Tag Futebol

Leeds United have enjoyed some wonderful talent over the years, with their illustrious history so often bringing in some of the best talent there is to offer.

However, due to their well-known financial issues that unsurprisingly fell apart at the turn of the century, clubs capitalised on their precarious position as they slumped into the Championship.

Whilst this marked a dark time in their history, they would continue to lose their top assets in the years that followed but could no longer attribute it to their finances. It had to be external factors, or, in the case of Kasper Schmeichel, a lack of faith from the staff to the fans.

His stint in Yorkshire was short and unsavoury, but the goalkeeper he would go onto become perhaps left them somewhat regretful of that decision. Especially given the current struggles of Illan Meslier, who has been floundering between the sticks for Jesse Marsch and now Javi Gracia

Were they given the choice, fans would surely swallow their pride to accept a prime version of the former Leicester City keeper in place of the Frenchman, who has disappointed of late.

Why did Kasper Schmeichel leave Leeds?

Speaking on his failed tenure in Yorkshire, Schmeichel was upfront about the reasons behind his exit:

"I remember about three weeks after joining Leeds thinking, ‘What have I done?!’

“It was just the wrong club for me at that time. It was very clear, very early on that it was the wrong club for me. It was a club where I was not accepted and with my father’s history, it was evident among the fans that they did not approve of that.

“I just didn’t feel welcome at all at the club, by the whole club, that’s the manager as well. He didn’t give me any kind of confidence."

Referenced within this claim, Simon Grayson's side at the time had won promotion from League One but retained ambitions of a Premier League return. It was clear he deemed the 36-year-old surplus to requirements in his quest.

Considering the role he would later play in the Foxes' infamous acquisition of the Premier League and FA Cup, the former Leeds player was made to rue this mistake, as journalist Saddick Adams has since branded the goalkeeping stalwart a "legend".

Across his 284 appearances in the league, he would keep 82 clean sheets, and in his final season for the club he would maintain a 6.93 average rating, underpinned by 3.5 saves per game at a 69% success rate and a 70% pass accuracy too, via Sofascore.

When compared with Meslier from this campaign, who himself has only managed a 6.89 rating, it is clear to see where he falls short of Schmeichel. His three saves per game at a 65% success rate marks a drop-off, whilst his passing accuracy sits at an abysmal 55%, via Sofascore.

What also counts against the 23-year-old is how prone to blunders he is, with his recent gaffe against Everton an important one in the battle for safety.

Ex-striker Glenn Murray even lambasted the youngster, telling BBC’s Final Score: "Wow, Leeds fans need to look away when it comes to their goalkeeper tonight because this is terrible goalkeeping."

In a period when they need security from their goalkeeper, there is no doubt that Schmeichel in his prime would offer that in spades when compared to the often unreliable Meslier.

Manchester United were dealt a grim reality check following yet another dismal display away to Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, with Erik ten Hag’s seemingly resurgent outfit having been simply schooled by their bitter rivals.

While the Red Devils have made impressive progress since the win in the reverse fixture back in August – a result that the players themselves have pointed to as a defining moment in the season – this latest encounter was a reminder that the Carabao Cup winners are far from the finished article, with any previous, quiet hopes of a title charge now well and truly extinguished.

After a relatively encouraging first-half performance at Anfield, a goal from former United target Cody Gakpo just before the break seemed to open the floodgates once the second half began, with the visitors simply wilting amid the rampant Reds onslaught.

As much as Ten Hag had lauded his side’s “mentality” heading into that mouthwatering meeting, the club’s leaders appeared to go missing amid that staggering collapse after the interval, with the 7-0 scoreline reflecting a new nadir in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

It was undoubtedly stark to see experienced heads such as Casemiro seemingly go under on Merseyside, the serial-winning Brazilian having been simply ‘overwhelmed’ by Jurgen Klopp’s men, according to Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst.

The midfield “monster” – as lauded by journalist Muhammad Butt – has been a truly influential presence this season, although failed to hit his usual heights yesterday, having lost possession on 13 occasions and recorded just a 63% pass accuracy rate before being withdrawn late on.

The 31-year-old was not the only surprise figure who endured something of a rare horror show on the day, however, with the typically unflappable Raphael Varane also looking rather “awful” at the heart of the defence, according to reporter James Wokabi.

How did Varane play against Liverpool?

Much like his ex-Real Madrid colleague, Casemiro, Varane has been a real key asset in the recent rise for Ten Hag’s men, with the “calm and collected” Frenchman – as described by pundit and former defender Adrian Mariappa – having formed a rock-solid partnership with summer signing Lisandro Martinez of late.

For all the 29-year-old’s good work in recent months, however, the World Cup winner was caught out by the ferocious nature of Liverpool’s attacking triad, having been far too easily beaten by Gakpo as the Dutchman netted the game’s opener.

That set the tone for the car-crash performance that was to follow from Varane and his teammates, with the 93-cap titan not able to step up and lead his teammates when needed, as he won just three duels and made only one tackle in his 90-minute outing.

The £340k-per-week gem also lost possession nine times from his 38 touches and achieved a pass accuracy rate of only 75%, with that contributing to a rather dire match rating of 5.5, as per Sofascore – the lowest of any outfield player.

Arguably the centre-back’s ‘worst performance of the season’ – according to Luckhurst – Varane was exposed like most in that grim Anfield encounter, with the hope being that such a drubbing is merely a one-off as far as the Old Trafford outfit are concerned.

The fear will be, however, that much like the previous meeting at the Theatre of Dreams helped to kick start United’s season, yesterday’s shambolic showing could spark something of a nosedive for the club in the coming months.

Tottenham employees have been left ‘enchanted’ by Lecce midfielder Morten Hjulmand as Spurs are named as one of the sides ‘interested’ in his signing.

The Lowdown: Spurs make summer plans…

Spurs have reportedly been planning for the summer transfer window in recent weeks as recent claims suggest both a central defender and winger will be high on the agenda.

The Lilywhites are currently chasing a top four Premier League finish but must also look beyond the 2022/2023 campaign.

Antonio Conte’s side have also been linked to signing a central midfielder with reports from Italy now suggesting they’re blown away by a new name.

The Latest: Tottenham staff ‘enchanted’ by Hjulmand…

According to Calciomercato, Spurs staff in the form of their scouting department have been left ‘enchanted’ by Denmark international Hjulmand.

The north Londoners, alongside Roma, Napoli and Borussia Dortmund, have been named as one of the sides ‘interested’ in the 23-year-old.

Going by this report, it appears the club, and by extension sporting director Fabio Paratici, are eyeing a new target.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-news-4/” title=”Tottenham latest news” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/cropped-tottenham-fans.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Lecce’s colossus…

Hjulmand has stood out as one of Lecce’s colossal stars over this Serie A season.

As per WhoScored, the box-to-box ace is one of their most-selected players domestically with only three Lecce players featuring over more top flight minutes.

Hjulmand also sits second in terms of highest match rating per 90 in their squad whilst also accumulating more tackles and interceptions per game than any Lecce player (WhoScored).

The 6 foot 1 colossus can also contribute effectively going forward, having registered four assists and Lecce’s third-highest rate of key passes (WhoScored).

Winning more Man of the Match awards than any of his teammates this campaign, Hjulmand stands out as a big fish in a small pond, leaving little surprise Spurs are taking notice.

Everton are plotting an out-of-window move for Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Champions League axe

The Toffees failed to sign a single player in January so they are now only able to target the free agent market, and it appears that they might be considering an approach for the 33-year-old.

The Gabon international made his return to the Premier League last year following a brief spell at Barcelona but has fallen out of favour under Graham Potter after surprisingly being axed from Chelsea’s 25-man Champions League squad for the knockout rounds.

Reports claim that the forward is ‘shocked and disappointed’ by the decision, with Fabrizio Romano suggesting that Aubameyang will be on his way out of Stamford Bridge in the summer.

The Latest: Everton ‘eyeing’ Aubameyang

According to Football Insider, Everton are ‘eyeing’ an out-of-window deal for Aubameyang, with the Goodison Park club ‘keen’ to bring in an attacker on a free transfer.

Chelsea ‘could look to terminate’ the veteran’s contract early, and he has now ‘emerged’ onto the Merseysiders’ radar as a result.

However, the Blues would have to pay off the final 17 months of his deal to make him a free agent and therefore able to find a new club outside of the two yearly transfer windows.

The Verdict: Potential massive coup

Aubameyang already has an abundance of experience in England, having made 139 top-flight appearances, and it would be a massive coup if Sean Dyche could convince him to join Everton.

The Nike-sponsored star clocked up 113 goal contributions in 163 appearances during his time at Arsenal and would bring leadership qualities to the Toffees, having previously been captain of the Gunners.

The Gabon striker has also been hailed as ‘phenomenal’ by his former manager Mikel Arteta despite the pair eventually falling out, and he would almost certainly be able to make a positive impact in the final third at Goodison Park.

His goalscoring abilities would be greatly appreciated in a team with the joint-second fewest goals of anyone in the Premier League at this stage of the season (16 in 21 games).

Chelsea are reportedly set to join the race to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder, Matheus Nunes, this summer, with the Portugal international currently attracting hefty interest.

What’s the word?

According to the Telegraph, the Blues are seemingly set to rival Premier League rivals Liverpool for the 24-year-old’s signature at the end of the season, with manager Graham Potter seemingly keen to strengthen his midfield ranks.

As the report outlines, the centre of the park is an area that could well be prioritised ‘over the next two windows’, with Jorginho seemingly in line to depart this summer, while fellow veteran N’Golo Kante has spent much of the current campaign on the treatment table.

Previous reports have suggested that if those at Molineux are to part ways with Nunes any time soon, they could well be looking for a fee of more than £50m, after only bringing the 11-cap gem to England on a £42.2m deal during the previous window.

Dream Gallagher upgrade

The former Sporting Lisbon sensation has warranted such interest as a result of his standout displays in recent times, with the “special” talent, as lauded by former coach Ruben Franco, having averaged 1.7 tackles per game from his 17 league outings this term, while also winning a solid 50% of his ground duels.

Previously described as “one of the best players in the world today” by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, the £85k-per-week maestro could well prove a notable upgrade on current Stamford Bridge asset, Conor Gallagher, with the latter man averaging just 1.4 tackles per game and winning only 48% of his ground duels this season from his 18 top-flight appearances.

The dynamic Englishman – who has been linked with a move to Newcastle United of late – has endured a difficult return to the first-team in west London, after previously racking up 11 goal involvements in the league during his spell on loan at Crystal Palace last season.

The Epsom-born machine has only started nine top-flight games this time around after failing to secure a regular role under Potter, with the club’s rampant desire to strengthen in midfield seemingly illustrating that they aren’t content with the current options, such as Gallagher.

Potter and co could well replace the youngster in the side by turning to the aforementioned Nunes in the near future, with the Portuguese dynamo arguably offering more in a creative sense as he ranks in the top 5% among his European peers for progressive passes received, while the current Chelsea man ranks in just the top 7% in that regard.

Although it may appear something of a loss to lose Gallagher’s box-to-box presence in the side – as evidenced by the fact that the 22-year-old ranks in the top 13% for touches in the attacking penalty area – the Wolves ace can match that attacking thrust as he also ranks in the top 13% for the same metric.

That should indicate that turning to Nunes could well represent the dream upgrade that the Blues are seemingly craving.

Arsenal recorded an impressive 2-0 win in the north London derby over fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur to move eight points clear at the top of the Premier League standings.

Mikel Arteta’s side took full advantage of Manchester City’s slip-up on Saturday as they were beaten by their foes, United, with a mix of style and steel to clinch all three points against Antonio Conte’s struggling Spurs.

The game was won and lost between both sticks as Hugo Lloris’ woeful blunder put the visitors in front before Martin Odegaard doubled the advantage before the break, and it was enough thanks to Aaron Ramsdale’s exploits.

However, there was another name that excelled as he controlled the match at both ends of the pitch, contributing to that grit and determination defensively as well as that attacking flair in the final third – that being Thomas Partey.

Only one other player on the pitch registered more than his 87 touches, of which he created one key chance, fired off three shots – including a stunning volley that cannoned off the post – and made 66 of his 72 passing attempts (92%), per Sofascore.

Elsewhere, the Ghanian machine put in game-high four crunching tackles, on top of a further two blocks and one clearance. Partey also won a whopping 83% of his duels as he completely dominated his opposite numbers in the engine room, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Pape Matar Sarr – neither of whom could match his final 7.9 rating.

It was a complete masterclass in the middle, which is why journalist Rahman Osman waxed lyrical about him after the game.

“Thomas Partey is a gem. In a hostile environment where every touch was being booed, he just produced one of the greatest midfield tutorials in Premier League history. Use of space, body shape and technique. He’s unreal,” he tweeted.

It’s also why he has been lauded as a “defensive monster and controller” by Vipers SC head of communications Abdu Dilshan Wasike in the past, too.

As such, it cannot be disputed that Partey absolutely ran the show at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as the Gunners look well on their way to a top-four finish at the very minimum.

At this point in the season, an eight-point lead is a very formidable position and if the £45m titan can continue such form as the season heads towards its conclusion.

AND in other news, Edu could form a “frightening” duo in Arsenal move for “deadly” £53.5m-rated talent…

Manchester City are now willing to outbid their competitors for the signing of Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: Race for Bellingham

Bellingham is one of the most sought-after young prospects in world football, and a deal to sign him will not come cheap, with the Independent recently reporting that Dortmund’s asking price currently stands at a massive £130m.

The same report claims that Real Madrid are becoming increasingly confident that they can win the race for his signature, however it also names Liverpool, Man City and rivals Manchester United as interested parties.

The Latest: City willing to spend big

According to a report from Marca (via Sport Witness), the Sky Blues have joined the race for the 19-year-old, who has now become the object of Pep Guardiola’s desire.

It is also detailed that City are willing to beat any offer that is presented to Dortmund, using the great financial power at their disposal, and the player himself will now be left with the decision to make.

The Verdict: Get it done

It is absolutely vital that Man City seize the opportunity to sign the starlet, as he is quite simply a generational talent, who has the ability to run their midfield for over a decade to come.

Lauded as ‘sensational’ by Gary Lineker for his exploits with England at the World Cup, the youngster has also impressed at club level, already captaining the club despite his tender years, becoming the youngest player ever to do so.

The central midfielder is composed and confident on the ball, as indicated by the fact that he has completed an average of 1.67 dribbles per 90 over the past year, putting him in the 96th percentile, while an average of 3.93 progressive passes per 90 places him in the 93rd, and would make him a great fit for Guardiola’s possession-based style of play.

Leeds United have been handed a second chance to sign a highly-rated target…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who took to Twitter to issue an update on Nicolas Raskin.

The 21-year-old had been a Whites target over the summer, however, a move never materialised.

Given the recent update from the renowned journalist, it could now be a perfect time to reignite that interest.

“Nicolas Raskin, one to watch as talks on new deal with Standard collapsed: he has been sent to 2nd squad. He’s disappointed, wanted a smart solution for all parties,” he tweeted.

“Raskin, 2001 talented midfielder out of contract in June: UK, French, Italian, German clubs are tracking him.”

Phillips replacement

Although Tyler Adams and Marc Roca were both billed as replacements for Kalvin Phillips, it seems neither of them truly fit the mould of this young midfielder.

Having been profiled by journalist Bob Faesen, he wrote the following on the stalwart:

“He has really shone. He is a box-to-box midfielder. He can play in every position in the middle of the park. He is technically gifted, but he is also a bit of a pitbull. 

“He can run a lot, is powerful and has a good shot. He has been one of the big surprises in Belgium football this season and will be a key player for Liege.”

This admittedly could be describing Phillips during his prime at Elland Road, where he made a name for himself for his combative yet classy displays.

In his final injury-fee season at the Yorkshire outfit, he averaged a 7.21 rating upheld by his 85% pass accuracy and 2.6 tackles per game, as per via Sofascore.

Despite his youth, Raskin already boasts 96 appearances for the Standard Liege first team. He has become something of a creative presence this season too, having recorded five goal contributions across his 17 league games.

The Belgian dynamo pairs this with 3.3 tackles per game and an 84% pass accuracy, which culminates in his 7.01 average rating this season, via Sofascore.

For his age, he has already shown his dominance over his current league. Raskin has more than earned his big move, and with his availability now made apparent it could be the perfect time for current manager Jesse Marsch to strike.

It was clear that replacing Phillips was of the utmost importance to the American over the summer, but now they could be handed his long-term successor for a cut price.

Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for Jude Bellingham in 2023 and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the club’s pursuit of the player ahead of the January transfer window.

What’s the latest?

Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Jurgen Klopp is “really keen” to complete a deal to sign the Borussia Dortmund and England midfielder.

Romano claims in a video on his exclusive Sub Stack column for Caught Offside:

“Things are happening behind the scenes – it’s true that Liverpool are pushing for Jude Bellingham. Jurgen Klopp is really keen for this deal after missing out on Aurelien Tchouameni last summer, and now they are working on a deal for Bellingham on the player’s side.”

Imagine him & Enzo

There has been a lot of uncertainty and upheaval at Anfield over the last few months with a poor start in the Premier League that has left Liverpool sixth in the league table, as well as reports surfacing that FSG are now keen to sell the club.

Although there is a lot to be concerned about at the club, there is also a lot to look forward to if the powers at the club remain committed to delivering success and trophies by helping the manager rebuild the team to develop the next generation of talent under Klopp’s reign.

Despite their desire to part ways with the club, FSG could be about to make two monumental midfielder signings that the Anfield faithful have been crying out for over the last 18 months, as Enzo Fernandez could also be joining Bellingham on a move to Merseyside in 2023.

It has been reported that the Argentinian ace and his club Benfica have come to a pre-contract agreement for Fernandez to join Liverpool next summer.

The acquirement of Bellingham and Fernandez would be a major coup for Liverpool – combining their star quality, talent and strengths in the centre of the pitch could be an absolute nightmare for opponents for many years to come.

Both midfielders possess strong central midfield attributes with Fernandez ranking in the top 5% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for shot-creating actions and progressive passes, proving that he can be a huge attacking threat from his deeper position.

Whilst Bellingham ranks in the top 10% for non-penalty goals, touches, dribbles completed and progressive passes received, further displaying the similarities in strengths the duo could provide Liverpool next season.

With that being said, FSG must sanction the potential £129m move for Bellingham as soon as possible because the player has several elite clubs interested in securing his signature and Liverpool are in no position to lose out on the talented teenager.

Leeds United have held a long-term interest in Cody Gakpo, with the Whites seeing a last-minute move for the PSV Eindhoven forward fall through during the closing stages of the summer transfer window.

However, following the Premier League side’s failure to land the 23-year-old, Fabrizio Romano revealed that he was told Victor Orta would once again try for the Netherlands international in the January market.

And, considering the remarkable form Gakpo has been in for PSV so far this season – having scored 13 goals and registered 17 assists over his 24 appearances in all competitions – it is not hard to see why Leeds are keen on the youngster.

Furthermore, the £39m-rated talent has already managed to catch the eye at the Qatar World Cup, with the forward turning in a fantastic display in the Netherlands’ opening 2-0 victory over Senegal on Monday afternoon.

Indeed, over his 89 minutes on the pitch, the £19k-per-week starlet was incredibly effective when in possession of the ball, as, despite enjoying just 36 touches and completing a mere seven of his 11 attempted passes, the 23-year-old still made three key passes, found his man with four crosses and completed one dribble.

However, it was undoubtedly the starlet’s incredible movement and subsequent finish to give his side an 84th-minute lead that well and truly thrust Gakpo into the World Cup spotlight, with the attacker losing his defender with a darting run across the Senegal box before beating Edouard Mendy in the air to head the Netherlands in front.

These metrics saw the €45m (£39m) valued forward earn an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.8, with the player who Jonathan Pearce claimed was “tipped to be a star” of the Qatar World Cup very much living up to early expectations.

As such, while the PSV talent continuing in his current vein of form will undoubtedly increase the already mounting interest in his services this January, it would appear highly advisable for Orta to sanction a Leeds swoop for Gakpo as early as possible, as the 23-year-old would very much represent an unbelievable addition to Jesse Marsch’s attacking options at Elland Road.