All posts by z3u9t.icu

Jack and Tyler Fletcher "will go to Manchester United" this summer with Manchester City looking to sign United's young defender Harrison Parker, claims transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Manchester United transfer news – what's the latest on Jack and Tyler Fletcher?

It has been a positive start to the transfer window for the Red Devils, with the club finally completing the signing of Chelsea's Cobham graduate and former fan favourite Mason Mount for a fee of around £55m.

David De Gea has also left Old Trafford after 12 years with the side, something that would be a serious problem if the club weren't so close to securing the signature of long-term target and Inter Milan star Andre Onana.

With things looking good from a first-team perspective, the club have also decided to bolster their youth set-up with a double swoop for City's promising youngsters Jack and Tyler Fletcher.

The brothers are, in fact, the sons of United great Darren Fletcher and, at 16, would be swapping the academy of City for United, where their dad works as the club's technical director.

According to the Daily Mail, United have been 'keeping an eye' on the pair for the past few years, but their father has not been involved in the deal to sign them.

The club's move for the brothers has prompted City to respond, with the Sky Blues in the process of bringing highly rated defender Harrison Parker to the other side of Manchester, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

He explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:

"Jack and Tyler Fletcher, so both players are going from Manchester City to Manchester United and this is something that created this domino effect with Manchester City now prepared to close the deal for Harrison Parker.

"So there is something ongoing between the two Manchester clubs in terms of young talents, but the Fletcher twins will go to Manchester United."

Are the Fletcher brothers highly rated?

The brothers are highly thought of at City, having plied their trade in the club's youth set-up for nine years at this point and have already gone on to represent their national teams at junior level.

Interestingly though, Jack Fletcher represents England's under-16 set-up, having previously represented Scotland, whereas his brother Tyler still represents Scotland's under-16 side.

In a bizarre turn of events, the twin brothers actually played against one another earlier this year when the two nations faced off in a Uefa development match that saw both of them start in midfield, Jack wearing the number 19 and his brother the number eight.

It was Jack who came away with the family bragging rights as the Three Lions won the match 3-0.

Unsurprisingly, both players, who have been described as "promising", take after their father in their playing style, with both of them playing predominantly as central midfielders, the only difference being that Jack is left-footed while Tyler is right-footed.

Darren Fletcher played for United between 2003 and 2015, making 342 appearances, scoring 24 goals, assisting another 30 and winning everything there is to win in club football.

If the twins could match even a fraction of what their father achieved at Old Trafford, then the pair have a very bright future ahead of them.

Liverpool have a "very strong interest" in signing Chelsea centre-back Levi Colwill this summer, according to a new claim from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

How much is Levi Colwill worth?

The 19-year-old has emerged as one of the most exciting players in English football, with many viewing him as a future England senior international, particularly after last weekend's Under-21s success for the Three Lions, in which he starred throughout the European Championship.

Liverpool have been linked with a summer move for Colwill, seeing him as a fantastic long-term option to bring in, although Chelsea are understandably desperate to keep hold of him, with some reports suggesting they could value him upwards of £75m. The defender is a boyhood Reds supporter, however, meaning he could be keen to move from Stamford Bridge to Anfield.

It would take a huge bid for the Merseysiders to be able to prise the youngster away from the Blues, but a new update suggests that Liverpool's interest isn't going away.

What's the latest on Levi Colwill to Liverpool?

Speaking to Born and Red [via The Boot Room], Romano claimed that Liverpool's interest in Colwill remains extremely strong:

"The interest is 100% confirmed and genuine. It is a very strong interest. People at Liverpool love Levi Colwill and they believe this is fantastic player. This is all people at the club. The interest is very strong. But at the moment, honestly, it’s really complicated to speak on this situation.

"I think the only way Levi Colwill will leave Chelsea this summer is in case the player goes there to meet Pochettino, the owners and the board and tells them let me go because I don’t want to stay here. That didn’t happen until now."

This is another positive update from a Liverpool perspective, with Colwill looking increasingly like a primary summer transfer target who Jurgen Klopp sees as someone with massive potential. Granted, Chelsea could simply hold firm and ensure the Reds can't get their man, but the situation could get awkward for Chelsea if the player himself demands a move.

At just 20, the Blues starlet really does look like a special talent, making 17 Premier League appearances on loan at Brighton last season, completing 88.6% of his passes and winning an average of 2.6 aerial duels per game.

A silky left-footed centre-back who can break the lines in possession and also defend well, Colwill would bring balance to Liverpool's back-line – former Huddersfield Town teammate Lewis O'Brien has tipped him to have a "fantastic career ahead of him at the highest level" – and he could also be seen as Virgil van Dijk's long-term replacement in the left-sided central defensive role, and someone who can become a true leader at the back for the next decade.

It has to be considered unlikely, though, due to Chelsea's stubbornness, but if the Reds suddenly got a deal over the line, it could be one of their most exciting and importance defensive signings in a long time.

It's hard to judge whether or not a Man of the Match award should add to a player's reputation. After all, in the Premier League, it is often Gary Neville giving them out. Yet, when a player wins a certain amount, it is a clear indication of their quality.

Throughout the last 10 seasons, of course, it has been Lionel Messi who has dominated. The Argentine icon just has an ability to leave people with no choice but to hand out the award. For many, he comfortably sits on football's throne as the greatest player of all time.

There have still been a few surprises along the way, however, which you can see below, courtesy of a Reddit post.

2013/14, 2014/15, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21, 2022/23: Lionel Messi

Messi is a joke, isn't he? In eight of the last 10 seasons, the Barcelona legend has picked up the most Man of the Match awards. And we can't even say that it's unjustified. Football's king has comfortably sat on his throne in a dominant reign over the beautiful game.

The most awards that he won in a single season in the last 10 years came in the 2014/15 campaign, when he scored 58 goals and recorded 31 assists in an incredible year that ended with a Ballon d'Or, Champions League, La Liga, and Spanish Cup win to complete a treble at Barcelona before the individual award.

Most recently, too, Messi picked up 17 Man of the Match awards – the most last season – as Argentina finally ended their World Cup heartache in Qatar, and Paris Saint-Germain won Ligue 1 once again, albeit in a difficult campaign.

With a move to Inter Miami on the way, Messi's reign over Europe has reached its end, and so begins the chance for others to dominate the Man of the Match award.

2015/16: Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Believe it or not, we actually did get a short reprieve away from Messi dominance over the last 10 years, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic getting an obviously much-needed confidence boost to his ego in the 2015/16 season.

The former Sweden international was playing for PSG at the time, and clearly impressed those in France with his 50 goals and 19 assists for the season, winning a total of 16 Man of the Match awards.

In what was his last season at the club, before making the move to Manchester United, the legendary forward ended in world-class style at PSG.

2021/22: Christopher Nkunku

As Messi struggled to adapt to life in the French capital, it was Christopher Nukunku who won the most Man of the Match awards in the 2021/22 season, picking up a total of 14 for RB Leipzig.

Although the Frenchman didn't hit the levels of his Argentina counterpart, Nkunku scored an impressive 35 goals on top of recording 20 assists to make 55 goal involvements.

That season, combined with the last campaign of 32 goal involvements was enough to secure the Leipzig star a move to Chelsea this summer.

Liverpool are targeting Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio after failing to achieve their seasonal goals, and will hope to beat a Premier League rival to the Portuguese ace this summer.

What’s the latest on Goncalo Inacio to Liverpool?

That’s according to Spanish publication AS (via Sport Witness), revealing that – alongside Newcastle United – Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are ‘in the mix’ to sign the 21-year-old after registering an interest in the winter market.

Sporting will demand around €45m (£41m) for the pass-proficient defender, with the sticking point stemming from the Liga Portugal outfit’s demand for the entirety of the fee to be met instantly.

But with Liverpool seeking a left-footed central defender to bolster the ranks after finishing fifth in the league last season, it might be a deal worth the money.

How good is Goncalo Inacio?

When Virgil van Dijk was signed from Southampton for £75m in the winter of the 18/19 season, he activated Klopp's system and provided newfound defensive solidarity to kickstart an illustrious period in the club's history.

The 31-year-old's ball-playing prowess and offensive acumen, though, has been just as mighty as his transformative effect on the fortitude of the backline, with FBref ranking the Dutchman among the top 4% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 1% for touches in the attacking box and the top 3% for total shots attempted per 90.

He's even left Brazilian legend Ronaldinho waxing lyrical, with the revered attacker stating: "You are fantastic, [you] play with elegance and command the defence like a maestro … congratulations!"

Despite a less than propitious year with the Reds, discernibly lacking in his former imperiousness and culpable for a multitude of erroneous, subpar performances, the £220k-per-week titan has been the defensive centrepiece for his Merseyside, winning a maiden Premier League title with Liverpool, the Champions League and FA Cup – notably.

Which brings us to Inacio, who has been earning all the plaudits for his work in the early stage of his professional career in his homeland, already described as the "complete" centre-half by talent scout Jacek Kulig and chalking up 122 appearances with the Leões, scoring 11 goals and supplying eight assists.

While he currently plies his trade outside a 'top five' European leagues and subsequently is ranked by FBref against players across the Men's Next 8 divisions – below the said leagues – he has exhibited the superlative nature of his passing skills.

The two-cap international ranks among the top 1% of centre-backs for passes attempted and progressive passes, the top 2% for assists and shot-creating actions, the top 3% for progressive carries and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.

Heralded as a "leader" and an "aerial dominator" by one Premier League analyst, He clearly boasts the requisite ability to flourish in a Klopp team, characterised by its pressing and attacking flair, hence demanding defenders efficient on the ball and composed under pressure.

And given that Inacio is an amazing talent with all the tools to craft success at the highest level, he might just be the perfect option to absorb the fruits of Van Dijk's labour and assume his role for the next phase in Liverpool's history.

Manchester United have now made contact with Eintracht Frankfurt over a move for Randal Kolo Muani, according to a report from Football Insider.

What's the latest Man United transfer news?

Man United have reportedly compiled a four-man shortlist of striker targets for this summer, with Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund still of interest, however, there are some reservations regarding the 20-year-old's suitability for a big move.

The Red Devils' other top targets include Victor Osimhen, who they are planning to speak with in the near future, and Harry Kane, but a move for the Tottenham Hotspur forward is now unlikely, given Daniel Levy's reluctance to sell.

Kolo Muani has been a target for quite some time, with United at one stage preparing a bid for the Frankfurt star in the January transfer window, and they have now made their first move to sign him this summer.

According to a report from Football Insider, Man United have now made contact over a potential deal for the 24-year-old, with Old Trafford chiefs sounding out Frankfurt about the possibility of finally making the transfer a reality.

However, like with other targets, the France international's price tag could prove to be a major stumbling block, with the Bundesliga club set to hold out for £85m, amid interest from the likes of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. The Red Devils are eager to bring in a marquee striker this summer, in order to ease the goalscoring burden on Marcus Rashford.

Is Randal Kolo Muani joining Man United?

Hailed as "special" by members of the media, the Bondy-born attacker had a remarkable 2022-23 campaign, recording 15 goals and 14 assists in the Bundesliga from a central position, averaging just under one goal contribution every game.

Over the past year, the Frenchman ranks in the 97th percentile for assists per 90, when compared to his positional peers, so it is no wonder Frankfurt are asking for such a huge fee.

With the striker contracted until 2027, his current employers are in a strong negotiating position this summer, so it may be a very difficult transfer for Man United to orchestrate, should they be unwilling to shell out £85m.

Although the former Nantes man had a very impressive previous season, there are question marks about whether he is worth such an astronomical fee, as it was the first time in his career he has reached the 15-goal mark in the league. If Kolo Muani becomes available for less, United may see a move as a shrewd one, but he has not yet proven he is worth the figure Frankfurt are asking for.

Wolverhampton Wanderers could make an 'interesting' move for Atletico Madrid midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia this summer as part of an 'overhaul in their midfield' under Julen Lopetegui, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Geoffrey Kondogbia?

As per AS via Sport Witness, Wolves courted Kondogbia in the January transfer window and have now decided to return to try and secure his signature this summer.

Old Gold boss Lopetegui is seemingly keen to strengthen his engine room in the off-season and Kondogbia has been identified as someone who 'fits' the bill at Molineux. It is believed that Atletico Madrid expect to accumulate between €5-6 million (£4.2-5.1 million) for the £113k-a-week ace.

According to RMC Sport via Get French Football News, Lyon are also targeting a move for Kondogbia as they look to acquire a defensive midfielder at the Groupama Stadium.

Nevertheless, Lyon will not compete in continental competition next term, which may put a spanner in the works for the French giants in their attempts to land the Central African Republic international.

Football scout and agent Berk Bekgoz recently spoke about the latest state of play involving Kondogbia's future on the Taktik Mania YouTube channel, which translated to:

"Geoffrey Kondogbia will meet with Wolverhampton this week. If an agreement could not be reached, the player's manager made an appointment with Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş. He will come to Istanbul and the meeting will be held."

Speaking to Football FanCast, transfer insider Jones believes that Kondogbia would be an 'interesting' addition at Molineux this summer.

Jones told FFC: "It's an interesting name to be thrown in there. I think that obviously Wolves are looking at a bit of an overhaul in their midfield this summer and so they need some new spirit in there and I think that that could potentially be a name that fits."

Would Geoffrey Kondogbia be a good signing for Wolverhampton Wanderers?

Kondogbia is an experienced figure – hailed a "monster" – who has starred at the elite level for the likes of Inter Milan, Sevilla and Valencia in the past and would be a potential bargain for Lopetegui as he looks to reshape his midfield at the Old Gold.

As per Transfermarkt, the 30-year-old enforcer made 27 appearances in all competitions for Atletico Madrid in 2022/23, registering two goals in the process.

WhoScored also takes into account that Kondogbia was strong in the tackle in La Liga and successfully won around 1.9 challenges per match for his side in the Spanish top-flight.

According to FBRef, the Nemours-born midfielder excelled in comparison to his positional peers across Europe's top five divisions concerning interceptions, nipping in to steal the ball 2.41 times per 90 minutes across the last 365 days, putting him in the first percentile for this metric.

Looking forward, bringing in Kondogbia may be a wise move from Wolves as they eye consolidation in 2023/24 following a close shave with relegation.

Manchester United are unlikely to sign Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane this summer and have given themselves plenty of time to identify alternatives in the transfer market, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest transfer news involving Harry Kane?

According to The Guardian, Manchester United have pulled out of the race to sign Harry Kane this summer due to the 'unrealistic' amount of money that it would take to lure him to Old Trafford.

The report states that Red Devils boss Erik Ten Hag is 'disappointed' that he will not be able to add Kane to his squad; however, he understands that Manchester United need to be realistic when assessing potential transfer incomings.

Renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano has also gave an update regarding the future of Kane, stating on Twitter: "Manchester United are currently looking at other options for new striker as Harry Kane deal is not advancing at all. Man Utd feel Tottenham never wanted to sell Kane to them and have no plans to enter into two-months saga. Rasmus Højlund, one of the names in the list."

Capology understand that Kane earns around £200,000 per week at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on a contract that runs until June 2024.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs thinks that Manchester United have done the right thing by scoping out their chances of getting Kane early in the window rather than entering into a protracted transfer saga.

Jacobs told FFC: "The point of Manchester United moving early to explore the Harry Kane situation was not to be messed around and that was smart because the last thing Manchester United want is a saga over Harry Kane. They had this with Frenkie De Jong last summer and when you are pushing for a player at the value that Kane will be worth, £100 million plus, you obviously have to allocate that budget if you think you've got a realistic chance and as a consequence, if it drags on, it can overshadow other summer activity."

What other strikers have Manchester United been linked with?

As Jones stated, Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund is a target at Old Trafford, though it is believed that the Serie A outfit want to recoup £86 million in order to let go of their rising star this summer, according to The Daily Mail.

Telegraph Sport cite that Brighton & Hove Albion man Evan Ferguson, Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic have also been linked with Manchester United in the window.

The Sun also report that Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos has been offered to Manchester United as their striker search continues to intensify.

Manchester United are likely to be linked with several other targets over the next few months, though Kane is unlikely to be one of them following recent developments.

Steven Gerrard could prove to be an unpopular choice as Leeds United's new manager among supporters, according to journalist Ryan Taylor.

Is Gerrard a front-runner for Leeds job?

The 43-year-old had an unsuccessful spell at Aston Villa earlier in the season, eventually being replaced by Unai Emery, who has ultimately showed him up with a much improved run of results.

Since then, Gerrard has been out of management, instead doing some punditry, but he has emerged as one of the favourites to become Leeds' next boss.

The Whites continue to look for the perfect man to come in and turn their fortunes around, with Championship football coming their way in 2023/24, following a bitterly disappointing Premier League campaign that culminated in relegation.

Gerrard is far from guaranteed the Leeds job, but he is certainly in the conversation, and it is an appointment that could split opinion, should it end up coming to fruition.

Is the jury out on Gerrard to Leeds?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Taylor admitted that Gerrard's failed spell at Villa could make him an unpopular choice, even though he sees benefits behind the appointment:

"I do think Gerrard would be a decent fit. I know that might not be popular among some supporters because of what happened at Villa, but I think it's a different kind of job now. It's a project and something to build.

"I know that was the case at Villa, but their squad was so strong that it's not entirely surprising where they ended up finishing, although I know Unai Emery has done a great job.

"When Gerrard went to Rangers, he built, reasonably, from scratch. I think that's the sort of environment he would be walking into at Leeds as well, so I quite like those appointments. I think Ruben Selles would be a good option as well, but I've not seen any kind of links to Leeds."

There is understandable trepidation when it comes to Leeds potentially appointing Gerrard, given the manner in which things petered out at Villa, following a fairly promising start.

He is yet to properly prove himself in the Premier League or the Championship – he did win the Scottish Premiership title with Rangers, in fairness, which was a great achievement – so it would be more risky than someone like Daniel Farke or Scott Parker, both of whom have achieved that goal, both earning promotion from the latter.

That being said, Gerrard is still a young manager who could end up having a bright future in that aspect of football – his legendary status as a player is undisputed, but that doesn't automatically make you a great boss – so bringing him in certainly wouldn't be a disaster.

Chelsea as a whole this season have resembled a spluttering old car struggling to get out of second gear.

The garage has attempted to give it a facelift and a new lick of paint but the inner parts continue to trouble its owner.

Though, however glum the campaign looked there is a light at the end of the tunnel in the form of several young players tipped for the top.

British record signing Enzo Fernandez has widely been recognised as the new Cesc Fabregas in this Chelsea team, while there is a hope that Mykhailo Mudryk finally comes good out wide.

That said, the Blues can be under no illusions that their ageing midfield and lack of cutting-edge up top is a huge problem.

Todd Boehly is making moves to improve the former though, with Jorginho already moved on in January and N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic tipped for summer departures. Incomings are also being plotted behind the scenes.

What's the latest Chelsea transfer news?

Boehly was moving quickly in the market with a £52m deal for Uruguay colossus Manuel Ugarte initially looking close to completion. Such a move would have calmd the nerves ahead of a window in which they could lose one of their prized possessions; Mason Mount.

However, a move now looks to be in danger with PSG reportedly offering a better package for the player.

Another move on the table could be that of Moises Caicedo, with Chelsea reportedly the favourites to secure a switch that could cost in the region of £90m.

Who do Ugarte and Caicedo play like?

We have already mentioned Fabregas and in the aforementioned targets, incoming boss Mauricio Pochettino could unearth Stamford Bridge's new Kante and Nemanja Matic.

The Blues have struggled to find such a fluid midfield since the days of that trio but the signs are positive that the Londoners could be reborn with some like-minded faces in the middle of the park.

Such a comparison may well be lofty but they are warranted despite the tender ages of 22-year-old Ugarte and 21-year-old Caicedo.

The former has already been compared to Chelsea's current French enforcer by writer Zach Lowy who once said: "Similarly to a younger Kante, there are games where it seems he’s doing the defensive work of two players. He’s relentless."

READ MORE: Chelsea are closing in on an exciting summer signing already

That is shown in the numbers too with the Sporting CP monster winning more tackles (121) than anyone in Portugal's top flight and more tackles (29) than anyone in this season's Champions League.

Winning back the ball is a trait well-known to Kante who by March in the 2020/21 campaign, had made more tackles and interceptions combined than any player in the Premier League.

Caicedo too boasts the ability to win back the ball but his style of play is certainly more similar to the aggressive Matic. In fact, the Ecuadorian is the seventh most similar player to the Serbian veteran in Europe's top five leagues, as per FBref.

The former Chelsea man is now enjoying his football at Roma and has registered some similar statistics to the Brighton youngster.

Although the pairing are comfortable on the ball, they tend to leave the progression of the play to their peers, shown in the fact Caicedo made 43.2 carries per 90 minutes this season to Matic's 44.1.

They also made a very similar number of tackles throughout the 2022/23 campaign with the ex-Blue making 2.32 to the Chelsea target's 2.87 per 90.

Not just content in the defensive phase, they contribute with similar regularity in the final third with the Ecuador international amassing 2.52 shot-creating actions to his peer's 2.41 every 90.

The parallels are clearly there and should Pochettino be able to bring both of these top talents to London this summer, he would be armed with two defensive machines capable of replicating the better days of before at Stamford Bridge.

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has insisted that the club are still hopeful of securing Conor Gallagher on a permanent deal this summer, following his impressive loan stint at Selhurst Park.

What’s the word?

Speaking about the midfielder’s long-term plans, Parish revealed that the Eagles are keen to keep the 22-year-old – who recently claimed the club’s player of the year award – beyond the end of the season, despite the suggestion that he will return to parent club Chelsea next term.

Commenting on the three-cap international’s future, the 56-year-old stated that (quotes via The Athletic): “Conor’s future and that decision lies not with us but with him and Chelsea. They’re the people that have to decide. Once they decide what their choice is, they know where we are and what we want. We’re not going to pretend any different but we’ve got to respect them as a football club because he’s their player.

“At the end of the season he goes back to Chelsea and they’ll make their decision. Based on that, we’ll be there and if everybody thinks it’s the right thing for him to come back then we would love it. If it doesn’t work out, we wish him all the best as well”.

He then went on to add that: “Obviously with Conor, we’ve got to see what we can do there. He’s going back and we’ve got to either replace him or see if we can get him back.”

Vieira will be buzzing

Although it remains to be seen whether Thomas Tuchel will wish to include the £22.5m-rated man in his first-team plans at Stamford Bridge next term, it would seem there is hope renewed that the youngster could still be plying his trade in south, rather than west, London, next term.

In truth, it has been a truly standout campaign for the Blues academy graduate this term – having previously spent the second half of last season on loan at West Bromwich Albion – with the midfield starlet providing eight goals and three assists thus far.

Part of a youthful and exciting outfit under Patrick Vieira, Gallagher has thrived as an all-action presence in the centre of the park, showcasing his ability both in and out of possession.

Dubbed like “N’golo Kante with goals” by talkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino, the £17k-per-week gem seemingly has a boundless energy to impact the game at both ends of the pitch, averaging 2.1 tackles and 0.8 interceptions per game in the top-flight this season.

He also ranks in the top 6% for pressures made among midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, as well as in the top 7 % for touches in the attacking penalty area and in the top 9% for dribbles completed, with there a plethora of strings to his bow it would seem.

With a top-half finish still within reach this term, Vieira’s men will be hoping to go one better next season and mount an attack on the top-six, with having Gallagher in tow likely to make that dream easier to realise.

IN other news, “Agreement close…”: Ornstein drops huge CPFC update that supporters will love