All posts by n8rngtd.top

Manchester United chiefs met with the agent of Christian Eriksen in recent days, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Eriksen a free agent

Eriksen is set to become a free agent at the end of the month when his Brentford contract expires. He has impressed back in England with the Bees, contributing to five goals in 11 games as a central midfielder.

The 30-year-old normally plays in an attacking role, though, and was hailed as ‘out of this world’ by Gary Neville for his passing.

David Ornstein stated recently that United have made Eriksen an offer, and Romano has shared what he knows in regards to a possible Old Trafford move.

The Latest: Romano’s comments

Talking to GiveMeSport, Romano shared details of ‘a direct discussion’ with Eriksen’s agent, believing that a move is a ‘possibility’.

However, the transfer expert then name-checked both Brentford and Tottenham as competitors when it comes to Eriksen’s services.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-man-utd-updates-3/” title=”Latest Man Utd updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

“With Christian Eriksen, they had a conversation, a direct discussion with his agent Martin Schoots a few days ago, they discussed about a potential contract, so it’s a possibility, but Tottenham and Brentford are also pushing for him to go next season.”

The Verdict: Fingers crossed

United will have just one senior attacking midfielder on the books in Bruno Fernandes from July, with Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata set to leave.

Therefore, bringing in Eriksen on a free transfer appears to be a no brainer. The Denmark international could even play anywhere in attack for Erik ten Hag if required and would bring bundles of Premier League experience.

A cut-price move for Eriksen may also mean that United can put more money into a deal for primary target Frenkie de Jong, so hopefully, the club can get this one over the line.

In other news: ‘They’ve looked at him’ – talkSPORT man drops huge Man Utd transfer claim involving ‘lethal’ ace. 

Frank Lampard faces one of the most important summer transfer windows in Everton’s recent history, with the club narrowly avoiding relegation from the Premier League last season, the onus is on for massive improvement on the pitch and solid recruitment off it.

The 44-year-old has given the Goodison faithful a lift by securing a deal for defender James Tarkowski, with just an official announcement to be made and with interest in Chelsea trio Conor Gallagher, Armando Broja and Levi Colwill, there could be a flurry of activity on Merseyside soon.

One move that should be prioritised above all else is a swoop for Danish star Christian Eriksen. The soon-to-be free agent is reportedly mulling over offers from a number of Premier League clubs, with Everton amongst them.

Having made a stunning return to professional football following a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 when Brentford signed him in January he has had an excellent four months back in the Premier League.

In just 11 league matches, the “world-class” Dane scored once and registered four assists as Brentford performed well and kept their place in the top flight following on from their impressive promotion in 2021.

It isn’t just his goal involvement stats that have been good since his comeback, compared to peers in the big five leagues, Eriksen ranks in the top 1% for assists (0.38 per 90) and shot-creating actions (5.08) while ranking in the top 3% for total shots per match (2.11).

These stats prove he still has the ability to pose a significant attacking threat and this is exactly what Everton require.

Last season, only one player from the Everton squad netted double figures, Richarlison with 11 goals, and with interest in the Brazilian remaining high, he might not even be at the club next season.

Eriksen could form a dream duo with Dominic Calvert-Lewin if he did sign for the club, as the English striker would feed off the 30-year-old’s creativity and could well exceed his best season of 21 goals from 2020/2021 with the presence of the attacking midfielder.

AND in other news: EFC submit offer for “exceptional” £228k-p/w maestro, he can be Frank’s own de Bruyne

Manchester United remain intent on bolstering their midfield and still see Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham as a target.

What’s the word?

That’s according to German publication BILD sport via Daily Mail who claim that Dortmund have slapped a €120m (£103m) price tag on the England international as they brace themselves for bids.

Several of Europe’s top clubs are said to be interested, with United in the chase, but the German side want to keep hold of their star man for at least an extra year.

Bellingham does sit high upon their list of transfer targets, as the club attempted to sign the youngster back when he played for Birmingham City.

Imagine him and Bruno

With United desperate for a central midfielder and reportedly closing in on Frenkie de Jong, if they should decide to fork out the added money for this highly-rated teenager, they could complete the perfect midfield that would return Bruno Fernandes to his 2020/21 form.

During that season, the Portuguese star managed a remarkable 28 goals. With a solid central midfielder behind him like Bellingham, with the intelligence to pick him out in key spaces, it could allow his numbers to explode again.

The England international himself however also put up some very impressive numbers last term, and boasts an average SofaScore rating of 6.96. He has also impressed recently for his national side, with a 7.10 SofaScore rating in the Nations League.

For Dortmund in the league, he also made 11 goal contributions last season, which given the context of his age, makes him a fantastic player for the present and the future.

Manchester City star Jack Grealish recently spoke about how impressive he found the 19-year-old, stating that it is “scary” how good he is for his age.

He went on to say: “’He is just so mature. He is built like he is my age at 26. He has so much technical ability and he is mature for his age. I can tell you one thing, I was nowhere near as good at 18.”

This maturity could make him the perfect midfield partner for Fernandes, and allow both of them to have the space for their creativity to shine. It could be a scary affiliation for years to come.

AND, in other news: After De Jong: MUFC hope to sign “unbelievable” 115-cap gem, he’d be better than Pogba.

A claim has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in Victor Osimhen in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has revealed that the Magpies have been eyeing the Serie A goalscorer for a number of weeks, since the end of the 2021/22 campaign.

Although, the reporter has also claimed that Napoli’s valuation of the centre-forward could prove to be a stumbling block for Dan Ashworth.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “I’m sure he’s been on their radar for most of the summer, it’s just the issue probably is the price tag that’s on his head from Napoli.

“Napoli are demanding big, big money for him, so even with Newcastle’s riches, I don’t think they could get near that transfer fee for him right now. It’s probably £80 million-plus for the Nigerian international.”

Supporters will be excited

Despite the doubts over whether or not Newcastle can afford to sign Osimhen, the Toon head coach and supporters alike will be excited by this news.

Firstly, Howe will be buzzing with the prospect of working with the 23-year-old next season. If the Magpies can haggle Napoli down to an agreeable price then he would be an exceptional addition to the squad to bolster the attack.

In the Serie A last term, the Nigerian striker scored 14 times and provided two assists in 23 starts – averaging a SofaScore rating of 7.13. He delivered quality performances on a consistent basis and proved that he can score goals at an impressive rate in a major European league.

Meanwhile, no Newcastle player scored more than eight Premier League goals and only one – Callum Wilson – scored more than five. This suggests that Osimhen would provide a huge, much-needed, boost in front of goal for the Magpies with his ability to find the back of the net.

Therefore, Howe would love to have the attacker in his squad and will be hoping that this interest leads to a deal later in the window for a player who Emmet Gates hailed as “frightening.”

Supporters will also be delighted with this news because it highlights the standard of strikers the club are pursuing. Osimhen is a young, proven, goalscorer and him being on their radar suggests that they have set a high bar in terms of the number nines they are looking at as potential signings.

This suggests that they are ready to splash out on a player who can score goals on a regular basis, instead of taking a gamble on an unproven forward, and the manager will be excited to see who comes in.

AND in other news, “Lots of talk..”: Keith Downie drops exciting NUFC transfer claim that’ll elate Howe…

Rangers have been linked with a move for a winger this summer who could end up being the Light Blues’ replacement for Ryan Kent at Ibrox.

It has been suggested that Tom Lawrence was brought in to replace Joe Aribo, while Oladapo Afolayan could be the man to fill Kent’s shoes in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side.

The 24-year-old has enjoyed two impressive seasons with Bolton Wanderers, first helping them to promotion from League Two before finishing as their top scorer in League One last term. In total, the £3.4k-p/w winger has made 72 appearances for Ian Evatt’s side, contributing 15 goals and nine assists.

Last season saw Afolayan make 44 appearances for the Trotters in England’s third tier, in which he managed 12 goals and four assists as he averaged a superb 7.11 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

As a right-footed left winger who loves to dribble and cut inside, excelling at long shots, he would arguably be a natural replacement for Kent, who is unsurprisingly attracting interest after another excellent season at Ibrox.

The former Liverpool man perhaps most notably in the memorable win against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park.

Recent reports have suggested that Galatasaray are in talks with the Englishman over a potential transfer, while Leeds United have also been linked with him regularly over the last few months.

Kent’s contract at Ibrox is set to expire at the end of next season, so as much as it might sadden Rangers fans, it might be the best decision to sell him this summer rather than potentially losing him for free in a year’s time.

Should he leave Glasgow, it would free up the funds for Afolayan, who Van Bronckhorst would also surely love to have at Ibrox next season.

[freshpress-quiz id=“712674″]

Evatt was full of praise for the winger last season, saying: “He has huge expectations of himself and we also have huge expectations of him and sometimes you have dips in form. We all understand that.

“In football terms and education, he’s still a young player, but his attitude when coming on today was first class.

“We have just said that to them in the dressing room – he made a great pass to Dion on the edge of the box and it was a wonderful finish, but 30 seconds later after the goal, Dapo was sprinting to the corner flag to block a cross for a corner, and that’s what it’s about. It’s defending as a team and attacking as a team and Dapo epitomised that today.”

Football journalist Josh Bunting also joined in with the praise for Afolayan, dubbing him “superb” after a resounding win over AFC Wimbledon earlier this year.

The former West Ham starlet clearly has an excellent attitude and work rate judging by Evatt’s appraisal, which suggests that he would fit in nicely at Rangers next season if he moves to Ibrox, and he could be the ideal man to replace Kent should the latter move on.

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

Nottingham Forest have already made six signings this summer and they could be about to make two more as a new update emerges on the club’s transfer plans.

What’s the latest?

According to senior writer for The Athletic Daniel Taylor, Nottingham Forest are in talks to sign both Harry Toffolo and Lewis O’Brien this summer.

Taylor tweeted:

“Two more bids from Nottingham Forest for transfer targets: Lewis O’Brien and Harry Toffolo at Huddersfield.

“#NFFC want the pair for £10-12m. #HTAFC value the two players higher – but open to making the deal. Talks ongoing.”

Supporters will be excited

There is no doubt that supporters will be excited that Forest are interested in signing more players to give them the best chance in the Premier League next season.

Both O’Brien and Toffolo had an impressive season in the Championship with Huddersfield Town, and were key players in their play-off challenge that saw the side compete in the final at Wembley but were beaten, ironically, by Nottingham Forest who progressed to promotion back into the top flight.

Toffolo was a strong presence as a left-wing back for the West Yorkshire club, scoring six goals, delivering seven assists and creating five big chances, making one key pass and two clearances on average per game. That was on top of winning the majority of his duels (52%) proving he is both a fantastic defensive asset and attacking threat.

As for his teammate in O’Brien, he was dubbed an “exceptional player” by his former manager Carlos Corberan after his impressive performances in his team last season.

Over 43 Championship appearances, the 23-year-old scored three goals, delivered three assists and created four big chances, making one key pass and 2.2 tackles on average per game, as well as winning the majority of his duels (56%) and being successful in the majority of his dribble attempts (70%).

Cooper will be wanting to bolster his squad as much as he possibly can with players who can make a positive impact in the team as they compete in the Premier League next season, and the Huddersfield Town pair could have a great impact on the team if Forest can complete deals for the players.

AND in other news: “My information..”: Journo drops big Forest transfer update, supporters surely buzzing

A transfer report involving Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara has been shut down by official club media partners Heart & Hand.

The lowdown

90Min reporter Graeme Bailey claimed on Monday afternoon that Galatasaray had launched a bid for Kamara.

The Finland star joined Rangers in January 2019 in a £50,000 move from Dundee FC and is now valued at £6.75million by Transfermarkt. He’s played 158 matches for the club in the last three and a half years.

Kamara, who signed a contract extension last September, is ostensibly committed to the Gers until June 2025.

The latest

Heart & Hand took to Twitter shortly after Bailey’s report to make clear that they had received different information.

“Galatasaray haven’t made a bid for Glen Kamara despite reports,” they wrote.

The verdict

It remains to be seen whether Galatasaray do submit an offer in the coming days, or whether one of Kamara’s other suitors steps forward.

Indeed, Bailey noted that ‘a host of clubs’ are ‘tracking’ the 26-year-old, including Brighton, Marseille and Europa League opponents RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Kamara is clearly a key player for Rangers, having started both legs of the Europa League final as well as the Seville showpiece. Overall, he played in a whopping 52 games last season.

His importance is reflected by his £21,000-per-week salary, which places him in the club’s top seven.

Rangers have already lost Joe Aribo in this transfer window and are about to bid farewell to Calvin Bassey too. Limiting the exodus and keeping hold of Kamara could be a blessed relief.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in Armando Broja in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

Mark Douglas, of iNews, has claimed that the Magpies are now back in the race to sign the Chelsea forward ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

He tweeted: “Broja still an option for NUFC. Club working hard to make additions in a difficult market. No sense of panic – forward players were always going to be more difficult to get.”

His accompanying article states that Everton are also looking into a £30m deal for the gem after West Ham United dropped out of the race for the youngster, with the Hammers opting to move for Gianluca Scamacca instead of the Albanian international.

Perfect Gayle replacement

The Magpies recently confirmed the departure of long-serving centre-forward Dwight Gayle on a permanent deal to Championship outfit Stoke, after six years on Tyneside.

He played a supporting role in his last two campaigns at the club in the Premier League, sitting behind Callum Wilson and then Chris Wood in the pecking order. Across those seasons, he managed one goal in 26 outings under Steve Bruce and Eddie Howe combined.

In Broja, Newcastle can find the perfect replacement for Gayle as he has the quality to genuinely compete for a place in the team and the potential to improve over time.

The £8.5k-per-week gem is still in the infancy of his career at the age of 20 and has time on his side to develop into a key player for the Magpies.

Albania’s assistant manager Sergio Porrini hailed his progress last term, saying: “From last year to this he has grown a lot, and at Southampton, he has exploded.

“His greatest qualities are in progression, especially the ball and chain. (He’s) less good, on the other hand, with his back to the goal, in the construction of the action. But, in the spaces, he is devastating!”

He ended the 2021/22 campaign with 13 goals and two assists for club and country, including six goals in 21 starts in the Premier League.

These statistics suggest that he would be a major upgrade on Gayle as he would offer far more in front of goal than the Englishman, whilst also being 12 years younger and being a prospect for the future as well as an asset in the here and now.

Therefore, he can come in and challenge Wood and Wilson for serious minutes in the side. This would create healthy competition in the team and leave Howe with some welcomed selection headaches to deal with.

AND in other news: Howe could land his own Dias for Newcastle in £38m deal to sign “underrated” colossus

Journalist Ben Jacobs has delivered an update on Arsenal’s pursuit of Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans. 

The lowdown: Arsenal interested in Tielemans

The Gunners have been extensively linked with the Belgian throughout the summer transfer window, with previous reports even suggesting that personal terms had already been discussed regarding a move.

However, the 25-year-old remains in situ at the King Power Stadium, while interest has also been forthcoming from Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester United.

Despite the apparent strong admiration from across Europe, Tielemans is seemingly no closer to securing a transfer, and one well-informed onlooker has shed further light on the current situation…

The latest: Jacobs shares Tielemans transfer latest

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jacobs has claimed that the 52-cap star is definitely on the ‘shortlist’ at the Emirates Stadium.

The CBS Sports reporter said: “He’s on their shortlist, but they haven’t made a move and nobody’s made a move for Tielemans yet.

“That’s really interesting because when one club makes a move, it might trigger others into action.”

The verdict: Make it happen

Boasting a wealth of elite-level experience which has seen the Belgian make 120 Premier League outings since arriving from AS Monaco, signing Tielemans would be the icing on the cake for Edu and Mikel Arteta for what has already been an impressive summer window for Arsenal.

Last season, the £49.5m-valued gem – who was dubbed ‘scary’ by Daily Telegraph reporter Sam Dean – scored seven times and provided five assists in 50 appearances across all competitions for the Foxes, proof of an ability to influence matches in the final third.

Sharing similar stylistic traits to Ivan Rakitic, Hakan Calhanoglu and widely reported Arsenal target Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (FBRef), the cultured ace would be a smart addition to the Gunners’ squad, particularly as Arteta looks to add further goals from midfield, having called for more from newly-appointed club captain Martin Odegaard last term.

Into the final 12 months of his contract in the Midlands (Transfermarkt), Tielemans could cost as little as £25m and would have to be regarded as a bargain at that price, providing a cheaper alternative to Lyon sensation Lucas Paqueta.

Everton’s director of football Kevin Thelwell is reportedly eyeing up a potential move for Sheffield United striker Daniel Jebbison.

The Lowdown: Memorable debut

The Canada-born teenager had a memorable full debut for the Blades when they were in the Premier League, in a game that Toffees supporters will want to forget.

The then 17-year-old scored the winner at Goodison Park towards the end of the 2020/21 campaign and received high praise from Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards, who dubbed him a ‘shining light’.

Now 19, it looks as if the Merseyside club may be coming back for a player who once haunted them.

The Latest: Jebbison interest

As per Football League World, Jebbison remains on Everton’s radar, with the Toffees having been linked with a move for him in the past.

They view him as a player for the future, but also someone who could hit the ground running straight away, following the injury to Dominic Calvert-Lewin on top of the sale of Richarlison to Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the summer.

The Verdict: Needed

Everton are no doubt in desperate need of a striker, and Jebbison would certainly help to fill the void left by Calvert-Lewin while the former Blades marksman is on the treatment table.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/everton-news-7/” title=”Everton news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

He already has the experience of playing in the Premier League and has made two appearances for Sheffield United so far this season (Transfermarkt), so he should be fresh and ready to go at top-flight level if he joins the Toffees.

Furthermore, Jebbison has huge potential at just 19, so he would also be a smart investment for the future if Thelwell brings him in.