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An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their pursuit of Bamba Dieng in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

GOAL France journalist Mark Mechenoua has revealed that the Magpies are one of a number of teams still showing an interest in the attacker.

He Tweeted: “In addition to Nice, which is in talks with OM but has not sent any offers, Brighton, Newcastle and Freiburg are among the clubs still interested in Bamba Dieng. No concrete offer to date.”

It has been reported that a fee in the region of £15m would be enough to land him, although it remains to be seen how much PIF are willing to part ways with for his services.

Eddie Howe’s own Jarrod Bowen

Bowen played a crucial role in West Ham’s rise to finish seventh in the Premier League, securing their place in the Europa League qualifying stage.

The 25-year-old was the go-to man in the final third as he racked up an impressive 12 goals and ten assists in 36 top-flight outings – finishing top in the Hammers’ team in both categories.

He created nine ‘big chances’ for his teammates and provided 1.2 key passes per match as he coupled a goalscoring threat with creativity.

In Dieng, the Magpies could find their own version of Bowen in the sense that he is a forward who can play anywhere across the front three and has the potential to step in and be the player who scores and create goals.

He is not the finished product, at the age of 22, but he is three years younger than the West Ham man and has time on his side to develop into a star for the Toon.

In Ligue 1 last season, the Senegal international scored seven goals and created four ‘big chances’ for his teammates in 11 starts for Marseille.

The forward, who was once dubbed “explosive” by former boss Jorge Sampaoli, ranks in the 99th percentile in Europe’s top five leagues in his position for xG per 90 (0.71), whilst also ranking in the 92nd percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 at 0.43.

Bowen, meanwhile, ranks in the 89th and 85th percentile respectively in those statistics, which suggests that Dieng may offer more of a goal threat than the Englishman if he can adapt to English football. It shows that he regularly finds the back of the net from open play and that he gets himself into great positions as he takes high-quality shots leading to high xG.

This, along with his impressive big chances created return in Ligue 1 last season, suggests that he has the potential to develop into a top player if he can improve and add consistency to his game.

Therefore, he could end up becoming Howe’s own version of Bowen if the head coach can help him to take his game to the next level – turning him into the player to fire the Toon up into the European places.

Crystal Palace have shown interest in Hamari Traore of Rennes, according to French outlet Foot Mercato (via Sport Witness).

The lowdown

Right-back Traore, 30, dons the captain’s armband for Bruno Genesio’s side in Ligue 1.

But there’s some uncertainty over his future after he entered the final 12 months of his contract.

Patrick Vieira and Palace already have a couple of options in the position in the form of Nathaniel Clyne and Joel Ward.

And The Evening Standard reported on Thursday that Palace are in talks with Manchester United as they look to bring Aaron Wan-Bissaka back to Selhurst Park.

The latest

The report states that Palace have expressed an interest in Traore, but have deemed his valuation excessive up to this point – perhaps the number could drop as Rennes face the possibility of losing him for free come the end of the window.

The player is also said to feature on Barcelona’s shortlist of right-back options.

The verdict

Unlike Wan-Bissaka, who only has 11 assists in 131 Premier League matches, Traore is a real threat going forward.

He ranks in the 97th percentile among full-backs in the big five leagues for assists per 90 (0.31) and the 84th for shots per 90 (1.04).

Only four players in Ligue 1 set up more goals than the Malian last season.

In terms of profile, he’s similar to Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson, Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko and Barcelona’ Jordi Alba (via FBRef).

CAF Online have dubbed him ‘The Malian Eagle’, which is quite fitting when you consider Crystal Palace’s nickname.

If either the South London club or Rennes change their stance in the next couple of weeks, this could be a good bit of short-term business.

According to Daily Star journalist Jacque Talbot, Wolverhampton Wanderers are set to hold more ‘conversations’ regarding a move for Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos.

The Lowdown: Wolves hold Ramos talks

Fabio Silva has joined Anderlecht on loan for the season, so Bruno Lage will be in the market for a new attacker, with the Portuguese a player that the Midlands outfit have held an interest in for the majority of the summer.

Earlier in the window, it was claimed that the Molineux side had opened talks to sign the 21-year-old, though a move has yet to come to fruition.

The Telegraph report that Premier League clubs Southampton and Newcastle United have now also joined the race for his signature, creating competition for the Old Gold, with Benfica demanding £25m to let their man go.

The Latest: Wolves set for more Ramos ‘conversations’

Asked by GiveMeSport whether Wolves would hold an advantage in the Ramos pursuit due to Jorge Mendes and their connection to Portugal, Talbot said:

“I think what Mendes does, is he takes over the mandate of these agents, he’ll offer them some money, then he brings them over to the Premier League, and that’s how he makes his money.

“I think that’s the idea, it’s through his connections, so it’s very possible. They’re definitely going to be having conversations, Wolves and Benfica.”

The Verdict: Kalajdzic alternative

Wolves are currently in talks for Sasa Kalajdzic from Stuttgart, but the two clubs are allegedly to be miles apart in their valuations, so Ramos could be the perfect striking alternative.

The 6 foot 1 star, hailed  for ‘outrageous’ end product by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, has made a rapid start to the new 2022/23 season in Lisbon, racking up five goals and four assists in just six appearances across all competitions, via Transfermarkt.

Whilst negotiations won’t come easy given his contract doesn’t expire until 2026, Ramos has all the attributes to be a revelation at Molineux if Wolves can agree a suitable fee for his services before September 1.

West Ham United are reportedly closing in on a deal for Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta after personal terms edged headed in the right direction, according to L’Equipe. 

The lowdown: Moving fast

The Hammers have well and truly stepped up their pursuit of Paqueta over the last few days as David Moyes looks to strengthen the midfield department at the London Stadium.

Subject to interest from Newcastle, Arsenal and Manchester City, the 24-year-old Brazil international has been highly sought after and as such, West Ham are hellbent on getting a transfer wrapped up swiftly.

Now, having had two bids reportedly rejected for Paqueta, it seems as though the switch is closer than ever as fresh claims from France emerge…

The latest: Personal terms ‘very close’

As per L’Equipe, West Ham and Lyon are believed to have ‘come closer’ due to the player’s talks with the Irons.

While the Ligue 1 side haven’t accepted anything yet, it’s claimed that Paqueta and the Irons are ‘not far from finalising the details’ of a deal that would see the creative Brazilian sign a deal to stay in east London until 2027.

The French media believe a ‘contractual agreement’ is ‘very close’, which could force Lyon’s hand somewhat.

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The verdict: Statement signing

Adding a player of Paqueta’s proven quality to the West Ham ranks will be a huge statement of intent from GSB, particularly following what has been a disappointing start to the 2022/23 campaign.

Albeit the midfield combination of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek has worked well previously, it’s a pairing full of industry and endeavour, with little in the way of creativity, an area the Brazilian’s arrival could solve immediately, perhaps alongside the arrival of Club Brugge captain Hans Vanaken.

Last season, the former AC Milan sensation scored 11 times and provided seven assists in 44 appearances across all competitions, earning a 7.13 average SofaScore rating whilst winning 7.3 duels, successfully completing 2.3 dribbles and making 1.2 key passes on average per game, showcasing impressive attacking and defensive acumen in the process.

Dubbed ‘really really good’ by former Arsenal and Everton striker Kevin Campbell and a potential ‘incredible signing’ amid links to Newcastle by Frank McAvennie, there can be little doubting that West Ham will have pulled off a major coup if this deal gets over the line.

The Rangers Review journalist Joshua Barrie spotted Connor Goldson ‘screaming’ at Ryan Kent during Glasgow Rangers’ Scottish Premiership game today.

The Lowdown: Bounced back

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team crucially bounced back from three consecutive defeats to beat bottom-of-the-table Dundee United 2-1 at Ibrox, in what perhaps should have been a more comfortable game for the home side.

Antonio Colak grabbed both goals from the hosts, one in each half, but Liam Smith made things nervy just before the hour mark.

The Latest: Goldson screams at Kent

Taking to Twitter, Barrie spotted Goldson ‘screaming’ at Kent during the first half, as the winger was caught up the top of the pitch after not applying enough pressure on the ball:

“Goldson screaming at Kent after getting caught up the park. Seemed to want better pressure on the ball from the winger to try and turn it over.”

The Verdict: Must do better

Despite the win, Kent will know that he must perform better if he is to keep his place in the starting eleven.

Renowned Gers podcasters Heart & Hand claimed that he offered ‘little’, and that seemed to be the case throughout the match, as he failed to really work the goalkeeper with his two shots at goal, only managed to make one successful dribble and put in no accurate crosses from out wide either (SofaScore).

The Englishman only had a mere 53 touches of the ball in total, fewer than seven of his teammates, and would not have impressed Van Bronckhorst too much with his latest display.

Sunderland podcaster Philip West was critical of Luke O’Nien after he headed the ball into his own net to give Watford a 2-1 lead in their Championship clash on Saturday afternoon.

The Lowdown: Point gained

It was a point gained for the visitors in the end as they twice had to come from behind to grab a 2-2 draw at Vicarage Road.

New signing Jewison Bennette equalised deep into the second half after O’Nien’s error, with Aji Alese grabbing the other goal for the Wearsiders after Keinan Davis had opened the scoring for the hosts.

The Latest: O’Nien criticised

O’Nien seemed to misjudge the flight of the ball after it was headed back across the six-yard box, and in the end he got it completely wrong by heading it into the corner of his own net.

Taking to Twitter after the goal was scored, West was critical of the 27-year-old despite him doing a ‘very solid’ job in the heart of Sunderland’s defence up until that point, calling it a ‘shocker’.

The podcaster tweeted: “That’s just a complete mess of a goal to concede. Luke O’Nien’s generally done a very solid job in defence, but that’s a shocker. At least make them earn their goals- can’t be gifting them a lead like that.”

The Verdict: Learn from it

Naturally a defensive midfielder, O’Nien filled in as a centre-back once more against the Hornets, and it will take time for him to get used to that position and defending in his own penalty area.

Aside from his error, he had a solid game in general, as despite losing the ball 13 times and being dribbled past twice, he also made four clearances, four tackles and three interceptions, along with winning nine of his individual duels (SofaScore).

Nonetheless, it was a mistake from which the 27-year-old will need to learn as the Black Cats head into the international break.

Wolverhampton Wanderers could be facing a mini-crisis at the heart of their defence. During the match against Manchester City last weekend, Nathan Collins was sent off following a terrible knee-high challenge on Jack Grealish.

Wolves lost the match 3-0 and losing a defender to suspension won’t exactly please Bruno Lage going forward, with the club currently short of options that can play at centre back.

Lage will have Max Kilman, Toti, and Yerson Mosquera as his only available defenders following the international break, with the latter two having not even featured this season.

There could well be movement on that front, however, with Lage hinting after the game that he might be adding an extra body to his squad…

Wolves could solve a key issue

When asked about whether he will make a move for another free agent, Lage said:

“When you miss (Willy) Boly, I think we should have the opportunity to find a good centre-back to support these two.

“Let’s see what can happen in the next days. Fifteen days ago I was talking about how it was so important to bring a striker to the team.”

This should please the Molineux faithful and with the club extensively linked with Jason Denayer, he could find himself in the Premier League soon.

The Belgian would be an excellent option for the Old Gold at short notice, even if it wasn’t a long-term deal. He played 15 matches in Ligue 1 for Lyon last season, proving to be an unlikely goal threat by scoring three times.

His ability to successfully pass the ball out from the back and begin attacks would be a big advantage for Lage, with Denayer making 95% of his passes from inside his own half and 94% overall.

The 27-year-old made 1.1 interceptions, and 0.7 tackles and was dribbled past only 0.1 times per match, displaying his strength and defensive acumen to a high standard.

His maturity was also on show throughout the season, with the defender only receiving two cautions and making just 0.5 fouls per match.

The statistics clearly prove he would be an extremely worthwhile addition to a Wolves backline that is falling apart at the seams. Having been described as “powerful” by former Lyon chief of recruitment Florian Maurice, a move would make sense for both parties.

The Belgian needs plenty of game time if he wants to be considered for his nation’s World Cup squad, while Lage is in desperate need of a commanding centre-half.

It’s a win-win for everyone.

Nottingham Forest have reportedly watched Pyramids FC winger Ibrahim Adel recently ahead of a potential move in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: 24th signing?

Steve Cooper’s side brought in a staggering 23 new players into the City Ground in the summer, as they looked to reshape the squad for the Premier League.

However, they are currently lingering in the relegation zone in the top-flight table, suggesting that they still all need time to gel together and get used to playing in the same team.

The Latest: Adel watched

Writing in his latest piece for 90min, transfer expert Graeme Bailey has revealed that Forest are one of a number of Premier League sides that have ‘watched’ Adel ahead of January, with the view of loaning him out to another side in Europe before he qualifies for a work permit to play in the UK.

Arsenal, Brentford, Brighton and Hove Albion and Liverpool are also taking a keen interest in the Egypt international, who has been labelled the ‘new Mohamed Salah’, and is set to cost at least £5m plus add-ons.

The Verdict: Get it done

Being likened to Salah, a player who has won both the Premier League and UEFA Champions League with Liverpool, and has won the Golden Boot in the former no fewer than three times (Transfermarkt), is a massive compliment to Adel.

He is still only 21 years of age, and already boasts 22 goals and nine assists in 78 games in total over all competitions for Pyramids FC (Transfermarkt).

Nonetheless, the Reds would do very well to sign him ahead of the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool, who can both offer him European football.

Aston Villa have proven in recent years that they are a club who are not afraid to splash the cash, spending roughly £143.55m in 2019/20, £91.22m in 2020/21, £116.84m in 2021/22 and £63m in the summer transfer window just gone.

However, while Nassef Sawiris, Wes Edens and Johan Lange have brought a number of big-name signings to Villa Park in recent seasons – such as Diego Carlos, Philippe Coutinho, Boubacar Kamara, Danny Ings and Emiliano Martinez – it has been one of the club’s relatively smaller-name incomings who has arguably been one of the most impressive – that of Matty Cash.

After making an initial £14m switch from Nottingham Forest back in the summer of 2020, the defender has gone from strength to strength with the Villans, not only cementing his starting spot at right-back but also earning his first international call-up for Poland, as well as attracting some very admiring glances in the transfer market.

Indeed, the full-back made an immediate impact over his 28 Premier League appearances in his debut campaign at Villa Park, helping his side keep ten clean sheets, registering two assists and creating two big chances, in addition to making an average of 2.5 tackles, 2.1 interceptions and winning 5.0 duels – at a success rate of 53% – per game.

These returns saw the 25-year-old average an impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.93, ranking him as Villa’s 12th-best performer in the top flight of English football that season.

It was a similar story over the £65k-per-week talent’s 38 league fixtures last term, with Cash helping his side keep another ten clean sheets, scoring four goals, providing three assists and creating three big chances, as well as making an average of 2.3 tackles, 1.3 interceptions, 0.9 dribbles and winning 4.2 duels – at a success rate of 64% – per game.

These returns saw the player who Ty Bracey dubbed “unreal” average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.94, ranking him as his club’s joint fourth-best performer in the Premier League last time out.

As a result of these eye-catching performances, the 25-year-old has attracted a considerable amount of interest in the transfer market, with Atletico Madrid reportedly prepared to offer Villa £40m for the right-back in the summer window – albeit while no such offer was ultimately lodged.

As such, considering his importance to the Villa side, coupled with the fact that his £40m asking price is a whopping 186% more than the £14m the club paid for his services a little over two years ago, it is clear that Lange very much hit the jackpot when signing Cash in the summer of 2020.

Former Glasgow Rangers defender Alan Hutton has suggested that Ridvan Yilmaz could leave Ibrox on loan in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Galatasaray interest

As per Turkish news outlet Takvim, Galatasaray are planning to make a loan offer for Yilmaz in January, and are closely monitoring his situation with the Gers.

The Turkey international has only made unused substitute again in the 7-1 humiliation at the hands of Premier League Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.

The Latest: Hutton reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton has admitted that it is a ‘strange’ situation with Yilmaz and the club, adding that he could look to go out on loan in January, just six months after joining:

“It is a strange situation.

“I think Rangers put out a lot of money in transfer fees to bring him in.

“I think it has taken him a little bit longer to settle.

“We are going to see more of him hopefully in the coming weeks, there are a lot of games coming up so there is opportunity for him to shine.

“I think if it goes the way it is going, and Barisic is going to be a regular starter then he might look to go out on loan.

“But something in the back of my mind tells me that Rangers have paid all this money for him they are going to try and get him in the team.

“Hopefully in the upcoming weeks we will see a little bit more of him and he can prove his worth to Rangers.“

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The Verdict: Play him more!

The solution seems simple enough, but Van Bronckhorst simply has to play Yilmaz more and start integrating him into the first team.

Barisic is far from his best form, having received plenty of criticism for his performance against Liverpool, and after spending £5m to bring Yilmaz in, the left-back should be getting more game time.

Nonetheless, with only two senior left-backs in the squad, the Light Blues should do all that they can to persuade Yilmaz to stay past January, and the best way of doing that is to give him more minutes on the pitch ahead of Barisic.