Former Manchester United star Jesse Lingard impressed during a pre-season friendly for new club FC Seoul.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Kylian Mbappe is reportedly set to receive a staggering world-record signing-on fee when he joins Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
USMNT's Folarin Balogun has been removed from penalty duties at Monaco after he missed his fourth spot-kick of the season.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
As per a recent report, a big Tottenham Hotspur transfer update has come to light involving Championship starlet and ‘top target’ Djed Spence.
Lilywhites supporters will be familiar with the right wing-back, who has been linked with a move to Spurs and the Premier League since January.
[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-developments-2/” title=”Tottenham latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]
ESPN;s James Olley claimed that multiple bids were even lodged for Spence over the winter but to no avail as transfer chief Fabio Paratici ultimately fell short in backing manager Antonio Conte with his signing.
Sharing a recent update after the club’s Champions League qualification triumph, The Telegraph now claim that the north Londoners are set to offer Conte six summer additions in a bid to keep him at N17.
It is believed that Spence remains on the club’s ‘list of potential targets’.
According to Football Insider on Monday afternoon, Tottenham have now ‘opened preliminary talks’ to sign the Middlesbrough defender, who has been excelling on loan at Nottingham Forest.
They reported that Spence is now a ‘top target’ in north London as they look to back Conte with a right-wing-back signing, ‘already’ making contact in early discussions.
Indeed, while Spurs have been in contact over a deal, it is also believed that a fee of £10m would be enough to seal an agreement.
The 21-year-old has been a revelation in the English second tier, as highlighted by the aforementioned transfer interest and his impressive numbers for Forest.
According to WhoScored, Spence has completed the third-most dribbles per 90 for Steve Cooper’s side in the Championship, whilst also delivering the joint-second highest amount of crosses from out wide alongside Brennan Johnson.
An attacking outlet from a defensive position, it’s clear to see why Conte is interested, and Spence has been described as a perfect wing-back for the Italian.
Former Spurs defender Alan Hutton recently raved over the ‘incredible’ homegrown ace who ‘massively fits the bill’ for Conte (Football Insider), potentially backing that £10m is a small price to pay for his capture.
In other news: ‘Told Spurs are ready…’ – Dan Kilpatrick has exciting transfer news for supporters! Find out more here
Wolverhampton Wanderers are interested in signing Rangers’ Nigerian star, Calvin Bassey.
That is according to a report from Daily Record that was published earlier this week, claiming that Wolves were one of the potential destinations for the the 22-year-old.
As per the report, it would take a “club record” deal that would eclipse the reported £16m fee that Everton paid for Nathan Paterson in his recent move to Goodison Park, before the Gers would even consider selling. A fee of around £20m could be enough.
The Nigeria international has made use of the platform Rangers have afforded him and consequently, his leap of faith from the safe haven of the Leicester City Academy ranks has paid dividends for a player who has just put in a mesmeric performance in the Europa League Final for the Scottish Cup Champions and was dubbed “The Great Wall” for his display by Glasgow Times Football.
Operating as a left centre-back in a 4-3-3 formation for Van Bronckhorst’s side, he lasted the full 120 minutes and won 80% of his aerial duels in what was an inspired performance from a player who is clearly built for the highest level of football.
As a much sought after left-footed centre-back, his performances have piqued the interest of Wolves boss Bruno Lage, who could do with a replacement for Romain Saiss amidst the Moroccan star’s uncertainty over his future at the club.
Bassey’s numbers this year have been exceptional, with almost all of his defensive metrics bettering that of Saiss’.
The 22-year-old’s ability in possession, having played the majority of his football in a back-two, is particularly impressive and would be unlocked further through the ability to progress further up the pitch in Lage’s three-at-the-back system alongside club captain Conor Coady, someone he could establish a fierce and progressive partnership with.
Whilst he is able to progress the ball with his average of 43.20 carries per game, it’s his defensive acumen, more so for tackles and interceptions that could entice Lage to make a bid – with his average of 4.82 tackles plus interceptions a metric that could improve Wolves’ team average of 9.9 per game this season.
Bassey, who is ten years younger than Saiss, could not just replace the Moroccan, but would also serve as a big upgrade.
In other news: “Wolves want..” – Tim Spiers drops Molineux claim that’ll leave supporters buzzing
Newcastle United journalist Mark Carruthers has been left thrilled by some news that he has now heard involving Sean Longstaff.
As per the Magpies’ official website, the midfielder has now signed a new three-year deal, following his team-mates Fabian Schar and Paul Dummett in extending their contracts recently.
Amid all the money available to the Tynesiders to buy world-class quality this summer, Longstaff is a local boy born and raised in North Shields, so he has that extra connection with the Toon Army which will now continue on into next season.
[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/newcastle-news-6/” title=”Newcastle news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]
Taking to Twitter, Carruthers – who writes for various Magpies-themed outlets – was left thrilled when he heard the announcement about Longstaff’s new contract.
He gushed: “Great news! I think there were signs in recent weeks of the player we all saw developing under Rafa Benitez.
“Looking forward to seeing him develop further under Eddie Howe and building on the undoubted momentum.”
Featuring 14 times so far under Eddie Howe, Longstaff played his part in getting Newcastle out of the relegation scrap in which they found themselves under Steve Bruce, so he is deserving of his new deal.
Ranking highly among his team-mates in terms of average tackles and pass completion per game in the Premier League (WhoScored), the midfielder is not particularly flashy, but he does a consistent job for Howe in the middle of the park.
Also, at 24 years of age, Longstaff has probably not hit his prime yet, and Howe could certainly help the player to fulfil his potential over the next few years under his management.
In other news, Howe is now pondering a bid for this Premier League maestro
Fabrizio Romano has dropped an update on reported Leeds United transfer target Rasmus Kristensen.
In a recent post on Twitter, the Italian journalist revealed that, following reports of Jesse Marsch’s interest in a move for the Red Bull Salzburg right-back this summer, Victor Orta has now prepared an opening offer for the 24-year-old.
The transfer insider goes on to state that negotiations between the Premier League side and Austrian champions are currently ongoing concerning a fee for the defender, while personal terms with the Denmark international are not thought to be an issue.
In his tweet, Romano said: “Leeds have an opening bid ready for Rasmus Kristensen. Talks ongoing with RB Salzburg, negotiations are concrete. Personal terms not an issue – Leeds want Kristensen after Aaronson deal completed with RB Salzburg.”
Considering how exciting a talent Kristensen evidently is, in addition to the fact that both Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas are both facing lengthy spells on the sidelines due to injury, Romano’s suggestion that Leeds have already made a move to sign the Salzburg right-back is sure to be an update the Elland Road faithful will love.
[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more-2″ title=”Read the latest Leeds news, transfer rumours and more!”]
Indeed, over his 29 Austrian Bundesliga fixtures this season, the £13.5m-rated Dane proved just how much of an attacking threat he can be on the right of a backline, bagging seven goals, providing four assists and creating seven big chances, in addition to taking an average of 1.4 shots, making 1.2 key passes and completing 1.3 dribbles per game.
The £14k-per-week full-back also returned impressive defensive metrics, helping Matthias Jaissle’s side keep 13 clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.3 tackles, 1.1 interceptions, 1.4 clearances and winning 5.7 duels – at a success rate of 60% – per appearance.
These returns saw the 24-year-old average a quite remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.31, not only ranking him as his club’s second-best player in the division but also as the fourth-best in the Bundesliga as a whole.
As such, should Orta manage to get a deal over the line for Kristensen in the coming weeks, it would very much appear as if the sporting director will have secured a considerable upgrade on Ayling – who scored two goals, registered two assists and averaged a SofaScore match rating of just 6.61 over 26 Premier League appearances this season – ahead of the Whites’ 2022/23 campaign.
AND in other news: Leeds now plotting bid for “unbelievable” £15m target, he “could be the real deal”…
Newcastle United are interested in signing Empoli midfielder Kristjan Asllani this summer, according to a report from journalist Alfredo Pedulla.
Having come through the youth ranks at Empoli, the 20-year-old sensation made a senior debut in 2021 when appearing as a second-half substitute against Napoli in the Coppa Italia.
Since then the fully-fledged Albania international has made 27 appearances for the Azzurri’s first team overall, taking a career tally to 111 outings across youth and reserve teams.
Currently still a one-club man, that could be set to change this summer. Following previous interest from West Ham, speculation surrounding Asllani’s future has ramped up once more…
As per Alfredo Pedulla, Newcastle are ‘asking’ the Serie A outfit to hold talks over a possible move for the twice-capped defensive midfielder.
It’s claimed that ‘there will be a meeting’ between the two clubs over the coming days and ‘all the roads are open’ to the prospect of making a switch.
However, the report added that the Magpies face fierce competition from Milan and Inter, who are both ‘strongly interested’ in the starlet, who was recently dubbed a ‘great talent’ by journalist Wesley Victor Mak.
Despite his tender years, Asllani made 26 appearances during 2021/22, scoring once and proving two assists whilst also delivering an impressive 84% passing accuracy, winning 2.3 duels and taking 40.8 touches per league game (Sofascore).
Sharing similar stylistic traits with familiar names such as Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz, Wolves star Ruben Neves and Newcastle’s own Jonjo Shelvey (FBRef), unsurprisingly the talented Albanian holds passing as one of the strongest attributes in his armoury (WhoScored).
Predominantly operating in a deeper-lying midfield role, Asllani can also play in more advanced positions and would therefore act as a welcome boost to Eddie Howe’s options as he and Dan Ashworth attempt to bolster the St James’ Park squad.
Holding a market value of just £3.15m (Transfermarkt), PIF should have no problem sanctioning the funds required to make this move a reality, and it may well come down to convincing the youngster to choose Tyneside over Milan.
In other news: Craig Hope drops exciting Newcastle transfer update
Everton youngster Ellis Simms is wanted on loan by Scottish Premiership side Hearts next season, according to a report from Edinburgh Evening News.
Formerly of the youth system at Manchester City, Simms joined the Blues in 2017 and has since progressed remarkably through the ranks on Merseyside.
The 21-year-old striker amassed an incredible 62 direct goal contributions in 84 outings across the Everton Under 18s and Under 23s before a spell out on loan at Blackpool, where the starlet netted ten times in 24 appearances for the then League One side.
[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/everton-news-7/” title=”Everton news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]
Set to return to Goodison Park this summer following a loan spell at Hearts last season, Simms is wanted for a second spell north of the border.
As per the report from Edinburgh Evening News, Hearts officials have already made a ‘strong pitch’ to take the frontman back.
It’s claimed that the Toffees will wait to make a decision on Simms amidst interest from a ‘number of teams’ in the Championship and to allow Frank Lampard to ‘assess him’ during pre-season.
The report also states that the man lauded for an ‘absolutely magnificent’ goal against Hibernian in the Scottish Cup semi-final could be required to fill the void left behind by either Richarlison or Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Given the lack of striking options at his disposal due to injuries and suspensions last season, Lampard should seriously consider keeping Simms for the 2022/23 campaign, regardless of what happens with Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin over the coming weeks.
Standing at an imposing 6 foot 2, the Oldham-born youngster has the physical attributes to cope with the Premier League and could provide a younger, more agile alternative to 32-year-old target man Salomon Rondon, who was so often the go-to option in times of need late last term despite only scoring once in the league.
Having enjoyed further senior success and big match exposure whilst scoring seven times and providing two assists in 21 outings in Scotland, the ace who won the 2018/19 Premier League 2 Golden Boot award with a staggering 32 strikes can be an affective member of the Everton squad moving forwards.
In other news, Everton are eyeing this midfielder from a big-six side
Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie firmly believes that Jota will seal a permanent move to Parkhead this summer.
The 23-year-old left Benfica for Parkhead last summer, joining on loan as he sought regular playing time in Scotland.
Jota got exactly that, standing out as one of the Hoops’ best attacking players, scoring seven goals and registering eight assists from 24 appearances in the Premiership.
The Portuguese maestro has constantly been linked with a permanent move to Parkhead but an agreement still hasn’t been reached, which is worrying. However, as reported by the Daily Record recently, Celtic are in talks with Jota over personal terms as they aim to secure his signature outright.
Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie iterated his firm belief that Celtic will get their wish and soon make Jota a permanent Hoops player. The 62-year-old said:
“Jota looks as if he is signing. Just from what has been said in the papers but it looks like that one will get done.
“He’s not on bad wages for a Scottish club, not bad at all. He played really well last year. Sometimes he would shy away and you can’t do that. But for the majority of the time, when he was on it, Celtic were on it.
“He was the catalyst for a lot of good performances last season and he will only get better if he has a full pre-season with Ange. I’ll be delighted if we get him over the line.”
While there may be concerns that Jota could be snapped up by another club this summer, it does still seem likely that he will become a Celtic player outright in the coming weeks.
It would be a move which suits all parties, with Benfica willing to sell him, Ange Postecoglou keen to have him and the player himself flourishing in a Hoops shirt and wanting to remain in Glasgow.
If Celtic can sign Jota for good, it would arguably feel more important than any new player coming in, with the winger potentially being a key figure at Parkhead for many years to come, providing trickery out wide and delivering consistent end product.
In other news, Celtic are reportedly ‘in the market’ for one type of player this summer. Read more here