All posts by n8rngtd.top

South American football expert Tim Vickery believes Joao Gomes is keen on joining Wolves amid late interest from Lyon.

The Lowdown: Premier League lure too big

Wolves have been one of the busier clubs this month as Fosun have wasted no time in backing Julen Lopetegui, handing him a handful of new recruits as they look to battle against relegation.

The Midlands outfit have already managed to bring in players such as Matheus Cunha, Mario Lemina and Pablo Sarabia, which should add plenty of depth and quality to their side.

However, Lopetegui may have expected a fourth player to be through the door by now in the form of Gomes, although their road to a deal has become slightly obstructed due to Lyon’s sudden interest and offer in the player.

The Latest: Gomes wants Wolves move

Despite Lyon’s offer being more than Wolves’ to Flamengo, Vickery admitted live on Sky Sports that Gomes has his heart set on a move to Molineux and the opportunity to cut his teeth in the Premier League.

He said: “As I understand it, the Lyon deal – the way it’s structured – it would offer Flamengo a little bit more money, but the player wants the Premier League. He wants [Wolves] because they’re in the Premier League.”

The Verdict: Wolves have to secure Gomes

With Lyon’s offer only said to be marginally better financially for Flamengo and Gomes clearly favouring a move to the Midlands, it seems like a deal should be pretty simple for Wolves to complete if they are desperate to land the youngster.

Despite being just 21 years old, Gomes has already racked up over 110 first-team appearances, which suggests he’s clearly ready for this level of football and won’t have to be nurtured in the club’s youth ranks; indeed, he could be part of Lopetegui’s side immediately.

This could be exactly what Wolves need given that Lopetegui has been leaning heavily on an ageing Joao Moutinho since he took the job at Molineux, so having someone younger and fresher like Gomes could allow the Spanish boss to implement his ideas and tactics more effectively.

Arsenal’s search for a new central midfielder could take them to Mikel Arteta’s home country, Spain, according to reports…

What’s the word?

Spanish outlets AS and El Pais (via Sport Witness) claim that the Gunners have enquired about Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi and it’s thought that he will only leave if his release clause is met, which is around €60m (£52m).

The Premier League leaders are said to be willing to sanction the deal but may need to wait until the summer when the player is more likely to agree to a switch.

Interestingly, the 23-year-old is represented by the same agency as Arteta, which surely bodes well for any negotiations.

Caicedo lite

There have been several names mooted over the last few weeks and the need for a new engine room option has increased due to Mohamed Elneny’s recent injury blow.

It leaves Arteta very light on choices, with only Albert Sambi Lokonga available to fill in for first-choice duo Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey.

One of the potential targets appears to be Brighton and Hove Albion sensation Moises Caicedo but with an asking price of £100m being bandied about, it seems unlikely that sporting director Edu Gaspar is going to pull the trigger for that amount of money.

Zubimendi is available at around half that and intriguingly, he is comparable to the 21-year-old gem, as per FBref’s statistical model. It’s easy to see why, too, as he’s very much a powerhouse in defensive midfield.

When compared to similar in his role across Europe’s top five divisions over the last year, the Sociedad star ranks inside the top 7% for aerials won, the top 10% for clearances and the top 19% for interceptions per 90 minutes.

With only goalkeeper Alex Remiro playing more minutes for the White and Blues, it’s clear that Zubimendi has played an integral role to them pushing the likes of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona in LaLiga this term, currently sitting in third place – some seven points clear of Atletico Madrid in fourth.

Indeed, it’s why talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed him “the heart of La Real’s midfield,” having previously described him as a deep-lying “playmaker” who is “similar” to Toni Kroos.

He has even earned lofty praise from Barca boss Xavi Hernandez, who claimed Zubimendi is better than his ex-teammate and current regular Sergio Busquets in some aspects. “He is more physical and faster than Busi, who is better technically,” he said.

Similarly, another midfield great in Xabi Alonso has also waxed lyrical about his credentials, as relayed by Simon Phillips.

“Martín’s a player all coaches would want. He’s generous, he always thinks more about his teammates than himself. He has that ability to generate play, to make those around him better, always offering solutions; to improve the move. He understands what the next step is before the ball gets to him. He has that ability to organise, the axis. I loved working with him.”

On the above evidence, the Gunners could do little wrong in opting for the cheaper option in 2023. Zubimendi is available at half the price of Caicedo and his obvious quality and potential makes that seem like a complete bargain.

Perhaps “the new Busquets” – in the words of journalist Jacque Talbot – is who Edu should go after instead.

AND in other news, Forget Tielemans: Edu could find Arsenal’s next “monster” in £33m “incredible talent”…

Liverpool are interested in signing Montpellier striker Elye Wahi, according to reports from France.

The Lowdown: Wahi targeted by Premier League clubs

There have been several Premier League clubs linked with moves for the 20-year-old in the January transfer window, with the Reds’ local rivals Everton said to be eyeing him up at the beginning of the month, while Arsenal have also been following the striker.

The Frenchman is contracted until 2025, so there is currently no pressing need for Montpellier to cash in on him. However, he is now attracting even more attention from across Europe, which could turn his head.

The Latest: Interest growing in Wahi…

As per Foot Mercato, Tottenham Hotspur have recently watched the youngster, while Liverpool, Manchester City and Juventus are also named as interested parties.

Crucially, though, it is pointed out that he does not intend to leave in the January transfer window unless an incredible offer comes in, with Montpellier valuing the starlet in excess of €30m (£26m).

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/liverpool-transfer-news-and-rumours/” title=”Liverpool Transfer News and Rumours” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cropped-2021-03-07T155652Z_1459311687_UP1EH3718ASBK_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LIV-FUL-REPORT.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Get it done?

Hailed by former Caen academy director Francis de Taddeo as a ‘powerful, athletic and fast player with a range of dribbling skills’, the forward enjoyed a real breakthrough season in Ligue 1 last term, netting ten times in 33 appearances.

If he does remain with La Paillade for the rest of the season, the 20-year-old is on course to better that tally, considering that he already has seven goals to his name in 18 appearances while also claiming one assist.

Signings in forward areas are unlikely to be a priority for Jurgen Klopp, given that he has recently brought in Cody Gakpo for a fee of £35m and that midfield is perhaps the area in most urgent need of attention.

However, Wahi would still be a nice option to have as a long-term prospect, and he already has plenty of experience under his belt, making 69 Ligue 1 appearances despite only turning 20 at the start of this month.

Glasgow Rangers have had their fair share of transfer disasters since returning to the Premiership in 2016. The likes of Umar Sadiq, Dalcio and Carlos Pena are still discussed amongst the Ibrox faithful, and they are hardly portrayed in the best light.

Recently, however, it has tended to be the players that Rangers could have signed which generates most of the discussion. The previous 18 months has seen the Light Blues miss out on Joey Veerman and Danilo Doekhi, two excellent players who are currently thriving for their respective clubs and could have arguably made the Gers much stronger with their presence in the starting XI.

Still, it might just be the failure to secure a deal for Nigerian striker Terem Moffi – who broke the record for Lorient’s most expensive sale of all time by securing a €30m (26.7m) move to Nice last month – back in 2020 which could prove to be one of the Light Blues’ biggest mistakes in the transfer market.

In that summer, Rangers were chasing Moffi, who was then playing for Belgian side Kortrijk and were demanding a fee of €5m (£4.5m) for the young striker. Steven Gerrard refused to budge and wasn’t willing to shell out that amount considering the player’s lack of experience.

It would prove to be a costly mistake, especially considering Moffi’s performances in the subsequent years. Ultimately Lorient made the call and decided to pay that fee to bring him across Europe, and it paid off massively.

The 23-year-old netted 35 goals in 90 appearances for the Ligue 1 club and attracted interest from the Premier League, with West Ham United eyeing a move for the young forward. The Irons even made a £20m bid for the player, which was swiftly rejected by Lorient.

Journalist Jacque Talbot sang Moffi’s praises last month by saying that the striker “looks deadly as they come”, and given the interest from the Premier League, missing out on the 23-year-old has been another transfer mishap for the powerbrokers at Ibrox.

Hopefully Michael Beale will learn from the mistakes of his predecessors as he aims to secure young talent without a subsequent sense of regret over what might have been, and by luring Nicolas Raskin and Todd Cantwell to the club, it is an ideal start for the Rangers boss in his first transfer window as Ibrox manager.

Wolverhampton Wanderers completed the signing of Brazilian prospect Joao Gomes in the dying embers of the January transfer market, and could now wield their very own Casemiro…

What’s the word?

Completing the signing of Gomes for £15m on Monday, Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui, who took the reins at the club only in November, now boasts one of the Premier League’s most exciting young enforcers.

The 21-year-old completes a bustling transfer window for the Molineux-based club, with six new additions welcomed to the fold to bolster the fight against relegation.

With Wolves in 17th place in the Premier League, the arrival of an energetic and industrious figure in midfield could be imperative in the physicality of a relegation dogfight.

Casemiro 2.0

With the wealth of new faces at the outfit, there will be an overarching feeling of belief that the early work can be used as a foundation to return to prominence, with seven points from a possible 15 clinched with Lopetegui at the helm and the club now outside of the relegation zone on goal difference.

And in Gomes, who made 117 appearances for homeland outfit Flamengo prior to his England arrival, scoring three goals and assists apiece, has cemented the perfect foundation to flourish in the English top-flight.

As per FBref, the dynamic midfielder ranks among the top 1% of midfielders for tackles across the Men’s ‘Next 8’ best competitions – the divisions below the established ‘big five’ European leagues, also within the top 8% for dribbles completed and holding an average 85.5% pass success rate.

Such metrics will only allow him to flourish as a prominent holding midfielder within the European scene, rising into a star of first-rate quality and perhaps even emulating his compatriot Casemiro.

The Manchester United titan has been a revelation since his lucrative £70m summer arrival from Real Madrid, where he made 336 appearances and won a wealth of silverware – including five Champions League trophies.

And having previously managed Casemiro at FC Porto and with Los Blancos, Lopetegui will know all about the requisite tools to prompt a young Brazilian anchor to blossom into one of the game’s most formidable forces.

This season, the 30-year-old Brazilian has scored four goals and provided six assists from 30 appearances across all competitions, a key component to the Old Trafford outfit’s resurgence under Erik ten Hag.

The all-encompassing presence ranks among the top 5% of midfielders for tackles, the top 1% for blocks and the top 17% for progressive passes, with his youthful countryman Gomes indeed bearing striking similarities to the esteemed ace.

Described as a “Pitbull” by Flamengo, Gomes has the grit and the growl to become a major player in the Midlands, and with his combative style, he could certainly morph into a Casemiro-esque figure for the Old Gold.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have identified Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson as a major summer transfer target, according to a recent report.

The Lowdown: Wolves eyeing a new goalkeeper

Wolves were linked with a move for Atalanta goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini in the January transfer window, with it being detailed that Jose Sa is not considered ‘immovable’ in Julen Lopetegui’s starting XI.

The Old Gold instead signed Dan Bentley to provide competition for their Portuguese shot-stopper, but he is 29 and very unlikely to be a long-term replacement for Sa, so bringing in a new ‘keeper is still believed to be on the agenda at Molineux.

The Latest: Patterson targeted by Wolves

According to The Sun, Wolves have picked out Patterson a major transfer target this summer, with Lopetegui reportedly seeing him as the ideal choice to come in and compete for a place in the team before eventually taking over from Sa.

It is claimed that Sunderland may look to cash in on their academy graduate if they do not win promotion from the Championship this season, and the Black Cats could command a fee in the region of £10m.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Hailed as ‘outstanding’ by journalist Josh Bunting, the 22-year-old has been very solid for Sunderland in their first season back in the second tier, keeping eight clean sheets, while he has also proven himself against Premier League opposition.

In the Black Cats’ recent 1-1 draw at Fulham in the FA Cup, the youngster was ranked by Sofascore as by far the best player on the pitch, achieving a 8.8 match rating after making a sensational eight saves from inside the penalty box.

The Athletic journalist Steve Madeley claimed at the start of January that Sa has been ‘back to something like his best’ since the World Cup, and he impressed in the 3-0 win against Liverpool at the weekend, making two important saves.

As such, it is unclear whether Wolves will actually need a new goalkeeper in the summer, given that their current first choice is still only 30. However, if Sa’s performances decline in the second half of the season, Patterson would be a fantastic long-term heir.

Chelsea are ‘serious’ about making Joao Felix’s temporary move permanent during the summer transfer window, renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano reports.

The Lowdown: Felix impressing at Chelsea

The Portuguese star joined the Blues on loan in January, having gradually drifted out of favour during an ultimately underwhelming spell at Atletico Madrid, in which he only started seven La Liga matches this season.

Felix may have only made two appearances for Chelsea, with a red card at Fulham far from ideal, but he has looked impressive already, scoring once and averaging two dribbles per game.

Graham Potter could try to retain the 23-year-old’s services beyond this season, although much may depend on how he performs in the coming months.

The Latest: Permanent move on?

Speaking to Caught Offside, Romano said that Chelsea will seriously consider signing Felix on a permanent basis once the summer window arrives:

“There is no buy option, but Chelsea always felt he is a fantastic signing, and they feel it could be a serious option to agree a permanent deal with Atletico Madrid at the end of the season.

“If Felix wants to stay, Chelsea feel internally that they could reach an agreement. The feelings are positive, but it’s too early to say for now if they will proceed.”

The Verdict: Do it!

While it is still clearly early days with Felix at Chelsea, he has already shown glimpses of the magic that led to Alvaro Morata calling him a ‘special’ player last year.

It looks as though the £250,000-a-week attacker has been afforded more freedom by Potter than the more defence-minded Diego Simeone – he has averaged 4.5 shots per game in the league compared to 1.9 at Atletico – and he could forge a formidable understanding with the likes of Mykhailo Mudryk and Kai Havertz.

Assuming Felix’s form continues to look good in a Chelsea shirt, signing him permanently at the end of the season is a no-brainer, with age still very much on his side.

The 28-cap Portugal international hasn’t yet reached his potential, having won the prestigious European Golden Boy award back in 2019, but the sky is the limit if he can excel under the right manager.

Wolverhampton Wanderers didn’t enjoy the greatest of success earlier this season, both on and off the pitch.

Former manager Bruno Lage won just once in the Premier League before being sacked at the start of October, with several of his big-money signings, including Goncalo Guedes and Matheus Nunes not hitting the ground running straight away.

This combination of poor results and splashing the cash on talents who couldn’t quite settle was arguably the main reason the Portuguese coach lost his job, yet selling Morgan Gibbs-White during the transfer window could have also played an inadvertent role, especially with events that have transpired over the previous six months.

What has Morgan Gibbs-White done since leaving Wolves?

The Englishman had risen through the youth ranks at the Old Gold while even claiming World Cup glory for England U17s back in 2017 before making his first-team debut at the start of the 2018/1019 campaign.

Overall, he made just 12 Premier League starts for the Molineux side, never really living up to the early promise as he was progressing through the youth ranks.

A move to newly promoted Nottingham Forest in the summer for a staggering £42.5m may have represented a fee Lage couldn’t turn down, yet he has thrived at the club and proved that the 46-year-old made a huge mistake.

Two goals and four assists may not be outstanding, however, these returns see him ranked second in the Forest squad and it isn’t just goals and assists that he is contributing to the team either.

The 23-year-old ranks first for key passes made per game (1.9), successful dribbles per match (1.4), total shots per game (1.9), and big chances created (five)  while featuring in the top five for overall rating (6.98), suggesting that his move has been a success when judging by his all-round performances.

No Wolves player is managing more key passes created per game than Gibbs-White, whilst only Pedro Neto has averaged more dribbles per outing, albeit on a smaller scale, given his injury absence.

He was dubbed a “bargain” by writer Louis Wheeldon late last year, while being lauded as “worth every penny” by journalist Ethan Lamb and it’s clear that he is finally living up to his potential, not allowing the extravagant transfer fee to affect his game.

Lage clearly had a shocker with the Englishman and he could have certainly become an integral member of the squad under Julen Lopetegui that’s for sure.

Wolves’ loss is Forest’s gain and the Old Gold could be paying for Lage’s mistake over the next few years, especially if Gibbs-White continues in his current vein of form.

Jim White has insisted on TalkSPORT that Jordan Pickford is extending his stay at Everton because of how happy he feels being at the club.

The Lowdown: Everton making smart decisions off the pitch

Despite facing the threat of relegation for the second straight season, Everton appear to have been blessed with some rare good news in the form of Pickford signing a new contract, with Sean Dyche confirming that he will be sticking around on Merseyside.

The England number one has long been a favourite at Goodison Park, racking up 222 appearances since he joined back in 2017 from boyhood club Sunderland, and he looks set to prolong his Toffees stay.

Pickford had been linked with a move away over recent months to Tottenham Hotspur but after signing a new deal those rumours can now firmly be put to bed for the 28-year-old.

The Latest: Pickford comfortable at Goodison Park

While committing his future to Everton may show a lack of ambition given how the Toffees have been performing as of late, White has revealed on TalkSPORT that the shot-stopper is very happy at Everton and has a connection with the club.

He said: “Probably, as I hear with most Everton players, he’s happy where he is. Because you cannot help feel an affection and a love for Everton once you go there.

“I get that, but if he’s got aspirations on a bigger scale, then maybe it’s the wrong decision.”

The Verdict: Showing a lack of ambition?

Signing a new deal when there is no certainty that Everton will be playing Premier League football is a very risky strategy from Pickford because if he drops down into the Championship, he may be putting his England spot at risk.

What makes this all the more bizarre is that according to Ben Jacobs, there has been no relegation clause inserted in the new deal which will mean if Everton are relegated, Pickford could be trapped into this long-term contract.

Given that Pickford has been a Premier League and England No 1 for several years now, it would have made sense for him to take the next step in his career and play European football, but instead, he’s decided to stick it out with a relegation contender.

Ross Wilson’s capture of Michael Beale has been an excellent one so far for Glasgow Rangers.

The Ibrox side have yet to lose under the Englishman and with an Old Firm Cup final to look forward to on Sunday, the chance to claim a 28th League Cup triumph is very much achievable.

Despite the early improvements on the pitch, off the field, Beale has some work to do. Several first-team players are out of contract at the end of the season and he must be scratching his head over his goalkeeping conundrum.

Allan McGregor and Jon McLaughlin have shipped 53 goals between them this season and the Light Blues urgently require another goalkeeper ahead of next season.

What is the latest news on Rangers’ interest in Jack Butland?

The Gers have been linked with Jack Butland recently, having first shown interest last year and Journalist Pete O’Rourke believes he could be an improvement over the current options having discussed the player while recently speaking to Football FanCast, saying:

“Yeah, Jack Butland obviously at Manchester United on loan from Crystal Palace right now but he is a free agent this summer when his contract at Palace expires.

“If they could sign Jack Butland on a free transfer it would make a lot of sense for me because the goalkeeping department is something they are looking to improve on and they’re going to need a replacement for Allan McGregor right now.”

Is Butland better than Allan McGregor?

Butland hasn’t received any game time at United so far, however, his wealth of Premier League experience would make him an ideal option to replace McGregor.

He has made 87 appearances in the English top flight in his career, while playing 161 times in the Championship and he made 9 appearances for Palace last season, saving 57% of shots on his goal.

McGregor has been a wonderful player for the Light Blues throughout the years, yet his performances this term have been below par.

He has conceded 13 goals from 16 Premiership matches this term, keeping seven clean sheets but it was his performances in the Champions League that makes for grim reading, with the Scot conceding 18 goals at a rate of 3.6 per game across just five matches, keeping zero clean sheets.

This summer should see the 41-year-old depart the club and Butland should seriously be considered as heir to the Gers legend.

The “unreal” titan – as so dubbed by Talk Norwich City’s Jack Reeve – is currently earning £35k-per-week at Palace and it shouldn’t take much for Beale to persuade him to join Rangers, where the chance to win trophies and play European football are the two key selling points.

It will be the end of an era when McGregor leaves the club, however, this season has perhaps been one campaign too far.