Leeds in contact with Calhanoglu’s agent

Leeds United are now in contact with Hakan Calhanoglu’s agent ahead of a possible move to Elland Road, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Transfer speculation

The Whites recently finalised their short-term manager search by bringing in Javi Gracia on a flexible contract, and it looks as if Andrea Radrizzani, the 49ers Enterprises and Victor Orta are already eyeing possible summer signings.

Reports in recent days have suggested that the club have registered their interest in Inter Milan’s Turkish midfielder, and a further update has emerged.

The Latest: Agent update

Football Insider shared an update in the last 48 hours after the speculation emerged regarding Leeds and Calhanoglu.

They claimed that the Whites are now in dialogue with the 29-year-old’s representatives after registering their interest, with the Inter midfielder potentially up for sale in the summer.

The Verdict: Fingers crossed

The Turkey international, who has been hailed as an ‘exceptional’ player by AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli, has made himself known as a free-kick specialist throughout his career.

He has been starring during the current campaign, with his average of 2.1 key passes per game (as per WhoScored) more than any Leeds player. Calhanoglu has actually outperformed the entire Whites squad when it comes to WhoScored match rating (7.07) and appears to be at the peak of his powers at the age of 29.

Therefore, he could be a shrewd prospective addition to help the club’s attacking youngsters with his creativity, and it would be fair to argue that young trio Wilfried Gnonto, Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter could all benefit from possibly having the experienced Turk in Yorkshire, so hopefully a move can materialise.

Everton must ditch Onana for James Garner

Everton’s disappointing form continued yesterday, as they twice threw away their lead to share the points with Nottingham Forest.

Although it was a spirited and much-improved display on the road, it marked a fine chance to propel themselves out of the relegation zone had they won. Yet it seemed like as the match wore on the hosts were far more likely to go on and claim victory, as the Toffees looked physically spent.

The midfield had become ragged, and the usual workmanlike trio of Idrissa Gueye, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Amadou Onana found themselves wildly overran.

However, throughout the game the latter of these became more and more anonymous, with his previous “immense” displays – as dubbed by pundit Matt Holland – eluding him. Indeed, he offered little in the way of going forward whilst hardly dominating defensively in the heart of the pitch.

It has arguably now been some time since the hulking Belgian has performed to the levels expected of him, and his place in the squad could come under scrutiny with James Garner’s imminent return.

When will James Garner be back for Everton?

Having also signed in the summer, the Manchester United academy graduate joined Goodison Park as part of Frank Lampard’s vast midfield overhaul. It was expected that the £15m man would provide ample backup for the more established members, whilst developing alongside them.

However, it quickly became clear that the energetic youngster boasted far more attacking impetus than the usual starters.

Last season the 6 foot 1 gem scored four and assisted eight from a deeper midfield role, but in his cameos for the Merseyside outfit had shown his penchant for a crunching tackle and a lung-busting run. During that campaign, Statman Dave took to Twitter to brand the 21-year-old “special”.

Having seen his progress cut short due to a back injury just before the World Cup, Sunday’s draw marked his return to the squad since as he watched from the bench.

This was a huge step forward for Garner, who Sean Dyche had revealed was nearing a return to regular football.

It will leave the £100k-per-week Onana now sweating over his place in the side, as his last five performances have failed to surpass a 6.7 Sofascore rating.

Meanwhile, it will be refreshing that the former Burnley boss now has a new profile of midfielder to deploy. Lampard himself even outlined how big of an asset this could be: “He looks a bit different to our other midfield players in his attributes; his passing, his delivery of set-pieces and shots he can get away. He is a really clean striker of the ball in a sense of his passing.”

This fresh attacking input from deep could be imperative in thwarting the offensive issues plaguing Everton, and given Onana’s recent form, he could be the one to make way as Garner makes his triumphant return.

Aston Villa: Fabrizio Romano shares Alberto Moleiro news

Fabrizio Romano has made a transfer claim on reported Aston Villa target Alberto Moleiro.

The Lowdown: Villa speculation

Unai Emery is thought to be eyeing a move for Moleiro in the summer, with Gregg Evans revealing last month that the 19-year-old is on the manager’s wishlist.

Primarily an attacking midfielder who can also play on either wing, Moleiro has registered eight assists for Las Palmas in 29 La Liga 2 games this season, with recent reports suggesting that Villa and Liverpool are currently leading the way in the race for the player’s services.

The Latest: Romano’s comments

Football Espana relayed comments from Romano’s daily CaughtOffside column regarding Moleiro on Wednesday. The transfer expert has been ‘told’ that an exit isn’t advanced at this stage, labelling the Las Palmas man as a ‘very, very talented player’.

“Very, very talented player. I’m told nothing is serious at this stage but we have rumours because La Liga, Premier League and Serie A clubs have sent their scouts to follow Moleiro recently. But it’s too early to update on his future.”

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The Verdict: Future star?

Romano appears to be a fan of Moleiro, who has also been hailed as a “magic” player who has a “very high ceiling” by Las Palmas coach Garcia Pimienta.

Still just a teenager, he could prove to be a star in the making and has already made 69 first-team appearances for his current employers.

Moleiro would provide Emery with a versatile attacking option, potentially for years to come where he could continue his development in the Midlands, so it could be one to keep an eye on despite Romano’s recent claim.

Wolves injury news: Pablo Sarabia update

Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Pablo Sarabia’s injury is ‘not expected to be serious’, according to journalist Liam Keen.

The Lowdown: Injury concerns

The Spaniard made the move to the Premier League from Paris Saint-Germain back in January and has made an instant impact at Molineux, though he’s recently been the subject of concern.

The Old Gold winger was noticeably missing from the match-day squad for the 2-1 defeat to Newcastle, with no confirmation beforehand that he’d had a problem, though a positive update has now emerged.

The Latest: Sarabia fitness update

Taking to Twitter, Keen relayed an update from Julen Lopetegui on Sarabia’s fitness after Sunday’s loss at St. James’ Park. He wrote:

“Lopetegui has confirmed Pablo Sarabia has an injury. He didn’t confirm what kind of injury, but I believe it’s his heel. The head coach also did not confirm how long he’ll be out, but it’s not expected to be serious.”

The Verdict: Boost for Lopetegui

Wolves are currently the joint lowest-scoring team in the division and need all the attacking help they can get, so Sarabia not facing a long spell on the sidelines will be a boost for Lopetegui.

The Madrid native already has one goal and a man-of-the-match award to his name and is averaging 1.4 shots per top-flight game (WhoScored).

The 30-year-old also has the flexibility to operate in an outstanding nine different positions so can play pretty much anywhere the manager requires him.

Sarabia will have a significant role to play in whether the Midlands outfit are able to maintain their top-flight status between now and the end of the season, and the boss will be delighted to have him back in the coming days and weeks.

Concern over Takehiro Tomiyasu injury for Arsenal

Charles Watts has claimed that while it remains unclear as to how long Takehiro Tomiyasu will be out injured "it looks bad" as Arsenal do their final checks before an official announcement.

What's the latest on Takehiro Tomiyasu and Arsenal?

The right-back picked up a knock in the recent Europa League match against Sporting Lisbon and was spotted leaving the Emirates on crutches.

He then missed the following game against Crystal Palace in the Premier League, which Arsenal won 4-1. Up to this stage, though, it the club are yet to officially reveal the full prognosis.

But according to Watts, it doesn't look particularly promising. Indeed, while talking on his own YouTube channel, the journalist revealed his latest understanding of the situation.

He explained (09:13) "I'm afraid Tomiyasu, again, it's not looking good. We know that…

"There's not been a kind of official announcement yet. They're still going through the final sort of checks. But it looks bad.

"All the comments coming from Arsenal are suggesting it's bad, but they're waiting to get the final results for all the tests that he's gone through."

Takehiro-Tomiyasu-Arsenal

Will Tomiyasu play against this season for Arsenal after injury?

Speaking to the press (via Evening Standard) after the Palace win, manager Mikel Arteta certainly didn't seem to sound too positive about the situation as he too waited for the final outcome of the ongoing tests on the player.

He said: “We’ve had one assessment, they need to have another assessment tomorrow, but it’s not looking good, that’s for sure.

“Looking at Tomi, he’s not someone who exaggerates things. He was really concerned straight away, and we are concerned.”

Seeing as there are now just ten games left to play before Arsenal finish their season – having been knocked out of the Europa League during the game in which Tomiyasu picked up his injury – it feels unlikely that the right-back will be fit to play again this term.

Of course, the club might get lucky but even if he can come back after a few weeks or months, it may still take him a while to get back to full fitness, leaving his window to play an important role in the rest of the season even smaller.

Ben White has actually been the first-choice right-back in north London this season, starting all but two of the 28 league games so far. But with Tomiyasu out, it puts a lot of pressure on the Englishman to stay fit for the final run-in.

Liverpool not interested in Paul Mitchell

Liverpool are not interested in bringing Monaco sporting director Paul Mitchell to the club this summer, according to reliable journalist David Lynch.

The Lowdown: New sporting director needed

The Reds are having a tough season on the pitch, with both performances and results simply not good enough and a top-four finish in the Premier League now looking more unlikely by the week.

Away from the field, Liverpool have also been going through a rocky patch, however, having been run so seamlessly during previous years of success at Anfield.

The influential Michael Edwards left his role as sporting director last year and was replaced by Julian Ward, in what looked like a natural and strong transition.

Things took a dramatic and disappointing twist when Ward announced late last year that he too would leave Liverpool at the end of this season, though, suggesting that all is not well in his role.

It means the club are now working hard on finding a successor, with Monaco’s highly-rated sporting director Mitchell recently reported as a front-runner.

The Latest: Liverpool don’t want Mitchell

According to Football Insider‘s Lynch, however, Mitchell is ‘not in the running’ for the soon-to-be-available position at Liverpool. The 41-year-old has confirmed that he will depart Monaco once this season reaches its conclusion but he won’t be heading to Anfield.

He is ‘not among the names being considered’ currently and Tottenham are thought to be eyeing up a potential move for him instead.

The Verdict: Massive appointment this summer

The role of a sporting director is so vital in the modern game, as Edwards showed during his time at the club, enjoying such a great working relationship with Jurgen Klopp and proving to be key to the signings of the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, among others.

He saw something in the pair that he felt was perfect for Liverpool, and having arrived as good players, they are now among the greatest attacking players in Reds history.

Perhaps it is a coincidence, but it is no surprise that Klopp’s side have struggled since Edwards’ exit, and with the Ward news also thrown in, some stability is badly needed this summer.

Mitchell looked to be a strong option, given his reputation as an influential figure at Monaco, but whoever the club bring in as sporting director, it has to be the correct appointment, as Liverpool look to kick on and forget about this grim season.

Chelsea could look to sign Pickford this summer

Chelsea could be interested in signing Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford at the end of this season, should he choose to leave Goodison Park.

Will Pickford stay at Everton?

The England stopper is part of a struggling Everton side who are desperately fighting to stay in the Premier League, with a tense relegation battle on the cards over the next six weeks or so. It is a huge period for so many club facing the drop and if Sean Dyche fails to steer the Blues away from safety, it could lead to a summer exodus.

There are a number of players who simply won't want to be plying their trade in the Championship next season and Pickford is undoubtedly one of them. The 29-year-old has become a key figure for both club and country, and as was the case this time last year, his performances for Everton could be so vital in the relegation fight.

Should the 'keeper decide to leave Goodison at the end of the season, there is likely to be plenty of interest, which is where Chelsea come into play.

Could England ace head to Chelsea?

According to Football Insider, Pickford will unsurprisingly depart Everton if they go down and Chelsea "have shown interest" and "could make a move" if he becomes available. The same applies to Tottenham, however, so it won't necessarily be easy for the west Londoners to get their man.

The goalkeeper situation at Stamford Bridge is far from ideal at the moment, with Edouard Mendy suffering a big fall from grace and losing his place in the team to Kepa Arrizabalaga this season. Neither are consistently top-class performers, however, and that will surely lead to Chelsea dipping into the transfer market for a new 'keeper this summer.

In Pickford, the Blues could have a strong option to bring in, with the Everton man maturing all the time as a footballer and arguably being one of England's most consistent performers during Gareth Southgate's reign as manager. He has been hailed as "outstanding" by Leon Osman and he was so impressive at the back-end of last season, making one incredible double save in a crucial win over Chelsea themselves.

He arguably isn't a world-class 'keeper, though – some may even argue that he is not a huge amount better than Mendy or Kepa, and he does have errors in him – and considering the money the Blues would likely have to spend on him, they could be wise to look at alternatives around Europe.

Rangers Dealt Blow In Pursuit Of £10k-p/w Star

Rangers have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Bordeaux striker Josh Maja, as the Ligue 2 side have the option to extend his deal if they are promoted at the end of the season, according to a report from Football Insider.

Which strikers have been linked with a move to Rangers?

Football Insider reported back in February that Rangers have a genuine interest in Maja, having previously held talks about signing him way back in 2020, when Alfredo Morelos came close to leaving Ibrox, however he is not their only transfer target. Swansea City forward Joel Piroe has also been scouted by the Light Blues for a number of weeks, having impressed in the second tier of English football, scoring 13 league goals so far this season.

The Gers' need to bring in a new striker may be accelerated by the fact that Morelos is now edging closer to an exit this summer, with the club still yet to offer the Colombian a contract extension to extend his stay beyond the end of the season.

As per a new report from Football Insider, Michael Beale is still interested in Maja, with the manager keen to bolster his frontline in the next transfer window, however a deal may be more difficult to orchestrate than first anticipated. The 24-year-old's contract is set to expire at the end of the season, meaning he should be available on a free transfer, however this will only be the case if Bordeaux fail to achieve promotion, as they retain a clause to extend his deal if they go up.

The Gers, as well as other unnamed teams in the Championship and across Europe, are now waiting to see how the situation develops, with Bordeaux currently on course to get promoted to Ligue 1, sitting inside the automatic promotion places.

Would Josh Maja be a good signing for Rangers?

Hailed as "superb" by members of the media, the London-born marksman has been vital for Bordeaux in their push for promotion, weighing in with 12 goals and four assists in 28 appearances. The former Sunderland man is at the right age to be a long-term success for Rangers, however he did struggle in a recent spell in the Championship, scoring just once in 15 league appearances for Stoke City.

Josh Maja in action with Crystal Palace's Michael Olise.

Even so, the £10k-per-week Nigerian would be a low-risk signing on a free transfer, and his goal record this season indicates he could be a decent replacement for Morelos.

However, given the Colombian's fantastic goal-scoring record for the Light Blues, netting 122 goals in 262 appearances for the club, offering him a new deal should still be the priority before the summer.

£22k p/w Bundesliga Ace Keen On Man United Transfer

Manchester United's summer target Jeremie Frimpong would be keen to make a move to Old Trafford ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

Will Man United finish in the top four?

The Red Devils got back to winning ways on the weekend to give their hopes of a spot in next season's Champions League a much-needed boost.

Erik ten Hag's side remain three points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur with a game in hand over the north London side.

However, there may be some concerns as to whether Marcus Rashford will be available for the upcoming games after he seemingly suffered a fresh injury issue.

A spot inside the top four remains in their hands and it could be crucial for the Red Devils if they are to attract some of their summer transfer targets to Old Trafford.

One name which has been linked with a potential switch to Manchester is that of Bayer Leverkusen's Frimpong after his representatives held talks with United last week.

And speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has claimed the £22k-per-week right-back would be keen on a potential move to Old Trafford in the summer window:

(3:00) "I can confirm that the player is really attracted by a possible return to the Premier League because he started his career in England and now in this case, with Manchester United it's a possibility that is really attracting the player.

"So they've had the player in the list since October/November. They sent, Manchester United, people from their scouting department to follow Jeremie Frimpong of Bayer Leverkusen.

"And so let's see if bids will arrive for Aaron Wan-Bissaka but Frimpong is one to watch and the player would be keen on the move to Manchester United."

Should United sign Frimpong?

The 22-year-old has been a key feature in the Leverkusen side this season having now racked up 27 appearances in the Bundesliga (via Transfermarkt).

And in those games he has been able to provide a seriously impressive return of eight goals and five assists having played predominantly as a right wing-back.

However, there could be an issue for Ten Hag's men ahead of the summer with the believed interest also coming from Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Jeremie Frimpong plays for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.

The two European sides top their respective leagues and are looking certain to be playing in the Champions League ahead of the new season.

On the other hand, United's spot inside the top four is by no means secure with the Red Devils still to play Tottenham later this month.

It will be intriguing to see whether Frimpong's future could potentially be determined on whether United are able to seal a spot in next season's elite European football.

With the draw of playing for Barcelona and even the potential switch across Germany to Bayern in a league where he has so comfortably adapted since moving from Celtic.

United have seen Jadon Sancho come over from the Bundesliga and fail to hit the heights expected of him, however, there could be some confidence taken from the shared interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs.

Arsenal’s £60k-p/w Star Has Gone From Hero To Zero

Arsenal might have counted a draw at Anfield as a success, given their troubles at that ground in the past, but to relinquish another 2-0 lead at West Ham United is not quite as understandable.

David Moyes’ men had been hammered 5-1 in their last home encounter against Newcastle United, and when the Gunners scored twice inside ten minutes, the home fans must have feared another drubbing.

However, whether it be through complacency or a mentality issue, Mikel Arteta had to watch his team throw it all away, thus handing Manchester City a golden opportunity to reclaim the Premier League crown.

The contrast between the two games was mainly down to just how busy Aaron Ramsdale was in the clash on Merseyside compared to his return to the capital, as a draw arguably flattered the title-chasing outfit in the former.

Many rushed to laud the former Sheffield United shot-stopper as the sole reason for picking up a vital point after his stunning succession of saves from Mo Salah and Ibrahima Konate. However, as is always the way with players in such an important role, one mistake can so easily see your stock plummet.

From being their Anfield hero one week, the 24-year-old did not take long to be dragged down to a zero at the London Stadium.

How did Aaron Ramsdale play vs West Ham United?

With a 6.91 average rating this season, Ramsdale has held himself to impressively high standards across a campaign that could still end with the ultimate silverware.

It marks a meteoric rise from back-to-back relegation with the Blades and AFC Bournemouth. Despite that, at £24m Arteta saw value in the youngster, and he has been the number one at the Emirates ever since.

Upholding an average of 2.4 saves per match, whilst keeping 12 clean sheets in the league, few could question his dependability as the last line of defence. However, against the Hammers that was unfortunately not the case.

arsenal-west-ham-united-premier-league

Earning a 6.3 rating, of which only two others on the field recorded lower, the goalkeeper was surprisingly unconvincing at the back for his side. He would make just one save and one punch all game, and yet when truly called upon, the £60k-per-week ace went missing.

With Arsenal on the back foot as West Ham pushed for an equaliser, Jarrod Bowen’s volleyed snapshot should have been a comfortable effort for Ramsdale to push aside. However, it instead squirmed in at his near post, leaving him remonstrating with the linesman for respite that would never come.

Journalist Josh Bunting then suggested that: “Aaron Ramsdale has to do better there at his near post though.”

From last game’s four-save display, many of which were truly outstanding stops, yesterday marked a vicious downturn.

As aforementioned, the goalkeeping position will always remain as such, where one mistake can define a performance; no other role on the pitch warrants that kind of scrutiny.

However, when fighting for elite honours, everyone has to be faultless. They cannot afford to switch off, and given that Arteta’s number one clearly did at this moment, it cements his fall from hero to zero in the space of just one week.

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