Category Uncategorized

Aston Villa might be in line to bolster their front line already, with one eye on a player who could star at the World Cup…

What’s the latest?

Having nearly signed Ismaila Sarr in the summer, recent claims from journalist Ed Aarons seem to suggest they could be prepared to reignite their interest.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, responding to a question about whether the Midlands side will scout him this winter, he said: ”Yeah, I would definitely say so. I know Crystal Palace have had a lot of interest in him, and obviously, Man United a couple of years ago tried to get him on loan on transfer deadline day. 

“So, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is in the sights of other clubs, bigger clubs as well, eventually, if the price comes down. 

“But maybe it’ll be a move to a smaller club in the Premier League first and then to a bigger club, but I honestly think that he’s good enough to play for one of the top clubs.”

Back in the summer, the Senegalese talent was valued at an eye-catching £25m.

He could be Danjuma 2.0

At his previous club Villarreal, Unai Emery was well known for his shrewd recruitment and ability to really get the best out of his players.

Spotting Arnaut Danjuma from Bournemouth, fresh off the back of his Supporters’ Player of the Year award, he negotiated a deal to sign the 24-year-old for just £21.3m.

This came when Villa themselves reportedly showed an interest in the Dutchman too.

His debut season in Spain then saw him lauded as a sensation, with an impressive haul of 16 goals and four assists across La Liga and the Champions League.

It marked a great transfer success for the Yellow Submarine, who also stormed to an unlikely semi-final of Europe’s elite competition.

Now, with Sarr, Emery could repeat this feat with a winger that shares striking similarities.

Blessed with frightening pace, quick feet and an eye for goal, the two have both torn up the Championship on separate occasions.

The Senegalese flyer has this season scored five and assisted three already, but during the 2020/21 campaign, scored 13 and assisted ten on their way back to the Premier League.

His exploits have led teammate Kiko Femenia to succinctly sum him up by claiming: “Ismaila is very fast and has a lot of power.”

After 11 months of Steven Gerrard’s narrow formations and convoluted tactics for the wingers, Sarr would be a breath of fresh air as the speedster looks to return the side to a play style they excel in.

Aaron Danks needed to only afford the wingers some freedom to thrash Brentford 4-0.

Already boasting experience in the top flight, and having a proven track record of being a reliable goal threat, Emery could repeat his Danjuma masterclass at Villarreal with his first signing in the Midlands.

Aston Villa are ‘crazy’ about the idea of bringing in Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim as their new boss, according to a fresh rumour that has emerged.

The Lowdown: Amorim linked with move

Numerous figures have been linked with replacing Steven Gerrard in recent days, with Villa biding their time until they appoint the perfect successor.

Amorim is one individual who has been tipped to come in and turn the Villans’ fortunes around, as he continues to shine at Sporting.

It certainly appears as though Villa think highly of the 37-year-old, following a new update regarding the club’s ongoing search for a new manager.

The Latest: Villa ‘crazy’ about manager

According to A Bola [via Sport Witness], Villa ‘insist’ on striking a deal to bring in Amorim, even though he has knocked back their interest so far.

The club are ‘crazy’ about him and are ‘thinking’ about him as their new boss, seeing him as ‘one of the best solutions’ to replace Gerrard in the Villa Park hot seat.

The Verdict: First-choice target?

It looks as though Villa see Amorim as their primary managerial target, perhaps alongside Brentford boss Thomas Frank, and he could be an exciting appointment.

At 37, he is very young in managerial terms and would bring with him fresh ideas, not to mention a winning mentality, having won five trophies as a manager to date.

Whether or not Amorim is willing to leave Sporting remains to be seen but the lure of the Premier League is always great and he could feel that now is the time for a new challenge.

Leeds United are still being linked with a move for Blackburn Rovers forward Ben Brereton Diaz.

The Lowdown: Late summer approach

The Whites left it extremely late in the summer to sign a new forward but eventually brought in teenager Wilfried Gnonto.

Leeds chiefs reportedly pushed to land Brereton Diaz on deadline day prior to signing Gnonto. Brereton Diaz, who is out of contract next summer, has continued to score goals in the Championship after a personal best tally last season, netting seven times in 14 appearances this term.

The Latest: New update

Sports Witness relayed an update from Spanish outlet Estadio Deportivo regarding Brereton Diaz.

They claimed that Almeria, Sevilla, Valencia, and AC Milan are in the race for the forward, but Leeds and Everton are also possible destinations for the Blackburn star in a potential free transfer.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-53/” 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”]

The Verdict: Shrewd addition

Leeds could well be on the hunt for another attacking addition next year, and providing Brereton Diaz’s situation remains the same, Victor Orta could look to lay the groundwork over a possible free transfer.

The 23-year-old, labelled ‘very intelligent’ by Chile manager Eduardo Berizzo, can play anywhere across the front three but is primarily a centre-forward, so could prove to be Patrick Bamford’s long-term successor.

Leeds will need to pip plenty of sides to Brereton Diaz’s signature, but it looks as if it will be one to watch over the coming months.

Tottenham Hotspur’s right wing-back role has been the subject of contentious debate for much of Antonio Conte’s tenure so far.

The Italian head coach is currently entrusting Emerson Royal with the starting reins this campaign, though at one point last season, Matt Doherty looked to have emerged as a more viable candidate.

Truthfully, however, neither are up to scratch at Hotspur Way and that’s something that The Times have previously noted, claiming back in January this year that Conte was looking for an upgrade in the position.

Well, things haven’t changed and the Italian is still without that Achraf Hakimi-sort of talent on the right-hand side of his defence.

In September 2020, the Lecce-born manager handed the then 21-year-old his debut for Inter Milan, starring in a 4-3 win over Fiorentina at the San Siro and the rest would be history as he played a major part in the Italian giants winning their first Scudetto in over a decade.

Hakimi would go onto start 28 more matches as he finished the Serie A campaign as Conte’s fifth-best performer, as per WhoScored figures, behind the free-scoring exploits of both Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez, among others.

The 23-year-old bagged six goals and provided eight assists from the right wing-back role, numbers that we are yet to see from either of Spurs’ current options – indeed, Emerson has provided just three goal contributions from 40 appearances, whilst Doherty is marginally better with six contributions in 23 games.

But with January still many months away, a solution may be hard to come by anytime soon, though the Spurs boss may want to turn to the academy, where he could look to unearth his next Hakimi.

Kallum Cesay would be an intriguing option.

The Newham-born 20-year-old represents Sierra Leone at international level, which is also in north-west Africa, where Hakimi hails from.

And despite not making his senior bow for the north Londoners, the young and versatile dynamo has scored twice for his country, both of which came during a win over the Congo.

Also capable of playing on the other flank and in midfield, Cesay continues to be a regular for Wayne Burnett’s U23s. Last season, he made seven times already.

Tottenham’s official website notes of his ‘athleticism,’ whilst Lilywhites insider Jon Wenham once described the right-back as a “really promising prospect” who ” can be as good as he wants to be” to Football Insider.

He may still be very raw when it comes to the men’s game but under the tutelage of a manager like Conte, he could well be moulded into an ideal solution to that divisive right wing-back role over the next few years.

As such, the Italian could well unearth his next Hakimi in Cesay.

AND in other news, Levy made a disastrous mistake with £17m “genius”, Spurs are still paying the price today…

Journalist James Copley admits he is ‘very concerned’ about Sunderland’s squad depth, following their 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough in the Championship.

The Lowdown: Black Cats beaten at Boro

The Black Cats made the short trip to the Riverside Stadium on Monday evening, looking to continue what has been a promising start to the season.

Unfortunately, Tony Mowbray’s side were never at the races, with Riley McGree’s solitary strike eventually proving to be the difference between the two teams.

The defeat leaves Sunderland seventh in the Championship, and that’s now two losses on the bounce.

The Latest: One key concern…

Writing on Twitter after the game, Copley and a fan agreed on a promising note – all three of the Black Cats’ defeats have come against some of the favourites for promotion – Boro, Sheffield United and Norwich.

However, the Sunderland Echo reporter did note one big concern after Ross Stewart pulled out injured in the warm-up…

“I’m still very concerned about the depth of this squad.”

The Verdict: Potential issue in a long season

Having plenty of squad options is essential in a league as relentless and competitive as the Championship, with fatigue and injuries inevitable during the season, especially with a winter World Cup truncating things this time around.

Sunderland’s lack of depth does, therefore, feel like a concern, with Stewart’s injury absence on Monday perfectly highlighting the difference in quality between him and the backup attackers.

The talisman was a huge loss and the Black Cats were toothless without him, mustering only two shots on target, and there are fears he could miss ‘several weeks’.

It could be that January reinforcements are needed to bolster Mowbray’s squad or it may be tough to envisage them mounting a genuine promotion push this season.

Manchester United view Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier as the successor for David de Gea, report The Athletic. 

The lowdown: ‘Keeper conundrum

United faced somewhat of a goalkeeping merry-go-round this summer as Lee Grant moved onto pastures new, Dean Henderson left for Nottingham Forest on loan and Tom Heaton arrived as a third-choice experienced stopper.

As a result, Erik ten Hag was understood to be on the lookout for an additional option between the sticks and the Red Devils were heavily linked with Watford ace Daniel Bachmann.

That move failed to materialise and Ten Hag was forced to name Heaton as the backup for the opening day and take young starlets Matej Kovar and Nathan Bishop on the pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia.

The latest: Meslier on the radar

As per Dan Sheldon and Laurie Whitwell for The Athletic, Meslier is ‘potentially seen as a long-term replacement’ for De Gea at Old Trafford.

However, it’s claimed that Leeds have ‘no intention to sell’ the 22-year-old nine-cap France Under 21 ace this summer.

The report also states that in lieu of making a move for the ‘keeper once described as ‘fearsome’ by talkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino, United could consider a short-term solution in the shape of Southampton’s Alex McCarthy or Newcastle United’s Karl Darlow and Martin Dubravka.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-man-utd-updates-5/” title=”Latest Man Utd updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The verdict: One for the future

There can be no doubting De Gea’s supreme commitment since arriving in Manchester. Despite rare lapses in form, the 31-year-old Spaniard has been a brilliant servant to the club across 487 appearances and was once again named as the Players’ Player of the Year last term.

Additionally, given the longevity goalkeepers can enjoy, the ex-Atletico Madrid man still has time on his side when it comes to occupying the number one position, albeit the club will need to extend a contract that has entered the final 12 months (Transfermarkt).

If indeed De Gea does decide to move on after the expiry of his current deal, signing Meslier from bitter rivals Leeds would be a sensational coup for the United hierarchy.

Last season, the French gloveman made on average 3.8 saves per game and showed off his prowess with the ball at his feet, completing 85 per cent of all passes inside his own half (Sofascore) – something De Gea is often criticised for.

As Ten Hag attempts to implement his own style on the team, adding a goalkeeper of Meslier’s ball-playing abilities – Patrick Bamford said he’s ‘unbelievable’ – would be the next natural step in the process should a deal be possible further down the line.

The future of Armando Broja is developing into one of the major transfer sagas of the summer, with Newcastle United believed to be one of the clubs who are keen on prising the youngster away from Chelsea.

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has insisted that a deal to bring the 20-year-old to St James’ Park cannot be ruled out just yet, despite reports that the Magpies are not in the race to sign the highly-rated forward.

Asked whether the Albania international is on Eddie Howe’s radar, the transfer insider stated: “Absolutely. I know for a fact he’s definitely on the list.

“I’m reading between the lines a little bit, because I’m obviously been away, but I don’t think I would rule that one out totally yet.”

The recent suggestion is that both Newcastle and fellow Premier League side Everton are battling it out for the 14-cap brute’s signature, while West Ham United are also still in contention despite their capture of Sassuolo marksman Gianluca Scamacca.

Journalist Ryan Taylor has also claimed that the Tynesiders’ desire for a loan move could see them fall out of the reckoning, with the Slough-born striker – who could be worth in the region of £30m – said to favour a permanent swoop if he is to leave Stamford Bridge.

Would be a major coup

There is clearly still a large number of hurdles to overcome if Newcastle are to secure the signing of Broja for the forthcoming campaign, although it is undoubtedly a positive to learn that the 6 foot 3 menace is still very much a player of interest.

Managing to get a deal over the line would undoubtedly be huge coup for the PIF regime, with the £8.5k-per-week hotshot having been in sparkling form in his debut campaign as a top-flight regular last time out, netting nine goals in all competitions while on loan at Southampton.

That haul included six Premier League goals during his time at St Mary’s, having previously scored 11 times in a season-long loan stint at Eredivisie outfit Vitesse Arnhem during the 2020/21 campaign.

The departure of club-record flop Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan has opened the door for more regular game-time for the Blues academy graduate at his parent club. However, it remains to be seen if he will be a key part of Thomas Tuchel’s first-team plans, having made just a solitary senior appearance for the west Londoners thus far.

As for Newcastle, they have so far come up short in their attempts to land a new centre-forward this summer, with Howe’s side seemingly in need of additional quality despite signing Chris Wood on a £25m deal from Burnley in January.

Being left with just the New Zealand international and the injury-prone Callum Wilson as strikers for the new season would be a real concern for the former Bournemouth boss, having seen his team miss out on a move for French starlet Hugo Ekitike, who has secured a move to Paris Saint-Germain.

In Broja, the 44-year-old would seemingly have the perfect attacking solution, while it would represent a major coup to poach the player from one of the division’s elite clubs.

AND in other news, Imagine him & ASM: NUFC can form dream duo in swoop to sign “wonderful” £50m dynamo…

Everton have only made one signing so far this summer with James Tarkowski joining the squad, and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on a transfer target.

What’s the latest?

Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has revealed a new update on Everton transfer target Kalidou Koulibaly.

Romano tweeted this morning:

“Chelsea are prepared to submit the final, official bid for Kalidou Koulibaly: €38m plus add-ons, up to €40m package. Napoli could accept, after opening proposal worth €35m turned down.

“Koulibaly agreed personal terms – while Chelsea are also working on Nathan Aké.”

Everton have been linked with a move for the defender for over a year now, and even submitted a bid for the £32m player last summer.

Supporters will be gutted

It is no secret that Everton have been struggling, something that became painfully obvious for supporters over last season when the side endured a Premier League relegation scrap, only surviving in the penultimate game of the season.

There is a desperate need for reinforcements and players who can make a high-quality impact in the team, so Everton supporters will surely be gutted that they are about to miss out on the signing of a long-term transfer target in Koulibaly.

The Napoli centre-back has been a key player in the Serie A for this side and has proven he has the ability and talent to be a fantastic addition to any team.

Over 27 league appearances, Koulibaly scored three goals, delivered three assists and created two big chances. From a defensive standpoint, he was incredibly impressive, making 1.4 tackles, 1.1 interceptions and 3.1 clearances per game, as well as winning the majority of his duels (61%).

The defender’s eye-catching defensive and attacking qualities would have been massively advantageous to Frank Lampard who is looking for ways to improve his side to ensure they don’t find themselves in a battle at the bottom of the table again, so it will surely be frustrating for the manager that Koulibaly will make a move to another club.

With that being said, Farhad Moshiri will need to learn a lesson from missing out on Koulibaly this summer and start to commit to making serious offers for transfer targets to avoid losing out on another player that could make a great impact on the team next term.

AND in other news: Lampard eyeing Everton deal for £20m “bundle of energy”, he can be Yakubu 2.0

An update has emerged on Rangers’ chances of landing one of the strikers on Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s wishlist in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Fabrizio Romano has claimed that a Gers target is now closing in on a move to Italy this week in a potential blow to Ross Wilson’s plans.

He Tweeted: “Erik Botheim joins Salernitana on a permanent deal from Krasnodar, four year contract in place. Medical later this week in Italy.”

Journalist Jonas Advan Giaevar previously reported that the Light Blues were keen on the attacker, Tweeting: “It’s true that Rangers at least have enquired about Erik Botheim. Remains to be seen whether that leads to an offer or not.”

Alfredo Morelos upgrade

Wilson must use this latest update as fuel to launch a renewed swoop for the free agent striker. The move to Italy is not rubber-stamped, yet, and the Gers must now attempt to hijack the deal as he would be a fantastic signing for the club.

He has the potential to be a big upgrade on Alfredo Morelos as he showcased his quality in front of goal last season. Before moving to Russia, and eventually ripping up his contract, the striker caught the eye playing for Bodo/Glimt in Norway. In the 2021 Eliteserien campaign, he scored 15 goals and managed three assists in 30 matches.

In the Europa Conference League, he averaged SofaScore rating of 7.57 as he produced four goals and four assists in six games as he burst onto the European scene, with Football scout Jacek Kulig dubbing him a “complete forward” as a result of his displays.

Botheim scored 19 goals and assisted seven in 36 starts and this means that he averaged a direct goal contribution every 1.38 matches.

Morelos, meanwhile, managed 11 goals and seven assists in 26 Premiership games and four strikes in nine Europa League outings. He averaged a goal contribution every 1.59 matches and missed 16 ‘big chances’ in total across the two competitions – compared to Botheim’s eight.

These statistics suggest that the Norweigan finisher has the potential to offer more than the Colombian at the top end of the pitch. His impressive form domestically and in Europe shows that he is a natural goalscorer, who can also set up his teammates, and that he is not as wasteful in front of goal as the Gers man.

The free agent is also four years younger than Morelos and has plenty of time on his side to grow and improve as a player. Therefore, Rangers can land an upgrade on their current number nine in the here and now and for many years to come by hijacking this deal and bringing in the talented 22-year-old phenomenon.

AND in other news, Gvb plotting Rangers swoop for £1.3k-p/w gem who “rarely misses”, imagine him & Kent…

Arsenal are believed to be back in the hunt for Juventus midfielder, Arthur Melo, having been linked with Brazilian back in January.

What’s the word?

As per journalist Claudio Raimondi (via Tutto Juve), the Gunners could well be set to reignite their interest in the 25-year-old this summer, having attempted to bring the €40m (£34m) player to the Premier League during the winter window only for the deal to fall through.

Speaking about the 22-cap international’s future – and that of club teammate Aaron Ramsey – Raimondi stated: “Juve are interested in Fabian Ruiz, but before starting a real negotiation, they must resolve the Ramsey-Arthur situations.

“For the Welshman, who is of interest to the Turkish team coached by Pirlo, they will move towards the termination of his contract with severance pay, while for the Brazilian midfielder, something is moving on the Arsenal side.”

The playmaker joined the Serie A side on a reported £66m deal back in 2020 from Catalan giants Barcelona, with fellow midfielder Miralem Pjanic moving in the other direction.

Arteta’s own Xavi

While that move has failed to work out for either party, with Arthur having fallen down the pecking order in Italy and with Pjanic spending last season on loan at Besiktas, that should not overshadow what would be a major coup for Mikel Arteta and co, were they to bring the former to the club this summer.

Despite starting just 11 league games last term, the £16.2m-rated gem is still a supremely gifted player in possession, notably ranking in the top 4% for pass completion and the top 7% for attempted passes among those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues.

The man to keep things ticking in the centre of the park, the £125k-per-week unsurprisingly drew comparisons to current Blaugrana coach Xavi Hernandez during his spell at the Nou Camp, with former teammate Lionel Messi stating upon his arrival:

“Those who came are very good. Arthur, I didn’t know that much about but he seems similar to Xavi. He’s very safe and trustworthy. He has the La Masia style. Playing short passes, without losing the ball, and he grasped it quickly, the dynamic of the team.”

Such a glowing assessment from arguably one of the greatest players of all time illustrates just what a talent the Juve man is, while the likeness to the aforementioned Xavi will also set pulses racing back in north London, with the Spaniard having enjoyed a lengthy career at the elite level.

A product of the famed La Masia academy, he went on to rack up 766 appearances in all competitions for the La Liga outfit, scoring 85 goals and providing 185 assists in that time, while also claiming a plethora of major honours, including four Champions League triumphs.

On the international front, the now veteran star was part of the remarkable La Roja side that came out on top in three successive major tournaments between 2008 and 2012, having arguably won all there is to win in both forms of the game.

Arteta and co will know that such talents and such success is rare, although the Gunners boss will no doubt be keen to bring in a Xavi-esque talent like Arthur who can dictate the tempo in the centre of the park, having himself been a product of that much-celebrated Barcelona youth system.

AND in other news, Arsenal now plotting record-breaking bid for £100m gem, he’d be a “superstar” signing