All posts by n8rngtd.top

After Leicester City’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea on Tuesday evening, a result which could see them drop out of the top four places depending on results around them, many Foxes supporters weren’t impressed with the display of midfielder Ayoze Perez.

Brendan Rodgers’ side enjoyed a memorable FA-Cup-winning weekend against Chelsea but could now suffer a dent in their bid to qualify for the Champions League after the west London side took revenge at Stamford Bridge.

Goals from Antonio Rudiger and Jorginho gifted Thomas Tuchel’s men a comfortable lead before substitute Kelechi Iheanacho grabbed one back 15 minutes from full time.

Alas, the Nigerian’s strike wasn’t enough as Leicester came away eventual defeat – and many Foxes fans were left unimpressed with Perez’s performance as one of the factors.

The Spaniard, rated as the lowest performing Leicester player on the night by SofaScore (6.1), failed all of his dribble attempts and won just 3/14 ground duels.

As well as this, Perez conceded possession 13 times and missed a gaping chance to level the game – blasting the ball well over Chelsea’s crossbar.

As a result, many Foxes supporters criticised the 27-year-old on social media – find their verdicts down below.

Leicester fans slam Perez vs Chelsea

“Perez you donkey”

Credit: @Ben03lcfc

“Perez is up there with some of the worst big money signings we’ve ever made. Just sell him in the summer.”

Credit: @t61968423

“Sell Perez I beg”

Credit: @LewisMarriot95

“Awful performance but Perez that’s unforgivable.”

Credit: @Greg_Gibson

“Perez is awful again”

Credit: @paulfern

“Perez should be nowhere near the club! Just another terrible performance from him tonight, lightweight, zero impact and capped it with that dreadful late miss. Waiting for his fans to defend him as usual”

Credit: @MeetTheCritics

“Not surprised by tonight’s tired performance and poor result. Most frustrating is that we had a golden opportunity to steal a point with that Perez chance — but he summed up his terrible performance with a dreadful finish.”

Credit: @MrTomHenman

“Ayoze Perez must be one of the worst Leicester payers I have ever seen. Shocking.”

Credit: @aylottio

In other news: Leicester fans also went wild for this Fabrizio Romano update, find out more here.

After breaking into the Sheffield Wednesday first team, young midfielder Alex Hunt has found himself down the pecking order at Hillsborough, and the club have a big decision to make on him this summer.

The 20-year-old Owls dynamo is out of contract at the end of the season, but according to Yorkshire Live’s Dom Howson, Wednesday have an option to extend his deal for another year.

Given his lack of game-time since Garry Monk’s sacking – he has featured only four times this season – it would be easy for the Yorkshire giants to cast him off on his own, but Darren Moore’s appointment is perfect for situations like this.

As a young, progressive manager, a youngster caught in a career crossroads should be eager to learn under the 46-year-old.

The best-case scenario could be the Owls activating that option – if they stay up, loan him out. If they go down, get him involved regularly. He should be able to adapt far easier at League One level than in the Championship.

Hunt was close to leaving on loan in January but Wednesday were unable to secure a suitable replacement in time. Had that happened, then things may have been very different.

After making his debut last season, Monk waxed lyrical about the Hillsborough graduate, he told The Star: “For me personally I think he’s got a lot of potential,” before adding: “He’s training hard, he’s training well and he’s still got things he can get a bit better at, but he’s growing, he’s young and I want to encourage him. He’s a really good prospect.”

Indeed, many at the Yorkshire outfit spotted that potential from an early age. Hunt captained the under-18 side, and that culminated in the youngster being nominated for the Championship’s Apprentice of the Year award that season.

Perhaps Hunt is a leader in the making, which would suggest he’s capable of one day taking the armband from Barry Bannan, who has been a mentor to him in recent months – only bolstering such a claim.

“I’ve spoken to him and tried to give him advice and he’s on board with that,” said the Owls skipper. “He just needs to play games. I know he’s playing under-23s and that, keeping his fitness up.”

Strong, creative and exciting. That’s just three words used to describe Hunt by The Athletic. They also claim that the 20-year-old has been the ‘player to watch’ from the academy setup, as touted by Bannan, Monk and even former manager Steve Bruce.

“He’s a big part of the future,” Monk added.

Also a boyhood fan of the Owls, there would be nothing better than seeing Hunt emerge into the senior fold in the near future.

Wednesday chairman Dejphon Chansiri ought to sanction his option, and then worry about tying him down for the long-term later down the line.

In Hunt, Moore could have his perfect Bannan heir, and one capable of so much more development.

AND in other news, Sheffield Wednesday handed big injury boost this international break…

According to a report by reliable Tottenham Hotspur correspondent Alasdair Gold, Brighton defender Lewis Dunk has admirers behind the scenes at Spurs – with the Lilywhites eyeing up possible defensive options ahead of the 2021/2022 season. 

Dunk, who has been a mainstay under Seagulls boss Graham Potter this campaign, starting 26 league matches, is apparently on the a list of targets for Spurs as Gold shares news.

Tottenham chiefs eyeing Dunk

Indeed, it is believed that the 29-year-old has admirers within the north London club, coming as Tottenham and the board sound out defensive options.

As Gold explains, Tottenham and chairman Daniel Levy are eager to sign a real leader at the back – with Brighton defender Dunk now emerging as a target.

The 6 foot 3 titan has averaged 3.1 clearances per 90 in the league this season and stands out as a composed head on mature shoulders with his 89% pass accuracy out from the back (WhoScored).

While Dunk doesn’t fit the usual age profile of Tottenham targets, Gold explains that his consistent performances in the league have marked him out – not to mention the fact he is homegrown.

Tottenham’s apparent biggest roadblock is his potential price tag considering he signed a new five-year deal for Brighton last summer – but Transfermarkt currently rate him at around £22.5 million.

Transfer Tavern take

Lauded as a ‘genius’ by former Spurs player and ex-Premier League boss Gus Poyet on Sky Sports (via football daily), there certainly are aspects of Dunk’s game to admire, but it remains to be seen whether the Lilywhites shore up this interest with a concrete move.

In other news: Tottenham could be without this ‘phenomenal’ star for Newcastle, find out more here.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Rob Lee, who is a Newcastle United Hall of Famer, has revealed that Alan Shearer advised Steve Bruce to not take the manager’s job on multiple occasions.

Bruce was the man Mike Ashley chose to replace Rafa Benitez in 2018 and forked out £4 million in compensation to Sheffield Wednesday to bring his man to Tyneside.

In two seasons, Bruce has amassed a win ratio of 29.1% which is the worst of any team he has managed throughout his career and this has not helped him to win over the Newcastle fans, who overwhelmingly want him to be sacked.

Speaking on what all-time top scorer Shearer advised Bruce not to do and why he feels sorry for the ex-Sunderland manager, Lee told FFC:

“I feel a little bit sorry for Steve Bruce but listen, he did manage Sunderland and play for Manchester United, who stopped us from winning the league.

“Yes, he did 100% speak to Alan and most people advised him not to, and certainly Alan told him ‘don’t do it’, but he wanted to because he’s a Geordie.”

Despite aiming for a top-half finish to emulate the mighty Rafa Benitez, Bruce has seen Newcastle slide towards the relegation zone and sit just two points above the drop.

Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin are now back in training which will be a welcome boost for Bruce’s side.

Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender denied LA Galaxy talisman Riqui Puig from the penalty spot 10 minutes into their match Sunday evening.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Inter Miami draw LA Galaxy 1-1
• Callender denied Puig from the spot
• Messi net late equalizer

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The former Barcelona ace – who was once dubbed 'the next Messi' – had his penalty kick saved by the U.S. international just 10 minutes into their match. The Galaxy earned the spot kick after Sergio Busquets brought down MLS debutant Joseph Paintsil in the box, after the Ghanaian made a brilliant run towards the net.

  Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games now

Advertisement

• WATCH THE CLIP

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Puig was the Galaxy's best player last campaign, and likely the individual you wanted taking that spot kick. However, Callender read his attempt like a book, diving perfectly to deny him an opener.

  Inter Miami fans shouldn't have been surprised to see their goalkeeper stand on his head early in the match, knowing that he denied Atlanta United's World Cup winner Thiago Almada from the spot last Summer in the Leagues Cup for the Herons as well.

  The crucial save ended up being what secured Inter Miami a point in the end, too. They drew the Western Conference side 1-1 to remain undefeated through two games this season.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR INTER MIAMI?

  Callender and Inter Miami take on Orlando City next weekend in their third match of the season. Their South Florida rivals will look to earn bragging rights, while the Herons will be looking for their second home win of the campaign.

Spain's victory over Netherlands in their UEFA Women's Nations League semi-final secured La Roja a place at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Spain's women qualify for Olympics
• Victory in Nations League semi-final
• Optimism for 2024 after tough 2023

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Jenni Hermoso and Aitana Bonmati each scored in the first half against the Dutch, with Barcelona full-back Ona Batlle adding a third later on to secure a 3-0 win. Only one Olympic qualifying place was originally going to be available through the Women's Nations League finals – to be awarded to the overall winner. But with France victorious in the other semi-final against Germany and having already qualified as hosts, it means that Montse Tome's Spain automatically now get that place before the final has been played.

Advertisement

• WHAT TOME SAID

  Tome said after taking Spain through to the Olympics for the first time in their history: "We took charge in a difficult moment that nobody wanted and we took a step forward. We are proud of the work we have done. This team deserves to play an Olympic Games after all the prior generations who fought for it and came up short."

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Spain's World Cup win last summer was ultimately overshadowed by the scandal that erupted when the now disgraced former RFEF president Luis Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips without her consent after the final. He has since been banned from all football-related activities by FIFA until late 2026 and it has been proposed by a judge in Spain that he faces criminal trial on charges of sexual assault and coercion. Former head coach Jorge Vilda also stands accused of coercion and was sacked in the wake of the World Cup triumph, having previously seen 15 players refuse to be called up in the year prior due to problems with the regime. There was an even bigger player walkout after the World Cup and Tome, formerly assistant coach to Vilda, was left to pick up the pieces after being promoted to the top job.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Women's football at the Olympics is a far bigger deal than in the men's game, with no restrictions on age meaning that countries are free to pick all of their best players – the only limit is a smaller squad size (18) than other competitions. It is therefore much more more akin to a World Cup than the counterpart Under-23 junior tournament seen with the men.

Leeds United must reignite their pursuit of Rangers winger Ryan Kent in this upcoming summer transfer window.

What’s the story?

It was confirmed last summer by Gers boss Steven Gerrard that the Premier League side had a bid rejected by the Ibrox outfit, and that Leeds’ initial bid was nowhere near their valuation.

While a deal failed to materialise before the end of the transfer deadline, former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips has now suggested that, with Rangers’ title success this season, Leeds may be back in for the £20,000-a-week ace this time around.

Speaking to Football Insider, Phillips said: “I think there will be a few teams sniffing around a few of the Rangers players. It’s just natural. How many times have we seen it over the years? If you go up there and do well then your next move is to the Premier League.

“Ryan Kent, Leeds have obviously been linked with him and made moves for him before. He’s a Scottish champion now so why would Leeds not look at it again? He’s certainly a player that a lot of Premier League teams will be looking at. The big job for Stevie G is to convince him to stay and go again.”

Imagine him and Raphinha

One of the shining lights of Leeds’ return to the Premier League has been Raphinha, with the Brazilian lighting up Elland Road with a series of eye-catching displays in his debut campaign in English football – he’s already managed six goals and five assists in the top flight alone.

The winger has been a real livewire down the flank, but one thing Marcelo Bielsa could surely do with is having someone similarly as explosive and exciting on the opposite wing, especially with question marks over the form of Helder Costa and Jack Harrison.

In Kent, Leeds could find exactly that.

Neil Dewsnip, his former coach at England under-17 level, said: “What he was, is what he still is. Very attack-minded, aggressive with the ball running at people, very effective cutting in onto his right foot. Although he was a late developer physically, he had great balance and co-ordination to go past players, so those skills were already embedded from an early age. What he’s done is add a bit of power to that.

“He seems to relish the atmosphere, so I think he’s in the bracket of players who think ‘the bigger the better’. Ryan is very exciting so, when he’s good he’s devastatingly good. But that’s a trait of a lot of wide players. The challenge is to be consistent and I’m sure that’s what Steven and his staff will be working to achieve.”With a truly impressive total of 11 goals and 13 assists in all competitions this season for the Gers, Kent has been a real success for Gerrard’s men as they wrestled the league title away from Celtic.If Leeds are looking for someone who like Raphinha, is as exciting as they come but also has a real end product to his game, then they should look no further than going after Kent once again this summer.

Meanwhile, Leeds could find a Pablo Hernandez replacement in this ace…

Marcos Alonso is reportedly set to choose between a Premier League return or a move to Saudi Arabia when leaving Barcelona in 2024.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Experienced defender seeing deal run down
• January move being speculated on
• Several options to consider

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The experienced full-back will see his contract at Camp Nou expire next summer. No extension has been discussed, with the expectation being that Barca will look to get another wage off their books. There are murmurs of a switch being sanctioned in January.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Former Bolton and Chelsea star Alonso was linked with Manchester United over the summer, and the Red Devils may choose to rekindle their interest. According to , the 32-year-old defender is also attracting admiring glances from the Middle East.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Alonso could be presented with an opportunity to join the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in Saudi Arabia, with several sides in that region prepared to do a deal. It is, however, reported that the Spain international wants to see out the 2023-24 campaign in Catalunya first.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR ALONSO?

  He intends to compete for minutes with Alejandro Balde and Joao Cancelo. Another big decision on his future will be made at the end of the season, with interest from England and Saudi Arabia not going away.

Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma has reportedly requested to leave the Amex Stadium this summer, acting as a potential transfer boost to Liverpool.

The Lowdown: Bissouma catching Liverpool’s eye

The Seagulls may have struggled this season, battling with relegation throughout the campaign, but Bissouma has consistently stood out in Graham Potter’s side.

The 24-year-old has been linked with a summer move to Liverpool, being seen as a possible replacement for Gini Wijnaldum, who could leave in a few weeks’ time.

[freshpress-quiz id=“355458″]

The Latest: Bissouma hands in transfer request

According to The Times, Bissouma has asked Brighton to allow him to leave in the summer transfer window, no doubt alerting the Reds.

Both Manchester City and Arsenal are also mentioned in the report, as well as Marseille, suggesting there could be a battle for the Mali international’s signature.

It is even stated that Jurgen Klopp has ‘spent time personally researching Bissouma’s character’, such is his level of interest in the player.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/all-the-latest-liverpool-news/” title=”All the latest Liverpool news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Liverpool should move for Bissouma

Assuming Wijnaldum does move on at the end of the season, Bissouma looks like a tailor-made replacement for the Dutchman, having been described as ‘incredible’ by former Brighton teammate Dale Stephens in the past.

He possesses a huge amount of energy in the middle of the park and the defensive side of his game stands out the most, with the Malian averaging 2.8 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per game in the league this season.

In comparison, Wijnaldum has averaged just 0.6 and 0.7 respectively, which suggests that Bissouma could offer more tenacity than the current Liverpool ace.

The Brighton midfielder is also enjoying an 87.1% pass completion rate, which is impressive considering that he is playing for a bottom half club and suggests that he could thrive in Klopp’s system if the Reds can snap him up.

In other news, some Liverpool fans have been criticising one Reds player’s performance in the 2-0 win over Southampton. Read more here.

Daniel Levy could repeat something he’s done before as Tottenham Hotspur’s managerial hunt takes a new twist…

What’s the word?

According to the Sunday Mirror (2nd May 2021, page 69), current interim boss Ryan Mason is under consideration for the vacant Spurs role on a permanent basis.

It’s thought that the 29-year-old, who was appointed on a temporary basis to replace Jose Mourinho until the end of the season, is now a genuine contender as there’s a growing belief that giving him the job would appease the fanbase.

They also claim that Daniel Levy and the Spurs hierarchy haven’t given up hope of convincing Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers, whilst Roberto Martinez and Nuno Santo also feature on his shortlist.

Shades of Jol

This would certainly be a bold and interesting move, but we shouldn’t be surprised if it does come to fruition as it has happened before in N17.

Martin Jol was never supposed to become manager of Spurs, it – kind of just fell on his lap.

Back in the summer of 2004, the Dutchman was appointed as Jacques Santini’s assistant manager but the Frenchman soon resigned after just 13 matches in charge and Jol was confirmed as their next head coach.

Mason’s playing career was tragically cut short and having come through the academy system at Hotspur Way, the North London outfit offered him a chance at forging a coaching career.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-latest-spurs-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-managerial-update-levy-mason-mourinho-sacked” title= “Read the latest Spurs news, transfer rumours, managerial gossip and more!”]

He first joined in 2018 before being appointed U19 academy coach in 2019, and then head of player development U17 to U23 in August 2020. It does speak volumes that Levy has trusted him with such a huge role, though there is clearly some natural progression going on.

Under his tenure so far, Spurs have won two out of two Premier League games and lost the Carabao Cup final, so it’s not the worst start imaginable, especially given the latter occasion was only his second-ever match in senior management.

Ex-Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino once backed Mason to have a big future in management. He told the club’s official website back in 2018 (via the Metro):

“He will be great in football and he’s going to be a manager or whatever he wants to do because he’s such a clever person. He’s got a football brain. He’s had success in football as a player and he’s going to succeed in everything that he wants to do in the future.”

High praise indeed and merely a little insight into why Levy could be truly considering him full-time. Mason, unlike many candidates, at least knows what the football club means, too.

Whether it’s the right move or not remains to be seen but you wouldn’t call Jol’s time a complete disaster, so perhaps Spurs could feel see shades of the Dutchman back at the club by hiring a former member of the coaching staff straight into the hotseat.

AND in other news, Forget Bale: Spurs beast who had 111 touches was an unsung hero in Sheff Utd whitewash…