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Leeds United have been the ‘most active’ club in the race to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Arnaud Kalimuendo, according to L’Equipe (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown: In demand

The Whites have been credited with admiration of Kalimuendo throughout the duration of the summer transfer window as Victor Orta attempts to add a new striker to Jesse Marsch’s options.

However, the move for the 20-year-old France international is yet to gather pace after an impressive pre-season for the French giants increased the likelihood of a stay in Paris, while plenty of other clubs have shown interest too, most prominently Newcastle United.

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Now, as Leeds turn attention to alternative targets such as Mergim Berisha, it appears as though an exit could once again be on the cards once again for Kalimuendo and the Elland Road outfit are very much still among the leading protagonists…

The latest: ‘Most active’

As per L’Equipe, translated by SW, Leeds have been the ‘most active club for several weeks’ when it comes to making a transfer for the 12-cap Under 21 starlet happen.

In fact, it’s claimed that the Yorkshire outfit has ‘made an offer’ in excess of €20million (£16.7million) for Kalimuendo this summer, an amount deemed ‘significant’ by the French capital club, who are actually willing to part ways with their academy graduate.

The report suggests that Ligue 1 rivals Rennes and OGC Nice are also keen and a switch to Leeds isn’t considered a priority for the talented youngster, who was labelled an ‘incredible talent’ by European football expert Antonio Mango.

The verdict: Keep pushing

Signing a player of Kalimuendo’s potential would be a huge statement of intent from Orta and Andrea Radrizanni at Leeds, particularly having narrowly avoided relegation last season.

During 2021/22, the versatile attacker enjoyed a productive loan spell at RC Lens which yielded 13 goals in 34 French top flight outings whilst continuing to outperform his xG, having also done so in 2020/21.

Predominantly operating as a centre-forward, Kalimuendo would act as a much-needed natural understudy to Patrick Bamford alongside Rodrigo, Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood, while an ability to play as a left-winger too should provide additional depth.

Holding a market value of £16.2million and under contract in Paris until 2024 (Transfermarkt), should the mercurially talented forward decide not to compete against the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi for a starting berth then Leeds should be attentive to the deal and be prepared to up their current offer.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has confirmed his team news before the Premier League opener against Southampton as Oliver Skipp will ‘definitely’ miss out. 

The lowdown: Injury-plagued

Unfortunately, Skipp sat out much of the 2021/22 campaign due to a groin injury which saw the academy graduate miss 20 matches all told.

The 22-year-old England youth international had previously established himself as a mainstay in the senior squad, amassing 51 outings for Spurs following a successful season-long loan spell at Norwich City.

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Now, as the Lilywhites kick off their 2022/23 season by welcoming Southampton to N17, Skipp is certain to miss the curtain raiser in north London due to a freak heel injury…

The latest: ‘Definitely’

Speaking to the assembled media ahead of the match (via football.london), Conte told the press that the 14-cap England Under 21 starlet will be absent for the opener whilst there are doubts elsewhere in the squad.

He said: “At the moment we only have one player who will definitely miss Southampton and that is Skipp. Bissouma, another day [before the game] still, nothing serious, but I don’t want to take a risk with anyone for the next games.”

The verdict: Shame

Having endured a difficult campaign last year, Skipp – who was dubbed the ‘perfect’ player by former Norwich City manager Daniel Farke – would’ve been among those most relishing the opportunity for a clean slate this time around.

Instead, it’s going to be another brief wait for the £16.2million valued uncompromising Englishman as the medical staff attempt to get the entire squad in full working order ahead of what is going to be a chaotic season, punctuated by a World Cup and the return of UEFA Champions League football to north London.

Before then, in the confirmed absence of Skipp, and indeed potentially Bissouma, Conte is likely to turn to Rodrigo Bentancur, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and perhaps even Harry Winks to front up the engine room of the Tottenham starting XI.

Ex-BBC pundit Noel Whelan has urged West Ham United to sanction big money spending after hearing David Moyes’ latest transfer comments.

The Lowdown: Moyes’ comments

On the opening weekend of the new Premier League season, the Hammers lined up against last year’s champions Manchester City at the London Stadium.

Proving too much for the Irons’ defence, new Citizens arrival Erling Haaland scored twice as City somewhat coasted to a 2-0 victory.

After a poor all-round performance, for which the West Ham XI averaged a meagre 6.49 SofaScore rating, manager Moyes took to his post-match interview, where he claimed: “We need to freshen up a little bit, we’re a bit stale.”

The Latest: Whelan’s claim

Despite having made five signings this summer, Whelan, who worked for BBC Radio Leeds before taking on a role at Elland Road, reacted after hearing the comments from Moyes.

Speaking with Football Insider, he said:

“They’re looking for the next progression.

“To achieve that, they will have to spend money, unfortunately. The board have got to allow that to happen.

“If they want to close the gap to those Champions League spots, which they’ve come so close to doing – they need to keep adding to the squad and spending money.

“That’s what David Moyes wants, and that’s what will take them to the next level. It may also be the thing that keeps big players at the club.

“They want to see that progression and know that they will be challenging at the right end of the table.

“They’ve got to be ambitious and challenge Man United, Arsenal, and Spurs – but to do that, you’ve got to spend that extra money.”

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The Verdict: More outgoings than incomings

In spite of the new arrivals at Rush Green, the east London club have also seen the same number of players leave the club this summer.

Whilst the quality of their replacements may have improved, this still means West Ham are short of depth in the squad.

According to Hammers news page West Ham Social, the Irons are now down to just 17 fit first-team players.

As demonstrated last season, Moyes’ squad seriously suffered with fatigue, with the side faltering towards the end of the Premier League season.

Therefore, if GSB do not put their hand in their pocket and bring in multiple new additions before September’s deadline, this could be a missed opportunity for the club to progress.

Manchester United could be set to bolster their midfield options if reports are to be believed…

What’s the word?

That’s according to transfer insider Dean Jones, who states that Juventus’ Adrien Rabiot is available in the summer market.

He said to GIVEMESPORT: “I mean, it’s just a realistic option. Rabiot has been touted around the Premier League for the whole of the summer.

“So, United would know that he is available. He’s been touted around the rest of Europe too, and I know Monaco had a look at signing Rabiot but didn’t progress yet. But Rabiot is there, and he is available.”

The Athletic have previously claimed that United may well be getting closer to signing the Frenchman.

Time to move on from de Jong

A summer courtship that has unsurprisingly ended in tears, at last the Frenkie de Jong transfer saga seems to be drawing to a close for United.

Having spent most of their time trying to sign the Dutchman, it appears that they are now scrambling to find anyone who can upgrade a midfield that has been crying out for improvements for years now.

Although all the stats suggest he was the perfect man for Erik ten Hag, perhaps in Rabiot, a man dubbed “exceptional” by Zinedine Zidane, they could find a cheaper alternative who can do the job until they can find that world-class talent they clearly are seeking.

The Frenchman featured 45 times across all competitions last season for Juventus, outlining him as a constant presence throughout their domestic and European campaigns.

Despite standing at 6 foot 2, he remains silky with his feet, outlined in his 4.75 progressive carries per 90. Although de Jong boasts a much higher 7.08, both mark a huge improvement on Fred’s 3.01. This would be integral for ten Hag, as he is clearly desperate for a press-resistant midfielder to break the lines.

Not only this, but the 27-year-old also offers a defensive element, making him a well-balanced option in the Red Devils’ decidedly unbalanced midfield.

The £175k-per-week earner offers 3.00 tackles, 2.11 blocks and 22.87 pressures per 90, further supporting the idea that he can offer at both ends of the pitch for ten Hag, and could be a “wonderful” – in the words of Daniel Storey –  buy for them.

It is time for United to cut their losses on de Jong, and start focusing on the tangible rather than the fantasy. As Jones alludes to, this move is one with a tad more sense of realism.

Journalist Ryan Taylor of The Daily Express says a West Ham United bid is ‘also in’ for Spezia starlet and Poland international Jakub Kiwior.

The Lowdown: Hammers making moves…

The east Londoners are reportedly busy behind-the-scenes as manager David Moyes seeks to bolster his reinforcements ahead of what will be a busy 2022/2023 Premier League campaign.

West Ham have already sealed the signings of Nayef Aguerd, Flynn Downes, Alphonse Areola, Gianluca Scamacca, Maxwel Cornet and most recently Thilo Kehrer from Paris-Saint Germain.

Players remain of interest to the Irons board, like Blackburn Rovers star Ben Brereton Diaz, and so are up-and-coming youngsters.

The Latest: Kiwior bid ‘also in’…

Journalist Taylor, sharing some West Ham transfer news, have made a claim involving Kiwior.

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He states, writing for The Daily Express, that bids for both the 22-year-old and Chelsea defender Emerson Palmieri are ‘also in’ as Moyes and head of recruitment Rob Newman scour the market.

With just two weeks of the window remaining, it is added that West Ham want to make a few more signings before September 1, and this contradicts claims that their move for Kiwior is planned for 2023.

The Verdict: Make the move?

Kiwior, having already been capped by Poland, comes as an exciting young defender with real potential for his age.

As per WhoScored, the starlet averaged more tackles per 90 than any Spezia player in Serie A over the 2021/2022 season and even finished the league campaign as their fourth-best performing player by average match rating, impressive feats for a young talent in such a gruelling league.

It’s clear why Kiwior has grabbed the attention of West Ham chiefs after a solid season in Italy and it will be interesting to see whether the east Londoners push hard for a move or indeed wait until next summer as some have suggested.

Celtic are reportedly battling it out with their Old Firm foes to land Queen’s Park starlet Cameron Bruce, although the Premiership champions face competition from clubs south of the border.

What’s the word?

According to The Scottish Sun, the Hoops have seen bids rejected for the promising 16-year-old, with a handful of Premier League sides also said to be keeping a close eye on the left-back.

Also in the hunt for the youngster are Celtic’s crosstown arch-rivals Rangers, who have had a bid of their own knocked back by Queen’s Park.

The report suggests that his current club have ‘no intention’ of parting ways with the exciting talent any time soon, with the Championship outfit having only handed him a two-year professional contract in May.

The Glasgow-born full-back has been with the Spiders since joining the youth setup at under-9 level, eventually going on to make his senior debut off the bench in March.

Taylor heir

Such clamour for his signature is a marker of just what a talent the youngster truly is, with those at Parkhead likely to have a real gem on their hands if they can poach him amid such intense rival interest.

While his first-team involvement has been fleeting to date – with the Scotland under-17 international making just two senior outings in total – he has clearly caught the eye with his displays at academy level.

Bruce was lauded by Queen’s Park director of football Marijn Beuker after penning professional terms in May, with the club chief saying: “Cameron is a modern wing back, who possesses a lot of technical skills and game intelligence that not only make him a graceful player, but above all with which he has the potential to grow into an excellent wing-back.”

The young Scotsman would undoubtedly be a player for the future if he were to join Ange Postecoglou’s ranks this summer, although the hope will be that he could be the long-term successor to compatriot and Celtic’s current first-choice left-back Greg Taylor.

The 24-year-old – who signed from Kilmarnock in 2019 – has established himself as the first-choice in his full-back berth at Parkhead, offering a dynamic and relentless attacking threat down the left flank.

In 88 games for the club so far, the £2.25m-rated ace has chipped in with a respectable tally of 16 assists in all competitions, having notably been lauded for his “unbelievable” form in the early weeks of the new season by team-mate Jota.

Also labelled “very, very consistent” by Matt O’Riley, the Scotland international is beginning to really blossom at Celtic Park at present, with the addition of youngster Alexandro Bernabei having potentially spurred him on even further.

Should Bruce join him at the club in the near future, Taylor could well be the man to help guide the youngster as he eventually emerges into the first team, with the teenager seemingly the perfect heir to the 5 foot 9 sensation.

Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby this summer and the Frenchman could prove to be Mikel Arteta’s own version of Mohamed Salah at the Emirates.

It was reported earlier this month that Stan Kroenke had given Arsenal the green light to sign Diaby in a £60m deal, as Arteta looks to bolster his attacking options.

Nicolas Pepe joined Nice on loan earlier this week, which suggests that Arteta is keen to add a winger to his squad before next week’s deadline, and Diaby could be the ideal man.

Last season saw the Frenchman contribute an impressive 13 goals and 12 assists in the Bundesliga for Leverkusen, averaging a superb 7.20 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

No player in Arsenal’s side would contribute to as many goals in the league or average as high a rating in the Premier League last season, which emphasises the quality that Diaby could add to Arteta’s attack.

Freiburg striker Nils Petersen was in awe of the Leverkusen man last season, saying: “He was incredibly dangerous and difficult to stop and he kept on posing problems.”

With that in mind, it will hardly come as a surprise that according to FB Ref, the most similar player to Diaby in terms of style of play is Liverpool star, Mohamed Salah.

The Egyptian winger has established himself as one of the best players in world football during his time at Anfield, contributing 159 goals and 64 assists in 259 appearances for the Reds, winning the Premier League and Champions League with Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Last season saw Salah and Diaby register extremely similar numbers with regards to a number of important attacking metrics. When it came to non-penalty expected goals per shot they were very alike (0.13 vs 0.15), while completed passes into the penalty box (61 each), and dribble success rate (41.0 vs 41.9) was also very similar.

This emphasises that both wingers excel with the ball at the feet, and are equally comfortable scoring chances as they are at creating them.

This is reinforced by WhoScored, which suggests that both Diaby and Salah excel at finishing, playing key passes and playing through balls, which are all key requirements needed as a winger.

Therefore, considering Diaby is just 23 and is already being compared with Salah, it seems like a no-brainer for Arteta to bring him to the Emirates before the transfer deadline, as if he is even half as good as the Liverpool talisman then he will be well worth the £60m price tag.

Derby County have joined the race to sign Sheffield United striker William Osula, according to reports in the last 24 hours. 

The Lowdown: Left out of midweek squad

The 19-year-old was omitted from Paul Heckingbottom’s matchday squad for the Blades’ 4-0 victory over Reading in midweek having been in the 18-man squad for their previous clash against Luton, which could suggest that a deadline day exit might be on the cards.

Several other League One clubs – including Rotherham United, Lincoln City, Burton Albion and Ipswich Town – have been credited with an interest, but it now appears that the Rams are attempting a late hijack in the final hours of the transfer window.

The Latest: Derby eye late Osula move

According to reliable journalist Alan Nixon (via Football League World) on Wednesday night, Derby are now ‘in the running’ to sign Osula, with Liam Rosenior ‘wanting two strikers’ before the transfer window slams shut at 11pm tonight.

It’s stated that the Rams manager would like a ‘more experienced figure’ to complement James Collins and David McGoldrick, but they are willing to ‘utilise the loan market’ to get a deal for the Blades starlet over the line.

The Verdict: Not enough experience

Osula is yet to feature for Sheffield United’s first team this season, and whilst he might have plenty of potential judging by the widespread interest in him, this isn’t a deal that Derby should consider pursuing any further.

The Dane has only scored one goal throughout his career at senior and youth level, and it’s likely that he wouldn’t get as much game-time as he’d like with Rosenior seemingly chasing a senior forward to come in.

For someone who would likely be nothing more than a bench-warmer, there’s no point in the Rams cashing out, so they should instead focus their attention on an attacker who will be able to make a genuine impact on the starting XI every week.

Newcastle United’s club-record arrival Alexander Isak is still waiting to receive his work permit ahead of Wednesday night’s Premier League clash against Liverpool, according to Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope.

The Lowdown: Recent results

The Magpies emerged from the weekend with an extra point after Allan Saint-Maximin saved the side from defeat with a 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers, scoring a sensational strike in the 90th minute.

The Tyneside outfit now sit seventh place in the Premier League table, having gained six points from their opening four games.

The Toon make the trip to Anfield on Wednesday night following Liverpool’s emphatic 9-0 demolition of Bournemouth at the weekend.

The Latest: Isak’s work permit

Having arrived at St James’ Park on Friday, fans were hoping to see new signing Isak in action in their upcoming clash against the Reds.

However, Hope has shared an update ahead of the Liverpool game, possibly dealing a blow for Eddie Howe and his team selection.

Taking to Twitter, the reliable journalist claimed:

“Alexander Isak has not yet received his work permit & Newcastle can wait until 75mins before kick-off at Liverpool tomorrow for it to arrive. Eddie Howe said: ‘I desperately hope (it comes through). There is no guarantee as I sit here now. It could go down to the wire.’”

The Verdict: Wilson also missing…

If the 22-year-old is unable to play Wednesday night, this will come as a big blow to Howe, as he is already without number nine Callum Wilson.

The former Bournemouth frontman limped off the pitch against Manchester City in the 70th minute with a hamstring injury.

Having already missed the Magpies’ EFL Cup clash against Tranmere Rovers and Sunday’s Premier League visit to the Molineux, Wilson is still expected to miss a couple of weeks whilst he recovers.

Therefore, with Howe expecting Isak to take his place in the starting line-up, the wait for his work permit will be a tentative one for the Newcastle boss.

Newcastle United could revive their attempted move for Leicester City’s James Maddison during the January transfer window, according to The I’s Mark Douglas.

The lowdown

Newcastle made two offers for Maddison during the summer window, the second of which was worth £50million (via Sky Sports News).

Leicester rejected it, though, with Ben Jacobs of CBS Sports reporting that they wanted at least £55million to begin serious negotiations.

The Englishman, who’s now into the final two years of his deal with the Foxes, was reportedly interested in making the move to St James’ Park.

The latest

Douglas wrote on Twitter that there is ‘money available in January’ for Newcastle to spend, and it may be directed towards Maddison.

Indeed, he explains in the attached story that the club ‘may return to some of the targets they missed out on this summer’ with the Foxes star name-checked in the piece.

The verdict

One potential factor in this mooted transfer is Leicester’s dreadful form.

They have started the season with one draw and four defeats from their first five matches, leaving them bottom of the pile, while Newcastle are sat comfortably up the table.

If Maddison senses that the two clubs are very much on opposite trajectories, then perhaps he’ll push hard to secure a move.

Newcastle would surely regard the 25-year-old, who’s similar in profile to the likes of Mason Mount, Marco Reus and Angel Di Maria, as a major coup.

England manager Gareth Southgate once raved about his ‘outstanding technical ability’ and ‘world-class’ set-piece deliveries, while Brendan Rodgers says he boasts ‘immense quality’.

In 137 Premier League appearances, Maddison has been directly involved in 61 goals, scoring 35 and assisting 26 more.