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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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

Celtic have been linked with a move for Lommel midfielder Vinicius Souza.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from the Daily Mail, the Hoops have joined the list of clubs pursuing the player this summer. The report claimed that Celtic have “scheduled discussions with the Brazilian’s representatives” over a potential move to Glasgow.

After starting his career with Flamengo, the 22-year-old – who is currently valued at £4.05m by Transfermarkt – joined his current club in October 2020.

The midfielder spent the recent campaign on loan with fellow Belgian side KV Mechelen, making 35 appearances across all competitions. In that time, the Brazilian scored two goals and provided one assist, showing that he can be a useful figure in front of goal on occasion.

Also, of his 13 shots at goal throughout the campaign, seven were on target, leaving him with the second-highest percentage for shots on target (53.8%) out of players that had more than one attempt at goal for the club.

However, it was his defensive output which stood out throughout the campaign, as he ended the season with more interceptions (64) and more tackles won (66) than any other player at Mechelen.

Postecoglou’s new warrior

This backs up why Souza was labelled as a “warrior” on Twitter by football scout Mikail Serin, who also described the player as a “complete contact game freak.”

Taking all this into account, it seems as though the 22-year-old is a very well-rounded midfielder despite still being quite young.

In terms of a potential move to Parkhead this summer, the fact that the Hoops recently said goodbye to Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton makes it easy to see why the club are set to hold talks over a move for the Brazilian midfielder.

If Ange Postecoglou wants to add a new midfield warrior to his squad as they prepare to not only defend their Premiership title but try to go as far as they can in Europe as well, securing a deal for Souza could be a very astute prospective move by the Hoops.

In other news: Ange can land the next Carter-Vickers as Celtic eye swoop for “aggressive” £6.3m-rated machine

Liverpool have been boosted in their efforts to sign Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma this summer, with the Dutchman keen on leaving his current club.

The Lowdown: Reds linked with Danjuma move

The Reds have been linked with a move for the 25-year-old in recent days, as Jurgen Klopp looks for a replacement for Sadio Mane.

Danjuma enjoyed a good season for Villarreal, scoring six times to help reach the Champions League semi-finals, not to mention chipping in with ten goals and three assists in La Liga.

It looks as though the winger could be moving on in the coming months, though, which could alert Liverpool.

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The Latest: Fresh rumour emerges

According to El Periodico Mediterraneo [via Sport Witness], Danjuma ‘wants to leave’ Villarreal this summer and has asked his agent to ‘find a way out’ – it even goes so far as to say he ‘will do everything possible to leave’.

He is keen on moving to the Premier League, which further aids Liverpool in their quest to sign him, and a €40m release clause means an offer of just £34m from Julian Ward would get it done.

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The Verdict: Good squad option

Danjuma may not be considered a world-class footballer at the moment, but he is someone who could be a great squad option for Klopp, especially if Mane leaves.

He has been hailed as an ‘exceptional’ player by Jonathan Woodgate in the past, while two goals in six caps for the Netherlands represents a promising start to his international career.

Danjuma would have to accept that he would be coming in as a squad player at Liverpool initially, rather than a guaranteed starter, but his pace, trickery and end product would make him a strong addition and potential superstar for the future.

In other news, Liverpool are reportedly ready to sign one player. Find out who it is here.

Manchester United appear to be are closing in on a deal to sign Ruben Neves, with the club ready to make a final push to get the move done.

What’s the word?

The Daily Mail have reported that Erik ten Hag is a big fan of the Portuguese midfielder, with the Red Devils keen to make one last big push to sign the 25-year-old.

Neves has been on United’s radar for the previous 12 months, with Wolves wanting a fee of around £50m in order to let one of their main assets leave Molineux.

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He’s the next Paul Scholes

Incoming manager Ten Hag will need to organise a major rebuild of the United squad this summer, with the midfield being a key area to prioritise.

With the future of Paul Pogba still up in the air, Nemanja Matic leaving and other members of the side simply not good enough, Neves would be the ideal signing for the Red Devils.

Journalist Tim Spiers has dubbed the 25-year-old “sensational”, while former United player Paul Parker compared Neves to Paul Scholes, drawing similarities between the two in terms of how the Portugal international strikes the ball.

Only two players (both forwards) scored more league goals for Wolves this season, while only Raul Jimenez had a greater shots per game average than Neves’ 1.3 (as per WhoScored). Also, the 25-year-old made the third-most tackles and interceptions in Bruno Lage’s squad (as per FBRef), showing an industriousness to complement his impact going forward.

With Neves’ talents and ability to be an asset both going forward and defensively, the Scholes comparisons are spot-on. If United do sign the 25-year-old, they would get the player as he is heading into what will likely be his peak years, and £50m sounds like a bargain when the positives are examined more in-depth.

His versatility will be a major advantage for Ten Hag going forward, with Neves being adept at playing either in a defensive midfield position or slightly further forward. Four goals and two assists is also a solid return in a Wolves side which only netted 38 times in as many league matches.

These figures will surely improve if he makes the move to Old Trafford, with a better quality of player around him and having the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo on the end of his passes, so it could be a fruitful move for all parties if it does come off.

AND in other news, Bid incoming: Sky Sports journalist drops MUFC transfer update, Ten Hag will be thrilled

West Ham looks set to make their first summer signing, and it’s one which will please David Moyes as he assembles his squad for for next season.

What’s the word?

Fabrizio Romano tweeted that the Hammers are planning to have ‘new direct contacts’ with Alphonse Areola’s agents, with an option-to-buy for £11m or to extend his loan deal from Paris Saint-Germain for another campaign. As it stands, the French goalkeeper is due to return to his parent club over the summer.

The journalist claimed: “West Ham are planning to have new direct contacts with Alphonse Areola’s agents to keep him at the club, negotiations are already underway. There’s a buy option worth £11m – or an option to extend loan deal from PSG for one more season.”

This would represent an excellent move either way for Moyes, as he will have one less incoming transfer to make during the summer.

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Moyes will be ecstatic

West Ham have had a wonderful season and Moyes has brought the feel-good factor back to the London Stadium for the first time in a long while. With a brilliant Europa League run being ended by Eintracht Frankfurt at the semi-final stage and continental qualification being secured for next season, they will want to continue building momentum.

Areola joined on loan from PSG at the beginning of the current campaign and has featured 18 times in all competitions this season, conceding 15 goals and keeping eight clean sheets.

The goalkeeper arrived with a big reputation, having been part of France’s World Cup-winning squad in 2018 and claiming league medals for both Real Madrid and PSG. He has played primarily in the Europa League as West Ham embarked on their memorable run to the last four. achieving second leg shutouts as both Sevilla and Lyon were put to the sword.

Compared to other positional peers in Europe’s big five leagues, Areola is ranked in the 95th percentile for save percentage (76.9%), the 99th percentile for goals against (0.73 per 90) and the 92nd percentile for clean sheet percentage (41.7%).

These figures clearly prove why Moyes will be buzzing if he can keep the Frenchman at West Ham, and the 29-year-old could be an integral player for them next season as well. Securing him for another year would represent an ideal first summer signing for the Irons.

AND in other news, GSB can sign West Ham’s own Van Dijk in “cerebral” £20m brute who’s the “real boss”

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