All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Darren Bent is unsure if Jordan Pickford has what it takes to be England’s number one with the European Championships on the horizon. 

Bent weighed in on the goalkeeping debate on talkSPORT on Monday evening.

Pickford was ruled out of this week’s World Cup qualifiers after picking up a rib injury. Burnley’s Nick Pope has stepped in and continued his 100% record for clean sheets in an England shirt.

Dean Henderson, who has started Manchester United’s last three Premier League games in the absence of David de Gea, and West Brom’s Sam Johnstone were also called up.

‘You need calm heads at the Euros’

Bent praised Pickford’s distribution but has concerns over his temperament.

“If I had to put them in order, I’d probably go Henderson, Pope, Pickford,” Bent said.

“I do like Pickford but I think he gets a little bit over-emotional. His distribution is second to none though, he can kick the ball far. But I think in situations like the World Cup or the Euros you need calm heads.

“It’s a difficult one because we know he’s never let Gareth Southgate down.”

Pickford has conceded 29 goals in 23 Premier League outings this season (via FB Ref).

Those goals have come from a post-shot xG of 27.3, which means he’s slightly under-delivered.

He was in improved form prior to his injury though, with three well-earned clean sheets in four matches.

Transfer Tavern verdict

Bent acknowledges that Pickford hasn’t yet let Southgate down, but is that suitable justification?

Perhaps the Sunderland-born goalkeeper is effectively a ticking time bomb.

England should view themselves as genuine contenders at the Euros, but it’s hard to believe they’ll go all the way if they place their faith in an erratic goalkeeper.

In other news, fans were excited by Fabrizio Romano’s Everton tweet.

Many Wolves fans ripped into defender Nelson Semedo after their 0-0 draw against Aston Villa on Saturday evening.

The 27-year-old started at wing-back for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side as his team were unable to break down the resolute Villans.

Semedo has been a regular for Wolves this season, starting all but one Premier League game, but bizarrely divides opinion among the fanbase. Despite this, few will argue about his showing at Villa Park.

Per Sofascore, the Portugal right-back lost 11 duels, gave the ball away 19 times, was dispossessed four times and made no interceptions. No Wolves player lost more duels while only one was more careless in possession.

While many fans made their feelings clear on social media – one dubbed the £27m signing a “big flop” in frustration at his performance – others offered their towards journalist Nathan Judah, who suggested that Semedo looked tired rather than playing poorly.

Wolves fans slate Semedo

“Until Semedo starts trying to take people on in dangerous areas and doesn’t always turn back in the final third he’s going to be a big flop at the price we paid”

Credit: @Danrose93

“I’ve always stuck up for the bloke but IMO worse Semedo performance today”

Credit: @mitchdavis_1

“2nd half has been like a different team but Semedo, Adama, Moutinho and Donk have been awful”

Credit: @drawlings27

“I might be wrong but the guy can’t control a ball or defend and cost £35m”

Credit: @8clay23

“This awful…again…no concentration and can’t pass to each other!”

Credit: @julescrow1

“No he doesn’t”

Credit: @DavidYa42784426

In other news, Wolves fans not impressed with transfer report concerning Molineux star.

Kevin Phillips has exclusively told Football FanCast that he thinks Jack Grealish will leave Aston Villa this summer.

Having scored the crucial goal at West Ham on the final day of last season which kept Villa in the Premier League, Grealish has continued his outstanding form this term to put Dean Smith’s team on the cusp of the European places.

Grealish has contributed to 18 goals Premier League – with his brilliant performances not only making him a strong favourite to be named in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the European Championships, but he’s attracting attention from Manchester City, who’ve been heavily linked with the attacking midfielder.

Villa’s captain is currently out injured having missed their last five games with a leg problem, and Phillips, who played for the Villa Park outfit himself, thinks that his former side are resigned to losing the England star this summer.

Phillips told Football FanCast: “I actually see him wanting to stay because I live in the area, and I know people that know him – he absolutely loves Aston Villa, a bit like Stevie G at Liverpool.

“He’s Villa through and through, but from a footballing perspective, I think someone will come in with a big bid, and the club will probably find it hard to turn down. Villa have done very well this season, but my suggestion would be ‘go and win trophies’. And he’s good enough to do that, he’s shown that.”

But exactly how confident is Phillips that Grealish will be tempted by a move away from the West Midlands?

He added: “If I had to put my head on the block, I think Grealish will probably move in the summer.”

After picking up a morale-boosting 2-0 win against bottom side Hamilton, Celtic entertain St Mirren on Saturday afternoon looking to pick up back-to-back victories in the Scottish Premiership for the first time in 2021.

Neil Lennon’s side are out of the title picture, with Rangers running away with it at the top, but the Hoops boss will be keen to ensure they can get some much-needed momentum going.

A home game against seventh-placed St Mirren offers them the perfect opportunity to do just that, so Lennon is likely to keep faith in many of his first-team stars.

With that in mind, below is a look at how Celtic might line up on Saturday.

In goal, Lennon sprung a surprise last time out against Hamilton by dropping Vasilis Barkas and giving Scott Bain a chance, and the 29-year-old should keep his place in between the sticks.

The back-four could be the area that sees the Celtic boss make some major changes. Jeremie Frimpong’s confirmed move to Bayer Leverkusen in mid-week has robbed the Hoops of their starting right-back, and whilst Kristoffer Ajer filled in there against Hamilton, they might be better off going with a more natural fit in there.

Anthony Ralston will surely be hoping to get his chance, and that could see Ajer move into the centre of defence alongside Stephen Welsh, with under-performing duo Nir Bitton and Shane Duffy finally dropped.

The one change in midfield could see Ryan Christie make his return to the starting line-up in place of the “very dangerous” Mohamed Elyounoussi, whilst Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths will be hoping to find the back of the net again after netting a goal piece last time out.

Predicted XI: Bain; Ralston, Ajer, Welsh, Taylor; Soro, McGregor, Christie, Turnbull; Edouard, Griffiths.

Meanwhile, Lawwell can deliver a final parting gift to Celtic with this 6 ft 1 beast…

Despite West Ham beating Sheffield United 3-0 on Monday night, David Moyes should question Jarrod Bowen’s potential role at striker after failing to fill Michail Antonio’s boots.

Moyes opted to omit Antonio from his matchday plans following concerns over the striker’s fitness, which saw him miss last Tuesday’s FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.

There had been hope in east London that Antonio would be passed fit to face the Blades after nine days’ rest, but failed to make the grade and missed his first Premier League fixture since December 27 as a result.

Moyes had previously fielded Bowen at striker this season, with minutes in the centre against Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion, though on each occasion lined up beside either Antonio or Sebastien Haller.

That choice was not available to the West Ham boss on Monday night after selling Haller to AFC Ajax last month, while also being without Antonio’s FA Cup stand-in Andriy Yarmolenko after the Ukraine forward sustained knee ligament damage at Old Trafford.

Those circumstances left Bowen as the Hammer’s lone option to face Sheffield United, but he could only serve up a display that would prove Moyes was wrong to choose against signing a striker to replace Haller during the winter transfer market.

Admittedly, playing at striker is an unfamiliar position for Bowen, who has made 20 of his 26 appearances across all competitions this season on the right-wing, but the £96k-per-week attacker has prior experience in the role and scored plenty for Hull City in the past.

In 12 games played centrally for the Tigers, the 24-year-old struck seven goals and provided four assists, and has been in strong form this term with only Tomas Soucek (8) finding the back of the net more often for West Ham than Bowen (5) has in Premier League games.

Bowen rarely looked likely to add to his tally on Monday night, though, having only attempted a single shot on Aaron Ramsdale’s net that was blocked, per WhoScored.

Despite his pace and willingness to run allowing the Leominster-born forward to offer an outlet in attack, the £25.2m-rated winger further struggled to offer any real threat in the final third that he would not have been expected to bring to the side in his natural wide role – in fact he managed just 16 successful passes on the night, which was the lowest of any outfield player for the Hammers, and a real indication that he struggled to get involved in the game.

And with Bowen not being off the same build as an Antonio who is capable of holding play up, ultimately failed to fill the boots of the man he was tasked with replacing even if West Ham were able to claim a commanding victory.

Moyes will now have to hope that Antonio can be passed fit for Sunday’s London derby with Tottenham Hotspur, or need to rely on others stepping up again and making good use of the space that Bowen’s runs can create.

Bowen’s largely anonymous display against the Blades once again raises serious question marks over Moyes’ decision not to sign a new striker.

AND in other news, West Ham may rue not signing a £1.8k-p/w target in January as he nears a pre-contract agreement…

Carlo Ancelotti must be reunited with Adrien Rabiot at Everton during the January transfer window amid rumours of negotiations to sign the Juventus midfielder on loan.

What’s the word?

According to TodoFichajes, the Toffees are in discussions with Juve over a potential deal for Rabiot to move to Goodison Park until the end of the season with an option to buy.

Everton are considered the best-placed side to hire the Frenchman in the mid-season market with Ancelotti keen to work with the 25-year-old again following their time together at Paris Saint-Germain.

Ancelotti is claimed to have instructed the Blues hierarchy to pursue a deal for Rabiot this month, with Andrea Pirlo preparing to reshape his Juventus squad with several players touted for uncertain futures.

Rabiot has struggled to establish himself under Pirlo at the Allianz Stadium this season and is expected to be made available for a transfer, having started only nine of his 12 Serie A appearances and three of five outings in the Champions League Group Stage.

The £29m-rated maestro has provided one goal thus far this term, coming in a 4-1 win away to Spezia Calcio, and has two-and-a-half-years remaining on the £176,000-per-week contract signed in 2019.

Everton were linked with interest in Rabiot last summer whilst he faced an uncertain future in Turin, having been placed high on Juventus’ shortlist for potential sales amid needs to balance the books just a year on from joining.

Time to reunite

Everton could end January with the addition of two Juventus midfielders with talks to sign Sami Khedira still said to be underway, but their Director of Football Marcel Brands ought to shelve any plans to land the German and focus his efforts on reuniting Ancelotti with Rabiot.

Rabiot featured just nine times under Ancelotti during the 2012/13 campaign as the midfielder sought to breakthrough into the PSG first-team, but has gone on to become a widely-lauded talent with six Ligue 1 trophies, plus Serie A, French Cup and French Super Cup honours in his trophy cabinet.

The 11-cap France international has also been praised by Italy great Gianluigi Buffon as an “incredible” player, who offers Juventus a real blend of abilities.

“He is a fantastic mix, he has the physical strength of [Paul] Pogba, who is like a wardrobe, has the personality of [Arturo] Vidal and potentially the dynamism of [Claudio] Marchisio,” Buffon told Corriere dello Sport, via quotes by Goal.

“He is incredible, extremely strong. He needs to improve his timing when approaching the opponent’s penalty area, but he can become a player with 10 goals per season.”

Rabiot may have only scored once thus far this season but has contributed 1.0 shots per Serie A game, and would serve as an upgrade on Andre Gomes at Goodison Park with the Everton midfielder taking just 0.2 efforts on goal during Premier League fixtures.

Gomes also offers fewer successful dribbles (1.1 to 1.5), successful tackles (1.1 to 2.3), interceptions (0.1 to 1.7) and duels won both on the ground (2.5 to 4.3) and in the air (0.6 to 1.1), per SofaScore.

AND in other news, Everton can reach a new level by signing a “complete” £31.5m-rated maestro in January.

Cast your mind back to the summer transfer window and you will remember an enthralling few months for Leeds.

Having just gained promotion, Victor Orta spent a club-record fee on Rodrigo from Valencia.

They also sealed the signing of a Germany international in Robin Koch during what was an eye-catching window for Leeds.

They also happened to land Raphinha, a tricky winger who has taken to English football in scintillating style. He has contributed to four goals since signing and looks every bit a Marcelo Bielsa player.

However, they missed out on the chance to sign someone with a very similar name – Rafinha.

Leeds were linked with signing the former Barcelona midfielder in a deal worth just over £14m but a move didn’t materialise and he ultimately signed for PSG.

Though, this has to be one of Orta’s biggest regrets in the summer. Leeds were aiming to sign a midfielder and they very nearly had one in Michael Cuisance. Unfortunately, a move collapsed after the Frenchman failed his medical.

Bizarrely, United didn’t look at alternatives and now they’re paying the price. Kalvin Phillips operated at centre-half versus Crawley and with the England international suspended against Brighton, Pascal Struijk appeared at the base of Bielsa’s midfield.

It’s safe to say this hasn’t paid off. The Dutchman played just 45 minutes in the FA Cup and thus, didn’t win a single ground duel. When they welcomed the Seagulls to Elland Road, Struijk gave the ball away 13 times – the sixth-worst tally on the Leeds side – and completed 80% of his passes.

That tally isn’t too bad but it was still considerably down on his season average of 88%. Of course, the youngster is a centre-back by trade so is playing out of position, but this only emphasises why Orta needed to bring another battling midfielder to Leeds.

Rafinha could have been that man. Talking about the 27-year-old, former Barca defender Andreu Fontas once said: “Rafinha is a great player. Physically, he is a beast and, technically, he is superb.”

That just about sums up what Leeds need in the middle of the park, especially from a physical point of view. He is a machine at regaining possession and putting his team on the front foot.

The Brazil international has completed 30 challenges across Ligue 1 and Champions League action this term – winning 2.5 tackles per game domestically.

For context, that would put him joint-fourth in the Leeds squad alongside Liam Cooper. It’s a figure that’s just 0.4 below Phillips, but 0.5 better than Struijk.

He’s also completed more accurate passes (89.8) than anyone in the Whites’ team barring Kiko Casilla. Having registered three assists on top of that, it goes to prove that he is an all-action midfielder.

Rafinha can tackle, pick the lock of stern defences and regain possession with relative ease. The £72k-per-week earner would have been a wonderful pick up last summer.

Leeds should rue the day they chose not to make a move.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Bamford: Leeds must revive interest in £8m target who “has everything”…

There are no two ways of saying this; Borna Barisic has quickly become a valuable asset for Glasgow Rangers since the Croatian defender signed a four-year deal to join the 54-time Scottish champions in 2018.

What’s the word?

After Steven Gerrard made it clear that his first-choice left-back wasn’t for sale amid Premier League interest in the summer, Barisic insisted he wouldn’t pay attention to any transfer talk as he is focused on stopping Celtic from winning ten in a row.

However, Gary Bollan believes the Rangers full-back could be heading for a club south of the border in the not too distant future.

When asked about Barisic’s future, he said: “It’s a big ask for anybody to come in and replace Barisic, because he’s the best left-back in the country and he’s the first pick for one of the strongest nations in the world, Croatia.

“If you’ve got the delivery he has, and the athleticism to get up and down the left flank like he does, then there’s no doubt that clubs in England will be looking at him.

“In England, a lot of clubs now play with their full-backs high up the pitch and if he went down there, he would be a success. I don’t doubt that for a minute.”

Bollan is not alone in praising Barisic’s performances, either, with former Celtic defender Mark Wilson impressed by his credentials.

Wilson said: “He’s the best left-back in the country. He’s improved his defending and supplies assists and is a threat at set-pieces.”

Keep him at all costs

Whilst Calvin Bassey has burst onto the scene after impressing so far this season, Barisic’s performances cannot go unnoticed. The praise flowing his way from fans and pundits alike will leave Ross Wilson with little room to gamble on his future amid links abroad.

In 13 appearances in the Premiership this season, Barisic has scored one goal and supplied four assists, whilst he is averaging one shot, one dribble and 2.1 key passes per game, as well as one interception and one clearance via WhoScored,

By comparison, even Bassey has only mustered 0.7 shots and 0.5 key passes per game, as per WhoScored, which just goes to show that it will be hard to find a player who can replace his volume of output for a reasonable price.

The 28-year-old’s current contract will run out in 2024, having signed a two-year contract extension at the start of this year.

However, Ianis Hagi actually earns more than the 15-cap Croatia international, which we can’t quite work out, especially when you consider the fact that he has played in every single Europa League game so far this season.

Once hailed as a “terrific” talent by Alex Rae, there is no excuse for dawdling when it comes to giving him new and improved terms, as the Gers must do all they can to try and convince him to stay at the club.

Simply put, they must keep him at all costs as he will likely have a part to play as they attempt to regain the title for the first time since the 2010-11 campaign.

Therefore, Rangers need to settle any lingering concerns by getting their business done as soon as possible.

AND in other news, Glasgow Rangers must trust Glenn Middleton amid Leeds United links to Ryan Kent…

Marcel Brands must deliver Leon Bailey to Everton next summer amid reports the Blues will scout the Bayer Leverkusen winger on Thursday night.

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Mail, the Toffees will have keen eyes fixed on Bayer Leverkusen’s Europa League Group Stage tie at home to Slavia Prague as they weigh up a potential 2021 move for the Jamaican.

Peter Bosz is expected to name Bailey in the starting line-up for the top of the table clash, with both sides vying for first place in Group C having already guaranteed their progression through to the Round of 32.

Bailey has become the figurehead of Leverkusen’s midfield following the departure of Kai Havertz in the summer, but has stepped into the Chelsea star’s shoes with five goals and six assists across all competitions.

The 23-year-old was forced to miss the start of the season after attending sprinter Usain Bolt’s birthday party in Jamaica, but hit the ground running to help guide the BayArena natives to sit just a point behind leaders Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga standings.

Only striker Lucas Alario (10) has netted more often for Die Werkself thus far this term, too, while a string of standout displays have sparked Everton, plus Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan to place Bailey on their radars.

The Toffees and Spurs were touted as potential destinations for the 23-year-old, who has never hidden his dream to play in the Premier League, this summer.

Richarlison 2.0

Bailey has been seen as a player on Brands and his scouting team’s radar for several months now, and will no doubt be one of the stars of the show when Bayer Leverkusen host Slavia Prague on Thursday.

Bailey has forever been lauded since breaking onto the scene in Germany back in 2017, with Ajax youth coach Ronald de Boer a known fan of the wing wizard.

“He’s so fast, it’s not normal. His speed, combined with his technique, is very rare. Exceptional. He has no weak points,” De Boer once noted.

Leverkusen head coach Bosz, too, can only wax lyrical over the 23-year-old’s abilities, claiming earlier this season how Bailey is just getting better and better after a troublesome 2019/20 campaign featuring seven goals and three assists but two red cards and muscular injuries.

“Leon had it very hard, last year and early this season,” Bosz said after a win over Augsburg, in which Bailey set-up Moussa Diaby’s goal. “But I see that he gets better with every game – physically, but also in terms of his football.”

Brands faces a mammoth fee to lure a second Richarlison-type to Goodison Park, though, as reports this summer claimed Leverkusen had slapped a price tag of just over £40million on the 8-cap international who came close to joining Bayern Munich for £55m in 2018.

AND in other news, Everton already have their answer to a 48-goal target “every coach wants”.

Tottenham Hotspur’s defeat in the Europa League on Thursday night left Jose Mourinho reeling.

His side were beaten 1-0 by Royal Antwerp, who have now taken the top spot in Group J.

Speaking after the match, the Special One exclaimed that his future choices would now “be very easy.”

This was, of course, in reference to his quadruple substitution at half-time, in which the likes of Dele Alli, Steven Bergwijn and Carlos Vinicius were hauled off.

The Belgian outfit scored the only goal of the game in the 29th minute, thanks to a blunder in the backline. Ben Davies, in his 200th appearance for the club, was robbed just outside the penalty area before the ball found its way past Davinson Sanchez for Lior Refaelov to fire home.

By the hour mark, even Gareth Bale was withdrawn. Hardly a surprise as Spurs failed to record a shot on target in the second half, which begs the question – is he right to publicly slam those that he took off?

Harry Winks somehow lasted the full 90 minutes despite being a passenger in the engine room throughout the match – per SofaScore, the 24-year-old lost possession 12 times, won just 44% of his duels, was dribbled past once and had one error leading to a shot.

The €40m-rated (£36m) academy graduate, who sits on a cool £50k-per-week, was actually one of the players to let Mourinho down, even if he couldn’t see it himself.

In addition, Winks had 92 touches of the ball yet could only muster up two key passes, two shots off target and one tackle.

The fact that he won less than half of his ground duels shows just how easy he is bullied off the ball. Once again, he was lightweight in possession.

You can forget about Alli and his display, it was Winks who was much worse yet somehow played the entire duration. He should have been dragged off by his collar at half-time.

AND in other news, £70k-per-week Spurs liability was up to his old tricks vs Antwerp…