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Sheffield United have reportedly been offered the chance to sign Sampdoria midfielder Ronaldo Vieira, according to The Athletic.

What’s the story?

The Blades will be preparing for life back in the Championship after being relegated from the Premier League last season in what was a frustrating campaign for the Bramall Lane faithful. They are now under the watchful eye of Slavisa Jokanovic, and the newly-appointed manager will be keen to add to his squad before the summer transfer window reaches a conclusion.

Vieira has reportedly been offered to the Championship club, with the midfielder’s future with Sampdoria looking bleak after spending last year’s campaign on loan with Hellas Verona.

The midfielder is contracted with the Genoa club until the summer of 2023, but it remains to be seen as to whether he’ll see out that contract with Sampdoria after this recent report on his future.

It could be the ideal move for all parties involved

Vieira would be no stranger to Championship football having spent three seasons with Leeds United in the second tier, so it would make this something of a risk-free signing for Sheffield United this summer.

You would imagine that he’ll feel as though he has a point to prove at this level too, having been a raw talent earlier in his last spell in the Championship whilst with the Whites.

This update could also be ideal for Sheffield United with the Blades facing considerable interest in Sander Berge this summer, with the likes of Napoli, Atalanta, Arsenal, Everton and Aston Villa all keen on a deal to sign the 23-year-old Norwegian.

Therefore, the timing of Vieira being offered to Slavisa Jokanovic’s side couldn’t be better, and if Berge were to depart the club in the next few months, then Vieira could be the ideal replacement for him moving forwards.

Vieira and Berge are well-matched when it comes to comparing their respective performance figures. Vieira’s statistics from the 2019/20 season, when he made 27 league appearances for Sampdoria, have been compared with Berge’s statistics from the recent 2020/21 season, and they’re not dissimilar.

Berge won an average of 3.7 duels per game, which is the same figure as Vieira, but the Sampdoria midfielder edged it when it comes to tackles per game, with the 22-year-old averaging 1.2 tackles per game compared to Berge’s 1.1 in the Premier League last term.

Vieira won an average of 1.5 aerial duels per game, whilst Berge’s average is slightly lower at 1.1 per game from last season. The Sampdoria man’s average is also superior to Bramall Lane favourite Phil Jagielka, who won 1.3 headers per game in 2020/21.

Financially, the 22-year-old could be the ideal replacement for the Norwegian in the long-term. If Sheffield United’s £35m valuation of Berge is to be matched and they go on to sign Vieira for a cut-price deal with Sampdoria looking to move him on, that would give Jokanovic funds to strengthen other areas of the Blades’ squad this summer, which should be pleasing to hear for the club’s supporters.

In other news, Sheffield United dealt transfer blow over “incredible” gem, fans could be dejected.

Birmingham City have been dealt a huge blow to their hopes of keeping Alen Halilovic at St. Andrew’s this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by We Are Birmingham, who revealed that Lee Bowyer’s side and the 24-year-old midfielder have failed to reach an agreement regarding a contract extension, meaning that the Croatian international looks set to leave the club upon the expiry of his current deal at the end of the month.

The Blues manager had previously gone on the record revealing his desire to keep Halilovic at the club this summer, stating his belief that the £720k-rated man brings “something different” to his side, as well as tipping the midfielder to become an “even better player” with a full pre-season under his belt.

Bowyer will be gutted

Having openly stated his wish for the club to do all they can to retain the services of Halilovic this summer, the fact that the midfielder now looks likely to be moving on to pastures new is sure to leave Bowyer gutted.

Indeed, despite a distinct lack of direct goal involvements, the former AC Milan man nevertheless impressed for Bowyer’s side following his arrival on a free transfer back in November.

Over his 17 Championship appearances, only nine of which came as starts, the 24-year-old managed just one goal, provided no assists and created no big chances for his teammates, with these metrics seeing the attacking midfielder earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.65 – ranking him as Birmingham’s 19th-best performer in the second tier.

However, the one goal Halilovic did score was a rather remarkable 25-yard curler that saw Birmingham clinch a 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers, while the 10-time capped Croat also often dazzled with his trickery and creativity in the Blues midfield.

As such, the fact that the former Barcelona player once dubbed the next Lionel Messi, as well as a “phenomenal” talent by Miroslav Bicanic, looks set to once again be searching for a new club this summer is undoubtedly a disappointment for Birmingham, as it feels we did not quite see Halilovic reach the limit of his potential during his short time with the Blues.

In other news: Forget San Jose: Bowyer must sanction BCFC summer swoop for “complete” £38k-p/w beast

Ange Postecoglou has a number of problems on his plate now he’s officially become the new Celtic manager.

One issue he’ll need to solve at Parkhead is in defence where not only are numbers depleted, but their current options don’t provide much hope.

What’s the word?

Celtic are reportedly moving closer to an agreement to sign Mario Vuskovic from Hajduk Split but a number of other defenders have also been on their radar.

From a full-back perspective, they’ve identified Valentin Rosier and Aaron Hickey.

Another defender the Hoops have looked at is Sheffield United’s George Baldock. Record Sport reported late on Sunday that he was now under consideration from the Bhoys hierarchy.

The 28-year-old’s name is high on their shortlist and has emerged back on their radar two years after they initially targeted him.

Baldock was a player brought to the table in 2019 after Mikael Lustig departed Glasgow.

Fixing a huge problem

If there is one area where Celtic look particularly light heading into the new season, it’s at right-back.

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Neil Lennon agreed to sell Jeremie Frimpong to Bayer Leverkusen back in January but they only replaced the Dutchman in temporary fashion with the loan of Jonjoe Kenny.

The Everton defender didn’t particularly impress at Paradise and has now headed back to Merseyside as a result.

Consequently, Baldock could fill the vacant hole on the right-hand side of defence.

The Sheffield United man is a versatile footballer, capable of playing through the middle, as a right-back or right-wing back.

Baldock has caught the eye over the last two years in the Premier League with the Blades and before their relegation last term, he was one of their most consistent players.

The experienced defender contributed to five goals in the 2019/20 campaign, proving to be a constant threat in the final third.

One of his strikes even earned a comparison to one of the best British players to play the game.

After finding the net against Norwich in December 2019, Garth Crooks commented: “I wasn’t sure if it was George Baldock or George Best! I thought I was seeing things when I saw Baldock drag the ball back, pirouette and strike a glorious shot past Tim Krul. The finish – not to mention the skill – was superb along with Sheffield United’s performance.”

Not only is Baldock a shrewd operator in front of goal but he possesses the energy and work ethic to fit seamlessly into their right-hand side.

Speaking about his game previously, Hearts boss Robbie Neilson said: “He’s a very athletic player, has a superb attitude and works really hard at his game. He is a very good footballer and he would fit in well at Celtic.

“George’s biggest strength is he possesses real quality going forward. He is also very competitive, which is another attribute I’m sure the Celtic supporters will like about him.”

Those comments came after initial links to Baldock two years ago.

Since then, he’s developed his game astutely, winning over 1.5 tackles per game in each of the last two campaigns.

That tally betters Frimpong while the 1.6 tackles per match registered by Baldock in 2019/20 puts him on a level playing field with Kenny.

With Postecoglou in desperate need of full-backs, the Sheffield United defender’s services would be valuable if he signs on the dotted line.

AND in other news, Ange can fix big Celtic issue by signing £4m gem who’s been “outstanding” at Euro 2020…

Liverpool have been handed a boost in their reported chase of RB Salzburg striker Patson Daka as the opening of the transfer window approaches, with the player given time off international duty to perhaps secure a move away from Austria.

What’s the story?

According to a report from Spain last week, the 22-year-old could become Jurgen Klopp’s second summer signing in the coming days, seeing off competition from West Ham United.

Zambia coach Milutin Sredojevic has since provided an update on Daka’s future, revealing that the forward has been omitted from his latest international squad so he can sort of his future, perhaps indicating that a transfer is on the horizon.

“Daka, Mwepu and Kangwa have to decide on their next future, and it is just fair that they can make a decision that is in the best interest of the country,” he said.

Could be a top signing

The youngster enjoyed a sensational 2020/21 campaign with Jesse Marsch’s men, bagging 34 goals and providing 12 assists in 42 appearances as Salzburg recorded a domestic double.

His arrival would signal the second Liverpool purchase from a Red Bull side this summer, following the arrival of centre-back Ibrahima Konate from Leipzig.

The duo would add to Sadio Mane, Naby Keita and Takumi Minamino on the list of players Klopp has purchased from the energy drink company’s footballing system, with the German manager a known fan of their pressing style.

It means Daka could be a natural fit at Anfield and arrive with an understanding of the demands that the former Borussia Dortmund boss would put on him.

While injuries to key defenders Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip ensured Liverpool’s Premier League title defence never got off the ground, the disappointing form of their forwards also severely undermined their efforts.

Mane and Roberto Firmino had hugely underwhelming seasons, while the likes of Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri failed to step up during their droughts.

With Origi, Shaqiri and Minamino all linked with moves away from the Reds in recent weeks, Klopp will be in desperate need of attacking reinforcements and perhaps none will be as appealing as Daka.

Former Zambia head coach Herve Renard once described the clinical speed demon as a “very promising player,” and he’s certainly had no problem living up to that billing since.

At 22, Daka is only going to improve and his extra firepower could catapult Liverpool back to the summit of English football next season.

And, in other news…Liverpool receive huge transfer blow over £68m “conductor”, Klopp will be gutted 

Sheffield Wednesday are still very much in financial turmoil and with Darren Moore still unsure over what his budget will look like for this summer’s transfer window, he could do a lot worse than to bring in now free agent Joe Pigott, according to former Sheffield Wednesday defender, Jon Newsome.

The Owls will know that they are likely going to have to box smart this summer if they want to bring in some quality additions to their now League One squad and someone they have been linked with is Pigott, who led the line for AFC Wimbledon last season.

He certainly knows where the net is having netted 20 goals – and 22 in all competitions – during his final season spent with Wimbledon which saw them stay clear of the relegation zone, so he would certainly be able to complement someone like Josh Windass who could stay with the club for their season in England’s third tier.

League One is now littered with former big clubs of English football such as Portsmouth, Ipswich Town and Sunderland, so to get out of the league Moore will have to recruit players who know the league and how to do a job, something Pigott would certainly add. That’s according to Newsome, who spoke exclusively to Transfer Tavern:

“If we are able to afford him, then I think he is somebody who would undoubtedly add something to the club if he’s scored goals at that level before.

“He knows what that level is like and he would be one of many that we need to get through the door.”

Sheffield Wednesday don’t have time to be licking their wounds from relegation into League One as it is certainly an unforgiven league that is difficult o get out of, but even more so, very challenging to then remain out of it.

This is because clubs build their squads to get out of League One, however, the jump into the Championship is massive so Moore must try and strike that balance of players suited to League One but also capable of making the step up.

Kieran Maguire has dropped a big claim on Newcastle United’s anti-competition takeover case against the Premier League.

The Lowdown: Ashley launches case

Mike Ashley has launched an anti-competition lawsuit against the top flight with regards to their decision-making process in the failed takeover of the club from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) group.

The chief executive of Sports Direct has since appointed Daniel Jowell as his QC for the case, which is separate from the arbitration case due to take place between the two parties involved.

The Latest: Maguire favours Ashley

Speaking to Football Insider, Maguire – who is an expert in the field of football finance – has claimed that Ashley could be the biggest potential winner in the long run as the case is launched, while also claiming that the Premier League being granted an extension to respond to it is a ‘filibuster’:

“The biggest potential winner in this is going to be Mike Ashley rather than Newcastle, in the long-term.

“And he is playing a long-term game. Newcastle fans have had to be patient and this is the kind of prevarication we do associate with our silver-tongued friends in the legal profession.

“We’ve seen it in the form of charges from the EFL against clubs that may or may not have the impact of deferring points deductions, for example. So it is a filibuster, in effect.”

The Verdict: Premier League delaying takeover

The fact that the Premier League have been granted an extension to respond to the case does seem like a delaying tactic in the bigger picture of the potential takeover going through.

They also have an arbitration hearing to face against the St James’ Park club, with the results not guaranteed to go their way.

What is for sure is that the results of both legal battles should paint a much clearer picture over the direction of where the potential takeover is heading, as Newcastle will be hoping that the outcomes are positive from their point of view.

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The uncertainty over whether the potential takeover can be completed is not ideal going into the summer transfer window, as the Magpies do not know what kind of players they will be looking to buy, but the Toon Army will probably not care one bit if it means that the KSA consortium can end Ashley’s tenure.

In other news, find out what big Joe Willock transfer update has been dropped!

Nottingham Forest have been handed a boost in their bid to bring Josh Ruffels to The City Ground this summer.

What’s the talk?

In recent comments cited by Banbury Cake, Oxford United manager Karl Robinson revealed that the left-back has still not signed a new contract at the Kassam Stadium – an offer that has been on the table for a number of months – with his current deal set to expire in a matter of weeks.

Nottingham Forest have been reported to hold an interest in the £180k-rated defender, with Chris Hughton thought to be keen on the idea of signing players from the lower divisions at The City Ground this summer.

Speaking about the contractual situation of the left-back, Robinson said: “From our point of view, we know where we’re at. We know what’s going on and we’ll be speaking over the weekend.

“We requested a resolution and Josh, deep down, is an Oxford fan. We’ve had some good conversations, but we also respect the situation.”

Hughton will be buzzing

Considering just how impressive Ruffels was for Oxford United in League One this season, it is not surprising that Robinson appears so desperate for the defender to pen a new deal at the club, while the fact he is yet to do so will likely have Hughton buzzing.

Over his 44 league appearances this term, the former Coventry City man thrived in an attacking capacity, scoring six goals, registering six assists and creating five big chances, as well as making an average of 0.7 key passes per game.

The 27-year-old was solid defensively too, helping his side to keep 16 clean sheets, in addition to making an average of 1.8 interceptions, 1.3 tackles and 2.5 clearances per fixture.

These metrics saw the £2.1k-per-week left-back earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.00, ranking him as Oxford’s fifth-best performer in the third tier – playing a crucial role in the U’s securing a top-six finish in the league.

As such, the addition of the player who Robinson dubbed a “manager’s dream” at Forest this summer would certainly appear to provide a huge boost to the club’s own chances of going on to mount a push towards the play-off places next term, particularly as both Yuri Ribeiro and Gaetan Bong look set to leave Nottingham this summer.

So, if Hughton is successful in his attempt to lure Ruffels away from Oxford in the coming months, particularly on a free transfer, it would be an extremely shrewd piece of business by the 62-year-old boss, as well as a good sign of things to come at Forest next season.

In other news: NFFC handed huge transfer boost over “quality” 25 G/A gem that’ll have Hughton buzzing – opinion

Former Everton striker Marcus Bent has exclusively told Football FanCast that he expects Theo Walcott to join Southampton permanently this summer.

Following a disappointing two-and-a-half seasons at Goodison Park, the former Arsenal man was loaned back to his boyhood club last summer, 14 years after his departure.

And Walcott has found his form once again on the south Coast, scoring twice and laying on three assists in 19 Premier League appearances.

One of those two goals came on his return to the Emirates in the 1-1 draw back in December, although a hamstring problem sustained in January has threatened to stall the £100,ooo per-week winger’s momentum, forcing him to miss nine games.

However, the ex-England international has recovered from that injury to feature in four of the Saints’ previous five matches.

Walcott’s loan deal runs out at the end of the season, but so does his Toffees contract, meaning he’ll be available on a free transfer should Everton decide against offering him fresh terms.

And Bent told Football FanCast that he thinks Walcott will end up back at St Mary’s:

“I spoke to the club. He got to Everton from Arsenal and didn’t do too much.

“He’s a good player, you can see it by him going back to Southampton. He’s on fire, he’s got that spark again.

“I think Southampton is his nearest and dearest thing to his heart at the minute. He’s from there, he knows the club inside out, so I think he will stay with Southampton.”

According to The Daily Express, Southampton are interested in signing Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek this summer.

The Lowdown: Busy summer ahead

This campaign has been a mixed one for the Saints. It started positively – they were top of the Premier League at one point – and they also reached the FA Cup semi-final. However, they underperformed against Leicester City at Wembley as they lost 1-0, while they have dropped into the bottom half of the league table and were very much looking like they could be in relegation trouble until recent weeks.

With Ryan Bertrand confirmed to be leaving (southamptonfc.com) and Danny Ings linked with a move away (Sky Sports), there could be plenty of transfer business conducted at St. Mary’s Stadium this summer.

The Latest: Saints eye Loftus-Cheek

In terms of arrivals, it is being reported that Ralph Hasenhuttl and co are interested in midfielder Loftus-Cheek, who has spent the season on loan at relegated Fulham.

The Saints are said to be eager to sign him on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent deal if the agreement is a success. He is believed to be valued by the Blues at £20m and earns £120,000 a week.

The Verdict: Unfulfilled potential

Loftus-Cheek, it feels, has been around for years, yet he is still to fulfil his undoubtedly huge potential. He has made 82 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 12 goals and providing 11 assists (Transfermarkt), while he also has 10 England caps to his name. Yet, at the age of 25, he has just spent the season at a side who will be dropping back down to the Championship at the first time of asking.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel recently compared him to Michael Ballack, who scored 151 goals throughout an illustrious career. That suggests he may have a chance of making it at Stamford Bridge, but with the plethora of options available to Tuchel, there is no guarantee. A switch to Southampton could be a fantastic move for all involved.

In other news, Southampton are interested in this striker.

While Patrick Bamford has led the line superbly for Leeds this season, there’s no doubting that Marcelo Bielsa’s side could do with some reinforcements ahead of their second campaign back in the Premier League.

Bamford has bagged an impressive 14 goals and provided a further eight assists in the top flight alone, but the strength in depth up top is virtually non-existent for the Whites.

However, with reports linking the club with a summer transfer move for Barnsley’s Daryl Dike, the Elland Road club could unearth a striker who has a large resemblance and many similarities to one of the Argentine’s most feared centre-forwards in his time in management: Fernando Llorente.

The Spaniard’s name may be best known to fans of English football from his time at Tottenham, but it was with his performances back in his native country with Athletic Bilbao under Bielsa that he truly made a name for himself.

In the two full seasons for which the pair worked together, Llorente smashed in 34 goals and provided another eight assists in 89 games, to this day remains the second-most prolifc player in terms of most goals scored for Bielsa.

Standing at 6 foot 2, and with a real presence in the air just like Llorente – he wins a monstrous 6.4 aerial duels per game in the Championship (the fifth-most of any player in the division and comfortably more than everyone in the Leeds squad) – the £4.5m-rated Dike is a proper handful inside the penalty box.

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He was dubbed a “revelation” by former Salford City manager Richie Wellens, who also added: “I can’t see Barnsley paying £17m for him, but I take my hat off to him for swapping the Orlando weather for Barnsley. But seriously he’s done great, he scores goals, he’s powerful and he’s given Barnsley a whole new dimension to their game.”

That new “dimension” is what Llorente brought to the table at Bilbao, combining a mix of technical quality and aerial dominance to fire the Basque club to a whisker away from lifting both the Copa Del Rey and Europa League under Bielsa’s management.

Given the kind of success that Llorente enjoyed under Bielsa whilst at the San Mames Stadium, Dike would surely fancy his chances of replicating the Spaniard’s work at Elland Road if the Whites were to sign him this summer.

Meanwhile, Leeds could finally wave goodbye to this liability…