All posts by z3u9t.icu

Tottenham Hotspur are "still fighting" to keep Harry Kane, but Thomas Tuchel is a "crucial part of the story", and the German manager is "pushing" to get the deal over the line, claims transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Is Harry Kane leaving Tottenham Hotspur?

It hasn't taken long, but Tottenham striker Kane is once again at the centre of another protracted transfer saga.

Still, in a slight twist to the narrative, it's German giants Bayern Munich who are after the England captain and not either of the Manchester clubs.

The Bundesliga champions have already had two bids rejected by the Lilywhites, the latter being worth around €80m (£69m) plus add-ons, but that hasn't deterred them as they prepare a third offer to truly test the resolve of Daniel Levy and Co.

The club's all-time top goalscorer has just 12 months remaining on his £200,00-a-week contract, which is part of the reason for the Bavarians' comparatively low initial offers for the star striker.

However, the other reason that Thomas Tuchel's side feel so emboldened over this transfer is the belief that Kane is keen on the move himself and that if a deal can be struck between the two clubs, he would be enthusiastic about the prospect of playing for FC Hollywood next season, per Fabrizio Romano.

He explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:

"From what I'm hearing, Thomas Tuchel is absolutely a crucial factor, a crucial part of the story in the Harry Kane saga. I mention saga because we know that with Tottenham, it's never easy to negotiate, and, at the moment, from Daniel Levy, it still looks like a very difficult deal to make.

"I can guarantee to you that Bayern are still working on this one. They got two bids rejected, the second was €80m (£69m) plus add-ons. It was a verbal bid, but from Tottenham the message has always been 'this is absolutely not enough to sign Harry Kane', but Tomas Tuchel is really pushing.

"He feels that Harry Kane is open to the move to Bayern, and this is why Tuchel is pushing, and pushing, and pushing internally at Bayern to make it happen.

"Bayern will try again for Harry Kane, for sure this is not over but we know how complicated it is to negotiate with Tottenham and they are still fighting to keep Harry at the club. So, not an easy one but Bayern are still there and Thomas Tuchel is crucial part of this story."

How good was Harry Kane last season?

To put it succinctly, he was astoundingly good.

Had last year been any other Premier League season in history, one without the inhuman exploits of a certain Norwegian goal machine, there would be a lot more people talking about just how brilliant Kane was for a Spurs side that were utterly dysfunctional for much of the campaign.

In his 38 league appearances, the "world-class" forward scored 30 goals, created three assists for his teammates, and averaged a match rating of 7.51, per WhoScored.

His underlying numbers are, unsurprisingly, equally outstanding.

According to Fbref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, Kane sits in the top 4% of strikers for progressive passes, the top 10% for shot-creating actions, the top 14% for non-penalty goals, the top 16% for expected assists and goals, and the top 10% for total shots, all per 90.

If that wasn't enough, FBref have also rated the equally prolific Robert Lewandowski as the most similar player to Kane in all of Europe's top five leagues, showing that the two of them are genuinely in a league of their own when it comes to scoring goals.

If Spurs can keep a hold of their talismanic forward, they'll undoubtedly be better for it next season, but is it worth risking their greatest player ever walking away for free? Only Levy knows the answer to that one.

Southampton officially unveiled Russell Martin as their new first-team head coach last month to replace Ruben Selles following their relegation to the Championship.

The Saints are yet to make their first signing of the summer transfer window but have moved on from a number of players; including Mislav Orsic, Theo Walcott, and Mohamed Elyounoussi.

This means that the Scottish manager has lost three options in the wide areas ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, which could open the door for him to add another option in that position before the deadline.

The Athletic recently reported that the club are interested in signing Manchester City winger Carlos Borges, although they face competition from teams in both the Premier League and Bundesliga, which could make a deal difficult to get over the line.

How good is Carlos Borges?

He is yet to make his first-team debut but his incredible form at youth level for the Cityzens suggests that the potential is there for him to be the dream heir to Elyounoussi's position on the left wing for Southampton.

Borges has played against professional opposition in the EFL Trophy for City's U21 side and caught the eye with an average Sofascore rating of 7.7, with four goals and one assist, across three outings last season.

The 19-year-old wizard also enjoyed a terrific Premier League 2 campaign. He racked up an exceptional 21 goals and 11 assists in 24 appearances, which came after the exciting youngster managed 11 strikes in seven U18 Premier League games during the previous season.

In total, the Portuguese youth international has scored 55 goals and assisted 42 in 79 appearances for City's academy, which works out at an average of a goal contribution every 0.81 matches.

These statistics suggest that the Saints target, who was once lauded as "phenomenal" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has the quality to burst onto the scene at senior level if given a chance in the Championship next term.

There is no guarantee that he will be able to translate his form over to first-team football but his outstanding return in front of goal from the left wing for City's U21 and U18 teams suggests that it is a gamble worth taking for Martin.

Borges could be the dream replacement for Elyounoussi after the Norway international struggled to find his best form at the top end of the pitch prior to his departure.

The 28-year-old dud was unable to provide attacking quality on a regular basis in spite of being a regular starter throughout the campaign. He started 27 of his 33 Premier League appearances last season and contributed with one goal to go along with one assist.

Southampton's decision to release him at the end of last month may have been an easy one after his disappointing performances, with his average Sofascore rating of 6.64 placing him 20th in the squad.

Borges could now come in and potentially offer a huge threat as both a scorer and creator of goals in a way that Elyounoussi was unable to, if the 5 foot 7 teen can make the step up and replicate his form at youth level.

Manchester United hold some "doubt" over the capability of Mohammed Kudus to play the midfield role he wants at Old Trafford, claims transfer insider Dean Jones.

Manchester United transfer news – what's the latest on Mohammed Kudus?

After securing Champions League football with a fourth-place finish in the Premier League last season, United are looking to bolster their midfield options over the summer to cement their position and hopefully push on to challenge the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City next year.

The club's main target over the last few weeks, Mason Mount, proved to be an incredibly difficult deal to get done. But, the Red Devils have now seemingly agreed a deal for the midfielder.

Another player on the team's transfer wish list is Ajax midfielder and Ghanaian international Kudus.

Whilst unlikely to be a like-for-like alternative for Mount, the 22-year-old is a promising player in his own right after moving to the Dutch capital three years ago and donning the famous red and white 63 times since then.

According to the Daily Mail, the Eredivisie outfit have slapped a £40m price tag on their man, and if United are keen, they should get a move on as high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion are already in talks with Ajax.

What has transfer insider Dean Jones said about Mohammed Kudus to Manchester United?

Jones explained that the player wants to be seen as just a midfielder in any potential move to United, but there is some doubt at the club whether he could play that role in the league to the same standard as Mount.

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: "I think, Kudus wants to be a midfielder. But I think in terms of being ready to be a Premier League midfielder, there seems to be some doubt around Man United."

Would Mohammed Kudus be a good signing for Manchester United?

With Jones revealing that the decision makers at United harbour some doubt over the player's ability to play as a Premier League midfielder, are they right?

Well, if his performances last season were anything to go by, no.

According to WhoScored, the Nima-born dynamo achieved a seriously impressive average match rating of 7.29 across his 30 games in the league, scoring 11 and assisting a further three.

Granted, he spent the season across central midfield, attacking midfield and striker, but he achieved a minimum rating of 6.56 across all three, which is a good base to develop from.

And who better to help him develop from where he currently is than his former manager Erik ten Hag, who once hailed the Ghanian-machine as "excellent" in a post-match interview during his time with the Amsterdam club.

In today's market, £40m isn't a huge investment anymore, and for a player that seems to be adept in multiple positions, is young, and has an eye for goal, United should seriously consider pulling the trigger on this one, regardless of what happens with Mount.

Earlier this month it was reported that Aston Villa are interested in Napoli winger Hirving Lozano, as the Villans bid to bolster their squad ahead of next season.

Both Unai Emery and Monchi are expected to have a busy summer in the Midlands, with Mexican ace Lozano posing to be a potentially potent signing.

The Napoli ace’s former agent Alessandro Monfrecola – relayed by Sport Witness – claimed that both Villa and West Ham have ‘shown interest’ in the attacker.

Monfrecola added to his comments this week, reinforcing the interest by naming the two Premier League clubs as interested parties, although there is also an attraction from Saudi Arabia.

What could Hirving Lozano offer to Aston Villa?

While every player brings their own creative DNA to the game, some are very similar in their styles, and the calibre of player that Lozano is likened to establishes the level of talent Villa could add to their ranks.

As per FBref, based on statistics over the past year, the tricky Mexican is likened to Brighton & Hove Albion’s Kaoru Mitoma, who has lit the Premier League up since his emergence last season.

Described a 'defenders' nightmare', the Japanese winger contributed seven goals and five assists in the league last campaign, showcasing his skill set from the wide areas and posing as one of the most threatening talents in Europe.

The 26-year-old ranked in the top 5% of wingers in Europe over the past year for his monstrous average of 5.55 progressive carries per 90, as well as averaging 2.25 successful take-ons per 90, via FBref.

Lauded as “dangerous” with an “insane skill set” by analyst and scout EBL on Twitter, Mitoma offers Brighton a serious threat on the flanks, in a way that Lozano could present to Villa.

Similarly to the Japan international, the £97k-per-week gem scores highly in terms of progressive carries and take-ons, averaging 4.78 carries and 2.13 successful take-ons per 90 minutes over the past year, via FBref.

Emery could have his own answer to Mitoma in the Mexican star, who has been praised as being “pure class” by scout Antonio Mango. Indeed, he is a player that enjoys causing problems in the final third.

In a recorded 383 domestic career appearances, the Mexico City-born sensation has recorded a mammoth 184 goal involvements, via Transfermarkt, showing his innate ability to be clinical in every chapter of his career so far.

Valued around £26m by Football Transfers, Villa could land a bargain in a talent proven domestically and internationally this summer.

Chelsea will be aiming to forget about their dreadful 2022/23 campaign as new manager Mauricio Pochettino already appears to mean business in the transfer window.

Kai Havertz and Mateo Kovacic are close to securing exits, while there are a plethora of players seemingly ready to jump ship to Saudi Arabia, enticed by the barrel loads of cash on offer in the Middle East.

As well as the mass exodus occurring at Stamford Bridge, Pochettino is also looking to bring in a host of players to develop a side which can once again contest for silverware. The Stamford Bridge outfit are now leading the chase for Moises Caicedo, while goalkeeper Mike Maignan is also on their radar.

The Blues are also keeping tabs on AS Monaco defender Axel Disasi, and the Ligue 1 side will reportedly start discussions at around the €40m (£34m) mark, although Manchester United are leading the chase for the Frenchman.

He could be a shrewd signing by Pochettino, especially with Kalidou Koulibaly looking likely to leave Chelsea, while Thiago Silva isn’t exactly getting any younger – and Disasi would be a perfect heir to the Brazilian.

Could Axel Disasi improve Chelsea?

The Blues finished in a lowly 12th position in the Premier League last term, while they conceded 62 goals across all competitions, and there is no doubt they require some improvements at the back.

Silva started 26 league games last season and was one of the club's better performers, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.26/10, ranking him first in the squad for this metric. He also ranked in the top five for interceptions and clearances per game as he clearly shows no sign of slowing down.

But he only has a year left on his current deal and the 2023/24 season will surely be his final one in England, as he will turn 39 in September, leaving someone like Disasi the opportunity to eventually become his long-term heir.

The 25-year-old is excellent at starting attacks from the back, evidenced by the fact he ranks in the top 4% across Europe’s big five leagues for progressive passes (5.80) and progressive carries per 90 (1.70). Silva, in contrast, only ranks in the top 34% for progressive passes per 90 (3.7) and in the bottom 17% for progressive carries per 90 (0.24), showing that the Frenchman may be able to fit into Pochettino’s attacking philosophy much better.

The Monaco titan has also been dubbed a “hidden gem” by talent scout Jacek Kulig in the past, and for a fee of around £34m, he could well improve the Chelsea backline as Pochettino seeks to unearth a perfect replacement for Silva once he eventually moves on from the club.

As well as going through the meticulous and exhaustive process of pinpointing the right man to succeed Roy Hodgson, Crystal Palace must begin to make inroads in the fiercely competitive transfer market.

The midfield has already undergone huge change via the departures of Luka Milivojevic and James McArthur leaving a lack of depth in the centre of the park.

Steve Parish has never been a notoriously big-spending owner as the club often targets attainable, affordable, and realistic options – the next name to fit this bill is Ellyes Skhiri.

What’s the latest on Ellyes Skhiri to Crystal Palace?

According to Tuttomercatoweb (via Sport Witness), the Eagles have been “strongly” following the Koln midfielder, who has a “dream” to play in the Premier League.

Alongside the South Londoners, AC Milan are also vying for the 28-year-old’s signature, who is seen as a “market opportunity” due to his availability as a free agent upon the expiration of his contract on 30 June.

The Rossoneri have reportedly offered the Tunisian a three-year deal with the option of a fourth, so Palace will need to match or better this offer, with Skhiri expected to make a decision in the coming days.

How would Ellyes Skhiri fit in at Crystal Palace?

The £28k-per-week star made 32 Bundesliga appearances this season, scoring seven times.

The 54-cap international has demonstrated himself as a phenomenal all-rounder, averaging 2.5 tackles, 1.8 interceptions, 1.3 dribbles, and 1.3 clearances per game. Combine these statistics with his goals, and you have a threatening pivot with punishing physicality that could seamlessly slot into the Palace side.

Aptly described as "big and strong" by Koln coach Steffen Baumgart, the former Tunisian Footballer of the Year international ranks impressively across the continent as he sits within the top 15% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for non-penalty goals per 90, blocks per 90, and interceptions per 90.

Thus, after assessing his impressive profile, Skhiri makes for a perfect partner for Cheick Doucouré.

The 23-year-old joined Palace last summer for £22m and has swiftly established himself as an indispensable member of the team.

Last season, he averaged the most tackles (2.3) and interceptions (1.6) in the squad and the Eagles lost three of the four matches that Doucouré didn’t play in.

His ability to sniff out danger, read the game, and win possession perhaps goes under the radar but is of undeniable importance to the Eagles.

With this spectacular solid spine potentially protecting Palace’s backline, it creates a foundation that will allow the creative influences of Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise to flourish spectacularly under any new manager.

Manchester United could well be eyeing a summer move for Inter Milan star Andre Onana, albeit with the Red Devils set to face competition for the goalkeeper's signature.

What's the latest on Onana to Man United?

According to the Evening Standard, the Old Trafford outfit could potentially rival Chelsea in the battle to land the 27-year-old ahead of next season, with Erik ten Hag and co able to offer the benefit of providing Champions League football.

The report suggests that the Serie A outfit are set to demand a fee in the region of £50m if they are to part ways with the former Cameroon international over the coming weeks, with the Italian giants potentially set to be forced to cash in due to their ongoing financial woes.

The former Ajax man only made the move to San Siro on a free transfer last summer and still has four years left to run on his existing deal with Simone Inzaghi's side.

Should Man United sign Onana?

There is currently much uncertainty surrounding United's goalkeeping department, with an agreement yet to have been reached with long-serving asset David De Gea over a contract extension, with the Spaniard's current deal set to expire in just a matter of weeks.

Even if the 32-year-old is to sign a new contract in the near future, there have been reports that the £375k-per-week man won't necessarily be the starting option for Ten Hag next season.

The former Atletico Madrid man has arguably become a "big problem" for the Red Devils – according to pundit Jamie Carragher – with his woes in possession having been exposed of late, with club legend Paul Scholes stating following the defeat to Sevilla that De Gea "makes the whole team nervous" when trying to play out from the back.

The signing of Onana, therefore, would be a potential upgrade as far as Ten Hag is concerned, with the 6 foot 3 titan – who played 145 times under the Dutchman in Amsterdam – having been described as "exceptional" on the ball by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, ahead of last weekend's Champions League final.

Despite ending up on the losing side in that showpiece meeting, the 34-cap ace still "caught the eye" with his distribution, according to Manchester Evening News journalist, Tyrone Marshall.

The Inter man's greater composure on the ball was also shown in Serie A in 2022/23 as he enjoyed an average pass accuracy rate of 79% from his 24 league outings, while De Gea, by contrast, averaged just 68% for that same metric from 38 appearances, having been far more erratic when attempting to play out.

Equally, while the latter man ranks in just the bottom 30% among his European peers for touches per 90, Onana ranks in the top 11% in that regard, again showcasing that he will willingly get involved in the build-up.

As such, with De Gea having become something of a 'problem' of late, the signing of the Cameroonian machine could be just the upgrade that Ten Hag requires.

Newcastle United are 'progressing well' in their attempts to bring Leicester City playmaker James Maddison to St James' Park this summer, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

What's the latest transfer news involving James Maddison?

According to Football Insider, Newcastle United are said to be 'frontrunners' in the race to sign Maddison this summer amid stiff competition from other Premier League sides.

The report states that Newcastle United are ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in their pursuit of the £110k-a-week ace, who is set for an exit from Leicester City in the next few months due to their relegation to the Sky Bet Championship.

Sky Sports also broadly state along the same lines that Newcastle United are in pole position to bring in Maddison; however, the outlet detail that Spurs could 'formalise' a bid now that they have appointed a new manager in the form of Ange Postecoglou.

Maddison caught the eye of the Magpies in January, though Leicester City were unwilling to do business mid-season, which is a stance that they look to have changed and it is now believed that they are open to offers for the Coventry-born playmaker.

As per The Guardian, Maddison's teammate Harvey Barnes is also a target for Newcastle United as they plot a double raid of the Foxes' best talents ahead of 2023/24.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Galetti has revealed that talks between Maddison and Newcastle United over a summer transfer are going well.

Galetti said: "The talks between Newcastle and Leicester over James Maddison are progressing well, even if not at a great pace. I’m told Newcastle want to strengthen every role of their squad after the qualification for next season’s Champions League and they are working on multiple deals."

Would James Maddison be a good signing for Newcastle United?

Maddison would be a brilliant addition for Newcastle United who would add some extra flair to their talented midfield at St James' Park looking forward to next term.

In 2022/23, the England international made 32 appearances in all competitions for Leicester City, registering ten goals and nine assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Proving to be an inventive presence in the Foxes' midfield, Maddison also successfully performed 138 shot-creating actions in the Premier League, as tallied by FBRef.

Possessing a keen goal threat, Maddison hit an average of 2.8 shots per game in the English top-flight, demonstrating his penchant to make things happen despite the faltering nature of the team around him this term, as per WhoScored.

Newcastle United are preparing for Champions League football under Eddie Howe and bringing Maddison to Tyneside could help to take the Magpies to the next level.

Steven Gerrard has the chance to lead Aston Villa to a top-half finish in the Premier League if they can end the season strongly.

With matches against Crystal Palace, Burnley, and Manchester City remaining, six points out of nine should be their realistic target from that trio of fixtures.

It has been a mixed season for Gerrard at Villa Park since his arrival from Rangers in mid-November. They started brightly under his tenure but have been inconsistent in 2022, winning 10 matches under the 41-year-old so far but also losing 11.

What’s the news?

With the manager perhaps looking to rejig the playing squad and bring his own players in, there will likely be plenty of outgoings during the summer transfer window, and Gerrard has been discussing what will happen with his fringe players.

As per Birmingham Live on Friday, he said: “If it’s better to go and play elsewhere because they’re guaranteed more game time, then we’re certainly open to conversations with one or two of them. In terms of naming names, I don’t think that’s professional.”

He could be referring to numerous players with this message, and supporters may well be glad to see the back of some fringe members of the Villa squad who have been eating up the wage bill.

One player who looks set to leave is Morgan Sanson, while wingers Anwar El Ghazi and Trezeguet have been sent out on loan to Everton and İstanbul Başakşehir respectively, so it seems unlikely that they will feature at all for Villa next season.

The 41-year-old landed his top target in Philippe Coutinho on a permanent deal this week in a bargain £17m deal until 2026, and these are the types of players Gerrard needs to be signing in order to take the next step with the club and lead them into the European places.

Getting rid of the deadwood is a tough task, but the former Rangers boss seems to be handling it with the utmost professionalism so far, particularly with his refusal to namecheck any players he may be considering for an exit.

AND in other news, Gerrard can land his own Pogba as Villa plot bid for “impressive” £107k-p/w machine

Leeds United are in a great position to bring Brennan Johnson to Elland Road in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Dean Jones, with the transfer insider and journalist revealing in a recent interview with GIVEMESPORT that, should Leeds go on to secure their status as a Premier League side this season, coupled with Nottingham Forest failing to secure promotion to the top flight in the Championship play-offs, Victor Orta will be in a fantastic position to land his reported £20m transfer target this summer.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more” title=”Read the latest Leeds United news and rumours!”]

Regarding the Whites’ interest in the 20-year-old attacking midfielder, Jones said: “They should make him their number one target, 100%. They are in a great position to sign Brennan Johnson if they do stay up and Forest don’t manage to get promoted.”

Supporters will be buzzing

While it is undeniable that Leeds’ place in the Premier League next season appears extremely uncertain following the weekend’s results, should the Whites go on to secure survival, the prospect of landing a player as talented as Johnson is undoubtedly something that will leave the Elland Road faithful buzzing.

Indeed, over his 46 Championship appearances this season, the £900k-rated forward has been a revelation in Steve Cooper’s attack, scoring 16 goals, registering ten assists and creating 15 big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.9 shots, making 1.3 key passes and completing 1.2 dribbles per game.

These metrics have seen the £2.5k-per-week Wales international average a quite breathtaking SofaScore match rating of 7.10, ranking him as Nottingham Forest’s fourth-best outfielder in the second tier – with the 20-year-old playing a starring role in the Reds’ widely unexpected securing of a top-six finish in the league.

As such, the suggestion that – as long as Leeds stay up and Forest remain in the Championship – Orta is in a great position to secure the signing of Johnson this summer is undoubtedly incredibly exciting for everyone involved with the Whites.

However, with Jesse Marsch’s side currently sitting 18th in the Premier League standings, it would appear a wise move for Leeds to hold off on printing shirts donning the attacking midfielder’s name just yet.

AND in other news: “Very possible…”: Phil Hay drops big Leeds injury update, supporters will be buzzing