Moyes Can Repeat Lingard Trick In West Ham Move For £30m Ace

West Ham United may be about to lose their captain, best player and all-round fan favourite, but the wider view of Declan Rice's imminent £105m switch to Arsenal is that David Moyes has funds to strengthen in multiple positions.

Who are West Ham United looking to sign?

John Cross claims in a report in The Mirror that West Ham have eyed up as many as seven newbies to bolster their ranks once the Rice sale – making him the second most-expensive British player of all time – officially goes through.

Among those being targeted by the Europa Conference League winners are Denis Zakaria of Juventus, Everton's Amadou Onana and Manchester United captain Harry Maguire.

While Maguire's name will not exactly get supporters' pulses racing all that much on the back of losing Rice, it is a move that could make sense in more ways than one.

The England international has fallen out of favour at Old Trafford and, according to TEAMtalk, he is available for £30m this summer – £50m cheaper than four years ago when he arrived at United from Leicester City.

Is Harry Maguire a good option for West Ham?

Maguire was restricted to just eight Premier League starts last season and a further eight appearances from the substitutes' bench after failing to win over head coach Erik ten Hag.

However, the 30-year-old – roughly entering the peak age for a centre-back – still performed to a high standard when called upon by Ten Hag last season, and likewise for England during the recent international break.

As Ten Hag himself said after bringing Maguire into the side for a Europa League tie against Real Betis in March, the Englishman has arguably become a "more dominant and dictating" defender, and one who is "taking more initiative."

FBref's player comparison model puts Maguire pretty much on a par with team-mate Raphael Varane and Real Madrid's Eder Militao in terms of their statistical profiles across the past 12 months, showing he is far from finished.

Jesse Lingard starred for West Ham in 2020-21.

The 2.94 aerial duels Maguire won per 90 minutes last season, as per FBref, is higher than any West Ham defender (Angelo Ogbonna is highest ranked with 2.55), while his pass-completion percentage of 85.1 is again higher than any Hammers defenders from last season (Kurt Zouma 84.4).

There is no hiding from the fact that Maguire is not the colossus he was early in his United career, but Moyes may just be the perfect man to kick-start his career – just like he did with Jesse Lingard's.

Lingard joined West Ham on loan from Man United in January 2021 at a time when many had written off his Old Trafford career (sound familiar?), only to score nine goals and assist five more in 16 games for the Irons.

That was more goals in half a season than he managed in any of his six full campaigns in Manchester, which would earn him a place back in the United team the following season.

It may have only been a temporary revitalisation for Lingard, who flopped at Nottingham Forest last season having not found the net in the Premier League, but Moyes proved the man to get the best out of him at his lowest point.

Different positions they may be, but who is to say the Scotsman cannot now do the same with Maguire?

Celtic Accept Transfer Offer For Versatile Youngster

Celtic have agreed a deal with Brighton & Hove Albion for versatile youngster Ronan Ferns, according to reports.

What’s the latest Celtic transfer news involving Ferns?

Ferns, regarded by Celtic's coaching staff as a hugely promising talent and earning himself a reputation as a future star, is primarily a centre-back but can also play in midfield if required.

However, the 16-year-old’s future in Glasgow has been up in the air in recent months, with Brighton making an offer for his services back in April. The Seagulls were chasing a quick deal for the Scotland youth international, and it looks as if there has been a breakthrough when it comes to a transfer.

Writing for The Daily Record in their live transfer blog on Thursday (09:26), Scott Burns provided an update on Ferns’ future, which looks like it will be on the south coast, describing it as a blow to those at Celtic Park.

“Brighton have agreed a £250,000 deal to sign Celtic youngster Ronan Ferns. The Scotland youth defender will join the Premier League outfit this summer.

“Ferns, who can also play midfield, had come through the Celtic youth ranks but hadn’t signed professional forms. It meant that the Seagulls were able to make their move for the 16-year-old. It was a blow for the Hoops who were keen to keep Ferns. Celtic would have been entitled to training compensation but have now cut a deal that will also see them get further add-ons. Ferns will join Brighton’s under-23 and development squad in the first instance.”

Who could Celtic sign this summer?

Ferns looks like he is on course to become the latest Celtic teenager to leave for the Premier League, but it does look as if the Parkhead board are chasing additions to Brendan Rodgers’ senior side ahead oof the 2023/24 season.

According to reports, Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is a target at Celtic Park, whereas Norwegian playmaker Odin Thiago Holm has now been confirmed as the first Celtic signing of Rodgers' second tenure in charge, signing a five-year deal after undergoing a medical in London on Wednesday.

As well as new midfielders, a Celtic bid has also been submitted to sign right-winger Yang Hyun-jun from Gangwon FC. It could well be a busy few months ahead of Rodgers’ second tenure in charge, but by the looks of it, Ferns will be ending his association with the Hoops, aiming to make the grade in England instead.

Southampton Unwilling To Let £8m January Signing Leave

According to reports, Southampton are making life difficult for Croatian Mislav Orsic to leave the club on a permanent deal.

How many goals has Mislav Orsic scored?

Orsic was signed by the Saints in January in a bid to save their season from resulting in relegation. The ex-Premier League side signed the Croatian international for £8million from Dinamo Zagreb.

The 30-year-old however failed to play, making only one Premier League appearance amounting to six minutes. Orsic did feature in the League Cup and FA Cup making four appearances across the two, but was an incredibly underwhelming signing.

This a far-cry from his 13 goals and eight assists in 27 appearances for Dinamo prior to the move, including two in the Champions League.

Orsic also featured heavily for Croatia at the World Cup, making six appearances with two assists in the process along with the winning goal in his nation's 2-1 win over Morocco in the third place play-off.

The only way to describe Orsic's time on the south coast is disappointing, a player who clearly has ability, but hasn't been given the time to show it or maybe the level is above him.

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Third-Place Playoff – Croatia v Morocco – Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar – December 17, 2022 Croatia'sMislavOrsiccelebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

Therefore, it is no surprise that talk of a departure has been prominent. Despite this, reports from Sabah via Sport Witness have described Southampton's unwillingness to let the Croatian go.

The report mentions Turkish side Trabzonspor as the keenest party. However, the reluctance to agree a fee by Saints and owners Sport Republic means the suitors are beginning to look elsewhere.

It is explained by the outlet that the Süper Lig side 'want to add' Orsic however talks have 'not yet made any progress' in relation to a potential loan deal.

Orsic is described as a 'priority' for Trabzonspor, but the club are turning their attention to Guinean free agent François Kamano due to the English side playing hard ball and annoying the buyers.

What's the latest with Southampton's transfer news?

Southampton look likely to lose their prized asset. The latest report paints Arsenal as 'close to agreement' on a deal for midfielder Romeo Lavia. It has been said there are several top Premier League sides keen on Lavia, including Manchester United as reported by talkSPORT.

23-year-old winger Nathan Tella is another linked with departing Saint Mary's, with The Sun say the Saints will demand £15m for the winger who scored 17 Championship goals last season for Burnley. The Athletic have suggested a return to Turf Moor could be on the cards, with talks taking place between the two clubs, despite the asking price being a hurdle.

Sky Sports have also previously revealed that numerous Premier League sides and teams across Europe are targeting 21-year-old Armel Bella-Kotchap.

It appears a rebuild at Southampton will happen this summer, with quite a few talents set to depart as James Ward-Prowse also appears to be attracting Premier League interest.

Rangers: Gers In Talks To Sign In-Demand Star

Rangers are “insisting” in talks for Nottingham Forest defender Jonathan Panzo after confirming Sam Lammers’ signing, according to reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Who could join Rangers this summer?

Watching Old Firm rivals Celtic clinch a domestic treble last season would’ve been a painful one for Gers supporters, but the departure of their manager, Ange Postecoglou, could give Michael Beale’s side a chance to fight back dominance over Scottish football.

The Gers saw a plethora of former first team stars leave the club in May, with Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent, Allan McGregor, Scott Arfield, Filip Helander and Steven Davis all departing at the end of their contracts.

In what has been a major overhaul under Beale so far, Rangers have already confirmed the arrivals of Dujon Sterling, Jack Butland and, now, Lammers from Sampdoria.

The 26-year-old forward joins Rangers on a four-year contract with the Ibrox outfit confirming his arrival on Thursday afternoon.

Following their capture of Lammers, attention now turns to other targets as Rangers aim to strengthen Beale’s ranks further.

One player heavily linked in the last few days is Panzo, who has been subject to approaches from the Glasgow giants as they continue to prepare for the 2023/2024 campaign.

Reliable transfer journalist Romano, taking to Twitter, says the Gers are “insisting” in talks for the Premier League defender after concluding a deal for Lammers.

However, he is a man in demand, as “many clubs” want to sign him this summer.

Who is Jonathan Panzo?

The 22-year-old was a member of England’s Under-17 World Cup-winning squad and has faced off against the likes of Kylian Mbappe during spells with AS Monaco and Dijon in France.

Panzo also made his Forest debut in 2022 against Hull City and would come to Rangers with plenty of potential, especially after a very productive 22/23 loan spell at Coventry City.

The player starred under Mark Robins on route to a Championship Play-Off Final last season, and given he is still very young, there could be plenty more to come.

Insane Manager Wants The Celtic Job

An update has emerged on Celtic and their search for a new head coach ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest on Andoni Iraola to Celtic?

According to the Daily Mail, former Rayo Vallecano manager Andoni Iraola is preparing to throw his hat in the ring in the hope of being in contention for the job.

The club are in the market for a new boss after Ange Postecoglou left Parkhead to put pen to paper on a deal with Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

Iraola is currently a free agent after opting against a contract extension with Vallecano having kept them in LaLiga for a second straight season.

Would Andoni Iraola be a success at Celtic?

The Hoops could strike gold with the young tactician as he is an up-and-coming coach who has shown great promise in his short career so far.

Former Leeds United head coach Jesse Marsch is another name to have been linked with the job but Iraola would be a far better option than the American boss, whose poor form at Elland Road raised red flags to those at Parkhead.

Former Leeds boss Jesse Marsch.

The 49-year-old barely avoided relegation from the Premier League in the 2021/22 campaign as he lost five of his 12 matches with the Whites and finished 17th in the table.

He then lost ten and won four of the 20 matches he managed in the division the following campaign, and that led to him being relieved of his duties by the English side with a points per game rate of just 0.9.

That spell in England came after the American lost six of his 14 Bundesliga games with RB Leipzig in Germany, which included five wins that left them underperforming in 11th in the table. They went on to finish fourth in the table, with 17 wins to ten losses, suggesting that he was holding them back.

Iraola, however, won 22 of his 46 matches in LaLiga 2, including the play-offs, to win promotion to the top flight in the 2020/21 campaign and was then able to establish Vallecano in the Spanish top division.

The 40-year-old tactician, who typically plays a 4-2-3-1 formation, finished 12th in both 2021/22 and 2022/23 and this shows that the Spaniard was able to successfully lead a club through a transitional period.

They finished outside of the play-offs in the second tier in the season before he joined, 2019/20, and was able to turn them into an established top-flight club within three years before his departure this summer.

Therefore, Iraola, whose work with Vallecano was hailed as "insane" by scout Jacek Kulig, is a manager on the up who has proven himself capable of uplifting a team above their means.

On the flip side, Marsch has failed in his last two jobs and has been a disappointment in England and Germany, which suggests that the Spaniard would be a far better option for Celtic at this moment in time.

Chelsea could build midfield trio around £52m "monster"

Chelsea are reportedly leading the race to sign an extremely in-demand player this summer, as the Blues look to strengthen under Mauricio Pochettino.

The former Tottenham Hotspur manager will officially take charge at Stamford Bridge on July 1st, as the club hope to turn their fortunes around after an abysmal Premier League season.

Pochettino must improve the painful year the Blues have endured, making improvements all over the pitch, something he is reportedly on course to do.

What’s the latest on Manuel Ugarte to Chelsea?

As reported by FootballInsider earlier this week, Chelsea are set to ‘finalise’ a deal for Sporting CP midfielder Manuel Ugarte.

The report states that the 22-year-old is ‘keen’ on the move, and is ‘excited’ by the project that Pochettino could bring to the club.

The youngster has a £52m release clause in place in Portugal, with the Blues set to agree on a deal for the ace who has been a topic of interest for an array of clubs.

How could Pochettino use Manuel Ugarte at Chelsea?

Pochettino has lots to improve ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, however, the experienced manager can enforce a host of stability at the club by making crucial signings this window.

As well as Ugarte, the west Londoners have been strongly linked to Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo, who could be the missing piece to the puzzle in Chelsea’s midfield as the Argentinian aims to fire the Blues back where they belong.

When looking at squads that have graced Stamford Bridge over the years, not many stand as dominant as Jose Mourinho’s back-to-back Premier League-winning sides of 2005/06 and 2006/07 seasons.

The midfield trio of Claude Makelele, Frank Lampard and Michael Essien at the time was pivotal to the club’s success, with the perfect balance of strength and finesse in the engine room.

Once hailed as being “Europe’s best midfield” at the time by The Guardian’s Jon Brodkin, the dominance of the trio could be replicated by Pochettino in the prospect of signing both Ugarte and Caicedo and placing them alongside Enzo Fernandez.

Enzo Fernandez Chelsea

The three players, similar to the legendary Chelsea trio, all maintain stellar passing rates, with Enzo ranking in the top 2% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for number of attempted passes per 90 with a monstrous 79.77, via FBref.

The Brighton machine is a superb reader of the game, as shown through his average of 1.61 interceptions per 90, as well as winning an average of 58% of his total duels with 5.9 per game, all while maintaining a pass completion rate of 88.5%.

As for Ugarte, the 22-year-old “monster” – as described by journalist Dave Hendrick – could be the Makelele of the three in sitting deep, making a gargantuan 4.63 tackles per 90 while maintaining a pass completion rate of 91.6, also per FBref.

It’s clear to see why the youngster is in demand this summer, and Pochettino could right a lot of wrongs in building a midfield around the rising star, potentially providing the Bridge with shades of Mourinho’s magnificent trio.

Spurs Could Make Major Transfer Decision On £200k p/w Ace

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy may decide to keep hold of Harry Kane for another year despite interest in his services and risk the Lilywhites' talisman leaving on a free transfer next summer, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Harry Kane?

The Guardian report that Manchester United are keen on signing Kane this summer and will step up their efforts to try and land the England international by bidding for his services in the early portion of the forthcoming transfer window.

Kane has a year left on his £200k-a-week contract at Hotspur Way and it is said that the Red Devils are aware that Levy will not be an easy person to negotiate with as they try to acquire the striker.

As per The Telegraph, Kane is believed to be open to seeing out the final 12 months of his deal at Tottenham before potentially being able to leave on a free transfer.

Speaking to talkSPORT with co-host Laura Woods, former Spurs midfielder Jamie O'Hara has boldly suggested that his old side could end up in a relegation battle without Kane to lean on for goals, stating: "Obviously, we all hope that he sticks around and signs a new contract. Because Laura, without Harry Kane, I seriously think we could be fighting relegation next season. We are that bad without him. We have been solely dependent on Harry Kane to score us goals and do stuff for us."

Journalist Jones recently signalled his belief in his column for GIVEMESPORT indicating that Spurs' chairman Levy would be willing to 'gamble' on keeping hold of Kane this summer despite the threat of him being able to depart his boyhood club on a free transfer the year following.

Jones stated: "Kane has one year remaining on his Spurs contract and has interest from Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid, PSG and Bayern Munich if he wants a move. Spurs are hopeful they can avoid that situation by appointing someone with a blueprint for the future that gives Kane fresh hope of winning a trophy but also that he can continue to thrive as he closes in on the Premier League’s goalscoring record.

"Keeping him is a gamble—this summer he could fetch £90-100million in the market whereas if he does not agree a new contract in the next 12 months he will be leaving as a free agent in one year. Usually Levy would not take such a business risk yet there are indications he might do as – from a footballing point of view – Spurs cannot afford to let him leave.

"As of this moment there is no plan to replace him by signing a new striker and with so much upheaval behind the scenes, as they hunt for a new sporting director as well as a new boss, the team are looking like they could fall behind in their preparations for next season."

How has Harry Kane faired this season for Tottenham Hotspur?

Kane has been in brilliant form for Tottenham this season, registering 30 goals and five assists from 48 appearances in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

As per talkSPORT, the 29-year-old has earned praise from high places this campaign and has been labelled as "one of the best strikers I have ever seen in my life" by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

WhoScored shows that Kane has been a hard presence to contain for opposition backlines in the Premier League, detailing that he has had an average of 3.4 shots per match this term.

Spurs chairman Levy may feel that the risk of keeping hold of Kane and him not signing an extension is worth taking; however, it would make bad business sense and potentially stop his side from being able to reinvest a large sum of money into replacing the talismanic forward.

Chelsea: £78 Million Star Now Open To Joining Pochettino

Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic is now open to joining Chelsea this summer and incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino thinks he's the ideal fit, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

What's the latest Chelsea transfer news?

The Blues are currently planning for next season behind-the-scenes have reportedly earmarked a number of transfer targets, coming after a disastrous 2022/2023 Premier League campaign.

Chelsea finished in the bottom half and Pochettino won't benefit from the financial luxury of European football, making the summer window an imperative opportunity to strengthen and rebuild.

Owner Todd Boehly has been linked with swoops for star players in a variety of different positions, with Barcelona defender Jules Kounde, Napoli's Victor Osimhen and Sporting Lisbon star Manuel Ugarte among the names mentioned recently.

To balance the books and ensure Chelsea are operating within Financial Fair Play regulations, they will also need to offload certain players, with midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek being one of the squad members who could depart.

Going back to potential incomings, the signing of a star striker is believed to be a real priority for the west Londoners, leading to links with Juve forward Vlahovic recently.

Dusan-Vlahovic-Juventus

Speaking to GiveMeSport, reporter Galetti has shared an update on the matter, claiming the Serbia international is open to joining Chelsea when the window opens.

Pochettino also personally thinks Vlahovic is the "ideal" fit, and reaching an agreement on personal terms apparently won't be too much of an issue.

"The Blues could make a concrete move for the Serbian," said Galetti."Especially because the next manager, [Mauricio] Pochettino, considers Dušan the ideal striker for his tactical idea."The player likes the destination and reaching an agreement on personal terms wouldn't be a problem. Let's keep an eye also on Bayern Munich, who have Vlahović at the top of their list along with Harry Kane."

Who is Dusan Vlahovic?

The 23-year-old has been one of Juve's more prolific players, having registered their joint-highest number of goal contributions alongside midfielder Adrien Rabiot (WhoScored).

Vlahovic has bagged 10 Serie A goals in total over 22/23, and while that doesn't compare to other Chelsea targets like Osimhen, the Serbian has averaged more attempts at goal per 90 than any other Juve player in the Italian top flight (WhoScored).

The former Fiorentina marksman will cost a sizeable fee, though, with reports in Italy having suggested that Juve won't part ways unless they receive a minimum of €90 million (£78m).

Aston Villa eye Maxence Lacroix

Aston Villa are interested in bringing Wolfburg’s 22-year-old centre-back Maxence Lacroix to Villa Park this summer.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from Jeunes Footeux, who name Villa amongst the likes of West Ham and Newcastle United, as teams who are interested in signing the young Bundesliga starlet.

The Frenchman’s contract was due to expire in 2024, until Wolfsburg seized a one-year extension that includes a release clause of £34m – with this fee set to become active this summer.

Konsa upgrade

As a right-footed centre-back in a back-four, Lacroix is a perfect fit for Aston Villa. Though the acquisition of the starlet would cause upset for Ezri Konsa, who currently occupies the position of right centre-back for Gerrard’s side.

To be frank, even though Konsa has had another solid campaign in England’s top-flight, having started 81% of Villa’s games this season, Lacroix would present a statistical upgrade in this position.

Lacroix, who has been dubbed “exciting” by Statman Dave, registers around 2.16 tackles per 90, with an average of 4.15 interceptions and 7.32 pressures in the defensive third.

Meanwhile, Konsa’s metrics falter having registered 0.98 tackles per 90, with an average of 1.63 interceptions and 3.73 pressures in the defensive third.

It’s also the same case in possession, with Lacroix’s 68.23 touches and 40.29 touches in the defensive third much better than Konsa’s match average of 43.36 touches and 25.10 touches in the defensive third.

Combined with his average of 7.73 passes under pressure per 90, Lacroix’s presence in the Villa backline would bring stability in both phases of the game.

Aston Villa have struggled to break out of the middle third at times this season, which has also seen them lag behind in their attempts to dominate possession, having registered an average of 46.2% this season which makes them the 14th worst side at keeping the ball.

The addition of a centre-back who is entirely composed in possession would inject confidence into the squad, and allow them to build sustained attacks from the backline, with Lacroix’s average of 3.03 passes into the final third per 90 also handy in progressing the ball.

In other news: NSWE already set for their 1st big summer disaster at AVFC, supporters surely gutted 

Newcastle: Keith Downie’s Dean Henderson claim

Dean Henderson would likely replace Martin Dubravka if he joined Newcastle from Manchester United, Keith Downie says. 

The lowdown

Newcastle held talks with The Red Devils over a loan move for Henderson in January but couldn’t reach an agreement.

However, The Northern Echo’s Scott Wilson reported in March that Howe intends to return with a permanent offer for the Englishman this summer.

The manager wants to strengthen his goalkeeping department and has considered moves for Arsenal’s Bernd Leno and West Brom’s Sam Johnstone, but Henderson is his primary target ‘by some distance’.

Playing second fiddle to David de Gea, the player is unhappy with his situation at Old Trafford.

The 25-year-old still has more than three years left to run on his contract and is valued at £16.2million by Transfermarkt.

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The latest

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Sky Sports’ North-East England reporter said he couldn’t see Henderson joining Newcastle as a deputy. Instead, he’d probably arrive as the new no. 1, displacing Dubravka.

“You’d be surprised if someone like Dean Henderson came in as number two,” Downie said.

“Yes, he’s number two at Manchester United, but I’m not sure that would be the case here.”

The verdict

If Howe isn’t satisfied with Dubravka, then Henderson would be a good bet as a replacement.

He has 29 games’ worth of experience at a top club, keeping 13 clean sheets, and is also an England international, having made his debut in November 2020.

Indeed, moving to St James’ Park and becoming a first-choice ‘keeper could help his prospects no-end ahead of the World Cup in Qatar.

Former team-mate Sander Berge has provided a glowing review of Henderson that will surely excite the Magpies.

“He’s insane,” the Sheffield United man said during Hendersn’s loan spell. “I’ve never been with such a good goalkeeper. One thing in matches, he is almost a defence alone at times, and you feel so secure with him.

“But people have to see him at training. It’s crazy. He saves balls from one yard. Sometimes I am completely speechless by how good he is. It’s like having two goalkeepers in goal with him. He’s awesome.”In other news, a transfer insider drops a Philippe Coutinho claim concerning NUFC.