All posts by n8rngtd.top

Wolves have been linked with both Goncalo Guedes and Wissam Ben Yedder recently and the duo could transform Bruno Lage’s attack next season.

It is no surprise that Wolves are being linked with Ben Yedder, given that Raul Jimenez finished as their top scorer in the Premier League last season with just six goals.

Although they enjoyed a strong start to the season that was built upon strong defensive displays, the lack of goals came back to haunt Lage’s side in the end, and their results capitulated alongside their defence in the final few games of the campaign.

Therefore, with no guarantee that Wolves will be able to produce as many clean sheets next term, Lage must look to sign attacking reinforcements this summer, after witnessing his side score just 38 goals in the top flight in 2021/22.

Ben Yedder has been touted as a potential option after hitting 25 goals for Monaco in Ligue 1 last season, and the Frenchman could form a superb partnership with fellow potential marquee signing Guedes.

The Portugal international enjoyed an excellent season with Valencia and has been linked with a switch to Molineux, most likely due to the club’s connection with his agent, Jorge Mendes.

In 36 La Liga appearances last season, Guedes would contribute an impressive 11 goals and six assists, averaging a strong 6.99 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

In comparison, Daniel Podence’s two goals were enough to see him finish as the top-scoring wide player in Lage’s side last season, so it is clear to see that the Portuguese boss needs some more attacking quality on the wings if Wolves are to progress next season.

Guedes, who has previously been labelled a “special talent”, is reportedly available for £30m this summer and while that would represent a big outlay for Wolves, they are yet to sign anyone this summer and risk a season of decline unless changes are made.

Given Guedes’ ability to dribble and play key passes, he could certainly add some creativity in the final third for Lage next season and would undoubtedly work well with a goal-poacher such as Ben Yedder.

And, in other news… David Ornstein drops big Wolves transfer update that supporters will love…

West Ham United have been handed a green light to pursue a move for Burnley forward, Maxwell Cornet…

What’s the word?

As per the Express, the 25-year-old – as well as teammate Dwight McNeil – is ‘expected’ to leave Turf Moor this summer following the club’s recent relegation, with it seemingly ‘unlikely’ that he will be turning out for new boss Vincent Kompany in the Championship next term.

The former Lyon man – who joined the Clarets on a £12.9m deal last summer – is said to be available for a fee of around £17.5m, owing to a release clause in his contract that was activated following the drop into the second tier.

The report states that an exit is expected to materialise, thus handing West Ham a green light to make a bid.

That will no doubt be music to the ears of those at the London Stadium, with the Hammers – as well as a number of other Premier League sides – having previously been linked with a move for the 25-cap speedster.

Imagine him and Danjuma

Managing to secure Cornet for a relative bargain price would no doubt be a major coup for David Moyes and co, with the “electric” gem – as dubbed by journalist Andy Jones – having blossomed in his debut campaign in English football last term.

Despite what was a poor season collectively for the Lancashire outfit, the £13.5m-rated forward enjoyed a real standout campaign on a personal note, netting nine goals and providing one assist in 26 top-flight outings.

Having largely featured as a left-back or wing-back during his days in Ligue 1, the £44k-per-week talisman thrived in something of a makeshift centre-forward role throughout the season, while also possessing the versatility to feature from either flank.

With pace to burn and a devastating eye for goal, it is unsurprising that there is such a clamour for his signature, with a player of that quality simply too good to be plying his trade in the lower divisions.

His arrival could also see Moyes fashion a lethal attacking partnership if the Scot is able to secure the capture of another highly-rated asset, amid reports that the east Londoners are plotting a move for Villarreal starlet, Arnaut Danjuma.

The former Bournemouth man – who made the move to Spain in a £21.3m deal last summer – is said to be available for a fee of around £40m due to the presence of a release clause in his current deal, with clubs no doubt climbing over themselves to try and snap up his signature.

That interest is seemingly warranted following what was a blistering season under Unai Emery, both domestically and in Europe, with the 25-year-old netting 16 goals and providing four assists in all competitions for the La Liga side.

Dubbed a “nightmare for defenders” by pundit Kevin Phillips, the one-time Club Brugge star was particularly impressive in his side’s surge to the Champions League semi-finals, netting six goals in just 11 games in the competition.

Like Cornet, the £45m-rated forward is comfortable both in a central role but also on the left flank, with his sheer pace simply causing havoc for any defence, notably handing Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot a torrid evening at Old Trafford back in September.

To have their forward line bolstered by the presence of both the Burnley man and Danjuma is a truly mouthwatering prospect, with the explosive duo set to cause carnage on the counter for Moyes’ side.

AND in other news, Moyes plotting move for “special” £45m “baller”, he’d be a “superstar” for West Ham

An update has emerged on Tottenham Hotspur and their interest in Inter’s Stefan de Vrij in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Journalist Paul Brown has claimed that the Dutchman, alongside Villarreal gem Pau Torres, is a player the club have their eye on.

Fabio Paratici is plotting a swoop for a centre-back this summer and the reporter believes that the Inter gem is one of Tottenham’s top targets for that position.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “In terms of defenders, there is still De Vrij at Inter – who Conte is a big fan of – and also Pau Torres, I think, is someone they’ve liked for a long time.

“Those two would look to be in pole position, but there’s plenty of names and I think a few more might crop up in the next few weeks.”

Conte’s new Leonardo Bonucci

The Spurs head coach has managed some extraordinary teams throughout his career in management and worked with world-class players along the way.

[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!”]

He has managed Juventus, Italy, Chelsea and Inter, among others, and no centre-back has played more times under him than Bonucci. The machine – who has won nine Serie A titles – made 136 appearances under Antonio Conte for Juventus and Italy combined over the course of five campaigns.

In De Vrij, the Italian manager can find his new version of the Old Lady tank by working with him in a second team after managing him at Inter. The Spurs boss previously called the Dutchman “important” and “like Bonucci” and must now snap him up for £15m this summer.

He was once dubbed a “monster” by his former Lazio teammate Mauricio and his statistics in the Serie A in recent seasons back that up.

In the last seven league campaigns in Italy, De Vrij has only averaged a SofaScore rating lower than 7.03 in one year – playing for Inter and Lazio. He has shown remarkable consistency as he has proven that he can produce excellent performances week-in-week-out in Italy.

With Conte at the helm in the 2020/21 campaign, the centre-back averaged a score of 7.03 and played 32 times in the Italian top flight. He won 60% of his duels and helped the team to keep 11 clean sheets as he made himself a player the manager can rely on.

The pair can now reunite at Spurs and De Vrij can be the manager’s new version of Bonucci, becoming a pillar at the back for him in a second team.

AND in other news: Conte could land Spurs masterclass in deal for “explosive” £30m gem, he’s Foden-esque…

Tottenham Hotspur have shown no sign of slowing down after completing a deal to sign Premier League star Yves Bissouma, as news emerges on Torino’s Gleison Bremer.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye central defensive upgrade…

Looking to upgrade his options for the 2022/23 campaign, Spurs manager Antonio Conte has set sights on a marquee centre-back signing for his back three, according to reports.

Indeed, The Athletic have named club chief Fabio Paratici’s numerous targets for this role, including Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig) and Villarreal colossus Pau Torres.

Bremer is believed to be another player for whom Spurs could make a move, with the Brazilian openly admitting to media that he wants to leave Torino and play in the Champions League.

The north Londoners’ qualification for Europe’s premier club competition at the end of last season could seemingly play a major role, with SportMediaSet now sharing an update on Spurs’ pursuit of the 25-year-old.

The Latest: Tottenham push for Bremer…

According to their information, Tottenham’s ‘pressure has risen’ in the chase to sign Torino’s mainstay ‘in the last few days’.

However, the report also claimed that Serie A giants Inter Milan are ‘on pole’, with Bremer even green-lighting a potential move to the San Siro.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-developments-2/” title=”Tottenham latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The South American is apparently a man in demand and Spurs will have to contend with ‘several suitors’ in this particular transfer race.

The Verdict: Continue the battle?

Tottenham could entice Bremer with the prospect of European football and competing in one of the world’s foremost domestic leagues.

It isn’t unreasonable to believe that they could leap ahead of Inter in the race with a proper proposal, and we believe Paratici’s effort could be well worth it.

Bremer stood out as one of Serie A’s best-performing defenders over 2021/22, even making more interceptions than any other player in the Italian top flight and averaging the joint-fifth most clearances per 90 (WhoScored).

It’s hardly surprising that some members of the media have called the 25-year-old an ’emerging superstar’ (Rajath Kumar, ex-Forza Italian Football writer).

Torino president Urbano Cairo has allegedly set a price tag of around €35m (£30m), and this valuation could come as a real bargain given Bremer’s evident talents.

In other news: Tottenham eyeing ‘big’ 183-goal player move, Harry Redknapp called him ‘priceless’! Find out more here

Sky Sports have dropped their own set of updates on the chase for Raphinha after rumours of a bid broke on Tuesday evening.

The Lowdown: Raphinha bid

The 25-year-old was a regular feature in Jesse Marsch’s Leeds XI last season and played a huge role in helping the Whites maintain their Premier League status, but despite still having two years remaining on his contract in Yorkshire, has now been linked with a move away from Elland Road.

It has been reported in recent weeks that Spanish giants Barcelona hold a strong interest in the winger, but a surprising new suitor then emerged in the form of the Gunners.

The Athletic’s David Ornstein then claimed on Tuesday evening that Arsenal have ‘submitted a formal offer’, but broadcast giants Sky Sports have contradicted that with their timeline.

The Latest: Arsenal to be rejected

In an article published Wednesday morning by Sky Sports, it’s claimed that Arsenal are ‘interested’ in Raphinha, but only ‘expected to formally approach’ Leeds soon, as opposed to having officially bid already.

They then shared a further update on Wednesday afternoon, suggesting an opening bid will be rejected.

In better news, the source does however state that the forward is unlikely to put pen to paper on a new deal with Leeds, which certainly opens the door for a deal.

The Verdict: Standout performer

After narrowly missing out on a Champions League place, Mikel Arteta will now want to bolster his ranks with plenty of new additions this summer, so we would urge the club to follow through with serious bids immediately, especially considering the interest from across north London.

The nine-cap international, who was once dubbed a “magician” by his Whites teammate Dan James, was the standout performer in a struggling Leeds side last term, netting 11 goals and registering three assists in the top-flight, as per Transfermarkt, and scored on the club’s final day 2-1 victory over Brentford, a result that meant they avoided relegation.

Having already captured the signing of Fabio Vieira, not to mention that a deal for Gabriel Jesus is edging ever closer, Raphinha could be the next to follow in their footsteps and help create an attacking unit absolutely brimming with flair and end product.

Leeds United have been linked with a move for 18-year-old Manchester City midfielder Romeo Lavia.

What’s the news?

According to Phil Hay of The Athletic, Leeds “are interested” in the midfielder, as they look to strengthen that area of the squad ahead of next season.

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

It’s suggested that Man City are unlikely to sell but he could be used in a deal for Kalvin Phillips

The next Phillips

As a product of Anderlecht’s youth system, the Belgian joined City’s U18 side back in the 2020 summer transfer window.

Since then, the midfielder has gone on to make 60 appearances for the Manchester club across their senior and youth sides, chipping in with two goals and five assists along the way.

Back in September, Vincent Kompany had this to say about the youngster and his attributes on the pitch.

He said: “He [Lavia] picked up a lot and showed that he is aggressive in recovering the ball and while also being calm on the ball.”

After completing his first and only full 90 minutes in a senior game for the Citizens during their 6-1 win over Wycombe Wanderers in the Carabao Cup, the Manchester Evening News said that Lavia “clearly likes a tackle, and his passes over the top and through the lines were Fernandinho-esque.”

This particular side of his game could make him the ideal heir to Leeds midfielder Phillips, who has been linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium this summer.

With 49 Premier League appearances under his belt, the England international has won 87 tackles in total, in addition to having a rating of 97/100 for his tackling ability according to FBref.

Taking this into account, despite still only being a teenager, the £1.8m-rated City youngster certainly has the talent to become a fully-fledged Premier League player.

Also, having spent time around the City first team and trained alongside their senior players under the coaching of Pep Guardiola will have undeniably been beneficial for Lavia and his knowledge of the game.

This could not only make him a suitable long-term replacement for Phillips if he leaves this summer, but also an exciting prospect for the Leeds fans to have in their team.

If the Whites see an opportunity to negotiate a deal for Lavia with City, then they should definitely test the waters to see if they would be willing to let the midfielder leave.

In other news: Leeds now given the green light to sign “massive” £34m gem, Marsch will be buzzing

Interest in Leeds United winger Jack Harrison is hotting up ahead of the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Telegraph, who revealed that, having caught the eye of Eddie Howe, Newcastle United look primed to make a move for the 25-year-old in the coming months. The Whites are believed to be demanding a figure in the region of £30m in order to part with the winger this summer.

Further reports have also claimed that Tottenham Hotspur are keeping a very close eye on the situation of the former England under-21 international ahead of a potential move of their own, although The Telegraph report suggests it is very much the Magpies who are leading the race for the former Manchester City starlet.

Harrison must go

While it is true that the vast majority of the Leeds squad struggled for form in 2021/22 – Raphinha, Liam Cooper and Stuart Dallas were the only players to have maintained their impressive performance levels of the season prior – Harrison’s output over the course of the latest Premier League campaign was particularly concerning.

Indeed, it is true that the £17m-rated forward’s eight league goals ranked him as the Whites’ second-highest scorer in the top flight. However, when looking slightly deeper at the numbers, it is clear to see that the 25-year-old was simply not good enough in the final third.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more-2″ title=”Read the latest Leeds news, transfer rumours and more!”]

According to FBRef data, the £60k-per-week talent ranks in the bottom 15% of wingers and attacking midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues for non-penalty xG per 90, and also in the bottom 15% for shots, the bottom 5% for assists, the bottom 6% for xA, the bottom 9% for npxG+xA and the bottom 25% for shot-creating actions over the last 365 days.

The winger, who Anthony Lewis dubbed Leeds’ “worst signing” and Jake Winderman labelled “hellaciously bad”, also ranks in the bottom 38% for passes attempted per 90, in addition to the bottom 7% for pass completion, the bottom 40% for touches in the opposition penalty area and the bottom 29% for progressive passes received over the past 12 months.

Also, with it being rumoured that Jesse Marsch is looking to set Leeds up in his favoured 4-2-2-2 formation next season, the potential of Harrison no longer being considered a guaranteed starter at Elland Road in the upcoming campaign is very real.

As such, considering the 25-year-old’s below-par returns last time out, his hefty weekly wage and Marsch’s preference to play with two number 10s, Victor Orta simply must cash in on the forward if the club were to receive an offer anywhere near £30m for him this summer..

AND in other news – “Sources in…”: Phil Hay drops huge Leeds transfer update, supporters will be buzzing

A big Ibrox development has emerged regarding Rangers and their plans with Ianis Hagi for the upcoming summer transfer window. 

What’s the talk?

Twitter transfer account The 4th Official has confirmed that the Premiership giants will not be cashing in on the winger ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

They tweeted: “Rangers have zero intention of selling Ianis Hagi. There is a feeling that this is a lowball offer that is done primarily to unsettle the player.”

This comes after reports of a €7m (£6m) bid from Galatasaray in an attempt to snap up the Romanian from Ibrox, with Ross Wilson rejecting the Turkish club’s offer.

Gio van Bronckhorst will be delighted

The Gers head coach will be delighted with this news, as it suggests that Hagi will be at Ibrox come the end of the summer transfer window.

He will be buzzing with Wilson’s reluctance to do a deal for the Romania international, as it shows that the club are willing to stand firm and fight to keep hold of their best players. They will not roll over and allow European suitors to take away their most prized gems without paying a hefty price for them.

Van Bronckhorst can therefore have faith that those making the decisions above him will do what is in the best interests of what happens on the pitch, rather than taking the £6m offer and banking the money to the detriment to the team.

Former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard previously lauded the 23-year-old’s mentality, saying: “We’re really happy with Ianis Hagi, he’s a joy to work with.

“He’s a student of the game. He’s always looking at areas to improve, whether that be from a physical point of view or tactically or technically. He’s someone you have to drag off the training ground.

“Ianis is always in the analyst department too. He’s never out of the gym, so he’s an absolute dream to work with, very low maintenance. We’re delighted with how he is developing and progressing and we’re happy to have him.”

These comments suggest that the midfielder is unlikely to be affected by any mind games at play with Galatasaray’s bid, as he is a hard worker and will not want to cause any issues which may affect his development by agitating for a move.

Hagi’s drive to be the best is also another reason why Van Bronckhorst will be delighted by Rangers’ stance on his situation. The Dutch head coach will surely be excited to work with the midfielder upon his return from injury, as he has shown that he has an appetite to develop and hone his skills.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Souttar: Rangers can seal dream deal by signing 23 y/o “real leader”…

An update has emerged on Rangers and their pursuit of a new goalkeeper to bring to Ibrox during the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to The Sun, the Gers are one of two teams interested in signing Jack Butland ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Ross Wilson is plotting a move for the Englishman as a potential replacement for Allan McGregor in Glasgow as the veteran’s contract expires this year.

The report claims that Bournemouth are also keen on the shot-stopper and the Gers will need to beat off competition from the Cherries to land him.

Gio van Bronckhorst needs him badly

The Ibrox head coach needs him badly this summer as McGregor needs to be given significant competition – or to be replaced – next season.

In the Premiership, the 40-year-old played 29 games and conceded 0.9 goals per game as he made four errors directly leading to shots/goals. This shows that he had lapses in concentration as he made costly mistakes in the top-flight, including two errors in the 3-3 draw with Ross County.

If he does put pen to paper on an extension then Butland must be brought in to push him for the number one position so that they are not resigned to having an error-prone goalkeeper between the sticks. Of course, if the Scot decides to call a time on his career then the Gers will have a number one jersey to give to the Palace man.

Eagles reporter Mark Wyatt dubbed him as “incredibly brave” earlier this season as he won his place back in the team for a spell under Patrick Vieira. He made nine Premier League appearances ahead of Vincente Guaita and conceded 1.4 goals per game, whilst saving 100% (1/1) of the penalties against him.

In those nine matches, Butland did not make a single error directly leading to an opposition shot or goal, which suggests that he was a reliable option between the sticks for the English outfit. He has also only made one leading to a goal in his five Premier League campaigns throughout his career.

The £35k-per-week tank can, therefore, be can be a much-needed addition to the team if he can continue that level of reliability next term, given McGregor’s mistakes in the Scottish top-flight.

He still has plenty left to give at the age of 29, 11 years younger than McGregor, and can be van Bronckhorst’s number one for many years to come if Wilson can strike a deal for him.

AND in other news, Race won: Wilson lands Rangers deal for sought-after teenage gem, GvB will be buzzing…

Leeds United and West Ham are reportedly leading AC Milan in the race to sign Noa Lang from Club Brugge.

The Lowdown: Long-term target

Lang has been a name on the radar at Elland Road for some time now. Leeds were first credited with an interest in the 22-year-old last summer, with rumours continuing during the January window.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-44/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Links have continued heading into the summer window, with reports earlier this month suggesting that the Whites have held preliminary talks with the player’s camp and have laid the groundwork for a ‘big-money’ move.

As we know, Leeds have already splashed the cash on Brenden Aaronson, and it looks as if they want Lang to be next to arrive in Yorkshire.

The Latest: Transfer update

Italian outlet Calciomercato shared a story on Saturday regarding Lang, where Leeds were once again mentioned. They claimed that AC Milan are looking to win the race for the 22-year-old but are currently behind Leeds and West Ham.

The Hammers are willing to offer Lang €3m-a-year at the London Stadium, with a deal expected to cost any club €25m (£21.2m).

The Verdict: Likely?

Lang, who has been hailed as ‘amazing’ by talent scouts, has enjoyed two solid seasons in Belgium, with the left-winger contributing to 52 goals in 85 games. He can also turn out in a central role, which could appeal to Jesse Marsch, who may look to implement a narrower formation next season.

An exit appears to be on the cards, so it seems as if Leeds could have a real chance of finally signing their long-term target. Phil Hay stated that he could see a move materialising for Lang to arrive as a replacement for Raphinha, who has been heavily linked with Barcelona, so another £20m+ move could be one to watch extremely closely over the coming weeks.

In other news: Phillips partner: Leeds now want ‘extraordinary’ int’l for free; Orta’s already spoke with agent