All posts by z3u9t.icu

Leeds United’s forgotten man, Laurens De Bock, appears to have already played his last game at Elland Road as a key update emerges on his future.

What’s the story?

Writing initially on Twitter, Leeds Live’s Beren Cross said: “Laurens De Bock’s time at Leeds United is virtually over with another loan spell taking him to the end of his contract. Played plenty last term. #lufc”

And then, in a piece for Leeds Live, he wrote: “The left-back has 12 months remaining on the contract he signed in January 2018, but has always looked surplus to requirements under Marcelo Bielsa.

“This new loan deal will take De Bock to the end of his Elland Road deal and while it does not secure a transfer fee, it eases the wages United would have paid had he stayed put.”

Radrizzani will be relieved

Earning a reported £15k-a-week, De Bock isn’t one of Leeds’ highest-earners, but the fact he’ll be coming off the books once again this season, and then for good next summer, is sure to have Andrea Radrizzani relieved.

The Leeds owner won’t want anyone simply picking up a pay-cheque for sitting on the sidelines or not being a part of Marcelo Bielsa’s plans, and De Bock firmly falls in that category.

The 28-year-old has played just seven times in total for Leeds since joining the club from Club Brugge on a long-term contract back in January 2018.

Since then, he has been shipped out on loan, with his latest stint coming back in his native Belgium, where he played 31 times in the Jupiler Pro League for Zulte Waregem.

While Leeds may be a Premier League club now, and will get all the financial benefits and rewards because of it, Radrizzani will still want to continue to run a tight ship.

And sending De Bock out on loan and getting rid of his wages for the year, and then allowing him to walk away once his contract expires next summer, will keep the books in order.

It’s exactly why the Leeds owner will be relieved at the latest news on De Bock.

Meanwhile, Graham Smyth has dropped an exciting Leeds United transfer update…

A major update has emerged on Portsmouth striker Ellis Harrison, and it could lead to Danny Cowley ruthlessly axing him from the squad.

What’s the talk?

According to BBC South journalist Andrew Moon, League One duo Fleetwood and Oxford are showing an interest in the Pompey centre-forward. Both clubs are keen on a deal for the striker, who still has a year left to run on his current contract with Portsmouth.

Back in 2017, Bristol Rovers manager Darrell Clarke admitted that he had to remove Harrison from penalty duties after two misses for the club.

He was unable to convert from the spot and forced his manager to remove him from being in the running to take them in the future as Currie told the Bristol Post: “You’ve got to stick your penalties away. That’s the last two I think he’s [Harrison] missed now, so he’ll have to come off pens and we’ll have a look at it.”

Time’s up

Time is up for Harrison at Portsmouth, and Cowley must now ruthlessly axe him this summer. He has not been good enough at League One level for Pompey and the manager must sanction the 27-year-old’s exit whilst there are clubs interested in his services.

Portsmouth should ship him off to Fleetwood or Oxford and then look to replace him with an upgrade in the transfer market, if the interest from their League One rivals is genuine and they are willing to offer a decent fee for the centre-forward.

Harrison’s goalscoring record at League One level is poor. Since the start of last season, he has scored just nine goals in 55 appearances – less than a one-in-five goals-to-game ratio. He has also provided a mere two assists in that time and recorded a distinctly average WhoScored rating of 6.68 in League One for the 2020/21 campaign for Portsmouth.

This suggests that Harrison has struggled since his move to Fratton Park and therefore it could be time for Cowley to axe him and bring in another striker this summer.

The £4,300-per-week dud is also at somewhat of a crossroads regarding his contract situation. He has one year left on his deal and must decide to either leave the club or commit his future to Fratton Park. From Portsmouth’s point of view, they should avoid pinning him down to an extension and instead sell him to another club in the coming weeks and months.

If they fail to secure an exit for the Welshman ahead of next season, they could miss out on the chance to recoup a transfer fee for the 27-year-old as he would leave on a free transfer in 2022. Now is the time for Portsmouth to cut him loose.

AND in other news, Eisner heading for disaster with “very strong” £2.7k-p/w ace, Pompey fans will be livid…

Kevin Phillips believes that losing Charlie Wyke during this summer transfer window will be a massive blow for Sunderland and Lee Johnson.

The Lowdown: Wyke set to depart

The 28-year-old’s contract at the Stadium of Light is soon set to run out, making him a free agent (Transfermarkt).

Celtic, in particular, are said to be interested in capturing his services as result.

The Latest: Phillips unhappy with development

Speaking to Football Insider, Phillips has shared his disappointment at the reports that Wyke could be closing in on a departure from Sunderland. He said:

“It is a massive blow.

“I have friends in the north east who watch a lot of Sunderland and they all have their own opinion about Charlie, good or bad.

“The stats do not lie though. He scored 30 goals last season and if you take those goals out of the side they would not have even been in the play-offs.

“To lose him on a free is an undoubted blow. Why did they let it happen? Was it the player or the club that let his contract run down?

“It is a huge loss because there are not many strikers out there who will come to Sunderland and score 30 goals next season. They are few and far between.

“It is not ideal for Lee Johnson. He has now got a big job trying to replace him before they start of the season.”

The Verdict: Bizarre situation

While it remains unclear as to who is behind Wyke’s exit, it seems bizarre that Sunderland would let him leave the club after the season he has just enjoyed. In 2020/21, he scored 30 goals in 53 games, including 26 in League One – only Peterborough’s Jonson Clarke-Harris managed more in the division (BBC).

However, while he has proven to be prolific in front of goal, many Sunderland fans appear eager to see him depart. Seeing him leave on a free transfer will be disappointing, as they could likely have reaped a considerable fee for him. In the end, though, it seems he will not be overly missed at the Stadium of Light, at least not initially.

In other news, Sunderland are close to agreeing a new deal for this star.

Manchester City Football Partnerships and Pathways manager Fergal Harkin no longer looks to be in the frame for the sporting director role at Celtic, according to the Daily Record.

The Lowdown

An openly kept secret to many, the Celts have made plans for a major restructuring mission at the club after a disastrous 2020/21 campaign. Needing to rebuild the brains behind the operation alongside the playing staff, Harkin was seen as many as the preferential candidate for the role. This is owing to his contacts within the game and high-level experience in Manchester.

Recruitment has especially been a major stumbling block for Celtic in the past twelve months, which needs urgent replenishment. Conscious towards a whole market of talented young players in the Premier League 2 and beyond, the Irishman was reportedly earmarked to play a major role in the Hoops summer renovation [The Scottish Sun].

The Latest

Concerningly, this prospective move has now fallen by the wayside [The Scottish Sun]. Not only that, the Irish Independent state that the former Finn Harps player was never actually offered the position, which is quite the twist seeing as previous reports [Football Insider] went so far as to claim a deal for the ‘massive’ Hoops fan was ’90 per cent’ done.

Celtic are now believed to be tracking other options, with Belgium assistant Shaun Maloney believed to be the firm favourite for the job [Daily Record].

Verdict: Harkin collapse is a disappointing blow for Celtic

News of the proposed deal collapsing is a bitter blow for the Celtic support. Still without a new manager since Neil Lennon’s February resignation, the Hoops face a rather uncertain beginning to the 2021/22 campaign [Irish Times].

Labelled as a “fantastic” potential appointment by pundit Noel Whelan, you can’t help but feel the Hoops could’ve done with Harkin’s big club influence at Celtic Park [Football Insider].

Champions League qualifying is set to commence in a matter of weeks for the Celts [The Scotsman]. Time is indeed of the essence at Parkhead, and the Glasgow giants will need to provide the Celtic Park faithful with some clarity sooner rather than later.

Everton are set to open talks with Crystal Palace managerial front runner Nuno Espirito Santo, according to Sky Sports, with Eagles fans flocking to Twitter to have their say on the matter.

Previously, the former Porto boss was thought to be in talks with the Eagles about taking the reigns at Selhurst Park [Daily Mail]. Seemingly on the radar of a whole host of clubs, the Portuguese manager has also been linked with Tottenham in recent weeks [The Sack Race].

An exciting candidate, he can list winning the EFL Championship, consecutive finishes in Premier League European spots, as well as a Europa League quarter final among his achievements at previous club Wolverhampton Wanderers [Sky Sports].

Enjoying four successful years at Molineux, his reputation is more than intact despite a faltering final campaign.

Capable of getting teams to play exciting but tactically astute football, he would be the ideal candidate to rebuild an ageing Crystal Palace side. As expected, the Palace faithful took to social media to share their feelings regarding the latest development, with the Toffees seemingly stealing a march on a possible deal.

Palace fans react to Nuno latest

“People are worrying as if he wasn’t gonna be linked with other clubs as well”

Credit:@CPFCMax9″That’s our chances gone”Credit:@FPLWILSON”Oh right, there’s a Plan B, is there? Plan A was so brilliantly devised I wouldn’t have thought we’d need a Plan B”Credit: @rileyeagles”It’s mark hughes”Credit:@Kevbartleyy”Would love if sky sorted their sources out. Or has Nuno got the keys to the DeLorean….?”Credit: @CPFC_Curt”Fun while it lasted”Credit:@ohjoewalkerIn other news, fans flock to share their thoughts on former Crystal Palace striker Glenn Murray retiring from football.

Harvey Elliott has been described as ‘certified special’ by a Blackburn Rovers team-mate following a superb spell at the Championship club.

The Lowdown: Elliott shines at Blackburn

The 18-year-old moved to Ewood Park back in October, with Jurgen Klopp failing to guarantee him regular playing time at Liverpool.

While some young players can get eaten up by the physical nature of the Championship, Elliott has excelled, scoring seven goals and registering a hugely impressive 11 assists.

The forward has now completed his stint at Blackburn and will return to Liverpool ahead of pre-season training in the summer.

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The Latest: Enormous praise for Reds youngster

Elliott has clearly impressed those around him at Ewood Park, not least Rovers captain Elliott Bennett, who has waxed lyrical over the Reds man [via Anfield Watch Academy on Twitter] as he said:

“This kid is certified special. Good luck brother. Stay hungry. Stay humble. Keep shining.”

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The Verdict: Very special talent

Some young players stand out from the rest, possessing outrageous technical ability and a swagger about their game, both of which apply to Elliott. To have ripped up the Championship at just 18 years of age is a standout feat and he appears to have a huge future in the game.

It would be reckless to begin calling for Elliott to start regularly at Liverpool next season given that he has rarely featured for the club, but Klopp must surely consider making him a part of the Reds’ matchday squads.

With the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi possibly moving on, the teenager could take their places as he continues to mature into a potential future Anfield star.

In other news, Liverpool have been given a major boost in their quest to sign a Premier League player this summer. Read more here.

Speaking to Football Insider, BBC pundit and commentator Noel Whelan has been left thrilled by a report that goalkeeper and club mainstay Hugo Lloris is planning to remain at Spurs for at least another year (Football Insider).

The Lowdown: Lloris linked with exit

The Frenchman, having made 372 appearances for Spurs in all competitions since signing from Lyon in 2012 (Transfermarkt), is another big name that has been linked to a Tottenham exit this summer.

Lloris has just one year left on his contract and is yet to agree a renewal, with French news outlet L’Equipe (via TEAMtalk) even claiming Man United could look to sign him this summer to replace David de Gea.

However, Football Insider have now shared that Lloris has his heart set on remaining at Spurs for the 2021/2022 season despite his contract status and has even held talks with chairman Daniel Levy.

The Latest: Whelan thrilled by ‘great news’ involving Lloris

Reacting to this development over Lloris, Whelan has been left thrilled whilst branding it ‘great news for Tottenham’.

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“Lloris is hugely important to Tottenham,” explained the pundit to Football Insider.

“He is their leader, their number one and he is a fantastic goalkeeper. There are not many goalkeepers around, that’s the thing. He has so much experience as well.

“If he is going to see out his contract that is great news for Tottenham. They do not need to venture into the market and spend money in that department just yet.

“His experience and leadership both on and off the field is invaluable. He is one of the best goalkeepers out there, even though he has been hit and miss over the last couple of seasons.”

The Verdict: Big boost for Spurs…

With the ongoing Harry Kane exit saga arguably casting a shadow over the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Spurs fans could be welcome to any form of consolation.

News of Lloris allegedly committing his short-term future to Spurs certainly comes as that small slice of good news with tensions surrounding the club at an all time high.

As Whelan explains, the shot stopper is a hugely important member of the team and Tottenham will need all the help they can get for what is set to be a very interesting 2021/2022 season.

In other news: Tottenham could be offered this £250,000-per-week ace for Kane, find out more here.

Former Rangers star Michael Ball has told The Transfer Tavern that Tottenham Hotspur will want to interview Steven Gerrard over their managerial vacancy, but he doubts that he will want to make the move.

Spurs sacked Jose Mourinho last week and the club have appointed Ryan Mason as their interim head coach in his stead.

Mason managed the club against Southampton in the Premier League, becoming the league’s youngest manager in the process, as Spurs came from behind to win 2-1.

They lost to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final, however, and they are on the hunt for a new boss to take over once the season is out.

A number of managers have been linked with the post, including Leicester City’s Brendan Rodgers, RB Leipzig’s Julian Nagelsmann, and England manager Gareth Southgate.

Ball, who played for Rangers between 2001 and 2005, thinks that Gerrard will be on the shortlist for Spurs and chairman Daniel Levy, but he doesn’t think he will be willing to leave the Scottish club.

Rangers have already won the Scottish Premiership title and have yet to lose a game domestically this term.

Speaking exclusively to TT, Ball said: “I think Steven probably is settled at Rangers, big clubs will be looking at him.

“And it’s no surprise that Tottenham will probably ask him for an interview to see what he thinks. But to be fair, I think Steven’s happy where he is right now.”

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Manchester City and Newcastle United defender Steve Howey has urged Max Aarons to reject any interest in him this summer and stay at Norwich City.

Aarons stayed with the Canaries when they were relegated in 2020 despite interest in him, however, it has been reported that he may be free to leave for £30million this summer.

The 21-year old has been linked with Tottenham Hotspur recently as Matt Doherty has failed to establish himself as a good enough right-back after arriving from Wolves last summer, with further doubts over the future of Serge Aurier, linked with PSG.

Speaking on why Aarons should stay with Norwich for at least one more season and how it would be better for him and the team to stick together, Howey exclusively told FFC:

“Why not go up and stay with your team that you helped get promoted? You’ve worked so hard to get back up and I think it will be disappointing if he leaves.

“I don’t think I would have liked to get promoted as a team and then move somewhere else, because you would have done it together as a group and I would want to be part of that.”

Norwich bounced back at the first time of asking under Daniel Farke, having kept a core group of players such as Tim Krul, Aarons, Todd Cantwell, Emiliano Buendia and Teemu Pukki.

Aarons has also been linked with a move to Bayern Munich, who will have Julian Nagelsmann as their new manager next season.

Spurs youngster Alfie Devine has been tipped to earn more game time in the first-team next season by football.london reporter Alasdair Gold.

The 16-year-old prodigy was named among six other emerging prospects as players who could save Daniel Levy and the club millions in the transfer market, and it’s easy to see why.

Devine is already a record-breaker at the club, which should stand him in good stead.

He first became the youngest-ever player to feature in a competitive game, and then went one better when scoring on that senior debut, coming off the bench to find the net against Marine in the FA Cup.

Gold believes Devine is too young to send out on loan next season, so he’s likely to feature more next term, particularly in cup competitions.

The teenager’s chances of doing exactly that could be bolstered depending on the futures of some first-team players, including Harry Winks, who is thought to be wanting an exit from the club this summer.

According to Sport (via Sport Witness), the out-of-favour Englishman will insist on a summer departure, with La Liga a potential destination.

Whilst Dele Alli is another who could move on, according to the Telegraph. And Moussa Sissoko is getting no younger; he will be 32 at the start of next season.

In Devine, Spurs could unearth their next Michael Carrick, which would be a fine reward for their £300k investment in someone so young.

At his former club, Wigan, he was lauded as a “very talented” player with “huge potential” by academy manager Gregor Rioch and chief executive Jonathan Jackson.

Similarly, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher was gutted to see him leave the League One outfit, dubbing him “top-class” on Twitter.

Devine has even already made his presence felt amongst the first-team, aside from scoring on debut, Japhet Tanganga has praised his impact in training. The fellow Spurs youngster told the Independent:

“He’s trained a few times with us and every time he’s come up he’s looked a real spark,” before adding: “He’s shown he can hustle, he’s shown what he can do, so hopefully from here he can kick on and get more appearances for the club.”

Carrick, albeit a little older at 23, didn’t come through the system at Hotspur Way. Instead, the club splashed out £3.5m to sign him from London rivals West Ham United.

And some similarities can be drawn here.

‘Imposing box-to-box style’ is how the Guardian described the 16-year-old gem in their ‘Next Generation’ list for 2020 and that’s how one could describe the former United midfielder. He was more defensively-minded and ‘imposing’ as his career went on, but could still get up the pitch when need be.

Carrick also played under the Special One at United (43 appearances), so that could help Devine in terms of playing style as he continues to develop at this quick rate.

If – and when – Mourinho unleashes Devine next season, Spurs could well unearth their next Carrick.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Ndombele: Levy must sanction £38m Spurs swoop for “breathtaking” dynamo…