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Arsenal are reportedly interested in making a move for Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with manager Mikel Arteta seeking to add further attacking reinforcements to his squad.

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Paul Brown has suggested that the Gunners have a longstanding interest in the Englishman and could make an offer to pluck him from Goodison Park this summer.

Amid reports linking the 25-year-old with a move to north London, the transfer insider stated: “Arsenal have liked him for a very long time – that has not gone away.

“They have plenty of options in the market. I think now, if they were to make a bid for Calvert-Lewin, they’d be willing to sign someone else with him rather than make him the big, top-line marquee kind of signing that they’re looking for.”

The 11-cap marksman – who could reportedly cost in the region of £60m – could add additional firepower to a forward line that has been depleted following the January departure of former talisman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, as well as the more recent exit of Alexandre Lacazette.

Welbeck 2.0

As Brown alluded to, the signing of the former Sheffield United man would not be enough on its own to solve the club’s striking woes, although with that in mind it would seemingly make little sense to fork out a sizeable fee for a player who may not even be guaranteed a regular starting berth.

Equally, it is not as if the £72k-per-week has particularly warranted the move after enduring a dismal season last time out, netting just five goals and registering only two assists in 17 league games, having been sidelined with injury for much of the campaign.

While that may have been an unfortunate obstacle that prevented him from featuring as regularly as he would have liked, even when he was available the £36m-rated man underwhelmed, notably recording a dismal 60% pass accuracy rate and winning just 47% of his total duels.

Of course, prior to the 2021/22 campaign the 6 foot 2 marksman had been in impressive form after netting 29 league goals across the previous two seasons combined under Carlo Ancelotti, although prior to that he had hardly been prolific, bagging just 11 top-flight goals in his first three seasons at the club in total.

The forward may have a “unique” skillset – as dubbed by pundit Shaun Goater – with his impressive leap and athletic ability, although there are clear issues with his ability in possession, as ranks in the bottom 7% for pass completion and the bottom 1% for progressive carries among those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, while also floundering in a number of other metrics.

While he may have an admirable work ethic, the Toffees star is far from a prolific striker and one who has been plagued by injuries of late, with those traits bearing a striking resemblance to former Arsenal man, Danny Welbeck.

The one-time England international arrived at the Emirates from Manchester United in a £16m deal in 2014 having been deemed surplus to requirements by manager Louis Van Gaal, arriving with a reputation as a hard-working, yet goal-shy asset.

As it proved, the current Brighton man went on to score just 32 goals and provide 15 assists in 126 appearances for the north London club over the next five years, enduring a number of spells on the treatment table as he failed to ever nail down a regular starting berth.

Arteta and sporting director Edu will surely want to avoid making a similar, albeit more expensive, mistake this summer with Calvert-Lewin.

IN other news, Arsenal now plotting record-breaking bid for £100m gem, he’d be a “superstar” signing

Everton are reportedly now ‘interested’ in signing Olympiacos central defender Pape Abou Cisse this summer.

The Lowdown: Two signings on the way?

The Goodison Park outfit have reportedly now held talks with Tottenham Hotspur over the possibility of signing Harry Winks, who would follow the widely expected arrival of James Tarkowski through the doors on Merseyside, with some reports even claiming the Burnley man could be officially confirmed as a Blue by next week.

They are seemingly going to be very busy this window after almost being relegated from the Premier League last season, as they now look to build Frank Lampard a squad capable of challenging higher up the table.

The Latest: Cisse interest

Taking to Twitter, Greek football journalist Giannis Chorianopoulos has revealed that Lampard and Co are now ‘interested’ in signing Olympiacos’ Cisse:

“Everton are interested in Olympiacos CB Pape Abou Cisse.”

The Verdict: Sign

On top of Tarkowski, Cisse would add further defensive stability to the backline that Jamie Carragher called a ‘Championship back four’ after a 5-0 drubbing by Spurs in the top flight last term.

At a mammoth six-foot-six, the 26-year-old is a towering presence who would surely frighten attackers next to the tenacious and imposing Tarkowski.

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A title-winner with Olympiacos and African Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner with Senegal this year (Transfermarkt), Cisse would also bring an elite winning mentality to the dressing room, which should help the Toffees climb up the table next campaign.

Valued at £7.2m by Transfermarkt, the Blues would also not have to break the bank in order to sign him this summer, and this certainly feels like one to keep an eye on.

Newcastle United showed during the previous January transfer window that they aren’t against approaching other Premier League clubs to try and sign their players.

During the winter window, the Toon brought in the likes of Dan Burn, Chris Wood and Matt Targett, all from fellow top-flight sides to help them avoid relegation.

Now that the summer transfer window has opened for business, this could give the Tyneside club and PIF to flex their financial muscles once again and bring in some more players to strengthen Eddie Howe’s squad.

One other Premier League player that the Magpies have been linked with recently that could follow in the footsteps of Burn, Wood and Targett by making a move to St. James’ Park this summer is Leeds United winger Jack Harrison.

In 165 senior appearances for the Yorkshire club, the Englishman has scored 28 goals and delivered 22 assists.

To further highlight his attacking talent, in the 35 league appearances he made for the Whites last season, no other Leeds player delivered more crosses (92) than any other player in the squad.

In addition to the 44 shots at goal he had, only Raphinha made more dribbles and shot-creating actions than the 25-year-old.

Labelled as a player who “works his socks off” by David Prutton, Harrison also made 41 interceptions and won 32 tackles for his side.

According to Football Transfers, another recognisable name that is included in a list of similar players to the Leeds star is Crystal Palace attacker Wilfried Zaha.

Taking into account how the Ivory Coast international has scored 61 goals and delivered 41 assists in 277 Premier League games, the prospect of Howe having his own version of the Palace star in the form of Harrison could be a very exciting one for the Toon supporters.

To compare the duo from their latest Premier League campaigns, both wingers attempted over 100 dribbles, which shows just how much their teams value their individual talent on the ball and running with it towards goal.

With a reported price tag of £30m, this could be an investment worth taking for Newcastle and their owners this summer, as Harrison’s clear talent with and without the ball would undeniably make him a useful asset for the Magpies.

AND in other news: Bid incoming: PIF could land Saint-Maximin 2.0 as NUFC now plot move for £43m talent

Celtic have received no offers for right-back Josip Juranovic and have no intention of selling him this summer, reliable journalist Anthony Joseph has confirmed.

The Lowdown: Juranovic linked with Hoops exit

While the Hoops are focusing on making signings in the summer transfer window as they prepare for life in the Champions League group stages, they could also struggle to keep hold of certain players.

One of those is Juranovic, with the Croatian linked with a move to Atletico Madrid in recent days, as Diego Simeone looks to bring in a new right-back after the January departure of Kieran Trippier.

Despite the rumours of a switch to one of Europe’s elite however, it appears as though the 26-year-old could yet stay put at Parkhead.

The Latest: Joseph provides positive update

Taking to Twitter, Sky Sports reporter Joseph claimed that no bids have come in for Juranovic and that Celtic want to keep hold of him beyond the summer:

“UPDATE: Celtic are aware that many clubs are interested in signing right-back Josip Juranovic. However, they have not received any offers for the Croatia international and they do not want to sell him this summer. It would take a huge bid from a club for that stance to change.”

The Verdict: Key player moving forward

Juranovic has been such a steady performer for Celtic since arriving from Legia Warsaw last summer, playing his part in their Scottish Premiership and Scottish League Cup triumphs.

He scored three times in 26 league starts as well as two strikes in European action, while defensively he excelled even further, finishing the 2021/22 campaign with an average of 1.4 tackles and 1.5 clearances per game.

The hope is that Celtic hold firm with Juranovic and don’t allow him to leave – if not, Ange Postecoglou will need to look at bringing in fresh competition for Anthony Ralston for next season.

Nottingham Forest are set to sign Mainz defender Moussa Niakhate, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Niakhate profiled

The 26-year-old is primarily a centre-back who can also line out as a left-back if required. The Frenchman has been with Mainz since 2018 and is entering the final 12 months of his contract with the Bundesliga club.

Valued at a career-high £16.2m by Transfermarkt, Niakhate has made 135 appearances for Mainz, scoring nine times and becoming the club captain.

The Latest: Romano’s update on Niakhate

Romano took to Twitter on Monday afternoon to share more transfer news from the City Ground.

The transfer expert said that a ‘full agreement’ has now been reached between the two clubs, with a medical set to take place this week, adding in his famous ‘here we go’ phrase.

The Verdict: Busy summer continues

It seems as if Niakhate will become the fourth signing made by Evangelos Marinakis and Steve Cooper this summer ahead of the club’s Premier League return. Forest have already brought in Taiwo Awoniyi, Dean Henderson and Giulian Biancone at a cost of just over £27m.

Labelled a ‘clever’ player by Mainz manager Bo Svensson, the 26-year-old would bolster the centre-back ranks at the City Ground and would bring plenty of top-flight experience following his stint with Mainz.

Forest also appear to be getting a bargain due to Niakhate’s contract situation, with reports elsewhere claiming that a deal will cost up to £13m, significantly less than his current Transfermarkt valuation.

West Ham United are to continue their pursuit of Lille midfielder Amadou Onana, despite having been knocked back with their opening offers.

What’s the word?

As Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth, the Hammers are contemplating making another bid for the 20-year-old, having already reportedly seen two bids rejected by the Ligue 1 side this summer – the latest of which for a fee of around €30m (£25m).

Writing on Twitter about the east London outfit’s interest in the Belgian gem, Sheth stated: “Interest still there in Lille midfielder Amadou Onana. Deciding whether to go back in with 3rd bid.”

His current side are likely to be in no rush to sell with four years still remaining on the player’s contract, while David Moyes could also face competition for his signature from fellow Premier League side, Arsenal.

There has also been the suggestion that it could take as much as £50m to be able to prise the emerging starlet from Stade Pierre Mauroy.

Good news

Despite having been rebuffed in their bid to sign the £9m-rated ace thus far, it will no doubt please West Ham supporters that the club are set to press on in their quest to land the highly-rated prospect, with bolstering the midfield ranks seemingly a priority this summer.

Having opted against making Alex Kral’s temporary move permanent – the Czech international making just a solitary league outing last term – and with long-serving skipper Mark Noble calling time on his playing career, the Irons have been left particularly light in the centre of the park.

The return of Conor Coventry from his loan spell at MK Dons, as well as the recent addition of boyhood fan Flynn Downes from Swansea City, will provide much-needed depth to Moyes’ squad in that department, although with domestic and European duties to juggle next season further reinforcements will be required.

In Onana then, the London Stadium outfit look to have identified a promising young talent who can be nurtured and developed by the former Everton boss, with the £5.5k-per-week giant having blossomed in France of late.

The most recent campaign saw the towering, 6 foot 5 colossus register an impressive 1.5 tackles and 0.9 interceptions per game in his 35 league outings, winning a solid 59% of his total duels and losing possession just 4.5 times per match.

The fact he made just 11 starts in the French top-flight may be of concern – particularly considering the price tag that is being mentioned – although the belief is that he can develop into a world-beater in the coming years, with comparisons having already been made to Premier League and Gunners icon, Patrick Vieira.

That will no doubt pique the interest of those of a West Ham persuasion, with the hope being now that GSB can wrap up a deal soon with another, improved offer.

AND in other news: West Ham closing in on “remarkable” £10m target, it would be a “masterstroke” by Moyes

A claim has emerged regarding a potential Newcastle United swoop for Jean-Clair Todibo in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

The Magpies have been linked with a move to sign the centre-back, and journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed that it would be a good move for the Tyneside club as they could pair him with Sven Botman.

He told Football FanCast: “Potentially, those two (Botman & Todibo) look on paper to be a good pairing. If Newcastle were to move for Todibo, you’ve got the left sided centre half and then the right sided centre half in Todibo, who has been talked about for a long time.

“He was a big signing at a very young age for Barcelona. It didn’t work out from there, but he’s rebuilt his career as well. And I think he’s a player that a lot of top clubs have been looking at.

“So I think if Newcastle could get him he will be an astute piece of business by them and as you said Todibo and Botman on paper look like a good central defensive partnership.”

Astute signing

The gem, who is available for €20m (£17m), would be an excellent signing by Dan Ashworth, as he has the potential to be a superb defender for Eddie Howe.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig once called him “solid as a rock”, and his statistics in the 2021/22 Ligue 1 campaign suggest that such a comment is apt.

Last season, Todibo averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 7.09 across 36 outings. He made three tackles and interceptions per game and won 60% of his duels as he proved that he has the quality to deliver brilliant performances on a regular basis, whilst remaining fit for the majority of the campaign (he missed just two league matches).

Meanwhile, no Newcastle centre-back averaged a Sofascore rating higher than 6.98 in the English top flight, which suggests that the Frenchman would be the best partner for Botman at St James’ Park.

Todibo has the quality to be a top performer if he is able to adapt to the Premier League. At the age of 22, he is also still learning and gaining experience at the top level.

This means that he has the scope to improve and get better over time, which he could do alongside Botman, who is the same age as him.

Bringing in Todibo would be an investment for the future whilst also strengthening Howe’s team immediately, which is why Ashworth securing a deal for him – as O’Rourke claimed – would be astute business, and he could form an exciting partnership with the Dutchman at the back at St James’ Park.

AND in other news, PIF could land their own Aguero as Newcastle eye deal to sign “exceptional” £13m phenomenon…

A claim has emerged regarding Celtic’s apparent plans in terms of their recruitment for the remainder of the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist and transfer insider Pete O’Rourke discussed which area of the squad Ange Postecoglou will look to strengthen before the transfer window closes.

He said: “Bringing in a defensive-midfielder is a key area of the team that Celtic are looking to bring in this summer as well.

“They were interested in Vinicius Souza who looks like he’s gone to [Espanyol] so that was a blow for Celtic, now being linked with [Fausto] Vera as well who’s playing in Argentina.” 

Last summer saw former Hoops captain Scott Brown bring an end to his 14 years at Celtic, while the midfield duo of Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton also waved goodbye to Parkhead at the end of last season after spending almost a decade at the club together.

Recent weeks have also seen Ismaila Soro move to Portuguese club FC Arouca on a season-long loan deal with an option to buy at the end of it, leaving a potential return to Parkhead looking unlikely for the Ivorian.

Taking all this into account, it’s easy to see why the Hoops would be looking to add at least one midfielder to their ranks before the new Premiership season starts in just over a fortnight’s time.

Parkhead will be buzzing

Now that O’Rourke has highlighted that the club are looking to bring in a new defensive midfielder this summer, this will surely have a lot of Celtic supporters at Parkhead jumping for joy, especially if the Bhoys are able to bring in a suitable option who can improve the team for next season and beyond.

As the insider mentioned, the Scottish champions have been linked with a move for Argentinos Juniors midfielder Fausto Vera in recent days after previous reported target Vinicius Souza joined Spanish club Espanyol earlier this month.

Considering the number of departures from that area of the squad in recent times, and after missing out on signing Souza, securing a deal for Fausto – or any other suitable midfielder – should definitely be at the top of Celtic’s priority list before the transfer window closes.

AND in other news: Celtic can seal their own Harwood-Bellis by signing 20 y/o wizard with “great potential”

Everton have had a slow start to their transfer business this summer with just one signing made so far, although a new potential transfer target has now been named.

What’s the latest?

According to RMC Sport (via Sport Witness), the Toffees have joined the race to sign Borussia Monchengladbach forward Alassane Plea this summer.

As per the report, the player is out of contract next summer with a bargain price tag of €8m (£6.8m), but the Merseysiders will have competition to secure his signature as Nottingham Forest, Nice and Marseille are all named as interested clubs.

Lampard can unearth his own Son

Frank Lampard will be feeling the pressure at this point with less than two weeks to go until the Premier League returns and only one signing made so far with James Tarkowski joining the ranks at Goodison Park.

Everton not only have a desperate need to improve and bolster their squad following a disappointing relegation scrap last season, but now have the added headache of finding a replacement for 2021/22 top scorer Richarlison, who has joined Tottenham Hotspur.

As a result, the interest in Plea is something for which the Goodison Park faithful should be pleading, as the Frenchman has been a creative asset to Gladbach over the last 12 months in the Bundesliga and could become a valuable asset if Farhad Moshiri can seal a deal for the player.

The £59k-per-week talent – who was dubbed “extraordinary” by Gladbach legend Günter Netzer – scored nine goals, delivered six assists and created an impressive 14 big chances in 2021/22, making 1.8 key passes, winning 2.8 duels and taking 1.9 shots per game over 32 league appearances.

In fact, Lampard could even unearth his very own Son Heung-min with the signing of Plea this summer, as the Spurs star was one of the most comparable players to the Frenchman last season, according to FBRef.

Despite the Korean delivering more goal contributions (30) and tallying a better pass completion rate (76.3%), the Gladbach forward outperformed the Tottenham favourite for assists per 90 (0.26) and shot creating actions per 90 (4.65) and also won more tackles (14).

With that in mind, the signing of Plea would be a great piece of business for Moshiri and could certainly be a great option for Lampard to replace Richarlison’s attacking threat in the team next season.

AND in other news – “Understand…”: Journalist drops huge Everton transfer update, supporters will be buzzing

Celtic could use their ‘good links’ with the City Group to sign Manchester City midfielder Claudio Gomes this summer, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The lowdown: Hot prospect

Signed from the Paris Saint-Germain academy in 2018, the former France youth international has spent time on loan at PSV Eindhoven and Barnsley, whilst also making 34 appearances for the Premier League champions’ under-23 side.

The 22-year-old had been linked with a move to the Hoops recently, although some reports have dismissed the prospect of Ange Postecoglou wanting to bring the youngster to Parkhead.

Shedding some further light on the situation, one well-informed onlooker has now suggested that the transfer would be an eminently possible one due to the pre-existing relationship between the respective champions of England and Scotland…

The latest: ‘Good links’

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke – who writes for Football Insider – has claimed that Celtic could feasibly land the France under-19 starlet.

He said: “That’s one to keep an eye on. I think Celtic and Manchester City do have good links they have had players go from Manchester City to Celtic in the past as well. And then they do have links through the City Group where Ange Postecoglu was working before he moved to Celtic as well so yeah, there’s obviously good links there.”

The verdict: Smart move

Although the Bhoys made a winning start to their Premiership title defence on Sunday, adding another midfield option to the Lennoxtown ranks would be a welcome piece of business.

Despite only making three senior outings during his time in Manchester, Gomes – who was dubbed a ‘really exciting’ signing for Barnsley by radio presenter Joe Beardsall – boasts a supreme pedigree, having come through the youth ranks at two European superpowers in PSG and Man City.

Last season, the combative French defensive midfielder scored once and provided one assist in 32 Championship outings, earning a 6.65 Sofascore rating whilst winning 2.8 duels, making 1.1 clearances and completing 25.8 accurate passes per game in the English second tier.

Valued at £900,000 and under contract at the Etihad Stadium until 2023 (Transfermarkt), loaning in Gomes and paying a portion of his £22,000-a-week salary would be the ideal move for Celtic at present, potentially with a view to landing him on a free transfer at the end of the campaign.