All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Leicester City must snub Arsenal’s advances for key midfielder James Maddison this summer as Brendan Rodgers looks to build a side capable of finishing in the Champions League places.

What’s the story?

According to the Daily Mail, the Gunners would be willing to offer a number of unwanted fringe players in an attempt to land the 24-year-old over the coming months.

The report claims that a £50m offer from the north London outfit would not be enough to bring Leicester to the negotiating table, but Arsenal would allow the likes of Reiss Nelson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles to move in the opposite direction to help sweeten any deal.

Rudkin risks upsetting Rodgers

Maddison has been a central figure to Leicester’s success ever since he arrived at the King Power Stadium back in 2018. And he was rewarded for his impressive performances with a new four-year contract worth £100,000-per-week just 12 months ago.

Therefore, the Foxes are in an extremely strong bargaining position when it comes to the creative talent, and it could be a perfect opportunity for director of football Jon Rudkin to make a stand.

Much of Leicester’s recent success has been based upon their policy of selling one important player for a huge sum each summer, before wisely reinvesting the funds into the playing squad.

N’Golo Kante, Riyad Mahrez, Harry Magure, Danny Drinkwater and Ben Chilwell have all departed the Midlands outfit for astronomical profit in recent years, allowing the current FA Cup holding to continually punch about their weight.

However, after two consecutive fifth-place finishes under Rodgers, the time has now come to keep hold of their best places and make the final leap required to finish inside the top-four of the Premier League.

Unfortunately for Leicester, if the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United come calling for one of their prized assets and offer an acceptable fee, then there’s not much they can do, but Arsenal are longer in the same bracket as the aforementioned clubs.

The capital club have finished below Rodgers’ charges in the last two campaigns and face a season without European football for the first time since 1995.

If Leicester want to join the elite band of English clubs and keep their highly-rated manager happy, then Rudkin must reject any advance Arsenal make for Maddison, keeping the core of their impress squad together for at least another year.

And, in other news…Journo drops exciting Leicester update on £33k-p/w beast that’ll leave Rodgers buzzing 

A key development has emerged regarding Tottenham’s interest in Dusan Vlahovic.

What’s the talk?

According to Football London, Nuno Espirto Santo has approved the club’s pursuit of the Fiorentina centre-forward, and Fabio Paratici has now opened talks over a potential deal for the attacker. Tottenham have been tracking the forward this summer but could not make their move as the managerial situation was still unclear following Ryan Mason’s departure.

Football London claimed that Nuno has sanctioned a swoop for Vlahovic and Tottenham are now working to bring the Serbian to north London to bolster their attacking ranks, with the forward valued at £36m.

Imagine him and Kane

Whilst you could look at this news on paper and assume that Vlahovic is a replacement for Harry Kane, who has reportedly asked to leave the club, it could be that Paratici and Nuno are eyeing him as a partner for the England international. Tottenham have been unable to find reliable competition for the 27-year-old at the top end of the pitch, with the likes of Roberto Soldado and Vincent Jannsen coming in over the years and failing to make an impression.

With Vlahovic, they could finally find the player they have been seeking. The 21-year-old could provide excellent cover for Kane and potentially be able to play alongside him in games where Nuno wants to be aggressive and attack teams. This is why Spurs supporters could get excited about this deal and why they should not be worried about it hinting at an exit for their academy product, as it is not quite as simple as one man coming in while another goes out.

Earlier this year, the Serbian spoke about how former Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery helped him become a champion on the pitch. He also compared himself to Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland and believes that he can be as good as the Leeds-born striker.

He told Corriere dello Sport, as transcribed by Goal.com: “When I was down, he (Ribery) spoke to me and told me to never give up. That’s how I understood what it means to be a champion on the pitch and in life.”

Speaking to La Repubblica, as transcribed by Goal.com, Vlahovic said: “I watch him (Haaland) and I try to understand his finishing and how he moves. Then, I focus on my strong points and my weaknesses. It may be presumptuous, but with commitment, I can get there too.”

Vlahovic was directly involved in 24 Serie A goals in 34 starts for Fiorentina last term, scoring 21 and assisting three for his teammates. This shows that he is able to score consistently at the top level, and while it remains to be seen how he would adapt to playing in the Premier League, he could be a superb addition to Nuno’s squad ahead of next season, not least as the manager has green-lighted a possible move for him.

Imagine if he could play alongside Kane and score 20+ goals to supplement the England captain’s goals and assists. Add in the likes of Heung-Min Son and Lucas Moura and Tottenham fans could start to get very excited about the prospect of their attacking options and what they could do at the top end of the pitch in the Premier League.

AND in other news, Paratici facing Spurs disaster over “fantastic” £100k-p/w beast, Nuno will be livid…

Michael Ball insists Everton only want players who are fully committed to the cause following Carlo Ancelotti’s shock exit from Goodison Park.

The Italian decided to walk out on the Merseyside club after Real Madrid expressed their interest in appointing him.

Zinedine Zidane, of course, walked out on Real and, as a result, a vacancy was opened up in Spain, which Ancelotti filled once more.

He previously spent two years at the club, between 2013 and 2015, and won the Champions League in his first spell at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Ball, though, believes that Toffees fans are growing tired of both managers and players deciding to leave the club as soon as a big offer is tabled, and has urged the club to only bring people to the club who are completely committed to being a success on Merseyside.

Reports suggest that Nuno Espirito Santo, the former Wolves boss, is likely to be appointed as Ancelotti’s successor.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, he said: “I think Everton fans are sick and tired of hearing the same stuff from the board and the players. That as soon as an opportunity comes, they’re off.

“If they don’t want to be here, if their head’s not right, they don’t want to be 100% dedicated to the football club next season, I’m more than happy for them to let them go and bring in someone who has got the right desire and right belief to be a club legend and get Everton to complete this project that we’re on right now.”

A major update has emerged bout Ipswich midfielder Liam Gibbs, regarding his contract situation at the club

What’s the talk?

According to Suffolk News, young midfielder Liam Gibbs is hoping to sign a new contract with Ipswich before the end of the month. He is due to become a free agent at the start of July and has been touted with Premier League sides Manchester United and Norwich.

The report claims that Gibbs wants to stay at Portman Road and is hoping to sign a contract extension, despite rejecting the club’s initial efforts to keep him. Gibbs made his first-team debut for Ipswich during the 2020/21 League One campaign.

Former Ipswich player and coach Kieron Dyer called Gibbs an “exciting” player back in 2019. He told TWTD, as relayed by Suffolk News:

“First-year Liam Gibbs has come in, he’s a very exciting player. He’s got a massive future as well, so they’re the two players I’d say to watch out for.”

Ipswich’s academy manager Bryan Klug also lauded the youngster. Last year, he told Suffolk News that Gibbs is a real talent.

“He is a goalscorer and he is a goal creator. He has got a real talent and one thing now is this football club presents opportunities to people like that.”

Cook will be delighted

Ipswich manager Paul Cook will be delighted with this news for several reasons. For starters, he could be about to retain a promising young player. Gibbs showed enough for Paul Lambert to hand him a League One start against Charlton in November 2020 at the age of 17, which suggests that he is a talented prospect who could play a big role for Cook in the future.

It might not be that Gibbs signs a new contract and immediately becomes a first-team regular next season, but he could be a player Cook looks to bring in as and when he feels he’s ready to cope with the constant demands of first-team football.

Another reason why Cook will be happy with this news is that it shows the club is heading in the right direction. Gibbs has decided that he would rather stay at Ipswich than join a Premier League side, with Norwich and United interested, and that is, hopefully, a sign that the club are on the right track as the youngster believes there is a pathway for him to progress at Portman Road.

This could pave the way for other talented young players to either stay at Ipswich or join the club as Cook looks to bring through academy products into the first team.

The 18-year-old could be ready for his first loan move next season. If he puts pen to paper on a contract extension then Ipswich could source him a loan to League Two or perhaps a foreign division where he can go and play regular senior football to aid his progression.

Whichever path they choose to help him develop, Ipswich and Cook should be thrilled that they’ve fostered an environment where an in-demand player would like to stay, rather than push to leave for pastures new.

AND in other news, Ipswich dealt transfer blow on “fantastic” £3.9k-p/w dynamo, Cook will be devastated…

According to a report by Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via Football Italia, Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona have made contact with Napoli star Lorenzo Insigne’s agent amid his contract dispute.

The Lowdown: Italian job?

Tottenham have been linked with a plethora of Italian players since managing director Fabio Paratici was appointed as the club’s managing director.

Indeed, the likes of Manuel Locatelli and Domenico Berardi have both been mentioned, while Leonardo Bonucci is also said be on Spurs’ radar.

The Latest: Spurs make Insigne contact…

As per Corriere dello Sport, Spurs have made contact with Insigne’s agent over a possible swoop to sign him this summer.

La Liga giants Barcelona are also said to have reached out to the Italy star’s representatives amid his sensational form for Roberto Mancini’s side at Euro 2020.

Insigne has been a mainstay in the Azzurri’s starting XI throughout the tournament and has dazzled with some memorable displays, most recently bagging a sumptuous finish in the quarter-finals against Belgium.

Back at his club, things are less rosy, with the 3o-year-old said to be in the middle of a contract dispute. The winger is allegedly set for complicated discussions and wants a pay rise on his current €5m-a-year (£4.2m) wages.

His deal at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona expires in 2022 and Napoli are keen to extend Insigne’s stay, but both Spurs and Barca have reached out to his entourage amid these talks.

The Verdict: Amazing, but unlikely…

Tottenham securing Insigne this summer would be an unbelievable coup.

The attacker, once likened to Lionel Messi for his dribbling by Goran Pandev (Radio Marte via ESPN), has also been on fire at club level, scoring 19 goals and setting up seven others in 33 Serie A starts over 2020/21 (WhoScored).

Valued at around £43.2m by Transfermarkt, we believe a move for him this summer could be unlikely due to Spurs’ financial difficulties and their need for a centre-back. However, with his deal set to run out at the end of next season as it stands, this could be one for January.

In other news: ‘Understand’…Alasdair Gold backs reports of big news coming out of Tottenham, find out more here.

Odsonne Edouard is not considering spending one final year at Celtic, according to a report from Football Insider.

The lowdown

Celtic signed the striker from Paris Saint-Germain for a club-record fee of £9.27m ahead of the 2018/19 season and he has scored 83 goals and set up another 37 in 168 appearances for the club.

Former Hoops striker Frank McAvennie has expressed hope that Edouard will fulfil the remainder of his £19,000-per-week deal at Parkhead, which has one year left to run. The 61-year-old said he was ‘struggling to see him going’ this year, adding that the striker will ‘want to make up for’ a disappointing 2020/21 campaign after a rampant Rangers dethroned Celtic as Scottish champions.

Another former Hoop in Lubo Moravcik advised Edouard to stay ‘and try to have a better season than the last’ before he looks to the English Premier League.

The latest

Football Insider reported that Edouard has made his desire to leave clear to the Celtic board, with any suggestions that the Frenchman would be willing to see out his contract and leave on a free transfer next summer said to be wide of the mark.

FA Cup winners Leicester City have apparently made progress on a move for Edouard in recent days, with the Foxes hopeful of seeing off competition from Arsenal and West Ham United. Leicester ‘were having second thoughts’ after tying down Kelechi Iheanacho to a new contract, but are now intent on reuniting the 23-year-old with former Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers.

The verdict

It very much looks as if Edouard has his mind irretrievably made up, and so the focus for Celtic should be on maximising the fee and finding the right replacement.

The first task is tricky given his contractual situation, but they’ll surely be able to net somewhere between £10m and £15m. Meanwhile, a new centre-forward may have already been identified, with a report on Monday suggesting that Hibernian’s Kevin Nisbet was under consideration.

It’s a shame that Edouard’s departure looks inevitable but Celtic need to accept it and take the right steps towards moving on.

In other news, another Parkhead star is nearing the exit door. 

Former Celtic man Frank McAvennie has shared his thoughts on Odsonne Edouard’s proposed move to Leicester City.

The Lowdown: Leicester closing in on Edouard

According to a report from TEAMtalk last weekend, the Foxes are confident of securing Edouard’s services this summer.

Sources close to the situation claimed that the 23-year-old is almost certainly heading to the King Power, where he will reunite with former Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers.

Edouard has had his heart set on a Celtic Park exit in recent months, with a Hoops source admitting a possible deal for Eddie Howe will make no difference.

Reports have touted at £15m fee and Celtic may have to give half of that fee to Paris Saint-Germain.

The Latest: McAvennie ‘gutted’

Talking about the recent development to Football Insider, McAvennie admitted he is ‘gutted’ the forward hasn’t shined for the Hoops this season.

“He’s different from what Leicester already have.

“But I thought whoever Leicester bought next would be Vardy’s replacement. That’s not Edouard.

“They are very different players. Eddie doesn’t want to run in behind. Maybe Brendan wants to change his style.

“Edouard’s downed tools this season, that’s not a good look. He’s got everything in his locker but sometimes he doesn’t want to do it.

“He’s been linked with everyone but he’s still at Celtic. Maybe Rodgers knows he can get him back to his best.

“There is definitely a talented player in there. I’m gutted he hasn’t done it this season.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/celtic-updates-3/” title=”Celtic updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: McAvennie unfair on Edouard?

We feel McAvennie’s comments regarding Edouard’s displays in the current campaign are unfair – Yes, he may not have been at his overall best, but he’s still netted on a regular basis.

The Frenchman has scored 22 goals in 39 appearances in all competitions and is the outright top scorer in the Scottish Premiership. His tally is only six goals short of his 2019/20 season in 10 fewer games.

Celtic as a whole have struggled in all competitions this season, but the stats show that Edouard has actually been a shining light for the Hoops, so he looks likely to be a big miss next year.

In other news: ‘Got to the stage now’ – John Kennedy seems to drop major Eddie Howe to Celtic hint, find out more here.

Watford have offered Tom Cleverley a new three-year deal at Vicarage Road, according to a report by Football Insider.

What’s the talk?

A Watford source has told Football Insider that Xisco Munoz’s side have opened talks with the £2.7m-rated midfielder regarding a new contract, with the 40-year-old manager viewing Cleverley as vital to the Hornets’ chances of establishing themselves in the Premier League beyond next term.

If he signs, the 31-year-old would remain at Vicarage Road until the summer of 2024, with his current deal set to expire at the end of next season.

Fans will be buzzing

Having joined Watford from Everton in an £8.37m deal four years ago, Cleverley has gone on to establish himself as an important part of the Hornets’ first team, making 147 appearances for the club, over which he has chipped in with 18 goals and registered 13 assists.

This season, the England international was highly influential in ensuring that Watford made a swift return to the Premier League, scoring four goals, providing two assists and creating two big chances over his 34 Championship appearances.

The midfielder also averaged 0.7 interceptions, 2.2 tackles and one key pass per game, in addition to completing an average of 81% of his attempted passes, with these metrics culminating in a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.10 – ranking him as Watford’s third-best performer in the league.

As such, should the £50,000-per-week Cleverley commit the next three years of his future to the Hornets, it would surely leave fans of the club buzzing, as the midfielder will likely play a huge role for Xisco’s side again next season, this time with the aim of retaining their status as a top-flight team come the summer of 2022.

In other news: Watford gain huge transfer boost over “outstanding” £3k-p/w gem, Xisco will be buzzing – opinion

Former England striker Kevin Phillips believes Javi Galan could be a perfect signing for Leeds United, eventually tripling his value.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Galan move

The 26-year-old impressed for La Liga side Huesca last season, with only Lionel Messi (4.5) averaging more than his 3.3 dribbles per game in the league.

Leeds are believed to be eyeing up a move for the £5.4m-rated left-back, with Ezgjan Alioski’s likely exit heightening the need for reinforcements in that area. Reports over the weekend even claimed that Galan is ready to join the Whites, suggesting he is keen on linking up with Marcelo Bielsa.

[freshpress-quiz id=“355458″]

The Latest: Phillips talks up transfer

Speaking to Football Insider, Phillips insisted that the move is a no-brainer, with little risk involved and the potential for the Spaniard to be worth a lot more one day. He said:

“I think anyone that you can get without breaking the bank is like getting a player in for free.

“Of course, wages might be a little bit higher. But you’ve not got much to lose. If he comes in and doesn’t do well, he’s cost you hardly anything.

“If he does well, you have someone who’s worth triple what you paid for him. Then you’ve got an asset on your hands.

“It is a low-risk signing and it might just turn out to be a good one for Leeds.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-copy/” title=”Latest Leeds United news! (Copy)” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Ideal left-back addition

Phillips makes a good point in that Leeds won’t have to spend a huge amount if they want to sign Galan, meaning it would be no disaster if he doesn’t succeed at Elland Road. However, the hope is that the Huesca defender would come straight in and be a success story, putting his aforementioned dribbling ability to good use.

It is worth stressing that Galan is more than just a marauding attacking full-back as well, averaging 2.4 tackles per game last season and showing he can also excel in the gritty aspects of his game.

In other news, a former Leeds player is keen on the Whites signing one individual this summer. Find out who it is here.

Leeds could sign their own Andy Robertson in Hibernian starlet Josh Doig amid suggestions that the Whites are interested in the teenage left-back.

What’s the story?

A report from The Scottish Sun earlier this month claimed that, along with Celtic, the likes of Manchester City and Leeds United are interested in the 18-year-old, who would command a fee of around £1.5m.

Alan Hutton has now thrown his backing behind a potential move for Doig, and insisted that he has all the tools in his locker to become a real star in the future.

Speaking to Football Insider, the ex-Scotland right-back said: “He’s only 18 but he’s got a great engine, can get up and down, got a great left foot, aggressive. He is definitely one for the future.

“They see a talented player they think they can develop and make better for £1.5m. You can definitely tell he’s a talented player. He’s got all the attributes to be a left-back or a wing-back. He is one that you’re hoping does well.”

Leeds’ own Andy Robertson

Make no mistake about it, both Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold have really led the way in terms of showing the kind of devastating impact that full-backs can have going forward – even in a below-par season for Liverpool, the former has already racked up five assists in the Premier League, while he has set up a whopping 35 goals in 171 games in total for the Merseyside club.

The flying Scot matches a superb work-rate with some incredible deliveries into the box – his 1.6 successful crosses per game ranks him fifth in the Premier League – and it appears that Doig is from the same mould.

Goal claimed that “scouts have noted Doig’s attacking output as a huge part of his game, with his crossing ability and tireless running two of his key attributes”, a trait for which Robertson has really made a name for himself.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-transfer-rumours-and-news” title=”Latest Leeds transfer rumours and news”]

Doig has contributed four assists in just 24 Scottish Premiership matches this season, and like Hutton says, he appears to have a “great engine” in getting up and down the pitch as either a traditional left-back or a modern wing-back.

Just like Robertson did when he initially moved to Hull from Dundee United when he was only 20, Doig could follow his fellow Scottish full-back in making the move down south at a young age and later establishing himself as a bona-fide star at Premier League level.

All he needs is a chance, and under Bielsa’s guidance, Leeds could very well unearth their own superstar like Robertson has become at Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Leeds could sign their own Dele Alli in this starlet…