All posts by n8rngtd.top

Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed an excellent start to the summer transfer window as they have made a number of additions to their squad.

Fabio Paratici has been hard at work and has, so far, brought in Richarlison, Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma and Ivan Perisic on permanent deals.

The club are now closing in on a deal to sign Clement Lenglet on a season-long loan from Spanish giants Barcelona to bolster their defensive options.

However, that will not end their spending spree as it has been reported that Spurs want to sign Pau Torres from Villarreal after snapping the French centre-back up.

Antonio Conte is keen to add to his depth at the back and is now keen on a deal to sign the Spanish international, who has a release clause worth up to €60m (£50.5m).

Jan Vertonghen 2.0

By securing a deal to sign the 25-year-old, Tottenham could land their new Jan Vertonghen as the Villarreal gem is also a left-footed, ball-playing, central defender.

The Belgian international played 314 times for the club during his time in north London as he became a consistent presence at the back over the course of a number of years.

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Torres, at the age of 25, has the potential to be a stalwart of the team for many, many, years to come and could end up reaching a similar number of appearances if he adapts to English football.

He was once hailed an “extraordinary talent” by his former coach Javi Calleja and his form in La Liga suggests that he would be an excellent player for the club. In the Spanish top-flight last term, he averaged a superb SofaScore rating of 7.09 – winning a whopping 72% of his ground duels – as he proved that he can deliver consistently impressive performances.

Vertonghen was also a reliable passer with his left foot, averaging a career pass completion rate of 86.6%. This shows that he was not a liability in possession and was able to play a key role in the build-up by retaining the ball for his side.

Torres, meanwhile, has averaged a pass completion rate of 85% or higher in each of the last three La Liga campaigns. He is comfortable on the ball and able to find his teammates more often than not, building the play out from the back on his left foot – like the Belgian tank used to do for Spurs.

Therefore, he has the potential to be Vertonghen 2.0 for Tottenham and is an exciting target for the club to be pursuing ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

AND in other news, Deal agreed: Fabrizio Romano drops big Spurs transfer claim, Conte will be buzzing…

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has delivered his verdict on Celtic recently confirming the signing of Alexandro Bernabei from Lanus. 

The lowdown: Bernabei signed

The Hoops officially announced the capture of the 21-year-old left-back on a five-year deal this week after an impressive spell in the Argentine top flight.

An Argentina youth international, Bernabei joined the Premiership champions for a reported £3.75m fee and will provide competition to Greg Taylor in Ange Postecoglou’s plans.

Following the completion of the deal, one informed onlooker has had his say on what the transfer means for the club and perhaps what could happen next in the market…

The latest: ‘They’ll be delighted…’

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke claimed that the Celtic hierarchy would be overjoyed with the signing of Bernabei and may already have one eye on the next incoming at Parkhead.

He stated: “Bernabei does look like he’s got real talent and I’m sure Celtic are busy planning ahead for the Champions League.

“They’ll be delighted and we can see what he can bring to the team going forward.”

The verdict: Significant coup

Snapping up a precocious talent such as Bernabei for the aforementioned fee and on a long-term deal is a significant coup for the Bhoys, both in terms of what it means for the current squad and potentially as an investment in the future.

At such a young age, the Argentina under-23 starlet is likely to develop even further under Postecoglou and has already made impressive strides in senior football in his homeland, directly contributing to 15 goals in 87 first-team outings prior to his move to Glasgow.

Furthermore, adding the marauding left-back to the Lennoxtown ranks, along with any other potential incomings who could be in the pipeline such as the heavily linked Vinicius Souza, only enhances the strength in depth at Postecoglou’s disposal.

That is likely to be an important factor next season as the Hoops compete in the Champions League for the first time in five years.

Liverpool are interested in signing Real Madrid winger Marco Asensio this summer and have reportedly ‘come forward’ for him in recent days.

The Lowdown: Asensio leaving Madrid?

The 26-year-old picked up his third Champions League medal at the expense of the Reds last season, admittedly not playing a key role in his team’s success, though.

Asensio has drifted down the pecking order under Carlo Ancelotti, with Vinicius Jr and Federico Valverde preferred out wide, and it means he could leave Madrid with only a year remaining on his current deal.

Liverpool have been linked with a move for the Spaniard this week and it is a rumour that is refusing to go away.

The Latest: Liverpool pressing ahead

According to Calciomercato [via Sport Witness], the Reds have now ‘come forward’ for Asensio, as they look to beat Arsenal and Newcastle United to his signature.

It looks a ‘stronger and stronger’ likelihood that a Premier League move is on the cards as Madrid are desperate to avoid losing him for free next year, and the Reds see him as a replacement for Sadio Mane.

One sticking point however is Liverpool not being able to guarantee him regular football.

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The Verdict: Might not be worth it

Asensio’s quality as a footballer cannot be questioned – he was once described as ‘tremendously precise’ by Jorge Valdano and more recently called ‘spectacular’ by agent Horacio Gaggioli, and the numbers certainly back that up.

Despite limited chances this season, the Spain international bagged ten goals from just 19 La Liga starts, averaging over two shots and one chance created every game, per Whoscored.

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That being said, with Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino already battling for minutes in Liverpool’s attack, it is hard to see where he would fit in.

Asensio would also cost a hefty sum of money and with funds not exactly unlimited this summer, Jurgen Klopp would be better off using them to bring in a new midfielder, such as the recently-linked Nicolo Barella.

Nottingham Forest will be looking for ways to improve their squad ahead of their long-awaited return to the Premier League, and now there has been on an update on the club’s progress in signing a key transfer target.

What’s the latest?

According to 90min, Nottingham Forest have approached Wolverhampton Wanderers with the intention to make the club-record signing of Morgan Gibbs-White this summer.

As per the report, Steve Cooper is a huge admirer of the player and is hopeful that Forest will meet the transfer value set by his current club which is suggested as currently in excess of £20m.

Gibbs-White is currently contracted to Wolves until 2024, but 90min claim to understand that he has no interest in extending beyond that at this present time.

Johnson 2.0

Cooper’s efforts to sign Gibbs-White this summer prove that he is interested in injecting more youth into his forward line this summer and the Wolves midfielder could be the second coming of Brennan Johnson in the squad in terms of letting young offensive players lead the way at Forest.

The 22-year-old has been capturing the attention of the football world for his impressive loan spell in the Championship with Sheffield United.

Gibbs-White who was hailed “influential” by The Athletic journalist Stuart James, scored 11 goals, contributed nine assists and created 16 big chances, making 1.6 key passes and taking 2.4 shots on average per game in 35 Championship appearances.

His impressive and impactful performances led to him being ranked as the second highest-rated player in the squad this season by SofaScore.

The Forest manager is no stranger to the Wolves star as he worked with him at Swansea City back in 2020 when he joined the side on a season-long loan deal, but it was cut short when his parent club called him back in January 2021.

Cooper had high praise for Gibbs-White when talking about his loan spell at Swansea in an interview with The Athletic:

“He’s having a good impact. Like all of the young players their challenge now is to not get complacent and keep it going. He hasn’t played much football over the last couple of years. He’s getting that opportunity here so we’re hoping he gets fitter.”

“He’s just going through that young player process of making the most of their opportunities and having a good impact, fulfilling potential.”

Clearly the Forest boss wants to reunite with the player, and if they can secure a deal he could certainly have an instant impact on the team next season in the Premier League as the Welshman is already knowledgeable in Gibbs-White’s strengths and capabilities.

With that being said, breaking the club’s record to sign the midfielder would be a great piece of business for Forest in their pursuit to have a good run back in the top-flight next season.

AND in other news: Forget Spence: NFFC plot bid for “outstanding” £20m maestro, Cooper will love him

Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has been reacting to Tottenham Hotspur’s early business in the transfer window, heaping praise on the club’s new strategy.

The Lowdown: Busy busy

Spurs are busy preparing for the Champions League ahead of next season, with the fourth place Premier League side having wasted no time in adding quality and depth to Antonio Conte’s squad.

Fabio Paratici first secured the signature of Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic, with the Croatian star set to arrive at Spurs upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the month.

The free market was utilised once again with the signing of Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster, coming in as back-up for club captain Hugo Lloris.

Paratici’s latest acquisition was Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma, who arrived at Hotspur Way after the Lilywhites agreed an initial £25m fee for the player.

The Latest: Paratici masterclass

Sheth believes that Spurs fans will be overjoyed with Paratici’s impressive early business this window and is impressed by the new transfer strategy.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, he proclaimed: “If you look back in the history of transfer windows, normally Tottenham go to the last day.

“They always seem to do something on the final day and Tottenham fans wonder ‘why didn’t we do that earlier?’ because they could have been in for pre-season and they could have got used to the squad.

“It feels different this time because they’re getting their business done.”

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The Verdict: More signings expected

As per The Athletic, Tottenham are prioritising signing a left-sided centre-back next up, with football.london’s Alasdair Gold reporting that Paratici’s top two options are Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni and RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol.

Furthermore, Spurs are thought to be the frontrunners in the race to sign highly rated right-back Djed Spence from Middlesbrough, with the likes of Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus touted for a possible move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

With Paratici’s evident success so far and reports suggesting they will rack up six total first-team signings, this could truly be a defining summer for the future of Tottenham Hotspur.

In other news: Spurs now most likely club to sign Evan Ndicka…

Leeds United have fallen behind in the race to sign Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino, according to a report from The Times. 

The lowdown: Leeds interested in Minamino

The Whites have been heavily linked with a move for Minamino for some time now, and recently the interest surfaced once again as a report from This Is Anfield claimed that Liverpool were willing to listen to offers of around £17m for the Japan international.

Having successfully worked under the stewardship of Jesse Marsch at Red Bull Salzburg previously, the 27-year-old attacker was viewed as a genuine candidate to arrive at Elland Road to strengthen the ranks.

However, the Yorkshire club appear to have slipped down the list of potential destinations for Minamino as one competitor receives a timely cash injection…

The latest: Monaco lead Minamino race

As per The Times, AS Monaco have swept to the front of the race to sign the 41-cap ace ahead of Leeds, Wolves, Fulham and Southampton.

It’s claimed that Monaco are now ‘leading the chase’ to sign the man who directly contributed to 20 goals in just 22 outings under Marsch in Austria.

The Ligue 1 outfit are set to receive a massive fee in the region of €100m (£85m) for the sale of Aurelien Tchouameni from Real Madrid and would therefore have no problem reaching the asking price for Minamino, who was hailed by James Pearce for a ‘clinical’ finish against Norwich City last season.

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The verdict: Don’t delay

With Monaco seemingly ready to act, Leeds cannot afford to wait for Raphinha to decide on his future before moving for a top target.

Despite being somewhat of an onlooker in the Premier League during 2021/22, Minamino scored 10 times and provided one assist in 24 appearances across all competitions, highlighting that aforementioned clinical nature whenever he is handed an opportunity.

Although there is no lure of European football on the table in Yorkshire, the prospect of reuniting with Marsch should excite the versatile Japanese star, and as such, Victor Orta and Andrea Radrizzani must be going all-out to try and make this deal happen.

In other news: Leeds now won’t sign ‘superb’ midfielder despite Phil Hay revealing talks

West Ham United manager David Moyes has set his sights on a potential ‘huge’ signing for the club, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Big summer ahead…

The 2022 summer transfer window officially swings open tomorrow and it’s safe to say this could be West Ham’s biggest one in years.

Having just missed out on a place in the Premier League top six last season to Manchester United, Moyes had to settle for a place in the Europa Conference League with there being no prospect of a dream Europa League journey next campaign.

The Hammers went on an unprecedented run to the semi-finals over 2021/2022, eventually falling to Eintracht Frankfurt, and supporters will be hoping they can build upon that with a memorable domestic campaign over 22/23.

West Ham will need reinforcements to compete with England’s elite, though, with 90min reporter Toby Cudworth now sharing news on a familiar face targeted personally by Moyes.

The Latest: Moyes eyeing Lingard move…

As per the journalist (via Twitter), West Ham are still eyeing a Bosman move for Jesse Lingard with the 29-year-old now confirmed to be leaving Manchester United upon the expiry of his contract.

Cudworth explained that ‘Moyes loves him’ and their interest in sealing a return for the Englishman is ‘unchanged’.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Lingard shone on a temporary spell at the London Stadium over 2020/2021, scoring nine goals and assisting four others in 16 top flight starts under Moyes.

He also received praise from members of the West Ham squad during his time at Rush Green and it’s safe to say he took to Claret and Blue like a duck to water.

Fitting in seamlessly for Moyes, re-signing the attacker permanently for zero transfer cost comes a s a real no-brainer, especially given members of the media have called Lingard a potential ‘huge’ signing for West Ham (Paul Robinson, Football Insider).

In other news: West Ham officials dispatched as GSB eye ‘superstar’ signing for Moyes! Find out more here.

Rangers defender Calvin Bassey is in ‘no rush to leave’ Ibrox this summer, claims Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge.

The Lowdown: Transfer interest

According to Sky Sports, Aston Villa are among a number of Premier League clubs who have made enquiries about the 22-year-old.

Having signed Bassey for Rangers in 2020, former boss Steven Gerrard is said to want to reunite with the defender at Villa Park.

It is understood that it would take a bid around the £25m mark to bring Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Ross Wilson to the negotiating table.

The Latest: Bridge drops teasing update

Bridge doesn’t believe that Bassey needs to leave Ibrox this summer, given his rapid rise to stardom in the Scottish Premiership.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, he claimed:

“There’s already cheeky articles from Celtic-based journalists in Scotland, saying ‘Rangers should cash in on him now,’ but I think that’s them being cheeky.

“He’s only 22 and is he in no rush to leave, so I think you’ll get a lot of that over the next few weeks.”

The Verdict: Huge news for Rangers

According to FB Ref, the defender sensationally ranks in the 99th percentile for both blocked shots and dribbles completed when compared with positional peers across Europe, showing his talents on both sides of the ball.

As a result, it is no surprise to see Bassey on the receiving end of top praise from experienced defenders. For example, former Rangers man Alan Hutton dubbed the 22-year-old a ‘warrior’ after a ‘ten-out-of-ten’ performance in the Scottish Cup final.

With Bridge thinking Bassey may stay at the Ibrox beyond the summer, this will come as big news to Rangers fans, who will be desperate to keep the bulk of their squad together and mount a real challenge to take the title back next term.

In other news: GvB rejects bid for Ianis Hagi!

Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch is set for his first transfer window in charge of the club this summer after keeping the team in the top-flight.

He replaced Marcelo Bielsa at Elland Road and secured another season in the Premier League by beating Brentford 2-1 on the final day of the campaign, relegating Burnley in the process.

The Lillywhites boss will now have his first opportunity to bring his own players to the club as he starts to shape the team that he wants to build.

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One player who has already been linked with a move to Yorkshire is RB Leipzig’s Tyler Adams. MLS insider Tom Bogert has claimed that Leeds will be in for the midfielder in the coming months.

His own Joshua Kimmich

German manager Ralf Rangnick, most recently of Manchester United, previously compared the American international to the Bayern Munich star. He said:

“Like Joshua (Kimmich), Tyler has an unbelievable will to win. He wants to win every match and every training game. He wants to improve and listens. He’s never satisfied. The sky is the limit.”

Adams responded to these comments by saying: “It’s an honor to be compared with one of the best players in Europe. I’ve known Ralf [Rangnick] for some time now, and I highly regard his opinion because he’s an extraordinary expert in football. So, I’m flattered by his remarks.”

Kimmich has played 299 games for Bayern and won seven Bundesliga titles and the Champions League. He is also valued at £76.50m by Transfermarkt and this illustrates why it was a huge comparison for Rangnick to make at the time.

That is not to say that Adams will go on to be as good as the German international, or achieve as much, but he can be Leeds’ own version of him for where they are in the football food chain.

The Leipzig man already has four Bundesliga seasons under his belt by the age of 23 and has showcased his bite in midfield as well as his versatility. Like Kimmich, he can play at right-back and in central midfield and has made 3.1 tackles and interceptions per game on average throughout his career.

He is a young player with the potential to improve and a mentality comparable with a decorated midfield star and that is why Leeds must sign him this summer.

The machine can be an excellent addition to the team with his ability to win the ball back in the middle of the park and his scope to develop further in the years to come.

AND in other news, Huge transfer twist emerges that will have Leeds United supporters buzzing…

Manchester City have seen numerous players move in and out of the club since Pep Guardiola was appointed as manager back in 2016.

The Citizens have also created a track record when it comes to signing players from other Premier League clubs.

One player that was brought in from another top-flight side that has gone on to be very successful at the Etihad Stadium is Kyle Walker.

Signed from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2017 in a deal worth a reported fee of £50m in total, the right-back has gone on to make a total of 215 appearances across all competitions.

In those appearances, the Englishman has scored six goals and delivered 17 assists along the way, winning four Premier League trophies, four Carabao Cup trophies and one FA Cup.

Once Fernandinho’s current contract officially runs out at the end of June, Walker will then be City’s oldest outfield player at the age of 32.

With that in mind, it could be worth Guardiola and the City hierarchy making plans to sign a potential long-term replacement for the England international.

One figure that could fit the bill that has been mentioned with a move to the Manchester club is Chelsea full-back Reece James.

In 123 senior appearances for the west London club, the 22-year-old has scored nine goals and delivered 18 assists in the process.

Back in September 2020, one of the youngster’s goals for his side was described as “sensational” by Gary Lineker on Twitter.

In terms of his goal contributions in the Premier League this season, James found the net five times and supplied nine assists in 26 appearances, which is significantly more than the two assists Walker contributed to his side.

From a defensive point of view, the £49.5m-rated Chelsea star made more tackles, blocks and pressures than the former Spurs defender.

This shows how impressive James is up and down the pitch and why he’d be a solid replacement for Walker in the future.

While the Chelsea youth academy graduate may even be a ready-made replacement for the City star now, it may be difficult for the Manchester club to sign him this summer as his current deal at Stamford Bridge isn’t set to expire until 2025, in addition to the fact that Thomas Tuchel may be reluctant to see one of his assets make a move to a league rival.

In other news: Pep can seal dream Sterling heir as MCFC eye “outrageously talented” £102m-rated star