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A worrying Rangers claim has been made about Alfredo Morelos’ future at Ibrox in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

Transfer insider Pete O’Rourke has claimed that Rangers will be open to bids for the centre-forward if he does not put pen to paper on extended terms.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “It would make sense for Rangers to try and offload Morelos this summer if he isn’t going to sign a new contract.

“Obviously, Morelos has been a huge player for Rangers over the last few number of years, but his form has brought him to the attention of a number of clubs in the Premier League and also in Europe as well.

“So, if they’re not able to agree a new deal with Morelos, I think Rangers will reluctantly have to listen to offers for the Colombian in the summer.”

Supporters will be gutted

Supporters will be gutted by this news as the prospect of losing the striker is a worrying one that they will not want to think about.

From a financial point of view, selling Morelos when he has one year left on his contract would make sense as they would otherwise risk losing him on a free transfer.

However, they took their chances with Connor Goldson this year and eventually convinced him to sign a new deal at Ibrox. This means that they could do the same with the Colombian and him not signing a fresh contract now does not mean that he will leave for nothing in 2023.

Therefore, there not be any rush to listen to bids for his services in the current window as there will still be a hope of keeping him heading into next year.

The striker would be a difficult player to replace as he is a proven performer domestically and in Europe. In the Premiership, he managed 11 goals and seven assists as he averaged an exceptional SofaScore rating of 7.32, showcasing his quality and consistency.

Meanwhile, he produced four goals in eight Europa League outings with an average score of 7.13. He played a key role in the European run last term with his goals and these statistics illustrate why selling him would be a huge blow to the club’s chances next season.

Therefore, fans will be gutted with O’Rourke’s claim and will now be hoping the forward is still in Glasgow come to the end of the window.

AND in other news, “Rangers will…”: Jordan Campbell drops big transfer update, supporters will be livid…

West Ham United have been tipped to make a move for Atalanta defender Joakim Maehle this summer, as manager David Moyes seeks to bolster his squad.

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Paul Brown has suggested that the Hammers are keeping tabs on the 25-year-old ahead of a potential swoop in the current window, having previously held an interest in the player.

The transfer insider stated: “Maehle, I think, is someone who definitely interests West Ham.

“He’s been someone they looked at before; he’s only gone on to bigger and better things since then. I think he too would be a great signing if they could pull that one off.”

This follows reports that the east Londoners had sent scouts to watch both the 29-cap gem – who is said to cost in the region of €18m (£15m) – and his international colleague Christian Eriksen in action for Denmark in their recent Nations League clash with Austria.

World-class fit

Such a deal would prove a huge coup for the London Stadium outfit were they to reach an agreement this summer, with the versatile “machine” – as he has been dubbed by compatriot Kasper Schmeichel – having particularly caught the eye at last summer’s European Championship.

A vital part of a Danish side that reached the semi-final of the tournament – before crashing out at the hands of England at Wembley – Maehle put himself firmly on the map with a string of impressive displays, chipping in with an impressive haul of two goals and one assist from his six outings.

One moment, in particular, caught the eye, with the £22k-per-week star producing a stunning, outside-of-the-boot assist for teammate Kasper Dolberg in the win over Czech Republic, with the delightful cross labelled “world-class” by journalist David Munday.

The hope will be that he can replicate such moments of genius should he be plucked by GSB this summer, with the £12.6m-rated man also boasting an impressive overall international record, with 14 goal contributions in just 29 appearances to date.

He has also recorded ten goals and 30 assists in 217 club career appearances to date, proving himself something of a menace in the final third.

While he has somewhat fallen out of favour for his current side of late – making just 15 Serie A starts last term – the former Genk ace still compares favourably to those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, ranking in the top 11% for touches in the opposition penalty area and the top 8% for progressive passes received.

Although that willingness to get forward is aided by his usual wing-back/wide midfield berth for both club and country, the 6 foot 1 monster is also comfortable at full-back on either flank, with such flexibility hugely important for any side.

The “special” talent – as described by one journalist – would be an astute capture for the Hammers and for a relative bargain price, with the player likely to make a huge impact were he to be signed before the start of next term.

IN other news, West Ham now nearing “first major signing” of the summer, Moyes will be delighted

West Bromwich Albion transfer target Jed Wallace is set to make a decision over his next move soon, according to Millwall manager Gary Rowett.

The Lowdown: Baggies submit official offer

The 28-year-old has been a huge part of the setup at The Den since first joining the club from Wolves five years ago, but is now set to become a free agent upon the expiration of his contract with the Lions.

The attacker’s future is now very much up in the air, and whilst he hasn’t completely ruled out putting pen to paper on a new deal with the Championship outfit, the Baggies have reportedly already made an official offer to the player, and are also set to face competition from newly-promoted Nottingham Forest.

The Latest: Rowett drops Wallace contract update

Speaking to NewsAtDen, Rowett confirmed that Millwall have offered Wallace a new contract, but made it clear that he will need to figure out his next steps as soon as possible. He said:

“At some point, he’s going to have to make a decision with what he wants to do with his future. My argument to that is that he’s a fantastic player. Of course we’d love him to re-sign for us, but at the same time we have to have our own plans and move forward how we want to move forward.

“We’d always be open to Jed re-signing.

“He knows where we are, we know where he is, and we’ll work incredibly hard to push forward with the other plans that we’ve got.

“I’m sure Jed’s got lots of other offers. He’s been made a really good offer by us, just to show desperation and ambition to try and keep our best players. He has to make a decision essentially. He’s out contract at the club and his future is up to him.

“We’re back tomorrow and we’ll have to start moving forward with what we’re doing.”

The Verdict: All the right attributes

After a disappointing end to the 2021/22 campaign, Steve Bruce will now be looking for fresh reinforcements to add to his squad in an attempt to make a serious push for promotion next season, and Wallace has all the attributes that the Hawthorns outfit require in their starting XI.

The Reading-born talent, who was once hailed an “unbelievable” player by Rowett himself, averaged 2.5 key passes per league game last term, as well as providing an outstanding 12 assists and netting six goals himself, via WhoScored.

This just shows that not only does he have the ability to stabilise and control a game, but he’s also a major threat to opposition defenders in the final third, and this is the type of player who could make all the difference in West Brom’s squad when it comes down to whether or not they are able to secure a place in the top six next season.

Journalist Ryan Taylor has said that Aston Villa are ‘prioritising other areas’ above centre-back amid links to Burnley’s Nathan Collins. 

The lowdown

talkSPORT’s Alex Crook reported midway through June that Villa are one of the Premier League clubs ‘monitoring’ the Republic of Ireland international. Burnley paid £12.6million to sign Collins from Stoke City last summer, but they then went on to suffer relegation to the Championship.

Villa have already signed one centre-half this summer, bringing in Diego Carlos from Sevilla for a fee of £26m. They’ve also sealed permanent deals for Philippe Coutinho (£17m), Robin Olsen (£3m) and Boubacar Kamara (free transfer).

The latter is predominantly a defensive midfielder but he can also operate as a centre-back.

The latest

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Taylor suggested that Gerrard had more pressing concerns to address at this moment in time.

However, he doesn’t rule out Collins getting a move to Villa, or indeed another of his top-flight suitors.

The journalist claimed: “I think Villa are prioritising other areas. But I do think there’s Premier League interest in Collins, who finished the season really strongly.”

The verdict

What are the current priorities for Gerrard and Villa?

The Athletic’s Gregg Evans reported prior to the capture of Carlos that the 42-year-old wanted a centre-back, a left-back and potentially another forward.

The Villa boss secured reinforcements in the heart of defence, and perhaps any further investment in that area will depend upon players leaving.

Still, it certainly wouldn’t be a surprise to see Collins playing Premier League football once again next season.

This is someone who could go on to become a ‘top, top player’, in the words of Ireland under-21 coach Jim Crawford, who added that the 21-year-old already shown himself to be a ‘leader’.

Following talk that West Ham United manager David Moyes is plotting multiple new additions this summer – having already wrapped up deals for Nayef Aguerd and Alphonse Areola – supporters may understandably getting excited as to who else could be coming through the door at the London Stadium.

One name who has perhaps set pulses racing more than most is Villarreal talisman Arnaut Danjuma, with Fabrizio Romano reporting earlier this week that the Hammers were in talks with the La Liga club regarding the Dutch winger.

The speedster is set to be available for a fee in the region of £40m owing to a release clause in his existing deal but a deal is now proving problematic, with negotiations thought to be off due to personal terms.

The clamour for his signature has been sparked by what can only be described as an explosive debut campaign in Spain last term, with the former Bournemouth man netting ten goals and providing three assists in the league for Unai Emery’s team.

The six-cap Netherlands international had only joined the ‘Yellow Submarine’ last summer after a two-year stint with the Cherries, having scored 17 goals and provided seven assists in the Championship during the 2020/21 campaign.

The most recent campaign saw the £25k-per-week machine – who has been dubbed a “nightmare for defenders” by pundit Kevin Phillips – particularly catch the eye in the Champions League, notably handing Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot a torrid time at Old Trafford last September.

He netted six league goals in his team’s remarkable surge to the semi-finals of the competition, scoring against both Juventus and Bayern Munich, with that tally seeing him rank among the top 11 scorers in the tournament.

One such player in that elite group was Paris Saint-Germain sensation Kylian Mbappe, with the Frenchman having also plundered six goals in the competition prior to the Ligue 1 giants’ round of 16 exit at the hands of eventual champions Real Madrid.

Despite his lofty status in the game as a World Cup winner and highly-coveted asset, the 23-year-old seemingly shares a number of stylistic and statistical similarities to the aforementioned Danjuma, according to FBRef.

That is some comparison considering that Mbappe has scored 181 goals and provided 79 assists in 263 career games for club and country (as per WhoScored), with the former Monaco marksman arguably one of the best players in the world right now.

To think that Danjuma could even be anywhere near that level would be enough to spark wild excitement among Irons supporters; as would the player’s own recent admission that he has “unfinished business” in the Premier League, having only made six starts in the top flight during the 2019/20 season at the Vitality Stadium.

Should Moyes be able to fend off rival interest and get negotiations back on the table, the West Ham manager could well have his own Mbappe on his hands in the Villarreal star.

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

Manchester City have already seen one of their attacking players leave the club this summer as Gabriel Jesus made a move to fellow Premier League side Arsenal.

Looking ahead to the rest of the summer transfer window, the Citizens may be set to see another prominent attacking figure leave, as Raheem Sterling has been linked with a move to Chelsea.

Since moving to the Etihad Stadium from Liverpool in 2015 in a deal worth £49m, the winger has gone on to make 337 appearances for City across all competitions. In that time, the Englishman has found the net 131 times and delivered 94 assists, winning numerous trophies along the way.

To further highlight his prominence in this City team, no other player who has been coached by Pep Guardiola has made more appearances under the Spaniard than Sterling (292).

Should the England international find himself waving goodbye to the Etihad this summer, it’s safe to say that the club will need to find a player who is capable of being a consistent goalscorer and creator to replace the former Liverpool star.

With that in mind, one man who has been mentioned with a move to City recently and who could fit the bill is Bayern Munich winger Serge Gnabry.

After having spells with Arsenal, West Bromwich Albion and Werder Bremen, the winger joined Bayern during the summer of 2017.

In 171 appearances for the Bundesliga champions, the 26-year-old – who is currently valued at £58.5m by Transfermarkt – has scored 64 goals and provided 40 assists.

To compare his previous league campaign with Sterling’s latest domestic season with City, the German racked up more goals, shots, successful dribbles, shot-creating actions and crosses than the Englishman (via FBRef).

In fact, from a defensive point of view, the former Arsenal figure won more tackles and made more blocks, interceptions and successful pressures than Sterling.

Labelled a “phenomenal” player by Rio Ferdinand in the past, Gnabry certainly appears to have the talent and work ethic to be a very good heir for Sterling should the latter end up leaving Manchester this summer.

If the current City winger does bring his time at the club to an end this summer, Guardiola should then use his connections with Bayern to see if they would be willing to let their winger make a return to England and see if he can go on to be as successful at the Etihad as Sterling has been.

AND in other news: MCFC given green light to bid for £67.5m-rated “phenomenon”, supporters will love it

Rangers are reportedly close to securing a loan deal for an American midfielder.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report by Chris Jack in the Glasgow Times, the Ibrox club are close to finalising a deal for Malik Tillman which would see him spend the upcoming season on loan with Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side.

With 109 appearances under his belt for Bayern Munich across their senior and youth teams, the 20-year-old – who is valued around the €2m (£1.6m) mark according to CIES – has scored 40 goals and delivered 25 assists along the way.

This shows the experience he has of playing at one of Europe’s top clubs and the ability he has at providing an attacking and creative threat based on the goals and assists he has accumulated.

Bearing in mind how Aaron Ramsey has now concluded his loan deal with the Gers, his exit could have paved the way for the Premiership club to bring in another midfielder who can add an extra attacking factor to the team, such as the Bayern starlet.

Great news for Van Bronckhorst

To further highlight what sort of player Tillman is, former Germany under-17 coach Michael Feichtenbeiner has previously been full of praise for the youngster, who has since switched his allegiances to the United States.

Feichtenbeiner said: “In general, he’s very good on the ball. He can create combinations, chances. He can also score. He’s a good midfielder, a No.8 for us, who can work defensively. But he’s better in attack. He has very good skills to spot the other players.”

In addition, Bayern’s academy boss Jochen Sauer said about Tillman: “Malik’s one of the younger lads in the U19s, but he’s a beast physically. He has very, very good technique. He’s difficult to nudge off the ball. He’ll get even better if he becomes more dynamic.”

Having only made four senior league appearances for Bayern last season, the prospect of potentially getting regular game-time at a big club like Rangers would surely be an exciting one for the youngster and give him the eagerness to do all he can while he’s in Glasgow.

Taking all this into account, this news that the Gers are closing in on securing a deal for the American would surely have Van Bronckhorst buzzing, as the player clearly seems to have the talent to be a fine addition to the squad at Ibrox.

AND in other news – In talks: Journalist relays big Rangers transfer claim that’ll leave supporters gutted

Leeds United must make a move for Ryan Kent before deadline day…

What’s the word?

The Rangers star continues to be linked with a return to England, and notably, a switch to Elland Road with Teddy Bears legend Barry Ferguson recently commenting on his future in Glasgow.

“I’ve got a feeling [Alfredo] Morelos will stay, Kent I’m unsure,” he told Record Sport.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-more” title=”Read the latest Leeds news, transfer rumours and more!”]

“The Leeds thing keeps popping up every now and then and I’m sure he wants to go back down and try himself in the Premier League. Rangers would love to keep both, but money talks and every player has a price on their head. If that price is met, Rangers will do business.”

With Raphinha close to joining Barcelona in a £55m deal, the former Liverpool graduate could be the man to fill the huge void left behind.

Forget Sinisterra

Leeds director of football Victor Orta and manager Jesse Marsch may have already taken steps to replace the Brazil international, signing Luis Sinisterra from Feyenoord.

But history suggests that wingers from the Eredivisie have often struggled in the Premier League, the most notable case being Steven Bergwijn at Tottenham Hotspur. He has since returned to the Netherlands, joining champions Ajax.

The 23-year-old Colombian isn’t a natural right-sided option either, having played the majority of his games for the Dutch side on the left flank – 81.4% of his 113 senior appearances, to be precise.

That would suggest that he maybe isn’t the natural heir to Raphinha’s throne, so perhaps it would be wise for Leeds to reignite their long-standing interest in Kent, who is believed to have a £20m release clause at Ibrox.

It is also thought that the Englishman would “seriously consider” a move to west Yorkshire, as per journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Oldham-born winger, who is valued at £15.75m by Transfermarkt, has delivered a whopping 78 goal contributions in 174 appearances for the Scottish giants, including 13 goals and 15 assists during their title-winning campaign in 2020/21.

Such form and impressive displays have seen the former Liverpool man lauded with praise.

Gers teammate Leon Balogun told the ‘Beautiful Game’ podcast that Kent causes him “real problems in training” and also dubbed him a “wing wizard,” whilst journalist Andrew Dickson has deemed him to be “completely unplayable” on his day.

The Englishman would also need little time adapting to a new country, unlike Sinisterra.

On the above evidence, it would be very wise for Leeds to finally make their move for Kent as he could be a far greater replacement for Raphinha than anyone in Marsch’s current ranks, heading into the new campaign.

Orta should go and get his long-term target as soon as possible.

AND in other news, Orta could finally replace fan-favourite in bargain Leeds swoop for £6m “nutmeg king”…

Arsenal have already made some brash and hefty investments this summer, lashing out big money on both Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Vieira.

They have also focused primarily on improving the midfield and attack. Perhaps they could muster up one final sum of money to complete their overhaul and add some much-needed depth to their defence.

The Gunners have long been linked with RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol, however unfortunately for them so have several other Premier League clubs.

Competition is understandably fierce for this pacey giant with an eye for a pass, however, Arsenal are said to be leading the way after both Manchester United and Chelsea have recently secured new defensive signings.

If Mikel Arteta could manage to secure the signing of the man who will reportedly command around £80m, it would be a huge statement of intent as they look to make the step up to challenge the top four.

He would also greatly complement Gabriel, who could act as more of a stopper to the Croatian’s class.

The Leipzig brute featured 45 times last season in all competitions and was instrumental in his side’s fourth-place finish and DFB Pokal win.

Across the league campaign, his incredible consistency at the heart of the RB Leipzig defence earned him an average SofaScore rating of 7.10.

Arsenal would not suffer from some added rigidity and reliability at the back, as Benjamin White and Gabriel both suffered for form and fitness at different points in the season.

Gvardiol’s main attributes appear to be his speed, defensive awareness and passing ability. He seldom has to do any actual defending due to his pace and positional know-how, hence why he ranks in the 97th percentile for interceptions.

Once he gets the ball is when the danger really begins for the opposition, as he sits in the 97th percentile for progressive passes, the 99th percentile for dribbles completed and the 93rd percentile for shot-creating actions per 90.

This, compared to Gabriel, who stands at 6 foot 2 and averages 1.67 tackles and 3.44 clearances, Gvardiol could hopefully bring out the best in his defensive game too.

It is this all-round play that led to him being labelled a “tank”, and why he was seen as a “perfect replacement for Dayot Upamecano.”

The perfect modern-day defender, Arsenal should throw everything at this centre-back with all the attributes to go right to the very top. If they can latch on now, even for the astronomical price tag, they can reap the rewards well into the future.

AND, in other news: After Zinchenko: Arsenal in talks for “incredible” £34m deal, supporters will love it.

Celtic could pip other clubs to the signing of Tottenham youngster Japhet Tanganga this summer, according to former Scottish top-flight striker Noel Whelan.

The Lowdown: Tanganga linked with Celtic

Ange Postecoglou may still be eyeing up new signings ahead of the new Premiership season as he looks to make his squad even more formidable.

One player who has been linked with a move to Celtic recently is Tanganga, who has made 43 appearances for Spurs to date but has never been a first-team regular in north London.

However, the Hoops are joined by other clubs in the race to sign the 23-year-old, including AC Milan, Bournemouth and AS Monaco.

The Latest: Celtic backed to sign Tanganga

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan claimed that the lure of Champions League football could give Celtic the edge over some clubs, tipping them to snap up Tanganga this summer.

The 47-year-old said:

“It’s an attractive proposition [Champions League football], isn’t it? You also know you’re going to be up there fighting for every competition domestically and playing in front of 60,000 every week.

“We’ve seen Carter-Vickers go from Tottenham to Celtic, and we’ve seen it work. I’m sure they’ll have had chit-chats about what it’s like if this interest is real.

“Playing in the Champions League is a massive plus and will be a massive temptation for any player, whether they currently play in the Premier League or not.”

The Verdict: Great squad option

Tanganga would be an exciting signing by Celtic if he were to depart Spurs, having been hailed as an ‘amazing’ player by Jose Mourinho, under whom the defender played for the best part of 18 months in north London.

The Englishman could provide stiff competition to the likes of former N17 colleague Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt at the heart of the defence, while also being capable of playing at right-back.

At 23, Tanganga is slowly edging towards the peak years of his career, and he may see a better chance of enjoying regular playing time at Celtic than Spurs, where his current deal expires in 2025.