All posts by z3u9t.icu

West Ham have been linked with a move for Stade Rennais defender Adrien Truffert recently and he could be the next Theo Hernandez in David Moyes’ side.

According to French news outlet L’Equipe, West Ham, Everton and Leicester City have all enquired about signing the 20-year-old, who established himself as a regular at Roazhon Park last season.

With Arthur Masuaku reportedly set to leave the London Stadium and Aaron Cresswell set to turn 33 next season, it was perhaps always likely that Moyes would look to recruit a left-back this summer and Truffert could be the ideal man.

FB Ref suggests that the French defender excels going forward, particularly impressing in terms of progressive carries, shot-creating actions and progressive passes, while he is also strong at the back, with an impressive blocking rate.

The website suggests that Truffert’s style of play is very similar to that of Hernandez, and if the Stade Rennais man were to perform at anywhere near the level of the AC Milan ace at West Ham next season, then he would be a superb addition.

Last season saw Hernandez make 32 appearances in Serie A for I Rossoneri, in which he contributed an impressive five goals and six assists, averaging a 7.16 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Truffert meanwhile, contributed three goals and two assists in a strong season with Les Rouge et Noir, so clearly doesn’t lack attacking quality.

Former Rennes coach Julien Stephan was full of praise for Truffert in 2020, saying:

“He’s a young player who I know very well. He has huge potential and a very good left foot.

“He’s very intelligent, has the right mentality and the versatility to play in different positions. He has all the qualities needed to keep progressing and to break through in the near future.”

Considering Truffert is only 20, he has plenty of time to adapt and grow in the Premier League, so signing him now might be a smart move by GSB, especially if he can develop to the same extent as Hernandez, who is now valued at £77m after his incredible performances with AC Milan.

And, in other news… West Ham could now sign their own Cancelo in “incredible” £30m gem, he’s Moyes’ dream

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a boost in their bid to bring Romelu Lukaku to north London in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian publication Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), who claim that Antonio Conte is now in an advantageous position in his pursuit of the Chelsea centre-forward, as Tottenham have the money to close a deal for the 29-year-old this summer – unlike Inter Milan.

The report goes on to state that, while the Belgium international is keen on the idea of a return to Serie A, Lukaku would also find it difficult to say no to sealing a reunion with the 52-year-old at Spurs.

Meanwhile, from the Blues’ point of view, it is believed that Thomas Tuchel would very much welcome the money received from the permanent sale of the striker – even if it meant selling Lukaku to a direct rival in the Premier League.

“Out of this world”

While it is true that, following his £97.5m move to Chelsea last summer, Lukaku did not enjoy the best campaign of his career in 2021/22 – scoring 15 goals over 44 appearances for the Blues in all competitions – considering just how effective the 29-year-old was for Conte at Inter, it is not difficult to see why the Italian would like to work with the forward once more at Tottenham.

Indeed, over his 95 fixtures under the 52-year-old at Inter, the £76.5m-rated talent bagged a quite astonishing 64 goals and provided his teammates with 17 assists – averaging a direct goal involvement every 96 minutes over the course of his two-year stay at the San Siro.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/tottenham-hotspur-latest-news-updates-transfer-rumours-gossip-spurs-thfc-conte-paratici” title= “Read the latest Spurs news, transfer rumours and more!”]

The £350k-per-week forward most impressed over his 36 Serie A appearances in 2020/21, scoring 24 goals, registering 11 assists and creating ten big chances, as well as averaging a SofaScore match rating of 7.32 – ranking him not only as Conte’s best performer in the league but also as the joint 12th-best player in the division as a whole.

As such, should Conte believe that he can help the player who Luis Miguel Echegaray dubbed both “out of this world” and “ridiculous” refind this form at Tottenham, the centre-forward’s reported £85m asking price would appear well worth paying, as a peak-performing Lukaku would undoubtedly help to transform Spurs from a top-four contender to a title challenger under the 52-year-old next season.

AND in other news: “As of today…”: Romano reveals huge Spurs transfer twist, supporters will be gutted

Manchester United are plotting a summer move for Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni. New manager Erik Ten Hag admires the player and could bring him to Old Trafford.

What’s the story?

According to a report from Gazzetta Dello Sport (via SempreInter), Ten Hag is the driving force behind United’s interest in Bastoni, but the club face competition from fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur managed by former Inter coach Antonio Conte.

The asking price for the defender would be no lower than €60m (£51.1m), but Inter are willing to let him leave in order to generate the funds to sign a big name player themselves.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-man-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-more-nunez-ten-hag-nkunku-richarlison” title=”Read the latest Man United news!”]

He could be they key to United’s defensive problems this season and be the first signing of a the new era at Old Trafford.

Imagine him and Timber

If he were to move to The Theatre of Dreams then he could potentially partner four time Champions League winner Raphael Varane. The Frenchman joined The Red Devils from Real Madrid last summer for an initial £34m and he is undoubtedly the best defender currently as the club.

United’s defence would look solid with a partnership of these two players, and would allow Ten Hag to focus on improving the midfield and attack in the team. Furthermore, if United follow up on their interest in Ajax centre-back Jurrien Timber too, a formidable and terrifying back three could be produced.

Bastoni made 31 appearances for the Nerazzurri this past season and was key in their push for the Serie A title, although they eventually fell short to arch-rivals AC Milan.

When you look at his statistics this season, he ranks in the top 8% for passes under pressure compared to his positional peers in the league. It shows composure and ability to calmly play out from the back which is exactly what United need.

The £54m-rated centre-back has been dubbed a “phenomenon” by Italian football expert Conor Clancy and if you compare him to Varane they score similar in many categories. The Italian won 62 aerial duels this past season whereas the Frenchman won 63.

They also made a similar number of interceptions at 38 for Bastoni compared to 35 for the United man. In a partnership they would complement each other well and supporters could rest easy.

With United finishing the season on a goal different total of 0, signing Bastoni would vastly improve their defence and potentially lead to more points.

Just imagine him, Varane and Timber together. Already the future of the club looks a bit safer.

IN other news: Man United eyeing swoop for “wonderful” £31.5m-rated gem, he’s even better than Sancho…

Sunderland could reportedly now sell Ross Stewart to one of their new Championship rivals.

The Lowdown: ‘Incredible’ season

As Black Cats legend Kevin Phillips has pointed out, Stewart has had an ‘incredible‘ season at the Stadium of Light, scoring no fewer than 26 goals in total over all competitions, double the next best in Everton loanee Nathan Broadhead with 13 (Transfermarkt).

Fittingly, he also scored their final goal of the campaign as well, the one that sealed promotion back up to the Championship in the 2-0 League One play-off final win over Wycombe Wanderers.

The Latest: Clubs swarming

As per the print edition of The Daily Mirror (via The Sunderland Echo), fellow Championship sides Middlesbrough, QPR and Sheffield United are all now in the hunt to sign Stewart, as well as Glasgow Rangers.

However, Alex Neil’s team would like to tie him down to a lucrative new contract that would make him their best-paid player.

The Verdict: Keep at all costs

There is no denying how important Stewart is to the team with his goal output, and if they are to have the best possible chance of staying in the division next term, then there is no doubt that the striker would have to stay.

At 25 years of age, it is scary to think that Stewart’s best playing days are ahead of him, and so tying him down to a new deal would be huge.

Nonetheless, selling the Scotsman to a Championship rival would surely be seen as unforgivable by the Wearside club’s supporters.

In other news, find out who SAFC will now ‘hold talks’ over signing here!

Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on their first signing of the summer…

What’s the word?

According to Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Ivan Perisic is set to join Spurs on a two-year deal following the expiry of his contract at Serie A giants Inter Milan.

It’s thought that a medical is set to take place in north London next week, once everything has been signed. It’s also said that manager Antonio Conte wanted the 33-year-old as a priority signing for the Premier League outfit.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/tottenham-hotspur-latest-news-updates-transfer-rumours-gossip-spurs-thfc-conte-paratici” title= “Read the latest Spurs news, transfer rumours and more!”]

“Ivan Perisić’s set to join Tottenham, here we go! Full agreement set to be signed on a two-year deal. Inter have received final communication,” he tweeted.

“Medical could take place next week in London, once everything will be signed. Antonio Conte wanted Ivan as [a] priority.”

Big signing

On the face of it, signing a 33-year-old veteran is hardly an inspiring move. However, Perisic will add an abundance to the Lilywhites, who will be competing in next season’s Champions League after their top-four finish.

As football.london reporter Alasdair Gold put it perfectly, the Croatian star “would be a big signing” for Spurs. He’s won multiple titles – including the UCL – has bundles of experience and the exact mentality that the Italian head coach desires.

Despite his advancing years, Perisic contributed ten goals and nine assists across 49 appearances in all competitions, largely playing a left wing-back role, and that adds to his ten goal contributions on Inter’s way to the title in 2020/21, too.

Across the last three seasons alone, he’s picked up five trophies. Something that few, if any, in the current Spurs squad can match.

The 6 foot 1 dynamo, whose “physique is that of a horse” according to former manager Luciano Spalletti, is a very shrewd addition for Spurs and Conte indeed.

He’s certainly still got it, having also averaged the second-highest WhoScored rating in the Inter squad in the Serie A this campaign. He led the team for interceptions (1.3 per game) and was third for key passes per game (1.6), proving to be solid defensively and very much a creator in the final third.

Also lauded as a “physical monster” by Eurosport journalist Siavoush Fallahi, it’s evident that age is merely a number when it comes to the £125k-per-week brute.

As such, Perisic could indeed be a big signing for Tottenham heading into next season. He and Heung-min Son down the left flank is certainly an intriguing prospect indeed.

The Lilywhites faithful, and the manager, must be absolutely buzzing by Romano’s latest update.

AND in other news, Spurs will “try and sign” £18m-rated “monster” after scouting mission, he’s Bale 2.0…

Chelsea correspondent and reliable reporter Nizaar Kinsella of Goal has now shared a West Ham United transfer update involving striker Armando Broja.

The Lowdown: Hammers eye new striker…

Following the 2021/2022 Premier League season’s conclusion, all eyes now turn to the summer transfer window and how the Hammers will prepare for another season with over-achieving manager David Moyes.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-developments-5/” title=”West Ham latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Since West Ham were threatened with relegation to the Championship two years ago, the east Londoners have come on leaps and bounds – qualifying for Europe over two consecutive seasons.

This is despite only having Michail Antonio as a natural senior striking option, but according to recent reports, Moyes and head of recruitment Rob Newman are determined to finally sign a centre-forward.

The Latest: Kinsella makes Broja claim…

According to Kinsella, sharing the latest news out of Chelsea regarding Broja, West Ham are eyeing a move and will ‘battle’ for the Albania international alongside many interested sides in AC Milan, Inter Milan, Napoli and Newcastle.

This comes after his impressive spell on loan at Southampton with the 20-year-old now attracting plenty of admirers – including the Irons and Moyes.

It’s added that the two-time Champions League winners have a decision to make regarding Broja and Thomas Tuchel wants to have a look at him in pre-season before deciding whether to stick or twist.

The Verdict: Get it done?

According to reliable in-the-know West Ham insider ExWHUemployee (Patreon via West Ham Zone), the towering 6 foot 3 forward is ‘possibly the number one target’ and someone Moyes personally ‘rates’ having spoken to scouts and people at the club.

Ex claims the Hammers boss sees Broja as an ‘all-round forward’ with great physical traits including strength and speed – not to mention also being a ‘good finisher’ (Patreon via West Ham Zone).

Moyes isn’t his only fan, either, with ex-defender Anton Ferdinand having urged the Irons to make a move for the top flight attacker recently.

Speaking to The Sun, he lauded Broja as an ‘exciting’ player and ‘similar to Antonio’ in terms of physicality – telling GSB to go and get a deal done.

Given how highly-rated he is by some close to the club, Broja’s possible summer signing may well be the way forward.

In other news: Offer ready: Newman preparing bid for ‘standout’ as West Ham eye ‘no-brainer’ signing! Find out more here.

A worrying Newcastle United injury setback has emerged regarding centre-back Fabian Schar…

What’s the latest?

The Magpies defender was forced off during the 2-0 win over Arsenal on Monday night after clashing heads with Eddie Nketiah, with the club able to use a fourth (concussion) substitute to replace him.

An own goal from Ben White and a calm finish from Bruno Guimaraes sealed all three points for the Toon, but the victory was marred by the collision which left Schar in need of treatment.

After the game, Eddie Howe confirmed that the Switzerland international’s knock is not a serious one and that they were forced to take him off the pitch. The Shields Gazette quote the 44-year-old as saying: “Fabian, I think, is OK. I think he was taken off due to protocols. He wanted to stay on. I think it was the right decision.”

Any player diagnosed with a concussion will not be able to train for a minimum of six days to ensure that a full recovery has taken place, and this means that the 30-year-old may now miss the season finale against Burnley on Sunday.

Supporters will be gutted

First and foremost, everyone will be thankful that Schar is not in a bad way and that he is ‘OK’ at the moment, given what happened on the pitch. However, Newcastle supporters will now be gutted that he may not be available this weekend.

His absence will be a big blow for Howe, as the Swiss ace has been in fantastic form in the second half of the campaign for the Magpies. Since the turn of the year, Schar has averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.9 or higher in the Premier League in every month, which shows that he has been consistently superb at the back.

He has proven that he can put in quality performances on a regular basis and has formed a strong partnership with Dan Burn at the heart of defence. The pair have played their part in lifting the team up the table, with Howe’s team currently sat in 12th place, a far cry from when he took over six months ago with the Magpies 19th in the league.

Schar has played 25 matches in the top flight this term, making 1.9 tackles and interceptions and 3.8 clearances per game. He has also chipped in with two goals and two assists as he has showcased his attacking quality from centre-back, adding another weapon to Newcastle’s threat in the final third.

These statistics illustrate how important he has been to the club, and that is why supporters will be gutted by the prospect of him missing out against Burnley, a game which could see the Magpies finish the season in the top half with a win.

AND in other news, Forget Guimaraes: £59k-p/w NUFC dynamo who won of his 100% duels was a monster on Monday… 

Rangers manager Gio van Bronckhorst offered Ibrox fans a glimpse into the future at Glasgow as he offered minutes to a host of young players at the weekend.

The Gers ran out 2-0 winners in their Premiership clash as Leon King, Alex Lowry, Charlie McCann and Adam Devine were all given an opportunity to feature.

They have all sufficiently impressed the Dutch head coach to be rewarded with a first-team call-up, and the next step will be to integrate them into the side on a regular basis, whether that comes next year or in the longer-term.

One of those players can end up following in the footsteps of Rangers’ most expensive ever departure. Nathan Patterson was sold to Everton for a club-record fee in January, and Van Bronckhorst can unearth the new Patterson in 19-year-old Devine.

Partick Thistle manager Ian McCall described the right-back as “highly rated”, and the youngster has also caught the eye of his managers in other loan spells.

Brechin boss Michael Paton praised the gem upon signing him on a temporary basis last year, saying: “Adam will be another great addition to the squad and he’s exactly what we’re looking for. He is athletic and can get up and down the park – I feel he can provide what we’re missing in that final third. He has great awareness and quality of crossing.

“Rangers feel he is on the same path as Nathan Paterson and have high hopes for him. Hopefully he can come here and hit the ground running and help us push towards where we want to go.”

This shows that the Light Blues already view Devine as a player with the potential to match what the Scotland international achieved at Ibrox and now Everton.

The teenager has showcased his potential for the Gers’ youth team throughout the campaign. He has registered an impressive five assists in nine Challenge Cup and UEFA Youth League outings for the B team, which shows off his attacking quality from right-back.

Devine also managed two assists in 11 games on loan at Brechin last term as he enjoyed a taste of regular first-team football in the second half of the season.

Along with the praise from his former managers and his involvement against Dundee United, these statistics suggest that the 19-year-old dynamo has a bright future ahead of him.

It is now up to Van Bronckhorst to provide the youngster with ample opportunities to prove that he can make the step up to playing regularly for Rangers so that he can develop into the next Patterson at Ibrox…

AND in other news, Ibrox sources: Van Bronckhorst set for imminent Rangers deal that’ll leave supporters delighted…

The Daily Telegraph journalist Luke Edwards has been left wowed by some news that he has now heard coming out of Sunderland before their Friday game against Sheffield Wednesday.

The Lowdown: Big ticket sales

Taking to Twitter, The Athletic journalist Michael Walker has revealed that the Wearside club have already sold 35,000 tickets for their first leg of their play-off tie at home to the Owls on Friday night, and are aiming to sell more than 45,000 in total.

That would be the biggest crowd outside of the Premier League so far this season, beating the 38,000 who showed up to watch the Black Cats take on Doncaster earlier this year.

The Latest: Edwards reacts

Edwards gave his instant reaction to the news on the tickets, calling it ‘remarkable’.

Considering that the Stadium of Light faithful are in the third tier of English football, and it would be the biggest crowd outside of the top flight, it would really be a monumental achievement to get that many supporters into the stadium.

The Verdict: Support needed

In truth, the Black Cats need all of the support that they can get as they look to get past a Wednesday team that finished above them in the League One table.

They both beat each other at their own homes in the league campaign, and so Alex Neil will be hoping that his side can repeat the trick on Friday, banking a healthy lead to take to Sheffield next week.

Nonetheless, these are two massive clubs in the English football pyramid, and so there should be a feisty atmosphere for a game that really doesn’t belong in League One.

In other news, find out who SAFC’s three worst players were against Morecambe here!

West Ham United cruised to a 4-0 victory against already relegated Norwich City to provide a huge boost to their hopes of finishing the Premier League season in a European spot.

They remain seventh but increase the gap to Wolverhampton Wanderers in eighth who have a game in hand to play on Wednesday. The win also means they can put the Europa League woes behind them after they crashed out of the competition at the semi-final stage on Thursday.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-this-weeks-latest-west-ham-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-more” title= “Read the latest West Ham news!”]

The Hammers dominated the game with Said Benrahma and Jarrod Bowen grabbing the headlines with their two goals and two assists respectively. However, it was defender Craig Dawson who we think stole the show against the Canaries.

The veteran defender has been a key part to West Ham’s successes, and whilst he might get the appreciation from the supporters, he is often overlooked by those outside of the club.

He impressed greatly against Norwich winning 100% of his duels which was vital in ensuring that West Ham kept a clean sheet. He also received a SofaScore rating of 7.5 which was only beaten by his teammates mentioned above and Declan Rice.

The 32-year old made the move across London permanent at the start of the campaign joining from Watford after impressing on loan last season.

It’s been an unexpected rise for a player who has spent the majority of his career playing for a club either in a Premier League relegation battle or in the Championship.

Now he’s at the heart of the West Ham defence fighting for a European finish. He’s been described as “outstanding” by journalist Matt Law with manager Moyes praising his performances in Europe this season.

He also didn’t put a foot wrong when it came to his passing against Norwich. Dawson recorded a pass accuracy percentage of 95% during the game, proving that he is just as good in possession as he is battling one on one with an opponent.

For a player who rarely gets talked about, he produces performances that without, West Ham would find themselves struggling at the back. Luckily he has hardly missed a game for them this season with 48 appearances in all competitions.

IN other news: Imagine him & Said: West Ham set to move for 22 y/o “hurricane”, he won’t cost a penny…