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Erik ten Hag’s reign at Manchester United so far has certainly been interesting.

Cristiano Ronaldo could leave, Harry Maguire has been booed by fans in America and a lengthy transfer saga has played out.

What’s the word?

That saga revolves around Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.

It appears Barcelona and United are ready to strike a deal but it now hinges on whether the Dutchman actually wants the move.

Should it collapse, then it appears ten Hag has other irons in the fire.

That’s the word of journalist Ben Jacobs who taking to Twitter, revealed an alternative in the middle of the park.

He said: “Man United’s interest in Tielemans is genuine, too, and growing. He’s a far cheaper and less complicated option than Frenkie de Jong. Erik ten Hag has put him on a midfield shortlist. Tielemans indicated under Ralf Rangnick he didn’t want to move to MUFC but ten Hag may revisit.”

Forget Frenkie

De Jong would be a pretty perfect signing for ten Hag this summer.

The duo are already acquainted with each other due to their work at Ajax and as a result, reuniting them feels like a no-brainer.

However, at a whopping £63m, United’s money could be better spent elsewhere.

After all, the Old Trafford outfit have religiously thrown the book at players in recent years without too much success.

Turning to Tielemans, who is a classy “phenomenon” in the words of ex-Sweden midfielder Par Zetterberg, makes a great deal of sense.

Not only would he be much cheaper than de Jong at around £25m, but with a year left on his current contract, it would be easier to extract him from his current employer; Leicester City.

Arsenal are also in the race for the Belgian and if they can beat their top-four rivals to his signature, it would surely be celebrated by the United faithful.

That said, there is more appeal to Tielemans than merely beating their nearest competitors to the signing.

This is a player with plenty of Premier League experience now and unlike de Jong, is already caught up with the rigours of top-flight life in England.

The Foxes playmaker has shown plenty since his arrival at the King Power, with a haul of seven goals and five assists last term proving he can be an elite performer from central areas at the top of the game.

De Jong is a more defensively sound midfielder than Tielemans but that should not deter the key decision makers at Old Trafford.

The Leicester hero is the real deal and considering his lowly price tag, United would be fools to pass up on the opportunity to sign him.

Combined with the likes of Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes, it would be a creative haven for offensive players during the ten Hag regime.

It’s time to forget about de Jong and move on to Brendan Rodgers’ silky smooth talisman.

AND in other news, Ten Hag can finally axe £50m shocker as MUFC eye “amazing” £30m signing after de Jong…

The summer transfer window has around a month left to run and Glasgow Rangers have been busy throughout it so far.

Ross Wilson and Gio van Bronckhorst have negotiated deals to bring several players to Ibrox, whilst two key players have also left the club.

Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey have been sold on and Ben Davies, Ridvan Yilmaz, Antonio Colak, Tom Lawrence, John Souttar, and Rabbi Matondo have all come through the door to bolster the squad.

It now remains to be seen whether or not the Gers will be able to add any more players to their team, although they have been linked with a swoop for Romania international Darius Olaru.

FCSB owner Gigi Becali recently confirmed that he wants a fee in the region of £5m for the attacking midfielder, after rejecting an offer from an unknown club, saying:

“It is about Olaru also going elsewhere. I had 5million euros, but I did not accept. We asked for 7 million euros, but we left it at 6 million euros [£5million]. I don’t want to talk more, you’ll see.”

Van Bronckhorst must now push the club to snap him up for that fee in the coming weeks as the gem has the quality to be Ianis Hagi 2.0 for the Gers.

Rangers have already had success in bringing one Romanian attacking midfielder to Ibrox by signing Hagi from Genk. Since making the move to Glasgow, the youngster has racked up 15 goals and 21 assists in 85 outings for the Light Blues, showing that he has the ability to make a big impact in the final third.

Olaru, meanwhile, caught the eye last season with six goals and 12 assists in 36 league outings for FCSB. This came after he managed seven goals and two assists in 30 matches the previous season, whilst he has also been capped six times by Romania.

The 24-year-old, who has been dubbed an “exciting” talent by Jacek Kulig, can contribute at the top end of the pitch from a number 10 position, whilst he still has the potential to improve and develop as he gains more experience.

He can grow into becoming a key player for Rangers in midfield and be their next Romanian sensation in midfield if the club is able to sign him from FCSB before the window slams shut at the end of August.

That is why van Bronckhorst must push Wilson to secure a deal in the coming weeks before another club swoops in for him at £5m.

AND in other news, “We agreed…”: GvB reveals big transfer update, Rangers supporters will be buzzing…

Blackburn Rovers have received an enquiry for Ben Brereton Diaz from Wolverhampton Wanderers…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Football League World, with sources close to the outlet suggesting that the Premier League club are keen to replace their injured striker Raul Jimenez.

Molineux technical director Scott Sellars has duly turned to Brereton Diaz, who was in inspired form last season for Rovers.

His contract was set to expire this summer, but with a one-year extension triggered by the Lancashire club, they now have until 2023 to sell him or face losing him on a free transfer. He is reportedly available for around £20m.

Imagine him and Neto

With Bruno Lage left scrambling to replace his main striker, and with Fabio Silva now gone out on loan, signing Brereton Diaz could not only have an instant impact, but also give Wolves a fine striker for many years to come.

The thought of his link-up play with silky winger Pedro Neto is what would surely excite the Molineux faithful, as the Portuguese trickster could provide many chances for the clinical Chile forward.

Brereton Diaz scored 21 times for Blackburn last season as they made a late push for a play-off spot, narrowly missing out after his injury saw them slump to an eighth-placed finish. This is already a vast improvement on the six goals scored by Jimenez last term (which still made him Wolves’ top scorer) and has unsurprisingly led to the Rovers forward being labelled a “marksman”.

Also, the pacey nature of the 23-year-old suggests that he would feast off Neto’s wonderful range of passing. The Portuguese winger ranked in the top 11% for progressive carries and the top 5% for total shots among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues in 2021/22.

The “quality” Chile forward, as dubbed by journalist Matthew Stanger, would provide a constant threat, and any loose balls would surely be pounced upon by the Blackburn star, who scored 21 of his 22 goals last season from inside the box.

His average of 2.8 shots per game also marks him out as a constant goal threat, which in turn could create more space for Neto to shoot. The two would facilitate one another and add an extra threats to cause more problems for opposition defenders.

The two would likely form a fine partnership at Molineux and could terrorise Premier League defences for Wolves for many years to come.

Tottenham Hotspur have struck gold with the signing of Dejan Kulusevski.

A much-maligned outcast from Juventus, the Swedish winger has enjoyed an electric start to life in north London and that continued on Saturday afternoon as he was the main star of the show as Spurs defeated Southampton to begin the new Premier League campaign.

The 22-year-old assisted their first goal as he teed up Ryan Sessegnon at the back post to head home the equaliser. He then found himself on the scoresheet just after the hour mark, bagging the fourth in the 4-1 win with a curled effort from 15 yards out.

It makes it six goals and nine assists from 21 appearances in a Lilywhites shirt.

That’s one direct goal contribution every 98.6 minutes, which is effectively one per game – a remarkable feat.

It could have been ever so different, though, as Tottenham were heavily mooted with a move for Luis Diaz, before his move to Liverpool but for chairman Daniel Levy and sporting director Fabio Paratici, that has been a blessing in disguise.

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In fact, according to The Athletic’s James Pearce, if Spurs did not register interest in the then-Porto star, then the Merseyside giants wouldn’t have made their move. Something that left Levy fuming.

There is no denying that the Colombian winger is an elite-level talent and one that has also done well in the Premier League so far, though it’s nothing compared to the level of Kulusevski.

Diaz drew a blank against Fulham on the same afternoon and has delivered just six goals and five assists across 28 appearances for the Reds, averaging one direct goal contribution every 169 minutes, almost one every two games.

This difference in quality even led The Football Terrace host Terry Flewers to claim that “Dejan Kulusevski was a better signing than Luis Diaz,” whilst verified journalist Alex Mitton has suggested that “There [are] not many wingers in the world I’d take over him currently.”

It should have been somewhat expected, though, given the praise from journalist Nima Tavallaey Roodsari prior to his arrival as he dubbed him an “absolute monster” and a “non-stop machine.”

Once dubbed a “great talent” by former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, the Sweden international is becoming something of a household name, not just in N17 but across the Premier League and as such, Tottenham have certainly struck gold with the £110k-per-week star’s signature.

AND in other news, Paratici could finally replace Eriksen as Spurs eye move for £50m “frightening talent”…

Aston Villa are making progress in tying down one of their star men…

What’s the word?

According to the Athletic journalist Gregg Evans, Douglas Luiz could be set to sign a contract at the club despite slow but steady talks over the summer.

He wrote on his Twitter: “AVFC still hoping to extend the contract of Douglas Luiz. Hearing nothing imminent, but talks are advancing.”

Evans then questioned whether the Brazilian was worth a recall in the Villa midfield for their game against Everton, however, Steven Gerrard opted for Boubacar Kamara once more.

Luiz only has one year left on his current £52k-per-week deal

Gerrard needs him

Despite strengthening well in central midfield, the 24-year-old has been ever-present for the Villains since his move from Manchester City in 2019.

He has featured at least 33 times (his lowest, during the 2020/21 season) every season since that move, even chipping in with two goals and three assists despite being more of a deep-lying playmaker.

He has been instrumental in their continued presence in the Premier League, and now as Gerrard looks to build out his squad to push for European spots, he will want to keep hold of top assets that helped get the club where they are.

To continue progressing as a club it is of paramount importance to retain their best players, especially ones with such “class”.

His role at the heart of the engine room makes him something of a pass-master, and his 1.1 key passes per Premier League fixture last season suggest that he offers a creative outlet despite also contributing with one interception and 1.7 tackles per outing.

Luiz also has performed well alongside John McGinn and Jacob Ramsey, with OneFootball analysing how the three complement one another due to their hard-working core and combined flair.

All three are technically competent footballers who are willing to get stuck in, and with the likes of Boubacar Kamara added to the fold, they have a very solid core of their squad.

Gerrard will therefore want to keep hold of him, as he needs to keep hold of his better players and add to continue pushing themselves up the table.

Newcastle have been dealt a big injury blow ahead of their game against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday afternoon, with Nick Pope reportedly set to miss the trip to the south coast.

What’s the word?

According to Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie, the former Burnley man is a doubt for the game against Graham Potter’s side, with Martin Dubravka or Karl Darlow likely to deputies for Eddie Howe’s side.

After keeping a clean sheet on his debut against Nottingham Forest, the last thing Howe would have wanted is for Pope to get an injury, but it seems as if he will have to cope without the England international on Saturday afternoon.

While he was rarely threatened in the win against Steve Cooper’s side last weekend, with the away side failing to manage a single shot on target, Pope has shown in his time at Burnley that he is a ‘keeper who can be relied upon.

A big blow for Newcastle

Despite the Lancashire side suffering relegation to the Championship, Pope’s nine clean sheets were still more than the likes of David de Gea, Kasper Schmeichel and Dubravka.

Liverpool manager was full of praise for Pope after his saves helped Burnley earn a 1-1 draw at Anfield in 2020, saying:

“It’s frustrating because we should have scored much earlier. Nick Pope was obviously warmed up. We warmed him up through the game and he was properly warm and had some really sensational saves.”

Last season Burnley were expected to concede 60.22 goals but only shipped 53, which emphasises how much Pope over-performed.

Newcastle, meanwhile, were expected to concede 62.71 and conceded 62 which is respectable but suggests that Pope is a more reliable goalkeeper than Dubravka and would do a better job in the side.

Therefore, it is surely both a big and gutting blow for Howe that Pope may miss the game against Brighton, and he will be hoping to see the 30-year-old back as soon as possible.

Tottenham Hotspur are showing a ‘shock interest’ in Leeds United winger Dan James, according to Alan Nixon.

The Lowdown: James at Leeds

Hailed as ‘unbelievable’ by Peter Schmeichel, the forward finally made the move to Elland Road 12 months ago after almost joining the club in 2019.

The Whites paid Manchester United £25m for the Wales international, who has gone on to make 37 appearances under both Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch in Yorkshire.

The 24-year-old has contributed to 2026, but it looks as if a late exit could be on the cards.

The Latest: Nixon’s claim

Nixon took to Twitter on Monday, saying that Spurs are showing ‘shock interest’ in James.

The reliable journalist then responded to a Leeds fan who asked if the Whites would be open to selling the forward, saying that it would depend on the size of the offer and whether or not the club have a player coming in to improve the squad.

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The Verdict: Sell?

James has been used more as a four times for Leeds.

He has struggled to nail down a specific role and was selected to provide cover to Patrick Bamford in the second half of the previous campaign.

Therefore, cashing in on the Wales forward before the end of the transfer window could be a smart idea, so long as the price is right and a replacement is brought in.

Watford’s Ismaila Sarr has been heavily linked with Leeds in recent days, so perhaps Victor Orta could be open to pursuing the Senegal international should Spurs come forward with a formal offer for James.

Nottingham Forest have joined the race to sign Watford striker Joao Pedro, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Newcastle agree Pedro fee

The Hornets won’t be actively looking to sell the 20-year-old given his contract at Vicarage Road isn’t set to expire for another three years, but they have seemingly been listening to offers.

Premier League side Newcastle United have already seen two bids rejected, though it’s been claimed that a £25m fee has now been agreed between the two parties, with the Magpies in the process of deciding whether or not to complete the deal after they also moved for Alexander Isak.

Others clubs are aware that a move is yet to be finalised, and several of them have now put their names forward in the pursuit, one of them being the Reds.

The Latest: Forest monitoring Pedro

According to 90min, Forest are ‘keeping tabs’ on Pedro’s situation, alongside Wolves, Leicester City and Leeds United.

Sources close to Watford have ‘confirmed’ that Everton have also ‘made contact’ regarding the attacker’s availability, while the interest from Steve Cooper’s side is currently not at the stage of a formal enquiry.

It’s believed that the player is ‘keen’ on signing for Newcastle and has ‘made his feelings known’, but the decision is now all down to the northeast outfit.

The Verdict: Not the right profile

Whilst Cooper will be keen to add a new centre-forward to his ranks before September 1st, Pedro is not the player that he should be going after at this moment in time.

The Brazilian, dubbed ‘sensational’ by sports journalist Josh Bunting, is clearly a talent, but has only managed to score 21 goals since his senior career started in 2019, and is more of a long-term project than an immediate upgrade who could walk straight into a starting XI.

If Cooper is to add more firepower to his ranks in the coming days, it should be a proven quantity who is sure to help their efforts to stay in the Premier League, even if that means missing out on an exciting up and comer.

Manchester United are interested in a move for Napoli forward Victor Osimhen, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

The Lowdown: Antony and Dubravka deals

The Red Devils look set to be rather busy in the final few days of the transfer market, with deals in place for Ajax winger Antony and Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

The Brazilian looks set to join for around £85m, while the Slovakian will make the move to Old Trafford on an initial loan deal with an option to sign permanently for £5m.

All going well, the pair will become United’s fifth and sixth summer additions, and it looks like a new centre-forward is also of interest.

The Latest: Osimhen interest

Plettenberg took to Twitter on Monday evening, stating that Osimhen is ‘definitely a potential top transfer target’ for United.

He said that the interest remains regardless of where Cristiano Ronaldo ends up, adding that no negotiations are ongoing at this stage.

He scores goals galore! Pay homage to one of his best with this amazing t-shirt! Click here to buy…

The Verdict: Final piece of the jigsaw?

Osimhen, who was claimed to be ‘the most terrifying striker in Europe‘ by journalist and African football expert Saddick Adams, has just come off his best season in front of goal.

The Nigeria international netted 18 times in 2021/22 and has already scored twice in three games in the early weeks of the current campaign.

He is primarily a centre-forward, something that United currently lack, especially with Ronaldo’s future still up in the air, so the 23-year-old could be the perfect final addition.

However, Osimhen may come at a huge cost, as he is under contract until 2025 and currently holds a career-high £58.5m Transfermarkt valuation.

Everton could potentially unearth their next Leighton Baines at Goodison Park in the future, as 16-year-old left-back Ishe Samuels-Smith continues to knock on the first-team door.

The teenage defender, who has represented England at various youth levels, has been spotted training with Frank Lampard’s first team recently and is surely pushing for his first senior appearance as a Toffees player.

He has also attracted interest from Chelsea in the past and is regarded as one of the best players in his age group, having already made 22 appearances for the under-18s.

Samuels-Smith is described by Everton’s official website as providing a strong combination of diligent defending with the ability to make marauding runs forward and create chances in the final third.

This ability in attack could stand him in the same stead as Baines, who enjoyed a superb career at Goodison Park, contributing 39 goals and 67 assists in 420 appearances for the Toffees.

The 37-year-old also earned 30 England caps during his career and gained a first-class reputation for crossing and set-piece ability during an impressive career on Merseyside.

He now works as an academy coach at the club and will no doubt be keeping a keen eye on Samuels-Smith’s future; and if the 16-year-old can get to anywhere near Baines’ level, then he will surely become a fan favourite at Goodison Park.

Vitaly Mykolenko is the main left-back option in Lampard’s squad right now, with Lucas Digne having departed the club last January.

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While the Ukrainian is a solid option defensively, he doesn’t offer anywhere near the attacking quality that Baines showed during his time at the club, with no assists to his name in 22 appearances so far since coming to Merseyside earlier this year.

While it would be difficult for any left-back to match Baines’ numbers, the fact that Samuels-Smith is training with the first team at such a young age suggests that he is rated very highly at the club. With the right coaching, he could just emulate Baines’ legacy at Goodison Park.