All posts by n8rngtd.top

Reliable reporter John Percy claimed on Friday that Manchester City have made a £100m offer for Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish.

And, as to be expected, his post had plenty of Villa supporters talking on social media.

Grealish has been linked with a move to the Etihad since March, and according to Percy, who writes for The Telegraph, City have finally tabled a huge bid for the attacking midfielder.

Should Villa accept the £100m bid, Villa would receive a Premier League record fee for the 25-year-old, eclipsing Manchester United’s £89m move for Paul Pogba.

Grealish is set to return to Villa training next week following his holiday after the Euros, however, Percy claims City are hopeful of reaching an agreement in the next few days.

Villa fans react

Percy shared the news regarding City’s offer for Grealish on Friday lunchtime on Twitter. These Villa fans were quick to interact with the update, with one labelling it as a Percy ‘own goal’.

“Oh my god”

Credit: @alishaavfc

“WOW. I think he’s gone.”

Credit: @AVFCTheReligion

“It’s game on now!! Can our owners hold their nerve, or will £100Millon convince them to sell up? A nervous few days for us all.”

Credit: @footymadluke123

“Percy at the back posttt with an own goal “

Credit: @cday_AV

“He’s gone then.”

Credit: @jwavfc1996

“Noooooo Percy”

Credit: @ChrisBrady1982

In other news: ‘Some good news today’, ‘Finally’ – Many AVFC fans erupt at ‘unreal’ transfer news. 

Many Everton fans have been left unhappy as a transfer update emerged on Matheus Nunes.

As per A Bola, the Goodison Park faithful have had a proposed swap deal involving Andre Gomes rejected by Sporting Lisbon, as manager Ruben Amorim was not keen on the offer.

Playing in 31 games in Liga NOS in the 2020/21 term, scoring three goals and supplying a further two assists (Transfermarkt), Nunes was a key player in Sporting’s first domestic title win since 2002.

On the other hand, Gomes came under a lot of criticism from some supporters of the Merseyside club for some of his poor performances over the course of last season, and so a swap deal may have suited the Toffees going into the new campaign.

Nonetheless, it looks as if Rafa Benitez’s team will have to try a different approach if they are to sign Nunes.

Everton fans on Nunes transfer update

These Blues were unhappy as the transfer update was shared on Twitter:

“We literally can’t spend a penny can we. Sad times.”

Credit: @rlfansSaddened

“Every time I read Everton transfer news after other teams have completed major business. My mind automatically prefixes this stuff with “..meanwhile in La La Land””

Credit: @CeejayNightwing

“That’s not very nice…”

Credit: @WattyWattDogg

“Embarrassing”

Credit: @JBradshawPhotos

“It’s all getting a bit silly now”

Credit: @Roundhouse1878

“We’re truly skint / cannot spend aren’t we”

Credit: @PaulChute

In other news, find out what transfer update has Evertonians fuming here!

Leicester City suffered a devastating blow during Tuesday night’s game against Villarreal.

What’s the story?

Highly-rated centre-back Wesley Fofana suffered a broken leg following a horrific challenge from Fernando Nino, with the 20-year-old confirming his injury from a hospital bed on Twitter.

The youngster’s fractured fibula is likely to keep him sidelined for the majority of the upcoming campaign, meaning Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers must sign a replacement over the coming weeks.

With former club captain Wes Morgan retiring after 2020/21, the Foxes had already been heavily linked with Schalke defender Ozan Kabak in the current window and the Turkey international’s arrival at the King Power Stadium would certainly soften the blow of Fofana’s recent setback.

Ozan Kabak can soften the injury blow

Kabak already has experience of playing in the Premier League following a fairly successful loan spell at Liverpool in the second half of last season, where he made 13 appearances in all competitions.

The Reds turned to the youngster to solve their injury crisis in the January window, and his impressive performances saw Jurgen Klopp label the £22.5m-rated gem a “big prospect”.

However, his solid displays weren’t enough to persuade the Anfield outfit to make his move to Merseyside permanent, opting to sign Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig instead.

While Kabak was enjoying himself on English shores, though, his parent club Schalke suffered relegation from the Bundesliga in dramatic fashion.

The German outfit’s perils mean they’re desperate to offload one of their highest earners in order to balance the books before the transfer window shuts, with a recent report even claiming they could even release their prized asset if a suitable buyer doesn’t come forward.

Therefore, with Fofana’s injury setback leaving Leicester with just two recognised central defenders in their first-team squad in the shape of Jonny Evans and Caglar Soyuncu, Rodgers surely has to swoop for Kabak.

He’s young, full of potential, has Premier League experience, and will be available for a bargain price. It’s a transfer that makes sense for multiple reasons, but it remains to be seen whether the FA Cup holders make their move.

And, in other news…Leicester handed potential transfer boost over 11-goal “genius”, fans surely buzzing 

Manchester City’s hopes of signing Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane this summer may have been handed a boost, with reports claiming that Spurs have agreed a fee with Inter for Lautaro Martinez.

What’s the word?

Kane has emerged as Guardiola’s top target to replace Sergio Aguero this summer following the legendary Argentinian’s move to Barcelona at the end of last season, and it seems clear that the England captain is intent on a move to the Etihad.

Despite Kane feeling that he had a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ with Daniel Levy to leave Spurs this summer, the chairman is notoriously difficult to deal with when it comes to transfers and is seemingly demanding a fee which City seemingly aren’t willing to pay for the 28-year-old.

With Kane contracted with the North London club until 2024, it had seemed unlikely that City would be able to agree a deal with Spurs for their talismanic striker, unless they were able to raise a significant amount of money through player sales, especially after completing the £100m signing of Jack Grealish recently.

However, it seems as if City’s hopes have been reignited, with Football.London journalist Alasdair Gold confirming that Spurs have now agreed on a fee of more than €60m for Martinez, which suggests that the Lilywhites may already be looking for potential replacements for Kane should he depart.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-manchester-city-transfer-rumours-and-news” title=”Read the latest Manchester City transfer rumours and news!”]

Will Man City sign Kane?

Given Martinez’s impressive pedigree with Inter, the 23-year-old would surely be a marquee signing for Spurs and despite them saying they intend to pair the Inter star with Kane, it is difficult to see new manager Nuno Espirito Santo starting the season with both him and the England captain in his starting XI.

The Englishman has already, somewhat, tarnished his reputation with the club’s supporters after failing to turn up to training last week as he clearly seems desperate to play for a side in the Champions League next season and hopefully break his trophy duck with the Citizens.

[freshpress-quiz id=“577936”]

Therefore, if Spurs can complete a deal for Martinez, it surely increases City’s chances of signing Kane, as they will already have a potentially world-class replacement lined up, and may, therefore, be more willing to cash in on the wantaway forward, which will surely delight Guardiola as he looks to add the England captain to his squad.

And, in other news… Man City can sign a serious Mendy upgrade in superstar left-back, he’s “one of the best”

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former West Brom midfielder Carlton Palmer believes Watford’s Andre Gray is the kind of striker who could help his old side win promotion.

West Brom are in the market for a new centre-forward and Gray is thought to be one name they are considering before the transfer window closes.

According to The Athletic, for the second season running, the 30-year-old is an option the Midlands club are looking at.

If they can get a deal done, for Palmer, it would be a good acquisition and one that would give their promotion hopes a big boost.

“He wasn’t prolific last season, but he has scored over 20 goals on an occasion in the Championship,” the ex-West Brom player said.“Right age at 30, experienced and will probably fall into [Valerien] Ismael’s budget.

“He’s the type of player that would fit their bill to get them promoted.”

Certainly, Gray was far from deadly in the Championship last season, scoring just five times in 30 appearances.

However, the Jamaica international’s overall record in the division is respectable. He has scored close to 50 goals in 120 appearances so could be a good bet in West Brom’s search for a new striker.

Former Everton star Michael Ball believes that Denis Zakaria would be a good signing for the club, provided they can secure him for a reasonable fee.

The Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder has been linked with a number of English clubs, including Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

Zakaria has been with the Bundesliga club since 2017 and has made a total of 128 appearances for them.

Reports have suggested that he was valued at over €40m (£34m) last summer but that price has appeared to drop, with the club cutting his asking price in half to £17m.

Ball believes that the fee is vital when it comes to any deal, and thinks that the club should only rubber-stamp the transfer if the asking price is as low as is being reported.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, the former Everton star said: “I think he was valued at around €40 million maybe 12 months or so ago. I think those fees are unrealistic for Everton but if they can get him for half the price, it could be a good one for the club.”

Zakaria is also a Switzerland international and played for his country at Euro 2020; in total, he has won 34 caps.

Leicester City are reportedly eyeing up a move for Middlesbrough defender Djed Spence as manager Brendan Rodgers seeks to address his injury-hit backline.

What’s the story?

According to Football League World, the Foxes are one of two Premier League clubs hoping to secure the highly-rated 21-year-old’s services this summer, with Southampton also credited with an interest.

New arrival Jannik Vestergaard joined the extensive injury list at the King Power Stadium following an innocuous training ground incident, so Leicester are believed to be in the market for extra reinforcements before the current transfer window closes.

Jon Rudkin must swoop

Comfortable at either right-back or on the right wing, Spence has established himself as one of the Championship’s most exciting young talents over the last couple of campaigns.

Previous ‘Boro boss Jonathan Woodgate lauded him as “exceptional” following a standout performance when he was still a teenager, but current manager Neil Warnock has gone even further in his praise for the youngster.

“If you look at one or two of the full-backs that are around now – the lad at Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and the lad at Manchester United from Palace (Aaron Wan-Bissaka) – they are all the same type as Djed,” declared the 72-year-old.

“He does have enormous ability, and when you’ve got ability like that it’s criminal if you don’t get to the very top. But as I said to him in that first couple of weeks, he’ll only have himself to blame if he doesn’t get to the very top.

“He has quite a few things to brush up on at the minute, and I’m sure he will try. He’s a very good trainer and works hard,” he concluded.

With James Justin set for an extended spell on the sidelines and Marc Albrighton currently the only natural right-sided forward in the first team squad at Leicester, Spence’s prospective arrival could plug multiple gaps in Rodgers’ setup.

Therefore, director of football Jon Rudkin must swoop for the versatile gem before the Saints snap him up.

Spence may be far from the finished article at this moment in time, but Rodgers is one of the best in the business when it comes to developing young talent, and the 21-year-old could be the latest diamond in the rough to benefit from the Northern Irishman’s tutelage.

In other news… Forget Perez: £40.5m-rated Leicester liability who lost possession 15 times let Rodgers down v West Ham 

Manchester United have reportedly stepped up their efforts to secure a new central midfielder this summer with the August 31st deadline fast approaching.

What’s the story?

The Red Devils have been linked with several big names such as Saul Niguez and Eduardo Camavinga in recent weeks as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to strengthen the spine of his team.

But now, well-known journalist and transfer expert Duncan Castles has provided an update on the Old Trafford outfit’s search, claiming the club’s hierarchy have made contact with Ligue 1 outfit Monaco over Aurelien Tchouameni.

“They have had contact with Aurelien Tchouameni’s representatives at AS Monaco to find out what it would cost to bring him there,” Castles revealed on a recent installment of the Transfer Window podcast (as relayed by The Express).

Solskjaer would love him

After arriving at the Stade Louis II back in January 2020, Tchouameni has established himself as one of Ligue 1’s most promising young talents, scoring four goals and providing four assists in 52 appearances for the principality club.

However, it’s the 21-year-old’s work off the ball that really catches the eye. As per WhoScored, Tchouameni averaged a whopping 3.5 tackles per league game in 2020/21, by far the highest tally amongst his team.

The France Under-21 international also made 1.7 interceptions, the joint-highest total when compared to his teammates, and he not only dominated proceedings on the ground but in the air as well, winning 67% of his aerial duels.

Tchouameni’s domineering displays have caught the eye of several impressed onlookers, including current Monaco teammate Cesc Fabregas, who praised the youngster.

“He has the potential to be a complete midfield player,” the former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea maestro wrote on Twitter.

Therefore, United manager Solskjaer would surely love to bring the £27m-rated gem to the red half of Manchester over the coming days, adding some steal and bite to his midfield options.

The likes of Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes and Donny van de Beek are more attack-minded options than the protective Tchouameni, while Scott McTominay and Fred specialise in more box-to-box roles.

By bringing Tchouameni to Old Trafford, Solskjaer could finally have the balanced engine room that’s been missing throughout his reign, potentially elevating the 20-time English champions to new heights under the Norwegian.

And, in other news…Man Utd suffer blow in pursuit of £36m-rated “conductor”, Ole will be gutted 

Fulham central midfielder Andre Zambo Anguissa is set to leave Craven Cottage this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Fabrizio Romano, with the journalist revealing in a post on Twitter that the 25-year-old looks on course to join Serie A side Napoli, with a deal expected to be announced in the coming hours.

Romano continued by stating that an agreement between the Cottagers and Napoli has been reached, with the move thought to initially be a season-long loan deal, with the Italian side having an option to buy the Cameroon international next summer.

Finally, the journalist claimed that the midfielder is due to have a medical in Italy today, and, all being well, will become a Gli Azzurri player shortly afterwards.

In his tweet, Romano said: “Fulham midfielder Andre Zambo Anguissa is set to join Napoli, done deal. The agreement has been reached on loan with buy option – deal to be announced in the next hours. Medical today in Italy, Anguissa will play for Napoli.”

Silva will be gutted

With Marco Silva having publically stated his desire to retain the services of Anguissa beyond the closure of the summer transfer window on Tuesday, the fact that the club look to have sanctioned the 25-year-old’s departure is sure to have left the Cottagers manager gutted.

It is clear to see why the 44-year-old had hoped to keep the midfielder in west London this season, as the £22.5m-rated man demonstrated his importance within the Fulham side in the club’s Premier League campaign last term.

Indeed, over his 36 Premier League appearances last season, Angussia made an average of 1.6 interceptions, 2.2 tackles, 0.4 clearances and won a whopping 7.3 duels per game.

The £70k-per-week midfielder also impressed in a creative capacity, providing three assists and creating four big chances for his teammates, along with making an average of 0.8 key passes per league fixture.

These metrics saw the Cameroonian earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.91, ranking him as the Cottagers’ 10th-best performer in the top flight of English football.

Angussia has continued this fine form into the club’s Championship campaign this time out, averaging a SofaScore match rating of 6.87 over his three substitute appearances for Silva’s side this season.

As such, the departure of the midfielder is sure to come as a blow to the Portuguese manager, who will now undoubtedly be frantically searching for a replacement for the 25-year-old over what remains of the summer transfer window.

In other news: Get him gone: Silva must ruthlessly axe Fulham’s “valuable” £24k-p/w Jokanovic flop

While Patrick Bamford may have been the man Leeds United fans had their eyes on during the weekend, it was their new summer signing Dan James who produced a more impressive display.

The Wales international joined Marcelo Bielsa’s side from Manchester United on transfer deadline day, and while he didn’t get on the score-sheet in the 3-2 comeback win over Belarus on Sunday, he more than played his part.

James came up with the decisive assist for Gareth Bale’s late winner that kept Wales’ hopes of qualification for the World Cup alive and was a constant thorn for the opposition defence with his tireless running and movement.

As per Sofascore, he completed the most dribbles out of any player on the pitch with four (three more than the rest of his team combined) and provided three key passes too (the same amount as the rest of his teammates).

And while he was a creative force, James’ work rate was equally impressive, winning a monstrous ten duels (only Ben Davies won more), and also making a whopping five tackles too (a joint team-high).

It was the kind of energetic and live-wire performance that surely caught Bielsa’s attention from watching at home, and would have left him drooling at the prospect of finally getting the chance to work with him – especially considering how long he’s wanted him for.

Speaking on The Phil Hay Show, Phil Hay said: “That’s a question for Bielsa because Bielsa’s forever interested in Dan James, and you probably remember last summer that before they did the deal for Raphinha, they were looking into the possibility of bringing Dan James in on loan from Manchester United.

“I don’t think it was ever really a possibility because it didn’t seem as though Solskjaer wanted him to go. I get the feeling that Bielsa will consistently be interested in Dan James because he was very big on him when Leeds nearly got him from Swansea.”

His former teammate at United, Andreas Pereira, called the 23-year-old as “explosive and so fast” in an interview with the club’s official website last season, and you saw every bit of that against Belarus.

All the raw ingredients of pace, work rate and intensity were all there and that is exactly why Bielsa would have been very excited to see James at work against Belarus at the weekend.

Meanwhile, this Leeds United transfer target is now set for contract talks…