All posts by z3u9t.icu

Everton have been strongly linked with a move for Brian Brobbey this summer, and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player.

How much is Brian Brobbey worth?

According to BBC Sport, Everton remain keen on signing the Ajax striker this summer.

As per the report, Sean Dyche still desperately needs attacking reinforcements after a poor Premier League season and it is claimed that deals are still being pursued to sign both Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto and Brobbey this summer.

The player is currently valued at £14m, as per Football Transfers.

Who is Brian Brobbey?

It is clear that strengthening the attacking third is a huge priority for the Everton hierarchy ahead of the return to action in the Premier League next month, and it may now become an even bigger urgency after reports this week revealed that Dominic Calvert-Lewin is attracting interest.

It was claimed in the Italian media that AS Roma are keen to replace Tammy Abraham with the Toffees talisman, however, the Daily Mail revealed that Everton have no intentions of letting their striker go this summer.

Indeed, the departures of Anthony Gordon and Richarlison have left Dyche will few quality and experienced options to unleash in his forward line, but there is no denying that Calvert-Lewin has become an unreliable and inconsistent feature at Goodison Park.

Over the last two seasons, the £100k-per-week forward has spent 203 days in recovery for various injury issues and has only managed to play 36 games in all competitions – scoring just seven goals and delivering three assists during that period – which led to concerns from former player Stan Collymore last season:

"These are worrying times for Dominic Calvert-Lewin There’s no denying it – Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s injuries are becoming a major problem."

"Everton and Sean Dyche can’t afford to wait on their main striker to be fit. The position they’re in now means they need someone to be fit, available and performing consistently."

As a result, the signing of Brobbey could present Everton with a golden opportunity to part ways with the injury-prone Englishman, bolster transfer funds and provide Dyche with a trustworthy centre-forward who can contribute consistently.

Over 32 league appearances last season, the 21-year-old – hailed a "great talent" by compatriot and Netherlands teammate Virgil van Dijk – scored 13 goals, registered three assists and created four big chances – an output no Everton player managed to match in all competitions last season, let alone in the Premier League, with top-scorer Dwight McNeil scoring seven.

Not only that, the Dutchman ranks in the top 15% of his positional peers across the leagues most similar to the Eredivisie for shots on goal, pass completion, touches and progressive passes recieved, as per FBref, proving that he is a huge and enviable presence to have in front of goal.

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for Everton to snap up the services of Brobbey this summer, as he could be a worthy successor to Calvert-Lewin and significantly improve the threat and consistency in the final third.

Everton’s summer finally starts to be shaping up after months of worry from the fanbase, however it is actually one player already in Sean Dyche’s camp that could prove to have the biggest effect on the squad next season.

How good is Jarrad Branthwaite?

Having joined from Carlisle in 2020, Jarrad Branthwaite quickly became well-known around the club as a pacey centre-back with a towering frame. He had all the physical qualities to thrive in the Premier League but remained raw. His sending-off against Brentford in 2022 emphasised that.

So, when a one-year loan to PSV Eindhoven was announced, it made perfect sense. The 21-year-old would enjoy a season in a highly technical league, and return ready to star.

That gamble seems to have now paid off.

A 6.97 average rating in the Eredivisie emphasises this, which is a figure buoyed by his 87% pass accuracy, 1.4 interceptions and 3.4 clearances per game, via Sofascore. The latter figure would have made him the fifth-best in that category when he compared against the Toffees’ squad from last term.

Journalist Paul Brown clearly took note of this rise to prominence in the Netherlands, and would tell Football FanCast exactly what fans have to look forward to come August: “Branthwaite is probably the closest they’ve got to someone who’s looking at a potential breakout year.

“It looks like he’s going to be in pretty solid form and [in the] centre-back rotation. We all saw last season that it only takes a couple of injuries for that position to need to be rotated quite a lot.”

How much did John Stones leave Everton for?

Given he was signed from the lower leagues of English football, rising up to within Everton’s first team, it is hard not to draw comparisons with the prior success earned with John Stones.

He too moved to Goodison Park from Barnsley and would go on to feature 95 times for the club before joining Manchester City in a £47.5m move.

Despite also being initially raw and prone to mistakes, the foundations were there for a truly great defender to be unearthed with the right teaching. Fortunately, that transfer saw him join up with Pep Guardiola, who has since forged him into one of the best in his position, even revolutionising the inverted full-back role.

As such, when compared against other centre-backs across Europe, the 29-year-old ranks in the top 4% for pass completion, the top 12% for progressive passes per 90 and the top 8% for progressive carries per 90, via FBref.

He has grown from a similar level to Branthwaite’s current position into the monster he is today, with his Spanish manager praising his development and adaptability: “He has this amazing quality to understand the game, to be calm, to read the next pass.

“He is more mature but he’s still young and it depends on him if he wants to become better. Hopefully he still has the desire to improve because there are many things to improve with and without the ball."

Under Dyche, who knows a thing or two about moulding a solid defence, this young colossus could now emulate that success, growing into a perfect partner for James Tarkowski with the perfect blend of physicality and technical excellence.

Last campaign afforded him the time to grow, and now is the time for him to take his chance with both hands and become the club’s next Stones with the “breakout year” that Brown envisions.

Manchester United are still interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe, with his future up in the air.

Could Man United sign Kylian Mbappe?

The Red Devils and Erik ten Hag are after a new forward this summer after securing moves for Mason Mount and Andre Onana from Chelsea and Inter Milan respectively.

Anthony Martial is reportedly up for sale, which could leave United with no recognised centre-forward heading into the new season, should the United man depart. Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani have both been linked with moves to Manchester and talks have been held over the pair.

However, previously, Mbappe has also been linked with a sensational move to Old Trafford, with potential new owner Sheikh Jassim feeling the France international belongs at Old Trafford. The Qatar group were thought to be planning a swoop for the PSG star if they completed a takeover, but as we know, there has been no real progress in recent months in regards to taking full control from the Glazers.

However, when it comes to Mbappe, it looks as if a PSG exit is on the cards this summer, with the player informing the club he would not take up the option of a one-year contract extension next summer and is now up for sale. Mbappe has even been left out of the club’s pre-season tour of Japan, and it looks as if United are still keen.

Reliable Spanish outlet Marca provided an update on Mbappe’s future in the last 48 hours, amid interest from Real Madrid, who he wants to join. They claimed that “an important offer from Saudi Arabia” is about to arrive for the forward.

Three sides in the Premier League are also keen, one of which are Man United. It is believed that the Red Devils are interested in Mbappe, regardless of whether or not a Qatar takeover at Old Trafford materialises.

How much could Kylian Mbappe cost?

Mbappe, hailed as "unstoppable" in the media, is thought to be on £900,000-a-week and was valued at £170m when the Red Devils were linked with a move for the 24-year-old earlier this year.

However, reports previously suggested that United’s summer budget stood at around £100m this summer, a figure which they have already surpassed with a £60m move for Mount and £47m deal for Onana.

Therefore, you’d expect that a move could be extremely difficult for those at Old Trafford to complete, especially if Jassim and co fail to seal a takeover relatively soon. However, Mbappe could be a game-changing signing in Manchester, helping to take Ten Hag's side to the next level.

The France international, who has scored at Old Trafford in the Champions League, has netted 212 goals and provided 98 assists for PSG in 260 games, showing how he could be the missing piece of the jigsaw in the final third.

United may not be able to compete with the likes of Real Madrid or sides from Saudi Arabia financially, but by the looks of things, the Red Devils are still looking at a potential move, making it one to watch.

Tottenham Hotspur are "still fighting" to keep Harry Kane, but Thomas Tuchel is a "crucial part of the story", and the German manager is "pushing" to get the deal over the line, claims transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Is Harry Kane leaving Tottenham Hotspur?

It hasn't taken long, but Tottenham striker Kane is once again at the centre of another protracted transfer saga.

Still, in a slight twist to the narrative, it's German giants Bayern Munich who are after the England captain and not either of the Manchester clubs.

The Bundesliga champions have already had two bids rejected by the Lilywhites, the latter being worth around €80m (£69m) plus add-ons, but that hasn't deterred them as they prepare a third offer to truly test the resolve of Daniel Levy and Co.

The club's all-time top goalscorer has just 12 months remaining on his £200,00-a-week contract, which is part of the reason for the Bavarians' comparatively low initial offers for the star striker.

However, the other reason that Thomas Tuchel's side feel so emboldened over this transfer is the belief that Kane is keen on the move himself and that if a deal can be struck between the two clubs, he would be enthusiastic about the prospect of playing for FC Hollywood next season, per Fabrizio Romano.

He explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:

"From what I'm hearing, Thomas Tuchel is absolutely a crucial factor, a crucial part of the story in the Harry Kane saga. I mention saga because we know that with Tottenham, it's never easy to negotiate, and, at the moment, from Daniel Levy, it still looks like a very difficult deal to make.

"I can guarantee to you that Bayern are still working on this one. They got two bids rejected, the second was €80m (£69m) plus add-ons. It was a verbal bid, but from Tottenham the message has always been 'this is absolutely not enough to sign Harry Kane', but Tomas Tuchel is really pushing.

"He feels that Harry Kane is open to the move to Bayern, and this is why Tuchel is pushing, and pushing, and pushing internally at Bayern to make it happen.

"Bayern will try again for Harry Kane, for sure this is not over but we know how complicated it is to negotiate with Tottenham and they are still fighting to keep Harry at the club. So, not an easy one but Bayern are still there and Thomas Tuchel is crucial part of this story."

How good was Harry Kane last season?

To put it succinctly, he was astoundingly good.

Had last year been any other Premier League season in history, one without the inhuman exploits of a certain Norwegian goal machine, there would be a lot more people talking about just how brilliant Kane was for a Spurs side that were utterly dysfunctional for much of the campaign.

In his 38 league appearances, the "world-class" forward scored 30 goals, created three assists for his teammates, and averaged a match rating of 7.51, per WhoScored.

His underlying numbers are, unsurprisingly, equally outstanding.

According to Fbref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, Kane sits in the top 4% of strikers for progressive passes, the top 10% for shot-creating actions, the top 14% for non-penalty goals, the top 16% for expected assists and goals, and the top 10% for total shots, all per 90.

If that wasn't enough, FBref have also rated the equally prolific Robert Lewandowski as the most similar player to Kane in all of Europe's top five leagues, showing that the two of them are genuinely in a league of their own when it comes to scoring goals.

If Spurs can keep a hold of their talismanic forward, they'll undoubtedly be better for it next season, but is it worth risking their greatest player ever walking away for free? Only Levy knows the answer to that one.

Southampton officially unveiled Russell Martin as their new first-team head coach last month to replace Ruben Selles following their relegation to the Championship.

The Saints are yet to make their first signing of the summer transfer window but have moved on from a number of players; including Mislav Orsic, Theo Walcott, and Mohamed Elyounoussi.

This means that the Scottish manager has lost three options in the wide areas ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, which could open the door for him to add another option in that position before the deadline.

The Athletic recently reported that the club are interested in signing Manchester City winger Carlos Borges, although they face competition from teams in both the Premier League and Bundesliga, which could make a deal difficult to get over the line.

How good is Carlos Borges?

He is yet to make his first-team debut but his incredible form at youth level for the Cityzens suggests that the potential is there for him to be the dream heir to Elyounoussi's position on the left wing for Southampton.

Borges has played against professional opposition in the EFL Trophy for City's U21 side and caught the eye with an average Sofascore rating of 7.7, with four goals and one assist, across three outings last season.

The 19-year-old wizard also enjoyed a terrific Premier League 2 campaign. He racked up an exceptional 21 goals and 11 assists in 24 appearances, which came after the exciting youngster managed 11 strikes in seven U18 Premier League games during the previous season.

In total, the Portuguese youth international has scored 55 goals and assisted 42 in 79 appearances for City's academy, which works out at an average of a goal contribution every 0.81 matches.

These statistics suggest that the Saints target, who was once lauded as "phenomenal" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has the quality to burst onto the scene at senior level if given a chance in the Championship next term.

There is no guarantee that he will be able to translate his form over to first-team football but his outstanding return in front of goal from the left wing for City's U21 and U18 teams suggests that it is a gamble worth taking for Martin.

Borges could be the dream replacement for Elyounoussi after the Norway international struggled to find his best form at the top end of the pitch prior to his departure.

The 28-year-old dud was unable to provide attacking quality on a regular basis in spite of being a regular starter throughout the campaign. He started 27 of his 33 Premier League appearances last season and contributed with one goal to go along with one assist.

Southampton's decision to release him at the end of last month may have been an easy one after his disappointing performances, with his average Sofascore rating of 6.64 placing him 20th in the squad.

Borges could now come in and potentially offer a huge threat as both a scorer and creator of goals in a way that Elyounoussi was unable to, if the 5 foot 7 teen can make the step up and replicate his form at youth level.

Manchester United hold some "doubt" over the capability of Mohammed Kudus to play the midfield role he wants at Old Trafford, claims transfer insider Dean Jones.

Manchester United transfer news – what's the latest on Mohammed Kudus?

After securing Champions League football with a fourth-place finish in the Premier League last season, United are looking to bolster their midfield options over the summer to cement their position and hopefully push on to challenge the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City next year.

The club's main target over the last few weeks, Mason Mount, proved to be an incredibly difficult deal to get done. But, the Red Devils have now seemingly agreed a deal for the midfielder.

Another player on the team's transfer wish list is Ajax midfielder and Ghanaian international Kudus.

Whilst unlikely to be a like-for-like alternative for Mount, the 22-year-old is a promising player in his own right after moving to the Dutch capital three years ago and donning the famous red and white 63 times since then.

According to the Daily Mail, the Eredivisie outfit have slapped a £40m price tag on their man, and if United are keen, they should get a move on as high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion are already in talks with Ajax.

What has transfer insider Dean Jones said about Mohammed Kudus to Manchester United?

Jones explained that the player wants to be seen as just a midfielder in any potential move to United, but there is some doubt at the club whether he could play that role in the league to the same standard as Mount.

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: "I think, Kudus wants to be a midfielder. But I think in terms of being ready to be a Premier League midfielder, there seems to be some doubt around Man United."

Would Mohammed Kudus be a good signing for Manchester United?

With Jones revealing that the decision makers at United harbour some doubt over the player's ability to play as a Premier League midfielder, are they right?

Well, if his performances last season were anything to go by, no.

According to WhoScored, the Nima-born dynamo achieved a seriously impressive average match rating of 7.29 across his 30 games in the league, scoring 11 and assisting a further three.

Granted, he spent the season across central midfield, attacking midfield and striker, but he achieved a minimum rating of 6.56 across all three, which is a good base to develop from.

And who better to help him develop from where he currently is than his former manager Erik ten Hag, who once hailed the Ghanian-machine as "excellent" in a post-match interview during his time with the Amsterdam club.

In today's market, £40m isn't a huge investment anymore, and for a player that seems to be adept in multiple positions, is young, and has an eye for goal, United should seriously consider pulling the trigger on this one, regardless of what happens with Mount.

Earlier this month it was reported that Aston Villa are interested in Napoli winger Hirving Lozano, as the Villans bid to bolster their squad ahead of next season.

Both Unai Emery and Monchi are expected to have a busy summer in the Midlands, with Mexican ace Lozano posing to be a potentially potent signing.

The Napoli ace’s former agent Alessandro Monfrecola – relayed by Sport Witness – claimed that both Villa and West Ham have ‘shown interest’ in the attacker.

Monfrecola added to his comments this week, reinforcing the interest by naming the two Premier League clubs as interested parties, although there is also an attraction from Saudi Arabia.

What could Hirving Lozano offer to Aston Villa?

While every player brings their own creative DNA to the game, some are very similar in their styles, and the calibre of player that Lozano is likened to establishes the level of talent Villa could add to their ranks.

As per FBref, based on statistics over the past year, the tricky Mexican is likened to Brighton & Hove Albion’s Kaoru Mitoma, who has lit the Premier League up since his emergence last season.

Described a 'defenders' nightmare', the Japanese winger contributed seven goals and five assists in the league last campaign, showcasing his skill set from the wide areas and posing as one of the most threatening talents in Europe.

The 26-year-old ranked in the top 5% of wingers in Europe over the past year for his monstrous average of 5.55 progressive carries per 90, as well as averaging 2.25 successful take-ons per 90, via FBref.

Lauded as “dangerous” with an “insane skill set” by analyst and scout EBL on Twitter, Mitoma offers Brighton a serious threat on the flanks, in a way that Lozano could present to Villa.

Similarly to the Japan international, the £97k-per-week gem scores highly in terms of progressive carries and take-ons, averaging 4.78 carries and 2.13 successful take-ons per 90 minutes over the past year, via FBref.

Emery could have his own answer to Mitoma in the Mexican star, who has been praised as being “pure class” by scout Antonio Mango. Indeed, he is a player that enjoys causing problems in the final third.

In a recorded 383 domestic career appearances, the Mexico City-born sensation has recorded a mammoth 184 goal involvements, via Transfermarkt, showing his innate ability to be clinical in every chapter of his career so far.

Valued around £26m by Football Transfers, Villa could land a bargain in a talent proven domestically and internationally this summer.

Chelsea will be aiming to forget about their dreadful 2022/23 campaign as new manager Mauricio Pochettino already appears to mean business in the transfer window.

Kai Havertz and Mateo Kovacic are close to securing exits, while there are a plethora of players seemingly ready to jump ship to Saudi Arabia, enticed by the barrel loads of cash on offer in the Middle East.

As well as the mass exodus occurring at Stamford Bridge, Pochettino is also looking to bring in a host of players to develop a side which can once again contest for silverware. The Stamford Bridge outfit are now leading the chase for Moises Caicedo, while goalkeeper Mike Maignan is also on their radar.

The Blues are also keeping tabs on AS Monaco defender Axel Disasi, and the Ligue 1 side will reportedly start discussions at around the €40m (£34m) mark, although Manchester United are leading the chase for the Frenchman.

He could be a shrewd signing by Pochettino, especially with Kalidou Koulibaly looking likely to leave Chelsea, while Thiago Silva isn’t exactly getting any younger – and Disasi would be a perfect heir to the Brazilian.

Could Axel Disasi improve Chelsea?

The Blues finished in a lowly 12th position in the Premier League last term, while they conceded 62 goals across all competitions, and there is no doubt they require some improvements at the back.

Silva started 26 league games last season and was one of the club's better performers, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.26/10, ranking him first in the squad for this metric. He also ranked in the top five for interceptions and clearances per game as he clearly shows no sign of slowing down.

But he only has a year left on his current deal and the 2023/24 season will surely be his final one in England, as he will turn 39 in September, leaving someone like Disasi the opportunity to eventually become his long-term heir.

The 25-year-old is excellent at starting attacks from the back, evidenced by the fact he ranks in the top 4% across Europe’s big five leagues for progressive passes (5.80) and progressive carries per 90 (1.70). Silva, in contrast, only ranks in the top 34% for progressive passes per 90 (3.7) and in the bottom 17% for progressive carries per 90 (0.24), showing that the Frenchman may be able to fit into Pochettino’s attacking philosophy much better.

The Monaco titan has also been dubbed a “hidden gem” by talent scout Jacek Kulig in the past, and for a fee of around £34m, he could well improve the Chelsea backline as Pochettino seeks to unearth a perfect replacement for Silva once he eventually moves on from the club.

As well as going through the meticulous and exhaustive process of pinpointing the right man to succeed Roy Hodgson, Crystal Palace must begin to make inroads in the fiercely competitive transfer market.

The midfield has already undergone huge change via the departures of Luka Milivojevic and James McArthur leaving a lack of depth in the centre of the park.

Steve Parish has never been a notoriously big-spending owner as the club often targets attainable, affordable, and realistic options – the next name to fit this bill is Ellyes Skhiri.

What’s the latest on Ellyes Skhiri to Crystal Palace?

According to Tuttomercatoweb (via Sport Witness), the Eagles have been “strongly” following the Koln midfielder, who has a “dream” to play in the Premier League.

Alongside the South Londoners, AC Milan are also vying for the 28-year-old’s signature, who is seen as a “market opportunity” due to his availability as a free agent upon the expiration of his contract on 30 June.

The Rossoneri have reportedly offered the Tunisian a three-year deal with the option of a fourth, so Palace will need to match or better this offer, with Skhiri expected to make a decision in the coming days.

How would Ellyes Skhiri fit in at Crystal Palace?

The £28k-per-week star made 32 Bundesliga appearances this season, scoring seven times.

The 54-cap international has demonstrated himself as a phenomenal all-rounder, averaging 2.5 tackles, 1.8 interceptions, 1.3 dribbles, and 1.3 clearances per game. Combine these statistics with his goals, and you have a threatening pivot with punishing physicality that could seamlessly slot into the Palace side.

Aptly described as "big and strong" by Koln coach Steffen Baumgart, the former Tunisian Footballer of the Year international ranks impressively across the continent as he sits within the top 15% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for non-penalty goals per 90, blocks per 90, and interceptions per 90.

Thus, after assessing his impressive profile, Skhiri makes for a perfect partner for Cheick Doucouré.

The 23-year-old joined Palace last summer for £22m and has swiftly established himself as an indispensable member of the team.

Last season, he averaged the most tackles (2.3) and interceptions (1.6) in the squad and the Eagles lost three of the four matches that Doucouré didn’t play in.

His ability to sniff out danger, read the game, and win possession perhaps goes under the radar but is of undeniable importance to the Eagles.

With this spectacular solid spine potentially protecting Palace’s backline, it creates a foundation that will allow the creative influences of Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise to flourish spectacularly under any new manager.

Manchester United could well be eyeing a summer move for Inter Milan star Andre Onana, albeit with the Red Devils set to face competition for the goalkeeper's signature.

What's the latest on Onana to Man United?

According to the Evening Standard, the Old Trafford outfit could potentially rival Chelsea in the battle to land the 27-year-old ahead of next season, with Erik ten Hag and co able to offer the benefit of providing Champions League football.

The report suggests that the Serie A outfit are set to demand a fee in the region of £50m if they are to part ways with the former Cameroon international over the coming weeks, with the Italian giants potentially set to be forced to cash in due to their ongoing financial woes.

The former Ajax man only made the move to San Siro on a free transfer last summer and still has four years left to run on his existing deal with Simone Inzaghi's side.

Should Man United sign Onana?

There is currently much uncertainty surrounding United's goalkeeping department, with an agreement yet to have been reached with long-serving asset David De Gea over a contract extension, with the Spaniard's current deal set to expire in just a matter of weeks.

Even if the 32-year-old is to sign a new contract in the near future, there have been reports that the £375k-per-week man won't necessarily be the starting option for Ten Hag next season.

The former Atletico Madrid man has arguably become a "big problem" for the Red Devils – according to pundit Jamie Carragher – with his woes in possession having been exposed of late, with club legend Paul Scholes stating following the defeat to Sevilla that De Gea "makes the whole team nervous" when trying to play out from the back.

The signing of Onana, therefore, would be a potential upgrade as far as Ten Hag is concerned, with the 6 foot 3 titan – who played 145 times under the Dutchman in Amsterdam – having been described as "exceptional" on the ball by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, ahead of last weekend's Champions League final.

Despite ending up on the losing side in that showpiece meeting, the 34-cap ace still "caught the eye" with his distribution, according to Manchester Evening News journalist, Tyrone Marshall.

The Inter man's greater composure on the ball was also shown in Serie A in 2022/23 as he enjoyed an average pass accuracy rate of 79% from his 24 league outings, while De Gea, by contrast, averaged just 68% for that same metric from 38 appearances, having been far more erratic when attempting to play out.

Equally, while the latter man ranks in just the bottom 30% among his European peers for touches per 90, Onana ranks in the top 11% in that regard, again showcasing that he will willingly get involved in the build-up.

As such, with De Gea having become something of a 'problem' of late, the signing of the Cameroonian machine could be just the upgrade that Ten Hag requires.