Sunderland could revive their interest in Marcus Maddison this summer after he left League One rivals Peterborough.
Sunderland and Peterborough both missed out on promotion to the Championship in the 2019/2020 season and they are set for a summer that will sees multiple players come in and leave.
The Black Cats currently have 11 players free to leave the club come June 30 as their current contracts come to an end, and manager Phil Parkinson will have his work cut out to replace the likes of Chris Maguire and Jon McLaughlin.
Peterborough, who will also see some players leave, have allowed Maddison to depart the club along with six other players.
Maddison ends a six-year spell at Peterborough which saw him spend time on loan with Championship side Hull City for the second half of the 2019/20 season. During his time with the Tigers, the midfielder scored one goal in seven games, whilst he scored nine goals and supplied six assists for Posh during the first half of the season.
Now that the 26-year-old is available on a free, Sunderland are expected to reignite their interest and it could prove to be a match made in heaven for the player, who supported the Black Cats as a kid.
Chronicle Live touch on the previous interest shown by the Wearside club, whilst also noting that Hull could offer Maddison a short-term deal to help them finish the Championship season, which is due to resume this coming weekend.
Maddison’s form in the latter months of 2019 shows that he can be a very effective presence at League One level and, with Sunderland set to have their squad decimated, new signings will soon become a matter of urgency for Parkinson.
The Black Cats could do a lot worse than bringing in a proven player in this division, all the more so now that he is available on a free transfer.
Do you think Maddison would be a good signing for Sunderland? Let us know in the comments section below…
Bradford City have not offered Sunderland target Jay Spearing a deal as the Black Cats look to make a summer move.
According to The Sun (5 July, page 61), Phil Parkinson is keen to take a punt on the former Bolton Wanderers and Liverpool midfielder after he became a free agent.
Parkinson will have a difficult summer ahead of him as he looks to rebuild his side after a second consecutive season without gaining promotion from League One to the Championship.
Finishing eighth in the League One table, the Wearsiders missed put on a play-off place and pressure will firmly be on Parkinson to make the right signings.
The Sun claims that Spearing is emerging as a transfer target after spending time under Parkinson at Bolton.
Spearing is reported to have been offered the chance to return to Merseyside with Tranmere Rovers, whilst Bradford were also said to be interest.
The Gazette report that despite the latter’s interest, a deal has not been offered, essentially making it a two-horse race between Sunderland and Tranmere.
This looks like good news for Sunderland, as it means that it remains a level playing field in the race to sign Spearing given no offer has been made by Bradford.
Signing the ex-Liverpool man could be good business from Parkinson. As mentioned he knows the player well from their time at Bolton and he is a player with lots of experience, not just in League One but also in the two divisions above – he has played 30 times in the Premier League.
Do you think Spearing would make a good signing for Sunderland? Let us know in the comments section below…
One thing Celtic may need this summer is a new striker.
Interest in Odsonne Edouard from some of Europe’s elite clubs has been heavily documented, and if the Frenchman is to leave Celtic Park, the Glasgow outfit will need a capable replacement if they are going to reach the goal of winning 10 league titles in a row.
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Luckily, it seems as though they have a target in mind, but the Hoops’ first bid for Ivan Toney was some way short of what they may have to pay, and Kieran Devlin gave an update on what Celtic will have to cough up to land their man.
What’s been said then?
The Athletic journalist was hosting a Q&A session ahead of the new season, and as you would expect, a number of questions were asked about the Scottish champions’ transfer business, and Devlin had the answers.
“Celtic had a bid of £5 million for striker Ivan Toney turned down, with Peterborough seemingly wanting a fee for around £10 million. Apart from that, plenty of rumours but not sure how much substance is to them.”
Not good enough
Later in the Q&A Devlin would state that he doesn’t see why Celtic would sign Toney unless he was going to be Edouard’s replacement, and you have to question whether or not he’d actually be good enough to fill that void.
Toney may have scored 24 goals this season, but that’s at League One level, and that surely isn’t really where Celtic want to be shopping around.
This is a club that will be in the Champions League again next season, and if they have aspirations of getting out of the Group Stages or even dropping into the Europa League by virtue of finishing third in a group, they need more than a League One striker spearheading their attack.
On top of that £10m for a player from that level is outright preposterous, especially when you consider Peterborough sold Jack Marriott to Derby for an initial £3m after scoring 27 goals in the division, three more than Toney managed this term.
This article forms part of our Profit Players feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how well a player has fared since being signed or sold, using statistical figures and statements from pundits to prove how good of a deal the club managed to achieve.
Celtic acquired goalkeeper Artur Boruc for £1.35 million, per Transfermarkt, in 2006 which shows they clearly enjoyed how he played for the Scottish side whilst he was on loan the season before.
Across both spells, the Polish international managed to make 192 appearances for the club, per Transfermarkt, spanning across five seasons, which highlights that at the time the Hoops saw him as their best option in between the sticks.
It’s easy to see why when you look at his stats as the goalkeeper managed to only concede 173 goals and keep 76 clean sheets, per Transfermarkt.
His performances in goal was clearly part of the reason as to why the Hoops won three league titles, one Scottish Cup and two Scottish League Cups.
There is a big moment that many Celtic fans remember, and it was his penalty save in the dying stages of the 1-0 win over Manchester United in November 2006 that secured the Hoops’ passage through to the knockout rounds of the UEFA Champions League for the first time.
It is great moments like this that make Boruc a special player, and what makes him even better is the fact that he was eventually sold for £2.25 million to Italian side Fiorentina in 2010. So not only did the Hoops get a lot out of the player but they nearly made a million pounds on him as well, so all in all he was a great bit of business.
Hoops fans, what are your thoughts on Boruc? Let us know down below!
It wouldn’t exactly be an understatement to say that Barcelona are currently very much a sinking ship. The new coach Ronald Koeman and the board have promised the fans a revolution and it seems that a revolution is what they are going to get.
The latest reports state some of the dressing room’s heavyweights are going to have to leave the club and Lionel Messi of all people has also requested to be transferred. Of course, at the very moment, the Argentine is everything the Catalans and the media can talk about but Luis Suarez is also a player whose future hangs on a thread.
According to an update from Globo Esporte, Barcelona have already contacted Manchester City about the availability of Gabriel Jesus. The forward is seen as the perfect replacement for Suarez as he is young and fits their desired profile.
If the same source is to be believed, the initial talks have been held but as of right now, that’s all we know about the deal. Of course, there were also whispers of Pep Guardiola potentially involving Jesus in a deal to bring Messi to the Premier League but that’s also where the rumour stopped for now.
Either way, it does seem like losing Jesus would not exactly be what the Citizens had in mind, but it could be worth it if they get something special in return.
Like Messi, for example.
Verdict
The ongoing summer transfer window is already bound to be a window of swap deals and maybe Man City could truly make an effort to milk Barcelona for all they’re worth with this Jesus transfer.
Of course, ideally, they keep him. But if he really wants to go and Messi wants to come to England, no matter how unlikely that may sound at the moment, maybe there is an avenue here the Citizens could explore.
Newcastle United have been dealt a fresh injury blow after Craig Hope confirmed on his official Twitter page that Paul Dummett picked up a fresh knock against Middlesbrough.
As per a tweet from the Daily Mail journalist, the 28-year old went off shortly after coming on and he was not the only one to pick up a knock after the friendly game:
“I’m told NUFC picked up a couple of fresh knocks at Boro, and perhaps explains why Monday’s rematch called off. Paul Dummett among them, he went off shortly after coming on. No update from club though.”
Indeed, the Tyneside club suffered a rather humiliating 5-1 thrashing by their local rivals managed by veteran Neil Warnock, as Allan Saint-Maximin scored the only goal for the Magpies, according to The Chronicle.
However, perhaps the most worrying bit of news to come out of it is the fresh injury to Dummett, who had already come off the back of an injury-hit 2019/20 term as he missed 12 matches with an Achilles tendon rupture, as per Transfermarkt.
As a result, the Welsh international was limited to just 17 appearances in all competitions, as Steve Bruce will be hoping that this new knock is not as serious.
Indeed, Dummett has been a loyal servant at St. James’ Park over the last nine consecutive seasons, in where he has played in 185 games in total, scoring three goals and making one assist (via Transfermarkt).
The Welshman is also very capable of filling in a number of different roles (per the website), which is handy for the squad, and so Bruce will be hoping that the injury is not a serious one.
As Hope has confirmed, there has been no update from the Toon as of yet.
Geordies, how big of a blow could Dummett’s injury be? Comment below!
In a rather surprising turn of events, Leeds United have been linked with Paris Saint-Germain’s Julian Draxler. No one really expected Marcelo Bielsa to be aiming that high but then again, it is in his nature to do so.
The Argentine coach is slowly but surely building a team worthy of competing in the Premier League and with the addition of the midfield star, his squad would be almost complete.
However, it seems that Bielsa has now suffered a heavy blow in the pursuit of the player’s signature as the latest report from L’Equipe suggests Paris Saint-Germain are set to offload Draxler to none other than Mikel Arteta.
In fact, the Parisiens want to sign Matteo Guendouzi and would then offer their player in return to get the deal over the line. Of course, this also means the Whites don’t exactly stand a chance in the race.
Arsenal want to offload Guendouzi anyway and the French titans are keen on bringing the 21-year-old back home. Seeing how the midfielder is out of favour at the Emirates, this deal should be more or less straightforward.
Still, nothing is set in stone and we will have to wait and see how Bielsa responds to this news. As of right now, it does seem like getting Draxler to Elland Road might be a task too tall for the Argentine coach.
But we should never really bet against El Loco and the transfer window can be extremely unpredictable at times.
Let’s wait and see what happens.
Verdict
Even though Leeds are on the rise, it would be fairly unexpected to see them land Draxler at this point in time. Now that Arsenal are reportedly in the race and have the upper hand, it might be a good time to look elsewhere.
After all, there are other targets that could still improve the Whites immensely.
When it comes to Fantasy Premier League, you forward options are often the most important decisions to make before the start of each new season – and this one proves no different to the rest.
There is an abundance of strikers and wingers to choose from now, with plenty of forwards last season heading into double figures for their goalscoring tallies. This new season has seen plenty of new additions from new signings at the big clubs, all the way to the new players coming through from the clubs promoted from the Championship.
No matter what, you can always rely on your go-to’s from each season, as well as finding room for those hidden gems and cheaper players to help fill out your squad whilst making sure you build the best starting XI and bench possible.
With that being said, we’re going to take a look at four options up top that could be a make or break for your FPL team, ranging from all prices at any club in the league.
Aleksandar Mitrovic – £6.0m
The Serbian international is back in the Premier League with Fulham after their prometon via the Playoff final against Brentford. Last season in the Championship, Mitrović managed 26 goals in 41 appearances for the Cottagers – and in his last season in the Premier League, he still scored 11 goals for the club despite their relegation in the 2018/19 season.
The 25-year-old will currently cost you just £6.0m, a great price for a striker of his ability and proficiency, and has only been selected by 25.7% of users. Along with an ICT index rank of 512 of 521, Mitrović should be in everyone’s starting XI this season.
Anthony Martial – £9.0m
Soccer Football – Premier League – Manchester United v Southampton – Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain – July 13, 2020 Manchester United’s Anthony Martial celebrates scoring their second goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Peter Powell EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation.
Last season saw the Frenchman enjoy his best goalscoring season for Manchester United yet, managing 17 goals in 33 appearances. During that time, he picked up a total of 200 points and certainly struck up a great partnership with Marcus Rashford both before and after the Englishman’s injury.
This season has only seen 13.8% of user select Martial, likely due to his £9.0m price tag – but don’t let that scare you off. Now that the 24-year-old has found his feet in a Red Devils shirt, I can’t see that slowing down now, and he would be a great option in your starting XI if you give him the chance.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin – £7.2m
Everton’s No.9 has certainly shown what he is about in the Premier League last campaign.
The 23-year-old scored 13 goals for the Toffees last season, amassing 126 points by the end of the year, and I don’t see that being the end of the Englishman’s goalscoring form. This season has seen Carlo Ancelotti sign three new midfielders in Allan, Abdoulaye Doucoure, and James Rodriguez, with the latter being the most important for Calvert-Lewin.
Rodriguez will bring a new attacking dimension for Everton, and I can see Calvert-Lewin benefitting greatly from this. This season the striker will only cost you £7.2m and has only been selected by 24% of users.
Neal Maupay – £6.5m
The French striker has been something of a revelation for Brighton. Since 2016, Glenn Murray was a fantastic goal scorer for the Seagulls, but the 2018/19 season was far from Murray’s brilliance – and this led to the now 36-year-old being side-lined due to injuries and his age.
In steps Neal Maupay, and suddenly Brighton have themselves a real goalscoring striker in their hands. Last season was Maupay’s first for the club, and the 24-year-old managed 10 goals in 37 appearances, totaling 131 points for the campaign.
Maupay can currently be picked up for just £6.5m. Only 2.1% of users have selected him, meaning he has certainly gone under the radar.
We weren’t sure what to expect from Leeds United as they returned to the Premier League.
On one hand, Leeds are a massive club capable of competing with any team in the country in terms of support and reach, and their history in the division shows that they’re able to compete right at the very top level.
On the other hand, their squad upon promotion was very thin and largely made up of the same players who finished mid-table before Marcelo Bielsa arrived at the club, so we weren’t fully sold on the squad’s quality.
However, it’s now become very clear what Leeds’ ambitions are and what we should expect from them in the coming years.
Indeed, after the end of the transfer window, Football365 compiled a list of the biggest spenders on the planet over the summer, and Leeds United wasted no time in showing what a footballing superpower they are as they ranked fifth on the list, only bested by Juventus, Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester City – four of the richest clubs in the world.
They’ve managed this despite not having a billionaire owner, and while Andrea Radrizzani’s wealth may not be at the same level as someone like Stan Kroenke or Shahid Khan, he has put more money into his club this season than either of those two have at Arsenal or Fulham.
The Italian has wasted no time in making United a team that are able to compete at the top table of English football, and if this sort of investment continues, it may not be long before the Whites reach the heights they hit in the early 2000s. After all, they have a man labelled as the best coach in the world at the helm.
Radrizzani has gone above and beyond what anyone expected from him – he’s not the richest owner in the world by any stretch, but he’s just funded a transfer window that has seen his club outspend the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United.
As long as Victor Orta and Marcelo Bielsa do their jobs by finding the right players and using them in the best possible way, Leeds should continue to climb the footballing ladder in the coming years.
Glasgow Rangers are gearing up to face Celtic at Parkhead in the first Old Firm derby of the season on Saturday afternoon.
The 54-time Scottish champions will be hoping to stretch their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership table to four points. And Steven Gerrard’s side will need to be at their very best if they are to beat the Bhoys in the 421st Old Firm battle.
The Light Blues are currently unbeaten this season, winning eight of their league games and drawing the other two games, whilst they have shown that they are a tough team to beat, as they have only conceded three goals from their first ten fixtures in the top flight.
Old Firm derbies are never a dull affair, though the game will be played behind closed doors, but that won’t stop supporters from tuning in to watch one of the most anticipated games of the season so far.
Here is the starting lineup we are expecting to see at Parkhead, including two changes from their last league outing.
It was claimed that the Rangers boss could have been forced to make several changes with as many as six players potentially unavailable for the lunchtime kick-off, as Allan McGregor, Alfredo Morelos, Joe Aribo, Filip Helander and Kemar Roofe were all considered doubts for the clash with Celtic, whilst Nikola Katic remains a long-term absentee due to injury.
However, McGregor, Morelos and Helander have all been cleared ahead of the Old Firm derby, although neither Aribo nor Roofe will be fit to face Neil Lennon’s side later today.
After facing an anxious wait, McGregor will assume his rightful place between the posts, with Jon McLaughlin dropping back down to the bench.
The veteran goalkeeper will most likely start behind a back four consisting of Borna Barisic, Connor Goldson and James Tavernier lining up alongside the 11-cap Swedish international.
Moving further afield, Steven Davis may make room for Ryan Jack, meaning Scott Arfield and Glen Kamara could make up the rest of the midfield trio. Bongani Zungu will have to wait for his debut – it would have been way too big a risk for Gerrard to throw him in at the deep end anyway, so Kamara will keep his place.
With so much at stake, Gerrard has a big call to make – does he choose Ianis Hagi or Jordan Jones? As we previously discussed, we think he will opt for the more experienced Jones.
Meanwhile, Morelos should return to the starting XI after being called up by his country during the international break, which means Cedric Itten is set to miss out, while the ever-reliable Ryan Kent should start on the left wing.
AND in other news, Glasgow Rangers must keep Glen Kamara at all costs after Pukki comments…