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Aston Villa are reportedly eyeing a move for AZ Alkmaar forward Vangelis Pavlidis.

What’s the latest on Villa and Pavlidis?

Unai Emery appears to be on the hunt for a new striker over the coming months, with Ashley Preece previously stating that ‘a new No.9 to partner Ollie Watkins is at the top of Villa's shopping list this summer’.

The club have been heavily linked with a move for former Villa Park loanee Tammy Abraham, however, Pavlidis also seems to be of interest.

Hailed as a "difference maker" in the media for his goal involvements this season, the 24-year-old is primarily a centre-forward but can also turn out as an attacking midfielder or left-winger. Valued at a career-high €12m by Transfermarkt, the Greece international has enjoyed a successful stint in the Netherlands, previously with Willem II.

Pavlidis, sponsored by Nike, netted 33 times for Willem II which resulted in a move to AZ Alkmaar back in 2021, and he has continued to reach double figures in front of goal in the Eredivisie, netting 40 times in 80 appearances for his current employers.

Jeunes Footeux provided an update regarding Pavlidis in the last 48 hours, where Villa were named. They said that the Villans and Premier League rivals are closely following the performances of the forward ahead of a potential move. The report cites a €25m (£22m) fee for Pavlidis, a figure which is within the reach of officials at both Villa Park and Elland Road.

Should Villa bring Pavlidis to the Midlands?

You can see why Emery is after a new forward ahead of his first season in charge, especially after parting ways with Danny Ings back in January.

Ollie Watkins has stepped up to the plate, enjoying a purple patch in front of goal in recent months, however, Villa have been outscored by nine of the 10 teams above them in the table.

Therefore, looking at a potential move for someone like Pavlidis could be a shrewd move, with the forward scoring 10 or more league goals in each of his last four seasons. He appears to be at the peak of his powers with his market valuation and would also provide an option out wide or in behind the striker, should Emery stick with Watkins as his main man in attack.

Adding proven quality in the final third would be a good move, and it looks as if Pavlidis could be the one to come in and rival Watkins and youngsters Jhon Duran and Cameron Archer next season.

Tottenham summer signing Ivan Perisic is now also being linked with a Spurs exit alongside Harry Kane, coming after manager Antonio Conte's departure.

Who could leave Spurs?

Conte's exit from the north London club, which was finally confirmed earlier this week after much speculation, has lead to some other internal departures. Gianluca Conte, the brother of Antonio, has also left Spurs after his family member agreed to depart by mutual consent.

Perhaps surprisingly, the aforementioned staff member is the only person from Conte's backroom to depart with him – as Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason are tasked with taking charge for the remainder of this Premier League campaign.

However, this summer could be a very interesting one for Spurs in terms of player exits, with reports already suggesting that star striker Harry Kane could leave. Whoever comes in to replace Conte could be key in convincing the England international to remain at Spurs and the heavily-linked Julian Nagelsmann may well be one manager with that kind of pulling power.

These next few months are crucial in determining Tottenham's success for next season in more ways than one, it would seem, and a report from Italy has suggested that Kane isn't the only player who could leave after Conte.

Calciomercato have provided a lowdown on the squad members with questionable futures at Spurs following Conte's dismissal. Kane is again listed as one candidate who could well leave the Lilywhites, but he is joined by summer signing Ivan Perisic. They claim it is "not excluded" that the Croatia international "could also leave Spurs" – describing him as a Conte "loyalist".

Spurs' hierarchy still haven't addressed the pressing issue of his contract, which is set to expire in 2024, and the £180,000-per-week wing-back could depart in the event of a good offer.

Should Tottenham sell Perisic?

The veteran is a highly experienced, versatile player who can be deployed at wing-back, across midfield and even in the forward line (WhoScored). At 34-years-old, he is also very unlikely to command a decent transfer fee at that age, so it's arguably more logical to keep hold of him for Tottenham's next manager.

In terms of performances, the former Inter Milan star has been brilliant going forward this season – with only Dejan Kulusevski registering more assists in the league. Perisic also ranks in Tottenham's top five for key passes completed per 90 and averages more crosses into the box than any other Spurs player domestically (WhoScored).

Called a 'physical monster' by members of the press, we believe Perisic still very much has his uses.

West Ham United could reportedly make a move for Paris Saint-Germain defender Layvin Kurzawa, as manager David Moyes seeks to further bolster his defensive ranks.

What’s the word?

According to trusted insider ExWHUemployee – writing on the West Ham Way Patreon page – the Hammers could well “explore” a deal for the Frenchman this summer, with a potential loan deal in the offing.

He stated: “A name that has been mentioned by us before and seems to be circulating again is the French international defender at PSG, Layvin Marc Kurzawa,

“The club could explore a loan-to-buy option with the player although it is thought we have a number of younger targets for this position too as Kurzawa is 29 and will be 30 in a couple of months.”

This follows the news that the 29-year-old has been left out of the Ligue 1 giants’ pre-season tour to Asia, heightening the possibility that he could be allowed to depart.

The 13-cap gem had previously been a target in January for the Premier League outfit, according to reports, with Newcastle United having also been named as a potential suitor.

Supporters buzzing

Having the chance to land such an experienced asset on a loan deal could well constitute a no-brainer for manager David Moyes, particularly with other areas of the pitch to focus on this summer, including at centre-forward.

There will undoubtedly be concerns at signing a player who made just a solitary appearance under Mauricio Pochettino last term – that coming in the Trophee des Champions clash in early August – although he could well provide useful competition to current first-choice left-back, Aaron Cresswell.

The £4.5m-rated ace has racked up 152 appearances in all competitions during his seven-year stay at the Parc des Princes, scoring 14 goals and providing 22 assists in that time since his arrival from Monaco in 2015.

Any deal may not be the long-term swoop that supporters would have been hoping for – amid links to both Luca Pellegrini and David Raum – although it could prove an astute piece of short-term business if they do sign Kurzawa, to allow more significant investment elsewhere.

Equally, should the player himself be keen on the move, it would be a marker of the Irons’ rise in recent times to be able to pluck a player from one of Europe’s elite sides, with supporters no doubt buzzing to be able to secure such a high profile addition.

AND in other news, Moyes can land Mbappe 2.0 with WHU bid for £40m gem who’s a “nightmare for defenders”

Leeds United and Victor Orta are reportedly now one of the clubs ‘best positioned’ to sign KRC Genk left-back Gerardo Arteaga for Jesse Marsch.

The Lowdown: More to come…

After confirming the signing of Tyler Adams from RB Leipzig on Wednesday evening, it seems as if the Elland Road outfit’s business this summer is still far from over.

They are reportedly in pole position to sign Club Brugge attacker Charles De Ketelaere, while The Athletic journalist Phil Hay has claimed that Feyenoord winger Luis Sinisterra is also on his way.

After already losing Kalvin Phillips to Manchester City, on top of the likely sale of Raphinha, it was important for the Yorkshire club to bring in a sufficient number of incomings to best prepare themselves for next season.

The Latest: Arteaga too?

As per Marca (via Sport Witness), the Whites are one of the clubs now ‘best positioned’ to sign Arteaga, alongside both Brighton and Hove Albion and Fulham.

They are following the 14-cap Mexico international ‘very closely’, while Salernitana, Real Betis, Villarreal, Celta Vigo and Getafe are also in the race for his signature.

The Verdict: Get it done

Given the high competition to sign Arteaga, this is a deal that the Peacocks need to get over the line as soon as possible.

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They only have one senior left-back in their squad at the moment in Junior Firpo, and with cup competitions on top of the Premier League, the 25-year-old will need to be rotated.

Arteaga is actually two years younger than Firpo at 23, and still has plenty of experience to his name, including six appearances in the UEFA Europa League last season (Transfermarkt), so should be a worthy competitor for the left-back position.

Manchester United have been handed a boost in their long-running pursuit of Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong.

What’s the word?

That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, who has detailed every step of this courtship that has spanned almost all of Erik ten Hag’s current tenure.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the Italian journalist spoke of how Barcelona’s financial troubles could provide a boost for the Red Devils: “For Frenkie de Jong, I think the situation is a peculiar one.

“The president of Barcelona, Laporta, has said that he will try to keep the player, but he wants Frenkie to reduce his salary. From what I’m told, Frenkie is not reducing his salary. At the moment, this is not the case.”

Supporters will be buzzing

At last it appears another breakthrough has been made in this never-ending transfer saga, as United’s financial muscle will prove too much for Barcelona.

Supporters will be both excited and relieved in equal measure as it appeared the deal was stagnating somewhat, but Erik ten Hag seems to be one step closer to reuniting himself with the mercurial maestro.

Xavi will be frustrated to lose him, as he only recently spoke so highly of the Netherlands international.

He had the following to say: “For me, Frenkie is a great player, he’s a beast – I like him and I think he can be part of an important era of the club. We will see the economic situation of the club… but I like de Jong.”

To receive that sort of praise from one of the greatest midfielders ever should go a long way in proving what all the hype is about, but his stats only solifidy Xavi’s statement.

De Jong ranks in the 94th percentile for progressive carries, the 92nd percentile for pass completion and averages 2.79 shot-creating actions per 90. He is a constant creative threat from central midfield, and bagged six goal contributions this season.

It is no surprise to see his average SofaScore rating at such a level, boasting a 7.08 across 32 league appearances.

Supporters can finally start to get excited at the prospect of seeing him in a United shirt and spraying balls across the Old Trafford turf, as Ten Hag closes in on his number one target.

AND, in other news: Huge terms offered: Man United submit bid to sign £60m “magician”, he “oozes quality”.

Arsenal have been outlined as frontrunners for Ajax’s versatile defender Lisandro Martinez.

What’s the word?

That’s according to talkSPORT, who report that Arsenal have brushed aside Manchester United in pursuit of the Argentine.

The Gunners have tabled a bid worth £35m and are awaiting a response from Ajax.

They have been long-time admirers of the 24-year-old and will be pleased to get this deal done sooner rather than later, with United still sniffing around.

The news comes with Arsenal now on the verge of signing Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus.

Arteta will love him

Mikel Arteta will delight in getting the deal done for this battle-hardened South American, who, similarly to Takehiro Tomiyasu, can play across the backline and also midfield.

Standing at just 5 foot 9, the Argentina international does not shirk a tackle. He sits in the 99th percentile for tackles and progressive passes per 90, combined with a 93% pass completion rate.

Clearly, he is a forward-thinking defender, hence his ability to deputise in midfield.

He could provide healthy competition for multiple Arsenal players due to his versatility and could prove a perfect midfield partner for Granit Xhaka, or the perfect centre-back partner for Benjamin White.

His average SofaScore rating sits at a remarkable 7.61, which is only bested by Dusan Tadic amongst his Ajax teammates. He seems ready for a step up, and Arsenal could be the perfect springboard to bring his talents to England.

The £28.8m-rated stopper has drawn praise for these kinds of performances, notably from scout Jacek Kulig who dubbed him “elegant” and at just 24-years-old he still has his entire career in front of him.

He also managed to grab four goal contributions this season, so marks himself out as a real all-rounder who can get forward, marshal the midfield, and put a tackle in.

Back when he managed him, Erik ten Hag dubbed him an “excellent player” just under a year ago. This would explain United’s interest and would make it even sweeter if Arteta could push this deal through.

He would add a bit of bite to a relatively soft Arsenal side, and that is why Edu Gaspar would play a masterclass by completing this deal as soon as possible.

AND, in other news: David Ornstein drops big Arsenal transfer update that’ll leave supporters gutted.

According to reliable journalist James Hunter, Sunderland are now in pole position to sign Arsenal defender Daniel Ballard.

The Lowdown: Burnley move breaks down

A product of the Gunners youth system, the 22-year-old had recently come close to signing for Burnley and even made the trip to Lancashire to put pen to paper on a deal with Vincent Kompany’s Clarets, but the move broke down at the last minute due to not being able to agree personal terms.

And the Black Cats, alongside Championship rivals Blackpool and Millwall, the two clubs where the centre-back had been on loan, were all said to be interested in securing his services.

With the news that the Stevenage-born talent is officially back on the market, it now sounds as if the Stadium of Light outfit are intensifying their efforts in a bid to try and fend off their competitors.

The Latest: Sunderland in pole position

In an article written for ChronicleLive, Hunter claims that Sunderland are now ‘leading the race’ for Ballard, with the club having ‘stepped up their interest’ following Burnley’s setback.

The source further states that whilst the deal is ‘not yet done’, the hierarchy ‘remain hopeful’ that they can convince him to complete the move to Wearside.

The Verdict: Rock at the back

Alex Neil will now be looking to bolster his ranks with some new additions as he revamps his squad ahead of Sunderland’s long-awaited return to the second tier, and Ballard would be an impressive signing to get over the line.

The Northern Ireland international, who’s recently been dubbed an “outstanding” potential signing by journalist Josh Bunting, was an absolute rock at the back for Millwall last season, winning 3.9 of his aerial duels and averaging 3.4 clearances per league 90 minutes, via WhoScored.

Once a teammate of the Black Cats’ Elliot Embleton when they were both on loan together at Bloomfield Road, a reunion for the duo could soon be on the cards in the north east.

Crystal Palace are interested in signing Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Harry Winks and have seemingly been given the green light to do so.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from 90min, who claimed that Spurs are happy for the 26-year-old to to depart the club this summer, with a number of Premier League teams said to be interested in his services.

Brentford, Everton, Leicester City and Wolves are the clubs mentioned in the piece, in addition to Crystal Palace, with the report stating that “several” top-flight clubs “have been put on alert”.

Supporters surely buzzing

Following Yves Bissouma’s arrival at Spurs, Winks will have slid further down the midfield pecking order, and it looks as though a move to pastures new is exactly what he needs in order to rejuvenate his stalling career.

Despite making 19 league appearances for Antonio Conte’s side last season, he played just 905 minutes. At 26 years of age, he needs to be playing more regular first-team football.

As a player, Winks has seemingly gone under the radar due to his elegant and calculated style of play. He’s an asset who brings stability to the midfield and is capable of pulling the strings and dictating play with his wonderful range of passing.

With Conor Gallagher’s loan deal having expired, amidst uncertainty over a return to Selhurst Park, Patrick Vieira should be doing everything in his power to pull off a move for Winks, who can help the Eagles to build on their 2021/22 average of 51.2% possession.

Winks’ average of 56.55 passes completed per 90 as a registered defensive midfielder place him in the 88th percentile among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues according to FBRef, whilst his 74.61 touches per 90 demonstrate his ability as a stabiliser in the heart of the engine room.

His match average of 51.61 carries is also a very solid return, whilst his total carrying distance of 255.10 yards is a promising metric in terms of ball progression.

According to CIES, Palace should be able to capture the signing of Winks for no more than €15m (£12.9m) in what would prove to be a bargain for such a technically gifted player.

In other news – “Noises I’m getting..”: Big Palace transfer claim emerges that’ll leave Vieira gutted

Manchester City attacker Gabriel Jesus has been linked with a summer move to fellow Premier League club Arsenal.

What’s the news?

According to a clip shared by Sky Sports News on Twitter, the Gunners are in talks with City over a possible deal for the Brazilian, who the Premier League champions value at £50m, this summer. The broadcaster also claimed that the player is apparently looking to leave the Etihad Stadium in search of regular football.

City completed a £27m deal for the Brazil international back in 2016 when he was just 19 years old. Since then, the attacker has gone on to make 236 appearances for the Citizens across all competitions, scoring 95 goals and providing 46 assists along the way.

He has also won four Premier League titles, along with four Carabao Cups and one FA Cup.

Bad news for Guardiola

In 28 league appearances last season, the 25-year-old found the net eight times and delivered nine assists, making more goal contributions than the likes of Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish.

To further highlight how deadly he was in front of goal during his latest campaign with Pep Guardiola’s side, no other City player had more goal-creating actions than Jesus (18).

His overall performances earned the Brazilian a solid season rating of 7.2/10 from WhoScored, making him the seventh-highest rated player currently at the Etihad. This not only shows why Arsenal are after the player but why the Citizens have put a rather hefty price tag on him.

It also makes it easy to suggest that Guardiola would be gutted to see Jesus leave the club, given the clear attacking talent that he has and what he has delivered for the Sky Blues during his time in Manchester.

Having previously hailed the Brazilian as the best in the world at providing high pressure and intensity in the forward line, this shows just how much the City manager values the player.

Should the 25-year-old find himself waving goodbye to the club this summer, Guardiola and City supporters will have to hope that their new attacking recruits Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez have what it takes to be suitable replacements for Jesus.

In other news – “Advanced talks”: Fabrizio Romano drops big Man City transfer update, it’s great news for Pep

Newcastle United may be interested in a move Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer, journalist Alex Crook has told GiveMeSport.

The lowdown

According to The Chronicle’s Lee Ryder, Eddie Howe is ‘exploring his options in terms of livening up the competition’ for Martin Dubravka’s number one spot next season.

The Slovakian missed the start of the 2021/22 campaign through injury but returned against Arsenal in November and started every Premier League match thereafter.

Sommer is valued at just £4.5m by Transfermarkt, with only 12 months remaining on his deal at Borussia Park.

The latest

Crook said that he has learned that Sommer may be one of the options under consideration at St James’ Park, telling Newcastle supporters to ‘keep an eye on that one’, with the Magpies potentially sensing the opportunity for a bargain deal for the 33-year-old.

He told GiveMeSport: “The name I was given this week was Yann Sommer at Monchengladbach, the Swiss international. He’s got a year left on his contract so wouldn’t cost a lot of money. I’d definitely keep an eye on that one.”

The verdict

Sommer is a vastly experienced goalkeeper, having made 262 Bundesliga appearances and racked up 74 caps for Switzerland.

He has earned some prestigious individual honours along the way, featuring in the 2019/20 Bundesliga Team of the Season and winning his country’s Player of the Year award in 2021.

There were rave reviews for the Monchengladbach man at last summer’s European Championship, with journalist Zach Lowy called the ‘amazing’ stopper ‘one of the most underrated goalkeepers of the past decade’. At the finals, he denied Kylian Mbappe from the spot as Switzerland knocked out France on penalties and made a string of saves in the quarter-final against Spain.

Dubravka could well have an almighty fight on his hands to keep his place if Sommer were to arrive on Tyneside.

In other news, this pundit reacts to significant injury news involving a Newcastle target