All posts by n8rngtd.top

Manchester United star striker Cristiano Ronaldo is not for sale despite reports that a move to Premier League rivals Chelsea could happen this summer.

What’s the story?

According to Sky Sports, the Portuguese striker is not for sale and United expect him to remain at Old Trafford next season. It comes as his agent Jorge Mendes met with new Chelsea owner Todd Boehly and Ronaldo was mentioned.

Despite this, new manager Erik ten Hag has confirmed that Ronaldo is part of his plans at the club and, with a year still to run on his contract, he is expected to see it out.

CR7 returned to the Red Devils last summer, 12 years after he originally left the club for Real Madrid.

Supporters will be buzzing

The United faithful will be buzzing with the news that their star man is staying put as he was the one positive in an abysmal campaign last season.

He scored 24 goals in 38 games making him the club’s top scorer in all competitions – a 37-year-old scoring over 20 goals in a season is impressive.

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Ronaldo bailed United out many times and was the reason they managed to make it to the knockout stages of the Champions League and secure qualification for the Europa League.

Critics say that him being in the team slows United down and that they’re less effective on the counter-attack due to his lack of pace. However, there’s no arguing with his tally, and you simply can’t drop a man who’s practically guaranteed to score.

There may be question marks over who the Red Devils turn to when he eventually does leave, and United have been linked with bringing in a new striker, but first, they need to focus on improving other areas of the squad.

Last season they conceded 57 goals which is the highest ever for the club in a single Premier League campaign – meaning stopping goals going in is the issue, not scoring them.

Many players were rightly criticised for this, but Ronaldo will always be a legend, and United fans should cherish the fact they get to witness his greatness for at least one more year.

AND in other news: Man Utd now eyeing swoop for £43k-p/w “bulldog”, Ten Hag desperately needs him

TalkSPORT Journalist Alex Crook has claimed that Manchester United are ‘working hard’ on signing Ajax forward Antony.

The Lowdown: Transfer movement

The Red Devils are finally making progress in their attempts to bring in new players for Erik ten Hag, with the new season fast approaching.

United have reportedly agreed deals in principle for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong and Feyenoord left-back Tyrell Malacia.

Antony, labelled as a player who gives defenders ‘sleepless nights’, has also been linked with an Old Trafford move in recent weeks.

The Latest: Crook’s comments

Talking to GiveMeSport, Crook said that he knows United have been ‘working hard’ on signing Antony but added that agreeing on a fee could be an issue.

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“I know United have been working hard on Antony, but the fee that I was given was £40million.

“I think their asking price is nearer £60million so, obviously, there’s negotiating to be done there.”

The Verdict: Fingers crossed

United could do with attacking reinforcements over the coming weeks, especially on the right-hand side. Ten Hag doesn’t have a senior right-winger to choose from at this moment in time, so bringing in Antony, who is still just 22 years of age, could be a brilliant move.

The Brazilian starred under Ten Hag last season, contributing to 22 goals in 32 games solely as a right-winger, so he could solve United’s shortages in that area with a big-money move.

Leeds United won’t bid for RB Salzburg midfielder Mohamed Camara as things stands, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Camara links

The Whites have been heavily linked with a move for Camara in recent weeks, with an outlet in Austria going as far as saying a big-money transfer was ‘imminent’.

Leeds reportedly made a breakthrough in talks over the weekend in a deal that would have cost around £30m with bonuses.

However, it seems as if RB Leipzig’s Tyler Adams will be the man to arrive at Elland Road, according to Romano, after a total £20m fee was ‘100% agreed’.

The Latest: Romano’s update

Romano took to Twitter on Monday evening to provide updates on both Adams and Camara.

He claimed that a move for Adams was ‘done and sealed’, adding that ‘if nothing changes in the coming weeks, Leeds won’t bid for midfielder Camara’.

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The Verdict: Both needed?

Kalvin Phillips is now officially a Manchester City player, so you’d expect Adams will come in and fill the void left by the boyhood Leeds fan.

However, Jesse Marsch will have just Adams and fellow summer signing Marc Roca as senior defensive midfielders, so you could make an argument that Camara is also needed at Elland Road.

Manchester Evening News podcaster Conor McGilligan believes Camara is already ‘on KP’s level’, so having options of Adams, Roca and Camara may well prove to be smart business, but it looks as if a move isn’t ‘imminent’ as reported over the weekend.

Newcastle United are reportedly eyeing a club-record deal to sign Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby, according to 90min. 

The lowdown: Off-limits…

Previously the Magpies had been perturbed in their admiration for Diaby when the Bundesliga club’s director of sport Simon Rolfes told the Express that no sale would be possible this summer.

However, despite the hands-off warning and the lofty price tag, the interest in the Frenchman from St James’ Park hasn’t subsided as Eddie Howe attempts to add yet more attacking flair to the ranks.

Now it seems as though the move for the 22-year-old is progressing and the Toon club could be about to smash their transfer record in order to make it happen…

The latest: Record breakers

Writing in his latest piece for 90min, transfer expert Graeme Bailey has revealed that Newcastle are believed to be ‘gearing up’ to spend their highest ever fee in order to bring Diaby to the North East.

It’s claimed that ‘sources’ close to the outlet have confirmed that the Toon have ‘done considerable scouting work’ on the transfer and representatives from both parties have been ‘talking’ recently.

The report also states that Newcastle hold an interest in Chelsea forward Callum Hudson-Odoi and Everton starlet Anthony Gordon but it’s the man hailed for a ‘phenomenal’ display by reputable football analyst Statman Dave against Borussia Dortmund in 2021 who is considered the ‘top target’ this summer.

The verdict: Break the bank

Available for a reported £60mn, signing Diaby – who can play on either wing as well as in central attacking positions – would shatter the current record expenditure of £39.6million that saw Joelinton arrive from Hoffenheim.

But, despite the eye-watering fee, after 17 goals and 14 assists in 42 appearances across all competitions last season for Leverkusen, the eight-cap Frenchman would be a sensational capture to mark the new era in the North East.

Overall, Diaby earned a 7.07 Sofascore rating comprising of 1.8 successful dribbles, making 1.9 key passes and taking 1.7 shots on average per outing in the German top-flight – highlighting the attacking prowess that makes him a close stylistic match for such names as Mohamed Salah, Raheem Sterling and Son Heung-min (Fbref).

Ultimately, if Dan Ashworth and PIF can pull this one off, the St James’ Park faithful should be excited over the prospect of watching the explosive winger in action next season.

Leeds United have been handed a huge boost in their bid to bring Otavio to Elland Road this summer.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to a report by Portuguese publication Record (via Sport Witness), who claim that, after Victor Orta saw a €30m (£25m) bid for the right-winger turned down by FC Porto, the Spaniard could now land the 27-year-old at a discounted rate – as the Portugal international’s minimum fee release clause has temporarily dropped from €60m (£51m) to €40m (£34m) until July 15.

And, with Leeds looking likely to receive a figure in the region of €68m (£58m) from the sale of Raphinha in the coming days – with Fabrizio Romano recently revealing that the Brazilian’s move to Barcelona is now at the final stages – this would appear to suggest that Orta will have more than enough funds to activate Otavio’s release clause prior to Friday – when the forward’s price returns to €60m.

Orta must act

Considering the sheer amount of ability Otavio undoubtedly possesses, the fact that Leeds could now seal a £34m deal for the 27-year-old will undoubtedly come as a huge boost to Orta and his transfer team at Elland Road.

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Indeed, over his 32 Liga Portugal appearances last season, the £27m-rated attacker was in breathtaking form for Sergio Conceicao’s side, scoring three goals, registering 13 assists and creating 17 big chances for his teammates, in addition to making an average of 2.3 key passes, taking 1.6 shots and completing 1.1 dribbles per game.

The £32k-per-week talent who Alex Goncalves dubbed “phenomenal” also impressed in a defensive capacity, making an average of 3.2 tackles, 0.7 interceptions, 0.5 clearances and winning 7.4 duels – at a success rate of 51% – per fixture.

These returns saw the seven-cap international average a quite remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.48, ranking him not only as the Dragões’ best performer in the league but also as the joint third-best player in the division as a whole.

As such, it would very much appear as if Otavio would make something of a perfect replacement for Raphinha in Jesse Marsch’s Leeds squad next season – leading us to believe that Orta simply must activate the 27-year-old’s release clause prior to Friday’s deadline.

AND in other news: Contact made: Report reveals big Leeds transfer development, supporters surely buzzing

Leeds United have reportedly entered negotiations with Brazilian club Santos over a move for teenager Renyer.

The Lowdown: Renyer profiled

Renyer has recently turned 19 and is primarily a right-winger but can play anywhere across the front three and has been described as a ‘wonderkid’ by scout and Santos devotee Andre Noruega.

Sponsored by Puma, the youngster is valued at £2.25m by Transfermarkt and is under contract with Santos until November 2023.

He has made just seven senior appearances for his current employers, but it seems as if he is attracting interest from a number of different clubs, including Leeds.

The Latest: Leeds linked with Renyer

Sempre Milan relayed reports regarding Renyer’s future, claiming that AC Milan have been offered the winger in a cut-price deal which could cost just €2m (£1.7m).

Leeds have also been credited with an interest and have entered talks with Santos, with the Whites willing to loan the player back to the Brazilian club for at least another season.

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The Verdict: Interesting

Leeds appear to be closing in on English forward Sonny Perkins, and it looks as if Victor Orta is also keen on a move for Renyer.

It could be another coup if they manage to land the Brazilian, especially as he has been linked with the likes of Milan and Benfica, both of whom will be in Champions League action in 2022/23.

Loaning him back to Santos could also be a shrewd idea by Leeds officials, so this could be one to watch closely once a move for Perkins is wrapped up.

Reports in recent months have seen Rangers linked with a move to re-sign one of their former academy starlets.

Billy Gilmour previously left Ibrox as a teenager in 2017 to make the move to England, signing for Chelsea.

The suggestion is that the Premier League club are willing to let the Scotland international secure a loan move this summer, with the west London outfit believing that he is not yet ready to play a part in Thomas Tuchel’s first-team plans.

Having spent last season on loan at Norwich City, the highly-rated playmaker linked up with his parent club for pre-season in recent weeks in the hope of securing his place in Tuchel’s set-up moving forward, although he was subsequently removed from the club’s travelling party for the tour of the United States.

Now seemingly in a state of limbo, the £10.8m-rated ace is in need of a new temporary home for the forthcoming season, with there perhaps no better place for him to rejuvenate his career than back where it all began.

Should the Old Firm giants bring the £28k-per-week starlet back to Glasgow in the coming weeks, they would certainly not be getting a busted flush, with Gilmour having shown more than enough quality in his embryonic senior career thus far.

Described as looking “world-class” by pundit Roy Keane following his display against Liverpool in the FA Cup two years ago – having been handed his debut by Frank Lampard at the start of the 2019/20 season just a few months prior – the midfielder is clearly a player of immense talent, with now the time to show it on a regular basis.

That bright start to life with his current club quickly faded as he has since made just 22 appearances in all competitions for the club, but at international level he has become a permanent fixture of Steve Clarke’s side, notably starring in Scotland’s brief Euro 2020 voyage last summer.

His man-of-the-match display against England drew wider attention as he was lauded by decorated coach Jose Mourinho, while Netherlands international Patrick Van Aanholt likened the 5 foot 7 maestro to a certain N’Golo Kante.

That glowing assessment is a marker of just how talented the young Scot is, with it no mean feat to be compared to arguably one of the finest midfielders of the last decade in Kante.

The diminutive Frenchman has seemingly won all there is to win in the game in what has been a meteoric rise over the last seven years, having been something of an unknown quantity prior to his move to Leicester City in 2015.

The 31-year-old is an asset that any team would be fortunate to have, and it’s a truly mouthwatering thought that Rangers could potentially be able to find their own version of the World Cup winner in the form of Gilmour, should they snap up the latter this summer.

AND in other news, “Had contact…”: Journalist drops “unlikely” Rangers transfer claim that’ll delight Van Bronckhorst…

Liverpool appear to have their sights set on landing Borussia Dortmund starlet Jude Bellingham in the near future, with the young Englishman having repeatedly been linked with a move to Anfield in recent times.

A recent report from Football Insider has suggested that while the Bundesliga club will not sell the 19-year-old this summer, a switch to the Merseyside outfit could be in the offing in 12 months’ time – or even in January – with talks underway between the two sides.

The report suggests that the Reds are ‘confident’ that they will be able to sign the 15-cap sensation, with the potential for an agreement to be secured in the coming weeks ahead of the move happening later down the line.

The former Birmingham City gem – who made the bold decision to move to Germany in a £25m deal two years ago – has caught the attention of clubs across Europe following his hugely impressive and mature midfield displays in recent times, with it seemingly a matter of when and not if a ‘bigger club’ snaps him up.

Tipped to cost in the region of €120m (£101m), on recent form the £49k-per-week menace is likely to be worth every penny, having made such a stellar impact at Signal Iduna Park over the past two seasons.

In 91 games for Dortmund so far, the £72m-rated star has chipped in with 11 goals and 18 assists, with 20 of those goal contributions having come in what was a standout 2021/22 campaign.

Already described by team-mate Mats Hummels as “someone who leads the way”, the 6 foot 1 colossus has shown no signs of being overawed by the justified attention that he has been receiving of late, seemingly taking it all in his stride in a manner which belies his tender years.

The Stourbridge native has also already kicked off the new season in fine fashion with a goal in the recent DFB-Pokal victory over 1860 Munich, with the midfield “monster” – as dubbed by CBS Sports’ Ameer Tyree – likely to go from strength to strength this term.

While yet to play in the Premier League, there should be few concerns among those of a Liverpool persuasion about Bellingham’s ability to adjust to life in arguably Europe’s toughest league, having notably been compared to one of the division’s finest-ever midfielders in Patrick Vieira by former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.

That is a comparison which will surely pique the interest of Jurgen Klopp and co, with Vieira having been a colossal figure in English football during his stellar nine-year spell with the Gunners, winning three league titles under compatriot Arsene Wenger and captaining the Gunners’ famed ‘Invincibles’ team.

Like Bellingham, the Frenchman was a commanding and physically imposing midfield presence but also had a keen eye for goal, having provided 31 goals and 34 assists in 307 top-flight games during his time in north London, as well as his brief stint at Manchester City.

An inductee of the Premier League’s Hall of Fame, there aren’t too many players who have made a greater impact on the division than the current Crystal Palace manager, hence the excitement that young Bellingham could potentially replicate him.

While it may not happen this summer, Klopp could well have a future icon on his lands if Liverpool are to sign the Vieira-esque teenager.

Everton are reportedly now ‘pushing’ to sign Maxwel Cornet ahead of two Premier League rivals.

The Lowdown: Plenty of interest

It was reported earlier this week that the Goodison Park outfit are in ‘pole position’ to sign the Ivory Coast international.

However, the likes of top-flight duo Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest have also been linked with a move for the Burnley winger.

The Latest: Everton ‘pushing’ for Cornet

Taking to Twitter on Sunday morning, Ben Jacobs has revealed that both Everton and Forest are now ‘pushing’ to sign Cornet, although the 25-year-old has been ‘offered’ to the Magpies.

The CBS Sports Golazo journalist tweeted: “Maxwel Cornet interest has substance, too. Everton & Forest pushing. He was actually offered to Newcastle earlier in window for his £17.5m release clause. Club felt the price was too high back then.”

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The Verdict: Get it done

Frank Lampard’s Toffees simply cannot afford to miss out on Cornet, especially to a top-flight rival.

Hailed as ‘electric’ last season by The Athletic journalist Andy Jones, the Ivory Coast international was a rare shining light in a Burnley team which was relegated from the Premier League, grabbing a respectable nine goals and one assist in the top flight (Transfermarkt).

His former team-mates James Tarkowski and Dwight McNeil have joined Everton from the Clarets as well, so he should take little time to settle in and enjoy linking up with them again if he too swaps Turf Moor for Goodison Park.

Nonetheless, £17.5m could turn out to be a bargain in today’s market, should the Toffees choose to activate the 25-year-old’s release clause.

One of West Ham United’s transfer targets may have had his head turned by one of Europe’s elite clubs…

What’s the word?

According to Gazzetta Dello Sport, Filip Kostic is still in talks with the Hammers, who plan to have the deal completed “by the weekend”.

However, interest from Juventus has “distracted’ the Eintracht Frankfurt winger, which could stall progress in the deal.

The Turin outfit will reportedly raise their offer to compete with West Ham’s €15m (£12.6m) submission, tabling a bid of €12m (£10m) plus bonuses.

Kostic would be a big upgrade on Cresswell

After a phenomenal season for the Bundesliga club, having won the Europa League and eliminating David Moyes’ side in the process, Kostic could now be set to join West Ham and help propel them even further up the Premier League table.

However, the manager, along with club owners GSB, must act quick in order to avoid any further distractions which might delay what could be a perfect fifth summer signing for the Irons.

Featuring at left wing-back, the Serbian thrived for Eintracht Frankfurt, and he could certainly be a quality replacement for the 32-year-old Aaron Cresswell.

Marauding down the left flank in both the Bundesliga and the Europa League, he scored seven and set up an astounding 15 goals last term. He was instrumental in their campaign, earning the billing of his team’s “creator”.

Moyes could well be content to replace Cresswell, who only contributed to five goals in the league and was sent off twice in the key stages of their Europa League run.

To bin off this ageing liability and replace him with the “unstoppable” Serbian dynamo who can score and create goals on a regular seems a no-brainer for Moyes.

To further outline the gulf in quality between the two left-backs, the 29-year-old flyer created 16 big chances last season compared to Cresswell’s five. Also averaging 2.8 key passes per game, it is clear that when the Serbian plays, the opposition must be constantly wary of the threat that he possesses.

Those figures would suggest that Kostic is undoubtedly a huge upgrade on West Ham’s current first-choice left-back, and the Irons will surely want to get the deal done as quickly as possible or else face losing out on the pacey wing-back to Juventus.