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Bayern Munich midfielder Marc Roca has said yes to a move to Leeds United, according to Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg.

The Lowdown: Phillips competition

Phil Hay first broke the news regarding Leeds’ interest in Roca last week, claiming the club view the Spaniard as competition for Kalvin Phillips and not a direct replacement. The 6ft midfielder can play in holding or box-to-box roles, and a move has gathered pace in recent days.

Roca now looks set to become another early move for Jesse Marsch after Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen, with details of the pending transfer now shared.

The Latest: Plettenberg’s big update

Plettenberg has been on top of the links regarding Leeds and Roca for Sky Sports Germany since the rumour broke last week.

He provided a big ‘update’ on Tuesday evening, revealing details of a medical, contract length and fee involved.

“Update Roca: Medical is scheduled for Friday, probably it will take place on Monday. Contract until 2026, transfer fee €12m guaranteed + €5m bonuses. In principle he said YES to Leeds in the last hours.”

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The Verdict: Good to see

The Whites always seemed to struggle to get transfer business done early in the window under Marcelo Bielsa, so it’s good to see that the club are being proactive this summer following a close shave with relegation last month, with moves for three players who all have Champions League experience.

Roca will be a welcome addition due to the club’s shortage of central midfielders, and should Phillips remain at Elland Road, the pair could well form a partnership in a potential 4-2-2-2 system under Marsch.

The Spaniard will be looking to play a leading role in Yorkshire after struggling for starts at Bayern, and you’d expect he may have been guaranteed regular game time by Marsch in order to say yes to a move.

In other news: Next step now taken on Kalvin Phillips leaving Leeds in big development. 

BBC pundit Alan Hutton has sent a warning to Celtic that their move for Cameron Carter-Vickers could be hijacked.

The Lowdown: Celtic in negotiations

The American first made the switch to the Scottish Premiership to join the Hoops on loan from Tottenham Hotspur last summer, where he’s enjoyed a hugely successful spell in Glasgow having made 46 appearances across all competitions under Ange Postecoglou.

As part of the move, the club does have an option to buy, with the Daily Record reporting just last week that the Bhoys are currently in the process of trying to negotiate a transfer fee with Spurs, with the newspaper suggesting that they have until June 15 to trigger the centre-back’s £6m purchase clause.

The Latest: Hutton sends Hoops warning

Hutton has warned the Scottish giants that a transfer rival could come and take him off their hands if they take too long trying to reach an agreement. He told Football Insider:

“I think this is why you should always have it sorted before.

“I believe if you’re taking a player on loan with aspirations of signing him after that loan, you should really get the figure in place before.

“I’ve seen it happen with millions of players. Tyrone Mings, when he came to Aston Villa, was outstanding. Then all of a sudden, the fee went up. That happens all the time and the club that you’re on loan from just takes advantage of the situation.

“It’s somewhere he’s been happy and enjoying his football. I think it’s a transfer that will happen as long as it doesn’t take weeks. If it goes on and on, somebody can just steal the march on you.

“If somebody is willing to go higher than Celtic, Spurs will accept that.”

The Verdict: Get it done

Realistically, there’s no chance that Carter-Vickers would get into the Tottenham starting XI if he returned to his parent club, so it makes complete sense for them to let him go.

The 24-year-old has been a rock at the heart of the Parkhead backline though, having averaged 4.2 clearances and 1.2 interceptions per league game, as well as winning 4.2 of his aerial duels each match, via WhoScored, showing the physical presence he depicts both on the ground and in the air.

When it comes to negotiations, the Parkhead outfit obviously won’t want to cough up more than they feel necessary, but if it means that they can secure the future of their star defender for years to come, it really may be a case of just biting the bullet.

In other news… a BBC pundit has been reacting to a worrying Celtic injury update.

Manchester City are keen on signing Rafael Leao from AC Milan amid uncertainty over his future, according to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna. 

The lowdown

The Premier League champions have already kicked off their summer business with the £51.2m addition of Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund, but it seems that Pep Guardiola might want to bolster his attacking options even further.

Leao operated as a left winger for Milan last season but has actually played most of his games up to this point as a striker.

The 22-year-old is a key player for the Rossoneri, with Stefano Pioli selecting him for 34 out of 38 Serie A matches and four of their six Champions League games in the recently-concluded campaign.

Valued at £45m by Transfermarkt, Leao has just over two years to run on his contract at San Siro.

The latest

Aouna tweeted on Monday evening that Leao had ‘an extension offer on the table’ from the newly-crowned Serie A champions but wasn’t guaranteed to stay put at the San Siro.

‘Several clubs are interested’ in the Portuguese attacker, ‘including Man City’, who apparently ‘started talks a few weeks ago’ with Leao’s representative Jorge Mendes.

Mendes’ other clients include Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Joao Cancelo and Ederson, so the Etihad Stadium club have experience of working with him previously.

The verdict

Leao won Serie A’s MVP award and it’s no surprise in light of his excellent headline numbers.

The five-cap Portugal international was directly involved in 26 goals across all competitions in 2021/22, scoring 14 goals and registering 12 assists.

Beyond those eye-catching figures, he’s also highly adept at running with the ball, ranking in the 90th percentile among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries and the 96th percentile for dribbles completed (via FBRef). Furthermore, his presence in the 81st percentile for aerial duels won suggests that he can more than hold his own physically.

In terms of profile according to FBRef, he is similar to Riyad Mahrez, who found the net 24 times for Guardiola’s side this season.

Journalists have been raving about Leao, with Mina Rzouki describing him as ‘ridiculously brilliant’ and Maxi Angelo dubbing him ‘completely unstoppable’ and ‘truly magical’.

On that evidence, he could be a brilliant long-term investment for City if they bring him in.

In other news, read this big Aurelien Tchouameni claim involving City.

Leeds United may have to pay up to £15m for Huddersfield Town star Lewis O’Brien this summer.

The Lowdown: O’Brien links

The Whites have had O’Brien on their radar for some time now and still have an interest in the central midfielder heading into Jesse Marsch’s first full season as head coach.

The 23-year-old, labelled an “exceptional” player by his manager Carlos Corberan, suffered playoff heartbreak with The Terriers last weekend but may still be plying his trade in the Premier League next season.

Leeds are thought to be one of five top-flight clubs chasing a move for the midfielder, however, recent reports that suggested a £12m release clause may be wide of the mark.

The Latest: £15m?

MOT Leeds News relayed an update regarding O’Brien from Friday’s print edition of The Huddersfield Examiner.

They cited a £15m figure when it came to the midfielder last summer and said that his stock has risen over the past 12 months, and with no mention of a release clause in the report, £15m could be the minimum Leeds may have to pay this time around.

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The Verdict: Midfielder needed

Leeds need to add to their central midfield ranks this summer after they wrap up a move for RB Salzburg right-back Rasmus Kristensen, even if Kalvin Phillips remains at the club.

New signing Brenden Aaronson is expected to be used as an inverted winger, so O’Brien could be a perfect partner for Phillips in either a 4-4-2 or 4-2-2-2 system.

Marsch has limited options in the middle of the park and just one holding midfielder in Phillips, so O’Brien, who is extremely versatile after playing in seven positions last season, could be a shrewd signing, despite a fee potentially going up.

In other news: Reporter says Leeds and Orta may now hijack rivals’ move for ‘outstanding’ star. 

Liverpool have reportedly held a long term interest in West Ham United star Jarrod Bowen, and now a new update has emerged on the club’s intentions to make a move for the player this summer.

What’s the latest?

According to transfer insider Dean Jones, Liverpool are “keeping an eye” on Bowen ahead of the summer transfer window.

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Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “Right now, it will be Declan Rice that gets all the transfer headlines, but Liverpool have been linked with Jarrod Bowen in the last year and they’re keeping an eye on that situation and I think other clubs in the top four or five would like to have him in their squad going forward.”

Klopp loves him

The signing of Bowen has been one that has been highly anticipated for a long time with the player linked to Liverpool back in the summer transfer window last year, and since then the player has only got better following an impressive season with the Hammers.

The 25-year-old star has scored 18 goals and contributed 13 assists in all competitions, with a goal involvement every 131 minutes which is an incredible attacking output that would put him in a position to compete for a spot in the Liverpool team, with a better G/A than Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota this season in fewer appearances.

His talent has not gone unnoticed by the Reds boss who holds Bowen in high regard praising him when given the opportunity to in a pre-match press conference when Liverpool played West Ham earlier this season.

Klopp told the press (via Mirror Online): “Bowen, what a player he became.

“He was at Hull as well but I don’t think anybody expected this kind of jump. Unbelievable player.”

With that in mind, the German coach would surely love to sign him in the future.

It is unlikely that the player’s current club would be happy to let Bowen leave for a reasonable amount as he has been a key player for him over the last few seasons, and reports suggest Liverpool would need to pay somewhere in the region of £75m.

Ultimately, at the moment it would be hard to see how Bowen could fit into the already heavily rotated forward line after the signing of Luis Diaz in January, but if he was to sign for the Kopites it would be a huge coup for Klopp and could add even more strength to an already dominating attacking threat on Merseyside.

AND in other news: Forget Tchouameni: FSG can get Anfield rocking with LFC deal for “dangerous” £21m tank

Leeds United correspondent Phil Hay has provided an update on the fitness of Patrick Bamford ahead of the final Premier League game of the season. 

The lowdown: Final day showdown

The Whites head into the last day of the 2021/22 campaign with their top-flight status on the line at Brentford.

As things stand Jesse Marsch’s side sit within the relegation zone in 18th position and must pick up a positive result in London and hope Burnley cannot match their outcome to avoid the drop.

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Ahead of the match and after what has been a gruelling season with injuries to key players, there has been some positive news…

The latest: Last-minute meeting

Having been present at Thorp Arch for Marsch’s final press conference of the campaign, Hay relayed the important pre-match fitness news surrounding Bamford on Twitter, as the player is set to hold a meeting on Saturday to make a last-minute decision.

He shared the manager’s comments: “In training he’s looked quite good. He feels very different to how he did six weeks ago.”

The Athletic journalist added: “At the moment, Marsch feels like using Bamford wouldn’t be a risk to him. But they’ll have another meeting about it tomorrow (Saturday).”

The verdict: Welcome boost

Adding Bamford – who was praised in 2020 for his ‘superb’ form by talkSPORT pundit Darren Bent – to the match-day squad for this crucial match is an undoubted and much needed positive for Leeds as the Yorkshire giants attempt to get out of their plight at the last possible opportunity.

Last term, the 28-year-old netted 17 goals and provided eight assists whilst appearing in all 38 Premier League games. Compare that to this season, where the England striker has only managed five direct goal contributions in ten senior appearances across all competitions, and it’s not hard to understand the side’s struggles in front of goal.

After missing the last seven fixtures through a foot injury it seems unlikely Bamford will be called upon from the outset by Marsch, however, having the option to bring a once-capped England international from the bench is a luxury Leeds cannot afford to pass up in their current predicament.

In other news: Orta now eyeing transfer move for exciting winger even if Leeds are in the Championship. 

A Spanish outlet has provided a further update on Leeds United winger Raphinha and a summer move to Barcelona.

The Lowdown: Barcelona links

Raphinha has been Leeds’ best-rated performer this season, as per WhoScored, scoring more goals than any other Whites player.

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His starring displays may not be enough to keep the club in the Premier League, though, with Jesse Marsch’s side now in the bottom three with just two games remaining.

Barcelona have been heavily linked with a move for the 25-year-old since the turn of the year, and it looks as if it is just a matter of time until a Camp Nou switch goes through.

The Latest: Advanced negotiations

Sports Witness relayed an update from Mundo Deportivo on Thursday regarding Raphinha and Barcelona, revealing the two parties are already in talks.

They claimed that the Brazilian’s agent, Deco, is in ‘advanced negotiations’ with Barcelona president Joan Laporta, whom he has a close relationship with.

Interestingly, they believe that there isn’t a €25m relegation release clause if Leeds go down, as has been suggested, however, they say that the Whites would let him go for a relatively low fee, should they drop down to the Championship.

The Verdict: Inevitable

Even if the Whites somehow manage to remain in the Premier League, it looks as if Raphinha has outgrown Leeds and needs to take the next step in his career over the coming months.

Survival would mean that the Whites could demand a bigger fee for the winger when talking to the Catalan giants, but a departure does seem inevitable either way.

Due to a number of injuries and suspensions for the final two games, Raphinha may have to drag Marsch’s side out of the bottom three single-handedly, and doing just that would be a parting gift money can’t buy.

In other news: Leeds and Orta now planning for the Championship as contact made to sign £5k-p/w flop – opinion. 

Reliable journalist Steve Nicholson has dropped an update regarding a mystery local businessman’s potential role in the takeover of Derby County.

The Lowdown: Takeover saga ongoing

The future of the Rams remains up in the air, following relegation from the Championship and constant rumours swirling regarding the club’s future ownership.

A recent update suggested that American businessman Chris Kirchner’s potential acquisition of Derby had hit roadblocks, with issues surrounding the purchase of Pride Park.

Now, another key update has emerged regarding a possible takeover, with a ‘behind the scenes’ bidder potentially about to smooth things over when it comes to purchasing the stadium.

The Latest: Journalist makes fresh claim

Speaking in a Q&A with The Derby Telegraph, Nicholson claimed that a mystery individual is ‘working hard behind the scenes’ to resolve the roadblock:

“He does not want his name in the public domain at present, I am told, and that has to be respected. He and others are working hard behind the scenes, I understand.”

The Verdict: Divisive potential owner

The idea of a local success story being involved in the takeover at Derby is something that could appeal greatly to supporters, rather than handing the reins completely over to a foreign entity.

Someone like Mike Ashley could be a more unpopular owner, for example, with many Newcastle fans thinking he never invested enough money or was the right fit in general during his time at St James’ Park.

The Rams are admittedly in a position where beggars can’t necessarily be choosers – frankly, any takeover would feel welcome during a precarious time for the club – but it could be that a local influence is the best solution.

In other news, Wayne Rooney is facing a battle to keep one Derby player. Find out who it is here.

Manchester United have initiated contact with Napoli over the potential signing of their 23-year-old Nigeria international, Victor Osimhen.

What’s the word?

That is according to the latest report from Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, via Sport Witness, who claim the Old Trafford side have initiated contact with the Serie A outfit to find out the price for the 23-year-old star.

As per Sport Witness, United have been told that Napoli want €110m (£94.2m) for Osimhen, but that price is negotiable.

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Given the figures mentioned, it would easily be the Old Trafford side’s biggest signing of the summer.

A star signing

The potential coup of the Napoli star would represent what would be a star signing for Erik ten Hag’s new side.

Having bagged 18 attacking returns in the form of 13 goals and five assists over 25 appearances in the Serie A this season, Osimhen presents an astute option for United up-top.

Whilst the fee at around £94.2m is a heavy price tag, it would also ensure that the Red Devils’ record transfer fee was smashed – surpassing the £89.3m fee that was paid for Paul Pogba back in 2016.

Given the comparisons to Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski, as per FBref, it is no wonder why the young forward is rated so highly.

Osimhen’s match average of 3.88 shots is not too far off Lewandowski’s average of 4.49 shots per game, bearing in mind that the latter operates in a dominant Bayern Munich side.

In a similar fashion, the pair’s non-penalty xG total is also not too dissimilar with the Nigerian registering an average of 0.52 and the Polish striker averaging 0.89 npxG per 90.

Considering that Manchester United have been linked with Lewandowski recently, United could sign a statistically similar talent in Osimhen who presents more long-term value with the fact that he is just 23-years-old.

The fact that United have enquired about Osimhen’s price is a promising indication of their interest.

In other news: “Manchester United are..” – Romano drops exciting transfer claim, ten Hag will love it