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Sunderland will be looking to keep a firm grip on some of their young starlets ahead of next season, even if recent reports suggest that this could indeed be a tall order for the struggling Black Cats.

16-year-old midfield sensation Chris Rigg looks set to be in the middle of a major bidding war in the summer despite still only being a teenager, with the likes of Manchester United and even Sunderland's arch-rivals in Newcastle United sniffing about for his services.

Jobe Bellingham is another who could also have his head turned by the allure of a higher-up suitor soon, with Serie A titans Lazio reportedly keen on the former Birmingham City gem.

Sunderland will just be thankful that they've had some great luck with their current crop of young stars to try and forget about their significant blunder in 2011 with this flop, who would never settle in at the Stadium of Light after being hyped up to be the next best thing.

Connor Wickham's transfer to Sunderland

Joining for a bumper £8m 13 years ago, the world was expected of Connor Wickham when relocating to Wearside under Steve Bruce's watch, after bursting onto the scene at former club Ipswich Town at a rapid speed.

At just 17 years of age, Wickham would win Young Player of the Year for the Tractor Boys at the EFL awards after proving to be a goalscoring menace for the Suffolk club whilst still learning the ropes as a youngster.

His final season with Ipswich would see him tear up second-tier defences, leading to that coveted accolade being picked up by the then-teen striker before Sunderland came calling.

Sunderland must have thought gambling on a major move for Wickham would pay off, with the imposing 6 foot 3 forward becoming a reliable source of goals in the Premier League after initially taking time to get used to his new top-flight environment.

Instead, despite Wickham terrorising Championship defences as an up-and-coming gem with Ipswich, he would never truly fit in at the Stadium of Light with wasteful performances becoming more commonplace over his previous blistering best in Suffolk.

The now 31-year-old striker would only score once during his debut season for the Black Cats in the Premier League, with his best tally for a campaign coming in at a meagre six from his four disappointing years situated in Wearside.

Looking at TotallyMoney's Transfer Index, this £8m deal would look even more like a colossal waste of money when you examine today's inflated costs.

Sunderland will just hope they can recoup some money if the likes of Rigg and Bellingham do end up walking away, rather than setting it alight in this example.

Wickham's transfer value in 2024

If this same disastrous move went through in 2024, Wickham would have cost Sunderland and Bruce even more of a bomb at an eye-watering £21.5m, as per Totally Money.

That would push the misfiring forward up to being the most expensive signing in Sunderland's history, ahead of Didier NDong's excessive £13.6m fee, further reinforcing his tag as a huge flop.

Former Sunderland legend Niall Quinn even dubbed Wickham as having the potential to be "Sunderland's Alan Shearer" in 2014, only to be very much proved wrong by the injury-prone attacker's forgettable time playing for the Black Cats – hardly getting close to Shearer's return of 260 Premier League goals, it's fair to say.

Crystal Palace also suffered as a result of taking a punt on Wickham after his Sunderland exit, with the 31-year-old – who is now without a club after most recently turning out for Charlton Athletic – missing a ridiculous 999 days of action for the Eagles owing to injuries.

The Black Cats will aim to purchase more raw gems in the summer to boost their squad, hoping to not have a repeat of this cursed deal which never lived up to the Shearer-esque billing.

Sunderland could finally get Rusyn firing by appointing Still alternative

Sunderland fans will hope this bold new manager can turn Nazariy Rusyn into a goal-machine.

By
Kelan Sarson

May 7, 2024

The start date for Manchester City’s 115-charge Financial Fair Play (FFP) case has been set, with the Premier League giants set to learn their fate.

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• Blues accused of monetary mismanagement
• Deny all allegations of any wrongdoing
• Fighting case before judgements are delivered

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The reigning kings of English football discovered early in 2023, following a long-running investigation, that they would be charged with supposed monetary misdemeanours. The charges against them date back to 2009 – shortly after Sheikh Mansour completed his takeover of the club.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  City stand accused of failing to provide accurate information regarding their overall finances, as well as player and manager payments. Those at the Etihad Stadium – who made history last season when securing a fourth successive top-flight crown – deny any wrongdoing and are defending their case at an independent inquiry.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  It had been reported for some time that City’s FFP hearing would begin in September, and be completed by the end of the calendar year, and it has now been revealed that proceedings will be begin on Monday the 16th.

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  TELL ME MORE

  Once all relevant evidence and arguments have been presented, heard and considered, a final judgement will be made. There has been talk of City being stung with points penalties – similar to those handed out to Everton and Nottingham Forest last season – hefty fines or even demotion out of the Premier League.

After succumbing to Bayern Munich and Aston Villa in quick succession midway through April, Arsenal are well and truly back in form after dispatching Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in the space of five days in the Premier League.

There were several standout players from the club's two London derby victories, such as Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, but one star who was benched for both was Gabriel Jesus.

The former Manchester City ace has not had quite the impact he would have hoped to have this season, and based on recent reports, he might soon find himself replaced in North London.

Arsenal's search for a striker

According to a recent report from GIVEMESPORT, Arsenal have maintained their interest in Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee and are now considered the player's 'preferred destination' ahead of a potential move this summer.

The report has revealed that, alongside the Gunners, several Serie A sides, such as Juventus and AC Milan, are keen to add the former Bayern Munich ace to their squads in the summer, but the Italian clubs are now worried that the marksman is himself eager to hold out for the north Londoners to make an offer and not to join a domestic rival of Bologna.

The good news keeps coming for Arsenal, as according to a report from ESPN in March, the Rossoblu currently value their star marksman at around £51m, and while that is still a hefty price tag, it isn't absurd in the current market when, for example, Rasmus Hojlund joined Manchester United for £72m last summer.

Everything seems to point towards a relatively straightforward transfer for the north Londoners if they do wish to sign the Dutchman. While that's great for Edu Gaspar and Arteta, it could spell trouble for Jesus, especially after it was revealed earlier this week that the club are willing to cash in on him this summer.

How Zirkzee compares to Jesus

So, if the North Londoners were to press ahead with this deal and bring Zirkzee to N5 in the summer, would they be making the right decision, and how does he stack up to Jesus?

When looking at the pair's pure output this season, the 22-year-old comes out comfortably ahead of his potential competition, scoring 12 goals and providing seven assists in 35 games to his eight goals and seven assists in 33 games. Therefore, the Brazilian averages a goal involvement every 2.2 games this season, while the Schiedam-born dynamo averages one every 1.8 games.

What about their underlying numbers, then? Does the vastly more experienced Arsenal man have the edge over his potential replacement in this area?

Well, it's a bit of a mixed bag here. While he does come out ahead in more metrics than not, it isn't by very much, and he comes out second best in a few crucial ones, such as goals-to-shots-on-target, actual goals, and things like progressive passing. In essence, he has the better underlying numbers overall, but not significantly so.

So, with the prospective replacement beating out the four-time Premier League winner on actual output but coming up second best regarding underlying numbers, what else can separate them? Injuries.

In the last two seasons, the former Palmeiras gem has missed 33 games for Arsenal – a third of the games he could've played – whereas the "complete" Bologna star, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has missed just eight, making him the far more reliable player of the two.

Ultimately, if Arsenal have the chance to sign Zirkzee for around £51m this summer, they should go for it. His record this season is seriously impressive, and while he might need a season or two to match Jesus' underlying numbers, he will likely be far more reliable and, therefore, useful for Arteta as the club continues their search for a Premier League title.

Arsenal lead race for Partey replacement who'd be "disgusting" next to Rice

The incredible talent could be the perfect man to take over from the veteran midfielder.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

May 2, 2024

Vivianne Miedema admits to dreaming of being “up front with Robin van Persie” in the men’s game when professional women’s football “wasn’t a thing”.

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• Limited options for striker as a youngster
• Has reached the top of her chosen profession
• Pays little attention to breaking records

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  As a starry-eyed youngster, the prolific Dutch forward never imagined that the day would come when she could strut her stuff at the very highest level and get paid for the pleasure. In order to achieve that, teenage Miedema believed that she would have to prove her worth alongside the men.

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  WHAT MIEDEMA SAID

  She did just that at youth level, as doubters were silenced in spectacular style, and has told of childhood ambition that saw her targeting a spot alongside a former Arsenal and Manchester United star in Rotterdam: “Playing professionally with other girls wasn’t a thing back then. I thought I’d be up front with Robin van Persie at Feyenoord one day. I remember a game where the opposing team said: 'They have a girl, this should be fun.' We won that match 11-0, I scored six goals and provided five assists. Who’s laughing now?”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Miedema went on to make her professional debut for Heerenveen at 15 years of age, before taking in memorable stints at Bayern Munich and Arsenal. She is the Netherlands’ all-time leading scorer, boasts the most goals ever scored in the WSL, won the Golden Boot at the 2021 Olympic Games and has three Ballon d’Or Feminin nominations.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Miedema does, however, consider records to be little more than “nice to have”, adding on her exploits: “Records are there just for others to break. Ultimately, I play for the team’s results and to keep growing myself, both on and off the field.”

There could well be a summer of major change at the Stadium of Light on the horizon, not just with a managerial switch taking place.

The powers that be at Sunderland could well look to freshen up the playing squad here and there as well, especially if the likes of Jack Clarke depart for pastures new in the Premier League after being a constant ray of light for the Black Cats this turbulent season with 15 Championship strikes.

There might also be a clear-out of some high earners on Wearside who might not fit into next season's new-look identity, with one out-of-sorts winger in danger of being sold on soon to free up more space on the wage bill.

Patrick Roberts' numbers at Sunderland this season

Patrick Roberts has had a frustrating season in truth to match his side's overall underwhelming campaign, only picking up a pitiful two assists from 31 Championship matches with zero goals also registered.

That is a major decline in form from last term under Tony Mowbray, where the ex-Manchester City man helped himself to five goals and seven assists to steer the Black Cats to a playoff finish.

The 27-year-old attacker hasn't been blessed with the best luck when it comes to injuries this campaign, however, with the experienced forward missing for large chunks of 2024 to the detriment of his youthful side who could have done with a more seasoned head up top in big games.

Still, with Sunderland looking at appointing a new and exciting manager to replace Mike Dodds, Roberts' days could be numbered as a figure of the Black Cats camp that has, arguably, become stale.

Roberts' high wage will also be a factor as to why Sunderland could look to get rid soon, with the diminutive winger earning four times Trai Hume's wage despite the Northern Irish defender being a more settled part of the Black Cats team all season long.

Roberts' wage compared to the Sunderland squad

The ex-Celtic loanee finds himself in the top five earners of Dodds' camp still remarkably, all whilst the forward has only been fit for action eight times this year in the Championship.

Raking in a sizeable £12.5k-per-week, according to Capology, Roberts is currently sitting pretty as the fourth highest earner at the Stadium of Light despite other more notable first-team faces earning far less.

Anthony Patterson is earning £2.5k-per-week less than Roberts when scanning the top earners table above, with the first-choice goalkeeper feeling a little harshly done by considering he's been an ever-present figure for Sunderland this season under the various managers that have been in and out of Wearside.

Hume only earns £3k-per-week compared to Roberts' far heftier £12.5k-per-week wage too, even with the 22-year-old defender being on the radar of Leeds United once upon a time after starring in patches for the topsy-turvy Black Cats in the second tier.

The Northern Irishman could well be demanding a pay increase for next season, therefore, to keep him around at the Stadium of Light with Roberts being let go of potentially enabling Sunderland to mess about with pay packets more.

It would be a very sad severing of the ties if Roberts was let go of in the off-season, having once been referred to as "magic" by ex-boss Mowbray, but one that could allow Sunderland more freedom to strengthen next campaign.

Sunderland could appoint an “unbelievable” John O’Shea alternative

Sunderland could look towards this John O’Shea alternative as their next manager.

By
Kelan Sarson

Apr 22, 2024

Anthony Martial has reportedly received an offer from Brazil as the former Manchester United star continues to consider options.

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• Martial is currently a free agent
• His United contract expired last season
• Flamengo in touch with the forward

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Martial’s contract with Manchester United expired in the summer of 2024, ending his eight-year stint at Old Trafford. Despite initial expectations that the French forward would attract high-profile European clubs, a significant move has yet to materialize. This delay has prompted Martial to broaden his search, looking beyond Europe for his next club, and he now finds himself with an intriguing offer from South America.

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  According to, Martial has drawn attention from Flamengo, a top club in Brazil’s Serie A. The Rio de Janeiro-based team has reportedly made contact with Martial’s representatives as they look to replace their injured striker, Pedro, who has picked up an ACL injury.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  In addition to Flamengo’s interest, Martial has also attracted the attention of Greek club AEK Athens. On Wednesday, it was revealed that AEK are looking to sign the Frenchman in what could be a record-breaking deal for the club. Although the Greek side are keen to bring Martial into their ranks, they now face stiff competition from Flamengo, who are determined to make their move.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MARTIAL?

  Martial’s early promise began to fade in the latter years of his United career. Recurring injuries and inconsistent performances hampered his ability to make a sustained impact. Over his last four seasons at Old Trafford, the Frenchman managed only 12 Premier League goals in 64 appearances, a stark contrast to the bright start he once enjoyed. While a move to Brazil might not have been Martial’s initial plan, the offer from Flamengo presents an exciting and unexpected opportunity to reignite his sinking career.

Tottenham Hotspur have shown no sign of slowing down after completing a deal to sign Premier League star Yves Bissouma, as news emerges on Torino’s Gleison Bremer.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye central defensive upgrade…

Looking to upgrade his options for the 2022/23 campaign, Spurs manager Antonio Conte has set sights on a marquee centre-back signing for his back three, according to reports.

Indeed, The Athletic have named club chief Fabio Paratici’s numerous targets for this role, including Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig) and Villarreal colossus Pau Torres.

Bremer is believed to be another player for whom Spurs could make a move, with the Brazilian openly admitting to media that he wants to leave Torino and play in the Champions League.

The north Londoners’ qualification for Europe’s premier club competition at the end of last season could seemingly play a major role, with SportMediaSet now sharing an update on Spurs’ pursuit of the 25-year-old.

The Latest: Tottenham push for Bremer…

According to their information, Tottenham’s ‘pressure has risen’ in the chase to sign Torino’s mainstay ‘in the last few days’.

However, the report also claimed that Serie A giants Inter Milan are ‘on pole’, with Bremer even green-lighting a potential move to the San Siro.

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The South American is apparently a man in demand and Spurs will have to contend with ‘several suitors’ in this particular transfer race.

The Verdict: Continue the battle?

Tottenham could entice Bremer with the prospect of European football and competing in one of the world’s foremost domestic leagues.

It isn’t unreasonable to believe that they could leap ahead of Inter in the race with a proper proposal, and we believe Paratici’s effort could be well worth it.

Bremer stood out as one of Serie A’s best-performing defenders over 2021/22, even making more interceptions than any other player in the Italian top flight and averaging the joint-fifth most clearances per 90 (WhoScored).

It’s hardly surprising that some members of the media have called the 25-year-old an ’emerging superstar’ (Rajath Kumar, ex-Forza Italian Football writer).

Torino president Urbano Cairo has allegedly set a price tag of around €35m (£30m), and this valuation could come as a real bargain given Bremer’s evident talents.

In other news: Tottenham eyeing ‘big’ 183-goal player move, Harry Redknapp called him ‘priceless’! Find out more here

Leeds United have been linked with a move for 18-year-old Manchester City midfielder Romeo Lavia.

What’s the news?

According to Phil Hay of The Athletic, Leeds “are interested” in the midfielder, as they look to strengthen that area of the squad ahead of next season.

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It’s suggested that Man City are unlikely to sell but he could be used in a deal for Kalvin Phillips

The next Phillips

As a product of Anderlecht’s youth system, the Belgian joined City’s U18 side back in the 2020 summer transfer window.

Since then, the midfielder has gone on to make 60 appearances for the Manchester club across their senior and youth sides, chipping in with two goals and five assists along the way.

Back in September, Vincent Kompany had this to say about the youngster and his attributes on the pitch.

He said: “He [Lavia] picked up a lot and showed that he is aggressive in recovering the ball and while also being calm on the ball.”

After completing his first and only full 90 minutes in a senior game for the Citizens during their 6-1 win over Wycombe Wanderers in the Carabao Cup, the Manchester Evening News said that Lavia “clearly likes a tackle, and his passes over the top and through the lines were Fernandinho-esque.”

This particular side of his game could make him the ideal heir to Leeds midfielder Phillips, who has been linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium this summer.

With 49 Premier League appearances under his belt, the England international has won 87 tackles in total, in addition to having a rating of 97/100 for his tackling ability according to FBref.

Taking this into account, despite still only being a teenager, the £1.8m-rated City youngster certainly has the talent to become a fully-fledged Premier League player.

Also, having spent time around the City first team and trained alongside their senior players under the coaching of Pep Guardiola will have undeniably been beneficial for Lavia and his knowledge of the game.

This could not only make him a suitable long-term replacement for Phillips if he leaves this summer, but also an exciting prospect for the Leeds fans to have in their team.

If the Whites see an opportunity to negotiate a deal for Lavia with City, then they should definitely test the waters to see if they would be willing to let the midfielder leave.

In other news: Leeds now given the green light to sign “massive” £34m gem, Marsch will be buzzing

Interest in Leeds United winger Jack Harrison is hotting up ahead of the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Telegraph, who revealed that, having caught the eye of Eddie Howe, Newcastle United look primed to make a move for the 25-year-old in the coming months. The Whites are believed to be demanding a figure in the region of £30m in order to part with the winger this summer.

Further reports have also claimed that Tottenham Hotspur are keeping a very close eye on the situation of the former England under-21 international ahead of a potential move of their own, although The Telegraph report suggests it is very much the Magpies who are leading the race for the former Manchester City starlet.

Harrison must go

While it is true that the vast majority of the Leeds squad struggled for form in 2021/22 – Raphinha, Liam Cooper and Stuart Dallas were the only players to have maintained their impressive performance levels of the season prior – Harrison’s output over the course of the latest Premier League campaign was particularly concerning.

Indeed, it is true that the £17m-rated forward’s eight league goals ranked him as the Whites’ second-highest scorer in the top flight. However, when looking slightly deeper at the numbers, it is clear to see that the 25-year-old was simply not good enough in the final third.

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According to FBRef data, the £60k-per-week talent ranks in the bottom 15% of wingers and attacking midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues for non-penalty xG per 90, and also in the bottom 15% for shots, the bottom 5% for assists, the bottom 6% for xA, the bottom 9% for npxG+xA and the bottom 25% for shot-creating actions over the last 365 days.

The winger, who Anthony Lewis dubbed Leeds’ “worst signing” and Jake Winderman labelled “hellaciously bad”, also ranks in the bottom 38% for passes attempted per 90, in addition to the bottom 7% for pass completion, the bottom 40% for touches in the opposition penalty area and the bottom 29% for progressive passes received over the past 12 months.

Also, with it being rumoured that Jesse Marsch is looking to set Leeds up in his favoured 4-2-2-2 formation next season, the potential of Harrison no longer being considered a guaranteed starter at Elland Road in the upcoming campaign is very real.

As such, considering the 25-year-old’s below-par returns last time out, his hefty weekly wage and Marsch’s preference to play with two number 10s, Victor Orta simply must cash in on the forward if the club were to receive an offer anywhere near £30m for him this summer..

AND in other news – “Sources in…”: Phil Hay drops huge Leeds transfer update, supporters will be buzzing

A big Ibrox development has emerged regarding Rangers and their plans with Ianis Hagi for the upcoming summer transfer window. 

What’s the talk?

Twitter transfer account The 4th Official has confirmed that the Premiership giants will not be cashing in on the winger ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

They tweeted: “Rangers have zero intention of selling Ianis Hagi. There is a feeling that this is a lowball offer that is done primarily to unsettle the player.”

This comes after reports of a €7m (£6m) bid from Galatasaray in an attempt to snap up the Romanian from Ibrox, with Ross Wilson rejecting the Turkish club’s offer.

Gio van Bronckhorst will be delighted

The Gers head coach will be delighted with this news, as it suggests that Hagi will be at Ibrox come the end of the summer transfer window.

He will be buzzing with Wilson’s reluctance to do a deal for the Romania international, as it shows that the club are willing to stand firm and fight to keep hold of their best players. They will not roll over and allow European suitors to take away their most prized gems without paying a hefty price for them.

Van Bronckhorst can therefore have faith that those making the decisions above him will do what is in the best interests of what happens on the pitch, rather than taking the £6m offer and banking the money to the detriment to the team.

Former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard previously lauded the 23-year-old’s mentality, saying: “We’re really happy with Ianis Hagi, he’s a joy to work with.

“He’s a student of the game. He’s always looking at areas to improve, whether that be from a physical point of view or tactically or technically. He’s someone you have to drag off the training ground.

“Ianis is always in the analyst department too. He’s never out of the gym, so he’s an absolute dream to work with, very low maintenance. We’re delighted with how he is developing and progressing and we’re happy to have him.”

These comments suggest that the midfielder is unlikely to be affected by any mind games at play with Galatasaray’s bid, as he is a hard worker and will not want to cause any issues which may affect his development by agitating for a move.

Hagi’s drive to be the best is also another reason why Van Bronckhorst will be delighted by Rangers’ stance on his situation. The Dutch head coach will surely be excited to work with the midfielder upon his return from injury, as he has shown that he has an appetite to develop and hone his skills.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Souttar: Rangers can seal dream deal by signing 23 y/o “real leader”…