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Manchester City wrapped up their fourth Premier League title in five years last weekend after a dramatic 3-2 win over Aston Villa.

Pep Guardiola’s side won 29 games, drew six and lost only three in the process, scoring 99 goals and conceding 26 along the way.

Now that the season has ended and the summer transfer window is close to opening, it seems as though the Etihad Stadium club could be at risk of losing one of their current group who played a big part in their latest title triumph.

What’s the news?

In a recent tweet from Fabrizio Romano, the journalist and transfer expert relayed comments made by City attacker Gabriel Jesus to ESPN about his future at the Etihad.

The 25-year-old said: “My future is still uncertain. I have already expressed my desire to Man City people and to my agent. I have in my head very clear what I want.”

Romano then added that the Brazilian “wants to leave and he’s not extending the contract with City,” ending his tweet by saying that sorting out the player’s future is a “work in progress”.

Jesus, whose current contract at City is set to expire next summer, has been linked with a move to fellow Premier League side Arsenal in recent weeks.

With 236 appearances for the Citizens under his belt, the 25-year-old has scored 95 goals and delivered 46 assists along the way.

Now with four Premier League titles, four Carabao Cups and one FA Cup to his name in a City shirt, the Brazil international scored eight goals and supplied nine assists in the league this season. This left him with more goal contributions than the likes of Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan.

Taking all this into account, it will undoubtedly be bad news for City and Guardiola to potentially see the striker wave goodbye to the champions this summer, given his evident attacking talents.

However, with the Manchester club set to welcome Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez to their squad in the coming months, these two could be just what City need to replace their wantaway Brazilian should he leave this summer.

In other news: Pep can land his own Gareth Barry as Man City plot bid for “phenomenal” £60m maestro

Manchester City are interested in signing Chelsea defender Reece James as a successor to Kyle Walker, according to Daily Mail. 

The lowdown: Top talent

Already a regular for both club and country, the 22-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise to the forefront of the elite game having come through the youth ranks in London.

A key member of Thomas Tuchel’s side that beat City in the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League final, James has amassed 123 appearances for Chelsea having also made 46 senior outings whilst on loan at Wigan.

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Despite being under contract until 2025 (Transfermarkt), City boss Pep Guardiola looks to have earmarked James as a potential target to add to the champions’ squad…

The latest: Next in line

As per the Daily Mail, Man City have ‘identified’ the ten-cap England star as a replacement for Walker.

It’s claimed that James is viewed as a long-term successor to his international teammate and as such Chelsea are looking to negotiate a new deal with the versatile ace as a ‘priority’ once the takeover has been completed.

The report also states that the new deal for the youngster hailed as ‘phenomenal’ by Ally McCoist following the right-back’s thunderous goal against Juventus could see him earn around £200,000 per week.

The verdict: Statement signing

James suffered an injury-hit campaign in 2021/22 but still managed six goals and ten assists in 39 appearances across all competitions, earning an outstanding 7.40 Sofascore rating whilst winning 4.5 duels, making 47.5 accurate passes and taking 1.4 shots on average per game in the process.

Capable of playing as a defensive midfielder, at centre-back and as a naturally attacking right-back, versatility that is well suited to Guardiola’s full-back orientated style, James shares similar traits with Juan Cuadrado, Alphonso Davies and City’s own Joao Cancelo (Fbref).

At 31, there is still plenty of elite football left in Walker, but lining up the London-born star as an instant replacement is certainly a wise move and although the prospects of landing a player from a major domestic rival seem farfetched, if City were able to emulate something like the deal that brought Walker to the Etihad from Tottenham for £45million (BBC), it would be a huge capture for the Sky Blues.

In other news… a BBC pundit has dropped this huge Man City transfer claim

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a huge boost in their bid to bring Jonas Hofmann to the Premier League this summer.

What’s the talk?

In recent comments cited by BuliNews, the Borussia Monchengladbach winger revealed that he has not yet agreed to sign a new deal with the Bundesliga outfit, as the club’s failure to capture Lucien Favre as their new manager has left him concerned about the direction in which Gladbach are heading.

This is sure to come as a huge boost to Fabio Paratici and Tottenham, with reports last month revealing that the Italian has been in regular contact with Gladbach sporting director Roland Virkus concerning a move for the Germany international, whose current contract at Borussia Park is set to expire next June.

Regarding putting pen to paper on a new deal with Monchengladbach, Hofmann said: “The timing just isn’t right at this moment. I can only hope that the [coaching] issue is resolved quickly so that everyone can start planning. An answer would simplify the situation for the club, the players, and everyone involved.”

The forward then added in relation to his telephone conversations with Virkus about a new contract: “It’s important to me that, when I have conversations, I look my counterpart in the eye. Discussing such things over the phone is not my style.”

Kulusevski 2.0

Considering just how impressive Hofmann was for Gladbach this season, and with it being reported that the winger could be available to sign for as little as €22m (£19m), the fact that he seems to have given Paratici the green light to make a move for him this summer is undoubtedly fantastic news for Spurs.

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Indeed, over his 26 Bundesliga appearances in 2021/22, the £14.4m-rated talent was in breathtaking form, scoring 12 goals, registering five assists and creating six big chances for his team-mates, along with taking 2.1 shots and making 2.7 key passes per game.

These returns saw the £53k-per-week forward – who can also operate from defensive, central, left, right and attacking midfield, as well as on either flank – average a quite sensational SofaScore match rating of 7.41. That ranked him not only as Monchengladbach’s best performer in the league but also as the fifth-best player in the German top flight, behind only Joshua Kimmich, Erling Haaland, Christopher Nkunku and Robert Lewandowski.

Furthermore, considering his hugely impressive positional versatility, his clear eye for goal and his ability to play a defence-splitting pass, it would very much appear as if Hofmann is a player in the mould of Dejan Kulusevski, Tottenham’s January signing who scored five goals and provided eight assists over his 18 Premier League appearances this season.

As such, should the 29-year-old – who Hansi Flick claimed has “enormous quality” – indeed be available for just £19m this summer, it would seem advisable for Paratici to do everything possible to get a deal over the line for the German forward, as Hofmann could well prove to be the sporting director’s next Kulusevski-type discovery in the transfer market.

AND in other news: Conte could unearth the next Beckham as Spurs eye £21m “weapon” with “huge potential”

It’s fair to say that Frank Lampard’s time at Everton so far has been one of strife, with the club narrowly avoiding relegation thanks to a stunning 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace in their penultimate Premier League clash.

This isn’t a season that the Everton faithful will remember with any degree of satisfaction, and it should be confined to a locked box with the key thrown in the Mersey, with the manager facing a crucial summer transfer window ahead.

Poor recruitment might put an end to the 43-year-olds reign at the club, but there is time for him to bring in the players he needs and axe the ones that have underperformed.

One such player that should be leaving the club is Salomon Rondon. Last summer, the striker joined the club on a free transfer but hasn’t hit the heights required, netting just three times all season. Former Everton defender Michael Ball dubbed him as a “problem” earlier in the season and from his goalscoring stats, it’s clear to see why.

Lampard urgently needs to improve his attacking options, with Richarlison (11) being the club’s highest scorer this season.

There could be a solution however, with the club linked with New York City striker Valentin Castellanos, Lampard may have found a saviour to his attacking woes.

Ronny Deila hailed the Argentinian frontman as “top class” following a season in which he won the MLS golden boot with 22 goals, more than the other Everton strikers put together in the league.

Scoring goals isn’t his only strength either, as he provided eight assists during the MLS season as well as creating a further eight big chances for his teammates.

The player certainly looks like an upgrade on the £43k-per-week Rondon and despite the Venezuelan striker having another year left on his current contract, Lampard should be making a concrete effort to add Castellanos to his squad ahead of next season.

AND in other news, “Everton also..”: Reliable journo drops huge transfer claim, supporters surely buzzing…

Finance expert Kieran Maguire has been critical of some news that he has now heard from Sunderland.

The Lowdown: Takeover talks

As shared by The Athletic, cryptocurrency firm The Fans Together (TFT) are now in talks with Stewart Donald and Charlie Methven over the possibility of buying their 39% stake in the Stadium of Light.

Both shareholders have been actively seeking buyers since February, and TFT are proposing to offer supporters a direct route to dictate club policy through a cryptocurrency token voting mechanism.

The Latest: Maguire reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, Maguire – who also contributes for Sky Sports – has claimed that talk of a takeover from TFT is ’embarrassing’, and that what they claim to be offering is ‘nonsense’.

He stated: “I think this is embarrassing. But then Donald and Methven have been an embarrassment for Sunderland and the fanbase literally since the first day they walked into the club.

“They are the Stan and Ollie of football club owners. They provide huge amounts of mirth for fans of other clubs much to the shame of Sunderland themselves.

“The way that this crypto organisation is talking about giving access to fan ownership is complete nonsense. All they are trying to do is sell their product and services and give an illusion of benefits to fans.

“The Roker Report is very pithy in its analysis, and I echo everything they say. Sunderland should represent the people of Sunderland. The Fans Together are about as far away from that as possible.”

The Verdict: Difficult position

Sunderland find themselves in a difficult position, as both Donald and Methven are willing to sell up their shares, and there is a willing buyer on the table.

As Maguire claims, the duo have been an ’embarrassment’ in terms of their ownership, as the Black Cats struggled to get out of League One until last season, to the point where they do not seem connected to the club at all anymore.

However, a takeover from a cryptocurrency group would probably not go down well in the eyes of many supporters, so there is now a fine balance in terms of the ownership of the Wearside club.

In other news, find out which Sunderland ace is now attracting ‘interest’

According to Noticias de Gipuzkoa, translated Sport Witness, West Ham United boss David Moyes holds a crucial advantage in the race to sign Real Sociedad forward Adnan Januzaj.

The Lowdown: Moyes eyeing reunion…

The Belgian attacker is reportedly on West Ham’s radar this summer window as Moyes sets his sights on possible additions in more advanced areas of the squad.

Watford pair Emmanuel Dennis and Ismaila Sarr are said to be of real interest to the east Londoners as well as club transfer chief Rob Newman seemingly adopts a scattergun approach.

Januzaj could return to the Premier League on a Bosman deal, though, making him a potentially attractive option for GSB and Moyes.

The Latest: West Ham in the lead…

According to Noticias de Gipuzkoa (via Estadio Deportivo and Sport Witness), West Ham are ‘in the lead’ for Januzaj due to one crucial advantage.

Indeed, it is believed their ‘superior’ finances and ability to pay the 27-year-old’s wage demands propel them ahead of other suitors like Real Betis – seemingly gifting the Hammers pole position.

The Verdict: Advance?

Januzaj is a player Moyes knows well from their time together at Old Trafford, and while things didn’t work out at Man United, the dynamic winger has since gone on to impress at Sociedad.

According to WhoScored, over his La Liga appearances last season, he stood out as one of their most effective attacking players – completing the joint-most successful take-ons per 90 in their squad.

Januzaj also averaged the fifth-highest rate of attempts at goal and third-most key passes made per match in that time (WhoScored), proving to be both an individual threat and creative presence.

Former England star Paul Scholes lavished praise on the player for his outing against United in the Europa League last year, backing ESPN reporter David Cartlidge’s claim that Januzaj can be ‘gifted’ and ‘very special’ (Twitter).

On a free deal, this move could be fairly low risk from West Ham’s perspective, providing the wage demands aren’t truly astronomical.

In other news: ‘In negotiations’ – Journalist says club are ‘considering’ West Ham bid for ‘superb’ striker, find out more here.

Are you a big fan of sports betting? We do understand your desire to make things even more entertaining! The online world has transformed the sports betting world completely. But you also need to understand that not all online bookmakers from Ireland are legit.

There are many characteristics that you need to be aware of before creating an account. If you pick the wrong one, there are certain consequences you will probably have to deal with. For instance, you won’t get your winnings, the data you share won’t be completely safe, etc.

To protect yourself from any potential issues, we suggest you continue reading this article. We will answer all the questions that the average Irish bettors have.  We will explain how to choose the best sites, what are the main characteristics you should follow, etc. So, let’s go!

How to Choose the Best Sports Betting Sites in Ireland?

Finding the most appropriate betting platforms is not as difficult as it seems. You only need to pass through a couple of steps to reach the final goal.

Fortunately for you, there are people that love to share their knowledge with others. You can find hundreds of betting experts that have tried different betting sites and expressed their objective opinion. For example, on www.bestcasinosites.net/ireland/sports-betting/, you can find some of the best online betting sites Ireland. The experts there analyze every single detail which lets you make a selection of those websites that meet your expectations. Cool, isn’t it?

No one says that you should blindly listen to pieces of advice provided by experts. We don’t want to say their pieces of information are incorrect. It is important to say that each participant has different requirements and expectations. What if the betting site someone suggests does not have adequate payment methods for your needs? What if bonuses are not suitable for your way of betting?

These are all the answers you need to give on your own. After you determine what you want, compare a couple of betting sites and make the perfect decision!

Which Are the Best Online Bookmakers in Ireland?

Before we end this article, it would be good to name some of the best betting sites in Ireland. You can also find them on the link we attached to the review pages. But, if you want to hear our opinion, then we would be more than happy to share the results of our research. The betting platforms that deserve your attention are

22Bet 888Sport Betway

But, as we stated, the experts know better, and they explained things better. So, we strongly recommend you read the review we attached at the beginning of the article.

What Are the Most Important Features of Betting Sites?

The leagues start earlier this season because of the World Cup in Qatar. That only confirms that this summer is going to be way more interesting compared to the previous one. But, as a bettor, you need to prepare yourself properly! Finding the most appropriate betting sites is one of the options that you have.

Generally speaking, there are a couple of features you should put into consideration when looking for the best betting platform. Let’s find out more about them!

License

The license must be present! It is the only document that confirms the legacy of any betting site. There are regulatory bodies from and outside of Ireland that test every betting site. They look at the tiniest details. After the in-depth check, they issue a license to a betting site.

In most cases, the betting platforms will place the license (together with the license number) in the footer of the website. Apart from that, more details about this document should be written on the About Us page.

Bonuses and Promotions for Betting

If you find a betting site with no bonuses, simply move to another one. In today’s world, bonuses and promotions are normal things. Most first-time visitors will get a certain deposit or no-deposit bonus immediately after they create an account. You should check out how much money each betting site offers for free.

But you also need to check the wagering requirements. If they are unrealistic, the bonus won’t mean anything to you. Check how many times you need to wager the bonus money and what is the time limit.

Odds

It is not a secret that odds are constantly changing. Online bookmakers have the full right to do that before the match starts. On the other hand, the odds of live games are changing every minute based on the situation on the court.

But you need to find those online bookmakers that use an appropriate algorithm that determines the odds for every match. If they are too low, that won’t allow you profit even if you guess some crazy outcomes. On the other hand, if they are higher compared to other betting platforms, you need to find an answer to why that difference exists.

Customer Support

Do you have any questions? Are you dealing with an issue that you can’t solve independently? Well, the only option you have in those moments is to contact customer support. But what if customer service is not professional? What if you need to wait for a response the entire day? These are all the details you need to check to find the best option for your needs.

Conclusion

We did recommend some sports betting sites that feature quality. However, that doesn’t mean you should not check all the relevant features mentioned in this article. Some of them may be more suitable for your expectations. After you find the best solution, work on your betting strategy and self-control. That is the only way to become a pro!

Photo by Unsplash

Leeds United have discussed signing goalkeeper Ben Foster on a free transfer.

The Lowdown: Whites after an experienced goalkeeper

Jesse Marsch has made three summer signings so far in Brenden Aaronson, Ramus Kristensen and Marc Roca and appears to be on the hunt for more.

A new striker is seemingly on the agenda at Elland Road, as is an experienced goalkeeper to provide back up to Illan Meslier who will remain as first choice.

Foster confirmed last month that he will leave Watford this summer when his Vicarage Road contract expires, and it looks as if a move to Yorkshire is under consideration.

The Latest: Leeds talks leaked

MOT Leeds News relayed an update from The Daily Mail’s Simon Jones regarding Leeds’ transfer plans.

Jones leaked talks from inside Elland Road, claiming that Foster’s name has been ‘mentioned’ in discussions ahead of a possible move.

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The Verdict: Record breaker!

The 39-year-old was labelled ‘unbelievable’ by his former manager Nigel Pearson and has the record for the most saves of any goalkeeper in Premier League history, so a cut-price move could be a wise call.

Foster would bring plenty of experience and knowledge to Thorp Arch, something which could help Meslier take his game to the next level in England. He also made 29 Premier League appearances for Watford last season, so would provide adequate cover to the young Frenchman.

Liverpool are plotting a swoop for Villarreal centre forward Arnaut Danjuma as Jurgen Klopp looks to add more new faces to his squad.

What’s the word?

That’s according to the Daily Mail, which states that Liverpool are interested in the Dutchman, although they may face a battle with fellow Premier League club West Ham United, who have held discussions over a move for the player.

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Reports in Spain (via the Daily Mail) claim that the La Liga side would be willing to sell Danjuma for £37.5m and this would be well within Klopp’s budget.

He can be Klopp’s Lewandowski

With the news that Sadio Mane has left the side to join Bayern Munich and fan favourite Divock Origi leaving Anfield along with Takumi Minamino having joined Monaco, there appears to be a lack of depth in the Liverpool frontline.

Although the club record £85m signing of Darwin Nunez has softened the blow, the front free could do with a bit of a rejig, especially since Robert Firmino endured a relatively poor season in front of goal last time out, scoring just 11 times.

Danjuma would be a shrewd signing, with the former Bournemouth striker impressing in Spain and the Champions League this season, scoring 16 goals and registering four assists across 34 appearances in both competitions.

The 25-year-old is statistically similar to Bayern Munich goalscoring machine Robert Lewandowski according to FBref’s similar player model and Klopp could land a bargain by signing Danjuma.

Although the Polish international stats are slightly better than Danjuma’s, with the Bayern man grabbing more goals (50 to 16), more shots per 90 (4.30 to 3.15), and generating more shot-creating actions per match (3.13 to 2.08), Lewandowski played 12 more matches.

This is the level that the Nigerian-born Dutch international should be aiming for, and, being nine years younger than Lewandowski, there is plenty of time for the player to reach his potential.

Jonathan Woodgate praised the player when they were both at Bournemouth together, dubbing him “exceptional” and Klopp should be looking to seal a move as soon as possible.

AND in other news: FSG could unearth Klopp’s own Vinicius Jr with Liverpool bid for “magic” £34m “weapon”

Everton are in desperate need of improvement this summer ahead of the next Premier League season after a disastrous relegation scrap, and now a reliable source has given an update on the club’s transfer window plans.

What’s the latest?

Journalist and Everton insider Alan Myers has been responding to supporters’ questions on Twitter, and has given a very simple update on the club’s progress in the transfer window.

One Toffees fan asked Myers if the potential club takeover negotiations would affect incoming transfers, to which he responded in rather simple terms:

“Work is ongoing”

Supporters will be excited

Frank Lampard will be keen to get in some new recruits to bolster his squad this summer before the Premier League returns, and supporters will be excited that the potential takeover shouldn’t be causing any problems for the club to make the new signings they desperately need.

Brazilian winger Richarlison made the decision to leave Goodison Park and has now joined Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth £60m, which is vital cash banked for the club to hopefully reinvest into the team ahead of the new season.

The talks of a takeover have been hanging over the Merseyside club in the last few weeks, with a consortium group by former Chelsea and Manchester United executive Peter Kenyon and the Kaminski family putting an offer on the table to buy the club from Farhad Moshiri, but so far it looks like there are no plans for a change in ownership at this time.

As a result, Moshiri must focus on improving and developing the squad to ensure Everton do not find themselves in danger of maintaining their top-flight status again and needs to prove to supporters that he is committed to getting the club back to where they belong competing for European qualification spots in the league.

The Toffees have already made the signing of James Tarkowski on a free transfer after his contract expired with newly-relegated side Burnley, which puts the side in a great position to strengthen their defensive play, but they will need to add more players in other key areas of the pitch to compete at the level they desire.

With that being said, it is looking promising for Everton in terms of making new signings and adding quality to the squad to really improve their chances of having a better season in the Premier League when they return to action next month.

AND in other news: Everton “trying to sign” £20m maestro who “dominates” games, he can be Arteta 2.0