Wolves: Fosun plans for Neves money revealed

Despite selling club captain Ruben Neves for big money this month, Wolverhampton Wanderers are "not looking like" they will reinvest the money into players over the summer, claims transfer insider Dean Jones.

Wolverhampton Wanderers transfer news – what's the latest?

The Old Gold confirmed that after six years at the club, they had completed the sale of club captain Neves earlier this month, in a deal that reportedly earned the club a hefty transfer fee of £47m.

Ruben Neves Wolves

Usually, when a team sells a vital player for such a significant fee, a good portion of the proceeds are reinvested into new transfers to help rebuild the squad.

Unfortunately for Wolves fans, that isn't going to be the case this time.

On June 15th, Sporting Director Matt Hobbs updated fans on the club's plans for the coming window.

On the transfer front, Hobbs confirmed that Wolves would be looking to minimise spending this year as they try to operate "within FFP limitations" and operate on the basis that "players will leave before we can bring new faces in."

It's a strategy in stark contrast to the side's previous summers of high spending and reportedly shocked manager Julen Lopetegui, leading to 'genuine fears' he would walk away from the job, per the Athletic.

Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui

Luckily for club fans, the Telegraph confirmed that after considering his options, he informed the club about his commitment to staying and making the best of their situation.

The new strategy for Wolves, as revealed by journalist John Percy, will be to target players within the £8m-£15m price range, which, if the current market is anything to go by, completely rules out any big names.

What has Jones said about Wolverhampton Wanderers' transfer situation?

Jones wasn't optimistic about the prospect of Wolves bringing in any like-for-like replacements for Neves this summer.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: "You'd like to think Wolves would now be able to go and sign some high-profile replacements. But unfortunately, that's not looking like the case."

Why are Wolverhampton Wanderers at risk of breaching financial rules?

The major concern for the Midlands outfit is their mounting 'losses' over the previous three years.

According to the rules, no Premier League team can lose more than £105m over a three-year period, and at the end of 2022, Wolves had already posted losses of £46.1m.

Their record of spending big over the last few years makes things even more precarious.

Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves.

Last summer, the team paid fees amounting to £115m for just four permanent signings, of which none have been a massive success as the club was embroiled in a relegation scrap for much of the season.

That spending, combined with their previous losses, is the primary reason Wolves won't be splashing the cash this summer, even with the windfall from Neves' sale.

Man United To Table £42.8m Bid For Chelsea ‘Keeper Target

Manchester United could finally make an official approach for goalkeeper Andre Onana this week, with La Gazzetta dello Sport, via The Faithful MUFC, reporting a bid is expected to be tabled soon.

How many games has Andre Onana played?

The shot-stopper joined up with Inter at the beginning of the 2022/23 season and has already made quite the impression at the club after his switch from Ajax. It didn't take him long to establish himself as their first-choice in goal, with the player managing a total of 24 league appearances, conceding 24 along the way.

His eight clean sheets ranked within the top ten goalkeepers in the division, and while it wasn't enough to help his side to a Serie A title – they ended up in third place – he did also help them get to the Champions League final.

These performances for the Italian side have now led to interest from afar. Currently, it is Manchester United who have taken the driving seat in the race to add Onana to their squad – the Red Devils are in pole position to beat Chelsea to his signature, although no official bid has yet been tabled.

Have Manchester United made a bid for Andre Onana?

According to a report from La Gazzetta dello Sport, via The Faithful MUFC, the Premier League side are now preparing to make their official bid for the goalkeeper this week.

Inter are keen to flog their number one shot-stopper, purely because they want the funds from his sale to make their own move for Romelu Lukaku. It means they are now prepared to consider and accept an offer from United, and it seems as though the Glazers could be about to offer 50 million Euros (£42.8m) to get him to move to Old Trafford. Indeed, a formal bid is expected in from the United owners this week.

It would be a good deal for United if they could land the former Ajax man for around that price, as those around him have often recognised his talents and feel that Onana has plenty to offer a club.

Torino 'keeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic stated that the 6 foot 3 Cameroon star is "excellent" and has a "brilliant future" in the game based on his performances already. At just 27-years-old – relatively young for a shot-stopper – he's already achieved plenty and could get even better.

With Man United potentially taking a chance on the Inter man, he could soon have the chance to prove his abilities in the Premier League too.

Man City: Guardiola Eyeing Dream Bernardo Silva Heir In £129m-rated "Machine"

Manchester City have made enquiries to Real Madrid over the possible signing of midfielder Fede Valverde, per TEAMtalk.

Manchester City transfer news – Fede Valverde

The arrival of Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid has meant English clubs including City have checked in on the potential availability of the Uruguay star.

TEAMtalk claim that the Premier League champions, as well as Chelsea and Liverpool, have all made enquiries with the LaLiga giants about Valverde and to those close to the player, but the message that Valverde does not want to leave, and that Real do not want to sell either.

Valverde has won a haul of trophies with Los Blancos, including LaLiga twice and the Champions League once. He also added the Copa Del Rey to his trophy cabinet this season.

Real Madrid's Federico Valverde in action.

This season, his game time was split almost equally between a central midfield role and one on the right wing.

With the potential for City to lose both Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva this summer, Valverde could be a perfect fit for Pep Guardiola and with newfound competition in the engine room at the Bernabeu, this rumour is surely likely to rumble on throughout the summer.

Valverde could be the perfect Bernardo Silva replacement

Valverde has been crucial to Real Madrid in recent years, this includes an assist for Vinicius Jr’s Champions League final-winning goal against Liverpool in 2022.

The 24-year-old machine joined Los Blancos' academy in 2016 from Uruguayan club Penarol for a mere £4.5m, and it is now worth an estimated €150m (£129m), according to CIES Football Observatory

England and Chelsea legend Joe Cole spoke glowingly of Valverde’s quality on BT Sport as he compared him to the incoming Bellingham.

“He’s at the top of the young players alongside Jude Bellingham, and he’s about to become the best," the pundit said. “We talk a lot about Bellingham in England, but this kid is as good as he is.”

Silva has been linked with moves away from the Etihad this summer, most notably to clubs in Saudi Arabia. Gundogan, meanwhile, is closing in on a move to Madrid's rivals Barcelona, meaning Guardiola will have a lack of options in midfield.

If the Spaniard does lose a player of Silva’s quality, Valverde would be one hell of a replacement.

It’s hard to understate the importance of Silva since his arrival at the Etihad Stadium from Monaco in 2017. The winger has played over 300 games for the Citizens, contributing as many as 55 goals and 59 assists, per Transfermarkt.

The wide-man has also made 82 appearances for his native Portugal, and has won almost all there is to win in English football during his time at the Etihad Stadium. Silva is a five-time Premier League winner, two-time FA Cup winner, and four-time League Cup winner. Now after defeating Inter Milan in the final in Istanbul, he is also a Champions League and treble winner with the Citizens.

If Silva does leave, Valverde must be a top priority, given the similarities in playing position and statistical profile.

Manchester City'sIlkayGundoganand Bernardo Silva

As per FBref, the Madrid maestro ranks among the top 5% of all midfielders across Europe's top-five divisions over the last year for non-penalty expected goals and assists, averaging 0.39 per 90. This is actually more than Silva in Guardiola's squad. Both are in the top 9% for progressive carries per 90, with the City man just getting the nod.

Having been lauded as an "absolute machine" by journalist Raj Chohan, the Uruguyauan star poses clear and obvious qualities that will be of interest to Guardiola and his coaching staff and if Silva were to leave the Etihad, then this tentative interest must be revisited with a firmer force.

If any club right now has the pulling power to change Valverde’s mind, it’s Man City and Guardiola.

Manchester United Make Contact To Sign Declan Rice

Manchester United have made an enquiry for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, according to reports.

What’s the latest Declan Rice transfer news?

Rice’s future has been a hot topic of conversation during the transfer window, with a move to Premier League rivals Arsenal seemingly his preferred destination.

The 24-year-old, who former West Ham defender James Collins has hailed as "outstanding" and "incredible", allegedly agreed on personal terms over a move to the Emirates Stadium at the beginning of the month, however, shaking hands on a transfer fee has proven tricky.

The Gunners have had two offers for the West Ham star turned down already, the second of which was worth an initial £75m fee plus a further £15m in add-ons.

Premier League champions Manchester City also appear to be in the race for the central midfielder, and it looks as if those at Old Trafford have made their first move for Rice.

The Daily Mail’s Chief Football Reporter Sami Mokbel shared an update regarding Rice’s future on Thursday evening, where the Red Devils received a mention.

He claimed that Man United have made an enquiry for Rice in recent days and are considering offering a £40m fee plus defender Harry Maguire and winger Anthony Elanga. The reporter adds that United are outsiders in the race, with Arsenal in pole position for the England international’s services.

Declan Rice

Are Mason Mount and Declan Rice best friends?

The Red Devils appear to be closing in on signing Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount in a deal worth £60m after further talks between the two clubs.

The England international has agreed on a five-year deal in Manchester worth £200,000-a-week, and it looks as if United officials are now looking into bringing Mount’s best friend to Old Trafford.

Mount and Rice have been boyhood best friends since the age of 12 after coming through the academy at Chelsea but have only been able to play in the same side at senior level when representing England. Therefore, should United’s ambitious move for Rice come off, you’d expect the pair could feature heavily in midfield under Erik ten Hag on a weekly basis.

However, United still have a lot of work to do before that materialises with Rice and West Ham, and you’d expect that the Hammers may want more than £40m, even if a potential move included Maguire and Elanga after turning down a £90m offer from Arsenal, making this one to watch.

Leeds Could Land "Outstanding" £9m Ayling Heir

Leeds United are setting up for a transformative summer with the 49ers takeover completed and the new owners keen to quickly fix the many issues at Elland Road to ensure a rapid return to Premier League football.

The Whites are still without a manager and a sporting director at present which will be an increasingly pressing concern for the club as they need to invest as much time as they can into rebuilding the squad, especially with a number of departures expected after suffering relegation last month.

Leeds are keen on a number of managerial candidates including Scott Parker, Brendan Rodgers, Daniel Farke, Steven Gerrard and Carlos Corberan, but are yet to put a foot firmly forward for one of them as they continue to deliberate.

Whilst the new manager will likely play a huge part in the recruitment over the summer transfer window, the lack of a leading figure has not stopped Leeds from being linked with a number of players who could become part of the new chapter at Elland Road.

One player who was linked to a move to West Yorkshire last week is Fenerbahce ace Bright Osayi-Samuel; a versatile talent who could become a huge asset to the club in their Championship campaign next season.

Who is Bright Osayi-Samuel?

The 25-year-old talent is no stranger to the second tier after rising through the ranks of Blackpool's youth academy before making the move to Queens Park Rangers where he spent four years.

Now, Osayi-Samuel is plying his trade in the Süper Lig with Fenerbahce where they finished second this season and just yesterday the Istanbul-based club won the Turkish League Cup.

The Nigeria international has a wealth of experience on the right flank – whether that be right midfield, right-back or right wing – offering huge flexibility in positioning which could be massively beneficial to the next Leeds manager when setting up his team over a very long Championship campaign and ensuring there is enough depth in key positions.

osayi-samuel-fenerbahce-championship-leeds-transfers

Not only that, the 25-year-old whiz – who has a reported price tag of €10m (£9m) – could be the ideal heir for Luke Ayling if he can step into the 31-year-old's shoes comfortably in the deeper right-sided position.

A need for a long-term replacement for Ayling is a real priority as the Englishman "just isn't good enough" – according to journalist Tomi Oladipo – with the former Bristol City dud having recorded an average match rating of just 6.60 in 2022/23, according to Sofascore, ranking him 20th among the current Leeds squad.

Over 23 league appearances, Osayi-Samuel – by contrast – has shown glimpses of his talent, despite limited game time, with an 85% pass completion rate and the majority of his duels won (51%), as well as averaging 39.4 touches and 20.2 accurate passes per game.

Before heading to Turkey, the Nigerian was the subject of high praise from his former QPR manager Mark Warburton, who highlighted some of the player's assets following a strong performance against Cardiff City:

"He was outstanding. He's got that sheer pace which terrifies defenders and when he uses it wisely like he did today he looks a real handful."

With that being said, an opportunity to return to England will surely be an attractive prospect for Osayi-Samuel and if Leeds can secure a cheap deal this summer there is no reason why he could be a valuable squad member next season, providing competition for Ayling next season and potentially developing into his successor.

Tottenham Dreaming Of Signing "Sensational" £30m Star

Tottenham Hotspur are dreaming of signing Galatasaray's Nicolo Zaniolo, who could be on the move this summer, according to recent reports from Italy.

Which midfielders could Tottenham sign?

Tottenham have their eye on a new attacking midfielder this summer, having now opened talks with Leicester City's James Maddison, with Ange Postecoglou giving the green light to make a move for the England international.

Sporting CP's Pedro Goncalves has also been linked with a move to north London, while Postecoglou could look to raid his former club for Celtic's Reo Hatate, who he signed for the Hoops back in December 2021.

Zaniolo told AS Roma he wanted to leave back in January, amid interest from Spurs, however after signing for Galatasaray for an initial €16.5m (£14.1m), the Italian could already be on the move again this summer.

According to a report from TuttoJuve (via Sport Witness), the Lilywhites are battling Aston Villa for the 23-year-old, and he has an offer on the table from the Premier League, although it is not specified which club has made a bid.

The midfielder has a €35m (£30m) release clause included in his contract, and the interested clubs will have to work out whether they are willing to match that, or they may try and persuade Galatasaray to do another deal.

AC Milan and Juventus would like to propose a loan move, or potentially a swap deal, however the price tag is unlikely to pose as much of an issue for Tottenham.

Is Nicolo Zaniolo leaving Galatasaray?

Although he has only been a Galatasaray player for a matter of months, and he is contracted until 2027, the release clause in the Italy international's contract means he could be on the move this summer, if the interested clubs are willing to shell out £30m.

Since making the move to Turkey, the former Roma man has been very impressive, scoring five goals in ten Super Lig games, however he did not perform quite as well for his previous club prior to his departure.

With an average WhoScored match rating of just 6.21, the maestro was ranked among the worst-performing players for Roma in the Serie A last season, registering just one goal contribution in 13 games.

Zaniolo's performances in Turkey indicate that he clearly has quality, however his failure to produce in Italy this season should be a worry for Postecoglou, as it suggests he may not be ready to make the step up to the Premier League.

Man Utd Could Inherit Dynamite £972k p/w Midfield Duo

Manchester United have done what they set out to do this season by securing qualification for the 2023/24 edition of the Champions League in what has been an impressive debut campaign in charge for Erik Ten Hag.

The Dutchman has also achieved Carabao Cup glory this term. He will have the chance to bag a second piece of silverware this weekend when the Red Devils take on bitter rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.

Once the dust settles following a long season for Manchester United, their attention will turn towards sizing up potential additions in the summer transfer window.

As per 90min, Manchester United were keen on bringing Barcelona midfielder Frenkie De Jong to Old Trafford and even made an offer to try and secure his services.

Mundo Deportivo via The Daily Express have given the Red Devils some fresh hope of reviving their interest in the Netherlands international, detailing that Barcelona may try to renegotiate De Jong's terms at Spotify Camp Nou amid rumours that the Catalan giants may have to recoup £176 million in the off-season before being able to sanction their transfer business.

Why is Frenkie De Jong so highly rated and should Manchester United pursue him?

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Dean Jones thinks that De Jong would be a sensible signing from Manchester United that would fit Ten Hag's vision at the club more than someone like Neymar, who the Red Devils have been linked with recently.

Jones told FFC: "De Jong is a better signing than Neymar for Manchester United because he fits with the ethos of what and how he's actually trying to build. If you sign Neymar, it's not fixing any of the problems that you've got and it's also changing the dynamic of the dressing room in a way that might end up being negative."

ESPN reported earlier this year that Manchester United are not completely closed off to 'reigniting their interest' in De Jong and shared quotes from manager Ten Hag praising the player, as the 53-year-old stated: "Frenkie is an incredible player and for every club in the whole world he will strengthen the squad because he has a unique quality. "If you can get him in the squad your team will be stronger. In Spain he became even better. He's a fantastic player, plays out from the back, he always has time and it was a pleasure to work with him."

frenkie-de-jong-barcelona-manchester-united

In 2022/23, the 26-year-old has made 42 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona and managed to register two goals and four assists, as per Transfermarkt.

There is an argument to say that De Jong could be a perfect partner in crime for Casemiro, potentially playing in a double-pivot style system with Bruno Fernandes helping to support attacking phases of play slightly higher up in either a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 variation, which can sometimes be Ten Hag's go to, as per SPORF.

WhoScored shows that by comparing Casemiro and De Jong not to see who is better but rather looking at how they have both become consistent assets for their respective sides, you will find that they have achieved the exact same average match rating of 7.17 this term for their exploits on the pitch.

De Jong, who could cost around £63 million, ranks highly in his pass success rate, standing at 91.3%, which could bring some added composure in midfield and let Casemiro deal with winning duels. On the ground, the Brazil international who earns £350k-a-week at the Red Devils has snapped into 3.2 tackles per match across the campaign.

FBRef illustrates that De Jong is also a competent figure when it comes to providing chances to his teammates, having successfully carried out 109 shot-creating actions in La Liga in total.

Cited by Barca TV via The Manchester Evening News, Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo heaped praise on the former Ajax man in an interview, stating: "Here is the best midfielder in the world, Frenkie de Jong!"

With Manchester United known to be in the market for several additions this summer, bringing in £622k-a-week earner De Jong would be a masterstroke by Ten Hag and would potentially create a dynamite duo by fielding him beside Casemiro at Old Trafford.

Arsenal could sign "monster" in £61m swoop

Arsenal are expected to have a busy summer, after the Gunners narrowly missed out on securing their first Premier League title since 2004.

With one game remaining, it has overall been a successful campaign for Mikel Arteta’s side, who fell agonisingly short in the final months that saw Manchester City claim the title once more.

Lack of squad depth was a huge factor to Arsenal’s downfall, with the injury to William Saliba proving costly at a time when stability was essential.

Now, with the summer window approaching, it’s expected that the north Londoners will look to recruit in defence for depth to go again with big aspirations next season.

One name has been linked with a potential move to the Emirates this week, as a Bundesliga centre-back has emerged as a target.

What’s the latest on Edmond Tapsoba to Arsenal?

As reported by Fabrizio Romano earlier this week, Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Edmond Tapsoba has been monitored by scouts representing Arsenal.

The Gunners aren’t the only club in north London eyeing the 24-year-old, as Tottenham have also scouted the defender with the race remaining “absolutely open”, as per Romano.

It was reported by BILD in 2021 that Leverkusen had demanded a fee in the region of €70m (£61m).

What could Edmond Tapsoba bring to Arsenal?

Hailed as a “monster” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Tapsoba has shone for Leverkusen this season, cementing himself as a firm starter for the Bundesliga side.

The young defender has marshalled at the back, but has been praised for attributes beyond the art of defending in relation to his comfort on the ball and “very good” footballing IQ.

Described as being an “elite ball-player” by members of the media, the 24-year-old would be a perfect fit in Arteta’s plans going forward, with the Gunners in dire need for strength in quality at the back.

Despite the position of Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes looking untouchable now, it would undoubtedly benefit the squad to provide some competition for places, with no players in Arsenal’s ranks able to consistently reach the heights of the two first choices.

edmond-tapsoba-transfer-arsenal-gossip-john-stones-guardiola-van-dijk-arteta-edu

When you review the success of Pep Guardiola’s defence, a lot of performance has been raised in having a group of equally talented defenders rivalling each other for a shot at consistent game time.

Arteta could replicate the strict competition at the Etihad through smart recruitment, and with Tapsoba potentially in a position to be lured away from Leverkusen this summer, Arsenal would be missing a trick in not snatching him up.

The Burkina Faso international suits the Spaniard’s favoured attributes as a ball-playing centre-back, as highlighted by FBref through his numbers, averaging 5.82 progressive passes per 90, ranking him in the top 4% of centre-backs in Europe in this skill.

The Bundesliga talent actually tops Gabriel in his progressive play, and also in some defensive areas, averaging 1.71 tackles and 1.15 interceptions per 90 to the Brazilian’s average 1.29 tackles and 0.87 interceptions – as per FBref.

Inducing competition to a stable area of a squad not only enhances performance but increases depth and expands ideas on a game-to-game basis, as managers can plot their next moves dependent on the opponent, reducing predictability.

As a player expected to be in demand this summer, Arsenal should act fast in their pursuit of Tapsoba when the window opens, who could undoubtedly be a strong addition to their squad.

Newcastle team news vs Man City

Chris Waugh is buzzing over some early Team News for Newcastle United before they play Manchester City away from home in the Premier League.

The Lowdown: Wilson return?

Speaking in his pre-game press conference ahead of the match (via The Athletic), Eddie Howe revealed that Callum Wilson has been training all week, and looks ‘very good’ from a physical perspective.

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The former Burnley and AFC Bournemouth manager then added that there is a ‘good chance’ that he will be involved against the reigning top-flight champions.

The Latest: Waugh buzzing

Taking to Twitter, The Athletic journalist Waugh was left buzzing when he heard the news from Howe:

“Callum Wilson looks like he may be available for Sunday, which is a huge boost for NUFC.”

The Verdict: Relief

It will certainly comes as a relief to both Howe and the Toon Army that Wilson seems to have recovered well from an injury that has ruled him out since December.

He still remains their top scorer in the Premier League with six goals so far this season, and to have any chance of getting anything against a wounded City side, you would think that Wilson would have to feature.

Nonetheless, with safety all but secured in the top flight, this is about the Magpies now finishing off the term strongly ahead of what could be a very exciting summer transfer window at St. James’ Park.

In other news, find out which former Sunderland ace NUFC are now eyeing here!

Mane set to be offered new Liverpool deal

Liverpool superstar Sadio Mane is set to be offered a new Reds deal at the end of the season, according to journalist Graeme Bailey.

The Lowdown: Mane out of contract soon

The Senegalese has been one of the star men of the Jurgen Klopp era, wreaking havoc in the Premier League and Champions League, and becoming arguably one of the greatest players in the club’s history.

Mane is out of contract at the end of next season though, leading to concern about his deal running down and him eventually leaving on a free transfer next summer.

The hope is that he is given the chance to extend his stay, however, and that seems increasingly likely after a fresh update.

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The Latest: Huge update

Writing for Anfield Watch, Bailey, a transfer insider for 90min and TEAMtalk, confirmed that Liverpool would offer Mane a new deal once the current campaign reaches its climax:

“As it stands, Liverpool have told Mane that he will be waiting until the summer before he gets an offer on a new contract.”

The Verdict: No-brainer for Liverpool

Mane has been hailed as a ‘world-class’ footballer by Jurgen Klopp and that remains the case, with the 30-year-old scoring 21 goals so far this season.

Extending his stay at Liverpool makes complete sense, with his fitness levels and drive meaning he should still remain at the top for several years to come.

It would be a huge shock if Mane wasn’t offered a new deal and also if he didn’t choose to sign it – he and the Reds continue to be a match made in heaven, while Klopp’s contract extension should only heighten the chances of his No.10 staying on.

In other news, a pundit has dropped a ‘massive’ Liverpool claim. Read more here.

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