All posts by z3u9t.icu

Many Glasgow Rangers fans have been left fuming at a referee decision in their 0-0 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion in a friendly on Saturday evening.

Ianis Hagi thought that he had scored late on in the second half, only for the referee to bring the play back for an alleged foul on Yves Bissouma.

Steven Gerrard’s men more than held their own against the Premier League outfit, as new signing John Lundstram hit the crossbar as the Gers threatened to go ahead on more than one occasion in the first half (The Daily Mail).

Even though it was just a pre-season friendly, it would have been a very good result if the Ibrox faithful managed to beat the Seagulls, but in the end, they had to settle for a draw.

Nonetheless, a lot of RFC supporters were not happy at all with the decision to chalk Hagi’s goal off.

Rangers fans on disallowed goal

These Rangers fans slammed the decision to disallow Hagi’s goal on Twitter, with one even going as far as to claim that it was a ‘terrible decision’:

“That’s the worst dive I’ve ever seen”

Credit: @666lucifxr

“Terrible decision by the ref! Goal all day”

Credit: @mjh1977

“Never a foul, we got robbed”

Credit: @Justin83517287

“That’s poor”Credit: @JamieGirdwood”Scottish officials are embarrassing”Credit: @EverySaturdayWe”No way is that a foul”Credit: @RangersCentral3In other news, find out what big claim has been dropped on this ‘top-quality’ Ger here!

Speaking in a Q&A, reliable football.london correspondent Alasdair Gold has dropped a Tottenham claim involving Ajax manager Erik ten Hag as links with the Dutchman re-emerged in recent days.

The Lowdown: Spurs still searching…

In the two months since Tottenham commenced their search for a new manager, the Lilywhites have been linked with a host of names.

Julian Nagelsmann and Brendan Rodgers were originally their top targets, but complications involving those two seemingly removed them from the race.

Talks were then held with the likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Antonio Conte, Paulo Fonseca and Gennaro Gattuso, only for those conversations to eventually break down and throw Spurs back to square one.

The Latest: Ten Hag back on the radar?

Ten Hag is a name which has re-emerged as a possible appointment, with ESPN saying that Tottenham are now reassessing him as an option.

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

However, football.london journalist Gold told supporters in a Q&A that it would be very tricky to pull this one off despite labelling him ‘perfect’ for Spurs.

“I think Ten Hag would be perfect and ticks all the boxes for me,” the reporter explained.

“I’m told he was interested in the role, before and after Ajax took up the option to extend his contract by a year. However, Spurs did not follow up that interest after talks and now it would be tough to convince the Dutch club to even let him go so close to pre-season if Spurs returned.”

The Verdict: Disappointing claim…

Ten Hag is arguably one of the best candidates who is still linked with a move to Spurs and fits chairman Daniel Levy’s desires for a new boss down to a tee.

The 51-year-old encourages an open, attacking style of football and is known for promoting youth at Ajax (Daily Mail) – aspects of a coach which Levy outlined as preferable in his end-of-season letter to supporters.

He also has title-winning experience in the Netherlands, clinching two Eredivisie titles at the Johan Cruyff Arena and five major honours in Amsterdam overall (Transfermarkt).

Gold’s claim that appointing Ten Hag could now be difficult must come as a real disappointment for Spurs.

In other news: ‘He has already contacted’…Journalist drops big Tottenham claim involving Paratici, find out more here.

Liam Kennedy has said that Newcastle United will ‘likely’ need to find a replacement for Matt Ritchie in this summer’s transfer window.

The lowdown

The 31-year-old has made 169 appearances for Newcastle since joining from Bournemouth in 2016, scoring 24 goals and providing 31 assists in black and white. Last season, he featured 21 times across all competitions, including a run of nine consecutive starts at the end of the Premier League season.

Back in March, Ritchie was reportedly involved in a training-ground bust-up with Steve Bruce. He is alleged to have called the manager a ‘coward’, and been ‘physically confronted’ in response.

The Scot was an unused substitute in the three games which followed, but then regained the faith of his manager. Following the 4-3 defeat against Manchester City last month, Pep Guardiola singled out Ritchie for praise, admitting he was ‘so good as a taker’ of set pieces.

The latest

Kennedy was asked in a fan Q&A for Shields Gazette what areas should take priority for Newcastle in the transfer market.

He replied: “Centre-half and central midfield. United need to add at least one player in both positions. A Matt Ritchie replacement is likely to be needed as will a stand in for Wilson. Those four would be a start, moving forward.”

The 31-year-old still has two years left on his contract and is valued at £3.6m by Transfermarkt.

The verdict

Losing Ritchie would be a blow to Newcastle given his experience, dead ball quality and supreme versatility – he can operate in either full-back position and further up both flanks.

It could prove very tricky for the Magpies to find a player who combines all of those qualities, either from within the club or on the transfer market for a reasonable fee, considering reports of a paltry £10m-£12m summer budget.

In other news, another Newcastle ace is pushing for a way out.

Leicester City have been linked with a move for Bournemouth winger Arnaut Danjuma as the summer transfer window approaches.

What’s the story?

According to the Daily Mail, Brendan Rodgers’ charges are interested in acquiring the 24-year-old’s signature this summer after an impressive 2020/21 campaign.

The report claims that the Cherries may have to sell one of their star players after missing out on an instant return to the Premier League, and Danjuma is attracting interest from across Europe.

Imagine him and Vardy

Leicester have been linked with several intriguing prospects in recent weeks as Rodgers attempts to strengthen his squad, but the Dutch international may just be the most exciting of them all.

Danjuma bagged 17 goals and provided eight assists in just 37 appearances for the south coast club last season, making him one of the Championship’s standout performers.

Although the skillful forward was ultimately unable to fire Bournemouth back to the top flight, his incredible displays clearly impressed interim manager Jonathan Woodgate, who said: “I know last season that he didn’t really get a run in the Premier League and he maybe found it a bit difficult to get game time, but this season he’s been outstanding.

“I can only talk of what he’s done under my reign, but at the minute, he’s playing some exceptional football, and what else he is doing is working for the team.”

The exceptional pace, trickery and finishing ability of Danjuma, combined with his improved work rate, would make him an ideal signing for Rodgers, and he should be able to adjust to the Northern Irishman’s system with ease.

Seeing him combine with the likes of Jamie Vardy on a regular basis at the King Power Stadium would be a daunting prospect for any opposition side. The deadly duo would provide the perfect blend of problems for opponents and could potentially fire the Foxes into the Champions League next season.

While the likes of Harvey Barnes, James Maddison and Kelechi Iheanacho came close to providing the firepower needed for a top-four finish, adding Danjuma into the mix may just provide the final piece of the jigsaw needed to finally achieve that goal. Director of football John Rudkin must do whatever he can towards making this move happen.

In other news… Imagine him and Maddison: Rudkin must sanction Leicester swoop for £34m magician 

According to Maisfutebol (via Glasgow Live), the agent of Glasgow Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos has travelled to Portugal to enter negotiations with Porto in regards to a transfer.

The Lowdown: Morelos could leave

Morelos has now spent four years with the Gers, scoring 94 goals in 182 games for the club (Transfermarkt).

His performances have led him to be linked with a number of clubs, such as Marseille (Le10 Sport) and AC Milan (Football Insider via Glasgow Live).

In the past, he has said it is his dream to play in the Premier League (Radio Caracol), while he has also suggested he wants to play in a more prestigious division (Goal.com).

The Latest: Morelos’ agent talks to Porto

Now, it is being reported that Morelos’ agent, Michael Gorman, has travelled to Porto to speak to the two-time European champions in regards to a transfer for his client.

No deal has yet been agreed between the clubs, and Porto say they will only discuss personal terms when a deal has been agreed.

The Verdict: Sooner rather than later

Steven Gerrard and co would be disappointed to see the 24-year-old depart. Sure, he has had his discipline issues – he has received seven red cards during his time at Ibrox – but his goalscoring record speaks for itself. He has contributed massively to the Gers’ return to the top of Scottish football.

It has always felt as though he would eventually leave Rangers, and this summer offers another opportunity for that to happen.

Currently valued at £10.8m (Transfermarkt), the 55-time Scottish champions will be looking for a considerable fee for his services. If one comes in, though, they may well accept the Colombia international moving on with a chance to reinvest any profit into several positions ahead of a daunting Champions League campaign.

In other news, Rangers fans were livid at this Euro 2020 news.

Nigel Adkins took over from Lee Bowyer when the former Blues midfielder took the job in January and former Charlton Athletic manager, Les Reed, admits he is delighted to see Adkins as the club’s manager.

Charlton just missed out on the play-offs this season despite beating champions, Hull City 1-0 on the final day of the season but they were helpless as Oxford United thrashed Burton Albion 4-0 to secure the final spot.

Adkins had been out of management since he decided not to renew his contract at Hull City back in 2019 and when he was announced as Charlton’s new manager, it certainly took former midfielder, Rob Lee, by surprise.

Charlton are slowly but surely getting the right culture and feeling back around the club, something Adkins has helped with, they are the thoughts of Reed, who spoke exclusively to Football FanCast:

“I’m a Charlton fan so I was delighted with that appointment because I’ve worked with Nigel in the past and he’s a perfect fit for the club.

“There is now a good environment and culture at Charlton, which is slowly coming back as it was lost under Roland Duchatelet, for various reasons.”

Before Adkins took charge at The Valley, Bowyer had overseen a promotion via the play-offs and then an immediate relegation the following season back into League One.

Charlton appear to be in more sensible hands with Thomas Sandgaard now owning the club and appearing to be willing to pump some money into the club, not least their women’s team who he recently also bought.

Kostas Tsimikas is expected to remain at Liverpool beyond this season, despite a disappointing first year at Anfield, according to a journalist in his homeland.

The left-back joined the Reds for £11.75million from Olympiakos last summer, with Jurgen Klopp hoping to provide Andy Robertson with some competition.

Tsimikas has had a nightmare opening season at Liverpool, however, picking up constant injury problems and playing just five minutes of Premier League action.

[freshpress-quiz id=“355458″]

Journalist claims Tsimikas will stay at Liverpool

Despite this, the 24-year-old is still expected to stay with the Reds, with journalist Giannis Chorianopoulos confirming as much on Twitter. Chorianopoulos is the editor-in-chief at Greek outlet Sportive.gr.

It is claimed that Tsimikas is ‘100%’ focused on staying on Liverpool, as he looks to overcome this tricky period and become a key squad member moving forward.

“No sign at the moment that Tsimikas is going to leave LFC. He is 100% focus on Liverpool,” the journalist said.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/liverpool-latest-news-and-updates/” title=”Liverpool latest news and updates!” poster=”https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-01-02T123739Z_1934422778_UP1EH120Z2RVI_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-SCOTLAND-RFC-CEL-REPORT-2-640×853.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Transfer Tavern take

It is scarcely believable how little Tsimikas has played this season – Liverpool fans could even be forgiven for forgetting he existed, such has been his lack of football.

It would be premature to sell him so soon, however, considering injuries have hampered him, but far more availability is required in 2021/22.

Robertson’s form has completely deserted him, partly down to playing too much football – he has played more league minutes than any other Liverpool player this season, and with Scotland doing the unthinkable and finally qualifying for the Euros this summer, there will be little rest for the flying full-back heading into the next campaign.

Tsimikas being fit and reliable can help ease the burden on Robertson moving forward, so it is absolutely the right decision to stay put, but he simply must improve his fitness and show Klopp he is more than just an extra bib in training.

In other news, some Liverpool fans are delighted after seeing one key figure back in Reds training. Find out who it is here.

Some Liverpool fans have been left delighted after Jurgen Klopp confirmed that Nathaniel Phillips is fit to face Southampton this weekend.

The Reds are back in action on Saturday evening, with Saints making the trip to Anfield in the Premier League.

It has been a fortnight since Jurgen Klopp’s men were last in action, due to last weekend’s scheduled clash with Manchester United being postponed.

[freshpress-quiz id=“355458″]

Liverpool simply have to beat Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side if they are to have any chance of finishing in the top four this season – even then, their chances still look slim.

Someone who hasn’t played since the 0-0 draw with Real Madrid last month is Phillips, who has been missing though injury, albeit being named in the initial team to face United last Sunday.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, Klopp confirmed that the 24-year-old is fit, firing and available for selection, with the last week further aiding his recovery.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/all-the-latest-liverpool-news/” title=”All the latest Liverpool news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Liverpool fans pleased with Klopp’s update on Phillips

These Liverpool supporters have been sharing their happiness at Phillips being available on Twitter.

“NAT PHILLIPS IS FIT YESSSSSSSS”

Credit: @NoSwearingHere7

” Super news”

Credit: @TheKopiteOFF

“Nat Phillips is fit & should be back in defence. Fabinho back in midfield then. Find your scoring boots guys!”

Credit: @Sakethscribbles

“The Incredible Flying Brick”

Credit: @kevezlowey

“Yay”

Credit: @JacobTaschler

“Yessir”

Credit: @Podgeeeeeeee

In other news, one Liverpool player is set to be offered a monster new deal. Find out who it is here.

Liverpool are expected to sign RB Leipzig defender Ibrahima Konate this summer, with the Bundesliga outfit waiting for official confirmation that they will pay his £30.2m release clause.

What’s the story?

The 22-year-old has long been linked with a move to Anfield as Jurgen Klopp looks to strengthen his centre-back options ahead of the 2021/22 campaign, and now a deal looks set to be completed.

According to Sky Sports, Konate’s imminent arrival is just dependent on the Reds paying Leipzig the required fee, with Die Roten Bullen already eyeing up his replacement.

Klopp is making a mistake

Current centre-back options Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all suffered serious injuries last season, forcing the likes of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to fill in at the heart of defence, meaning Liverpool have prioritised that area of the pitch in the transfer window.

The 2019/20 Premier League champions made the bold decision not to replace Dejan Lovren 12 months ago after the Croatia international joined Zenit St Petersburg in an £11m deal.

It left Klopp with just three recognised senior centre-backs in his first-team squad, but by January all of them had picked up season-ending issues.

Therefore, focussing on bolstering the centre-back position makes perfect sense for the Merseyside outfit. However, signing Konate does not.

Although the former France Under-21 international in undoubtedly an extremely talented player with bags of potential, he has already incurred his fair share of fitness problems, despite being just 22 years old.

The youngster started just eight league games in 2020/21, failing to start three Bundesliga matches in a row all season. An ankle injury picked up in December kept Konate on the sidelines for two months, with Dayot Upamecano and Willi Orban keeping their place in the starting XI upon his return.

As per Transfermarkt, the former Sochaux man has already missed 405 days of action through injury in his fledgling career, totalling 46 fixtures where he’s been forced to watch from the stands.

With Liverpool’s season being destroyed by a plague of injury issues, it’s hard to fathom why Klopp has turned to a man who’s already effectively missed a year of his career through a string of fitness concerns to solve the problem.

Konate appears fast, strong, comfortable with the ball at his feet, and an accomplished passer, but if he spends half his time in the physio’s room, then Liverpool are back to square one.

While it’s hard to criticise Klopp’s previous endeavours into the transfer market, this is a deal that seems almost impossible to justify, given the huge risks attached.

And, in other news…Liverpool eye move for “clinical” £795k-p/w gem, Edwards must stay clear 

Patrick Bamford should be dropped for Leeds United’s Premier League clash with Manchester City, according to Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side make the trip to Etihad on Saturday lunchtime, in what represents a huge test for the Whites.

Leeds currently sit 11th in the table after a good season back in the top flight, but they will want to finish the campaign in strong fashion.

Bielsa has a few selection issues ahead of the game, with Bamford’s form dipping of late, having scored just once in his last five appearances.

[freshpress-quiz id=“351040″]

Agbonlahor tips Bamford to be dropped

Someone who thinks the striker should be left out of the stating lineup this weekend is Agbonlahor, who told Football Insider about his reasoning behind the decision:

“He looks tired for me, he looked very tired coming off. He wasn’t energetic. He looked disappointed coming off but I think it was the right decision.

“Rodrigo looked like he had a lot of energy. Maybe it’s time for Bamford to have a little rest on the bench and let Rodrigo play against Manchester City.

“You cannot play every game of the season. You do need a rest, especially when you’re over the age of 25. Maybe it’s something Bielsa does and he maybe just needs to give his team a little bit of a rest and rotate some players.”

Transfer Tavern take

It would be a shock to see Bamford axed, considering he has scored 14 league goals in 30 appearances, while Rodrigo has just three in 21, struggling to find his feet in England.

There are signs of him looking fatigued of late, and considering the workload that Leeds’ players will have to put in against a relentless City side, it could be that Rodrigo is a fresher option, but we find it hard to believe Bielsa will drop his star man for the toughest test they’ve faced so far.

In other news, Leeds have been linked with a midfielder who has been on fire in another European league this season. Find out who it is here.