Former Chelsea and Nigeria star John Obi Mikel has joked that he is Victor Osimhen's "agent", and says he is trying to get him to Chelsea.
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Italian football expert Conor Clancy has been discussing reported West Ham United transfer target Arthur Theate.
In a recent interview with Football FanCast, Clancy went into detail about the Bologna defender and his “old school” style of play, amid reports that the Hammers have been offered the chance to sign the promising 21-year-old this summer as David Moyes plots a new centre-back signing.
Asked just what type of player the young centre-back is, the journalist said: “He’s almost like a throwback in how he approaches defending. He’s a little bit in your face, he can be a bit aggressive – if he bit someone I wouldn’t be surprised. He’s just an ugly defender, you’d hate to play against him because he could give you a smack.
“But when he has the ball as well he can play. He’s a modern defender crossed with an old school defender in that way – I quite like him.”
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The old-fashioned, no-nonsense defender has almost become a dying breed in the modern game, although that assessment of the young Belgian would suggest that he is very much a traditional defender first and foremost, with the £2.5k-per-week gem likely to thrive under Moyes’ tutelage.
Despite his youth, the Liege-born starlet has already been called up for senior international duty, making his two Belgium appearances to date against Wales and the Republic of Ireland.
At club level, Theate has shone as part of a youthful and exciting Bologna side, averaging 1.4 interceptions, 1.1 tackles and two clearances per game in Serie A in the 2021/22 campaign, having only joined the club from Oostende last summer on a season-long loan deal.
Having included an obligation to buy in that move, however, it will be the Italian club with whom the Hammers will be dealing in the upcoming window, should they wish to pursue a transfer for the Belgian.
There is seemingly little reason why they wouldn’t want to do so, with the youngster able to combine that hard-nosed defensive approach with quality in possession, as Clancy referenced. He ranks in the top 6% for dribbles completed among those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, in the top 11% for progressive passes received and in the top 15% for progressive carries.
That ability to play the ball out of the back but also relish his defensive duties has seen him noted by FBRef as a similar player to Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly in terms of his style of play and statistics.
The Senegal international had reportedly been a player on whom Moyes and co were keen just over two years ago, with suggestions that the east Londoners were plotting a £70m bid in January 2020.
Although it is unclear just how much it would take to prise Theate from Bologna, his £9m market value (as per Transfermarkt) would seemingly indicate that he will be a far cheaper option than Koulibaly, with his age also offering him the chance to be a long-term solution at the London Stadium.
IN other news, Cost £1.5m per goal: GSB made a colossal blunder on “strong” £40k-p/w West Ham flop
Tottenham Hotspur, and by extension their transfer chief Fabio Paratici, are eyeing a move for Southampton star James Ward-Prowse.
After the north Londoners announced a £150 million equity increase, more good news followed as manager Antonio Conte decided to stay at Spurs for the 2022/2023 Premier League season.
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The Italian and Paratici have now got to work on identifying targets with The Telegraph reporting that they held a transfer meeting in Turin on Friday.
Spurs are apparently willing to invest the bulk of the £150m in Conte’s squad as they now seek to gift their elite manager full backing over what should be a promising summer.
According to The Athletic, Saints star Ward-Prowse is a target for manager Conte, sporting director Paratici and Spurs.
They claim the Lilywhites ‘retain a long-standing interest’ in the 27-year-old, but due to the new long term contract he signed last summer, it would be a seriously expensive deal to pull off.
While signing Ward-Prowse is unlikely, Tottenham’s interest could certainly signal their intent to seriously support Conte and match his unwavering ambition.
The Englishman is exactly the kind of calibre player Spurs should be going for this summer, with former striker Darren Bent calling him ‘sensational’ in an interview with talkSPORT (allfootball).
Ward-Prowse’s stats go some way to backing Bent’s theory given he finished last season as Southampton’s highest-rated player, top goal-scorer and best creator in terms of key passes per 90 in the final third (WhoScored).
Called a ‘quality’ player by Man City boss Pep Guardiola also, it’s hardly surprising his move would be a marquee one and reports suggest he could cost around £75 million.
In other news: Meeting held: Tottenham enter talks over ‘beast’ as Conte eyes marquee striker move…find out more here.
After a disappointing Champions League final for Liverpool the supporters were hit with more bad news as it was reported that Sadio Mane plans to leave the club this summer, and now a reliable source has given an update from the club’s perspective.
Liverpool reporter for The Athletic James Pearce has given a deeper insight into the potential departure of Sadio Mane this summer and how the club are set to approach the situation.
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As per Pearce’s report for The Athletic, senior sources at Anfield have revealed that the club will not accept the reported €30m (£25.5m) and the club believes that it would be more beneficial to keep the player for another 12 months and let him go on a free transfer in 2023.
However, Liverpool value Mane at around €50m (£42.5m) and would only be interested in sanctioning a deal for the winger if they can find a suitable replacement this summer.
Mane has been a consistent and outstanding performer for Liverpool over the last six years since he joined the club in 2016, and has played a key part in winning huge honours including the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
Not only that, the Senegalese attacker has won the Premier League golden boot and finished fourth in the Ballon d’Or in 2019, proving that he has been considered one of the best players in the world during his time on Merseyside, so supporters will surely be gutted at the prospect of him leaving this summer.
The rumoured decision on Mane’s part to leave the club comes as he has one year left on his contract alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, and it was believed earlier this month that FSG would work to open contract negotiations with the two wingers in particular to secure their future at Anfield.
With that being said, Pearce’s update does offer an element of positivity for supporters as Liverpool are clearly not ready to let the player go easily and will work to either find a like for like replacement to make sure the club does not suffer from Mane’s exit in the upcoming season should they reach an agreement that is mutually beneficial.
Either way, the news that a player who has scored 120 times for them is set to depart is not ideal at all. It’s certainly a huge blow to Klopp’s Anfield empire.
Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Tottenham Hotspur are currently ‘not in talks’ to sign Juventus forward Paulo Dybala and will not be looking to sign him this summer.
The Argentine joined the Serie A outfit from Palermo back in 2015 when he put pen to paper on a five-year deal, and he has since gone on to make 293 appearances for the Bianconeri during his seven-year spell at the Allianz Stadium.
However, the 28-year-old recently confirmed that he would be leaving the Turin giants upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the month. That announcement initially appeared to have grabbed the attention of multiple Premier League clubs, including the Lilywhites, who had reportedly registered their interest in the striker.
Following a fresh update from Romano, though, it now seems highly unlikely that Spurs will be making a move for the Argentina international as the summer transfer window fast approaches.
Taking to Twitter, Romano revealed that Tottenham will not be monitoring Dybala over the coming weeks and are expected to look elsewhere to bolster their ranks.
He wrote: “Nothing has changed on Tottenham side: they’re not in talks to sign Paulo Dybala as of today – and he’s never been considered a serious target. Spurs want different players.”
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Spurs came very close to signing the 33-cap international in 2019, so it’s no surprise to see that they apparently reignited their interest in him earlier this year, especially considering his impressive record in the final third. He racked up 21 goal contributions in 39 matches across all competitions for Juventus this season, as per Transfermarkt.
After receiving an extra £150m investment as a result of successfully securing Champions League football next season, Antonio Conte will now be able to use part of this vast sum to fund any potential new signings that he wants to bring in ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, in the hope of the club being able to get their hands on some silverware in the near future.
The north Londoners are in need of a new striker to provide competition and backup for Harry Kane, who is currently the only natural centre-forward in N17, but it seems that the 52-year-old must now feel that Dybala isn’t the right fit for his squad if Spurs aren’t keen on the Argentine.
In other news… French outlet confirms that negotiations are now underway to sanction the exit of one Spurs first-team maestro
Lewis O’Brien is not a priority central midfield target for Leeds United this summer.
That’s according to Phil Hay, Leeds correspondent for The Athletic.
Leeds ‘came close’ to agreeing a deal for Huddersfield Town midfielder O’Brien last year, when Marcelo Bielsa was manager.
He wound up staying with The Terriers, who lost the Championship playoff final 1-0 to Nottingham Forest.
O’Brien started all 46 of their matches over the course of he campaign, almost exclusively operating as a number eight (via WhoScored).
Under contract at The John Smith’s Stadium until the summer of 2025, he’s valued at £3.15million by Transfermarkt.
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Hay tells fans that Leeds ‘do want a central midfielder’ but ‘from what we’re hearing’, they’re focusing their attention on ‘other targets’.
They are admirers of O’Brien, but in reality, the ‘window of opportunity’ to sign him was ‘probably last summer’.
In terms of alternatives, Hay reiterates that Manchester United’s James Garner is ‘someone Leeds have thought about’ after he helped Forest secure promotion, but they may instead opt for a player with more ‘experience’ and ‘pedigree’.
How do O’Brien and Garner compare?
Well, they would both be characterised as predominant no. 8s, even if Garner did play four games each as a defensive and attacking midfielder in 2021/22.
In fact, they would often occupy a very similar role, deployed as left centre midfielder and flanked by a wing back.
Both players make significant defensive contributions, but there are some differences beyond that. O’Brien, for instance, is more inclined to run with the ball averaging more dribbles than any Leeds player, while Garner creates more chances (2.0 key passes per game compared to 1.2).
Huddersfield’s defeat at Wembley actually seemed like it could pave the way for Leeds to snap up O’Brien, who may not be keen on another season of second-tier football.
Indeed, journalist Mark Douglas has called him a ‘terrific footballer’ who’s ‘destined for the Premier League’.
New Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is keen to run the rule over Garner in pre-season, and if he opts to keep him around, then perhaps Leeds will be forced to revisit O’Brien.
In other news, another Leeds transfer target has emerged.
West Ham United are eyeing a move for soon-to-be free agent Andrea Belotti this summer.
That is according to a report from Milan News. where it is said that the Scotsman is desperate to lure the centre-forward to the London Stadium in order to bolster his attacking ranks.
In the same report, it is claimed that the Hammers are a “concrete option” for Belotti this summer, with the forward set to leave Torino at the end of the month.
Being a technically gifted and prominent striker, Italian striker Belotti could well be the next Zola in the Premier League.
It’s been a while since we’ve had a notable Italian force up-top and the Torino man can fill that void, whilst also solving David Moyes’ depth issue at striker.
Like Zola, it’s Belotti’s ability to read the game that makes up for what is a lack of pace on the whole and truthfully, having endured his second-worst goal-scoring season in Serie A, it is time for the 28-year-old to move on and give his prime years to a more progressive side.
Belotti, who has been dubbed a “machine” who can “chop people down” according to Siavoush Fallahi on Twitter, bagged eight goals in 22 Serie A games this season and whilst that is still solid, it’s a far cry from his 26 goal haul from the 2016/17 season.
West Ham could well offer the Italian a platform in the Premier League with his only real competition being Michail Antonio.
He could go one further than Zola who managed West Ham and instead become their main bagsman.
For a player who is in his prime and possesses a market value of around £18m, according to Transfermarkt, it is a move that comes with little to no risk.
It’s a no-brainer for Moyes and co.
In other news: Enquiry made: West Ham could land a new £36m-rated monster by signing £21k-p/w gem
Fabrizio Romano has dropped a big Manchester United transfer update that will give Ten Hag plenty to think about in the coming weeks.
The update comes surrounding the club’s hunt for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, although there could well be an alternative according to Romano, who told GIVEMESPORT:
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“I’m sure they have some alternatives. Ruben Neves is a player, that last summer, was already on the list. He’s always been on the list of Manchester United, and is really appreciated.”
This news won’t be a shock to the supporters, as Man United’s interest in the Wolves player has been apparent for some time, but much will depend on whether a deal can be agreed for de Jong or not.
Neves could cost the club £70.5m, and although that is a staggering amount, it could be money well spent if a move was to happen.
At 25, he has plenty of Premier League experience under his belt, along with 30 caps for Portugal. This would mean he could settle in faster at the club and hit the ground running, something that Ten Hag will be looking for.
The midfielder could even be the new Bruno Fernandes, with Neves certainly capable of having a similar impact that the former Sporting Lisbon man did when arriving at Old Trafford, especially when you consider the latter’s phenomenal rate at scoring goals from distance.
Fernandes, of course, plays slightly further forward than Neves, but there is no doubt that with the 25-year-old talent, he could feature in a more advanced role.
In fact, the Wolves star has a far superior pass completion percentage than Fernandes (82.8% to 75.3%), while defensively, Neves has made more tackles and interceptions (122) compared to the 26-year-old (97) and won more aerial duels (53.1% to 41.1%).
£70.5m for a player that has the ability to spread his influence both defensively and going forward could prove to be a smart investment for Ten Hag.
An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United and their interest in signing Napoli’s Fabian Ruiz in the summer transfer window…
According to Corriere dello Sport, PIF are eyeing up a swoop to sign the central midfielder and are set to battle with fellow Premier League side Arsenal for his signature.
The report claims that he is available for a fee in the region of €30m (£26m), with the Magpies and the Gunners the two clubs at the front of the queue to land him.
By securing a deal to sign the Napoli gem, PIF can land Thiago Alcantara 2.0 for Eddie Howe, as Ruiz could be a similarly graceful presence in the Premier League.
FBRef list the pair as being similar, based on their statistics over the last 365 days, and it is easy to see why as they are both Spanish central midfielders who are enjoyable to watch.
Interestingly, both players have won the MVP award at the European Under-21 Championships whilst representing Spain. Thiago won the award in 2013 and Ruiz claimed it six years later.
The Napoli man ranks in the 83rd percentile or higher in progressive carries and passes, pass completion success rate, shot-creating actions, and passes attempted among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues in his position over the last 12 months.
Meanwhile, Thiago ranks in the 92nd percentile or higher in all those categories, which shows that both players excel at passing with a view to progressing their teams up the pitch.
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed Ruiz an “artist”, while journalist Josh Bunting also lauded his talents earlier this year, tweeting: “Fabián Ruiz is a beautiful footballer, he scored the only goal in Napoli’s win over Torino. His pass selection is so good, dictates the play, so smart and intelligent on the ball and off it, so good at popping into space and rotating the ball around, keeps them ticking.”
These quotes further illustrate how impressive the Spaniard is on the ball, and Newcastle must now snap him up to provide the Premier League with another Thiago Alcantara next season.
At the age of 26, Ruiz may still have his best years ahead of him, which means that he could develop over time with the Magpies – making him a signing for the here-and-now as well as the future, instead of merely being a short-term addition or a fledgling talent who isn’t yet ready for top-flight action.
AND in other news, Forget Ekitike: Newcastle now “close to” landing second summer signing, Howe will be elated…
The sale of Aston Villa winger Anwar El Ghazi would come as a surprise this summer.
That is according to Midlands-based journalist Josh Holland, who stated his belief in a recent interview with GIVEMESPORT that the Netherlands international still has something to offer to Aston Villa.
As per the report, it is said that the Villans want to sell four players this summer, after bringing in the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Diego Carlos, Boubacar Kamara and Robin Olsen.
The quartet mentioned in the report are Trezeguet, Bertrand Traore, Morgan Sanson and El-Ghazi.
However, speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Holland said: “I think all of them are expected. I think the only one I was surprised about would be El Ghazi. I rated him when he was at Ajax and Lille. It’s not really worked for him in England, and his loan move to Everton, I can’t even remember him feature for them at all.”
The departure of El Ghazi could well make for a controversial move on Steven Gerrard’s part, considering the fact that he has not been given a chance under the tutelage of the Liverpool legend.
As Holland mentions, the now 27-year-old shone in his first two Eredivisie seasons with Ajax, but did show a case of dramatic inconsistency when he blanked in 12 appearances for the Amsterdam outfit in his third and final season at the club.
His end product also took a hit in Ligue 1 with Lille, with his most prosperous season in France seeing him conjure eight attacking returns in the form of four goals and four assists over 27 appearances.
Though the Netherlands winger has demonstrated his effectiveness in England’s top-flight, finishing as the club’s second-highest goalscorer in the 20/21 season with ten goals.
As such, at the age of 27, entering his prime years, he is an asset who could have great effect as a squad player and is of course proven from the penalty spot.
A tough spell at Everton has certainly lowered his stock, but the relegation fight that the Toffees found themselves in was never going to bring the best out of flair players like the Dutchman.
He may be inconsistent, but when he is in form, he is unplayable, leading us to believe that Gerrard should keep El Ghazi around for at least another season.
AND in other news: Gerrard could form scary duo as AVFC now plot bid for £9m-rated gem who is “on fire”