All posts by n8rngtd.top

A claim has emerged on Tottenham Hotspur and their efforts to sign Raphinha in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the club are in talks with the player’s agent as Fabio Paratici attempts to bring him to north London in the coming weeks.

Spurs will have to beat off interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, and Barcelona, though, as the journalist has provided an update on the race to land the winger.

He tweeted: “Raphinha deal. Arsenal have already scheduled a meeting with Leeds next week – Leeds will ask again for £65m fee. Barcelona still in contact with Deco after personal terms agreed, but no fresh bid yet. Tottenham and Chelsea, still in talks with agents. Race still open.”

Imagine him & Heung-min Son

If Tottenham can land a deal to sign the Whites star this summer then they can secure an exciting wing partnership with him and Son next season.

Whilst Dejan Kulusevski and Lucas Moura are also set to be options out wide for Antonio Conte next season, Raphinha offers a big goal threat in the Premier League and having him and the ex-Leverkusen man on the wings is one of a number of combinations that could be used in 2022/23.

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In the top-flight last season, the Leeds man was sublime despite the club’s battle against relegation. He ended the campaign with 11 goals – a year on from scoring six in his first term – as he showed that he has the quality to score goals at an impressive rate at this level.

Creatively, he was let down by his teammates as he provided 10 ‘big chances’ and managed 1.9 key passes per game – only to register three assists. This suggests that the players he was playing alongside were not good enough to make the most of his passing ability.

With Son on the left-wing for Spurs, Raphinha, who was once dubbed a “phenomenon” by Emerson Royal, would find a player capable of finishing the chances that he is able to create.

The Tottenham star scored a whopping 23 Premier League goals last term from an xG of around 17, after finding the back of the net 17 times from around 11 xG in 2020/21.

These statistics show that he has immense finishing and would be able to thrive off the Leeds gem’s creativity, which is why they would be an exciting pair to watch play under Conte.

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

A teasing Newcastle United claim has emerged on their pursuit of Moussa Diaby in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Journalist Ben Jacobs has revealed that the Magpies are now weighing up a swoop to sign the Bundesliga winger ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

The reporter has also claimed that the Frenchman has not completely ruled out a switch to St. James’ Park and is willing to enter negotiations with the club.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “As I understand it, Leverkusen will only want a fee in the £40million or £45million region, not the £60million mark. But the add-ons are still going to take that deal to £60million and, as other suitors come in, Leverkusen may play hardball.

“Newcastle are seriously considering that move and the player has certainly intimated that he would be open to talking further to them.”

Supporters will be excited

This update will leave supporters excited as Diaby would be a sublime addition to the squad and one that would solve a key issue for Eddie Howe.

The winger has the quality to score and assist goals on a regular basis and Newcastle did not have anyone to do either in the Premier League last season. No Toon player managed more than eight goals or five assists in the top-flight as they spread the load across the squad.

Adding in a gem capable of hitting 10+ goals and 10+ assists would, therefore, improve the attack and give Howe’s team a huge boost at the top end of the pitch when gunning for an equalising or winning goal in a game.

In the Bundesliga last term, Diaby produced an outstanding 13 goals and 12 assists – creating 15 ‘big chances’ for his teammates in total. This came after the youngster managed four goals and ten assists in the previous campaign, which shows that he has progressed with more experience.

The 22-year-old is an exceptional young forward who has shown that he has the quality to perform to a high level in the here and now whilst also holding the potential to improve further in the future. This is why he would be a sensational signing for the Toon as he would be a huge player for the club in their short and long-term future.

Therefore, the fans will be excited by Jacobs’ claim that a bid may be on the way before the end of the summer window.

AND in other news, NUFC could land their own Vlahovic in Ashworth swoop for “exceptional” £40m predator…

Manchester City and Chelsea will again be in contact with one another ‘in the coming days’ to negotiate a deal for defender Nathan Ake, reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed.

The Lowdown: Ake to Chelsea?

According to a report by Sky Sports, the west London club have held talks with Pep Guardiola’s side over a potential deal for their former academy graduate.

Chelsea are in need of defenders after Andreas Christensen joined Barcelona this summer, with Antonio Rudiger also making the switch to La Liga as he signed for Real Madrid.

The Manchester City centre-back left Stamford Bridge for Bournemouth in 2017 before making the move to the current Premier League champions two years ago for a £41m fee.

The Latest: Romano’s news on Ake

Romano has now shared the latest news on Ake’s proposed return to Chelsea.

Taking to Twitter, the journalist outlined: “Chelsea and Man City will be in contact again in the coming days to negotiate Nathan Aké deal after Sterling. Man City have been clear with Chelsea: they want almost same fee paid in August 2020, around £41m. #CFC

“Aké has full agreement with Chelsea on personal terms.”

The Verdict: Big loss

Whilst the Netherlands international has failed to secure a guaranteed starting spot in Guardiola’s favoured XI, starting just 25% of City’s league matches during his two years at the Etihad Stadium, the 27-year-old has still played an important part in the club’s domestic success since his arrival from Bournemouth.

When compared with positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, the defender ranks in the 99th percentile for non-penalty goals and non-penalty expected goals plus expected assists, and also in the 98th percentile for non-penalty expected goals and passes attempted (via FBRef).

Therefore, whilst Ake has never been a sure-fire starter under Guardiola, he still made 27 appearances for the club last season in a team full of superstars, with his manager describing him as “a joy to have” in the squad.

Furthermore, with Raheem Sterling’s move to Chelsea also likely to be completed imminently after a £47.5m fee was agreed, their two prospective departures to a fellow top-four Premier League club could come as a huge double blow for the Citizens.

Everton are in desperate need of improvement this summer ahead of the next Premier League season after a disastrous relegation scrap, and now a reliable source has given an update on the club’s transfer window plans.

What’s the latest?

Journalist and Everton insider Alan Myers has been responding to supporters’ questions on Twitter, and has given a very simple update on the club’s progress in the transfer window.

One Toffees fan asked Myers if the potential club takeover negotiations would affect incoming transfers, to which he responded in rather simple terms:

“Work is ongoing”

Supporters will be excited

Frank Lampard will be keen to get in some new recruits to bolster his squad this summer before the Premier League returns, and supporters will be excited that the potential takeover shouldn’t be causing any problems for the club to make the new signings they desperately need.

Brazilian winger Richarlison made the decision to leave Goodison Park and has now joined Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth £60m, which is vital cash banked for the club to hopefully reinvest into the team ahead of the new season.

The talks of a takeover have been hanging over the Merseyside club in the last few weeks, with a consortium group by former Chelsea and Manchester United executive Peter Kenyon and the Kaminski family putting an offer on the table to buy the club from Farhad Moshiri, but so far it looks like there are no plans for a change in ownership at this time.

As a result, Moshiri must focus on improving and developing the squad to ensure Everton do not find themselves in danger of maintaining their top-flight status again and needs to prove to supporters that he is committed to getting the club back to where they belong competing for European qualification spots in the league.

The Toffees have already made the signing of James Tarkowski on a free transfer after his contract expired with newly-relegated side Burnley, which puts the side in a great position to strengthen their defensive play, but they will need to add more players in other key areas of the pitch to compete at the level they desire.

With that being said, it is looking promising for Everton in terms of making new signings and adding quality to the squad to really improve their chances of having a better season in the Premier League when they return to action next month.

AND in other news: Everton “trying to sign” £20m maestro who “dominates” games, he can be Arteta 2.0 

Pundit Kevin Campbell has been reacting to Leeds United’s ongoing interest in Wolves forward Adama Traore, as per Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Traore

The Whites have been heavily linked with a move for Traore once again this summer, with reports towards the end of June suggesting that an approach had been made regarding the Spaniard. Victor Orta is thought to be a big fan of the 25-year-old, who is entering the final 12 months of his contract at Molineux.

Football Insider shared an update within their story when talking to Campbell, revealing that Leeds and Everton are still keen on Traore, who Wolves are now willing to sell for around £10m due to the player’s contract situation.

The Latest: Campbell’s comments

Talking to Football Insider regarding Leeds’ interest and Wolves’ discounted price, Campbell believes that Jesse Marsch could have ‘something serious’ with the likes of Traore, Jack Harrison and Luis Sinisterra on the books in Yorkshire, not even mentioning Dan James.

The Sky Sports pundit said of the Spain winger:

“I think for £10m – there will be quite a few teams in for him. But for the way that Leeds play, he would be a right handful – that’s for sure.

“Adama Traore on one side, Jack Harrison or Luis Sinisterra on the other – wow, that would be something serious.

“It’ll be interesting to see where he ends up but for Leeds United to be in for players like that, it just shows the ambition.”

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The Verdict: Avoid?

Leeds could do with a forward who has played as a number nine regularly, something Traore has done just 33 times during his career.

Club Brugge’s Charles De Ketelaere and PSG’s Arnaud Kalimuendo have both been linked with moves to Elland Road and are players who have more experience of occupying a central role, while also being able to play out wide if required.

That could be the wiser move by Orta and co, especially as Patrick Bamford missed large parts of the previous campaign through injury, leaving youngster Joe Gelhardt with plenty of responsibility up front in what was a nervy run-in for the Whites.

A major update on the future of Carney Chukwuemeka has emerged after he reportedly rejected Aston Villa’s latest contract offer…

What’s the word?

The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath has dropped the latest news on the situation, he said on Twitter:

“Carney Chukwuemeka has rejected #AVFC contract extension and no sign of agreement. He can seal [a] pre-contract with another club in January and leave for around £400,000 next summer, which many would explore in his situation. Clubs expected to bid before that.”

Villa boss Steven Gerrard left the 18-year-old out of their pre-season tour of Australia last week and it’s believed that the Midlands outfit have slapped a £20m price tag on his head, though they are yet to receive any offers of this calibre.

Football Insider believed the Bodymoor Heath gem is asking for wages of around £100k-per-week, which would make him the club’s second-highest earner behind Danny Ings (£120k-per-week) and ahead of the likes of John McGinn (£25k-per-week) and Tyrone Mings (£80k-per-week).

Frustrating news

Premier League rivals Leeds United and Manchester United, as well as LaLiga giants FC Barcelona are said to be keen on signing the Villa youngster, and the latter side are free to speak to him from January onwards.

Losing one of their more promising youngsters to emerge from the academy would be a gutting and frustrating blow to the manager and the Villa Park faithful as Chukwuemeka has bags of potential.

Soon after his arrival in the Midlands, Gerrard waxed lyrical about the 18-year-old midfielder and stated that he would like him to stay.

“Hopefully he is going to be a big player for Aston Villa,” he told reporters (via the Express and Star). “We want him to stay here long-term. We believe this is the best place for Carney. I hope that situation progresses in a positive way.”

Elsewhere, former Villans striker Paul Merson believes the teen will become “an absolute star,” so it’s no wonder there are so many big teams interested in his signature, despite his hefty wage demands.

Villa will not be able to compete with the likes of United and Barcelona, particularly as both teams regularly compete in Europe, something that hasn’t happened at Villa Park since 2010.

Therefore, this update from the ever-reliable McGrath will surely leave many supporters reeling as it appears as if they will soon lose out on one of their best young talents.

AND in other news, Ashley Preece delivers Keinan Davis update…

Leeds United are still waiting to strike a deal to sign Club Brugge forward Charles de Ketelaere and offering £4m more than Milan, according to a report from The Mail.

The lowdown: Rumbling on

Leeds fans could be forgiven for growing tired of the saga surrounding the Belgium international.

The Whites’ seemingly never-ending pursuit of De Ketelaere has seemingly been going on forever, with Phil Hay first reporting the seriousness of the interest before Milan swooped in to steal the deal.

The 21-year-old reportedly favours a switch to the Serie A outfit and at one point the Italian press even claimed Leeds were out of the picture, but their move is yet to materialise as the parties fail to come to an agreement on a fee.

That impasse in negotiations could well allow Victor Orta to hijack the Italian champions and swoop again for De Ketelaere, something backed up by fresh claims offering the latest updates on the situation…

The latest: ‘Ready to pounce’

Taking to Twitter to cite a report from colleague Simon Jones, Football Editor for the Daily Mail, Ian Ladyman, claimed that Leeds are ‘ready to pounce’ for the eight-cap starlet.

Within the report, it’s suggested that the Elland Road hierarchy have shown a ‘willingness to offer £31million’ for the talented forward, whilst AC Milan are currently stuck at £27million.

The report also states that although Orta is ‘waiting in the wings’ for De Ketelaere, but has also been enquiring about alternative targets such as Rennes striker Martin Terrier, Paris Saint-Germain sensation Arnaud Kalimuendo and Blackburn hitman Ben Brereton Diaz.

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The verdict: Fingers crossed

It seems as though the drawn-out attempt to bring the talented Belgian to Thorp Arch could still be alive, with Andrea Radrizanni and Orta ready to smash the club’s transfer record with a £31m bid, but whether or not Jesse Marsch should be signing a player who was steadfast in his desire to choose another club is another matter entirely.

However, having allowed Tyler Roberts to leave on loan to QPR and with both Patrick Bamford and Joe Gelhardt suffering injury issues in pre-season, another central attacking addition is imperative for the Whites before the 2022/23 campaign gets underway.

Described as an ‘absolutely brilliant player’ by reputable football talent scout Jacek Kulig amidst a sensational run of form in last season’s UEFA Champions League, it’s no surprise to see the young forward share similar stylistic traits to the likes of Antoine Griezmann and Alexandre Lacazette (Fbref) – De Ketelaere clearly possesses an abundance of talent that would be welcomed into Marsch’s squad.

Holding a market value of £27million and under contract until 2024 (Transfermarkt), paying the mooted £31million for the versatile youngster would represent a smart piece of business and could prove to be somewhat of a bargain outlay in the long term from Radrizanni.

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United’s interest in Giovani in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

According to ESPN Brazil, via Sport Witness, the Magpies are among a number of clubs eyeing a move for the attacker, as Dan Ashworth plots a swoop to sign him.

The report claims that the 18-year-old has a release clause set at €60m (£50m), although it remains to be seen how much the Toon are willing to pay for him.

It is also stated that Ajax and Bayer Leverkusen are in the race to land his signature and will battle Newcastle to land him in the coming weeks.

Howe can axe Jacob Murphy

The Magpies must work hard to bring Giovani to the club this summer, as his arrival could enable Eddie Howe to axe Jacob Murphy from the squad.

Kieran Trippier’s arrival in January means that the former Norwich man is no longer needed as a right-back option. The England international looks set to be the go-to man in that position, whilst Javier Manquillo and Emil Krafth remain in the squad as backup options.

This means that Murphy’s only likely chance of getting minutes this season is playing in his more natural position as a winger. However, this is a cause for concern, as his statistics in recent campaigns do not suggest that he has the quality to play there in the Premier League, with just three goals and five assists in 59 outings.

In Giovani, Newcastle can land a player with the potential to be a first-team quality gem. At the age of 18, he is yet to showcase his ability on a consistent basis at senior level but has shown signs of promise.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig hailed him as having “Angel Di Maria vibes” and listed his strengths as pace, acceleration, dribbling, technique, ball control, first touch, creativity and flair.

These comments, along with his four goals and three assists in eight games for Palmeiras’ under-20s, suggest that Giovani has the potential to be a star of the future.

This means that he would be perfect for Murphy’s role in the Newcastle squad as he can gain valuable experience sitting on the bench and picking up minutes here and there this season. He can fill in when required and be a supporting act to the frontline players, with a view to him taking over from them in the future.

Therefore, Howe could axe the English dud from his squad role, with Giovani possibly being an asset for the Magpies this season and for many years to come.

AND in other news, “I know for a fact”: Journalist delivers huge Newcastle transfer claim, it would be a huge coup…

Reports in France have claimed that West Ham United have joined the race to land Paris Saint-Germain starlet, Arnaud Kalimuendo, with the 20-year-old having caught the eye out on loan in recent seasons.

The suggestion is that the Frenchman is keen for a move in order to secure more regular game time next season, with fellow Premier League side Leeds United also believed to be firmly interested in securing his signature.

Additional reports have claimed that the 5 foot 9 menace could cost in the region of €25m (£21m) if he is to be sold this summer, with two years remaining on his existing deal at the Parc des Princes.

According to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs, that fee would represent something of a “bargain” for a player who he described as “technically gifted”, with it no real surprise that there is such clamour to secure his services.

The £13k-per-week prospect scored 12 goals in 32 Ligue 1 appearances last term during his second successive temporary spell in Lens, having previously netted seven goals and provided five assists in 28 league games the year prior.

While yet to truly break into the first-team at his parent club, where he has made just five senior appearances thus far, the signs are that the France U21 international is only set to explode in the coming years, having been described as “absolutely deadly” by talent scout Jacek Kulig in the past.

His arrival at the London Stadium could also prove the perfect alternative to another reported West Ham target in Arnaut Danjuma, with the pair sharing a number of stylistic and statistical similarities, as per FBref.

Links to the Netherlands international have gone cold of late after it had appeared an audacious move was on the cards, with the 25-year-old having dazzled in his debut campaign at Villarreal last term, scoring 16 goals and providing four assists in all competitions.

That form – which included six goals in the La Liga side’s surge to the Champions League semi-finals – has unsurprisingly caught the attention of those back in east London, albeit with the former Bournemouth man believed to have turned down an offer to join the Irons.

That could prove a blessing in disguise if a deal for Kalimuendo is secured, with the younger man set to prove a far more affordable alternative, amid reports that Danjuma has a £40m release clause in his existing deal.

Having only recently splashed the cash to sign Gianluca Scamacca, such an outlay appears unlikely, hence turning to the PSG youth product as a younger and cheaper option who can potentially be nurtured by Moyes over the coming years.

Danjuma may have been the name on everyone’s lips earlier this summer, but it would do no harm to consider Kalimuendo as another, immensely talented and versatile forward solution.

West Ham are weighing up a late move for PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Sangare as David Moyes looks to continue his summer spending.

What’s the word?

That’s according to the Daily Mail, who claim that West Ham are looking for an alternative to former target Amadou Onana, who looks set to join Premier League rivals Everton, to bolster their midfield.

The Ivory Coast international was believed to have a release clause of €35m (£29.5m) and had reported interest earlier in the transfer window from Chelsea and Manchester United.

That said, any move may now cost more than that with PSV protecting his price tag by confirming a new contract for the player over the weekend. Despite that, Foot Mercato report that it has not deterred the Irons from pondering a move.

Onana alternative

A move for Onana looked set with West Ham even agreeing on a fee. That was until Everton swooped in and persuaded the Lille player to move to Liverpool rather than London. With Moyes looking to add some more bite into the heart of the West Ham midfield, Sangare could be an excellent signing.

He averaged a 7.49 rating on WhoScored following his Eredivisie performances last season, much higher than Onana (6.52), and would have ranked him first out of the whole West Ham squad from last season, proving how good he is.

The 24-year-old also took over three times as many touches per match as Onana (89.3 to 26.9) proving how much he wants to influence matches and dictate the play. He also had more shots per game (1.4 to 0.5) and won over double the number of tackles (3.3 to 1.5).

These stats show that Sangare could become a more valuable signing than Onana, with his numbers being much better over a wide range of performance indicators.

Missing out on the young Belgian midfielder could be a blessing in disguise for Moyes. African journalist Alpha Balde lavished praise on Sangare in 2016, saying “Physically, he’s like Yaya Toure but he reminds me of Michael Essien.” Eyc-catching praise indeed for a player who appears to be on the up.

Even at a young age, his potential was there for all to see, and the stats certainly prove that he has a mixture of both Toure and Essien present in his all-round game, which could give West Ham that extra dimension in the middle of the park.

Former Toulouse manager Alain Casanova described Sangare as a “complete player” and with Premier League giants Chelsea and Man United showing interest, it would be a great coup for the side.