Man United To Battle Clubs For £17m-Rated Goalkeeper

Manchester United are one of three Premier League teams considering a bid to sign Emiliano Martinez this summer, according to Argentinian journalist Gaston Edul.

What is the latest on Emiliano Martinez to Man United?

The Red Devils are set for a busy summer transfer window, with manager Erik Ten Hag having already identified the need for at least two additions in the close season. The former Ajax boss has made it clear that he most definitely wants to bring in a goalscorer, as well as a midfielder.

However, the performances of David De Gea this campaign have also brought the goalkeeping spot to the attention of the boss. A series of errors from the Spaniard has called his ability into question and it is no longer clear as to whether Ten Hag trusts De Gea as his number one option inbetween the sticks with the Premier League outfit.

Whilst a new contract has been offered to the former Atletico Madrid man, the club are now believed to be considering a summer swoop for a new shot-stopper. The latest name to be linked with a switch to Old Trafford is Martinez. According to Argentinian journalist Gaston Edul, the Red Devils have a move in the "pipeline" for the player, with it appearing as "likely" he will be out of the exit door at Villa Park.

Emiliano Martinez

They aren't alone in their interest though, with Chelsea and Tottenham also keeping tabs on the situation according to the report. United then will need to fend off competition from their divisional rivals if they want to snap up the goalkeeper.

Should Man United sign Emiliano Martinez?

If the Red Devils do decide that they want to add another goalkeeper to their ranks this summer, then they could do a lot worse than the Aston Villa shot-stopper, dubbed "amazing" by BBC pundit Ian Wright.

The 30-year-old has generated a 6.89 WhoScored rating so far this season in the Premier League, with the player also being awarded three Man of the Match trophies because of his stellar showings. With eleven clean sheets too, he ranks fifth in the division in that particular stat. Throw in a clean sheet percentage rate of 33.3 (the sixth best) and it's clear that he is one of the better goalkeeping options in the division.

With United trying to ensure they have the best man inbetween the sticks then, Martinez could certainly be an upgrade on De Gea for them.

Arsenal Caught In Major Social Media Storm

Journalist Charles Watts has slammed the media “pile-on” after Arsenal players were criticised for their lack of interaction with a young fan.

What happened between Arsenal players and the young fan?

The Gunners found themselves in the middle of an unexpected social media storm this week after behind scenes footage emerged from their recent trip to West Ham United.

The Premier League encounter did not end well for Mikel Arteta’s team as they went 2-0 up but then conceded twice to draw the game, losing two vital points in their push for the title.

Even so, for one young fan, it was a great opportunity to meet the whole squad and get a shirt signed – as shown in this clip shared by the club’s official Twitter account.

While it seemed like a fairly innocuous video, some people online were disappointed that the Arsenal players didn’t engage with the supporters enough.

For instance, TV presenter Nick Knowles wrote: “I suggest Arsenal you get her and her family back and give your players another go at being decent human beings – admittedly they’d have to be coached into it but it might be something that sticks with some of them if it’s pointed out.”

It developed into a major story – as outlined in the Daily Mail – but journalist Charles Watts has slammed it all as “utterly bonkers”.

Indeed, he took to Twitter to say: “This is so utterly bonkers. A totally unnecessary social media pile-on about a situation no-one had a clue about has created this sh*t show. Such a shame.”

How did this Arsenal social media fiasco end?

Backing up Watts’ point, the father of the young girl has since had to issue a response, saying that his daughter actually really enjoyed the experience.

To make things worse, he later explained that reporters had actually turned up at his house, which has now left him worried about his daughters’ enjoyment of football.

He said: “Thanks everyone for their kind messages today. We’ve tried to explain to my daughter what all the noise is about. Was mostly fine until we had reporters knock on the door. Hoping this doesn’t ruin her interest in Arsenal.”

The damage done by those reporters door-stepping the family home of this young child is no doubt far worse than what was initially causing concern.

It seems as though this has all been a bit of a storm in a teacup and the people online who opted to get offended on behalf of somebody else have actually caused more damage to this unfortunate young supporter than anything the Arsenal players actually did.

Former Rangers Star Would Be Ryan Kent’s Perfect Heir Today

There are several big names at Glasgow Rangers who are approaching the final few months of their current contracts. Players such as Ryan Jack, Alfredo Morelos and Scott Arfield are among a handful who could leave for free during the summer and give Michael Beale a headache in terms of finding replacements.

The most notable player who could depart for nothing is Ryan Kent and despite the winger not being at his best this term, scoring just three times, he has looked resurgent since Beale arrived in November, registering six goal involvements since the ex-QPR man was instated.

Having spent £7.5m on the winger just four years ago, letting him go without recouping at least some of this fee is a major mistake and sums up the club's transfer policy of late.

Thoughts will surely turn to who can be brought in to take over from him on the left wing. If only Beale had a time machine, as the services of former Gers star Peter Lovenkrands wouldn’t go amiss right about now.

Was Peter Lovenkrands a success at Rangers?

The Danish winger was signed by Dick Advocaat back in 2000 for a fee of £1.3m from Akademisk Boldklub as a relatively unknown quantity but developed into one of the finest players for the club during his six-year stint in Glasgow.

After a tough first season, he began to make a name for himself during the 2001/02 campaign, scoring seven goals in all competitions, including a stunning added-time winner against Celtic in the Scottish Cup final, securing the trophy for the Gers.

Having represented Denmark in the 2002 World Cup, Lovenkrands was crucial in leading the Light Blues to the treble in 2003, with his pace and supreme finishing skills causing havoc for opposition defences across the country.

Another title and League Cup followed in 2004/05 and the forward enjoyed one more season at the Ibrox side before joining Schalke on a free transfer in 2006.

The Dane could operate across the front three with ease, although mainly either as a left-winger or centre forward and his goal-scoring ability would certainly make him an upgrade on Kent at this moment in time as he scored 54 in just six years at Rangers.

His record against Celtic was another reason the Ibrox faithful enamoured him, scoring six goals against them overall, and he is still fondly remembered as a result.

The forward finally got a taste of Premier League action in 2008 with Newcastle United and their former striker, Alan Shearer, claimed Lovenkrands “made a big impression” when he arrived at the club.

There is no doubt Lovenkrands in his pomp would be an excellent component of Beale’s side, using his speed and dribbling ability to power through opposition defences. If only the Englishman could turn back the clock 20 years and replace Kent with the great Dane.

Leeds Made 510% Profit On "Wonderful" Legend

Leeds United are a club steeped in tradition and boast a rich history that dates far back, hence why their 16-year absence from the Premier League was so striking.

It marked a fall from grace for one of England's most prestigious clubs, thus making their return in 2020 all the more triumphant.

However, the struggles faced since then have done little to ease fans' worries, as two out of the three campaigns seem destined for a desperate scrap for survival.

It perhaps could have those around the club thinking back to prior successes, of players who had lit up their respective teams and played a big role in forming the fine history they have today.

Whilst to seek out the truly elite former assets you would have to hark back to two decades ago, one of the most prominent figures must be Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink given his instant success and the subsequent profit he made the club.

How much did Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink cost Leeds?

Whilst he was a relative unknown, plying his trade in Portugal, the Whites managed to snag the Dutchman for a fee of just £2m back in 1997.

Handing him his first taste of English football, where he would later star for Chelsea, Middlesbrough and Charlton Athletic, it was in Yorkshire where he initially announced himself as a truly top-class footballer.

jimmy-floyd-hasselbaink-transfer-leeds-united-atletico-madrid

The 50-year-old would score 35 times in just 79 appearances, posting a further 12 assists to further pronounce his greatness. He even earned praise from David O'Leary, who branded him a "wonderful" lad despite their tumultuous relationship which saw him leave the club.

In a recent interview talking about his exit, Hasselbaink told Kammy and Ben's Proper Football Podcast: "I didn't want to leave. I had a great time and I wanted to sign a new contract, a longer contract.

"I had two years left and I was in line to get a new contract, I was doing well. When I came, nobody knew me so my contract was that of an unknown player, but two years later players were getting new contracts.

"They offered me a new contract but it wasn't great. I wasn't one of David O'Leary's favourites. He took over and I think he wanted to get his own team."

In August of 1999, just two short years after first signing, the club would sanction his £12m sale to Atletico Madrid.

Whilst his departure was an upsetting one, given how the 5 foot 10 marksman starred for Leeds, the fact that they had made a startling 500% profit across this period did note a success.

However, as their 2004 relegation would outline, this financial gain would not be enough to offset deeper troubles that were to come.

Everton: Dyche should ditch Calvert-Lewin

Sean Dyche has suggested that Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin won’t be fit for the Toffees’ trip to the Emirates in midweek.

As such, it is time the striker was ditched for good.

Should Everton sell Dominic Calvert-Lewin?

After some impressive performances under Carlo Ancelotti in the 2020/21 Premier League season, which saw the England striker hit 16 goals in just 33 top-flight appearances, it was hoped that he could push on and establish himself as one of the best number nines in the division.

However, he has managed just six Premier League goals since then, including just one in 11 games this season, in what has been another injury-hit campaign for the former Sheffield United man.

Calvert-Lewin spent much of last term on the sidelines when the Toffees were under threat of relegation and history looks to be repeating itself, as he looks set to be absent when Dyche’s side face Arsenal on Wednesday, with the manager suggesting that he doubted he would be fit enough to feature.

The 25-year-old picked up his injury in the 1-0 win over the Gunners in Dyche’s first game and hasn’t featured since, with his prolonged absence clearly impacting the Toffees’ fortunes in front of goal, as they are now the joint-lowest scorers in the division.

Unfortunately, in his rare appearances in the first team, he has done little to suggest that he could be Everton’s saviour this season as they try to fight off relegation to the Championship.

In 11 appearances this campaign, the forward has just one goal and no assists, with WhoScored awarding him a shocking 6.41 rating for his performances.

Alan Shearer didn’t hold back in his criticism of Calvert-Lewin and fellow striker Neal Maupay, who also has just one goal, when discussing Everton’s attacking woes on Match of the Day recently.

He said (via Football 365): “They’re so poor in forward positions. Just look at their centre forwards there, Maupay and Calvert-Lewin in particular. It’s a bit harsh on [Ellis] Simms, but the other two, pretty embarrassing stats those.”

Calvert-Lewin is contracted at Goodison Park until 2025 and regardless of the division Everton find themselves in next season, Dyche should get rid of the striker while he still retains some value, as he clearly cannot be relied upon due to his injury and goalscoring issues.

If Everton do go down this season, fans will rightly look towards their ‘star’ striker for his lack of impact in what has been another hugely disappointing campaign.

No agreement for Saliba contract yet

Journalist David Ornstein has revealed that there is no agreement yet for William Saliba to extend his contract at Arsenal.

What’s the latest on Saliba’s contract?

The Frenchman has been a revelation at the back for Arsenal this season, helping Mikel Arteta’s side reach the top of the Premier League, but he is yet to commit his future to the club.

His current deal runs out in the summer of 2024, but the club have an option to extend this by one year.

Although Saliba joined the club in 2019, he had to wait until this season to make his debut, as the 21-year-old was sent out on a number of loan spells which have proven beneficial.

Speaking on NBC Sports, Ornstein claimed that whilst there is no agreement yet, there isn’t much need for panic, as the defender has expressed his happiness at the club.

“On William Saliba, as I understand it, there is no agreement close as things stand, but that could change,” he stated.

“He has spoken very positively about wanting to stay at Arsenal. So it will all be about trying to strike a deal between himself, his representatives, and of course Arsenal.”

How good has Saliba been for Arsenal?

His loan spells, particularly his successful year at Marseille, helped the young defender gain experience at the top level, and this has been shown through his remarkable composure at the back.

He has formed an excellent partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes, with the pair starting every single league game together, and the France international’s passing ability makes him perfect for Arteta’s system.

Saliba ranks in the top 8% of centre-backs for passes attempted and completed, as well as the top 12% for successful take-ons as per FBref, and this outstanding ability on the ball helps Arsenal play out from the back.

Arsenal have conceded 23 goals in 24 league games, a record bettered only by Newcastle, and Saliba’s return and breakthrough this season has played a huge part in the impressive defensive solidity on display from the league leaders.

Celtic: Starfelt an unsung hero vs Saints

Celtic’s convincing 4-1 win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Sunday saw Carl Starfelt put in another impressive display at the heart of the backline for Ange Postecoglou’s side, with the Sweden international proving vital in warding off any possible fightback from the hosts.

While much of the plaudits will go to the Old Firm outfit’s attacking talents – including midfield maestro Aaron Mooy due to the Aussie’s delightful dinked goal – it was the former Rubin Kazan man who was arguably something of an unsung hero at centre-back, having repeatedly thwarted Callum Davidson’s men.

The 27-year-old has been handed stern competition to be Cameron Carter-Vickers’ first-choice partner following the arrival of Japanese gem Yuki Kobayashi. However, the £19k-per-week titan appears to be in no mood to relinquish his starting berth any time soon, with yesterday’s outing another fine reminder of his quality.

The five-cap Swede produced a particularly dominant performance from his central defensive berth, having effectively ‘marshalled’ opposition striker Stevie May in what was a ‘solid’ showing on the whole, in the words of Glasgow Live’s Lindsay Herron.

The experienced defender had gone into the match having helped the Parkhead giants to secure four successive clean sheets in the Premiership – and also against Greenock Morton and Kilmarnock in both of the cup competitions – and it took a long-range stunner from Drey Wright for the Saints to end that imperious run.

Even despite failing to register another shutout, the Stockholm native was still the recipient of notable praise.

The Celtic Way’s Tony Haggerty awarded the defender an 8/10 match rating, with this verdict cited: ‘The Swede will be bitterly disappointed that his clean sheet run has come to an end but another who defended stoutly and resolutely enough given the tricky underfoot conditions. He does have his moments defensively but it did not detract from another commanding performance where he was certainly dominant in the air.’

That dominance was evidenced by the fact that the 6 foot 1 ace remarkably won seven of his eight duels against the Saints, including six of his seven aerial duels as a marker of his physical prowess.

The former IFK Goteborg man helped to thwart the opposing front line by making five clearances, while also showcasing his strength in possession as he enjoyed a 90% pass accuracy rate from his 127 touches.

That all-round quality unsurprisingly saw the £4.3m defender achieve an impressive match rating of 7.2 from Sofascore, further proving just how crucial he was to securing the Hoops’ 23rd top-flight win of the season.

While there may well be a clamour to see the aforementioned Kobayashi enjoy a regular run in the team, at present Starfelt is showcasing to Postecoglou that he will not be easily displaced.

Tottenham: Spurs players ‘left shocked’ by Matt Doherty exit

Members of the Tottenham squad were ‘left shocked’ by news that former defender Matt Doherty departed permanently on deadline day.

The Lowdown: Doherty joins Atletico…

The Republic of Ireland international, in a dramatic late deadline day twist, joined La Liga giants Atletico Madrid on a six-month permanent deal.

Spurs and the player mutually agreed to the termination of his Lilywhites deal after the club used up their maximin quota of eight squad members they could loan abroad.

FIFA rules say only eight can be on temporary deals in Europe at one time, giving the Premier League side no choice but to cancel Doherty’s contract.

The Latest: Spurs players ‘shocked’…

According to reliable journalist Alasdair Gold, some members of the Spurs squad were left ‘shocked’ after news of Doherty’s permanent exit to Atletico.

He explained:

“Understand Matt Doherty’s Spurs team-mates were left shocked when they heard about the sudden change in his situation on Tuesday.”

The Verdict: Shame…

The 31-year-old, at points during Antonio Conte’s reign, had enjoyed some brilliant performances – most notably toward the back end of last season and before his 2021/2022 injury.

However, this campaign he was largely second-choice to Emerson Royal in the right-wing-back position.

Doherty’s deal was also set to expire in 2024, meaning Spurs were faced with the looming task of deciding his long-term future at the club.

It was perhaps inevitable that the former Wolves star would depart N17 sooner rather than later and one regret Tottenham will have is not acquiring a small fee for his services.

Doherty joined the club from Molineux in 2020 as one of former manager Jose Mourinho’s very first signings but now leaves Spurs in a very surprise fashion just under three years later.

Leeds must unleash Max Wober against Villa

Leeds United return to Premier League action tonight, having rescued their FA Cup run with a late comeback against Cardiff City.

In what is poised to be a tactically diverse match-up, the Whites travel to face Aston Villa, who have seen something of an uplift since the appointment of Unai Emery before the World Cup-enforced break.

It has been a tough time for fans of the Yorkshire club, given how their team are yet to pick up a win in all competitions since the resumption of domestic football three weeks ago. As such, they will want to right those wrongs tonight, and to give themselves the best possible chance of doing so, they will need to employ a solid foundation.

Emery’s teams are known to be solid defensively, so conceding first could be disastrous for Leeds. Therefore, Jesse Marsch must add his newest signing into the mix, having omitted him from the starting line-up which drew at Cardiff.

Max Wober moved to Elland Road ten days ago in a deal worth £10m, and comes with a glowing recommendation from his new manager’s former club Red Bull Salzburg.

Whether it’s Pascal Struijk or Diego Llorente who makes way, the Austrian must now begin the process of acclimatising to his new home.

If he can translate his form with Salzburg into success in England, especially in tonight’s fixture, then it could prove to be one of the signings of the transfer window thus far.

Before moving to Leeds, the 24-year-old had a 7.28 average Sofascore rating. This was upheld by some impressive defensive statistics as he averaged 1.2 interceptions, 1.7 tackles and 2.1 clearances per 90, but more importantly composure on the ball which could be imperative in building attacks.

The centre-back has averaged a 77% pass accuracy and a 63% dribble success rate in 2022/23 (via Sofascore).

The modern defender needs to be able to play out from the back, and it seems their newest acquisition is comfortable in doing so whilst retaining a steely resolve.

Comparing this with the aforementioned Spaniard, who has only managed a 6.67 average rating from Sofascore, it is clear that Wober marks an instant upgrade on Llorente.

What also makes him a tempting option for the game at Villa Park is his robust nature, which could prove instrumental in silencing Danny Ings.

The 30-year-old Villa marksman has six league goals this season, scoring three of those in his last four games under his new boss.

However, having been described as “a leader, a beast one vs one, strong in the air” by journalist Beren Cross, the Austrian defender seems to boast the attributes needed to silence the in-form Ings.

There is no better time than now for Marsch to hand Wober his full Whites debut, in the hope that the 24-year-old can play a big role in securing a fine result on the road.

Hugo Lloris slammed after Spurs defeat

BBC pundit Chris Sutton has slammed Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris after he made a huge blunder in the club’s most recent defeat.

What’s the latest?

It was a day to forget in the Premier League on Sunday for Spurs as they were soundly beaten in front of their own fans by Unai Emery’s Aston Villa.

Goals from Emi Buendia and Douglas Luiz were enough to seal the 2-0 home defeat and the French shot-stopper failed to cover himself in glory for the opening effort.

Indeed, Luiz tried his luck from well over 30 yards but he didn’t hit his strike cleanly as it flew down the middle of the goal. However, Lloris failed to deal with it, fumbling the ball and allowing Ollie Watkins to pounce and set up his teammate.

While talking about it on BBC Radio Show 606, Sutton didn’t hold back on his criticism of the Spurs goalkeeper, highlighting his woeful attempt to prevent the goal

He said of Lloris: “He had a stinker today for the first goal.

“A pretty routine shot, straight at him, which he spilt. And Villa worked it well, Watkins sliding the ball to Buendia.”

Time for a change?

At 36 years of age now, Lloris has been at Tottenham for a over decade having joined from Lyon back in 2012. Since then, he has gone on to become club captain, proving what a great servant he has been.

However, this latest mistake is a reminder that he is getting on a little and it could be time for a change in the near future. Back in December, former goalkeeper Paul Robinson suggested that Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier could be a perfect replacement.

Indeed, he told MOT Leeds News: “From a Tottenham point of view, I’d love for them to test Leeds with a bid and try to sign him.”

Lloris, who was given a 3/10 for his display by Alasdair Gold, was of course recently away in Qatar at the World Cup and lost the final with France and so may still be suffering from some mental and physical fatigue from the tournament.

Even so, at his age, he can’t afford to make many more high-profile errors if he wants to remain at Spurs for the long term.

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