Category Uncategorized

Everton re-signing former player James Rodriguez in the summer transfer window would be "ridiculous", according to journalist Paul Brown.

How did Rodriguez fare at Everton?

The 31-year-old made the surprise move to Goodison Park back in 2020, coming in as arguably one of the most high-profile signings in the Blues' history. After a bright start to life on Merseyside, his influence gradually diminished, however, with a combination of injuries and inconsistent form proving to be a problem for him.

In the end, Rodriguez only made 26 appearances for Everton, scoring six goals and registering nine assists, prior to joining Qatari side Al-Rayyan in 2021. The Colombian has been linked with a shock return to Goodison in recent days, with the Toffees touching based with intermediaries.

He is currently without a club, having seen his contract at Olympiakos terminated earlier this year, so he would be available on a free transfer.

Could Rodriguez make Blues return?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Brown admitted that Rodriguez returning to Everton would not be a good idea, mainly because of his physical limitations:

"Now the player is even older, hasn't exactly been ripping it up in the leagues he's played in since, and doesn't suggest that his body has performed any kind of remarkable transformation, I think it would be a ridiculous idea for Everton to try and bring him back."

Brown is spot on in his assessment here, with Rodriguez someone who Everton shouldn't even consider going near once this season reaches its conclusion. There is no denying his talent as a footballer – he was once hailed as "world-class" by Alvaro Arbeloa – but his best days are long behind, hence the situation he finds himself in.

The Blues would be far better off looking to sign younger players who are more likely to possess a strong work ethic and buy into Sean Dyche's style of play, rather than a potential luxury addition who is often out injured. Not only that, but the 90-cap Colombia international would also likely demand high wages, at a time when Everton aren't exactly in the strongest financial position they have ever been in.

It is a move that simply has too many negatives to it, and while some Blues supporters may still like the idea of Rodriguez returning to the club, given his natural ability, it is a transfer that would likely end in tears for all concerned.

Referee Peter Bankes and Michael Salisbury on VAR may have made a big mistake as Lucas Paqueta appeared to be offside in the build-up to the final West Ham goal against Leeds United.

What’s the latest on Leeds and VAR?

The Whites are in a dire situation with just one final game left to play in the Premier League after tasting defeat at the London Stadium this weekend.

Sam Allardyce and co actually got off to a great start as they took the lead through Rodrigo – and the manager even found a £5 note on the side of the pitch.

However, things quickly soured in East London as West Ham equalised thanks to Declan Rice. Jarrod Bowen then scored in the second half before Manuel Lanzini sealed the result in the 94th minute.

This means Leeds will now go into the final day of the season in the relegation zone and will have to rely on results elsewhere going their way to even give them a hope of avoiding the drop.

However, as this image shared on Twitter shows, there is a case to be made that the last goal should not have stood.

Was Paqueta offside against Leeds?

While you can see just how tight the call is, it does look as though the West Ham midfielder’s trailing foot is offside.

Of course, we should be able to put out faith in VAR to come to the correct conclusion even when the margins are as small as this but sadly the technology hasn’t always got these calls right this season.

For instance, on the same weekend of action back in February, Mason and Neil Swarbrick made a mess of things as they incorrectly allowed Brentford’s goal at Arsenal to stand despite an obvious offside, while the lines were also drawn from the wrong place to rule out a goal scored by Pervis Estupinan as Brighton drew with Crystal Palace.

With those errors in mind, it’s hard to feel totally confident in the right decision being made at the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

And with this particular decision being so tight, it does seem possible that Paqueta was marginally offside. After all, even Hammers’ writer for football.london Jonty Colman admitted: “That looked a fraction offside.”

So Leeds fans may have more than one reason to feel disappointed this morning.

West Ham United were on the wrong end of a 4-3 scoreline in a thrilling clash away at Crystal Palace this afternoon, as they were drawn back into a relegation dogfight with just a few matches of the Premier League season remaining.

The game at Selhurst Park was delayed by 15 minutes due to a technical decision, however, when it finally did start, West Ham took just minutes to score through Tomas Soucek. David Moyes’ side were then hit with three goals in quick succession and despite a Michail Antonio goal just before the break, they were losing 3-2.

Eberechi Eze scored a penalty to extend their lead before Nayef Aguerd set up a tense finish, however West Ham couldn’t score an equaliser, and they had a lot of poor performers throughout.

Pablo Fornals was given a start yet clearly didn’t take his opportunity, playing just 45 minutes while taking only 22 touches, completing 12 passes, winning one duel and losing possession seven times and not having the desired effect that Moyes was expecting, especially following his Scorpion kick heroics last weekend.

His replacement, Said Benrahma, wasn’t exactly much better, in fact, his performance was probably the most disappointing out of the whole squad during their defeat.

How did Said Benrahma perform for West Ham United against Crystal Palace?

Guardian reporter Jacob Steinberg wasn’t enthralled by the Algerian’s performance, tweeting: “A special mention for Benrahma. That miscontrol on the edge of the Palace area in the 93rd sums him up. It’s just a constant lack of discipline and focus. Such an underwhelming player, not worthy of the hype he gets.”

Scathing criticism indeed, although his performance was woeful against Palace as he received a Sofascore rating of 6.2/10 while he completed only four passes during his 45 minutes on the pitch, a shocking statistic.

His attacking contribution didn’t exactly mount to much either, succeeding with zero of his three dribble attempts, having no shots on target and failing to deliver either of his two crosses, proving that he was a passenger throughout the match.

Winning just two duels from nine suggests he was far from in the mood to make an impression on the game, with Palace easily able to nullify anything that he did, and his terrible display will ensure he likely won't be starting a match for the foreseeable future.

With a European semi-final tie coming up shortly, Moyes will need to manage his squad if he looks at achieving both success on the continent and retaining West Ham’s place in the Premier League.

Tottenham manager target Vincent Kompany has held a three-hour phone call with London rivals Chelsea recently, according to journalist Nathan Gissing.

What’s the latest on Kompany to Spurs?

There have been many, many different reports linking the Man City legend to Spurs in the last month, with some even suggesting that he is chairman Daniel Levy’s top target.

The Lilywhites parted company with former boss Antonio Conte last month after a mutual agreement, leaving interim boss Cristian Stellini and assistant coach Ryan Mason in temporary charge until the end of this Premier League season.

Kompany is on the agenda to replace Conte at Spurs with reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano recently backing their real interest in the Burnley boss. Even though there are some reports of the 37-year-old being unwilling to leave Turf Moor, other conflicting claims state that he is open to talks with Tottenham.

One common denominator among these rumours is Spurs do like the former Anderlecht boss, but they aren’t the only side, with Chelsea also eyeing a move for Kompany.

After sacking Graham Potter, the Stamford Bridge side are still well in the search for their new manager alongside Spurs – posing a threat to Levy and co as both clubs chase football’s most sought-after coaches.

Now, sharing an update on Kompany, reporter Gissing – who contributes to Sky journalist Gianluca Di Marzio’s personal website – says Chelsea are moving for the tactician.

Should Spurs keep pushing for Kompany?

It appears that Chelsea could rival Spurs for another manager, coming after reports of their interest in Luis Enrique and Mauricio Pochettino.

Leading Burnley back to the top flight at the first time of asking, Kompany is attracting real attention as a man in demand, with his stock never being higher.

The Championship leaders have scored more goals, conceded fewest and won more matches than any other side in England’s second tier – highlighting the remarkable job he’s done since taking the reins in Lancashire.

Pep Guardiola is certainly an admirer of his character and leadership, having called him an ‘incredible’ figure whilst holding the utmost respect for his former star.

Chelsea’s presence complicates a Tottenham move for Kompany somewhat, so it will be interesting to see if Spurs keep pursuing or move on to other targets.

One problem position for Manchester United for a number of years has been at right-back, with a succession of names having tried and failed to nail down the position for an extended period of time.

In the present day, manager Erik ten Hag has flitted between Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot in that full-back berth of late, albeit with it yet to be seen if either man truly has the credentials to be a long-term solution.

In the case of Wan-Bissaka, it was only a matter of months ago that the former Crystal Palace man appeared unsuited to the Dutchman's style amid reports that he was heading for a January exit, while with Dalot, the Portugal international has looked a "bit off it" since returning from World Cup duty, as per The Mirror's Colin Millar.

That uncertainty surrounding the right side of the defence has been a constant theme throughout the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, with the likes of Ashley Young, Matteo Darmian, Antonio Valencia and Rafael having all been unable to truly impress on a consistent basis.

In truth, the Red Devils have arguably not had a reliable option in that role since the retirement of club legend Gary Neville in 2011, with the long-serving asset having racked up over 600 appearances for the club after rising up through the youth ranks.

The one-time United skipper was truly a 'leader of men' – as per the club's official website – having shown great "determination", in the words of Ferguson, to ensure that he remained a key part of the side year-in, year-out, for almost two decades.

While a figure of such elite service is almost impossible to find, Ten Hag could again look to the youth ranks to unearth a potential heir to that man Neville, with the Old Trafford outfit potentially having a prime candidate in the form of 18-year-old, Marc Jurado.

Who is Man United's Marc Jurado?

The promising Spaniard has been tipped for a bright future at the club ever since making the move from La Liga giants Barcelona back in 2020, having notably made "impressive" development over the past few years, as per Manchester Evening News journalist, Samuel Luckhurst.

The teen machine – who has been lauded as a "complete full-back" by talent scout Jacek Kulig – was notably part of the side that claimed FA Youth Cup glory last season, having started every game in the competition, including taking on the captaincy in the opening two fixtures.

Having taken on the armband on occasion throughout his time at United, Jurado clearly follows Neville in being something of a leader on the pitch, with that point having only been rubberstamped by former youth aid, Paul McShane, who previously stated:

"Marc Jurado is a great lad, he's got a great spirit about him. He's good around the training ground, he's good on the pitch, he's very vocal, wants to defend as well."

The Spain youth international has since made a smooth transition to life at U21 level this season having already racked up three goals and four assists from his 19 Premier League 2 outings, while also featuring five times in the EFL Trophy earlier in the campaign.

Despite coming up against senior opposition in that latter tournament, the exciting teen continued to thrive as he averaged 3.6 tackles and 1.8 interceptions per game, showcasing the full array of his defensive prowess.

While a chance at senior level on a competitive basis has yet to emerge, Jurado was involved in first-team action during the mid-season trip to Spain, while also notably earning a promotion to first-team training alongside a handful of other youngsters earlier this month.

That close contact with Ten Hag may put the Spaniard at an advantage ahead of another youth star such as Ethan Laird, with the latter man currently away from the Theatre of Dreams after joining Queens Park Rangers on loan last summer.

Although the Englishman has enjoyed an encouraging year at Loftus Road, having made 26 appearances in the Championship this season, it remains to be seen if the 21-year-old's chance at his parent club may have already come and gone, particularly with just a matter of months left to run existing deal.

As such, it could be Jurado who emerges as the leading candidate to nail down the right-back berth in the near future, with the hope being that the Sabadell native can follow in Neville's footsteps and establish himself in the role for the long term.

When Fulham defeated Aston Villa 3-0 in the early phases of the Premier League campaign, concern over the proud club's status had not been so profound since the shambolic 2015/16 season that saw a detrimental relegation to the Championship, where they languished for two years.

Steven Gerrard was dismissed from duty after the loss to the Cottagers; the Liverpool icon started with promise at Villa Park, but failed to develop a connection with the Villan fan base and was sacked after growing discontent following the summer seeped into the performances on the pitch.

With the appointment of Unai Emery, former Arsenal manager and four-time victor in the Europa League, the ship steered back on course and worries of a plummet into the second tier are now a fleeting memory.

Indeed, the Claret & Blue perch in 11th place in the top-flight after 27 matches, level on points with Chelsea in tenth and just four points away from European contention, though seventh-placed Brighton & Hove Albion hold two games in hand on Emery's outfit.

The leaps made have been emphatic, but Emery will be hoping to make the necessary increments over the current international break to forge a surging attempt for a spot in competition across the English Channel next year, and unleashing Bertrand Traore in the place of Leon Bailey for the remainder of the term could be an astute route to achieving such a coveted goal.

Should Emery unleash Bertrand Traore?

Traore was recalled from his loan spell at Turkish Super Lig club Istanbul Basaksehir in January, with Emery seemingly unconvinced with his attacking options amid the scope of his ambitious schemes.

Talisman Danny Ings never quite found his feet at Villa following his £25m move from Southampton, scoring 14 times from 52 outings before moving to West Ham United for £15m.

Traore offers a very different, perhaps more dynamic offensive threat and could be a perfect tool for Emery to wield over the business end of the campaign; with Ings' departure scarcely felt following centre-forward Ollie Watkins' recent purple patch, scoring six goals and serving one assist from his past eight Premier League outings.

With Traore on the right flank, Emery could indeed ditch the £25m Bailey, who has been said to be "struggling" recently by Birmingham Live's Ashley Preece.

Bailey has scored just one goal from his past 13 top-flight matches and has also been branded "clumsy" by the aforementioned Preece, but a new dimension to the attacking flow could pay dividends for Emery's Villa, who will need to make every fixture count if they are to close the gap on the upper end of the table.

Hailed as a "marvellous technician" by former Lions boss Dean Smith, whom Traore enjoyed his most productive season under on English soil, reaping seven goals and seven assists from 29 starting appearances in the 2020/21 Premier League, the 68-cap Burkina Faso international will indeed hope that a new man in the dugout could prompt a resurgence.

The £78k-per-week man could offer something different to the squad, and given that the cohesion is gelled and fluid right now, he has the perfect platform to reignite his career at the club and make a marked impact on the pursuit of a phenomenal finish to the season.

West Bromwich Albion have endured a tumultuous past few years, which has seen them relegated from the Premier League, mid-table in the Championship, early-season relegation candidates and now promotion chasers.

Their emergence into the latter category can be attributed to the impressive work of Carlos Corberan, who took over from a beleaguered Steve Bruce to rescue the Baggies.

A progressive coach, the young Spaniard inherited a squad that had been constructed by various managers across several seasons.

Even during the January window, he was hardly able to stamp his mark on the team given the financial restrictions faced, as the club could only muster a loan signing and a free transfer.

Despite this, the 39-year-old has thrived with what was handed to him and most recently earned an impressive victory over the relentless Middlesborough to cement their place around the playoff spots.

One figure who has impressed throughout his tenure is Conor Townsend, who continues to occupy the left-back spot with a steely resolve and a dynamic play style.

How much is Conor Townsend worth?

Having been signed in 2018 by ex-manager Darren Moore, the 29-year-old has become something of a stalwart in the Hawthorns changing room. He has featured in every game this season for the Midlands outfit, proving himself a dependable asset for both regimes.

The former Scunthorpe United ace has come a long way from the unknown commodity that was acquired for just £750k.

Since then, however, he has unsurprisingly seen a meteoric rise in value, as he cemented himself as a regular starter for a side that enjoyed a season in the top-flight.

FootballTransfers actually have the apex of his expected Transfer Value at an impressive €7.9m (£6.9m), truly outlining this growth. That suggests that in just five years since his move his value has increased by a whopping 819%.

Boasting a 6.95 average rating for the campaign so far, Townsend has become an imperative player for his club both offensively and defensively.

The English machine manages to record 0.9 key passes alongside 2.0 clearances and 1.5 tackles per game, via Sofascore, thus truly supporting podcaster and writer Chris Lepkowski’s suggestion that he is “a really productive and industrious player”.

Although his time at the club was short-lived, Moore struck gold with this particular deal which has aided the club for many years following his dismissal.

Amid the frustration of dropping points away to Bournemouth on Saturday, a further point of concern for Newcastle United was the loss of Joe Willock early on due to injury, with that blow having exposed the lack of midfield depth at Eddie Howe’s disposal.

With Bruno Guimaraes currently suspended – and Jonjo Shelvey having been allowed to leave for Nottingham Forest late last month – it has laid bare that the decision not to recruit a new midfield addition in January may well have been a mistake, with resources now set to be stretched in that area.

The Magpies will have to wait until the summer if they are to finally strengthen in that department, with recent reports claiming that Royal Antwerp teenager Arthur Vermeeren could be a possible target ahead of next season.

What’s the latest on Vermeeren to Newcastle?

As the Daily Mail reported last week, both the Tynesiders and their upcoming Carabao Cup final opponents Manchester United are said to be keeping a close eye on the 18-year-old at present, following the midfielder’s standout displays in his native Belgium.

The report claims that any deal for the highly-rated starlet could require a fee of around £20m, with the 5 foot 9 gem having only recently committed his future to the Jupiler Pro League club until 2026.

Has Vermeeren been compared to Joshua Kimmich?

Despite his relative inexperience – having only made 17 senior appearances for his current club so far – Vermeeren has already made a big impression in his embryonic career, having been lauded as a “sensation” by talent scout Jacek Kulig and described as “fantastic” by team-mate and compatriot Toby Alderweireld.

Considered “one of the most talented teenagers in Belgium” – in the words of Kulig – the defensive-minded asset has impressed so far this season, having averaged 2.9 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game from his 11 league outings.

Such quality has notably seen the teenager earn comparisons with Bayern Munich maestro Joshua Kimmich, with that an indication of just why Vermeeren has been attracting so much interest of late.

Like the Belgium U18 international, Kimmich also offers an effective screen in the front of the back four. He has averaged 2.4 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per 90 from his 19 Bundesliga appearances this term, having also been lauded as a “phenomenal” and “intelligent” player by coaching icon Jose Mourinho.

That latter trait is seemingly one which is shared by Vermeeren, with the “breakout” star – as described by GOAL’s Tom Maston – said to have a ‘very strong’ footballing IQ, according to the aforementioned Kulig.

Howe would no doubt love to be able to acquire his answer to Kimmich, with the Germany international an asset who any manager would be desperate to have in their team. Mourinho has previously praised him as a figure who has “the qualities to be anything”, such is his innate versatility.

The hope will be that, should a deal be agreed upon, Vermeeren can go on emulate the brilliance of the 28-year-old at St James’ Park, having already shown signs that he possesses similar traits to that of the Bayern colossus.

Leeds United have approached Feyenoord manager Arne Slot ahead of a potential Elland Road move, according to The Independent.

The Lowdown: Slot speculation

The Whites haven’t had much luck in their search for Jesse Marsch’s long-term successor, reportedly failing in moves for Raul, Carlos Corberan and Andoni Iraola.

There has been speculation over a swoop for Slot, with Graeme Bailey suggesting he is on the club’s radar. Sky Sports’ Tim Thornton stated on Wednesday that the Dutch manager, who shares the same agency as Manchester City forward and Leeds boyhood fan Erling Haaland, actually wasn’t on the list, but a new update has now emerged.

The Latest: Leeds proposal

Miguel Delaney, chief writer for The Independent, shared a story on Thursday morning regarding Leeds and Slot.

He stated that a proposal has been made to the manager by the Whites, with Slot now seemingly the preferred candidate to take over. Delaney added that ‘Leeds feel his intense and aggressive approach fits what the club want in this post-Marcelo Bielsa era, and are intent on taking their interest to the next stage’.

The Verdict: Wise target?

Slot boasts an impressive managerial record, winning 83 games from a possible 143. He likes to play a 4-3-3 system and appears to be going from strength to strength in the dugout, with his Feyenoord side currently top of the Eredivisie.

The 44-year-old also has experience of managing in the Europa League and has won two games against Erik ten Hag, a manager Leeds come up against once more on Sunday.

The Whites, and by extension owner Andrea Radrizzani and Paraag Marathe, the president of investors 49ers Enterprises, who have the key say when it comes to managerial decisions, appear to think his style of play would work in Yorkshire following Marsch’s dismissal, and after a number of setbacks, they could be on to a winner, should a move materialise.

Tottenham Hotspur are back in Premier League action this evening as they make the trip to the Etihad Stadium to face second-place Manchester City.

Lilywhites boss Antonio Conte is tasked with sparking a reaction from his side after they put in a woeful display against arch-rivals Arsenal at the weekend, a game in which they were outfought and outplayed for the most part.

It also poses a big decision on whether to stick or twist with his starting lineup as mistakes against the defending champions will almost certainly be punished.

Several of his key players have returned from injury and Spurs do hold a very impressive record against the Citizens in recent times, so it’ll be interesting to see what sort of XI he deploys.

Here’s what we are predicting…

There could be as many as four changes to the side that tasted defeat to the Gunners, starting with the long-awaited return of Rodrigo Bentancur.

Missing since his World Cup exploits, the Uruguayan’s absence has been a frustrating one for the team but Conte revealed in his pre-game press conference that he would be available for selection at long last. Given the importance of a result, he should start alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Despite an error that gifted Arsenal their opener, skipper Hugo Lloris will remain between the sticks but we could see the “reliable” Ben Davies return to the back three, replacing Clement Lenglet on the left-hand side. Meanwhile, out wide, there could be a further two changes with Emerson Royal and Ivan Perisic returning to the starting XI.

They’ll replace Ryan Sessegnon, after the £25m “big talent” – as once dubbed by former teammate Stefan Johansen – was handed a torrid afternoon on Sunday, and Matt Doherty.

Further up the pitch, Conte is likely to keep the faith with Heung-min Son despite his ongoing form struggles, along with Harry Kane, who must improve in front of goal if he’s to find the net against Pep Guardiola’s men.

Dejan Kulusevski should also retain his place after returning from injury last time out, though Bryan Gil is pushing for another start after impressive in what little opportunity he had in the Swede’s absence.

AND in other news, Levy could repeat his big Bruno Fernandes blunder at Spurs with £40m “special talent”…