All posts by z3u9t.icu

Newcastle United have been preparing for their long-awaited return to the Champions League this summer and Eddie Howe has been working on identifying new additions that can take his already impressive squad to the next level.

The Magpies quickly confirmed the signing of AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali at the beginning of this month and are now set to complete their second signing of the summer, following the imminent departure of French winger Allan Saint-Maximin.

Sky Sports are reporting that Newcastle have agreed a deal with recently-relegated club Leicester City to sign their forward Harvey Barnes in a £38m deal and is thought to be the direct replacement for Saint-Maximin, who will be shortly completing a move to the Saudi Pro League via Al Ahli.

The North East outfit have been battling with Financial Fair Play restrictions throughout the transfer window, however, the exit of their 26-year-old attacker now presents an opportunity to strengthen key positions for Howe, who could now look to steal another relegated star to bolster his options at the other end of the pitch.

Who are Newcastle's transfer targets?

Newcastle have been strongly linked with a move for Southampton full-back Valentino Livramento over the last month, with the former Bournemouth boss keen to add depth in both the wider forward and wider defensive roles.

Football Insider reported on Tuesday that Newcastle are now ready to submit an improved offer on their initial £15m bid that was quickly rejected by his south coast club.

The Tyneside club reportedly remain in talks with Saints and are willing to increase their bid to £25m to secure the services of Livramento before Premier League football resumes next month.

How good is Tino Livramento?

There is no doubt that Livramento – hailed a "talent" by former Spurs ace Ledley King – is one of the top young prospects to drop into the Championship last season, despite missing out on virtually the entire 38-game campaign due to an ACL injury – spending 353 days in recovery.

When reflecting on the full-back's last full season in the Premier League (2021/22), the Cobham academy graduate displayed glimpses of his incredible talent and attacking-minded presence in the defensive set-up at St Mary's.

The 20-year-old ranked in the top 16% of his Premier League positional peers for progressive carries and successful take-ons, as well as ranking in the top 3% for interceptions, as per FBref, which is an impressive feat for a young player in their debut season.

Livramento has, of course, earned high praise for his stand-out performances, with former Saints star Theo Walcott waxing lyrical about the youngster's huge talent and even comparing him to Gareth Bale – who also played as a full-back in the early stages of his career:

"You can just see he's got an aura about him around the place," Walcott told talkSPORT.

"Do you know what, he reminds me a little bit of Gareth when he came through as a full-back.

"That's a big statement of course to compare him to someone like that but just feel like his presence and the way he drives and the pace and the power and it's no surprises that you know what he's going to do.

"He's so strong with the ball and very clever and technically he is fantastic."

Indeed, Howe already has an incredible leader and right-back in Kieran Trippier, however, the England international will turn 33 in the early stages of next season, so it would not only make sense for the club to capture a worthy successor but also a player who can rotate in the role to ensure they can compete in all competitions and avoid injury issues.

With that being said, Livramento would be another great prospect on top of Barnes for the future of Newcastle's squad and could quickly become Howe's next prodigy if he can emulate his performances before his injury issues.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are edging closer in the pursuit of Bristol City gem Alex Scott, as Julen Lopetegui aims to secure the signature of the highly-rated youngster.

The Midlands club have been linked to the Championship star since January, however after making sufficient sales, the Old Gold can now focus on the chance to equip the Englishman to their side.

How much is Alex Scott worth?

As reported by Football Insider yesterday, Wolves are believed to have leapfrogged fellow Premier League side Bournemouth in the race for Scott.

The report claimed that Lopetegui’s side are in ‘pole position’ to sign the midfielder after having two bids rejected by the Robins, with the latest figure said to be around the £20m mark.

It’s believed that the Championship side will hold out for £25m for the teenager, who was an integral part of their squad last season.

How good is Alex Scott?

At just 19, the teenager has imposed himself as a key figure in Bristol City’s line-up, being the conductor to orchestrate the midfield with authority and skill.

Described as a "top talent" by Jack Grealish, the Guernsey-born diamond played a mammoth 49 games for his club last season, adding to the 39 appearances recorded in his breakthrough term in 2021/22.

Deployed as a box-to-box midfielder, Scott could prove to be a youthful cog in Lopetegui’s depleted Molineux midfield, following the departures of Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves earlier this summer.

The Spaniard could equip his side with a promising fearless talent, who could force fans to forget about the magic that the Portuguese duo once brought to Wolverhampton.

After signing Joao Gomes from Flamengo in January, Wolves displayed preliminary signs of a midfield revamp, which could be rounded off by the potential introduction of Scott, who could pose to be an upgrade to existing options to partner the Brazilian.

29-year-old Mario Lemina was also introduced in the winter transfer window of 2023, signing from Nice in the bid to bolster the midfield.

While the Gabonese star has been a strong introduction to Lopetegui’s side, the former Southampton player could find his position in the starting line-up compromised should Scott enter the Spaniard’s plans.

When comparing the two players based on their respective 2022/23 league campaigns, it’s clear to see why the former Real Madrid manager wants to bring in the 5 foot 10 Championship star, who would represent an upgrade on Lemina.

As per FBref, the teenager recorded a higher average than the Gabon international for his distribution, averaging 3.43 progressive passes per 90 to his 2.91, as well as 1.04 key passes to the Wolves man’s mere 0.21 per 90.

Acting as a lively dominator of the middle of the park, Scott also scored higher averages while in possession, averaging 1.22 successful take-ons and 2.34 progressive carries to Lemina’s 0.76 successful take-ons and 0.42 progressive carries per 90 in the Premier League.

While tackling is a major element of maintaining control of the engine room, the Englishman showed his potential in comparison to the former Juventus ace, making an average of 2.05 tackles and 0.98 interceptions per 90, to his 2.63 tackles and 0.97 interceptions.

Lopetegui could form a youthful spark in Molineux’s midfield by recruiting Scott, however, it could be uncomfortable viewing for Lemina, who could see himself usurped by the teenager.

Arsenal have already enjoyed a proactive start to the transfer market, and despite faltering announcements for Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice to supplement their acquisition of Kai Havertz, reports are assuring that no issues have arisen with those deals.

Mikel Arteta will still get his men, and the Gunners will continue their pre-season preparation in the hopes they can go one step further in the Premier League next season.

However, it is unlikely that this will note the end of their summer spending, given just how big the gulf turned out to be between themselves and Manchester City.

The five points that separated them in the league do not even begin to outline the disparity, as Pep Guardiola's side would add an FA Cup and Champions League to become just the second English team to complete this infamous treble.

With a bolstered backline and a meliorated midfield, out wide is arguably the place that has been pushed to the back burner.

That's not to suggest that they have completely neglected the pursuit though, with links to both Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus remaining throughout the window.

The latter in particular came only at the start of this month, and prefaces Paris Saint-Germain's movement into the driving seat to re-sign the former. Therefore, Arteta might have his hand forced to opt for the Ghana international, who still remains a fine alternative to the 20-year-old maestro.

What is the current market value of Mohammed Kudus?

Having both shone in the Eredivisie from the flank, it seems that last campaign marked a true step up for both of these budding young stars.

Featuring for two of the heavyweights within that division, PSV Eindhoven and Ajax were blessed to have such creativity and goalscoring prowess from the left and right wing respectively.

In fact, the differences between the two are hardly lofty enough to outline a significant gulf, suggesting that Simons' edging move back to Paris could make Arteta's transfer selection even easier.

After all, the 22-year-old recorded 18 goals and seven assists last term across all competitions, not to mention his two goals and 7.70 average rating during his country's group stage exit of the World Cup.

This excellence on the biggest stage in football was extended to the Champions League too, where he earned praise from journalist Karl Matchett for one strike against Rangers back in September:

"He is sensational. What a magical player. Channels, one-touch passing, strength in dribble, really smart positions dropping deep, aggressive winning it back and an absolute arrow of a shot."

To compare this with Simons, who has started to work his way into the Netherlands senior squad, there remains a slight lack of experience that has prevented him from lighting up a similar level.

Despite that, his 34 goal contributions across all competitions last term in his homeland suggest he is deservedly close to being handed such an opportunity.

With the Parisian giants exercising their buy-back clause and thus moving way ahead in the race for the youngster, Kudus stands alone as the outstanding alternative that remains.

Although his reported £40m price tag might come across as steep, given it far outweighs his €12.8m (£11m) FootballTransfers market valuation, it would still mark a coup for a player who at such a young age already boasts immense quality and experience on the top stage.

Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia is 'prepared to leave' the Sky Bet Championship side this summer amid interest in his services from the Premier League, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

Which clubs are interested in signing Romeo Lavia?

According to The Telegraph, Liverpool are open to letting midfielder Thiago Alcantara leave the club this window as he has attracted interest from Saudi Arabia, which could potentially pave the way for the Reds to firm up their pursuit of Lavia.

The report states that any departure for Thiago this summer would increase the probability of Liverpool making a 'formal approach' to try and land Lavia; however, his £50 million price tag is said to be 'too prohibitive' to make a move at present and player sales would be needed to accumulate funds for the Reds before they could put an offer on the table.

90min have claimed that Manchester United are also keen on Lavia as Erik Ten Hag aims to add another midfielder to his squad following his successful capture of Mason Mount from Chelsea.

FootballTransfers detail that Arsenal and Chelsea are attracted towards Lavia this off-season, with the outlet indicating that the Belgium international would prefer to join the Gunners over other clubs chasing his signature.

Lavia joined Southampton from Manchester City back in 2022 and the Premier League champions have a £40 million buyback clause inserted into his current terms at St Mary's that will become active in 2024, as per Football Insider.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer guru Romano believes that Lavia will leave Southampton this summer and return to the Premier League to seek a new opportunity to further his career.

Romano stated: “I think it’s going to be crucial to see who’s going to agree [a deal] with Southampton because the player is prepared to leave, he’s prepared to say yes, so it’s about the clubs now and Southampton.”

How good is Romeo Lavia and why is he attracting interest from elite clubs?

Lavia is a talented young midfielder that elite sides feel they can develop into a star of the future and he has already shown encouraging signs in his short time competing in senior football.

Last term, the 19-year-old gained plenty of minutes for Southampton, featuring 34 times in all competitions and notching one goal alongside a solitary assist in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

As per Sofascore, Lavia recorded an average match rating of 6.80/10 for his display in the Premier League last campaign despite Southampton's relegation to the Sky Bet Championship, showing a commendable level of maturity for his age in the engine room.

The Belgian youngster was also able to demonstrate his capacity to drive forward from the middle of the park and help his team in offensive passages of play, successfully racking up 41 shot-creating actions over the course of the season, according to FBRef.

Given that Southampton will be turning out in the English second tier in 2023/24, it is unlikely that Lavia would be willing to stick around and potentially stall his development, especially when some of the clubs keen to sign him have the opportunity to fight for major honours both domestically and on the continent.

It looks now that the question is where Lavia will end up this summer and it will be intriguing to see where he sees best fit to take his next step.

Newcastle United are reportedly keen to prise Kalvin Phillips from Manchester City this summer, as Eddie Howe seeks to continue his midfield overhaul at St James' Park.

What's the latest on Phillips to Newcastle?

With the Magpies having already wrapped up a deal for AC Milan playmaker, Sandro Tonali, the Telegraph are now reporting that the club could turn their attention towards the England international over the coming weeks, with the 27-year-old having endured a difficult debut season at the Etihad.

While the report suggests that the former Leeds United man – who made the move to Manchester on a £45m deal last summer – is hoping to stay and fight for his place under Pep Guardiola, a possible swift exit from the treble-winning outfit is potentially still on the cards.

Although the piece does not state how much a deal for the Yorkshireman would cost, the Mirror reported earlier in the window that Premier League rivals Liverpool were eyeing a £35m move for the 5 foot 10 ace.

Would Phillips be a good signing for Newcastle?

There is no denying that it proved to be a frustrating first season for Phillips with the Cityzens, with the 27-cap maestro having been restricted to a bit-part role in the club's glittering success, after racking up just 21 appearances in 2022/23, making only two league starts in that time.

While previously described as a "machine" by The Athletic's Jordan Campbell during his prior stint at Elland Road – where he made 234 appearances across all fronts and helped guide the club to promotion – the £150k-per-week man's recent woes should well be of concern to Howe and co.

Newcastle may wish to avoid making the same mistake as that of their bitter rivals, Sunderland, with talkSPORT pundit Ray Parlour suggesting that the situation of Phillips at City is "very similar" to that of Jack Rodwell – who also endured infamously dour stint at the Stadium of Light.

Much like his compatriot, Rodwell had shown early promise after rising up through the ranks at Everton, with then-Toffees boss David Moyes stating that the midfielder had a "good future ahead of him", prior to making the move to Man City on a £15m deal in 2012.

As it proved, the Southport-born dud arguably "wasted two years of his career" at the Etihad – according to journalist Leigh Curtis – as he made just 25 first-team appearances, before joining the Black Cats in 2014.

That move proved even more disastrous as Rodwell endured a run of 39 top-flight games without a win – a league record – having also been lambasted by former boss Chris Coleman due to his apparent willingness to see out of his contract, rather than move on elsewhere.

Described as the 'worst signing in Sunderland's history' by the Chronicle's James Hunter back in 2018, the current Sydney FC man endured a torrid time of it in the northeast, with those at St James' Park perhaps wary of seeing history repeat itself.

The Tynesiders could well follow in the footsteps of their long-time foes with the addition of Phillips, with the Leeds native – who Guardiola described as "overweight" last season – seemingly not the solution for Howe this summer.

Arsenal are among the contenders for Fenerbahce's teenage sensation Arda Guler, with the north London club considering a swoop this summer.

What's the latest on Arda Guler to Arsenal?

According to Football Insider, Mikel Arteta's Gunners have 'leapfrogged' Premier League rivals Newcastle United in the race to sign Guler, who has emerged as a first-rate prospect this term.

The attacker has captured the excitement of all who have observed his trade, and as such Arsenal are joined in their interest by Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

The 18-year-old possesses a contractual clause that could see him leave the Yellow Canaries for just €17.5m (£15m), but this has prompted his Süper Lig outfit to offer a new deal to tie him down for a further year, potentially cashing in for a more lucrative fee.

Should Arsenal sign Arda Guler?

The north London giants have earned their distinction for boasting one of European football's most prominent youth academies around, with Bukayo Saka, Serge Gnabry, Cesc Fabregas and Ashley Cole just some of the salient names to have risen from Hale End.

And while Guler is now 18-years-old, he would have the opportunity to nurture his way to prominence with the Gunners, absorbing the fruits of his senior peers' labour and gradually blossoming into a world-class talent, having been described as a "magician with a wand of a left foot" by one European scout.

As per Sofascore, the four-cap Turkey star – with one goal – has averaged a match rating of 7.48 in the league this season, scoring four goals and providing three assists from just 11 starts in the Süper Lig, completing 85% of his passes and averaging two key passes per game.

Given his natural prowess with the ball at his feet, his role as a left-footed winger on the right flank and his clear aptitude for clinching both goals and assists, the "fantastic" Guler – as dubbed by Fabrizio Romano – could rise to the fore as the Premier League's next Riyad Mahrez under Arteta's stewardship.

The Arsenal boss will know the Algerian's skill set well from his time as Pep Guardiola's understudy at Manchester City, and given Saka's rise to prominence as the Gunners' starring attacker on the right side, it's evident Arteta knows how to utilise attacking options in this regard.

Mahrez signed for Leicester from French side Le Havre in 2014, historically winning the Premier League and earning the division's Player of the Year award, before completing a £60m transfer to the Citizens in 2018, where he has gleaned five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three League Cups and the Champions League, heralded as "exceptional" by his boss for his diverse attacking nature.

Over the duration of his career, the 32-year-old, who like Guler drifts inside from the right flank, has averaged 2.1 shots and 1.6 key passes per match, as per WhoScored, also completing 82% of his passes and averaging 1.8 dribbles per outing.

To put those numbers into context, the fleet-footed Guler has averaged 1.6 dribbles per match over the maiden period of his career, certainly exhibiting his class and breezy gait on the pitch, while the aforementioned Saka has posted 1.4 dribbles a game.

The Turk is undoubtedly a "serious talent" – as he has been called by reporter Duncan Castles – and by arriving at the Emirates Stadium he could grow into one of English football's most prodigious phenoms, potentially even replicating Mahrez in the process.

Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani’s proposed takeover of Manchester United is still up in the air, with the Glazers stalling due to family drama, according to reports.

What’s the latest Man United takeover news?

Jassim has made five separate bids to take 100% control at Old Trafford from the Glazers, with the most recent offer coming earlier this month. It has been relatively quiet in recent weeks in regards to a takeover, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe another who is keen and waiting to see if his bid has been successful.

Reports on Wednesday did claim that Jassim was growing increasingly confident he has won the bidding war, but a new report has thrown doubt into a deal, with the Glazers at odds.

According to Global Finance, Man United was about to get sold to Jassim, however, drama among the Glazers is stalling the sale. An M&A source close to talks at Old Trafford described the process as being a “shambles”, also saying:

“It’s getting the kids to agree. Not all five (Avram Glazer, Kevin Glazer, Bryan Glazer, Joel Glazer and Edward Glazer) want to do the deal.”

Is a takeover impacting Man United’s transfer plans?

As we know, the ongoing takeover saga has coincided with a slow start to the transfer window, with no major incomings or outgoings at Old Trafford and frustrations growing amongst supporters.

There were previous concerns at Old Trafford that the takeover process could derail Erik ten Hag’s summer plans, but Sky Sports have said the money is available to the Red Devils regardless of the outcome, which is at least some good news.

That is a boost for Ten Hag and United, and it looks as if the club are working on potential deals. Moises Caicedo appears to be the latest midfielder on the wishlist, with an approach expected to be made to Brighton over the coming days. As we know, a £55m bid for Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount is also still on the table.

However, should Jassim eventually get a takeover finalised, he could look to make an immediate statement signing to win over supporters. Recent reports claimed the Qatar group were planning a sensational move to sign Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe, who will soon be entering the final 12 months of his PSG deal.

A lot needs to happen before supporters can think of Mbappe playing at Old Trafford under the ownership of Jassim, though, with the first being the Glazers coming to a final agreement over whether to sell or stay.

Liverpool's hopes of signing Joao Palhinha this summer may have been dealt a blow, with The Daily Mail reporting that Fulham want £90m for his signature.

Will Liverpool sign Joao Palhinha this summer?

The midfielder has spent only one season in the Premier League with Fulham so far but has already made quite the impression in England. The 27-year-old was a key player for the Cottagers as they managed to not only avoid the drop but to finish in the top ten during their first campaign back in the top flight.

The Portugal international made 35 appearances for the side over the course of the season and even bagged three goals along the way from his deep midfield role.

Even more impressive from the player is how he has ranked against others in his position amongst the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe this year. Despite having to adapt to a new country, Palhinha managed 4.26 tackles per 90, which actually puts him in the top one percent in that area.

It shows that he works continuously in the centre of the field to break up opposition attacks, and with a rate of 1.77 clearances too (88th percentile), it showcases just how superb he can in front of a defence.

What is Palhinha's transfer price?

Now, according to a report from The Daily Mail, the player has indeed caught the eye of clubs like Liverpool, Man United and West Ham – but if any of them want to sign them, it could cost them a hefty amount of money.

The trio have all registered an interest in the midfielder but it appears that Fulham will demand around £90m for his signature – a huge amount for any club to pay if they want to sign the Portugal man. The hope from the Cottagers is that putting such a big amount of money on one of their best players could ward off any interest in his services.

It's no surprise to see the asking price for Palhinha shoot up, considering how well he has performed in the Premier League this season. Football journalist Josh Bunting called the midfielder "outstanding" for example and added that he is "top class" and "has it all".

It may be a steep price to pay for the player then, but if Liverpool want to bolster their midfield, it could be worth testing Fulham's patience with an offer.

Newcastle United are reportedly preparing a bid to sign Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson during the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to the Northern Echo, the Magpies are confident of securing a deal to sign the England international in the coming weeks.

The report claims that the club are set to make an offer of £15m and believe that it will be enough to wrap up a transfer upon the opening of the window next week.

Henderson is said to have decided that he needs to leave Old Trafford to further his career and Newcastle are looking to pounce on the opportunity to sign him.

It is also stated that the Toon are not looking to cash in on current stopper Martin Dubravka as he is set to provide competition for the jersey next season.

Eddie Howe would love him

The Magpies’ head coach would love him at St. James’ Park as he is a young shot-stopper with the potential to improve in the years to come.

Henderson is eight years younger than Dubravka and this means that he can be the long-term replacement for the Slovakian on Tyneside. He is still very young in goalkeeping terms and has the scope to be Newcastle’s first choice for a large number of years.

The 25-year-old is also a proven Premier League performer who will not need a period of adaptation to adjust to playing in England. He has played in two top-flight campaigns for Sheffield United and Manchester United combined and kept an impressive 17 clean sheets in that time – averaging an excellent SofaScore rating of 6.94.

Toon legend Alan Shearer previously lauded the shot-stopper as he named him in his 2020/21 Team of the Season. He said: “It was tough to leave out Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, but Sheffield United’s season has been one of the best stories of the campaign and Henderson has been key to their success.

“The Manchester United loanee has kept 10 clean sheets and his bravery and confidence beyond his 23 years. He is a star in the making.”

The Premier League’s all-time top scorer believes that the Englishman has huge potential and that is why this is an exciting target for Newcastle to have. Howe will love to work with him to help the gem fulfil his potential and, hopefully, become the club’s number one for the foreseeable future.

AND in other news, Newcastle now plotting bid to sign maestro with 128 PL apps, just imagine him & Bruno…

Rangers striker Cedric Itten could be on his way out of Ibrox during the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

One side is reportedly interested in the Gers outcast and with one Swiss team’s sporting director, Christoph Spycher, refusing to rule out a deal with a non-committal statement.

The Glasgow Times quotes the Young Boys chief as saying this in response to the link: “We never comment on speculation. Sometimes the rumours are the truth, sometimes they are completely wrong.

“You’ll know when something happens.”

Gio van Bronckhorst must axe him

The Ibrox head coach must pounce on this opportunity to brutally axe Itten from his squad ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

If Young Boys are interested in a deal for the attacker then van Bronckhorst and Ross Wilson must agree to let him go, for as much of the £2.7m they paid for him as they can recoup.

He is nowhere near good enough for Rangers and this has been proven in the second half of the season since he returned from his loan spell with Greuther Furth.

In the Premiership, he scored once – against Hearts on the final day – in six appearances and failed to provide any assists. He lost a whopping 74% of his duels in the division as he was a liability on the pitch for the club when he played.

The Switzerland international did not offer enough in the final third and his lightweight play out of possession meant that his teammates needed to carry him through matches as he struggled with the physicality of the games.

Scottish journalist James Black dubbed him “out the picture” recently and his measly return of six outings in the top-flight shows that he was not trusted to play on a regular basis. He was also left out of the Europa League run as he did not play a single minute in the competition.

Van Bronckhorst seemingly did not see enough from him in training or on the pitch to suggest that he would be a useful player to call upon week-in-week-out. His statistics when he did play back this up and indicate that he is not good enough to be a regular for Rangers.

This is why the Dutch head coach must now wield his axe on the 25-year-old and allow him to join Young Boys, or any other club interested in him, this summer.

AND in other news, Enquiry made: Rangers avoided disaster with “annoying” dud whose value dropped £8.4m…