All posts by h79snht.top

An update has emerged on Tottenham and their pursuit of Djed Spence in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Spurs are set to enter negotiations with Middlesbrough over a deal for the full-back later this month.

The Italian reporter has also stressed that Fabio Paratici has prioritised two positions after landing Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster and Yves Bissouma already this summer.

He Tweeted: “Djed Spence deal. No negotiations this weekend, Tottenham are really interested since March but still no official bid, new direct contacts expected next week. Right back* and centre back, two priority for Spurs on the market.”

Antonio Conte will be delighted

The Italian head coach will be delighted with this news for multiple reasons.

Firstly, he will be buzzing with Paratici’s prospective swoop to sign Spence as the defender is a promising young talent with the potential to make an impact in the first-team at wing-back next season.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-spurs-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-much-more” title= “Read the latest Spurs news, transfer rumours and more!”]

Ex-Premier League forward Ian Wright compared him to some of the best full-backs in the top-flight last season, saying: “If we are talking about right-backs performing at an unbelievable level, we’re talking about Reece James and Trent, but I have not seen a combative, technical, swashbuckling performance like that for a very long time.

“I said to him, in all seriousness, ‘That level we saw there? You should be in the Premier League.’ Simple as that.”

In the Championship, the 21-year-old chipped in with two goals and four assists in 42 starts on loan at Nottingham Forest – creating six ‘big chances’ for his teammates in total. This shows that he has the attacking quality to burst forward from defence to make an impact in the final third, which suggests that he would suit a wing-back role in Conte’s 3-4-3 system.

Therefore, the Italian manager will be delighted by the prospect of having the England U21 international available to him next season.

The head coach will also be pleased by this update from Romano as it shows that Paratici is hard at work and looking to get all of the club’s business done early. Despite signing three players already, the Spurs chief is prioritising other areas and plotting moves to improve the team.

This will leave Conte delighted as it will, hopefully, give him plenty of time in pre-season to bed players in and get them ready for the 2022/23 campaign.

AND in other news, Conte can axe £80k-p/w “nightmare” as Spurs plot bid for £50m gem who “rarely misses”…

Newcastle United are reportedly now eyeing up a potential move to sign Gabriel Barbosa.

The Lowdown: ‘Gabigol’

Nicknamed ‘Gabigol’ for his ability to find the back of the net, Barbosa has scored a total of 151 times for club and country combined over the course of his senior career so far.

The Brazil international is still only 25 years of age, so those numbers really are impressive and worthy of his nickname, although only two of his club goals have come in Europe – one for Inter and one for Benfica.

The Latest: Newcastle interest

Writing in his latest piece for 90min, transfer expert Graeme Bailey has revealed that the St. James’ Park outfit are now ‘keeping tabs’ on Barbosa’s situation at Flamengo.

They targeted a move for him in the January transfer window, but a deal never materialised, and so they could come back in for him this summer.

However, the North East club may face competition from West Ham United, Wolves and Aston Villa for his signature.

The Verdict: Ekitike alternative?

It has been widely reported that the Tyneside outfit are pursuing a move for Hugo Ekitike, but a deal is not guaranteed for the Reims striker.

Thus, Barbosa could be seen as a decent alternative, given his goal record and the fact he is a lot more experienced at 25 compared to the 19-year-old Frenchman.

Nonetheless, the Brazilian would surely be licking his lips at the prospect of being fed chances by his fellow countrymen Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton, and so this is certainly one to keep an eye on as the window progresses.

Manchester United’s hopes of signing Hoffenheim left-back David Raum have seemingly been handed a boost, with the Bundesliga club reportedly willing to sell him this summer.

What’s the word?

According to Sky Sports Germany (via Sport Witness), Hoffenheim are ‘threatened’ by the interest that United and Borussia Dortmund are showing in the 24-year-old.

The report included quotes from the club’s sporting director Alexander Rosen, who said: “I would prefer to keep him. At the end of the day, it depends on what the market looks like and what chance the player has.

“If a top club comes and he gets the opportunity, then, of course, we will sit down with him. In the end, it’s always about an exchange based on trust.”

United have been heavily linked with Raum in recent days, and while their pulling power might not be what it once was given their failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League, it seems as if they may be able to convince him to come to Old Trafford if an agreement can be reached with Die Kraichgauer.

Supporters will be buzzing

Both Alex Telles and Luke Shaw flattered to deceive last term, with WhoScored ratings of 6.89 and 6.64 respectively, and United supporters will undoubtedly want a more consistent option on the left-hand side of their defence next season.

Raum enjoyed a sensational debut campaign with Hoffenheim, contributing three goals and 11 assists in the Bundesliga, with WhoScored awarding him a superb 7.16 average rating for his performances.

The Germany international is extremely dangerous going forwards, with WhoScored stating that he excels at key passes, crossing, dribbling and taking set-pieces. Therefore, he could be a superb option in Ten Hag’s side, especially if his pinpoint crosses are met by Cristiano Ronaldo, statistically the best header of a ball in the 21st century.

Rosen was full of praise for Raum after his performances last season, saying: “David is a highly talented and extremely fast player with a strong left foot who has developed into one of the most sought-after full-backs in Germany thanks to his outstanding performance this season.”

Therefore, United fans will surely be delighted to hear that Hoffenheim would be willing to let the 24-year-old go this summer, if the Red Devils can make a convincing enough case to the Bundesliga outfit.

In other news… Man Utd can sign Pogba upgrade in “world-class” maestro, he’s a “magician on the ball”

Sunderland fans have been handed reassurances over their club’s summer transfer endeavours.

What’s the word?

That is according to an interview conducted by the club’s official website with Black Cats manager Alex Neil, who believes that his side need to add quality and depth to the squad in preparation for an ultra-competitive campaign back in the Championship.

In the interview with the club, the 41-year-old said: “That’s one thing [underestimating the division] that I’m really trying to guard against with everybody in the building,

“The Championship is a league that’s obviously been my bread and butter for a number of years, the difficulty you have is that, unlike League One or at least from the sample I had from it, you can play top of the league and then bottom, and both of the games are equally difficult.

“You need to fight tooth and nail for every point. Providing we understand that, providing we go and try and do the best we possibly can in the recruitment window, and obviously add as much quality and depth to the squad as we can, we’ll give ourselves the best chance of being successful.

Supporters surely buzzing

Despite securing promotion to the Championship and now approaching the halfway point in the off-season, Sunderland have been relatively quiet on the transfer front, signing just one player in Leon Dajaku as they executed the buyout clause in his loan deal to make his stay permanent.

Other than that, the narrative has mainly been about retaining key players at the club, with the likes of Ross Stewart a focus of attention with the likes of Rangers sniffing around.

Neil is completely correct, though. Sunderland need to add quality to the squad and, having come from the mouth of the Black Cats manager, supporters can take solace in knowing that the club are likely to be planning additions to the playing ranks.

Indeed, these comments from the 41-year-old could well have the Wearside faithful buzzing with excitement as to who might be coming in over the next few weeks.

AND in other news: Speakman now plotting Sunderland bid for “outstanding” 22-year-old, Neil needs him badly 

According to a German outlet, West Ham have made an enquiry in a bid to sign Hertha Berlin defender Jordan Torunarigha this summer.

The Lowdown: After Aguerd

After securing the services of Nayef Aguerd, David Moyes will be keen to strengthen his backline even further, and he appears to have identified the 24-year-old as the next candidate who he would be interested in bringing to the Premier League.

The German spent the second half of last season out on loan at KAA Gent, but has now entered the final year of his contract with his parent club upon return, meaning that they now have to decide whether to renew his deal or sell him on this window.

The Latest: West Ham make Torunarigha enquiry

In a new article published by SportBILD (via Sport Witness), it’s claimed that West Ham have made an ‘enquiry’ about the availability of Torunarigha after being impressed with what they saw from him during his recent loan spell.

The source states that Hertha have offered him an extension, but that the centre-back is ‘hesitant’ to agree to the new terms as a result of the approach from the Irons.

The player’s initial plan was to ‘start anew’ with the Bundesliga outfit after a successful period in Belgium, but it’s reported that he is now ‘shaky’ to commit due to the uncertainty of being able to nail down a place in the starting XI.

The Verdict: Defensive cover needed

After the concerning injury situation from last season, with the likes of Ogbonna, Diop and Zouma all spending long spells on the sidelines, it’s no shock to see that Moyes wants to make sure he has plenty of cover available for future reference, and Torunarigha could be the ideal man to come in and offer just that.

The 6 foot 2 colossus, who was once likened to Jerome Boateng by former Hertha coach Pal Dardai, only made seven appearances under Sandro Schwarz before heading out on loan, but managed to make a hugely positive impact when on the pitch, averaging 4.3 clearances and 2.4 interceptions, alongside winning 2.1 of his aerial duels per game via WhoScored, highlighting his physical presence both on the ground and in the air.

The fact that Torunarigha is even listening to the enquiry from the Hammers shows that there’s a strong chance he could be keen on making the move, and if they are serious about their interest, it’s a deal that the GSB should look at getting over the line as soon as possible.

Sky Sports journalist Tim Thornton is expecting Leeds United winger Jack Harrison to remain at the club despite conversations over a possible exit from Elland Road.

The Lowdown: Newcastle linked with Harrison

Harrison is part of the 26-man Leeds squad who have headed to Australia for three pre-season fixtures, whereas Raphinha has remained in England looking to resolve his future.

The Englishman has been a regular over the last four seasons, contributing to 50 goals in 166 appearances for the Whites. However, he has recently been linked with Premier League rivals Newcastle, with Eddie Howe’s side weighing up a move for the 25-year-old.

Harrison is entering the final two years of his contract at Elland Road and Thornton thinks that he will remain at the club ahead of Jesse Marsch’s first full season in charge.

The Latest: Thornton’s comments

Talking to GiveMeSport, Thornton said that there ‘have been conversations’ regarding a potential exit for the winger, but he added that Harrison is ‘happy’ in Yorkshire and expects him to stay put.

The Sky Sports reporter said of the 25-year-old:

“I would expect him to stay. There have been conversations; there’s been interest.

“I think there was a bit of interest back in the January transfer window as well, but I think Jack’s happy at Leeds. His stats are good, his goals record; his assists.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-updates-6/” title=”Latest Leeds United updates!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Need to keep him

With Raphinha seemingly closing in on a move to Barcelona, it is vital that Leeds keep hold of another attacking regular in Harrison.

He has been a reliable member of the squad, missing just two games through injury over the past four seasons, and he appears to be happy at Elland Road judging by Thornton’s insight.

The winger has also gone from strength to strength, with his Transfermarkt valuation rising from £3.15m in 2018 to a career-high £16.2m at Leeds, so it makes sense to resist any potential offers from Newcastle over the coming weeks.

Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on the future of Glasgow Rangers defender, Calvin Bassey…

What’s the word?

As per the transfer guru, writing on Twitter, the 22-year-old is edging ever closer to joining Eredivisie giants Ajax this summer, with the deal believed to be a club-record sale for the Old Firm outfit at around €22m (£19m), plus €5m (£4.3m) in add-ons.

The respected journalist stated: “Ajax are preparing paperwork to complete Calvin Bassey deal with Ajax for €22m plus €5m add-ons, while Francisco Conceição is in Amsterdam to sign on a five-year deal, €5m release clause already triggered.”

The Nigerian international had previously been linked with a reunion with former Gers boss Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa, although it now appears that his future lies at the Johan Cruyff ArenA.

Supporters will be devastated

From a purely business point of view, the deal represents something of a coup for the Scottish Premiership side, as they appear set to make a major profit on a player whom they signed from Leicester City for just £300k two years ago.

That being said, the three-cap gem’s meteoric rise since then has seen him become a vital figure for the Glasgow side, with both supporters and the club set to be devastated at losing such a promising talent so swiftly.

Having already seen another highly-rated asset in Joe Aribo join Southampton on a £10m deal, the departure of Bassey will be another body blow for Giovanni van Bronckhorst, with it yet to be seen if the influential pair can be adequately replaced.

In the case of the left-sided defender, in particular, the club are set to lose a player who had been in imperious form during the 2021/22 campaign, putting himself firmly on the radar of club’s across the continent following his strong showings, both domestically and in Europe.

That stunning purple patch saw the Italian-born talent receive particular praise for his display in the eventual defeat to RB Leipzig in the Europa League final, with talkSPORT pundit Jamie O’Hara even likening the youngster to Liverpool ace, Virgil van Dijk.

The emerging colossus had only made 14 appearances in the club’s European run, as well as winning a solid 60% of his total duels.

Such an imposing, athletic presence will be sorely missed by those at Ibrox next term, with supporters seemingly questioning just how the club will be able to adequately replace him.

AND in other news: Van Bronckhorst can unearth his own Bernardo Silva with “dream” Rangers swoop for “fantastic” gem

West Ham United transfer target Oleksandr Zinchenko now seems poised to join Arsenal.

What’s the word?

That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, who had the following to say on Twitter: “Arsenal and Manchester City have reached an agreement for Zinchenko in the morning. £30m fee. No doubt it’s done between clubs. Negotiations ongoing on player side for personal terms and salary details, then it will be completed”.

West Ham had shown reported interest in the Ukrainian as far back as June.

Supporters will be gutted

Although only a tenuous interest, Zinchenko would’ve been a fine addition to West Ham’s squad. Admittedly, he would have been for most Premier League clubs.

With incredible versatility, an eye for a pass and multiple years being coached by Pep Guardiola, the Ukrainian international offered it all for just £30m.

An incredibly well-rounded player, he featured just 14 times in the league last season for Manchester City. However, he still managed four assists whilst largely filling in positions in which Pep Guardiola was lacking.

He also managed a remarkable SofaScore rating of 7.07, which shows just how dependable he could be. If he was to make the step down to West Ham, he would have been guaranteed game time in his preferred central midfield position.

When viewing his stats on FBref, it makes for astounding viewing. He ranks in the 96th percentile for shot-creating actions and in the 99th percentile for both progressive passes and carries.

He has deputised as a defender, but his creativity is wasted there and would be a welcome addition to Moyes’ midfield.

Guardiola has been vocal in his admiration for the pass-master in the past, claiming:

“He is well-educated, he knows exactly what it means. He adapted and said: ‘Okay, what does the team need? I’m going to do it.’

“He is a reliable player, honestly. He is focused, a guy who handles the pressure, otherwise he would not have played the final of the Champions League.”

It therefore makes it even more frustrating that the Hammers seem poised to miss out on the 25-year-old to London rivals Arsenal. Supporters especially have reason to be frustrated because of this, as Moyes looks set to miss out on a top target.

AND in other news: “Still talking to..”: ExWHUemployee drops big WHU transfer update supporters will love

Glasgow Rangers have had a busy month throughout July as they bought and sold multiple players in the summer transfer window.

Gio van Bronckhorst lost two of his stars from the 2021/22 campaign as Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo both departed Ibrox, with the former leaving for a club-record fee.

The Dutch head coach has also gained a number of new recruits. Tom Lawrence, Rabbi Matondo, Antonio Colak, and Ben Davies have all come through the door to bolster the squad.

Another player who could be on his way out of Ibrox before the end of August is Jamaican forward Kemar Roofe. English League One outfit Derby County are reportedly keen on the attacker and are weighing up a potential loan swoop for his services.

This would leave Alfredo Morelos and Colak as van Bronckhorst’s only options up front, though, and this means that Ross Wilson would need to replace the ex-Leeds man before sanctioning an exit.

The Gers have been linked with a move for Sunderland attacker Ross Stewart this summer and signing him could allow the club to wave bye-bye to Roofe between now and the end of August.

It was reported last month that the Black Cats wanted to tie him down to an extended contract but they are yet to get a deal over the line, which means that he – as it stands – can leave for nothing next year.

Rangers could use this to their advantage as the window drags on and tempt the Championship team into cashing in on him, in order to avoid a Bosman transfer in 2023.

The Scotland international would be an excellent signing for van Bronckhorst’s side after he enjoyed a stellar campaign in League One.

Stewart, whose work rate was dubbed “exceptional” by James McFadden, scored 26 goals in 49 games as he showcased his ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis.

He also showed off the creative side of his game as he produced nine ‘big chances’ and made 1.3 key passes per game – ending the campaign with three assists to his name.

The 26-year-old, who is three years younger than Roofe, has the quality to be a consistent goalscorer and this means that he has the potential to be a big addition to the Gers squad, if he can make the step up to playing in the Premiership.

Therefore, signing him would allow Rangers to part ways with the attacker they signed from Anderlecht as they would then have three capable strikers to rely upon next season.

AND in other news, GvB can land huge Arfield upgrade as Rangers eye move for “interesting” £8.5m gem…

Celtic would be willing to entertain any potential offers which may come in for Albian Ajeti this summer according to Anthony Joseph.

What’s the talk?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the Sky Sports journalist had his say on the matter.

He stated: “I think Celtic are very much willing to listen to offers to come in for him and it might be something like a loan with an option to buy.

“It really depends on the fee because Celtic got him for £5m and they’d really be trying to make up as much of that money as possible.”

Celtic signed Ajeti back in the summer of 2020 from West Ham United in a deal worth £4.5m.

Since then, the striker has gone on to make 48 appearances for the Parkhead club across all competitions, scoring nine goals and delivering five assists in the process.

Celtic supporters will be buzzing

Last season saw the 25-year-old start just six of the 17 games in which he appeared last season across all competitions. In those appearances, Ajeti only found the net three times, showing that not only is he not particularly high up in the pecking order, he’s also isn’t reliable in terms of goalscoring.

In fact, of the three league games in which the centre-forward played the full 90 minutes, Celtic won just one. This makes it easy to see why Joseph has suggested that the club would be willing to entertain offers for the Swiss marksman this summer.

Bearing in mind how the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi and Giorgos Giakoumakis ended the previous Premiership campaign with 25 goals between them, it would be hard to see the former West Ham striker get much playing time next season.

With all this in mind, it’s safe to suggest that not only has it been a rather disappointing move from Celtic to sign the player, it would also make a lot of Hoops fans happy to see the back of him.

If a suitable offer does come in for the striker before the summer transfer window ends, it could be in Celtic’s best interests to accept it and look to potentially bring in a new centre-forward who can have more of an attacking impact for the team in front of goal.

AND in other news: Celtic given green light for £3.3m target, it would be a “beauty” for Postecoglou