Everton given green light to sign Moura

Everton are looking for ways to strengthen and improve their team ahead of next season, and now a new update has emerged giving the club the green light to sign a potential transfer target this summer.

What’s the latest?

According to The Telegraph reporter Matt Law, Tottenham Hotspur are set to hand Everton the green light to sign Lucas Moura this summer so long as they include Richarlison in any deal.

As per the report written by Law, Moura is going to be offered alongside Harry Winks as Spurs prepare to tempt Everton in agreeing on a reasonable exchange for their Brazilian winger in return.

The report also states that the Toffees value Richarlison at well over £50m.

Imagine him & DCL

Everton will need to prepare in the best way possible for the high chance that Richarlison will leave Goodison Park this summer and the offer from Spurs to include Moura in their deal for the player could be a huge coup for Frank Lampard.

The former Chelsea manager could unlock a brand new attacking partnership that could elevate Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s goal contributions next season with Moura by his side who can bring his experience of working with arguably one of the best strikers in the world, Harry Kane.

Moura who was hailed “unbelievable” by Ledley King has tallied up 38 goals and 27 assists in 201 appearances for Tottenham since he joined in 2018, with a goal contribution every 174 minutes, something that could prove to be extremely valuable to Everton who struggled to finish their chances last season.

Richarlison ended the season as the club’s top goal-scorer with 11 goals, however, Lampard’s side will need to be much more prolific in finding the back of the net if they don’t want to repeat the mistakes of last season and fall into another relegation battle.

Everton scored just 1.13 goals on average per game in their 2021/22 Premier League campaign compared to the 1.74 goals they conceded so this is a clear area of concern that Lampard will be desperate to improve upon next season.

The signing of £80k-per-week Brazilian wizard could be just what Everton and their forward line needs to add a fresh perspective on goal scoring and creating chances.

Thus, it is something that Farhad Moshiri will need to carefully consider as they progress in their talks with Spurs for the Richarlison deal. Although their current Brazil international has a vibrant partnership with Calvert-Lewin, it could just be time to welcome another member of Selecao to Merseyside.

AND in other news: Lampard “wants to land” the signing of “impressive” £4.5m-rated gem, Everton need him

West Ham interested in Oleksandr Zinchenko

According to Evening Standard journalist Simon Collings, West Ham United are interested in signing Manchester City defender Oleksandr Zinchenko this summer.

The Lowdown: Zinchenko’s future

Amid rumours of an exit from the Etihad Stadium, the Ukraine international decided to put discussions over his future on hold as his nation pushed for World Cup qualification.

Following an unfortunate defeat to Wales in the play-off final, clubs are now hoping to find out in the near future exactly what the 25-year-old’s next move will be.

Rumours of a City departure have arisen, with the defender understood to be eager to secure more regular game-time, having made just 15 appearances in the Premier League this season.

The Latest: Collings’ update on Zinchenko

It has been recently reported that Arsenal are keen on signing the Ukrainian this summer, as they look to add versatile depth to their ranks.

Taking to Twitter in sharing a corresponding article from the Evening Standard, Collings has now shared the latest transfer news involving the 25-year-old, as he claimed: “Arsenal and West Ham two of the clubs interested in Zinchenko.”

The Verdict: He’d be a great signing

With first-choice Hammers left-back Aaron Cresswell now approaching his 33rd birthday, West Ham could be looking to sign an adequate replacement this summer.

At just 25 years old, Zinchenko is already Premier League proven, given his 76 appearances in the English top flight and the 11 trophies he has won at the Etihad.

Also, compared with Cresswell, the City left-back had a greater passing accuracy rate and more tackles, interceptions, crosses and shot-creating actions per 90 minutes during the 2021/22 season, as per FBRef.

Hailed as an ‘incredible’ player and person by his manager Pep Guardiola, the Ukraine international would be an asset to many top teams, given his versatility to play as a full-back or in midfield.

When combined with his outstanding attitude and work ethic, Zinchenko’s prospective arrival at the London Stadium would be a great signing for David Moyes.

In other news: Irons now close to agreement for this transfer target

Liverpool plot bid for Arnaut Danjuma

Liverpool will need to ramp up their interest in signing a forward this summer as reports have emerged that Sadio Mane is set to leave this summer, and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target.

What’s the latest?

According to Daily Express, Liverpool’s recruitment team have already identified a transfer target in Arnaut Danjuma to potentially replace Sadio Mane and could make a £38.3m bid.

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As per the report, the powers at Anfield are already preparing for the potential departure of the Senegalese winger and the Villarreal player is seen as the perfect candidate for the role to replace him and is someone the club has done extensive research on.

Sadio Mane heir

When it comes to replacing a player like Mane who has had a huge impact and influence on Liverpool’s success over the last six years, it will be a difficult task and one that the club won’t take lightly as they intend to continue to compete for trophies at the highest level.

Jurgen Klopp has had no trouble seamlessly fitting in new players when it comes to adapting and adding strength to his team with Ibrahim Konate and Luis Diaz making a positive impact on the side since their arrival this season, so whoever was to replace Mane in the long term would also need to live up to his high-quality output.

Danjuma has gone from strength to strength with Villarreal. This season he has been a consistent and reliable player for the La Liga club following their Europe League win the season before.

The 25-year-old who was hailed “exceptional” by Jonathan Woodgate, has scored 16 goals and contributed four assists, with six of his strikes making a huge influence on Villarreal’s Champions League campaign.

The Spanish side reached their first semi-final in the prestigious European competition in 16 years with Danjuma scoring against Atlanta three times, as well as finding the back of net against BSC Young Boys, Juventus and netting the winning goal in the first leg of the quarter-final against Bayern Munich.

The Dutchman was dubbed a “nightmare” by pundit Kevin Phillips in an interview with Football Insider, telling the publication:

“On his day he is a nightmare for defenders. He can create and score goals. He can hurt any defence with his pace and directness.”

With that being said, it is no wonder that Liverpool have identified the player as a potential replacement for Mane when you consider the attacking threat he has imposed on opponents this season and the signing would be something worth considering if the Senegalese star does leave Anfield this summer.

AND in other news: FSG could unearth Liverpool’s next Salah by signing “special” 131-goal star

Rangers: Alan Nixon delivers Oladapo Afolayan transfer update

Reliable journalist Alan Nixon has suggested that Glasgow Rangers could look to bring Bolton winger Oladapo Afolayan to Ibrox as a replacement for Ryan Kent.

The Lowdown: Kent interest

Kent first joined the Scottish Premiership outfit on a four-year deal worth £7.5m from Liverpool back in 2019, but having now entered the final 12 months of his current contract in Glasgow, the forward has been attracting plenty of interest from the Premier League, with the likes of Wolves, Leeds, Everton, and Fulham all said to be keen on the former top-flight man.

With the possibility of Giovanni van Bronckhorst losing his number 14 very much real, now would be the perfect time for the Dutch manager to start looking for a potential replacement, and it appears as though the ideal candidate that has been identified to fill that role in Afolayan, after it was revealed last month that the Gers are weighing up a summer deal.

The Latest: Nixon’s Afolayan reveal

In response to a fan question asking whether the Gers could make an attempt to sign the Wanderers attacker in the coming weeks, Nixon wrote:

“Only if Kent goes I suspect … if there was spare cash you could do him as cover … if he fancied that.”

The Verdict: Time to cash in

Kent is set to become a free agent when his contract at the Ibrox expires next summer, but Rangers simply cannot afford to let him go for nothing.

The £18k-per-week ace has become a hugely pivotal player under van Bronckhorst, having provided a staggering 20 assists across all competitions this season, as well as managing to get on the scoresheet three times himself too, as per Transfermarkt.

This kind of scintillating form would make Kent a brilliant signing for any English side and they would probably be able to offer him more money than what he’s on now, so if the maestro decides not to extend his stay in Scotland, the best option would be for the club to cash in and indeed make a move for Afolayan.

The 24 year-old has been hailed for ‘pressing all over the pitch’ by former Mansfield manager John Dempster, who says he runs ‘himself into the ground’, seemingly making him the perfect fit for GvB’s high intensity style.

In other news… Rangers are believed to have rejected a bid for one of their first-team stars.

Celtic: Andy Walker heaps praise on Ange Postecoglou for Hoops success

Sky Sports pundit Andy Walker has been full of praise for Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou, claiming that the Australian has ‘surpassed any expectations’ that he had coming into this season.

The Lowdown: Postecoglou’s outstanding achievements

The 56-year-old was appointed as the new Hoops boss last summer when he joined from Yokohama F. Marinos, and it’s fair to say that he has achieved more than even he probably thought possible during his first campaign in charge, having got his hands on both the Premiership and League Cup trophies.

The Australian also guided Celtic to an astonishing 32-game unbeaten run in the league and has been renowned for his success during his two transfer windows so far, bringing in the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Josip Juranovic and Joe Hart.

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The Latest: Walker’s high praise for Postecoglou

In an interview with Glasgow Live, Walker hailed Postecoglou and admitted that the Celtic manager has done more for the club than the Sky pundit or the rest of his family could have ever imagined.

The former Bhoys striker said of the 56-year-old: “He finished the season by going 32 games unbeaten in the league and I never thought I’d be saying that when you look at what he had to bring in and the turnover in the squad.

“You look at his success in the transfer market. It’s hard to find any of his signings who haven’t made an impact. The turnaround has been extraordinary.

“I have six brothers and they all go to Celtic home games. We had a chat at the start of the season about what would be deemed a success.

“It was decided success would be if Ange could get that 25-point gap down to single figures, if Celtic could beat Rangers at least once and if they were going along to Celtic Park every week enjoying what they were seeing.

“If you got that, you’d let it go in the first season if the title wasn’t to be, but Postecoglou has way surpassed any expectations.”

The Verdict: Fair comment

Walker’s remarks about the job that Postecoglou has done at Celtic are quite fair, particularly in terms of his transfer record and the overhaul of Rangers’ utter superiority from last year.

Of the eight highest-rated current Hoops players this season according to Sofascore, six were signed by the incumbent manager, a sure sign that he is able to detect quality in the transfer market.

Also, as Walker mentioned, Celtic finished 25 points behind their arch-rivals last term. One year is all it has taken Postecoglou to not only bridge that gap but finish six points clear of the Gers this time around, an astonishing 31-point swing in less than 12 months.

In other news… a former Hoops manager has backed two Celtic stars to be perfect replacements for Tom Rogic

Tottenham: Journalist shares big boost for Conte

As relayed by London World journalist Rahman Osman, Tottenham Hotspur have alleviated fears after a worrying claim emerged before Norwich City.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye top four…

A massive Sunday lies in store for Spurs and manager Antonio Conte with the Premier League top-four chasers just one point away from sealing a place in Europe’s most-coveted competition next season.

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Qualifying for the Champions League with anything but a loss against Norwich today would be a big boost for the club and Conte as they also cast one eye on the summer transfer market.

A previously unthought of finish among England’s elite will grant a significant financial windfall to Spurs with numerous transfer targets on the agenda, not to mention the privilege of competing against the continent’s very best over 2022/2023.

Before today’s encounter, though, worrying rumours of a ‘food poisoning outbreak’ come out courtesy of big name presenter Gary Lineker – who shared what he heard from inside the club (Twitter).

A stomach bug has been present in the Spurs camp recently, causing several players to miss their encounter with Burnley last weekend (The Sun).

Lineker’s illness report prompted more concerns surrounding a ‘lasagne-gate’ type situation, when the Lilywhites famously missed out on fourth place 16 years ago thanks to a pasta-based bug spreading through their squad.

The Latest: Osman shares Conte boost…

Taking to Twitter, sharing what Spurs have said, Osman claims that the club have denied an outbreak in what is a boost for supporters and Conte.

He explained:

“Tottenham have just told us that there is no food poison outbreak at the training ground. Harry Kane has an event this evening and not feeling too well but that is it.”

The Verdict: Phew…

Going by this update, it appears Spurs supporters will not have to worry about history repeating itself with lasagne-gate as their side chase Champions League participation.

All eyes are on their clash with the Canaries today and a fine finish to the campaign would be usurping arch rivals Arsenal to a coveted place in Europe.

In other news: ‘Spurs will…’ – Fabrizio Romano shares exciting update with Conte ‘very happy’…find out more here.

Celtic: Insider makes Carter-Vickers claim

Tottenham Hotspur insider John Wenham has delivered an extremely promising update regarding Celtic and the permanent pursuit of Cameron Carter-Vickers. 

The lowdown: Waiting game

Having played 90 minutes in the resounding 6-0 victory over Motherwell last weekend, Carter-Vickers brought an end to a successful loan spell from the north London based Premier League outfit.

The 24-year-old could still extend his stay at Celtic Park however as the Hoops look to trigger a reported £6-10million option to buy the American international centre-back.

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Despite an ongoing impasse on the move, now a fresh update from a well-connected source has shed light on the situation…

The latest: Deal announced soon

Speaking to Football Insider, the Tottenham insider who hosts the popular Lilywhite Rose social media channels has suggested the deal isn’t too far away.

He explained: “I have said all along that Celtic will find the money to get this one done.

“I think it is just a matter of time at this point. The fact they are back in the Champions League gives them the money to get it done. He came in there and has barely missed a minute. He’s an Old Firm goalscorer, a cup winner and a title winner.

“He is worth the money Tottenham will be asking for say, the money is there. I expect an announcement or significant progress to be made very soon.”

The verdict: Get it done

Tying down the futures of Carter-Vickers and Jota is of paramount importance at the start of the summer transfer window for Ange Postecogulou. Both men have been pivotal to the Bhoys’ Scottish Premiership triumph and as such have attracted interest away from Parkhead for their performances.

Hailed as an ‘absolute beast’ in 2018 by Jan Vertonghen following a 5-0 win over Gillingham, Carter-Vickers enjoyed a coming of age campaign in Glasgow and has earned a superb 7.33 Sofascore rating, winning 5.8 duels on average per league game in the process.

With a title win in the bag and subsequent Champions League financial windfall incoming, Celtic must pay the required fee to secure the eight-cap USA star as soon as possible.

In other news… an ex-BBC pundit is thrilled by the ‘brilliant’ news he’s heard coming from Parkhead.

Aston Villa close to Ewan Simpson deal

Aston Villa are close to reaching an agreement with Hearts for teenager Ewan Simpson, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Academy additions

Villa have bolstered their academy ranks over the last 12 months, with Tim Iroegbunam already stepping up into Steven Gerrard’s first-team plans following a move from West Brom last summer.

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Defender Kerr Smith also arrived from Dundee United back in January, while Villa are thought to be close to signing striker Rory Wilson from Rangers.

Simpson, a 15-year-old midfielder, also now looks set to make the move to the Midlands after links first emerged towards the end of April.

The Latest: Villa source shares update

FI shared an update regarding Villa and Simpson after being informed by a club source.

They claimed that talks are now at an advanced stage over a move for the Hearts ‘sensation’, with an agreement close to being reached and Villa in pole position for his signature.

The Verdict: Wasting no time

Villa have wasted no time ahead of Gerrard’s first full season in charge and the summer window opening when it comes to both their academy and first-team, with Philippe Coutinho making his move to Villa Park from Barcelona permanent.

The news regarding Simpson will go under the radar as a result of the Brazilian’s full-time move, however, it looks like a shrewd move by Villa officials for their exciting academy.

A number of clubs in England and Scotland were keen on Simpson’s services, so Villa appear to be edging close to an academy coup which Gerrard could benefit from in years to come.

In other news: Gerrard is now personally keeping an eye on ‘top quality’ Villa target. 

Celtic’s James Forrest disappointed vs DUFC

Celtic were officially announced as SPFL champions last night as they picked up a point away at Dundee United with a 1-1 draw.

With no goals for either side at halftime, Hoops striker Giorgos Giakoumakis opened the scoring with a header after 53 minutes.

Just under 20 minutes later, United midfielder Dylan Levitt scored an equaliser for his side, ultimately ending the match with the points shared.

Despite not winning on this occasion, the Bhoys were still crowned league champions, bringing their Old Firm rivals Rangers’ reign as top dogs to an end.

Even though the night was a successful one for Ange Postecoglou’s side, not every player that featured in the game put in a worthy performance.

One player, in particular, that put in a disappointing display was Hoops winger James Forrest.

Having started his first game in the league since March, the 30-year-old failed to repay the faith that his manager put in him on this occasion.

During his time on the pitch, the attacker racked up just 34 touches of the ball, which is fewer than the 41 touches that Hoops goalkeeper Joe Hart had throughout the game.

With those 34 touches, Forrest failed to have much of an impact on the game in an attacking sense.

The veteran failed to register even one clear shot at goal and also misplaced all of the three crosses he attempted.

In addition to this, out of the two dribbles he attempted, only one of them ended up being successful.

Even from a defensive point of view, the Scotsman was under par, with no tackles, blocks, clearances or interceptions made for his side.

He also got dribbled past on one occasion as well and could only win one of the three duels he was involved in, making him somewhat of a liability before being replaced by Jota just after the hour mark.

This display ultimately earned the winger a rather underwhelming overall match rating of 6.7/10, making him the joint second-lowest rated Hoops player on the night that started the game according to SofaScore.

Despite being praised for his “scary” form in the past by former Celtic star Kieran Tierney, this is the opposite of what he was last night.

In other news: Pirlo 2.0: Celtic “ballet dancer” with 130 touches proved he’s Ange’s greatest success

Newcastle eyeing deal for Patrik Schick

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in Bayer Leverkusen forward Patrik Schick.

What’s the talk?

The Magpies are plotting a bid for the Czech Republic international as The Mirror claim that he is one of their transfer targets for the upcoming summer window.

PIF are looking to splash the cash again after bringing in Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood, Matt Targett, Bruno Guimaraes and Dan Burn in January and Schick is one of the players they are eyeing up to improve the squad.

Eddie Howe’s own Zlatan Ibrahimovic

The Toon head coach can find his own Ibrahimovic in the Leverkusen centre-forward as he has been likened to the former PSG and Barcelona hitman.

Juventus chief, and former Ballon d’Or winner, Pavel Nedved previously compared him to the Swedish icon, saying:

“Schick has a great future in front of him. He is a footballer with a body perfectly ready to be strengthen.

“For now, Schick’s body is without muscles but you need to imagine him in two or three years. He reminds me of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, because he was like this when he came to Juve. He didn’t have muscles either.

“Then Zlatan gained muscles and turned into a world-class striker. Schick is also this type of striker – great feet, tall and fast. If Patrik keeps improving himself he can turn into a world-class striker as well.”

The attacker, who is now valued at £50m, is fulfilling the potential that Nedved saw in him as he has plundered goals at a phenomenal rate this season.

In the Bundesliga, he has scored 22 times in 25 appearances for Leverkusen. He has also scored 17 goals in 33 caps for the Czech Republic as he is proving that he can be an elite player at the top level, scoring on a consistent basis for club and country.

A tall, fast, striker with a sensational goalscoring record sounds like an exciting target for Newcastle to have. The goal machine, as Nedved explained, can be Howe’s own Ibrahimovic with his physical and technical attributes in the number nine position.

PIF must now bring him to the Premier League so that he can send St. James’ Park into raptures on a regular basis with his ability to put the ball in the back of the net. He has proven that he can do it in the Bundesliga and at international level and now it could be time for him to flex his muscles in England.

AND in other news, “NUFC want..”: Mark Douglas drops big Darsley Park transfer claim that’ll delight Howe…

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