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Everton have been linked with Clement Foot striker Mohamed Bayo recently and the 24-year-old could be an excellent addition to Frank Lampard’s side at Goodison Park.

What’s the word?

According to French news outlet Foot Mercato, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham are all interested in signing the 24-year-old this summer after his impressive performances in Ligue 1 last season.

The Guinea international would reportedly be available for as little as £12m and given that the Toffees have already lost Richarlison in this transfer window, signing a replacement striker should be a priority for Lampard this summer.

Lampard’s next Abraham?

Last season saw Bayo contribute an impressive 14 goals and five assists in France’s top-flight, with his performances key as Les Lanciers staved off relegation back to Ligue 2.

He was also vital in the previous season as they won promotion, hitting 22 goals and seven assists in 38 appearances, so clearly doesn’t lack confidence in front of goal.

According to FbRef, Tammy Abraham is the sixth-most similar player to Bayo in terms of style of play, and if he can perform anything like the Roma man has in recent seasons, he would surely be a welcome addition in Merseyside.

Abraham is well-known to Lampard, having hit 29 goals in 72 appearances under him during his time at Stamford Bridge. The England international was deemed surplus to requirements after Lampard’s departure but has gone on to seriously impress at Roma, hitting 27 goals in his debut season in Italy.

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This has led the Serie A side to reportedly put a £100m price tag on Abraham to deter interested sides this summer, and while it is difficult to predict whether Bayo’s career will follow a similar trajectory, it makes his £12m price tag look very attractive from the Toffees’ point of view.

Therefore, considering Everton’s need for a striker, Lampard should definitely consider bringing the “powerful” Bayo to Goodison Park this summer.

And, in other news… Reliable journalist drops big £35m Everton transfer claim, supporters will be gutted

Newcastle United are among the Premier League clubs interested in signing PSV Eindhoven winger Noni Madueke, according to 90min.

The Lowdown: Rising talent

The 20-year-old has emerged as a real rising prospect in recent times after establishing himself in PSV’s first XI.

A hamstring injury limited his chances to just 18 appearances in the Eredivisie last season, but the former Tottenham youngster was able to feature in six Champions League qualifiers beforehand.

The versatile forward has now played 70 times for PSV’s first team, producing 18 goals and 14 assists during this time.

The Latest: Newcastle join race

According to a report by 90min, six Premier League sides are tracking Madueke this summer.

It is reported that Newcastle, Leicester, Leeds, Everton, Wolves and Tottenham are all interested in the 20-year-old, and 90min claim that the player could well leave the Dutch outfit this summer.

The Verdict: Great potential

The ‘teen sensation’ is well known for his pace and trickery, with many pundits having backed the attacker to become an England star.

Former England U21 boss Aidy Boothroyd previously raved about the youngster, comparing the way he burst onto the scene to that of Phil Foden.

“He’s certainly a very talented young man, really excited to be called up by the Under 21s, and a little bit like Phil [Foden] last time, nobody had really heard of him until he came and played in the tournament.”

With such obvious potential – Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig called him ‘crazy good’ and ‘incredible’ – this would be a major swoop for Newcastle, fending off serious competition for a highly sought after talent.

Manchester United are close to completing a deal to bring FC Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong to Old Trafford as Erik Ten Hag’s first summer signing.

What’s the latest?

According to GOAL, a breakthrough has been made in the negotiations between the two clubs, with a compromise reached.

Despite only being rated at £54m, Barcelona initially wanted a fee close to £86m, but could now be willing to accept a deal worth £69m.

It would see The Red Devils enter the market for the first time this summer and begin the rebuild under new manager Ten Hag.

The former Ajax coach worked with de Jong during his time in Amsterdam, so it’s not surprising that he wants to re-sign him.

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He’s a big upgrade on Fred

Perhaps the biggest area of concern for United heading into next season is the midfield. Several players in this area have departed this summer following the expiry of their contracts with the club deciding not to renew many.

Unless they make additions, United will once again have to rely on the duo of Scott Mctominay and Fred. Whilst neither of these players are bad, the club need to be aiming for better if they are to bring back the glory days.

De Jong would represent that upgrade and could operate in a similar role to Fred but provide more quality.

When you compare him to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, he ranks in the top 8% for passes under pressure, so he has the composure required to succeed at the highest level.

He’s been labelled a “genius” by his current manager and Barcelona legend Xavi.

The Dutchman also shows his attacking qualities by ranking in the top 5% for carries into the final third, proving he is the complete midfielder the club need.

Fred hardly compares, he made 74 progressive carries last season which was outmatched by de Jong’s 199.

If United can secure his signature then it would represent a real coup, showing that despite not qualifying for the Champions League, they and their new manager have a unique pull that other clubs would struggle to match if they were in the same position.

AND in other news: Man Utd given green light for “highly talented” signing, supporters will be buzzing…

According to a Spanish outlet, Liverpool are interested in signing Real Madrid forward Marco Asensio this summer.

The Lowdown: Klopp’s high ambitions

Despite the recent arrival of Darwin Nunez, Jurgen Klopp may feel that he wants to bolster his attacking ranks even further with the imminent departure of Sadio Mane looming, and the boss will need plenty of squad depth if he wants to aim for that unprecedented quadruple again next season.

The 26-year-old Asensio still has just over 12 months remaining on his contract with the Spanish giants, but has reportedly been told that he can leave the Bernabeu, and it looks like Carlo Ancelotti’s side want to cash in now, rather than letting the winger leave as a free agent.

The Latest: Liverpool ‘main bidders’ for Asensio

In a fresh article published by Spanish newspaper Sport (via TEAMtalk), it’s claimed that Liverpool are ‘one of six’ potential suitors exploring the option of signing Asensio, with the Reds, alongside fellow Premier League rivals Arsenal, being the current ‘main bidders’ in the English top-flight.

The source further states that Madrid are seeking £51.7m for the sale of their man, but would be willing to let him go for a fee in the region of £43m if the opportunity was suitable.

The Verdict: Not a necessity

The Spaniard will no doubt find it difficult to sometimes compete with the likes of Vinicius Jnr and Eden Hazard for a place in the Real starting XI, and with just a year left on his deal, it makes sense that he’s edging close to an exit.

Asensio, who was once dubbed a “quality” player by Ancelotti, and has even been likened to Lionel Messi, managed to score ten goals within the space of 31 La Liga appearances last season, as per Transfermarkt, but his price tag will surely be too much for the Reds to afford at this moment in time.

Having just splashed out an £85m club-record fee for Nunez, Liverpool won’t be in a position where they will want to go out and spend big money on attackers unless absolutely necessary, and whilst the 29-cap international is a highly-talented and versatile forward, the front line isn’t an area of the pitch that desperately needs to be added to right now.

In other news… Spanish press believe that Liverpool have already made their move for a new midfield maestro.

Leeds United are believed to be keen on a deal for Standard Liege midfielder Nicolas Raskin, with the player facing an uncertain future in Belgium.

What’s the word?

As per La Derniere Heure, the 21-year-old is a player that the Elland Road outfit are ‘following’ this summer, with the report suggesting that he ‘could leave in the next few weeks’ due to his current contract situation.

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The young Belgian’s existing deal is set to expire next summer and he is yet to sign an extension to stay at the club, with his current side now keen to cash in to avoid losing him for nothing in 12 months’ time.

Despite interest from fellow Pro League sides Genk and Club Brugge, the report outlines that the chances of the 5 foot 10 playmaker staying in his homeland are ‘slim’, with the player – who is set to cost around €5m (£4.3m) – seemingly favouring a move abroad.

All of that means that the Whites have received a positive green light to make a swoop this summer.

Imagine him and Roca

This news comes amid claims that sporting director Victor Orta is close to finalising a deal for Bayern Munich midfielder Marc Roca, with the Spaniard set to become the club’s third signing of the summer following the arrivals of Red Bull Salzburg duo Rasmus Kristensen and Brenden Aaronson.

It would appear then that manager Jesse Marsch is plotting a midfield revamp this summer, with the Yorkshire side potentially set to be able to form a dynamic Roca-Raskin partnership in the centre of the park.

With Kalvin Phillips potentially on his way to Manchester City, new midfield additions are imperative this summer, particularly with the club’s resources having been stretched thin due to injury last term.

While the aforementioned Roca can act as the playmaking “quarter-back” – as he has been described by former Bayern technical director Michael Reschke – at the base of the midfield, alongside him Raskin can serve as the relentless “pitbull”, as he has been dubbed by journalist Bob Faesen.

The £4.5m-rated gem enjoyed a fine campaign last time out for his current side, netting once and providing four assists from his 29 league outings – 28 of which came as starts – albeit with his most impressive attribute having been his ball-winning ability, averaging 2.6 tackles per game.

While the incoming Roca can act as the deep-lying anchor, the £1.9k-per-week machine can provide a more robust, aggressive presence ahead of him, having been labelled a “box-to-box midfielder” by Faesen.

There may not be Premier League experience in that pairing, but there is no doubt quality, with Leeds seemingly set to benefit from a handful of fresh faces in the engine room.

IN other news: Leeds now plotting swoop for “reliable” £22k-p/w starlet, he’s the new Dani Alves

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is a fan of Christian Pulisic ahead of a potential move for the American this summer, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Pulisic in and out at Chelsea

Darwin Nunez is coming in as a big-money attacking signing at Anfield, with the Uruguayan replacing the seemingly exit-bound Sadio Mane ahead of next season.

Another player with whom Liverpool have been linked recently is Pulisic, with the 23-year-old finding himself as a squad player rather than a key figure at Chelsea.

The USA international only started 13 games in the Premier League last season, and while his current deal doesn’t expire until 2024, the Blues might be open to selling him this summer.

The Latest: Liverpool backed to make Pulisic move

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones claimed that Klopp is a big admirer of Pulisic and suggested that a move to Anfield could come to fruition for the American playmaker.

The transfer insider stated:

“This is the move that was mooted before he went to Chelsea, everybody was expecting him to land at Liverpool with Jurgen Klopp. He is a big admirer of his, understands his game.

“I think personally, it would be a great move for Pulisic at this point, because he’s definitely frustrated with the way things are going at Chelsea.”

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The Verdict: Is he needed?

Pulisic is undoubtedly an excellent player who still has great potential – he has a respectable 44 goal contributions in 115 Chelsea appearances, while Pat Nevin has said that he can become ‘world-class’ – so there is clear logic in Liverpool possibly looking to sign him.

That being said, it is questionable as to whether or not the Reds need him after Nunez’s arrival, considering the scale of attacking talent at Klopp’s disposal.

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Pulisic could again be consigned to a squad role at Anfield, as is the case at Chelsea, and the wages he would likely demand (he is currently on £150,000 per week) would suggest that Liverpool are better off looking at a more economical squad option.

In other news, Liverpool have also been backed to sign a player in one area this summer. Read more here

Leeds United target Tyler Adams is considering a move away from RB Leipzig this summer, according to German outlet Kicker, cited by Derek Rae. 

The lowdown: Whites interested

Recently, reputable journalist Fabrizio Romano claimed that Leeds are interested in Adams and said that the ‘relationship is great’ between the defensive midfielder and Jesse Marsch.

The American pair were together at the New York Red Bulls in the MLS and German Bundesliga outfit Leipzig, with the 23-year-old making 71 appearances under the now Elland Road head coach.

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Following the initial tentative links last week, now it appears that the USA international could well be open to the idea of a change of scenery…

The latest: ‘Considering a change’

As per Kicker, cited by ESPN’s Bundesliga commentator Rae on Twitter, Leeds could be boosted by Adams’ plans in the coming weeks.

The report claims that the 28-cap USA star is ‘considering a change’ having fallen down the pecking order at Leipzig and Marsch is ‘said to be interested’ in making a move – they do not name any other interested suitors.

Rae’s tweet reads: “Kicker reporting on Leipzig’s central midfield “Baustelle” (building site) & only Kevin Kampl’s future appears clear. USMNT’s Tyler Adams, who has ceased to be a regular under Domenico Tedesco, giving thought to a move. Apparent interest from Jesse Marsch & Leeds Utd.”

The verdict: More the merrier

With former Marsch charges Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen already through the entrance door at Elland Road, it should come as no surprise to see yet more players already associated with the 48-year-old being linked with a Yorkshire arrival.

Predominantly operating as a defensive-minded midfielder, there will be concerns as to whether Adams is being looked upon as a potential Kalvin Phillips successor as the England ace continues to be extensively indexed to Premier League champions Manchester City.

However, a top-class operator in his own right, the combative American was heralded as a ‘remarkable midfielder’ by journalist Jeff Reuter recently, starring in the 2021/22 German Cup campaign with a 7.40 Sofascore rating and a staggering 7.80 duels won per game.

Already an experienced operator at the top level, regardless of Phillips’ future at Leeds, Marsch and Victor Orta should be pushing Andrea Radrizzani to sanction the funds required to make this deal a reality.

In other news: Leeds now eyeing move for ‘lethal and sublime’ gem, read more here

Tullio Tinti has dropped an update on the future of reported Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Alessandro Bastoni.

What’s the talk?

In a recent interview with Sportitalia (via Football Italia), the 23-year-old’s agent revealed that, despite his client being more than happy to remain at Inter Milan this summer, Bastoni will adjust his outlook according to the whims of the transfer market. The Serie A club desperately need to raise funds, while Tottenham are willing to pay the centre-back’s £54m asking price.

Concerning the Italy international’s future, Tinti said: “He is certainly a big fan of the team he plays for, so he will happily remain at Inter. However, he is also a professional. This is football and he has to adjust. It’s clear he is very happy to play for Inter and feels this jersey like a tattoo on his skin.”

Conte will be buzzing

With it being widely reported that Antonio Conte had identified Bastoni as his primary target for a new left-sided centre-back in the summer transfer window, the 52-year-old will surely be buzzing with the defender’s agent seemingly opening the door – in the words of the Daily Mail journalist James Cohen – for Fabio Paratici to move for the Inter starlet.

It is not difficult to see why the Spurs boss is keen to secure a deal for the £60m-rated talent this summer, as Bastoni perfectly fits the bill of the left-footed ball-playing defender that Conte is looking to add to his Tottenham side ahead of the 2022/23 Premier League campaign.

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Indeed, according to FBRef data, the £122k-per-week youngster ranks in the top 14% of centre-backs in Europe’s big five leagues for passes attempted per 90, as well as the top 25% for pass completion, the top 15% for progressive passes, the top 11% for progressive carries, the top 22% for dribbles completed, the top 3% for shot-creating actions and the top 15% for pressures over the last 12 months.

As such, Tinti’s hint that the player who LiveScore’s Mitch Fretton dubbed “world-class” may well be forced into leaving the San Siro this summer is undoubtedly fantastic news for Tottenham and Conte, with the 23-year-old’s agent’s comments certainly appearing to indicate that a deal is there to be done for Paratici in the coming weeks.

AND in other news – “For sure..”: Italian journalist drops £100m Spurs transfer claim, supporters will love it

Manchester City have seen some big names make moves away from the Etihad Stadium in the past few years.

Figures such as Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero have waved goodbye to the club in recent memory after becoming such integral and successful club figures.

Another famous name that left the club after making a massive impact on not just City but on the Premier League is David Silva.

Signed from Valencia back in 2010 in a deal worth a reported fee of £24m, the midfielder went on to make a total of 436 appearances across all competitions.

In those appearances, the Spaniard scored 77 goals, delivered 140 assists, won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and five League Cups.

Now that this current season has come to a close with City once again lifting the Premier League title, the upcoming summer transfer window may give the Citizens the chance to find what could be their next version of Silva.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the Manchester club are keen on signing River Plate midfielder Enzo Fernandez this summer.

With ten goals scored and nine assists delivered in 45 senior appearances for the Argentina club, the 21-year-old certainly knows how to not only score but create goals for his side in a similar sort of way that Silva did during his decade in Manchester.

This makes it safe to assume that Guardiola would love to have another midfielder in his ranks that can be a useful attacking option as well.

Speaking about the young midfielder, Marcelo Gallardo had this to say about the young Argentinian.

“He is a player who at his young age has matured a lot. He is seen to be very confident, fearsome and a development in his game that is seen to be getting better and better, strengthening himself day by day.”

Having also been described as a player who “always gives solutions to his teammates” from midfield by Robert Pires, this would also make him a potential Silva 2.0, who was once dubbed “the best creative midfielder” the Premier League has ever seen by Thierry Henry.

Having already completed a deal with River Plate over the sale of Julian Alvarez, if City see an opportunity to negotiate with the Argentine club over Fernandez, they should definitely swoop in and sign him.

In other news: Pep can seal dream Sterling heir as MCFC eye “outrageously talented” £102m-rated star…

According to Italian source Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Tottenham Hotspur are ready to make a move to sign Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni this summer.

The Lowdown: Spurs want a left-sided CB

Reported back at the beginning of April, The Athletic claimed that Spurs will prioritise a left-sided centre-back in the summer transfer window.

With full-back Ben Davies playing a make-shift role, Lilywhites boss Antonio Conte has been keen on bringing in high-level competition to that position.

The Athletic further claimed that this has been a priority for Tottenham since last year, and Fabio Paratici even tried to sign Pau Torres from Villareal last summer, but the player rejected the move.

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The Latest: Bastoni up for sale, Spurs are ready

Italian media source Corriere dello Sport recently relayed the comments made by Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta, stating that the club may need to make ‘at least one important sacrifice’ in the transfer market due to financial reasons.

Translated by Sport Witness, Marotta admitted: “We want to be ambitious, but an eye to the balance must be given, as for all teams. I think we will be able to achieve both goals.

“A complicated transfer market awaits us.”

According to Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Inter need to make around £51.4-59.9m in fees and also reduce their wages by 10 to 15 percent.

When it comes to making that ‘important sacrifice’, the report claims Bastoni’s name is in the ‘front row’, and Paratici, Daniel Levy and Tottenham are ‘ready for the assault’.

The Verdict: Would be a fantastic signing

With Conte’s attacking style of play, the addition of Bastoni would complement Spurs’ system well.

This is demonstrated by his underlying stats; according to FB Ref, the defender ranks in the 99th percentile for progressive passes received and in the 97th percentile for shot-creating actions when compared with positional peers across Europe.

With Inter potentially being forced into a sale to free up funds, this could be the prime opportunity for Paratici to swoop for the Italy international, dubbed ‘perfect’ for Conte’s three-man defence during their time together at Inter.

We believe this could prove to be a fantastic signing for Conte.

In other news: Tottenham’s first summer signing is imminent!