All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Southampton finally secured their first Premier League win of the season last weekend with a 1-0 victory over Leeds United thanks to a second half goal from Armando Broja. 

Their next league fixture sees them take on Burnley at St Mary’s this afternoon to see if they can pick up another three points and climb further away from the relegation zone.

Ahead of the match against Sean Dyche’s side, who are now one of the three teams still without a league win, Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl revealed in his latest press conference that only Jack Stephens will miss the game through injury, with Che Adams back available after recovering from a muscle injury.

Taking all of this into account, here’s how we feel Southampton will line up against Burnley, with two changes from the team which started last Saturday.

In goal, having played every minute of league action so far this season, it’s safe to assume Alex McCarthy will retain his place in the team this afternoon.

For the defence, given how Southampton managed to keep a clean sheet against Leeds last weekend as well as stopping the visitors from having even one shot on target throughout the whole game, we think Hasenhuttl should stick with the same back four of Valentino Livramento, Jan Bednarek, Mohammed Salisu and Romain Perraud to see if they can keep another clean sheet this time around against a Burnley side who have only managed to score five goals so far this season.

In the central midfield positions, with club captain James Ward-Prowse still serving his three-game ban, we think Oriol Romeu and Ibrahima Diallo will partner each other to try and dominate the midfield.

On the wings, we reckon Mohamed Elyounoussi, who is currently earning a weekly wage of £60k-per-week according to Spotrac, will drop out of the team as a result of his poor performance against Leeds. That allows Stuart Armstrong to come back into the starting XI on the right after he came on as a substitute in the second half last weekend.

On the left wing, we can see Hasenhuttl taking Moussa Djenepo out of the side, with Nathan Redmond moving back to that position from centre-forward to allow the potentially potent Adams to come back in the team to partner Broja up top.

In other news: Saints could unearth ideal Romeu heir with “excellent” 18 y/o ace, Ralph is a big fan – opinion

Former Ipswich Town player David Norris believes that Portman Road is a great place for Louie Barry to develop and play some games.

Barry signed a season-long loan deal with the Tractor Boys earlier this month and has featured three times for Ipswich so far, twice in League One and once in the Carabao Cup.

The 18-year-old featured for Villa’s youth teams on 25 occasions last season, scoring 19 goals and providing five assists, and also scored for the first team at Villa Park in the FA Cup against Liverpool.

And David Norris believes that a loan move to Portman Road will benefit Barry, telling Football FanCast: “A great place, good big club, get some games.”

Ipswich Town have made 16 summer signings so far in the transfer window, with Tom Carroll the latest to put pen-to-paper on a deal at Portman Road, but the Tractor Boys have struggled in their opening four League One matches, picking up just two points from a possible 12.

Whilst it’s not been the best start to the season, Paul Cook and everybody connected with the football club will be hoping that the new signings click and gel quickly and that they can start moving up towards the promotion end of the League One table.

Crystal Palace have been considering a contract extension for Jordan Ayew, but could it be time to let him go?

Despite making 114 appearances for Crystal Palace overall, he has only scored 12 goals for the Eagles, and his performances haven’t improved in the current season either, with zero goals in 15 appearances.

According to SofaScore, Ayew has missed two big chances and not created any for his team-mates in the Premier League this season – for a centre forward, these stats will be worrying for Vieira. In fact, the Ghanaian has failed to find the back of the net in his last 41 games, dating back to November 2020.

With that being said, contract talks are imminent to extend the 30-year-old’s deal at Selhurst Park, which currently ends next summer, as Vieira hinted that the talks would take place. The Eagles manager will be conscious of the importance of having a forward line which will not only scores goals but also offer creativity to their team-mates in winning points in the Premier League, giving Palace the best chance of staying safe from relegation this season.

“We will get the time where we will find the right time to talk about it. But at the moment, the concentration and focus that I want from the players is about the next game,” the Frenchman stated.

There is now a perfect opportunity for Vieira to move on from the £35k-p/w forward and sell for a cut-price fee in January, before he becomes available on a free in the summer, especially since he will be participating at the Africa Cup of Nations in the next few weeks. Palace could easily sign and integrate a worthy replacement into the team who can offer more goals and more creativity to ensure that they have a comfortable second half of the season and beyond.

Palace will host Everton this weekend, and after losing their last three games, it could be an ideal time to make a change in the attacking third, removing Ayew from the starting line-up.

It is likely that Eberechi Eze could be available, which would be a welcome boost to the attacking prowess of the team.

The 23-year-old has been out for a while after sustaining a nasty Achilles injury in the last week of the 2020/21 season but has since made his slow return to full fitness and will be hoping for a start in the first team. He certainly deserves a chance ahead of Ayew, who has consistently failed to produce the goods throughout the last 12 months.

In other news: One man has benefitted hugely from a Selhurst Park summer exit

Aston Villa have not approached Rangers over Borna Barisic, according to Heart & Hand. 

The lowdown

It’s been claimed that former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard is keen on bringing Barisic south of the border, having taken over at Aston Villa.

A report suggested that an £8million January transfer was a genuine possibility. Gerrard regards Barisic as a ‘fantastic player’ who’s ‘really, really consistent’.

Barisic is under contract at Ibrox until May 2024 after penning a new £18,000-per-week deal in January 2020 (via Transfermarkt) however, meaning the Light Blues are in a fantastic negotiating position.

The latest

Heart & Hand, an official media partner of the football club, tweeted that they had ‘asked’ about Barisic and ‘been told’ that there was no contact between Rangers and Villa.

“Any reports to the contrary are false,” they added.

The verdict

It seems that Gerrard and Villa have other targets in mind at left-back. For example, a recent report suggested that they are keen on Stuttgart’s Borna Sosa, a compatriot of Barisic.

This is very good news for Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Rangers. According to WhoScored, Barisic has been the team’s third-best performer this season, behind only Joe Aribo and 10-assist right-back James Tavernier.

But there remains a possibility that Gerrard looks to raid his former club for a player he believes can make the step-up to the English Premier League.

Indeed, The Daily Mail (via Birmingham Live) have reported that Ryan Kent is very much on his radar, so while the Gers have seemingly won the Barisic battle, they may have many more to come with their former gaffer.

In other news, could Rangers add competition for Barisic at LB?

West Ham United star Declan Rice is itching for a move to a Premier League club readying themselves for another season of Champions League football, according to Dean Windass.

Rice was one of West Ham’s most consistent performers last term as they registered a club record Premier League points tally to qualify for the Europa League.

After making 35 appearances for the Hammers last term, Rice went on to start all of England’s fixtures as they reached the Euro 2020 final before falling agonisingly short of being crowned champions of Europe.

Rice has been heavily linked with making a move back to Chelsea, where he enjoyed time in the youth academy before moving onto West Ham following his release at the age of 14.

Manchester City have also kept tabs on the 22-year-old, while Manchester United have been told it would take a bid close to £100million for the Hammers to entertain selling Rice.

The defensive midfielder has rejected two new contract offers made by West Ham and ex-Premier League striker Windass is certain Rice feels ready to compete in club football’s leading European competition.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, he said: “You want to play at the highest level for the best clubs in the world.

“Declan was one of England’s pluses at the Euros and the big hitters will come calling. He is a London boy and who wouldn’t want to play for the likes of Chelsea?

“If you turned around to Declan and asked if he wants to go and play in the top four, he’s not going to say no.”

As per The Star, Glasgow Rangers are set to ramp up their interest in out-of-contract midfielder John Lundstram next week.

The Lowdown: Gers eye Lundstram

Rangers have been linked with the 27-year-old for a number of months as they look to prepare their squad for the next campaign (Glasgow Live).

Lundstram is soon to officially become a free agent after leaving Sheffield United at the end of his contract (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Gers to step up interest in Lundstram

It is being reported that the Gers are to step up their interest in the Blades’ Lundstram, according to The Star.

Burnley and Crystal Palace are believed to be the two other clubs interested in the 27-year-old’s services.

The Verdict: Worth fighting for

Sheffield United may have been relegated from the Premier League last season, but Lundstram has impressed over the past two campaigns. He has racked up 62 top-flight appearances and, during the 2019/20 term he scored five goals and provided three assists as the Blades finished in the top half. Billy Sharp even called him a “real menace” during that campaign.

Now a free agent, he could end up being a bargain for Ross Wilson and co. He is still only 27, and at a value of £6.3m (Transfermarkt,) they would clearly be signing him for a snip – obviously the wages would need to be taken into account (he earned £25,000 per week last term; only two Gers players were better paid). This could prove to be a fantastic signing if the Gers can beat their competitors to his signature.

In other news, Rangers are set for a 40% discount as they target this 21-year-old.

Many Aston Villa fans have been fuming on Twitter, following comments from Wesley suggesting that he could leave the club upon return from his loan spell at Club Brugge [Nieuwsblad via Sport Witness].

Enjoying an injury-ridden spell at Aston Villa so far, the Brazilian has registered seven goal contributions in 26 appearances; six goals and one assist [Transfermarkt].

Now on loan at Club Brugge after finally returning to fitness, he has suggested he could be open to leaving the club at the end of his loan spell in a recent interview.

Speaking to Nieuwsblad, the 24-year-old stated: “After this year I will be under contract with Aston Villa for another 2 years. I may return, I may go to another club.” [Nieuwsblad via Sport Witness]

In light of this news, no wonder loads of Aston Villa diehards took to social media to vent their frustration at the comments from their player – while he is away temporarily, he is still a Villa Park employee, and really shouldn’t be so open about wanting to seek pastures new.

Aston Villa FC fans react:

Replying to popular Aston Villa FC fan outlet The AVFC Faithful on Twitter, here is what some fans had to say about the centre-forward:

“Bad attitude”

Credit: @pavlos1874

“Sounds like he’s had enough”

Credit: @Jelly31807434

“Bye”Credit: @Eli_techno”Get rid!!”Credit: @morley_kev”Sorry, you are…?”Credit: @keebo00″Unfortunate with the injury but wasted money same with Samatta”Credit: @ADAMVILLA1971In other news, a huge behind the scenes update has been revealed at Aston Villa. Find out more here.

Rangers travel to face St Johnstone in the Premiership this weekend as they look to build on their Old Firm derby success prior to the international break.

Steven Gerrard’s side beat their crosstown rivals 1-0 before players jetted away to play for their countries, with Filip Helander scoring the only goal of the game at Ibrox.

They are now set to go up against a St Johnstone team who are yet to record their first win in the league. With four games played, they have three draws and one defeat to their name, scoring once and conceding twice.

One player who Gerrard could bring in to help break down the opposition’s stubborn defence is right-back James Tavernier. He missed the win over Celtic due to a viral infection and is now back in training ahead of this weekend’s match, which means that he could be available for selection.

Leon Balogun filled in at right-back against the Hoops and put in a solid defensive display. He was given a SofaScore rating of 7.2, making seven clearances and four tackles during the game, but he failed to create a single chance for his teammates or register a shot on goal.

This suggests that he does not offer the same attacking threat as Tavernier, which is why the former Newcastle man must be unleashed against St Johnstone. He has already provided three assists in as many games this season, averaging a sensational 4.3 chances created per match.

Last year, Gerrard hailed him as unstoppable when he’s at his best and claimed that he does not get the credit he deserves. The Gers head coach told the club’s official website: “I think Tav is someone who, when he goes through the gears, is unstoppable, and we have seen that, or flashes of that so far this season. I think he is really close to being at his best.

“Tav is a huge player. He doesn’t get the credit he deserves I don’t think from our own supporters or the credit he deserves from outside.”

This highlights how highly rated he is by Gerrard, with his statistics from the 2020/21 Premiership campaign backing up the manager’s comments. Tavernier produced 12 goals and nine assists from right-back, creating 11 ‘big chances’ and averaging two key passes per game.

Therefore, bringing the defender back into the team for this weekend’s clash could win the game for Rangers, as his attacking threat from right-back could increase their chances of scoring. He could come up with a crucial goal or pass to create a goal to turn a draw into a victory, which is why Gerrard must include him in his starting XI ahead of Balogun on Saturday.

AND in other news, “Strange one”: Alan Hutton makes worrying Rangers injury claim that’ll concern Gerrard…

Sharing the latest on Jesse Lingard and his transfer saga with West Ham United, the Sun have now come out with their own update on the situation.

The Lowdown: Lingard and the Irons…

The Englishman was deemed surplus-to-requirements at Manchester United before West Ham came calling to offer him a route out on loan in the January transfer window.

What followed was an absolutely sensational spell at the London Stadium, where he managed a very impressive nine goals and four assists in 16 Premier League over the second half of 2020/2021 (WhoScored).

As a result, West Ham are known to be keen on securing a permanent move for the 28-year-old this summer.

The Latest: West Ham dealt Lingard blow…

Sharing an update on Lingard, the Sun have now come out with a pretty damning claim.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-news-2/” title=”West Ham latest news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

They believe the midfielder has now done a full U-turn on his stance of wanting to join West Ham this summer.

Indeed, he would apparently ‘far prefer to stay’ at the Red Devils and has ‘admitted to friends’ that his big hope is rebuilding a career at Old Trafford.

After a supposedly candid meeting with United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the player has apparently said he wishes to remain at the club amid West Ham’s interest.

The Verdict: Pinch of salt…

While this comes a blow for West Ham, other sources like ExWHUemployee believe the contrary and there are bound to be numerous sources coming out with different developments over the next few weeks.

West Ham, meanwhile, will certainly be hoping they can secure a move for Lingard given his electric form at the end of last campaign.

It is believed that a move for Lingard is one of the club’s top priorities this summer alongside signing a new centre-back and striker to support Michail Antonio (Claret & Hugh).

As a result, the club will be hoping for more positive updates on Lingard over the window.

In other news: ‘According to some sources…’  – Journalist relays enticing West Ham transfer development, find out more here.

Alasdair Gold has dropped an update on the respective futures of Tottenham Hotspur midfielders Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso.

What’s the talk?

In a recent video posted on YouTube, the football.london journalist revealed that, with Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici planning an overhaul of the Tottenham squad this summer, the France and Argentina internationals are two players who look certain to be moved on at the end of the season.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-spurs-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-levy-conte-paratici-thfc” title= “Read the latest Spurs news!”]

Regarding Spurs’ potential outgoing transfers this summer, Gold said: “Ndombele and Lo Celso have to be moved on. Whether it’s selling them or whether it’s loaning them again, those are two players who – you’d think – are not going to be at Tottenham next season.”

Time’s up

While it is true that both Ndombele and Lo Celso have enjoyed something of a renascence since their loan moves to Olympique Lyon and Villarreal respectively, it is undeniable that, considering the sheer amount of money Tottenham spent on their signings, both players have been failures in north London.

Following Ndombele’s £63m signing back in 2019, the 25-year-old struggled to live up to his hefty price tag, something which was all too evident from his performances in the first half of Tottenham’s Premier League campaign this season.

Indeed, over his nine Premier League appearances this term, the £31.5m-rated France international scored one goal, registered one assist and created one big chance for his teammates, as well as made an average of a mere 0.1 interceptions, 1.1 tackles, 25.6 passes and won 3.6 duels per fixture.

These returns saw the £120k-per-week midfielder average a rather disastrous SofaScore match rating of a mere 6.58, ranking him as Tottenham’s third-worst player in the top flight.

Meanwhile, over Lo Celso’s own nine league outings this season, the £19.8m-rated Argentina international scored no goals, provided no assists and created two big chances for his teammates, as well as made an average of just 0.1 interceptions, 0.9 tackles, 13.9 passes and won 2.7 duels per game.

These returns saw the £100k-per-week midfielder average an extremely disappointing SofaScore match rating of 6.72, ranking him as Conte’s sixth-worst performer in the Premier League.

And, while the 26-year-old has offered Tottenham slightly more than Ndombele in previous campaigns, it is nevertheless undeniable that Lo Celso has also failed to live up to his £55m transfer fee.

As such, while Tottenham are unlikely to recoup anywhere near their £118m outlay from the potential sales of the two players this summer, finally moving the duo on permanently would nevertheless appear an extremely wise move by Paratici – if for nothing else but to free up roughly £220k of Spurs’ weekly wage budget – as the pair’s time in north London is well and truly up.

AND in other news: Bid made: Paratici in talks for Spurs’ 1st summer signing, no one’s “identical to him”