All posts by n8rngtd.top

Chelsea are embroiled in an enthralling transfer race for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo.

What’s the latest on Moises Caicedo to Chelsea?

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Blues are one of three clubs that are tracking the 21-year-old in a hotly-contested tug-of-war.

The Ecuadorian attempted to force a move to Arsenal in the January window, but the Seagulls awarded him with a new contract and a promise that he could be sold in the summer in case of a good proposal.

We have now reached that time, and Caicedo has been an integral cog in a sensational Roberto De Zerbi outfit that secured European football for the first time in the club’s history.

The south coast side are reportedly holding out for more than £70m for the player, should his exit be sanctioned.

Why does Chelsea want Moises Caicedo?

The journey of this prodigy has been an endearing and magnificent spectacle. He has only made 53 appearances for Brighton, but he has established himself as a formidably consistent protector, who has enjoyed a meteoric rise to stardom.

This campaign, the 30-cap international has appeared in 37 Premier League games and his stats make for unbelievable reading – as he averaged 2.7 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game, the highest in the Brighton squad.

It is not just within his own team that he ruthlessly excelled, as the £60k-per-week machine ranks in the top 12% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for tackles and interceptions, as well as the highest 6% for pass completion, according to FBref.

Since De Zerbi arrived in England, he has drawn huge attention to his tactical ingenuity by playing an attractive possession-based, that focuses on drawing the press and creating huge gaps in the forward areas for his dazzling playmakers to exploit.

This method creates huge pressure on the defenders and pivots within the team, but the all-round quality of Caicedo, embodied by his ability to play defence splitting-passes and act as the shield for his backline, is why he is so sought-after.

His former manager Graham Potter labelled the Ecuadorian talent as “fantastic” and that he “has all the attributes to play at the very, very highest level.”

For the incoming Mauricio Pochettino, though, the signing of this pivot could be a repeat of the magical Mousa Dembele era, who was a pillar of technique, physicality, and agility during an imperious seven-stay at Tottenham Hotspur.

At the peak of his powers during the 2015/16 season, the Belgian powerhouse recorded a mammoth 3.6 tackles and 2.9 dribbles per game – the highest total for both metrics in the side.

Chelsea’s new coach has previously described Dembele as a “genius”, whilst former Arsenal wonderkid Jack Wilshere said he “hated” playing against him.

Dembele and Caicedo share a similar tough-tackling tenacity and a press-resistant dominance on the ball, and the latter could emulate his elder’s extraordinary superiority at Stamford Bridge.

As the west Londoners seek to ignite their midfield revolution, securing this young Brighton ace would be an excellent first step as Pochettino could well unearth his next midfield monster.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been linked to a goal machine ahead of the summer transfer window, as Julen Lopetegui looks to fix his side’s scoring woes.

Wolves found the net just 31 times in 38 games this season, making them the Premier League’s lowest scorers.

The club could end their low scoring streak in one signing this summer, despite pressures of FFP putting strain on the Spaniard’s ability to spend.

What’s the latest on Georges Mikautadze to Wolves?

According to French outlet le10sport last week, the Midlands club are “ready” to position themselves to sign FC Metz striker Georges Mikautadze.

The report states that the asking price from the Ligue 2 club would be around the €20m mark, making him available to Wolves for just £17m.

What could Georges Mikautadze bring to Wolves?

For only a snip price, Lopetegui could get his hands on a prolific goalscorer who has found the net on 24 occasions in all competitions this season.

Playing in Ligue 2 with Metz, the 22-year-old ended the campaign as the league's top scorer, with 23 strikesin the competition, as well as scoring one in the Coupe de France.

Hailed as “incredible” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the young forward has more than just goal-scoring ability in his arsenal, having registered nine assists across all competitions also.

His talents could provide Wolves with an essence of the spirit at Molineux when Raul Jimenez was firing, and the club were pushing towards the top six.

In both the 2018/19 and 2019/20 campaigns, the Midlands club finished seventh in the Premier League under Nuno Santo, with the two recurring successes in those seasons being the form of the Mexican striker.

The talisman scored a combined total of 30 goals and registered 14 assists over the impressive terms, however, since his devastating injury the goals have dried up and so has Wolves’ form.

Lauded as “remarkable” by former teammate Conor Coady back in 2020, the forward was the battery fuelling Nuno’s attack, and inspired his team to dream about competing with the big fish in the Premier League.

What Wolves relished in having during those years is what the club is missing now, being absent going forward which has punished their performance in the competition, with the club sitting bottom of the table on Christmas day last year.

Lopetegui must improve his side’s ability to find the net, which he could do so in signing the “Georgian killer” Mikautadze, who has an innate ability to contribute to goals, just as Jimenez did in those glory years.

This season, the Georgian has a scoring frequency in Ligue 2 of every 134 minutes, averaging 1.1 shots on target per game, similar to that of the Mexican in 2019/20 who averaged 1.2 on target per game and a frequency of 191 minutes – as per Sofascore.

At just 22-year-old, the Spaniard could have a talent to lead the line at Molineux for years to come in a player that would cost the club less than £20m.

Leeds United should have plenty of money to spend this summer under the control of 49ers Enterprises, according to reliable journalist Phil Hay.

Is Leeds' takeover complete?

The Whites experienced a season to forget in the Premier League, suffering relegation back down to the Championship, following failed spells under Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce.

All of a sudden, however, Leeds have received some much-needed good news, with the club confirming on Friday that an agreement has been reached between Aser Ventures and 49ers Enterprises over the purchase of the Whites.

It is a big moment in the club's recent history, with this new takeover expected to be hugely beneficial financially, allowing Leeds to become more of a force on and off the pitch in the coming years.

While relegation is clearly a blow – especially as it could have meant fewer funds being available for reinforcements – a new update has allayed those fears.

How will Leeds' summer spending be affected?

According to The Athletic's Hay, Leeds' current situation is a positive one, with this new injection of money likely to aid them in the summer transfer window:

"Parachute payments in year one in the Championship are worth around £45million to Leeds.

"Those sources of income will still be used by 49ers Enterprises but this takeover is expected to lead to an injection of working capital by the U.S. fund, allowing Leeds to have a more active or aggressive window than they might otherwise have had.

"That is not to say that spending will be lavish or wildly excessive, and don’t be surprised if the club make use of the loan market, but they should be better placed to recruit and sell, and the takeover should give them more chance of retaining certain key players."

This is great news for Leeds, who could have been damaged so badly by the exit from the Premier League, and it highlights how important the takeover of the club is.

It puts the Whites in a strong position when it comes to making a rapid return to the top flight over the next 12 months, suggesting that their next manager will be backed in the transfer market and that they should start the 2023/24 season as one of the favourites to get out of the Championship.

There have clearly been good times with the outgoing owners – not least hiring Marcelo Bielsa and getting back into the Premier League. But it is perhaps time for a change, and it has come at a pivotal point in the club's recent history.

Manchester United appear to be stepping up their interest in Atalanta sensation, Rasmus Hojlund, according to the latest reports.

What's the latest on Hojlund to Man United?

As per one Italian journalist, writing on Twitter: "#ManchesterUnited will present a first offer of 60 million, today is the first choice. #Atalanta's request will be higher, but the negotiation can get underway."

While it is not stated whether that potential fee is in pounds or euros, Football Transfers have previously suggested that the Serie A side are likely to demand in the region of £60m if they are to part ways with the 20-year-old this summer.

The Red Devils are seemingly looking for suitable striking alternatives to that of England skipper, Harry Kane, amid reports that the Old Trafford outfit are unlikely to make a bid for the 29-year-old due to Tottenham Hotspur's unwillingness to sell.

Would Hojlund be a good signing for Man United?

On the face of it, the signing of a player who scored just nine league goals last season may not appear particularly exciting, although all the signs point to Hojlund simply being a "monster in the making", according to talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Also lauded as "remarkable" by current boss Gian Piero Gasperini – who has likened the Denmark international to fellow Scandinavian striker, Erling Haaland – the former Sturm Graz ace could be the man to lead the line for Erik ten Hag's side over the next decade or so.

The explosive marksman – who has been lauded as "scary quick" by journalist Sacha Pisani – could well be able to form a devastating attacking partnership with fellow youngster, Alejandro Garnacho at the Theatre of Dreams in the long-term, with the teenage Argentine having enjoyed a stellar breakout campaign last season.

Having scored seven goals during United's FA Youth Cup triumph in the 2021/22 campaign – including bagging twice in the final – the 18-year-old has since gone on to make his presence felt in the first-team, racking up ten goals and assists in all competitions.

Lauded as a "game changer" by Manchester Evening News correspondent, Samuel Luckhurst, Garnacho's rapid rise was notably laid bare following his standout cameo in the FA Cup showpiece defeat to rivals Manchester City, having made a 'real impact off the bench', in the words of the Evening Standard's Dom Smith.

Much like Hojlund, the winger's youth would suggest that he still has a way to go to truly reach his full potential, although again – like the Atalanta marksman – the early signs are so very exciting and promising for those at United.

The hope will be that if Ten Hag is to get his man this summer, the former Ajax boss can build his side around both Hojlund and Garnacho over the coming years…

Liverpool could yet swoop in and try to sign Edmond Tapsoba from under Tottenham's noses, with 90min reporting that the Reds are monitoring the situation and have been "informed" of what is going on with the player.

How has Edmond Tapsoba played this season?

With 33 games and 32 starts in the league for Bayer Leverkusen over the 2022/23 season, the defender has now become a key player for the German side. He is a regular feature in their defensive line and is a reliable face at the back for them. In fact, since joining from Vitoria, the player has already racked up a total of 100 top flight games for the Bundesliga outfit. That's despite the fact he is still only 24-years-old – showing just how important he has become to the club.

In addition, he also averages 5.76 progressive passes per 90 and 1.46 progressive carries per 90. They rank him within the top eight percent for both categories amongst other centre-backs across the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe – and it shows how crucial to a team's build-up he can be from his deep position.

Now, these showings have caught the eye of Premier League teams. Tottenham have seemingly been leading the race to bring him in, but it might not be so straightforward according to a fresh report from 90min. It states that there are several other English sides, including Liverpool, who have now been "informed" about the ongoing situation.

With the Reds looking for another centre-back option, they are now keeping tabs on the Spurs target.

What could Edmond Tapsoba cost?

There is no mention of what a potential fee could be for the player, but CIES Football Observatory suggest that he could cost around 30 million Euros (or £26m). If that is the case, then Tapsoba would earn current club Bayer Leverkusen a profit on what they signed him for, whilst also not costing whichever club does snap him up a fortune in transfer fees.

He could be worth that amount too if that does turn out to be his value. Football journalist Josh Bunting has stated that the defender's stock "keeps rising" because of how good he has been in Germany and also added that he is very "attack-minded" for a player who predominantly plays in a backline, while journalist Jack Collins has called him "sensational".

It means that, if Liverpool did decide to act on this interest and try and bring him in, they could land a player that could fit straight into their defence and contribute at both ends of the field.

Tottenham Hotspur could be set to return to a familiar face, in order to bolster their side and kickstart a revolution…

What's the latest on Cameron Carter-Vickers to Spurs?

This latest rumour comes courtesy of the Sunday People (25/6; page 61), who suggest that Ange Postecoglou is keen on raiding his old club in order to improve his new one.

Whilst few of Celtic's side would improve this Spurs outfit, there are a select number who might offer fine options to fight for places within the Premier League.

One such example is Cameron Carter-Vickers, who is being eyed up by the Australian boss with a view to organising a reunion.

Given the USA international came through the youth ranks at N17, there are multiple layers of credibility to this story, that could suggest it is a move worth making.

However, the Scottish giants remain in a position of great power, given the 25-year-old still has three years left on his £24k-per-week deal at Celtic Park.

How good is Cameron Carter-Vickers now?

Whilst it is unlikely that many from the Scottish Premiership would come and immediately take English football by storm, the mediocrity of some of the starters for the Lilywhites have certainly merited being dismissed from the starting lineup.

Eric Dier is one such example, who endured a torrid campaign in which he was even branded "not good enough" by pundit Darren Ambrose.

Whilst he has been struggling, maintaining a 6.86 average Sofascore rating in the league, Carter-Vickers has been excelling in what is just his second year in Scotland.

His 7.14 average rating blows the 29-year-old out of the water, as he completely outperforms the England international as a ball-playing asset. Defensively the 6 foot 1 ace is arguably on par, with his 1.1 interceptions matching that of Dier's, and 2.9 clearances per game just falling short, via Sofascore.

It is worth noting that playing for the champions often leads to a defender having fewer defensive actions to make as he is instead conducting the play from the back, having the bulk of the possession.

When comparing their ability on the ball, this notion is emphasised. Their academy graduate maintained a 92% pass accuracy last season in the Scottish top flight, with his dribble success rate standing at a mouth-watering 100%. The former Sporting CP star could only dream of such figures, as he could muster just 86% and 60% in those areas respectively.

Opta's player analysis tool succinctly sums up how these are shortcomings for Dier in a neat chart too, as his dribbles attempted and defensive actions are left wanting.

it seems that this dud could easily be replaced by a man who once seemed to be the hottest property in north London.

Spurs favourite Jan Vertonghen had been particularly effusive in his praise for Carter-Vickers during his time at the club too, as he noted: "He's still young but he's an absolute beast. He's a real defender. He's strong one-on-one, in the air, he's not afraid and he can play from the back. That's the style the gaffer wants to see from him."

This echoes the sentiment of Chris Sutton, who also branded him "immense". All of this praise combines to compound the inevitable ditching of Dier.

An upgrade is needed, and by returning to a familiar face they could reignite his passion for the club and finally usher in a new age in north London.

Chelsea's transfer activity so far this summer has been dominated by players that have either left of are set to leave, but there is plenty of time remaining for new head coach Mauricio Pochettino to bring in one or two players of his own.

The Blues may be well stocked in attack, though the likely departures of Mason Mount and Kai Havertz will still leave a gap to be filled in terms of a creative player.

Plenty of names have been linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge, including the likes of Jonathan David and Wilfried Zaha, but another candidate has emerged that may just be an ideal fit in West London.

It could be argued that Chelsea have never truly replaced Eden Hazard since he joined Real Madrid in 2019, but versatile Ajax forward Mohammed Kudus could be just that man.

According to Chelsea football writer Simon Phillips, via his Substack page, the Blues have a serious interest in signing Kudus and have made him their priority option in terms of a number 10.

What can Ajax forward Mohammed Kudus bring to Chelsea?

Kudus can indeed play as a number 10, but as pointed out by Phillips, the left-footed speedster can play out on the right – where he is given licence to cut inside – and through the middle, whether as a centre-forward or playing just off one.

Indeed, that is much the same as Hazard, who showed across seven years at Chelsea that he was comfortable playing in an array of positions, namely out on the left and also through the middle.

It is not just positionally the pair are alike, though. Indeed, the comparisons grow stronger when looking at their dribbling stats. Taking the figures from Hazard's final Premier League season at Chelsea in 2018-19, he was successful with 67.32% of his take-ons, as per Squawka.

That is a staggeringly similar number to Kudus with Ajax in Eredivisie last season at 67.91%, with the 22-year-old unsuccessful from 2.1 take-on attempts per game, compared to 2.2 for Hazard.

They also have similar passing accuracies across those respective seasons (84.33% for Hazard, 87.6% for Kudus) and got away similar numbers of shots on target (1.4 v 1.5).

The comparisons do not stop there, either, as Hazard scored 0.5 goals per game from outside the box – the exact same figure as Kudus, though the latter preferred to use his left foot and the Belgian his right.

As highlighted by Independent writer Karl Matchett, Kudus is a "sensational" and "magical" player who, beyond being one of the best dribblers around, is also tactically aware, has an eye for goal and is aggressive in winning the ball back.

It is that last part that sets Kudus apart from Hazard. The Ghana international averaged 5.5 ball recoveries per game last season, whereas Hazard's figure was down at 3.2 in the 2018-19 season.

Many attackers have arrived at Stamford Bridge over the past four years with the promise of becoming the next Hazard, but in Kudus – expected to be available for around £40m – they may have finally found just that.

There’s always the worry that AI will take over, before descending in robot chaos, forcing us all to live our lives doing our best impressions of an action movie protagonist. But, even if that does one day occur, one thing that’s safe from the takeover is football chants. Talk about saving the essentials, right?As things turn out, AI is yet to crack the code of what makes a football chant so great. Of course, it could be said that some fans are yet to crack that code, too, with the occasional team name taking centre stage as a club’s song of choice.For instance, the hilariously simple: “Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelseaaa!”That one-phrase chant is still better than what AI came up with for new Liverpool signing Dominik Szoboszlai, however.

What’s the latest on Dominik Szoboszlai and Liverpool?

Joining the Reds for £60m after they triggered his release clause at RB Leipzig, Szoboszlai joins looking to help transform Jurgen Klopp’s midfield.

Signing a five-year deal, the 22-year-old told the club in his first interview: “It’s really, really good. I enjoyed the last [few] days and I’m looking forward to knowing everybody better.

“The last three or four days went really long; it was not that easy. But at the end I’m here, I’m happy and I can’t wait to get started.

“[A] really historic club, really good players, good coach, everything is good. For me it was perfect to make the next step in a club like this. The fans, the stadium, everything is really good.”

The midfielder is Liverpool’s second signing of the summer following Alexis Mac Allister’s arrival from Brighton & Hove Albion at the start of the window.

Klopp isn’t stopping there, either, according to Fabrizio Romano, who reported that Liverpool are also in contact over a potential move for Southampton’s Romeo Lavia.

What is the AI song for Szoboszlai and Mac Allister?

Attempting to replicate the song created by AI for Mac Allister, DaveOCKOP posted the Szoboszlai song, which goes as follows to the tune of Don McLean’s American Pie.

Do sing along if you can: “My my, Dominik Szoboszlai, he’s the wonder from the Bundesliga, Hungary guy. With him in midfield, we’ll win every time, singing Dominik, we’re happy you signed, Dominik, you’re one of a kind.”

Unsurprisingly, we don’t think this one is going to catch on quite as well as Allez Allez Allez did a few years ago. Anfield will likely be sticking to their usual chants, hoping to power Klopp’s side onto bigger and better things than last season, with a new-look squad on the way.

You can hear the Mac Allister tune here to compare:

Liverpool have spent the majority of their summer transfer window so far concentrating on refreshing their midfield rebuild ahead of next season and Jurgen Klopp will be thrilled with the business done so far.

Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have joined the Merseyside giants to make their mark on the next generation of success at Anfield, following the departure of Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Whilst repairing the glaring issues in the centre of the pitch has been the main priority for the German coach, there is certainly a lot of speculation surrounding a potential move for a centre-back this summer too.

Joel Matip is now in the final year of his contract at the club, whilst Virgil van Dijk celebrated his 32nd birthday yesterday so will soon be reaching the latter stages of his career. As a result, there is definitely a discussion to be had on a potential search for worthy candidates that could join Ibrahima Konate in the future of the defensive set up.

Liverpool have been linked with a number of centre-backs in the past few weeks with Josko Gvardiol, Micky van de Ven, Marc Guehi and Perr Schuurs named as potential signings for the club.

However, there is one player who has been hitting the headlines this week who could be an incredible signing, as Chelsea star Levi Colwill is the latest defender to be linked with a move to Merseyside and he could be a great replacement for Joe Gomez.

How good is Levi Colwill?

The left-footed defender has had an incredible weekend after winning the U21 European Championships with England last night which was the first time the nation's youth team had won the tournament in 39 years.

England beat Spain 1-0 in the final clash and Colwill played a huge part in the achievement and was part of the defensive set up who didn't concede a single goal in the entire tournament.

Over five appearances for England U21s, the 20-year-old tallied up an impressive 91% pass completion rate and won a whopping 71% of his duels, suggesting that not only was he competent with the ball at his feet, but he was also excellent from a physical point of view.

Despite thriving and graduating from Chelsea's infamous Cobham academy, Colwill is still yet to make a start in the Premier League for the West London club, however, he has demonstrated his attractive qualities and huge talent whilst on loan with both Huddersfield Town and more recently with Brighton and Hove Albion last season.

Joe Gomez remains a rotation option for Liverpool but is rarely trusted to front the back-line when Konate, Matip and Van Dijk are fit, which has led to speculation that the Reds could be open to selling the centre-back this summer.

As a result, the signing of Colwill – who Brighton are reportedly preparing a £40m bid for – could not only provide Klopp with a worthy replacement for Gomez which means he can be sold on without concern, but could also push Van Dijk for the left-sided role and ultimately be his successor.

When comparing the Chelsea rising star's output last season to Gomez, Colwill has comfortably outperformed his Liverpool position competitor in a number of key defensive attributes including pass completion (88.3% v 85.2%), successful take-ons (100% v 80%) and aerial duels won (71.4% v 54.8%), as per FBref.

The English titan – who was hailed as "outrageous" and a "top talent" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – is a great prospect and his ball-winning capabilities would suit Klopp's recipe for success perfectly, however, it remains to be seen whether Chelsea will part ways with their prized asset.

With that being said, it would likely take something extremely special for the London club to sanction a move away for Colwill this summer, but if Liverpool could secure his services it would undoubtedly set up the defensive presence for many years to come.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is set to be given a 'longer contract' at the Emirates Stadium and both parties are 'very relaxed' about the situation, according to journalist Paul Brown.

How long is Martin Odegaard tied to Arsenal?

According to Capology, Norway international Odegaard is tied to Arsenal until the summer of 2025 and earns around £115,000 per week on his current terms at the Emirates.

Earlier this year, 90min reported that Arsenal would sit down with the 24-year-old to discuss a new contract at the club to reflect his importance to the side.

Odegaard, who is club captain at the Gunners, would be in line for a 'significant' pay increase and his representatives are happy to sit down and talk through the conditions of extending his time in north London.

Renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano took to Twitter back in May to reveal that Arsenal have an option to extend his present deal until 2026, stating: "Arsenal have an option to extend Martin Ødegaard’s current contract until June 2026 — but negotiations will take place soon over new long term deal. Ødegaard loves the club and Arsenal want Martin to be part of their long term project."

Contract renewals for big stars at the club have recently been commonplace as Mikel Arteta's side have now tied down William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Aaron Ramsdale, as per Sky Sports.

On their official website, Arsenal confirmed that Reiss Nelson has also been granted a new long-term deal at the club as Spaniard Arteta looks to build a squad for many years to come.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Brown thinks that Odegaard could be the next to follow and commit his future to the Gunners for the next few years.

Brown told FFC: "I think Arsenal are definitely keen to get Odegaard on a longer contract and reward what he's done on the pitch there, by giving him a significant pay rise. I do think that is on the agenda, they do have an option in his contract to extend it for a year, I believe, so there isn't any great hurry in this. Every time Odegaard has spoken about the situation, he's always seemed very relaxed. I don't think there's anything really to worry about here from Arsenal's situation."

Should Arsenal be giving Martin Odegaard a new contract?

By any means necessary, given that Odegaard is arguably the most important player at the club and factoring in that he is also the Gunners' captain.

Quite simply, Arteta can't afford to lose the services of Odegaard any time soon. Paris Saint-Germain were reported to be keen on the Norwegian midfielder, as cited by The Daily Mail back in May, making the renewal of his contract a key priority for the club in the near future.

Last season, Odegaard led from the front in Arsenal's Premier League title challenge, amassing 15 goals and eight assists in 45 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Fotmob detail that the 24-year-old also created the fifth-most big chances out of any player in the English top flight in 2022/23, managing to lay on 76 in total over the course of the campaign.

Odegaard will be a key player once again for Arsenal in 2023/24 and his boss Arteta will be desperate to nail him down on a long-term deal as he continues to build his project at the Emirates.