Tag Futebol

Newcastle United are reportedly interested in a move for Inter Milan star, Hakan Calhanoglu, as manager Eddie Howe seeks to recruit a new creative midfielder.

What’s the latest on Calhanoglu to Newcastle?

According to InterLive.it, the Magpies – as well as Premier League rivals Leeds United – have been named as possible suitors for the Turkey international this summer, with the 29-year-old facing something of an uncertain future at San Siro with just 15 months left to run on his current deal.

The report suggests that the 74-cap playmaker – who joined the Nerazzurri on a free transfer from rivals AC Milan back in 2021 – could potentially be the subject of a bid from Leeds for a fee of around €30m (£26m).

The player’s agent, Gordon Stipic, has only recently revealed that his client is in “no rush” to agree to a contract extension, potentially opening the door for the Tynesiders to pounce ahead of next season.

Could Calhanoglu be Newcastle’s Maddison alternative?

A new midfield asset has clearly been on the agenda for the St James’ Park outfit of late, having been heavily linked with a move for Leicester City sensation James Maddison in the January transfer window, after previously lodging a £50m bid for the 26-year-old over the summer.

Further reports have indicated that the Englishman will again be a top target for Howe and co come the end of the season, although champions Manchester City are also now in the mix for the player – whose own deal is set to expire in 2024.

That rival interest from the Etihad outfit may prove a spanner in the works for Howe’s plan of prising the Coventry-born gem from the King Power Stadium, hence the need to look for an alternative in the form of Calhanoglu.

The latter man has enjoyed a fruitful campaign thus far with three goals and six assists in 33 games in all competitions for the Serie A side, with that a respectable record despite not quite matching the feats of Maddison – who has 14 goals involvements in just 20 games across all fronts this season.

Clearly a player who can make an impact in the final third, Calhanoglu also mirrors the Leicester man with his ability to drive his side forward from deep, with that evidenced by the fact that he ranks in the top 20% among midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries, while Maddison ranks in the top 18% in that regard.

Equally, while the latter man has been lauded by Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate as an asset who can provide “world-class” delivery, the Inter ace is also a real threat from dead-ball situations, having been noted as something of a ‘free-kick specialist’ – as per The Guardian.

The German-born ace – who has 30 goal involvements to his name in just 79 games for his current side – previously laid on 80 goals and assists in 172 games for his former employers, as well as 28 goals and 29 assists in just 115 games during his time at Leverkusen.

Undoubtedly a figure who can unpick a defence or produce a moment of magic when required, the 5 foot 10 dynamo could emerge as something of a talisman for Howe and co, having previously been described by former boss Stefano Pioli as an “exceptional guy, [who] has the qualities to become the protagonist.”

Those traits should ensure that Calhanoglu would certainly be an astute signing for Newcastle if a deal can be struck this summer, particularly should the long-running pursuit of Maddison fail to bare fruit.

While Jesse Marsch’s sacking from Leeds United a matter of weeks ago was unsurprising, the decision that was taken in order to replace him was somewhat of a shock.

The Whites cast their net out in search of a swift appointment but were knocked back several times, first by the disciple of Marcelo Bielsa – Carlos Corberan – who signed a new deal at West Bromwich Albion and then by Andoni Iraola who was blocked by his club, Rayo Vallecano.

As a result, Victor Orta and co were left with limited options, ultimately looking towards his fellow countryman in Javi Gracia.

A strange appointment it indeed looks, and when considering he reportedly doesn’t even have a work permit, the hire becomes even more perplexing.

The former Watford boss at least arrives with experience in English football and indeed the Premier League, but it will be an uphill battle to keep the Yorkshire side in the division.

Fortunately, he does have a number of talented young players to call upon, one of which is Giorginio Rutter.

What impact could Rutter have under Gracia?

The year of 2023 has been a troubling one not just for Leeds, who have not won a game since the resumption of the league following the World Cup, but also for new signing Rutter.

Signed from Hoffenheim in the winter, the 20-year-old looks a raw but exciting talent. That said, he is yet to find the net in his five Premier League games and 109 minutes of action.

Those are limited involvements indeed but under Gracia, he could well thrive.

After all, this is a manager who once coached a certain Richarlison to prominence all those years ago at Vicarage Road with the Brazilian – now a £60m footballer at Spurs – playing under Gracia’s tutelage for the Hornets.

Although he failed to score for the Spaniard, he is undoubtedly one of the most notable players the new Leeds boss has worked with.

The Brazil international is a master of the dark arts when it comes to his off-the-ball work, making himself a nuisance for opposition defenders.

But he is indeed a competent footballer too, using his pace and trickery to work openings for both himself and his teammates. It is those qualities that have seen him ultimately go on to score 48 times in the Premier League.

Capable of operating as a centre-forward or out on the flanks, there are clear parallels with Rutter who plays in similar areas of the pitch.

At Leeds, the Frenchman has exclusively played as a striker but with Patrick Bamford now back in the fold, could play out wide. That said, with Gracia previously favouring a 4-4-2, perhaps the duo could operate together in the same side.

But what makes this comparison to Richarlison all the more obvious is their skill set, with scout Jacek Kulig once hailing the “clinical finisher” for his “blistering pace.”

Described as ‘part centre-forward, part jet-heeled winger’ by the Bundesliga website, the 20-year-old was among the 50 quickest players in Germany’s top tier with a top speed of 21.46 mph, just 2 mph quicker than that of the current Spurs attacker.

Rutter’s ‘direct running and mesmerising dribbling’ as per Bundesliga.com only add further comparisons, with such a player only set to get better as the years go on.

Leeds, and Gracia, however, will just have to hope that progression happens in the next few weeks. He will be key to any chance the Elland Road outfit has of staying up.

Tottenham Hotspur have set their sights on a move for Brentford striker Ivan Toney, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Spurs eyeing Toney

It was reported earlier this season that Tottenham sporting director Fabio Paratici was eyeing a swoop for the 26-year-old ahead of a potential move in the January transfer window, but Spurs instead chose to strengthen other areas of the squad.

Right-back Pedro Porro was brought in on a £5m loan deal with a £39m obligation to buy, while winger Arnaut Danjuma arrived on loan, with Antonio Conte choosing to wait until the summer before signing an out-and-out striker.

The Latest: Spurs keeping close tabs on Toney

As per Football Insider, Tottenham are keeping close tabs on Toney, who is currently holding talks with Brentford about a new contract.

The implication is that if these discussions do not go to plan, Spurs could swoop in for the 26-year-old, considering Richarlison and Heung-min Son are said to be struggling for form, with the duo managing only 10 goals in 48 appearances combined this season.

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The Verdict: Get it done?

Given that Tottenham have Harry Kane at their disposal, who recently broke Jimmy Greaves’ record as the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, it may be difficult to attract Toney, as he knows that he will almost certainly be playing second fiddle to the England captain in N17.

That said, if they are able to tempt the ‘sensational’ 26-year-old (as dubbed by presenter Ste Howson) into a move to north London, he would be a fantastic signing. That much is indicated by his superb scoring record in the Premier League this season, netting 13 times in 19 outings and also weighing in with three assists.

His prolific goal return for Brentford – 61 goals in 110 appearances – begs the question as to just how prolific he could be in a team of Tottenham’s calibre, and Paratici should continue to monitor the progress of contract talks at the Gtech Community Stadium over the coming weeks.

Leeds United are one of the teams keen on signing Michael Keane this month…

What’s the word?

That’s according to talkSPORT, who have listed the Yorkshire outfit alongside fellow Premier League rivals West Ham United and Southampton as likely suitors for the out-of-favour Everton defender.

However, it’s thought that the Toffees would be reluctant to let him leave for a direct competitor, whilst their managerial situation throws further doubt on the matter as the 30-year-old was frozen out by sacked boss Frank Lampard.

It also remains to be seen how much Keane would command as he’s currently valued at just €6m (£5m) by CIES Football Observatory, some five-and-a-half years after his £30m switch from Burnley.

Llorente upgrade

The Whites picked up only their third clean sheet since late September with a 0-0 draw to Brentford last weekend, ending a run of four successive matches of conceding two or more goals, in which 50% of those outings were against lower-league opposition. Meanwhile, only four other teams have conceded more than Leeds (33) so far this term.

It’s fair to suggest that one of Jesse Marsch’s biggest problems has been in defence and it’s hardly a surprise given the constant chopping and changing to his backline, though that has partly been down to never-ending injuries.

Would Keane be an upgrade, though? Well, there’s a case to be made over him being better than Diego Llorente – the American’s lowest-rated defender in 2022/23. In fact, of all players to have made eight or more appearances, the Spanish titan has been the worst, per WhoScored.

His inconsistent and calamitous nature was recently put back in the spotlight against Cardiff City, arguably being at fault for both of their goals in a pretty disastrous showing.

Whilst the Englishman hasn’t been playing much for Everton this term, they are joint-bottom in his absence, having played 32 of 36 matches last season, which included a stunning 3-0 victory over the Whites, where he found himself on the scoresheet and kept a clean sheet against the likes of Raphinha and Rodrigo.

Sofascore graded him to be the best player on the pitch with an 8.0 rating after he won 75% of his duels and made three interceptions, a feat that eclipsed the aforementioned Leeds dud, too.

In each of his last seven seasons in the Premier League, prior to his one, Keane has never recorded a worse average WhoScored rating than what Llorente is currently on, proving to be a mark of consistency over the years and perhaps makes Lampard’s decision to omit him all that stranger.

Despite his lack of game time, the 6 foot 3 titan – who was dubbed a “colossus” by The Athletic’s Greg O’Keeffe – still remains inside the top 7% of all central defenders across Europe’s top five divisions for aerial duels won (3.18) per 90, some way clear of Llorente again as he sits on the cusp of the top 48% (2.04).

As such, it’s evident that Leeds could actually land themselves a defensive upgrade in the form of Keane, although director of football Victor Orta is fast running out of time to get this one over the line.

AND in other news, Forget Wober: Orta could complete best Leeds business yet by signing £26m “top target”…

Journalist Beren Cross has revealed that Leeds United are working on bringing in a new striker with Georginio Rutter, Viktor Gyokeres and Sebastian Driussi all targeted.

What’s the word?