Tag Futebol

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Southampton midfielder Carlton Palmer has backed Ralph Hasenhuttl after a turbulent couple of months at St Mary’s.

After a bright start to the Premier League season, a poor run of form has seen Southampton drop into the bottom half of the table. They have also been on the opposite end of a humiliating 9-0 defeat to Manchester United, a repeat of the 9-0 massacre against Leicester City last term.

It has certainly been a difficult period for Southampton and Hasenhuttl; however, Palmer is still backing the Austrian manager, praising the overall job he has done since arriving at the south coast club.

Speaking exclusively with FFC, the retired Premier League footballer said:

“I don’t like the bashing of the manager. I think he’s a very good manager. I think he’s done a fantastic job there and they’re just going through a difficult time at the moment.

“You know, you’re seeing that with Liverpool. Liverpool are going through a difficult time at the moment. That doesn’t mean Jurgen Klopp’s not a good manager. He’s not all of a sudden a bad manager because Liverpool are going through a difficult situation. Same with Jose Mourinho, these are good managers. All teams go through difficult periods.”

While Southampton are struggling at present, it has not been all doom and gloom at St. Mary’s this season. The Saints have put in some good performances, including in the 1-0 win over Premier League champions Liverpool, and have reached the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Hasenhuttl’s side take on Championship outfit Bournemouth in the competition, with the Cherries the only thing standing between them and a trip to Wembley. Ultimately, there is still a possibility that Southampton could make success of the current campaign.

Aston Villa chief executive Christian Purslow is spearheading a permanent move for on-loan midfielder Ross Barkley, despite Dean Smith not being keen on a deal.

That’s according to an exclusive report from Football Insider, who claim that Purslow “likes the profile” of the Chelsea man, with Villa forking out £11m to bring the 27-year-old to the Midlands for the 2020/21 campaign.

Smith not so sure on Barkley?

Barkley has fallen out of favour under manager Smith in recent weeks, despite the absence of star man Jack Grealish.

He hasn’t started any of Villa’s last four Premier League games, with Football Insider claiming Smith is yet to be convinced that Barkley is worth the £35m fee that will be required to land him permanently this summer.

Bizarre

This seems rather bizarre – with Smith seemingly not so keen on keeping hold of Barkley at this moment in time, we feel that Purslow should be holding off for now regarding a possible club-record deal.

Purslow feels it would send out a big message to the English game if Villa were to sign Barkley permanently at the end of the season.

However, with Smith not even playing Barkley, especially with his star creative outlet injured, surely a whopping £35m deal doesn’t make sense.

In other news: Several Villa supporters have been reacting to target’s boyhood Villa fan comments, find out more here. 

Leeds United made a big statement last summer when they made Rodrigo their club-record signing at £26m, but it hasn’t been easy for him. Despite this, Danny Mills believes the forward will still come good for the Whites.

Mills discusses Rodrigo

Speaking to Football Insider about the Spaniard, Mills said: “I think he’s played well. I’d be surprised if they were to let him go this soon. That’s not how Bielsa works, he’s about bringing players in and improving them over the course of time.

“We’ve seen him have some good performances. We have to remember this has all happened through Covid which isn’t particularly easy for anybody or any football club and he’s had some injuries.”

Leeds have picked up a good forward

Rodrigo has been a regular for Marcelo Bielsa’s team before his injury, as he had played in no fewer than 20 matches in total over all competitions in the 2020/21 campaign, scoring three goals and making one assist (Transfermarkt). To be a club record signing and only score three goals this season will worry not only the manager, but also many supporters of the club. Phil Hay has raved over the player this season as he said: ‘He looks like a class act’. This shows that he has the quality, so he just needs the consistency.

However, recent links to Juventus emphasise that he certainly has the quality, and it is not strange for a player to struggle in their first campaign in the Premier League. Some players do take a little bit of time to settle into a new division, especially one that is physically demanding like the Premier League, so we feel that Mills is right not to write off Rodrigo so soon.

In other news, Phil Hay has provided a positive transfer update on this Leeds defender!

MatériaMais Notícias

O mistério acerca do argentino Maxi Rolón acabou. Nesta sexta-feira o atacante de 21 anos assinou com o Santos após resolver pendências com documentação e visto de trabalho no Brasil. Em suas primeiras palavras como jogador do Peixe, ele fez questão de ressaltar o aprendizado que já teve em menos de um mês na companhia de Ricardo Oliveira, Lucas Lima e Gabigol.

-Estou muito contente. Todos me receberam muito bem no CT Rei Pelé. É um grupo muito bom. Me ajudam no que é preciso. Estou aprendendo muito e estou aqui para ajudar. Estar com grandes jogadores, como Ricardo Oliveira, Lucas Lima e Gabriel, é um verdadeiro aprendizado – disse o jovem atacante.

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Seu vínculo com o Peixe é válido até o dia 31 de dezembro, com um valor fixado para compra. Ele pertence a um grupo de empresários que usa um clube paraguaio para registrá-lo.

Maxi Rolón foi revelado no Barcelona B e rescindiu contrato com a equipe espanhola neste ano. Desde que chegou em Santos, ele estava treinando separadamente. Nos próximos dias, ele deve ser registrado no Boletim Informativo Diário da CBF para ser inscrito na segunda fase do Paulistão.

Since arriving from Porto in a big-money deal back in the summer transfer window, it’s fair to say it’s been a slow start for Fabio Silva at Wolves.

The 18-year-old has understandably been eased into life in English football, with just 142 minutes of Premier League football spread out over six games – his only starts for the club have come in the Carabao Cup and EFL Trophy.

But with Raul Jimenez being forced out of action with a sickening clash of heads in the game against Arsenal a couple of weeks ago, there has surely never been a more perfect time for Nuno Espirito Santo to unshackle his teenage prodigy.

Silva’s potential is undoubted among those in the Wolves camp, with Jeff Shi waxing lyrical about his new signing a few months ago. He said: “Our recruitment team have been watching Fabio since he played for Portugal Under-16s. They feel he has always been the best number nine coming through his age group anywhere in Europe.

“Fabio is a young player who shows not only incredible technical ability, but also his game intelligence for a player of his age is top class.”

And with Saturday’s opponents in the Premier League, Aston Villa, coming into the game off the back of two successive defeats against the likes of Brighton and West Ham, Silva has a perfect opportunity to hand Silva his first start in the top-flight.

With games coming thick and fast this month, making sure his young striker is ready to play from the off could be the key to ensuring Nuno has his team firing on all cylinders and not missing Jimenez too much.

With the clash against Villa coming at Molineux too, Silva will be in familiar surroundings, and it’s surely all set up for him to shine.

Meanwhile, Wolves can find their long-term Moutinho successor in this Brazilian prodigy.

According to an exclusive report from 90min, Tottenham Hotspur and Jose Mourinho are eyeing Sassuolo defender Gian Marco Ferrari after a ‘huge blow’ to Toby Alderweireld – but chairman Daniel Levy will only be eyeing a bargain £15 million deal for his signature.

Ferrari, who has impressed critics with his performances in Serie A over the last few seasons, is now being considered for a January bid by Levy and Mourinho, who are on the lookout for defensive reinforcements.

Ferrari shortlisted by Levy and Mourinho

This comes after Spurs suffered a ‘huge blow’ due to Alderweireld’s muscular injury, and while he may be back in time before the window opens, his knock serves as a timely reminder that Tottenham may need strong back-up options.

Now, as per this exclusive from 90min, Ferrari is on the radar as a candidate for Mourinho – but Levy will only be eyeing a bargain deal for the Italian and will not go over £15 million to get this transfer done.

Averaging an impressive 93% pass accuracy over his appearances in Serie A so far this season, the 6 foot 3 tank would come in as an experienced option currently in his prime at 28-years-old.

He is under contract at Sassuolo until 2023 but has been heavily linked with a move away all summer, and Mourinho sees him as a viable option who can fit into Levy’s slender price bracket.

Transfer Tavern take

Even though he was impressed with Joe Rodon after his Chelsea debut, the manager admitted it was ‘difficult’ – with there arguably being no surprise he wants another upgrade to his defence ahead of a long season.

If Levy can secure this towering colossus for just £15 million, it’s safe to say he’d be achieving another masterstroke.

In other news: Jose Mourinho has refused to rule out an early return for this ‘amazing’ ace, find out more here. 

MatériaMais Notícias

Finalmente, Kieza foi oficializado pelo São Paulo. O centroavante de 29 anos pertencia aoShanghai Shenxin, da China, e o clube do Morumbi aguardava a documentação chinesa para oficializar seu novo reforço para a temporada. Com a chegada dos papéis, o jogador assinou com o Tricolor Paulista pelos próximos três anos.

Nos últimos dias, enquanto aguardava a documentação, Kieza fez trabalhos de fortalecimento muscular, como corridas constantes no gramado. O São Paulo desembolsou U$$ 1 milhão (cerca de R$ 4 milhões) pelo jogador, que vai receber um salário perto de R$ 200 mil.

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Kieza defendeu o Bahia em 2015 e terminou o ano como vice-artilheiro do Brasil, com 29 gols, atrás de Ricardo Oliveira, do Santos, com 36 marcados. O centroavante disputará a posição com Alan Kardec.

O atacante é a terceira contratação do São Paulo para a temporada. Antes dele, chegaram o lateral esquerdo Eugenio Mena e o zagueiro Diego Lugano, apresentado nesta segunda-feira, no CT da Barra Funda. O clube ainda está perto de acertar por seis meses com o argentino Jonathan Calleri, que estava no Boca Juniors e foi comprado por um grupo de empresários.

Lots of Everton fans have been fuming at the decision to loan out Moise Kean to PSG as he scored again for the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League finalists.

Indeed, the Italy international netted the opening goal after just 11 minutes in their 3-0 home win over Rennes in Ligue 1 yesterday night, thus continuing his fine scoring run for Paris Saint-Germain.

He has now scored a total of five goals and made a further assist in just seven games in all competitions in France (Transfermarkt), as several members of the Goodison Park faithful are now starting to wonder if loaning him out was the right decision by Carlo Ancelotti.

If Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Richarlison are injured or misfiring, then the Merseyside club only really have Cenk Tosun as a back-up striker, and so perhaps Kean could have helped on the scoring front for the Toffees.

Everton fan reaction to Kean goal

These EFC supporters were left fuming on at the decision to send the 20-year-old out on loan to the French champions after hearing about his goal on Twitter, with one Blue even claiming that it was ‘awful’:

In other news, find out which Everton star being left out versus Manchester United has baffled this pundit here!

Former Portsmouth player Gary Roberts has praised the club for what he calls a ‘great signing’ after Michael Jacobs arrived at Fratton Park on Monday.

The 28-year-old was released by Wigan Athletic earlier this summer after featuring 32 times in the Championship last season.

Having previously worked with Pompey manager Kenny Jackett at Wolverhampton Wanderers, a deal has now been completed, seeing the midfielder sign a two-year contract. Jacobs becomes Jackett’s fourth signing this summer, following Sean Raggett, Cameron Pring and Callum Johnson in making a move to the League One club.

Following his arrival on Monday, Portsmouth boss Jackett is quoted as saying by BBC Sport: “Michael’s an exciting player with good Championship experience.”

Those comments have now been followed up by an endorsement from former Pompey player Roberts who took to Twitter to give his view on the transfer deal. In a simple tweet, Roberts said: ‘Some player crackers – great signing’.

In total, Jacobs made 188 appearances for Wigan, appearing 79 times in League One for the Latics during his five-year spell (via Transfermarkt).

Finally, Jackett makes another signing for Portsmouth.

With the new season underway, it was becoming a slight concern that little transfer activity had developed over the last few weeks at Fratton Park, but Jacobs’ arrival could be the start of a couple more between now and the end of the transfer window.

Do you think Jacobs can go on and become a key player for Portsmouth this term? Let us know your views in the comments section below…

Sheffield United are keen to sign an attacker, and this has seen them be linked with Oliver Burke recently. It seems like this possible deal could go ahead, and it might be easier than first thought.

According to The Sheffield Star, talks between West Bromwich Albion and the Blades are continuing, and one factor which could make this an easy deal is Callum Robinson.

The Baggies are keen on the attacker, and even though Chris Wilder would be happy to keep Robinson, he is weighing up the possibility of involving him in a swap deal for Burke as the Blades see him as someone who can help United establish themselves as a top-flight club.

At his last three clubs (West Brom, Celtic and Alaves), per Transfermarkt, Burke has played 75 times but only scored six goals whilst also picking up eight assists, per Transfermarkt.

Meanwhile Robinson, who was on loan at the Baggies last season, per Transfermarkt, has scored once and set up two goals in 16 top-flight appearances for Sheffield United last season. Then, following his loan move to the Championship, the forward played a further 16 games, scoring three times and supplying two assists in helping West Brom to win promotion.

They are very similar players, but Wilder allowing Robinson to go on loan last season highlights that he perhaps does not rate the attacker over the other players he has available, and Slaven Bilic clearly does not rate Burke either as he allowed him to go on loan to Alaves last season. Therefore it would benefit all parties if the two players were allowed to swap clubs as they could have a fresh start and both managers could get players they fancy.

Blades fans, what are your thoughts on this news? Comment below!