All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Matteo Guendouzi is a player that continues to divide opinion amongst the Arsenal fans.

It has become rather difficult to know what the young Frenchman offers the side at times as his performances can often blow hot and cold.

At times, he has looked an inspired signing and one that has looked good enough to be considered one for the future, however, there have been performances that will have left fans scratching their heads in the same way that they did when Arsenal first signed him. We had no idea who he was back then either.

He can be a rather mediocre talent at times and can appear to struggle with the ball at his feet as he is guilty of losing possession on a number of occasions. He might wear his heart on his sleeve and has plenty of potential, but Guendouzi is not quite the player that the Gunners can rely on just yet, especially if one of their reported targets is available for a bargain fee.

According to Il Mattino (via Sport Witness), Amadou Diawara is thought to be available for a fee of just €20million (£17.6m) and Arsenal are said to be interested in the player – as are fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

The Guinea international has struggled for game-time at Napoli this season and it seems Carlo Ancelotti is prepared to allow the 21-year-old to leave the Serie A outfit for the low transfer fee.

Diawara might be around the same age as Guendouzi, however, he has plenty of pace and also has the physicality to make him a success in the Premier League.

He is very much in the midfield destroyer mould, but has a truly impressive passing ability and rarely gets dispossessed in midfield. Diawara is the kind of player who loves to break lines and is very strong, whilst his positional awareness is rather incredible given his age. He is extremely adept at linking the defence to the attack but does more of the unheralded grunt work in midfield.

Teaming him up alongside the likes of Lucas Torreira could work wonders for Emery’s side and could leave Guendouzi’s place in the team in serious doubt if he were to arrive at the Emirates Stadium.

However, if he is available for just £17.6m, then Arsenal should seriously think about capturing his signature this summer.

Arsenal fans, do you think the club should look to sign Diawara this summer? Would he be an upgrade on Guendouzi? Let us know your thoughts below!

[ad_pod ]

Rangers won’t be making a move for out-of-contract defender Leighton Baines this summer, according to The Daily Record.

What’s the story?

The paper say there has been substantial chatter over the last week that the Gers could be set to sign the Everton veteran, with his deal at Goodison Park set to expire this summer.

The 34-year-old has yet to reveal what his future holds or what club he will be playing for next season but The Record are adamant it won’t be Rangers despite the club potentially still signing a player in his position over the coming months.

The report states that the departure of Lee Wallace coupled with middling form for current regulars in the position, Gerrard could look to strengthen at left-back.

Watch the video below to find out which derbies the Pl>ymaker squad have picked as the most entertaining, fierce and passionate in the world…

Would Baines have been a good Rangers choice?

With over 400 appearances in the English Premier League for Everton and Wigan Athletic, Baines has had an excellent career at the top level but simply doesn’t fit into the project Gerrard is currently trying to build at Ibrox.

The Gers boss is assembling a team of young, hungry British-based talent that can forge a unit capable to go up against the might of Celtic and having the mental fortitude to credibly challenge for trophies in multiple competitions.

Key experience in the team is part of that too, but having already signed players such as Allan McGregor, Steven Davis and Jermain Defoe, Gerrard already has a spine in his team made up of veteran professionals and the addition of Baines would just be one too many.

An old pals act is the last thing Rangers fans want to see ahead of the new season.

A move for a former international teammate of Gerrard, who is now well into his 30s, would raise serious eyebrows and this is a transfer the club are better off passing on.

[ad_pod ]

According to The Mirror, Aston Villa are one of a number of teams interested in Liverpool’s Harry Wilson.

What’s the word?

After achieving promotion from the Championship, Dean Smith has already been busy in the transfer market, signing Anwar El Ghazi permanently whilst also adding Jota to his ranks.

The Villans will clearly need to strengthen ahead of a return to the Premier League but spending big could be a cause for concern after seeing Fulham spend over £100m, only to be relegated.

One player who could make a move for an expensive fee though is Liverpool’s Wilson.

The Mirror claim that the Merseyside club have an interest in the winger who could leave for £21m, per the report.

However, there is plenty of interest in the player so convincing him to join may not be straightforward. Valencia and Getafe are also interested whilst Leicester and Rangers are also possible destinations according to The Mirror.

Mirroring El Ghazi

One of Villa’s main problems this season has been in a wide area. El Ghazi was their most productive winger, scoring six and also claiming the same number of assists.

Boasting the ability to cut inside, he was a constant threat on the left flank, causing numerous problems to opposition defenders.

His form in the final stages of the season was impressive, even scoring in the play-off final.

But it’s on the right where Villa’s wide men have struggled and as a result, the signing of Wilson could be an instant fix.

On loan at Derby last term, he found the net 16 times. In comparison, Andre Green and Albert Adomah only netted three between them.

A left footed player, the Liverpool man could mirror El Ghazi’s threat but from the opposite wing.

The 22-year-old played in a number of positions but it was on the right where he was arguably most impressive – leading to eight of his Championship goals.

He’d regularly cut inside, just as Villa’s most recent signing has done on a regular basis, either carving out opportunities for his teammates or finding the net himself.

Should he join, Wilson’s direct nature will significantly improve Villa’s attack and create impressive symmetry with El Ghazi on the opposite flank.

[ad_pod ]

There is likely to be lots of wheeling and dealing at the Emirates this summer as Unai Emery looks to get as much as possible out of the £45m he reportedly has to work with. Today’s Arsenal transfer roundup includes an update in regards to the future of a star midfielder, interest in an Inter Milan ace and a club veteran potentially on the move to the Bundesliga.

Arsenal set Torreira price

According to Calciomercato Milan, Arsenal have set their asking price for Uruguayan midfielder Lucas Torreira. The former Sampdoria man is of interest to AC Milan and has recently spoken about his struggle to adapt to life in England. The Gunners are reportedly asking for £35m for the player.

Perisic interest

Arsenal have made contact with Inter over a move for Croatian winger Ivan Perisic according to Internews.it. The former Wolfsburg player does not fit into the plans of Antonio Conte and Guiseppe Marotta, and as such, the Serie A outfit would be willing to let him leave for somewhere between €30m (£26.7m) and €35m (£31.2m).

BVB monitoring Koscielny

The Daily Mail is reporting that Borussia Dortmund are monitoring centre-back Laurent Koscielny, with the Frenchman potentially being allowed to leave Arsenal this summer. Koscielny spent part of last season out injured, making his comeback in December last year.

[ad_pod ]

Sunderland fans are not convinced with what is set to be Mark Campbell’s first move in charge of the club, as the Black Cats are reportedly pursuing Harry Brockbank and John Marquis.

According to The Northern Echo, Sunderland will have a new owner by the end of the week, and Campbell wants to start his reign with a double swoop for Brockbank and Marquis.

The report claims Campbell’s consortium will hold the majority share by this weekend, with Stewart Donald keeping around ten per cent of the club.

This means the new majority shareholder will have total control over major decisions such as transfers, and has set his sights on Marquis to solve the club’s goalscoring woes.

Will Grigg arrived in January but mustered just four league goals, while Marquis slammed home 22 league goals with three in the FA Cup for Doncaster last term.

Fans aren’t all sold on the 27 year-old though, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

[ad_pod ]

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool have been offered the chance to sign Ousmane Dembele for a fee in the region of £90m, with Barcelona keen to recoup some money having already splashed out on a major transfer already.

The Spanish champions parted with £65m to lure Frenkie de Jong to the Camp Nou, and Atletico Madrid CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín has said that Antoine Griezmann will go to Barcelona too – a huge move that they will need a lot of money to sanction.

If the French international did turn up at Anfield, it would be an extremely exciting move for a player with all the talent in the world, whilst he would also be in a fast-paced, attacking system where he would thrive.

You can relive Liverpool’s Champions League celebrations in glorious 2D thanks to the guys at 442oons in the video below…

But where would he fit in and how would he compare to the man in his position, Sadio Mane?

Dembele appeared as a left forward 14 times last term as opposed to eight on the right, so it could be assumed that he would also play on the left if he signed for Liverpool, where Mane plays.

As you can see from the above, the former Rennes star appears to be less direct in comparison to the Senegal international, but a far greater creative source.

Dembele takes 1.1 less shots per game than Mane, and makes 0.3 more key passes than the former Southampton man, suggesting that he is more selfless when in possession.

His assist tally further reinforces that fact. The 22-year-old managed to grab five league assists last term in comparison to Mane’s one – there is no reason for the 27-year-old mustering up just a single set-up other than his lack of creativity, given the proficiency of his teammates Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino in front of goal.

Dembele also embarks on almost a whole dribble more than Mane per game, suggesting that he likes to get on the ball and take people on with the intention of making things happen, whereas the Liverpool No.10 has become somewhat more of an off-the-ball player who finishes moves off.

If Liverpool did manage to sign the former Borussia Dortmund man, who signed for Barcelona in a £96.8m deal, then they would have two amazing options out on the left flank who offer vastly different qualities.

A true embarrassment of riches.

[ad_pod ]

Today’s Gunners transfer roundup includes the confirmed loan of a youngster, an update in regards to the future of a 23-year-old midfielder and interest in a Real Madrid ace.

Osei-Tutu joins Bochum

Arsenal have confirmed that Jordi Osei-Tutu will leave the club on loan for the duration on the next season. The 20-year-old full-back will join Bundesliga.2 side VfL Bochum.

Torreira update

The Telegraph is reporting that Lucas Torreira is happy at Arsenal and is not looking for a move away this summer. Reports had hinted that Torreira wanted to return to Serie A, with AC Milan very interested, but sources close to the 23-year-old Uruguayan have rubbished those claims.

Arsenal after Ceballos

According to AS, Arsenal are prepared the €50m (£44.8m) fee required to bring in Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos. Bitter north London rivals Tottenham have also been linked with the 22-year-old, who has represented Spain on six occasions.

The start of the 2019/20 Premier League campaign is on the horizon and kit designers across the country have released the away attires for this season, but where do they rank from worst to best?

Home kits were released earlier this summer and it was Manchester United who topped the pile with an excellent design. However, Chelsea found themselves at the foot of the rankings with a hideous home kit.

Fans often anxiously await kit releases; some have been filled with excitement while others have settled for disappointment. Piecing together attire to please the whole fan base is tricky, but not impossible – a few designs in this ranking exemplify that.

So, where does each Premier League away kit rank?

Watford and Bournemouth – Unclassified

Both the Cherries and the Hornets are yet to release their away attire for the forthcoming campaign. However, it is late July and are deservedly placed at the foot of the rankings for keeping the fans waiting too long.

Let’s hope they don’t forget to turn up for the first day of the season…

18. Norwich City

I cannot comprehend what the designers were thinking with this kit. A revolting mix of colours does not work in the slightest and the sponsor on the sleeve is just comical.

Nothing about these colours resemble the club at all and the patterns on the shoulders make it that more hideous, in my opinion.

17. Southampton

Southampton were let down with their home kit by using a bold, black design at the top of the shirt, and they followed the same pattern for their away kit. The yellow and black colours do not look good in this design and, with the accompanying yellow shorts and socks, I really cannot give it many positives.

The sponsor in the middle of the shirt certainly doesn’t help things, but even without a sponsor, this style and colour of shirt would be low down on my rankings anyway.

16. Newcastle United

Newcastle produced a dreadful home kit and this is only marginally better. The white colours of the Puma stand well with the green colours, but the top of the shirt completely ruins the design.

Why they thought that pattern was a good is baffling and it does not correlate with the rest of the kit. The large sponsor in the middle of the shirt is off-putting, also.

15. Burnley

This, unfortunately, is an example of getting it horribly wrong. The scratched, interchanging colours at the top-half of the shirt looks horrific and does not match the claret-coloured sponsors. The light blue shade is good, but the desperate attempt to make a unique design at the front of the shirt completely ruins it.

I think Umbro have produced some excellent kits for the 2019/20 season, but this certainly isn’t one of them.

14. Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace are cherished with the colours of red and blue for their kit designs but, unfortunately, have not used them very successfully here. The striped pattern down the middle of the shirt is bizarre and random which does not work at all.

The best advice for the Eagles is to go back to basics – a more simplistic-striped design would have been much better.

13. Aston Villa

The light blue works well – just as Burnley’s did – but the front, claret sponsorship is very distracting. If the socks were made the same colour as the shirt, it would have brought the kit together more effectively.

It is not the worst kit in the ranking, but it is pretty mediocre to say the least.

[ad_pod ]

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Former Aston Villa striker Darren Bent has laid down hints to Football Insider that John Terry may soon outgrow the club, claiming he could move on next season.

What’s he said?

Terry has been terrific for the club since arriving, having an impact on the pitch as well as proving to be a valuable asset off it.

Initially signing as a player in 2017/18, he hung up his boots and then became assistant to Dean Smith when he was given the reins in October last year.

The pair of them helped to turn the club around, leading them to promotion after a run of ten games without dropping a single point towards the climax of 2018/19.

Yet, he could be on his way out of the club according to Bent, who speaking to Football Insider, was adamant that he could depart next year. He said:

“I’m pretty much sure that if Villa have another successful season and they stay in the division and everything goes to plan, then the end of next season someone comes to John Terry, I’m sure Dean Smith will go: ‘You know what? You’ve been a brilliant servant for me, on you go.’”

 Terry to become a manager?

The former Chelsea man was a terrific leader during his playing days and he’s also proving to be a likeminded character as part of the backroom staff.

The ex-defender had a valuable impact in terms of his coaching, ensuring Villa kept clean sheets in 50% of their games between March 2 and April 22. The overall percentage for the entire season for Villa was just 26%.

His impact, therefore, has been brilliant.

After all, he was also a major influence in initially bringing Tyrone Mings to the club on loan in January too.

The Bournemouth loanee claimed that he couldn’t turn down the chance to work with the 38-year-old and it’s factors like that which makes it easy to see why he could well outgrow the club and take a managerial job elsewhere.

Terry has shown himself to be a capable coach and the fact he was such a stalwart of the Premier League, appearing 492 times in the top flight, means he could arguably walk into a top managerial job.

Smith hailed his assistant after the play-off final, saying: “John Terry is a top guy and a really good coach and will be a top manager one day.”

Therefore, it’s not only Bent that sees his future potentially lying elsewhere.

As we’ve seen with Frank Lampard, he earned his stripes with Derby before going onto become Chelsea boss, narrowly missing out on promotion with the Rams last term.

A similar sort of journey to Lampard’s could, therefore, be on the cards for Terry.

[ad_pod ]

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Celtic have rejected a bid from Arsenal in the region of £25m for Kieran Tierney, according to BBC Sport.

What’s the story?

Tierney has been the subject of interest throughout the summer from Arsenal and Napoli with the left-back’s future far from certain. With Arsenal upping their bid though, the Emirates certainly appears the more likely destination for the 22-year-old.

Tierney has been a key player for Celtic ever since he broke through in 2015 but has been restricted to just nine appearances this calendar year. The left-back has been dealing with hernia issues and is still some way from making a full return.

Neil Lennon has brought Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo in from Rapid Vienna in a £3m deal, yet this is no final nail in Tierney’s Celtic career. Emilio Izaguirre left Parkhead this summer, so Mbombo could just be competition for the 22-year-old Scotland international.

The indoor football skills in the video below have to be seen to be believed…

Tierney staying could hurt future deals

The issue that could arise for Lennon and the Celtic board is that turning down £25m for Tierney (potentially the highest Arsenal will go with their limited budget) might stop other promising players coming to Celtic Park in the future.

We’ve seen in the past that players from Europe come to Celtic knowing if they perform to a certain standard they will likely attract Premier League interest.

The likes of Moussa Dembele, Victor Wanyama and Virgil van Dijk are perfect examples. Those three, and Tierney too, gave so much to Celtic and in return, all were allowed to leave when their asking price was met.

Arsenal’s Tierney bid is the biggest the club has ever received and blocking the deal could put off youngsters like Wanyama, van Dijk and Dembele from coming to Celtic Park and developing.

The pathway is clear – sign for Celtic, play well in Europe and win some trophies, get your dream move to the Premier League and earn the Hoops a hefty profit in doing so.

Blocking this route could see players who view the Scottish Premiership as a stepping stone decide that a move to Scotland will not advance their careers, as it has done for so many in the past.

The club needs to be careful with this deal because it could have drastic ramifications down the line, even if keeping Tierney seems appealing in the short-term.