All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Many West Ham United fans have been left very confused and angry as news emerged involving Declan Rice.

As shared by West Ham Central on their Twitter page, the Hammers midfielder was given a mere 5/10 rating for his display by The Liverpool Echo for his display against Denmark while on Euro 2020 duty with England.

An excerpt from the piece read that he was ‘poor again’, and ‘struggled’ to protect England’s defence, and is ‘fortunate’ to be keeping his place ahead of Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson.

A number of West Ham fans flocked to the tweet to voice their complete disagreement, with some citing the bias towards Henderson, and others claiming that the 22-year-old had a good game against the Danes.

Rice intercepted the ball on three separate occasions, the second-most out of his teammates behind Harry Maguire (five), and also made one clearance and tackle, achieving a 95% pass accuracy throughout the match, the highest out of any Three Lions player to have started (Sofascore).

The 22-year-old has played a big part in Gareth Southgate’s team getting to the final, starting each of their six games along the way, and so the criticism does seem very harsh.

West Ham fans on Rice rating

These Irons supporters flocked to news of Rice’s player rating as it was shared on Twitter, with one claiming that they were ‘baffled’ while a couple of others called it ’embarrassing’:

“Genuinely baffled by this. Bizarre”

Credit: @stephenlott

“Poor?! You’re kidding?! Rice has been superb with Phillips!”

Credit: @geordiehammer77

“Hahahaha embarrassing”

Credit: @Sambrooks90

“Wooooooooow”

Credit: @TAC_Dominator

“Jokers…embarrassing”

Credit: @StuShep77

“One word, BIASED”

Credit: @diltondiltond1

In other news, find out what recent development has left these West Ham fans ecstatic

Tottenham Hotspur want to bolster four key areas of Antonio Conte’s squad, according to emerging claims…

What’s the word?

football.london reporter Alasdair Gold has told his YouTube channel that Spurs have made four different positions their priority during this month’s transfer window.

“There is a feeling within the club that Spurs need a right wing-back, a left-sided centre-back and a striker,” he revealed. “From what I understand, Conte agrees with that, but also would like a central midfielder. Four priority positions.”

Fantastic four?

It’s no secret that the north Londoners need additions as they lack the strength in depth to truly challenge some of the Premier League’s biggest teams for a place in the top four.

What Conte has already done with the current squad is quite remarkable, having gone unbeaten in the top-flight under his stewardship but if they are to get back onto the next level, then chairman Daniel Levy must back his man with serious investment.

After selling Serge Aurier and replacing him with Emerson Royal in the summer, it’s a surprise to see a new right wing-back on the agenda but as Matt Doherty’s future is dubious, the need for another option could make sense, especially if Conte isn’t convinced by the former Barca man’s attacking credentials.

Elsewhere, another central defender is certainly going to be among the priorities. Cristian Romero is still absent with an injury, whilst the Italian head coach has often deployed full-back Ben Davies in his back-three. Japhet Tanganga and Davinson Sanchez have looked a little suspect in recent games, too.

Of course, the need for a new forward has always been there but it’s a tricky problem to remedy as Harry Kane will always be the star man leading the line for Spurs. There aren’t many players who will want to be a backup but Conte does need an alternative, or even a partner to the England skipper.

It is also interesting to learn of Conte’s desire for a central midfielder, too. Spurs already have Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Harry Winks, Oliver Skipp, Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso, so perhaps he isn’t convinced by some of those options.

Either way, this latest development from one of the most reliable sources is certainly exciting and it would suggest that the Lilywhites will indeed be active this window.

Supporters around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium should be buzzing by this news.

AND in other news, Conte can finally axe “unplayable” Spurs dud by signing “devastating” £26m-rated beast…

Crystal Palace have received a big injury boost ahead of their Premier League clash with Wolves at Selhurst Park this afternoon.

What’s the word?

The Eagles will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to six games when they take on Bruno Lage’s side, and they’ll have almost a fully-fit squad to choose from ahead of kick-off.

In Friday’s press conference, Patrick Vieira confirmed that he has no fresh fitness concerns to consider, while long-term absentees Eberechi Eze and Nathan Ferguson are progressing well in their recoveries.

“Eze is doing well,” revealed the French tactician. “He played 60 mins with the U23s and is feeling really good. So, he is progressing.

“Everybody is feeling well. Nathan Ferguson will start next week to take part in some of the exercises with the first team.”

Vieira was then asked whether Eze is ready to make his return to first team action after taking part in an Under-23s game on Monday, but the 45-year-old ruled him out of contention for today.

He said: “Still a bit too early. He just played 60 minutes. We need him to play more games, complete a 90 minutes before we take him into consideration.”

Vieira will be delighted

Although Eze is still a little way off from making his Premier League comeback following a five-month layoff with an Achilles problem, Vieira will still be delighted with the creative midfielder’s situation.

The 23-year-old was a key player for Palace last season, recording 10 goal contributions in 34 top-flight appearances, and his imminent return will provide a significant boost to the Eagles.

Vieira will be equally as pleased with the fact that he has no new injury issues to contend with, and that Ferguson is close to putting his fitness woes behind him.

Maintaining the south Londoners’ promising start to the season will be the aim for their new manager, and having his best players available for selection should certainly help him do just that.

In other news… £10.1m in the bank: Parish sealed dream CPFC deal over “quality” £29k-p/w beast

Celtic will complete the permanent signing of centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers this summer, according to Tottenham insider John Wenham, but it will cost them three times the 2021 price.

The Lowdown: Carter-Vickers shines on loan

The 24-year-old made a temporary move to Parkhead last summer, with Spurs unable to promise him regular time due to being down the pecking order in north London.

Carter-Vickers has been superb for Celtic throughout this season, making 27 Scottish Premiership starts and shining alongside Carl Starfelt.

The American saved arguably his best performance of the campaign for Sunday’s 2-1 win at Rangers, as he scored the winning goal and defended resolutely, being hailed as ‘immense’ by Chris Sutton.

The Latest: Price has trebled since last year

Speaking to Football Insider, Wenham firmly believes Carter-Vickers’ permanent move to the Hoops will go through this summer:

“Yeah, it’s simple, it just requires Celtic to transfer Tottenham £6million, it’s as simple as that. The player would want it and both clubs want it so there shouldn’t be any problems.

“They could have done it in the summer but the loan has been perfect for Tottenham. We would have let him go for £2million but we have trebled that price based on his performances.

“I couldn’t be happier with how it has gone because he plays pretty much every game up there. Cameron just isn’t at the level to play for Spurs so I am more than happy to move him on and bank that £6million fee.”

This aligns with a report from The Daily Record, who believe the Hoops will fend off competition from Leicester City, Wolves and Burnley thanks to the player’s preference to stay in Glasgow.

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The Verdict: Ideal for all parties

Some transfers can feel risky but this one looks like a match made in heaven, with all parties benefiting from Carter-Vickers trading Spurs for Celtic.

It would allow the player himself to settle at a new club that he already knows well, maturing into a formidable player and hopefully inspiring them to many trophies down the years.

Meanwhile, Spurs will be happy to get Carter-Vickers off their wage bill, with first-team opportunities looking hard to come by under Antonio Conte.

In other news, Chris Sutton has heaped praise on a Celtic ‘magician’. Find out who it is here.

Leeds United are really keen to complete a move for Brenden Aaronson before the January transfer window deadline on Monday…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who delivered a fresh update on the situation during a recent appearance on CBS Sports’ ‘Que Golazo’ podcast.

“Yes, it’s true. It’s true Salzburg rejected this proposal from Leeds,” he said. “They want him, they’re obsessed with him, they want to sign him. But Aaronson is an important player [for Salzburg].

“They feel that he would be perfect for Leeds immediately but the problem is Salzburg prefer to wait. They have European football, they want to keep him until the end of the season and maybe sell him in the summer.

“This is why the situation is still not easy between the clubs.

“The player would be open to this move but from the club’s side, from Leeds’ side and from Salzburg’s side, at the moment, nothing is agreed yet because they hope to keep the player until the end of the season.

“We will see what happens in the coming days. At the end of the transfer window, anything can happen. But at the moment, it’s not an easy one for Leeds.”

Gutting news

Whilst there is a glimmer of hope that the Yorkshire outfit can complete a move for their top target before next week, it seems rather unlikely on this evidence.

Romano has dealt a devastating blow to Marcelo Bielsa here as you’d imagine the Argentine is absolutely desperate for additions heading into the remainder of the current campaign.

His squad has been decimated with injuries regularly throughout the 2021/22 campaign and in some areas, they lack the strength in depth required to truly compete in the Premier League.

[snack-amp-story url = “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-lufc-transfer-rumours-gossip-bielsa-orta-radrizzani-elland-road-updates” title=”Read the latest Leeds news, transfer updates and much, much more!”]

They may well be clear of a relegation dogfight right now but that could quickly change with rearranged matches still to play and the likelihood of further injuries a sheer possibility, given the way things have gone already this term.

A new central midfielder is amongst the priorities, as evident by the link to Aaronson, and that’s hardly a surprise considering the Yorkshiremen haven’t signed someone in the role for four years and they are currently without a key player in the engine room in Kalvin Phillips.

The England international, who is ever so crucial to the way Bielsa sets up his Leeds team, is currently on the treatment table until March at the earliest. That’s another month minimum without such an integral cog.

He’s one of a handful of key first-team stars absent through injury – against West Ham in the Premier League recently, the Whites only had one senior pro on the bench amongst nine substitutes. That’s how bad it’s been.

Aaronson certainly fits the bill as your typical Bielsa signing – bags of potential, high work rate, good fitness and hugely versatile – but it seems as if this one will have to wait until the summer barring anything crazy before Monday.

Therefore, the Argentine head coach may be gutted heading into the second half of the campaign knowing that the club have failed to bolster his threadbare squad.

AND in other news, “They’ll be looking for”: Journo drops intriguing Leeds claim as Orta plots major move…

Manchester United could secure the ideal midfield partner for Paul Pogba after being linked with a move for Monaco ace Aurelien Tchouameni.

What’s the story?

The Red Devils were reportedly interested in the highly-rated 21-year-old’s services over the summer, although no formal offer was ever made for the Frenchman.

Now though, according to The Express, United are one of three European heavyweights vying for Tchouameni’s signature after a string of impressive performances.

The report also states that fellow Premier League side Chelsea and Serie A giants Juventus are keen to snap up the youngster, meaning a bidding war could be on the horizon.

Imagine him & Paul Pogba

After rising up through the ranks at boyhood club Bordeaux, Tchouameni joined Monaco in a big-money move in January 2020 and has gone from strength to strength ever since.

The youngster made 42 appearances in all competitions for Niko Kovac’s charges last season, scoring three goals and providing a further four assists for his teammates.

However, it’s his work off the ball that really catches the eye. As per WhoScored, Tchouameni averaged a whopping 3.5 tackles per league game in 2020/21, by far the highest tally amongst his teammates.

He also made 1.7 interceptions, the joint-highest total when compared to his teammates, and the £27m-rated colossus not only dominated proceedings on the ground but in the air as well, winning 67% of his aerial duels.

Tchouameni’s domineering displays have caught the eye of several impressed onlookers, including current Monaco teammate Cesc Fabregas, who praised the youngster.

“He has the potential to be a complete midfield player,” the former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea maestro wrote on Twitter. And now his compatriot and United star Paul Pogba has lauded his talents.

“He’s not a boy; he’s a man. It’s a pleasure to play next to him; he provides a lot, plenty of energy, technical quality and extraordinary physicality. I hope to play plenty of games together and always be on his side,” the World Cup winner said.

Tchouameni got the ideal opportunity to show just how effective his partnership with Pogba could be at Old Trafford after lining up alongside him during France’s National League final victory over Spain.

The duo worked extremely effectively throughout the 90 minutes, with the United star enjoying the attacking freedom that his more disciplined colleague allowed him.

It’s a duo that has the potential to transform Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s stuttering engine room, and therefore, football director John Murtough must swoop for Tchouameni over the coming months.

And, in other news…Man Utd suffer big injury blow ahead of PL return, Ole will be absolutely gutted

Liverpool are believed to be in the market for another forward player in the current transfer window, but the club have been tipped to make a move for Borussia Dortmund superstar Erling Haaland next summer.

What’s the story?

The Reds are one of many clubs  to have been credited with an interest in the Norway international in recent months, and with a reported £70m release clause becoming active in 12 months’ time, a move could well be on the cards.

Former Dortmund star Michael Rummenigge believes that Anfield is a likely destination for the highly-rated 21-year-old, also stating his belief that Kylian Mbappe could end up plying his trade in the Premier League.

“Yes. They (Haaland and Mbappe) could get there. We’ll have to wait and see where he goes after this season. Real and Barca have financial problems, so I could imagine him moving to England. His father used to play there too,” Rummenigge said in an interview with Sport1.

“I could well imagine Liverpool for Haaland. Haaland is an exceptional phenomenon. There is a player like that every 30 or 40 years. I don’t know what his career plans are, but for Dortmund, it’s great that he’s still wearing the black and yellow jersey this season.

“He is an absolute goal machine, his opponents only fly away to the right and left when he starts running. I’ve never seen anything like him at that age. The only drawback in his size is his headers. He doesn’t score enough goals. Otherwise, Haaland is a perfect player,” he concluded.

Jurgen Klopp would love him

Haaland has showcased his incredible, truly world-class potential on a regular basis since moving to Signal Iduna Park in January 2020, bagging an astonishing 62 goals in 61 games for the German giants and winning the DFB-Pokal along the way.

The youngster has also notched up 18 assists for his teammates, illustrating how he can also play the role of provider as well as a finisher when needed.

He is set to become one of football’s poster boys of the next generation once Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi finally call it a day, and Klopp – just like any manager – would love to be able to call upon his services.

The normally dependable attacking duo of Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino struggled to exert their usual levels of influence over proceedings last term, and Haaland’s significantly reduced price tag next summer could make him a realistic target for the Anfield outfit.

Many other Premier League and European clubs will also have the £117m-rated monster in their sights, though, so Liverpool’s director of football Michael Edwards may have to pull off another masterclass to get this deal over the line.

In other news… Report reveals exciting Liverpool update which will have Reds fans absolutely buzzing 

If you’re a Liverpool supporter then life can’t get much better right now. You’ve just watched your side defeat their local rivals 4-1, and what makes that even better, is that it was against their former boss, Rafa Benitez.

Last season was a mediocre one for the Reds but it’s evident that with fans back in the stadium, they are their rampant selves again.

Jurgen Klopp’s frontline is a force to be reckoned with and in Mohamed Salah, they have arguably the best player in the world right now.

Lionel Messi may have been crowned the winner of the Ballon d’Or for a seventh time earlier this week but come 2022, it wouldn’t be a great surprise if the Egyptian king was up there in contention too.

He has fired home a whopping 19 goals already this term and has been ably helped by Diogo Jota too.

The Portuguese has ensured that Roberto Firmino’s injury blow can be forgotten about as the ex-Wolves attacker has found the net on nine occasions in 2021/22.

Jota was a valuable asset last term but was more of a squad player who provided Klopp and co with extra depth. He still put in some mesmeric performances, namely when he scored a Champions League hat-trick. However, this campaign, he’s become a genuine star among Liverpool’s elite offensive setup.

His addition to the squad has been vital for Liverpool and without him this term, their title challenge might not be so strong.

It shows the value of investing in depth, something Manchester City have evidently benefitted from with a squad full of sparking quality.

Liverpool cannot rest on their laurels in that regard, though, especially ahead of January when both Salah and Sadio Mane will head to the Africa Cup of Nations.

More depth will be needed and they could find it from Wolves again. Adama Traore has been linked with a move to Merseyside while South Korean forward, Hwang Hee-chan, is another name reportedly in the mind of Michael Edwards.

Traore is blessed with remarkable pace but it’s Hwang who looks the more appealing prospect. After all, he has the end product to go with his ability to beat a man too.

Wolves have an option to buy the 25-year-old for just £13m from RB Leipzig but Liverpool must take advantage of that and hijack a deal.

After all, the 43-cap dynamo looks every bit the type of player that Liverpool need in their squad if they’re going to compete on multiple fronts for the rest of the season. The extra body he’d add to the squad would be truly beneficial but he’s not merely a spare part.

He has four goals for Bruno Lage’s side this term, being described as “Jota-esque” in the process by Wolves reporter Tim Spiers for the way he drives forward with the ball.

Finding the net is something Hwang has done with great regularity, specifically at RB Salzburg when he bagged 45 in 126 appearances. One of his finest nights in Austria happened to come against Liverpool.

During a frantic night of European football at Anfield, Hwang found space inside the area before sending a certain Virgil van Dijk to the deck and then smashing the ball home.

Several years on and that moment clearly still lives long in the memory of the South Korea international with The Telegraph’s John Percy and the Wolves gem combining to come up with the following definition that he sent the Dutch defender “out for a hot dog.”

With that in mind, he clearly has what it takes to evade even the best centre-backs in the game and if Liverpool do seek more depth next year, FSG must ensure that Hwang is brought to the club.

AND in other news, Klopp could save Liverpool millions by unleashing rarely-seen £7.2m-rated “monster”…

Antonio Conte has been dealt a further injury setback ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s clash with NS Mura in the Europa Conference League this evening…

What’s the latest?

The Italian will be without three players after delivering a fresh update to reporters during his pre-game press conference over in Slovenia.

“[Dane] Scarlett in this moment is not available. During the international break he had a problem in his ankle and is not available. He’s injured in the same way like Cristian Romero and Giovani Lo Celso,” he revealed (via football.london).

But to make matters worse, it appears the injury to the Atalanta loanee is a lot worse than first feared, handing the 52-year-old a crushing long-term blow.

On Romero’s absence, he then added: “We are waiting for another scan. I think his injury is a bit serious and we have to wait. It’s an injury that is more serious that Lo Celso and Scarlett.”

So not only will Conte be without Romero for the foreseeable future but he is also without two players that would’ve most likely earned some minutes on the pitch in an encounter like this one in young striker Dane Scarlett and attacking midfielder. Lo Celso.

Devastating setback

This update will surely leave the Spurs boss absolutely gutted, if not slightly annoyed and frustrated by the international break because three members of his first-team squad are now on the treatment table.

And one of his key starters in Romero is now facing a serious stint out.

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Indeed, the Argentina international started both of Conte’s first two games in charge, making 12 starts across all competitions this term but now the manager is going to be light on options in defence – a big worry because of his three-at-the-back system.

The fact that Conte believes it is ‘more serious’ is a huge cause for concern right now.

Meanwhile, Lo Celso has found it hard to pick up regular minutes for the club this campaign but has featured regularly in Europe, starting four times when fit. He would have certainly been in line to lessen the burden on some of the usual starters, who will be feeling the effects of Conte’s fitness work in recent weeks.

Similarly, Scarlett is really the only alternative to Harry Kane upfront, so the England talisman may no longer be able to be rested with the teenager out injured, thus for all of the reasons mentioned above, it makes it a very frustrating and significant blow to Conte ahead of kick-off.

He’ll need to be a little wary with team selection as his side face a tough trip to Burnley on Sunday afternoon but with three players missing, that task isn’t going to be an easy one.

AND in other news, Conte could repeat Cesc Fabregas trick with “unplayable” Spurs dynamo…

Manchester City are seemingly looking to sell Yangel Herrera this summer as they look to raise transfer funds, and recent reports have claimed that West Ham have made a bid, but it could be a mistake to let him join the Hammers.

What’s the word?

Herrera is a wanted man this summer After two impressive seasons on loan with Granada, with the likes of West Ham, Southampton and Leeds United having all been linked with a move for him so far in this transfer window.

The Daily Mail claimed earlier this month that City were looking for £20m for the 23-year-old midfielder, who Pep Guardiola has decided is surplus to requirements at the Etihad Stadium following Fernandinho’s recent contract extension.

The Citizens have already cashed in on the likes of Jack Harrison, Angelino and Lukas Nmecha as they look to raise money for the potential signings of Jack Grealish and Harry Kane, and it seems as if Herrera could be the next out of the door, with the latest reports suggesting that West Ham have submitted a bid.

Will Man City regret selling Herrera?

It seems rash of Guardiola to cash in on Herrera when he is still just 23, as next season could well be Fernandinho’s last for City, so they will likely need to look for competition for Rodri next summer should the Brazil veteran move on.

Herrera is yet to make a first team appearance for City and has spent the last four seasons out on loan with New York City FC, Huesca and Granada.

The Venezuela international made 82 appearances for Diego Martinez’s side during his time at Granada, contributing 10 goals and five assists from midfield. He also playing a starring role in their superb Europa League run to the quarter-finals last season, managing two goals and one assist in 10 appearances and averaging a solid 7/10 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

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Football commentator Andy West was full of praise for Herrera’s performances last season, saying: “You have to be incredibly fit to play the style he does – Thursday and Sunday every week – without dropping your standards. And he has done that, it is something that has stood out.

“He has been one of their most important players.”

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Therefore, it seems strange that City are willing to cash in on him this summer, and it could prove to be a disastrous move by Txiki Begiristain if the 23-year-old becomes a success in the Premier League with another club.

In other news… Man City could sign their ideal Kane alternative with swoop for “unbelievable” Premier League beast