All posts by z3u9t.icu

Chelsea have already lined up a potential replacement for Mason Mount, with the Evening Standard reporting that the Blues want Gabri Veiga to replace the England international.

What is the latest Chelsea transfer news?

The Blues have already started planning for life under new boss Mauricio Pochettino, with the manager working quickly to try and craft the squad to his liking. It means that there has been plenty of transfer news and stories floating around involving the club and the players that they could bring in.

One of the biggest names currently is Moises Caicedo, with the Brighton man believed to be in talks with the club over a switch to Stamford Bridge. It's unclear how much he may cost the English side but it looks as if discussions are certainly underway over a potential deal.

It also appears as if the Premier League side are eyeing more additions in goal, with the club set to hold talks over a move for Andre Onana. There has been interest from Man United in the current Inter shot-stopper too, but it's the Blues who are preparing to hold fresh negotiations over a deal.

Are Chelsea signing Gabri Veiga from Celta Vigo?

In terms of outgoings, Mason Mount is set to join Manchester United after the two clubs agreed a fee totalling £60m on Thursday.

And according to a report from The Evening Standard, Chelsea have already begun to look for potential replacements. It states that one of their top targets is Veiga at Celta Vigo. It adds that his release clause is just £34.6m and that the Blues may be prepared to trigger it to bring him to Stamford Bridge once Mount departs.

He may only be 21-years-old, but he has already earned acclaim for his performances for Celta Vigo. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig called him "highly-talented" and added that he has had a "great season" for the La Liga outfit.

The youngster then could be an excellent pick up for Chelsea, who will want to bolster their squad to improve on their torrid 2022/23 season. He ranks in the 99th percentile for non-penalty goals by midfielders, via FBRef, also ranking highly for total shots, expected assists and successful take-ons.

Veiga is a player who can certainly kick start Pochettino's new era, with his abilities already shining through in Spain and still so much potential left to fulfil. With Mount now set to leave then, he could be a perfect replacement at SW6.

Tottenham Hotspur talks to sign Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba are now "progressing" and the player is "willing" to join them, according to reports.

Who will join Spurs this summer?

Spurs, buoyed by the incoming new manager Ange Postecoglou, are after many fresh faces in a variety of different positions – namely a new goalkeeper, central defender, attacking midfielder and a signing further forward.

The Lilywhites, as per reliable media sources, are closing in on a move for Empoli shot-stopper Guglielmo Vicario with renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano even giving his famous "here we go" to the deal.

With that area of the squad looking resolved, freeing up the potential departure of long-serving No 1 Hugo Lloris, attention may now turn to outfield players.

Spurs are believed to be very keen on Leicester City star James Maddison, with some reports suggesting they're current favourites ahead of Premier League rivals Newcastle United (The Guardian).

Meanwhile, Postecoglou is thought to want more goalscoring options further forward, leading to their previous interest in Nicolas Jackson before Chelsea beat them to the punch (Football Insider).

Central defensive reinforcements are also a major priority at N17, with Wolves defender Max Kilman and Man City's Aymeric Laporte being linked recently.

Tapsoba, though, has been at the centre of Tottenham's interest and there is a belief that the Burkina Faso international tops their list of targets.

According to 90min, there has been a promising update, with Spurs talks "progressing" to sign the defender. Tapsoba, as signalled by his representatives, is "willing" to make the move to north London.

Liverpool, Man United, Newcastle and even Arsenal are in the mix as well, but it's Tottenham who are more actively pursuing the African.

This comes after Spurs scouts, on recent trips to watch Tapsoba's teammate Piero Hincapie, were left impressed by the former.

Who is Edmond Tapsoba?

The 24-year-old was untouchable in Xabi Alonso's starting eleven last season, with goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky being the only player in their squad to feature over more Bundesliga minutes (WhoScored).

Tapsoba also averaged more clearances per 90 domestically than all of his Leverkusen teammates bar Jonathan Tah, highlighting his reliability at the heart of central defence (WhoScored).

It's little surprise members of the press, like freelance commentator Mark Lovell, have heaped praise on the "top quality" player in recent seasons.

Spurs conceded more league goals than any other side above 15th last season, so given their desperate need for solidarity at the back, Tapsoba could be a fruitful option.

Manchester United are readying a £45m offer to sign Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford this summer, according to reports.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news involving Pickford?

It looks set to be a busy few months off the pitch at Old Trafford ahead of Erik ten Hag’s second season in charge, with a potential takeover the hot topic of conversation.

A number of incomings and outgoings may also materialise, with Ten Hag seemingly after a new goalkeeper. That’s because David de Gea is on course to become a free agent next month, should he not sign a new Manchester United contract, whereas Dean Henderson is being linked with a permanent move to Nottingham Forest.

If both players depart, United may be left with just Tom Heaton as their only senior option, with the 37-year-old’s contract expiring next year.

One target appears to be current England number one Pickford, who shares the same agency as Red Devils defender Luke Shaw.

According to The Daily Star, Man United are preparing a £45m transfer offer for Pickford. The report states that the £100k-per-week goalkeeper is Ten Hag’s top shot-stopper target and that Everton may have to look into a sale to balance their books.

Are there any other goalkeepers Man United have been linked with?

Pickford, once hailed as a "monster" by journalist Joe Crann, has plenty of Premier League and international experience, turning out 248 times in the top flight and winning 53 caps for the Three Lions, and he may not be the only England international to sign for United, with a bid already made for Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount.

However, he isn’t the only option Man United have to bolster their goalkeeping ranks, with Inter Milan’s Andre Onana another the Red Devils are eyeing. The Cameroon international previously worked under Ten Hag at Ajax, and recent reports have said that Man United are in pole position to sign Onana, valued at £50m after Chelsea pulled out of the race.

Another rumoured target is FC Porto’s Diogo Costa, who has a £64m release clause in his contract. Man United are reportedly willing to get a deal done, so it seems as if one of the three could be on their way to Manchester.

It will also be interesting to see if De Gea remains at Old Trafford for the 2023/24 season, and if he does, he may well have some real competition on his hands with either Pickford, Onana or Costa possibly rivalling him as first choice.

West Ham United have held talks regarding a summer deal to sign Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun, according to reports.

Who is Folarin Balogun?

Balogun is a striker and academy graduate at the Emirates Stadium having worked his way up through the various youth ranks to get promoted to the first-team, but having only ever made ten senior appearances for the Premier League giants, he’s twice hit the road to aid his development.

The United States international first completed a loan at Middlesbrough in the Championship, before most recently finishing a spell with Stade Reims, as per Transfermarkt, where he was a star man, starting 34 out of the 38 Ligue 1 matches and bagging 21 goals.

Despite still having another two years to run on his contract with Mikel Arteta’s side, the 21-year-old majorly impressed during his time overseas and established himself as Will Still’s top-performing offensive player, and David Moyes and Co are now in ongoing negotiations to try and bring the talented youngster to E20.

Are West Ham signing Balogun?

According to Football Transfers, West Ham have “discussed” Balogun with Arsenal whilst in talks over a move for Declan Rice. The Irons have made the centre-forward a “priority” target and are “willing to accept a part-exchange deal” that would see their captain departing and the Gunners star coming the other way, with some cash of course.

West Ham will know that they are likely to lose Gianluca Scamacca this summer as he has reportedly agreed personal terms to join AS Roma, so they will require a replacement should he depart, and having been hailed a “golden” striker by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Balogun could be the perfect successor.

Arsenal’s £32k-per-week ace, who’s sponsored by Adidas, racked up an unbelievable 24 goal contributions (21 goals and three assists) in his Ligue 1 outings last season, while recording 121 shots, which was more than any of his fellow teammates, as per FBRef.

The New York native, who was recognised for his individual displays by receiving four man-of-the-match awards, is also a versatile operator with his ability to play out wide on both the left and right flanks alongside his natural role through the middle, so this will no doubt be yet another attractive attribute to the boss.

Following his successful loan at Stade Reims, Balogun is likely to be looking for a permanent move to a club that he knows will be able to offer him regular minutes just as he received in France, which is set to be the case should he make the switch across the capital, and considering everything he has to offer, it would be a massive coup should he arrive at the London Stadium.

Chelsea have "shown interest" in signing Celta Vigo star Gabri Veiga during the summer transfer window, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

How many goals has Veiga scored for Celta Vigo?

The 21-year-old has enjoyed a fantastic 2022/23 season for Celta, standing out as one of his side's most important players and showcasing his attacking brilliance in the process.

Veiga ended the campaign with an eye-catching tally of 11 goals and four assists in La Liga, a figure that puts him in the 99th percentile for non-penalty goals by midfielders in the big leagues. He also averaged 1.2 tackles per game in the Spanish top flight, showing that he isn't just a luxury attacking midfielder.

There appears to be a huge amount of interest in the Spaniard this summer, with Liverpool arguably emerging as the favourites to snap him up. That being said, it looks as though the Reds are far from alone in tracking him, following a fresh update that involves Chelsea.

Are Chelsea signing Veiga?

Taking to Twitter, Galetti gave a key update regarding Veiga's future, admitting that numerous clubs are eyeing a move for him, including the Blues:

"Understand that Liverpool are set to make a concrete move for Gabri Veiga. MF has a release clause (€40m) in the contract with Celta Vigo. Not only LFC: Chelsea, ManCity, RealMadrid & Napoli are among the clubs that shown interest in Gabri."

Veiga could be such an exciting signing by Chelsea in the summer transfer window, especially if Mason Mount ends up joining Manchester United, as looks increasingly likely to be the case.

He could come in as a straight swap, adopting a similar role and representing a younger alternative to the current Blues man, not to mention enjoying a better campaign last time around. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has lauded Veiga for having a "great season" for Celta, while Spanish publication Sport have described him as "amazing", too.

In truth, it does look as though Chelsea could be behind others in the pecking order when it comes to signing Veiga – a lack of European football at Stamford Bridge next season certainly doesn't help matters – but it is encouraging that they are at least in the conversation.

At 21, he has already racked up 55 appearances for Celta, becoming a key man in no time at all, and he will surely add to his one cap for Spain's Under-21s in the near future, and be a senior international one day, assuming he continues on his current trajectory.

Manchester United have already put an offer in to sign Vanderson before the summer window has even opened, according to a report from Sport via Sport Witness.

Who are Manchester United signing this summer?

The Red Devils have sealed themselves Champions League football for the next campaign, with Erik Ten Hag managing to lead his side to third in the Premier League during his first season in charge.

The Dutchman has managed to restore the highest level of European football to Old Trafford again and will now look to strengthen his team even further to make sure they are capable of competing on all fronts this campaign, as rivals Man City have over the course of this campaign.

One position the club have been looking to add to is at right-back. It seemed as though that slot could be filled by Jeremie Frimpong, with the defender a long-time target for the Red Devils and the interest in his signature seemingly still there. Current right-sided option Diogo Dalot has recently committed his future to the Old Trafford outfit by agreeing a new contract, but the Portuguese ace can provide depth on both flanks.

It appears as though a right-sided player is still on the club's agenda. That's according to a report from major Spanish paper Sport, via Sport Witness, that states the club have already tabled an offer to Vanderson prior to the window opening on June 14.

United have seemingly decided to launch their move early for the defender, who can also play further forward. They aren't alone in that though, with the report adding that there are offers from the Premier League, with only one coming from the Red Devils.

They'll face a battle to sign him then if that is the case, with Barcelona also keen to sign Vanderson next summer. However, it appears as though the Catalan giants would rather move for the youngster next summer – meaning Ten Hag is clear to bring him in, if they can do, during the close season this year.

Should Man United sign Vanderson?

The 21-year-old has impressed in France during his time with Monaco, as showcased by the player generating a 6.93 WhoScored rating over the course of the current campaign. That puts him as the fourth-highest rated player at the side over the course of the season – an impressive feat considering his age.

In addition, the youngster also has the second-best tackle and interception rates at the Ligue 1 side this year – showing just how capable of a defender he is already despite his youth.

Vanderson has also received high praise in the past from manager Phillipe Clement who declared that the youngster had made an "exceptional adaptation" at Monaco and that he is a "perfectionist" as a player.

The player then would be a good investment from United if they could pull off a deal. He is young, already proven at a decent level and has the ability to shore up their backline.

Hearts finished fourth in the Premiership last season, securing another crack at European football, however, question marks remain over who will be leading the side once the campaign begins.

Interim boss Steven Naismith guided the club to just two wins from six games following the sacking of Robbie Nielson in April, and he failed to win either of his Edinburgh derby ties.

Last week, the Daily Record claimed that the former Scotland international was set to be appointed as the manager on a permanent basis, however, Hearts have since held talks with current Hammarby coach Marti Cifuentes, and he remains someone who is under consideration for the role.

He certainly has slightly more experience than Naismith and judging by his results during his role in charge of the Swedish club, Cifuentes could potentially be Hearts’ own version of Graham Potter.

Could Hearts appoint Marti Cifuentes?

The 40-year-old is facing a tough second season at Hammarby following his impressive debut campaign, where he led the side to third in the league while coming up just short in the Swedish Cup, however, it could take a compensation fee in order to secure the Spaniard as their new manager.

The chief executive of the side, Richard von Yxkull, wants Cifuentes to stay despite fan unrest among the support, saying: "We have 100 per cent confidence in him, and we want to keep him as our head coach. If we were to end up in negotiation with another club, then yes. He is under contract with us."

Potter built up his reputation in Sweden, leading Ostersund to the Swedish Cup and into Europe during a seven-year spell, before breaking into the Premier League with Brighton and Hove Albion – following a stint at Swansea City – and then Chelsea, although he was sacked following just six months in charge.

Cifuentes has also forged his career in Scandinavia, taking charge of Sandefjord and Aalborg BK before landing the top job at Hammarby, where he has averaged 1.81 points per match, a similar figure to Potter during his spell in Sweden, who achieved 1.71 points per game, albeit playing more matches.

Naismith would be the cheap option for Hearts, however, taking a risk on a coach such as Cifuentes could very well pay dividends, especially as they aim to reach the Europa Conference League group stage for the second year in a row.

Potter’s career took off once he landed in England and Cifuentes could certainly follow in his footsteps should Hearts make their move for the 40-year-old, and he’d be an upgrade on Naismith in the process.

Glasgow Rangers are set to announce Dujon Sterling as the club's next Ibrox summer signing for manager Michael Beale, according to a fresh transfer report.

Is Sterling joining Rangers this summer?

The 23-year-old has hoped to make the grade in London with Chelsea, having joined the club back in 2017, but he has been loaned out numerous times, and it has become clear that he has no future there moving forward, despite picking up a FA Cup winners medal back in 2018.

With Sterling's current Chelsea deal expiring this summer, he will leave on a free transfer and will be heading to Rangers, with reports previously stating that a pre-contract agreement was already sorted. It means he is on course to become the club's second signing of the summer transfer window, with Kieran Dowell already completing a move from Norwich City.

The saga has gone a little quiet since the speculation over the agreement, however, but now a new update has emerged that sheds new light on it.

When will Sterling be unveiled at Ibrox?

According to Football Insider, Rangers will "announce Sterling as their next summer signing once Chelsea’s season has drawn to a close", allowing both clubs to focus on the rest of their campaign.

The report also excitingly states that "Beale is working hard on multiple deals and Rangers could see up to 10 new faces join the club in a huge summer revamp of the squad", with a major overhaul in the offing.

While the Sterling deal has always felt done, it is nice to get clarification over the move, making it more final and allowing supporters the knowledge that another player is coming in, along with Dowell. There is no shame in things not working out for him at Chelsea, as is the case with so many young players, but he can still forge an impressive career in his own right.

The Englishman has racked up 58 appearances in the Championship, enjoying loan spells at the likes of Coventry City, Stoke City and Blackpool, and Alex Neil once described him as both "one of the best one-on-one defenders I’ve seen", and a "strong, powerful and determined" player.

That highlights the type of footballer that Rangers are getting, with Sterling having the potential to strengthen their right-back options greatly, enjoying regular football and settling at a permanent club for the first time in a while. It could be a match made in heaven, with Beale no doubt hopeful that he can the very best out of the Blues youngster.

Celtic have one more match left to play – against Inverness in the Scottish Cup final – before they complete their 2022/23 campaign and could end it with a domestic treble.

Their success may not stop manager Ange Postecoglou from adding to his squad in the upcoming summer transfer window, though, and there is one player who they should be looking to snap up in the coming weeks.

It has been reported that Aberdeen are closing in on a deal to bring Leighton Clarkson back for a second spell at the club following his loan in 22/23.

However, the Hoops have also been linked with a swoop to sign the Liverpool midfielder this summer and Postecoglou must now hijack their rivals' move for the ace this summer.

How did Leighton Clarkson perform this season?

The 21-year-old ace enjoyed a terrific campaign with the Dons as he produced excellent displays on a regular basis in the Scottish Premiership and the youngster could form an exciting partnership with current Celtic star Reo Hatate.

In 22/23, Clarkson racked up five goals and eight assists in 34 league appearances. The magician proved himself to be capable of making a huge impact in the final third by delivering goals and assists on a semi-regular basis from the middle of the park, which suggests that he could be a game-changer for the Hoops at the top end of the pitch.

However, the £3k-per-week talent did not shy away from his defensive responsibilities as the battler made 2.9 tackles and interceptions per game in the Scottish top-flight and won 53% of his duels.

No Celtic midfielder made as many tackles and interceptions per match as Clarkson and this indicates that the Englishman could provide an extra level of bite to Postecoglou's midfield options.

It is the other side of the game, however, where the 21-year-old and Hatate could get supporters off their feet as a pair at Parkhead next season as both gems have the ability to be difference-makers on the ball.

In the Premiership, the Japan international scored six goals and provided eight assists in 32 appearances and created ten 'big chances' for his teammates.

The 25-year-old averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.25 in the division and ranked third in the Celtic squad. Clarkson's score of 7.14 for Aberdeen, meanwhile, would place him seventh for the Hoops, which shows that midfielders were excellent performers in the league.

Therefore, the head coach must hijack Aberdeen's swoop for the Liverpool ace, who can "dictate play" according to Reds coach Pep Lijnders, as the youngster has the potential to be an exciting partner for Hatate in midfield, with both players able to score and assist goals from central positions.

Tottenham Hotspur are now scrambling to find another leading managerial candidate, after suffering a blow in their pursuit of Feyenoord boss, Arne Slot…

What's the latest on Tottenham's manager search?

Following rampant speculation in recent days that the Lilywhites were readying an approach for the Dutchman, the 44-year-old has himself now confirmed that he is set to stay with the Eredivisie champions next season, putting paid to any possible move to north London.

That notable setback has ensured that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will have to consider an array of other candidates for the role, with 90min stating that out-of-work boss, Brendan Rodgers, is among the targets to have been 'discussed' by those at N17.

This follows a previous report from journalist Ben Jacobs who suggested that the Northern Irishman – who previously turned down Levy and co back in 2021 – is "extremely keen" on taking on the job, having been dismissed from his latest post at Leicester City back in April.

Should Tottenham appoint Brendan Rodgers?

There was undoubtedly excitement building at the prospect of seeing the aforementioned Slot named as the permanent successor to Antonio Conte, with the former AZ Alkmaar man having been lauded for his "ultra-attacking" style, as per journalist Marcel van der Kraan.

The former Leeds United target had emerged as an attractive option for Tottenham after guiding his current side to title glory this season, having previously taken the Rotterdam-based outfit to the Europa Conference League final last year.

Alas, Levy will have to look elsewhere to find a long-term managerial solution, albeit with it set to prove something of a blessing in disguise if this blow does lead to the appointment of Rodgers, with the 50-year-old seemingly a "great fit" for the club, as per Spurs icon, Clive Allen.

It could be argued that the experienced tactician would be an even better option than Slot for the vacancy, with the Carnlough native offering the benefit of having coached in the Premier League previously, enjoying spells at Swansea City, Liverpool and – most recently – Leicester.

Of course, Slot only recently claimed his first piece of silverware in the Netherlands, although it is Rodgers who boasts the greater winning experience, having won the FA Cup with the Foxes back in 2021, while also swooping seven domestic honours in just under three seasons during his stellar stint at Celtic.

That spell at Parkhead notably saw the one-time Reading boss – who has been hailed as "unbelievable" by former Royals asset, Michail Antonio – enjoy an unbeaten domestic campaign during the 2016/17 season.

The 4-2-3-1 boss also seemingly "plays a brand of football that is the Tottenham way" – according to club legend, Darren Anderton – with that again making him an appealing prospect for Levy and co.

With Rodgers having over a decade of coaching experience under his belt in British football, he could well be a better fit than Slot to lead Spurs for the foreseeable future.