All posts by z3u9t.icu

Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun has issued Mikel Arteta "an ultimatum" regarding his future at the club, claims journalist Paul Brown.

Arsenal transfer news – what's going on with Folarin Balogun?

After an unbelievable season with Ligue 1 side Stade Reims last year, Arsenal have a decision to make regarding the future of the exciting American prospect.

The New York-born player has made it clear to the wider footballing world that after getting a taste for regular first-team football in France, he doesn't want to go back to being a backup option, nor does he want to spend another year on loan – he either wants the number nine spot in North London, or he wants to leave, permanently.

While there was an assumption that this was how he felt after his comments about feeling "appreciated" upon switching his national allegiance to the US, it was made crystal clear after he spoke to reporters following a USMNT game.

"What I can say is that I definitely won't go out on loan again."

With Arteta favouring Gabriel Jesus as the team's main number nine, a sale of the player is now probably the most likely outcome, and with the price tag reported to be only £35m by football.london, there are plenty of suitors.

According to FootballTransfers, West Ham United have made the signing of the American star a 'priority' this summer as they look to solve their goal-scoring problems.

Outside the Premier League, Leipzig are said to be keen on the player, as are Champions League runners-up Inter Milan and cross-city rivals AC Milan.

Adding to all the drama, Balogun recently Tweeted “It is time!” alongside an egg timer emoji before then deleting the post from social media.

What has journalist Paul Brown said about Folarin Balogun's situation?

Brown made it clear that a decision must be made regarding Balogun this summer and that decision has almost been forced upon the club by the player himself as he is desperate to be the main man somewhere.

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: "He did kind of issue them with a bit of an ultimatum by saying that he does not want to go out on loan again next season. So, it was kind of a play me or sell me really statement from Balogun, as he has thrown the gauntlet down to Arteta, and it'll be interesting to see what he does."

How good was Folarin Balogun last season?

All of this attention and speculation has come about as a result of a fantastic season for the American last year.

In just 37 Ligue 1 appearances for Reims, Balogun scored a seriously impressive 21 goals and assisted another three, giving him a goal contribution on average every one-and-a-half games.

According to WhoScored, he averaged a rating of 6.90 across those 37 matches, making it perhaps unsurprising that Arteta referred to him as "special" earlier this year.

The underlying numbers back up the Spaniard's assessment as well.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, he sits in the top 7% for non-penalty expected goals, 9% for total shots, and 19% for touches in the opposition's penalty area.

It certainly looks like the US national team have a world-class talent on their hands, and whichever team takes him off of Arsenal's hands could have a bright future spearheaded by the American.

Before the time of social media, players and pundits didn’t get as many chances to go back and forth. A pundit would express their opinion and a player would have to hit back either through an interview or an awkward in-person interaction.Nowadays, however, pundits have to be careful just who they take aim at because it could result in a back and forth on Twitter late in the evening on a random Tuesday night. At least, this was the case recently for Chris Sutton and Todd Cantwell.

How did Todd Cantwell perform at Rangers last season?

Joining Rangers in January, Cantwell didn’t quite set the world alight last season, scoring just twice in 11 appearances as Rangers lost out on the Scottish Premiership title.

One positive to note, however, is the fact that the midfielder made four assists in those 11 appearances from midfield, which is something to take into the next campaign.

Cantwell will also be looking to get one over on their Old Firm rivals. Last season, with the Gers, he lost to Celtic in the Scottish League Cup, the Scottish FA Cup, as well as in the league with the title on the line – this is not a record that Cantwell will be keen to keep hold of.

Ahead of next season, the former Norwich City man will be hoping to hit top form at Ibrox with Rangers looking to regain their crown in Scotland’s top flight. He has at least bought himself time to settle in by putting Sutton in his place, that’s for sure.

What did Todd Cantwell say to Chris Sutton?

Cantwell’s outburst aimed towards Sutton isn’t a complete surprise, given the BBC pundit’s previous Tweets aimed the way of the midfielder, in which the former forward took a swing at the Rangers man.

Cantwell sure holds grudges, however, as he bided his time before finally taking aim at Sutton, replying to a Tweet about the best pundit in Scotland, saying: “I can you [it] isn’t Chris Sutton.”

Replying to the Tweet, Sutton said: “Here is some balanced factual punditry from last season TikTok you may not enjoy…you joined Rangers on a free from the Championship and lost every meaningful game against Celtic and won nothing.”

Cantwell ended the spat with: “Twitter troll has his notifications on then.”

You can see the entire interaction below:

Manchester United look set to make an improved £50m transfer offer for Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount this week, according to reports.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news involving Mount?

It looks set to be a busy summer off the pitch at Old Trafford, with the Glazers still in charge despite an ongoing takeover saga.

The Red Devils have seemingly made Mount one of their top transfer targets this summer and have already agreed on personal terms with the England international.

Mount is entering the final 12 months of his Stamford Bridge contract, however, a fee between the two clubs appears to be proving tricky. Man United had an initial £40m bid turned down by their Premier League rivals recently, but it looks as if they are set to return quickly with an improved offer for the player who Chelsea value at £70m.

According to The Daily Mail in the last 48 hours, Man United are expected to make a £50m offer for Mount this week.

Those at Old Trafford are determined to sign the midfielder for Erik ten Hag and are the front runners, should they reach an agreement with the Blues.

How much money does Mason Mount earn at Chelsea?

Mount, hailed as "unbelievable" by Joe Cole, has progressed through the academy at Stamford Bridge, and as a result, his salary has increased over time. The 24-year-old was on £100-a-week back in 2015 and has been on £76,000-a-week since 2019 after breaking through into the first team.

It looks as if United are desperate to sign Mount, and if they succeed, he would offer a versatile option to Ten Hag’s side. He is capable of playing as an attacking midfielder, central midfielder or out on the left, with the majority of his appearances turning out in an advanced role.

He has contributed to 70 goals in 195 games for Chelsea and has 36 senior caps for England, so could come in and potentially play alongside Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro in a three-man midfield, possibly even replacing the former in an attacking role, should the Portugal international be rested at points throughout the campaign.

It’ll be interesting to see if United get their man, and by the looks of it, there will be further developments over the coming days.

West Ham United are set to make their first offer for Fulham's Joao Palhinha, according to reports…

West Ham transfer news – What's the latest on Joao Palhinha?

As per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Hammers are set to make their initial approach to Fulham for the services of their midfielder Palhinha.

"West Ham are preparing their first approach for João Palhinha. Not an easy deal with Fulham but he's top of the list for West Ham to replace Declan Rice," the Italian journalist tweeted.

The recent confirmation from Irons chairman David Sullivan that club captain and midfield powerhouse Declan Rice would be leaving the club made the signing of new midfielders crucial this summer.

However, the east London outfit aren't the only side interested in the Fulham man.

According to Football Insider, Aston Villa are keen to bring the player to the Midlands and are 'willing to pay' the reported £60m asking price to get the deal done.

Would Joao Palhinha be a good signing for West Ham?

The short answer to this question is simple, yes.

However, whilst he would certainly replace the defensive output of Rice and then some, he won't replace the attacking threat the Englishman produced.

For example, according to FBref, Rice has created 2.75 shot-creating actions per 90 this season, whereas Palhinha has only created 0.87. The same trend can be seen with take-ons, where the West Ham man attempts 1.73 take-ons per 90 and the Fulham star just 1.13.

The Hammers need to be realistic and look to sign a couple of players that, as a collective, can help the team move on from the departure of Rice.

With all that said, the former Sporting CP man has been fantastic in his debut campaign this year and would certainly go a long way in helping stabilise a new-look Claret and Blue midfield.

His biggest attribute this year has undoubtedly been his tackling numbers, tackling a whopping 147 players, the highest number across Europe's top five leagues by 19, per FBref.

Even more impressive is that these aren't just wild lunges at the opponent, as according to FBref, he is in the top 1% of players for tackles won in the top five leagues, per 90.

His constant involvement in the defensive side of the game hasn't gone unnoticed by his teammates either, with his midfield partner Harrison Reed referring to him as a "tackling machine."

Former players and pundits have been singing their praises for the player as well this season, with former Fulham man Steve Sidwell saying: "He has been absolutely sensational this season."

One of the top-flight's greatest centre-halves, Rio Ferdinand, has also been enthralled by the player, saying: "You need someone like that in front of you as a defender."

He isn't just a bruising machine at the centre of midfield, either. He has the ability to score the occasional wonder goal as well, with journalist Josh Bunting describing him as an "artist" for a particularly stunning finish during his time in Portugal.

It is also worth adding that despite the hefty fee that will inevitably be required to get this deal done, Palhinha's relatively modest wage of £50k-per-week in west London shouldn't be too much of an issue for the Hammers to improve upon.

West Ham would be making a very smart decision if they go and get Fulham's Portuguese star as David Moyes' perfect Rice replacement, but they better get a move on, as he won't be at the Cottage for long.

David de Gea is has been left off Manchester United's retained list but the club have stated that "discussions remain open" over a new contract.

When does David De Gea's contract expire?

The Spanish goalkeeper currently earns £375k-per-week but that deal expires at the end of the month on June 30.

With that being the case, negotiations have been going on for some time but it appears he will have to take a notable pay cut to remain at Old Trafford.

Indeed, Man United have already seen an extension offer worth £200k-per-week reportedly turned by De Gea who presumably wasn't happy with the terms.

However, with no agreement reached yet, at this moment in time it seems that he could well be leaving in just a matter of weeks now.

After all, the club released their official retained list this week and the goalkeeper was not included. Despite that, though, he wasn't among those – such as Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe – to be confirmed as a departure either.

Instead, the statement explained: "In terms of the goalkeeping department, discussions remain open with David De Gea over a potential new contract."

Will De Gea leave Man United?

Some of the club's departures have been known for some time. For instance, after 12 years at Old Trafford, Phil Jones penned an emotional goodbye message on Instagram at the start of June.

De Gea's situation, however, has been unclear for months and even after plenty of discussions behind the scenes, no final decision appears to have been made just yet.

The player wouldn’t have helped his hopes for a big new contract with some iffy displays last term – notably conceding a howler away at West Ham. Even so, he's still be a regular under Erik ten Hag, playing 38 league games and keeping 17 clean sheets.

And so, it's not hard to understand why the Red Devils don't want to offer him the same sort of wages he currently earns.

Indeed, if De Gea wants to earn that sort of cash, it looks as though he'll have to leave England this summer. According to 90min, interest from Saudi Arabia's Pro League could allow him to manage that.

Still, Fabrizio Romano told GIVEMESPORT just last month that the idea for Man United and the player is to "continue together" and negotiations are "very, very advanced.

He explained: "They wanted to reduce his salary but, at the same time, to have a different structure with the contract – maybe a longer contract with a different structure of the salary – so this is the discussion, but it's now very, very advanced.

"De Gea wants to stay and Manchester United want to keep De Gea, so the idea is to continue together. I think Erik ten Hag has been very, very clear on that. It's about the final clauses and then it will be completed soon."

With that being the case, even if they've missed this deadline, it does sound as though it could all be sorted just in time before his contract officially expires.

Glasgow Rangers require some much-needed attacking reinforcements during the summer transfer window as they aim to fill the void left by Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos.

It won't be easy to replace them, however, Michael Beale is eyeing up a few players in the market who could arrive at Ibrox and make an impression. One such player was winger Luis Palma, who the club were interested in recently, yet reports this week have claimed that the deal is now off as Rangers aren’t willing to pay the £4.5m for the 23-year-old, and it appears as though Beale will now have to move on swiftly.

The 42-year-old may have already found an ideal alternative, with American. Brian Gutierrez being eyed up for a potential move according to the Daily Mail.

The Gers face competition for the teen however as Manchester United are also keeping tabs on him, yet securing a work permit may prove to be a stickler for any potential move this summer.

Could Brian Gutierrez improve Rangers?

The left-winger has enjoyed a wonderful start to his professional career at MLS side Chicago Fire, already racking up 75 senior appearances, registering 13 goal contributions across those games.

His creative talents have certainly been on show during the 2023 MLS campaign as the youngster has created four big chances, made one key pass per game and has succeeded with 1.5 dribbles per match – a success rate of 64% – showcasing all the attributes of a successful winger.

He even made more dribbles than Palma did during the entirety of the 2022/2023 season, while creating the same amount of big chances and failing slightly behind on key passes per game, with Palma managing 1.4, suggesting that the 19-year-old would be a fine alternative.

His coach at Chicago Fire, Frank Klopas, has lauded his player as someone who simply “has everything” before stating that he is “good with the ball, his work rate, key passes, ability to beat players, technical ability." And making a move for the winger should be a priority now that Palma is reportedly off the cards.

Gutierrez has plenty of experience for someone so young, and he could further develop his skills in Scotland, as he will be given plenty of game time under Beale if he did join the Light Blues.

With a void to fill on the left flank, the youngster has shown that he means business in the senior ranks and could be a gamble worth taking.

Blackburn Rovers are interested in signing Queens Park Rangers striker Lyndon Dykes, according to recent reports.

What's the latest Blackburn Rovers transfer news?

With the likes of Ben Brereton Diaz, Bradley Dack and Daniel Ayala all leaving Ewood Park in the coming weeks, it's set to be a busy summer for Rovers as they look to replace them.

After missing out on the playoffs by goal difference, Jon Dahl Tomasson's side has moved quickly, signing Plymouth Argyle striker Niall Ennis last month.

A lack of depth up front has been a cause for concern for the Lancashire outfit all year, with the departing Brereton Diaz (16) the only player to score in double figures for the side this season.

Rovers aren't finished there, though, and according to the Daily Mail, they are among a number of teams interested in QPR striker, Dykes.

The Lancashire Telegraph reports that the club will need to sell players to generate any finances for a transfer, though, with full-back Tayo Edun being linked with a move away from Ewood, with both Charlton Athletic and Cardiff City interested.

Will Lyndon Dykes join Blackburn Rovers?

With eight league goals this season in a struggling QPR side, the 27-year-old would add some firepower to a Rovers team that's been severely lacking it this year.

No Rovers player outside of Brereton Diaz scored more league goals than the Scottish international during the Championship's latest campaign and adding him will help alleviate any pressure on Sam Gallagher's goal-scoring output.

The 27-year-old talisman, once hailed "dangerous" by former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard shortly before his team faced Dykes and Livingston in 2020, excels as a big target man, winning 4.8 aerial duels a game according to WhoScored, almost two more than Rovers' current number nine, Sam Gallagher who wins three per game.

While Tomasson has prioritised a possession-based style of football, playing out from the back, his side has also shown a tendency to pick out a long ball whenever they identify space behind the opposition back line, firing 66 long passes a game, and having a forward like Dykes on the receiving end would see the £8k-a-week man almost certainly reap the rewards.

Rovers certainly aren't the only team interested in the Scottish international, though, with fellow championship outfit Stoke City and newly-promoted Burnley both also targeting Dykes, so the club have got their work cut out for them if they're going to lure the QPR man to Ewood Park.

Manchester United are ready to step up their efforts to sign Mason Mount and will offer Chelsea £55m to get a deal done, according to a report from the Daily Mail.

Who is signing Mason Mount this summer?

The Blues playmaker has struggled to hit the same heights and the same numbers that he managed during the last Premier League campaign, with both he and his club faltering in the top flight. Whilst Chelsea have dropped to 12th in the standings ahead of their clash at Old Trafford on Thursday, Mount's tallies have also dropped, with the player managing only three goals and two assists in 24 games.

It's a far cry from last time around, when the England international had a career-best campaign. With 11 goals and ten assists in 32 appearances, the midfielder managed a superb average of 0.80 goals or assists per 90 minutes. It helped dragged the Blues to third and put the 24-year-old on the radar as one of the brightest talents in the division.

Even though he has struggled to achieve the same feats this season, it hasn't put off any other teams. With the player's deal set to expire next summer, teams are now queuing up to add him to their ranks – as long as the Blues are prepared to cash in on Mount for a fee rather than risk losing him for nothing next summer and fail to agree a new deal with him.

One of the interested parties is Man United, with a report from the Daily Mail stating that the Red Devils are prepared to initiate talks over a potential transfer for the midfielder. In terms of a fee, it adds that Erik ten Hag's side would be willing to offer Chelsea £55m, and whilst that falls short of what the club are thought to be demanding – they want around £30m more than that total – it is believed United could up their offer as they are keen to try and bring the England international to Old Trafford.

Are Man United signing Mason Mount?

If the Red Devils do manage to pull off a deal for Mount – who was hailed as "unbelievable" by Joe Cole last season, it could vastly improve their midfield options – and add to their creativity up front.

Even in a side that has faltered this campaign, the midfielder remains a player capable of using his expert vision to pick out a pass. For example, his rate of 1.3 key passes per game ranks him as the best among his teammates who have featured in 15 games or more.

Meanwhile, his tally of three goals is still the joint-third best in that area, and although that isn't a great amount, it shows he is at least contributing as one of the better players in the side during what has been a tumultuous campaign.

If Mount did end up at Old Trafford, it could potentially allow him to get back to his previous figures if he is at a side that are flourishing. It could therefore be worth splashing out the cash required to sign the player.

Aston Villa under-23s manager Mark Delaney will leave the club at the end of the season, according to Gregg Evans for The Athletic.

The Lowdown: Delaney’s CV as Villa under-23 boss

The 45-year-old has been in charge of the development side at Bodymoor Heath since 2015 and has helped a number of academy players break through to the first team.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/aston-villa-latest-updates/” title=”Aston Villa latest updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

He has also had success with the under-23s, guiding the club to their first FA Youth Cup triumph since 2002 last season as they defeated Liverpool in the final at Villa Park, but it looks as if his association in the Midlands will come to an end over the next few months.

The Latest: Evans shares Delaney update

Evans, who is Villa’s correspondent for The Athletic, shared a story on Saturday revealing that the 45-year-old is to leave his current role in charge of the under-23s over the summer.

Delaney has already been informed of the planned change by NSWE, with Birmingham Live describing it as a ‘shock’ decision when reporting the news.

The Verdict: Interesting…

Villa have made a number of academy additions over the last 12 months, one of which has been Tim Iroegbunam, who is already considered a member of Steven Gerrard’s first-team squad after penning a new contract.

There’s no questioning the enormity of the young talent on the books at Bodymoor Heath, so it will be interesting to see who NSWE bring in as Delaney’s replacement over the coming months to potentially work closely with Gerrard.

The under-23s finished 10th in Premier League 2’s second tier, so perhaps Villa believe that a new coach will get more out of the starlets and take them up a division to face the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool on a regular basis.

In other news: Gerrard now keen on signing ‘fabulous’ £40,000-a-week talent at the top of his game

A big claim has been made on Newcastle United and their pursuit of Stade Reims striker Hugo Ekitike…

What’s the talk?

Transfer insider Pete O’Rourke has revealed that the Magpies are looking to snap the Frenchman up at the end of the season and are set to lead the race for his signature.

He has claimed that they are not the only team from the English top-flight eyeing him up, but they are the frontrunners after missing out on him in the previous window.

O’Rourke told GIVEMESPORT: “The Reims president has come out and confirmed that Ekitike is likely to leave this summer and a number of clubs in the Premier League are interested in the Frenchman.

“Newcastle were very close to signing him in the January transfer window and they still remain very keen on the teenager, so you would probably say that Newcastle are favourites for him right now.”

Howe would love him

PIF being the ‘favourites’ to sign the forward in the summer is a huge boost to the club because it suggests that they will be one step ahead of other teams attempting to sign him.

This will delight Eddie Howe because the ex-Cherries coach would love him on Tyneside, given his talent and potential as a player.

Back in January, journalist Graeme Bailey hailed the striker when discussing a possible move to St. James’ Park. He Tweeted: “Outstanding talent – huge signing for Newcastle if they get it done, many in France believe he could be the next Mbappe.”

These comments from the reporter illustrate how highly rated he is in Ligue 1. The comparisons to Mbappe are particularly exciting, given what he has achieved in the game in recent years. Since bursting onto the scene with Monaco, the current PSG star has scored 131 goals and assisted 38 in 180 French top-flight outings – winning the World Cup for his country along the way.

There is no guarantee that Ekitike will be able to follow in his footsteps and score at that rate but the comparison does suggest that people who have seen him play believe there is a chance of it happening.

This is an exciting prospect for Newcastle as it means that they would be signing a player with huge potential, which is why Howe would love him as he will surely enjoy helping him to develop into a top-class forward.

The 19-year-old’s nine goals in 14 Ligue 1 starts indicates that he has a strong base to build his career on and the Magpies coach can attempt to help him to reach the next level.

AND in other news, PIF now heading for first major NUFC disaster on £55k-p/w colossus who “eats weights”…