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Reliable journalist Ben Jacobs has revealed that Arsenal are set to hold ‘talks’ with Leeds United ace Raphinha this week over a potential move to the Emirates.

The Lowdown: Opening bid rejected

The Brazilian was a standout performer in what was a disappointing season for the Whites, and despite Jesse Marsch’s side avoiding relegation from the Premier League, he has now been linked with a summer switch away from Elland Road.

Barcelona links have of course been doing the rounds, alongside English top-flight teams Tottenham, Chelsea and West Ham, but it’s the Gunners who have emerged as the main suitor in the race for his signature.

Mikel Arteta’s men saw an initial offer for the winger rejected by Leeds last week, and it sounds like a second attempt may not be far away.

The Latest: Arsenal set for Raphinha talks

Taking to Twitter, Jacobs confirmed that Arsenal are very much interested in a deal for Raphinha and are set to hold talks with his agent later this week. He wrote:

“Told Arsenal have not ‘pulled out’ of trying to sign Raphinha.

“Raphinha does want to see if a Barcelona deal is possible (Camp Nou move always been of appeal). It’s complicated and may require Ousmane Dembele to leave, hence why this week is key.”

In a further tweet, the reporter continued:

“Raphinha’s representatives haven’t blanked EPL suitors. Arsenal have further talks scheduled with them this week.

“Leeds will hold out for around £60 million. Barcelona need to find those funds. Raphinha wants to assess all options, and one of them remains Arsenal.”

The Verdict: International advantage

Arsenal will be hoping that they will be able to beat their rivals to Raphinha when they take a second bite of the cherry, and they could already hold a huge advantage over their competitors in the race for his services.

The 25-year-old, who hailed a “technician” and “pleasure to watch” by BT Sport pundit Joe Cole, is a member of Brazil’s international squad, as are current Gunners stars Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhães, and so their existing connection could play a significant role in convincing him to put pen to paper.

The next few days are likely to be crucial in terms of developments, but with 14 goal contributions in the Premier League to his name last season, Raphinha has the required cutting edge in the final third to be a brilliant attacking addition to Arteta’s starting XI next campaign.

An update has emerged regarding Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of a right wing-back in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Sky Sports journalist Lyall Thomas has revealed that Spurs may walk away from negotiations to sign Djed Spence from Middlesbrough, as they are yet to agree a fee with the Championship club.

Fabio Paratici is now plotting a potential swoop for Lens defender Jonathan Clauss as an alternative target to the England under-21 international.

The reporter tweeted: “Exclusive: #Tottenham and #Boro remain apart in their valuations of Djed Spence after latest round of talks in London yesterday. Still no agreement and #Spurs ready to move on if it can’t be done.”

He then added: “#Spurs, of course, have other options they can look at. Interestingly, one of those is the 29yo Jonathan Clauss at #Lens. He was statistically the best performing full-back in France last season acc. to @Wyscout.”

It has been reported by Ryan Taylor of The Express that the Ligue 1 club are open to cashing in on the right-back and will accept a fee in the region of £10m.

Conte would love him

Antonio Conte would love to have Clauss at Spurs next season, as he is an attack-minded defender who can make a big impact in the final third.

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Journalist Sam Tabuteau recently claimed that the 29-year-old has been “the name on everyone’s lips” of late, while Zach Lowy dubbed him “one of the best” wing-backs in Ligue 1, having been named in the division’s Team of the Season in each of the last two years.

His statistics in the French top flight are certainly impressive and indicate that he has the potential to be an excellent addition to Tottenham’s squad. In the 2021/22 campaign, he produced five goals and 11 assists as he averaged a phenomenal SofaScore rating of 7.38.

Along with his contributions at the top of the pitch, Clauss made an eye-catching 3.7 tackles and interceptions per match last term. He has the quality and fitness to get up and down the flank and make key contributions both defensively and offensively.

Meanwhile, Spence managed two goals and four assists in the Championship on loan at Nottingham Forest, making 2.9 tackles and interceptions per game.

These statistics suggest that Clauss – who is eight years older than the Middlesbrough gem – would be the better option at both ends of the pitch. Therefore, Conte would surely love to have him in his squad next term and will be hoping that a deal can be reached in the coming weeks.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano reveals huge Spurs transfer update which will have Antonio Conte fuming…

Manchester United have been linked with a multitude of centre-backs so far this summer, as they look to improve on some woeful defensive displays from last season, and one man who could steady the ship for Erik ten Hag is Braga’s David Carmo.

What’s the word?

Journalist Dean Jones has suggested that the Brazilian could be an option for the Red Devils this summer, after recovering from a long-term injury to produce some excellent performances for the Primeira Liga club.

When speaking to Football FanCast, Jones said: “David Carmo has, in the past, had a lot of interest but obviously had an injury that set him back. But he could become United’s own Konate if they want to go down that path.

“It’s an interesting one, he’s certainly on a few people’s radars at the moment, more like a watch list than a genuine target at this point. If United do get in [Jurrien] Timber, I’m not sure they’ll sign two centre-backs, but if for some reason they can’t get Timber through the door, they’re going to have to look at new targets.”

The news comes after United were linked with a swoop for the defender earlier in the month.

United’s own Konate?

Konate was a huge success for Liverpool in his first season at Anfield, with his only defeat in a Reds shirt coming in the Champions League final against Real Madrid.

The French youngster averaged a superb 7.18 rating from WhoScored for his performances in the competition, while he also made 11 solid appearances in the Premier League for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Carmo is a year younger than Konate and is even taller than the former RB Leipzig man, standing at an impressive 6 foot 5, so he could perform a similar role to the Frenchman in United’s team next season.

Last season saw the Braga man recover from a serious ankle injury to play a big part in their Europa League run, as he averaged a strong 7.06 rating from WhoScored for his performances on the continent.

WhoScored suggests that both Konate and Carmo’s main strengths are aerial duels and passing, so the similarities are clear to see. If the latter were to be as successful for United as the France international has been at Liverpool thus far, he would surely prove to be a quality prospective addition at Old Trafford.

Previous reports have suggested that the Red Devils have held talks with Braga over a move for the 22-year-old, and with Timber’s move in doubt, it would perhaps not be a surprise to see an official bid made for Carmo in the near future.

In other news… Man United now ready to pay £35m to sign Premier League flop, he’s even worse than Matic 

Journalist Jacque Talbot has dropped an interesting claim regarding the future of Aston Villa striker Danny Ings. 

The lowdown: Surprise capture

Villa moved quickly under the radar to sign Ings with minimal fuss in a £25million transfer from Southampton last summer (Sky Sports).

Since arriving in the Midlands, the 29-year-old Englishman – who was lauded as a ‘phenomenal finisher’ by former Leeds United attacker Noel Whelan – has scored seven times and provided six assists in 31 outings for the Villans, a decent first season in most people’s books.

However, one journalist believes that Steven Gerrard – a former Liverpool teammate of Ings – could already be looking for life after the diminutive frontman.

The latest: ‘Might sound harsh…’

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Talbot has suggested that Villa may have already ‘outgrown’ Ings.

He said: “Injuries have hampered him a lot and he didn’t have the best of seasons.

“I think it might sound harsh, but Aston Villa have probably outgrown Danny Ings and he might be the sort of player that could be sold to a club coming up, maybe someone like Fulham could do with a Danny Ings.”

The verdict: Surely not!

Despite a checkered injury history that saw Ings miss an astonishing 85 matches whilst at Liverpool and regularly miss games for Southampton, the three-cap England man remained in decent health throughout last season at Villa Park.

One area Gerrard may look to address with the 108 career goal centre-forward could be his consistency. Having scored in his first two Premier League appearances for the club, the £19.8million valued ace then went five games without a goal on two separate occasions, lulls that will inevitably have a adverse impact on results.

That said, still under contract until 2024, following such a large outlay and with Gerrard likely to want more firepower in the ranks to accompany Ollie Watkins and the returning Keinan Davis, selling Ings is surely not on the agenda at this juncture, especially not to a domestic rival.

In other news: ‘I think…’ – Journalist makes claim involving ‘machine’ Gerrard wants at Villa, read more here

Former top flight striker Frank McAvennie has reacted to the news that Everton could be about to lose a massive behind the scenes component in assistant manager Duncan Ferguson. 

The lowdown: Wanted man

This comes as the 50-year-old Toffees favourite is strongly indexed with the vacant managerial position at Blackburn Rovers after a source informed Football Insider of the interest, following the departure of Tony Mowbray.

The Scotsman has been in situ at Goodison Park in a coaching capacity since 2011, having started out as an Under-18’s assistant before becoming a technical assistant and occupying the hot seat on a caretaker basis on three occasions.

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Now, after the appointment and subsequent relative success of Frank Lampard on Merseyside, Ferguson could be set to part ways with the Blues this summer…

The latest: McAvennie has his say

Speaking to Football Insider, fellow Scotsman McAvennie, 62, has suggested that it would be a ‘massive loss’ to the club were Ferguson to leave.

“He would be a massive loss if he went. He’s Everton through and through. He needs to be that go-between for the manager and the players at Everton. For a manager, it’s great to have Dunc on your side. I don’t know him and I don’t know what his ambitions are.

“But if his ambition is to become a manager then I always thought it would be for the Everton job. I’m surprised but if he wants to be a manager he has to go and try it.”

The verdict: Big blow

There can be no denying the potential departure of Ferguson would indeed be a bitter pill to swallow for the Toffees this summer.

One of the pillars of the club in recent years filled with turmoil, the towering ex-frontman may feel he has served his time as a bridesmaid and is deserving of a shot at the big job, and rightfully so.

However, the Everton hierarchy will no doubt be doing everything in their power to keep the experienced coach at the club to work closely alongside Lampard in what is hopefully the start of a resurrection on the blue half of Merseyside.

In other news: Everton: PSG ready to make move for Richarlison

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United’s pursuit of Nathan Ake heading into the upcoming summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to talkSPORT, the Netherlands international is one of the centre-backs on the Tyneside club’s radar as Dan Ashworth plots his first deals as the Magpies’ new sporting director.

The report claims that the 27-year-old has been told that he is free to leave Manchester City ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, although it remains to be seen whether it will be on a loan or permanent basis.

Eddie Howe needs him badly

A deal for the defender will surely delight Toon manager Eddie Howe, as he badly needs Ake at St James’ Park heading into next season.

The Dutchman is a progressive defender who can help the Magpies to evolve their style into a dominant, possession-based system.

As per FBRef, Ake ranks in the 93rd percentile or higher for progressive carries, passes attempted, pass success rate, non-penalty expected goals + expected assists and non-penalty goals per 90 in his position across Europe’s top five leagues in the last 365 days.

Meanwhile, Dan Burn does not rank higher than the 58th percentile in any of those statistics and Fabian Schar ranks in the 45th percentile or lower in carries, passes completed and pass success rate. Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles sits in 54th percentile or lower in all of the aforementioned categories.

This suggests that Ake can be the centre-back that Howe needs in order to deploy a possession-based style of play, as the Dutchman has the ability on the ball to progress attacks out from the back.

The Citizens’ director of football Txiki Begiristain previously praised the 27-year-old, saying: “Nathan is a quality defender. He was a leader during his time at Bournemouth, and I am so pleased we’ve managed to bring him here. He’s strong and quick, and we feel he has the technical and intellectual attributes needed to excel in Pep’s setup.”

He has also been dubbed “underrated” by his fellow countryman and Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk, with these comments highlighting how much he is valued within the footballing community.

Signed from Bournemouth for £41m, Ake has played in nine Premier League seasons by the age of 27 and averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 7.08 in the 2021/22 campaign for Man City. He won 66% of his duels, including a whopping 73% in the air, as he showcased his ability to defend strongly as well as progress the ball.

Ashworth must now get a deal for the defender over the line, as Ake could be a vital cog in Howe’s system at Newcastle next season.

AND in other news, “I’m told..”: Journo drops “exciting” NUFC transfer claim that supporters will love…

Journalists Liam Kennedy and Jordan Cronin have revealed the list of players that Newcastle United might seek to move on from the club this summer.

The Lowdown: Newcastle’s 2022 revival

Exactly halfway through the season, Newcastle were 19th in the Premier League with just one win and 11 points from 19 games, staring relegation in the face.

A busy transfer window in January saw the arrivals of Bruno Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn, Matt Targett and Chris Wood at St James’ Park. Fuelled by these new additions, the Magpies went on a sensational run of form in the first few months of 2022, remarkably ending the season in 11th place with a total of 49 points, averaging two points per game in the second half of the campaign.

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The Latest: Summer exits expected

Following the club’s success in the January transfer market, PIF will surely be looking to build upon this again in the summer. However, this time around, it is expected that a whole host of players will need to make way for the new arrivals.

Kennedy revealed in a Newcastle World Q&A that, whilst the majority of departures are to be expected, Jamal Lewis is set to be handed another chance at St James’ Park

He stated: “This list is getting quite lengthy. And I think we all know the candidates. So instead, I will list one player who I think might stay, despite it appearing as if he is heading out the exit door. Howe is keen to take a look at Jamal Lewis this summer, and depending on what happens in the market, he may well get a second chance at Newcastle.

“In my opinion, a player with all the tools to succeed, just needs a lot of decent coaching – and let’s be honest, that wasn’t forthcoming before Howe walked through the door.”

Taking a different approach, fellow journalist Cronin name-checked a few players that Eddie Howe could jettison during the summer.

He claimed: “Since Liam didn’t write the list of potential departures, I will… Yes, the most obvious are Freddie Woodman, Ciaran Clark, Federico Fernandez, Jeff Hendrick, Isaac Hayden and Dwight Gayle. I wouldn’t rule out others departing however – Miguel Almiron for example, i.e. a player you might not expect to go.”

The Verdict: Busy summer ahead

If Newcastle are to keep buying high-quality players who require substantial transfer fees, then it will be important that the club can offload some of the deadwood early in the window, so that the board have enough time to secure their transfer targets and stick within Financial Fair Play parameters.

Therefore, numerous incomings and outgoings are expected at St James’ Park this summer, as Howe looks to carry the positive momentum from 2022 so far into the forthcoming season as the Magpies potentially eye up a European finish.

In other news: Newcastle United: Journalists address Lucas Paqueta transfer links

Liverpool may have suffered disappointment in the Premier League on the final day of the season after losing out on the title to Manchester City by one point but will now look ahead to the Champions League final with a new injury update revealed by a reliable source.

What’s the latest?

Northern Football Correspondent for The Times and Liverpool journalist Paul Joyce, has given an important update on Fabinho’s recovery from a hamstring injury he sustained against Aston Villa last week.

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Joyce indicated in his article (via The Times) that the midfielder is continuing his recovery but faces a race against time to be fit for the final in Paris on Saturday evening. He has not returned to full training as of yet and could miss the clash in Paris.

As per the report, Fabinho will intensify his training at the end of the week with the hope that he will be ready to play against Real Madrid, but there is still no confirmation that he will be 100% fit for the important clash.

Supporters will be worried

Fabinho has been instrumental in Liverpool’s successful season and plays a key role in the midfield for the side, so supporters will be severely worried that his presence in Paris hangs in the balance, with the player still not back in full training.

The 28-year-old has scored eight goals and contributed one assist for the Reds this season in all competitions, whilst being a dominant force in his defensive midfield role guiding his team to two trophies already with the FA Cup and Carabao Cup already under their belts this season.

In his 29 Premier League appearances Fabinho has created two big chances, has been successful in the majority of his dribbles (73%), winning the majority of his aerial duels (65%), making 1.4 interceptions, 1.6 tackles and taking 63.7 touches on average per game this season. That proves that he plays an important role in dictating play from midfield, which would be sorely missed in the Champions League final.

Liverpool supporters suffered further heartbreak as Thiago Alcantara hobbled off the pitch at half-time on the final day of the season with an Achilles problem.

Joyce confirmed the Spaniard has undergone a scan and the problem is not serious but will need to respond well to his treatment and recovery plan to be in contention for the game on Saturday alongside Fabinho.

With that being said, Klopp will need to prepare for the worst outcome by leaning on Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita and James Milner to fill the boots of the players should they be unable to recover in time, all of whom should be more than capable of using their experience to offer a high-quality performance.

AND in other news: Liverpool handed the perfect chance to sign “extraordinary” £60m brute, Klopp needs him

Ahead of their Premier League clash against title-chasing Liverpool on Sunday, Wolves manager Bruno Lage sat in front of the media for his last pre-game press conference this season to issue a fitness update on his squad.

What’s the latest?

Asked to give an update on injuries within the camp, Lage said (as per wolves.co.uk): “Just Saiss at the moment. He doesn’t recover from his injury, so Saiss, Semedo has a big injury, Max also out. Daniel is coming. Nothing new, just those things.”

Saiss ruled out

With Saiss still not fit to face Liverpool in Wolves’ final game of the season, it will come as a concern for Lage and the Molineux faithful.

The Moroccan’s contract is set to expire in the summer, so this setback could mean that he will not turn out in an Old Gold shirt again.

As Lage looks to implement a rebuild at Molineux, amidst a host of expiring contracts, there is a cloud of uncertainty hovering over the club, with Saiss’ future also still up in the air.

As a left-footed centre-back operating in Lage’s back-three, the 32-year-old has shown his worth again this season, having made 31 appearances and starting 81% of his team’s matches in the Premier League.

Since the defender’s absence, Lage has opted to use Jonny as a right centre-back, whilst right-footed Willy Boly has come in place of Saiss, with Toti Gomes also getting a run out in the last game against Norwich. During that time, the Old Gold have conceded six goals in what has been a dreadful end to a season which saw them within touching distance of European football.

Saiss is a big miss in the Wolves squad, posting the fourth-highest WhoScored performance rating this term among players to start more than 10 league games, so it will come as a big blow that he is still not in any condition to feature against a Liverpool side who still have hope of lifting the Premier League trophy at Anfield on Sunday evening.

With the Moroccan’s future at Molineux uncertain, it remains to be see whether we will ever again see him plying his trade in a Wolves shirt. For now, Lage may just be worried over the damage that the free-scoring Reds could cause against a defence deprived of one of its most assured operators.

In other news: Wolves can save millions by unearthing 22-year-old “diamond”, Lage will be ecstatic 

Patrick Vieira has had a solid start to life at Crystal Palace so far, leading his team to a challenge for a top-half Premier League finish in his first managerial role in England.

Add to that a run to the FA Cup semi-finals and it has been a productive season, but the 45-year-old won’t want to stop there. His winning mentality shone through as he captained Arsenal to a host of trophies during his playing career and he will aim for Palace to win some kind of silverware.

In order to do so, he will need to bolster the squad, and there have been links with many talented players, with Joe Aribo being one of the standouts.

Palace’s interest in the 25-year-old stretches back to October last year, during a spell where the Nigeria international was arguably Steven Gerrard’s best player at the time at Ibrox.

His ascendency from young prospect to a player who is imperative to Rangers’ success has perhaps always been in the making. His performances once led Gerrard to claim he “has the world at his feet” and indeed Aribo has looked like a player who could thrive in any league.

The £14k-p/w star would enhance a Palace team that Vieira is looking to lead to big things, and with him and Wilfried Zaha in the same team, defenders would be in for a torrid time.

Whilst Aribo has fewer goals than the Ivorian this season (eight to 14) the 25-year-old has registered more assists in all competitions (seven to two), proving that scoring isn’t his only strength and that he has the creative skills to make him a success in England.

Vieira would surely love to have both Aribo and Zaha in the same team, although there is no doubt that the Rangers side would be much poorer without the midfielder, and it could well take a big fee for Giovanni van Bronckhorst to even consider selling the Nigerian.

It could be a nervy time for Rangers fans in the summer transfer window, but a very exciting one for the Selhurst Park faithful.

AND in other news, “Agreement close…”: Ornstein drops huge CPFC update that supporters will love