Tag Futebol

Aston Villa fans have spotted Indiana Vassilev in team training at Bodymoor Heath. 

Back in July, Vassilev joined Major League Soccer outfit Inter Miami on loan.

But their season came to an end in early November after they finished in 11th place in the Eastern Conference and therefore failed to progress to the play-offs.

Vassilev made 21 appearances for the Florida-based outfit, scoring three goals.

It seems, from footage posted by @AVFCOfficial, that he’s now returned to the Midlands to rejoin his parent club.

What does the future hold for Vassilev?

New manager Steven Gerrard will no doubt run the rule over the American, but Villa could potentially look to secure another loan move for him when the transfer window opens in January.

The 20-year-old has had six outings for Villa’s senior team to date, four of which have come in the Premier League.

He’s a strikingly versatile player, able to operate on either flank, as a centre forward and even as an attacking midfielder.

These Villa fans spot Vassilev in training

“Is that Vassilev?”

Credit: @HarryAVFC_

“Is that Indi Vassilev talking to Konsa at the start of the video?”

Credit: @KevinCorAvfc

“Wait Vassilev?”

Credit: @1874Jacob

“I wonder if he’ll get a chance now he’s back”

Credit: @doc3d

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“Since when was Vassilev back?”

Credit: @1874dan

“Anyone else spot Vassilev in this video? Wonder if he’ll be given a chance in the first team”

Credit: @AstonDrilla

In other news, Steven Gerrard wants this left-back.

Aston Villa will look at a move for Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie in January, according to The Sun’s Alan Nixon.

The Lowdown: McKennie links

McKennie was actually linked with a late move to Villa Park last month. Labelled as a ‘rock’ by former Juve manager Andrea Pirlo, Villa were reportedly ready to satisfy the Serie A club’s €30m (£25.7m) valuation for the USA international.

As we know, a dramatic last-gasp swoop never materialised, but it appears as if Johan Lange has already made the 23-year-old a winter transfer window target at Villa Park.

The Latest: Nixon claim

According to The Sun, Aston Villa remain keen on McKennie, who has been told by Juventus that he is free to leave the Allianz Stadium as soon as possible.

A January move to Villa Park could be explored, with no club willing to seal a loan with an obligation to buy the midfielder in the summer.

The Verdict: Central midfield a priority?

Villa allowed Conor Hourihane to leave for Sheffield United on loan late in the summer transfer window, leaving Dean Smith with five senior central midfield options plus youngster Carney Chukwuemeka.

While that may seem plenty, Villa regularly use three central midfielders in 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 systems, so bringing in another player in that area could be a wise move.

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If they don’t, and one or two of their current options get injured, they could be down to the bare bones in the middle, which is not exactly ideal for such an important area of the pitch. Hopefully they might explore a move for McKennie again in January, especially if midfield options become sparse by then.

In other news: Aston Villa announce the signing of ‘creative’ free agent; has the same agency as Konsa and Steer.

The transfer saga that is agonising for Newcastle United fans before serious talk has even started is Joe Willock, and everyone who watched him during his loan spell on Tyneside knows the Magpies have to sign him permanently – former defender Steve Howey hopes talks have already started.

Willock managed to change the way the Magpies attacked games as his ability and willingness to arrive late into the box allowed Allan Saint-Maximin to release the ball earlier and not have to dribble past as many defenders as he could to cut the ball back.

It has been widely reported that Newcastle are very much interested in bringing Willock back to St James’ Park and a fresh twist has emerged that Steve Bruce could look to offer Freddie Woodman as part of any potential deal for the midfielder.

It would be a huge blow for Bruce if he wasn’t able to bring back Willock who he clearly had a great relationship with, and if there is any chance of a deal getting done before pre-season friendlies begin, talks must already be underway and Howey certainly hopes this is the case – as he exclusively told Football FanCast:

“You would have thought that there’s already been a conversation between the clubs, Arteta and Bruce, to say this is what the fee will be as we want to offload him.”

Willock was reportedly available for £20 million this summer but with seven goals in his last seven appearances for the Magpies, it would be widely expected and acceptable if that fee had increased slightly.

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At the end of the season, Mikel Arteta was asked about the future of Willock and he claimed that his future was being sorted and organised to remain at Arsenal but there remains hope on Tyneside that a deal can be done.

Celtic’s season is done and dusted and for the first time in over a decade, a campaign will end without a trophy entering the Parkhead cabinet.This has been a season to forget for the Bhoys as they’ve not only lost their grasp on the league but also their stranglehold over the cup.The Hoops will now go back to the drawing board and ramp up their search for a new manager. After all, the showing from their interim coach hasn’t been too impressive.Celtic may have defeated Livingston 6-0 last time out but as they travelled to Ibrox, it was their turn to be swept aside.It was an afternoon to forget for John Kennedy’s team who were knocked out of the Scottish Cup at the hands of Rangers following a 2-0 loss.The visitors had plenty of chances, namely through Odsonne Edouard. He missed a golden opportunity to score in the second half before he also saw a penalty saved.That moment just about summed up what was a torrid day for Celtic. Although they failed to find the net, they were arguably worse from a defensive point of view.Diego Laxalt was turned inside out by Joe Aribo for the Gers’ second goal but Jonjoe Kenny didn’t particularly set the world alight either.In fact, in the two Old Firm matches he’s now played in, the defender has been particularly abject.[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-celtic-manager-and-transfer-news-howe-lampard-klimala-ajer-gossip” title= “Read the latest Celtic manager and transfer news!”]Last month it was Kenny’s woeful back pass that led to the corner from which Alfredo Morelos scored but on this occasion, he was even worse.The Everton loanee set the tone from the very first goal. Rangers broke down the right-hand side and with Laxalt caught further up the pitch they had the whole of that flank to attack.Consequently, Aribo was able to move into the area and then fire a shot towards goal. It was deflected into the path of Steven Davis who fired home acrobatically. The reaction was slow from Kenny, who should have done more to prevent the shot from even taking place.His arduous day was then typified for the second strike, putting the ball into the back of his own net.The creator was Aribo again as he got down the right once more and then fired in a dangerous cross for Ryan Kent. However, as the winger looked to slide the ball home it came off Kenny and found its way past Scott Bain.The defender failed to track Kent which would have done a lot to prevent the goal from occurring.

Kenny was given a scathing assessment by plenty during the game. Speaking on Premier Sports’ live coverage of the match, John Harton said he was “absolutely nowhere†for the goals.

Celtic podcaster Paul John Dykes added on A Celtic State of Mind that the loanee had a “horror showâ€, describing it as a “nightmare of a first-half†for the 24-year-old.

After his first two Old Firm matches, Kenny will be sweating over the prospect of having to play another one at the beginning of May.

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AND in other news, McGinn 2.0: Celtic will always rue not signing 107-cap star, he’s “out of this world”…

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Newcastle United man has been speaking about Tottenham Hotspur and their reported interest in Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Florian Neuhaus.

Spurs have been linked with the German international in recent weeks, and he has been touted as someone who could potentially replace Dele Alli at the North London club, should he complete a loan move to PSG before next Monday’s deadline.

The 23-year-old has been solid in the Bundesliga so far this season, having contributed three goals and four assists in 17 appearances, which has seen him average a 6.94 rating.

He was also superb in Marco Rose’s side’s Champions League group stage matches, averaging a 7.28 rating across his six appearances in Europe’s most prestigious club competition, so it is no surprise that sides such as Spurs, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich are taking an interest in the young midfielder.

Here’s what Lee had to say about Neuhaus when speaking exclusively to FFC:

“He’s a great player. He gets forward and scores goals. Maybe Dele’s going to go in the summer, which he probably should do. Maybe he could be a replacement for Alli.”

As Lee suggests, Neuhaus is developing a reputation for scoring goals from midfield, having now scored five goals in all competitions this season.

He has also managed six assists in that time, which means he is closing in on the nine goals and six assists Alli managed in all competitions last season, despite Neuhaus playing much more as a box-to-box midfielder.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-spurs-news-and-rumours” title=”Read the latest Spurs news, transfer rumours, injury latest and more!”]

Should Alli join PSG on loan this month, or leave in the summer, Spurs may need to bring in a goalscoring threat to replace him, with only Tanguy Ndombele having scored more than once in the Premier League of Mourinho’s central midfield options this season.

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Therefore, it seems as if the £25.2 million-rated man would be a strong addition to Mourinho’s side both now and for the long-term future, although Daniel Levy will have to see off some serious competition if he wants to bring him to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

And, in other news… Forget Di Maria: Levy can sign Jose a goalscoring winger; he won’t cost a penny

Even though their season wasn’t crowned with any silverware in the end, Inter Milan were still quite successful overall. Alongside the surging Atalanta, they pushed Juventus to the final days of Serie A and were a genuine threat to their domestic dominance.

But Antonio Conte might still have to revamp the squad if they are to move forward and according to Sport Mediaset (via Sempre Inter), the Nerazzurri are willing to sell their prized asset, Milan Skriniar, and Tottenham Hotspur are among the teams who have taken a liking to the defender.

The Slovakian star has seemingly slipped down the pecking order over in Italy and that could make him available in the ongoing summer transfer window. Alongside Spurs, teams like Real Madrid, Manchester City and Manchester United were mentioned, meaning Jose Mourinho could face stern competition for the centre-back’s signature.

For that reason, he’s willing to sweeten the deal by potentially including Tanguy Ndombele in the negotiations, as the same source claims, in an attempt to maybe lower the Italian’s asking price of €50m (£45.2m).

Still, the papers don’t exactly say whether this is a deal that Inter would indeed accept but it is a way for Mourinho to make it a bit more attractive if nothing else.

It would be quite difficult for Spurs to compete with the likes of Real, City and United financially so this could be the way to go for the Special One and his crew.

Only time will tell how successful they’ll be in that.

Verdict

He may have fallen down the pecking order just a bit but Skriniar is still very much a top-quality defender who would undoubtedly boost Spurs’ backline. After all, they are in need of reinforcements and this signing could be a big statement for the Premier League side.

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But first, however, they will have to fend off other European giants and convince Inter they are the club to do business with.

As Liverpool close in on a historic Premier League title, naturally, a lot of the plaudits have gone towards Jurgen Klopp and his players – after all, these are the men doing the business on the pitch.

Former Red, Jan Molby, even remarked that “in the big scheme of things”, they would go down as “one of the best football teams we have ever seen”. Quite the impressive statement to make, but when looking at how the Merseyside outfit remain unbeaten after 27 Premier League games, it doesn’t seem so outlandish.

But when the title does eventually make its way to Anfield this season, perhaps those who are rushing to praise the Reds should look to steer some of the limelight to a man who has been working in the shadows: Michael Edwards.

Watch Liverpool Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

Liverpool’s sporting director is rarely seen in the public eye, but has been a major part of why Klopp’s men have risen to the summit of both English and European football in recent times.

Whilst ensuring you have a top-level coach like Klopp who can get the best out of his players is important, bringing the right players in – both in terms of their technical quality and attitude – is similarly vital. And the Reds have absolutely nailed this to perfection under Edwards.

When they’ve splashed the cash, they have done so wisely, and on players who are now performing key roles for the team. The likes of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson have arrived in moves worth more than a combined £100m, but have justified their price tags with aplomb – the Reds have the best defensive record in the league with just 17 goals conceded.

Can you remember how much each of these transfer icons cost? Only experts will get 100% on our quiz…

But they haven’t just got their big-money signings right either. Andy Robertson, at an initial £8m from Hull, is the prime example of getting more than what you paid for. Despite playing at left-back, he has managed seven assists across all competitions this season, including one each in wins over Manchester United and Manchester City this season.

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Edwards has been the mastermind behind Liverpool’s superb transfer activity, and it’s exactly why the Reds have him to thank for. The likes of Klopp and Van Dijk may be at the top of the list when it comes to people singing their praises, but the Reds should not forget the incredible contributions their sporting director has made, away from the spotlight.

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s chase for this striker is “in Jurgen Klopp’s hands”.

Mikel Arteta is now driving Arsenal’s move to sign Scott McTominay, with the manager of the belief the Scot would be the perfect addition to his midfield, and Napoli’s asking price has been revealed.

Arteta is already blessed with a wide array of options in central midfield, having signed Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi in the summer, while Declan Rice also continues to impress, receiving plaudits from Gary Neville after the recent 4-1 North London derby victory.

Neville said: “The only player you would be worried about losing for a period of time would be Declan Rice because you cannot replace that,”

“That is your Roy Keane, that is your Rodri, the player that holds you together. There is only one of them.”

However, despite strengthening considerably in the summer, the Gunners have struggled injury-wise this season, with Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus being ruled out against Tottenham Hotspur, meaning Mikel Merino had to lead the line.

As such, it could be a wise idea to bring in another central midfielder in the transfer window, and Arteta is personally a fan of a Serie A star…

Arteta driving Arsenal move for Scott McTominay

According to a report from Spain, Arteta believes McTominay could be the ideal addition to his midfield, with Arsenal closely monitoring the Napoli star’s performances over the past few months.

The Spanish manager rates the Scotland international highly due to his ability and press forward, and there are signs that a deal could be possible, though Andrea Berta will have to stump up £60m.

The 28-year-old is under contract until 2029, meaning Napoli are in a strong negotiating position at present, but interest from elsewhere is growing, with Manchester United also joining the race to re-sign their former player.

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The Napoli star has certainly taken his career to new heights since leaving Old Trafford, with football writer Mark Carruthers praising him for the part he played in the Serie A side winning the title last season.

The former Man United man displayed his attacking quality as Napoli went on to win the league, picking up 12 goals and six assists in 34 Serie A outings, and he recently scored a remarkable bicycle kick as Scotland beat Denmark 4-2 to qualify for the World Cup.

It may be difficult for McTominay to force his way into the Arsenal starting XI ahead of Rice and Zubimendi, but he would certainly provide Arteta with fantastic depth in the middle of the park.

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As Bayern Munich step up their pursuit of Luis Diaz, Liverpool are now at risk of losing another star man amid reports that one European club are now readying an improved offer for his signature.

Bayern Munich submit opening offer to sign Diaz

With just two years remaining on his current deal, Diaz’s immediate Anfield future has been thrown into doubt courtesy of interest from Bayern Munich. The German giants have reportedly submitted an offer worth just £45m to sign the South American and have unsurprisingly been told that the winger is not for sale, especially at that price.

Given that Diaz, himself, is reportedly keen on the move though, it will certainly be interesting to see whether Liverpool’s stance changes in the coming weeks. If it does, then the Reds could reportedly demand around €80m (£69m) to sanction the Colombian’s exit ahead of next season.

It’s a transfer saga which could force Liverpool back to the market for incomings in unexpected fashion. Just who they would turn to as a replacement for Diaz is the unanswered question, however.

Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon reportedly remains a target following long-standing interest and the Magpies’ decision to sign Anthony Elanga may at least leave the door ajar for the Reds to make their move for the Liverpool-born winger.

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Meanwhile, as interest in Diaz begins to steal the headlines, the exit door could also be about to open for another Anfield star in the coming weeks.

Napoli readying fresh £48m Nunez bid

According to Caught Offside, Napoli are now readying a fresh offer to sign Darwin Nunez from Liverpool this summer. The Italian giants have already reportedly agreed personal terms with the Uruguay international and are now preparing a bid worth more than €55m (£48m) to secure his arrival ahead of next season.

Like Diaz, however, Liverpool value Nunez at more than £48m this summer. In fact, reports are suggesting that the Premier League champions could demand as much as €70m (£61m) to sanction the South American’s exit. Whether Napoli agree with that hefty valuation remains to be seen.

Whilst there’s no denying that Nunez’s Anfield spell hasn’t gone the way anyone would have wanted, the forward has still had some important moments, with late goals against Brentford and Nottingham Forest particularly standing out.

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Ultimately, however, a departure is best for all parties as the Red continue to chase a deal for Hugo Ekitike and, therefore, an instant upgrade on their struggling forward.

Darwin Nunez

Liverpool record (via Transfermarkt)

Appearances

143

Goals

40

Assists

26

Once dubbed “wonderful” by former manager Jurgen Klopp, Nunez now seems destined to leave Liverpool after just three seasons at the club.

As Manchester City look to commence their summer rebuild, they’ve reportedly set their sights on a Champions League star who those at the Etihad already know all about.

Man City transfer news

For the first time in a decade, the Citizens are in need of an overhaul. Whilst the amount of injury setbacks that they’ve suffered has shocked many, those injuries have simply been a consequence of their success on all fronts in the last four seasons. Not even Pep Guardiola’s side can outrun the eventual exhaustion of winning four Premier League titles in a row and a treble along the way, and they’re now suffering from that success.

What that success has done, however, is put them in a position to welcome some much-needed reinforcements this summer and, with that in mind, the Citizens have already reportedly set their sights on one target.

According to reports in Spain, Manchester City are now plotting a summer move to sign Michael Olise from Bayern Munich in what would see the winger return to the Premier League just one season after leaving Crystal Palace.

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The winger has only kicked on at Bayern Munich in what should come as little surprise. The Frenchman is as talented as they come and whilst the likes of Jeremie Doku have struggled for end product at Manchester City, Olise has been firing on all cylinders in front of goal.

At just 23 years old, the best is yet to come from Olise, who may well find the form of his career back in English football, with Guaurdiola seeing him as a perfect fit in Manchester.

"Special" Olise would replace Doku

In many ways, Doku’s recent performance in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Premier League leaders Liverpool perfectly encapsulated the best and worst of his talent.

Whilst he ran Trent Alexander-Arnold ragged, it was ultimately the right-back who came out on top after the Belgian failed time and time again to produce the killer pass needed after an impressive take-on – much to City’s frustration. Mohamed Salah at the other end, meanwhile, was decisive without those take-ons.

Finding players who are both clinical and skilful is rare, but City are certainly looking in the right direction in search of that. Olise even showcased those very traits to silence the Etihad when he scored a 95th-minute penalty to secure a shock 2-2 draw for Palace against Manchester City last season.

Since reaching new levels at Bayern – scoring 13 goals and assisting a further 12 in all competitions – manager Vincent Kompany has been full of praise for his summer signing.

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The former Manchester City captain told reporters earlier this season: “He’s a special talent. It’s a luxury at Bayern to have so many good players. Michael did very well.

“His start at FC Bayern couldn’t have been much better. He has to keep going. I haven’t got the feeling that he’s a player who feels much pressure. He just enjoys football.”