Manchester City are willing to sell Jack Grealish in 2023 in order to bring in Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham.
The Lowdown: Grealish at Man City
Grealish, who is currently away with England at the World Cup, made the move to the Etihad Stadium last year in a British record transfer from Aston Villa.
Since then, the 27-year-old has gone made 55 appearances under Pep Guardiola, contributing to 11 goals.
The versatile attacker started five Champions League group games and has featured in eight Premier League games during the current campaign, but it looks as if his time in Manchester could already be coming to an end.
The Latest: Grealish transfer update
Football Insider reporter Wayne Veysey shared an update on Grealish in the last 48 hours.
He revealed on Saturday morning that ‘City would be willing to sell their record signing’ to help ‘fund the sensational signing’ of Bellingham, with the club aware they would need to part-fund a move due to Financial Fair Play.
The Verdict: A surprise…
Guardiola has always supported Grealish in the media whenever the Englishman has come in for criticism, so it is a surprise that City are already open to offloading him just 18 months into a six-year deal.
You’d expect that the club would want a relatively big fee for the player as well, so some may see an exit as unlikely in the New Year.
It looks as if the club will need to bring in some funds to sign Bellingham, though, so if they fail to sell Grealish, they may look to flog one or two first-team squad members, with the futures of Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva still up in the air.
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe will likely use this current halt to proceedings to plot his potential moves in the upcoming January transfer window, with the World Cup stage likely to allow the Englishman to keep tabs on possible targets.
One man who could play a leading role for his country in Qatar is silky Frenchman, Adrien Rabiot, with the 6 foot 2 sensation heading into the tournament off the back of a stunning run of form at club level, with the Juventus midfielder scoring five times and laying on two assists in just 16 outings for the Serie A outfit this season.
That standout form – which has seen the 27-year-old dubbed “breathtaking” by journalist Mina Rzouki – has come after the former Paris Saint-Germain man appeared destined for a departure from Turin over the summer, with Premier League giants Manchester United having been heavily linked with a high-profile swoop.
The Magpies, too, had also been tipped to make a move for the 29-cap gem in the recent window, with the playmaker facing an uncertain future at the Allianz Stadium with just over six months left on his existing deal.
With the £150k-per-week giant yet to agree to an extension despite his latest resurgence, it could well be time for the Tynesiders to pounce once again in January, particularly should Rabiot go on to impress again on the international stage in the coming weeks.
The one-time Manchester City youth asset will likely have the chance to shine in Didier Deschamps’ side amid injuries to the likes of Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante, having previously missed Les Bleus’ glorious triumph four years ago after being left out of the squad in Russia.
Now set to be chomping at the bit to show his worth this time around, the Saint-Maurice-born powerhouse could go on to be one of the leading assets for the much-fancied holders, potentially helping to see his stock rise even further.
As far as those back at St James’ Park are concerned, were the club to get the towering gem through the door he could potentially replicate the success of resurgent hero, Joelinton, with the pair said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities, as per FBref.
The in-form Brazilian – who was dubbed “special” by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher last term – offers a dynamic midfield presence to Howe’s side, showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 13% in Europe’s top leagues for dribbles completed, with Rabiot only slightly behind as he ranks in the top 18% for the same metric.
The latter man also mirrors the Magpies gem as a result of his defensive work as he averages 2.68 tackles per game, while Joelinton averages 2.79 tackles per game, showcasing that the duo both offer a real ball-winning asset in the middle of the pitch.
A comparison to the former Hoffenheim man may not have been flattering just over a year ago, although Joelinton has emerged as a real leading asset in Howe’s side over the last 12 months, notably playing a key part in the club’s surge this season after making 12 top-flight starts.
To bring in a figure such as Rabiot to provide further competition and depth could well be an ideal addition as far as the Tynesiders are concerned, with the one-time Toulouse loanee having notably been praised by ex-teammate Gianluigi Buffon in the past, with the Italian icon stating:
“Rabiot is incredible, very strong. What I met is a champion, a fantastic mix: he has physical strength of [Paul] Pogba – he is a proper wardrobe. He has [Arturo] Vidal’s personality in the game and potentially [Claudio] Marchisio’s dynamism and ability to integrate “
Such a glowing assessment is a sign of the midfield maestro’s quality – something that could well be on show in Qatar – with Newcastle simply needing to get a deal completed in the New Year.
Newcastle United's preservation of form in the Premier League despite the spate of injuries to key players is a glowing testament to the spirit and togetherness that Eddie Howe has instilled over the past few years.
With only six points separating them from the Champions League places, Newcastle have been immense across the park, but notably devastating in the forward positions.
The Magpies have accumulated the fourth highest expected goals (xG) in the league (26.26), as per Understat, and are joint third for most goals scored (27) with title chasers Liverpool.
michael-ndiweni-callum-wilson-opinion-newcastle
Much of that clinical edge in front of goal can be attributed to Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson, who have netted 14 goals between them, however, both are currently sidelined with injuries.
With this in mind, United are in the market for a clinical goalscorer in January, and there isn't much better out there currently than Stuttgart's Serhou Guirassy.
Newcastle transfer news – Serhou Guirassy
According to Football Insider, – as reported earlier this week – Newcastle are weighing up a transfer swoop for red-hot striker Guirassy, who has been in blistering form this season.
Guirassy, aged 27, was brandished as an attainable target for the club in January with the report stating that he 'ticks a lot of boxes' for the Magpies.
With the Stuttgart goal machine boasting a release clause of £15m in his contract, he's an affordable option too, and could fix their ongoing injury crisis in that position.
Serhou Guirassy's goal record this season
Guirassy has shot onto the scene this season as one of the most fierce goal-scoring weapons in Europe and he's been utilising that weapon to cause mass destruction on defences.
Despite the arrival of the irrepressible and world-class force of Harry Kane to Germany, the Guinea star still became the first player ever to score 14 goals in the first eight matchdays of a Bundesliga season.
Dubbed "unstoppable" by journalist Antonio Mango for his unrivalled strength and power, Guirassy has used his physical prowess and incredible finishing to plunder 15 goals in nine matches this term and although Kane's record of 17 in 11 somewhat steals the limelight, he's still scored more goals than both Isak and Wilson combined (14).
Indeed, it seems ludicrous that the 6 foot 2 machine could be available for a bargain price of £15m in January.
However, it wouldn't be the first time Newcastle have landed a powerful goal-machine for a meagre fee, having captured the sensational Demba Ba on a free transfer from West Ham United in 2011.
Demba Ba's goal record for Newcastle
There are many parallels to the striker profiles of Ba and Guirassy, including the strength to shrug off defenders, the power in the air and an incredibly sharp eye for goal.
When the Magpies stole the Senegalese hitman from under the noses of the Hammers, he would go down as one of the biggest bargains in the club's history.
After netting seven goals in 12 appearances for the Irons between January and May 2011, he would soon strike up a deadly partnership with fellow countryman, Papis Cisse.
In the 2011/12 season, the indestructible duo wreaked havoc on Premier League defences, scoring an incredible 29 goals between them in the top flight, with Cisse notching 13 of those strikes from January onwards after sealing his move from Freiburg.
In a hugely successful campaign under Alan Pardew, as Newcastle finished in fifth position and qualified for the Europa League, the sensational Senegalese pairing carried the weight of scoring on their shoulders.
Despite only spending 18 months at the club before being captured by Chelsea in January 2013, Ba plundered an eye-watering 29 goals in 57 appearances for the Magpies.
If Howe manages to get his hands on Guirassy in winter, he has the opportunity to replicate such form while striking up a deadly partnership with Wilson or Isak.
Newcastle United will reportedly make an offer for Trabzonspor goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir at the end of the season.
The Lowdown: Goalkeeper conundrum
The St. James’ Park outfit have a bit of a goalkeeper conundrum at the moment, with Martin Dubravka allowed to leave on loan to Manchester United in the summer, while Loris Karius was signed as a free agent and Nick Pope was brought in from Burnley.
Should Dubrvaka return to the North East, it would leave them with four senior goalkeepers in the squad if Karl Darlow is also in the mix, meaning there may need to be a bit of an overhaul behind first-choice Pope.
The Latest: Cakir offer ready
As per Sabah (via Sport Witness), the Tynesiders ‘will make an offer’ for Cakir at the end of the season, after ‘closely following’ his recent performances.
A player that was linked with a move to Manchester City in the summer, Trabzonspor are aiming for a fee of €20m (£17.6m) in order to prize him away.
As good of a goalkeeper Cakir is, having played 171 times for Trabzonspor and boasting 21 caps for Turkey (Transfermarkt), the Magpies should not be looking to sign the six-foot-three colossus this summer.
They will need to sort out Dubravka’s future first of all, and have already signed Pope to cement himself as Eddie Howe’s number one.
Having played in European competition this season, added to the fact that he is captain of his club, Cakir would likely not want to leave to play second fiddle anyway, and so this is a move that seems unlikely to happen unless at least one of the other goalkeepers are moved on.
Liverpool have been enjoying a successful era since the appointment of Jurgen Klopp back in 2015, with the German coach building a super team that has dominated on all fronts, winning a trophy in almost every competition they have participated in since he arrived.
The Reds have won a Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, UEFA Super Cup, Community Shield, FIFA Club World Cup and of course, their first ever Premier League title, only missing out on the Europa League trophy during Klopp’s first six years at the club.
Although the manager can take a lot of credit for the achievements of the Merseyside giants over the last seven years, there are key players in the team that have time and time again proven their elite quality to give the supporters some of the best memories they will have from the club.
One player who has been a constant and reliable force in the team and a servant to Klopp’s strict but genius system at Anfield is Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino who is now one of the most famous players to adopt and execute the false nine role masterfully.
The 30-year-old star has scored 101 goals and delivered 77 assists over 335 appearances with a goal contribution every 134 minutes which is likely why he is the player to make the most appearances under Klopp so far, with 59 more appearances than Sadio Mane who comes in second as the manager’s most used player at Liverpool.
Firmino was signed for just £21.3m from Hoffenheim back in 2015 by Brendan Rodgers, and despite not being one of Klopp’s signings, has become one of his most admired players in the team with the manager hailing him a “ball chaser” when lavishing praise on the forward in a press conference.
Klopp claimed: “He is a connector. He is the best offensive defender I ever saw in my life, definitely. He is a ball chaser, he is defensively incredibly smart with all the things he is doing.
“He is technically on the highest level, is able to play in the smallest spaces, the tiniest spaces. Can make incredibly good decisions in a really short time.”
With that being said, there is no doubt that FSG struck gold with Firmino and it will be interesting to see if the club extends his stay at the club beyond his contract expiration in June 2023 with three goals and three assists already tallied up in eight appearances this season so far.
Journalist Jacque Talbot says that a move for Ben Brereton Diaz to Everton is ‘very possible’.
The Lowdown: Interest expressed
Taking to Twitter last week, journalist Alan Myers revealed that the Merseysiders have ‘expressed an interest’ in the Chile international, who is one of five strikers ‘being considered’ by the Toffees to fill the void created by the injury to Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The Goodison Park outfit have only netted two goals in their opening three games in the Premier League so far (including one own goal), and they are in desperate need of a reliable presence up top.
The Latest: ‘Very possible’
Speaking to GiveMeSport, Talbot has said that a move for Brereton Diaz to Everton is ‘very possible’, believing that he would be a ‘sensible, shrewd purchase’.
The report stated: “He was very good for Blackburn in the first half of last seasonwhen they were in that promotion place, and then he got injured, and the team fell off entirely.
“They got him down to a new contract in May, but they activated a one-year extension, but I think that’s with a view to eventually moving.
“I think they turned down some offers last season for him as well, halfway through the season there.
“But I think he’s a good player, and he seems within Everton’s sort of repertoire I feel, so it will be a sensible, shrewd purchase. I think he’s very good. That’s very possible.”
The Verdict: Get it done
Sky Sports journalist Rob Dorsett revealed on Monday morning that Brereton Diaz has ‘no intention’ of sitting down with Blackburn Rovers to sign a new deal, even though they would be giving him a ‘big pay rise’.
This provides the perfect chance for Frank Lampard and co to swoop in for a player that Rovers will likely now want to sell now in order to get maximum value out of him.
Hailed as a ‘beast’ by former Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray, Brereton Diaz scored a very impressive 22 goals in the Championship last season, and he already has two to his name from his first five matches this term (Transfermarkt).
Nonetheless, the Chile international will be hungry to prove himself in the top flight, and Everton could give him the platform to do so.
Everton have been linked with a move for Che Adams over the last few weeks and now a reliable source has made a claim on the club’s potential pursuit of the player in the remaining days and weeks of the transfer window.
What’s the latest?
According to journalist Pete O’Rourke, the signing of the Southampton striker would be “good business” for Everton.
Speaking to Football FanCast, O’Rourke claimed:
“I think Che Adams is on the list for a number of Premier League clubs this summer, it does seem Southampton would be willing to let him leave for the right offer as well.
“He’s got good Premier League experience, he can play up front on his own or he can play up front alongside somebody else.
“Everton are in desperate need of striking reinforcements, and if they can get someone like Che Adams for a relatively cheap fee or a loan deal it could be good business.
“They’ll be getting a player with proven Premier League experience who can hit the ground running and that’s what Everton need right now.”
Rare Moshiri masterclass
If Farhad Moshiri can complete the signing of Adams from Southampton it would be a rare masterclass for the club because, as O’Rourke alludes to, he could be signed at a bargain price, something the Toffees owner has seldom found since he arrived at Goodison, spending over £500m on new faces.
Combine a potentially small fee with their dire need for a forward and it’s clear this is a deal that ticks many a box for Frank Lampard’s men this summer.
With Dominic Calvert-Lewin currently sidelined with a knee injury and Richarlison leaving the club earlier in the transfer window, it has left them without a goal-scorer they can trust to convert opportunities, and their absence has been strongly felt already in the side.
Everton have failed to tally up a single point and have only found the net via an own goal over their first two Premier League fixtures, so there is no doubt that Lampard will be desperate for a striker to come into the team as soon as possible and Adams could be the perfect fit.
The forward who was signed for £15m by Southampton, has scored 21 goals and delivered 12 assists for the Saints over 111 appearances so far, and is a consistent performer for his national side too, with six goals in 19 appearances.
But it’s not just his goal scoring that would have caught the manager’s eye, as he could offer much more to the Merseysiders than just a stand-in centre-forward over the next six weeks whilst Calvert-Lewin recovers.
Adams is very versatile with his positioning in the front line and can effectively work alongside another centre-forward to deliver goal-scoring opportunities to a strike partner, something we saw work well when he developed a lethal partnership with former Saints striker Danny Ings.
Back in the 2020/2021 season, Adams and Ings made up 48% of Southampton’s goals and were the Premier League’s third most relied-upon attacking partnership.
Therefore, playing Calvert-Lewin and Adams together could be something worth considering for the Toffees boss if the club allows Anthony Gordon to leave this summer amid interest from Chelsea.
With that being said, the signing of Adams could well be a rare masterclass for Moshiri who hasn’t particularly done a great deal right when it comes to the transfer window.
A big claim has emerged on Newcastle United and their pursuit of Jack Harrison in the summer transfer window…
What’s the talk?
Journalist Santi Aouna has claimed that the Magpies have had a bid in the region of £34m rejected for the English winger.
Their rivals are looking for a fee of around £39m to allow him to leave Elland Road, with the reporter revealing that PIF have not met their demands.
He Tweeted: “Info: Newcastle offered €40m to Leeds for Jack Harrison. Offer refused by Leeds who claim ~47.”
Big blow for Eddie Howe
This news comes as a big blow to the Toon head coach because the Whites winger knows what it takes to perform in the Premier League.
Howe is not blessed with quality options at the top end of the pitch and Harrison is a player who would add a much-needed goal threat to the team.
In the 2021/22 campaign, Miguel Almiron scored one goal in 30 top-flight appearances, whilst also failing to provide a single assist. Ryan Fraser, meanwhile, managed two goals in 27 outings in the Premier League – assisting three goals along the way.
These statistics suggest that Newcastle are in desperate need of a winger who can make a significant contribution in the final third. Almiron and Fraser both failed to consistently produce quality at the top end of the pitch and must be replaced this summer if the Magpies want to bolster their attack.
Leeds boss Jesse Marsch previously hailed Harrison’s quality going forward, saying: “He can run all day, he is explosive, he’s effective in 1-v-1s, he’s dangerous, he’s smart. I’m asking him to play a different role, I want him to play a little bit more of an interior player. I just want to give him the confidence to apply our ideas of football and achieve.
“His application [of shooting] in the first game was really good.”
The 25-year-old has played in the Premier League for two seasons and proven himself as a goalscorer in both of them – finding the back of the net eight times in each campaign. This shows that he has the quality to provide a semi-regular source of goals from out wide, which can take the pressure off the likes of Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin to do it all on their own.
Along with his goals, Harrison has also racked up nine assists since the start of 2020/21 and this means that he can create chances for his teammates.
Therefore, he would be an upgrade on Howe’s other options to play on the opposite wing to Saint-Maximin and that is why this bid being rejected is a big blow for the head coach.
Leeds United journalist Graham Smyth has shared some behind-the-scenes details regarding the Yorkshire club’s plans for the remainder of the summer transfer window.
What’s the news?
In a recent report for the Yorkshire Evening Post, Smyth had this to say on the matter.
He said: “The Whites are hopeful of getting one of their targets [striker and left-back] through the door before the Premier League opener against Wolves on Saturday August 6 but are currently tight-lipped on the identity of targets and whatever deals are being worked on are yet to leak out.”
So far in the summer transfer window, Leeds have been busier than most of their Premier League colleagues in terms of the number of deals they’ve been involved in.
In terms of their incoming transfers, the Whites have brought in players such as Brendan Aaronson, Tyler Adams, Marc Roca, Luis Sinisterra, Darko Gyabi and Rasmus Kristensen.
The club have also seen some big names leave Elland Road this summer such as Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha.
Great news for Marsch
Now that Smyth has shared this news about the club’s hopes that a new face will arrive, on top of the new players that have already signed, before their next Premier League season kicks off, this will surely have Jesse Marsch and a lot of Leeds fans buzzing.
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Bearing in mind how current Leeds left-back Junior Firpo is out of action through injury and is likely to miss the first few weeks of the season, it’s easy to see why the club would be keen on adding a new player in that position as soon as they can.
As for a new striker, the fact that Patrick Bamford’s numerous injury issues kept him on the sidelines for the majority of last season suggests that a new centre-forward coming in would not only provide back-up for the Englishman in that position but also add some competition for the spot as well.
Moving forward, if Leeds can wrap up their summer transfer business as soon as possible, this will give them an advantage in terms of seeing all their new players settle in quick and get used to playing in the Premier League.
AND in other news: Orta could sign Leeds’ perfect Raphinha heir in £4.2m “animal”, Marsch wants him
Tottenham Hotspur could sign a new attacking midfielder before the transfer deadline on September 1st.
That’s according to transfer insider Dean Jones, who believes the north London outfit are open to finding a no.10 but are not desperate to do so this summer.
He told GIVEMESPORT:
“I think the 10 is an interesting one for Tottenham. It’s a position they are open to, but I don’t think they’re especially desperate for one right now.”
Spurs have been linked to several names in this profile of target and perhaps the most intriguing is Jesse Lingard, who the Telegraph claim is a key target due to his homegrown status.
The 29-year-old dynamo left his boyhood club, Manchester United, after over two decades and now finds himself as a free-agent, meaning he would not cost chairman Daniel Levy a penny in terms of a transfer fee.
Lingard’s versatility is another key factor behind the Lilywhites’ interest as he can play in a multitude of roles, ranging from no.10 to out wide and even upfront.
But it’s in attacking midfield that he could thrive as statistical website FBref liken his playing style to that of Arsenal playmaker Martin Odegaard, so sporting director Fabio Paratici could secure his very own carbon copy of the arch-rival star.
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The England international ranks very favourably compared to his positional peers across Europe – he sits amongst the top 1% for pressures (26.35 per 90), the top 3% for passes completion (85.8% per 90) and the top 4% for tackles (2.41 per 90), also via FBref.
These returns would suggest that Lingard could be a perfect fit for Conte’s system as he can evidently press from the front, even often winning the ball back and clearly possesses playmaking capabilities.
We saw glimpses of that during a loan spell at West Ham United, where he delivered nine goals and five assists from 16 appearances, per Transfermarkt.
“He’s a special lad and was very good around the players, the players really like him. His ability shone out last year and gave us a great option in our squad,” claimed former Irons assistant Stuart Pearce to talkSPORT.
Meanwhile, talkSPORT presenter Adrian Durham lauded him as “absolutely phenomenal” for his form at the London Stadium.
Given that Spurs could pick up a player that’s valued at £16.2m by Transfermarkt for nothing, it seems a low-risk and no-brainer move from Paratici and co at Hotspur Way.
In Lingard, they could find their very own Odegaard, a player capable of filling that no.10 void at Tottenham, without paying a penny. It makes the world of sense.
AND in other news, £16.6m wasted: Conte must axe £50k-p/w Spurs passenger who Pochettino dubbed “perfect”…