All posts by n8rngtd.top

Nottingham Forest are leading the race to sign Palmeiras midfielder Danilo ahead of various Premier League clubs, according to a fresh transfer update.

The Lowdown: Danilo linked with Forest move

The Reds had a summer transfer window to remember if you’re a fan who loves a bit of transfer gossip, and it could be that January is also a busy month at the club.

One player who has been linked with a move to Forest this week is Danilo, who is a key man for Brazilian side Palmeiras, making 34 league appearances for them this season.

The Reds certainly aren’t alone in showing an interest in signing the 21-year-old, but an encouraging update is now doing the rounds.

The Latest: Forest in pole

According to Calciomercato [via Sport Witness], the other clubs who are keen on signing Danilo ‘need to pay particular attention’ to Forest, who are seen as the front-runners for his signature and are readying a £18m offer.

A January move is in the offing and the Reds are thought to be ‘close’ to the midfielder, whose current Palmeiras deal expires in December 2026.

The Verdict: Potentially superb signing

This is hugely exciting news from a Forest perspective, considering they are ahead of a number of their Premier League rivals in the battle to snap up Danilo.

He is a player of massive potential, having been hailed for his ‘superb long passing ability’ by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, as well as being a ‘tenacious tackler’ – he averages 2.1 tackles per game.

Danilo could be an upgrade on what Steve Cooper currently has in his midfield, with the likes of Ryan Yates, Cheikhou Koyate and Lewis O’Brien all arguably having hit-and-miss seasons to date.

Manchester United are reportedly showing interest in making a summer move for West Ham United captain Declan Rice, albeit with the Red Devils set to face competition for the Englishman’s signature.

What’s the word?

According to The Guardian, the Old Trafford outfit are set to take a ‘close interest’ in the 24-year-old’s situation at the end of the season, with the midfielder facing an uncertain future at the London Stadium with only 18 months remaining on his current deal.

The report does also suggest that both Chelsea and Arsenal are also firmly in the mix for the 39-cap gem, with the high-flying Gunners currently said to be the ‘favourites’ at present, while the player himself is believed to be ‘open’ to joining Mikel Arteta’s side.

That fact should ensure that Erik ten Hag and co do face something of a battle if they are to prise the highly-coveted asset from east London, with any deal also set to require a rather hefty fee of around £80-£100m, according to the Evening Standard’s Nizaar Kinsella.

Imagine him and Casemiro

Forking out that sizeable figure could well prove worth it for United, however, with Rice potentially set to take the club to “another level”, according to former defender Paul Parker, should he make the move to Manchester.

Arguably “the best central midfielder in the country”, according to Parker, the £60k-per-week maestro only recently outlined his ambition to compete for major honours and play in the Champions League, with it looking unlikely that he will be able to realise those goals any time soon with the relegation-threatened Hammers.

Were he to move to the Theatre of Dreams, however, the towering gem could well have a far greater chance of achieving those dreams, with Ten Hag’s side currently looking well-placed for a top-four finish after a recent revival under the former Ajax boss.

As for United, securing the services of the 6 foot 1 titan could well help to continue the quest to end their lengthy barren run with regard to the league title, with Rice potentially able to form a truly menacing midfield partnership alongside summer arrival, Casemiro.

The experienced Brazilian – who joined from Real Madrid on a £70m deal – has swiftly emerged as something of a cult hero in his new surroundings, having been “absolutely outstanding” in recent months, in the words of club legend Gary Neville.

The “cement in the midfield” – according to Ten Hag – the 30-year-old has been a commanding and combative figure in front of the back four so far this term, notably averaging 3.1 tackles per game in the top-flight, while also showcasing his perhaps unsung creative flair after creating five big chances and laying on three assists.

Having that stable presence in the centre of the park could well allow Rice the time to adapt if he is to join the Red Devils any time soon, with the Casemiro’s presence taking the pressure off the Three Lions star of having to be the main man in midfield from the outset.

The West Ham sensation, like the former Madrid man, is something of a “force of nature” – as per journalist Rob Blanchette – having averaged 2.4 tackles in his 19 league outings this term to illustrate his ball-winning prowess.

That quality is also laid bare by the fact that the Kingston-born ace ranks in the top 7% in Europe among those in his position for interceptions, while also proving his brilliance on the ball as he ranks in the top 5% for pass completion.

To be able to partner Casemiro with another potential leader in the form of the Irons skipper could well be something of a dream scenario for United, with such a ferocious spine in the side set to be the envy of clubs across Europe.

Manchester United are unlikely to sign Ajax and Ghana star Mohammed Kudus currently but they have sent scouts to watch him in action, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Kudus shining for club and country

The 22-year-old has become a highly sought-after player in recent times, with his performances for club and country catching the eye hugely.

Kudus was particularly impressive at the 2022 World Cup, scoring twice in three appearances for Ghana and averaging 3.3 dribbles per game from midfield. Only three players – Kylian Mbappe, Alphonso Davies and Jamal Musiala – mustered more dribbles per game in Qatar.

United have been linked with a move for Kudus recently, but a fresh update isn’t the most positive, in that respect.

The Latest: United update

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Romano said that the Red Devils have scouted Kudus but there are no talks over a move currently:

“At the moment, I’m told that there are no negotiations. I think we have these rumours because Manchester United scouts, as many others from the Premier League, four or five clubs from the Premier League, sent their scouts to follow Mohamed Kudus at the World Cup, with Ajax.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-man-utd-news-10/” title=”Latest Man Utd news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: One for the summer?

This is a disappointing update from a United perspective, with Kudus someone who could give Erik ten Hag’s squad an injection of quality midway through the season, both as a midfielder and a forward.

That being said, they are nicely stocked in midfield areas, with Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes a strong first-choice trio, so a summer move could make more sense.

At that point, the £10,000-a-week Kudus will surely be looking for a move away from Ajax, and with Eriksen and Fernandes turning 31 and 29 this year, respectively, fresh legs in midfield could be required.

The Ghana star could be the man to fit the bill, being hailed as a ‘star boy’ by international teammate Calvin Bassey and scoring 15 goals in 65 appearances for Ajax.

Liverpool are interested in swooping for RB Leipzig’s industrious midfield ace Amadou Haidara, who is of interest to a plethora of European outfits following his exploits in the German Bundesliga.

The Independent’s chief football writer Miguel Delaney has reported that Brighton & Hove Albion have just had a bid rejected for the Malian midfielder, with Leipzig unwilling to sell their pivoting gem in the centre this winter due to difficulty in signing a replacement.

Delaney continued to state that such transfer revelations mean that Liverpool could revisit a deal in the summer, with the Merseyside outfit’s desperation in finding a new sheen to the centre of the park well documented amid their struggles this season.

With Manchester United also reported to be interested in making a move, Reds manager Jurgen Klopp must act swiftly, making the requisite plans and presenting an enticing offer to Amadou and his German team.

Imagine him & Bellingham

The £33m-valued Haidara has made 22 appearances this season, but has only started four times in the league, and could search for pastures new after falling out of favour.

And with James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita all out of contract at the end of the season, there could indeed be a calling for an assiduous new ace of Haidara’s mould to catapult the north west club back into title contention after falling wayward this year.

As per FBref, Haidara ranks within the top 14% of midfielders across Europe’s major leagues for progressive passes, the top 19% for rate of goals and the top 20% for rate of assists, illuminating the offensive impact he could have on the Liverpool outfit.

Speaking to The Guardian in 2021, Haidara proclaimed that the former Manchester City behemoth, Yaya Toure, was his idol, also stating that he “loved Steven Gerrard” and has attempted to emulate his game.

He said: “Everything he did was amazing. I love to watch his videos and try to take things from his game.”

If Haidara, hailed as “mouth-watering” by journalist Zach Lowy, was to join the Anfield ranks, he could form a deadly partnership with fellow Liverpool target Jude Bellingham, who has been at the centre of intense speculation over his future with Borussia Dortmund, touted by high-profile sources for a move to Klopp’s team.

With the former Birmingham City maestro ranking among the top 4% of positional peers for rate of goals and completed dribbles in Europe, and the top 14% for progressive passes and shot-creating actions, there is an undeniable sheen that could bolster Liverpool’s desire for a swift ascension back to the top.

With Bellingham also thriving through his energetic aura and composure and assurance with the ball at his feet, Klopp and co could finally witness that cohesion and intensity reinstated into the side, which certainly looks devoid of its former unwavering tenacity this season, languishing in ninth place in the Premier League.

There is so much to be said for the potential that could stem from such a partnership, but quite simply, just imagine a Reds team with an injection of just half the life and vibrancy that the two aforementioned stars could bring.

The duality in vigour and an unflinching presence, partnered with the contrasting skill sets, could give Liverpool the finely poised balance that the hierarchy so desperately crave, and while landing the pair might break the bank, the time for action is now.

Liverpool must return to their former glory, and forming such a ‘mouth-watering’ dynamic duo is the way.

An update has emerged on Everton and their plans to strengthen their squad before the January transfer window slams shut…

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Mail, the Toffees have discussed a possible deal to sign Udinese’s star central defender Rodrigo Becao before tonight’s deadline.

The report claims that Sean Dyche is looking to bring in players in multiple positions after the sale of Anthony Gordon to Premier League rivals Newcastle United.

It is stated that a defender is on the agenda for the club, hence the interest in Becao, and that Mason Holgate and Michael Keane are two players who could be on their way out of Goodison Park if the right offers come in.

Conor Coady upgrade

Dyche could land an instant upgrade on last summer’s signing Conor Coady by striking a deal to sign Becao from the Serie A side in the coming hours.

Since arriving from Wolverhampton Wanderers ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, the 29-year-old England international has been a solid performer at the heart of the defence.

The ex-Liverpool academy graduate has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.83 in 18 appearances in the Premier League and has made 1.3 tackles and interceptions per match, whilst winning 57% of his individual duels.

Coady has been far from a liability for the Toffees so far this season but Becao’s impressive form for Udinese in the Serie A suggests that the Brazilian could come in and offer a bit more quality heading into the second half of the season.

The 27-year-old has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.15 in the Italian top-flight across 14 appearances this term. He has made 3.6 tackles and interceptions per game and won an eye-catching 67% of his battles on the pitch, which suggests that the enforcer is a dominant defender who does not allow opposition players to get the better of him on a regular basis.

These statistics indicate that Becao, who journalist Bruno Quieroz once dubbed “insurmountable”, could offer more than Coady in terms of his defensive output and the efficiency with which he carries out his actions in his own third, which is reflected in their respective average ratings.

Of course, the Brazilian warrior has not played in the Premier League before and there are question marks over whether or not he would be able to adapt to English football but the data is promising and suggests that signing him is a gamble that could end up improving Dyche’s squad.

Crystal Palace are hoping to complete the signing of Naouirou Ahamada before the end of the window and want to add depth to their thin squad, Pete O’Rourke has claimed.

What’s the word?

Patrick Vieira wants to pad his squad with quality, but are yet to make a signing in the January transfer window.

They have been strongly linked with Ahamada of Stuttgart, whose ‘energetic’ nature can bring a freshness to the Crystal Palace midfield.

Speaking to Football FanCast, O’Rourke explained it is a deal the Eagles want to get done, and that they want some bodies in before the end of the window.

He said: “He [Vieira] feels the squad is quite thin and he is looking [for] backing for some signings before the window closes as well. So he’d be hoping to get this deal over the line before next week’s deadline.”

A fresh face

Palace have been inconsistent this season, as whilst they are safely clear of the relegation zone for now, there could be an opportunity to push further up the table, but reinforcements are necessary.

If they can secure a deal for Ahamada, he can bring a fresh presence to the Eagles midfield.

He ranks in the top 25% of midfielders for goals and dribbles in top competitions over the past year, as per FBref, highlighting the creative spark he can bring to the side.

The likes of Will Hughes, Luka Milivojevic and Cheick Doucoure pale in comparison to Ahamada by those same metrics, while at just 20 years old, he has plenty of time to develop.

Meanwhile, players such as Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze have shown that Selhurst Park is currently an excellent place for young, creative players to move to in order to further their development, and Ahamada could be the next top talent to arrive in south London.

Tottenham were apparently ‘close’ to signing Udinese winger Gerard Deulofeu and a deal was ‘very, very advanced’ in January.

The Lowdown: Spurs seal Danjuma and Porro…

Spurs made two major signings in the winter market, completing deals for winger Arnaut Danjuma, on loan from Villarreal, and another loan with the obligation to buy for Pedro Porro.

Antonio Conte has seen his Premier League squad strengthened with this duo as the Italian chases a second-consecutive top four finish.

Porro comes in to add attacking flair for Spurs on the right hand side and Danjuma provides an alternative option further forward.

The Latest: Spurs were ‘close’ to Deulofeu…

According to Fabrizio Romano, in a different world, Spurs could have signed former Watford star Deulofeu but an injury scuppered any chance of him joining.

Romano said:

“Gerard Deulofeu was close to joining Tottenham in January… then his injury changed the story. Deal was very, very advanced.”

The Verdict: Missed out?

Deulofeu, when fit and available, is Udinese’s undisputed star player going by the numbers.

According to WhoScored, the 28-year-old is their best-performing player by average match rating and has racked up six assists in Serie A – more than any of his teammates.

Not only this, Deulofeu also bests every Udinese player in terms of shots at goal, key passes made and completed dribbles per 90 in the final third.

The Spaniard is a certain threat on his day and could’ve certainly strengthened Conte’s options, with his injury coming as a real shame for supporters.

Alas, Danjuma comes as a solid alternative too given he starred for Villarreal under Unai Emery last season.

After the Deulofeu blow, it was a stroke of genius to hijack Everton’s move for the Netherlands international.

One priority position for Manchester United heading into the January transfer window was at right-back, with manager Erik ten Hag having been searching for a quality alternative to usual starter Diogo Dalot in that role.

While the subsequent resurgence of Aaron Wan-Bissaka – who has started the last seven league games – seemingly halted the need for a mid-season addition, the fact that the Englishman had only recently been tipped for an exit could well suggest that the full-back berth is still on the agenda heading into the summer window.

Amid that continued hunt for a suitable option on the right side of the defence, the Red Devils may well be regretting their failure to sign current Newcastle United skipper Kieran Trippier back in the summer of 2021, with the 32-year-old having been a “revelation” for the Magpies of late, as per talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan.

The Old Trafford outfit had seemingly been keen to prise the England international from Atletico Madrid 18 months ago, with reports at the time suggesting that the one-time Manchester City man had been hopeful that a deal could be agreed.

As it proved, the La Liga side’s reported valuation of around £34m seemingly proved something of a sticking point, with the Premier League giants reluctant to fork out such a hefty fee for a player who was entering the final year of his deal.

Despite Trippier himself revealing that a move had been close, the Bury-born defender ultimately stayed put in the Spanish capital that summer, before joining the Magpies for a knock-down fee of just £12m in January 2022.

That move has swiftly come to look like something of a “bargain”, in the words of journalist Josh Bunting, with the one-time Tottenham Hotspur man having since been instrumental in keeping Eddie Howe’s side in the division last term, before playing a vital role in the club’s remarkable top four push this time around.

A “defensive animal” – according to Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate – the £100k-per-week ace has averaged 2.1 tackles and 1.5 games from his 21 league outings this term, having kept 12 clean sheets and conceded just 12 goals in that time.

It is the experienced asset’s quality going forward that has particularly caught the eye, however, as he has already created 17 big chances this season – the second most of any player in the division – while he has averaged 3.0 key passes per game, a record far higher than that of Dalot (1.5) and Wan-Bissaka (0.8).

To have such creative brilliance come from the flanks would no doubt have been a real lift for United had they snapped up Trippier at the time, with the 40-cap rock also offering the benefit of being a “leader” in the words of journalist Henry Winter.

Having been a “game-changer” for the northeast side, according to Alan Shearer, Trippier is now bidding to help the club end their lengthy trophy drought ahead of the upcoming Carabao Cup final, with Ten Hag’s side awaiting in the showpiece.

With it likely to already smart that the Red Devils didn’t snap up the defender when they had the chance, it could well hurt even more if he thwarts them at Wembley in just a few weeks’ time.

Leeds United enjoyed a fine performance in midweek but have cause to feel disappointed after relinquishing a 2-0 lead at Manchester United to draw 2-2.

It was still a solid point on the road in their pursuit of Premier League safety, made even more impressive by the fact that they did so without yet hiring a replacement for Jesse Marsch, who was sacked two days previously.

Michael Skubala is set to once again take the reins as they welcome the Red Devils to Elland Road today, hoping that they can build upon their fine performance rom Wednesday to this time gain all three points.

However, the Whites will have to do so without a couple of midweek starters, as both Luis Sinisterra and Pascal Struijk were forced off through injury at Old Trafford, and the latter’s likely replacement might worry the Yorkshire faithful.

The player who was brought on at Old Trafford to replace the Dutchman was Junior Firpo, who has received scorn for his poor performances since signing for €15m (£13m) in 2021.

Will Firpo play against Manchester United?

He will likely have to start now, given Leeds’ lack of action in the January transfer market to fix such a problem position.

Having been brought in to hold down their left-back spot for the foreseeable future, the 26-year-old has now seen his career stall under both Marcelo Bielsa and Marsch.

In his debut season in Yorkshire he was handed a 6.6 Sofascore rating, which has dropped to 6.3 in the current campaign. 

He offers little going forward, with just four goal contributions in 36 games, and he is not solid enough defensively to warrant such impotency. As per WhoScored, only one other Leeds player has a worse record for being beaten in dribbles, with a rate of 1.2 per game.

It is a searing indictment of his status within the squad that Struijk, a natural centre-back, has often been preferred to him at left-back.

Journalist David Anderson even told GIVEMESPORT that he thought the defender causes more problems than he solves, claiming last year: “All he seems to do is get booked all the time. I think he’s up to 10 yellow cards or something. You don’t expect that from a player coming from Barcelona; you expect a bit of class, a bit of maturity, a bit of leadership, and he’s provided none of that, really.

“I think he’s been a big let-down. You’re looking around that changing room thinking, ‘Who’s going to step up and do it for us now?’ And you’d be looking at someone like him, but he’s just not. In fact, if anything, he’s been more of a liability for Leeds.”

Erik ten Hag will be well aware that Firpo is likely to start, and given how he has already let down his two managers, he will surely now look to exploit that flank.

Alas, Skubala will probably have little option other than to hope that the 26-year-old might just come good against the Red Devils.

Conor McGilligan doesn’t believe Nuno Espirito Santo would be interested in staying with Leeds United in the Championship.

The Lowdown: Leeds remain managerless

Despite seeing clubs around them all change managers in the last few months, Leeds and Victor Orta have seen it fit to sack Jesse Marsch without having a ready-made replacement waiting to jump into the hot seat.

After failing to land either Arne Slot or Andoni Iraola, Orta decided to place his trust in Michael Skubala for the two biggest games of the clubs season in the form of Everton- which they lost – and seemingly he will be in the dugout next weekend against Southampton.

However, given the manner of defeat yesterday against Everton it should come as no surprise if Leeds decided to move for a linked manager with more experience in the form of former Wolves boss Espirito Santo.

The Latest: Nuno Espirito Santo being linked

McGilligan was asked on his YouTube channel if Nuno would look to stay around at Leeds if he was appointed but then failed to keep them in the top flight and he was far from convinced that would be the case.

He said: (32:15) “I don’t know Nuno as a person, I think his stock is a little bit too high to go back to the Championship. He was obviously trying to build his stock when he was at Wolves, then got into the Premier League and [achieved] two consecutive seventh-place finishes and left when they were 13th or 14th.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-updates-copy-2/” title=”Latest Leeds United updates (Copy)” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

“I think his stock is too high at the minute to go down, I know he’s been in Saudi Arabia but he could just get another gig like that again, get paid a ridiculous amount of money, and ride off into the sunset but I don’t know his character.”

The Verdict: Orta must make an appointment

It would be a slight risk from Leeds to appoint Espirito Santo given that he’s been managing out in Saudi Arabia since July 2022, so may take a while to get him back up to speed with the tactical demand of the Premier League.

Also, the fact that his last job in England was far from a success as he was sacked by Tottenham Hotspur after just 10 league games in charge but he does indeed have Premier League experience which will appeal to Leeds.

No matter what though, Victor Orta should be looking to appoint someone very quickly with Premier League experience and perhaps even Championship experience so they have a contingency plan if the worst does indeed happen.