All posts by z3u9t.icu

Newcastle United have a concrete interest in signing Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot this summer, but multiple Premier League teams are also eyeing moves, according to a report.

What's the latest Newcastle transfer news?

With Newcastle in a fantastic position to qualify for next year's Champions League, Eddie Howe has started to look at options to strengthen his midfield, and Manchester United's Scott McTominay is said to be on the manager's radar.

The Magpies are also looking at options from further afield, and they are set to send scouts to watch Sporting CP's Manuel Ugarte, but there is likely to be a battle for his signature, with Liverpool named as potential suitors.

OGC Nice's Khephren Thuram is another target to bolster the midfield, although he will not come cheap, as Foot Mercato have recently reported his current club could now be set to demand at least €60m (£52m) to sanction his departure.

One potential low-cost alternative to Thuram is Rabiot, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season, meaning he will be available on a free transfer, but there could be stiff competition for his signature.

According to a report from CalcioMercato (via Sport Witness), several Premier League clubs hold a concrete interest in the Frenchman, including Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United, while Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona headline the interest from abroad.

The report claims that Howe tried to sign the Juventus star in January 2022, but failed, however, Newcastle should stand a better chance of winning the race for his signature now, given that their new project is now well-defined.

Who will Rabiot sign for?

With so many of Europe's top clubs interested in the 28-year-old, he will face a very difficult decision in the summer, however, you'd like to think the Magpies could stand a good chance, particularly if they qualify for the Champions League.

The £149k-per-week maestro has certainly earned a move, considering he is ranked as Juventus' best-performing player in the Serie A, averaging a 7.15 WhoScored match rating, largely due to the contributions he has made in attack.

With 11 goals and four assists to his name, the "sensational" midfielder, as dubbed in the media, has weighed in with the second-highest number of goal contributions in the squad, while he is also competent defensively, ranking in the 83rd percentile for clearances per 90 over the past year.

Considering the progress Newcastle have made this season, there is every chance they could win the race for Rabiot's signature, and he could be an excellent addition to the squad.

Aston Villa have made contact regarding a potential summer deal to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Hwang Hee-Chan, according to reports.

Who is Hwang Hee-Chan?

Hwang is a South Korean international who permanently arrived in the Premier League from RB Leipzig last summer following a successful loan period at Molineux the season before, as per Transfermarkt, where he’s since clocked up 63 appearances across both spells to date.

The Old Gold forward still has another three years remaining on his contract, but having established himself as Julen Lopetegui’s third best-performing offensive player this campaign, has caught the eye of Unai Emery.

The Midlands outfit comfortably secured their safety in the top-flight weeks ago now, but as a result of experiencing issues with Financial Fair Play, they could be forced to cash in on some of their most prized assets to help balance the books during the upcoming window, the 27-year-old being one of them, which has alerted the manager to his potential availability.

Who is signing Hwang?

According to The Mirror, Aston Vila have “registered an interest” in landing Hwang alongside AS Roma, with Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United also “monitoring” his situation in the Premier League. Wolves are “under pressure” to decrease the size of their squad in the weeks and months ahead with it being stated that some players “will have to be sold”.

Lopetegui is “loathe to lose” the striker, but he wants all of his transfer business to be completed “as quickly as possible”, so NSWE will therefore have to “show their hands” soon should they want to reach an agreement.

Would Hwang be a good signing for Villa?

Aston Villa will know that Hwang only made 12 Premier League starts in 2022/23 due to sustaining a hamstring injury earlier in the term, but he’s still shown what a “dangerous” poacher he can be when fit, as hailed by Sky Sports pundit Kevin Campbell, so he has the potential to be a great addition for Emery.

The World Cup participant, who currently pockets £30k-per-week, posted seven goal contributions (four goals and three assists) across all competitions this season, but he’s also capable of getting stuck in defensively, ranking in the 99th percentile for most tackles and blocks.

Finally, Hwang would add wonderful versatility to the Spaniard’s squad with his ability to operate in five different positions over the grass, including out wide on both flanks and even deeper in the midfield alongside his natural centre-forward role, and he would only develop even further under the guidance of Emery at Villa Park.

Liverpool have reportedly secured an agreement with Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister after a breakthrough in negotiations.

Jurgen Klopp is pushing FSG and the club hierarchy to get three signings done by the start of pre-season and they've now taken a big step towards doing so.

What's the latest transfer news on Alexis Mac Allister?

Liverpool have made a breakthrough by reaching an agreement on personal terms with Mac Allister, according to Football Insider, after the midfielder bid farewell to Brighton following the Seagulls' 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on the final day of the Premier League season.

The 24-year-old looks set to join Liverpool after the Reds reached an agreement with his representatives over a contract worth more than £150,000-a-week. Fbref claims he currently earns a third of that with Brighton.

Football Insider claims a source reports the deal is "99% done" and with Liverpool, and by extension owners FSG, now negotiating with Brighton over a £60million transfer fee, "only the formalities" remain.

Why is Mac Allister a good fit for Liverpool?

Among the many reasons why Klopp would be very happy to work with Mac Allister, hailed as a "magician" by Danny Welbeck, could be due to his versatility, with the World Cup winner turning out in defensive, central and attacking midfield roles this season.

The Reds appear to need new additions in the middle of the park with the likes of James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all leaving Anfield when their contracts expire this summer. As per WhoScored, Mac Allister actually outperformed every Liverpool midfielder this season, scoring 10 Premier League goals, more than any Seagulls player and ranking highly for tackles per 90, showing how he can be effective at both ends of the pitch.

Paul Ince, who interviewed the Brighton star after he scored a 96th-minute penalty against Manchester United to win the game, recently waxed lyrical over Mac Allister's attitude and called him a "very talented player".

"For me, it’s not just about the goal. Watching you play tonight, it’s your work rate, your passing ability, you’re just an all-round player, you know?

"But, it’s not about him, it’s about the team ethic and he works within that. He’s happy to tow the line, he’s happy to do the dirty bit of football, but he’s also a very, very talented player."

Liverpool are working hard to bounce back after a lacklustre season, and it looks as if Mac Allister could be the first of a few midfield signings this summer, something which could be music to Reds supporters' ears.

Aston Villa are still showing an interest in signing Atletico Madrid superstar Joao Felix during the summer transfer window, according to a fresh update.

What is Joao Felix's contract and salary?

The £235,000-a-week Portuguese arguably hasn't yet hit the heights many predicted of him a few years ago, having won the prestigious European Golden Boy award back in 2019.

Felix made the move to Chelsea on loan back in January, having struggled to consistently make an impact at Atletico, but his time at Stamford Bridge was largely underwhelming. Granted, he was playing for an out-of-sorts team were low on both quality and confidence, but a tally of four goals in 16 Premier League appearances was still a forgettable return.

It doesn't look as though the Blues will take up the offer of signing the 23-year-old permanently this summer, so instead, he will return to Atletico but looks likely to depart again and perhaps permanently this time, despite his contract not expiring until 2027.

Villa have been linked with a move for Felix recently, and it looks as though their interest isn't showing any sign of waning.

Will Villa sign Felix?

According to Onda Cero [via Sport Witness], both the Villans and Tottenham "could be interested" in snapping up the Portugal international this summer, with Atletico set to deem him surplus to requirements.

There is a possible issue surrounding a move for Felix, however, with the report stating that the youngster "only wants teams qualified in the Champions League".

Felix is undoubtedly a huge talent, having been hailed as "special" by Alvaro Morata and "complete" by Diego Simeone in the past, so the thought of Villa signing him is a mouthwatering one.

He possesses genuine star talent and he could thrive by being the main man at Villa Park, raising the level of those around him and spearheading their charge in Europe next season. There are question marks surrounding him, given the manner in which he has struggled to reach expectations levels, but at 23, he is still so young and could be a superstar addition for years to come.

That being said, it does feel unlikely that Villa, or Spurs for that matter, will be able to entice him to the club, considering he seemingly only has eyes on playing Champions League football. The lure of playing under the much-revered Unai Emery could be the one thing given them a chance of signing him, though.

Tottenham could be handed an immediate blow to their pre-season planning with the “huge news” that youth coach Yaya Toure has been approached to become the new assistant manager at Standard de Liege.

What's the latest Tottenham news?

The Lilywhites are sure to be busy this summer as they prepare for Ange Postecoglou’s first season at the helm, with a number of outgoings and incomings expected both on and off the pitch.

Eight senior players are returning from loan spells – including the likes of Djed Spence, Bryan Gil and Destiny Udogie – while Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski will make their loan moves permanent, and that’s all before you even start looking at new players.

Off the pitch meanwhile, the new boss was expected to bring in his former Celtic number two, John Kennedy, but that move has been met with stern resistance from the Glasgow club.

And it looks like Postecoglou and Daniel Levy could be shopping for a new academy coach soon too, with Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri revealing Toure could now leave.

“Huge news for Standard Liege,” he said. “It is Yaya Toure who has been approached to become Carl Hoefkens first assistant.”

Is Yaya Toure a good manager?

The Manchester City legend joined the Spurs youth ranks back in August of 2022, and has certainly left a positive impression on coaches who know him, with former Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira saying Toure will now “easily” become a top level manager.

The 40 year-old has recently admitted however that he would like a “new challenge”, and an assistant role for a senior top flight side is certainly a logical step up from academy coaching, and could then lead to his first chance at the helm somewhere.

With that admission in mind, it seems quite likely that Toure will jump at Liege’s approach, handing Postecoglou early upheaval in his backroom staff very early into his Tottenham reign, and it will be interesting to see where the new boss turns for a potential replacement.

Liverpool technical director Jorg Schmadtke is interested in completing a swoop for Torino's Dutch centre-half Perr Schuurs this summer, according to recent reports…

What's the latest on Perr Schuurs to Liverpool?

That's according to Caught Offside, who claim that Liverpool have added the 23-year-old to their list of transfer targets as manager Jurgen Klopp looks to rejuvenate his squad after a subpar season.

Torino are believed to be willing to initiate talks regarding Schuur's possible transfer with potential suitors for around €20-25m (£17-21m), which could leave Schmadtke convinced of securing a shrewd signature to leave ample room for further investment elsewhere.

While the emphasis is, understandably, on bolstering the centre of the park after Liverpool failed to qualify for the Champions League, Fabrizio Romano has recently confirmed that the club are searching for a centre-back and will make their move if the right chance arises.

Should Liverpool sign Perr Schuurs?

The 6 foot 3 colossus has gone under the radar somewhat but is undoubtedly one of the Serie A's most efficient and composed central defenders, with Torino finishing tenth this term and shipping just 41 goals all season – a better record than three of the top five.

Having started 28 league matches this term, the Dutchman earned a solid average rating of 6.87 – as per Sofascore – completed 88% of his passes, averaged 1.7 tackles and 3.2 clearances per match, dubbed a "mountain" by journalist Josh Bunting.

As per FBref, the £30k-per-week titan ranks among the top 8% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues for rate of assists, the top 19% for successful take-ons and the top 19% for rate of tackles per 90, indicating a varied approach to his craft that tantalises a possible moulding into a superlative modern-day central defender, something Liverpool's star defender Virgil van Dijk could play a pivotal role in.

Schuurs' compatriot has been one of Europe's leading forces since signing for the Reds for £75m from Southampton in 2019, making 222 appearances, scoring 19 goals and supplying 12 assists while playing a definitive part in a period in Liverpool's history littered with silverware.

Brazenly named "the best centre-half of all time" by Michael Owen, the 31-year-old bears a resemblance to Schuurs in that he averages 4.9 clearances per game across the duration of his career, as per WhoScored, and could allow his younger peer to absorb the fruits of his sweeping aptitude, and given that he towers above most at 6 foot 5, he could help nurture Schuurs' own aerial ability.

The 'mountain' would fall into Liverpool's defensive crop at a time when he would likely be allowed to integrate slowly, with Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all shouldering the burden, but in time, he could take Van Dijk's mantle and cement a prominent role in a prestigious Premier League outfit.

Celtic officially confirmed the arrival of Brendan Rodgers as their replacement for Ange Postecoglou in the dugout at Parkhead on a three-year deal earlier this week.

The Northern Irish tactician, who left Leicester City earlier this year, is now tasked with replicating the immense success he enjoyed during his first spell in Scotland.

Rodgers won seven trophies in less than three years at Paradise and The Scottish Sun have reported that the 50-year-old boss will be handed a whopping £30m to work with in the summer transfer window in order to rake in more major honours.

One such investment could be on a player named Zan Vipotnik.

Who is Zan Vipotnik?

Football Scotland claimed last month that the Hoops are one of a number of clubs interested in signing Zan Vipotnik, a 21-year-old striker currently playing for Maribor in Slovenia.

Rodgers must now push to make the young centre-forward his first signing of the summer and use the significant budget that Dermot Desmond and the rest of the board are set to back him with, as the attacker could be an excellent alternative or partner to Kyogo Furuhashi.

Maribor reportedly value the Slovenia international at £3.5m. It is not hard to see why they want a multi-million-pound fee for their player when you consider his impressive form in the 22/23 campaign.

Vipotnik, who talent scout Jacek Kulig described as a "poacher", plundered an eye-catching 20 goals and one assist in 30 Prva Liga outings and produced three goals in four domestic cup matches.

This means that the prolific hotshot registered one goal every 1.48 games in Slovenian football, which shows that he knows how to be consistent in the penalty area.

The four-cap marksman, who also struck ten times in 14 clashes for Triglav Kranj earlier in his career, could come in at Celtic and be another incredible forward option for Rodgers alongside Kyogo, who was the only Hoops attacker with more than 11 Scottish Premiership goals last term.

His 27-strike campaign in the division was enough to secure him the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award and there is, therefore, little doubt that the Japanese finisher will be a huge player for the new manager next season.

However, bringing in a player of Vipotnik's potential quality – if he is able to translate his form over to Scottish football – could provide Kyogo with serious competition for his place and give Rodgers the option to go with both of them as a pairing up front, which could frighten opposition defenders with their incredible respective records in front of goal.

West Ham United have “enquired” about a deal to sign Chelsea forward Callum Hudson-Odoi this summer, according to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs.

Is Callum Hudson-Odoi leaving Chelsea?

The Blues academy graduate was sent out on a season-long loan to Bayer Leverkusen last term in the hope of finding him some regular game time, but having only started seven games out of 34 in the Bundesliga, the left-sided winger had an underwhelming spell on the road.

With the Premier League starlet’s contract at his parent club expiring at the end of the next campaign, Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly set to hold crunch talks with the 22-year-old this week regarding his future in SW6, and should he depart, he seemingly won’t be short of potential suitors.

Back in August 2022, 90min credited the Irons with an interest in signing England’s former international before he made the temporary move to Germany, and despite a deal failing to materialise at the time, David Moyes is looking to take a second bite of the cherry.

Are West Ham signing Hudson-Odoi?

Writing in his column for CaughtOffside, Jacobs name-checked West Ham as potential suitors for Hudson-Odoi but admitted that the Chelsea attacker is yet to make a full decision as to where his next destination will be. He said:

“As has been reported, a move to Saudi Arabia is certainly an option for Callum Hudson-Odoi this summer. But nothing has been decided just yet. Hudson-Odoi is assessing his future and may prefer to stay in Europe. Despite a relatively underwhelming loan at Bayer Leverkusen last season, there is no shortage of interest in the 22-year-old.

“Keep an eye on Brentford and Fulham. Crystal Palace and West Ham have also enquired. Newcastle are a historic suitor, but not currently considering a move. There is also some initial interest from Atalanta.”

Should Moyes take a chance on Hudson-Odoi?

West Ham will know that Hudson-Odoi wasn’t handed as many minutes as he would have hoped at Bayer Leverkusen hence why he only recorded one goal and assist during his time there, but he still has the potential to pose a threat in the final third.

Last season, the Adidas-sponsored gem, who pockets £120k-per-week, ranked in the 87th percentile for progressive carries so loves to take on his marker and push his team up the pitch, but he also recorded 3.86 shot-creating actions per league game which was the third-highest total throughout Xabi Alonso’s squad, via FBRef.

Chelsea’s “monster of a talent”, as dubbed by journalist Nizaar Kinsella, would further add excellent versatility to the manager’s ranks with his ability to operate all across the frontline and even three roles in the midfield, so with the game time that he’d receive in E20, it’s well worth bringing him to the London Stadium.

Manchester United are looking at "many goalkeepers" in the transfer market despite concrete links with Inter's Andre Onana, according to Fabrizio Romano.

What's the latest on United's goalkeeper search?

Erik ten Hag still has big decisions to make before the Premier League season begins in mid-August, one of which being who he wants as his goalkeeper at Old Trafford.

With David de Gea's contract situation still unclear, all attention has been on who may come in to replace the Spaniard in between the sticks.

Inter's Andre Onana has been the man most frequently linked with being De Gea's successor, with the Italian side braced for an official bid from United for their stopper.

However, transfer insider Romano has claimed that the Red Devils are keeping their options open at the moment, with plenty of goalkeepers on their radar.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano said: "Still no bid [for Onana] from Manchester United, as I'm speaking. Inter are still waiting for that bid because they are convinced that Manchester United will bid, and they know that Man United are exploring multiple options, not just Onana.

"It is true that they are considering many goalkeepers and many solutions, including the possibility of speaking again to David de Gea. So, they want to consider all the options, but among these options there is for sure Andre Onana."

He added: "Still time for internal discussion before attacking any situation for goalkeepers. So, this is the reality for Onana, still no bid on Monday morning."

Ten Hag is interested in a goalkeeper who complements his passing philosophy more than De Gea, much like Onana does, but a number of factors such as price, age and availability will naturally enter discussions surrounding a new number one at Man United.

Inter want somewhere around the £45m mark for Onana who was instrumental in the club's journey to the Champions League final last season and Coppa Italia triumph.

Who are United's other goalkeeper options?

One of the most obvious options available to Ten Hag is simply offering a new contract to De Gea, who has reportedly agreed to a pay cut to stay at Old Trafford. The 32-year-old won the Premier League Golden Glove award last season, keeping 17 clean sheets for the Red Devils.

Brentford's David Raya could be an alternative with the Spaniard desperate to leave the Bees this summer. The 27-year-old, who is very comfortable with the ball at his feet, was linked with Tottenham but the Lilywhites have since brought in Guglielmo Vicario, which likely means any deal would now be off the table.

Erik ten Hag is supposedly a huge fan of MLS goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic as well (via MEN), with the 23-year-old New England Revolution shot-stopper a name to keep an eye on at Old Trafford.

Arsenal are reportedly remaining in the race to sign Montpellier striker Elye Wahi, as the Gunners prepare for a potential exit in the strike role this summer.

The future of Folarin Balogun is an ongoing saga, with the returning loanee making it clear that he doesn’t wish to exit the club on a loan deal or be handed a sporadic role at the Emirates.

It was claimed by football.london this week that the 22-year-old could have an ‘exit plan’ with a host of clubs interested in the £50m striker.

Mikel Arteta could find his successor to the Hale End product this summer, with Wahi re-emerging as a potential target.

Could Arsenal sign Elye Wahi?

As reported by Foot Mercato, Arsenal ‘remain in the race’ for the 20-year-old, who they reportedly eyed back in January.

Newcastle United and Chelsea are named as other Premier League representatives interested in the striker, who is expected to leave Montpellier this summer.

The report also states that the French outfit value their forward at ‘no less than’ €40m (£34m).

How good is Elye Wahi?

After netting 19 goals in Ligue 1, there’s little surprise that the young Frenchman is attracting interest from the Premier League this summer.

Once hailed as a “superstar” by U23 talent scout Antonio Mango, the 20-year-old forward could be a strong option for Edu to contemplate if Balogun was to depart north London.

With 21 goals in Ligue 1 last term, the Gunners could be juggling between pleasing the talent they already possess and replacing him with a player that has similar attributes to him.

Gabriel Jesus is expected to remain as Arteta’s favourite, so it will be difficult for Arsenal to give Balogun the assurance that he will be number one with the likes of Leandro Trossard and Eddie Nketiah poised behind the Brazilian in the pecking order.

It’s speculated that the north Londoners have placed a £50m price tag on the youngster with a move potentially on the cards.

Links to Wahi could come at a positive time, as the club weigh up the future both with and without the United States international.

Also lauded as being “one of the most prolific U21’s in Europe” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Wahi is an in-demand talent in the continent, averaging a goal every 133 minutes in Ligue 1 last term.

As per FBref, the Frenchman averaged a higher number of non-penalty goals per 90 than Balogun, recording 0.64 per 90 to the American’s 0.45.

Averaging 1.2 shots on target per game last season as well as 1.43 carries into the penalty area per 90, it’s clear to see the threat that the Montpellier sensation possesses in the final third.

The youngster could also potentially be a stronger asset creatively than the United States international, suggested by his five assists this season in comparison to the Arsenal starlet’s two for Reims.

It’s a favourable position for the Gunners to be in to be rumoured to have the option between two outstanding forward talents, with all speculation dependent on Balogun’s next move.

For Arsenal, adding a talent as dynamic as the Hale End graduate is essential should they allow the 22-year-old to depart for a guaranteed starting spot.