All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Everton were close to reaching an agreement to bring AS Roma striker Tammy Abraham back to the Premier League, according to reports.

Is Tammy Abraham leaving AS Roma?

The Chelsea academy graduate’s contract at the Stadio Olimpico isn’t set to expire for another three years, but having established himself as Jose Mourinho’s second best-performing offensive player last season, has caught the eye of Sean Dyche, and not for the first time.

Back in March, iNews reported that the Toffees had an approach for the 25-year-old rejected, with Forzaroma.info later claiming that they were in pole position to secure his services should he depart, a situation that could well have been about to occur.

The Goodison Park outfit were believed to be ready to make a second attempt for the centre-forward after learning that the Serie A side could be forced to cash in on some of their prized assets due to Financial Fair Play regulations, but any kind of deal that was in the pipeline is now firmly off as a result of unforeseen circumstances.

Are Everton signing Abraham?

According to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport (via The Liverpool Echo on June 14 at 15:37pm), Everton were "close to signing" Abraham this summer. The Merseyside outfit were in "advanced negotiations" to recruit the striker with the specified transfer fee being £34.2m. However, after the England star sustained a serious ACL injury, he's facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines and therefore will remain at AS Roma.

Everton will be aware that Abraham already has plenty of experience under his belt in England having not only played for Chelsea but also Bristol City, Swansea City and Aston Villa which will be an attractive attribute to Dyche, and considering the prolific threat he could add in the final third, he would be a fantastic signing if ever he did join.

The ROOF client, who’s sponsored by Nike, posted 12 goal contributions (eight goals and four assists) in 38 Serie A appearances last season and had 28 shots on target from 62 which was the highest success rate throughout his squad, via FBRef. This kind of form having seen him previously dubbed a “goal machine” by ex-professional Stephen Elliot.

Finally, Abraham standing at 6 foot 2 would make him the ideal target man up top and he was averaging 2.1 aerial wins per league game during the previous term, so despite a deal not being up for grabs this window, this is a move that should definitely be revisited in January 2024.

Manchester United are in the market for a prolific striker this summer and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target who would be open to a move to Old Trafford this summer.

What's the latest on Man United's interest in Rasmus Hojlund?

According to The Mirror, Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund is interested in joining Man United this summer after being identified as one of the players under consideration.

As per the report, it is claimed that the talented star is on a six-man shortlist with the signing of a striker the highest priority for the Red Devils and his Serie A club will command a €50m (£43m) transfer fee to part ways with their player.

Who would Hojlund replace at Man United?

Replacing Cristiano Ronaldo was never going to be an easy task for Erik ten Hag, however, the Dutch coach wouldn't have been able to predict just how poor Wout Weghorst would be during his six-month loan stint at Old Trafford.

The Netherlands international failed to score a single Premier League goal over his 17 league appearances in a Man United strip – missing three big chances in front of goal and averaging 0.3 shots on target per game, which is a dreadful output for a centre forward especially at such a demanding club.

As a result, the signing of Hojlund would be warmly welcomed ahead of next season as the Danish striker would be an incredible threat in the final third and a huge upgrade on Weghorst.

When comparing the Atalanta talent to his Man United positional peer he has comfortably outperformed in a number of key attacking attributes including goal contributions (16 v 13), shots on target rate (54.7% v 43.9%), goal-creating actions per 90 (0.25 v 0.23), progressive carries (40 v 3) and shots on target per 90 (1.41 v 1.18), as per FBref.

Not only is Hojlund more explosive in front of goal, but the 20-year-old is also a decade younger than Weghorst and could provide Ten Hag with a young player who could develop into a massive asset for any future success at Man United in the next few years to come.

The four-cap Denmark international has been the recipient of high praise from his manager Gian Piero Gasperini who likened him to treble-winning Manchester City star Erling Haaland:

"Hojlund has this spirit, energy, intensity, but also the technical quality that is just remarkable. He still has so much margin for improvement, too.

"He has very similar characteristics to Haaland. He is so quick, he’s under 11 seconds over 100m and that’s not even trying very hard. Considering his height, he has a low centre of gravity. I am convinced he’ll have a great career, he just gets stronger every day."

With that being said, securing Hojlund's signature would be a major coup for Man United and if he could continue to thrive in English football there is no reason why he can't become a key component in the club's pursuit of more trophies and success in the future.

Newcastle United are in pole position to win the race for touted transfer target James Maddison after failing with a £50m bid for his signature one year ago.

What's the latest on James Maddison to Newcastle?

That's according to the ever-reliable Athletic, who claim that the 26-year-old attacking midfielder's future 'almost certainly' lies away from the King Power Stadium following Leicester's relegation from the Premier League this season.

Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are all vying for his services themselves but it is Eddie Howe's Magpies who are the frontrunners.

Due to the Foxes' current situation and Maddison having just one year left on his current deal, 'several intermedieries' have priced the England international at just £40m – which could be an absolute steal as Newcastle look to consolidate their newfound stature.

How would James Maddison perform for Newcastle?

Make no mistake, despite playing a central role in a relegated outfit, Maddison is a "world-class" – as praised by England manager Gareth Southgate – midfielder and he has maintained a commendable direct return this term.

While Leicester's defence floundered like a fish out of water, the offensive efforts still held some air of cohesion, with Harvey Barnes and Maddison notably impressing.

Maddison would score ten goals and supply nine assists from just 30 appearances, and there is a case to be made that had injury not plagued the £110k-per-week phenom across the remaining eight clashes, his side would have discovered the two additional points needed to preserve top-flight status.

The fact he did not certainly plays into the hands of his suitors and while there is a vested interest from numerous angles, Newcastle's lingering interest could persuade him to don black and white this summer, with the enticing proposition of injecting superlative creativity and flair into a burgeoning outfit with a ceiling too daunting to conceive.

While it's clear that the two-cap gem would enhance the Toon's offensive calibre, let's delve a little deeper into the intricacies of just how this "football nut" – as manager Dean Smith heralded Maddison – would affect an outfit already boasting success beyond measure, given that just 18 months ago the Magpies fretted over their own battle against the claws of relegation.

The arresting element to his game is the goals, thumped from range, deftly guided from close; his assists, whipped, curled, placed with the perfect clarity of an innate artist.

But Maddison has proved that he is the all-encompassing and tenacious star Howe needs to continue to keep the club's togetherness and resilience woven, embedded into the squad's chemistry, without seam.

As per FBref, the one-time Norwich City ace ranks among the top 17% of attacking midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of tackles per 90, while Sofascore illustrates his defensive work-rate by referencing his 1.7 tackles per game – in the Premier League this term – and his success in 57% of his contested ground duels – omnipresent in his work.

The "monster" – as dubbed by journalist Josh Bunting – would enrich the hopes of his teammates' individual success, and while his work across the field will provide variegated members with increased fortunes, none may flourish with richer support than that of prolific talisman Callum Wilson.

The 31-year-old Englishman has been in scintillating goalscoring form this term – his best Premier League season on an individual level – and has plundered 18 goals from just 21 starts.

The £46k-per-week striker ranks among the top 4% of positional peers for rate of non-penalty goals and the top 8% for rate of assists per 90, and given Maddison's own prolific nature, the two could meld gloriously to wreak havoc on their foes.

Maddison will bolster the whole gamut at St. James's Park, and given the success that the outfit have found this year, it must be terrifying for rival opposition to consider the leaps and bounds that may still be made.

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…

According to newspaper Il Messaggero, as relayed by Calcio News 24, there has been a big update on Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer plans involving Roma defender Roger Ibanez.

The Lowdown: Spurs set to be busy…

It’s no secret that Spurs head coach Antonio Conte is eyeing fresh additions to his backline, specifically at centre-half, with links emerging to a plethora of names.

GiveMeSport sum it up by revealing that Alessandro Bastoni, Josko Gvardiol, Pau Torres, Marc Guehi, Gleison Bremer, Stefan De Vrij and Clement Lenglet have all been on the shortlist at various points.

Another central defensive target in Roma star Ibanez has also now been linked with Il Messaggero (via Calcio News 24) now sharing what could be a significant update.

The Latest: Tottenham table bid…

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-developments-2/” title=”Tottenham latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

According to the newspaper, Premier League sides Spurs and Newcastle United have both ‘proposed’ €30 million (£26m) to sign the player who is ‘very popular’ and in-demand.

However, it may take more to prise away Ibanez, who has a big release clause of €80m (£68m).

The Verdict: Press further?

We believe £68m may be too much to spend on Ibanez given Tottenham have other ‘world class’ targets like Torres of Villarreal available for less.

The Brazilian has been a brilliant player for Jose Mourinho at the Stadio Olimpico, making more interceptions per 90 than any Roma player whilst ranking in as their sixth-best performing player (WhoScored).

However, Torres has been just as effective under Unai Emery in La Liga and is available for much less with his £55m release clause.

As Fabio Paratici weighs his next move, all options must be considered carefully.

In other news: ‘Big’ – Tottenham expected to make move for ‘supremely underrated’ star! Find out more here.

Former Glasgow Rangers manager Alex McLeish has claimed that Joe Aribo could now leave Ibrox this summer.

The Lowdown: Mass exodus?

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team could be looking at a mass exodus this summer, given the number of players running down their contract.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/rangers-news-4/” title=”Rangers news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The likes of Ryan Kent and Calvin Bassey have also been linked with moves to the Premier League, which could spell trouble for the Dutch coach in terms of trying to keep his squad together.

The Latest: Aribo claim

Speaking to Football Insider, McLeish, who also contributes for Sky Sports, has claimed that ‘it’s a worry’ for the Gers when the English top flight come calling for their key players, and believes that Aribo could be another one that could be tempted by the switch:

“It’s a worry, isn’t it?

“The lure of the Premier League is very real. The main example of that is Steven Gerrard leaving Rangers to go to Aston Villa.

“It’s the strongest and richest league in the world.

“These Premier League clubs are like birds of prey circling. If they can’t land their targets in the Spanish or Italian leagues, they know there are always bargains to be had in Scotland.

“Rangers are one of the biggest clubs in the world. However, the ambition of most players means they will almost always choose to move to England.

“Aribo will be no different.”

The Verdict: Tricky position

The Teddy Bears will certainly find themselves in a tricky position if big offers start to come in from the Premier League.

Aribo himself has been linked with a move to Crystal Palace, among other clubs in the division, and the Light Blues will not want to let everyone go in one window.

Thus, they need to be demanding high transfer fees for all of these stars, and only sell if the price is right.

Nonetheless, they will be hoping that their hands will not be tied by the players themselves, in case they try and force their way out of the club.

In other news, find out which ‘magnificent’ leader could now join Gers here!

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing AS Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana, according to a report from Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb (via Sport Witness).

The lowdown: Rise to stardom

Signed from RC Strasbourg in 2020, Fofana has made 93 appearances for Monaco and has become a mainstay for the Ligue 1 outfit alongside highly sought after countryman Aurelien Tchouameni.

Recognised at the youth level by France, the 23-year-old Paris-born starlet could be set to follow his teammate in making a summer switch.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-developments-2/” title=”Tottenham latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

As both Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici look to strengthen the Lilywhites squad over the upcoming transfer window, Fofana is believed to be among the top targets…

The latest: ‘Present and future’

As per TuttoMercatoWeb, translated by SW, Tottenham are attentive to the twice-capped France Under 21 international.

The report claims that Spurs see Fofana – who was described as a ‘high-quality prospect’ by journalist Marcus Bring – as a ‘solution between present and future’ for the midfield department at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The same report also details interest from north London in Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni and Torino ace Gleison Bremer.

The verdict: Make it happen

Valued at £12.6million (Transfermarkt), the powerful Frenchman would be an affordable option for ENIC, particularly following the influx of a £150million cash boost this week.

During the 2021/22 campaign, Fofana scored once and provided four assists in 46 appearances, playing as a box to box midfielder as well as in a deeper-lying role.

Stylistically, the combative ace shares similarities with the likes of Aston Villa stalwart John McGinn, Borussia Dortmund star Mahmoud Dahoud and highly rated Pape Matar Sarr (Fbref).

Despite being unproven outside of Ligue 1, Conte and co would be wise to pay close attention to the possibility of prising Fofana out of Monaco and to Tottenham.

In other news: Tottenham are eyeing move for ‘huge talent’ this summer, read more here

Leeds United winger Raphinha has now agreed on personal terms with Barcelona ahead of a summer move, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Final home appearance?

The Whites travel to Brentford on Sunday for the final game of the season, with relegation back to the Championship still a major possibility for Jesse Marsch’s side.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-updates-3/” title=”Latest Leeds United updates!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Leeds managed to take a point in their last home game of the campaign against Brighton which took them out of the bottom three for the time being, with Burnley set to travel to Aston Villa on Thursday night.

Raphinha played the entirety against the Seagulls and came back out to an empty Elland Road following the final whistle, sitting on the turf, with some believing that was his final home appearance for the club.

The Latest: Terms agreed

Goal Brazil provided an update regarding Raphinha and Barcelona on Tuesday. They claimed that the winger has now agreed on personal terms ahead of a move to the Nou Camp which will see his current salary doubled through to 2027.

The Catalan giants will be able to sign the 25-year-old for €25m if Leeds are relegated and are yet to put an official offer on the table, as reports have recently suggested.

The Verdict: Sunday huge

Raphinha has made it clear to Leeds chiefs that he wants to depart this summer, so a transfer to the Nou Camp seems to be a matter of when and not if, following Laurens De Bock as the second man out of the door after the left-back signed a one-year deal with Zulte Waregem.

However, if the Whites manage to remain in the Premier League, they’d hold the cards when it comes to a deal. You’d expect that the attacker would go for much more than €25m if Leeds avoid the drop, another reason why Sunday’s trip to Brentford is absolutely huge both in the short and long term.

In other news: Radz and Orta have had enough of Leeds ‘liability’; now set to be released from Elland Road. 

Although there may appear little to play for for Crystal Palace in the final week of the Premier League season, Patrick Vieira’s men head into Thursday’s clash at Goodison Park with lingering ambitions of securing a top-half finish.

That would represent a promising debut campaign at the helm for the former Arsenal captain, although his side will be faced with an Everton team that are desperate to retain their top-flight status, with the Toffees knowing that a win will confirm their safety.

On recent evidence, the odds will be in the visitors’ favour, however, with the south Londoners having already won twice in this fixture this season, notably running out comfortable 4-0 winners in the FA Cup quarter-final meeting at Selhurst Park just a few months ago.

Looking to make it three from three against the Merseysiders, one man whom Vieira should call upon is former Leicester City star Jeffrey Schlupp, with the Ghanian having made a vital impact off the bench at the weekend to nick a point away at Villa Park.

Just three minutes after entering the fray as a late substitute against Steven Gerrard’s side, the versatile midfielder reacted quickest to a Marc Guehi flick on to instinctively prod home past Emi Martinez, netting his fourth league goal of the campaign – his joint-best top-flight record.

Previously dubbed “underrated” by former boss Roy Hodgson, the 20-cap international has so often flown under the radar for the Eagles, although has seemingly done enough of late to warrant a starting berth this evening.

Formerly a title winner with Leicester, the £7.2m-rated speedster has proven an invaluable asset for his new boss this term, slotting in as part of the forward line but also as a dynamic, midfield presence.

The club’s £60k-per-week unsung hero has performed favourably among his fellow midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues, ranking in the top 4% for blocks made, as well as in the top 7% for dribbles completed and 8% for touches in the attacking penalty area, illustrating his value at both ends of the pitch.

The 29-year-old – who has been labelled “quite incredible” by Hogdson – is out of contract this summer, however, with the remaining two fixtures potentially offering him the chance to stake his claim for a new deal.

On his form this term, the one-time Brentford loanee – who is the seventh-best performing player in the Palace squad this season – deserves both a start tonight and a contract extension, with it difficult to replace such a flexible and versatile asset.

AND in other news: Vieira now heading for 1st summer transfer disaster, Palace supporters will be gutted

Aston Villa are back in action on Saturday afternoon with another Premier League clash.

The Villans are on their travels again as Steven Gerrard’s side take on relegation-battling Burnley at Turf Moor.

Villa’s previous league outing saw them secure a 2-0 home win over Norwich City, sending the Canaries back to the Championship for next season.

The Midlands club now have another chance to not only try and take a step closer to the top half of the league table but also have another say in the current relegation scrap. As things stand, Burnley have 34 points on the board in 16th place, the same as Leeds United in 17th and two points ahead of Everton in the relegation zone.

Under the management of Mike Jackson since Sean Dyche’s exit last month, the Clarets are unbeaten in their previous four league games.

With that in mind, it could be a tough afternoon for Villa to try and put a roadblock on Burnley’s run of form as they try and secure their safety in the Premier League.

On the chalkboard

One man who didn’t start in the win over Norwich but ended up playing a big part that day and should be in Villa’s starting XI on this occasion is Danny Ings.

After replacing Leon Bailey in the 40th minute, the Englishman not only set up Villa’s first goal of the day just a minute later, he also then doubled their lead in the closing stages.

Throughout his debut season at Villa Park, the former Burnley striker has scored six goals and provided six assists in 25 league games.

Hailed by his former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp as a player who is “incredibly positive and full of energy”, Ings has taken 39 shots at goal the league this season, leaving only Ollie Watkins with more (67) among Gerrard’s squad.

He also has eight goal-creating actions to his name, the second-highest in the current Villa squad behind Emi Buendia.

Taking all this into account, the English marksman certainly has the means to be a strong attacking option for his side and potentially give his former club nightmares.

With all that in mind, starting Ings on this occasion could be Gerrard’s best bet of securing another win for the Villans.

In other news: Villa eyeing £16k-p/w ace who “gives absolutely everything”, he’s better than Mings