Rangers Made To Wait In Pursuit Of 10-Goal Attacker

Rangers' wait to bring in Danilo from Feyenoord will have to go on it seems, with the Daily Record, via Ibrox News reporting that he will only be allowed to leave when a suitable replacement is found.

How many goals has Danilo scored?

The 24-year-old is coming into this summer transfer window off the back of a successful campaign with Feyenoord. Not only did the Dutch side claim the Eredivisie title, but the striker himself was a regular on the scoresheet. He had ten goals to his name in just 14 starts, with a further three assists to boot.

Whilst he did actually appear in a total of 34 league games – meaning most of his action came from off the bench – his total number of 90 minutes played stood at 14.8. It means he ended the campaign with a goal contribution rate of 0.88 per 90 – almost one or the other in every fixture he featured in.

It's not the first time that the Brazilian has flourished either. Before joining up with his current club, he hit 31 league goals in 39 starts for Jong Ajax, producing a similar rate to what he is at now. He was unable to feature much for the Ajax first-team though, appearing 14 times with only one start, but still bagged two goals and an assist. His prolificness doesn't stop there either – at FC Twente, he plundered a further 17 goals in 31 league starts.

Are Rangers signing Danilo?

Danilo then is a player that certainly knows where the back of the net is, and has proven as much with every team he has featured for to date. He is yet to venture away from the Netherlands for his gametime though – and that could be about to change this summer.

That's because Rangers have been desperately trying to sort out a transfer for him, with Michael Beale a big fan of the attacker. Recently, reports stated the Scottish Premiership outfit had even lodged a new bid for his services.

Feyenoord striker Danilo.

However, according to a report from the Daily Record, via Ibrox News, the Gers may have a wait on their hands to sign the Brazilian. That's because his current side Feyenoord are not willing to part with the 24-year-old until they have brought in an adequate replacement.

It seems they don't want to leave a gap in their own frontline and will not do business for the striker until they have managed to find a new signing. It did seem as though that was about to happen – the Netherlands club were set to sign Emanuel Emegha – but with that deal collapsing, the wait will now continue for Danilo to head to Scotland.

If the Gers can land the attacker this summer, then it could really help them take the fight to Celtic for the Scottish Premiership title. He has a proven track record of finding the back of the net when he has got onto the field and if he can find regular gametime with the club, he could be a real force for the side. They just need to get a deal over the line now for the Brazilian.

Chelsea Make Bid For "Highly Talented" £21m Gem

Chelsea have now submitted an opening bid for Flamengo's Matheus Franca, with Todd Boehly willing to pay the €25m (£21m) needed to secure the forward's signature, according to a recent report from Globo Esporte.

What's the latest Chelsea transfer news?

A new attacking midfielder is on the agenda for Mauricio Pochettino, with Lyon's Rayan Cherki currently being pursued, and transfer expert Graeme Bailey has claimed that members of the scouting team are "really pushing" for the 19-year-old.

Fabrizio Romano has recently reported that Franca has been followed by the Blues for quite some time, while also suggesting the player himself would be very open to the move, saying: "Matheus Franca is really appreciated. He is a player that they have been following for a long time.

"I can mention that the player will be really excited about the possibility of joining Chelsea."

Now, it appears as though the Brazilian could be presented with an opportunity to move to Stamford Bridge, as according to Globe Esporte (via Sport Witness), Chelsea have now submitted an opening bid.

The Blues are not the only Premier League club to have tabled an offer for the 19-year-old, however, as Flamengo club director Bruno Spindel has confirmed that Crystal Palace have also came forward with a proposal.

It is not clear how much Chelsea have put on the table for the youngster, but it is detailed that Flamengo want €25m (£21m) to sanction his departure, and Boehly is willing to match that asking price.

One potential disadvantage the west Londoners may have in the race for the starlet is that they plan to loan him out to Strasbourg immediately, while Palace are keen to use him straight away, which could attract him to Selhurst Park.

Who is Matheus Franca?

The Rio de Janeiro-born maestro mainly plays in an advanced midfield role, but he is also very much capable of playing on both wings and at striker, so he would be a versatile option for Pochettino.

One of the forward's key strengths is his dribbling ability, ranking in the 99th percentile for successful take-ons per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers playing at a similar level, while also placing in the 96th percentile for progressive carries over that timeframe.

Lauded as "highly talented" by football scout Jacek Kulig, the Flamengo star has already recorded 54 first-team appearances for the Brazilian Serie A side, despite being just 19-years-old, during which time he has found the back of the net nine times.

Matheus Franca

That said, the attacker is, as yet, unproven outside of Brazil, and it would be a risk to put him straight into the first team, so it is probably a wise move to send him out on loan to Strasbourg.

Ideally, Franca would agree to move to the Ligue 1 side on loan and develop his game further, but it would not be a surprise if he wants to play Premier League football immediately, and ends up being attracted by a move to Crystal Palace.

Postecoglou Can Revive Tottenham’s £200k-p/w "Huge Talent"

With pre-season now in full swing at Tottenham Hotspur, there will no doubt be those paying close attention to which players are handed a prominent role by new boss Ange Postecoglou over the coming weeks, ahead of potentially nailing down a regular starting berth next season.

Among those likely to be sparking excitement among supporters is promising full-back, Destiny Udogie, with the 20-year-old finally in place in north London after having spent last season back on loan at Udinese.

The Italy international – who was snapped up by Daniel Levy on a £15m deal last summer – has arrived at N17 off the back of a stellar season in Serie A last time out, with the 6 foot 2 defender having chipped in with seven goal involvements in 33 league games from his wing-back berth.

Having been "on fire" last term – according to talent scout Jacek Kulig – the hope will be that the youngster can replicate such form in the Premier League, with the chance for him to compete with the likes of Ben Davies for a starting role at left-back.

Destiny Udogie

Udogie may not be the only previously out-on-loan player who could be handed a strong chance to impress this summer, with journalist Paul Brown stating that there could potentially be a way back for Tanguy Ndombele at Spurs, despite holding possible reservations over whether the Frenchman can put his prior woes behind him.

Speaking in an interview with Football FanCast, Brown stated:

"I'm pretty sure that Postecoglou is going to want to take a good look at Ndombele. He's obviously a huge talent. I just felt that a series of managers there never really felt they could trust him and he kind of proved them right every time he was given a chance, unfortunately.

"He is someone who occasionally will come up with a brilliant piece of skill, but I'm not entirely sure he was ever totally suited to playing Premier League football, if I'm being brutally honest. And I think it's going to be a long, hard road back for him at Spurs."

What is Ndombele's market value?

Having been signed from Lyon for a reported fee of around £63m back in 2019, the 5 foot 11 enigma has endured a rocky time of it at Tottenham so far, having notably spent the last 18 months out on loan as a marker of his slide down the pecking order.

Once branded a "disgrace" by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher due to his lack of work ethic in his early days in English football, the £200k-per-week playmaker repeatedly drew the ire of former boss Jose Mourinho, with the likes of Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte having also hardly giving him a look in.

Tanguy Ndombele for Napoli

With just ten goals and nine assists to his name in 91 appearances for the club to date, it is fair to say that Tottenham have not received value for money from the mercurial talent to date, albeit with recent reports suggesting that Postecoglou instructed the club to reject a €20m (£17m) bid from Napoli for the midfielder, after having spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan with the Italian champions.

The ex-Celtic boss has publicly stated that a permanent recall could be on the cards for Ndombele with the seven-cap ace currently "working hard" in pre-season, albeit while not going as far as to suggest that the £13m-rated man would definitely be part of the first-team squad moving forward.

If Postecoglou is to give the fleet-footed gem a shot at redemption it could prove to be a wise move, with – as Brown stated – the player undoubtedly a 'huge talent', hence why Levy splashed the cash on him in the first place.

That is the view of Arsenal-bound midfielder, Declan Rice, at least, with the Englishman having previously lauded his Spurs counterpart as a "top player", while also describing him as a "street footballer", due to his unique, instinctive style.

As such, while with the likes of Udogie it is the chance to make a strong first impression next term, for Ndombele, he could well have warranted one last opportunity to prove his talents at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2023/24.

Wolves Could Sign £30m Goal Machine This Summer

Wolverhampton Wanderers are in desperate need of a striker this transfer window, with goal-scoring woes that could be eased by Elye Wahi.

The Montpellier striker was linked to the Old Gold earlier this summer, and could remain as a possibility for Julen Lopetegui to target following Wolves’ sufficient sales amounting to almost £80m.

Could Wolves sign Elye Wahi?

In the latter stages of June, journalist Mohamed Toubache-Ter claimed that the Midlands club held ‘real’ interest in the Montpellier sensation.

Valued at €35m (£30m) by his club via Foot Mercato, the striker could depart Ligue 1 this summer, with news emerging today revealling that he has received interest from fellow Premier League representatives Chelsea, as per L'Equipe.

How good is Elye Wahi?

Wolves are in desperate need of a striker, as communicated by them cementing themselves as the Premier League’s lowest-scorers last season, having netted just 31 goals in 38 games.

Lopetegui’s side – inherited from Bruno Lage – averaged only 0.82 goals per match, with their favoured striker Raul Jimenez failing to net a single goal in his 15 game campaign.

Lauded as “incredible” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Wahi scored over half of the number of goals the entire Wolves side last season, netting 19 goals in Ligue 1 at the age of 20.

In 33 appearances in France’s top-tier, the Courcouronnes-born gem contributed to 24 of his side’s goals, adding five assists to his individual goal tally to show his threat in the final third, via FBref.

The 20-year-old could be the perfect addition at Molineux, in a player that oozes a clinical swagger and a potency going forward, which are exactly the attributes that Lopetegui requires to bolster his squad this summer.

raul-jimenez-wolves

The Premier League houses some of the best strikers in Europe, and Wolves could harvest their own goal machine in Wahi, who has already been compared to one of the league’s top scorers based on his statistics.

As per FBref comparisons, the Frenchman is comparable to Newcastle United’s Callum Wilson, who ended his individual term as the league’s fifth-highest scorer, with 18 goals for the Magpies.

Wolves could land their own answer to Wilson in signing Wahi, in a player who could be fundamental to the club’s overall form, just as the Englishman has been in the North East.

Newcastle secured Champions League football with a fourth-place finish, with the help of Wilson’s goals spurring them to new heights.

Wahi could act in the way that Wilson has for Newcastle, with the 20-year-old averaging similarly to the Englishman in terms of average goals per 90, registering 0.64 non-penalty goals to the 31-year-old’s 0.72 per 90.

Having already experienced the Premier League highs to secure a European place, Wolves know just how important it is to have a competent figure leading the line, just as Jimenez once did, scoring 30 goals over his first two seasons in the league.

At the age of just 20, Lopetegui could reignite the flame in the attack at Molineux by signing the Montpellier gem, who has shown signs that he could cause havoc leading the line when called upon.

Celtic Agree Fee For "Excellent" Forward

Celtic have agreed a £2.1m transfer fee with Gangwon FC for forward Yang Hyun-jun, however, a move is proving complicated.

What’s the latest Celtic transfer news?

It has been a busy few weeks off the pitch at Parkhead, which began when Ange Postecoglou left the cub to join Tottenham. Since then, Brendan Rodgers has been brought in for a second stint in charge of the Hoops, and new signings have been made.

The first player to arrive was midfielder Odin Thiago Holm, who joined from Eliteserien club Valerenga and signed a five-year contract in Glasgow. As well as Holm, Australian winger Marco Tilio has also penned a five-year deal with the Hoops, joining from Melbourne City.

There has been a major departure, though, with star winger Jota joining Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad in a deal worth £25m.

More attacking additions could be on the cards as a result, with Yang a player who has been linked with a move to Parkhead. Reports last month claimed that Celtic made a significant transfer offer for the K-League winger, with journalist Jason Lee saying:

“According to Korean media, Celtic have sent an official transfer offer to Gangwon FC for Yang Hyun-Jun. The offer is believed to be "significant and final" as Celtic await Gangwon's response. The player is eager to move to Celtic.”

There has now been a further update from Football Scotland, who say that Celtic and Gangwon have in fact agreed on a £2.1m deal which includes a 12% sell-on clause.

The player is keen to move to Scotland, however, Gangwon are now stalling over a deal as they believe Yang could help them avoid relegation. Gangwon want to keep their forward until January when their season finishes, but Yang is even willing to give up his salary to push through a move to join Rodgers’ side ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Former Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers.

Who is Yang Hyun-jun?

Yang is primarily a right-winger who can also play on the left or through the middle, so would bring plenty of versatility to Rodgers’ attacking options and may rival current right-wingers James Forrest and Liel Abada, although the latter of the two has been linked with a move to Sporting Lisbon.

He was described as “excellent” and a “level above” in the media following a pre-season display against Tottenham last year and has contributed to 14 goals in 69 senior appearances for Gangwon.

The 21-year-old is under contract until the end of 2025 and has been described as an unpredictable and eye-catching player in the media, labelled as Gangwon’s up-and-coming star last year by the K League media.

Celtic have enjoyed plenty of success by bringing players in from the Asian market over recent years, and it looks as if Rodgers is keen to continue looking in that direction. Former manager Postecoglou signed the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Oh Hyeon-gyu from Japan and South Korea, and with a deal agreed for Yang, hopefully, he’ll be the next to arrive in Scotland.

Newcastle Now Eyeing Up £153k-p/w Magician

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their plans to bolster their attacking options in the summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Federico Chiesa to Newcastle?

Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has revealed that the Magpies are tracking Juventus winger Federico Chiesa ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The reporter has stated, however, that they are not in official talks with the Serie A club over a deal for the Italy international at this moment in time.

It is also claimed, in Di Marzio's attached article, that fellow Premier League side Aston Villa are interested in the attacker, although the player is said to be uninterested in a move to Unai Emery's team.

This comes as Newcastle prepare to complete the signing of Chiesa's international teammate, Sandro Tonali, from AC Milan for €70m (£60m) on a six-year deal.

How did Federico Chiesa perform last season?

The 25-year-old attacker, who is still fully working his way back from the ACL injury he suffered at the start of 2022, showed signs of promise in his limited Serie A game time for Juventus.

He only started six league matches for the Old Lady and was able to contribute with an impressive two goals and five assists from out wide, whilst also being involved in two goals in three Europa League starts.

However, if Eddie Howe can get Chiesa back to the form he displayed in 2020/21, the £153k-per-week ace could represent a big upgrade on current left-winger Allan Saint-Maximin.

federico-chiesa-premier-league-newcastle-transfers

The Italian dynamo, who former teammate Gianluigi Buffon once hailed as "impossible to stop", averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.19 across 33 Serie A outings and chipped in with nine goals and nine assists, to go along with 18 'big chances' created in 2020/21.

His ability to score, as well as create goals and quality opportunities on a regular basis made him a constant threat on the left wing in a major European league for Juventus – and Saint-Maximin has never been able to hit those heights on Tyneside.

Since arriving at St James' Park in 2019, the Frenchman has never created more than eight 'big chances' in a single season, while his best return in front of goal came when he scored five and assisted five in the 2021/22 Premier League campaign.

The 26-year-old forward has never proven himself capable of delivering goals and assists on a regular basis for the Magpies during his time in England, so the club could now land an upgrade on him by signing Chiesa.

Whilst the Juventus magician has had a difficult couple of years due to injury, his form prior to suffering a devastating ACL injury suggests that this is a gamble worth taking for Howe and Newcastle, as they could end up with a terrific successor to Saint-Maximin.

Newcastle Could Sign Their Own Jurrien Timber At St James’ Park

Newcastle United are interested in signing Feyenoord centre-back David Hancko this summer as manager Eddie Howe looks to bolster his squad after an immense season in the Premier League.

What's the latest on David Hancko to Newcastle?

That's according to French publication Foot Mercato, who claim that the Magpies have 'inquired' over the Slovakian's availability following Feyenoord's triumphant Eredivisie campaign, winning the league for the first time since 2017.

It's said that Newcastle technical director Dan Ashworth has taken information on the matter and will assess the club's options before deciding whether to lodge a formal offer.

The Dutch champions signed the 25-year-old for just one year ago, but the player's expected transfer value currently sits at just £7m.

Who is David Hancko?

It is no coincidence that Hancko's arrival at De club aan de Maas coincided with their return to silver-laden prominence, and after making 50 appearances across all competitions, scoring four goals and supplying five assists, the 27-cap international has certainly been the centrepiece of a "successful" season – as he has been described by analyst Kabat Marek.

Ranking among the top 1% of centre-backs across Men's Next 8 divisions – below the top European five – for assists, shot-creating actions and progressive passes, the top 2% for progressive carries and the top 3% for tackles per 90, as per FBref, Hancko could well be Newcastle's immediate answer to Jurrien Timber, who looks poised to join Arsenal.

According to Sky Sports' Florian Plettenberg, the Gunners are "on the verge" of completing a deal for Ajax's star centre-back, who has been hailed as "special" by talent scout Antonio Mango and could emerge as one of English football's new standout stars.

Timber is listed as a comparable player to Hancko on FBref and it's easy to discern why. The Dutchman ranks among the top 1% of positional peers for pass completion, progressive passes and progressive carries, the top 6% for successful take-ons, the top 3% for shot-creating actions and the top 16% for assists per 90.

Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber.

Signing the £15k-per-week Hancko is surely a brilliant move for Howe to make as he looks to consolidate the Magpies' position as a new European force, matching Arsenal in their new defensive addition and ensuring that territory is not ceded – indeed, next year the onus will be on leapfrogging the north London giants and edging closer towards a title challenge.

Hancko is a top "talent" – as he has been called by Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna – and given that the dynamic defender can also play on the left side of the defence, he would surely be a brilliant signing to aid Newcastle in their continuing ascension.

Liverpool Can Add To Key Area With £15k p/w Ace In Window

Liverpool were reportedly keen on Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Max Kilman earlier this year and journalist Dean Jones thinks he is 'one of the best options' from the Premier League as Jurgen Klopp eyes defensive reinforcements.

What's the latest transfer news involving Max Kilman?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT back in March, journalist Ben Jacobs indicated that Liverpool had been 'very impressed' with Wolves defender Kilman and were interested in bringing him to Anfield, stating:

"With Kilman, Liverpool have looked at him, Spurs have looked at him. I don't think Wolves want to lose Kilman, but it might be the right time for him to make a move. A series of Premier League clubs on the centre-back's trail are very impressed by him."

Former Liverpool icon turned pundit Jamie Carragher praised Kilman for his defensive work in the same month, speaking on Sky Sports quoted by HITC, saying: “Max Kilman at the back for Wolves, an ever-present for Wolves all season. He’s no-frills at centre back; he just gets on with his job and very rarely makes mistakes, hence why he’s an automatic pick no matter who the manager is."

In more recent times, The Mirror report that Tottenham Hotspur are keen on signing Kilman this summer as their new boss Ange Postecoglou targets squad improvements following his arrival in north London.

The Athletic claim that West Ham United are interested in Kilman alongside Spurs and could be willing to shell out around £30 million to land the £15k-a-week ace.

In an interview with Football FanCast, journalist Jones thinks that Kilman would be 'one of the best' players available in his position from the Premier League should Liverpool choose to pounce this summer.

Jones told FFC when asked if he'd be a good signing: "It could be, obviously, if Liverpool want to shop within the Premier League for players that aren't going to take much time to adapt to the situation, then Max Killman is one of the best options you're going to find."

Would Max Kilman be a good signing for Liverpool?

Kilman is a cultured left-footed central defender with an education in futsal and would be a smart piece of business from Klopp that would add composure and steel to the Reds' backline.

In 2022/23, the – "outstanding" according to some in the media – 26-year-old was almost ever-present for Wolves and racked up 41 appearances in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

max-kilman-tottenham-hotspur-transfer-news-opinion-premier-league

According to WhoScored, Kilman was also switched on when presented with moments of danger from the opposition and completed 4.4 clearances per game on average in the Premier League.

FBRef show that Kilman also excelled in comparison to his positional peers across Europe's top five divisions in the art of blocks, successfully managing 1.91 per 90 minutes across the last 365 days, putting him in the fifth percentile for this metric.

Looking forward, Liverpool could do a lot worse than turning to Kilman as they look to build ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Newcastle transfer news on Hickey

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Public Investment Fund (PIF) are reportedly now ‘ready’ to sign Aaron Hickey for Newcastle United this summer.

The Lowdown: ‘Amazing’ development

Former teammate at Hearts – and now part of the coaching team for Scotland – Steven Naismith has hailed Hickey’s ‘amazing’ development since leaving the country to sign for Bologna in Italy.

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Indeed, he played in all but two games in the Serie A this season, scoring five goals and making one assist from full-back (ninth-fewest goals in the division, finishing 13th on a very low budget.

His performances earned Hickey his first two senior caps for Scotland back in March, at the tender age of just 19.

The Latest: Newcastle ‘ready’

As per Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), the St. James’ Park faithful are now ‘ready’ to sign Hickey ‘above all’, with Arsenal and Brentford also thought to be interested in his signature.

He is likely to cost in the region of €25m (£21.3m), should he make the switch to the North East.

The Verdict: Sign

At 19 years of age, Hickey has the world at his feet, and there is no doubting his potential having already played at a high level for club and country.

He is equally as comfortable at playing at right-back and left-back, which makes him a handy option for Eddie Howe, and at six-foot tall, could perhaps even do a job as a central defender if needed.

Nonetheless, £21.3m could end up being a small price to pay if he rapidly develops over the next few years.

In other news, find out which ‘outstanding leader’ could now join the Magpies here!

Rangers: Kenny issues transfer warning

Rangers will be ‘fearful’ behind the scenes about outgoings in the summer transfer window, according to former Premier League goalkeeper Paddy Kenny. 

The lowdown: Important times ahead

Following the cruel loss on penalties to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League final, the Light Blues missed out on a guaranteed place in the UEFA Champions League group stage next season.

That honour goes to Old Firm rivals Celtic after the cross-city club won the Scottish Premiership title and with it will profit from the financial benefits of a place amongst Europe’s elite competition.

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Despite still having the chance to finish the campaign on a high and lift the Scottish Cup, one pundit has already predicted that there could be concern behind the scenes at Ibrox.

The latest: Gers ‘fearful’

Speaking to Football Insider, the former Leeds United stopper suggested that it could be difficult for the club to retain its prized assets.

The 44-year-old said: “Without Champions League football, that is something they will have to be fearful of (losing key players).

“Any club who is guaranteed to be in the Champions League has that advantage when it comes to signing players. It would also help if the club are wanting to keep their top players. It’s harder to turn down that move to maybe a better league if you are going to be playing in the Champions League. You wonder how many could go now.

“Of course, they could still get there but there is no guarantee. I’m gutted for Rangers, it would have been great for them to win it. I just wonder about how it will affect their summer.”

The verdict: Time to stick together

Despite the European heartbreak in Seville, in a season whereby the Teddy Bears have seen a managerial change after Steven Gerrard left the club for Aston Villa, cup success against Hearts this weekend would represent a memorable campaign.

Whilst reports of interest in the likes of Ryan Kent have already begun to surface, Giovanni van Bronkhorst has already shown enough in his short spell at the helm to suggest that the hierarchy should give their full backing to the manager regardless of outgoings and allow the Dutchman to spend all incoming funds.

Having already obtained £16million from the sale of Nathan Patterson to Everton in January (Sky Sports), Rangers should be in a healthy position to hold out for maximum value should there be interest forthcoming as expected.

Furthermore, the Gers could still reach the Champions League group stages via the qualification rounds and strengthen the squad tenfold this summer as a result.

In other news, find out whose performance this RFC journalist slammed here!

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