Author: Joe Soriano

West Ham reportedly make ridiculously bloated offer for striker prospect
5Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

West Ham reportedly make ridiculously bloated offer for striker prospect

West Ham signed a new No. 9 this past summer in Niclas Fullkrug, but the former Werder Bremen and Borussia Dortmund man has yet to make an impact for the Hammers due to injury. The club remains hopeful that Fullkrug, who was key in Dortmund reaching the Champions League Final last season, can be an asset this season. In addition to Fullkrug, West Ham also signed young Leeds left winger Crysencio Summerville to give new manager Julen Lopetegui further attacking options. Further, West Ham dipped into the former La Liga well to help Lopetegui, signing former Valencia attacker Carlos Soler from PSG to round out what looked like a deep attack on paper. While Summerville has flashed the potential to start alongside Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen in a fearsome trident, West Ham have had...
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Real Madrid are quietly getting closer to missing out on Alphonso Davies
5Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

Real Madrid are quietly getting closer to missing out on Alphonso Davies

Real Madrid have been linked to Bayern Munich star left back Alphonso Davies for well over a year, as he has been viewed as the priority transfer target at Real's biggest position of need. Heading into the summer 2025 transfer window, Davies and Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold are widely viewed as the main two transfer targets for Florentino Perez, who is seeing the writing on the wall at both fullback positions. The left back spot has been a problem for the Merengues since Marcelo's decline in 2019, and while Dani Carvajal was a legitimate Ballon d'Or candidate last season at right back, he suffered a torn ACL this season. Real Madrid don't have any depth at right back, as the current starter is right winger Lucas Vazquez, who doesn't have a backup. Meanwhile, at left back,...
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Real Madrid took way too long to figure out what their biggest problem is
5Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

Real Madrid took way too long to figure out what their biggest problem is

After losing 4-0 to Barcelona, Real Madrid have to worry about a Champions League battle against AC Milan on Tuesday night, and while the Rossoneri have issues of their own, everyone knows that a top Serie A side is nothing to sneeze at, especially when they have their own aura in this competiton. Even in the Champions League this season, the defending champs Real Madrid have looked vulnerable, falling 1-0 to Lille in one of the early shocks of the tournament thus far. Real Madrid were the best team in Europe last season despite a bevy of injuries, and, this season, they haven't even been the best team in their own league thus far. Hansi Flick and Barcelona have shown Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid levels. Ahead of Tuesday's game against Milan, Relevo reports that Carlo and the R...
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Transfer Rumors: Real Madrid receive eye-watering offer for Rodrygo Goes
4Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

Transfer Rumors: Real Madrid receive eye-watering offer for Rodrygo Goes

Real Madrid superstar Rodrygo Goes has been on the list of more than a handful of key players whom president Florentino Perez views as untouchable and would not transfer for any fee in the world. Although Rodrygo has been overshadowed by Vinicius Junior since arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2019, ceding his preferred left wing position to his Brazilian compatriot, he has undoubtedly become an icon of the club already. Rodrygo tends to bring his best in the Champions League, writing his name into the history books in 2022 with an improbable double late in the game to rescue a semifinal victory over Manchester City from the jaws of defeat. So far in the 2024/25 season, Rodrygo has been Real's best attacking player despite all the hype on Vinicius Jr. and new forward Kylian Mbap...
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A hidden winner of the Ruben Amorim hire by Manchester United
4Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

A hidden winner of the Ruben Amorim hire by Manchester United

Manchester United shook up the footballing world by replacing Erik ten Hag with Ruben Amorim, firing one of world football's most underperforming managers for one of world football's most coveted. Before taking the Manchester United job and agreeing to lead one of the sport's shakiest and most ambitious rebuilding projects, Amorim had rejected easier jobs at Liverpool and Brighton. Amorim values the position and upside of the Manchester United position despite the club's poor record since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure, and he checks off a lot of boxes as far as the kind of manager Man United are looking for. Specifically, Amorim brings a much more aggressive attacking style and clearer attacking philosophy tactically than Ten Hag ever did, so young talents like Joshua Zirkzee, Ras...
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Transfer Rumors: Real Madrid are watching three top-class right backs
4Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

Transfer Rumors: Real Madrid are watching three top-class right backs

It's no secret that Real Madrid need to sign a quality right back in the summer 2025 transfer window, and there are many fans who would like the club to expedite a signing to this winter. The reason for the sudden urgency from Florentino Perez to address the right back position despite knowing for years that he had no real depth behind Dani Carvajal is a simple phrase that is music to his ears: market opportunity. Real Madrid have the opportunity to sign a second straight marquee player on a free transfer. After finally inking Perez's No. 1 dream target Kylian Mbappe for free from PSG last summer, he's trying to nab Liverpool superstar right back Trent Alexander-Arnold for free next year. A secondary reason for the increased urgency occurred a few weeks ago when world-class right ...
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Chelsea are frustratingly backing their biggest liability
4Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

Chelsea are frustratingly backing their biggest liability

Chelsea have rebounded quite nicely to start the 2024/25 campaign under Enzo Maresca, as the new manager has the Blues sitting in fourth place, ahead of London rivals Arsenal on points before their derby battle at the weekend. After barely qualifying for the Conference League last season in their return to Europe, Chelsea now look like the favorites to qualify for the Champions League, which is a status that has long been expected of them. However, Chelsea still have work to do before they can call themselves Premier League title contenders again, and they are currently seven points behind league leaders Liverpool to prove that point. Chelsea have an improving attack, Moises Caicedo has been back to his best in midfield, and the back line isn't bad by any means. But there is one g...
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Arsenal Transfers: Mikel Arteta wants to reunite with a world-class forward for free
4Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

Arsenal Transfers: Mikel Arteta wants to reunite with a world-class forward for free

Arsenal suffered a humbling defeat over the weekend to Newcastle, and their latest poor attacking performance is a sobering reminder that the Gunners remain a step below fellow Premier League title contenders Liverpool and Manchester City in the offensive department. While Arsenal have one of the best forwards in the world in right winger Bukayo Saka, they have failed to get consistent involvement from their other two attacking starters. Kai Havertz isn't a striker, Gabriel Jesus doesn't score at a high enough volume to start for a Premier League champion, Leandro Trossard is much better as a backup, and Gabriel Martinelli's play has fallen off a cliff since the 2022/23 season. Arsenal should have signed Viktor Gyokeres or another top striker in the summer, but, instead, their onl...
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AC Milan are making a move that will shred Real Madrid’s biggest weakness
4Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga, Serie A

AC Milan are making a move that will shred Real Madrid’s biggest weakness

AC Milan and Real Madrid will go head to head on Tuesday night in the Champions League with both sides having a point to prove to their fans. Real are coming off a 4-0 Clasico drubbing, while Milan have been mired in controversy all season long since hiring Paulo Fonseca. Real Madrid are the favorites despite their horrible loss to Barcelona, because experienced Madridistas will tell you of all the times the club have bounced back stronger than ever from a humiliation that woke them up by shaking the foundation to its core. As Real Madrid await the return of Rodrygo Goes in the attack, Milan are also set to welcome back a world-class attacking player who hasn't been starting by choice. Rafael Leao, as usual, has become the center of controversy in Milan, except the situation is ve...
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Barcelona star could return earlier than expected from injury, but he’s already lost his job
4Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

Barcelona star could return earlier than expected from injury, but he’s already lost his job

After taking down derby rivals Espanyol 3-1 at the weekend, Barcelona have now coasted past their three most emotionally charged games in a row, dominating Bayern Munich 4-1 in the Champions League before making mincemeat of Real Madrid 4-0 in another lopsided "El Clasico". Barcelona have been the best team in European football to start the 2024/25 campaign under new manager Hansi Flick, and that status is unequivocal after they absolutely demolished the main two contenders to rival their crown - including their chief rivals and defending champions of Spain and Europe. There have been so many breakout performances for Barcelona, and what's most remarkable is how they have overcome a bevy of serious injuries, including to starting players. Captain and goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Steg...
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