All posts by n8rngtd.top

Leeds United have registered their interest in Stoke City defender Josh Tymon, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Tymon profiled

Hailed as ‘quick’ by his manager Michael O’Neill, Tymon is primarily a left-back who can also play as a left-sided midfielder when required and has been with Stoke since 2017.

Formerly an England under-20 international, the 23-year-old has made 87 senior appearances for the Potters, contributing to eight goals.

Described as the ‘nutmeg king’ following 14 of them in the Championship last season, it looks as if Tymon could be on the move this summer, with a number of clubs interested in his services.

The Latest: Source shares Tymon update

Football Insider shared a story regarding Tymon on Wednesday afternoon after being informed by a recruitment source.

They claimed that Leeds and Norwich City have both registered their interest in the full-back, joining Rangers in the race for his signature. The report adds that Stoke value Tymon at £6m and have been reluctant to sell.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-46/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Needed?

It looks as if Jesse Marsch is going to give Junior Firpo another chance to impress at Elland Road next season, although the Spaniard is the only senior left-back available to the 48-year-old, so bringing in someone like Tymon could be a wise move.

The Whites have spent £95m so far this summer, although none of the six additions is a defender, even with Leeds conceding a whopping 79 goals in 38 league games last season.

Charles De Ketelaere appears to be the club’s final marquee target, although it looks as if an under-the-radar move for Tymon could be on the cards as well.

The Daily Mail’s northeast football reporter Craig Hope has revealed that Sunderland are now ‘in talks’ to sign Jack Clarke on a permanent deal this summer.

The Lowdown: Great loan spell

The 21-year-old enjoyed a great loan spell at the Stadium of Light on loan from Tottenham Hotspur last season, where he managed one goal and four assists and was a mainstay in Alex Neil’s side which won promotion to the Championship after victory in the League One play-off final (Transfermarkt).

The winger ranked as the Black Cats’ seventh-best performer in the division, as he picked up three man-of-the-match awards and averaged an impressive 1.5 shots, 1.6 key passes and 1.6 dribbles per game (WhoScored).

The Latest: Sunderland ‘in talks’ for Clarke

Taking to Twitter, Hope has revealed that the Wearside club are now ‘in talks’ with Spurs over the possibility of bringing Clarke back for another campaign.

He stated: “Understand Sunderland are in talks with Spurs over a deal to re-sign winger Jack Clarke, who was on loan at Stadium of Light last season.”

Hope then added that the talks are centred around a permanent deal for the player, saying: “Talks centre around a permanent deal. I thought Clarke was excellent towards end of season, would be a very good signing imo.”

The Verdict: No-brainer

If Sunderland can bring Clarke to the Stadium of Light on a permanent basis, it is surely a no-brainer.

Of course, a suitable fee would need to be discussed, and his £25,000-per-week wages would likely have to be curtailed quite significantly in order not to break the club’s wage structure.

Nonetheless, if they can sign the 21-year-old Englishman again, Sunderland supporters will surely be very happy.

Transfer insider Dean Jones has delivered an intriguing claim involving Leeds United and a potential swoop for Sheffield United midfielder Sander Berge. 

The lowdown: Instant hit

Signed from Genk in January 2020 for £22million (BBC), Berge made a stellar start to life in the Premier League before surgery to a badly injured hamstring curtailed the Norwegian’s progress.

The 24-year-old had obtained UEFA Champions League experience and was hailed by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp as an ‘interesting player’ even before arriving in England, and has flourished in the Championship since making a return to full fitness.

After missing out on promotion back to the top-flight, Sheffield United may face a battle to keep Berge this summer, and one in the know transfer guru has claimed Leeds could strike…

The latest: ‘Drawing up a list’

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones claimed that Berge could be one player on the radar at Elland Road as Jesse Marsch and Victor Orta look at ways of strengthening.

He said: “They’re obviously drawing up a list, at the moment, of players that they see as attainable more than anything and that fit in with Jesse Marsch’s style of play.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-45/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

“Sander Berge, basically, is just one that is playing at a level below where he should be, and Leeds are getting the impression that he’s looking for a transfer.”

The verdict: Smart acquisition

Out of contract in 2024 (Transfermarkt), the 30-cap Norway international would represent a viable option for the Whites this summer as Leeds potentially begin to play for life after the highly sought-after Kalvin Phillips.

Predominantly a defensive-minded operator in the same mould as Phillips, Berge also showed a penchant for influencing matches higher up the pitch during a 2021/22 campaign that yielded six goals and four assists in 34 appearances across all competitions.

Standing at an imposing 6 foot 3 and boating impressive attacking and defensive attributes (Sofascore), the Norwegian – who was dubbed a ‘physical beast’ by football writer Sebastian Pedersen – certainly has the stature to withstand the test of the Premier League once again and with persistent injuries continuing to plague Adam Forshaw, this signing would be a worthwhile one at the right price.

Fabrizio Romano has dropped an exciting Manchester United transfer update that will please Erik ten Hag.

What’s the word?

The update is regarding the club’s interest in Barcelona player Frenkie de Jong with Romano tweeting on Sunday evening:

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-man-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-more-nunez-ten-hag-nkunku-richarlison” title=”Read the latest Man United news!”]

“Manchester United are discussing internally about submitting a new proposal for Frenkie de Jong in the next days. It’s a serious possibility, while talks with Barça are still on. Deal will enter into key stages after €60m [& add-ons] verbal, opening bid turned down.”

Ten Hag surely excited

The Dutchman faces an important summer transfer window ahead if he aims to take the club back to the heights seen under Sir Alex Ferguson.

It’s clear that quality is required in the midfield area, with the likes of Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, and Jesse Lingard all having left United in the last few weeks.

Far too often last season the side were overrun in the midfield, with the 4-1 and 4-0 losses to Watford and Brighton particularly galling.

With this is mind, Ten Hag will be desperate to add De Jong to his squad ahead of next season, and with the qualities that the 25-year-old possesses, the move is a no-brainer.

Compared to positional peers in the top five leagues, De Jong ranks in the top 8% for completed passes (90.1%), the top 6% for progressive carries (7.08 per match), and the top 9% for touches in the opposition box (2.74 per match).

These stats show that Ten Hag would get a midfielder who can add that star quality into the heart of the midfield and contribute positively in an attacking sense, further backed up by his four goals and five assists in all competitions last season.

With Romano stating that a deal won’t begin until the fee has reached over the €60m mark (£51.6m), Ten Hag will need to act fast, and if he secures his services, it would be an extremely shrewd signing.

AND in other news, Man United could sign their “own Konate” as ten Hag plots bid for 6 ft 5 monster…

Sunderland have reportedly now ‘held talks’ over re-signing both Nathan Broadhead and Jack Clarke.

The Lowdown: Impressive seasons

The pair had impressive seasons on loan at the Stadium of Light from Everton and Tottenham Hotspur respectively, playing their part in getting the Black Cats promoted to the Championship.

They both ranked among the Wearsiders’ top eight performers in League One, scoring 11 goals and supplying three assists between them, picking up four man-of-the-match awards combined (WhoScored).

The Latest: Talks held

Taking to Twitter, Scott Wilson has revealed that Sunderland have now ‘held talks’ over re-signing Broadhead and Clarke, who are both entering the final year of their contracts at their respective clubs.

The Northern Echo journalist said: “#SAFC have held talks to try to re-sign Jack Clarke and Nathan Broadhead – but a final decision on both players is unlikely until later in the summer. Both are entering the final year of their current deals with Spurs and Everton…”

The Verdict: Sign both

Given the duo’s form for Alex Neil’s side last term, there is sure to be plenty of interest in both players again this summer, so the Black Cats must ensure that they are the first to sign them.

Considering their contract situations, it is likely that they will be available for cut-price fees, as their respective clubs will not want to risk losing them for nothing next summer.

Nonetheless, Broadhead and Clarke have already shown that they can perform for Sunderland, and although the Championship is a step up from League One, they will both surely relish the challenge coming down from the Premier League.

In other news, find out what big Sunderland claim this finance expert has now made

According to football.london journalist Alasdair Gold, a plan is being put into place for youngster Troy Parrott to make a breakthrough into the Tottenham Hotspur first team in the 2023/24 Premier League season.

The Lowdown: Parrott’s outstanding development

The 20-year-old spent the last campaign out on loan at MK Dons to find some much-needed game time, and it’s a move that has more than paid off, with the forward coming on leaps and bounds in the lower leagues.

During his spell in the third-tier, the forward netted ten goals and provided seven assists across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt, and played an instrumental role in helping the League One outfit secure a place in the play-offs.

The Latest: Developing behind the scenes

In a new article published by Gold for football.london, Gold says Parrott wants to ‘spend another season out on loan’ before making a return to ‘really challenge’ for a place in Antonio Conte’s starting XI from 2023/24.

The Irishman, who has been improving ‘behind the scenes’, could head out on the Lilywhites’ tour to Korea and get the opportunity to ‘finally impress’ the Italian, but Championship clubs Swansea, Middlesbrough, Preston and QPR all want to bring him in on a temporary deal.

It’s reported that the striker’s current deal in the capital is set to expire in just over 12 months time, but there is an option included to extend it for a further year.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-developments-2/” title=”Tottenham latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: One for the future

With Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min not getting any younger, Spurs will be keeping a close eye on their up and coming attackers, and Parrott, once dubbed a “sensational” player by MK Dons, is definitely someone who has the potential to go on and become a star number nine in north London.

Not only has his goalscoring record improved, but also his work rate on the pitch has massively increased, and this is something that will only boost his chances of shining on the international stage, having already been capped 13 times for his country.

The Dublin-born talent will now report back to N17 a more physical and confident player as he prepares to depart Hotspur Way one last time before going all out to fulfil his ambitions of staking a claim in the Spurs first team.

In other news… a reliable journalist has shared an exciting transfer rumour involving one of Spurs’ summer targets.

Aston Villa fans were left reeling by the exit of club captain and talisman Jack Grealish last summer when he joined Manchester City, but Steven Gerrard may already have a natural heir for the £100m man up his sleeve in teenage wonderkid Louie Barry.

The forward, who joined Villa after a spell in Barcelona’s La Masia academy, has already won a lot of plaudits for his performances in the academy and out on loan, after spending the second half of last season with Swindon Town in League Two, helping them to a playoff position in England’s fourth tier.

Barry is already well-known to Villa fans after marking his senior debut with a goal against Liverpool in the FA Cup during the 2020/21 season, when the Villans were forced to start an academy side after a virus outbreak at the club.

The youngster contributed 23 goals and six assists in just 30 appearances for the academy sides before Villa decided he was ready for a taste of senior football and it certainly didn’t take him long to adjust, as he contributed six goals and one assist for Swindon last season.

Swindon boss Ben Garner was full of praise for the teenager after a sensational performance against Walsall, saying:

“He’s very coachable, very very coachable and takes things on. Tactically very intelligent.

“The confidence of the goal at Carlisle last week and then these two finishes on Tuesday, for a young lad at 18-years-old, to go in like that and show that composure, is wonderful.”

Birmingham Live reporter Ashley Preece also suggested that the “hype is real” regarding Barry after he scored twice against his old side West Brom in an academy fixture, which suggests that Villa fans can be really excited about his future at the club.

Although he was initially seen as a striker, Barry featured predominantly on the left-hand side for Swindon and showed that he could finish with devastating effect with both feet with this brace against Walsall – something which Villa fans became accustomed to seeing on a regular basis during Grealish’s spell at the club.

WhoScored suggests that Barry’s strengths include his shooting, dribbling and ability to play through balls, so the similarities with Grealish are clear to see.

While he might need another loan or two at a higher level before making his mark on Villa’s first-team squad, all the signs suggest that Barry will have a very good career, and there seems no reason why he can’t emulate what Grealish achieved at his boyhood club.

And, in other news… Forget Suarez: Gerrard must unleash Villa’s “unsung hero” next season

Manchester City have shown over recent years that they are capable of signing players from other top clubs across Europe.

Previous summer transfer windows have seen the Citizens secure deals for players such as Ruben Dias, Rodri and Joao Cancelo among others.

One other player that the Manchester club have signed from another European team that has turned out to be a phenomenal bit of business for them is Aymeric Laporte.

Signed from Athletic Bilbao back in the 2018 January transfer window for a then club record fee of £57m, the defender has gone on to make 155 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side across all competitions.

In those appearances, the Spaniard has scored 12 goals, provided three assists and won numerous domestic trophies including four Premier League titles.

Now that his latest season with City has come to an end, the upcoming summer transfer window could give the club the chance to replicate the same sort of masterclass they pulled off by bringing Laporte to the Etihad.

Last month it was reported that City had reportedly spoken with the representatives of Inter Milan centre-back Alessandro Bastoni over a potential summer move.

The 23-year-old joined the Italian giants in the 2017 summer transfer window from fellow Serie A side Atalanta.

Since then the centre-back has made 118 appearances for the club, scoring three goals and providing eight assists in the process.

Labelled as a “special talent” by journalist Muhammad Butt, Bastoni has a reported price tag of €60m (£51m), meaning that it would cost City a similar sort of fee to the one that shelled out to sign Laporte.

To highlight his defensive talent, the Italy international ended the recent Serie A campaign in the top five for the average number of tackles (1.4), interceptions (1.1), clearances (1.8) and blocks (0.4) he made per game in Inter’s ranks.

With the current City defender racking up the third-highest average for clearances (1.8) and second-highest average for blocks per game in the Premier League this season in Guardiola’s squad, he has also once again proven himself as a solid defensive unit for the team.

Despite having the joint-best defensive record in the Premier League this season, should Guardiola feel the need to add some extra strength to that area of his squad, signing Bastoni could be the best way to do just that.

In other news: Deal close: Big Man City transfer update emerges that’ll surely have Guardiola buzzing

Rangers have reportedly secured a deal to bolster their youth ranks at Ibrox during the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to The Sun, the Light Blues have won the race to land sought-after teenager Lancelot Pollard ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

The report claims that the Gers have snapped the gem up as Ross Wilson has agreed on a deal with Aberdeen for his services.

Premier League clubs Liverpool and Manchester United, among others, were keen on the talent and have missed out on a deal with Rangers now set to pay a six-figure fee to their fellow Premiership club.

Gio van Bronckhorst will be buzzing

The Gers head coach will surely be buzzing with this news for multiple reasons.

Firstly, this deal shows that Wilson is looking ahead to the future with recruitment. The Light Blues chief is not focussing solely on signings for the here and now as he is attempting to improve the standard in the youth ranks at Ibrox.

Van Bronckhorst will love this as he has shown a willingness to bring young players through into the first team. In the 3-1 win over Hearts earlier this month, the boss handed out minutes to Adam Devine, Alex Lowry, Leon King, Ross McCausland, Cole McKinnon, Charlie McCann and Tony Weston.

This shows that he wants to have a clear pathway through to the senior squad for the talented youngsters in the B Team and this is why he will be buzzing with Wilson’s desire to add more talent to the reserve team.

Another reason why he will be delighted with this deal is that Pollard could be an excellent signing for the Glasgow giants.

The Sun’s report also states that he was one of the ‘top talents’ in Aberdeen’s youth academy and that Rangers were impressed by his performances at U18 level. This suggests that they believe he has the potential to make the step up to the first team in the future.

Interest from Liverpool and Manchester United also illustrates his scope for development as two huge Premier League clubs – including one that played in the Champions League final this year – wanted him to join them.

Therefore, snapping him up looks set to be a big coup for Rangers and van Bronckhorst will be hoping that he can develop into a player capable of making the first-team set-up in the years to come.

AND in other news, Wilson could land Rangers’ next £20m talent with bid for “top notch” £3.4k-p/w target…

Aurelien Tchouameni is more likely to join Real Madrid over Liverpool in the summer transfer window, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Battle to sign Tchouameni

It looks set to be a two-way battle to sign the Monaco midfielder, with both Madrid and the Reds seemingly working hard to get their man.

Liverpool have been strongly linked with a move for a number of weeks now, as they eye up a major midfield addition ahead of the start of next season.

It does feel as though Madrid are in pole position to sign Tchouameni, however, and a fresh update has further suggested as much.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-34/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=“none”]

The Latest: Real favourites, says Romano

Writing for Caught Offside, Romano confirmed that the La Liga champions are the front-runners to pip Liverpool to the 22-year-old’s signature, even though the Reds are still battling:

“Aurelien Tchouameni told his teammates that his priority this summer is Real Madrid. Even sources inside Liverpool are sure that Tchouameni wants to give priority to negotiations with Real Madrid.

“There have been ongoing talks between Real Madrid and his agents for a contract until June 2027, but not yet a full deal with AS Monaco asking €80m for the midfielder: new talks are expected right after the Champions League final this weekend. Paris Saint-Germain remain interested until the end, but Real Madrid are leading the race.

“Liverpool remain alert to the situation before focusing on other targets. As I wrote in my recent column, the Reds have held direct talks with Tchouameni’s agent as well, but it seems he has now made it clear that his preference is to move to the Spanish capital.

“After signing Eduardo Camavinga last year, the addition of Tchouameni could give Madrid two great French midfielders that can form the spine of their side for the next decade or more. There’s no need for fans to worry about the future of the club’s midfield after Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.”

The Verdict: One that got away?

It would be an undoubted blow if Liverpool missed out on signing Tchouameni this summer, with the Frenchman described as an ‘amazing player’ by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

The Monaco man looks tailor-made to come straight into the Reds’ midfield alongside Fabinho and Thiago, replacing the ageing Jordan Henderson and hit-and-miss Naby Keita in the regular starting lineup.

Sadly, it looks as though Tchouameni could be Madrid-bound, however, and Jurgen Klopp will have to eye up an alternative instead. Jude Bellingham could be that man, but the Reds would likely have to wait until 2023 to sign the Borussia Dortmund star, with the club not wanting him and Erling Haaland to leave in the same year.

In other news, Paul Joyce has dropped a key Liverpool injury update. Read more here.