new deal to ensure his contract went beyond 2022 but the Blues were unable to finalise his extension due to the financial sanctions that were facing former owner Roman Abramovich.

Wage demands were also reportedly a sticking point in negotiations, but the Blues clearly left it too late when trying to extend his deal, as the German defender was a consistent force during his time in England, averaging above a 6.7 rating from WhoScored in all of his seasons as a Chelsea player.

Back in 2021, Rudiger earned a "world-class" label from former Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng as a result of his strong performances for club and country.

He said: "For me, he is currently the best German defender – and definitely among the top five in his position in Europe."

Although Carlo Ancelotti's side could lose out on the La Liga title this season, they look a strong bet for the Champions League once again and will face up against Graham Potter's side in the quarter-finals next month.

It would not be a surprise to see Rudiger return at his very best, as the £247k-per-week defender has averaged a superb 6.92 rating from WhoScored across his six appearances in the Champions League so far this campaign, with the most aerials won per game in Los Blancos' squad.

Unsurprisingly, as he is playing for one of the top clubs in Europe, Rudiger's market value is still very high, with Football Transfers rating him at €47.4m (£42m).

This emphasises that no matter how much money Todd Boehly spends at Chelsea, the club still needs to do better in keeping their top players for the long term, as Rudiger would have been a big help to Potter this season.

Indeed, to lose him was one thing, but to see him walk away for free must be gut-wrenching.

West Ham United’s transfer business over the previous decade hasn’t exactly been profitable, with large amounts spent on players who just didn’t live up to expectations.

The likes of Felipe Anderson (£36m), Javier Hernandez (£16m) and more recently Gianluca Scamacca (£35.5m) have failed to perform for the club in line with the major financial outlay that went on securing their services and this has been a colossal waste of money.

One of the worst signings in recent years was that of Issa Diop, who became the club’s record signing when he arrived in the summer of 2018 from Toulouse for a fee of £22m.

Following a bright spell in France, where he had played nearly 100 times for Toulouse, scoring six goals, the then 21-year-old looked as though he could become a mainstay of the West Ham defence for the next few years. It didn’t quite work out that way, unfortunately.

How much did Issa Diop cost West Ham United?

Initial impressions were fairly good, with the defender playing over 30 Premier League matches in his first and second seasons for the club, with Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho even lavishing praise on the young centre-back, describing him as a “monster” during a win against the Old Trafford side in his debut season.

Things started going wrong during the 6 foot 4 defender's third campaign in London. He made just 21 appearances in all competitions, and it was evident that David Moyes didn’t quite rate him, with last term being his worst in a West Ham shirt.

Across 13 league appearances, he averaged a Sofascore rating of just 6.69, with the club keeping just two clean sheets in the games he played in. the Frenchman ranked as low as 17th in the squad for overall performances, and it looked as though his time was coming to an end.

Indeed, Moyes signed Nayef Aguerd and Thilo Kehrer, further pushing Diop down the pecking order, and he was finally sold to Fulham for £15m, a solid enough return given his poor form.

During his four-year spell at the Hammers, Diop ransacked the club for a total of £35m (his £22m transfer fee plus £13m in wages during his 216-week spell) with that well and truly proving to be a colossal waste of money.

Diop is just another name in the vast carousel of recent West Ham signings that haven’t quite made the grade despite considerable hype upon their arrival and transfer business in the future will have to be a lot smarter to avoid big money flops and indeed, relegation scraps.

Two years ago, Newcastle United's focus was on preserving Premier League status and hoping to craft a team capable of treading water above danger at the bottom of the division.

Now, fortunes have changed drastically, and the Magpies currently compete for a place in next season's Champions League, one point behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur and with a game in hand.

The influence of the opulent new owners has been profound, but not so much so as the appointment of manager Eddie Howe, who has meticulously set about crafting a team capable of competing against the supposed 'big six' of English football, evidenced by the sustained growth in the league and the club's endeavour in reaching this year's Carabao Cup final against Manchester United.

In order to continue the meteoric rise, Howe and co must throw the kitchen sink at a deal for Napoli prodigy Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who has been linked with a move to St. James's Park, according to Football Insider.

The outlet states that the Georgian attacker demands that any new contract with his Serie A outfit must include a release clause, with the Magpies indeed poised to swoop.

How would Kvaratskhelia perform at Newcastle?

Kvaratskhelia is currently valued at £100m, according to 90min, despite signing for Napoli for roughly only €10m (£9m) last summer.

From 29 appearances across all competitions, the 19-cap phenom has scored 13 goals and supplied 15 assists, integral in his outfit's remarkable title-chasing campaign – 18 points clear in the league – and progression into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers throughout Europe's major leagues for goals, the top 1% for assists, the top 6% for progressive carries and the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90, illustrating his all-encompassing forward skill set and the "magic" behind his craft, as lauded by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

His partnership with team-mate Victor Osimhen has been particularly remarkable, with the Nigerian sharpshooter within the upper echelon of strikers in European football, scoring 23 goals from 28 matches.

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti recently praised the pair as "very efficient", also heralding Kvaratskhelia as a "great player", with one source also calling the dynamic duo a "match made in heaven".

Should Newcastle succeed in what would certainly be the biggest transfer in the club's modern history, Howe could look to emulate the partnership by deploying the Napoli whiz alongside £63m summer signing Alexander Isak.

The Swede has struggled for fitness since arriving from Real Sociedad, missing 13 matches, but the 23-year-old has scored six times already in the Premier League, despite only starting on seven occasions.

With Isak starting to grow into his boots to complement a multi-faceted arsenal, Kvaratskhelia could indeed find a home next to the gem, the duo respectively flourishing in one of Europe's rising powerhouses.

The £120k-per-week machine ranks among the top 13% of forwards across Europe's big five leagues for progressive carries and the top 10% for successful take-ons per 90 himself, so the transitional nature of both footballers would only enhance the robustness of Howe's system.

Kvaratskhelia won't come cheap, but with Newcastle on the rise, a deal might just ascend the outfit to the forefront of European football.

Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi is now back in training after his groin injury, according to a report from The Athletic.

The Lowdown: Injuries mounting up

A whole host of Forest players are set for a spell on the sidelines, with Cheikhou Kouyate, Scott McKenna, Willy Boly and Omar Richards all ruled out due to a variety of different injury issues.

Awoniyi has not been named in the match-day squad for the last eight Premier League matches, having sustained a groin injury in the Tricky Trees’ 1-0 win away at Southampton at the beginning of January.

With winger Brennan Johnson also sustaining a groin issue in the recent defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, Steve Cooper is light on numbers in forward areas, and so the latest news about Awoniyi will be a welcome boost for the manager…

The Latest: Awoniyi back in training

According to a report from The Athletic, the striker has recently returned to light training, as he looks to put his injury problem behind him.

The 25-year-old is said to have stepped up his involvement at Wilford Lane over the past week, indicating it may not be too long until he is deemed ready for a return to the first team.

It is detailed that Cooper may also view the Nigerian as a potential replacement for Johnson in the starting XI, despite the fact they are very different types of players, as he can be a real outlet for Forest in attack.

The Verdict: Boost for Cooper

The Ilorin-born marksman was just starting to find his feet in the Premier League prior to his injury blow, netting the winner in the 1-0 victory at Southampton, which remains the Tricky Trees’ only win on their travels in the top flight all season.

Hailed as ‘absolutely sublime’ by the media earlier this season, the forward was also branded a ‘hero’ for his performance in the 1-0 victory against Liverpool at the City Ground, a match in which he again netted the winner, while he also displayed his playmaking ability, creating one big chance.

With Forest sitting just two points clear of the relegation zone, it is absolutely vital they have their best players available for the run-in, as we enter the final third of the Premier League season.

Awoniyi is firmly in that category, having averaged 0.51 goals per 90 so far this season, the highest amount of any player, and so it is a real boost that he could return to first-team action soon.

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou guided his rampant side to victory over Hearts on Wednesday evening in what was the 57-year-old’s 100th game in charge of the Old Firm outfit, with the Hoops coming from behind to seal a 3-1 win at Parkhead.

That triumph – which was the Greek-Aussie’s 74th win of his tenure thus far – has ensured that the Glasgow giants remain nine points above bitter rivals Rangers at the summit, with the Scottish champions looking rather imperious in the pursuit of their league crown.

On that landmark night for the experienced coach, Postecoglou was largely left to thank prolific marksman Kyogo Furuhashi for powering the Bhoys to three points, with the Japan international having simply stolen the show once again in attack.

How did Kyogo perform against Hearts?

With the hosts having suffered an early setback as Josh Ginelly fired Robbie Neilson’s men ahead inside six minutes, up stepped Kyogo to drag his side back into the game, with the 28-year-old producing a stunning, driven cross to tee up compatriot Daizen Maeda at the back post, with the latter man duly prodding home for his tenth goal of the season in all competitions.

That crucial assist had seen the former Vissel Kobe ace showcase his relentless dynamism to latch onto Anthony Ralston’s threaded pass down the flanks, with that expert movement having again been evident as the £19k-per-week man then completed the turnaround on the hour mark.

The diminutive striker showed “ridiculous movement” – in the words of journalist John McGinley – to make space for himself inside the area, before powering his fierce effort past a helpless Zander Clark following a typically pin-point pass from playmaker, Aaron Mooy.

Those two moments of magic – which were followed by a late stunner from substitute Sead Haksabanovic – further rubberstamped the 5 foot 7 gem’s importance to Postecoglou’s side, having again proven himself a truly “clever player”, as per journalist Liam O’Hare.

It is also remarkable that the 16-cap speedster was able to make such an impact despite having largely been on the periphery of the game, as he made just a solitary pass and was restricted to just 14 touches in total in his 70-minute outing – fewer than teammate Joe Hart recorded in the sticks (39).

Even after that starring role – which saw Kyogo record the highest match rating on the night of 7.8, as per Sofascore – Postecoglou was clearly frustrated at the inability to get the in-form asset further involved in proceedings, having stated post-match:

“Kyogo makes fantastic runs and sometimes I get really frustrated that after 18-20 months we still don’t see them. Could he be doing even more damage? Absolutely.

“We didn’t use him well but the beauty of it is that he doesn’t get frustrated, he keeps making those runs.”

It is a credit to the ‘electric’ talent – as described by Glasgow Live’s Matthew Fulton – that he is still able to steal the limelight even with his opportunities restricted, although it is a mouthwatering prospect to think that a player who already boasts 20 Scottish Premiership goals this season could be ‘doing even more damage’.

The rest of the division, beware…

Chelsea are considering a move to sign Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Previous uncertainty

The Athletic held a recent interview with the 28-year-old who admitted that he came close to leaving Craven Cottage at the end of his side’s last season in the Premier League.

The Serbian, however, decided to stay put and isn’t out of contract until 2026 having since penned a new deal, but being Marco Silva’s top-performing player, appears to have caught the eye.

The Latest: Chelsea monitoring Mitrovic

According to Spanish reports (via CaughtOffside), Chelsea are ‘considering a move’ for Mitrovic ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Todd Boehly and Graham Potter are ‘targeting’ the forward, who they view as a ‘back-up option’ should they fail to land Napoli’s Victor Osimhen.

Fulham succeeding or failing in their hunt for European qualification is set to be a ‘big factor’ when it comes to his decision to stay or leave at the end of the term.

The Verdict: Get it done…

Mitrovic has been dubbed a ‘relentless’ striker by his former manager Scott Parker and Chelsea should act fast to get this deal over the line this summer.

The Nike-sponsored star has posted 13 goal contributions (11 goals and two assists) in 19 league appearances this season, ranking in the 95th percentile for most shots per 90 minutes.

The 6 foot 2 colossus is also as much a threat off the ground as he is on it, currently averaging 4.4 aerial wins per top-flight outing.

Mitrovic is a proven goalscorer and target man at Fulham and he would be the perfect attacking reinforcement to put pen to paper at Stamford Bridge.

Manchester United reportedly want to sign Napoli defender Kim Min-jae this summer by triggering his €48m (£42m) release clause.

The Lowdown: Kim profiled

Kim is 26 years of age and has gone from strength to strength over the last 18 months, with his Transfermarkt valuation rising from €6.5m to £35m.

Sponsored by Nike, the centre-back has made 30 appearances for Napoli after joining from Fenerbahce in the summer. The South Korea international has been called ‘amazing’ by members of the media and is nicknamed ‘the Monster’ due to his 6 foot 3 frame.

The Latest: United interest

Sports Witness relayed an update from Corriere dello Sport regarding United and Kim in the last 48 hours.

They claimed that the Red Devils would like to trigger his 48m (£42m) release clause. However, that clause will only be valid for 15 days in the summer, with Napoli already looking to alter the player’s contract in an extended deal.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-man-utd-news-11/” title=”Latest Man Utd news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Shrewd target

Erik ten Hag could well be on the lookout for further centre-back reinforcements in the summer after signing Lisandro Martinez in his first transfer window in charge at Old Trafford. Harry Maguire has been linked with an exit earlier this year, whereas Victor Lindelof will be entering the final 12 months of his contract.

Therefore, bringing in someone like Kim could be a wise move to rival the likes of Martinez and Raphael Varane. The Napoli man has averaged a WhoScored match rating of 7.11/10 this season, a greater score than all of United’s defenders.

He is averaging close to 80 passes per game with an impressive 90% pass competition, while also making more clearances than any Napoli player.

Therefore, for £42m, a move could be a smart piece of business by Old Trafford chiefs, and potentially one to keep an eye on over the coming months.

West Bromwich Albion fans have had plenty to smile about this season, with Carlos Corberan having masterminded a sensational turnaround in form that has seen them become genuine promotion candidates.

It is a far cry from the Steve Bruce regime, where relegation seemed the more likely conclusion to the season.

One of the few benefits of his tenure was the emergence of Taylor Gardner-Hickman, who truly cemented himself as a fine first-team option for the Baggies. 

The young midfielder offered a glowing recommendation for their academy, which is currently brimming with talent all vying for a spot in the first team. One such star is hulking striker Jovan Malcolm.

Can Malcolm be West Brom’s next Lukaku?

The 20-year-old marksman has been excelling this season for the U21s, with his lethal nature and physique likely to draw comparisons to former loanee Romelu Lukaku.

Although the Belgian only spent a season at the Hawthorns, his impact was monumental. He would score 17 times and assist a further seven, using his pace and strength to terrorise defences during the 2012/13 campaign.

This would be translated into long-term Premier League success, as his exploits at Everton led to him becoming their all-time top scorer in the division.

Now, in Malcolm, they have a youngster who boasts all the attributes to emulate the goalscoring machine. He even admitted the need to “bully” defenders when the occasion demands, as he recounted the goal on his senior debut from last month.

It marked one of six he has scored this season for the ‘powerful, lively and pacy attacker’ – as dubbed by West Brom’s official channels – with the bulk of them coming in the Premier League 2. There, he has six goal contributions in just ten games.

Although Lukaku may have struggled upon his fairytale return to Chelsea, Reece James’s admission of his immense presence could draw further similarities between himself and Malcolm. The English defender noted: “I can’t really think of any other players like him in the world. How strong he is and how powerful, everyone he just comes up against he bullies.”

With both strikers having been noted as physical anomalies who know how to utilise their size, perhaps the young West Brom hopeful could look to the legendary Belgian as someone to emulate.

With Daryl Dike also thriving, the future of striking is bright in this part of the Midlands, who all seem to fit that stellar Lukaku mould.

Leeds United caretaker Michael Skubala has had a full week on the training ground with the senior squad as the search for Jesse Marsch’s successor rumbles on.

The U21 boss will continue in his interim role for this afternoon’s clash with Everton, as well as next weekend’s six-pointer with basement boys Southampton.

The Whites walked away with just a point from their double-header against Manchester United but he did manage to get the side playing a little better, just without the returns they desperately need right now.

Skubala is now tasked with a large task of picking up a victory against their relegation rivals in what is sure to be a high-pressure encounter at Goodison Park, where then-league leaders Arsenal lost recently.

The 40-year-old could bolster his charges and throw his name into the hat to get the gig full-time by making some pretty big calls, starting with Marsch favourite Jack Harrison.

Will Jack Harrison start against Everton?

The former Manchester City starlet has been a key player for the west Yorkshire outfit since their return to the Premier League, managing eight goals and eight assists in 2020/21 before another eight-goal return in the following season.

Since then, also via Transfermarkt, Harrison has managed just the one goal this campaign, with the 26-year-old managing only one assist across his last 17 top-flight appearances.

That level of form hardly warrants a start, yet he continues to feature from the off every weekend, and considering Skubala has managed the U21s to great success, he could be better off opting for somoene like Sam Greenwood.

Deployed recently as a no.10, Harrison has failed to create a single big chance, making his place in the role all that more baffling.

It echoes comments from Sky Sports pundit and ex-pro Michael Dawson, who lambasted the £35m-rated winger as “non-existent” back in August, whilst in the past, he has also been described as “awful” by reporter Jake Winderman.

If Skubala wants to truly throw his name in the hat, then he cannot afford to carry Harrison for another outing, especially in a must-win game of this magnitude.

AND in other news, Approach made: Leeds eye move for “special” 52 y/o manager, it’s a big risk from Radz…

Liverpool have struggled to retain their dominance in the Premier League so far this season, however, a victory over Everton in the Merseyside derby this week will definitely give the team a huge boost of confidence after a troubling run.

The Reds are currently ninth in the league table with just 32 points collected from a possible 63 so far, something that Jurgen Klopp must drastically improve as soon as possible in order to be in with an outside chance to secure a Champions League qualifying spot inside the top four.

Indeed, Liverpool have not had fitness on their side this season with a number of key players suffering injuries including Luis Diaz, Thiago Alcantara, Virgil van Dijk and Diogo Jota, compromising the level of quality deployed in the starting line ups which has clearly been a hindrance in their efforts to comfortably compete.

It has been widely reported that Liverpool will look to strengthen their squad in the summer with Jude Bellingham and Matheus Cunha heavily linked with a move to Merseyside at the end of the season as a youth revolution is desperately needed in the centre of the pitch.

Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner are all set to be out of contract in the summer, whilst Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara are both well into their 30s and unlikely to be part of the long-term future at Anfield, paving the way for reinvestment in the midfield personnel.

However, Klopp may have accidentally discovered one of the quality midfield talents who can lead Liverpool back to success without needing to spend a penny, as Stefan Bajcetic continues to display promising signs when given the opportunity to prove himself.

Is Bajcetic the future of Liverpool’s midfield?

The Spanish youngster earned his Premier League debut back in August during one of Liverpool’s better performances when they beat Bournemouth 9-0 and since then has been featured in both the FA Cup and Champions League after taking like a duck to water in the heart of the team.

Over six Premier League appearances, Bajcetic has scored one goal and successfully completed 57% of his dribbles, as well as averaging 18.2 accurate passes, one interception and 3.5 duels won per game, proving that he is both defensively sound and potent in attack.

Although mostly deployed as a defensive midfielder over his short career so far, Klopp has clearly seen enough to determine that the young talent could offer more than just protecting the line in the deepest midfield role, as he put Bajcetic in the famous eight role against Everton in the derby on Monday night.

The 18-year-old took the new role into his stride and gave the German coach even more to consider when he excelled over his 89-minute performance, covering more ground than any other player on the pitch (11.14km), which is an incredible achievement considering Liverpool have been outrun in a number of their league fixtures this season.

Not only that, Bajcetic – dubbed “outstanding” by club icon Jamie Carragher – completed 51 touches, two key passes, one clearance and two interceptions, as well as winning two tackles and six duels to help his team secure their first win in four league games.

Another midfield target for Liverpool is Brighton and Hove Albion’s Moises Caicedo – who has a reported £80m price tag – but now the powerbrokers at Anfield could invest that money into other areas of the pitch if Bajcetic can continue to develop his skills and prove he is more than capable of being part of the next generation of success in midfield.