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Newcastle United have been linked with a move for Sporting midfielder Matheus Nunes.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from Foot Mercato (via Sport Witness), Newcastle, as well as fellow Premier League club Everton, have made an approach to the Portuguese club over a potential transfer for the midfielder.

With Newcastle now in talks, it’s thought they’ll need a fee in the region of €60m (£51.6m).

Back in the 2019 January transfer window, Nunes joined Sporting’s U23 side from fellow Portuguese club Estoril.

Since then, the 23-year-old has gone on to make 131 appearances for his current club across their senior and U23 sides.

Bruno 2.0

In those aforementioned appearances, the Brazilian-born midfielder has found the net ten times and delivered 11 assists in the process.

His latest season with Sporting saw the player make 33 league appearances, leaving only one other outfield player at the club to rack up more minutes than Nunes, which highlights just how key is for the team.

In those outings, the £31.5m-rated figure racked up 30 interceptions, 28 crosses, 22 shots at goal as well as winning 25 tackles.

This shows how much of a well-rounded midfield player he is and why the Toon and the Toffees have their eye on him.

The player has already caught the attention of one of the Premier League’s most recognisable figures when Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola labelled the Sporting midfielder as “one of the best players in the world today.”

With the Magpies showing during the previous January transfer window how successful it can be to sign a young midfielder with Brazilian roots in the shape of Bruno Guimaraes, securing a deal for Nunes could see them replicate a similar swoop.

After moving to St. James’ Park from Olympique Lyon in a deal worth £40m, the Brazilian had a rather productive end to the season with Newcastle having scored five goals, delivered one assist as well as making 19 interceptions and winning 39 tackles in just 17 league games.

This, just like Nunes, highlights how much of a capable midfielder the Brazilian is with and without the ball.

If Nunes can follow in the early footsteps of Guimaraes and settle into life in the Premier League, this could be yet another great bit of business from the club ahead of what could be a massive season for them.

In other news: Contact made: PIF in NUFC talks to land deal for £11m “specimen”, Howe would love him

Everton could be offered Lucas Moura as part of Richarlison’s prospective move to Tottenham Hotspur, The Telegraph’s Matt Law reports.

The lowdown

It emerged at the weekend that Antonio Conte and Spurs want to add Richarlison to their ranks this summer.

Spurs have not yet made a formal offer and they do have other targets in mind if they deem Everton’s demands excessive.

29-year-old Moura played most of his football last season on the right flank but also operated as an attacking midfielder/second striker at times.

He isn’t a first choice option at the North London club, with 15 of his 34 Premier League appearances in 2021/22 coming as a substitute.

Law had already reported that Spurs are willing to include midfielder Harry Winks in a package for Richarlison.

The latest

Now Law writes that Spurs are open to offering the Toffees both Moura and Winks.

Everton value Richarlison at ‘well over £50million’, and so they’d only accept a package that was equivalent to their price tag.

They will, of course, have to be interested in both players too.

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The verdict

Should Everton be interested in Moura? Well, he has played 137 games in the English top-flight, but his headline numbers aren’t spectacular – 19 goals and 16 assists.

However, former Spurs ‘keeper Paul Robinson believes he makes up for that with his work rate.

“Regardless of when and where he plays, you get 150 per cent from him,” he told Football Insider. “His energy with and without the ball is second to none.”

The Brazilian, who featured in the 2018/19 Champions League Squad of the Season after a hat-trick in the semifinal comeback against Ajax, brings pedigree and relentlessness, but is the lack of end product a concern?

In other news, this journalist is fretting after what he read about Richarlison.

Leeds United have fallen behind in the race to sign Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino, according to a report from The Times. 

The lowdown: Leeds interested in Minamino

The Whites have been heavily linked with a move for Minamino for some time now, and recently the interest surfaced once again as a report from This Is Anfield claimed that Liverpool were willing to listen to offers of around £17m for the Japan international.

Having successfully worked under the stewardship of Jesse Marsch at Red Bull Salzburg previously, the 27-year-old attacker was viewed as a genuine candidate to arrive at Elland Road to strengthen the ranks.

However, the Yorkshire club appear to have slipped down the list of potential destinations for Minamino as one competitor receives a timely cash injection…

The latest: Monaco lead Minamino race

As per The Times, AS Monaco have swept to the front of the race to sign the 41-cap ace ahead of Leeds, Wolves, Fulham and Southampton.

It’s claimed that Monaco are now ‘leading the chase’ to sign the man who directly contributed to 20 goals in just 22 outings under Marsch in Austria.

The Ligue 1 outfit are set to receive a massive fee in the region of €100m (£85m) for the sale of Aurelien Tchouameni from Real Madrid and would therefore have no problem reaching the asking price for Minamino, who was hailed by James Pearce for a ‘clinical’ finish against Norwich City last season.

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The verdict: Don’t delay

With Monaco seemingly ready to act, Leeds cannot afford to wait for Raphinha to decide on his future before moving for a top target.

Despite being somewhat of an onlooker in the Premier League during 2021/22, Minamino scored 10 times and provided one assist in 24 appearances across all competitions, highlighting that aforementioned clinical nature whenever he is handed an opportunity.

Although there is no lure of European football on the table in Yorkshire, the prospect of reuniting with Marsch should excite the versatile Japanese star, and as such, Victor Orta and Andrea Radrizzani must be going all-out to try and make this deal happen.

In other news: Leeds now won’t sign ‘superb’ midfielder despite Phil Hay revealing talks

Alfredo Morelos ‘may be open’ to staying at Rangers, Jordan Campbell of The Athletic reports.

The lowdown

Morelos’ contract is due to expire in just 12 months’ time and, if a player reaches January without a new deal in place, they’re free to negotiate pre-contract terms with foreign clubs.

The Colombian publicly said in September 2021 that he hoped he would ‘soon’ be allowed to leave Ibrox, but it appears his stance may have changed.

The 25-year-old is currently thought to be the top earner at Ibrox, taking home £33,000 per week.

The latest

Campbell writes in his preview of Rangers’ transfer window that Morelos could be willing to ‘prolong his stay’ at Ibrox.

However, it may depend upon whether the terms prove to be ‘prohibitive’ for the Gers.

The verdict

Rangers have already received a significant boost this week with the news that Connor Goldson has signed a new four-year contract.

And securing the commitment of Morelos would also be something to celebrate given his exploits in Glasgow.

He’s fired in 123 goals, and provided 51 assists, in 224 matches, and he’s also the club’s all-time top goalscorer in European competition.

It’s no surprise, in light of that record, that he’s attracted interest from elsewhere, with the likes of FC Porto and Newcastle previously named as admirers.

But Rangers could thwart those suitors if they can reach an agreement with Morelos, named Men’s Player of the Year in 2018/19 and 2021/22.

In other news, a former Gers boss makes this big claim about a forgotten man.

Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips has made it clear that he wants to stay at the club, according to senior Sky Sports reporter Tim Thornton.

The Lowdown: Man City linked with Phillips

The 26-year-old helped the Whites to remain in the Premier League on the final day of the season with a 2-1 win at Brentford. The boyhood Leeds fan would have more than likely left if the club were relegated but he has still been heavily linked with an Elland Road exit.

Manchester City reportedly have Phillips at the top of their list to replace Fernandinho and believe that the England international possesses the perfect profile to fit in at the Etihad Stadium.

The Latest: Positive update on Phillips

Sky Sports reporter Thornton shared a Leeds transfer update on Monday evening. He said that the biggest question of the summer will be if the club can keep hold of Phillips and Raphinha, stating that the former of the two has ‘made it clear he wants to stay’ at Elland Road – something you’d expect that Andrea Radrizzani and Victor Orta are aware of.

Phil Hay has also provided a promising update on Phillips, stating that the club are ‘quietly hopeful’ that the midfielder may sign a new deal and remain in Yorkshire for a further 12 months.

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The Verdict: Would be huge

Jesse Marsch is already very short of midfield options, so keeping hold of Phillips would be a major boost.

He has been pivotal for the Whites ever since Marcelo Bielsa took charge in 2018, going from strength to strength as he also picked up England’s 2020/21 Player of the Year award.

You’d expect that Marsch would be desperate for Phillips to stay at Leeds over the coming months and form one half of a two-man midfield in a potential 4-2-2-2 or 4-4-2 system. The early signs are quite positive and hopefully we’ll hear more on a long-awaited new deal soon.

In other news – £34m release clause: Leeds now interested in move for ‘special talent’ who Marsch loves

Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard could well be the deciding factor in the club’s move for Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the respected insider hinted that the chance to work under the former Liverpool captain could be too good to turn down for the 26-year-old.

Asked about the Englishman’s future, O’Rourke stated how Gerrard’s presence in the dugout could be to Villa’s advantage: “I think the chance to maybe work under a top midfielder, like Gerrard was, might appeal to Kalvin Phillips.

“He might think it would help improve his own game. There will be lots that Villa would be hoping might appeal to Phillips if it does come down to a race for his signature.”

Recent reports suggested that the Midlands side – alongside Newcastle United – have emerged as frontrunners in the race for his signature, albeit with the 19-cap international also reportedly a ‘top target’ for Manchester City.

Any deal is not likely to come cheap for any of those sides, however, with reports that it could take as much as £60m to prise him from Elland Road, with Jesse Marsch leading the club to safety ending any hopes of a securing him for a potentially reduced fee.

Gerrard will love him

While that assessment would suggest that Phillips is keen to work under the Premier League legend, the reverse could also be true, with Gerrard potentially relishing the chance to add the £45m-rated man to his side.

The Villa Park outfit have already added Marseille youngster Boubacar Kamara to their midfield ranks, although a further addition could be on the cards, with the Leeds man offering the flexibility to play in a holding role but also in a more aggressive, number eight role as he has done for his country.

Dubbed the “best modern midfielder” by legendary coach Fabio Capello, the £38k-per-week monster set the world alight for the Three Lions at Euro 2020, forging an immense partnership with West Ham’s Declan Rice.

Although injury has since halted his progress, he still recorded some notable statistics for his current side in the 2021/22 campaign, averaging 1.2 interceptions and 2.7 tackles per game in his 20 league outings.

He has also impressed compared to his peers in Europe’s top five leagues, ranking in the top 4% for blocks, the top 3% for tackles and the top 2% for pressures made, illustrating his workman-like quality in the centre of the park.

It is no real surprise then to see the clamour for his services this summer, although it remains to be seen whether he will be able to forego his emotional attachment to his current side.

That being said, the prospect to work under Gerrard may just be the carrot that he needs in order to make a departure.

IN other news, Gerrard can land AVFC’s next Southgate with move for “outstanding” £120k-p/w warrior

Celtic have a number of exciting young players in their ranks that could potentially become regular first-team players in the future.

One name that immediately springs to mind is 19-year-old winger Karamoko Dembele.

As a product of Celtic’s youth academy, the winger has gone on to make ten appearances in the senior side.

With those ten appearances under his belt, the teenager found the back of the net during their 4-0 win over St. Johnstone in December.

Now that Ange Postecoglou’s side have ended the 2021/22 SPFL season as league champions, the upcoming summer transfer window will give the Parkhead club the chance to make whatever changes to their squad that they see fit.

With that in mind, it seems as though the Hoops may have already identified one figure that could come in and potentially be their next version of Dembele.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from Football.Scotland, Celtic are eyeing a summer move for Cardiff City youngster Japhet Matondo.

The 16-year-old can reportedly play on the left and right wings and has already featured for Wales’ U23 side.

The report also claims that the Bhoys “would benefit from the cross border compensation fee rule which would mean they would only have to stump up around £130k for the teenager.”

Taking into account how the Hoops have seen some of their young players leave the club in recent times such as Ben Doak and Leo Hjelde, this apparent interest in Matondo shows that the club aren’t allowing their youth ranks to be depleted.

Their deals to sign Osaze Urhoghide and Liam Shaw, both from Sheffield Wednesday, also show that the Parkhead club aren’t shy when it comes to signing players from down south, and in particular, the EFL.

If the SPFL champions are able to secure a deal for the Welsh youngster and add him to their ranks this summer, this will provide the club with another potential future first-team star.

Should Matondo find himself performing to a high standard in Celtic’s youth sides, he could well follow in the footsteps of fellow winger and highly-rated teenager, Dembele, and start to get the odd chance to shine in the senior team and show Postecoglou what he’s made of.

In other news: “Very soon”: Insider drops big Celtic transfer claim that’ll have supporters ecstatic

Journalist Phil Smith has sung the praises of Alex Pritchard after Sunderland were promoted to the Championship on Saturday afternoon. 

The lowdown: Sunderland promoted

The Black Cats overcame a resilient Wycombe Wanderers to return to the second tier of English football, having won the League One play-off final 2-0 at Wembley.

Elliot Embleton opened the scoring for Alex Neil’s side before Ross Stewart doubled the advantage just 10 minutes before full-time in London as Sunderland ended a four-year spell in the third tier of English football.

After the match, in a performance full of impressive outings from the Wearsiders, Smith was full of praise for one man’s standout display in particular…

The latest: Pritchard praised

Compiling the player ratings for the Sunderland Echo, the outlet’s chief SAFC writer awarded the 29-year-old a nine out of 10 rating.

Pritchard was hailed for his ‘excellent’ positional awareness and ‘superb work rate’, whilst also providing the assists for both goals at Wembley.

The midfielder completed five of his nine crosses, won six duels and made four key passes and three clearances during an 81-minute outing which earned a match-high 8.10 Sofascore rating.

The verdict: ‘What a moment’

Ultimately, Pritchard’s performance and indeed the day were summed up in Smith’s final line – ‘what a moment’. This day had been a long time coming for Sunderland supporters, and to do it in such style was an ideal way to finally seal promotion.

Former England under-21 international Pritchard has been sensational throughout the campaign, with four goals and 14 assists, and he played a fitting role in the win which ensured that Neil’s side will bring Championship football back to the Stadium of Light for 2022/23.

Attention can now turn to Neil’s transfer business both in terms of incomings and outgoings over the coming weeks and months, and the 29-year-old is almost nailed-on to remain an integral part of Sunderland’s Championship plans after his Wembley heroics.

In other news: ‘Toxic’ – Sky Sports expert rips into Donald and Methven after Sunderland takeover development

West Ham United host Manchester City this afternoon as the Hammers look to climb into the top six whilst City can extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to six points.

The Irons have all but secured a place in the Europa Conference League but can still overtake Manchester United to record a second consecutive top six finish.

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However, today’s match will be all about one person for the East London club…Mark Noble.

Having made 548 appearances for West Ham, the Hammers’ skipper will wave goodbye to the home supporters one last time before the 35-year-old retires at the end of the season.

Therefore, the midfielder deserves to start in the Premier League one last time for his boyhood club.

On the chalkboard

Granted, it’s not been the most eventful season for Noble despite West Ham’s impressive run to the semi-final of the Europa League whilst battling for a top-six finish once again.

The Englishman has made just nine appearances in the top-flight, starting three with the deep-lying partnership of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek difficult to break apart.

However, the latter was rested for last weekend’s 4-0 victory against Norwich City with Manuel Lanzini taking his place and therefore the Argentine could be set to drop out to allow Noble to start one final time for the Clarets.

On the other hand, Rice could be rested. Either way, the West Ham captain deserves to start.

In an interview with the BBC ahead of this afternoon’s match, Hammers manager David Moyes was full of praise for the £49k-per-week veteran midfielder.

“I’m sure it’ll be hugely emotional for Mark and his family,” he said. “Your career is never that long as a footballer, but to do it at one club is a huge achievement.

“It’s not done by many people, so great credit to Mark and the way he’s conducted himself throughout the career.

“He’s played continuously, at the highest level. He’ll be renowned.”

Set to make his 549th and possibly final West Ham appearance, the Irons captain has been a remarkable servant, staying on with his boyhood club throughout his career with brief loan spells at Hull City and Ipswich Town as a youngster the only exceptions.

Since making his first-team debut as a 17-year-old in 2004, the 35-year-old has gone on to score 62 goals and provide 61 assists for the Hammers and will certainly be a massive miss for the east London outfit.

AND in other news: 11 games, 0 goals: Bilic made “huge mistake” on WHU dud who cost £2.5m per yellow card

Manchester City are expected to announce the signing of Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland by Friday, according to The Athletic’s ever-reliable transfer guru David Ornstein.

The Lowdown: City win the race

The 21-year-old first joined the Bundesliga outfit in a £17m move from Red Bull Salzburg back in 2020, where he has since gone on to make 88 appearances for the club during that time.

The forward still has two years remaining on his current contract with the German side, but in recent months, has been attracting plenty of interest from several clubs across Europe, with the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United being linked with a potential move for Haaland in the summer.

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Despite this though, it appears that the Sky Blues are the team to have won the race for the Norwegian’s signature, after reports have claimed that City are prepared to active his £63m release clause, with the striker agreeing a deal to make the switch to the Etihad ahead of the start of next season.

The Latest: Haaland move ‘a done deal’

The reliable Ornstein has basically confirmed this development by taking to Twitter on Monday to share the huge news:

“Erling Haaland to Man City a done deal + confirmation expected this week, according to sources in Germany. Personal terms complete & Dortmund anticipate City informing them in coming days of intention to activate release clause.”

The Verdict: Perfect Aguero replacement

If the Premier League giants do manage to pull off the Haaland signing, it would be absolutely huge for Pep Guardiola, especially considering that the highly sought-after attacker already has previous connections to the club, with his dad Alf-Inge having a two-year spell with City many moons ago.

The £135m-rated talisman has been in prolific form in the final third this term, having scored 28 goals and registered eight assists in just 29 outings across all competitions for Dortmund, as per Transfermarkt.

After missing out on Tottenham captain Harry Kane last summer, it’s about time that the hierarchy invested in a new centre-forward having not yet signed a replacement since the departure of Sergio Aguero, and it looks like Haaland could be about to follow in his father’s footsteps by making the move to the top-flight.

In other news… Guardiola has delivered a huge injury update on a first-team trio.