All posts by z3u9t.icu

Marcelo Bielsa is weighing up the idea of using Raphinha in a number 10 role for Leeds United moving forward, according to journalist Phil Hay.

The Lowdown: Raphinha shines for Leeds

The Brazilian has been a superb signing for the Whites, joining from Rennes last year and scoring nine goals in 38 appearances to date.

Raphinha has generally shone as a right winger, cutting inside onto his deadly left foot and wreaking havoc with his dribbling quality.

[freshpress-quiz id=“375277″]

The Latest: Number 10 role mooted

It could be that Bielsa looks into using the 24-year-old in a more central number 10 position, however. Speaking in a Q&A for The Athletic on Saturday following Leeds’ 1-0 win at home to Watford, Hay outlined the possibility of Raphinha’s role changing.

When asked by a supporter if Bielsa would try Raphinha in a role behind the centre-forward, the journalist replied:

“I’m told that they have been discussing the possibility of Raphinha as a 10 but it’s not something Bielsa wants to rush into without working on. I can see aspects of Raphinha which would suit 10 although a Bielsa 10 needs to do a lot of defensive work too.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-18/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Interesting move by Bielsa

It would be an ultra-attacking move to play Raphinha as a number 10, allowing both Jack Harrison and Dan James to start out wide, forming a speedy three-pronged attack behind Patrick Bamford or Rodrigo.

As Hay hinted, though, the Brazil international would need to produce a strong work ethic to thrive in that position, with Bielsa simply not accepting a luxury player there.

It still feels like Raphinha is best out wide – he has registered nine assists for Leeds – but it would be intriguing to see how he fares more centrally if the manager considers redeploying him.

In other news, one Leeds transfer target has a £10million release clause in his contract. Read more here.

Celtic have reached an agreement regarding a deal to bring Reo Hatate to Parkhead this January.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Japanese media outlet Hochi, who claim that the Bhoys have found an agreement with Kawasaki Frontale regarding the transfer of the midfielder, who now looks set to complete a switch to Glasgow in the coming weeks.

Earlier reports suggested that Celtic and the 24-year-old had already come to an agreement concerning personal terms of his contract with the Premiership side, with the transfer looking as if it is all but officially confirmed by Ange Postecoglou’s transfer team.

Ange will be buzzing

With Hatate having been one of the stars of the J League season this year, the news that Celtic have all but landed the signing of the midfielder is sure to have left the 56-year-old Bhoys boss buzzing.

Indeed, Postecoglou has openly stated that he would be returning to the Japanese top flight in the January transfer window following the success Kyogo Furuhashi has had since his £4.6m move from Vissel Kobe this summer.

And, considering how impressive Hatate was for Frontale this time out, it is easy to see why the Celtic manager is so keen to bring the 24-year-old to Parkhead.

Over his over 30 J League appearances this term, the £720k-rated central midfielder scored five goals, provided two assists and created three big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of two shots and making 1.1 key passes per game.

These returns saw the £625-per-week man earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.16, ranking him as his club’s fifth-best player in the league – while his impressive performances also saw him take a spot in the J League team of the season.

As such, it would appear that Hatate will make a very useful addition to Postecoglou’s current Celtic squad, with the latest news from Japan very much looking to give Bhoys fans the green light to get excited about the 24-year-old’s arrival this January.

In other news: Postecoglou drops 12-word Kyogo update ahead of cup final, Celtic fans will be furious

Wolves midfielder Leander Dendoncker is reportedly subject to interest from Serie A side Lazio ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.

What’s the latest?

According to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport (via Inside Futbol), the Rome-based outfit are looking to attempt a fresh swoop for the 27-year-old after a failed attempt last summer.

The Italian club could lose midfielders Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Lucas Leiva in the upcoming window and are therefore identifying potential replacements, with the Belgian reportedly on their wish list.

Dendoncker’s contract at Molineux expires in 2023 and could be available for a cut-price fee this summer if a contract extension cannot be agreed upon.

Wolves must keep hold of Dendoncker

Like Lazio, Wolves could see two key midfielders depart this summer in Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho and cannot afford to let a third depart.

Neves has been subject to interest from an array of clubs, including Arsenal, whilst Moutinho’s contract is set to expire in June.

Dendoncker has had to work hard to prove himself to Bruno Lage this term, with the Belgian starting just one of the West Midlands club’s first seven Premier League matches of the season.

However, since then the 27-year-old has gone on to start a further 15 matches in the top flight with Wolves still in the hunt for European qualification.

According to SofaScore, the versatile midfielder has completed 86% of his passes in the league this campaign whilst averaging 1.2 tackles, 1.2 clearances and 0.3 interceptions per game.

Although the Belgian’s average match rating of 6.81 is bettered by three other Wolves midfielders Neves (7.2), Luke Cundle (7.1) and Moutinho (7.04), it’s vital that Lage holds onto at least some of his current midfield options as opposed to the risk of having to reinvent his entire team’s core.

The £75k-per-week midfielder scored his sole goal of the campaign in Wolves’ vital 2-0 win away at Tottenham in February and was subject to praise from defender Max Kilman, who said: “He’s brilliant, nothing phases him. He knows his task and he doesn’t feel the pressure.”

Following an initial loan move from Anderlecht in 2018 that became permanent the following summer, Dendoncker has been a kingpin during Wolves’ current streak in the Premier League, having joined ahead of the club’s first season back in the top flight after six years away.

In that time the midfielder has made 149 appearances, making the prospect of a departure an upsetting concept for the Molineux faithful. Lage must not make that mistake this summer.

AND in other news: “My understanding…”: Wolves receive huge injury boost that could aid bid for Europe

Sky Sports pundit Kevin Phillips has been giving his thoughts on Leeds United’s pursuit of RB Salzburg midfielder Brenden Aaronson, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Where we stand

At this moment in time, it seems like Aaronson or nothing for the Whites heading into the final days of the January window.

Any interest in Ronaldo Vieira is now off after Sampdoria decided they would like to keep the former Whites man, and Victor Orta is running out of time to find alternative options for Marcelo Bielsa.

Orta has made the American a key target though, with Leeds having an initial £15m offer turned down. They’ve since returned with a £20m bid, btu Salzburg are yet to accept despite Leeds remaining hopeful of agreeing on a deal.

The Latest: Phillips reacts

Phillips, who regularly contributes for Sky Sports, was talking to Football Insider regarding the pursuit of Aaronson.

He admitted he would be ‘very surprised’ if a transfer went through, labelling it as ‘crazy’ – he feels the club should be after a striker instead.

“I would say that’s crazy.

“Another attacking midfielder? When they haven’t got a second senior striker it makes no sense to me.

“I don’t think an attacking midfielder should be the priority right now. I think a striker and then a holding midfielder is what is needed. Most people would agree that’s a better option.

“Unless Aaronson can play in a false nine role, the money would be better spent in other areas.

“It stood out in the game against Newcastle that Leeds need another striker. That game highlighted it. I would be very surprised if that move goes through.”

The Verdict: Both needed

Phillips’ comments on ‘another attacking midfielder’ are rather strange when you take into consideration Leeds currently don’t have an out and out attacking midfielder on the books at Elland Road.

However, Leeds have struggled without Patrick Bamford’s focal point in attack, so a new forward is probably actually needed as well as Aaronson, not instead of.

It doesn’t seem likely though that they would suddenly splash the cash on two big signings, given the lack of concrete links to forward targets, so the capture of Aaronson alone may be the best case scenario for Leeds fans in the coming days.

In other news: Orta now eyeing record Leeds signing for Bielsa in 12-goal international – report. 

Nathan Patterson may be open to leaving Rangers and joining Everton as he struggles to dislodge James Tavernier. 

That’s according to BBC Radio pundit Noel Whelan, who was speaking to Football Insider.

The lowdown

Patterson has been limited to just two starts in Rangers’ first 20 Premiership matches this season, with Tavernier selected for the other 18. Indeed, more than a quarter of his total game-time so far in 2021/22 has come in the Scottish League Cup.

The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell has written that ‘figuring out how to use Nathan Patterson’ is one of the key challenges facing Giovanni van Bronckhorst at Ibrox. The youngster has started just two of the Dutchman’s nine matches in charge so far.

Everton made two attempts to sign the 20-year-old last summer and are expected to renew their pursuit when the January transfer window opens next week (via The Guardian).

The latest

Whelan reckons that Patterson could succeed 33-year-old Seamus Coleman at Goodison Park or even slot in at left-back after Lucas Digne reportedly fell out with Rafael Benitez.

The former Aberdeen striker added that, while the youngster has looked a ‘top talent’, the presence of Tavernier limits his prospects at Rangers.

Whelan told Football Insider: “Obviously we know that Seamus Coleman isn’t getting any younger in that right-back spot. There’s also an opportunity for him on the left with the Lucas Digne situation, he could fill in there.

“He’s played there for Rangers recently. Even though he’s a top talent, it’s bound to be hard to get in the side ahead of the skipper, James Tavernier.

“We’ve seen him really impress for Scotland as well and he’s shown he can be a brilliant attacking talent as well on international duty. From what I know, he’s got a lot of potential.”

The verdict

You can see why Van Bronckhorst may be reluctant to leave Tavernier on the bench or alter his position. The skipper has recorded more goal involvements (14) than anybody else in the Gers squad from his right-back berth.

Indeed, if you go by WhoScored metrics, he has been Rangers’ highest-performing player this season, averaging a rating of 7.79/10.

Intriguingly, Van Bronckhorst managed to fit both players into the team against Dundee United recently by selecting Patterson on the left. Perhaps he’ll need to do that more often in the interests of the youngster’s development and indeed his transfer value.

In other news, many Rangers fans gushed over this Allan McGregor claim

According to Sky Sports football reporter Keith Downie on Twitter, Celtic are in talks with Sunderland about a potential loan move for winger Lewis Morgan.

The move would see the 22-year-old be reunited with manager Jack Ross, with whom he was with last season at St Mirren. Morgan was sensational last season with The Buddies, helping secure them promotion from the Scottish Championship with 14 goals and six assists in 35 appearances. The club finished 12 points ahead of second place, which is an indication of how dominant Morgan and St Mirren were last campaign.

However, Morgan has struggled to make an impact so far for Celtic this season, and while he has featured under Brendan Rodgers, it has largely been from the bench and he is yet to score. But at the age of 22, he is still in his formative years, and it would make sense if he joins up with the manager that has been able to get the best from him so far in his career. It will only help his development before returning to Parkhead.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”367484″ player=”13308″ title=”Celtic”]

This, therefore, if effectively a win-win situation for The Bhoys. They are not loaning a player to a club that is barely going to play him or are sitting in mid-table of their league. They are chasing promotion, and therefore the pressure will be on Morgan in the same way that it will be in Glasgow. The Sunderland fans will demand a lot, and this sort of environment will only improve Morgan before his return to Paradise next season.

Manchester United fell to their third defeat in their last five games after Leicester City secured all three points with a 4-2 victory at the King Power Stadium this afternoon.

Teenager Mason Greenwood put the Red Devils ahead with a thunderous strike in the 19th minute, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s charges weren’t ahead for long.

Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans leveled things up just after the half-hour mark with a sensational floated finish before a frantic end to proceedings in the Midlands saw four goals scored in the closing stages.

A close-range finish from Caglar Soyuncu was cancelled out by a Marcus Rashford strike on his return from injury, but Jamie Vardy scored for the Foxes just 54 seconds later from Ayoze Perez’s cross and Patson Daka added a fourth for Leicester in stoppage time.

No United player performed to the best of their ability in a hugely underwhelming performance from the 20-time English champions, but one player arguably struggled more than most.

As per SofaScore, Paul Pogba was awarded a match rating of just 6.2 out of 10 for his disappointing display, the second-lowest total awarded to any player on the pitch.

When taking a closer look at the 28-year-old’s underlying numbers, it’s easy to understand why. Pogba won just four of his 15 duels (73% lost), committed a whopping six fouls and was dribbled past on three occasions, as per SofaScore.

The France international was equally out of form with the ball at his feet. As per SofaScore, he failed to have a shot on target, was unable to complete a single dribble and lost possession 12 times, illustrating his hugely ineffective display.

The Leicester midfield made up of Tielemans and Boubakary Soumare dominated the 6 foot 2 lightweight in the centre of pitch and were instrumental to the Foxes’ success.

After an impressive start to the season, Pogba let Solskjaer down against the FA Cup holders today; and with fixtures against Atalanta, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur coming up, the Norwegian will be hoping that his star midfielder returns to form soon.

And, in other news…MUFC could secure their next Pogba in “devastating” £74k-p/w gem, Ole would love him 

Everton are reportedly undecided as to whether they will replace the recently departed Marcel Brands with another director of football.

What’s the story?

Brands exited the Goodison Park outfit over the weekend after an underwhelming three-and-a-half-year spell, citing “a clear difference in the vision and direction” that he and the board wanted to take the club in.

Talk has already turned to who could succeed the 59-year-old, and journalist Alan Myers has provided an update in response to a fan’s question asking who the preferred candidate may be and when they are likely to be appointed.

He tweeted: “My understanding is that there will be a review of the club’s football structure, and only after that will a decision be made on whether another DOF will be appointed, if there is, I’m guessing they will be more familiar”.

Everton fans will be intrigued

Brands arrived from Eredivisie giants PSV Eindhoven back in May 2018 with an enviable reputation but failed to live up to expectations after overseeing a string of controversial signings.

The likes of Alex Iwobi, Davy Klaassen and Theo Walcott all arrived for big fees under the Dutchman’s reign before failing to live up to expectations and their price tags.

Pressure on Brands and new manager Rafa Benitez has been escalating in recent weeks as the Toffees continue to endure an eight-game winless run, leading to the former’s departure.

A club statement read: “The owner and directors would like to thank Marcel for the service he has given to the club over the past three and a half years and wish him well for his future.

“A strategic review of the football structure will now take place which will inform the best model for the club to proceed with in the long-term.

“In the meantime, the owner and board of directors will continue to provide our manager, Rafa Benitez, with their full support.”

With unrest amongst the Everton fanbase continuing to mount, the supporters will be intrigued at Myers’ latest revelation and will be eagerly anticipating the club’s next move.

Brands’ successor or alterations to the Merseyside outfit’s structure could have crucial consequences to their long-term success, meaning there is likely to be much scrutiny surrounding their next move.

After all, with a January transfer window now under a month away, the club will need to get this review out the way as soon as possible before devising a new plan of attack for the market.

With Brands departing, it may well leave the club’s initial blueprints for the winter in disarray. They simply have to get things spot on if they want to assure a brighter future for the Toffees.

Either way, it’ll be mightily intriguing to see what the club aims to do next with their structure and hierarchy. Clearly, it hasn’t been right for a considerable period of time.

And, in other news…Journalist issues huge update on Rafa Benitez’s future, Everton fans will be gutted

Wolves haven’t ruled out the idea of allowing Bruno Jordao to leave on loan this month but would rather keep hold of him, according to journalist Tim Spiers.

The Lowdown: Jordao’s lack of action

The 23-year-old joined Wanderers back in 2019 but he is yet to become a key figure in the Black Country, spending last season on loan at Famalicao in his homeland of Portugal and accruing only four senior appearances for his current club.

Jordao has been plagued by injury for the last year and he is still yet to feature for a single minute of Wolves’ 2021/22 campaign at first team level.

It remains to be seen whether the midfielder moves on during the January transfer window, but an update has been provided on the situation.

The Latest: Spiers provides Jordao update

Taking to Twitter on Friday, Spiers admitted that Jordao’s future is up in the air but made it clear that Bruno Lage is a keen admirer of the 23-year-old.

The journalist claimed: “He’s talked Jordao up a lot recently. Hasn’t ruled out a loan for him but says at the moment he’d prefer him to stay.”

The Verdict: Loan move beneficial

Assuming that Jordao proves his fitness, it could make sense to allow him to depart on loan for the remainder of the season in order to get his rhythm back.

Realistically, it is hard to see the Portuguese getting too many minutes for Wanderers currently, considering that the likes of Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho are such key figures in the middle of the park, although Spiers has hinted that the 23-year-old could get a runout in today’s FA Cup clash against Sheffield United.

A few months out on loan could do wonders, with Jordao then returning to Molineux in the summer ready to push for a more regular starting berth.

In other news, some Wolves fans have reacted to a key fitness update. Read more here.

Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has one of his biggest tests ahead of him this weekend as the latest Old Firm Derby is set to take place on Sunday afternoon at Ibrox.The Gers head into the showdown three points behind their rivals, meaning that a win for the home side would see them draw level at the top of the SPFL table.Heading into this big clash after the latest international break finally comes to an end, it seems as though a clue has emerged over what Van Bronckhorst’s starting XI could look like to take on the Hoops.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s match on the Go Football Radio Show (via Football.Scotland), Barry Ferguson had this to say on which midfield players he thinks Van Bronckhorst will select to start.

He said: “I think he’ll go with [Ryan] Jack, [John] Lundstram and Glen Kamara. The simple fact is that’s the area with Celtic, where you can’t let Callum McGregor dictate the play.”

While Kamara and Lundstram have started 40 league games between them in this campaign, the fact that Jack has only started three games this season and only earned himself an overall performance rating of 6.56 from WhoScored may not please too many Rangers fans to see him start.

As Ferguson mentioned, if Van Bronckhorst’s main aim is to be defensive and control the midfield to stop Celtic from attacking, then starting Jack could be the right move.

However, with the Gers needing to secure three points more than anything, the fans would presumably like to see their side attack their opponents and do all they can to win the game, meaning that if they were to see their manager take an overly-defensive stance when it comes to making his starting XI, it could anger the Ibrox faithful, especially if they don’t end up winning.

Therefore, even though regular game time hasn’t been easy for him to come by since his arrival, it could be worth giving Aaron Ramsey the chance to shine in what would be his first Old Firm Derby. In just six appearances he’s managed to score a goal and provide an assist, which is something that Jack hasn’t been able to do all season.

Also, with just three league games under his belt, the Welshman has managed to rack up an average of two shots per game, showing just how much of an attacking asset he can be, which could well end up being the difference between a win and any other result for Rangers this weekend.

In other news: GVB receives major boost after Rangers submit bid to sign “excellent” £5.9k-p/w titan