Former Manchester United academy player John Cofie has been found not guilty of rape after a trial concluded on Friday.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Harry Kane’s struggles at Bayern Munich may be generating “hilarity for miserable souls”, but he is being backed to break a trophy duck in Germany.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Alex Telles has played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United and Al-Nassr, making him well placed to determine whether CR7 is “annoying”.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie is hugely excited by the attacking options at Ange Postecoglou’s disposal ahead of next season.
The Hoops have completed a fantastic 2021/22 season, ending it with both Scottish Premiership and Scottish League Cup glory.
There have been heroes all over the pitch, from Cameron Carter-Vickers at the heart of the defence to Callum McGregor in the middle of the park.
Celtic’s attackers have done their bit, with the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi and Georgios Giakoumakis shining, including scoring a brace apiece in the 6-0 win over Motherwell on the final day.
[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/key-latest-celtic-updates-7/” title=”Key latest Celtic updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]
Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie lauded the attackers Postecoglou has to choose from, as seeing the pair both score was ‘wonderful’:
“I know they weren’t on the pitch at the same time but to see them both scoring in the same game was wonderful. It’s incredibly exciting because we brought off the main man Kyogo and Giakoumakis came on and got two as well.
“When they are both fit they are two quality options for us. That’s what I have wanted for so long. It’s just a shame we haven’t been able to see they play together this season because of the injuries.
“They can be a real asset to us if they both stay fit next season because they have both proved they can perform in the league.”
McAvennie is correct in his assessment, with Celtic blessed with several strong options in the final third – something that will be required across four competitions next season, including the Champions League.
It could even be that another ruthless goalscorer is looked at to bolster Postecoglou’s choices further in the summer, considering only Liel Abada (ten) reached double figures in the league this season.
That could help competition for places be even more fierce in 2022/23, at a time when Celtic are looking to build their most formidable squad in years.
In other news, a journalist has dropped an exciting Celtic transfer claim. Read more here.
Leeds United youngster Cody Drameh continues to earn high praise following a successful loan spell at Cardiff City.
The 20-year-old defender spent the second half of the 2021/22 campaign in the Championship, where he impressed greatly winning their ‘Player of the Season’ award.
Bluebirds boss Steve Morison wanted to keep him in Wales past the summer but that seems rather unlikely.
“I don’t think anyone else in the league would mind having him. He has been top drawer,” claimed the Cardiff manager, via Wales Online.
“He is a great kid and he deserved all the awards he’s got. He is a top example to any of our young players, if they want to know how to get to the top and be as good as him – take a leaf out of his book.”
[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more-2″ title=”Read the latest Leeds news, transfer rumours and more!”]
Indeed, reports from the Yorkshire Evening Post suggest that Drameh will be involved in Jesse Marsch’s squad heading into next season, a decision which could well save the club, and chairman Andrea Radrizzani, millions of pounds.
Vice-captain Luke Ayling not only disgraced himself against Arsenal, getting sent off for a needless and reckless challenge; subsequently missing the remainder of the season with survival on the line, but he isn’t getting any younger either.
“What an idiot. The lack of professionalism from his teammates and what this could mean going forward,” lambasted Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher (via talkSPORT).
“It’s not just going down to ten men, it’s a disgusting tackle going in with two feet and reminds me of a tackle that Vinnie Jones did a long time ago. What he thinks is going to happen on the back of that, I don’t know. It was an obvious red card.
“To put your team down to ten men, miss the last three games of the season, that might be the last game that Luke Ayling ever plays in the Premier League.”
The 30-year-old defender could well be replaced by Drameh in the near future.
Only Aden Flint registered a better WhoScored rating across the course of the season for the Bluebirds. The youngster’s three assists were only beaten by two other players but you’d imagine that would’ve been a different story had he been there for the entire campaign.
Meanwhile, Drameh also averaged a whopping 3.8 tackles per game, a feat which far usurps anyone in Leeds’ current squad, including Ayling (2.8 tackles, two assists).
Also described as “phenomenal” by Morison, the Thorp Arch gem’s emergence will surely mean that the Whites won’t have to spend big in the transfer market in the right-back role.
Marsch must take a look at Drameh heading into next season, that’s for sure.
AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano drops Kalvin Phillips transfer update…
Manchester United may have a chance to sign West Ham United star Declan Rice this summer.
That is according to a report from Mark Ogden, via The United Stand, who has proclaimed positivity over the potential signing of the England star.
The United Stand Twitter page relayed the original quote from their YouTube channel, in which Mark Ogden states:
“United have a chance [to sign Rice] this year. Chelsea are in turmoil with the ownership, City and Liverpool have said they aren’t interested, Spurs and Arsenal aren’t an appealing move for him. United might have a free run to Declan Rice.”
[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!”]
With the likes of Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic set to leave this summer in what is expected to be a mass clearout at Old Trafford, Declan Rice, who has been dubbed an “explosion” by David Moyes, is the exact signing that a club who lack motivation and direction need.
The acquisition of the defensive midfielder could make Ten Hag’s rebuild job a lot easier. His talent, desire and ability in possession is suited to that of a Dutch-orientated, mass-possession, total-football system that could also serve as a platform for Rice to elevate his game, whilst building towards success at Old Trafford.
The £150m midfielder’s match average of 54.29 passes completed per 90 bodes well, though it’s his 90.6% pass accuracy that makes him such a composed and reliable asset in the centre of the pitch.
With a match average of 6.60 passes into the final third, he poses threat even if his game is more defensive.
His ability to carry the ball makes for another case as to why the 52-year-old should sign him, with United lacking a forward-thinking and defensively sound asset in their engine room.
A large majority of United’s 57 goals conceded, at a rate of 1.5 per game, have come from poor organisation making for easy penetration through the midfield, so Rice, who is a natural leader, would have a licence to make his presence in the middle of the park known.
Out of the aforementioned clubs that Ogden mentioned, Rice would have the biggest impact at United.
In other news: Offer made: Man United have submitted bid to sign £85.4m “lion”, he’s Lewandowski 2.0
A big update has emerged on Newcastle United’s pursuit of Dean Henderson heading into the summer transfer window…
According to 90Min, the Magpies have reached an agreement with the England international over personal terms as they attempt to bring him to St. James’ Park.
The report claims that talks are ongoing with Manchester United over whether the deal would be a permanent one or on loan for the 2022/23 campaign, with a fee in the region of £20m touted.
This comes after Fabrizio Romano revealed that the club have agreed on a fee with Stade Reims for 19-year-old French striker Hugo Ekitike.
Forget the Ligue 1 centre-forward for now… the Magpies head coach will be buzzing with a potential deal for Henderson as he would love the shot-stopper to be on Tyneside next season.
The Red Devils gem is an exciting prospect who has the potential to leave Howe speechless with his ability between the sticks.
He is a proven Premier League performer as he has enjoyed two excellent seasons in the top-flight for two different teams. In the 2020/21 campaign – for his parent club – Henderson averaged a superb SofaScore rating of 6.94 in 14 appearances as he saved a whopping 77% of the shots against him.
The ‘keeper also impressed at Bramall Lane on loan, with his former Sheffield United teammate Sander Berge previously showering him in praise, saying: “He’s insane. I’ve never been with such a good goalkeeper. One thing in matches, he is almost a defence alone at times, and you feel so secure with him.
“But people have to see him at training. It’s crazy. He saves balls from one yard. Sometimes I am completely speechless by how good he is. It’s like having two goalkeepers in goal with him. He’s awesome.”
In the 2020/21 campaign for Chris Wilder’s side, Henderson averaged a sublime score of 7.00 and saved 75% of the shots against him as he kept 13 clean sheets in 36 games.
His statistics are outstanding and Berge’s inside insight backs up that the Englishman is a top-quality goalkeeper, whilst he still has plenty of time left to develop at the age of 25.
He can be a player Howe works with at Newcastle for a number of seasons, given his quality and age, and that is why he would love to work with him.
Hopefully, PIF and Dan Ashworth can now reach an agreement with Manchester United to make this a permanent move so that Henderson can make the Toon head coach speechless with his stunning displays between the sticks for many years to come.
AND in other news, “In talks…”: Fabrizio Romano delivers NUFC transfer claim that’ll delight supporters…
Everton are reportedly now fighting a number of other clubs to sign Ben Brereton Diaz.
After 22 goals and three assists in the Championship this season (Premier League.
Clubs from the top flight have taken gambles on second-tier strikers before, such as Adam Armstrong moving from the Rovers to Southampton last summer and Ollie Watkins from Brentford to Aston Villa the previous year, so it seems likely that a swarm of suitors will now come after Brereton Diaz while he is still in the Championship.
According to reports relayed by The Daily Mail, Everton are now fighting both Leeds United and newly-promoted Bournemouth for Brereton Diaz, while Sevilla, Real Betis and Valencia have also registered an interest from La Liga.
The striker would cost in the region of £13m, given that he only has one year left on his current deal at Ewood Park.
Once dubbed a ‘beast‘ by his Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray, Brereton Diaz is a handful for defenders, as his 6 foot 2 stature would suggest.
At 23 years of age, the Chile international will only get better with a taste of Premier League football, and with the Everton future of Moise Kean in doubt, Brereton Diaz could be the perfect low-risk replacement.
[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/everton-news-5/” title=”Everton news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]
Also, he shares the same agent as five other Toffees players, which could help to push a deal through.
In other news, find out who Everton are now in contact with over signing here!
Everton are reportedly now fighting Tottenham Hotspur to sign Rodrigo Becao this summer.
James Tarkowski is expected to join the Goodison Park outfit on a free transfer from Burnley, but they may not be done there in terms of bringing in central defenders.
The likes of Kim Min-jae and Chancel Mbemba have recently been linked with moves to Merseyside, as Frank Lampard is clearly looking to strengthen his defence further going into the new season.
As per Tutto Udinese, as reported ‘in recent days’, the Toffees have now ‘come forward’ to sign Becao, as well as Spurs.
He has had an ‘excellent’ individual campaign with Udinese, and is valued by the Serie A side at between €15-20m (£12.8-17.1m).
If the Blues can sign Becao for as little as £12.8m, then it would provide a relatively low-risk option as they look to strengthen elsewhere in the squad with limited financial wiggle room.
[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/everton-news-7/” title=”Everton news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]
The six-foot-three colossus was a standout player for Udinese last term, ranking highly among his teammates in terms of aerial duels won and average tackles, interceptions, clearances, blocks and passes per game in the Serie A (WhoScored).
Nonetheless, at 26 years of age, the Brazilian is about to enter his prime, and so this would be a smart deal to do so long as the price is right.
In other news, find out what ‘amazing’ EFC update has now emerged here!
Aston Villa are preparing to strengthen their squad this summer ahead of the 2022/23 Premier League season, and an important transfer update has now been revealed.
According to Birmingham Live, Steven Gerrard has made it clear that Cameron Archer will not be made available for loan this summer.
As per the report, there are 14 clubs interested in signing the forward during the current transfer window following his impressive loan stint at Preston North End, but the 42-year-old will now give the youngster a full assessment in pre-season to determine his role in Villa’s team next season.
Villa supporters will surely be delighted that Gerrard will be looking more closely at Archer’s potential to be given an opportunity in the first team, especially when you consider his output over the last 12 months.
In the first half of the 2021/22 campaign, Archer remained at Villa Park, scoring six goals and contributing two assists in the EFL Trophy for the under-23s. He also netted four goals in the Carabao Cup for the senior team, with a hat-trick against Barrow in the second round.
The 20-year-old joined Preston in the second half of the season on a short-term loan spell and duly lit up the Championship, with seven goals and one assist in his 20 appearances for the Lilywhites.
Across all competitions in which he featured, Archer ended the season on 20 goals and five assists from 33 appearances, with one goal contribution for every 100 minutes played, which will surely catch Gerrard’s eye when making his decision on the youngster’s future at Villa.
Preston manager Ryan Lowe sang the praises of the talented youngster, saying (via Lancashire Post): “Cameron has got an abundance of talent. His quality levels are fantastic, he’s bullish, strong, he can roll, he has got that little burst of pace too.”
As a result of Archer’s impressive form last season, Gerrard has a huge decision to make on the 20-year-old’s future. The youngster has clearly made the most of his opportunities to play first-team football, and the Villa boss will need to see if he can fit the talented striker into his already competitive forward line next season.
AND in other news: “Villa will..”: Fabrizio Romano drops transfer news that’ll leave Gerrard buzzing