All posts by z3u9t.icu

While it is often difficult to predict which signings will and won’t work out, recruiting an injury prone individual more often than not tends to end in disaster for the buying party.

That has seemingly proved the case for Nottingham Forest and defender Carl Jenkinson, with the former Arsenal man having endured a torrid time of it at the City Ground, prior to his loan move away from the club in January.

Signed for £2m from the Gunners in the summer of 2019, the Englishman has since made just 15 appearances in all competitions, with both loss of form and fitness issues having perhaps predictably plagued his time at the club.

During his time at the Emirates, the Harlow-born full-back had failed to ever really nail down a regular starting berth, spending much of his eight-year stint out on loan at the likes of West Ham United and Birmingham City, as well as on the treatment table.

After making just 41 Premier League appearances for the north Londoners, he was eventually snapped up by Forest just under three years ago, albeit while never looking like a convincing option as he made just eight league appearances in his debut season.

The form of current Aston Villa and Poland star Matty Cash – as well as an ankle issue sustained just a month into his Forest career – ensured a tricky start to life in Nottingham, with the 6 foot 1 full-back having never recovered from that early setback.

He made just three more league outings the following campaign, with the arrival of Chris Hughton in the dugout bringing a halt to his already sporadic role, with the former Brighton man informing the defender that he could move on at the end of 2020/21 season.

Despite sticking it out with the second-tier side, the appointment of Steve Cooper was the final nail in the coffin, with the 30-year-old having not featured for the club since an FA Cup fourth-round tie against Swansea City in January 2021.

After a year out in the footballing wilderness, the £450k-rated man secured a surprise temporary move to Australian outfit Melbourne City over the winter, where he has since netted twice in 17 league outings.

In truth, Cooper and co will have been happy to offload some of the player’s hefty £27k-per-week wages, with Jenkinson having cost the club a whopping £5m – including his initial transfer fee – since his move from Arsenal, rinsing the club for a total of 128 weeks.

Thankfully, with just a few months remaining on his existing deal, the one-time Charlton Athletic man will likely be moving on this summer, bringing an end to what’s been a tumultuous and costly last few years for all concerned.

In other news, Forest must seal summer swoop for £2.7m-rated star who has “a touch of Collymore” – opinion

A number of Wolves fans have been critical of the display of Daniel Podence in their Premier League game at home to Burnley at Sunday lunchtime.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s men were in for a shock at Molineux as a hat-trick from Chris Wood put the Clarets 3-0 up at half-time. Ashley Westwood added a late fourth on a miserable afternoon for the hosts at Molineux.

There were some very poor performances in Old Gold on the day, but perhaps none more so than Podence, who struggled throughout and was duly taken off for Vitinha just shy of the 70-minute mark.

The 25-year-old lost out on 90% of his duels in the match and failed to record a single successful dribble, key pass or cross. He also lost possession of the ball on nine separate occasions, earning him a measly 6.2 overall rating on Sofascore.

Wolves fans on Podence display

These Wolves fans blasted Podence on Twitter, with one supporter going as far as to claim that the Portuguese forward was a ‘liability’:

“Podence has been a liability in the last three games, his distribution is the Hermes of professional footballers, it’s like playing ten against 12 when he’s in the team”

Credit: @j0hnhill

“I’d just give Podence away, I really don’t like him.”

Credit: @PRanells

“Podence doesn’t look fit enough to walk around the pitch never mind run around it #wwfc”

Credit: @bromWWFC

“Why do we always change formation to fit Podence in, he’s a bang average player, stick him on the wing and at least try use his pace in behind, instead of falling over all the time and losing the ball in the midfield”

Credit: @danielpeters44

“Podence looks terrible again”

Credit: @wolfboy78

“Podence not even making a two-yard run to make a tackle. Absolute disgrace.”

Credit: @_jwynny

In other news, find out which team-mate of Podence also came under fire from Wolves fans today.

If you’re a striker that’s played for Celtic in the last few years and your name isn’t Odsonne Edouard, it’s unlikely you’ll go down in history as a roaring success.

That isn’t necessarily the fault of the players, more the fault of Edouard who has been a red-hot goal-scoring machine for the Hoops.

He hasn’t enjoyed his greatest campaign in green and white but the Frenchman has still found the net on 20 occasions in 2020/21.

Unfortunately, after a year without a trophy, he could leave for the Premier League.

Finding his replacement will be imperative but the Bhoys will also need to find a successor for Patryk Klimala.

He is one of the aforementioned strikers who failed to ever get going in Glasgow. Signed in January 2020, he’s just left for New York Red Bulls after scoring just three goals in 28 games. In a few years time, it won’t be a surprise if supporters forget who he was.

If Edouard and Klimala both depart, it will leave Celtic fairly light on options in attack. Fortunately, they have a shrewd deal potentially right up their sleeve.

The Glaswegian outfit have been linked with a move for Peterborough forward Siriki Dembele over the last few months and if he fails to sign a deal south of the border, he’ll be available on a free transfer in the summer.

Brother of Karamoko Dembele, he shares plenty of similar traits. He is quick, energetic and can beat players for fun.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast this week, Posh Director of Football Barry Fry only had praise for the 24-year-old; “Siriki can get the ball in his own half and with dazzling dribbling ability, he can beat four or five players and score a wonder goal or cross it for somebody else to score.”

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-celtic-manager-and-transfer-news-howe-lampard-klimala-ajer-gossip” title= “Read the latest Celtic manager and transfer news!”]

Fry added: “He’s very, very exciting. He’s got the best stats outside the [English] Premier League, I think. We’ll try to keep hold of him if we go up, and we’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse! So watch this space.”

A player blessed with enormous quality, he has scored 11 goals in the third tier of English football this term. He’s also provided 12 assists for his teammates.

Evidently, there is more of a buzz to Dembele’s game than there ever has been with Klimala.

He is electric in possession and can finish chances with a sensational degree of confidence. For Celtic’s former Polish striker, everything looked a little sluggish and off the pace.

If Celtic can secure his signature on a free transfer, it would be an inspirational piece of business from Dominic McKay.

AND in other news, Forget Howe: Celtic should hire jaw-dropping 47 y/o instead, he’s shades of Rodgers…

Speaking live on talkSPORT to Jim White and Simon Jordan, as transcribed by their website, reporter Alex Crook has dropped an update on West Ham’s chase to sign Man United star Jesse Lingard.

The Lowdown: Lingard a top target…

The Red Devils playmaker is also one of manager David Moyes’ top transfer priorities for the January window amid his search for a striker and new defensive signing (The Evening Standard).

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Out of contract in the summer, Man United could now be forced to sell for a cheap fee this month in order not to lose Lingard for nothing at the end of 2021/2022.

He is also attracting interest from the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United with the latter club apparently at work behind-the-scenes.

Crook, in a live on air update as West Ham still chase him, has made an encouraging claim.

The Latest: talkSPORT update…

Speaking to talkSPORT, the journalist says Moyes and transfer chief Rob Newman still haven’t given up on signing Lingard this month.

“They’ve not given up hope, I’m told, of prizing Jesse Lingard away from Manchester United,” he explained.

“So West Ham could be one of the busier clubs in the Premier League come the next couple of weeks.”

The Verdict: Get it done…

Reports indicate that United are sceptical over selling to a top four rival like West Ham or Spurs in January with Newcastle currently the favourites, but if even Lingard manages to leave Old Trafford on a free at the end of this season, he may well come as a stellar free agent signing.

The 29-year-old enjoyed a fantastic spell on loan at the London Stadium last year, bagging nine goals and four assists, and it is believed that the player favours a move back down south over St. James’ Park as things stand.

This could boost West Ham’s chances of a free summer deal at least and it would most certainly be an astute bit of business.

Former England international Paul Robinson is certainly in agreement, calling Lingard a would-be ‘massive signing’ for Moyes who could add ‘another dimension’ going forward (Football Insider).

In other news: ExWHUemployee backs reports as West Ham now willing to bid for ‘phenomenal’ man, find out more here.

West Ham United are interested in signing Cyle Larin this summer, according to reports…

What’s the word?

Turkish newspaper Sozcu claimed (via Sport Witness) that the Irons are keen to bolster their frontline ahead of a campaign in the Europa League next season and the Besiktas talisman is a player they have been closely monitoring.

It’s claimed that the Super Lig outfit will command around €15m (£12.5m) for the 26-year-old striker, although West Ham are facing competition from West Bromwich Albion, as well as other unnamed Premier League and Championship clubs.

Larin has previously been linked with Leeds United, as per the report, whilst his £28,000-per-week contract isn’t set to expire until 2022.

Shades of Antonio

Hammers boss David Moyes has been longing for a new striker since the turn of the year after the club’s hierarchy sanctioned the exit of Sebastian Haller without finding a viable replacement.

It left the 58-year-old in a tricky spot as he could only call upon an injury-prone Michail Antonio to lead his line, whilst in his absence, the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Jesse Lingard were deployed as makeshift centre-forwards.

Clearly, he needs more options if the east Londoners are to put up a decent fight in Europe next season, on top of ensuring that this campaign was no mere fluke. Moyes could do with another forward in the mould of Antonio, which is where Larin could come in.

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Also capable of playing out wide, the versatile 33-cap Canada international is most devastating through the middle, where he has delivered 23 goals and six assists in all competitions, via Transfermarkt.

Nine of those have come as a striker, playing in that role 16 times, and it is his form which has helped fire the Super Eagles to the Turkish title for the first time since 2016.

Once at Orlando City in Major League Soccer (MLS), Larin earned praise from then-teammate and legendary midfielder Kaka, who tipped him for big things.

“I think Cyle can go far,” Kaka said at an MLS media day, via Goal.com. “Cyle is a very good player and the third season for us will be great, but I think Cyle can play in a big team in Europe as well.”

His national team head coach John Herdman waxed lyrical about his qualities earlier this year, dubbing the 6 foot 2 beast “an absolute predator” who “has that ability”, via Total Soccer Project.

“There’s been real improvement and development in his game,” added Canada captain Atiba Hutchinson. “Not only the goals he’s been scoring, but his work ethic, his understanding of the game. He’s become a lot more tidy as a player.”

Larin earns further comparisons to the current Hammers star as he has a similar mix of explosive pace and brute power, having averaged 2.1 shots and 1.2 dribbles per game in the Super Lig, compared to Antonio’s 2.4 shots and 1.7 dribbles per match.

Moyes could well sign West Ham’s next versatile monster with a swoop for Larin, and at just £12.5m, you’d have to say it would be a snip.

AND in other news, GSB masterclass: West Ham hit gold with £35k-p/w “machine” who’s a “manager’s dream”…

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard will have to table a big bid for Jonson Clarke-Harris if he is to be allowed to leave the club, according to Barry Fry.

Posh sealed promotion to the Championship last season, as they finished second in League One, just two points behind eventual champions Hull City.

Clarke-Harris was in exceptional form throughout the season, too, as he scored 31 goals in 45 outings in the third-tier, while also providing three assists.

Rangers have been linked with a potential swoop to sign the 26-year-old this summer.

The Daily Record has reported before that Bournemouth tabled a bid worth £5m for Clarke-Harris in January and saw it rejected, while confirming Rangers’ interest.

And Fry has now said that there will have to be a significant offer tabled by Steven Gerrard’s side if he is to end up moving north of the border.

The Posh DOF exclusively told The Transfer Tavern: “Do I expect bids for Jonson Clarke-Harris? Yes I do. Will they be enough? I don’t know.

“Because we don’t want to go up to the Championship and be also-rans, we want to go up to the Championship and stay there and progress further, so it’ll have to be a good offer.”

Clarke-Harris has a contract at Peterborough until 2024.

Aston Villa are still eyeing a move for Burnley winger Dwight McNeil after The Telegraph’s recent transfer update.

What’s the story?

A report from Football Insider had previously claimed that Dean Smith’s side have their eye on the 21-year-old, and that the Premier League club are “lining up a huge bid for him”.

Then, The Athletic’s Gregg Evans revealed: “Villa already recognise the need for another wide player, and The Athletic understands Burnley’s Dwight McNeil is of serious interest, as is Emi Buendia of Championship winners Norwich. Extensive groundwork has already been done on both of them.

“The scouting department has closely scrutinised his in-game contributions, and McNeil is recognised as a player who brings additional options to open up a game.

And now, The Telegraph have claimed that Villa still have McNeil high up on their target list as they look to reinforce their squad ahead of the new Premier League season.

Premier League quality

The £43m-rated winger has been one of the few standout players for the Clarets since breaking onto the scene, and it’s something which has led to Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp raving about him.

He said: “Dwight McNeil is such a good player, lovely left foot, doesn’t stop running. Every time I watch him he gets better and better, he’s got real quality and certainly a player that the top six to eight clubs will be looking at, and that’s no disrespect to Burnley because I don’t like saying that sometimes, but he is that good.”

With his ability to beat players one-on-one – his average of 1.8 dribbles per game in the Premier League was the highest of any Burnley player last season – McNeil could bring a new and exciting dimension to Villa’s attack.

That dribbling, and McNeil’s composure on the ball, is something very much akin to Villa talisman Jack Grealish, andled to Burnley manager Sean Dyche waxing lyrical about the kind of talent he is.

He said: “He’s a real talent. He’s a really good player, he’s improving, his calmness at the end – I’m saying get it in the corner – but he cuts in, and his calmness to cross it into a dangerous area, and then gets his reward.

“Before then, his calmness to dribble out of trouble – he’s a really good player, really good, and he can only mature.”

The Telegraph’s update on their interest in McNeil should surely have Villa fans buzzing given the kind of attacking flair the winger could bring to the club.

Meanwhile, Matt Maher has dropped a major Aston Villa transfer update…

Tottenham have endured a very topsy-turvy start to the season with Nuno Santo overseeing three wins on the spin and then winning Premier League manager of the month.

However, after overseeing a wonderful August, Spurs were back in the dumps throughout September as they won just once in the league.

What’s the word?

What hasn’t helped Nuno’s men is a lack of goals from star man Harry Kane.

Tottenham managed to keep hold of the England captain despite rife speculation over the summer but he is yet to find the net in the top-flight during 2021/22.

His future at the club is still unclear but recent reports in Italy claim Spurs could sign Alvaro Morata as Kane’s replacement.

Currently valued at £40.5m by Transfermarkt, it would presumably be an expensive move to sanction.

Morata is currently on loan at Juventus from Atletico Madrid but the Old Lady don’t want to see him become a permanent part of the furniture. Thus, it opens the door for Spurs to move in and swoop.

Soldado 2.0

Cast your minds back to the summer of 2013 and Tottenham fans will crawl up into a ball of fear.

The club sold Gareth Bale to Real Madrid after using a portion of the eventual fee they received on acquiring Roberto Soldado.

The Spanish forward arrived in a then club-record deal worth £26m but it was a humungous waste of time and money.

Soldado struggled significantly in English football and only netted 16 times in 76 outings. His time in north London is a constant source of anguish for the striker who hardly spoke glowingly of his time there.

In an interview with The Guardian, he said: “I always say if there is one period of my career I’m not happy with, it’s my time at Tottenham.”

The forward continued: “I also had Harry Kane’s boom to contend with.”

Sadly, Morata is also a player who’s attracted fierce criticism for his performances, especially in England.

During his time at Chelsea, the attacker regularly missed simple opportunities to score, a habit that has continued throughout his time elsewhere on the continent.

He scored just 12 times in 34 outings for Atletico in 2019/20 and then bagged only 11 goals in 32 matches for Juve last season.

His form at the European Championships was also questionable. Like Soldado, he struggled in front of goal and was given quite the hammering by Gary Neville.

The outspoken pundit remarked: “He’s got that vulnerable look about him, almost like he needs a cuddle.”

“It’s like he apologises to the ball before he makes contact with it, ‘Sorry, I’m gonna have to kick you here!’ There is just no belief.”

Also described as “fragile” by Maurizio Sarri, Morata clearly lacks the ability to be a constant threat.

Considering he could act as a replacement for Kane, this is a disaster waiting to happen. If they do end up selling, they can’t afford to replicate the situation that unfolded when Bale walked through the exit door.

Morata is someone that Daniel Levy simply has to forget about.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Hojbjerg: Spurs eye move for £19.8m-rated “machine”, Nuno would love him…

Derby County have been handed a huge boost regarding their incoming transfer business at Pride Park this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Chris Coles, with the BBC journalist revealing in a post on Twitter that, following further discussions with the EFL, Wayne Rooney will now be able to make a further four loan signings in the summer transfer window.

This news comes following John Percy’s previous claim that the Rams would be able to make five new additions to their first team squad ahead of their upcoming Championship campaign despite still being under an EFL-imposed transfer embargo.

However, in Coles’ tweets, the journalist went on to state that further discussions between the club and the governing body are currently taking place, with a resolution regarding unpaid tax expected to be sorted out at the end of this week, which could subsequently allow Derby to sign a further 10 new players this summer.

Fans will be delighted

While Derby’s off-field issues appear far from over just yet, reports that Rooney now looks to be able to add four more players – albeit on loan deals – to his first-team squad ahead of the new season is sure to have left fans very pleased.

Indeed, with the Rams technically still having just 13 contracted players – although a significant number of trialists are training with the club while waiting for Derby to receive clearance in order to offer them contracts – and with the transfer embargo meaning that Rooney could not bring in any new faces prior to the easing of the sanction, the possibility of him not being able to field a team for the opening day clash with Huddersfield Town on August 7 was very real.

However, following Coles’ latest update, it would now appear that this particular worry for Derby is one they can start to forget about, with the Rams looking set to be able to secure multiple new signings in the coming days.

While a potential takeover of Derby still looks way off, and the Rams still have cash flow problems, at the very least the Pride Park faithful now know that Rooney and his men should definitely be in Championship action in a little under two weeks’ time.

In other news: Alan Nixon drops two-word Derby County takeover update that will have fans fuming

Celtic are now struggling in their attempts to sign Georgios Giakoumakis, according to Duncan Castles.

The Lowdown: Positive updates

There have been two positive updates in Celtic’s pursuit of the 26-year-old after Ange Postecoglou called him over a Scotland move earlier this month.

The first came from Greek reporter Giannis Chorianopoulos, who suggested that Celtic have agreed terms in principle with VVV-Venlo for Giakoumakis.

Derek Rae then claimed that Werder Bremen, who held face-to-face talks with the striker, moved on to Hannover’s Marvin Ducksch, with a transfer now announced.

The Latest: Castles’ post

Castles, who was the first to share Celtic’s interest in Giakoumakis on The Daily Record, posted on Twitter on Wednesday, sharing a link to The Transfer Window podcast.

In his post, he revealed that the Hoops ‘struggle’ on Giakoumakis, with The Daily Record sharing a €2.5m fee.

Giakoumakis is keen to leave VVV-Venlo and has held talks with Celtic, but a deal is not done yet, with any move possibly hinging on a potential exit for Odsonne Edouard. [The Daily Record]

The Verdict: Celtic need to take the lead

Dominic McKay and co need to take the lead in the final days of the window, even if that means signing Giakoumakis with Edouard still on the books.

What they don’t want to happen is to part ways with Edouard and then run out of time to secure a new forward before the deadline closes.

It appears as if a move for Giakoumakis has hit a snag, but hopefully, Postecoglou will get his man in the final few days.

In other news: Celtic now looking at late swoop for ‘fantastic’ defender alongside Liam Scales move.