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Manchester United are keen on securing a summer transfer for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from Spanish outlet Sport, United are gunning after the 24-year-old more than any other club at the moment and have been in contact with the player over a potential summer move to Old Trafford.

After making 89 senior appearances for Ajax, the midfielder joined Barcelona in the summer of 2019 as the Spanish giants secured a January deal for him worth a reported £65m.

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Since joining the La Liga giants, the Dutchman has gone on to make 139 appearances across all competitions, scoring 13 goals and delivering 17 assists along the way.

Labelled a “genius” by current Barcelona boss and former player Xavi, De Jong reportedly has a price tag of £85m.

Fans would be thrilled

This season has seen the 25-year-old play in all but six of Barcelona’s matches across all competitions, showing just how important he is to the team and why they may be reluctant to let him leave this summer.

To highlight the talent that he has, no other midfielder in Barcelona’s squad with more than 1,000 passes in the league can boast a higher pass completion percentage than De Jong (89.9%). He is also listed in the top five for shot-creating actions (73) and successful pressures (89) for Barcelona in the league this season, once again highlighting his effectiveness on and off the ball.

Taking this into account, and with United having a lower passing success percentage than the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur this season, it’s easy to see why the Red Devils and Erik Ten Hag would be so eager to have such a capable ball-playing midfielder like De Jong in their team.

This reported contact to the player should fill a lot of United fans with excitement over the level of player that the club are looking to sign this summer.

It would be even better for them if the Red Devils are able to bring the Netherlands international to Old Trafford and see him pit his wits against some of the Premier League’s top midfielders.

In other news – Bid incoming: Sky Sports journalist drops MUFC transfer update, Ten Hag will be thrilled

Tottenham Hotspur have been ‘offered’ the chance to sign West Ham United midfielder Tomas Soucek, according to a report from Football Insider. 

The lowdown: Premier League star

Signed for £15million following a successful loan spell from Slavia Prague (Sky Sports), Soucek has been nothing short of sensational since arriving in the Premier League.

The towering 27-year-old has scored 19 times and provided two assists in 105 appearances for the Hammers, notching up ten league goals in the 2020/21 campaign.

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However, after discussions over a new contract were recently put on hold, it appears that Spurs could be set to benefit from the impasse surrounding the Czech Republic international…

The latest: Spurs could swoop in

As per a Spurs source at Football Insider, Tottenham are believed to have been ‘offered the chance’ to sign Soucek this summer in what they call a ‘surprise twist’.

It’s claimed that the 48-cap ace’s future is ‘up in the air’ at present and there is a ‘very real chance’ that the powerful midfielder will be sold.

The report also states that the ‘historical relationship’ between the clubs doesn’t lend itself to a move but agents of the man hailed as ‘outstanding’ by journalist Josh Bunting are interested in making the move a reality.

The verdict: No brainer

If indeed the Lilywhites were offered the chance to land Soucek then it would be a deal that Antonio Conte, Fabio Paratici and ENIC should jump at the opportunity to strike.

Not only would it mean taking a top player away from a domestic and city rival, but also bolstering a midfield department at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in need of an assertive presence.

During the recent 2021/22 campaign, Soucek won on average 6.5 duels per game in the league (Sofascore), more than Rodrigo Bentancur (4.9) and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (5.1), highlighting the Czech Republic star’s combative prowess in the middle of the park.

Whilst the report makes no mention of a fee, valued at £40.5million and under contract with West Ham until 2024 (Transfermarkt), this won’t be an inexpensive venture for Spurs but it is certainly a worthwhile one.

In other news: Tottenham will now attempt to seal eight-figure agreement for ‘incredible’ speedster, find out more here.

Leeds United appear to have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino, as his club are now green lighting a summer exit.

The lowdown: Marsch’s Old Boys

Leeds boss Jesse Marsch has already been reunited with Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen from Red Bull Salzburg.

Also linked with a move for exciting young attacker Junior Adamu in recent days, the 48-year old-coach appears to be determined to bring as many of his tried and trusted players to Yorkshire as possible.

Now, after Leeds were previously credited with an interest in Minamino, it seems as though Marsch could well be about to make a swoop for yet another Red Bull alum.

The latest: Liverpool open to sale

As per Lynch for TIA, Leeds are among the clubs keen to land the Japan international this summer and the Reds are now ‘willing’ to sanction a departure for their domestic cup hero.

It’s claimed that Wolves, Southampton, AS Monaco and newly promoted Fulham are also interested in the 27-year-old, who provided a staggering 20 direct goal involvements in just 22 outings under Marsch in Austria before heading to the Premier League.

The report also states that Liverpool will demand a fee in the region of £17million for the man praised for ‘outstanding’ UEFA Champions League outings by Liverpool journalist Jack Sear.

The verdict: Make it happen

Equally adept on either wing as well as in central positions, Minamino boasts wide ranging versatility that would be welcomed to the Elland Road squad by Marsch.

Despite rarely stealing the limelight in the Premier League or Champions League for Liverpool, the 40-cap Japan star was the man of the moment in the domestic cups last term as he ended the season with ten goals and one assist from 24 outings across all competitions, most notably notching four strikes in five Carabao Cup appearances.

With Leeds somewhat at loggerheads with their own attacking phenomenon Raphinha, adding Minamino to the fold for the mooted fee would be a sensational piece of business, particularly given the forward’s previous performances for Marsch.

In other news: Leeds signing ‘set to be announce’ as Orta wastes no time, read more here

Rangers face a vast array of competitors in the quest to bring striker target Ross Stewart to Ibrox, according to Rangers Review. 

The lowdown

The Northern Echo’s Scott Wilson reported on Monday that Giovanni van Bronckhorst had identified Stewart as his ‘number one’ replacement in the event that Alfredo Morelos leaves Ibrox.

The £450,000-rated Stewart was instrumental in Sunderland’s return to the Championship, scoring the winner in the playoff semifinal first leg against Sheffield Wednesday and netting against Wycombe Wanderers in the Wembley final.

But it’s possible that much of the interest stems from his contract situation, with the 25-year-old now approaching the final year of his deal at The Stadium of Light.

The latest

Journalist Jonny McFarlane shared ‘the latest on Ross Stewart’ in a report for Rangers Review on Monday.

He writes that as many as ten English clubs are battling with Rangers for his signature.

Sunderland have yet to receive a concrete offer, but there are plenty of sides in the Championship eyeing up the striker.

The verdict

Stewart, formerly of Ross County, St Mirren and Alloa Athletic, was prolific in 21/22, bagging 26 goals in 53 appearances.

It was inevitable that this kind of form would catch the eye of a number of clubs.

Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth, who will be under no illusions about Stewart’s ability, has dubbed him an ‘excellent prospect’.

Rangers may have a crucial edge in the race, with van Bronckhorst’s side set for a place in the Champions League group stage if they can come through their qualifies.

That could make them a far more attractive proposition than clubs in the Championship.

In other news, this Rangers gem could be about to work under a Celtic legend.

Reliable journalist Alasdair Gold has shared the latest update on Christian Eriksen’s potential return to Tottenham Hotspur this summer.

The Lowdown: Eriksen’s Spurs career

The Denmark international departed Hotspur Way in January 2020, joining Serie A giants Inter Milan on a four-and-a-half-year deal.

The attacking midfielder made a stunning 305 appearances for the Lilywhites, in which time he contributed 69 goals and 90 assists, so it is no surprise he’s been dubbed a ‘superstar’ after his return to action this season.

With his contract at Brentford set to expire at the end of the month, Eriksen has received a lot of interest ahead of next season, including plenty from Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici.

The Latest: Gold’s update

Gold has now shared the latest update on Tottenham’s pursuit of Eriksen, amid rumours linking the Dane with a move to Manchester United or with an extended stay at the Bees.

Taking to Twitter, he claimed: “Here’s the latest update on the Christian Eriksen situation for you. Understand Spurs were last in contact with his camp two weeks ago but have not followed that up since. Full details below, including all the interested clubs.”

In the adjacent article, Gold reports that United, Everton, Newcastle, Leicester, West Ham and Brentford have made contact for a deal with the midfielder, as well as Ajax and one unnamed La Liga side.

With his family settled in London, there had been suggestions that the former Inter man was initially keen to remain in the capital, but that is no longer thought to be the case, with so many options on the table for the experienced Premier League midfielder.

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The Verdict: Do it!

Whilst Eriksen hasn’t played too much football in recent times, the Dane ranks in the 99th percentile for assists, expected assists and shot-creating actions when compared with positional peers across Europe over the past year (via FB Ref), showing he is still a dominant creative force.

With Tottenham’s qualification for the Champions League, Conte will be needing more reinforcements to keep his squad in good condition during a hectic playing schedule next season, made even worse by the winter World Cup.

The arrival of someone like Eriksen, with a wealth of experience at the top level, could allow the Italian to rotate a number of options in his attacking ranks, making this a good signing for the Lilywhites and one that injects a big dose of end product into the squad.

In other news: Michael Bridge drops Clement Lenglet transfer claim

Glasgow Rangers are reportedly now fighting their Old Firm rivals to bring a Nigeria international to Ibrox this summer.

The Lowdown: Morelos’ future

The future of Alfredo Morelos is still very much up in the air, and as such Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team may look to bring in a new striker this summer.

They have reportedly already made an offer for Erik Botheim, but they could well move on to other targets if that deal does not progress.

The Latest: Odey transfer talks

As per All Nigeria Soccer, preliminary talks have already been held with Rangers’ sporting director Ross Wilson over a potential move for Stephen Odey, who would cost €4m (£3.4m) to sign from Danish club Randers.

However, the Light Blues’ Old Firm rivals Celtic have made their own approach for him, although no bids have been submitted as of yet.

The Verdict: Wait on Morelos

Rangers need to sort out Morelos’ situation first before going in for another striker.

The Colombia international only has a year remaining on his contract, so he is susceptible to leaving for free next year.

Once dubbed ‘exceptional’ by one of his former managers Fidelis Ilechukwu, Odey has come off the back of a good season with Randers, scoring 14 goals and supplying a further two assists in all competitions (Transfermarkt).

However, the 24-year-old may find it difficult to live up to expectations at Ibrox if Morelos departs in the near future, given the Colombian’s extraordinary return of 113 goals in 224 Gers appearances.

In other news, find out who is now expected to leave Rangers

An update has emerged on Sunderland and their interest in Daniel Ballard during the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

According to journalist Alan Nixon, via his Patreon, the Black Cats are one of the teams pursuing a deal to sign the centre-back for the 2022/23 campaign as Kristjaan Speakman plots a swoop for the 22-year-old.

The report claims that a number of Championship sides are now looking at the Arsenal man as a target after Burnley pulled out of the race.

Vincent Kompany’s outfit agreed a fee with the Gunners and the player arrived to complete a medical before the move broke down due to personal terms.

Alex Neil needs him badly

Speakman must get a deal over the line for the defender in the coming weeks as he would be an excellent, much-needed, addition to the squad.

Journalist Josh Bunting has claimed that the machine would be an “outstanding” player for the club and explained why the head coach needs him, tweeting: “Good ball player out from the back something that Alex Neil requires in a player of that position.”

The gem has proven that he has the quality to be a consistent performer in the Championship after an impressive season on loan at Millwall.

In the 2021/22 campaign, Ballard averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.95 across 31 appearances as he established himself as a regular fixture at the back.

He made 3.5 tackles and interceptions and 3.4 clearances per game as he showcased his ability to read the game and his positioning week-in-week-out in the second tier. The youngster also showed off his physical strength as he won 64% of his duels throughout the campaign – dominating the opposition the majority of the time.

Ballard also caught the eye in the recent international break as he impressed in the Nations League for Northern Ireland. In three games for his country, he averaged a brilliant SofaScore rating of 7.17 and won a whopping 72% of his duels.

The 22-year-old also completed 88% of his attempted passes and has proven that he can be reliable in possession of the ball. As Bunting pointed out, Neil needs a centre-back who can pass the ball and Ballard has shown that he can do that, whilst also being a strong defender at Championship level.

Therefore, the head coach needs him badly as he would be a superb signing to bolster his options at the back and Speakman must now work hard to get a deal done.

AND in other news: Speakman eyeing SAFC swoop for “fabulous” £5.1k-p/w titan, just imagine him & Batth…

Italian journalist Rudy Galetti has now shared a West Ham United transfer update on their pursuit of Chelsea striker Armando Broja.

The Lowdown: West Ham eye moves…

The 2022/23 Premier League season may well be a crucial one for David Moyes, who is looking to maintain the Irons’ place among England’s elite clubs.

West Ham narrowly missed out on qualification for the Europa League last term, instead having to settle for a place in the Europa Conference League, but that hasn’t stopped the club from attempting to back the manager.

The arrivals of Nayed Aguerd from Rennes and Alphonse Areola on a permanent deal from Paris-Saint Germain could yet be followed by more incomings, with West Ham tipped to be ‘very busy’ this summer.

The Latest: Galetti shares Broja update…

After a successful spell on loan at Southampton last season in which he netted nine goals, Chelsea marksman Broja is believed to be a target for the Hammers.

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Sharing news on Twitter, Galetti of Sport Italia TV and Tribal Football has claimed that the Irons are now ‘above all’ in contention to sign the Albania forward.

He explained: “Armando Broja (Chelsea) will be on the market this summer. Many EPL clubs (West Ham above all), Ajax and teams are interested in the striker.”

The Verdict: Get it done?

Depending on Chelsea’s valuation, the 20-year-old could prove to be an astute prospective purchase by West Ham.

Having enjoyed a productive temporary spell on loan at St Mary’s, Broja was branded ‘sensational’ by Southampton legend Francis Benali for his contribution in parts.

The 6 foot 3 powerhouse also comes with a physicality which is tailor-made for English top-flight football and could provide a different outlet for Moyes in attack as a target man.

Nottingham Forest are reportedly interested in signing Lille midfielder Yusuf Yazici, according to Turkish outlet Sabah.

The lowdown: Career so far

A product of the youth system at his hometown club Trabzonspor, Yazici made the switch to Lille in 2019 and was sent out on loan to CSKA Moscow in January.

The 25-year-old has directly contributed to 79 goals in 201 career outings, was the Europa League’s top scorer in 2020/21 and was part of the Lille side which lifted the Ligue 1 title in that season.

Now set to return to France following his temporary spell in Russia, Yazici is facing an uncertain future at his parent club, and Forest could be looking to benefit…

The latest: Forest interested in Yazici

As per Sabah, Nottingham Forest and fellow promoted Premier League hopefuls Fulham are both keen on signing the 39-cap Turkey international this summer.

It’s claimed that the Reds ‘aspire’ to make Yazici part of the City Ground ranks and are already in ‘negotiations’ over a deal as Steve Cooper looks to bolster the attacking options at his disposal.

The report added that Lille ‘will look warmly to the offers’ forthcoming for the man who was described as ‘absolute class’ by football analyst Mahith Gamage.

The verdict: Make it happen

Capable of operating as a striker, number 10, conventional central midfielder and in various wide positions, signing the supremely versatile Turkish sensation would be a sensational coup for the Forest hierarchy to add to the already impressive business completed during the summer.

Last season, Yazici – who shares similar stylistic traits with the likes of current Premier League stars Lucas Moura, Emi Buendia and Martin Odegaard (FBRef) – scored nine times and provided three assists in 34 appearances across all competitions, earning a superb 7.53 Sofascore rating whilst on loan in the Russian top flight.

With the 25-year-old valued at £15.3m and under contract until 2024 (Transfermarkt), Forest should push to land the gifted attacker ahead of their domestic rivals, particularly given the dearth of midfield options current at Cooper’s disposal.

Newcastle United have been linked with a move for former Real Madrid midfielder Isco.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from AS (via Sport Witness), the Spaniard is of interest to the Toon, along with Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma.

The report added that the Tyneside club are willing to give the player a better financial package than what the Giallorossi have reportedly already offered him.

After spending nine years with the Spanish giants, during which he scored 53 goals, provided 56 assists and won numerous trophies across 352 appearances for Los Blancos, the 30-year-old is now a free agent following the expiry of his contract at the Bernabeu.

“One of the best”

Since the 2017/18 La Liga campaign, the attacking midfielder racked up 258 shot-creating actions and 150 successful dribbles in the Spanish top flight.

This highlights the clear creative talent that he has and shows what he would be able to offer Eddie Howe’s side should he decide to start a new chapter of his career in the Premier League.

The former Real Madrid star has caught the attention of Premier League clubs in the past, with former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino previously hailing the player as “one of the best” and someone who has “a capacity and creativity above average”.

While Newcastle have already brought in the likes of Nick Pope and Sven Botman this summer, it could be said that securing a deal for Isco could be the most exciting move made by PIF so far given the clear talent and pedigree that the Spaniard has.

Despite having a substantial wage of £211k-per-week at his former club, the opportunity to play in the Premier League for a progressive side like Newcastle could be a tempting one for the Spaniard.

However, with this latest report suggesting that the Magpies would be willing to offer more money than Roma apparently have, perhaps a significant wage wouldn’t be a problem for the Tyneside club.

If Newcastle are serious about securing a deal for Isco this summer, they should do all that they can to get him to St James’ Park and give Howe the chance to integrate him in the squad as soon as possible before the new season starts.

AND in other news – Imagine him & Botman: Ashworth can land “astute” deal with £17m Newcastle swoop for “rock”