All posts by z3u9t.icu

Manchester City are close to reaching an agreement to sign teenage defender Harrison Parker from rivals Manchester United, according to Fabrizio Romano.

What’s the latest Man City transfer news?

Pep Guardiola has already added to his senior squad during the summer window following a fine treble-winning campaign, with midfielder Mateo Kovacic the first to arrive from Chelsea in a deal worth an initial £25m.

City lost captain Ilkay Gundogan to Barcelona on a free transfer, with the midfielder deciding not to extend his Etihad contract, so Kovacic looks set to fill the void left by the German.

There could be more new signings to come ahead of the 2023/24 season, with another Croatia international, Josko Gvardiol, a firm target in Manchester. Talks have gone quiet recently, though, with RB Leipzig wanting around €100m plus bonuses for the centre-back, who is keen on a move to link up with Guardiola’s side.

Should Gvardiol join fellow countryman Kovacic at the Etihad, there could be room for one final big-money deal, and Celta Vigo’s Gabri Veiga could be that man. Manchester City have held agent talks over a move and City are one of a number of sides who think they can do a deal below the player’s €40m release clause, according to Romano.

The transfer expert has also taken to Twitter in the last 48 hours to share more news from the Etihad, with a new face on course to arrive at the academy.

Romano said that City are close to an agreement with rivals Manchester United for Parker, beating four “top clubs” to a transfer, even with United offering a record youth deal to keep the teenager at Carrington.

“Manchester City are close to reaching an agreement with Manchester United for top talented CB (16) Harrison Parker. City have beaten four top clubs to the signing — agreement is close despite Man Utd offering highest youth deal to keep Parker.”

Romano then added the teenager is set to sign a long-term deal at the Etihad.

“Harrison Parker, expected to sign long term deal at Manchester City — joining from Manchester United.”

Who is Harrison Parker?

Parker is just 16 years of age and made the move to Manchester United’s academy from Arsenal’s academy back in 2021. The right-footed defender was set to become an Old Trafford scholar this summer and has already turned out for the club’s U18 side last season on a number of occasions, showing how he could immediately turn out for City’s U18s in the 2023/24 season.

In time, we could see Parker progress into the first team plans at the Etihad, should he continue to develop, but it isn’t all good news for City and their academy plans.

That’s because Man United are set to sign Jack and Tyler Fletcher, twin sons of Darren, who are currently on the books with the Sky Blues and have shone in the club’s academy. Those at City feel that it is a “revenge” move by the Red Devils, but by the looks of things, City are set to secure Parker’s services over the coming weeks.

Arsenal are preparing a bid for Gremio star Bitello and an "official document" is expected to arrive "in the coming days", according to reports.

Who will Arsenal sign this summer?

The Gunners and transfer chief have, so far, taken this summer window by storm – sealing moves for Germany international winger Kai Havertz, star midfielder Declan Rice and versatile defender Jurrien Timber from Ajax.

There have been concerns surrounding Rice this week, as Arsenal are still yet to officially confirm his arrival despite agreeing a deal last week, but David Ornstein has reassured supporters that everything is "done and dusted".

The England international will apparently make his move to north London for a club record £105 million total fee, a transfer which makes Rice the most expensive British player in history, usurping the likes of Jack Grealish and Jude Bellingham.

Arsenal's total outlay exceeds £200 million, but despite their lavish spending, it is believed they could add even more fresh faces to manager Mikel Arteta's roster.

Southampton starlet Romeo Lavia, for instance, is a player they remain "in the mix" for and there have been suggestions they could sign more attacking players before the window shuts.

One of them could well be Gremio star Bitello, with the Brazilian enjoying a fine campaign for his club and standing out as one of their key players.

This has apparently attracted Arsenal's interest as South American news outlet Correio Do Povo explain this week.

Emirates Stadium officials are currently in Brazil, the city of Porto Alegre, to assess the attacking midfielder as they prepare a proposal for his services.

Indeed, Arsenal are readying an offer for Bitello, with an "official document" expected to arrive "in the coming days". It is believed they are also poised to reach Gremio's value for the player, and thus, Gremio will allow their man to leave.

Not much else is said on the 23-year-old's potential move to the Premier League, but this update comes as a pretty enticing one given Bitello's real talent.

How good is Bitello?

The South American ace has been called a key asset for Gremio over the last few seasons, coming after they've won three consecutive Campeonato Gaucho state titles.

Playing alongside former Liverpool and Atletico Madrid star Luis Suarez, Bitello is often deployed as an attacking midfielder just behind the Uruguayan.

Over his latest Brazilian Serie A campaign, the forward stood out as Gremio's best-perfoming regular by average match rating – chipping in with three goals in 13 league starts (WhoScored).

Bitello also ranks in their top four in terms of shots at goal, key passes made and successful take-ons per 90 in the final third – making him quite the exciting prospect for Arsenal supporters (WhoScored).

Members of the press, like scout writer Ben Mattinson of Breaking The Lines, are in no mind of his obvious ability – with Bitello even being called Gremio's "main player" alongside the likes of Suarez.

"With great technical ability and passing range, Bitello has become a key figure for Grêmio," said Mattinson on Twitter.

"If anything is probably their main player alongside Luis Suárez who leads the line for them."

Manchester United are still no further along in the process of being taken over and the situation is 'very complicated' at Old Trafford to predict when it will come to an end, according to renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano.

What's the latest takeover news involving Manchester United?

According to Qatari outlet Al Raya via The Mirror, Sheikh Jassim’s Nine Two Foundation could bring an end to the drawn-out takeover process at Manchester United and finally assume control at Old Trafford.

The report states that Sheikh Jassim is now confident that he can win the race to take over from the Glazers and a deal may be officially announced in the not-too-distant future.

Manchester United have been up for sale since last November as the Glazer family seek 'strategic alternatives', including 'new investment into the club, a sale, or other transactions involving the company'.

Sheikh Jassim wants to buy 100% of the Premier League giants while his main bidding rival, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his petrochemicals firm INEOS, are aiming to secure a majority share in the club that could still leave one or more of the Glazer family in minority stakeholding roles, as per The Guardian.

Despite the ongoing battle for control of Manchester United, the club have been active in the transfer market and Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount has completed his medical and will swap blue for red imminently, according to Sky Sports.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Romano has detailed that it still looks like there is no end in sight in the long battle for ownership at Manchester United.

Romano said: “It’s very difficult to predict this very complicated story. So, I don’t want to lie to Man United fans, I don’t know when it will be completed. Honestly, the expectation was to have news already in March, in April, now we are in July and the situation is still the same. So, it’s a very complicated story.”

What other matters do Manchester United need to get to the bottom of this summer?

Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag will be focused on recruitment for the new season. However, there is no doubt that his endeavours to sign top talent are being impeded by the ongoing battle for control at Old Trafford.

As per The Daily Mail, Ten Hag wants new signings in place by next week to follow Chelsea ace Mount into the building, though 'budget restrictions' are getting in the way amid interest in Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana and Feyenoord's Justin Bijlow, with a new goalkeeper said to be a main priority.

The Red Devils are keen to sign a striker this summer in addition to provide a focal point in attack and discussions with Atalanta rising star Rasmus Hojlund are continuing between both parties, as per 90min.

Sky Sports News have reported that Fiorentina enforcer Sofyan Amrabat is also on the radar at Manchester United as they continue to expand their transfer business as the window progresses.

Nevertheless, the takeover situation engulfing the club needs to be sorted out sooner or later, as Manchester United risk falling behind their rivals without the ability to effectively strengthen in key areas.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale has made a host of early moves in the summer transfer window in an attempt to bolster his playing squad at Ibrox.

The Light Blues failed to win a single trophy during the 2022/23 campaign and the English head coach has reacted to that by bringing in five new signings so far.

Dujon Sterling, Jack Butland, Abdallah Sima, Kieran Dowell and Sam Lammers have all come through the door, whilst Cyriel Dessers is poised to become the sixth after the club reportedly agreed a deal with Serie B side Cremonese last week.

Lammers is one of the more interesting additions so far as the Dutch centre-forward has only scored five league goals since the start of the 2020/21 season, throughout spells in the Serie A and Bundesliga.

His recent struggles in front of goal are a cause for concern but Beale could unlock the former PSV starlet by bringing Malik Tillman back to Glasgow.

What's the latest on Malik Tillman's future?

It was reported last month that Bayern Munich are open to sending the American out on loan again next term and that the Light Blues are still in the race for his signature, although they could face competition from Premier League sides.

Securing a deal to sign the 21-year-old for a second spell at Ibrox would be a fantastic piece of business as Rangers would be snapping up an excellent player who could make a huge impact on his own, whilst also being able to help Lammers find his feet in the final third.

Tillman averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.09 across 28 Scottish Premiership appearances last season, which placed him eighth in the squad, and chipped in with ten goals to go along with four assists.

He also created an outstanding 12 'big chances' for his teammates, more than Todd Cantwell (five), Ryan Kent (nine), Rabbi Matondo (four), and Fashion Sakala (one) managed from wide positions.

This suggests that Tillman, who journalist Jonny McFarlane claimed has "telescopic limbs", possesses the ability to be Beale's main creative threat from midfield, meaning he could be perfect for Lammers, who has previously showcased his ability to be a lethal scorer.

The Dutch marksman averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.24 as he plundered 16 goals in 30 Eredivisie starts during the 2018/19 campaign, whilst the new Gers signing also scored 30 goals in 63 matches for PSV at U21 level.

No Rangers forward scored more than 14 Premiership goals last term and these statistics suggest that the potential is there for Lammers to be a prolific number nine for the club.

As such, Tillman's return could play a crucial role in his revival as the £13k-per-week talent has the creative ability to provide the striker with the chances he needs to find the back of the net on a regular basis again.

Newcastle United's transfer business is slowly starting to come together ahead of their first foray into the Champions League group stage in some two decades.

Sandro Tonali's imminent arrival from AC Milan is dominating headlines, while another move for a somewhat lower-profile player – albeit potentially just as exciting if the past is anything to go by – also looks set to go through.

Are Newcastle United interested in signing Tino Livramento?

According to Sky Sports' Keith Downie and Pete Graves, Newcastle are in talks with recently relegated Southampton to sign right-back Tino Livramento in a £15m deal.

The Telegraph have claimed the Saints want close to double that amount, but Newcastle could offer out-of-favour Ryan Fraser to help push through the transfer.

Landing a player as highly rated as Livramento for what is a bargain fee in the current market would be considered a coup of sorts for Newcastle, who are eager to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations.

What can Tino Livramento offer Newcastle United?

Livramento is coming off the back of a hugely frustrating campaign in which he made just two Premier League appearances, totalling 26 minutes, owing to a long-term injury lay-off.

However, after coming off the substitutes' bench in Southampton's final two games, the 20-year-old will have a chance to get back to full fitness across pre-season in time to hit the ground running in 2023-24.

The Chelsea academy player, who many were surprised to see leave for Southampton two years ago, showed enough in his debut top-flight campaign to suggest he can more than provide competition for Kieran Trippier next season.

Livramento, although described as "top-class" by scout Jacek Kulig, does not have as much of an end product as Trippier – he was directly involved in just two league goals in 32 appearances in 2021-22, compared to ten for the latter – but that will likely come with age.

Besides, there are plenty of other similarities, such as the pair finding the target from a similar number of shots (25% for Livramento v 23.5% for Trippier), their pass-completion percentage (74.1 v 71.6), and the number of tackles they win (1.19 v 1.32), as per FBref.

Newcastle supporters will also need no reminding that one of their greatest-ever players – arguably second only to Alan Shearer – also moved from Southampton to St James' Park over 40 years ago.

Indeed, a certain Kevin Keegan was at a far more advanced stage of his career at that point, and had already landed a couple of Ballon d'Or titles, but the omens are certainly positive from Newcastle's perspective when choosing to invest from the Saints.

It was always Keegan's plan to play for Newcastle one day, which while that may not exactly be the case for Livramento, it will certainly provide the youngster with a huge platform to properly establish himself in the top flight.

'King Kev' scored 48 goals in 78 appearances for Newcastle and would of course later return for two spells as manager – the first stint more memorable than the second.

There is also the Shearer link, with the club's all-time leading scorer – now immortalised with a statue outside the ground – also having played for Southampton before joining Newcastle further down the line.

That is not to say Livramento is on his way to becoming one of Newcastle's all-time greats, but the Magpies have certainly had success signing players with Southampton roots in the past.

In Livramento, they have a player who looks every inch a modern-day full-back, one who is capable of initially challenging and filling in for the overused Trippier, before becoming a regular down the right for years to come.

Described as a "really talented player" by Southampton colleague Kyle Walker-Peters, it is now over to England U21 international Livramento to write his own passage in Newcastle folklore.

No pressure.

Arsenal have identified the Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia as a summer transfer target as they look to update their options in the middle of the park.

How old is Romeo Lavia?

Despite the Gunners enjoying an impressive 2022/23 campaign, it seems as if Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar are looking to overhaul their midfield this summer.

Indeed, it is believed Granit Xhaka could be heading for the exit doors this summer with reports of interest coming from Bayer Leverkusen.

And on top of the potential exit of the Swiss midfielder, it has now recently been suggested that Thomas Partey could be another name who could be set to depart for a new opportunity over the coming months.

These are two players who played huge roles in Arsenal's starting XI last season with Xhaka making 37 appearances in the league and Partey making 33 league appearances.

Despite this, the Gunners are believed to be seriously interested in bringing Declan Rice to north London this summer to bolster than midfield with a bid already lodged for the 24-year-old.

And speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has now claimed the Gunners could look to make a move for the 19-year-old from Southampton, Lavia:

"It's true that Romeo Lavia from Southampton is one of the players they have in the list, it's correct.

"They like him, they consider Romeo Lavia a top talent. Man City have a buy-back clause on the player but only in summer 2024. Not this summer and the clause would not be valid in the future; it's only valid in 2024 for Man City, not now.

"So Arsenal are interested Chelsea are also interested."

How much is Romeo Lavia worth?

The 19-year-old played a significant role in the Southampton side last season having made 29 appearances in the Premier League alone (via Transfermarkt).

Of course, it was a hugely underwhelming campaign for the Saints which saw them finish rock bottom of the Premier League table.

However, it was not a wasted campaign for the Belgian who was even dubbed as an "absolute monster" by some in the media for one of his displays earlier in the year.

And this can be seen through his returns over the last year with the youngster ranking in the top fourth percentile for blocks made across all midfielders in the top five European leagues (via FBef).

As a result of his impressive displays, it is believed the Belgian has garnered interest from a number of clubs including Liverpool.

But it is apparent any club who is looking to acquire the young talent will have to dig deep this summer with the Saints reportedly placing a £50m price tag on their young star.

Considering Arsenal are looking to spend big money on Rice and potentially also Kai Havertz, this could prove to be another significant financial layout for the Gunners this summer.

Chelsea remain interested in adding another striker to their ranks after completing a deal to sign Villarreal star Nicolas Jackson in the summer transfer window.

What's the latest on Chelsea's interest in Victor Osimhen?

According to 90min, the Blues remain keen on pursuing a possible deal to sign Napoli centre-forward Victor Osimhen to solve their woes in front of goal.

The London giants only found the back of the net 38 times in 38 matches in the Premier League in the season just gone and that came after they struck 76 times in the division in the previous campaign.

90min's report claims that the club are closing in on the signing of Jackson from the La Liga outfit for a fee in the region of £30m to bolster their forward line, but the Senegal international could be joined by Osimhen.

It is stated that Napoli are looking for a fee well in excess of £100m and are aware that the Italian side's valuation of the prolific marksman could prevent them from being able to complete a deal.

They also mention that Tottenham Hotspur and England striker Harry Kane was explored as a potential option for Mauricio Pochettino before they moved for Jackson.

How did Victor Osimhen perform last season?

The £90k-per-week ace enjoyed a phenomenal campaign in front of goal for the Serie A champions and his form in Italy suggests that his arrival at Stamford Bridge would go a long way to solving their problems at the top end of the pitch.

Osimhen, who was hailed as a "goal-scoring machine" by journalist Josh Bunting, averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.21 across 32 appearances in the league for Napoli, which would have placed him third in the Chelsea squad in the Premier League.

The 24-year-old racked up an outstanding 24 goals and four assists in the Italian top flight as he proved himself to be a reliable scorer in a major European league. In fact, the incredible forward ranks in the top 1% of strikers in the Men's Big Five Leagues for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.87) over the last 365 days.

These statistics show that the talented dynamo is one of the best number nines in Europe on current form and would, therefore, be a sensational addition to Pochettino's squad after Kai Havertz ended the 2022/23 campaign as Chelsea's top scorer in the Premier League with seven strikes.

Osimhen has also showcased his ability to make an impact on the European stage. The 6 foot 1 finisher fired in five goals in five starts in the Champions League as Napoli made their way to the semi-final of the competition, which shows that the exciting gem has the quality to be a big player for the club if they are able to return to a continental tournament for 2024/25.

Arsenal could be set to immediately bin one of the club's recent failures, with another big-money move, but this time of Mikel Arteta's choosing.

What's the latest on Samuel Chukwueze to Arsenal?

That's according to CalcioMercato, who claim that the Gunners are battling with many clubs over Villarreal's star winger Samuel Chukwueze.

With AC Milan and Real Madrid also in the race and contact expected to be made soon, it will take an almighty task to tempt this Super Eagles star to the Emirates ahead of such European royalty. This hefty competition likely aids the €80m (£68m) asking price that continues to be referenced by the Spanish club.

Such an astronomical fee will likely have fans of the north London outfit worried that this left-footed right-winger might follow down the same path that Nicolas Pepe took, having struggled since his £72m move in 2019.

In fact, it has been revealed that Edu is currently seeking out a buyer for their Ivory Coast flop, as he aims to trim their squad starting with their biggest duds. Another potential transfer howler is a situation the club simply must avoid.

Is Samuel Chukwueze better than Nicolas Pepe?

Pepe's drop-off since moving to the Emirates was nothing short of astronomical, and was made all the more apparent when Unai Emery later admitted it was a deal he did not sanction.

Given he would go on to play just 121 times, scoring 27 goals, it is clear to see that this once impressive wide man was a fish out of water in England. Especially considering how in his final year before moving from Lille he would notch 23 goals and assist a further 12 in all competitions, nearly equalling that aforementioned tally across four whole years in north London.

Having since been temporarily sent back to Ligue 1 last term, just six league goals are suggestive that their ridiculous investment continues to fall flat.

Meanwhile, in a division ranked as the second-best in Europe just behind the Premier League, as opposed to the fifth-place standing of France, Chukwueze has slowly been growing into a stunning footballer who seems ready to take that next step.

This year has comfortably marked his pinnacle thus far, with the 24-year-old having scored 13 and assisted 11 from that right flank.

Having also dressed that up with an immense level of finesse and flair, it even led his boss Quique Setien to claim:

"For a few weeks, he’s been giving us a lot, he’s a permanent threat. Not just in goals, but in passes, chances, he’s an extraordinary player, who is giving us a lot". This culminated in his status as a "crazy dribbler" too.

With Pepe seemingly already with one foot out the exit door, to spend big once again on another in his exact role would surely mean the end of an Arsenal career that promised much but delivered next to nothing.

Leeds United and their proposed takeover by 49ers Enterprises could happen 'quickly' at Elland Road, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest news involving Leeds United?

According to The Telegraph, Leeds United could be taken over formally by 49ers Enterprises by the end of this week, which would spell the end of Andrea Radrizzani's six-year spell at Elland Road.

49ers Enterprises currently own 44% of the Yorkshire outfit and are said to value Leeds United at around £170 million, coming as a consequence of the Whites being relegated from the Premier League.

Leeds United are in the hunt for a new manager to lead them into the Sky Bet Championship next season following Sam Allardyce's departure by mutual agreement last week.

Furthermore, there is a need for a new Director of Football at the club following Victor Orta's sacking earlier in the season, as per The Daily Mail.

There is also the concern that several players are likely to leave Leeds United this summer such as Jack Harrison, Brenden Aaronson and Rodrigo Moreno, which will give 49ers Enterprises a heavy agenda to press on with before the beginning of next term.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs thinks that Leeds United changing hands at ownership level is likely to happen in the near future.

Jacobs told FFC: "For months, they've been talking about scenarios for both staying up and going down. It's now just a case of what the number is to acquire the football club based upon the relegation to the Championship. That won't be a new discussion, they will have discussed both scenarios, both options, both numbers, which is why the expectation is that 49ers Enterprises will still be able to move very quickly."

Who could Leeds United appoint as their new manager?

To steer any successful ship in football requires a good manager and bringing in a coach that can fire up Leeds United's squad of players ahead of their return to the Sky Bet Championship will be a main priority for 49ers Enterprises once they take the club over.

Former Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers has been linked to the vacancy at Elland Road; however, The Sun report that the 50-year-old could be set to take some time away from the game before resuming his managerial career.

The Guardian report that West Bromwich Albion coach Carlos Corberan, ex-Fulham boss Scott Parker and Steven Gerrard are also under consideration for the post.

Journalist Alan Nixon has also claimed that Celta Vigo boss Carlos Carvahal is in the running for the job, signifying that Leeds United are doing their due diligence on multiple candidates as they look to find the right man to take them forward.

Chelsea's negotiations for Sporting Lisbon’s Manuel Ugarte are moving rapidly.

What’s the latest on Manuel Ugarte to Chelsea?

According to Dean Jones, who was speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the Blues are keen to get the deal completed for the 22-year-old as soon as possible, with talks having motored on in recent days.

Reputable journalist Dean Jones said: “It's certainly accelerated faster than I anticipated, to be honest. We'll now have to see how quickly it can continue to move forward and what the momentum is.

"We know Chelsea are interested, but the rate at which this has been moving forward makes me think that they're keen to get it done very quickly."

The Guardian has reported that the Uruguayan has a release clause of £52m and Chelsea have allegedly agreed personal terms with the player, who has a desire to compete in English football.

How could Manuel Ugarte benefit Chelsea?

The eight-cap international has been in magnificent form for Sporting CP this season, as he has averaged the most tackles (3.9) and interceptions (1.8) per game, to ruthlessly underline his status as a formidable defensive-minded midfielder.

As well as his tenacity, the pivot also possesses a brilliant athletic ability to glide around the pitch, showcased by his 1.8 dribbles per game.

Despite his spritely age, the South American has emerged as an impeccably well-rounded orchestrator, who is excellent at protecting the backline.

The beauty of possessing a selfless destroyer like this is that his qualities unlock the potential of more attack-minded players.

From a Chelsea perspective, this could be crucial to unleashing the maximum influence of Ben Chilwell and Reece James, who when fit and firing, are arguably the club’s most dangerous assets, providing 65 assists between them throughout their club careers.

Unfortunately for Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, and Frank Lampard, none of them have been afforded the luxury of being able to consistently start these two full-backs in the team together.

Both their seasons have been ravaged by injury, as the pair have started just 29 (15 and 14) Premier League games together. This problem has been one of the primary reasons why Chelsea have only netted 38 domestic goals.

Tuchel has previously lauded the irrepressible quality of his full-backs and their contribution to the attack.

He said: “We can have a bit of freedom with our offensive movements. The wing-backs can adapt to half positions to support our attackers. It's a matter of repetition and understanding. At the moment, they do very well no matter who plays.”

For the incoming Mauricio Pochettino, recapturing the best form of these defenders will be crucial if he is to succeed in west London and the signing of Ugarte, who has been hailed as a "monster" by writer Dave Hendrick, could be the perfect defensive step in doing this.