All posts by z3u9t.icu

Aston Villa are set to “listen to offers” for Leander Dendoncker this summer, according to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano.

When did Leander Dendoncker join Aston Villa?

The Premier League defensive midfielder only made the move across the Midlands from Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer, but despite recording a total of 21 appearances during his debut season, he’s not been able to make the positive instant impact he would have hoped having been nothing more than a bit-part player.

The Belgium international was only handed seven starts over the course of the previous campaign so clearly doesn’t figure as part of Unai Emery’s long-term plans after being signed by former boss Steven Gerrard. There was even suspicion when he first put pen to paper because the length of his contract hadn’t been disclosed, which is unusual when a club is unveiling a new signing.

Furthermore, Youri Tielemans has already been confirmed as one of the new summer arrivals at Villa Park and it’s believed that Villarreal’s Pau Torres won’t be far behind him, both of who can play in the 28-year-old’s positions, so with the manager bringing in fresh faces, it’s not looking promising for the future of the former Molineux star.

Is Dendoncker leaving Aston Villa?

Taking to Twitter, Romano revealed that Aston Villa are willing to sanction the sale of Dendoncker this summer with the player himself also on board in terms of an exit, and he won’t be short of potential suitors from the Premier League and overseas. He wrote:

“Understand Aston Villa are open to listen to offers for Leander Dendoncker despite his longer running deal. He's rated by Emery but there's [a] lot of competition. French and Italian clubs already asked for info; player open to any kind of proposal. PL clubs also keen.”

Should NSWE sell Dendoncker?

Aston Villa will have no doubt expected Dendoncker to be a marquee signing and Emery is likely to have wanted much more from him, but unfortunately that hasn’t been the case, so NSWE and Monchi would be making completely the right decision by letting him go this summer, albeit with regret that it didn't work out as initially hoped when pursuing him.

The Wasserman client, who’s sponsored by Nike, last season ranked as the 18th overall worst-performing player out of 21 squad members and 11th defensively having averaged just one tackle per top-flight game, via WhoScored, which isn’t good enough for a player who is naturally stronger in that aspect of his game.

The Passendale native has not only also failed to register a single goal or assist, he additionally picked up an unnecessary red card during the 2-1 FA Cup defeat to League One side Stevenage back in January for a “rash” challenge, as labelled by Nedum Onouha, so he hasn't even taken his opportunities when given the chance.

Finally, Dendoncker pockets £90k-per-week which is actually higher than the likes of Ollie Watkins – who deserve their wages much more – and that’s a hefty sum to be paying a fringe player so cashing in would allow the hierarchy to put these funds towards bringing in fresh faces.

Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie has called for Leeds United to name Lee Boywer as their new manager instead of Daniel Farke.

Is Daniel Farke joining Leeds?

The search for Sam Allardyce's successor is ongoing at Elland Road, with the next appointment absolutely vital, in terms of the Whites getting back into the Premier League as soon as possible.

After three years back in the top flight, it would now be hugely disheartening to see Leeds languish in the second tier for longer than one season, but bringing in the right manager is essential when it comes to making that happen.

Farke has emerged as the clear front-runner to become the new Whites boss in recently days, with various reports stating that a deal is seemingly close to being agreed.

What about Bowyer to Leeds?

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie instead called for Bowyer to come in, with his past history at Leeds making him a better option than Farke:

"They should hire a profile similar to Lee Bowyer. He played for the club, he has them in his heart and a manager like that is what they would need to get back into the Premier League. Give someone like Bowyer a chance, and the fans would love one of their own to come in and they would show the passion needed on matchdays.

"Similar to Duncan Ferguson at Everton a couple years back, that helped them reignite the season.

"It is a worrying situation for Leeds as I would not like to see them go back into oblivion again as they are a Premier League club."

There is some logic to the 63-year-old McAvennie's comments, in terms of Bowyer knowing the club inside out, but ultimately, it is still his ability as a manager that is most important.

The Englishman has generally done well in his post-playing career to date, doing a solid job with both Charlton Athletic and Birmingham City, he has also yet to win any silverware as a manager, and remains inexperienced at a high level.

On the flip side, Farke has twice guided Norwich City from the Championship to the Premier League, winning the title both times, so he is far more proven than Bowyer, at a time when Leeds cannot afford to be taking risks with their appointment.

The former Whites midfielder could be a good choice further down the line, but for now, it is only right that Farke is the favourite to take charge.

Manchester United have still to make a summer signing, yet Erik ten Hag will surely be hard at work trying to conjure up some magic in order to improve his squad ahead of next season.

Despite recently having a third bid rejected for Chelsea star Mason Mount, United don’t look to be giving in regarding their pursuit of the player, and he could well be the first summer arrival.

This may open the floodgates for the Dutchman as improvements are required all over the pitch, especially across the front three.

Rasmus Hojlund is a player currently on United’s radar ahead of a potential move, and Fabrizio Romano has given an update regarding the youngster.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: “[He's] a player they [Chelsea] appreciate. Manchester United is the same, so both clubs are very well-informed on the situation of Rasmus Hojlund, but at the moment it’s not yet a concrete negotiation at Atalanta.”

Despite the Serie A side reportedly demanding £86m for their prized asset, Romano states that he could be available for a lower fee of around €70m (£60m), which would certainly be more enticing for Ten Hag.

Could Manchester United sign Rasmus Hojlund?

A fee of £60m is still a lot of money, though considering the Danish hitman is only 20 years old, it has the potential to turn into a shrewd investment for the Old Trafford side, while also adding some much-needed attacking quality to their first team.

With a move for Harry Kane now ruled out and Victor Osimhen’s price tag set at a ridiculous €180m (£155m), Hojlund is surely the most realistic signing.

Ten Hag could certainly form a scary duo with the Dane and Mount next term, as the duo could combine well in their respective roles.

Hojlund thrives within the box, and he ranks in the top 7% across Europe’s big five leagues for touches in the opposition penalty area per 90 (6.53) and in the top 6% for shots on target percentage per 90 (51.9%), suggesting that not only does he make his way into the penalty area on a regular basis, but his accuracy is among the best on the continent.

Add that to the fact he netted 16 goals across all competitions last term, Ten Hag could sign a player who is absolutely ruthless.

Mount could supply the Atalanta starlet well, as he ranks in the top 7% across the big five European leagues for progressive passes per 90 (5.95), while by ranking in the top 15% for passes into the final third per 90 (3.49), Hojlund could benefit from this wonderful ability to work the ball into the box.

Dubbed a “monster in the making” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, United must lure the Dane to Old Trafford sooner rather than later, especially if they do secure the signing of Mount, as they could form a scary duo.

Liverpool remain attentive to Celta Vigo prodigy Gabri Veiga's situation, and could look to swoop for the ace over the coming weeks.

What's the latest on Gabri Veiga to Liverpool?

That's according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who has taken to Twitter to reveal his latest update on Veiga's situation, with Liverpool interested in meeting the player's €40m (£34m) release clause this summer.

The Italian journalist said: "Liverpool are informed on Gabri Veiga but they have submitted NO bid — and it’s not something imminent, again.

"Veiga remains in Chelsea list, they had direct contacts and will discuss internally think about it."

While an official offer is seemingly not forthcoming right now, Liverpool will need to bolster their midfielder further following the £35m signing of Alexis Mac Allister, and Veiga could fit the bill.

What is Gabri Veiga's play style?

The £3k-per-week ace has enjoyed as good a breakout season as any after plundering 11 goals and four assists across all competitions for Celta Vigo this season, dubbed a "dangerous" midfielder by journalist Euan McTear.

After such remarkable success, he already ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 20% for assists, the top 12% for progressive carries and successful take-ons and the top 11% for touches in the attacking box per 90, as per FBref.

Clearly the "top talent" that Romano describes him as, Veiga is silky and elegant, clinical and expeditious, and at just 21-years-old there is an avalanche of success awaiting him over the next decade or more as he continues his ascent and makes the improvements to his game to craft himself into a first-rate maestro.

This could be achieved at Liverpool, and given his particular set of skills, he could be the dream heir to Philippe Coutinho's position in the team.

The fleet-footed Brazilian's lucrative £146m sale to Barcelona served as a watershed moment for Jurgen Klopp's dynasty at Anfield, with the money gleaned reinvested into the likes of centrepieces Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk.

However, the industrious nature of the Reds midfield lost its touch last season as Liverpool plummeted from prominence and failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in seven seasons, and Veiga's dynamism and forward-thinking exuberance could rekindle their verve.

During the peak of his powers on Merseyside, Coutinho scored 13 goals and supplied seven assists from 31 matches during his final full Premier League season, averaging 3.4 shots, 2.4 key passes and 2.1 dribbles per game, as per WhoScored, and was praised as "one of the very best in the world" with "magical powers" by compatriot and former teammate Roberto Firmino.

Given the "very electric" Veiga's aforementioned statistics, as he was called by Romano, he could emulate such success and provide a dimension unseen since the 31-year-old plied his trade under the Anfield lights, and his acquisition could illustrate the rebirth of Liverpool as they chart a course for success once again.

Newcastle United are advancing in their deal to sign Sandro Tonali, and are set to double his salary in what will be a huge deal for the Magpies, Fabrizio Romano has revealed.

What's the latest on Newcastle's move for Tonali?

The AC Milan star is being eyed up by Eddie Howe as he aims to add quality to his midfield, with Newcastle returning to European football for the first time in over ten years.

A major deal for the 23-year-old appears to be edging closer, as Newcastle aim to flex their financial muscles over Milan and take one of their prize assets.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano hinted that a deal could reach a huge fee, whilst Tonali's £76k-per-week salary could even be doubled should he make the move to St James' Park.

"Now we can say that the talks are moving to the final stages for Sandro Tonali to Newcastle," he stated.

"Newcastle made a really important bid to the player, it's more than double salary for Sandro Tonali compared to what he's earning at Milan right now, so crazy salary and also important bid to Milan, around €70m (£60m) with add-ons included.

"Now, what is needed to close the deal, to discuss the structure of the deal, payment terms and how to structure the add-ons, so Milan and Newcastle are negotiating, waiting for the green light, but this is getting closer, so the next hours could be crucial to close the deal for Sandro Tonali to Newcastle, a really big one for Newcastle if they will be able to complete it."

Where does Tonali fit in at Newcastle?

Newcastle have been desperate to reinforce their midfield this summer, to support Bruno Guimaraes and Joe Willock in the middle of the park, and Tonali has now been identified as the ideal addition.

It remains unclear whether Tonali would arrive as a more advanced box-to-box option to compete with Joelinton, with Guimaraes playing in a deeper role, or if the Italian will sit back and allow the Brazilian to play further forward.

Tonali ranks poorly in defensive contributions compared to Guimaraes as per FBref, but did notch up seven assists in all competitions, perhaps indicating that his presence in the middle will add more creativity to the side.

Given the status of the Italy international as a key player for the Champions League semi-finalists, this deal represents a statement from Newcastle that they are aiming to compete with Europe's biggest clubs in the transfer market.

There is no hiding away from the disappointment of Leeds United's 2022/23 campaign as the club dropped out of the Premier League.

The Whites have been relegated to the Championship after finishing in the bottom three of the top-flight and there is now plenty of change on the horizon, both on and off the pitch.

49ers Enterprises agreed to a £170m deal to buy Andrea Radrizzani's 56% stake in the club to make them the outright owners of the west Yorkshire outfit, and they are now tasked with putting together a team capable of earning promotion at the first time of asking.

They have appointed Nick Hammond as an interim advisor to help their business in the current summer transfer window after previous director of football Victor Orta was relieved of his duties at the start of May.

However, the 49ers are said to be looking for a longer-term replacement for the Spanish chief and they could find that in the form of Norwich City's Stuart Webber, who is a reported target for the Whites but may not be able to join until after the summer due to his contract in Norfolk.

What has Stuart Webber achieved at Norwich?

The Welsh sporting director would be a big upgrade on Orta as the former Huddersfield Town director of football has achieved great success with the Canaries over the years.

Webber has cited the development of the Championship side's academy system as one of his proudest achievements and they have reaped the benefits of that.

Jamal Lewis joined Newcastle United for a fee that could rise to £20m and Ben Godfrey signed for Everton in a £25m deal after they both broke into the first-team from the youth set-up, whilst the likes of James Maddison, Max Aarons, and Todd Cantwell all made similar breakthroughs in Norfolk.

He has also been able to transform the club off the pitch with the construction of a £20m training ground that is now seen as one of the best in the country, which shows that the 39-year-old is interested in making progress that will outlast the eleven players that start each week, whereas there is little mention of Orta's work outside of his questionable transfer and managerial business.

In terms of their respective work in the market, there is an argument to be made that Webber offers more on that front.

The Norwich mastermind, who was once hailed as "amazing" by joint-majority owner Delia Smith, arrived in 2017 and oversaw two title-winning seasons in his first three Championship campaigns with the side.

Whereas, it took Orta three seasons to put together a team capable of earning promotion once. He joined in the summer of 2017 and Marcelo Bielsa eventually led the club to glory in 2019/20, which indicates that the Canaries director could have a better chance of getting Leeds straight back to the Premier League, with the right decisions being made on and off the pitch.

Webber could be criticised for his relegations from the Premier League with Norwich but the Welshman was only able to spend a league-low £1.1m in 2019, whereas the Whites reportedly spent £96.4m under Orta after their promotion to the top-flight in 2020.

This shows that the Canaries chief is used to working with and achieving success – given his two titles in the second tier – on a limited budget, which could make him a big upgrade on the Spaniard, who was sacked in spite of having plenty of money to spend.

Manchester United are internally discussing a move for Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos, as a potential alternative to Harry Kane, according to a report from The Daily Mail.

Which striker will Man United sign?

Erik ten Hag's biggest priority this summer is to bring in a new striker, and the manager has picked out a number of targets, including Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund, with "concrete talks" recently being opened with the 20-year-old forward.

However, Terry Flewers adds that Harry Kane is Man United's "number 1 target", while also claiming they could look at bringing in both players, rather than settling on Hojlund, who only has limited first-team experience.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims Kane signing Kane has become an "obsession" for the Red Devils, but it has recently emerged that Tottenham Hotspur may be unwilling to let him join a fellow Premier League club this summer.

According to a report from The Daily Mail, United have been told by Spurs that Kane is not for sale, so they have started to turn their attention to other targets, including the likes of Randal Kolo Muani and Goncalo Ramos.

Man United initially thought that £100m may be enough to tempt Tottenham into selling the England captain, however with that move now on the rocks, they are now discussing other targets, with Ramos re-emerging as an option.

How many goals has Goncalo Ramos scored?

The Benfica star registered 27 goals in all competitions last season, with his tally of 19 in the Liga Portugal ranking him second in the entire division, and he also impressed on the international stage.

All the pressure was on the 21-year-old to perform for Portugal against Switzerland at the World Cup, after getting the nod over Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting XI, and he more than delivered, netting a hat-trick, while also bagging an assist.

Gary Lineker described the youngster's performance as "remarkable", while football scout Jacek Kulig has also praised him for his displays at club level since returning from Qatar, which helped Benfica win the Liga Portugal title.

Of course, Man United will be gutted to have missed out on Kane, given that he is a proven goal-scorer at Premier League level, weighing in with an impressive 30 goals in the top flight last season.

However, Ramos has proven that he could be a viable alternative, and at 21-years-old, he still has plenty of time to develop further.

Arsenal, like everyone else in world football, would love a player akin to Erling Haaland. Fortunately enough, they might just have the opportunity to secure that man this summer, as fresh transfer information has come to light.

What's the latest on Rasmus Hojlund to Arsenal?

That's according to 90min, who actually report on Manchester United's interest in Atalana's young striker Rasmus Hojlund.

However, later on it is stated that a host of top European clubs have been alerted to the availability of the forward, following his frustration at missing out on Champions League football. Among those mentioned are the Gunners, alongside Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, all of whom have already begun talks with the player's representatives and agent.

The Italian outfit will command a huge fee to pry the 20-year-old from Bergamo, with €65m (£56m) thought to be the asking price that sporting director Edu Gaspar would have to stump up.

How good is Rasmus Hojlund?

With their Scandinavian heritage and hulking blond physique naturally drawing comparisons, both Haaland and Hojlund have enjoyed fine personal seasons, although one has been far more impressive than the other.

Few could compete with the freakish goalscoring nature of Manchester City's main man, with his 52 goals in all competitions having shattered numerous records. Standing at 6 foot 4 yet blessed with lightning-quick speed, he truly is a petrifying threat to all defences.

However, the Denmark international has also proven himself a danger to his opposition, with writer Sacha Pisani even claiming that he is "scary quick" despite also boasting a 6 foot 3 frame. Meanwhile, scout Jacek Kulig also suggested he was "an absolute monster in the making" given his stature for someone so young.

At two years Haaland's junior, his record of 15 goals in all competitions, married with seven assists, showcases his own penchant for finishing that would be a welcome addition to Mikel Arteta's roster. This is without mentioning the fact that he has five goals already for his national team, despite only featuring four times.

Pep Guardiola, for all his revolutionary tactical advancements over the years, arguably made his greatest and simplest one when he reverted back to a classic no.9 for this term as it has proved to be the missing piece that could well culminate in an infamous treble.

As someone who has borrowed heavily from his former master's style of play, the Gunners' boss could once again seek to replicate this feat by acquiring his own massive striker to bully centre-backs into submission.

To surround him with the quality of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard, this could prove to be a profitable venture for all involved, with Hojlund's numbers sure to skyrocket when supplied by these world-class stars in north London.

The Danish prodigy could well be Arsenal's answer to the talismanic Haaland.

A major Newcastle United claim has emerged regarding PIF’s plans for the upcoming summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

The Telegraph reporter Luke Edwards has revealed how many additions the Magpies are hoping to make to their squad ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

PIF showcased their ambition in January as they brought in Matt Targett, Bruno Guimaraes, Dan Burn, Chris Wood and Kieran Trippier, and now they are set to dip into the market again.

Edwards tweeted: “Multiple sources have confirmed the plan for #nufc this summer is to bring in between four and six signings to boost first team strength. Will depend on how much money raised through sales but also looking closely at loan market with at least one likely towards end of window.”

Supporters will be excited

Toon supporters will surely be left feeling excited by this claim from Edwards, as it shows that the club will be looking to improve the squad in several areas this summer.

This was far from the case at this point last year, as Joe Willock ended up being the only senior arrival at St James’ Park in summer 2021 when he joined on a permanent deal from Arsenal. Mike Ashley was prudent with his cash and gave Steve Bruce little in the way of help to build a strong squad.

The noises coming out of the club now suggest that Howe will not find himself in that position with PIF at the helm, as the owners are keen to progress the club in the coming years. Newcastle are on course to comfortably avoid relegation from the top flight and are only one point off the top half of the Premier League table, which may be the aim for next season – 10th and higher.

Fans will surely want to see progression on and off the pitch, and bringing in new talent to improve the team is one way of going about achieving that. They will be excited to see what kind of players Howe wants to bring in and who he wants to axe from the squad, as some duds will need to be offloaded in order to make way for additions.

Supporters will be buzzing to see deadwood players who are deemed to not be good enough cut from the squad in the summer, as it means that they will not have to worry about watching them in action again in the Premier League.

It is now over to PIF to put their plan into action and enjoy a successful summer of ins and outs on Tyneside…

AND in other news, Craig Hope drops worrying worrying £50m NUFC claim, it’s a first major disaster for PIF…

Tottenham Hotspur may have been given a real boost in their quest to bring colossal Villarreal defender Pau Torres to the Premier League.

The Lowdown: Spurs in Torres chase…

The Spain international, as he’s admitted to the media, rejected the chance to join Spurs last summer – choosing to stick it under Unai Emery due to their presence in the Champions League.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-newest-updates/” title=”Tottenham newest updates…” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

However, The Daily Mail claimed earlier this week that the Lilywhites and transfer chief Fabio Paratici could come back in for the 25-year-old after being given encouragement by his change in stance.

It is now believed that Torres is ‘ready to leave’ Villarreal in a possible boost for Antonio Conte’s side.

Now, sharing another update, a Football Insider ‘source’ has lifted the lid on yet another cause for optimism over signing the central defender.

The Latest: Emery gifts discount?

According to their information, there is now growing ‘confidence’ at Hotspur Way that Villarreal will sell Torres to Spurs for a bargain price.

Spurs insiders are allegedly operating under the belief that Paratici could seal the centre-half’s signing for £10 million less than his asking price – £45 million instead of his £55 million clause specifically.

This is due to the La Liga side’s financial problems with last season’s Europa League winners apparently needing to raise cash through player sales.

The Verdict: Time to move?

Called a would-be ‘great signing’ for Spurs by journalist Pete O’Rourke, his national team partnership with Aymeric Laporte at the Euros last summer prompted ‘sensational’ praise from manager Luis Enrique.

He’s continued his good form well into 2021/2022, winning more aerial duels per 90 and playing more minutes than any of his teammates – standing out as a really pivotal player for Emery (WhoScored).

Even for £45m, Torres would arguably come as a snip for Spurs.

In other news: ‘Hope for a miracle…’ – Journalist shares what Conte has now ‘told Tottenham’, find out more here.