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Liverpool defender Joe Gomez could be set to depart Anfield this summer after struggling for game time since returning from a serious knee injury.

What’s the story?

Speaking to Football Insider, former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan suggested that a move out of Merseyside for the centre-back is “on the cards” with Aston Villa long term admirers of the 24-year-old.

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It was reported by the Mirror earlier this week that Villa boss Steven Gerrard is keen to bring the Englishman to the West Midlands in order to get his career back on track having failed to bring Gomez to Villa Park in January.

The defender has been limited to just 20 appearances across all competitions this term and now finds the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate ahead of him in the pecking order.

Liverpool must part ways with Gomez

Although Gomez has been an excellent servant for Liverpool, it seems incredibly unlikely that the 24-year-old will manage to climb up the pecking order and become a regular under Jurgen Klopp once again.

Prior to rupturing his patella tendon on international duty in November 2020, Gomez had been a regular in the Reds’ Premier League title-winning campaign in 2019/20, making 28 league appearances as well as another 15 across other competitions.

However, since returning to the fold, the Englishman has found himself further down the food chain and it appears as though his days at Anfield are now numbered.

The £85k-per-week defender has struggled to impress when handed a rare opportunity in the top-flight this season, losing possession on average once every 4.5 minutes, although game time has been limited.

However, based on his performances prior to his injury, Gomez would be an excellent addition for Villa with Gerrard reportedly keen to upgrade on his current first-choice centre-back pairing of Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa.

In the 2019/20 season, the defender won over half of his duels at 56% whilst also averaging an 88% passing accuracy and providing 1.4 interceptions, 0.8 tackles and 2.1 clearances.

To put that into perspective, Konsa, whose average match rating of 6.73/10 this season has been slightly lower than Mings’ 6.91, has provided a slightly better duel success rate of 64% but has a lower passing accuracy at 86% whilst averaging 0.5 interceptions, 0.9 tackles and 2.9 tackles.

Of course, it also has to be considered that playing in a title winning-team, Gomez’s Liverpool would’ve seen much more of the ball over the course of the season than Villa have this term and therefore the defender wouldn’t have been called upon as regularly to intervene.

Can’t get enough Liverpool football content? Watch Liverpool FC live streams and other videos at StreamFootball.tv.

There is proof that the defender would slot in nicely at Aston Villa if that was to be his next club and Liverpool should allow the 24-year-old to move on with game time set to be limited at Anfield. It’s ruthless given his injuries but he surely has no place in Klopp’s plans for the future.

AND in other news: 107 touches: Liverpool metronome who won 11 duels was Klopp’s unsung hero today

Celtic brought an end to their title-winning 2021/22 Premiership season with a comfortable 6-0 win over Motherwell in front of their celebrating home supporters.

This cemented the Parkhead club’s status as Scotland’s top dogs once again and left Ange Postecoglou’s side with the best attacking record in the top flight.

With 38 games played, the Hoops scored 92 goals in total, 12 more than their Glasgow arch-rivals in second place and 14 more than they managed last season.

One man who has played a significant part in Celtic’s impressive attacking force this season is midfielder David Turnbull.

Turnbull time’s at Celtic so far

Having appeared in 25 league games, the 22-year-old scored six goals and provided five assists along the way.

The fact that he missed a significant chunk of the season with a hamstring injury suggests that he could have racked up even more goal contributions had he been fit enough to play for the entire campaign.

To further highlight his attacking prowess, he ended the season with a higher average for shots (3.2) and key passes (3.6) per game than any other player currently in the Celtic squad. Among Postecoglou’s squad, he also has the second-highest number of crosses (147) to his name in the Premiership this season behind Jota (229).

In a recent report from Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, the Hoops reportedly want to tie down the midfield maestro to a new deal at some point during the new season, even though his current contract isn’t set to expire until 2024.

Celtic must secure new Turnbull deal

Taking into account what he’s done for Celtic on the pitch in this campaign, it’s easy to see why.

Signed from Motherwell in 2020 for a fee of £3m, Turnbull has been hailed by Postecoglou as a player who “has all the ingredients” to succeed at Parkhead, highlighting just how much the 56-year-old admires the midfield star. Also, when discounting those who left in August, the Scotland international is the highest-rated Celtic player for the current campaign according to WhoScored.

With all that in mind and still fairly young at 22, tying him down to a long-term contract at Celtic Park would be a very wise investment by the club.

Looking ahead to next season, if the midfielder can stay fit and firing, he should certainly give his team a great chance of winning more silverware across their domestic and European competitions.

In other news – Worth £473k in 2020, now valued at £3.6m: Ange played a blinder on “crucial” Celtic star

According to The Times, there has been another Manchester City transfer update involving Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips as the Sky Blues press for Fernandinho’s heir.

The Lowdown: Champions again

Pep Guardiola’s men performed what many City supporters thought was impossible on Sunday, a near-carbon copy of Sergio Aguero’s 93:20 title-winning drama 10 years on.

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The Premier League champions emerged from the depths of despair to total euphoria, coming back from 2-0 down at home to Aston Villa on the final day with three goals in five minutes. An inspired Ilkay Gundogan grabbed the first and last goal of the stunning comeback as colossal defensive midfielder Rodri also got in on the act with a composed long-range equaliser for 2-2.

Following the Sky Blues’ title parade through Manchester’s grateful streets, attention now turns to the summer transfer market, with City making a good start and already sealing a deal for Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland.

However, as club legend and faithful servant Fernandinho departs after a near-decade long spell, sporting director Txiki Begiristain and Guardiola have allegedly set their sights on a replacement.

The Daily Mail’s Jack Gaughan claimed that City are ‘ready to pursue a deal’ for Leeds star Phillips, as another credible source in The Times now share their own update.

The Latest: Ballus makes Phillips claim…

Indeed, their journalist Pol Ballus has said that the Whites midfielder is indeed top of Guardiola’s list when it comes to Fernandinho’s replacement. The English champions are also ‘considering making a bid’ for Phillips and ‘will press ahead’ with their effort to sign an heir to City’s long-serving South American.

However, Leeds avoiding relegation could make matters complicated, as they’re now in a stronger position to keep hold of their pivotal midfield anchor.

Also, City aren’t alone in their interest, with arch-rivals Manchester United, West Ham, Arsenal and Aston Villa all in the picture.

The Verdict: Standout candidate?

According to The Mirror, Phillips would cost Begiristain and City Football Group around £50m – a third of what fellow target Declan Rice would reportedly cost from West Ham (£150m). Another target in Monaco starlet Aurélien Tchouaméni is apparently rated at around £60m, so economically Phillips certainly seems like the best option.

In terms of quality, we believe that the 26-year-old’s reputation speaks for itself, with no shortage of plaudits for him in recent times.

Leeds defender Liam Cooper even called Phillips ‘one of the best midfielders in the world’ last year, whilst former Scotland manager Alex McLeish has raved over the ‘special player’ and top-flight ‘sensation’ (Football Insider).

If Guardiola wishes to add a world-class rotational partner for Rodri at a fairly reasonable cost, Leeds’ big name may well be the answer.

In other news: ‘Most attractive’ – Man City now the ‘dream’ destination for ‘complete’ and ‘dominant’ player, find out more here.

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United and their pursuit of Hugo Ekitike heading into the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot has confirmed that the striker will be available for a fee in the region of €20m (£17m) ahead of the 2022/23 campaign. The Ligue 1 club’s chief has also revealed that the Magpies are still in talks with them after failing to secure a deal for the 19-year-old in the January transfer window.

He told L’Union Ardennes, via Sport Witness: “They’re (Newcastle) an ambitious club, who want to build on the long-term and who manifested their interest this winter. Since then, contacts never stopped. It’s typically the type of environment where he could continue to grow and go to the next level.

“It will need to be over €20m. Beyond that, there is a need to be reasonable.”

Instant Dan Ashworth masterclass

Newcastle confirmed the appointment of Dan Ashworth as their new sporting director earlier this week, and he can land an instant masterclass by closing a deal to sign Ekitike.

The French centre-forward has been tipped to be “the next Mbappe”, according to journalist Graeme Bailey, and he could be an excellent addition to bolster Eddie Howe’s options at the top of the pitch next season.

In the 2021/22 Ligue 1 campaign, the 19-year-old provided 10 goals and three assists in 15 starts for Reims, just under one goal contribution for every start. He found the back of the net 10 times from an expected goals rate of 8.2, which highlights his impressive finishing ability.

The youngster has shown that he can handle the pressure of playing in a major European league and he is only at the start of his career. Ekitike still has plenty of years ahead of him to develop even further and the comparisons to Mbappe – along with his statistics – illustrate his vast potential.

Given that Newcastle paid £25m to sign Chris Wood in January, £17m or so would be an excellent price for the Magpies to pay for the teenage French striker.

Wood scored five Premier League goals in 34 appearances for Burnley and the Toon combined this season, compared to Ekitike’s 10 in Ligue 1, which this suggests that Ashworth would be pulling off a coup by bringing in the Reims starlet.

Therefore, the Magpies’ new sporting director can land an instant masterclass by making the 19-year-old his first signing at the helm. He must now negotiate a deal with Reims and ensure that a move is wrapped up in time for pre-season.

AND in other news, PIF plotting NUFC bid for “tremendous” £30m “champion of the world”, he’s Ben Arfa 2.0…

Newcastle United have been quoted an asking price of over £40m for Brentford striker Ivan Toney, claims Daily Telegraph journalist Luke Edwards.

The Lowdown: Newcastle’s striker hunt

Following the addition of Burnley’s Chris Wood, the Magpies sought to bring in another fresh face to their front line in January.

However, deals for Reims’ Hugo Ekitike and Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah fell through at the last moment.

As a result, Eddie Howe’s side have been linked with numerous strikers since the end of the Premier League season.

The Latest: Edwards’ news

Daily Telegraph journalist Luke Edwards took to Twitter to share the latest update on Newcastle’s striker search.

Adding further information about well-known target Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Edwards revealed another player that the Magpies have made contact with for a valuation.

“I was told #nufc quoted asking prices of £40m+ for both Toney and Calvert-Lewin in the last few days.”

The Verdict: Great signing

When compared with positional peers across Europe over the past year, Toney ranks in the 88th percentile for aerials won, whilst Calvert-Lewin leads in the 95th percentile (via FB Ref).

Whilst the Everton man takes the win in the aerial department, Toney tops various other stats including clearances, interceptions and progressive passes (via FB Ref).

Therefore, it can be argued that with the Brentford striker, you are getting a more well-rounded player for the money, who can contribute both defensively and as a playmaker.

Hailed by Brentford boss Thomas Frank as a “special player”, it is no wonder the London club are demanding so much for their star man, who is said to have the “mindset of a lion”.

In other news: Newcastle United: Magpies target Hugo Ekitike ‘told’ he can leave Reims

Aston Villa look like they are about to announce their fourth summer signing as Steven Gerrard continues his early transfer business.

What’s the word?

That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, who tweeted: “Robin Olsen will join Aston Villa on a permanent deal, agreement done and set to be announced.”

Roma will receive €3.5m (£3m) for the goalkeeper and Villa look set to confirm yet another transfer, which will be their fourth in what has already been a very productive off-season for Gerrard and the club’s hierarchy.

Villa fans will be buzzing

The signing of Olsen on a permanent deal would follow already-completed moves for Philippe Coutinho, Boubacar Kamara and Diego Carlos.

Gerrard has built a solid spine to his new-look team, and he will be hoping that Olsen can challenge Emiliano Martinez for the number one spot next season.

The Swede joined Villa on loan from Serie A outfit AS Roma in January until the end of 2021/22 to provide cover for the Argentine, although he didn’t make his debut until the final match of the Premier League season, a 3-2 defeat to Manchester City which was marred by crowd trouble at the end.

While he may have conceded three goals on the day, the 32-year-old still pulled off two saves during a pulsating encounter at the Etihad Stadium, while he also boasts the vast experience of 58 caps for Sweden, being their first-choice ‘keeper at Euro 2020 and the 2018 World Cup.

Olsen played on loan at Everton in the 2020/21 season, where he kept three clean sheets in 11 appearances, and he appears a more than capable deputy for Martinez.

There is no doubt that Villa struggled defensively over the last few months, conceding 54 goals in the Premier League. This is something that Gerrard will be aiming to improve next season, and the signing of Carlos should bolster the heart of that shaky backline.

Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa underperformed in 2021/22, with WhoScored ratings of 6.74 and 6.43 putting them 10th and 17th respectively among the Villa squad, so Gerrard could certainly do with making his team harder to break down.

Supporters would surely be buzzing with yet another signing in Olsen and this could give them a taste of what is still to come over the next couple of months as the manager continues to rejuvenate the squad.

AND in other news, Gerrard must axe “frustrating” Aston Villa liability in deal for “unreal” £10m dynamo

Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino is now ‘closing in’ on an Anfield exit and it could be done ‘quickly’, according to reliable journalist David Lynch.

The Lowdown: Bit-part player

The 27-year-old first made the switch to the Premier League when he joined the Merseyside outfit from Red Bull Salzburg back in 2019, where he’s since gone on to make 55 first-team appearances for the club to date.

Having only played 11 times in the top-flight this season however, there is plenty of speculation that the Japanese gem could be looking for a move elsewhere during the upcoming window, and following a fresh update, it appears as though that is exactly what he’s doing.

The Latest: Lynch drops Minamino update

In a new post on his personal Twitter account, Lynch revealed that Minamino’s agent has travelled to Europe to find out more information about the interest that multiple clubs have registered in his client. He wrote:

“Takumi Minamino closing in on an LFC departure with his agent having flown to Europe to field interest from Leeds, Southampton, Wolves, Fulham and Monaco. Situation likely to be resolved quickly – Liverpool hoping to secure £17m.”

The Verdict: Ward not messing around

After making just one start in the Premier League for the Reds this campaign, it comes as no surprise to see the 40-cap international seriously considering his next steps.

Even though he’s been pretty low down in the manager’s pecking order, the former Salzburg maestro was once hailed an “unbelievable” player by teammate Joe Gomez. He has also shown how prolific he can be in the final third when given a proper run in the starting XI, having racked up four goals and one assist in just five EFL Cup games, as per Transfermarkt, and he deserves to be a regular starter somewhere.

And new sporting director Julian Ward will need to get to work on sales as the Reds close in on the expensive capture of Darwin Nunez. Ward is expected to cash in on Neco Williams for around £15m, Sadio Mane for £42.5m and now Minamino for £17m, which would go a considerable distance to covering most or even all of the Nunez fee.

Assuming the Reds can bank an eight-figure fee for his services, this feels like a win-win for both player and club, and the first step in Ward proving he can bank huge money from sales just like his predecessor Michael Edwards.

In other news… the Reds are now ‘close’ to reaching an agreement to sign a new attacking addition to their squad.

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Christian Pulisic this summer and now a new update has emerged on the potential signing for the Kopites.

What’s the latest?

talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook has confirmed that Liverpool have a genuine interest in signing Chelsea forward Pulisic ahead of next season but also details this could change with the completion of the signing of Darwin Nunez.

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Crook told GIVEMESPORT:

“I think Liverpool’s interest is genuine, or it was before the Darwin Nunez deal really accelerated. So, whether they need another attacking player now, probably, I would say no.”

Imagine him & Nunez

Although Crook takes the view that Liverpool may not make the move for Pulisic should they complete the signing of Nunez, if they did act upon their interest it could bring another fresh perspective and form a new well-oiled attacking partnership at the club between the two players in the forward line.

It is no surprise that the Reds are linked with a move for Pulisic, as Jurgen Klopp is a huge admirer of the former Borussia Dortmund star, reserving high praise for him in an interview following his brace against Liverpool in 2018 (via FourFourTwo): “He’s a fantastic skilled boy, and it’s not a surprise to see.

“He’s a smart player, and unfortunately the USA needs more of these players.”

The £42m gem who was dubbed “wonderful” and a “leader” by Jurgen Klinsmann has struggled to get consistent game time during his time at Chelsea but has shown glimpses of his talent in front of goal when given the opportunity to.

Pulisic scored six goals, delivered two assists and created one big chance, while taking 1.3 shots on goal and winning 3.5 duels on average per game over 22 Premier League appearances.

Klopp will need to prepare for the inevitable blow of Sadio Mane’s departure alongside the contract expiration of Divock Origi, and Taki Minamino is expected to be sold too summer.

With that being said, by only making the signing of Nunez it could leave Liverpool with a weakened squad in terms of goal scoring players, however, if they did make the signing of Pulisic it could be a great opportunity for Klopp to add an experienced attacking mind to bolster his forward line.

AND in other news: “I’m told..”: Romano drops behind-the-scenes Liverpool update that’ll upset supporters 

Manchester United remain interested in signing Feyenoord defender Tyrell Malacia this summer, according to a report from De Telegraaf. 

The lowdown: Rising star

Having come through the ranks at Feyenoord, Malacia has amassed 136 first-team outings for the Dutch Eredivisie side, directly contributing to 14 goals in the process.

Despite his tender years, the 22-year-old has already become a fully-fledged Holland international and recently played 180 minutes in the UEFA Nations League double header against Wales.

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Now, as new United manager Erik ten Hag attempts to reshape the squad at Old Trafford, Malacia is seemingly on the radar…

The latest: ‘Excited’

As per De Telegraaf, Manchester United, Newcastle United and Lyon – who currently ‘lead the race’ – are all keen on signing the five-cap starlet.

It’s claimed that the Red Devils have been ‘following Malacia’s development closely’ and officials from the club are ‘excited’ about the left-back.

The report also states that it would take bids in the region of just €15-20million (£13-17million) to sign the youngster dubbed a ‘pitbull’ by ex-Holland winger Ibrahim Afellay – Rafael van der Vaart also described Malacia as ‘so sharp’ following an impressive display against Fortuna Sittard recently.

The verdict: Bargain

In order to avoid having three senior left-back options, before adding Malacia, United would need to sanction the departure of either Luke Shaw or Alex Telles.

Shaw suffered a loss of form and fitness towards the end of the 2021/22 campaign and Telles has never truly made the role his own in 50 appearances for the club since arriving in Manchester.

Therefore, the interest in the talented Dutchman is certainly intriguing and welcome, particularly on the back of a season which saw the energetic full-back earn a 7.09 Sofascore rating whilst winning 6.0 duels and playing a role in 11 clean sheets – a higher rating, more successful duels and more shut outs than the left-backs in situ.

Still young enough to develop further and with Ten Hag looking to create a fresh environment at Old Trafford, at the bargain mooted asking price a move for Malacia could well be forthcoming.

Leeds United have made an approach over a move for Wolves forward Adama Traore, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Leeds links

Traore, hailed as a ‘game-changer’ for his explosive speed by former Whites striker Noel Whelan, has been linked with a move to Elland Road for some time now.

He was first thought to be on Victor Orta’s Leeds shortlist back in 2020, with rumours circling again recently following his loan spell at Barcelona.

The 26-year-old can play anywhere across the front three, and with Barcelona refusing to exercise their option to make a deal permanent, Leeds have now made their first move with Wolves willing to sell.

The Latest: Source shares update

FI provided an update regarding Leeds and Traore on Monday after being informed by a recruitment source.

They claimed that the Whites hold a strong interest in the Spaniard and have made an approach, with a fee in the region of £18m likely to be enough to seal a deal.

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The Verdict: Why?

The report states that Leeds want a ‘pacey forward capable of carrying the ball forward long distances’ – something which they already have in Dan James.

Yes, the Welshman has struggled in front of goal at Elland Road, but he still managed to contribute to nine goals in 35 Leeds games last season and is well-known for his speed.

Traore contributed to just five goals in 40 games in 2021/22, so there is an argument that the Wolves man wouldn’t exactly improve Leeds and almost certainly wouldn’t replace the goals left by Raphinha, should he seal a move to Arsenal, as has been reported.

In other news: Orta now working on signing 31-goal striker for free; famous Leeds fan may help Elland Road move.