All posts by n8rngtd.top

Carlo Ancelotti hopes Allan will be fit for this weekend’s Merseyside Derby after the Everton midfielder sat out Wednesday night’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester City.

The Brazilian had been expected to feature against Pep Guardiola’s title-chasing side after recovering from a hamstring injury but was given an extra day’s rest to ensure he can contend for a starting role at Liverpool on Saturday.

Allan returned to Ancelotti’s matchday plans against Fulham last weekend following a two-month lay-off, though only took a seat on the bench and was not risked having missed eight Premier League fixtures.

Everton were also without top-scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin against Manchester City as the Toffees succumbed to their sixth top-flight defeat in 12 games at Goodison Park this season, with the striker nursing a minor hamstring injury.

But Ancelotti is confident the £40.5m-rated forward and Allan will both be fit to feature on Saturday.

“We preferred to give Allan one day training instead of staying on the bench,” the Italian said following Wednesday’s defeat to Guardiola’s Sky Blues.

“He trained today, and we hope he will be available for Saturday – to start.

“Also, Calvert-Lewin, I think, can start.”

Calvert-Lewin has missed Everton’s last two Premier League games after limping off the field during the FA Cup fifth-round win over Tottenham Hotspur, in which he scored his 18th goal before providing his third and fourth assists of the campaign across all competitions.

Allan returning to the side at Liverpool for his 13th top-flight outing since joining Everton for £21m from Serie A side SSC Napoli last summer could spell curtains for Tom Davies in Ancelotti’s plans.

Davies made way for James Rodriguez early in the second half of Wednesday night’s 3-1 defeat. Ancelotti felt Gylfi Sigurdsson could occupy the second holding midfield role beside Abdoulaye Doucoure after starting the match in-behind Richarlison.

The £25k-per-week Blues product had tried to offer a combative presence in the engine room and broke up Manchester City’s play well, recording a game-high four interceptions – more than any Everton player has offered per game in the league this term, per WhoScored.

He further matched Doucoure for clearances (one) and was never dribbled past for a 100% tackle success rate, while Sigurdsson took possession with 50% of his and Doucoure 40%. Yet Davies could only register a WhoScored match rating of 6.57, his third-worst of the league season when starting.

Ancelotti’s decision to remove Davies from the action shows where the Italian places the 22-year-old in his pecking order, which is bound to also be behind Allan with the Brazilian already confirmed as starting should he stay injury-free before Saturday.

AND in other news, Carlo Ancelotti is willing Everton to pay £26.5m for a £176k-p/w gem…

Many Sheffield Wednesday fans are reacting to the latest injury update on Jack Marriott, who has been missing since a mere eight-minute showing at the end of January.

According to journalist Dom Howson, Marriott is back in full training and it means that he might be included in the squad to face Luton at the weekend.

The English striker has only managed eight appearances for the Owls this season (four from the bench). With the club embroiled in a relegation battle and the lowest scorers in the division with 21 goals, (SofaScore) an attacker who has shown form in the division with Derby County being available again looks like great news on paper.

However the only goal the 26 year-old has scored this season was when playing for the Rams, so despite the squad having more depth being a huge positive, his form when he has played has not been great – hopefully he can find some form and confidence and deliver what he was signed to do.

Here is how Owls fans reacted to the news:

“Cue Jack Marriott not in squad Saturday and same starting eleven as last night!”

Credit: @IanSWFC80

“Great, that will make all the difference!!!”

Credit: @ejc18671

“Send the lad back to derby,another poor signing.”

Credit: @1867_Owl

“Won’t stop the MF creating anything. Another small player to hoof the ball too”

Credit: @onefurlongout

“Brilliant, can’t wait”

Credit: @LeonHulme3

“Like having a broken leg needing morphine and being offered a junior aspirin!”

Credit: @mark1867bryan

In other news, fans were discussing midfielder Izzy Brown. Have a read why here!

Eintracht Frankfurt striker Andre Silva has responded to rumours that Wolves have approached him over a move to Molineux.

Silva joined the Bundesliga side permanently last summer from AC Milan after a previous loan spell at the Deutsche Bank Park.

He is putting up hugely impressive numbers, with 20 goals and five assists in 23 appearances across all competitions (via Transfermarkt).

Silva has also notched 37 Portugal caps, scoring 16 goals (via Transfermarkt).

Wolves talk gives Silva motivation

In an interview with Portuguese publication O Jogo, he was asked about ‘talk of Atletico Madrid, Manchester United [and] Wolves’.

“I’ve heard rumours, but that is it,” he said. “Rumours are rumours.

“At the end of the season, it is something that gives me motivation to work, it is a sign that what I have accomplished has borne fruit and the path has been good.”

Silva floats reasonable price-tag

Silva then offered an intriguing appraisal of his transfer value.

“I think I heard somewhere 30 or so,” he said. “When we sell our merchandise we always increase the value a little bit!

“Things are as they are and, whatever happens around us, the most important thing is to look at me and what I can do.”

Transfer Tavern verdict

Silva’s goal return is eye-catching, but it should be noted that six of his 19 Bundesliga strikes have come from the penalty spot (via Transfermarkt). If the price tag was indeed in the region of £30million, he would nonetheless attract plenty of suitors.

With Willian Jose’s loan move from Real Sociedad unlikely to be made permanent – he has been poor thus far – perhaps Silva could provide the necessary depth behind Raul Jimenez that youngster Fabio Silva has not been able to.

The Brazilian loanee’s lack of success and probable departure would mean another injury to Jimenez puts all of the goalscoring expectation on 18 year-old Fabio, so the Frankfurt star would be an ideal signing this summer.

In other news, Leander Dendoncker display attacked by fans in 1-1 Newcastle United draw

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Gary Mabbutt has backed Eric Dier to come out the other side following his poor recent form at Tottenham.

Dier has started all but four of Spurs’ Premier League games, but is currently enduring a tricky spell at the heart of the Tottenham defence.

Having conceded a penalty against Chelsea last month, the England defender was then arguably at fault for West Ham’s opener recently, which led to him being dropped and replaced by Toby Alderweireld against Burnley on Sunday, again sitting out the win against Fulham.

Dier had played 90 minutes in each of Spurs’ Europa League ties against Austrian outfit Wolfsberger, so Jose Mourinho might have been resting him ahead of Thursday’s trip to Fulham.

The Tottenham boss doesn’t appear to know his best central defensive pair – with the likes of Davinson Sanchez, Joe Rodon and even Ben Davies all having played there this season.

But the 27-year-old, who reportedly earns £72,000-a-week, has played more Premier League minutes than any other defender this term, and Mabbutt told FFC that he still has faith in Dier. He said:

“I think Eric has shown what a player he can be for both Spurs and for England. And, again, it’s down to the manager to see who he feels is the best on that particular day or occasion for it.

“And then the other player will then come out like Eric did and say’ my confidence is fine’. If it’s not confidence, ‘I made a couple mistakes’. ‘Hey, let’s work on it, lets get back together, and a deal with it’. It’s all about finding a solution, making a plan.

“That’s what a manager has to do, he’s got 26 players in this squad, every single player is different. Everyone needs different things to make them work. But that’s what a manager has to do, he’s got to get inside that player. Every single player, how to get the best out of them. That’s his role. That’s what his role as a manager is.”

Dier is going through one those periods where everything that can go wrong seems to be going wrong.

However, he’s shown previously for both club and country that he’s more than capable of performing at this level, so it’s just about eradicating those mistakes and getting back to his best.

Plenty of Aston Villa fans have been sharing their delight at the club’s official Twitter post on Tuesday afternoon regarding striker Wesley Moraes.

The 24-year-old has been out of action for over 12 months after suffering a serious knee injury against Burnley on New Year’s Day last year.

Since then, Dean Smith’s side have gone from strength to strength, avoiding relegation on the last day of the 2019/20 campaign and racking up 40 points after just 26 games this season.

New striker Ollie Watkins has thrived since his arrival at Villa Park, scoring 12 goals in all competitions.

Wesley, who cost Villa £22.5m back in 2019, has made 22 appearances for the club, scoring six goals.

It seems as if a long-awaited return to the first-team fold to challenge Watkins for a starting spot could be gathering pace, though, after he was pictured in training.

The club shared three images from behind the scenes at training, with one fan descirbing the reveal as ‘excellent’.

These Villa fans were buzzing at the post

“Quality to see. Hopefully can kick on from where he left off before getting injured”

Credit: @ryanavfc7

“yessssss”

Credit: @lrwelizabeth

“get him in the team ASAP and give Watkins a hand”

Credit: @pjhollis74

“Great to see”

Credit: @Mattjacques2

“Excellent to see Wesley again. Can’t wait for him to be back on the pitch”

Credit: @VillaNoFiller

“Genuinely love our Wes”

Credit: @_CamMatthews

“Oh he’s beautiful”

Credit: @NCAVFC 

In other news: Plenty of Villa fans have been having their say on Johan Lange’s summer plans, find out more here. 

Managers will come and go at Arsenal but the same old problems will remain.

Arsene Wenger isn’t in London anymore but defensive errors are still rife. Unai Emery tried his utmost to eradicate them while Mikel Arteta has come close on occasions.

However, some painstaking individual mistakes have cost them in recent weeks. Whether it be Dani Ceballos against Benfica and Olympiacos, Bernd Leno versus Wolves or Granit Xhaka in the draw with Burnley, it has been nothing short of calamitous.

It appears that when it comes to defending, the club are cursed. Though, there is another area in N5 that appears to be a poisoned chalice; Arsenal’s captaincy.

Ever since Patrick Vieira left back in 2005, the Gunners have been through plenty of captains. Thierry Henry led from the front with his on-field displays but after that, it has been a tale of woe for pretty much each and every one of the club’s skippers.

William Gallas was the first antagonist back in 2007, tarnishing the captaincy and thus, beginning a remarkable trend at London Colney.

On the day that Eduardo broke his leg after a horrific challenge, Arsenal lost to Birmingham and with it, started their title collapse. Gallas was slumped on the floor at full time and sat motionless on the St Andrew’s Turf, waiting for the ground to swallow him up.

If anything encapsulated a host of Arsenal captains in the last 14 years it would be that moment. Cesc Fabregas took on the mantle next and like Henry, led well on the pitch.

However, he eventually moved to Barcelona and even missed an Arsenal game to go to watch the Spanish Grand Prix.

Robin van Persie took on the baton from the midfielder but similarly to Fabregas, departed shortly after following demands he made about the direction of the club. Thomas Vermaelen became his successor but a different kind of curse took over; one where their captain very rarely played.

The Belgian featured just 43 times in the league during his two years as captain. His replacement, Arteta, then played in just 16 matches during his final few campaigns in north London.

Per Mertesacker (seven games) and Laurent Koscielny (17 matches) took on the honour of wearing the captain’s armband afterwards. Koscielny, however, left in bizarre circumstances.

One moment, the French defender was happy and then the next, he was refusing to go on Arsenal’s pre-season tour of America in 2019. He subsequently moved to Bordeaux and then proceeded to rip off a Gunners shirt during his unveiling video.

Though, the worst of all was Granit Xhaka. The Swiss was horrendously torn apart by the club’s supporters in a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace during the 2019/20 campaign.

As he was being substituted, Xhaka proceeded to rip the armband off, give the crowd some stick and then throw his shirt to the ground in disgust.

Emery consequently relieved him of his duties and made Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang the skipper.

Like Henry, he has led from the front. Without Aubameyang, Arsenal wouldn’t have won the FA Cup last term. However, in recent days, we’ve seen the curse begin to blow up in Arteta’s face.

There has been a certain negativity attached to the honour of Arsenal captain over the last decade and now their star man is the latest to be caught up in some drama.

Aubameyang reported late when the team met up ahead of the north London derby with Tottenham on Sunday and as a result, he was dropped to the bench. It was a major call from the manager in what was their biggest game of the season.

The Gabonese forward failed to get any minutes and then while Arsenal’s subs warmed down on the Emirates pitch at full-time, he got in his car and sped off into the distance.

Time will tell whether that was a landmark moment in his career at the club. Aubameyang has often been the joker of the pack, the go-to man when Arsenal are in a crisis. On this occasion, however, he was nowhere to be seen.

After what’s happened in years gone by, Arteta will be wary of escalating this situation. After all, Arsenal’s number 14 had just started to rediscover his best form; the last thing they need is a starting XI without his name on.

AND in other news, Imagine him and Partey: Edu could sign Xhaka upgrade for AFC with “complete” £22m star…

Celtic are thought to be interested in a move for Peterborough United forward Siriki Dembele.

That’s according to an exclusive report from Give Me Sport, who claim that his impressive form in the current campaign has sparked intrigue from the Hoops.

Dembele’s impressive Peterborough form

The 24-year-old has netted seven times and provided 12 assists in English League One this season, helping the Posh to second place in the division ahead of the run-in.

His London Road deal expires at the end of June, meaning the Hoops could strike a pre-contract agreement over the coming months.

Transfer Tavern take

Dembele appears to fit one of the club’s two transfer policies of being a UK-based talent with high upside potential available on a pre-contract.

He has lined out on the left and right, at centre-forward and as an attacking midfielder during his career, so his versatility could be welcomed at Parkhead.

Dembele is also the older brother to Hoops teenager Karamoko. Reports have suggested that the 18-year-old is set to leave Celtic in the summer, but could the possibility of his brother moving to Glasgow change his mind?

In other news: Celtic readying summer move for player Nick Hammond watched live two months ago, find out more here. 

Frank McAvennie has suggested that Glasgow Rangers trio Joe Aribo, Borna Barisic and Glen Kamara could all leave Ibrox this summer.

McAvennie discusses potential exits

Rangers’ sporting director Ross Wilson recently said that the aforementioned trio are all loving life with the 55-time Scottish champions (The Telegraph).

However, speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie believes they could all leave for the right price. He explained:

“I think they will want to stay.

“It would have been a different story if they did not win the title but they have won the league. Why would want to leave?

“The Rangers fans will get annoyed at me but everybody has got a price. It is not me that says this.

“I am not trying to get rid of players. I do not want to see good players leave Scotland but every player has a price.

“Celtic have a price on their players and it is the same with Rangers.”

Not impossible

The Gers are currently in a strong position. They have just won the Premiership title for the first time in 10 years and, as a result, they have a chance of competing in the Champions League group stages next term. Given the collective efforts of the players mentioned, they are probably keen to test their ability in Europe’s premier club competition at Ibrox.

McAvennie is correct, though – every player has a price. Rangers and Wilson will be fully aware they will struggle to hold on to top talents throughout their careers.

Kamara, Aribo and Barisic are said to be valued at £10m, £11m and £12m respectively (The Athletic) – they are all strong assets for the Gers. The better they perform, though, the more money Rangers will receive when they eventually do sell them. At least that will allow the club to reinvest when the departures take hold.

In other news, some Rangers fans hammered this man’s performance against Celtic.

Plenty of Aston Villa fans have been reacting on social media to the club’s post regarding striker Wesley Moraes.

The Brazilian, who suffered a serious knee injury against Burnley on New Year’s Day in 2020, stepped up his recovery by featuring in a behind-closed-doors friendly against West Bromwich Albion at Bodymoor Heath on Friday.

Wesley played 45 minutes of the friendly, the club confirmed, putting on the Villa shirt for the first time in almost 15 months.

Summer exit for Wesley?

There has been talk that the club will listen to permanent or loan offers for the 24-year-old this summer, with Dean Smith reportedly not convinced by the forward prior to his injury at Turf Moor.

Wesley, who cost the club £22.5m back in 2019, has made 22 appearances for Villa, scoring six times and registering one assist.

Villa fans react

This is what these Villa fans had to say in reply to the club’s post on Wesley’s return, with one describing it as ‘brilliant news’.

“This is the content we like to see”

Credit: @_VillaJack

“Get him on the bench for Fulham. I beg”

Credit: @harry_blissett

“Brilliant news. Be like signing a new player”

Credit: @AndrewUllah

“He’s back”

Credit: @camavfc__

“Things you love to see! Back playing and back with a smile on his face! Welcome back Big Man!”

Credit: @Kevin6Boswell

“Great to see him back after the terrible injury.”

Credit: @coward_rob

In other news: Villa source reveals club have their concerns over £16.2m-rated star, find out more here. 

Mike Ashley must look to sanction the permanent exit of Yoshinori Muto amid claims that the striker wants out of Newcastle United this summer.

What’s the word?

According to Chronicle Live, Muto has enjoyed his season on loan with La Liga outfit SD Eibar so much that he hopes to make a permanent switch to Spain.

The Japanese striker is relishing the lifestyle on offer in the Basque Country and the opportunities given to him under Los Armeros head coach Jose Luis Mendilibar.

Muto has been named in 27 of a possible 30 matchday squads and featured in 24 fixtures across all competitions, while scoring three goals and providing two assists, though only staring 14 of his appearances to date.

Muto would jump at the chance of sealing a permanent move to the Ipurua Municipal Stadium if the chance arises this summer, but two factors will determine Eibar’s stance.

Mendilibar’s side currently sit in the relegation zone and are two points from La Liga safety, as far as they are from basement boys SD Huesca in a close four-way battle at the bottom.

Top-flight survival may play into the second factor, which is whether Eibar are willing to pay the fee Newcastle will demand for the 28-year-old they paid 1.FSV Mainz 05 £9.5m to sign in 2018.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/the-latest-newcastle-news%2c-gossip-and-views” title=”The latest Newcastle news, gossip and views!”]

The Toon are expected to hold out for a fee as any funds raised while clearing the forward’s £54,000-per-week contract will be seen as a huge plus, as he enters the final year of his deal.

Should Newcastle sell Muto?

Newcastle will need a suitor to arrive with an offer to part with Muto, but they should not stand in the striker’s way of securing a permanent exit after proving to be a huge flop at St. James’ Park.

Muto scored just once in 17 Premier League appearances during his maiden campaign in black and white, despite showing promising signs with his strike coming away to Manchester United in October.

It proved to be a false dawn for Muto, who was once backed by Massimo Ficcadenti – his head coach at FC Tokyo – to become a “fantastic footballer”, as the now £2.5m-rated dud would soon sustain a calf injury and play just 99 minutes between November 10 and March 16.

Last season was hardly any better for the 29-cap international, as Muto featured on only 10 occasions across all competitions under Steve Bruce, with six of which awarded before the end of September as injuries again restricted his availability.

Newcastle at least managed to secure a loan fee and offload part of Muto’s wages in talks with Eibar last summer to limit the losses made on the forward, but United will not expect to make anywhere near what they paid Mainz through his sale.

Ashley may be reticent to write Muto off and accept the financial hit without a fight, yet doing so would only prolong the inevitable split with a player who has not played his way back into a Tyneside career while in Spain.

AND in other news, Newcastle are scouting an “amazing” 13-goal striker dubbed the next Erling Haaland…