All posts by z3u9t.icu

Tottenham Hotspur are set to make an offer for Southampton left-back Thierry Small, having previously failed with an £800k bid during the January transfer window, according to a report from Football Insider.

Who is Thierry Small?

Small came through the youth ranks at West Bromwich Albion and Everton, before becoming the Toffees' youngest player in history when he made his first-team debut against Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup back in January 2021.

Later that year, the left-back completed a move to Southampton, signing a three-year professional contract with the club, however, he has so far made just one appearance in the first team, having spent time out on loan at St Mirren this season.

According to Football Insider, Tottenham made a bid of £800k for the 18-year-old during the January transfer window, which was rejected by the Saints, who were holding out for £1.2m, but they are now set to return with a new bid.

Spurs have let the youngster and his representatives know they plan to come back to the table with another offer this summer, but they face competition for his signature from Rangers, who have been in contact with Southampton. St Mirren are also keen on another loan deal, as the starlet has established himself as a first-team regular this season.

Should Tottenham sign Small?

Given his lack of first-team experience, the Englishman is certainly a signing for the future, rather than someone who could make an immediate impact for Tottenham, however, there is plenty of evidence he could become an important player in the future.

Hailed as "very talented" by members of the media, the former Everton man has already got a taste of first-team football with St Mirren, while he has also been very impressive for Southampton at youth level.

In 17 Premier League 2 games last season, the Solihull-born full-back scored four goals and registered one assist, showcasing his ability on the front foot, and earning himself an England call-up, having now made three appearances for the U18s.

It remains to be seen whether Small fulfils his potential, but he is showing very promising signs at such a young age, and he is definitely worth taking a risk on, considering Southampton's asking price is likely to be around the £1.2m mark.

Liverpool have earmarked Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone for transfer this summer, with reliable reports that a concrete proposal could be forthcoming…

What's the latest on Manu Kone to Liverpool?

That's according to Fabrizio Romano, who states that interest is ramping up in the Frenchman following discussions between the Reds and the player's entourage this week.

Gladbach demand €35/40m (£30/34m) for his signature, but 'are prepared to let him leave for that fee' with just two years left on his current deal.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke are focussing on tying up a deal for Brighton & Hove Albion ace Alexis Mac Allister, with everything pointing toward a satisfying conclusion for that transfer, ostensibly shifting the onus on Kone afterwards.

How good is Manu Kone?

James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all departing from Anfield upon the culmination of their contracts this summer; captain Jordan Henderson is 32-years-old, as is the injury-stricken Thiago Alcantara.

There is work to be done on the transfer front to rekindle the verve on Merseyside, but completing a swoop for Kone would only serve to steady the ship and set course for prominence once again.

Liverpool need superlative additions, and while West Ham United's Declan Rice is one of the most highly-sought midfielders in Europe, his signature is believed to require at least £100m to prise him away from east London.

Kone, praised as a "powerhouse" by one member of the Football Khanage team, could very well blossom into one of the Premier League's foremost central cogs at Liverpool.

The 22-year-old is available for a third of the price of Rice and could assume the role that the 24-year-old would fill if he joined Klopp's ranks, with the Reds indeed among the suitors for the Hammers' sturdy midfield anchor.

Once described as a "one-man army" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Kone succeeded with 87% of his passes in the Bundesliga this season, also averaging 2.5 tackles, 1.1 interceptions and 0.7 key passes, as per Sofascore.

Also ranking among the top 4% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons, the top 19% for blocks, the top 22% for progressive carries and the top 23% for tackles per 90, his dynamism and energy is clearly evidenced.

Such metrics level up nicely next to Rice's own seasonal performance, with the 24-year-old ranking among the top 14% of positional peers for progressive carries, the top 6% for interceptions and the top 17% for blocks per 90, also completing 88% of his passes and averaging 2.1 tackles per game in the Premier League.

While Rice is "world-class" – as lauded by West Ham's former head of academy recruitment David Hunt – Kone could yet emerge as a first-rate centre-midfielder himself, and under Klopp's sagely tutelage at Anfield, the full scope of his potential might just be realised.

It's less than three weeks until the 2023 summer transfer window opens its gates and awaits the hubbub of whirring activity as clubs seek to plant the roots of a prosperous season with astute movement in the market.

Liverpool need to do just this, and with a lacklustre season and a forthcoming midfield exodus the need to augment the centre with first-rate additions has never been greater, and Sporting CP star Manuel Ugarte could hold the key to unlocking the squad's full potential.

What's the latest on Manuel Ugarte to Liverpool?

The rumours attached to Ugarte's name have shown no sign of abating over the past several weeks, with Le Parisien (via Sport Witness) declaring that Liverpool are 'ready' to trigger the Uruguayan midfielder's €60m (£52m) release clause.

Competition for his signature is fierce, however, with financial powerhouses Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain also vying for a deal.

The report also claims that Portuguese media state that the player desires to play in the Premier League, and with Chelsea failing to qualify for Europe, Liverpool might be well-placed to steer a deal over the line.

Should Liverpool sign Manuel Ugarte?

It is a testament to Ugarte's snowballing presence for Sporting that he has found himself at the heart of attention from some of Europe's most illustrious outfits, who indeed seem enticed despite his £52m price tag.

Turning 22 last month, Ugarte has been entrusted with the role of anchoring the midfield, playing 47 times across all competitions and earning the tag of "midfield machine" by talent scout Jacek Kulig for his feats.

Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are among the centre-midfielders departing Anfield this month, and both have spent their fair share of time in the medical room; signing a replacement with apt quality and a refreshing assurance of reliability is paramount, and Ugarte has missed three games due to injury/illness across the entirety of his career to date, with two absences due to coronavirus.

His fitness strength is partnered by a copper-bottomed will to win, with data-driven site FBref ranking the eight-cap Uruguay international among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 10% for successful take-ons, the top 1% for tackles, the top 3% for interceptions and the top 11% for blocks per 90.

Such superlative skills with the ball at his feet and in prising it away from the opposition are the core of the interest in his name, quite simply, he would fortify Klopp's system with an iron-clad grip, bringing aggression and tenacity to an outfit which has been harangued this season for tactical vulnerability and an inability to stand up against physicality.

Ugarte would eradicate this in a heartbeat. Liverpool's rekindling of the fire in the latter phases of the campaign illustrates the old footballing adage: form is temporary, class is permanent, and seven victories and one draw across the past eight Premier League matches bodes well heading into the new campaign, but Ugarte's skills will only enhance the Reds' prospects of success.

Take, for example, the seasonal emergence of Stefan Bajcetic, the 18-year-old Spanish midfielder who wedged his way into Klopp's plans and dazzled among the dirt, impressing with his intensity and guile in a manner which belied his tender age and inexperience, with his manager hailing him as "exceptional".

The robust enforcer is an energetic and box-crashing midfielder, melding his elegance with the ball with an unrelenting pace that, combined with Ugarte's steely skill set, could craft a dynamic duo to leave competitors bitterly awestruck.

Whether Liverpool will sign Ugarte remains to be seen, but he is a vigorous midfielder with a tested calibre despite still perching in the maiden part of his career, but like Bajcetic, the energy and exuberance could cement Liverpool's foundation for a silver-laden future.

Manchester United are now lining up to sign Napoli's Victor Osimhen this summer, and it would be the striker's "dream" to move to Old Trafford, according to a recent update.

What's the latest Man United transfer news?

Man United have set their sights on bringing in a new striker this summer, and it has been reported they are still keen on signing Goncalo Ramos from Benfica, with the Portuguese club resigned to losing him at the end of the campaign.

However, Lautaro Martinez is said to be Erik ten Hag's top target, with the Red Devils willing to offer £60m to secure his services for next season, an offer that Inter Milan may be forced to accept.

Another option for United is Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane, with it recently being reported they are set to make the England captain a priority target, as they believe he could play a big part in turning them back into title contenders.

Ten Hag has identified a number of targets for the summer, and Sport Witness has relayed an update from Italy, which details that Man United are lining up to sign Osimhen, and the player himself is said to be attracted by the proposition.

It would be a "dream" move for the Nigerian to complete a switch to Old Trafford, however actually being able to land him is where it gets difficult, as Napoli are set to demand €130m (£113m) plus bonuses to sanction his departure.

Not only that, but there will be stiff competition from the likes of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

How many goals has Osimhen scored?

The 24-year-old has been in fantastic form with Napoli this season, weighing in with 28 goals in all competitions, including 23 in the Serie A, which places him at the top of the goal-scoring charts, above Martinez.

Hailed as "world-class" by members of the media, the marksman has spearheaded Napoli's title-winning Serie A season, and it is no surprise that there are a number of clubs lining up for his signature.

However, £113m is a huge amount and would be a club record fee at Old Trafford, particularly considering Kane could be available for less, with it being reported Daniel Levy may listen to offers above £100m.

Given that Kane has proven himself in the Premier League over many years, the 29-year-old could be a better target this summer, but Osimhen would still be a fantastic signing.

Fabrizio Romano has dropped an update on reported Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Djed Spence.

What’s the latest?

In a recent post on Twitter, the Italian journalist revealed that Antonio Conte’s side are still interested in a move for the right-back this summer, despite Nottingham Forest confirming their promotion to the Premier League on Sunday.

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

In his tweet, the transfer insider said: “Djed Spence: ‘Nottingham Forest means everything to me. Playing for Forest next season? Hopefully.’ Bayern [Munich] left the race after signing [Noussair] Mazraoui while Tottenham are still interested, but there’s no official bid yet.”

Supporters will love Romano’s update

Considering just how promising a talent Spence clearly is, Romano’s update revealing that Fabio Paratici is still pursuing a deal for the Middlesbrough full-back – despite Forest’s promotion and subsequent move to sign the 21-year-old permanently – is sure to be news that the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium faithful will love.

Indeed, over his 42 Championship appearances for Steve Cooper’s side this season, the £7.2m-rated talent played a crucial role in the Reds’ promotion to the top flight, scoring two goals, registering five assists and creating six big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 1.0 key passes, taking 0.6 shots and completing 1.8 dribbles per game.

The £4.4k-per-week defender also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 1.5 tackles, 1.6 interceptions, 1.4 clearances and winning 5.8 duels per fixture.

These metrics saw the England U21 international average an extremely impressive WhoScored match rating of 7.05, ranking him as the Garibaldi’s sixth-best player in the second tier.

As such, it is clear to see that Spence would be an excellent replacement for the potentially outbound Emerson Royal this summer, leading us to believe that Romano’s update concerning Tottenham’s continued interest in the former Fulham starlet is fantastic news for everyone involved with the club.

AND in other news: “I understand…”: Gold reveals huge Spurs transfer update, supporters will be buzzing

Celtic have recently been linked with a reported summer move for Metz midfielder Kevin N’Doram.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from Homme Du Match (via Daily Record), the Frenchman is on the Hoops’ radar for a potential swoop during the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report also claimed that this move would cost around £2m, as the player still has two years remaining on his current contract.

A product of AS Monaco’s youth system, the 26-year-old joined Metz on loan deal in the summer of 2019 before signing on a permanent basis a year later. In 47 appearances for his current club, the midfielder has yet to score a goal or provide an assist.

Big mistake

While this season has been a disappointing one for Metz as they were relegated from Ligue 1 having won just six of their 38 league games, it has also been a poor campaign for N’Doram from an individual point of view.

In 19 league appearances, he only had seven shots at goal, with just one on target. Also, he posted only 20 shot-creating actions, highlighting that he is far from the most attack-minded midfielder.

From a defensive point of view, in addition to picking up five yellow cards and giving away 23 fouls, N’Doram only made 27 interceptions and 14 tackles, which is lower than a significant number of his team-mates.

His overall performances earned him a poor season rating of 6.27/10, making him one of the lowest-rated players currently at the French club to have started more than one league game, according to WhoScored.

Taking all this into account, it’s hard to see how the Frenchman would be a good signing for Celtic, especially as they will need to find a suitable replacement for Tom Rogic.

Looking at N’Doram’s latest season in France, it could be a big mistake for Ange Postecoglou to bring him to Parkhead, even if Metz’s relegation could make a possible move for the player rather simple.

With that in mind, Celtic should not be looking to sign the midfielder this summer and instead look for other options who could improve Postecoglou’s squad.

In other news: Ange can sign the next Roberts as Celtic eye £1.8m wizard who’s “Mourinho’s nightmare”

Ex-BBC pundit Noel Whelan has suggested that he is ‘expecting’ Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah to leave the club this summer to raise transfer funds after new contract talks have been revealed.

The Lowdown: Salah set for contract talks

The 29-year-old’s contract at Anfield is set to expire next summer alongside attacking partner Sadio Mane, but a Liverpool source told Football Insider just last weekend that the Egyptian is set for talks with the club about the possibility of signing a new deal which could be worth over £80m in total.

The same website previously confirmed that the Reds also plan to offer Mane a new deal, however, the Senegalese star is now said to be wanted by Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, so that’s another one of Jurgen Klopp’s star men whose future is up in the air.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-33/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Latest: Whelan expecting Salah to leave

Whelan, reacting to those leaked talks, admitted that if FSG were to cash in on a big sale during the upcoming transfer window, this could potentially make way for a new, young arrival on Merseyside.

He told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury: “They’re going to have to capitalise on somebody, in my opinion.

“That big potential transfer fee could do a lot of good. It could be Mane, or it could be Salah.

“One of the two, I believe, will be leaving this summer. For me personally, I’m expecting it to be Salah.

“Mane is looking more and more like the one who will be sticking around, but we’ll have to wait and see.

“When you’re bringing in these young players and they’re performing as well as Luis Diaz is – it does almost put the writing on the wall.

“One of them might well have to go in order to get that capital and rejuvenate that team.”

The Verdict: New deal a huge boost for Klopp

If the £225k-per-week talisman were to put pen to paper on a new contract with the Reds, this would come as a huge boost for the German boss, considering he’s been one of his most influential players on the pitch this season.

Salah has a staggering record in the Premier League, having already scored 30 goals and registered 16 assists across all competitions this term, as per Transfermarkt, as well as the fact that he is currently leading the race for the top-flight Golden Boot.

Not getting any younger, committing his future to Liverpool would likely take the 82-cap international to the end of his playing career, and with a good few of his prime years left ahead of him, there’s still plenty of time to get his hands on more silverware before the day comes that he hangs his boots up for good.

In other news… the Reds are believed to be in pole position in the pursuit for one of their summer transfer targets.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly interested in signing Barcelona midfielder Nico Gonzalez this summer, according to a report from Spanish outlet Sport (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown: Rising star

A graduate of the famous La Masia academy in Catalonia, Gonzalez has amassed 78 appearances across all levels for the Spanish giants.

Following a La Liga debut under Ronald Koeman in a 4-2 victory over Real Sociedad, the 20-year-old has made 37 outings for the senior side and has quickly become a regular feature under club legend Xavi.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/all-the-latest-from-wolves-6/” title=”All the latest from Wolves!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

However, despite an apparent emergence into the big time, the Spanish sensation could be set to depart the Camp Nou already…

The latest: Wanderers ‘very interested’

As per Sport, translated by SW, Wolves are believed to be ‘very interested’ in the three-cap Spanish Under 21 starlet.

It’s claimed that there is uncertainty about Gonzalez’s future in Spain as the club holds an ‘internal debate’ on whether or not to cash in this summer.

The report states that super-agent Jorge Mendes, who has close connections with Molineux, is involved in the dealings for the midfielder hailed by Barcelona icon Andres Iniesta as possessing ‘brutal talent’.

The verdict: Star signing

So far this season, Gonzalez has scored twice and provided two assists in 37 appearances across all competitions for Barca, earning a stylistic comparison to the likes of Borussia Dortmund superstar Jude Bellingham, Manchester City ace Bernado Silva and highly-rated Barcelona teammate Pedri (FBref).

Predominantly operating as a box-to-box central midfielder, the Spaniard can also play in a deeper-lying role as well as in wide positions, levels of versatility that would be a welcome addition to Bruno Lage’s squad.

Whilst the future of Ruben Neves remains in the balance amidst interest from Barcelona and beyond, Wolves should certainly remain attentive to the possibility of signing Gonzalez regardless.

In other news, Wolves have been backed to sign a Premier League attacker this summer. Find out who it is here.

Crystal Palace could cash in on Michael Olise this summer, with Manchester United monitoring his situation.

The Lowdown: Olise’s first season at Palace

The French youngster was Patrick Vieira’s first signing at Selhurst Park last July, joining from Reading in a deal worth £8m.

Described as a ‘special talent’ by the Eagles manager, the 20-year-old has impressed in his first Premier League campaign, contributing to seven goals in 26 top-flight appearances.

He also weighed in with two goals and three assists in Palace’s run to the FA Cup semi-finals, and it looks as though his displays have caught the eye at Old Trafford.

The Latest: Olise could be available for £35m

Stretty News shared a story regarding the Red Devils and Olise on Saturday afternoon.

They were informed by ‘a source close to the situation’ who claimed that the Palace starlet will be available for £35m this summer, a possible 400% profit for Steve Parish on the midfielder after less than 12 months with the Eagles.

The Verdict: Strange to sell…

There is previous between the two clubs when it comes to signing young talents, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka making a £50m move from south London to Old Trafford in 2019.

However, it seems bizarre that Palace would be willing to sell Olise for £35m this summer. No Palace player has provided more assists than the Frenchman this season, as per WhoScored, so surely he’s someone around whom Vieira would want to build a team going forward.

It could be one to keep a close eye upon over the coming months, although another impressive campaign at Selhurst Park would more than likely see Olise’s valuation rise even further and could see transfer interest become even more intense.

In other news: Parish and Freedman now confident they’ll bring this ‘extraordinary’ player to Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira is keen on bringing PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Sangare to the Premier League.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from The Sun, who claimed that Palace are keen to strengthen their midfield options this summer.

The outlet states that the Eagles will face competition from Leicester City for the 24-year-old’s signature, with the Ivory Coast international rated at around £30m.

Sangare is viewed as an option who can bring stability to the midfield and serves as a more than adequate replacement for Cheikhou Kouyate, who is out of contract next month.

Kouyate upgrade

The signing of Sangare, who has been described by African journalist Alpha Balde as a “passionate” player, would provide Eagles boss Vieira with an immediate upgrade over Kouyate, whose future is uncertain.

As a holding midfielder who boasts experience in the Europa League, it is no surprise that Sangare betters the 32-year-old’s participations in both attack and defence.

The Ivorian’s game is much more well-rounded than his Senegalese equivalent, and a switch to Selhurst Park would see the 24-year-old rank first in the Eagles’ squad for certain metrics.

With an average of 65.6 accurate passes per 90, he ranks higher than Palace’s most accurate passer in Joachim Andersen, who has registered a match average of 59 passes per 90. It’s the same case for successful tackles per 90, with Sangare beating Kouyate’s match average of 1.7 with his return of 2.2 tackles won per game.

Having registered four goal contributions this season in the form of three goals and one assist in 26 Eredivisie appearances for PSV, he equals Kouyate’s scoring record from the last three seasons combined.

Sangare’s average of 1.5 shots and 1.7 dribbles per 90 make him a more stable and rounded option in the centre of the pitch for Palace, but it’s his average of 3.3 tackles and 2.4 interceptions per game which will have Vieira licking his lips at the prospect of signing him.

The 24-year-old could elevate Palace to that next level, so the Eagles boss is right to be looking at the PSV colossus as an upgrade on Kouyate.

In other news: CPFC could find their new Ian Wright by signing “goal machine”, imagine him and Zaha