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As they potentially look to replace Callum Wilson this summer, Newcastle United have reportedly made contact with the entourage of a Champions League-winning striker.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies are closing in on what must be an important summer at St James’ Park, with exit rumours continuing to surround star man Alexander Isak. In what would be the move of the transfer window – perhaps in terms of both valuation and the impact it would make – both Liverpool and Arsenal are reportedly targeting the Swede, who’s worth £150m.

Whilst there’s no doubt that his exit would leave a gaping hole, Newcastle would at least be free from any PSR constraints to finally welcome reinforcements of their own.

That said, Isak may not be the only one to depart this summer, with Callum Wilson currently on course to leave as a free agent when his contract comes to an end in the coming months. In one swoop, it’s certainly a real possibility that Eddie Howe could be left without both of his strikers.

£42m Newcastle star who Howe loves "will" leave in future, agent reveals

He’d be a huge loss for the Magpies.

By
Barney Lane

Mar 8, 2025

If that does prove to be the case, the arrival of one particular target will be more important than ever and the Magpies seem to be well aware of that. According to CaughtOffside, Newcastle have now made contact with Tammy Abraham over a summer move from AS Roma.

The former Chelsea man has spent the campaign on loan at Milan in a mixed spell and has since found himself on the radar of the Tyneside club, along with the likes of Aston Villa and West Ham United.

Whether a return to the Premier League beckons for the 27-year-old remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt that he’s one to watch amid growing rumours. An experienced goalscorer these days, he could instantly ease Newcastle’s Wilson blow.

"Amazing" Abraham could make Premier League return

Eyebrows were raised when Abraham swapped Chelsea for Milan in 2021 after winning the Champions League with the Blues, but the forward’s Italian adventure has proved more than worthwhile when fit and firing. Now, five years later, he looks destined to receive the chance to return to England’s top flight as a far more complete player.

Earning the praise of Jose Mourinho during their time together in Rome, the so-called Special One told reporters after a 3-0 win over Monza in 2022: “Today he was my Tammy.

“He played how I wanted him to. He won everything, he kept the ball, he provided an outlet, he won the first ball and he gave us an option in behind to push them back.

“We always talk about strikers when they score and obviously tonight was Paulo [Dybala]’s night, but Tammy was amazing.”

After scoring eight goals in all competitions in more of a backup role on loan at Milan this season, Abraham could yet become the perfect option for Newcastle behind Isak next season.

It’s a role that Wilson has struggled to fulfil amid injury issues, but one which could yet see the former Chelsea man thrive at St James’ Park.

Wolverhampton Wanderers moved a step closer to Premier League safety over the weekend, and now focus is slowly turning towards the summer as they are considering a move to sign a “deadly” star, according to a new report.

Wolves close in on Premier League safety

The arrival of Vitor Pereira hasn’t seen a massive upturn in results for the Midlands side, but it has seen them perform better than they did under Gary O’Neil, and they now look set for another season in England’s top flight.

Related New Cunha: Wolves now preparing £5m move to sign "excellent" goal machine

He’s one for the future…

Posts ByTom Cunningham Mar 14, 2025

The 2-1 win over Southampton on Saturday leaves them nine points clear of third from bottom Ipswich Town, but despite the gap, Pereira states his Wolves side cannot feel safe and cannot go to sleep. “In this league, we cannot feel safe. The first mistake is to lose points. Now we have the [international] break, and it’s important to rest a bit, but the next match is very important for us. We must control our games because we cannot control the opponents’ games.

“They are out of our control. We need to do our work to do well for our supporters, who were fantastic again. We cannot sleep.”

But while Pereira claims the Old Gold still have work to do to confirm their safety in the Premier League, Wolves are already looking ahead to the summer transfer window.

Wolves considering move to sign £55m star for Pereira

According to TEAMtalk, Wolves are weighing up a move to bring former player Diogo Jota back to Molineux in the summer transfer window.

Despite the Portugal international being considered a key player at Liverpool, the report states that he could be allowed to leave Anfield at the end of the season. His fitness record and question marks over his ability to affect big games have now led to suggestions that he could be on the move.

Liverpool are open to offers for Jota, who they value at £55 million, and that has led to Wolves keeping a close eye on his situation. The Wolves hierarchy are said to be evaluating the best way to bring Jota, who has been described as “deadly” by BBC analyst Raj Chohan, back to Molineux, as they believe they can convince him to return, although a £55m fee would be a club record for the Old Gold.

Diogo Jota’s 24/25 stats in all competitions

Apps

29

Starts

18

Goals

8

Assists

3

Wolves could ideally like to bring Jota back to the club to form a partnership with talisman Matheus Cunha. The Brazilian signed a new contract at Molineux recently, and while they look set for another season in the Premier League, he is a player who has several admirers. A move away in the summer still looks a real possibility for Cunha, as Arsenal are very much keen on signing him, and incoming sporting director Andrea Berta is now planning to tempt Cunha with a move to the Emirates Stadium.

Therefore, signing Jota could be seen as a replacement for Cunha if he were to depart in the summer. Cunha has a £62.5 million release clause, so if that is triggered, Wolves could use that money to then try and tempt Jota into a return to the club.

Wrexham are reportedly readying another Premier League transfer raid, with Nottingham Forest-owned midfielder Lewis O'Brien on the Red Dragons' radar.

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Red Dragons are preparing for Championship lifeEager to add more experience to Parkinson's squadFace recruitment battle with Welsh rivals SwanseaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The ambitious Welsh outfit are preparing for life in the Championship after rewriting the EFL history books with three successive promotions. The ultimate goal at SToK Racecourse is to one day reach the top-flight of English football.

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Pedigree and potential will be required in order to get Wrexham over that line, with Phil Parkinson in the process of drawing up recruitment plans now that promotion parties in Las Vegas and Dubai have come to a close.

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Wrexham have been heavily linked with Premier League title winner Jamie Vardy, as he prepares to sever ties with Leicester City, while there has been talk of a £50,000-a-week contract offer being readied for Fulham captain Tom Cairney ahead of him hitting free agency.

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According to , O’Brien is another player with top tier experience that is attracting admiring glances from Wrexham. The 26-year-old has only made 17 appearances for Forest since joining them in 2022 – with loan spells being taken in at D.C. United, Middlesbrough, LAFC and Swansea City.

Bournemouth have got Everton’s number, with the Toffees losing their fourth match in succession against the South Coast side on Sunday, bowing out of the FA Cup in the fourth round.

This isn’t the be-all and end-all for David Moyes’ rejuvenated team, having clinched three successive wins in the Premier League to create ample breathing room at the bottom end of the table.

Everton are battling injuries, stripped of bodywork but still producing coherent and determined performances that look a world away from the colourless football under Sean Dyche’s wing.

How Moyes is combating injuries at Everton

Everton’s deficiency on the fitness front is concerning, to be sure, but recent results in the Premier League do highlight the club’s strength in a new system.

The lead-up to Moyes’ appointment saw the Merseysiders fail to score across eight of ten Premier League matches, and they have bagged eight goals from four fixtures since.

This is all the more impressive when considering the forwards are dropping like flies, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Armando Broja, Youssef Chermiti and Dwight McNeil all sidelined.

Every cloud though, ay. With McNeil not expected to return just yet, new recruit Charly Alcaraz may be tasked with fighting from the opening whistle once again in the coming days – with Liverpool heading to Goodison for a crunch top-flight contest.

Moyes may have a star in the Argentine midfielder.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Moyes could have Everton's new Tim Cahill waiting in the wings

It’s safe to say that Everton must be sick of the sight of Bournemouth, with their Saturday win at Goodison extending the Toffees’ record against the Cherries to eight defeats from ten fixtures in all competitions.

However, Alcaraz’s debut was hailed by the likes of correspondent Paddy Boyland, who praised the dynamic ace for giving Everton “something different in midfield.”

His swashbuckling style is characterised by throttle-shaking movements and a desire to drive play into dangerous areas, where he or his teammates can find space to shoot.

Everton might have failed to address issues at centre-forward and on the right flank, but this signing adds impetus and depth to a side that has walked with strong footing over the past few weeks, no longer pressed within the thickness of the relegation zone.

And given that he was signed on loan with an obligatory £13m buy option at the end of the season, this might prove to be a shrewd deal indeed given that Juventus were keen on snapping up their former loanee for a £40m fee last year.

Replacing the less mobile Abdoulaye Doucoure for the final 25 minutes in the FA Cup, the 22-year-old hit the woodwork from a free-kick, took 23 touches, won his only contested ground duel and placed two key passes for teammates, as per Sofascore.

Typically playing off the striker’s back, Alcaraz’s style almost gives rise to memories of Tim Cahill, one of Everton’s finest Premier League stars and a linchpin throughout the bulk of Moyes’ first regime.

With 226 games and 56 highlight goals to his name in the English top flight, the retired Australian star was described as Everton’s “talisman” by Phil Neville, who continued to stress that the versatile player was “right up there” with the best of the best in the club’s storied modern history.

Everton – Record Premier League Scorers
Rank	Player	Apps	Goals
1.	Romelu Lukaku	141	68
2.	Duncan Ferguson	239	60
3.	Dominic Calvert-Lewin	235	57
4.	Tim Cahill	226	56
5.	Kevin Campbell	145	45
Stats via Transfermarkt

Competent as a box-to-box midfielder and dangerous as a makeshift striker, Alcaraz could certainly do worse than take a leaf from the Aussie star’s book, and given that Moyes has been behind the new Everton signing, it feels like he’s looking to repeat his own trick in dynamising the Everton attack.

Explosiveness has been in short supply on the blue half of Merseyside over recent years, and with Orel Mangala now sidelined until the end of the season, sorting this deal out felt significant.

Alcaraz, moreover, isn’t quite a player who excels in possession-based systems, instead powering forward and unleashing his will onto the pitch, be that through his ball striking or playmaking skills.

Alcaraz may not be an aerial monster in the same vein as Cahill, but he’s electric, powerful and creative with his attacking tools, ranking among the top 1% of positional peers over the past year for shots taken, the top 4% for shot-creating actions, the top 3% for progressive carries and the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig hailed Alcaraz for being “one of the biggest talents in Argentina” following his breakout with Racing Club before he transferred to Southampton and looks set to explode now back in English football.

Still only 22, Alcaraz has crucial Premier League experience to his name with the Saints and indeed brings something different to Moyes’ midfield, thunderously purposeful and proving himself to be multi-dimensional against Bournemouth as he skidded back into deeper positions and looked composed as he turned play back toward Everton’s offensive third.

Toward the end of the dysfunctional Farhad Moshiri era, Everton repeatedly fanned the flames of their support base’s frustrations, but Moyes is back and has already begun to remind English football of why he’s such a revered figure at Goodison Park.

More work is needed on the transfer front, but in Alcaraz, a combative and energetic new midfield force has been welcomed to the fold.

Moyes might just have signed his future talisman, very much in the mould of Cahill.

Even better than Ndiaye: Everton must regret selling "exceptional" PL star

Everton must rue selling a player who is shining for his current club in the Premier League.

1

By
Ross Kilvington

Feb 9, 2025

Hashmatullah Shahidi continues to lead, with Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman headlining the bowling unit

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Nov-2022Afghanistan have named allrounder Gulbadin Naib and uncapped left-arm wristspinner Noor Ahmad in their 18-man squad for the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka that gets underway in Kandy later this month.The rest of the squad remains the same as Afghanistan’s last ODI series, against Zimbabwe in early June when they blanked the hosts 3-0.Schedule

Nov 25: 1st ODI, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
Nov 27: 2nd ODI, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
Nov 30: 3rd ODI, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium

Noor, 18, hasn’t yet made his ODI debut but has already built up quite the reputation in various T20 leagues around the world. He returned figures of 4 for 10 on T20I debut – joint-best debut figures in a T20I involving two Full-Member teams – and was more recently part of Afghanistan’s 2022 Asia Cup squad. While he did not make the cut for the T20 World Cup in Australia, he has been with the squad on a regular basis, despite not always getting the game time.ESPNcricinfo LtdFormer ODI captain Naib last played a 50-over game against Bangladesh in February but came into Afghanistan’s T20 World Cup side midway as a replacement for the injured Hazratullah Zazai.The rest of the squad is on expected lines, with Hashmatullah Shahidi leading the team. He is expected to form the fulcrum of the top order alongside Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Rahmat Shah. Mohammad Nabi, who recently stepped down as the T20 captain after a disappointing World Cup campaign where Afghanistan failed to win a single game, has also been included. Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman headline the bowling unit.Related

Mohammad Nabi steps down as Afghanistan captain

“The selectors have included some young faces for the series which is a good sign for us leading into the ICC Cricket World Cup next year. The series is vital for us in terms of our qualification for the mega event next year and I am sure the squad carries enough strength to do well when they get to the field,” Naseeb Khan, the ACB CEO, was quoted via a press release.The three-match series is part of the ODI Super League and will begin on November 25. All three games will be held in Kandy. Afghanistan are currently placed seventh on the Super League points table with ten wins from 12 matches.Full squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Rahmat Shah (vice-capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Fareed Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Gulbadin Naib, Ibrahim Zadran, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Najibullah Zadran, Noor Ahmad, Rashid Khan, Riaz Hassan, Shahidullah Kamal, Yamin Ahmadzai, Zia-ur-Rehman

Leeds United are currently top of the Championship table and know that a win over Norwich City at Elland Road on Wednesday night will ensure that they remain there.

The Whites are aiming to secure promotion to the Premier League at the second time of asking after they fell short in the play-offs after finishing third in the division in the 2023/24 campaign.

Daniel Farke’s side will want to avoid going through the lottery of the play-offs and they moved one step closer to automatic promotion with a 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in West Yorkshire last time out.

Goals from Manor Solomon, Largie Ramazani, and Ao Tanaka secured all three points for the Whites in their clash with the Owls on Sunday.

Despite the club’s excellent position in the Championship, Leeds may still look to utilise the January transfer window to bolster their squad before it slams shut at the start of next month.

In fact, the West Yorkshire outfit are reportedly in the market to add another attacking player to their squad before the window officially closes.

Leeds eyeing deal for new striker

According to The Lower Tiers, an account dedicated to EFL content, Leeds are one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign St. Gallen centre-forward Willem Geubbels this month.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The report claims that the French striker has impressed for the Swiss side this season and has attracted interest from several clubs in England, who are now eyeing up moves for his services.

It states that Leeds, Sheffield United, and Burnley – three of the teams vying to secure automatic promotion to the Premier League – are all considering bids to sign the 23-year-old dynamo to bolster their respective attacks.

The report does not reveal how much St. Gallen would demand for their star striker, however, so it remains to be seen how much money the Whites would need to splash out to land his signature.

Geubbels is valued at around £4m by Transfermarkt, which may provide a rough idea as to his worth, but the Swiss outfit could demand more if they do not want to sell their main man midway through the season during the January transfer window.

Leeds should not be deterred by this, though, because the St. Gallen number nine could come in to improve Farke’s options at the top end of the pitch, as an upgrade on current Whites striker Mateo Joseph, in particular.

Mateo Joseph's form this season

The Spain U21 international was used sparingly by the German head coach in the 2023/24 campaign during his first season of semi-regular first-team football.

Joseph made all 20 of his Championship appearances as a substitute and contributed with one goal, whilst being behind the likes of Georgino Rutter, Patrick Bamford, and Joel Piroe in the pecking order at Elland Road.

Rutter’s move to Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer and Bamford’s regression to being a back-up option in the squad has provided the academy graduate with an opportunity to stake a claim for his place in the starting XI this season.

The 21-year-old whiz has started 11 of his 27 appearances in the Championship so far this term but has been the second-choice behind Piroe for the most part, due to his struggles in front of goal in the second tier.

Mateo Joseph

4.86

2

-2.86

Patrick Bamford

1.91

0

-1.91

Wilfried Gnonto

5.45

4

-1.45

Pascal Struijk

3.98

3

-0.98

Ethan Ampadu

0.83

0

-0.83

As you can see in the table above, no other player in the Leeds squad has underperformed against their Expected Goals tally by more than Joseph, who has only scored twice from 4.86 xG worth of chances.

This shows that the team have created plenty of high-quality opportunities for the Spanish striker to find the back of the net, only to be let down by his wasteful finishing more often than not.

With this in mind, Leeds could find an upgrade on the misfiring youngster by swooping to sign Geubbels from St. Gallen before the end of the January transfer window to come in and compete with Piroe for a starting berth in the side in the second half of the season.

Why Leeds should sign Willem Geubbels

The 23-year-old star’s form in the Swiss Super League so far in the 2024/25 campaign suggests that the potential is there for him to come in and improve Farke’s options at the top end of the pitch.

RangersJournal writer and content creator Kai Watson described Geubbels as a “powerful” and “quick” attacker who can use his pace on the last line to get in behind and cause defenders problems, which could make him an ideal alternative to Piroe, who lacks the athleticism to stretch defences.

The former Monaco and Lyon whiz has backed his physical attributes up with technical quality in the final third in recent seasons, with a return of eight goals and nine ‘big chances’ created in 26 starts in the Swiss Super League last term.

Geubbels has followed that up with an impressive first half of the current league campaign with St. Gallen, as he has once again proven himself to be adept at scoring and creating goals from a centre-forward position.

Appearances

27

13

Goals

2

6

Big chances missed

6

2

Conversion rate

6%

21%

Big chances created

4

4

As you can see in the table above, the French dynamo has provided far more quality in the final third at league level in comparison to Joseph, with more goals and fewer ‘big chances’ created in 14 fewer appearances.

These statistics suggest that Geubbels is a better finisher than the Spanish forward, given his vastly superior conversion rate, and that could mean that he has a better chance of making the most of the quality opportunities that Leeds have been creating this season.

Leeds have hit gold with "explosive" star who's worth more than Louie Barry

Leeds United have been linked with an interest in Aston Villa forward Louie Barry this month.

2 ByDan Emery Jan 21, 2025

Therefore, Leeds should push to beat Burnley and Sheffield United to the 23-year-old star’s signature before the end of the January transfer window.

MatériaMais Notícias

A passagem de Jorge Jesus pelo Rio de Janeiro agitou o dia a dia do Flamengo na última semana. Após o treinador retornar à Portugal, Rodolfo Landim, enfim, falou sobre o assunto. Em entrevista ao Mauro Cezar Pereira, do “UOL”, o presidente rubro-negro afirmou encarar a “pressão por mudanças” como natural, além de ter aberto o jogo sobre a relação com o Mister, quem contratou em 2019.

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-Com a serenidade que o assunto demanda (sobre como está lidando com a pressão por mudanças). No Flamengo, qualquer resultado negativo gera reação, mas confiamos no trabalho que está sendo realizado – escreveu Rodolfo Landim ao blog do jornalista.

Sobre a relação com Jorge Jesus, Rodolfo Landim afirmou que não “fala com o treinador desde 2020”, com exceção de mensagens de natal e ano novo. Em outra resposta,admitiu que “ficou chateado com a maneira” que o treinador saiu em 2020, quando deixou o clube um mês depois de ter renovado seu contrato por uma temporada.

-Ele tinha se comprometido, não só comigo, mas com todo o grupo (jogadores e comissão técnica) a permanecer aqui até ao menos o final da temporada de 2020. Ao renovar o contrato e depois sair repentinamente, atrapalhou todo o trabalho de preparação para a temporada pós-paralisação pela Covid e a eventual adaptação de um novo técnico que contrataríamos para o lugar dele, se soubéssemos que não iria ficar – respondeu o presidente Rodolfo Landim, que viu como “natural” a vinda de Jorge Jesus para o Rio de Janeiro.

Manchester United have joined the transfer battle to sign Napoli forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, according to newspapers in Paris, who have been closely following PSG’s own interest.

Man Utd transfer news

Over a week into the January transfer window, United’s window has been focused on the future of Marcus Rashford. But while speculation continues over the Englishman, the Red Devils have put plans in place in terms of players they would like to sign if and when money becomes available.

Man Utd make enquiry for £33m Asian star as possible Rashford replacement

Man United and Ruben Amorim have their eyes on a Ligue 1 attacker.

ByBrett Worthington Jan 9, 2025

It was reported by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano earlier this week that United placed Patrick Dorgu on their transfer wishlist. The left-sided defender joins Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez and PSG’s Nuno Mendes on the list of potential targets, but those two are considered more expensive than Dorgu, who is said to be valued at around £30 million.

As well as looking at Dorgu, the Premier League side have made an enquiry to sign Kang-in Lee from Paris Saint-Germain. INEOS are exploring the possibility of getting a deal over the line, as PSG are looking to get £33 million for the attacker, but they also face competition from Newcastle United.

Ruben Amorim also has his eye on strengthening his goalkeeper department, as reports have emerged that United have sent a scout to watch Mads Hermansen of Leicester City, and they could take advantage of a potential Foxes PSR breach to complete a transfer. The Red Devils are aware of his “potential availability” as the goalkeeper is Leicester’s most “likely sale” if they fail to comply with PSR.

Man Utd are trying to hijack PSG's Kvaratskhelia move

INEOS are not stopping there, as according to L’Equipe, relayed by Get Football News France, Man United are now trying to hijack PSG’s move to sign Kvaratskhelia from Napoli this month.

Kvaratskhelia, who is sponsored by Adidas, has been an impressive player for Napoli since joining the club in 2022. The forward has continued to be a shining light for the Italian side, scoring a bundle of goals and creating plenty of chances for his teammates – this season the winger has scored five and recorded three assists in 17 Serie A games. The Georgia international is still under contract until 2027, but a move could materialise this month.

PSG have been long-term admirers of the winger, and last summer they came close to bringing him to the French capital. That interest has not disappeared, as Fabrizio Romano reports that PSG are continuing to try and sign Kvaratskhelia this month, with both clubs in direct contact and PSG willing to offer Milan Skriniar plus cash to get a deal over the line.

Apps

17

Starts

15

Minutes per game

70

Goals

5

xG

4.14

Shots per game

2.9

Goal conversion

10%

Assists

3

xAG

2.97

Big chances created

5

Key passes

1.7

However, they are not the only team chasing the Napoli attacker, as L’Equipe reports that United are looking to hijack PSG’s transfer move by offering Rashford in part exchange for Kvaratskhelia. This offer is likely to include money as well, but it is unclear if it is enough to convince Napoli, as the forward has a release clause worth £100 million.

Glasgow Rangers returned to winning ways over the weekend, yet the Premiership title is surely out of reach for Philippe Clement’s men.

The 3-1 win at Ibrox against St Johnstone may have secured three points, but with the Union Bears walking out after 55 minutes, protesting against the board, the atmosphere at the club is bordering on toxic.

The new CEO, Patrick Stewart, is backing Clement, who will be in charge of the club throughout the transfer window.

With one or two signings likely, who is the Belgian looking to bring to the club?

Rangers eye move for Championship defender

According to Swedish outlet Expressen, Rangers are one of the many clubs that have expressed interest in Burnley defender Hjalmar Ekdal, with a loan move being touted.

Plenty of Championship and Italian clubs are keen on luring the player away from Burnley, suggesting the Light Blues face stiff competition for his signature.

The report goes on to state that Clement and Co have made contact with Burnley over a potential loan deal, which would certainly help ease the club’s current defensive crisis.

It wouldn’t be the first time that the club have signed a defender from England in recent years. If a move for Ekdal could be as impressive as the one which saw Calvin Bassey move north of the border, then Clement may just strike gold.

Why Rangers could sign Calvin Bassey 2.0 in Hjalmar Ekdal

Bassey arrived in the summer of 2020 to little fanfare. Considered an excellent talent, the Nigerian operated on the periphery during the 2020/21 season, making just 15 appearances.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Due to an injury crisis in defence, Bassey established himself as first choice centre-back the following campaign, playing 50 times for the Gers, reaching the Europa League final and winning the Scottish Cup in the process.

Accurate passes

37.4

52.3

Key passes

0.2

0.8

Tackles

1.6

1.5

Ground duels won

3.4

3.4

Possession lost

11.6

14.7

It was a stunning rise, which led to him joining Ajax for around £23m, a club-record sale. While Ekdal may be joining on loan initially, he could have the same impact, arriving from south of the border and starring.

The defender has played just 19 games for Burnley since joining two years ago, but a spell at his previous club Djurgarden was a success.

Indeed, during his final season in the Swedish top flight with the club, Ekdal not only showed his attacking qualities by scoring three goals, but the 26-year-old also averaged an 88% pass success rate, won 61% of his total dues per game and averaged 1.2 tackles each match, showcasing his defensive abilities.

Vincent Kompany once described the Swede as an “intelligent” and “mobile” defender, and it is evident that his skill set could be well suited to the rigours of Scottish football.

The main thing would be getting the defender back to 100% fitness. If Clement can ensure that Ekdal will feature heavily between now and the end of the season, then it is surely a no-brainer to sign him on loan.

Bassey made such a positive impact in a short space of time. The Burnley star may well follow in his footsteps.

Kamara 2.0: Rangers urged to sign "decisive" SPFL star who Clement praised

Rangers have been urged to make a move for a player who is shining in the Premiership this season

ByRoss Kilvington Jan 11, 2025

West Ham United have made a £25 million bid to sign a striker who they once tried to capture for ex-boss David Moyes, with Julen Lopetegui’s side now receiving a reply to their latest offer.

Tim Steidten eyeing new striker for West Ham in January

Hammers technical director Tim Steidten is tasked with leading their pursuit of a fresh centre-forward option next month.

West Ham could attempt January deal for "tailor-made" £60m striker

The Hammers need a prolific alternative to Danny Ings and Niclas Fullkrug.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 19, 2024

Michail Antonio is set to be out for the foreseeable future after his horrific car crash near the start of December, while summer signing Niclas Fullkrug has bagged just one goal in all competitions so far, owing to his persistent achilles tendon problem which kept him sidelined for nearly three months.

Match

Date

Opponent

Competition

Result

#18

16/12/2024

Bournemouth (A)

Premier League

1-1

#17

09/12/2024

Wolves (H)

Premier League

2-1

#16

03/12/2024

Leicester City (A)

Premier League

3-1

#15

30/11/2024

Arsenal (H)

Premier League

5-2

#14

26/11/2024

Newcastle United (A)

Premier League

2-0 win

#13

09/11/2024

Everton (H)

Premier League

0-0 draw

#12

02/11/2024

Nottingham Forest (A)

Premier League

3-0 loss

#11

27/10/2024

Man United (H)

Premier League

2-1 win

#10

19/10/2024

Tottenham (A)

Premier League

4-1 loss

Lopetegui’s lack of faith in Danny Ings means that he’s been forced to turn towards winger Jarrod Bowen as a makeshift striker option, with the England international scoring West Ham’s ‘El Sackico’ winner against Wolves and ultimately helping to save his manager’s job.

However, West Ham don’t plan on sticking with Bowen in that role, and reports suggest they’re firmly on the hunt for a new striker. The club have been tipped to bring in a fresh option in that area for quite some time, with West Ham’s former scout Mick Brown telling Football Insider that they were after a striker as far back as October.

“When you think about clubs that need a striker, there are a few of those in the Premier League, and he’d be a worthwhile contender,” said Brown on West Ham’s previous links with Greece star Vangelis Pavlidis.

“I know clubs have been having close looks since before he moved to Benfica.

“From what I know the likes of West Ham are looking for a striker, and have looked at him before. I’ve also heard that that interest could still be there, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see their name in the running if he is to move again.”

Brighton star Evan Ferguson is a rumoured striker target for West Ham also, and it is believed they’ve reignited their interest in Corinthians forward Yuri Alberto.

Corinthians reply as West Ham make £25 million bid for Yuri Alberto

The Brazilian has just secured his country’s Golden Boot award after a phenomenal 2024 campaign, where he bagged 31 goals in all competitions, and he’s a long-time target for West Ham.

Corinthians president Duilio Monteiro Alves confirmed that he rejected a £13 million offer from the east London club last year when Moyes was in the dugout, but that hasn’t stopped them from trying their luck yet again.

According to South American journalist Neto, via Sport Witness and Soutimao, West Ham have made another offer to Corinthians for Alberto.

They’ve apparently tabled a £25 million bid for his services, but president Alves has yet again rejected their advances. As a result, a transfer away for the 23-year-old looks more likely to be in the summer rather than January.

“I had said that he (Yuri Alberto) would be sold for £25m to West Ham, but that will no longer happen, because he will stay until the July 2025 window,” said Neto.

“Corinthians received an offer of €30m, but did not want to sell Yuri Alberto at that moment.”