Journalist Josh Bunting has urged Sunderland manager Alex Neil to start young right-back Trai Hume against Coventry on Sunday.

The Lowdown: Sunderland’s opener

The Black Cats start their Championship campaign this weekend as they are set to face Coventry City at the Stadium of Light.

Neil is hoping the Wearside club will have made one or two additional signings by then, with his squad worryingly thin as they head into the first match of the new season.

As a result, a number of youngsters could receive extended minutes for the first few games, whilst the board sort out any potential incomings.

The Latest: Bunting’s claim

After watching the Black Cats face off against Hartlepool United in the recent 1-1 friendly, Bunting is buzzing with one of Sunderland’s most talented youngsters.

Taking to Twitter, the journalist claimed:

“He has to start on Sunday for me, I trust Alex Neil immensely but in my opinion, Trai Hume has been the standout over pre-season. Fantastic tonight.”

The Verdict: Great potential

Having arrived in the North-East in January after joining from Northern Irish outfit Linfield for a mere £216,000 fee, Hume has stirred up a lot of excitement at the Stadium of Light.

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At just 20-years-old, the full-back made over 50 senior appearances in his home country, and also amassed five caps for the U21 national team.

Having player under major pressure in the qualifying stages of the Champions League, Hume has since been handed three appearances for the Black Cats first-team, and with a full pre-season under his belt, this figure could increase significantly this season.

Celtic had a rather successful season last time out as Ange Postecoglou saw his team secure the Premiership title at the end of his debut campaign in charge of the Hoops.

Across their 38 league games, the Bhoys ended up winning 29, drawing six and losing just three, scoring more goals (92) and conceding fewer (22) than any other team in the division.

However, one man in Postecoglou’s squad who was in and out of the team throughout the campaign and who the Hoops should consider getting rid of this summer is Stephen Welsh.

With just 10 league appearances to his name last season, the £3.6k-per-week centre-back started nine times, the majority of which came between August and December.

Having recently been linked with a move to French club Toulouse, this could be Celtic’s opportunity to move the defender out of Parkhead and bring in a new figure who could be a suitable replacement for him.

One player with whom the club have been linked and who could fit the bill is Schalke 04 defender Malick Thiaw.

With 31 league appearances to his name in Germany’s second tier last season, the 20-year-old ended up making more interceptions (55) and winning more tackles (45) than any other player at the club, which highlights his clear defensive credentials.

This also backs up why his former manager Christian Gross once said that the young defender has “great potential” in him, which was clearly on show last term.

Despite making 15 interceptions in the league for the Hoops in 2021/22, Welsh only won three tackles, which is fewer than the likes of Boli Bolingoli and Adam Montgomery.

Even though the Hoops have recently brought in another young German centre-back in the shape of Moritz Jenz, Thiaw has still proven he could be a very good asset for Celtic, especially if Welsh ends up leaving.

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Should Postecoglou give the green light for the 22-year-old to join another club this summer, either on loan or on a permanent basis, the Scottish champions should definitely consider paying the €8m (£6.8m) that it would reportedly take to sign the Schalke starlet.

Having already spent money on the likes of Jota, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alexandro Bernabei, it will be interesting to see whether the club could be persuaded to get the chequebook out once again before the transfer window closes.

AND in other news: “Celtic were..”: Sky Sports journalist drops transfer claim that supporters will love

Journalist Graeme Bailey of 90min has now shared a Tottenham Hotspur transfer twist following the talks to sign Udinese starlet Destiny Udogie.

The Lowdown: Spurs enter negotiations

Following their signings of Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma, Richarlison, Clement Lenglet and Djed Spence, it is reliably believed that Spurs are in negotiations for Udogie.

The Serie A prodigy, having also attracted interest from Premier League champions Man City, could well be on his way to north London with Gianluca Di Marzio claiming Antonio Conte’s side are in pole position and The Telegraph reporting Spurs are ‘closing in’.

It’s been a busy summer for sporting director Fabio Paratici, but according to Bailey, the transfer chief may now face late competition to sign the 19-year-old.

The Latest: Bailey shares Udogie twist…

Taking to Twitter, he claims Brighton have entered the fray for Udogie’s signature.

The left-wing-back, it is believed, is also attracting interest from the Seagulls as they eye a ‘rival bid’.

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Bailey explained:

“Tottenham open talks over Udinese left-back Destiny Udogie; Brighton eye rival bid.”

The Verdict: Reason to worry?

While you could argue Spurs and Conte represent a far greater pull, Graham Potter’s side can potentially offer a faster route into first team football in England’s top flight.

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For any ambitious player, the temptation to put pen to paper at the Amex may be there if regular playing time in one of the world’s most blockbuster divisions is on the table, given Potter has just lost Marc Cucurella to Chelsea.

Considering Udogie’s stunning potential, Spurs chiefs may be determined to beat Brighton to the punch and sign a player who looks like a very promising one.

Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch has shared a serious injury concern on young goalkeeper Dani van den Heuvel, as reported by Phil Hay.

The Lowdown: Van den Heuvel at Leeds

Van den Heuvel made the move to Elland Road back in 2020 from Ajax following the club’s promotion to the Premier League.

The 19-year-old signed a new deal with the Whites last year through to 2024 and has made 22 appearances at youth level.

The youngster won the Premier League Youth ‘Save of the Year’ award last season following his brilliant stop at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea, however, it looks as if he won’t be featuring in the near future.

The Latest: Hay’s post

Leeds correspondent Phil Hay was at Thorp Arch on Thursday for Marsch’s first pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s opener with Wolves.

Hay posted on Twitter that Van den Heuvel ‘is recovering from a bad neck injury suffered in a road traffic accident in Holland, while he was away with the Netherlands’ youth set-up’.

The goalkeeper damaged vertebrae, with the concern more about his health over his fitness in a football sense.

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The Verdict: Speedy recovery

Van den Heuvel is now back in the gym and is showing ‘really good progress’, which is a hugely positive step following what appears to have been a traumatic experience over the summer.

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Hopefully, he’ll be back on the pitch in good time and will continue his development at Thorp Arch. Leeds clearly think highly of the Dutchman after handing him a new deal last year, so fingers crossed he’ll continue to impress when he returns and challenge Kristoffer Klaesson in the U21s.

Celtic are back in SPFL action tomorrow for an early afternoon kick off against Kilmarnock away from home.

Their previous league match saw them secure a 3-1 victory over Ross County at Dingwall thanks to goals from Kyogo Furuhashi, Moritz Jenz and Liel Abada.

On the chalkboard

Hoops boss, Ange Postecoglou, gave Jenz his debut for the club last weekend, following his arrival from Lorient last month, and he managed to repay his new manager with a goal that put the Bhoys back ahead after a goal from Alex Lacovitti levelled the score for the home team.

With tomorrow’s game in mind, another debut that we feel the Australian should give out this time around is one for left-back Alexandro Bernabei.

Signed from Argentina club Lanus earlier in the transfer window, the defender was an unused substitute for both of Celtic’s opening two league games of the season.

Bearing in mind how Greg Taylor lost nine out of the 11 duels he was involved in against County, failed to successfully complete any of the three dribbles he attempted and lost possession (18) more times than any other Hoops defender, this should make it an easy decision for Postecoglou to take him out and give Bernabei his first taste of SPFL action.

This display ultimately earned the Scotsman an overall match rating of 6.3/10, making him the lowest-rated Celtic player on the day according to SofaScore.

In terms of what the Argentine would be able to offer the Hoops, his previous league campaign with Lanus saw him end the season with the second-highest number of crosses (93), interceptions (33) and successful tackles (32) at the club, this shows that not only could he help the Bhoys defensively but also help them up the pitch as well by setting up goalscoring opportunities with his crosses.

This backs up why the 21-year-old was described as a “dangerous” player on the pitch by journalist Fernando Campos on Twitter.

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Taking into account how Kilmarnock have won the joint-highest number of tackles (24) before this weekend’s round of league fixtures, having an attacking full-back like Bernabei on the pitch could be the better option for Postecoglou on this occasion.

Moving forward, this could be an ideal time for the Hoops boss to give Celtic’s new full-back his time to shine in the team.

Glasgow Rangers are back in action at Ibrox once again as they host the first leg of their Champions League qualifying clash tonight.

Gio van Bronckhorst’s side host Dutch team PSV on home soil before heading over to the Netherlands for the second leg next week.

They secured a place in this tie by overcoming Belgian outfit Union Saint-Gilloise in the last round, beating them 3-2 on aggregate after losing the first leg 2-0. The Gers will be hoping to avoid another defeat in the first match but will be looking for the same conclusion as they bid to make the group stages of the competition.

Rangers head into this clash with PSV off the back of a 4-0 win over St. Johnstone in the Premiership at the weekend, with Antonio Colak, Scott Arfield, Tom Lawrence, and Malik Tillman scoring the goals.

Van Bronckhorst may look to freshen his team up from that emphatic win, though, and one player he must bring back into the XI is winger Ryan Kent.

The former Liverpool man was absent at the weekend due to injury but is now fit and available to play against PSV tonight, which is why the Dutch head coach must unleash him from the start.

It may seem harsh on Rabbi Matondo, who was exceptional against St. Johnstone, but Kent has proven himself over the course of a number of seasons and is a player van Bronckhorst knows that he can rely upon in a game of this magnitude.

On Saturday, Matondo created four chances and registered two assists as he recorded the highest SofaScore rating (8.2) on the pitch. The winger, however, has never scored or assisted a goal in European competitions in his career to date.

Kent, on the other hand, has a track record of performing in Europe. The £18k-per-week maestro, who was dubbed “electric” by journalist Jacob Schneider earlier this year, produced one goal and seven assists in European competitions last season.

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This included two assists in two Champions League qualifying matches and this shows that he has the ability to make a big impact in the final third at this level.

Therefore, he has the potential to be a match-winner for the Gers tonight because he has proven that he has the creativity to unlock defences in Europe.

This is why van Bronckhorst must now place his trust in the 25-year-old and select him from the start on the left wing in spite of Matondo’s impressive showing at the weekend.

Everton are among the clubs interested in signing Valencia striker Maxi Gomez this summer, according to Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg. 

The lowdown: Wanted man

The 26-year-old has been the subject of interest from multiple Premier League clubs already this summer, with Wolves and Newcastle both heavily linked.

Spanish giants Atletico Madrid are also believed to be keen on the Uruguay international, who was once a target for West Ham.

Despite all of that reported interest, Gomez remains in situ in Spain, and it now appears as though the Toffees could be ready to make their intentions known…

The latest: Plettenberg shares Gomez update

Taking to Twitter, Sky Germany’s Plettenberg has claimed that Everton and a host of other clubs are now ‘in’ for the wantaway 27-cap frontman.

He stated: “Excl. News Maxi #Gomez: The 26 y/o striker wants to leave Valencia. Gladbach bosses should like the player (next to Beljo), talks took place. But: Price tag around €12m at this stage. Still too expensive for Borussia! Also in: Everton, Newcastle and Fenerbahce. @SkySportDE”

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The verdict: Fingers crossed

Everton are in desperate need of adding a new centre-forward, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin sidelined by injury and Salomon Rondon unable to impact matches consistently at the elite level.

So far this term, Frank Lampard has utilised Anthony Gordon as a false nine in their first two league games at home to Chelsea and away at Aston Villa respectively, whilst Rondon led the line in the 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

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Therefore, adding a genuine centre-forward option is imperative before the September 1 deadline, and Gomez – who was hailed by Premier Sports for a ‘clinical’ finish against Real Valladolid in 2020 – could be the answer.

Sharing similar stylistic traits to Thomas Henry, Callum Wilson and Chris Wood (FBRef), the striker with 82 club career goals boasts a style of play which would make him the ideal candidate to bolster Lampard’s options.

Valued at £10.8m by Transfermarkt and earning a mooted £49,000 per week at Valencia, this is a deal which shouldn’t prove too expensive for the Goodison Park hierarchy, and one that they should be working hard to try and execute.

Aston Villa are reportedly close to signing Southampton defender Jan Bednarek.

The Lowdown: Bednarek offer

Bednarek, who Ralph Hasenhuttl labelled a ‘really good player’, emerged on Villa’s radar over the weekend.

Steven Gerrard’s side are on the hunt for a new centre-back following a serious injury to Diego Carlos. Villa initially made an approach for the Poland international before making a loan offer, and it looks as if a transfer is gathering real pace.

The Latest: Transfer update

Sports Witness relayed an update from Polish journalist Tomasz Wlodarczyk regarding Bednarek on Thursday.

He claimed that ‘Bednarek is getting closer to Aston Villa’ in what would be a loan deal.

The Verdict: Good news

With Carlos out for the foreseeable and Kortney Hause joining Watford, it is crucial that Villa bring in another defender to rival Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa and Calum Cambers before the September 1 deadline.

It looks as if they are about to do just that with a move for Bednarek, which seems to be a smart move.

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The 26-year-old has 133 games of Premier League experience under his belt and appears to be in his peak years with his Transfermarkt valuation dropping just slightly from £22.5m to £19.8m over the last 12 months.

Bednarek is also a Poland international, so you’d expect that he’ll be desperate to perform over the coming months with the World Cup around the corner.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have reached a verbal agreement with Stuttgart striker Sasa Kalajdzic ahead of a proposed move to Molineux, according to reliable journalist Florian Plettenberg.

The Lowdown

Bruno Lage’s side have experienced a difficult start to the new Premier League season, having gained just one point from their first three games.

More worryingly, the Old Gold have scored just one goal, with Daniel Podence netting in their opening fixture against Leeds United three weeks ago.

However, a lack of goals is not a new issue for Wolves, with 2021/22 top scorer Raul Jimenez hitting the back of the net just six times in the league last season and the team overall scoring just 38 in as many top-flight matches.

The Latest

After recent news revealed that Wolves have had a bid rejected for Kalajdzic, Plettenberg has now shared an update on the club’s pursuit of the Stuttgart frontman.

Taking to Twitter on Saturday afternoon, the reliable journalist claimed: “News #Kalajdzic: He is out of the squad for tomorrow’s game. It’s getting hot with his departure. @Wolves are still in & Stuttgart is expecting a new offer. VfB still wants a total package of €25m. The player has a verbal agreement with Wolverhampton in principle. @SkySportDE”

The Verdict

With Wolves lacking a truly dependable target man, the arrival of Kalajdzic at Molienux would add a quality alternative to Jimenez in Lage’s squad.

As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe over the past year, the 25-year-old ranks in the top 5% for expected assisted and the top 6% for aerial duels won – the latter comes as no surprise given the Austrian’s hulking 6 foot 7 frame.

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Kalajdzic is no mere battering ram up top either, with a haul of 22 goals over the last two Bundesliga seasons illustrating that he can be considered a reliable presence to find the net consistently, a trait for which Lage is crying out.

Therefore, if Wolves are able to get a deal done in time to secure the 15-cap international before Thursday’s transfer deadline, this could be a brilliant addition to Lage’s forward options, with the squad appearing to miss a clinical goalscorer in the final third.

Arsenal are set to firm up their interest in Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz, with the Gunners readying a bid for the Brazil international.

What’s the word?

That’s according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, who revealed on Twitter: “Arsenal making offer for Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz. AVFC adamant 24yo Brazil int’l not for sale, but it’s understood he wants to leave & #AFC exploring if it’s possible before deadline.”

Sky Sports (via Football Daily) have also suggested that the north Londoners are “considering” an offer of around £20m for the 24-year-old, with Villa boss Steven Gerrard having admitted that a move could be out of his hands due to the player’s expiring contract.

Gilberto 2.0

It would appear then that Mikel Arteta’s side are stepping up their approach for the former Manchester City man, with Luiz potentially set to be the newest addition to the Brazilian contingent at the Emirates Stadium alongside the likes, of Gabriel, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus.

Supporters will, however, be hoping that the nine-cap playmaker can replicate the impact of another of his compatriots in the form of club legend Gilberto Silva – a player he has been likened to – with the now-retired gem having been a key figure under Arsene Wenger in the mid-2000s.

The 6 foot 1 brute notably formed an immense partnership with French icon Patrick Vieira, with the pair forming the solid foundation for the club’s remarkable ‘Invincibles’ campaign during the 2003/04 season.

Signed from Atletico Miniero in 2002 after playing a prominent role in his nation’s World Cup triumph earlier that summer, the 93-cap titan went on to rack up 170 Premier League appearances over the next six years, scoring 17 goals and providing 11 assists in that time.

Luiz could well prove to be his heir apparent, with the £34.2m-rated sensation also having the ability to line up in a deeper midfield role – as he has been utilised predominantly in recent seasons – scoring six goals and registering seven assists in 106 league games for his current side.

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With the Gunners currently enduring something of a midfield injury crisis, the addition of the £33k-per-week “baller” – as described by Ty Bracey – could prove crucial both in the short-term and beyond, with depth likely to be crucial with the club’s Europa League journey set to get underway this month.

If he can have anything like the impact of Gilberto, then Arteta and co could well be in for a real treat.