Author: Joe Soriano

Joe Soriano covers West Ham for Green Street Hammers and writes about Real Madrid for The Real Champs. He has extensive experience covering world football since 2014. Joe is an editor for The Trivela Effect, where he covers the biggest clubs in European football. He has watched professional sports regularly since 2002 and can be found playing the same sports he covers with his friends.
Why Barcelona want to sign Marcus Rashford and how he would fit Hansi Flick’s system
21Jan By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Why Barcelona want to sign Marcus Rashford and how he would fit Hansi Flick’s system

Manchester United left winger Marcus Rashford is one of the biggest names on the January 2025 transfer market, as Borussia Dortmund have been closely linked to the perennially disappointing England international after Donyell Malen's departure to Aston Villa this winter. But now, another European giant have joined Dortmund in the race to sign Rashford, FC Barcelona. According to a report from Toni Juanmarti of Diario Sport, one of the two largest Barcelona-based news outlets, Rashford's representatives had a meeting with the Blaugrana's sporting director Deco on Tuesday, Jan. 21. The meeting actually took place in Portuguese capital Lisbon. Deco, of course, is a Portuguese international. Barcelona would like to sign Rashford this winter on loan and there is mutual interest between th...
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How Antony will fit Real Betis: Analyzing his best position in lineup, playing style, and expectations
20Jan By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Analysis

How Antony will fit Real Betis: Analyzing his best position in lineup, playing style, and expectations

Manchester United spent nearly 100 million euros to bring Antony from Ajax to Old Trafford at the behest of Erik ten Hag, who coached the Brazilian forward in the Dutch Eredivisie. Despite high expectations and no shortage of individual skill, Antony failed to make an impact at Manchester United since joining in 2022 and was phased entirely out of the starting lineup, even by Ten Hag, who had given his signing every chance to succeed. Now, Antony is out, as Manchester United have a new manager in Ruben Amorim and were able to find a landing spot for the 24-year-old, jettisoning him to LaLiga side Real Betis. According to Fabrizio Romano, all parties involved have reached a verbal agreement to a loan deal that does not contain a buy option, which means Antony will be back at Manche...
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Grading Omar Marmoush to Manchester City transfer based on fee, quality, fit, and potential
17Jan By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Grading Omar Marmoush to Manchester City transfer based on fee, quality, fit, and potential

Omar Marmoush did not play for Eintracht Frankfurt in their 2-0 home win over Borussia Dortmund, as he was preparing for his transfer to Premier League giants Manchester City, who are at risk of not finishing in the top four after winning each of the last four league titles. According to Fabrizio Romano, the total package for Marmoush will amount to 80 million euros, as Manchester City, as expected, paid premium dollar to beat out the likes of Liverpool to the Egyptian star forward. Let's grade the deal from a Manchester City perspective. Fee An 80 million euro transfer fee is reasonable for Marmoush, as he is 25-year-old attacking player in the middle of the best season of his career. He's leaving a team that has Champions League football on the line and has won the Europa League ...
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The best possible PSG starting lineup after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia transfer
17Jan By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

The best possible PSG starting lineup after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia transfer

PSG sent struggling striker Randal Kolo Muani on loan to Juventus, and they, in a sense, replaced him by signing left winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from Napoli. A deal between Paris and Naples for the Georgian sensation is set to be completed soon, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that the forward is in the French capital for a medical ahead of an official transfer announcement. Before the deal becomes official and we learn about details like contract length, transfer fee, add-ons, bonuses, and salary, let's take a closer look at how the man they call Kvaradona will fit the PSG starting lineup. Defense: GK Gianluigi Donnarumma, LB Nuno Mendes, CB Willian Pacho, CB Marquinhos, RB Achraf Hakimi There isn't really much to say about the PSG defense, other than the fact that this back fou...
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5 right back replacements for Manchester City after Kyle Walker transfer to AC Milan
17Jan By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

5 right back replacements for Manchester City after Kyle Walker transfer to AC Milan

According to a report from Fabrizio Romano, Serie A side AC Milan are in advanced talks to acquire Kyle Walker from Manchester City and have agreed to personal terms on a new deal that will last through the 2026/27 season. With Walker set to exit the Etihad after a poor European Championship and an even worse first half of the 2024/25 Premier League season, it's time to take a look at five replacements Manchester City could sign at right back. Achraf Hakimi, PSG Achraf Hakimi would be a dream signing for Manchester City, because he can play as a right back or an inverted left back, with the latter being a positional role that Pep Guardiola perfected in the modern game. PSG's best player now that Kylian Mbappe is gone, Hakimi's talents are being wasted on a dysfunctional team that c...
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3 reasons why Manchester City want to sign Andrea Cambiaso from Juventus
16Jan By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

3 reasons why Manchester City want to sign Andrea Cambiaso from Juventus

With the signings of young center backs Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov, as well as Eintracht Frankfurt breakout superstar Omar Marmoush on the way, Manchester City have now focused their attention on Juventus left back Andrea Cambiaso. With Manchester City outside the top four and rapidly descending after winning the Premier League in each of the four seasons, Pep Guardiola and Co. have not messed around in the January 2025 transfer window with providing this sagging squad with the reinforcements it needs. According to renowned transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City will have direct discussions with Juventus on Friday regarding a transfer that could take place in either January or June. Already, per Fab, Cambiaso and Man City have had positive contract discussions be...
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How Omar Marmoush would fit into the Manchester City starting lineup
16Jan By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

How Omar Marmoush would fit into the Manchester City starting lineup

Manchester City have been the most disappointing team in European football this season, falling all the way to sixth place in the Premier League where they are tied on points with Aston Villa and just a point ahead of underdogs Bournemouth. It's still a relatively respectable position in an increasingly competitive Premier League, but it is a far cry from their standard as perennial champions since 2020/21. They have suffered several humiliating defeats in the past couple of months, necessitating an aggressive transfer approach that has already netted them one of the best signings of the winter window, 20-year-old center back sensation Abdukodir Khusanov of RC Lens. Manchester City are closing in on a signing that may not be as big of a bargain, but, in terms of overall impact, es...
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The best possible Juventus starting lineup following Randal Kolo Muani loan transfer
15Jan By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

The best possible Juventus starting lineup following Randal Kolo Muani loan transfer

Although Tottenham, Manchester United, and other big clubs were very much involved in the Randal Kolo Muani transfer sweepstakes, the French striker ultimately preferred to join Juventus above the others. Juventus are candidates to win the Serie A title again this year, and while they are currently outside the top four, they remain undefeated after drawing second-placed Atalanta 1-1 on Tuesday night. Kolo Muani was likely attracted to Juventus because of the fact that they are currently in the Champions League, are in a position to reach the Champions League again next season, have a rich history, play in a league that is friendly to attackers, and have a talented striker he can work with in Dusan Vlahovic. Right now, Kolo Muani's deal is only a loan move for six months, but the b...
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Manchester City may have already made the best signing of the January 2025 transfer window
15Jan By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Manchester City may have already made the best signing of the January 2025 transfer window

Manchester City are being aggressive in the January 2025 transfer window out of necessity, as their collapse since the injury to Ballon d'Or winner Rodri has been so catastrophic that not even their biggest haters could have predicted such an abrupt demise from a team that was the most dominant in their league over the last five years - even above Bayern Munich in Germany. Pep Guardiola has stood shocked at the state of his squad, as a poor summer transfer window in which Manchester City made an aging and rapidly declining midfield even more inadequate with the addition of Ilkay Gundogan has come back around to bite them badly. There are issues all over the squad. Manchester City don't have a supplemental goal-scorer alongside Erling Haaland, their midfield is too old, and their defe...
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The best move for Aston Villa to make in the January 2025 transfer window
15Jan By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

The best move for Aston Villa to make in the January 2025 transfer window

Aston Villa were one of the most active teams in the January 2025 transfer window, but the upgrades in midfield haven't helped the Villains move up in the Premier League table. After 20 mtatches, Villa are only 8th in the league, and while their game in hand could push them up as high as sixth, the club have failed to make progress after their surprise Champions League qualification last season. Already, Aston Villa have brought in Donyell Malen to provide them a key option on the right wing, but they are still in the pursuit of more upgrades across their squad, including at right back. But the best move for Aston Villa in the winter transfer window will actually be at center back, and it involves a dual move that can bring a legitimately world-class center back to their roster, w...
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