Joe Soriano, Author at The Trivela Effect

Barcelona clear the most important hurdle to signing Nico Williams

13Jun

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Transfer News

Barcelona clear the most important hurdle to signing Nico Williams

Last summer, Barcelona pushed hard to sign Nico Williams to join their attack and fill a key vacancy on the left wing, with Spanish national teammate Lamine Yamal pushing hard for the move after their successful capture of the European Championship together on opposite wings. But the deal fell through, because Nico didn't want to leave Athletic Club for Barcelona, and the LaLiga underdogs were willing to increase his wages, which essentially put the kibosh on any sort of transfer. This summer, all the same Premier League clubs that were after Williams last year - London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal, specifically - are still involved in the race. Lately, Barcelona have ramped up their interest, and now Bayern Munich are involved, too. It looks like Barcelona are the favorites again, ...

Xabi Alonso’s Jude Bellingham switch will shape Real Madrid transfer window

13Jun

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Transfer News

Xabi Alonso’s Jude Bellingham switch will shape Real Madrid transfer window

Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham was a key reason for the Merengues winning the LaLiga and Champions League titles back in the 2023/24 season, which was his first in Royal White colors. Although he just missed out on the Pichichi Trophy and didn't get a real sniff of the Ballon d'Or with all the attention focused on Rodri and teammate Vinicius Junior, anyone could see how profound of an all-around impact Jude made as the 10 behind the forward duo of Vinicius and Rodrygo Goes. This past season, Bellingham had another great campaign, but his impact was mitigated after the arrival of Kylian Mbappe and the tactical upheaval it caused, with Jude even relegated to such a deep position that he was basically used as a fullback at times. The challenge for incoming manager Xabi Alonso ...

Sporting is screwing over Manchester United with Viktor Gyokeres power play

11Jun

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Transfer News

Sporting is screwing over Manchester United with Viktor Gyokeres power play

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has been pushing hard to reunite with star striker Viktor Gyokeres, who took the 2024/25 season by storm in European football with a jaw-dropping 39 goals and even 7 assists in the Primeira Liga for Sporting CP. Although there has seemingly been an understanding that Sporting, who frequently sell top players to big European clubs, would help Gyokeres facilitate a move after he increased his transfer value by staying for the 2024/25 season, it appears the Portuguese giants have changed their minds. According to information from top transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, the situation between Gyokeres and his current club has become "tense", because Sporting are trying to get significantly more money out of a transfer, hampering his ability to leave th...

Jadon Sancho transfer decision offers clear hint to Chelsea’s next signing

4Jun

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Transfer News

Jadon Sancho transfer decision offers clear hint to Chelsea’s next signing

Although Jadon Sancho played a key role in helping Chelsea win the Conference League title and achieve top five status in the Premier League this season with timely goals, assists, and take-ons as a starter or rotational player, it made sense for the Blues to ultimately balk on the 25 million pound fee to sign the former Champions League finalist from Manchester United permanently, instead paying a five million pound penalty to NOT ink him. It sounds bizarre to praise Chelsea for agreeing to pay a penalty, but it's better to lose five million pounds than lose 25 million pounds on a player you don't believe in as a regular starter. And while Sancho did start 19 Premier League games for Chelsea in 2024/25, that's only about half the total season. So Sancho wasn't able to distinguish h...

Carlo Ancelotti is about to do Chelsea another big favor

4Jun

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Analysis

Carlo Ancelotti is about to do Chelsea another big favor

Although Carlo Ancelotti's time at Chelsea was brief, it was highly successful. The Italian manager led the Blues to the Premier League title in the 2009/10 season, becoming the first team of the era to score 100 goals in a season. He helped build the team that would win the Champions League shortly after his dismissal. Now, Ancelotti has been dismissed at another high-profile job after another very successful tenure. Don Carlo brought two Champions League titles and a LaLiga and Copa del Rey crown back to the Spanish capital, marking their first UCL victories since Cristiano Ronaldo's departure for Juventus in 2018. Carlo has taken over his first national team job with Brazil, where he will coach former and current Real Madrid superstars in Eder Militao, Casemiro, Rodrygo Goes, Endr...

Chelsea just got an underrated boost for a Mike Maignan transfer

3Jun

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Transfer News

Chelsea just got an underrated boost for a Mike Maignan transfer

Chelsea signed one of the best young goalkeepers in the summer 2024 transfer window when they purchased breakout star Filip Jorgensen from Villarreal, but they've mostly kept him as a backup and a cup goalkeeper to incumbent starter Robert Sanchez. But as Chelsea stockpile young goalkeeping prospects around the world for their loan army, it's become painfully obvious that, in the short-term, Sanchez is not the solution between the sticks for the Blues. With Chelsea set to return to the Champions League next season, the Conference League winners are eyeing a much bigger and more immediate name in goal in AC Milan star Mike Maignan, who led the Rossoneri to the Scudetto just a few years ago. According to a report from Italian transfer insider Alfredo Pedulla, Chelsea are about to ma...

Napoli get surprisingly good Antonio Conte news for a change

28May

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Transfer News

Napoli get surprisingly good Antonio Conte news for a change

Napoli won the Serie A title against the odds this season, securing the Scudetto on the final game of the season with a 2-0 win over Cagliari to win their second title in three seasons, bouncing back from a woeful 2023/24 campaign without any sort of European football. And the Partenopei have Antonio Conte to thank. The legendary Italian manager returned to coaching after a year hiatus following a disastrous stint with Tottenham Hotspur, guiding a Napoli side back to the summit of Serie A without their two biggest stars, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen. But throughout the 2024/25 season, in typical Conte fashion, there were rumors of unrest and a possible coaching change for Napoli, with fans around the world mocking Conte that he'd only spent one season at another club. ...

Latest Marcus Rashford transfer news makes his next destination obvious

28May

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Transfer News

Latest Marcus Rashford transfer news makes his next destination obvious

Marcus Rashford won't be playing for Aston Villa next season, as the Lions have deemed 40 million pounds too rich of a price to send to Manchester United for the 27-year-old forward. Now, Manchester United have to find a team willing to sign Rashford, but it won't be easy. While Rashford is an effective left winger with the theoretical upside to become world-class, he commands high wages and is probably only going to be interested in playing for teams with a high level of pedigree. According to the latest information from top transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Rashford is still "very keen" on joining Barcelona in summer 2025 after eyeing them as a possible landing spot before ultimately settling on a six-month loan to Aston Villa. Per Fab, there are "positive feelings" from Rashfor...

Arsenal signing Martin Zubimendi means another declining player is out the door

10May

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Analysis

Arsenal signing Martin Zubimendi means another declining player is out the door

Arsenal need a striker more than anything in order to win the Premier League and make the leap from "in the mix" to a true Champions League title contender, but their biggest priority signing seemed to be a midfielder. And after going after him for more than a year, Arsenal are now set to secure the signing of defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that the club have reached an agreement with the 26-year-old star from Real Sociedad. Zubimendi will cost the team 60 million euros, per his release clause with La Real, and will immediately slot in the starting lineup alongside 105 million pound 2023 transfer Declan Rice at the base of the midfield. One of the best No. 6's in the world, Zubimendi helped turn Real Sociedad into perennial Champions League c...

5 biggest winners and losers on Arsenal from the Martin Zubimendi transfer

10May

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Analysis

5 biggest winners and losers on Arsenal from the Martin Zubimendi transfer

After more than a year in pursuit, Arsenal are set to sign Real Sociedad defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi as Fabrizio Romano is reporting that the Gunners have reached an agreement with the 26-year-old on a deal and will soon activate his 60 million euro release clause. Zubimendi is one of the most coveted No. 6's in the world - a position in which there is a lack of top talent. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Manchester United were all linked with Zubimendi, but it was obvious that the only team he was willing to leave Real Sociedad for was Arsenal. Now that the transfer is set to be completed, let's run through the biggest winners and losers on Arsenal as a result of the transfer, Winner: AM Martin Odegaard There is perhaps no bigger winner than Martin Odegaard, who c...