All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Crystal Palace are interested in Huddersfield Town midfielder Lewis O’Brien, according to the print edition of the Huddersfield Daily Examiner (via Football League World).

The lowdown

Palace and manager Patrick Vieira appear to be in the market for a new midfield player during the summer transfer window.

Conor Gallagher is returning to Chelsea after starting 33 of the Eagles’ 38 Premier League matches last season, and the future of out-of-contract option Cheikhou Kouyate has yet to be resolved.

Palace are reportedly working on a deal for Lens midfielder Cheick Doucoure, while they’re also said to be seriously considering a swoop for Rangers’ Joe Aribo.

O’Brien, 23, is predominantly a central midfielder but he can also play in a more withdrawn role.

Last season, he started 46 out of 49 Championship matches for the Terriers, playing the full 90 minutes as they lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest in the play-off final.

The latest

Palace are one of three Premier League sides keen on O’Brien, along with West Ham United and Southampton, says the report.

All suitors have the option to trigger the £12million release clause in the player’s contract, at which point it would be down to him to pick his preferred move.

The verdict

O’Brien would be a solid, reasonably-priced addition for Palace.

He has a well-rounded skill-set, directly contributing to six goals (three goals, three assists), and averaging one key pass, 2.1 dribbles and 2.1 tackles per game (via WhoScored).

These numbers stack up well against Gallagher (1.1 key passes, 1.3 dribbles, two tackles), though he would perhaps have to score more goals if he was to adequately fill the void, with the Chelsea man bagging eight over the course of the season.

O’Brien was, of course, playing in a lower division, but he showed top-flight class in the second tier. Indeed, journalist Mark Douglas believes the ‘terrific’ midfielder is ‘destined’ to play at the highest level.

And manager Carlos Corberan has heaped praise on one of his star players, dubbing him ‘special’ and ‘exceptional’.

In other news, read the latest update on a key Palace target.

A major update has emerged on Tottenham’s pursuit of Yves Bissouma in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Gary Jacobs of The Times has claimed that Spurs have agreed a deal with Brighton to land the central midfielder in a deal worth around £25m.

Fabrizio Romano has since added: “Tottenham are set to complete their third signing: agreement in place for Yves Bissouma joining from Brighton, as first reported by @garyjacob. Final details on the add-ons, €26m fee. Spurs are offering Bissouma a five year deal – new midfielder is coming for Conte.”

It will now be down to the player to decide whether or not he wants to accept the personal terms on offer before completing a medical to finalise the move.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg upgrade

The club are now closing in on the Mali international and this means that Antonio Conte will have an upgrade on Hojbjerg for the 2022/23 campaign.

Seagulls reporter Andy Naylor once dubbed him an “absolute joy to watch” and his statistics in the top-flight illustrate why that is the case.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-spurs-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-much-more” title= “Read the latest Spurs news, transfer rumours and more!”]

In the 2021/22 Premier League season, Bissouma made a whopping 4.8 tackles and interceptions per match as he won 59% of his individual battles. This comes after he made 4.7 per game in the previous campaign, along with completing 1.5 dribbles.

Meanwhile, Hojbjerg made 3.5 tackles and interceptions per game and won 58% of his duels in total, whilst also completing 1.2 dribbles per match in the season just gone. However, in 2020/21, the Dane made 3.9 tackles and interceptions and only won 51% of his battles with only 0.6 take-ons per game.

These statistics suggest that Bissouma would be a big upgrade on the former Southampton man both in terms of his ability to win the ball back off the opposition and having the quality to burst through the lines in transition.

This will help Spurs on the counter-attack as the Brighton man can nick the ball off an opponent before driving through the middle to pass to the likes of Dejan Kulusevski, Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son.

Of course, Antonio Conte may opt to play both of them in the same midfield but the stats indicate that he can come in and improve the team in place of Hojbjerg. This would leave Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur running the midfield in north London next term… an exciting prospect.

AND in other news, Paratici now given green light to seal “outstanding” Spurs signing, he’d be “clinical”…

Wolves are gearing up for a busy transfer window this summer with Bruno Lage already making it clear what he wants to achieve, and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target who could make the move to the Molineux this summer.

What’s the latest?

According to a report in Portuguese newspaper Jornal de Noticias (via Sport Witness) Wolves could ‘close the deal’ with Joao Palhinha soon.

As per the report, there is a market for Palhinha in the Premier League however Wolves are leading the race to sign the Sporting CP star.

They further claim that Manchester United are also interested in the player but have not made a formal proposal, so Wolves are set to steal Palhinha’s signature in a deal reported to be worth €24m (£20.5m).

Lage needs him

There have been numerous reports of Ruben Neves being linked with a move away from Wolverhampton this summer, and signing Palhinha could be a great start for Lage this summer as he clearly will need him if the Wolves midfielder leaves during the transfer window.

The £17m star who was hailed “special” by Sporting manager Ruben Amorim, has been a consistent and reliable performer for his Portuguese side this season.

According to SofaScore, Palhinha has scored three goals and created one big chances, making three tackles, one interception and winning an impressive seven duels on average per game, whilst also completing the majority of his dribbles successfully (60%), proving that he is a complete nightmare for his opponents.

If Neves does leave this summer, Wolves will need to quickly identify a replacement worthy of taking up his position in the centre of the pitch and considering Palhinha is reportedly wanted by Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint Germain this summer, he is clearly a hot prospect worth snapping up.

Ultimately, this signing could be a major coup for Lage if he can secure the deal for Palhinha over competitors this summer, and would surely soften the blow in the long run upon a potential departure for their current star midfielder.

AND in other news: Tim Spiers now reveals major Wolves transfer twist, supporters will be buzzing

Jordan Cronin has shared Newcastle United’s priorities for the summer transfer window, as Eddie Howe looks to bring in fresh additions to build upon January’s success in the market.

The Lowdown: January business

Newcastle were the biggest spenders in Europe in January after the Tyneside club forked out £91m on Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood, Bruno Guimaraes, Dan Burn and Matt Targett in order to plug gaps and strengthen the squad.

That winter trolley dash has since been viewed as a great success. Having stared relegation in the face up until Christmas, the Magpies finished the season in a respectable 11th place.

As a result, it is expected that Newcastle will continue to build upon their recent success in the transfer market with an equally busy summer window.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/newcastle-news-6/” title=”Newcastle news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Latest: Newcastle’s transfer priorities

Cronin has since shared the Magpies’ ambitious reported plans for the summer transfer window.

In a Newcastle World transfer Q&A, he claimed: “I’m told Newcastle are prioritising signing a goalkeeper, central defender, full-back (there has still been no word on Matt Targett), winger and striker. They’re also open to strengthening all positions if the right player becomes available. All that is very ambiguous, I know! But it’s a clear indication of the club’s ambition this summer. Rule nothing out.”

The Verdict: Busy summer ahead

Given the number of positions that Newcastle’s recruitment team are seemingly targeting, it is expected that a number of departures will need to be made prior to securing any big-money deals. Indeed, Cronin has also named several players who could be set for the chop.

If the board are able to offload some of the deadwood quickly, it could be possible to see numerous incomings and outgoings this summer, as Howe looks to build a squad which is capable of European qualification.

Therefore, it is likely that this summer will provide a busy and exciting transfer window for Newcastle.

In other news: Journalists name-check potential summer departures from Newcastle

Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah’s confirmation that he will be a Reds player next season is ‘huge’ news for the club, according to journalist David Maddock.

The Lowdown: Salah speaks out

The future of the 29-year-old is one of the main talking points among Kopites at the moment, with no new deal signed with the Reds as things stand.

Salah’s current Liverpool contract expires at the end of next season, at which point he could leave for free, but on Wednesday he publicly stated that he would be at Anfield in 2022/23.

That means he won’t be leaving this summer, which will come as a huge relief to many Reds fans, although it remains to be seen whether or not he will extend his stay beyond the end of his current contract.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-34/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=“none”]

The Latest: Maddock reacts to Salah news

Taking to Twitter, Maddock claimed that this is a massive moment for Liverpool, believing that it hints at Salah possibly signing a new deal over the next 12 months..

Sharing a corresponding report for The Mirror, the journalist stated: “Real bombshell this from Salah – no one expecting him to confirm he’s staying next season. Could be a clever move, as it surely strengthens his hand in contract talks…and suggests he believes deal will be struck. FAR MORE details here…on what could be huge moment for #LFC.”

The Verdict: Strong bargaining position

As Maddock has claimed, this could put Salah in a strong position in terms of negotiating a new deal, making it very clear that he could leave for free instead of for big money this summer.

There are clearly a few stumbling blocks regarding the contract being sorted but the hope is that all parties will eventually agree and that the Egyptian will sign for another few years.

He is already an undisputed Liverpool legend, but if he stays put for another four or five years and continues his extraordinary brilliance, he could end up rivalling the likes of Sir Kenny Dalglish and Steven Gerrard as the club’s greatest-ever player, having already scored 156 goals in 253 Reds appearances.

Therefore, it’s no wonder that Maddock has dubbed this a potentially “huge” development for the Merseyside club.

In other news, a pundit has made a key claim over another Liverpool star’s future. Read more here.

Nottingham Forest are interested in signing Blackburn Rovers midfielder Joe Rothwell, according to a report from the Lancashire Telegraph. 

The lowdown: Rothwell’s career so far

Formerly of Manchester United, Rothwell arrived at Ewood Park in 2018 and has since become a mainstay for the Lancashire side, amassing 161 appearances.

However, the 27-year-old is out of contract at the end of June (Transfermarkt), and it appears as though a move could be on the cards for the former England youth international.

It now seems as though Forest could be among the interested parties ahead of a crucial week…

The latest: Forest keen on Rothwell

As per the Lancashire Telegraph, Steve Cooper’s side, along with Sheffield United and already-promoted Bournemouth, are in the mix to sign Rothwell.

It is claimed that the Rovers midfielder is ‘expected to receive offers’ this summer from the aforementioned clubs.

The report stated that the man for whom Cooper admitted a ‘love’ following a 2-0 Forest victory at Ewood Park earlier this season is set to ‘leave’ the Lancashire club at the end of his current deal.

The verdict: Make it happen

Regardless of what happens next week at Wembley against Huddersfield Town in the play-off final, adding Rothwell to the City Ground ranks would be a smart move from Cooper.

During the 2021/22 campaign, the energetic midfielder scored three times and provided 10 assists in 41 Championship outings, earning an outstanding 7.08 Sofascore rating whilst winning three duels, making 1.7 key passes and playing on average 77 minutes per game.

Valued at £3.15m by Transfermarkt, signing Rothwell – who has been tipped to become a ‘top player’ by his manager Tony Mowbray – for free would have to be regarded as a superb piece of business to kickstart what could be an exciting summer on the transfer front at the City Ground… especially if there is a Premier League campaign for which to prepare.

On the final day of the Premier League season, Crystal Palace completed their end of the bargain by securing a high profile win against Manchester United.

The Eagles needed a win to secure a top half finish, if other results went their way. And whilst they ended the season on a positive, results from Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brighton meant that they fell just short of their ambition and ended the campaign in 12th place.

Although it was a Ronaldo-less Manchester United side who had nothing significant to play for, Palace still fought well and earned all three points, courtesy of a Wilfried Zaha solo effort. The Ivory Coast international just had to score against his old club to metaphorically kick them whilst they were already down.

Though, whilst Zaha’s performance was mature and gave Manchester United a taste of what they could have had if they had persevered all those years ago, it was Jeffrey Schlupp who was the unsung hero.

The Ghanian is a player who can often go unnoticed, due to his nonchalant approach and acceptance at being used as a utility tool, though he is a vital part of the Palace squad – with his 32 appearances in the Premier League this season evidence of this.

Deployed as central midfielder in a 4-3-3 system, Schlupp was emphatic off the ball, and needed to be with United racking up 62% possession across the 90 minutes.

With five out his six duels won at a rate of 83%, he was sensational for the Eagles and was a key part of Vieira’s counter-pressing system against the Red Devils.

His seven recoveries were also integral to the maintenance of Palace’s clean sheet in what ended up being a home win against Manchester United for the first time ever in the Premier League.

What a performance from Schlupp, and what an end to the season for Palace.

In other news: Crystal Palace now plot bid to sign £9m-rated “tangfastic” ace, imagine him and Zaha

Rangers boss Gio van Bronckhorst was not shy of handing out opportunities to academy players as his side ended the Premiership campaign with a 3-1 win at the weekend.

Adam Devine, Charlie McCann, Leon King, Tony Weston, Ross McCausland and Cole McKinnon were all given minutes on the pitch to showcase their quality at first-team level.

Lowry caught the eye with a goal and an assist from midfield but he was not the only youngster who impressed on the day as Devine put in an exciting showing at the back.

FFC recently published an article suggesting that the right-back may be the next Nathan Patterson who can play a back-up role to James Tavernier and be sold for a profit in the future, but this matured performance against Hearts suggests that he could have a brighter future at Rangers.

Instead of being viewed as a player who can be a squad player and moved on in a few years to rake in a few million, he could be seen as the long-term replacement for the captain.

This is why van Bronckhorst must finally unleash the 19-year-old on a regular basis at the start of the 2022/23 campaign to help him ease into the role.

Journalist Craig Vickers was impressed by his display against Hearts as he praised him after the match, Tweeting: “Devine isn’t as clean technically as Patterson and doesn’t have his self-belief in possession, but he looks like another powerful runner in that position.”

Reporter Joshua Barrie replied to this by Tweeting: “Thought Devine took his chance over this past week well. Next season’s understudy?”

These comments suggest that he did enough to pass the eye test and the statistics back up that he enjoyed a great afternoon in the Scottish top-flight.

As per SofaScore, he completed 84% of his passes and 100% of his attempted dribbles in the game as he proved that he is comfortable on the ball and likes to get forward. He also made a whopping six clearances to go along with one interception and two tackles as he got stuck in defensively and worked hard for the team throughout the 90 minutes.

The fact that he played the entire match also indicates that van Bronckhorst trusts him to perform throughout an entire first-team match, which bodes well heading into next season. The Dutch head coach must now continue to give him chances as he moulds him into being Tavernier’s successor in the years to come.

AND in other news, Wilson plotting Rangers bid for “top notch” 16 G/A “master”, GVB needs him badly…

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Mattias Svanberg to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer transfer window.

What’s the word?

That’s according to a report by Italian media outlet 1000 Cuori Rossoblu (via Sport Witness), who claim that, with the 23-year-old’s current contract with Bologna set to expire in June of 2023 and the central midfielder having no interest in extending his stay at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, the Serie A side will look to cash in on the Sweden international this summer.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-spurs-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more” title= “Read the latest Spurs news!”]

The report goes on to state that the likes of Tottenham, Everton, West Ham United, Napoli and Fiorentina are all interested in a deal for the former Malmo FF starlet, who looks as if he will be available for a figure of around €20m (£17m) at the end of the current campaign.

Conte would love Svanberg

With it being reported that Antonio Conte is looking to bring in additions to bolster his current options in the middle of the park at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer, it is unsurprising to learn that the 52-year-old is interested in a deal for Svanberg.

Indeed, the 23-year-old has highly impressed over his 35 Serie A appearances this season, scoring three goals, registering three assists and creating five big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 1.0 key passes, 0.8 interceptions, 1.1 tackles, taking 1.1 shots and winning 4.3 duels per game.

These returns have seen the £13.5m-rated talent average a SofaScore match rating of 6.87, ranking him as Sinisa Mihajlovic’s eighth-best performer in the Italian top-flight – an impressive feat considering the Rossoblu’s struggles in the league this term.

Furthermore, FBref also rank the £14k-per-week Swede in the top 16% of midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues for shots taken per 90, in addition to the top 28% for non-penalty goals, the top 30% for assists, the top 22% for xA, the top 34% for progressive passes received and the top 33% for blocks over the last 365 days.

These are all metrics that would appear to make the versatile midfielder a perfect fit for Conte’s Spurs, an opinion which an unnamed source in Italy also clearly believes, with the insider stating in comments cited by football.london:

“Svanberg is probably one of the top four or five No 8’s in Europe – that’s how good he is. He’s a very talented young man. He’s playing for a very defensive Bologna side but he can bring a spark to whichever team he plays in.

“Spurs already know him very, very well because of the Italians involved in the club now. Anyone who has seen him play for Bologna will tell you that he’s the sort of player that Conte would enjoy working with.”

As such, considering his particular skill-set, impressive versatility and potential for further growth – not to mention a very reasonable asking price – it would indeed appear a wise for Fabio Paratici to launch a £17m bid for Svanberg this summer, as the 23-year-old would undoubtedly be a player Conte would love to work with at Spurs.

AND in other news: “Consequences for his future”: Gold drops Spurs exit claim, supporters will be buzzing

Manchester United are interested in signing Villarreal defender Pau Torres, according to reports from Spanish media.

The lowdown: Torres a wanted man

The 25-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League for some time now, and Chelsea were among the leading contenders in last summer’s transfer window.

Since then, Torres has gone from strength to strength in Spain and has helped guide the La Liga outfit to an unlikely Champions League semi-final spot, having overcome Juventus and Bayern Munich along the way.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-man-utd-news/” title=”Latest Man Utd news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

It now appears that the strongest interest could be coming from the northwest of England…

The latest: Transfer tussle

As per Spanish sources, United are set to do battle with local rivals Manchester City for the capture of the Spanish defender.

Reports claim that the Red Devils and City have the ‘same goal’ for next season in attempting to capture Torres this summer.

It is stated that the 17-cap ace – who was hailed as ‘sensational’ by Spain manager Luis Enrique – is regarded as the ‘best option’ for Erik ten Hag as the Dutchman looks to strengthen the squad at Old Trafford.

The verdict: Top-drawer player

Bringing Torres to United would be a superb piece of business from Ten Hag and what looks sure to be a new-look backroom team.

While club captain Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof, Phil Jones and Eric Bailly make up a well-stocked defensive department, they have fallen short of their expected levels at various times this season, as proven by the concession of 52 Premier League goals.

So far this season, Torres has scored five times in 42 appearances across all competitions whilst earning an impressive 7.07 Sofascore rating from 29 La Liga outings – making 3.2 clearances and 54.6 accurate passes per match and helping to keep 10 clean sheets in the process.

That is the type of solidity and assurance that Ten Hag and United could do with as they seek to restore the Old Trafford club to its former glories.

In other news: Rangnick has set his sights on one of Serie A’s brightest talents…find out more here