All posts by z3u9t.icu

Wolves are "no longer" in the race sign highly-rated Bristol City youngster Alex Scott in the summer transfer window, according to an update from journalist Alex Crook.

How much is Alex Scott worth?

The 19-year-old has emerged as possible one of the most gifted young English players around at the moment, already making a significant mark for his current side. Last season, he started 40 of City's 46 Championship matches, despite still being an inexperienced figure, and he proved to be a key man.

Playing a fairly disciplined role, Scott scored once and also chipped in with four assists, not to mention averaging 1.8 tackles and 1.1 aerial duel wins per game in the league.

It is no surprise to see that there has been a huge amount of interest in the teenager's signature this summer, and while City will no doubt want to retain his services for as long as possible, they may be under no illusions that his future eventually lies in the top flight.

Scott's current City deal expires in the summer of 2025, so the Championship side will be aware that selling him now could allow them to receive the biggest possible fee, with his price potentially dropping the closer his contract comes to running down.

Wolves are one of the clubs who have been linked with a move in recent months, but now a very contrary report has emerged regarding the current situation of the player valued at €20m (£17m) by Transfermarkt.

Could Wolves sign Alex Scott?

Taking to Twitter, Crook provided a pretty blunt update on Wolves' pursuit of Scott this summer, now claiming that he is not seen as transfer target for the club anymore, dropping out of the battle in the process:

"Reliably informed Wolves are no longer in the race for Alex Scott."

This is undoubtedly a shame to hear, considering how high Scott's ceiling is as a player, having already made 91 appearances for City, despite still only being a teenager, and he is a three-time capped England Under-20 international, too.Pep Guardiola has hailed the Englishman as "unbelievable", which is huge praise from arguably one of the greatest managers of all time – City manager Nigel Pearson has also said that he is a "very unique talent and he's got a very impressive temperament" – and there is every chance that he will end up as a future England senior international.It is essential that Wolves look to bring in young homegrown talent, so if they do ultimately miss out on snapping up Scott this summer, they need to look elsewhere and look for a player of a similar ilk, rather than naturally decide to look abroad for a new midfield addition, potentially hurting their homegrown quota.The hope is that there is time for a twist in the saga, however, with Wanderers changing their stance and Scott liking the idea of heading to Molineux. The City ace would surely learn a lot from playing under a manager of Julen Lopetegui's quality and pedigree, and the Wolves boss himself would surely love to work alongside such a highly-rated young footballer.

An update has emerged on Liverpool and their attempts to bolster their midfield options ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign…

What's the latest on Romeo Lavia to Liverpool?

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the Reds are poised to enter negotiations with Southampton over a deal to sign central midfielder Romeo Lavia.

He has also stated that the club have already been in talks with the player's representatives as the Belgian is one of their top targets heading into the remainder of the summer transfer window.

The reporter Tweeted: "Liverpool have been in contact with the agents of Roméo Lavia for 2 weeks — still ongoing. He’s high on the list, considered as ‘top talent’ in his position. Sources expect LFC to open talks with Southampton soon — as there will be competition from Arsenal and Chelsea."

James Pearce, of The Athletic, has suggested that the club will only pursue the £50m-rated ace as a third addition in midfield and the Daily Mail have claimed that they are willing to part ways with Thiago Alcantara, which would then open the door for the Saints starlet to come in.

Where would Romeo Lavia fit in at Liverpool?

The Belgian enforcer was predominantly deployed as a defensive midfielder at St. Mary's last season, meaning that he could line up at the base of Jurgen Klopp's midfield, with two players sitting ahead of him.

Having a ball-winning battler in the number six position could make new signing Alexis Mac Allister, who joined from Brighton & Hove Albion earlier this summer, unplayable next term.

As you can see in the Opta chart above, the Argentina international is one of the outstanding players in his position when it comes to taking shots and scoring goals.

The 24-year-old showcased his quality in the final third as he scored ten goals in 31 Premier League starts for the Seagulls last season. To highlight how good that tally was, no Liverpool midfielder managed more than Curtis Jones' record of three league strikes, which suggests that Mac Allister has the potential to be Klopp's main attacking outlet in that area of the pitch.

Lavia's presence in the middle of the park could provide the World Cup winner with the freedom he needs to do his damage to the opposition, as the 19-year-old has proven himself to be an impressive ball-winner at Premier League level.

The graphic below, as provided by Opta, shows that the Southampton talent excels at winning possession back for his team, which is the perfect trait for a defensive midfielder to have as he is capable of consistently breaking up attacks.

Lavia, who was hailed as an "absolute monster" by writer Benjy Nurick, has also averaged more tackles, interceptions, and blocks combined per 90 (5.67) over the last 365 days in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions in comparison to Liverpool's current number six – Fabinho (4.63).

These statistics suggest that the former Manchester City man has the quality to be an upgrade on the Brazil international when it comes to breaking up play and stopping the opposition.

Having a player with the quality to be a phenomenal screen in front of the defence would then allow the other midfield players, notably Mac Allister, to push forward without having to worry too much about their defensive responsibilities.

Such a player, therefore, could make them unplayable as they constantly burst forward to make an impact in the final third.

Chelsea remain the 'most likely' destination for Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo to end up this summer, according to CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest transfer news involving Moises Caicedo?

Chelsea were reported to have joined the race just under a week ago, and things look to have picked up since then.

Renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano has given an update on the state of play surrounding Caicedo and Chelsea, stating on Twitter: "Understand Chelsea will continue talks with Brighton for Moisés Caicedo next week. Clubs will be in direct contact as negotiations are ongoing. Chelsea hope to find a solution soon as personal terms are not an issue, Moisés already said yes to Chelsea. Talks on."

Rudy Galetti, who is also a journalist, has issued a further development in the Blues' quest to land the £60k-a-week ace on Twitter, stating: "Moises Caicedo, the talks between Chelsea and Brighton are entering in the final stage. Understand the 2 clubs agreed the fixed amount of the transfer (~£75m) and now they are discussing the add-ons. Moises is keen to join CFC and he’s pushing for the move."

The Athletic have alternatively provided information that suggests Brighton could demand a colossal £100 million fee to part ways with the Ecuador international this off-season.

The Seagulls are believed to have benchmarked the price bracket that West Ham midfielder Declan Rice is being quoted at amid interest from Arsenal and think that Caicedo is every bit as good, if not better, than the England international.

Football Insider detail that Chelsea are 'increasingly confident of securing an agreement' to bring Caicedo to Stamford Bridge this summer.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jacobs believes that somewhere around the £80 million mark would be a more realistic fee structure for Caicedo than the reported £100 million demand from Brighton & Hove Albion.

Jacobs said: "Of course, you'd expect Brighton to try and get the best possible deal. But I understand that Caicedo will be a lot closer to £80m than £100m and Chelsea, not Manchester United, remains the most likely destination at this point."

Would Moises Caicedo be a good signing for Chelsea?

It's hard to argue otherwise when you take his meteoric rise at the Amex Stadium into account, which has paved the way for high-profile interest from the likes of Chelsea to become apparent this window.

Last season, Caicedo, who has been hailed as a "monster", made 43 appearances for Brighton & Hove Albion in all competitions, registering one goal and one assist, as per Transfermarkt.

Caicedo also managed an average of 2.7 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per match in the Premier League across 2022/23, making his presence known at the heart of the Seagulls' engine room, according to WhoScored.

Driving his side forward from midfield, the Ecuadorian enforcer successfully completed 88 shot-creating actions in the English top flight and showed his desire to help offensive moves, as per FBRef.

Mauricio Pochettino looks to be hard at work as he looks to secure his preferred targets and Caicedo may well be the next in line to pitch up in SW6.

Liverpool are in a position to acquire some much-needed reinforcements this summer after a difficult campaign last season and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Jeremy Doku?

According to French news outlet L'Equipe (via Sport Witness), Liverpool have set their sights on Stade Rennais winger Jeremy Doku.

As per the report, the Reds maintain their interest in the player that they almost signed in 2017 and although the player hasn't been a consistent goal-scorer he has become an attractive prospect based on his dribbling expertise.

The news broke a day before interest in Dominik Szoboszlai of RB Leipzig was broken, with FSG clearly looking to splash the cash in the early exchanges of the transfer window.

Who would Jeremy Doku replace in the Liverpool team?

It is no secret that the top priority this summer for Liverpool is to rebuild their midfield presence and inject some much-needed energy into the team to improve performances that were seen over last season.

The Merseyside giants have had no struggles in scoring goals and deploying an attacking threat that is deadly against any opponent of any quality, with only Manchester City and Arsenal scoring more than Liverpool (75) over their most recent campaign in the Premier League, despite their failure to secure a top-four finish.

Having said that, acquiring more attacking options who can provide diversity in the final third wouldn't be the worst idea and with Mohamed Salah set to be out of contract in 2025, there is an opportunity to bring in an understudy this summer to develop and nurture on the right flank who can learn the ropes from the Egyptian superstar.

Doku – hailed a "diamond in the rough" by Kevin De Bruyne – is an impressive attacking presence ranking in the top 5% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for a whole host of metrics, including non-penalty goals, shot-creating actions, progressive carries, progressive passes received and successful take-ons, as per FBref.

The £14m-rated winger offers strengths that are a little different to those of Liverpool's talisman, outperforming his positional peer in a number of attributes last season including shot-creating actions per 90 (5.65 v 3.83), goal-creating actions per 90 (0.70 v 0.66) and take-on success rate (60.4% v 37.3%), suggesting that he offers a more selfless approach in attacking opportunities and is more confident in challenging opponents.

It is unfathomable that Klopp would ever bench his star man who has provided the Anfield faithful with so many moments of magic, however, the acquirement of Doku could give the Liverpool boss some depth and a different perspective in the position that can be deployed in latter stages of games and provides a rotation option when competing in multiple competitions.

With that being said, Doku is definitely one to watch for Liverpool this summer and if the club's hierarchy can strike up a good deal for the 21-year-old this summer it could be a great opportunity to add some more depth in the forward line ahead of next season.

Chelsea are now looking to up their pursuit of the Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo this week, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Will Brighton sell Caicedo this summer?

The west London side could see some major changes at Stamford Bridge over the course of the summer with the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino in recent weeks.

And one change could come in midfield with the potential departure of Mason Mount to Manchester United.

It is believed the Blues are looking to bring in a fee in the region of £65m for their homegrown 24-year-old this summer.

Amid reports of Mount's potential exit, it is believed they are keen to add to their midfield this summer with Caicedo a player who has been heavily linked.

The Brighton midfielder has been linked with a potential move away from the south coast for a number of months now with Arsenal also credited with an interest.

Despite putting pen to paper on a new deal after the January interest, it is believed Caicedo has been promised by Roberto De Zerbi and the Seagulls that he can leave this summer.

And speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano has claimed the Blues are now set to up their negotiations with Brighton to secure the services of the 21-year-old:

"Exclusive information. Chelsea are now starting the negotiations for Moises Caicedo. It will happen this week, let's see if today [Wednesday]/tomorrow but it's direct negotiation now Chelsea Brighton for Moises Caicedo. Direct club-to-club negotiation. So we wait for the bid, we wait for a direct conversation. We know that personal terms are not an issue."

How much is Moises Caicedo worth?

The Londoners could be set to receive a healthy sum of money over the coming weeks with the potential sale of Mount.

And it is worth considering the fact the Seagulls will be well aware of the financial power behind a club like Chelsea.

Todd Bohely and co spent massively over the course of last season and have already made a number of sales this summer to bring in some money and relieve their wage bill.

It is believed Brighton have set a £90m valuation on their Ecuadorean this summer if they are to allow him to leave.

And they certainly sit in the driving seat in any negotiations this summer with the player now having signed a new deal to take his stay up until 2027.

However, the midfielder is seemingly keen to move on to bigger things with him previously showing a desire to leave in the January transfer window.

Although Brighton are believed to be open to allowing him leave over the coming weeks, it is apparent they will not be willing to allow Chelsea to get a bargain for the midfielder.

Manchester United are closing in on a £60m move to sign midfielder Mason Mount, according to reports, with a five-year contract totalling £52m also agreed.

Is Mason Mount signing for Man United?

The Red Devils have seemingly identified Mount, dubbed a "mad player" by Red Devils legend Rio Ferdinand, as a top target to bolster Erik ten Hag’s side this summer.

The 24-year-old is entering the final 12 months of his Chelsea contract but could still be on the move for big money. Man United made an initial £40m offer earlier this month for the midfielder, however, it was quickly turned down by their Premier League rivals.

The Red Devils returned in recent days with an improved £50m bid which was a guaranteed £45m fee plus £5m in add-ons, but that was also rejected.

However, it now looks as if the two clubs are close to shaking hands on a deal for Mount, who Kylian Mbappe has called a “superb player”.

According to The Daily Star's Chief Sports Writer, Jeremy Cross, Man United are now closing in on a £60m deal with Chelsea following further talks.

Those at Old Trafford see £60m as a fair price, and with Mount already agreeing on a five-year deal worth around £200,000-a-week, a transfer looks set to go through and will be worth £112m in total when it comes to a fee and wages.

Ten Hag is expected to get his man, though, and wants the transfer for the England international completed in time so he can join the United squad on the pre-season tour of America next month.

Who else could Man United sign this summer?

There has been no shortage of transfer rumours at Old Trafford so far this summer, and it looks like it could be a busy few months in the transfer market alongside a possible takeover, with Mount potentially the first of many through the door.

A new goalkeeper could be needed with David de Gea’s future yet to be resolved. A direct meeting was held with the representative of Inter Milan’s Andre Onana, a shot-stopper who Ten Hag worked with previously at Ajax.

Meanwhile, a marquee attacker also appears to be on the United agenda, with Harry Kane a long-term target. The Tottenham striker, like Mount, is entering the final 12 months of his contract and a move to Old Trafford did look unlikely. However, reports have suggested that the Red Devils could be tempted back to the table, should Kane’s asking price be lowered from £100m to £80m.

Finally, AS Monaco defender Axel Disasi appears to be another target for United over the coming months. Those in Manchester are thought to be in the lead to secure the Frenchman’s services, so there could be a number of signings ahead of the 2023/24 season.

Newcastle United have been heavily linked with a move for Dominik Szoboszlai this summer and now a new claim has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player.

What's the latest on Newcastle's interest in Dominik Szoboszlai?

Journalist and transfer insider Dean Jones has spoken out on what the RB Leipzig star could bring to St James' Park if a deal can be done and addresses comparisons to former Newcastle player Hatem Ben Arfa.

Jones told Football FanCast:

"If Ben Arfa got people off their seats then Szoboszlai definitely can!"

"He's an unbelievable technician of the ball, his ability to spot a pass is ridiculous, he can score great goals and good around set pieces."

Would Szoboszlai be a good fit for Newcastle?

There is no doubt that Szoboszlai would very quickly become a fan favourite at St James' Park if he could emulate the impact that Ben Arfa made on the club during his five-year stint.

The 36-year-old scored 14 goals and registered 15 assists over 86 appearances for the North East club with a goal contribution every 175 minutes played, as well as holding an integral role in their most recent qualification of European football ahead of this season, securing Europa League football back in 2012.

Now Szoboszlai could be the second coming of Ben Arfa and could play an important part in their Champions League campaign next season if he makes the move to Tyneside this summer.

Over 31 Bundesliga appearances, the 22-year-old sensation has scored six goals, registered eight assists and created a whopping 14 chances, as well as averaging 2.3 key passes, 1.9 shots on goal, 1.7 successful dribbles, 1.5 tackles and 4.6 duels won per game, proving that he is a massive attacking presence on the pitch.

Szoboszlai was featured in The Guardian’s ‘Next Generation’ shortlist back in 2017 where journalist Tomasz Mortimer compared the Hungary international to Toni Kroos:

'He’s a tall, languid, classy talent who is adept behind the striker or as a deep-lying midfielder,'

'He has almost Toni Kroos-like qualities – brilliant ball-striking ability with both feet, a great range of passing, beautiful balance and a really high footballing IQ.'

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for Newcastle to commit to the €70m (£61m) release clause for Szoboszlai as he could be a revelation for Newcastle in their pursuit for dominance and trophies over next season and beyond.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has given the green-light for Daniel Levy to sign Leicester City star James Maddison, according to reports.

Who could join Spurs this summer?

The long wait for a new manager after Antonio Conte finally ended on Tuesday, with the club announcing former Celtic boss Postecoglou as the head coach to lead them forward.

Levy, speaking to the club's official website, proclaimed his excitement at the Australian's arrival – claiming it marks the return of both attacking football and potential opportunities for youngsters.

"Ange brings a positive mentality and a fast, attacking style of play," said Levy."He has a strong track record of developing players and an understanding of the importance of the link from the academy – everything that is important to our Club. We are excited to have Ange join us as we prepare for the season ahead."

The 57-year-old, though, will need financial backing in the summer transfer market and reports suggest that a new goalkeeper to replace Hugo Lloris, fresh centre-back options and attackers are on the Spurs agenda.

Brentford keeper David Raya, who is apparently willing to join, is a Tottenham target while Man United's Harry Maguire has been heavily linked this past week.

Further forward, Foxes playmaker Maddison is a star of real interest to Spurs, with reporter John Percy sharing news out of north London.

Writing for The Telegraph, he claims Postecoglou has personally green-lit a bid for Maddison this summer and Spurs are now set to make a move for him.

He wrote:

"Tottenham Hotspur are set to move for James Maddison but have been warned that the transfer fee will be over £50 million."Maddison is a priority target for new Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou and the England international will be sold this summer following Leicester’s relegation to the Championship."The attacking midfielder has just over a year left on his contract and Postecoglou has given his new club the green light to make an offer this month."

Who is James Maddison?

Called "world class" and "outstanding" by England manager Gareth Southgate, Maddison has certainly lived up to that tag with his performances these last 12 months.

As per WhoScored, the Three Lions ace finished 2022/2023 as Leicester's shining light and best-performing player by average match rating – all while attempting more shots at goal and key passes per 90 in the final third.

Maddison racked up an almighty 19 goal contributions (10 goals, nine assists) and could be an absolute snip for £50m, especially considering he is homegrown.

Arsenal are set to accelerate talks for West Ham United star Declan Rice and will push to sign him for £30 million less than his price, according to reports.

Who could Arsenal sign this summer?

The Gunners and transfer chief Edu are tasked with improving manager Mikel Arteta's options ahead of what will be a very interesting 2023/2024 Premier League campaign.

Arsenal missed out on their first title in nearly 20 years last season, having been pipped by reigning champions Man City, and strengthening in key areas will be vital for the north Londoners.

Edu confirmed as far back as April that preparations have already been made.

"Our planning has already been done," said the Brazilian sporting director to ESPN (via 90min)."It has already reached the owners. Now, we're taking things step by step. We're focused on how we will finish the season, but we've put in the planning and I'm very excited."

Central midfield is believed to be a major priority for Arsenal this summer, leading to links with Rice and Brighton star Moises Caicedo. Man City captain Ilkay Gundogan is rumoured to be a target also, though Arsenal face stiff competition from La Liga champions Barcelona, who are also very interested in the Germany international.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are on the hunt for a traditional right-back – with Real Valladolid starlet Ivan Fresenda and Galatasary star Sacha Boey also being targeted for Arteta.

Going back to potential additions in the middle of the park, journalist Simon Collings of The Evening Standard has shared an update on the club's interest in Rice.

The Hammers captain is reliably believed to be a major target for Arsenal and The Standard claim they will "accelerate talks" after West Ham's Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina tonight.

As well as this, Arteta's side "will push to strike a deal" at around £90 million, which is £30m less than West Ham's valuation of their star – thought to be around £120m.

Who is Declan Rice?

The England international, who has been called "world class" by members of the press, certainly lived up to that tag over the course of 2022/23.

As per WhoScored, he stood out as West Ham's best-performing league player by average match rating – making more interceptions per 90 than any of his teammates in the top flight.

It's hardly surprising Rice is set to command a major fee this summer and it will be interesting to see if the Irons soften their stance on his £120m asking price.

Newcastle United could look to replace Callum Wilson in the upcoming summer transfer window, according to former Premier League defender Danny Mills. 

The lowdown: Wilson’s fitness woes

Signed from Bournemouth for £20m (Sky Sports) in 2020, the England international has scored 18 times in 43 appearances for the Magpies.

Despite those exploits in front of goal, the 30-year-old has also missed 36 matches through a variety of injury issues since arriving at St James’ Park.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/newcastle-news-6/” title=”Newcastle news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Currently nearing a return to full fitness following a lengthy period out with a calf problem, Mills believes that Eddie Howe may still be on the lookout for further reinforcements at the end of the season.

The latest: ‘Concern’ over Wilson’s Newcastle future

Speaking to Football Insider, regular talkSPORT contributor Mills suggested that neither Wilson nor January capture Chris Wood are able to lead the line for Newcastle in the long-term.

The former Leeds defender claimed: “I think he’s ahead of Chris Wood by some distance. It just depends on whether Newcastle decide he is fit enough to lead the line for the whole season.

“That’ll be the only reason they decide to move him well down the pecking order. Yes, they’ll be looking to strengthen – but if you can guarantee his fitness for the whole season, they’ll probably be looking for a backup.

“But he’s had his troubles with injury – and therefore I can see him finishing up as the backup for Newcastle next season.

“He isn’t going to be fit for a full season – and that’s the concern.”

The verdict: Signings needed

Whilst few could doubt the quality of Wilson – who was described as a ‘menace’ by Newcastle legend Alan Shearer following a 2-0 win against West Ham on his Magpies debut – a wretched run with fitness issues has shown no signs of relenting.

Capped four times by England, the £18m-valued ace would be the perfect foil for target man Wood in a two-pronged central attacking partnership.

However, with the New Zealand international struggling for goals following his mid-season arrival from Burnley and Wilson’s push for prolonged fitness, it seems that Howe will almost certainly be looking to add at least one striker in the summer.

In other news, NUFC are now eyeing a move for this former Sunderland ace