All posts by h716a5.icu

Tottenham Hotspur's next appointment is so incredibly important for many reasons, as Daniel Levy seeks to ensure he does not make it four failures from his last four managerial additions.

Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte both fell flat despite their experience winning silverware, and Nuno Espirito Santo always seemed like a doomed appointment. His dismissal after just under five months was more an admittance of such failure from the hierarchy than anything else, and the football has hardly improved much since.

Now, the club find themselves back to square one, seeking the next top boss to grace their dugout, hopefully with more success than those that came before him. However, the worry remains the same; arguably it has even intensified.

Nobody wants to watch the slow turgid football that has been on offer, so a younger, more exciting coach should surely be prioritised this time. However, with the rumours linking the Lilywhites with a move for Reims' head coach Will Still, they cannot afford to go too dramatically in the other direction.

Given the toxicity that seemingly runs throughout the dressing room, there is little hope that the 30-year-old, who is enjoying his first year in management within a league of note, could turn them around. Levy will want a statement appointment of someone who can lead them into the future but should seek to ensure he does not go too aggressively towards one particular type of manager.

How does Will Still play?

Preferring a system that relies upon a 4-2-3-1 shape, the young Englishman shot to fame after becoming the youngest manager within Europe's top five leagues. However, despite such youth, what truly garnered praise was the remarkable run on which he had led his French outfit.

Reims enjoyed a 17-match unbeaten period in the league, which included two draws with league leaders Paris Saint-Germain too.

However, his 1.88 points per match average across his career is still hardly exceptional. This run might have been a fairytale story, but it does not merit a move to one of England's biggest clubs.

What should ward Levy even further away from this youngster is the fact that his philosophy is far from the champagne football fans would now demand, with a preference instead to go long from the centre-backs. He seeks to find space behind the full-backs and exploit the width, yet this often surrenders the ball.

Conte received scorn for often sitting back too often, against teams that on paper they should have dismantled. With Still, this would likely be exacerbated further. His team have averaged just 47% possession this season.

Although his last three appointments were big mistakes, to sign this unproven head coach would arguably be Levy's biggest yet given the lack of proof that suggests he would take to such a job. It is a monumental risk for the little reward proposed.

When asked about a move to England, Still claimed:

"Why not? I've done some crazy things in the past; I was head coach at 24 and the same thing happened at 28 back in Belgium and now I'm 30 and people are saying this is crazy."

However, it would arguably be Levy who was the crazy one, should he take such a huge risk when their next appointment has to be right.

Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun is heading for the exit door this summer, as he has no intention of signing a new contract with the club, according to a recent report from L'Equipe.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

Mikel Arteta already has the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah to choose from in attack, with Balogun currently on loan at Reims, however Football Insider report the manager wants to bring in a new striker in the summer transfer window.

Arteta is aiming to bring in a player who is completely different to the options he already has, urging the club to bring in someone who is powerful and physically-gifted, to give his side more balance going forward.

With those parameters in mind, the manager has set his sights on Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Dusan Vlahovic, with the latter set to be made the Gunners' priority target, although it would take a huge fee to convince Juventus to sell the Serbian.

If a new attacker is brought in, there will be stiff competition for the starting spot up front, particularly because Arsenal almost exclusively utilise a formation with a lone striker, and they may need to let some players go this summer.

According to a report from L'Equipe (via Sport Witness), Balogun's departure is becoming inevitable this summer, as he has no intention of extending his current contract without guaranteed game time.

As such, the Gunners are hoping to sell the forward for at least €30m (£27m) in the upcoming window, with Marseille becoming the latest club to join the race for his signature, amid links to Everton, Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Should Arsenal sell Folarin Balogun?

The 21-year-old has been enjoying a fantastic loan spell with Reims, having scored 18 goals in Ligue 1, a figure that places him right near the top of the goal-scoring charts.

Arteta has clearly been impressed with the £32k-per-week starlet's performances, describing him as "incredible" back in February, which indicates the Spaniard would be keen to keep him at the Emirates Stadium.

However, it is probably not feasible to keep the New York City-born marksman, as there will be so much competition in his position next season, particularly if either Vlahovic or Calvert-Lewin is signed.

It would also be unwise to drop Gabriel Jesus, given the number of goals and assists he has provided in the Premier League this season, therefore Arsenal should cash-in on Balogun, and invest the money into other areas of the squad.

Frank Lampard was dealt a tough hand during his first stint at Chelsea, having to operate under a strict transfer embargo in his opening campaign.

His accomplishments, therefore, are impressive. The former midfielder guided the Blues to a top-four place in his debut season, qualification that ultimately paved the way for a Champions League triumph under Thomas Tuchel.

Much of his philosophy was based upon the promotion of Cobham youngsters with Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori, two players who had featured under Lampard at Derby County, becoming notable names in the first-team set-up.

Tammy Abraham and Reece James also rose to prominence under the current interim boss at Stamford Bridge, only for the former to be sold to Roma.

It's likely Chelsea regret that decision given their meagre tally of 29 goals in 30 Premier League matches this term, but for now, Lampard will have to work with what he's given, again.

Who will benefit from Lampard's appointment at Chelsea?

The 44-year-old will only have a matter of weeks in which to weave his magic in west London but fortunately for him, Todd Boehly's transfer strategy has largely focused on young stars of tomorrow, even if they do cost a pretty fortune.

The likes of Mykhailo Mudryk, an £88.5m acquisition and Noni Madueke, a £29m purchase are notable additions, but it's a cut price £20m signing who perhaps stands the greatest chance of replicating Mount and co under Lampard.

Indeed, that happens to be Carney Chukwuemeka, a 19-year-old who wasted away under Graham Potter this term.

Having previously been dubbed "the best 16-year-old in England" by Aston Villa CEO, Christian Purslow, he has the world at his feet but hasn't managed to realise that in London yet.

The teenager has featured on just 12 occasions in all competitions after arriving last summer, with just 224 minutes being afforded in the Premier League.

For a young talent boasting nearly 30 goal involvements in the upper age levels at Villa, it is surprising he hasn't been given a chance when creativity and goals are so sparse at Chelsea this term.

However, it may not be too long before we see the 6 foot 2 powerhouse given his big break.

According to journalist Simon Phillips, who was writing for GIVEMESPORT, Chukwuemeka is already impressing behind the scenes, having 'caught Lampard's eye so far'.

On that evidence, it's strange that he wasn't in the squad for the trip to Wolves last weekend, but now must be his time to shine.

A clash against Real Madrid may be a step too far, but there feels little reason to ignore him when the Blues face Brighton on Saturday.

The "exciting" wonderkid – as dubbed by Boehly – has a big future ahead of him and simply must be unleashed by Lampard. After all, performances can't get much worse.

Leeds United fans were no doubt disappointed to see Ross McCormack depart for Fulham in the summer of 2014 after he had crashed in 29 goals the season before.

However, the Scottish forward's shocking career since then, which has left him without a club since 2021, suggests that the Whites did incredibly well to sell him for £11m.

How did McCormack perform at Leeds?

Leeds would sign McCormack for an undisclosed fee of around £350k in the summer of 2010, joining from Cardiff City.

After a slow start to life at Elland Road, which saw him manage just two league goals in his first season at the club, the forward would become the main man under Neil Warnock the following campaign.

The former Rangers man would fire in 18 goals and six assists in just 45 Championship appearances, before adding another eight goals and 14 assists the following campaign.

His best period at Leeds came in the 2013/14 season however, as he notched an incredible 28 goals and ten assists in the second tier, which saw him finish as the top scorer in the division, despite the club enduring a disappointing year which saw them finish 15th in the league.

Therefore, with Leeds fans still dreaming of a return to the top flight, it was a real source of disappointment when McCormack departed for recently relegated Fulham the following year, and he would deliver similar success at Craven Cottage.

How has McCormack done since leaving Leeds?

In 100 appearances for the west London outfit, he would register an impressive 42 goals and 22 assists, yet he was never able to break into the Premier League, joining fellow Champoinship side Aston Vila in the summer of 2016 for a fee of £12m.

It was here that the once-promising striker's career began to go downhill, as he mustered just three goals and one assist in 24 appearances for the Midlands club and was criticised by manager Steve Bruce for failing to turn up to training on a number of occasions, with his infamous broken gate excuse the beginning of the end for McCormack.

Another failed loan stint at Nottingham Forest, where he hit one goal in seven appearances, would follow, before the Scottish striker, who was dubbed "lazy" by talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan, moved to Australia.

Although he was able to briefly rediscover his best form with Melbourne City, finding the back of the net on 14 occasions in just 17 outings, he would then score just once for Central Coast Mariners, before enduring goalless spells at Motherwell and embarrassingly, Aldershot in non-league.

Since leaving the Shots, McCormack has failed to find a new club and at the age of 36, it seems his career is well and truly over. Thus, it's safe to say Leeds actually struck gold when selling him, even if it felt like poor business at the time.

Everton have enjoyed an upturn in form since Sean Dyche's appointment, with the 51-year-old taking over a squad admittedly lacking in quality and confidence and managing to steer them out of the relegation zone thus far.

Since the Toffees brought him in, they have yielded the fourth-most points, with only Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur having recorded more.

It marks a mini miracle, as the ex-Burnley boss seeks to continue this following the imminent conclusion of the international break.

However, disaster has once again struck for the Merseyside outfit, who were dealt a huge blow as their club captain Seamus Coleman was outlined as a doubt for his country's upcoming game.

The Irishman has seldom had much fortune when playing for the Boys in Green, with the 34-year-old suffering the worst injury of his career in a match against Wales where he sustained a broken leg.

Given that this potential ailment is of far less concern, despite him enjoying the best form he's had in recent years, it does now allow the returning Nathan Patterson to prove to the new boss why he is the perfect man to take over from him in the near future.

When will Nathan Patterson play for Everton?

Having joined for £16m back in January of 2022, the youngster has struggled for fitness throughout his tenure at Goodison Park. Just when opportunities seem to arise for him, the Scotsman is usually struck down with an issue of his own.

His latest came against Brighton and Hove Albion, where he suffered what Frank Lampard described as a "freak" injury that has seen him ruled out ever since.

But whilst one right back suffers on international duty, the other made his triumphant long-awaited return to senior football in a short cameo for Scotland.

The 21-year-old came on for the final portion of the game, having built up to a re-emergence by featuring for Everton's youth sides multiple times.

But by finally getting on the pitch again, for club or country, it bodes well for a strong finish to the season back at Everton.

Having only featured 13 times this season before the injury, Patterson's 6.74 average rating thus far in his debut Premier League season is impressive. He has already established himself as a capable defender, boasting three tackles and 2.1 interceptions per game (via Sofascore), but it is his youthful energy that marks him apart from the £55k-per-week "leader", as branded by journalist Paddy Boyland.

Although he has impressed this season, Coleman will eventually start to slow down. It, therefore, means that his young successor needs to be ready to step up, and this marks his huge chance to do so. With pundit Danny Murphy having lauded him as a "diamond" already for his displays in Royal Blue, should he find consistency then it could prove incredibly fruitful for Dyche and the club.

Leeds United's financial difficulties in the early 2000s were well-documented, and this woe translated into their devastating fall from grace.

In what seemed like an instant, the Whites went from Champions League semi-finalists and Premier League challengers to relegation fodder, culminating in their 2004 slump into the Championship.

During this period, in a desperate attempt to balance the books, many of their top assets were sold at a cut-price as other top clubs came circling around their sinking ship.

They saw opportunities to pick at the bones of this flawed institution that held no bargaining power, and as such their rivals essentially took what they wanted.

This did not end with their relegation though, as a year after then-manager Kevin Blackwell oversaw one of their most frustrating sales as academy graduate Aaron Lennon left for Tottenham Hotspur. Whilst his departure alone stung, the tiny fee paid only served to further twist the knife into their gaping financial wound.

How much did Aaron Lennon cost Tottenham Hotspur?

Having scored only once for the Yorkshire outfit, the 5 foot 5 winger had still captured the attention in their first season in the second division. His electric pace and quick feet made him a threat to any full-back, so it was unsurprising to see him coveted by the likes of Spurs.

However, because of their aforementioned fiscal deficiencies, the Lilywhites would only have to part with £1m to secure this diminutive speedster.

Given how important the 35-year-old became for them, a staple of the Premier League, marks just how big of a blow this turned out to be. Lennon would go on to feature 364 times for Spurs, scoring 30 and assisting 79.

Such was his influence on not just this club but the league as a whole, journalist Joao Vitor Castanheira branded him a "legend" despite only winning a sole EFL Cup.

He truly was capable of the spectacular, with fellow journalist Alasdair Gold reminiscing on the times when the winger would be "tearing defences to shreds with his pace" before finishing things off with a stunner; or as writer Ian Mitchelmore put it, an "absolute beauty".

A nomadic figure who is now synonymous with the English top flight, Lennon would also go on to play for Everton and Burnley whilst becoming a true pioneer in the mental health sphere within the sport.

His work on and off the pitch has made him a true cult hero figure at every club he has graced, but Leeds have the right to feel the hardest done by given the manner in which he was snatched from them only to be turned into a legend for everyone but them.

Leeds United invested heavily last summer, entrusting Jesse Marsch with vast funds to ensure he would guide them far away from the relegation battle he had just saved them from.

Of the seven new faces he brought in, the biggest task the American was faced with was replacing the goals of Raphinha, who had left that summer.

The Brazilian had turned into a truly world-class asset whilst at Elland Road, and his exploits were integral in their continued presence in the Premier League. He was their top scorer last season on 11, so to seek a direct replacement for him was somewhat foolish.

Few could replicate what he did, and with hindsight perhaps offsetting his goals across numerous purchases might have been a smarter move.

However, Luis Sinisterra was selected as his successor, as the Whites parted with £21m to tempt him to Yorkshire.

Whilst he had looked electric the season prior for Feyenoord, his spark has since dwindled out amidst injuries and a loss of form.

How much has Luis Sinisterra cost Leeds?

Whilst his initial fee is mouth-watering enough, the 23-year-old was also handed a £65k-per-week deal to partner it. This was a necessary evil, as if he was expected to be their main man, a figure such as this was to be expected.

However, given how the South American has not performed, it instantly makes the total sum seem foolish. All in all the forward will have cost £24.4m come the conclusion of this campaign, yet he has only mustered 13 appearances in the league, costing the club a depressing £1.6m for each showing he has made this season across all competitions because of his absences.

His return of just two goals is a far cry from what was desired when he first joined too. Frustratingly, this must be branded a failed deal thus far.

It is extremely disappointing to see how little impact he is having, given how he thrived in the Netherlands as aforementioned. Sinisterra's final season in the Eredivisie saw him notch 12 goals and assist a further seven, and in all competitions posted 37 goal contributions.

Clearly capable of magic, there have been brief flashes of the 5 foot 10 winger's potential, but not enough to merit his cost. For example, podcaster Conor McGilligan had brandished one of his goals for Leeds as "Paul Gasgoigne-esque"; high praise indeed.

The talent is obviously there, and were the club's number 23 fit and firing he could truly be the catalyst towards ensuring their safety. It will not be an easy task, but should Javi Gracia reignite the speedster it could be one of his most important feats as Leeds manager.

Leeds United winger Jack Harrison is believed to be on the verge of signing a new contract at Elland Road.

The Lowdown: Harrison’s future up in the air

The 26-year-old’s Whites future has been a big talking point for some time now, with some reports linking him with a move away from Elland Road, namely due to interest from Leicester City on January deadline day.

Harrison’s current Leeds deal expires at the end of next season, so this summer would have represented the most logical time to sell him if unable to agree a new deal.

However, a major update has now emerged, suggesting that he is going nowhere for cheap.

The Latest: New deal incoming?

According to Football Insider reporter Wayne Veysey, Leeds are ‘in talks’ with Harrison over a contract extension and are ‘closing in on an agreement’ with the Englishman.

The Whites don’t want to potentially lose the attacker for a ‘cut-price’ amount and a new deal would alleviate that issue.

The Verdict: Great news for Leeds

In truth, Harrison has struggled to consistently play well this season, scoring just twice in 24 Premier League appearances, but this is still great news.

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He has been a key figure at Elland Road for some time now, racking up 194 appearances and chipping in with 31 goals and assists apiece, not to mention being described as ‘fantastic’ by YouTuber Conor McGilligan.

At 26, Harrison still has another level to find and Javi Gracia could be the man to get even more out of him, ensuring he remains an important figure for years to come.

Should his form not improve, though, and Leeds decide they are happy to see him move on at some point, they would now have the luxury of demanding a big fee.

Chelsea have a special agreement with Roma to sign former striker Tammy Abraham if they meet a pre-agreed price, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Abraham return mooted

The Englishman enjoyed five years at Stamford Bridge between 2016 and 2021, scoring 30 goals in 82 appearances, as well as registering 12 assists.

Abraham eventually left in order to enjoy more regular playing time, however, joining Serie A giants Roma and bagging 17 league goals in his first season there.

It could be that he leaves the club this summer, however, with his form and minutes dropping off slightly from the previous term, and he has been linked with a reunion with Chelsea.

The Latest: Romano confirms buyback agreement

Taking to Twitter on Thursday, Romano confirmed an €80m (£70m) clause in Abraham’s Roma contract that exists only for Chelsea:

“Chelsea have €80m buy back clause for Tammy Abraham valid in summer.”

The Verdict: Is he good enough?

There is no denying Abraham’s pedigree as a striker – Gary Lineker once called him ‘classy’ – considering he has represented Chelsea and Roma, as well as scoring three goals in 11 caps for England.

Whether or not he is at the level required for the Blues this summer is up for debate, however, with the club needing to bring in a genuinely elite attacker to lead the line.

Abraham isn’t that, despite his aforementioned goalscoring prowess, with Napoli star Victor Osimhen on another level, having netted 19 times in 20 league starts this season, not to mention being linked with Chelsea also.

If the former Blues man is happy to come in as a backup option then that would work, but it is highly unlikely that he will be content with that, given the stage of his career he is at.

Aston Villa reporter Ashley Preece has shared an update on rumours regarding a move for Barcelona sporting director Mateu Alemany.

The Lowdown: Alemany offer

There has been plenty of speculation coming from Spain in regards to Villa adding to their boardroom. Reports suggested that club held discussions with former Real Betis director Antonio Cordon, with a recent update also claiming Alemany was of interest.

It was thought that Alemany rejected an offer to move to the Midlands from Barcelona, and Preece has shared what he knows.

The Latest: Preece’s comments

Preece shared a Q&A for Birmingham Live on Thursday morning, where he was asked about Alemany following the rumours of a move.

He said that ‘Villa have stressed’ there is nothing in the reports, although Preece said that the ‘noises’ coming from Spain makes him think Unai Emery wants another director in alongside Johan Lange.

“Re Barca sporting director Mateu Alemany, Villa have stressed to me that there’s nothing in those reports, likewise Cordon who left Betis last week. I am quite sceptical, though, given the noises surrounding the sporting directors. I do feel Emery wants another man to come in and perhaps support Lange.

“We’ll see what plays out in the summer… Let’s just say that. Emery wants another man he can trust by his side when it comes to the big decisions involving his playing squad.”

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The Verdict: Interesting

Villa allegedly ‘rate’ the work that Lange has done, however, even though the club have seemingly rubbished rumours about Alemany, an off-field addition could still be one to watch. Lange could be working long hours this summer, with Christian Purslow expecting an extremely busy transfer window at Villa Park.

Therefore, bringing in another sporting director to work alongside the 43 year-old may prove be a wise move, bringing a fresh approach to the club ahead of Emery’s first full season.

Emery has reportedly been given a level of control none of his predecessors have been allowed, so he may want to work closely with Lange and another director of his choice, so it could be an interesting few months both on and off the pitch.