All posts by z3u9t.icu

Aberdeen could be set to add another player to their ranks this summer, with Alan Nixon reporting via his Patreon that the Scottish side are in discussions over a move for Killian Phillips.

Who is Killian Phillips?

The 21-year-old attacking midfielder spent half a season on loan with Shrewsbury in 2022/23 and impressed for the EFL outfit during his time there. Even though he only joined in January, he went on to be a key figure for them in the second half of the campaign and played in 19 League One games, producing three goals and two assists along the way. It resulted in the youngster being voted their Young Player of the Season – even though he didn't play throughout the full season.

Prior to that stint with the Shrews though, Phillips had never really managed a taste of professional, high-level, first-team action. He has yet to make his debut for Crystal Palace in the Premier League and has instead had to make do with gametime through their reserves. However, he has stood out for that team, having managed a return of five goal contributions in ten games for them in 2022/23. He has also yet to make his debut for his country, the Republic of Ireland, at any level.

Are Aberdeen signing Killian Phillips?

Now, according to a report from Alan Nixon via his Patreon, the youngster could be given another chance to shine in a first-team elsewhere. That's because Aberdeen are interested in adding him on a short-term basis for 2023/24, and are already in talks with the player and his club over a potential move this summer.

It would mean a switch to Scotland and the Scottish Premiership for the first time in his career and could give him some much needed minutes to continue helping with his development as a midfielder.

However, no deal looks like it will go through until has has agreed a fresh contract with parent club Palace – the Eagles want to tie him up to a "longer deal" according to the report, and once that is done he could find himself playing football for the Dons.

If Aberdeen want a player who can give them a valuable option in multiple areas, then the 21-year-old could be their man. Not only is he an adept attacking midfielder, but he is also capable of playing on either flank too. If Phillips needs to fill in on the left or right wing, he has been utilised there in the past and could do a similar job for the Scottish side.

He could be a really shrewd signing for Aberdeen too, even only on loan. He spent time on a short-term deal with Shrewsbury, as mentioned, where boss Steve Cotterill was full of praise for the youngster, as he called Phillips an "outstanding performer" and a "great lad" to boot.

He is the kind of presence and talent that the Scottish Premiership side will want to recruit this close season then – and if a deal can be done, it would be a smart bit of business by the Dons.

Aston Villa are believed to be the current favourites to sign Atletico Madrid superstar Joao Felix in the summer transfer window, according to a new report.

How much does Joao Felix earn per week?

The Portuguese star, who currently earns a huge £240,000 per week, sees his future up in the air currently, having returned to Atletico this summer after a temporary move away.

Felix was deemed surplus to requirements by the La Liga giants during the January transfer window, moving to Chelsea instead, in order to enjoy more regular football and potentially even secure a permanent move to Stamford Bridge. In truth, things didn't work out for him there though, and he only scored four goals in 16 appearances for a Blues side who eventually ended up finishing 12th in the table.

It seems clear that there is no future at Atletico for the 23-year-old beyond this summer, so there could be a scramble for his services, with Villa one of the clubs who have been linked with a move for him in the recent past. A big window is happening at Villa Park, with Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres already brought in, as NSWE show some real ambition in the transfer market.

Now, a new update has emerged regarding Felix's future – one that is sure to excite many Villans supporters.

Are Aston Villa signing Joao Felix?

According to Marca [via Football Espana], Villa are at the front of the queue when it comes to chasing Felix's signature this summer, with the Midlands club in pole position to offer him a route out of Atletico.

It is stated that the Portugal international recently decided not to head to Villa Park because they aren't playing in next season's Champions League, but there looks to have been a twist in the saga all of a sudden. Atletico definitely now want Felix to leave, no doubt in order to get an expendable player off their wage bill, so his preference could now come secondary to who they decide to sell to.

While Felix's stock has admittedly fallen a bit of late, following forgettable spells with both Atletico and Chelsea, he would still be an incredibly exciting signing for Villa, considering his world-renowned status as a truly huge talent. He won the prestigious European Golden Boot award back in 2019, handed to the best young player in Europe, which has also been lifted by the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Pedri in recent years.

At 23, the Atletico star also still has so many years to improve and he could love being the main man for Villa – someone who raises everyone else's game around him, and who Unai Emery manages to get every ounce from. Alvaro Morata has hailed him as a "special" player in the past and the Villans should do all they can to snap him up, in what would possibly be one of the biggest marquee signings in the club's history.

There would be a risk element involved, of course, considering he hasn't yet reached the expectation levels many had for him, but the money is there from NSWE and this feels like a big time in Villa's history, in terms of kicking on and potentially becoming one of the main players in the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur are close to a full agreement with Wolfsburg to sign defender Micky van de Ven, according to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Who will Spurs sign this summer?

New manager Ange Postecoglou, much to his delight, has already watched the likes of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, playmaker James Maddison and winger Manor Solomon come through the door at Spurs.

The aforementioned trio will boost Tottenham's options defensively and further forward as the Lilywhites attempt to spark some life back into their side after a disappointing 2022/2023 campaign under Antonio Conte.

Postecoglou, who is aiming to bring back a more attacking style to Hotspur Way, is overjoyed at the signings of Vicario and Maddision in particular – with the Australian having praised their personality profiles.

“It’s not just about the talent they bring as footballers," said Postecoglou.

“Both those guys have got it in abundance. I could hear it in their voices when I spoke to them. I had a couple of chats with both of them before we signed them and I knew that they were the right types to bring into the dressing room."

After Maddison, Vicario and Solomon, attention now turns to the signing of a star centre-back or two – coming after Tottenham leaked more league goals than any other side above 15th last season.

Reports suggest Tottenham could make multiple central defensive signings this summer, leading to interest in Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba, Max Kilman of Wolves and Ecuador international Piero Hincapie as well.

However, it appears that they're making the most headway in their bid to sign van de Ven from Wolfsburg, with Romano dropping a promising update for Spurs supporters.

Writing on Twitter, Romano claims that Tottenham are edging closer to an agreement for the 22-year-old.

"Tottenham are advancing in talks with Wolfsburg for Micky van de Ven — told the agreement between clubs is now close," said the reporter.

"#THFC Negotiations are underway and talks on Monday were really positive, waiting for key details. More to follow."

How good is Micky van de Ven?

The Netherlands international has really excelled for Wolfsburg under Niko Kovac in the last 12 months, averaging a higher passing accuracy percentage than any other regular in their squad (WhoScored).

Indeed, only goalkeeper Koen Casteels has played more Bundesliga munutes than van de Ven, highlighting his real importance for Kovac (WhoScored).

Meanwhile, the Bundesliga website have also heaped praise on him for an extraordinary gift of speed and tenacity – likening him to Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk.

"Much like Liverpool’s Dutch centre-back, Van de Ven can be a nightmare for attacking players with his immense strength, determination and precision tackling scuppering the most promising of forward moves," wrote the site.

"With incredible pace and passing ability among his many assets, the Netherlands U21 international – who captained his country at the 2023 UEFA Europan Under-21 Championship – is on course to become a regular for the senior Oranje in the near future."

Lyon midfielder Romain Faivre has the potential to be a shrewd summer signing for Crystal Palace, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Who is Romain Faivre?

The 24-year-old spent last season on loan at FC Lorient, scoring five goals in Ligue 1, as well as chipping in with a further three assists in the competition. He is permanently registered at Lyon, however, where he has made 28 appearances to date, netting three times along the way.

It could be that Faivre looks for a new challenge during the summer transfer window, however, and a move to the Premier League certainly doesn't look to be out of the question. Palace are one of the clubs who have been linked with a move for the Frenchman, as they look to make positive progress in the transfer market before the start of the 2023/24 season.

Everton and Fulham are also believed to be in the mix, though, with it looking increasingly likely that the midfielder will depart Lyon, even though his current deal there doesn't expire until the summer of 2026.

Would Faivre be a good signing for Crystal Palace?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, transfer expert Jones talked up the idea of Palace completing the signing of Faivre in the summer transfer window:

"I think he’s a good level of player to be looking at. He's very confident on the ball. He’s very confident in his decision-making. He's got a bit of cheekiness about him too."

Faivre could be a really strong option for Palace this summer, coming in as someone who can provide various different attributes in the middle of the park. Last season, the £18,000-a-week midfielder averaged three dribbles per game, highlighting the attacking quality and risk-taking ability that he possesses, but he also made 0.8 tackles per match, which while far from earth-shattering, still shows that he can do a job defensively.

Midfield is certainly an area of the pitch that the Eagles could do with improving, as Roy Hodgson looks to bring in the right players after committing his future to the club for another season, with Faivre providing more of a creative spark than someone like Will Hughes, for example, who only chipped in with one goal and assist apiece in the Premier League last term.

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has said that "Romain Faivre has something few players have – he breaks lines", which is high praise from such a legendary footballing figure, and it is that ability to provide that extra spark in the middle of the park that could help take Palace up a level moving forward, also getting even more out of attacking stars such as Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise.

There is clearly strong competition for Faivre's signature, so it won't be easy for the Eagles to get their man, but the lure of moving to London could as a potential advantage, given the appeal of living in and around the city, and Palace could also be considered less of a relegation-threatened candidate than Everton and Fulham in 2023/24.

Chelsea are "expected" to make a move for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo this summer, according to an update from renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Where is Caicedo off to this summer?

The 21-year-old stood out as one of the Seagulls' star players in 2022/23, shining alongside Alexis Mac Allister in the middle of the park and featuring in 37 of his side's 38 Premier League matches.

Caicedo's performances haven't gone unnoticed, however, and Brighton are going to find it extremely difficult to keep hold of him beyond the end of the summer transfer window. Chelsea are one of many clubs who have been linked with a move for the Ecuadorian recently, with a move to one of the country's top teams looking on the cards sooner rather than later.

The Blues are in desperate need of strengthening in midfield, with N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic set to leave a void there, and it looks as though they are still pushing hard to snap up the in-demand Brighton man.

Are Chelsea in the mix to sign Caicedo?

Taking to Twitter, Romano provided an update on the current situation, saying that Caicedo remains a primary target for Chelsea this summer, as new manager Mauricio Pochettino looks to make inroads in the transfer market:

"No changes on Caicedo deal. Chelsea expected to bid after outgoing and still feel in control of the situation. There’s no official negotiation ongoing yet. Personal terms almost agreed."

In many ways, Caicedo could be the perfect midfield signing for Chelsea this summer, already possessing experience in the Premier League and coming in as a long-term acquisition with a high ceiling.

You'd expect he would be an immediate key man at Stamford Bridge, despite still being so young, and his combination of tackling tenacity and quality in possession could make him a great midfield partner for Enzo Fernandez moving forward.

Jamie Redknapp has described Caicedo as "magnificent" in the recent past and he averaged 2.7 tackles per game in the league last term, while he also ranks in the 94th percentile for pass completion, highlighting the bite and quality that he could bring to Chelsea's team.

It may not be easy for the Blues to get their man, such is the competition for his signature – a lack of European football is also a potential issue compared to some of their rivals – but they must do all they can to snap up one of the most exciting midfielders in the Premier League currently.

Manchester United are reportedly plotting a move for Monaco star, Axel Disasi, with Erik ten Hag plotting alternatives to Napoli's Kim Min-jae.

What's the latest on Disasi to Man United?

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the Red Devils "remain keen" on signing the towering centre-back ahead of next season, with the Frenchman reportedly set to be available for a fee of around €50m (£43m) this summer if he is to leave the Ligue 1 outfit.

In a further update from Romano, the respected insider went on to add: "Axel Disasi remains concrete name in the list at Manchester United in case Kim Min-jae will end up joining Bayern as expected [next week will be crucial for Kim deal]."

As the Italian journalist noted, it would appear that Kim could be on his way to Bayern Munich over the coming weeks, despite recent reports that the South Korean brute had reached an agreement with United regarding a move to Old Trafford.

Should Man United sign Axel Disasi?

The signing of the 25-year-old could potentially allow Ten Hag and co to forget all about the aforementioned Kim, with the 6 foot 3 ace having been hailed as a "complete" and "dominant" asset by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Also previously described as a "hidden gem" by Kulig in the past, Disasi notably helped to keep nine clean sheets in 38 league games last season, while also making an impact in an attacking sense after chipping in with three goals in that time.

The former Reims titan's quality in the final third would add a real bonus to Ten Hag's side, with the four-cap international seemingly proving far more dangerous than Kim as he ranks in the top 7% among his European peers for touches in the attacking penalty area, while his Napoli counterpart ranks in just the bottom 41% in that regard.

Perhaps more importantly, however, is Disasi's superior knack for being able to play out from the back, with the one-time Paris FC man offering a real threat with his ability to spark attacks from deep as he ranks in the top 4% for both progressive passes and progressive carries – with Kim ranking in just the top 12% for both those two metrics.

The Monaco man could also prove rather dangerous for any opposition striker due to his ball-winning brilliance as he ranks in the top 14% for interceptions made, with that far greater than the Serie A-winning sensation, who ranks in just the top 27% for interceptions.

As such, while all the talk has been about Kim potentially making the move to the Theatre of Dreams this summer, Ten Hag would be wise to consider the 'hidden gem' that is Disasi instead.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their plans to bolster their options in the middle of the park ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest on Kings Kangwa to Celtic?

The Guardian journalist Ed Aarons has revealed that the Hoops are one of a number of clubs eyeing up a swoop for Red Star Belgrade ace Kings Kangwa this summer as Brendan Rodgers looks to improve his team.

The reporter tweeted: "Nottingham Forest have held talks with Red Star Belgrade over signing Kings Kangwa. The centre midfielder scored in Zambia's win against Ivory Coast in Afcon qualifying last week and is likely to cost €3m. Celtic, Fiorentina, Lille and Montpellier also interested in 24-year-old."

However, it now remains to be seen whether or not the Scottish giants will formalise their interest with an official bid to land the £2.6m-rated talent given the stiff competition that they would seemingly face for his signature in the coming weeks.

What is Kings Kangwa's style of play?

The Red Star hotshot, who was described as a "great ball-carrier" by player analyst Chris Kearney, is an all-action midfielder who can make key contributions at both ends of the pitch.

Earlier this year, Football Insider claimed that current Hoops ace Matt O'Riley would be open to an exit this summer amid interest from English Premier League teams, and Kangwa could be the dream heir to the Denmark international at Parkhead.

The former MK Dons dynamo averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.30 across 38 Scottish Premiership outings in 22/23 and showcased his ability on and off the ball.

In possession, O'Riley chipped in with three goals and 2.2 chances created per match for his side, which resulted in an eye-catching 12 assists.

The Danish maestro also put the hard work in defensively to make 2.2 tackles and interceptions per match, although he struggled in physical battles, with a duel success rate of just 44%.

Kangwa, meanwhile, averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.24 across 32 Superliga matches for Red Star in 22/23 and made his presence felt in the final third with eight goals and 1.4 key passes per outing.

These statistics indicate that, provided he can replicate his form from the Czech top flight, the 24-year-old could provide a similar level of attacking threat in comparison to the Celtic star, albeit that it may come more in terms of scoring goals than creating them.

The Zambia international displayed strength in the middle of the park with a duel success rate of 55% and made 2.1 tackles and interceptions per match, which suggests that the talented ace could even be more efficient than O'Riley out of possession.

Therefore, Rodgers could land a dream heir to the ex-Fulham midfielder by beating off interest from the host of other clubs eyeing Kangwa to land his services this summer, as he is another box-to-box gem who could provide quality across the park.

England manager Gareth Southgate has warned Jack Grealish over his antics during the Manchester City celebrations after winning the treble.

What did Gareth Southgate say about Jack Grealish?

The winger has made plenty of headlines over the past week or so as he's widely enjoyed letting off some steam after Pep Guardiola and his team secured the Premier League, the Champions League and the FA Cup over the course of the past season.

For instance, he was even spotted on camera drunkenly begging City teammate Bernardo Silva not to leave in the summer, while more footage has seen him ambling around Manchester, often with Champagne in hand.

Despite all this, Grealish's season isn't tenchially over as he's part of the England squad which will play Euro 2024 qualifiers over the next few days – first against Malta, and then North Macedonia.

With this in mind, manager Southgate has been talking to the press about the player's off-field antics, suggesting that he best not cross the line.

He told the press (via TalkSport): "There is a line but in our head we weren't thinking of including the City players for this game.

"I have spoken with the players. We have talked about where the focus needs to be, where we need them to be and acknowledged what they have experienced and that's for me to manage.

"A few of our players would be teetotal. What is different is that everyone posts everything [on social media]. I wouldn't have liked a few of my nights out to be posted publicly. My generation would have a lot more problems."

Will Grealish play for England against Malta?

It's nice to see that Southgate at least understanding Grealish's behaviour and not coming down too hard on him – admitting that his on genertation would have been worse. Although, he did also suggest that none of the City players will featute against Malta.

And for the most part, it seems most of the footballing community has been able to enjoy the Man City man living it up, even if he has looked a bit worse for wear at times.

Pundit Gabby Agbonlahor explained on TalkSport why the former Aston Villa captain has every right to let off a little steam.

He said: “You’ve done the work, played in multiple games this season, had the sleepless nights after games – people don’t see that part of it where you’re shattered, you’re dehydrated, you can’t eat after games, people don’t see the side of footballers where they’re putting the work in and how difficult it is to be a professional footballer.

“They’ve done and now it’s time to celebrate. The celebrations are on hold for England duty and they’ll continue after England duty because he’ll have more time off and it’s deserved.

“I just see a lad who is living the dream. He’s won the treble and he’s celebrating as he should do.”

Newcastle United will be looking for new additions that can add quality to the squad ahead of their Champions League campaign next season and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Newcastle's interest in Conor Gallagher?

According to The Daily Mail, Newcastle are interested in signing Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher this summer.

As per the report, the Magpies have identified a number of targets ahead of the summer transfer window and Gallagher is among several Premier League players that the club's hierarchy are considering.

Would Gallagher be a good signing for Newcastle?

Whilst securing the services of a defensive midfielder should be the highest priority for Newcastle this summer, there is no doubt that Gallagher can offer the club another young, hard-working and explosive player for Eddie Howe to deploy in the centre of the pitch.

The Newcastle boss has unlocked the full potential in his impressive squad this season with a League Cup final at Wembley and Champions League qualification making dreams become a reality for the St James' Park faithful, but now it will be important to keep building and adding quality to find success in the next steps of their journey.

Having strong depth in every position will be hugely advantageous when it comes to competing on the domestic and European stage next season, allowing Howe to rotate with confidence and without compromising on the quality of the performance.

Indeed, Gallagher – dubbed "Kante with goals" by talkSPORT's Tony Cascerino – could be the perfect player to add competition to Joelinton's position with the Brazilian midfielder named as the second most comparable player to the Chelsea talent, as per FBref.

The positional peers have shared a number of similarities in their output this season including shots on target rate (39.3% v 37.3%), pass completion rate (81.1% v 81.6%), shot-creating actions per 90 (2.61 v 2.71) and successful take-ons (42.6% v 47.7%).

Due to the fact that Joelinton often drops into the left-wing role, Gallagher – who has a reported price tag of £44m – could even find himself playing alongside the Newcastle talisman and if they could form a good connection on the pitch together by doubling up on their similar attacking attributes, it could cause chaos for opponents.

With that being said, the signing of Gallagher would be a great way to bolster one of the most important positions in Howe's successful team and would give the manager a player he can trust to rotate into the team next season when competing in multiple competitions.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is set to enter his first summer transfer window in charge of the club and it provides him with a chance to make big changes to his squad.

The Spaniard helped the club to secure European football for next season by earning qualification for the Europa Conference League and the roster may need upgrading in order to deal with playing in multiple competitions.

Portuguese outlet A Bola recently reported that the Villans are interested in a deal to sign Sporting attacking midfielder Pedro Goncalves ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and he could improve Emery's team significantly.

The report claimed that the club have been tracking the ace since 2020 and have contacted the Liga Portugal side to enquire about his price, with his side demanding that potential suitors pay up his release clause of €80m (£69m).

How did Pedro Goncalves perform this season?

Emery could land a big upgrade on current Villa playmaker Emiliano Buendia by signing Goncalves as the 24-year-old star enjoyed an exceptional campaign with Sporting in his home country.

In the Portuguese top flight, the magician averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.51 across 33 matches and contributed with 15 goals and 11 assists.

The dynamo proved himself to be a reliable goalscorer from an attacking midfield or wide position, after scoring eight goals in 27 league outings last term, and could provide a greater goal threat than Buendia, who managed just five strikes in 38 matches in the Premier League in 22/23 and four in 35 games in 21/22 for the Villans.

Goncalves, whose form was once hailed as "incredible" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, also created 16 'big chances' and provided 2.6 key passes per match for Sporting in the league. This shows that the former Wolves maestro is consistently opening up the opposition's defence to create quality opportunities for his teammates, to go along with his own goalscoring ability.

Buendia, meanwhile, created eight 'big chances' and made 1.4 key passes per game for Villa in the league and these statistics indicate that the Argentine does not offer as much as the Portuguese talent when it comes to creating for others.

Therefore, Emery could improve his squad heading into the 2023/24 campaign by swooping for Goncalves in the coming months as the playmaker has the potential to provide far more quality in the final third than the ex-Norwich man.

There is no guarantee that he will be able to translate his form from Portugal over to England but his eye-catching form in front of goal suggests that it is a gamble worth taking this summer.