All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Amid a disappointing start to the season, Crystal Palace have been handed more bad news with one star now set to miss the next “several weeks” through injury.

Crystal Palace injury news

Looking to pick up where they left off under Oliver Glasner last season in the manager’s first full campaign in charge at Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace have felt the impact of Joachim Andersen and Michael Olise’s departures so far. The duo swapped Palace for Fulham and Bayern Munich respectively, as those at Selhurst Park turned to the likes of Trevoh Chalobah and Eddie Nketiah as a result.

Palace fans have been forced to wait for Chalobah’s debut, however, after he was injured in his very first session with his new side. It will understandably take the central defender some time to get back up to his best level after being frozen out and cast aside like several others in an overpopulated Chelsea squad.

Glasner did at least confirm prior to 0-0 draw against Manchester United that Chalobah is in line to return next week though.

Alas, the same can’t be said for another star man. As confirmed by Glasner via Edmund Brack of the South London Press, Cheick Doucoure is now set to miss “several weeks” through yet another injury blow. The midfielder of course missed the majority of the last campaign before returning at the start of this season. Just five games in, however, and he is back on the list of absentees.

Parish & Freedman want Crystal Palace to beat Man Utd to signing of 18 y/o

The Eagles are looking to get one over on Manchester United…

1 ByTom Cunningham Sep 20, 2024

It’s a frustrating period for both Palace and their £70k-p/w star, who will be desperate to get back to fitness as soon as possible and back to his best as a result.

Palace already feeling impact of "strong" Doucoure's absence

As they did last season before the arrival of Glasner, Palace are likely to feel the impact of Doucoure’s absence just when they thought they were finally on their way to seeing the midfielder return to his best back from injury. Now, however, Glasner will be forced to come up with a solution amid a disappointing run of form. Described as “strong” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, there’s no doubt that the Eagles will miss Doucoure for the next several weeks.

Of course, Palace already experienced what their midfield would be like without their defensive midfielder against United at Selhurst Park on Saturday, as the visitors largely overran them for much of the game, forcing Dean Henderson into a man of the match performance.

Sheffield Wednesday are believed to have turned down an approach for a “very good” player who Danny Rohl values, according to a fresh transfer update.

Sheffield Wednesday news

The Owls are badly in need of finding some form in the Championship, even though they made it into the fourth round of the EFL Cup midweek, following their 1-0 win away to Blackpool.

In the league, Rohl’s side haven’t tasted victory since thumping Plymouth Argyle on the opening weekend of the season, losing their next three games in the competition after that, before drawing 1-1 at home to Queens Park Rangers last weekend. The manner of that result was hugely disappointing, however, given the ludicrous nature of the visitors’ scrambled last-gasp equaliser.

On Saturday, Wednesday make the trip to a Luton Town side who are only one place ahead of them in the table, and on the same number of points, arguably underperforming since their return to the Championship from the Premier League.

Away from the league action, transfer rumours have continued to emerge regarding the Owls, too, with youngster Sam Reed linked with a move away from Hillsborough on loan. He is wanted by National League clubs, who will be able to sign him outside the summer transfer window. Now, another exit update has also dropped with another player.

Sheffield Wednesday turn down approach for "very good" ace

According to a new update from The Star, Sheffield Wednesday have turned down an approach from Maccabi Tel Aviv for the signing of Pol Valentin this week, with contact made between the two clubs.

The report says that the Europa League side “had been keeping tabs on the full back’s progress and were considering making an offer” prior to the Israeli transfer window closing, but the Owls “shut it down”.

Keeping hold of Valentin makes complete sense for Wednesday even if he isn’t a vital player, with Rohl even stating that earlier this week, saying: “He is part of my squad. We need the competition at the right full-back position. That’s for me, no. No question mark.”

The 27-year-old has been a solid addition since arriving at Hillsborough last summer, providing competition at right-back and making a total of 48 appearances to date.

Admittedly, he has been limited to only one Championship start in 2024/25 to date, but he has been involved in every match in the competition, showing that he is an important squad figure. Meanwhile, former Wednesday manager Xisco Munoz once lauded his qualities, having brought him to the club:

“He has very good intensity. I know a lot about Pol, not only his capacity as a footballer but a personality as well and this is very good. This is important because I know exactly what he can give to the team. He was with me when he was very young with Gimnastic and I know how he has progressed.”

Rohl a fan: Clubs keen to sign Sheffield Wednesday 21 y/o on loan right now

The Owls could sanction the move.

ByHenry Jackson Sep 17, 2024

Valentin may understandably be keen for more playing time, but given the number of fixtures this season, he may soon get more starts to his name, dovetailing with the likes of Yan Valery and Liam Palmer in the process.

European heavyweights Paris-Saint Germain are keen on signing a “top talent” at Arsenal, and one who is rated extremely highly, with the Gunners braced for interest from all corners of the continent.

Arteta commits long-term Arsenal future by signing new contract

Ahead of their looming North London Derby this weekend, some very good news came out of the Emirates Stadium, with manager Mikel Arteta putting pen to paper on a new contract till 2027.

Arsenal and Arteta could now start "unique" 17-year-old against Tottenham

The Gunners are growing shorter of options.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Sep 13, 2024

The Spaniard’s previous terms were due to expire next year, resulting in speculation that he could leave at the end of this season, but Arteta’s decision to commit to a further three years has quashed all worries that Arsenal could soon lose their manager.

Arteta’s new deal sees him earn £288,000-per-week, which puts him in line with the Premier League’s highest-earning tacticians, and it is a welcome announcement for supporters after a week of consistent reports surrounding key absences for this weekend’s trip to Tottenham.

Tottenham (away)

September 15

Man City (away)

September 22

Leicester City (home)

September 28

Southampton (home)

October 5

Bournemouth (away)

October 19

Mikel Merino’s shoulder injury means he’ll be absent for the derby and beyond, while star midfielder Declan Rice will miss out through suspension. Martin Odegaard twisted his ankle on international duty with Norway earlier this week as well, so Arteta looks set to be without a host of key men for Arsenal’s face-off against Spurs.

Given the selection headaches for this weekend, Arteta has little time to celebrate his lucrative fresh terms. With the 42-year-old now set to be a key component of Arsenal’s long-term project for years to come, there are a few players he will be very keen to keep hold of.

One of them, star defender William Saliba, is said to be attracting interest from elite European sides. Real Madrid have been looking at signing Saliba, as have Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, according to recent reports.

This is hardly a surprise, considering he is one of the continent’s top defenders right now, and arguably has been ever since he began to form an exceptional partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes at the start of 2022/2023.

PSG eyeing William Saliba at Arsenal

Speaking to CaughtOffside, CBS reporter and Ligue 1 expert Jonathan Johnson backs reports that PSG are also interested in signing Saliba from Arsenal – but admits that the French champions face a real battle for the 23-year-old’s signature.

“We’ve seen some transfer gossip about William Saliba and it’s only natural that some of the top clubs in Europe would be interested in the Arsenal defender. PSG’s interest is nothing new – he’s Paris-born and hails from the Bondy region, like Kylian Mbappe and Randal Kolo Muani,” said Johnson.

“However, at the moment, whether it’s PSG, Real Madrid or another top European club, it’s very hard to see them being able to prise Saliba away from Arsenal. He’s one of their top talents at the moment, and one of the best defenders in world football, and after a strong showing at the Euros he’s shown he’s in that world class bracket. I think now that Mikel Arteta’s future has also been cleared up, I think Saliba will be looked at as a player that the Gunners hope to keep as a key cornerstone for the team.

“For the moment, I can’t see anyone going in for Saliba while he remains such a key part of that Arsenal project, but, depending on what happens this season, who knows, perhaps a scenario could develop that presents an opportunity for one of these top European clubs to sound out his situation.”

Saliba signed for just £27 million from Saint-Etienne in the summer of 2019 and has become one of the league’s standout bargain signings of the last decade. With Arteta remaining at Arsenal for the foreseeable, PSG could face an even bigger battle to lure him back to France.

Celtic have agreed a £2.1m transfer fee with Gangwon FC for forward Yang Hyun-jun, however, a move is proving complicated.

What’s the latest Celtic transfer news?

It has been a busy few weeks off the pitch at Parkhead, which began when Ange Postecoglou left the cub to join Tottenham. Since then, Brendan Rodgers has been brought in for a second stint in charge of the Hoops, and new signings have been made.

The first player to arrive was midfielder Odin Thiago Holm, who joined from Eliteserien club Valerenga and signed a five-year contract in Glasgow. As well as Holm, Australian winger Marco Tilio has also penned a five-year deal with the Hoops, joining from Melbourne City.

There has been a major departure, though, with star winger Jota joining Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad in a deal worth £25m.

More attacking additions could be on the cards as a result, with Yang a player who has been linked with a move to Parkhead. Reports last month claimed that Celtic made a significant transfer offer for the K-League winger, with journalist Jason Lee saying:

“According to Korean media, Celtic have sent an official transfer offer to Gangwon FC for Yang Hyun-Jun. The offer is believed to be "significant and final" as Celtic await Gangwon's response. The player is eager to move to Celtic.”

There has now been a further update from Football Scotland, who say that Celtic and Gangwon have in fact agreed on a £2.1m deal which includes a 12% sell-on clause.

The player is keen to move to Scotland, however, Gangwon are now stalling over a deal as they believe Yang could help them avoid relegation. Gangwon want to keep their forward until January when their season finishes, but Yang is even willing to give up his salary to push through a move to join Rodgers’ side ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Who is Yang Hyun-jun?

Yang is primarily a right-winger who can also play on the left or through the middle, so would bring plenty of versatility to Rodgers’ attacking options and may rival current right-wingers James Forrest and Liel Abada, although the latter of the two has been linked with a move to Sporting Lisbon.

He was described as “excellent” and a “level above” in the media following a pre-season display against Tottenham last year and has contributed to 14 goals in 69 senior appearances for Gangwon.

The 21-year-old is under contract until the end of 2025 and has been described as an unpredictable and eye-catching player in the media, labelled as Gangwon’s up-and-coming star last year by the K League media.

Celtic have enjoyed plenty of success by bringing players in from the Asian market over recent years, and it looks as if Rodgers is keen to continue looking in that direction. Former manager Postecoglou signed the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Oh Hyeon-gyu from Japan and South Korea, and with a deal agreed for Yang, hopefully, he’ll be the next to arrive in Scotland.

Liverpool have been strongly linked with a move for Federico Valverde this summer and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player.

Is Federico Valverde joining Liverpool?

According to reports in Spain earlier this week, the Reds are keen on bringing the Uruguayan to Anfield this summer.

It's said that Jurgen Klopp is obsessed with the idea of signing him and believes the player would fit perfectly into his tactical set-up.

As a result, Liverpool are preparing an offer of €90m (£77m) in an attempt to bring him to English football.

An offer at this expense will seem incredibly unlikely owing to FSG's tight spending structure and would make the Los Blancos talent the club's record-breaking signing ahead of Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker and Darwin Nunez.

How good is Federico Valverde?

There is no doubt that Valverde would be an incredible asset in the centre of the park for Liverpool and should an opportunity arise to snap up the midfielder's services, it is one that should not be ignored.

The 24-year-old Champions League winner is one of the hottest prospects in his position across Europe; ranking in the top 16% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for non-penalty goals, shots on goal, pass completion and progressive carries.

Owing to his attacking strengths, Valverde – hailed a "monster" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – could be the perfect player to partner new signing Dominik Szoboszlai next season – causing chaos alongside the Hungarian ace to form an unstoppable threat and boost creativity to provide huge chances for their teammates in the final third.

Over last season, the Uruguay international displayed some key attributes that could complement Szoboszlai's weaknesses in his game, as Valverde is a much more prolific and confident ball-winner proven in his aerial duels won (73.8% v 28%), successful take-ons (70.5% v 50.5%) and dribblers tackled rate (50% v 40.5%), as per FBref.

Comparatively, the newly-signed Liverpool star was much more efficient in breaking the lines of attack to play the final ball into the box with more shot-creating actions per 90 (5.52 v 2.91), goal-creating actions per 90 (0.63 v 0.50), more assists (8 v 4) and a better shot on target rate (48.3% v 33.3%), proving that combining the pair's best attributes could cover the entire path to the final third with ease.

It remains to be seen whether Valverde will be allowed to leave Real Madrid this summer as Carlo Ancelotti is a huge admirer of his player and has previously claimed that he is an "untouchable" member of his squad, however, the Italian coach is set to leave in 2024 upon the expiry of his contract after accepting the Brazil national team job, so there is a possibility he could sanction a move.

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer to snap up the services of Valverde this summer and if Jurgen Klopp can convince FSG to table the transfer fee required it could set up Liverpool's midfield for years to come.

Chelsea are monitoring Real Madrid Castilla starlet Rafa Marin ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Rafa Marin?

Marin is a centre-back who currently plies his trade at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium having graduated from his club’s academy to get promoted to Real Madrid Castilla – Real's B side – back in 2021, where he’s been a regular feature ever since.

The Spain youth international played 3,510 minutes of football last season which was about 400 more than any other member of Raul’s squad, as per Transfermarkt, and his consistent performances, playing 90 minutes in every single match, appear to have caught the eye of Mauricio Pochettino.

The Blues will be in the market for defensive reinforcements having lost Kalidou Koulibaly to Saudi Arabian outfit Al Hilal, and the 21-year-old could be available for a cut-price with his contract expiring next summer, something which has alerted chiefs at Stamford Bridge.

Are Chelsea signing Marin?

According to Spanish outlet AS (via Sport Witness), Chelsea are “keeping close tabs” on Marin as they weigh up whether to make an official approach this summer. With Real Madrid Castilla recently having failed to achieve promotion to the third tier, the defender has made it his “aim to leave” this window, and should that be the case, he won’t “lack proposals”.

The Blues and RB Leipzig are the two clubs “paying the most attention” to their target, so this could be one to watch closely in the weeks ahead.

Chelsea and Pochettino will understandably be assessing the centre-back options that are out there, but Marin isn’t yet ready to make the required step up so Todd Boehly should avoid signing him unless it's for an absolutely minimal fee.

The youngster has made zero senior appearances for Real Madrid so whilst he’s been impressing in the youth setup, Carlo Ancelotti and the rest of his management team clearly don’t feel he’s at the stage of his career to take on the first-team challenge.

The 6 foot 2 colossus also wouldn’t provide any real versatility having only operated at left-back on six occasions throughout his career outside of his natural role so it would be extremely difficult for him to receive regular minutes when competition for places is so high.

Therefore, Chelsea should turn their attention towards defensive targets who have a lot more experience under their belt and have proven themselves at the highest level, so that they can meet the standard of quality that is likely to be expected of them under the new manager next season.

Manchester United could have been in for England international Declan Rice if the proposed “takeover had actually happened”, believes transfer insider Dean Jones.

The West Ham United captain has been linked to multiple clubs over the last few months, but United have been notably absent from rumours.

Manchester United transfer news – What’s the latest on Declan Rice?

Rice’s expected departure from the Hammers was confirmed in the aftermath of the team’s historic Europa Conference League win earlier this month when chairman David Sullivan told the media his player was promised he could leave.

The club most heavily linked to the Kingston upon Thames-born player has been Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.

The Gunners have made two bids for the player so far, with the second offer of £90m being rejected by the east London club as they look to get the maximum they can for their prized asset.

Worse still, the Red Devils’ cross-city rivals Manchester City have entered the race, with David Ornstein reporting that this morning the club is “expected to submit an offer for Declan Rice today [Thursday].”

Where, in all of this, have United been?

The club do have the imperious Casemiro as their starting number six, but with Scott McTominay not being of the required level and few other options, a player like Rice could be transformative for the side.

What did transfer insider Dean Jones say about Declan Rice to Manchester United?

Jones was very quick to point out that the process of the potential takeover has thrown a spanner in many of United’s transfer plans, including any plans they may have had for Rice.

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: “I don’t think they’re in the race for Rice right now. I think in an ideal world, they would be, maybe if the takeover had actually happened, they could have been. But as it stands right now, don’t think Rice is going to come into their thoughts.”

Would Declan Rice have been a good transfer for Manchester United?

The £60k-per-week West Ham captain is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after midfielders in the league – hence all the interest from other clubs – and for that reason, he would surely have improved United.

There is an argument that the England international wouldn’t get into the team as an out-and-out defensive midfielder due to the immense performances of Casemiro last season.

However, he could have performed well as a number eight whilst the Brazilian was still a part of the team.

Last season the Irons “destroyer”, as labelled by ex-Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Paul Robinson, achieved an average match rating of 7.01 across his 37 Premier League appearances, just slightly below the Brazilians’ 7.17, per WhoScored.

His underlying numbers are equally impressive.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe’s top five leagues, Rice was in the top 5% for interceptions, the top 15% for progressive carries – suggesting he could fulfil the eight role – and the top 19% for pass completion, all per 90.

The United faithful will surely feel even more ire for their owners if they have missed out on a player of Rice’s quality due to the circus surrounding the takeover.

Aston Villa are eyeing a move for rising Japan star Keito Nakamura, but NSWE will have to fend off a mega transfer battle to get a deal done this summer, report The Daily Mail.

What's the latest Aston Villa transfer news?

Unai Emery is expected to go on somewhat of a shopping spree in the current transfer window, with the Villans set for a challenging 2023/24 campaign in four competitions, having secured UEFA Europa Conference League qualification on the final day of the season.

NSWE are reportedly happy to back their manager with some serious funds, and they’ve made a positive start already by bringing in Leicester City and Belgium star Youri Tielemans.

The Villans are clearly seeking more midfield reinforcements though, considering they are also linked with the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Manu Kone, and The Daily Mail are now reporting another new target.

According to the newspaper, NSWE are battling with Liverpool, Burnley, Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Monchengladbach, Lille, Reims, Lyon and Feyenoord for LASK star Nakamura, and the player is expected to jump to a new club this summer.

Who is Keito Nakamura?

The 22 year-old, who plays as an attacking midfielder or as one of the wide roles in 4-2-3-1 formation, has burst onto the scene in the Austrian Bundesliga this season, scoring 14 times and providing seven assists in 31 league appearances, adding another three goals in cup competitions and finding the net once in two Japan caps.

His importance in his side’s Europa League qualification has apparently sparked the mass interest from across the continent, and it’s easy to see why when hearing from people who have seen the youngster play.

The £4,000-p/w Nakamura led all Japanese players in Europe aged 26 and under for direct goal contributions this season – beating the likes of Brighton star Kaoru Mitoma – and talent scout Jacek Kulig believes he’s a “brilliant” prospect who has been “absolutely on fire” throughout this season.

Given the rise of Japanese players throughout Europe’s top leagues in the last few seasons, with Mitoma shining in the Premier League, Celtic utilising several Japan internationals and Daichi Kamada thriving in the Bundesliga, Villa could certainly strike lucky by taking a dip into a previously underappreciated market.

Tottenham Hotspur are now looking forward to a new era under incoming boss, Ange Postecoglou, with the 57-year-old set to take charge at N17 after catching the eye following his impressive work at Old Firm giants, Celtic in recent seasons.

Having won five trophies during a glittering two-year spell at Parkhead, the experienced coach has been tasked with the job of trying to revive the fortunes of the north London outfit next term and beyond, with the Lilywhites still reeling from a disappointing 2022/23 campaign that ended with a dismal, eighth-place finish.

Amid that search for improvement in his new home, recent reports have suggested that Postecoglou could be ready to spark something of a mass clearout at the club over the coming weeks, with the veteran duo of Ivan Perisic and Hugo Lloris leading the list of those who could depart.

Among those who may also be shown the door is long-serving defender, Ben Davies, with the Wales international – who signed from Swansea City back in 2014 – potentially set to be moved on if bids are to arrive this summer.

This follows a recent report that suggested Daniel Levy and co were willing to sanction the 30-year-old's exit for a fee of around £15m, with the 77-cap dud having formed part of a backline that shipped 63 Premier League goals this season – the sixth-worst record in the division.

As pundit Gabby Agbonlahor suggested, a departure for Davies could well be in the best interests of the club, with the versatile full-back having been "struggling to put in top performances", as he simply "just isn’t good enough any more."

With Postecoglou likely to need to find an "upgrade" – as per Agbonlahor – or a more youthful replacement for the £80k-per-week man, then the Greek-Aussie should look no further than reported target, Thierry Small.

Who is Thierry Small?

According to Football Insider, Spurs are set to make a fresh approach for the Southampton teenager ahead of next season, having previously seen an offer of around £800k rejected by the Saints back in January.

The piece adds that the newly-relegated side had been looking for closer to £1.2m at the time, with Levy and co now seemingly ready to make a 'new offer' in order to prise the 18-year-old from St Mary's.

The signing of the England youth international could well be the long-term solution at left-back that Spurs are in need of, with the "quality" gem – as previously hailed by ex-Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti – able to take Davies' place moving forward.

The former Toffees ace – who made the move to the south coast back in 2021 – showed his defensive prowess while on loan at St Mirren in the second half of the campaign after averaging 1.3 tackles per game, with that a superior record to what Davies averaged in the Premier League (0.9).

Equally, it is young Small who also appears to offer more in attack, with the 5 foot 10 starlet having averaged one key pass per game as a marker of his creative talent, while Davies averaged just 0.6 key passes in that time.

That would suggest that despite his inexperience, the youngster has the makings to be a real star of the future in the game, hence just why it would be wise for Postecoglou to push for a move.

As such, after 311 games for the club, it could be time for Davies to seek out pastures new…

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly ‘intensified’ their contacts over a potential summer move for AS Roma defender Roger Ibanez.

What’s the latest Tottenham transfer news?

Spurs officials appear to be hard at work in the transfer window after finally bringing their managerial search to an end by appointing Ange Postecoglou last week.

Reports have suggested that personal terms with Brentford goalkeeper David Raya have been agreed, however, the two clubs still need to shake hands on a transfer fee.

Elsewhere, English trio James Maddison, Harry Maguire and Jadon Sancho have also been linked with a move to north London. However, it does look as if Tottenham chiefs are also looking abroad when it comes to potential additions, with Ibanez another target.

Recent reports from Italy suggested that Spurs have been handed a boost in their attempts to sign Ibanez, with Roma lowering their asking price, and it looks as if Tottenham could soon make their move.

Sport Witness relayed an update from Italian website Roma Giallorossa on Monday regarding Spurs and Ibanez. They claimed that Tottenham have ‘intensified’ their contacts in the ‘last few hours’, saying that an official offer ‘within a few days’ is now a possibility.

Postecoglou is thought to be an admirer of the defender, and a bid from Spurs in the region of €25m and €30m could be enough to sign him.

Who is Roger Ibanez?

Ibanez is primarily a centre-back but can also play as a right-back or even as a holding midfielder, so could provide plenty of versatility to Postecoglou’s squad, should a move get over the line.

The 24-year-old appears to be at the peak of his powers with a career-high €30m Transfermarkt valuation and has won senior two caps for Brazil.

In total, Ibanez has made 149 senior appearances for Roma, contributing to 11 goals. As per WhoScored, the defender was Roma’s fourth-best player during the 2022/23 season, as per WhoScored, outperforming Spurs defenders Cristian Romero, Eric Dier, Ben Davies, Clement Lenglet and Davison Sanchez.

Therefore, with Spurs conceding the most Premier League goals last season in the top 14 sides (63), you could argue that a new defender is needed. Someone like Ibanez, who is seemingly at the top of his game and has been lauded as "untouchable" by former Spurs head coach Jose Mourinho, could be a shrewd addition, and with Postecoglou a fan, it appears as if a transfer is one to watch.