All posts by n8rngtd.top

A major Rangers claim has emerged over Joe Aribo and his future at Ibrox beyond the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Gers reporter Jonny McFarlane has revealed that the club are on the verge of finalising a deal to sell the exciting forward this week.

Premier League side Southampton are in talks with the Light Blues and the journalist has stated that they are not far away from securing their target.

He Tweeted: “Joe Aribo’s exit from Rangers looming. The clubs are close to agreeing a £10m package plus a significant sell-on. For a £300k signing with a year left on his contract this surely represents a really solid piece of business.

The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell has backed up the claim, Tweeting: “Exclusive story from last night on Southampton being in advanced talks to sign Rangers’ Joe Aribo. The release clause in his contract is £10m. No previous bids for him. Saints negotiating guaranteed fee but RFC say overall package must hit that number.”

Gio van Bronckhorst will be fuming

This update will surely leave the Ibrox head coach fuming as losing Aribo will be a major blow to his squad heading into the 2022/23 campaign.

The midfielder played a crucial role for the Dutch boss last term and proved that he is a reliable, quality, option to call upon domestically and in Europe.

In the Europa League, he played 15 matches and averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.97 as he made 2.1 tackles and interceptions per game, whilst also chipping in with one goal and three assists.

Meanwhile, Aribo’s Premiership form was outstanding as he averaged a score of 7.07 across 34 games – scoring eight and assisting five. The gem also made 2.0 tackles and interceptions and won 6.4 duels per match, showing that he stood up to the physicality of the division whilst also making a big impact in the final third.

These statistics illustrate the gem’s importance to Rangers in more ways than one. Along with his evident quality on the pitch and his consistency in his displays, his availability to play 49 games in the Scottish top-flight and the Europa League combined is a considerable strength.

He was rarely injured or otherwise unavailable and that meant that van Bronckhorst was able to rely on him throughout the campaign. Rangers will now have to replace him with a player capable of making a similar impact on the pitch whilst also having the same physical durability and it remains to be seen how difficult that will be.

For now, van Bronckhorst will be fuming with Aribo’s prospective exit and the impact it will have on his side next season…

AND in other news, Rangers can land Jack 2.0 by signing £20m gem who “dominates”, he’s “one of the best”…

West Ham are plotting a swoop for Burnley winger Dwight McNeil as David Moyes looks to add to his squad.

What’s the word?

That’s according to the Sun, who claim that West Ham are lining up a £10m bid for the winger, although Burnley are likely to want more than that for the player.

The Hammers face competition from Tottenham Hotspur for the 22-year-old this summer and Moyes will have to act fast to secure his signature.

Just imagine him and Bowen

West Ham will be looking at building on last season’s success by making some headway into the transfer market and bringing in some high-quality players.

Moyes has made a good start, with the Premier League side securing the signings of Nayef Aguerd and goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, but surely more incomings will be required if the manager aims to replicate the side’s excellent European run last season.

With a serious lack of depth in the attacking department, a move for McNeil makes sense. His main position is on the left wing but is equally adept in both a left midfield and wingback role too, which is a big bonus for Moyes.

Former Burnley boss Sean Dyche dubbed the winger “dangerous” and a “real talent” which should be enough to convince Moyes of his talents.

McNeil didn’t have the greatest of seasons in terms of goal involvements (zero goals and one assist) as Burnley ended their six-season stay in the Premier League with relegation in May, but he did display other attributes.

The 22-year-old created six big chances, making 1.3 key passes and 1.4 shots per match while also winning 54% of his duels.

Moyes could unleash McNeil on the left and Jarrod Bowen on the right and form an excellent wide partnership next season as the club aims to take the next step up in their development under the Scot.

Combine the former’s mesmeric crossing ability with Bowen’s finishing and it would surely be a match made in heaven.

A deal for the Burnley man might just be the catalyst for further attacking additions to the playing squad and another top six challenge.

AND in other news: Moyes plotting move for “special” £45m “baller”, he’d be a “superstar” for West Ham…

Alexandro Bernabei will undergo a medical at Celtic imminently and a move could be completed ‘this weekend’, according to reliable journalist Anthony Joseph.

The Lowdown: Bernabei heading to Celtic

Hopefully the Hoops have a productive summer in the transfer window ahead of them as Ange Postecoglou strengthens his options for next season.

One player who looks to be on the verge of a move to Celtic is Bernabei, who has excelled at left-back for Argentine side Lanus, becoming a key figure for the club at just 21. He started 23 league games for them last season and was their fourth-best player according to WhoScored performance metrics.

It now looks as though the youngster’s proposed move to Parkhead is edging closer all the time.

The Latest: Joseph drops Bernabei transfer claim

Taking to Twitter on Saturday, Joseph claimed that Bernabei would have a medical at Celtic imminently, with the £3.75m move potentially being completed before Monday.

The reporter tweeted:

“UPDATE: Alexandro Bernabei is due to undergo his medical at Celtic this weekend, before signing a long-term contract. The deal with Lanus is £3.75m, with a 10% sell-on clause. Bernabei & Jota are expected to be with the Celtic squad travelling to Austria for pre-season in July.”

The Verdict: Strong summer addition

Left-back is an area which could do with added depth this summer for Celtic, with Greg Taylor a good option there but more rotation needed ahead of a hectic 2022/23 campaign.

Bernabei looks like an exciting addition in that respect, coming in as a young player who can mature into a force for the Premiership champions, having won one cap for Argentina’s under-23s to date and established a reputation as a tough tackler – his average of two per game last term was better than any of the Hoops’ regulars.

The defender may not come in as an immediate first-team regular as he adjusts to his new surroundings, but over time there is no reason why he can’t become first choice under Postecoglou at Parkhead.

Sunderland are now ready to offer Ross Stewart more money in a bid to fend off interest from Scottish Premiership giants Rangers, according to the Daily Record.

The Lowdown: Stewart’s season

After arriving at the Stadium of Light in January 2021, the 25-year-old went on to establish himself as one of the most dangerous players in League One.

Having netted 26 goals across the most recent campaign, the Scotland international ended up level with Wigan Athletic’s Will Keane as the division’s top scorer.

Perhaps even more impressively, Stewart started all 49 league games last season including the play-offs, being substituted on just six occasions.

The Latest: Rangers want Stewart

Stewart is currently a target for Rangers, with Ibrox sporting director Ross Wilson having listed the Black Cats marksman as a possible option this summer.

However, according to the Daily Record, Sunderland are ready to offer the forward more money in a bid to fend off interest from the Glasgow club and a plethora of English suitors.

Stewart pocketed an automatic pay rise for his vital role in the Black Cats’ promotion to the Championship, but the Wearside club are keen to give him an even more lucrative deal in order to keep hold of him.

Therefore, it is reported that talks will be opened when the Scotsman comes back from his summer break in the near future.

The Verdict: Keep him at all costs…

Sunderland director Kristjaan Speakman has previously spoken of his determination to keep Stewart at the Stadium of Light, having labelled the attacker’s season ‘incredible’.

The 25-year-old averaging the Black Cats’ highest match rating across the entire campaign with an impressive 7.42, with second-placed Tom Flanagan trailing behind with 7.04 (via WhoScored).

Also, Sunderland’s next-highest scorer, Nathan Broadhead, netted a comparatively meagre 10 league goals, illustrating just how crucial Stewart was in their promotion campaign.

With Alex Neil’s side preparing for life in the Championship, it is imperative for the Black Cats to hold on to their star striker at all costs, given the probable difficulty in finding a like-for-like replacement.

Wolves are ready to push hard for the signing of Sporting CP midfielder Matheus Nunes this summer, with a report claiming they will ‘attack’ the transfer.

The Lowdown: Midfielder needed at Wolves

With Ruben Neves seemingly nailed-on to leave Wanderers before the start of next season, the midfield has to be a key area to focus on for Bruno Lage.

The Portuguese superstar will leave a big hole in the middle of the park, such is his brilliance, and the money received for him will need to be spent wisely.

Joao Moutinho is also turning 36 this year and hasn’t yet signed a new deal, so the need for reinforcements is clear to see.

The Latest: Nunes bid imminent

According to Record [via Sport Witness], Wolves have been ‘overtaken’ by Fulham in the race to sign Joao Palhinha, with Wanderers instead willing to pay €50million (£42.8m) for Nunes.

The 23-year-old’s current Sporting deal doesn’t expire until the summer of 2026, which is why such a sizeable bid is needed to prise him away.

Jorge Mendes will ‘soon’ present a ‘proposal’ of €45m fixed plus €5m in add-ons for Wolves, as Fosun ‘advances’ over a big-money deal.

[freshpress-quiz id=“398117″]

The Verdict: Better than Palhinha?

While Wolves appear to have pursued Palhinha relentlessly in recent months, it could be that Nunes ends up being an even more exciting signing for the club.

[freshpress-poll id=“399044″]

At 23, he is three years his Sporting teammate’s junior, and he scored three goals and registered two assists in the Primeira Liga last season, making 31 starts in the competition.

Nunes would bring quality and poise to Wolves’ midfield – he has even been hailed as ‘one of the best players in the world’ by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. Snapping him up for a big-money feel could feel like a significant piece of business, bringing in a genuine world class talent to replace Neves.

In other news, Fabrizio Romano has dropped a Wolves transfer update. Read more here.

Celtic youngster Karamoko Dembele is attracting interest from Ligue 1 side Brest, according to a report in the last 48 hours from French outlet Foot Mercato. 

The lowdown: Teenage sensation

Following a debut in a 2–1 victory against Hearts when aged just 16, the fledgeling teenager has remained on the periphery of the Hoops’ squad ever since.

In the time that has passed the England and Scotland youth international has made nine further first-team outings for the Glasgow giants, opening his account in a 4-0 victory over St. Johnstone last year.

Now, as Dembele’s contract heads steadfast towards its conclusion at the end of the month (Transfermarkt), one potential suitor has emerged from the ether…

The latest: Brest keen

As per Foot Mercato, Brest are ‘one of the options’ for the one-cap England Under 18 starlet.

It’s claimed that the French top-flight outfit are ‘well placed’ to add Dembele – who was hailed as ‘exceptionally good’ by Dutch legend Ruud Gullit – to their squad this summer.

The report definitively states that the London-born ace’s future lies ‘elsewhere’ having spent four years a part of the setup at Lennoxtown.

The verdict: Another one?

Despite failing to make the desired impact after bursting onto the scene, Dembele remains a supremely talented individual with plenty to offer moving forwards, proven by playing a pivotal role in the Bhoys’ development side.

There has been a worrying trend developing in recent times as some of the most prodigious, highly thought of talents – such as now Liverpool revelation Ben Doak – move away from Celtic Park before they’ve had the chance to truly blossom.

In order to address the problem, the Hoops and Ange Postecoglou need to show that there is a pathway to first-team action for those nurtured in Glasgow so that the club can maintain a nucleus of its best homegrown youngsters for a longer period of time.

As for Dembele, after making just two appearances during an injury-ravaged 2021/22, it may bear out that the £225,000-valued winger was unlikely to make the grade at the Scottish Premiership champions anyway – time will tell.

Aston Villa have rarely struggled to remain consistent in achieving an adequate number of clean sheets over the course of a Premier League season. It shouldn’t come as surprise, however, when looking at the underrated yet always impressive goalkeepers that they’ve boasted throughout the years.

Just to list a couple of big hitters, David James and Peter Schmeical are among the names to have worn the number one shirt at Villa Park. Meanwhile, the likes of Shay Given and Brad Friedel have enjoyed success in between the sticks of the Midlands club.

These days, the task is left to Emiliano Martinez to keep the clean sheets. And what a job he’s doing. The Argentine has enjoyed some rise to the top since his days sitting on the Arsenal bench. He’s now considered to be one of the best goalkeepers outside of the Premier League’s top clubs.

Martinez will hope to continue his rise next season, and put himself in contention to jump up a few places in the list below – which ranks every goalkeeper to have worn the No.1 jersey for Villa in the Premier League by top flight clean sheets.

Stats revealed by TransferMarkt.

Every Aston Villa No.1 ranked on clean sheets

Mark Bosnich – 51 clean sheets

Thomas Sörensen – 46 clean sheets

Brad Friedel – 35 clean sheets

Brad Guzan – 20 clean sheets

David James – 12 clean sheets

Emiliano Martínez – 11 clean sheets

Shay Given – 8 clean sheets

Peter Enckelman – 8 clean sheets

Peter Schmeichel – 7 clean sheets

Tom Heaton – 4 clean sheets

As you can see from the list above, it is Mark Bosnich who leads the way – the very first number one in Aston Villa’s Premier League history. As it turns out, they started with the perfect goalkeeper, with his tally of 51 clean sheets placing him clear at the top.

Meanwhile, Thomas Sörensen, with 46 clean sheets, is the closest a No.1 has come at Villa Park to surpassing Bosnich. Five clean sheets short, however, Sörensen just couldn’t do enough.

As for the rest, the likes of Brad Friedel and Brad Guzan didn’t have bad spells at the Midlands club, either, keeping 35 and 20 clean sheets respectively.

Now with Martinez, who kept 11 clean sheets in his first season wearing the number one jersey, Villa will look to reach new heights next season. Under Steven Gerrard, Villa feel like a club on the up.

Individually, meanwhile, Martinez will be looking to surpass David James on 12 clean sheets, whilst edging closer to Guzan and Friedel on 20 and 35.

Wolves have been boosted in their efforts to sign Joao Palhinha this summer, with the Sporting CP midfielder increasingly likely to leave the club.

The Lowdown: Never-ending Palhinha links

It feels as though barely a day goes by without the Wanderers being linked with a move for the 26-year-old, as they eye up possible Ruben Neves replacements.

The Wolves fan favourite looks nailed on to leave Molineux summer, leaving a gaping void in the middle of the park, and it appears as though Palhinha is viewed as the man to fill it.

It certainly seems likely that the Sporting man will have plenty of suitors this summer, and now a fresh report from his homeland has offered a boost to any and all interest parties…

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/all-the-latest-from-wolves-8/” title=”All the latest from Wolves!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=“none”]

The Latest: Palhinha will move

According to O Jogo [via Sport Witness], Palhinha will definitely move on and ‘change air’ this summer, with an ‘intense’ battle for his signature ongoing.

It is claimed there is ‘hardly’ a chance he stays at Sporting for another season, although he is focusing on international duty with Portugal for the time being.

[freshpress-quiz id=“398117″]

The Verdict: Sign him up

In terms of a Neves replacement, Palhinha ticks so many boxes, so he really should be seen as Wolves’ number one transfer target.

Similarly strong on the ball, he enjoyed an 87.8% pass completion rate in the Primeira Liga in 2021/22, also averaging three tackles per game in the competition – that’s actually better passing and tackling than Neves managed this term.

That highlights how impressive his all-round game is and he has the potential to be a great signing if Wolves get it done, having been described as ‘special’ by manager Ruben Amorim.

In other news, Wolves are reportedly in the race to sign a striker. Find out who it is here.

Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus has revealed that his future with the Premier League champions could be decided as early as next week as he considers the next stage of his career.

The Lowdown: Jesus linked with Arsenal

The Brazilian arrived at the Etihad Stadium in a £27m move from Palmeiras in 2016 and he has since gone on to make 236 appearances for the Sky Blues during his time in Manchester so far.

With just over 12 months remaining on his contract, a decision may need to be made this summer as to whether the 25-year-old will remain with City or move elsewhere.

It has recently been reported that top-flight rivals Arsenal are close to agreeing a deal with the forward as they look to replace the departing Alexandre Lacazette, but the Brazil international has now delivered a teasing update on his current situation.

The Latest: Jesus addresses his future

When speaking to reporters following Brazil’s recent 5-1 victory over South Korea (as quoted by Manchester Evening News), Jesus admitted that he is currently reviewing his options and is set to make a final decision on his future soon.

He said: “I’m looking to see what’s best for me and above all, for my career. From Tuesday, we’ll see what is the best.”

The Verdict: Time to move on?

When he initially joined City, the Sao Paulo native unsurprisingly found himself below Sergio Aguero in Pep Guardiola’s pecking order. However, following the Argentine’s departure last year, the 55-cap Brazil international has played a more integral role in leading the attacking line.

This season, the £91k-per-week starlet scored 13 goals and registered 12 assists across all competitions for the English champions (as per Transfermarkt) and was handed 21 top-flight starts, showing that he isn’t just a bit-part player to be used as a substitute and can do an effective job when given the opportunity.

However, with the signing of Borussia Dortmund beast Erling Haaland now confirmed, Jesus is likely to be resigned to a place on the bench next season and could struggle to get as much game-time as he enjoyed in 2021/22. Therefore, he may feel that this summer is the right time for him to leave City and start afresh in a new chapter elsewhere – maybe with the Gunners.

In other news… the Sky Blues are reportedly readying a bid for one of their long-term transfer targets

Tottenham manager Antonio Conte ‘will be pleased’ after a big development coming out of north London, BBC reporter Simon Stone has said.

The Lowdown: Conte eyes major overhaul…

As per a recent report by The Telegraph, the Lilywhites manager is eyeing a summer overhaul, with transfer chief Fabio Paratici set to hold talks with Conte in Italy soon.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-developments-2/” title=”Tottenham latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

It is believed that a list of ‘potential targets’ includes the likes of Alessandro Bastoni, Gleison Bremer, Djed Spence, Christian Eriksen, James Ward-Prowse, Kalvin Phillips and Gabriel Jesus.

Conte is apparently set to be promised six major incomings, with a recent confirmed Spurs update now gifting the Italian a potential transfer windfall. The club – and by association owners ENIC and chairman Daniel Levy – announced midweek that the north Londoners have agreed a £150m capital increase.

The Latest: Stone makes £150m claim…

As per BBC journalist Stone, sharing an update after this big news, the £150m can be used for ‘any purpose’, including transfer costs and player salaries. As a result, the reporter claimed that Conte ‘will be pleased’ and has hailed the ‘significant news’.

Stone explained (via Twitter): “Significant news this off the back of return to Champions League. £150m equity increase that can be used for any purpose, including transfer fees and wages. Antonio Conte is going to be pleased with this.”

The Verdict: Big boost…

As if qualifying for next season’s Champions League wasn’t enough, this £150m boost is yet more reason to be optimistic for Conte’s first full season in charge in N17.

This major windfall could go some way to assisting Paratici in backing Tottenham’s head coach in the summer transfer market as the Premier League club now seek to get back among the top-flight’s elite and come closer to challenging the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool.

In other news: ‘Told Spurs are ready’…Kilpatrick has exciting transfer news for supporters! Find out more here.