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Nottingham Forest have been named as one of the sides chasing a young talent out of Ligue 1 this summer, according to reports coming from his home nation of Brazil.

Forest need to strengthen

After only avoiding relegation from the Premier League on the final day of the season, Nuno Espírito Santo's side will need to strengthen this summer.

Murillo successor: Forest to hijack move for another Brazilian sensation

The Reds are looking to find a replacement should Murillo depart the City Ground.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 12, 2024

They have been one of the most active sides in the transfer market since their promotion two years ago, but many of those deals haven't worked out and some have already moved on.

Though it will be a more low-key summer this time around, there is still expected to be movement from the Reds and to that end, they have been linked with a fresh target.

Forest keen on another Brazilian

Now, Forest have been credited with an interest in fullback Vanderson as they look to bolster their ranks amid Gonzalo Montiel's impending departure at the end of his loan spell.

The defender is valued at around 15m euros (£12m) by his current side, but Forest will have to move fast to firm up their interest in his services.

That is because Napoli are already formulating a bid for him, with Brazilian outlet RTI Esporte claiming that the Italian side are ready to offer 9m euros (£7.6m) to take him to the south of Italy. The Serie A outfit are on the hunt for a new fullback after Giovanni di Lorenzo reportedly told Antonio Conte he wanted to move to Juventus.

However, they will have to up their offer to land Vanderson as his replacement, with the report adding that the Monagasque's are holding out for 15m euros (£12m) to part ways with the defender.

It means that Forest still have a chance to swoop in and pay the asking price if they move fast. Still just 22-years-old, the Brazilian has drawn heavy praise from his then manager Philippe Clement back in 2022, who highlighted his desire to improve as one of his best attributes.

“Vanderson has been less consistent recently, but he is still a young player. He had an exceptional adaptation here [last season]. We have already spoken about that. He is also a player who is and continues to interest lots of big clubs. That can possibly do something to the mindset, not that he didn’t have his feet on the ground, but Vanderson is very ambitious and a huge perfectionist.”

“Every day he wants to be better than the last. That can give him a lot of pressure, lots of stress with all of the ambition that he has. We need to manage that more for him. If I left him to it, he would train for 18 hours a day. He is like that. Sometimes we need physical and mental breaks and he is a young player that needs to manage that. He will do it, because he has such a positive frame of mind.”

Injuries restricted him to just 20 Ligue 1 appearances last time out, but he contributed three goals and an assist from right back, and has also been linked with a move to Tottenham in recent weeks.

He made his debut for the Brazilian national team 12 months ago, but has since lost his place, with Vanderson not among the squad for the upcoming Copa America.

The 22-year-old would join a growing Brazilian contingent at Forest, which includes Murillo and Danilo, while they are also thought to be chasing goalkeeper Carlos Miguel this summer.

England star Chloe Kelly could leave Manchester City at the end of the season after seeing her relationship with manager Gareth Taylor deteriorate.

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• Kelly could leave Man City
• Relationship with manager Taylor has broken down
• Was an unused substitute against Barca and Liverpool

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Kelly has started in only two games out of City's seven outings in the ongoing season across all competitions and remained an unused substitute in the club's last two matches against Liverpool and Barcelona. Per the Daily Mail, the striker's relationship with manager Taylor has worsened over time and this could lead to her exit from the club next summer.

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  The Lionesses forward's current contract with the Cityzens expires at the end of the 2024-25 campaign. While the player, who shares a close bond with the club, would love to stay beyond her current deal, the two parties are yet to progress on their talks over an extension.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The relationship between the player and the coach started to worsen last season after the star forward was left on the bench during the Manchester derby in March 2024. She had to sit out for four straight matches which indicated some trouble in the City camp.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?

  Taylor's side, who are currently at the top of the table, will be next seen in action on Wednesday as they take on St. Polten in a Women's Champions League clash away from home.

Tottenham have been tipped to launch a move for one of the bargains of the summer, according to a recent report.

Spurs looking for a striker

It is an open secret that Tottenham are looking to sign a new number nine this summer, 12 months on from Harry Kane's departure. Though they clinched fifth place in the Premier League, Ange Postecoglou's side were the lowest scorers in the top seven and Richarlison struggled to stay fit, leaving Heung Min-Son to often plough a lonely furrow.

Ange Postecoglou admitted that a new forward was on their radar when quizzed on the situation, claiming that "we're in Europe as well next year so we'll have more games and it's definitely an area of the park we'll need to strengthen".

Spurs eyeing "wonderful" £15m Kulusevski upgrade after Alasdair Gold reveal

The incredibly talented winger could help Postecoglou bridge the gap to the top four next season.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

May 31, 2024

They are looking to do just that this summer, and have been linked with a whole host of options including Santiago Gimenez, Benjamin Sesko, Ivan Toney and Dominic Solanke as they look to find a new man to lead the line in north London. But one low cost upgrade not mentioned to this point could be the best option of them all.

Guirassy on Spurs radar

Now, they have been tipped to make a move for Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy, who enjoyed an excellent campaign as he helped his side qualify for the Champions League and finish second in the Bundesliga, ahead of Bavarian giants Bayern Munich.

Guirassy hit 28 goals in the German top flight, despite missing two games through injury and a further four to take part in the Africa Cup of Nations.

But the 28-year-old has a 17.5m euro (£15m) release clause in his £35,000 a week contract which may make keeping him at Stuttgart difficult, and there are likely to be suitors from across Europe keen on adding the goalscorer to his ranks.

Though he only arrived at Stuttgart 12 months ago, with the fact that he is tucking goals away at a rate faster than most of Europe's elite and boasts a better conversion rate than Erling Haaland, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him take the next step in his career.

And Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke revealed that Tottenham "could look to sign" the striker, admitting that he would provide excellent value for money. Any move for the Guinean striker would go against Tottenham's plan to sign players from a younger age bracket, but the same could be said of a move for Ivan Toney, who is just four days younger that Guirassy, while the arrival of Timo Werner proved that this policy is not a hard and fast rule.

Newcastle and Manchester United have been linked with Guirassy in the past, but Spurs can offer Europa League football and a spot as first team striker, a pairing neither of their rivals can match.

Arne Slot shared a gloomy injury update on Alisson Becker after the Liverpool goalkeeper was forced off injured during their win at Crystal Palace.

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• Alisson limped off against Palace
• Suffers hamstring injury
• Slot believes he is out for some time

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Liverpool secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against the Eagles on Saturday, but the win was overshadowed by a worrying injury to their first-choice goalkeeper as Alisson was forced off the pitch late in the match, sparking concerns that he may be sidelined for an extended period due to a hamstring problem.

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  Alisson denied Ismaila Sarr and Eddie Nketiah but showed signs of discomfort after clearing a loose ball. Despite his efforts to continue, it was clear that something was wrong, and after receiving extensive treatment on the pitch, Alisson had no choice but to leave the game with third-choice keeper Vitezlsav Jaros coming on in the absence of a sick Caoimhin Kelleher.

• WHAT SLOT SAID

  Slot shared his concerns after the match, admitting that Alisson’s injury could result in another long spell on the sidelines.

  “We don’t know definitely what happened but we do if you walk off like he does that normally means he’s not in the Brazil squad and I don’t expect him to be in the team in the first game we play afterwards (at home to Chelsea on October 20)," told the Reds head coach to reporters.

  “It’s going to take a few weeks, I assume. I think it is his hamstring. Alisson is our clear number one and is the best goalkeeper in the world. It’s always a blow when he gets injured, not only for himself but also for us as a team. The positive thing for the team, not only in the goalkeeper position but also in almost every position, is that we also have a second option that’s really good. Caoimh has already shown this season that he’s quite clearly the number two goalkeeper. He did really well."

  Whereas, Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk added: “Alisson's injury doesn't look good. It looks like a hamstring injury which was already bothering him, and from which he recovered.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  This isn't the first time Alisson has faced injury issues this season. He had already missed two Premier League matches earlier in the campaign due to a similar hamstring injury. Now the goalkeeper will undergo scans to determine the full extent of his injury.

Serie A side Genoa have reportedly approached Dele Alli over a potential move to Italy.

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• Dele out of action since picking up injury
• Left Everton as free agent in summer
• Approached by Genoa over Serie A move

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The ex-Tottenham midfielder has not stepped foot on a football pitch since 2022 after suffering a thigh injury and left Everton once his contract expired in the summer, although he has continued to train with the Toffees. But according to Il Secolo XIX, the 28-year-old could be close to making a return with Genoa, who have approached Dele about a potential deal.

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  As well as his thigh problem, Dele previously admitted he had been struggling with his mental health. A return to a top team would mark a significant achievement for the 37-cap international, who had the world at his feet once upon a time.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Dele made his England debut nearly nine years ago at just 19 years of age. The ex-MK Dons man's rise to the top was phenomenal and he went from scoring in League One to the Premier League and Champions League in a matter of months after joining Spurs.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR DELE?

  There are still talks ongoing with Everton that could see Dele handed a new contract at Everton if he can prove he is still at the required level. As soon as he is back and fully fit, his prospects of landing a club may significantly increase.

Burnley won't want to be involved in the play-off mix next season having seen the drama of the Championship play-off final unfold this weekend, wanting instead to lift the division title again if they can.

Vincent Kompany delivered such success for the Clarets from the dug-out, with an unbelievable 101-points total achieved, but he won't be able to flex his managerial credentials back down in the second tier again with a move to Bayern Munich now looking imminent.

This surprise news doesn't have to be disastrous for those back at Turf Moor next season, however, with one manager target now being lined up who has been there and done it in the second-tier himself.

Burnley eyeing up promotion winner

Journalist Alan Nixon has reported, via his Patreon, that the relegated Clarets are eyeing up a swoop to appoint Steve Cooper who remains without a job after being dismissed by Nottingham Forest last year.

His axing from the City Ground was arguably a controversial one, with the Forest faithful still holding their ex-Welsh boss in high regard, having spearheaded Forest's resurgence back to the top flight after many painful years stuck in the EFL wilderness.

With Frank Lampard also in the equation to replace Kompany, Cooper's reputation for being a successful Championship manager with Forest and further with Swansea City – who he secured two play-off finishes with – should put him in the driver's seat to be the Belgian's successor over the ex-Chelsea man.

Not in the thick of management since December last year, Cooper could be raring to go again after this break, if given a chance by Burnley to seal an instant return back up to the top-flight for his potential new employers.

Steve Cooper's success in the Championship

Although he has never secured automatic promotion up to the Premier League during his time as a manager, Burnley having talents such as Zeki Amdouni and Sander Berge to play with could make this the most straightforward task of his managerial career to date if everything clicks into place.

The Welshman has succeeded in the past when managing sides with an underdog mentality, having taken Forest from mediocrity in the Championship to promotion believers in a flash, alongside catapulting an unfancied Swansea into the playoff mix during his tenure.

Winning more than half of his games in charge at the City Ground even saw Cooper be described as a "tremendous" manager by Sam Allardyce, with the Welshman's growing reputation at Forest once upon a time resulting in his name being linked with the then Crystal Palace vacancy.

He will also be suited to the task of getting the Clarets back up to the Premier League having succeeded with youthful squads in the past, with the 44-year-old highly regarded as England U17s manager where the likes of Phil Foden and Marc Guehi were nurtured under his wing.

Burnley boasted a very young XI for the majority of their dire top-flight campaign, possessing the second youngest lineup for the season at 23.2 under Kompany. As a result, Cooper could end up working his magic on this group making the step back down.

Cooper's preference of a 4-3-3 formation could also see the likes of the frozen-out Manuel Benson shine, with the Welsh boss getting the best out of similarly quick and tricky attackers in the form of Brennan Johnson at Forest.

The 44-year-old won't want to be unemployed forever, and with his name being linked heavily to the Burnley job, the ex-Forest man could see this as a great move to show he still means business as a manager.

Burnley can appoint dream Bellamy alternative in "underrated" 3-4-1-2 boss

Burnley could opt to appoint this underrated manager instead of sticking with Craig Bellamy.

By
Kelan Sarson

May 24, 2024

The power vested in Michael Edwards as FSG's new CEO of Football might just work wonders for Liverpool at the advent of a new, Jurgen Klopp-less era.

Arne Slot is an exciting head coach with an aggressive, high-intensity style of play that has seen his Feyenoord team prevail against the odds and win the Dutch Eredivisie title in 2022/23 and the KNVB Cup this season, with The Athletic's Adam Crafton calling Slot's outfit "Holland's best team and best-run club".

The third-placed Premier League side are preparing for an emotionally charged final day as Klopp waves goodbye to Merseyside, but Edwards' business-savvy mind is whirring away and exciting transfer plans are already being mapped up.

Liverpool eyeing marquee signing

According to Spanish sources – as reported earlier this week – Liverpool have had an offer of €120m (£103m) rejected by Real Madrid for the transfer of their Brazilian forward Rodrygo.

Such reports might be met with scepticism but Kylian Mbappe and Endrick are joining Los Blancos this summer and there's a good chance that a high-cost sale would balance things out in the Spanish capital.

Certain variables would need to fall into play to facilitate such a staggering outlay, and while Madrid appear to have batted Liverpool's interest away at present, this is definitely one to keep an eye on over the coming months.

Rodrygo's style of play

One of the most compelling things about Rodrygo is his ability to thrive across any role. The 23-year-old has spent the lion's share of the current campaign deployed at centre-forward, though he is naturally a wide attacking player and would bring the dynamism and positional flexibility to suit Slot's system.

Dubbed a "future icon" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Rodrygo is excelling as one of the most statistically pleasing attacking stars in the business, offering a steady goal threat while encompassing the technical and athletic skills needed at the highest level.

This season, the Brazil international has posted 17 goals and nine assists across 48 matches in all competitions, notably scoring in both legs of his club's quarter-final triumph over Manchester City in the Champions League this season.

In La Liga, as per Sofascore, Rodrygo has showcased this wonderful array of abilities emphatically, completing 90% of his passes and averaging 2.7 shots, 1.3 key passes and 1.8 dribbles per fixture, with teammate Dani Carvajal hailing his "magical" ability with the ball.

Fast, furious and effective, the £207k-per-week star would be a credit to any team among Europe's elite, but just how would he improve Slot's Liverpool side.

How Rodrygo would fit in at Liverpool

Rodrygo's incremental improvement over the years he has been at Real Madrid bears testament to both his quality and his character, thriving in the unforgiving conditions at the world's most prestigious football club.

He signed for Real Madrid as a teenager in a €45m (£40m) transfer, departing from his homeland to forge a career of significance.

His experience thus far suggests that he would be equipped to adapt to life in the Premier League and life at Liverpool, though the matter of his best position would need to be settled.

Mohamed Salah is expected to remain at the club despite interest from the Saudi Pro League, while the under-fire Darwin Nunez is also expected to be on the books under Slot next season.

That leaves Luis Diaz, who has been one of Liverpool's most impressive performers in recent months – praised for his "brilliant" performances by The Athletic's James Pearce – but is probably the most expendable high-profile forward on the books. Let's look at why that is.

The 27-year-old Colombian winger is contracted to Anfield until 2027 but has attracted interest from Paris Saint-Germain and. Barcelona, with Liverpool subsequently slapping a £75m price tag on his name.

Diaz is fast and influential in his defence-stretching movements down the left flank but there is a question as to whether he is too profligate to continue to star for Liverpool – especially with such lucrative interest floating about.

In the Premier League, eight goals from 36 matches is not quite the tally hoped for as Sadio Mane's successor, especially given that he has missed 12 big chances.

Rodrygo can surpass Lucho in this regard, with journalist Sam Tighe remarking that his "finishing levels are straight up terrifyingly good" earlier in the season – hence Carlo Ancelotti's decision to deploy him up top.

While the Madrid man is typically found on the right side of the frontline when placed out wide, he boasts a return of 27 goal contributions from 65 outings on the left throughout his flowering career.

Moreover, his prowess at the spearhead suggests that he could forge a level of interchangeability with, say, Nunez – who has played out wide for Liverpool and enjoyed his time out there.

Slot's definitely not rigid in the way he configures his team and this could see multi-positional players targeted this summer. Rodrygo would require significant work to prise from Madrid clutches but he would be well worth the effort.

Slot must instantly ditch Liverpool ace who earns more than Jones & Elliott

This Klopp signing is not going to lift Liverpool to another level under Arne Slot.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 15, 2024

James McClean has revealed how much Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney spent on Wrexham’s record signing, who is yet to play a minute in League One.

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• Busy transfer window at SToK Racecourse
• Squad reinforced for life in the third tier
• Promising striker down the pecking order

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  A busy summer transfer window saw the Red Dragons move to further bolster their ranks. Additions were required as Phil Parkinson sought to piece together a squad that can be competitive in the third tier of English football – following back-to-back promotions.

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  The Hollywood co-owners in North Wales are considered to have completed more shrewd business, with the likes of Arthur Okonkwo, George Dobson and Ollie Rathbone being snapped up. The latter is said to have been lured away from Rotherham in a £500,000 deal.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  A move for Mo Faal, who arrived from West Brom after registering 15 goals across loan spells at Doncaster and Walsall last season, was said to have matched Rathbone’s fee. McClean has, however, told those at a live recording of that 21-year-old forward Faal actually came with a £590,000 price tag.

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  TELL ME MORE

  That asking price will raise eyebrows as the youngster is yet to figure for Wrexham in League One this season. His two appearances to date have come in the Carabao Cup – when he scored against Salford – and the Football League Trophy.

Southampton would have come away from the 2-1 win at Leeds United on the action-packed final day in the Championship full of confidence again, having lost their last three league encounters before this joyous trip to West Yorkshire.

The Saints constantly troubled a nervous Leeds side on their own turf, with Kyle Walker-Peters' awareness for Southampton's second on the day showing the desire of Russell Martin's men in spades with the right-back gambling on the ball not going out of play, to then tee up Will Smallbone to fire home.

Not everything went swimmingly, however, despite the positive final scoreline with Che Adams limping off in the second half with a worrying knock.

This would be a major blow for Martin's men if the Saints goal machine isn't fit enough for the drama of the playoffs, having come into his own in recent months up top for the promotion-chasers.

Che Adams' numbers this season

Often seen in the shadow of Adam Armstrong's immense goalscoring numbers at St. Mary's, with the experienced former Newcastle United man bagging 21 goals this season, Adams is standing out in his own right now for Martin's side.

With Armstrong drafted out to the right wing for large portions of this campaign, the Scotland international has led the line as the lone striker predominantly with his prolific edge in front of goal shining in the process.

The 27-year-old forward is only four goals behind his deadly teammate, with five of his 15 second-tier goals for the season coming in a fruitful April for the ex-Birmingham City man.

If Adams' knock is a serious one, the composed Saints number ten would leave a gaping hole in attack when such crunch matches are crying out for the 5 foot 9 striker to excel in.

Still, the absence of Adams could prepare Southampton for an uneasy summer to come with the 27-year-old out of contract and waiting to be snapped up by many a Premier League suitor.

This could give another striker in the Saints camp the impetus to make the gaping hole left by Adams their own if he isn't fit for the matches to come, with one returning attacker desperate to make an impression.

The players who could replace Adams

One bold candidate to take Adams' place could be Ross Stewart, with the former Sunderland man finally tasting more second-tier action for the South Coast club against Leeds after being in the treatment room for most of this campaign.

This seven-minute run-out could well have been Martin assessing whether or not the Scotsman still looked rusty, with the forgotten 27-year-old going on to win 100% of his ground duels as a lively late option in West Yorkshire.

Having netted six goals in Scotland with Alloa Athletic and with Sunderland in their respective playoff structures, Stewart could thrive under the intense strain of the tense matches to follow if given a chance by Martin.

The safer play by the 38-year-old boss against West Bromwich Albion over two legs could be to reintroduce Sekou Mara into the first-team fold, with the Frenchman deemed not fit enough for a spot on the bench against Leeds but should be ready for the playoffs.

Mara has starred in flashes for his promotion-seeking side this season, with six goals managed in all competitions from 33 matches.

Yet, there must be some temptation on Martin's end to throw Stewart in at the deep end instead with one of his ex-Sunderland teammates Alex Pritchard describing the striker as "unbelievable" when securing the Black Cats promotion to the second-tier back in 2022. Could he fancy another big promotion moment on his CV?

Former Manchester United academy coach Nicky Butt has speculated on the Premier League transfer status of England international Angel Gomes.

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• Gomes impresses with Lille and England
• Nicky Butt discusses Gomes' future
• Linked with a number of Premier League sides

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Gomes came up through the ranks of the Manchester United youth system after having joined the Red Devils' academy in 2006. Eleven years later, the midfielder made it into United's first team at the age of 17 and stayed with them until the summer of 2020, when he moved to Ligue 1 side Lille after having failed to get playing time at Old Trafford.

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  Gomes, now 24 years old, has impressed a number of Premier League with his exploits at Lille and was called up to the England national team by interim boss Lee Carsley. As such, Butt has now discussed the potential clubs Gomes could make a switch to in the summer of 2025, once his contract expires with the Ligue 1 side.

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  WHAT BUTT SAID

  Speaking to , Butt said: "I think he can do better than some of the teams that will be in for him in the Premier League.

  "The Spanish league is written all over for Angel. He could play in the Premier League easily. He could play for City tomorrow.

  "When Angel left United (in 2020), I said to him ‘you’re going to go on and have an unbelievable career and I wouldn’t be surprised if you end up playing against Manchester United for Barcelona or Real Madrid in the next five, six, seven years’, because he was that good. And I’m not just saying that now that he’s made his England debut, I genuinely thought that a long time ago.

  "He could play in the Premier League easily. He could play for City tomorrow. But then you put him in at Man United at the minute and he’s got to have the legs to go through the centre of midfield where there’s a massive gap, people run through the Man United midfield like you wouldn’t believe. Then it’s a really difficult game for him."

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• WHAT NEXT FOR GOMES?

  The England international has become a lynchpin in Lille's midfield over the last two years and the French side will likely try their best to get him to sign a new contract and avoid losing him for nothing to another club next summer.