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Arsenal have entered the race to sign Real Madrid winger Marco Asensio.

What’s the word?

That’s according to Spanish outlet AS, who states that Arsenal are one of several clubs vying for his signature.

A couple of Italian clubs are also listed as potential suitors, with Juventus and Milan offering the Champions League football that Arsenal cannot.

However, with Mikel Arteta “a great supporter of the operation”, perhaps he could tempt his compatriot to the Emirates.

Imagine him and Saka

Bukayo Saka has quickly made himself a favourite in north London, with his dynamism and youthful exuberance lighting up the Emirates.

If Arteta could tempt this Real Madrid man to join up, it could make for a frightening prospect for Premier League defences.

A man for the big occasion, Asensio was a scorer in Los Blancos’ triumph in the 2017 Champions League final. Many believe he is yet to live up to his monumental potential, and perhaps a change of scenery and considerably less pressure may allow him to flourish.

However, he still enjoyed a decent season, recording ten goals in the league. This also does not paint the full picture, as he still boasted a 7.07 average SofaScore rating last term.

This, combined with the 18 top-flight goal contributions of Saka, outlines a serious threat from out wide. Adding the expected goals of the incoming Gabriel Jesus, it seems that Arteta could form a scary front line.

For Spain his performances also seem to improve, which could again be related to the immense pressure of being a Real Madrid player. He averages a 7.27 SofaScore rating for his national team in the UEFA Nations League.

Carlo Ancelotti has been a vocal admirer of the £36m-rated maestro, and had the following to say on his recent performances: “Asensio was able to move between the lines and with the finishing ability that he has, he is a danger for our rivals.

“He has got a good shot, he is able to combine with other players and I hope he can score three goals in our next game.

The Italian manager also was pleased by his versatility, noting his ability coming in off the right: “when he moves inside, he has the ball on his left foot and he is very dangerous.”

Saka and Asensio combining could see both of them reach their potential, and with the latter having plenty left to offer the footballing world, it would be a shame not to explore options outside of Madrid and hopefully catapult his career in the process.

AND, in other news: Arsenal favourites to sign “elegant” £35m warrior after Jesus, it’s an Edu masterclass.

Everton have been linked on numerous occasions to Conor Gallagher this summer, and now a new update has emerged on the club’s pursuit of the player.

What’s the latest?

According to The Daily Telegraph journalist Matt Law, Everton remain interested in signing Conor Gallagher this summer.

In Law’s latest piece for the publication, the journalist reveals that the Toffees are still interested in signing the Chelsea midfielder this summer.

Lampard can land his own Bellingham

Frank Lampard is no stranger to Gallagher as he worked with him during his time as Chelsea manager, so he has sound knowledge and understanding of the strengths and capabilities that the young midfielder can bring to Goodison Park.

The £50m-priced dynamo has been impressing the world of football with his performances for Crystal Palace over his season-long loan deal that has earned him the accolades of Young Player of the Year from the London Football Awards and was named Crystal Palace’s player of the year.

Gallagher scored eight goals, delivered three assists and created five big chances, making 1.1 key passes, two tackles and winning 5.9 duels on average per game, as well as being successful in completing the majority of dribbles (57%) over 34 Premier League appearances.

His manager for the season, Patrick Vieira, gave high praise to the young player hailing him “special” in an interview ahead of the FA Cup semi-final clash against Chelsea that Gallagher was unavailable to play.

“It is difficult to find in the squad a player with Conor’s type of energy.

“He is preparing himself like he is going to play and that is what makes him really special.”

If Moshiri could land a deal for the Chelsea midfielder, Lampard could have his very own Jude Bellingham on his hands, with the Borussia Dortmund star named as one of the most comparable players to Gallagher over this season according to FBRef.

Although Bellingham completed more passes (1298) and more shot-creating actions (98), Gallagher has delivered more prolifically when it comes to shooting, with five more goals from his midfield position, also taking more shots on goal (52) and possessing a better shooting accuracy (42.3%).

Gallagher’s hunger for goals could be to improve Everton’s attacking threat following a difficult relegation scrap last season where the side scored 23 fewer goals than they conceded leading to a 16th-place finish.

With that being said, Moshiri must do everything he can to seal a deal for the Chelsea youngster even on a loan deal, because if he can emulate his output at Crystal Palace with Everton next season it could put the Toffees in a much more comfortable position moving forward.

AND in other news, Lamps can land huge Iwobi upgrade as Everton eye £15m talent who’s like Eden Hazard…

Leeds United have allegedly made ‘direct contact’ with Red Bull Salzburg over a possible move for Mo Camara and he’s even been hinting at a move on Instagram.

The Lowdown: Camara profiled

The Mali international is primarily a holding midfielder who can also play in a box-to-box role. The 22-year-old is valued at a career-high £24.3m by Transfermarkt and has made 76 appearances for Salzburg, 42 of which came under Jesse Marsch.

He has played more under Marsch than any other manager, and it looks as if a reunion between the two at Elland Road is now a possibility.

The Latest: Contact made

LUFCFANZONE took to Twitter on Tuesday morning to share a conversation that they had with Camara’s agent.

They stated that Leeds have once again been in ‘direct contact’ with Salzburg, this time over a potential move for the Malian. An offer is yet to be made, but the player’s agent hopes ‘to have an answer very soon’.

Camara has added fuel to the fire over an Elland Road move by replying to a Leeds supporter on Instagram. Responding to a fan who urged him to move to Yorkshire, he posted blue, yellow and white heart emojis.

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The Verdict: Phillips replacement?

It looks as if Camara is on Leeds’ radar to potentially replace Kalvin Phillips, who has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City.

The Whites may end up receiving a large fee for the England international, which could then be put towards a move for Camara. It looks as if the Malian is keen on a move with his response to a Leeds fan on social media, and he could be the perfect replacement due to his age, versatility and experience of working under Marsch already.

RB Leipzig’s Tyler Adams appears to be another potential target to come in for Phillips, but you’d expect that it would be one or the other with Camara and not both.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their chances of landing Eric Bailly in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to the print edition of The Mirror, Manchester United are attempting to offload the central defender in the coming weeks.

The report claims that PIF have been given the green light to seal a deal as they have been offered the chance to sign him from the Red Devils.

It is stated that the Premier League giants will now demand a fee in the region of £8.5m for the out-of-favour centre-back.

Eddie Howe would love it

The Toon head coach would love Bailly at St. James’ Park as it would give him the opportunity to turn the defender’s career around.

Although he has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford, the Ivorian has shown signs of promise over the years that suggest there is a talented player in there.

Howe has shown that he can revive a player’s career as he turned Joelinton from a misfiring striker into a steamroller in midfield. The Brazilian won Newcastle’s Player of the Season award for his efforts in 2021/22, after the head coach switched his position up during the first half of the campaign.

Now, we are not expecting Bailly to come in and be converted into an attacking midfielder but the Toon boss can work with him on the training pitch to help him find consistency in his performances.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer previously dubbed Bailly “immense” and his form in the Champions League last term offered a glimpse of what he is capable of. In two appearances in Europe, he averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.35 as he made five tackles, three interceptions, seven clearances and won 60% of his aerial duels.

He also showcased his quality at the African Cup of Nations as he averaged a score of 7.40 across three games in the tournament earlier this year. The defensive brute won 70% of his duels and made 3.7 tackles and interceptions per game, illustrating the impact he can have when he is fit and firing.

Therefore, Howe will enjoy trying to get the best out of Bailly as he has shown that he has the potential to be an excellent defender when he is at the peak of his powers. He may not have been able to show that in the Premier League for Manchester United, given their willingness to sell him, but the Magpies can now test their luck with the 28-year-old.

AND in other news, NUFC can unearth their own Abraham as Ashworth plots bid for “fearless” £25m bulldozer…

Rumoured West Brom transfer target Conor Hourihane will leave Aston Villa when his current deal ends this summer, coming as a boost for the Baggies.

The Lowdown: West Brom linked with Hourihane

Steve Bruce will be hoping for a productive summer transfer window as he looks to bounce back from a disappointing 2021/22 season for Albion overall.

A number of new faces are expected to come in, and one player who has been linked with a move to The Hawthorns in the recent past is Hourihane.

The Baggies have been given fresh hope of signing the 31-year-old, who has been hailed as ‘excellent’ by his former manager Steve Cooper in the past.

The Latest: Baggies given Hourihane boost

As per a report from Football League World, Hourihane will be released by Villa when his contract expires at the end of this month, meaning that the Irishman will be available on a free transfer.

That could alert Bruce as he potentially looks to snap up the midfielder from West Brom’s Midlands rivals.

The Verdict: Worth the gamble

At 31, Hourihane may not be at his peak these days, but he remains a formidable Championship player, with 31 goals and 35 assists in the second tier of English football.

For that reason, he would appear to be a shrewd prospective signing for the Baggies, providing valuable experience for what will hopefully be a promotion push, along with an ability to unpick opposition defences. His match average of 1.3 key passes from the most recent campaign was surpassed only by Alex Mowatt at The Hawthorns (with 1.4).

Hourihane registered four assists on loan at Sheffield United last season, helping them to reach the play-offs, and this level of creativity could help West Brom to become more prolific in the final third next time around, having scored just 52 league goals in 2021/22.

In other news, one pundit has dropped a significant West Brom transfer claim. Read more here.

Leeds United are preparing to step up their pursuit of Sporting CP winger Gonzalo Plata, according to Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown: Hot property

After taking the well-trodden pathway from South America to Europe when moving from Independiente to Sporting Lisbon in 2020, Plata struggled to make the desired impact in Portugal.

Sent out on loan to La Liga.2 outfit Real Valladolid for the 2021/22 campaign however, the Ecuador international has recaptured his best form and now is in the middle of a transfer tussle.

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Valladolid are keen on making the move permanent but a hesitancy over his lofty release clause has alerted Leeds, and the Yorkshire giants are seemingly waiting to pounce…

The latest: Whites ready

As per Correio da Manha, translated by SW, Leeds ‘will advance’ with their own bid should Valladolid reject a €10million (£8.5million) option to buy.

Valladolid have currently bid just €7million (£5.9million) for the 21-year-old, who was described as ‘lethal and sublime’ by journalist Marina Marco back in November 2021.

It’s claimed that Sporting are ‘in expectation’ that Plata will move on this summer and Leeds are attentive to the situation, with the press in Portugal believing it ‘sounds like’ the Whites will win the race.

The verdict: Raphinha replacement?

At the mooted fee, a wholehearted move for Plata would make an abundance of sense for owner Andrea Radrizzani and Director of Football Victor Orta as the hierarchy attempt to bolster the Elland Road ranks.

Last term, the 27-cap Ecuadorian scored six times and registered five assists in 30 league appearances, earning a 6.96 Sofascore rating whilst winning 6.0 duels, making 1.4 key passes and completing 2.3 successful dribbles on average per game – that’s actually more take-ons per match than Raphinha.

Predominantly operating as a right-winger, Plata could feasibly be viewed as a realistic and affordable option to replace the Brazilian in Jesse Marsch’s squad as the former Rennes starlet continues to be linked with a move away from Leeds.

In other news, another Leeds transfer target has emerged.

Everton are one of several Premier League sides to be linked with a move for Shakhtar Donetsk winger Manor Solomon, but the potential signing could prove to be a disastrous repeat of the deal that saw Bernard join the Toffees in 2018.

What’s the word?

According to Italian news outlet TuttoSport, Frank Lampard’s side are set to battle it out with Premier League rivals Arsenal and Aston Villa to sign the 22-year-old.

The Israel international, who is currently valued at £16.2m by Transfermarkt, has established himself as a regular for the Ukrainian side since joining in 2019, making 106 appearances, in which he has contributed 22 goals and nine assists.

Although this represents a decent return for a winger, the step-up in quality from the Ukrainian league to the Premier League is a significant one, with Bernard perhaps the obvious example.

Bernard 2.0

During his time in Ukraine, Bernard would contribute an impressive 28 goals and 35 assists in 157 appearances for Donetsk and, as a Brazil international, there was an air of excitement among Everton fans when he arrived at Goodison Park on a free transfer in 2018.

However, he would manage just 15 goal contributions in 84 appearances for the Toffees in his three years at the club and was swiftly moved on to UAE side Sharjah FC for a minimal fee last summer.

There was no doubt that Bernard had ability, but at just 5 foot 4, it was clear that the winger lacked the necessary physicality to compete in the Premier League, as he consistently averaged less than one duel and one shot per game in the English top-flight.

Unfortunately for Everton, Solomon stands at just 5 foot 7, so it is difficult to not draw similarities between him and Bernard, given their previous clubs, positions and stature.

The Toffees’ transfer business in recent years has been less than impressive and despite significant fees being spent, Lampard’s side came far too close to relegation from the top-flight last season.

Considering the Goodison Park outfit are already well-stocked in terms of wingers, with the likes of Demarai Gray, Andros Townsend, Anthony Gordon and Alex Iwobi all capable of playing out wide, it would be strange to see them splashing the cash on Solomon this summer.

Certainly, if he did make the switch to Merseyside and turned out performances similar to Bernard, then his signing would surely feel like a case of deja vu for Toffees fans, in what could down as yet another disaster by chairman Farhad Moshiri.

And, in other news… Moshiri can sign Lukaku 2.0 with Prem wonderkid…

West Ham United manager David Moyes is now ‘ready’ to offload another member of his Premier League squad this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: West Ham exodus begins?

As per the Evening Standard, the 59-year-old seems to be orchestrating a significant summer overhaul as he steps up transfer talks, with the club already confirming four departures.

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Ryan Fredericks, Andriy Yarmolenko, David Martin and the retiring Mark Noble will all leave the London Stadium upon the expiry of their contracts, with speculation also continuing to surround Tomas Soucek’s future.

According to recent claims, West Ham could listen to offers for the Czech Republic midfielder, with club insider Claret & Hugh now claiming that Moyes is ‘ready’ to offload another player.

The Latest: Moyes ready to axe Vlasic…

According to their information, the Scotsman ‘appears to be ready to cut his losses’ on 2021 summer signing Nikola Vlasic and will ‘try to recover whatever he can’ from selling the Croatian.

The club, and by extension GSB, have allegedly ‘sanctioned his potential sale’ as they give the green-light for the 24-year-old to leave.

The Verdict: Right call?

Despite a phenomenal season with former club CSKA Moscow before joining the east Londoners, Vlasic’s lack of opportunities under Moyes during his debut campaign with West Ham is perhaps an indicator that he just doesn’t quite cut it at Rush Green.

Over the 2020/21 season, he averaged a brilliant rate of four shots at goal per 90 in the Russian Premier League whilst racking up 11 goals and five assists (WhoScored), standing out as a consistent threat.

However, starting just six top-flight matches for West Ham over 2021/22, he hasn’t been given much of a chance to replicate his CSKA form for the Irons, and it may be best for both player and club to agree an amicable departure.

In other news: Offer ready: West Ham leap ahead of European giants in race for £21m forward! Find out more here.

Celtic are interested in signing Metz midfielder Kevin N’Doram in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh rumour that has emerged.

The Lowdown: Midfield additions needed?

Ange Postecoglou is already working hard on making key summer reinforcements, including trying to tie down Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota to permanent deals.

Midfield is certainly one area that Celtic will surely be looking to strengthen in, as Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton depart the club and leave a void in the middle of the park.

With a Scottish Premiership title defence and a return to the Champions League to focus on next season, a top-class addition or two is required there.

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The Latest: Hoops eye up N’Doram move

According to French publication Homme Du Match [via Football Scotland], Celtic are lining up a move for N’Doram, who has shone for Metz this season.

His current deal expires in the summer of 2024 and he could be available for a bargain £2million.

The Verdict: Strong midfield signing

N’Doram could be an excellent signing for Celtic, providing defensive nous and quality in his deep-lying midfield role.

The 26-year-old has made 19 Ligue 1 appearances this season, enjoying an 84.2% pass completion rate and averaging 1.1 clearances per game, and he could compliment someone like Callum McGregor perfectly.

Squad depth is vital ahead of what could be a relentless 2022/23 campaign and N’Doram is someone who could come in as a strong squad player, at worst, bolstering Postecoglou’s options.

In other news, Celtic are also keen on signing another player this summer. Find out who it is here.

Liverpool have a track record when it comes to securing transfers for fledgling players such as Harvey Elliott, Fabio Carvalho and Ben Doak.

Now that the summer transfer window is in sight, it seems as though the Merseyside club have their eyes on securing yet another teenage talent for their ranks.

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What’s the news?

After being recently linked with a move for Aberdeen’s 18-year-old right-back Calvin Ramsay, journalist Fabrizio Romano discussed the matter during a recent episode of Rio Ferdinand’s FIVE podcast.

The transfer expert said: “Calvin Ramsay is a full-back from Aberdeen, really interesting player, born in 2003, he’s a player that they are scouting, following and monitoring so that could be an option for Liverpool.”

A product of the Scottish club’s youth system, the teenager has gone on to make 39 senior appearances for Aberdeen across all competitions. This shows just how highly he is rated by Pittodrie, having seen so much first-team action at such a young age.

In those appearances, Ramsay has scored one goal and delivered nine assists along the way, showing that he has a knack for making a difference when surging up the field.

To further highlight his attacking talent, only one other Aberdeen player (Jonny Hayes) delivered more crosses in the Premiership this season than the teenage starlet’s 154.

From a defensive point of view, the youngster made 22 interceptions and 14 tackles in 24 league appearances, showing that he can be a useful figure at both ends of the pitch.

Labelled an “unbelievable” player by sports journalist Ryan Taylor, Ramsay could well be the next teenage talent to make the move to Anfield and potentially become a first-team option for Klopp in the same way that Elliott has.

If Liverpool’s scouting team feel that the Aberdeen gem is worthy of a potential transfer to Merseyside, the Reds could find themselves with another future star on their hands.

It seems highly unlikely that Trent Alexander-Arnold will see his place in the first team under threat any time soon, but if Ramsey does join Liverpool and continues to progress at such a quick rate, he could well become an ideal backup for the Englishman in the future.

In other news: Klopp now plotting Liverpool bid for “complete” £30m target, he’s “like Yaya Toure”