Site News
Millionaire makes Owners’ & Directors’ Test claim amid bid to buy West Ham
Azerbaijani millionaire and PAI Capital’s founder Nasib Piriyev has insisted passing the Premier League’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test would not be an issue as his consortium aims to buy West Ham United. PAI Capital has made a bid of £400 million for the Hammers, but the offer has since been knocked back. Piriyev is currently embroiled in a legal dispute with his country, but insists that would not get in the way in his takeover bid for West Ham. “We are well prepared for those questions — our legal counsel and industry consultants have prepared our documents and are sure we pass the fit and proper test with flying colours,” the 40-year-old told The Athletic’s Matt Slater when asked if the dispute would cause issues with the EPL’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test. Sportslens View Passing the fit...
Report: West Ham miss out on attacker involved in 17 EPL goals last term due to wages
West Ham United were keen on signing West Bromwich Albion attacker Matheus Pereira this summer. However, they could not match the wages Al Hilal have offered him, according to Standard Sport’s Jack Rosser. West Ham were keen but couldn’t match the wages on offer in Saudi Arabia. #WHUFC https://t.co/LKP72yydPy — Jack Rosser (@JackRosser_) August 4, 2021 Sky Sports journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the Saudi Arabia club are in advanced talks with the Baggies to sign the 25-year-old having agreed personal terms. Al Hilal are in advanced talks to sign Matheus Pereira from WBA. Final details to be fixed between Al Hilal and WBA on final fee – personal terms now agreed. It’s up to the two clubs. 🇧🇷🔵 #AlHilal Leeds are not interested – Matheus pushing to co...
QPR and Birmingham amongst the dark horses in the Championship
There are usually six teams expected to challenge for promotion at the beginning of the Championship season – the three teams who have just been relegated from the Premier League, and the three who missed out on promotion through the play-offs. Of course, it’s not always the relegated sides and play-off teams who contest for promotion. Every season, there are usually a few sides who climb from mid-table obscurity and get themselves in the frame for the top spots. Dark Horses Queens Park Rangers are one of the sides gaining some attention. They finished in ninth place last campaign, but that doesn’t tell the full story. Their first half of the season was a bit of a nightmare, and they found themselves in a relegation battle. But this all changed with the arrivals of Charlie Austin, Sam Fiel...
Derby in trouble, Blackburn & Bristol City could struggle
Where there are winners, there must be losers. And, in the Championship, there are three big losers – the three who get relegated. The three coming up from League One are often predicted to struggle, given that they have to adjust to a higher standard of football. Of course, this isn’t always the case, but two of the three relegated sides from last season were newly promoted. Hull City won the League One title last term, so in theory should be the best placed to survive. One thing Hull have in abundance is goalscorers – last season, Josh Magennis, Mallik Wilks, and Keane Lewis-Potter scored 50 league goals between them. If they can translate this form into the second tier, they will give themselves a massive boost in their bid for safety. Can Magennis step up to the Championship? But that ...
The Athletic: Liverpool to land huge windfall following £30m EPL transfer
Liverpool are entitled to 20 percent of the profit Southampton have made from selling Danny Ings to Aston Villa, according to The Athletic. The Reds inserted a sell-on clause when they sold the England international striker to the Saints in 2018 and will now earn around £6 million after he was sold for £30m. Sportslens View It is a huge and unexpected windfall for Liverpool as no one saw the deal coming, and it would go a long way in helping boost their coffers. Ings joined the Reds from Burnley in the summer of 2015, leaving three seasons later for Southampton. Injuries and lack of playing opportunities limited him to just 25 appearances and four goals across all competitions for Liverpool, but his fitness has improved since he left. Ings featured in 100 games across all competitions for ...
Report: Villa now looking to tie up deal for £40m UCL-winning striker
Aston Villa are hoping to tie up a deal for Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham, according to The Telegraph. The 23-year-old is the Midlands club’s preferred option as a centre-forward, but the Blues will only allow him to leave for £40 million this summer. Villa manager Dean Smith wants to strengthen his attack for the new campaign, with Jack Grealish expected to leave for Manchester City in a Premier League record move. Sportslens View Abraham is not in the plans of manager Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge, and a return to Villa Park could appeal to him. The England international helped the Villans win promotion to the top-flight promotion in 2018/19 while on loan from Chelsea. He bagged 25 goals in 37 Championship games and remains admired by the fans and his former teammates. Abraham was omi...
Kalvin Phillips’ seven-word reaction as Ben White joins Arsenal
Ben White has joined Arsenal from Brighton & Hove Albion for £50 million, and Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips is proud of his international teammate. The 23-year-old spent the 2019-20 Championship campaign on loan at Elland Road, featuring in every minute of their promotion-winning season and playing a starring role. Leeds attempted to sign White permanently afterwards but were unable to meet Brighton’s asking price. They were briefly linked at the start of the summer transfer window, but it is Arsenal that have won the race for his signature. Phillips has been over the moon seeing his friend move to one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League and has reacted to it on Instagram. Sportslens View Arsenal have made White their third-most expensive transfer of all time, and ther...
Report: Arsenal open talks to sign Brazil international likened to Kevin de Bruyne
Arsenal have opened talks with Lyon over a potential £30 million deal for midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, according to Goal. Gunners manager Mikel Arteta would love to land Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli, but a deal is proving difficult, with Juventus also keen on the Italy international. Arsenal have now identified Guimaraes as an alternative, with the Ligue 1 outfit open to selling as they are struggling to balance the books after losing Memphis Depay on a free transfer to Barcelona. Sportslens View The Gunners need to get in quality players this summer if they want to qualify for Europe next season after disappointingly missing out last term, and their long-term target would be a solid addition. The Brazil international is already valued double the fee Lyon paid for him, and the north...
Report: NUFC & West Ham offered chance to sign midfielder with 3 titles for £6m
West Ham United are interested in Slavia Prague midfielder Lukas Masopust, with Newcastle United also offered the chance to sign him, according to 90min. The 28-year-old could be available this summer for as little as £6 million, but there is tough competition for his signature, with Leicester City, Watford, Brighton and Hove Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace also offered the chance to bring him to the Premier League. Sportslens View Masopust has been with Prague since the summer of 2018, helping them win the Czech First League title in each of the last three seasons and winning the Czech Cup in 2018-19 and last term. He plays primarily as a right winger but can also play as a midfielder and right-back, and West Ham and Newcastle could do with such a player. The Magpies do...
Report: England int’l midfielder in talks to leave EPL giants, Everton want him
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Harry Winks is in talks to join a Premier League club after being told he will be a fringe player next season, according to Football Insider. The England international has been linked with a move Everton, with Sky Sports journalist Fabrizio Romano reporting last week that a move to Goodison Park is a possibility. Football Insider have claimed this morning that Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo has given the green light for the 25-year-old to be sold to a Premier League rival, with the club likely to do a deal below their £30 million valuation. Sportslens View Everton appear to have been handed a massive boost by Tottenham as manager Rafa Benitez looks to bring in necessary additions this summer. The Toffees have signed a new goalkeeper and two attacking midfielder...
Report: 21y/o visited Thorp Arch after Leeds agreed terms with club, but he’s not joining
Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher has opted to join Crystal Palace ahead of Leeds United on loan for the season, according to TEAMtalk. The Blues have sanctioned another temporary exit after the 21-year-old impressed with West Bromwich Albion last term. TEAMtalk claim Leeds had agreed terms with Chelsea to take Gallagher on loan for the season, with the midfielder already visiting their training ground in West Yorkshire. However, he would now remain in London for the new season, with the Eagles expected to wrap up a deal soon. Sportslens View Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa is badly in need of reinforcements in the middle of the park for next season and would have been gutted to have missed out on the England youth international. The Elland Road outfit lost seven out of the nine Premier League ...
Report: Gerrard wants to sign midfielder from Man Utd for Rangers before Saturday
Rangers are interested in bringing Manchester United midfielder Charlie McCann to Ibrox this summer, according to Daily Record. The 19-year-old is yet to make his first-team debut but has impressed with the Red Devils under-23s, with Light Blues boss Steven Gerrard keen on having him. The Rangers boss has been alerted to McCann’s growing reputation for a while and monitored his progress. The Scottish Premiership champions begin their title defence with a visit from Livingston on Saturday, and Daily Record claims Gerrard wants to add the Man Utd youngster to his squad before the new domestic season kicks off. Sportslens View Rangers need to strengthen in the middle of the park, and Gerrard knows exactly what to look for in a midfielder. Having been a goalscoring one himself, it appears McCa...
