All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Manchester City are set to rival Manchester United in the race to sign West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice this summer.

The Lowdown: Transfer interest in Rice

A recent report from The Guardian has claimed that the 23-year-old has rejected a third contract offer with the east London club and is therefore ‘open’ to a move away in the summer.

However, Irons manager David Moyes has previously put a staggering £150m price tag on his vice-captain, following reports claiming that the Hammers would let him leave for £100m. This comes as Manchester United have frequently been linked with a move for the England international.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-developments-4/” title=”West Ham latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Latest: Man City join the race for Rice

According to a fresh report by the Daily Mail, Manchester City are also ready to launch themselves into the race to sign Rice in the summer.

The Premier League champions have asked the Hammers to keep them informed on the 23-year-old’s future as he evaluates his options, although it is claimed that the Irons’ demands could prove to be problematic for Pep Guardiola’s side.

The Verdict: Huge blow for West Ham

Rice’s refusal to sign a third contract offer will come as a huge blow an anxious sign of things to come for Moyes and everyone at the London Stadium.

With the likes of Manchester City joining the race to secure his signature, the midfielder’s pursuit of silverware could become far more attainable.

Therefore, West Ham must do anything they can to keep hold of their “outstanding” star man – in the words of Gareth Southgate – for as long as possible as they look to cement themselves as part of the top six. If even three contract offers can’t persuade Rice, it looks increasingly as if the Irons could lose their grip on the 23-year-old.

In other news: West Ham are in the race to sign this Championship gem

49ers Enterprises will have a much bigger say at Leeds United next season, should they remain in the Premier League…

What’s the word?

That’s according to the ever-reliable Beren Cross of LeedsLive, who delivered a fresh claim to supporters in a recent online Q&A. In response to a question about recruitment in the summer, he said:

“If they survive, the club will certainly look to avoid making the same mistakes.

“You can imagine 49ers Enterprises having a louder and louder say on the direction things are going. Their investment has not been made with a view to going down.

“They want to see the club thrive and establish itself in the top flight. [Jesse] Marsch will have a different perspective to [Marcelo] Bielsa, which immediately changes the approach to squad size.

“[Victor] Orta will learn lessons from who has been recruited and who has not proved to be good enough buys too, you would hope.”

“[snack-amp-story url=””https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more”” title=””Read the latest Leeds United news and rumours!”]

Exciting times ahead?

There is a long way to go but these are certainly encouraging words from a very trustworthy source.

The Yorkshire giants have been thrown back into the mire and face a stern fight for top-flight survival – heading into the weekend’s fixtures, they sit just two points ahead of Everton, who have a game in hand, and level on points with Burnley.

One of the three teams is likely to go down alongside Norwich City and Watford.

There have been plenty of glimpses that Leeds can do enough to stave off their rivals. A 4-0 thrashing by Manchester City ended a five-game unbeaten run, during which they defeated the Hornets (3-0) and the Canaries (2-1).

Arsenal and then Chelsea present tough encounters but their final three games will be against teams with nothing to play for, so there’s a very good chance that Marsch and co can keep the momentum going heading into the climax of the 2021/22 campaign.

The fact that the 49ers are going to have a bigger voice in the Elland Road hierarchy is exciting, not least because the manager and squad need substantial reinforcements to avoid another situation like this.

The American group clearly have big plans for the Whites but it all depends on their Premier League status heading into next term. They can provide the club more financially than current chairman Andrea Radrizzani, given their success with the NFL team.

Combined with Orta’s recruitment team learning from their mistakes, that should leave everyone around west Yorkshire optimistic about the future ahead.

AND in other news, Graham Smyth drops early team news hint ahead of Arsenal…

Rumoured Liverpool transfer target Aurelien Tchouameni is unlikely to move to Real Madrid until 2023, acting as a potential boost for the Reds in their pursuit of the player.

The Lowdown: Tchouameni interest hotting up

The 22-year-old is one of Europe’s hottest properties at the moment, having caught the eye with a string of excellent performances for Monaco this season.

Tchouameni, who is adept in either a number 6 or number 8 midfield role, has started 31 matches in Ligue 1 in 2021/22, winning 2.3 aerial duels per game in the French top flight.

Liverpool have been strongly linked with signing the youngster, but they aren’t alone in expressing an interest.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-31/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Latest: Liverpool given Tchouameni boost

According to Marca reporter Jose Felix Diaz [via Madrid Zone on Twitter], Real Madrid prefer to wait until next year to sign the Frenchman, telling him as much.

That has been declared unlikely to happen, though, with Monaco ready to sell Tchouameni to the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea or Paris Saint-Germain well before then.

The Verdict: Sign him soon

This is an undoubted boost for Liverpool, with one of Tchouameni’s main suitors seemingly ruling themselves out of contention this summer, so they must move quickly to ensure that they capitalise on Real Madrid’s dithering.

The lure of joining such an exciting group of players at Anfield must surely appeals to the Monaco gem, along with the small matter of playing under an iconic manager in Jurgen Klopp.

It certainly feels as though Liverpool are in pole position to snap up a massive prospect – he has been hailed as the ‘best’ midfielder in Ligue 1 by his former manager Niko Kovac – and he is someone who could hopefully be a monstrous presence in the Reds’ midfield for many years to come.

In other news, James Pearce has dropped some key Liverpool team news before Villa. Read more here.

Wolves midfielder Leander Dendoncker has been linked with a summer exit from Molineux, with Serie A giants Lazio eyeing up a move for him.

The Lowdown: Dendoncker’s contract running down

The 27-year-old has been a typically reliable figure for Wanderers this season, not making the headlines but doing a solid job in the middle of the park.

Dendoncker has made 27 appearances in the Premier League, scoring once and assisting twice, and he has also been hailed as ‘brilliant’ by Max Kilman, who claims his teammate ‘doesn’t feel the pressure’.

The Belgian is out of contract at the end of next season, however, leading to speculation over his future.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/all-the-latest-from-wolves-5/” title=”All the latest from Wolves!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Latest: Midfielder linked with exit

According to Il Tempo [via Sport Witness], Lazio are keen on signing Dendoncker, although Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek is at the top of their list.

The Serie A side have rated the move Wolves man ‘since his times at Anderlecht’ and he could ‘come back into fashion’ this summer, in terms of their interest in him.

[freshpress-poll id=“388780″]

The Verdict: Time to move on?

With Ruben Neves’ Wolves future up in the air, it is vital that the club don’t get rid of too many midfielders this summer, but it could still be the right time to sell Dendoncker.

This is Wanderers’ last chance to receive a healthy fee for his services if he does not extend his terms, with the Belgium international able to leave on a free transfer at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

The money could be used for Bruno Lage to bring in a stronger replacement, as he looks to build a superior squad moving forward, and if Neves goes too that would leave the manager with huge funds to reinvest.

That being said, Dendoncker staying put would certainly be no bad thing and he could yet extend his deal at Molineux.

In other news, a key update regarding one Wolves hero has emerged. Read more here.

Rangers midfielder Aaron Ramsey has declared himself fit for Wednesday’s Europa League final. 

The lowdown

Rangers are due to meet Eintracht Frankfurt at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium as they go in search of their first European trophy since the 1972 Cup Winners’ Cup and only their second of all time.

Then, on Saturday, they take on Hearts in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park.

These could well be the final two games of Ramsey’s Rangers career, with his loan from Juventus due to expire at the end of the season.

The Welshman only started one of the Gers’ knockout matches – the second leg against Braga – and has only featured in the XI for five Scottish Premiership fixtures, missing out on eight matchday squads overall through injury.

But he got 60 minutes under his belt in the 3-1 victory over Hearts on Saturday.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/rangers-news-4/” title=”Rangers news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The latest

Speaking to Sky Sports, Ramsey said he is ready to play in Seville after managing to build up his fitness.

“I’ve managed to get some minutes in recently so I’m good to go,” he claimed.

The verdict

It remains to be seen whether Ramsey starts, but his experience of the biggest occasions could be an asset for Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

He won the FA Cup three times while he was at Arsenal and has also claimed the Coppa Italia during his time at Juventus.

Ramsey, named in the Team of the Tournament at Euro 2016, is a player who boasts real trophy-winning pedigree.

Sporting director Ross Wilson regards the £4.5million-rated ace as a ‘leader, a quality player and a wonderful character’, highlighting his value on the field and in the dressing room.

It’s a big boost to have him fit and available after the troubles he’s had.

In other news, Four Lads Had A Dream lavish praise on this man. 

Aston Villa will conclude their 2021/22 Premier League season with a trip to Manchester City this afternoon, with Pep Guardiola’s side still yet to clinch the title.

Villa boss Steven Gerrard, who had an illustrious career with Liverpool, could do his former side a major favour at the Etihad with the Reds needing to beat Wolves and hope City drop points.

Another former Liverpool player who could do his former employers a favour is Danny Ings, with the Villa striker deserving of a return to the starting lineup after missing out against Burnley on Thursday night.

On the chalkboard

The 29-year-old started from the bench against the Clarets three days ago and could be set for a return to the team today with Gerrard needing to manage his squad.

With two goals in his last four starts, the striker is one of Villa’s in-form players and could prove the difference in Manchester.

There is little doubt that the hosts will keep most of the possession and create more chances which means that whilst trying to stay compact at the back, the West Midlands outfit’s best chance of scoring will come on the counterattack.

Although he isn’t blessed with pace, Ings’ finishing is one of the Englishman’s best traits and Guardiola will certainly be aware of the danger his side could face if caught out on the break.

Described as “positive” by former manager Jurgen Klopp, the £19.8m-rated striker has struggled to make an impact at times in the West Midlands, scoring seven goals in 29 league appearances.

For context, the last two seasons saw Ings score 13 and 25 goals respectively for Southampton. However, six assists alongside certainly boost his claim to be a regular starter next term.

Despite it being a mixed first season in claret and blue for Ings, the 29-year-old could be his manager’s secret weapon by scoring a goal that not only would clinch an impressive result for Villa, but also see his former club lift the Premier League title.

AND in other news: “Outstanding” £100k-p/w ace starts, “elegant” £2.2m-rated dud axed: AVFC predicted XI

A big update has emerged on Newcastle United and their pursuit of Hugo Ekitike heading into the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the Frenchman is poised to seal a transfer in the coming months as the Magpies and Borussia Dortmund battle it out for his signature.

The teen striker recently explained why he rejected the chance to sign for the Premier League outfit in January, saying: “I have a lot of respect for that big club. But it was all happening very quickly, the timing wasn’t right. It was better to stay here, to play a full season, to establish myself.”

Romano Tweeted: “Key days ahead for Hugo Ekitike’s future, he’s expected to leave Reims after great season. Newcastle are still working to sign him after January late negotiations, now hoping to beat Borussia Dortmund in the race. Ekitike will make his choice on the future soon.”

Supporters will be excited

Toon fans will be excited by this claim from the Italian reporter for multiple reasons.

Firstly, the claim that Ekitike is ‘expected’ to leave his current club is a boost to Newcastle as it suggests that Reims are open to doing a deal. This means that there is a realistic possibility that the club can strike an agreement for his services, although they will still need to beat off competition from Dortmund.

The supporters will also find this claim exciting because the Frenchman would be an excellent addition to Eddie Howe’s squad.

He ended the Ligue 1 campaign with ten goals and three assists in 15 starts as he averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.89 in the division. The forward ranks in the 92nd percentile in Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90 at 0.64 and this suggests that he has been one of the biggest goal threats from open play this season.

Meanwhile, Callum Wilson ranks in the 66th percentile and Chris Wood in the 5th percentile for non-penalty goals per 90. Ekitike can, therefore, be a huge upgrade on what Howe currently has to work with at the top end of the pitch, in terms of finding the back of the net without needing spot-kicks.

At the age of 19, he has plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve over the years. This means that he would be a signing for the future as well as the here and now and the fans would be able to look forward to watching him grow over the course of a number of seasons on Tyneside.

AND in other news,  Newcastle now “interested” in signing £42m star, he could be Howe’s next “hero”…

Newcastle United could still recruit the best behind-the-scenes talent in football without having to worry about breaching Financial Fair Play rules, claims finance expert Dr Dan Plumley.

The Lowdown: Non-playing staff

On Saturday 28 May, The Times reported that the non-playing staff at Newcastle will be handed a pay rise for the first time in several years.

The current FFP system in the Premier League permits clubs a £105m loss over a rolling three-year period, with salary costs counting towards that total.

However, the Premier League is expected to adopt UEFA’s new profit and sustainability system imminently. This limits clubs to spending 70 per cent of turnover on wages and transfers, but it ultimately means only player and manager wages will be counted towards the quota.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/newcastle-news-6/” title=”Newcastle news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Latest: Plumley’s claim

Plumley believes that Newcastle can utilise the new system to pay elite non-playing staff big wages to gain an advantage, without breaching FFP rules.

Speaking with Football Insider, Plumley claimed:

“This is potentially one way to get around FFP.

“If you look at the makeup of the backroom staff, Liverpool are the gold standard. They look at data, sports science, and psychology. The list is endless.

“In a sport where the margins are so fine, it can really pay off if you can get an edge in this area. If you have the best minds and the finest talent in football, you can make gains behind the scenes.

“Of course, everything needs to be streamlined and the culture needs to be right, and the commercial team and the finance team can grow too.”

The Verdict: May have already started

Just last night Newcastle announced the appointment of highly rated Dan Ashworth as the club’s new sporting director.

The 51-year-old joined former club Brighton in 2018 with an impressive reputation after his spell with the FA, where he helped various England age groups triumph at three tournaments in 2017, and then proceeded to establish the south-coast side as a mainstay in the Premier League.

With such appointments already taking place, this will be a huge sign of things to come for Newcastle, who will be doing anything they can to make marginal gains in pursuit of European qualification.

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

Aston Villa could still make a move for Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara this summer, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Bassey move?

Villa have been extremely busy this month planning for Steven Gerrard’s first full season in charge. A permanent move for Philippe Coutinho has already been wrapped up, as has a deal for midfielder Boubacar Kamara, who will officially become a Villa player when his Marseille contract expires at the end of June.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/aston-villa-latest-updates-2/” title=”Aston Villa latest updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Sevilla defender Diego Carlos looks set to be the next through the door after an agreement was reached between the two clubs, and reports have suggested that Calvin Bassey is closing in on a move to the Midlands.

Bassey was brought to Ibrox during Gerrard’s tenure in Scotland, as was Kamara, and it looks as if the midfielder who he called a ‘class act’ could be of interest.

The Latest: Jones’ claim

Jones provided GiveMeSport with a must-read Villa transfer guide on Sunday morning.

When it came to who else Villa could sign after their ‘unbelievable’ start to the window, the transfer insider stated that Kamara is possibly still in mind ahead of a summer swoop.

The Verdict: Cheaper option?

Jones said that it is unlikely another central midfield arrival would be someone like Kalvin Phillips or Yves Bissouma, so Kamara may be a shrewd cheaper target that could allow the club to splash the cash in other areas.

The Finland international is valued at just £5.4m by Transfermarkt – a career-high – and has starred under Gerrard in the past, making 122 appearances under the now Villa boss.

Should Kamara join, he’d be able to provide an option as a holding or central midfielder and could challenge his fellow Kamara, John McGinn and Marevlous Nakamaba for a starting spot, with Douglas Luiz and Morgan Sanson linked with exits.

In other news: Blow for NSWE: Villa will now miss out on key target after talks; Gerrard was desperate for him

Talks are ‘in progress’ between Manchester City and Leeds United for midfielder Kalvin Phillips, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

The Lowdown: Fernandinho’s departure

After nine years in Manchester, Fernandinho is set to leave the Etihad Stadium this month upon the expiry of his contract.

The 37-year-old went on to become a staple in City’s midfield, having amassed a stunning 383 appearances for the club. The former Brazil international helped the Sky Blues to lift a sensational 14 trophies, five of which were Premier League titles.

Given Fernandinho’s imminent departure, Pep Guardiola will be analysing the market in search of an adequate replacement, someone who can take hold of the reins in midfield.

The Latest: Galetti’s news

Leeds stalwart Phillips has previously been reported to be on City’s radar this summer; and taking to Twitter, Galetti has now shared the latest news on the 26-year-old’s proposed move to the Premier League champions.

He outlined: “Contacts between #ManCity and #Leeds for Kalvin #Phillips are in progress. The aim of the [Blues] is to get to the heart of the negotiation soon in order to anticipate the high competition. #Calciomercato #Transfers #MCFC”

The Verdict: Good replacement

With City set to miss Fernandinho’s defensive strengths, the prospective arrival of Phillips could help to fill the void in Guardiola’s midfield.

When compared with positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, the England international ranks in the 98th percentile for pressures, the 97th percentile for tackles and the 96th percentile for blocks (via FBRef).

Described by legendary manager Fabio Capello as ‘the best modern midfielder’ he has seen, it is easy to understand why the Citizens are so keen on bringing the Leeds native to the Etihad, as he appears to have the attributes to be their long-term successor to the iconic Fernandinho.

In other news: Sky Sports expert says club could have agreement in place for Kyle Walker