Ahead of the start of the new Premier League campaign in two weeks, Manchester United have reportedly scheduled a medical to complete their third signing of the summer.
Man Utd transfer news
Of course, the Red Devils have already welcomed both Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee, with the former suffering an untimely injury to deal Erik ten Hag a frustrating blow. They're now reportedly looking to steal the headlines once again in pursuit of stars such as Manuel Ugarte and Matthijs de Ligt before the transfer window slams shut at the end of the month.
Ugarte would particularly seek to solve problems at the heart of Ten Hag's side in place of the struggling and ageing Casemiro. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, alongside Yoro, Zirkzee and perhaps even others, would make it quite the summer of incomings at Old Trafford which could even include another right-back.
Manuel Ugarte Chelsea target
According to journalist Santi Aouna, Manchester United have scheduled a medical for Noussair Mazraoui, who is expected to complete a move from Bayern Munich and could even be available to make his debut in the Community Shield against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium next Saturday – with the Red Devils pencilling in a medical for this coming Tuesday.
United's potential third summer arrival, the Morocco international will likely replace Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who has been linked with a move to West Ham United of late and is out of contract this time next year.
"Terrific" Mazraoui is better than Wan-Bissaka
In Mazraoui, Manchester United would be getting an instant upgrade on Wan-Bissaka and a player who's far more similar to the type of modern-day full-back that has thrived in the Premier League. At 26 years old, the Bayern Munich man should be at the peak of his powers and may well prove to be the ultimate coup this summer.
Progressive carries
34
30
Key passes
15
12
Interceptions
63
94
Tackles won
21
25
The right-back has earned plenty of praise during his time in the Bundesliga, including from former Bayern manager and current Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann, who said (via Bavarian Football Network): "Terrific! He had good attacking moments but also defended well. He has done exceptionally well and has more confidence in himself."
Now it's Ten Hag who looks set to benefit – and even as soon as next week. Whilst the Community Shield won't reveal all, it could give fans a glimpse of what they can expect from Manchester United – and perhaps Mazraoui – in the forthcoming campaign.
The 12 best Community Shield matches of all time
Glorified friendly or not, the Community Shield has delivered some entertaining clashes over the years – here are our favourites.
After a few months of waiting, Arsenal are finally back in Premier League action, with a home tie against Wolverhampton Wanderers serving as the club’s opening game of the season.
Mikel Arteta’s side will be looking to go one better than they did last year and the campaign prior by finally ending their two-decade title drought.
However, Edu Gaspar and Co have made that task harder than it should be by remaining relatively inactive in the transfer market, with Riccardo Calafiori the only addition to the first team thus far.
That said, there have been plenty of links to some incredibly exciting attackers over the last few months, suggesting that some frontline reinforcements could still be brought in before that window slams shut.
However, a certain player will be hoping to put in an impressive enough performance this afternoon to dissuade Arteta from signing a new winger.
Arsenal's summer business
As mentioned above, while David Raya’s move has been made permanent and youngsters Tommy Setford and Lucas Nygaard have joined the club, the only new face added to the first team this summer has been Calafiori, who completed his £42m move from Bologna late last month.
However, while little has happened, there have been a plethora of links to some genuinely exciting attackers, and while strikers such as Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres have been atop the wishlist of most fans, the club have been linked with a wider array of wingers than traditional centre-forwards.
For example, one of the first sagas of the summer focussed on Nico Williams and his potential move to either Barcelona or Arsenal, only for the European Champion to supposedly opt to remain with Athletic Bilbao for another season.
After him, there were rumours about a potential move for Portuguese star Pedro Neto, who can play on either flank, but that potential deal was put to bed when it was announced that he had joined cross-city rivals Chelsea last week.
Some potential transfers that could still happen include Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman and Leroy Sané, with the latter having already worked with Arteta at City and the former another star who could play on either side of a front three.
Amazingly, those are only some of the wide players who have been linked with a move to the Emirates in recent months, and while many of the names mentioned are accustomed to playing on the right or left, it’s clear that whoever eventually signs for the club will get far more game time on the latter, as Bukayo Saka is undoubtedly the first name on the teamsheet at the moment.
Therefore, one of the current Arsenal players most at risk of losing his place to a new signing is Gabriel Martinelli, unless he can put in a performance later today that dissuades Arteta and Co from signing someone who could be his replacement.
Why Martinelli has to start
So, now we’ve established that Martinelli has to up his game in the next couple of weeks to avoid seeing himself potentially replaced with a new signing, let’s look at why he should start against Wolves this afternoon.
Now, there may be plenty of Arsenal fans out there who would rather Leandro Trossard start off the left today, and based on last season alone, it would be hard to disagree with that opinion, as the Belgian racked up 17 goals and two assists in 46 appearances.
However, while the Brazilian’s haul of eight goals and five assists in 44 appearances was somewhat underwhelming, he has the ability and potential to be a superstar winger for the club, and at just 23 years old, he has far more of a future in the lineup than the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace who’s set to turn 30 before the end of the year.
Furthermore, while the £60m-rated wideman wasn’t at his best last season, we have already seen just how good he can be when he is.
For example, in 2022/23, the Guarulhos-born “monster”, as journalist Mark Mann-Bryans described him, scored 15 goals and provided six assists in 46 appearances, equating to an average of a goal involvement every 2.19 games.
Appearances
46
44
Goals
15
8
Assists
6
5
Goal Involvements per Match
0.45
0.29
It’s not just his potential to produce goals and assists that warrant his place in the starting lineup, though; it’s also his style of play, for as talented as his fellow attackers are in this Arsenal squad, they don’t all share his desire to just run at defenders and take them on.
A full-throttle Martinelli offers a totally different kind of threat to someone like Trossard, who might slow things down a bit more to find a better pass or shooting opportunity, and while both are perfectly valid approaches, the former Ituano gem is more likely to get fans off their feet.
Ultimately, the number of wingers linked to Arsenal over the last couple of months should signal to Martinelli that his place in the squad is far from assured and that he simply cannot have a season like he did last year again.
However, for the best players, that threat can also work as motivation, and as we know how good he can be at his best, Arteta should start him this afternoon and let the 23-year-old show him why he doesn’t need to splash the cash on another left-winger.
Arsenal hit gold on "sensational" signing who's worth way more than Merino
The versatile pro has a big campaign ahead of him this season.
Head coach says, “bowlers could not be consistent. But there is no blaming them at all, because it was expected”
ESPNcricinfo staff17-Mar-20213:45
WV Raman: Not easy to retain focus after 15-month break
India Women’s head coach WV Raman has pointed out that the team “lacked game time” and were “short” in terms of “mental stamina and cricketing fitness” that led to their 4-1 ODI series loss to South Africa Women in Lucknow. Already down 3-1 in the series, India were unable to defend a low score of 188 in the final game on Wednesday which the visitors crossed with five wickets and 10 balls remaining.India’s women team was playing an ODI series after nearly 15 months, and international cricket after a year since losing the T20 World Cup final at the MCG in March 2020, whereas South Africa were coming on the back of a 2-1 T20I series win and a 3-0 blanking of Pakistan Women at home in January-February this year. It showed in India’s performance in almost all aspects – batting first, they were bowled out for under 200 twice out of four times, on the other two occasions their bowling couldn’t defend totals of 248 and 266, and they also dropped more catches and missed at least two stumpings.”In terms of what transpired in this series, it’s very simple: the girls lacked the game time and they are obviously short in terms of the mental stamina and cricketing fitness,” Raman said at the post-match press conference. “By that, I mean it’s not easy to come back after 15 months and play a one-day series and retain the focus and the intensity that is required to put the opposition under pressure.”Yes, these things do happen; it happens to the best of players and the best of teams, and I am sure the girls would have realised what was not really happening, and they will work on it. I have seen them do it in the past and I have no doubts they will do it in the future as well.”Raman said the bowlers would find their rhythm as they got more game time.”…The bowlers didn’t get into the groove, as they play more and get more game time. The fact that Rajeshwari (Gayakwad, 10-4-3-13) has managed to do that coming into this game is a positive. That’s what I meant earlier when I said the bowlers need to get into their groove as far as bowling is concerned. That’ll only happen as they play more and more.”Yes, this is definitely something the girls will work on, quite a lot of activities going forward which will also help them to achieve that. I’m sure it won’t be too long before all of them get into their rhythm and perform as well as they can. The other fact is that we also wanted to play on flat tracks because that is something that might come up when we go abroad. So it’s all a part of having to adapt and adjust to conditions that they may get when they go abroad.”WV Raman: “What probably didn’t go in our favour was that the bowlers could not be consistent”•BCCI
India’s spinners flattered to deceive this series until Gayakwad’s stifling figures on Wednesday. Legspinner Poonam Yadav went wicketless in her 35 overs from four games, offspinner Deepti Sharma got just one scalp from her 28 overs, and left-arm spinner Radha Yadav leaked 68 runs in her 9.4 overs in the fourth ODI, the only game she played. Overall, India could take more than five South Africa wickets only once, in the second ODI when the visitors were bowled out for 157.India’s batting was also no match for South Africa’s. The runs mainly came from Punam Raut (one century and two half-centuries) and Mithali Raj (two fifties) who ended the series with strike rates of 71.66 and 67.74 respectively. The visitors, meanwhile, saw consistency from Lizelle Lee (a century and two half-centuries), Mignon du Preez (two fifties) and Laura Wolvaardt (two fifties) of which Lee and du Preez struck at 86.22 and 75.11 respectively in the series.Raman said it wasn’t easy to just look at the opposition and “imitate” them even if they were doing much better in the same conditions.”…The batting unit is getting into its groove, it’s gotten into its groove – despite the fact that not all of them got big scores, we managed scores in excess of 250 or around 250,” he said. “What probably didn’t go in our favour was that the bowlers could not be consistent. But there is no blaming them at all, because it was expected.”The other part is that you cannot really think of something that is done well by the other sides and try to imitate them. We need to try and get into the groove and then see how the entire unit is in terms of form, and then see what we need to do. And then we have to assess and see at what times we need to try and step on the pedal.”It (setting targets) depends on the conditions, it depends on the kind of attacks that we bat against. It’s very difficult to set a target mentally… see, it’s very easy to lose a game in the first 15 overs. You may not win it. But in trying to be greedy and posting a huge score, you might suddenly lose a few early wickets and start looking down the barrel too early in the game. So you’ve got to take this particular thing as it unfolds out on the field, and maybe take stock of the situation after two-thirds of the 50-overs quota of the innings is finished, and then see what needs to be done.”The two teams will now play three T20Is on March 20, 21 and 23 at the same ground in Lucknow.
Manchester United supporters are no doubt riding high at present – and rightly so – having snapped up Serie A's Young Player of the Year, Joshua Zirkzee, from Bologna, while also prising Lille's Leny Yoro from out of Real Madrid's clutches.
Of course, the Red Devils have been here before, with a 'successful' summer not often translating to a successful season, yet who's to say that things can't be different this time around, with manager Erik ten Hag now boosted by the support of the INEOS regime.
As was shown in the £52m deal for Yoro – which was seemingly something of an obsession for new CEO, Omar Berrada – United don't appear afraid to step on a few toes to get what they want, with that likely to be true again amid reports of another potential statement move.
Man Utd ready to raid Premier League rivals
According to The Athletic's David Ornstein, the Old Trafford outfit are "exploring a deal" for Arsenal's teenage sensation, Chido Obi-Martin, with initial talks having already been held regarding the 16-year-old's potential move to Manchester.
As per the respected insider, the Denmark youth international has seen his schoolboy terms expire in north London after turning down a contract offer from the Gunners, with a departure from the club now on the cards.
The highly-rated striker has already visited Carrington amid United's pursuit of a deal, albeit with there also likely to be significant rival interest in his services from clubs across Europe.
Why Man Utd are interested in Chido Obi-Martin
At a time when the club are still seeking a prolific number nine to bolster the first-team squad – with new man Zirkzee having netted just 12 times last season in Italy – the prospect of signing a figure for the future rather than the present may not be cause for much excitement among the United faithful.
That said, all the evidence points to the capture of Obi-Martin being something of a masterstroke, with the in-demand talent having notably hit the headlines last season after scoring ten – yes ten – times in a 14-3 win over Liverpool's U16s last season.
In total, the emerging superstar ended 2023/24 with 32 goals in just 21 outings for Arsenal's U18 side, with his towering frame at that age group making him a real "monster on the pitch", in the words of data analyst Ben Mattinson.
Tipped to "battle it out" with Rasmus Hojlund at international level in the years to come – as per Mattinson – it is clear just why there is such clamour over the teenager's signature, with INEOS needing to do all they can to get a deal over the line.
Of course, the club have only recently shown their muscle in the market by forking out for Yoro, yet there is an argument to be made that a move for Obi-Martin could represent an even more bold and exciting deal.
Yoro's 2023/24 Ligue 1 season in numbers
32 games (30 starts)
2 goals
0 assists
92% pass accuracy rate
13 clean sheets
1.1 tackles per game
1.1 interceptions per game
3.9 balls recovered per game
65% aerial duels won
63% total duels won
Stats via Sofascore
Like with any youngster, there must be a note of caution over getting too carried away, yet it would, no doubt, be extremely satisfying to poach the player from a direct rival in Arsenal, with such a deal likely to evoke memories of a certain Robin van Persie back in 2012 – the Dutch goal machine going on to fire United to a 20th league title with 26 Premier League goals in his debut season.
While such heroics may take time to come for Obi-Martin, his goalscoring exploits at youth level do point to future stardom, thus ensuring he could potentially make an even bigger impact than any defender – like Yoro – could at the Theatre of Dreams.
With the Red Devils arguably still waiting to find a suitable, long-term successor to Van Persie after a decade of short-term and costly centre-forward signings, where better to finally end that search than by plucking another 'superstar' from under the noses of the Gunners.
Hopefully, like 'RVP', the little boy inside of him is also "screaming for United"…
Man Utd lining up move for PL talent who'd be a "beast" next to Yoro
INEOS aren’t pulling any punches on the transfer front this summer.
Tottenham are now prepared to take a £22 million loss by selling one high-earning member of Ange Postecoglou's squad at a cut-price this summer.
Players who could still be sold by Spurs
Joe Rodon is the latest player to depart Spurs after Ryan Sessegnon, Japhet Tanganga, Eric Dier, Ivan Perisic and Tanguy Ndombele all left north London before the Welshman, following the cancellation or expiry of their contracts.
Tottenham set to lodge official bid for £24 million forward within days
The Lilywhites will make an imminent proposal.
2 ByEmilio Galantini Jul 11, 2024
Tanganga has joined Millwall on a Bosman deal after spending 2023/2024 on loan at The Den, while both Eric Dier and Ivan Perisic continue their stays at Bayern Munich and Hadjuk Split respectively.
After Spurs mutually agreed to terminate Ndombele's deal, five years after they signed him for a club-record fee from Lyon, the Frenchman has now put pen to paper on a move back to his homeland with OGC Nice.
Former Tottenham midfielder Tanguy Ndombele
Rodon, meanwhile, re-joined Leeds to the tune of £10 million with English sensation Archie Gray heading the other way for £40 million (Fabrizio Romano). The centre-back was out of favour under Postecoglou, but his terrific form at Elland Road last season gave Daniel Levy leverage in negotiating a move for Gray.
Archie Gray's stats for Leeds United in all competitions last season
Total (Transfermarkt)
Appearances
52
Goals
0
Assists
2
Yellow cards
2
Red cards
0
Minutes played
4,273
More players are expected to follow the aforementioned crop out of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium exit door. Indeed, AC Milan remain in talks with Tottenham over a deal for Emerson Royal, who wants a San Siro move with personal terms verbally agreed.
Bryan Gil, Djed Spence, Giovani Lo Celso, Troy Parrott, Richarlison, Yves Bissouma, Manor Solomon and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg are other players who could be sold by Tottenham this summer, but the trick for Levy is finding a suitable buyer.
Another player who appears destined to leave in the coming weeks is left-back Sergio Reguilon. The Spaniard spent last season on two half-season loan spells at Man United and Brentford, with reports suggesting Reguilon is set to leave Tottenham amid interest from Erik ten Hag and other suitors.
Tottenham ready to accept cut-price Sergio Reguilon bid
According to Football Insider and journalist Wayne Veysey, Tottenham are now ready to take a £22 million loss on Reguilon by accepting cut-price bids as low as £10 million.
Manchester United's loan defender Sergio Reguilon.
They originally signed the 27-year-old for around £32 million from Sevilla in 2020, including add-ons, but would green-light his exit for £10m as they seek to get Reguilon's £120,000-per-week wages off the books.
This could be an enticing draw for interested parties like United, and given Reguilon's contract has just one year left to run, it appears Levy has little choice but to make him available at a discounted rate.
All things considered, the 2023/24 campaign was a disappointing one for Newcastle United, with the club unable to achieve any real success in the Premier League or various cup competitions.
Whilst the club have made remarkable progress since the takeover by the Saudi PIF back in 2021, the club registered a three-place lower finish than the season prior.
As a result, they faced the likes of AC Milan, PSG and Borussia Dortmund, unable to get out of the group, but registering a memorable 4-1 win over the French side at St James’ Park.
Newcastle defender Fabian Schar.
The congested fixture schedules hampered Eddie Howe’s side with numerous key players suffering injuries that dramatically weakened the squad, even resulting in a makeshift backline for large spells throughout the campaign.
However, the club have tried to rectify the issue, by signing centre-back Lloyd Kelly on a free transfer from fellow Premier League side Bournemouth.
Despite Kelly’s arrival, the Magpies are still aiming to strengthen at the back, with a move in the pipeline for a seriously talented youngster who’s been inundated with interest from sides all over Europe.
Newcastle make offer for European wonderkid
According to a report from Portuguese outlet A Bola late last week, Newcastle United have made an offer for Benfica centre-back Antonio Silva. The report claims that the Magpies’ bid is in the region of £29.5m plus £13m in potential performance-related bonuses – with Benfica undoubtedly holding out for a greater fee of €60m (£51m).
Benfica defender Antonio Silva.
Silva, who’s previously received interest from Manchester United, Liverpool and PSG, has excelled in Portugal since his professional debut a couple of years ago, with the 20-year-old more than capable of excelling in the Premier League.
The report also claims the Newcastle hierarchy have a desire to add a young defender to lead the backline for years to come, with Silva having the ability to do just that given his tender age.
In the Liga Portugal last season, he produced some sensational figures, many of which would allow one current Newcastle to reach the next level.
Why Silva would be perfect for Bruno Guimaraes
Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes has certainly been a huge fan-favourite at Newcastle since his £40m move to the club from Lyon back in January 2022.
He’s allowed the club to rapidly progress in such a short amount of time since his arrival, proving to be a phenomenal addition to Howe’s side in the middle of midfield.
Despite Silva being a centre-back, he can take Guimaraes to the next level, with his excellent ball-winning and passing game allowing the 26-year-old to cause carnage with his excellent ability on the ball.
The “truly remarkable” defender, as dubbed by scout Antonio Mango, completed an average of 58 passes per game in Liga Portugal last season, at a completion rate of 92%.
Games played
30
Goals
2
Passes completed
58
Pass accuracy
92%
Progressive passes
4.3
Progressive carries
1.6
Tackles
1.7
Blocks
1.6
He also averaged 4.3 progressive passes per 90, demonstrating his ability to play the ball forward into the likes of Guimaraes, handing the Brazilian more opportunities to create chances for the Magpies’ attacking talents.
If Newcastle are to return to mount a push for a top-four finish next season, defensive solidity is a must, with Silva potentially providing that with his average of 1.7 tackles per game. Equally, as a natural right-footer, he could be a dream partner for Kelly (in the short term) or fellow left-footer Sven Botman (following his return from injury).
His ability on the ball can unlock Guimaraes’ full potential, allowing him to have more opportunities in attacking areas, further boosting their already impressive attacking play.
The Benfica ace may cost the club a pretty penny, but he would undoubtedly improve Howe’s defence and provide a long-term solution at the heart of Newcastle’s backline, something which the board are desperate for this summer amid the addition of Kelly.
Bid made: Newcastle lead race for £25k-p/w star, his club need to sell
One of the main objectives for Celtic during the summer transfer window, which officially opened for business last Friday, should be to find a new number one.
The Hoops do not currently have a player occupying the shirt number ahead of the 2024/25 campaign after Joe Hart left the club at the end of last month.
He officially retired from professional football when his contract with the Scottish giants expired at the end of the season, after a three-year stint in Glasgow.
The 37-year-old titan racked up 153 appearances for the Bhoys in all competitions in those three years, with 64 clean sheets and 145 goals conceded.
Hart won the Scottish Premiership title in all three of his seasons at Parkhead and his successor has an incredibly tough act to follow, which means that Brendan Rodgers must nail his replacement this summer.
The Hoops are already reportedly looking at players to come in and take his place as the number one at Paradise, and a current Premier League ace is seemingly on their radar.
Celtic's pursuit of Premier League and Euros star
According to Football Insider, the Premiership champions are preparing a swoop to sign Newcastle United shot-stopper Martin Dubravka to bolster their squad.
The report claims that the Scottish side are plotting a deal to bring the experienced giant to Glasgow this summer to become their new number one.
It states that the Magpies have already told the 35-year-old star to find a new club ahead of the 2024/25 campaign as they would like to bring in a younger back-up option to current first-choice Nick Pope.
This suggests that Eddie Howe is pushing him out of the door and that could hand an advantage to Rodgers as he could make Dubravka feel needed and reassure him that his place at Parkhead would be as the number one, first-choice, option.
Football Insider adds that Celtic are weighing up a move for the Slovakia international, who is currently at the European Championship with his country.
However, it does not reveal how much the Premier League outfit are set to demand for the veteran titan or how much the Hoops are prepared to pay for him.
It also remains to be seen whether or not the Bhoys can afford or are willing to pay his £40k-per-week wages, or if the player would be open to lowering his wage demands in order to make the move to Scotland.
If the club can strike an agreement with the English side and the Slovakian star, however, then they could land a fantastic partner at the back for colossal central defender Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Cameron Carter-Vickers' importance to Celtic
Since joining, initially on loan, from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2021, the towering centre-back has been a terrific player in the Premiership.
In fact, his form has led to recent speculation that Fulham, Ipswich Town, and West Ham United from the Premier League are all interested in a deal to sign him this summer, which speaks to how impressive he has been in Scotland.
Carter-Vickers earned himself a place in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year for the 2023/24 campaign, thanks to his sublime performances at the heart of Rodgers' defence.
Appearances
25
Pass accuracy
91%
Ball recoveries per game
5.7
Ground duel success rate
62%
Aerial duel success rate
71%
As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old enforcer consistently dominated opposition attackers on the deck and in the air in physical duels.
He rarely allowed forwards, particularly in the air, to get the better of him and that meant that the defender was able to win possession back on a regular basis, as shown by his 5.7 ball recoveries per game.
The USA international is a dominant centre-back who can be relied upon week-in-week-out when selected, as shown by his statistics and his inclusion in the Team of the Year, which shows how highly his fellow professionals rate him.
Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers.
This means that Carter-Vickers is the dream player for a new goalkeeper to see upon their arrival, as they know that they have a solid defence in front of them.
Dubravka would arrive at Parkhead this summer, if Celtic can agree a deal for the shot-stopper, and not be worried about what will be in front of him, due to the quality of the star centre-back protecting his goal.
Why Celtic should sign Martin Dubravka
That would then allow the 35-year-old ace to solely focus on his own game rather than worrying about having to constantly come off his line to deal with any mistakes from the defenders ahead of him.
Carter-Vickers has not made a single error that led to a shot or goal for the opposition in his three Premiership seasons with the club, which speaks to his reliability and shows that Dubravka does not have to worry when the American battler is on the ball.
Meanwhile, the Slovakia international's form for club and country suggests that he could be just as impressive for the Scottish giants next season.
Sofascore rating
7.8
Saves made
5
xG prevented
1.03
Clearances
2
Long passes completed
12
As you can see in the table above, Dubravka enjoyed a terrific start to the Euros with a superb performance against Belgium in a huge 1-0 win for his country, outperforming the xG tally against him with saves from high-quality shots.
His superb performance for Slovakia comes off the back of a solid season in the Premier League as an injury to Pope meant that he played 23 times in the top-flight.
In those games, the Hoops target saved 68% of the shots on his goal and conceded 0.61 fewer than expected, which shows that his shot-stopping was very reliable.
Howe described him as a "brilliant" shot-stopper during the campaign and the aforementioned statistics back that up, as he let in fewer than the average goalkeeper would have been expected to based on the xG against him.
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Therefore, the Magpies titan could come in as a fantastic signing for Rodgers as he is an experienced talent, at the age of 35, who is still in top form, as shown by his statistics for club and country, which is why him and Carter-Vickers could form a solid base for the club next season.
Manchester City are showing concrete interest in another Everton player alongside their links to Jarrad Branthwaite this summer, according to a new transfer update.
Man City eyeing Branthwaite move
Pep Guardiola's side made history on Sunday afternoon, becoming the first team in English football history to win four Premier League titles in a row. City are not an outfit who rest on their laurels, however, and they will already be looking at potential signings for next season, strengthening their squad even further. Centre-back could be an area of the pitch where they target new faces, and Branthwaite has emerged as a reported target.
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite
Guardiola's men are reportedly looking to snap up the young Englishman from under the noses of rivals Manchester United, in a deal that would feel particularly sweet if they managed to beat them to his signature.
Branthwaite has enjoyed a superb season for Everton, standing out as one of their star performers, helping them avoid relegation to the Championship despite points deductions at Goodison Park. The 21-year-old ended up starting 35 of the Blues' 38 Premier League matches, forging a strong partnership with James Tarkowksi and averaging 2.7 aerial duel wins per game.
The Everton ace is far from City's only summer target, however, and it now looks as though another Toffees player is also on their radar.
Man City want Everton goalkeeper
According to a new update from Football Insider, Manchester City are showing genuine interest in Everton goalkeeper Douglas Lukjanciks this summer. No bid has been tabled yet, but a £10m move has been mooted, highlighting his potential with so little experience, and the Merseysiders feel he "has the potential to be a future number one and a successor" to Jordan Pickford.
The 16-year-old prospect is also wanted by Chelsea, so it is clear those within the game believe he has a seriously bright future.
Lukjanciks of course wouldn't be coming in as an immedate first-team player for City next season, but he could be such an astute signing, in terms of both the long-term future and ensuring that there is a nucleus of English talent in the squad moving forward.
The goalkeeper isn't able to sign his first professional contract until he turns 17 later this year, which could allow the Cityzens the opportunity to snap him up more easily. The lure of moving to such a dominant club with so much talent in their youth ranks could be too great to turn down, too.
The teenager has won two caps apiece for England's Under-16s and Under-17s, as well as making six appearances in the Under-18s Premier League, despite still only being 16 years of age.
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His current club are desperate to keep him, though.
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Henry Jackson
May 18, 2024
Eventually, the influential Ederson will need to be replaced – Stefan Ortega is also 31 now – and if Lukjanciks came in and impressed at youth team level for a number of years, he could then make the step up to the senior setup over time.
After narrowly missing out on a second consecutive European campaign, Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United side are on the lookout for reinforcements within his squad.
Deals for Tosin Adarabioyo and Lloyd Kelly appear to be nearing completion, with Howe adding two excellent centre-back options to his already impressive outfit.
Numerous outgoings are also expected at St James’ Park, as the Magpies look to offload some of the deadwood currently plying their trade on Tyneside.
Newcastle United winger Miguel Almiron.
Miguel Almiron has constantly been linked with a move away from the club, with the Paraguayan free to leave should the club receive a reasonable fee for hosting signature.
Should he leave, the Magpies would certainly need another body within their forward line to support the likes of Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon who have both managed to get into double figures in the Premier League this season.
However, one player has already been linked with a big-money move to St James’, but Howe’s side may face very tough competition in the battle to win the race for his signature.
Newcastle interested in signing Championship star
According to a report from the Daily Mail earlier this month, Newcastle are believed to be battling Liverpool, Chelsea and Aston Villa for the signing of Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville.
The 22-year-old has been exceptional this season and has become a vital player for Leeds in the Championship scoring 19 goals and registering nine assists in the competition, in which they fell just short of promotion after a 1-0 defeat to Southampton at Wembley.
His tally of 28 goals and assists this campaign ranks him third in the division for most combined goal contributions, with Summerville only behind Sammie Szmodics and former Magpie Adam Armstrong in the standings.
Football Insider has more recently reported this week that Daniel Farke's side will desperately need to raise funds following their play-off final defeat, with the Dutch winger potentially available for a fee around the £40m mark this summer.
Whilst Newcastle themselves need to be cautious with their spending this summer, Summerville would be an excellent addition, and one that could follow in the footsteps of one current first-team member.
Why Newcastle must repeat Gordon masterclass
Despite playing in a lower-quality division this season, the Dutch winger has produced some excellent stats, many of which would be hugely beneficial to Howe’s side should they win the race for his services this summer.
Summerville has averaged 2.5 successful take-ons per 90 in the Championship for Farke's side, a figure that ranks him within the top 9% of all attackers in England’s second tier.
rutter-summerville-leeds-opinion
The “sensational” 22-year-old, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, also averaged 6.1 shot-creating actions – ranking him in the top 1% of all players in the division, demonstrating his qualities in the attacking third.
The club previously forked out a similar fee of £45m for fellow winger Gordon in 2023, with the former Everton man excelling in the Premier League this season under Howe’s guidance.
However, despite bagging 12 goals in all competitions for the Magpies in 2023/24, Summerville has blown him out of the water, scoring nine more than the England international.
Games
48
49
Goals
12
21
Assists
11
10
G+A per 90
0.47
0.63
Expected xG
10.22
16.41
The Dutchman has more goals and assists, subsequently producing more contributions per 90, with the club needing to pursue a move for the Leeds talent.
Leeds winger Crysencio Summerville
Whilst Gordon has nailed down the left-wing position, the right-hand side needs huge improvement if Howe’s side are to compete for a Champions League spot once again next season.
All of Summerville’s stats show how threatening he is in the final third, with the club desperately needing to replicate the deal for Gordon with the youngster, forking out a huge fee and giving him consistent top-flight minutes to allow him to reach his full potential.
Newcastle can repeat Guimaraes masterclass by signing £60m "top talent"
The Magpies pulled off excellent business by signing the Brazilian, they could replicate it this summer.
Chelsea are said to be preparing a £65 million total package bid to sign a forward wanted by Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.
Boehly set to back Chelsea this summer despite PSR concerns
The west Londoners are in real danger of potential Premier League sanctions, as widespread reports suggest Mauricio Pochettino's side may need to raise around £100 million through player sales by the financial deadline on June 30.
Suggestion Chelsea could table offer to sign £52 million star from PSG
He’s been in excellent form for two seasons.
ByEmilio Galantini May 11, 2024
Profit and Sustainability rules dictate that English clubs are allowed to make a £105 million total loss over a rolling three-year period, and Chelsea are currently far exceeding this limit after two years of lavish spending under BlueCo and Todd Boehly.
The likes of Conor Gallagher, Trevoh Chalobah and Raheem Sterling could be sold by Chelsea, among many other bit-part players and loanees, to help balance the books and avoid punishments akin to those of Everton, Nottingham Forest and Leicester City.
Moises Caicedo
£115 million
Enzo Fernandez
£106.8 million
Mykhailo Mudryk
£89.1 million
Wesley Fofana
£70 million
Marc Cucurella
£60 million
Reports have also claimed that Chelsea are plotting potential part-exchange bids this summer, to both sign key targets and rid themselves of unwanted players. It will be a crucial next month and a half, as Fabrizio Romano highlights the club's PSR worries could also have a key impact on their pursuit of long-term striker target Victor Osimhen.
“I think Chelsea will be there,” the transfer expert said.
“The interest is still there. It is really important to understand what is happening; first of all with the FFP situation because Chelsea do not want to overpay, so it is important to know how much the package is going to be for Victor Osimhen.
“It will then be important to see how much Osimhen wants in terms of salary and his contract. So there are some crucial financial points to sort out before Chelsea can say ‘ok’ and go for Osimhen.”
There is also the widely reported chase for Brazilian starlet Estevao Willian to consider. Romano shared news last week that Estevao has verbally agreed personal terms with Chelsea, but until contracts are officially signed, there is still a very real danger that other clubs could enter the running for the attacker.
Chelsea preparing £65 million total package bid for Estevao
Goal Brasil have an update on Chelsea and their talks for the teenager this week, with the west Londoners and a host of Europe's top sides pursuing Estevao, such is his promise.
The South American news outlet, via Sport Witness, write that Chelsea are formulating a £65 million total package bid, including taxes, for Estevao – and talks are ongoing with Palmeiras to try and reach an agreement.
Pochettino's side are very keen to get it over the line and quickly, with Real Madrid among those thought to be lingering in the background. As well as the Galacticos, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Barcelona, Paris Saint Germain and Juventus.