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Leeds United are now chasing a move for free agent Erik Botheim, according to TEAMtalk.

The Lowdown: Botheim profiled

Botheim is 22 years of age and is primarily a centre-forward but can also play on the wing. He has scored 31 goals and provided 15 assists at club level during his career so far and made the move to Russian side Krasnodar back in January.

However, the Norwegian never made an appearance for Krasnodar and terminated his deal with the club due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The Latest: Leeds links

TEAMtalk shared a transfer update regarding Botheim on Thursday afternoon.

They claimed that Leeds are one of the sides chasing the forward’s services on a free transfer alongside the likes of Burnley, Fulham, Middlesbrough, Rangers, Southampton, Stoke and Watford.

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The Verdict: Haaland to help?

Botheim is actually best friends with Erling Haaland, who we all know is a Leeds supporter. Therefore, the new Manchester City striker could help the Whites in their pursuit of Botheim by providing a positive outlook on an Elland Road move.

Victor Orta could do with bolstering Jesse Marsch’s attacking ranks, so Botheim may well be the perfect player to join Patrick Bamford and Joe Gelhardt as options due to his age, experience, versatility and availability.

In other news: £25m: Leeds now want ‘complete’ Phillips replacement; just waiting for Radz green light. 

Aston Villa are one of a number of Premier League clubs interested in signing Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo this summer, according to a recent transfer update.

The Lowdown: Aribo a key man for Rangers

The 25-year-old has stood out as a key figure for the Gers in recent years, scoring eight goals and registering five assists in the Scottish Premiership last season.

Not only that, but Aribo was also integral to Rangers reaching the Europa League final, scoring in the showcase event against Frankfurt last month.

The Nigerian only has one year remaining on his current deal, however, and he is being linked with a move away from Ibrox this summer.

The Latest: Villa linked with move

According to reports in the Scottish press, Villa are one of the clubs interested in signing Aribo as he looks to potentially move south of the border to the Premier League.

Nottingham Forest are the favourites to sign the 25-year-old, though, while Fulham and Crystal Palace are also mentioned as possible suitors, so it looks set to be a hotly contested race for his signature.

The Verdict: Strong summer addition

With Steven Gerrard arguably in need of midfield reinforcements this summer, Aribo is someone who could provide Villa with an attacking spark in the final third.

He knows him well from his time as Rangers manager, and the 20-time capped Nigeria international has even been compared to Yaya Toure for boasting delicate feet along with a big physical frame, which speaks volumes about his pedigree.

Indeed, he averaged 2.1 aerial wins per game in the league last season, as well as 1.6 tackles and 1.4 successful dribbles, proving his effectiveness on both sides of the ball.

Aribo has been hailed as ‘incredible’ by sports performance consultant Allistair McCaw after a relentless 2021/22 season in which he played 70 games, and he could help take Villa up another gear with his power and quality in the middle of the park.

A big update has emerged regarding Newcastle United’s pursuit of Hugo Ekitike in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

90min reporter Graeme Bailey has revealed that the Magpies have ended their interest in the Reims centre-forward.

The journalist has claimed that the move had been agreed with both club and player, but the striker’s representatives have caused the transfer to collapse.

Bailey tweeted: “Understand that Newcastle United have pulled out of Hugo Ekitike deal. Everything was agreed with Reims and the player’s personal terms – but the agent was demanded extra payments amongst a number of things, and the deal is now off.”

Supporters will be gutted

This update will surely leave Newcastle supporters feeling gutted for multiple reasons.

Firstly, the deal being scuppered by his agents demanding more money will be particularly frustrating, as the player and Reims had already agreed to the move.

Ekitike agreeing to the transfer suggests that he is keen to join Eddie Howe’s squad and fans will be fuming that, according to this report, the only reason that it is not going ahead is because of money.

As a result, supporters must be gutted that they will not be able to watch the Frenchman in action for the Magpies next season.

Ekitike has previously been likened to Kylian Mbappe for the manner in which he burst onto the scene in France, and that illustrates the immense potential that he is perceived to have.

With this comparison in mind, Statman Dave provided an interesting statistic as he tweeted: “Only Kylian Mbappe [1.25] registered more non-penalty direct goal involvements than Hugo Ekitike [0.85] in the 21/22 Ligue 1 season.”

This shows that the 20-year-old was second only to the Paris Saint-Germain superstar in the final third in the French top flight last term. He ended the campaign with a whopping 10 goals and three assists in 15 starts for Reims, showcasing his ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis.

Ekitike has proven that he can make a big impact at first-team level and he would have been a sublime addition to Newcastle’s squad. No Toon player managed more than eight goals in the Premier League last season, which suggests that the Frenchman would have provided a much-needed attacking threat for Howe.

At the age of 20, he also has the scope to develop and improve even further in the coming years. He would have been an excellent signing for the future, as well as the here-and-now, which is another reason why Magpies fans will surely be gutted by this update.

AND in other news, Bid incoming: PIF could land Saint-Maximin 2.0 as NUFC now plot move for £43m talent…

Everton have been linked with a move for Jesse Lingard over the last few weeks and now a new update has emerged that should encourage Farhad Moshiri to step up his pursuit of the player this summer.

What’s the latest?

According to Football Insider, West Ham United have now submitted an offer to the out-of-contract Manchester United star.

As per the report, sources have told the publication that the Hammers have now offered a lucrative deal for the player, however, Everton and Newcastle United are named as Premier League clubs who have a strong interest in signing Lingard.

Won’t cost Moshiri a penny

Moshiri must ramp up the club’s pursuit of the free-agent now that it has been revealed that West Ham have made a tempting offer for Lingard, as signing the player would be a major coup for many reasons but most importantly financially.

Everton have been reported to be in a sticky situation when it comes to finances, so capitalising on the golden opportunities to sign high-quality out-of-contract players this summer is an absolute must for the club, and Lingard is by far one of the most highly anticipated free transfer this summer.

The £75k-per-week dynamo who was hailed “cold” by Rio Ferdinand has a wealth of Premier League experience scoring 35 goals and delivering 21 assists for Man United in 232 appearances at his boyhood club but has fallen out of favour in the side in recent years.

Due to his lack of game-time at Old Trafford, Lingard made the move to the London Stadium in January 2021 which is where he reignited his career and proved his talents during a short six-month loan spell with the club.

With West Ham Lingard scored nine goals and contributed five assists with a goal involvement every 101 minutes over his 16 appearances, and clearly, David Moyes wants to finally give him his opportunity to return to the club on a permanent deal now that his contract his up.

Lampard will surely be hoping that Everton can hijack the deal as he attempts to improve the squad ahead of the new Premier League season, and Lingard would certainly add a great fresh perspective into the stale attacking threat at Goodison Park.

Moshiri will have a difficult challenge in convincing the player to join the Toffees this summer unless a much more lucrative financial deal is tabled as, unlike Everton, West Ham have European football in the conference league next season alongside a promising seventh-place finish in the Premier League table.

AND in other news: Lampard could land his own Jude Bellingham in Everton swoop for “special” £50m dynamo

Crystal Palace look to be closing in on Swansea’s young midfielder Flynn Downes.

What’s the word?

That’s according to Football.London, who notes that Patrick Vieira seems to have beaten out the competition to secure his signature.

Both Wolves and Southampton are referenced as potential suitors, but Palace was the only option.

They had tried to sign him back when he played for Ipswich, noting their long-time interest in the player. Swansea are reportedly demanding £12m for the player.

Vieira will love him

Vieira appears to be crafting quite the versatile midfield, having already secured the signing of Cheick Doucoure, and constantly linked to several other midfielders all with different profiles.

However, with Downes, he is guaranteed a workmanlike midfielder who can graft alongside another of his new signings.

One benefit to signing this Swansea youngster is his reliability, as he featured in 37 Championship games last season. Despite being more of a ball-winning midfielder, he still managed to chip in with a goal and two assists.

This led to his solid SofaScore rating of 6.83, which given the context of his long season and Swansea’s sub-par 15th placed finish, is not bad at all.

Both fans and manager alike have been quick to praise his intelligence and hard work, with Russell Martin claiming: “Flynn was incredible, it’s difficult to single people out, but he does the dirty work perfectly well”, after a man of the match display early in the season.

This dirty work and his overall play is best exemplified in his defensive actions, where he averages 1.3 tackles, 1.1 interceptions and 1.1 clearances per game.

Downes is everywhere on the pitch, and in his quest to cover every blade of grass he loves to get stuck into opposition attackers.

With him, Vieira can further bolster his options as the new Premier League season draws near.

After what was a surprisingly impressive season last year, the French boss will want to continue moving forward, and signing young hungry Championship talent is a move proven to work for this club.

He will love it if they can tie down the midfielder and have a repeat of their previous successes.

AND, in other news: Vieira can unearth his next Gallagher as Palace plot bid for “sensational” £20m talent.

Southampton sensation Tyler Dibling could leave St. Mary’s this summer, according to Football Insider, with Newcastle United and Chelsea circling for his signature.

The Lowdown: Dibling’s progression

The 16-year-old worked his way up through the academy ranks on the south coast and has created a name for himself, becoming one of the most highly-rated young talents in England.

His impressive performances across the Saints’ various youth sides last season led him to earn a place on the bench with the senior first-team for their Premier League fixture against Brentford back in May, but this attention has come with eyes elsewhere too, with an exit now looking possible.

The Latest: Competition for Dibling

According to Football Insider, Newcastle and Chelsea are ‘battling it out’ to sign Dibling, with the top-flight duo both ‘registering their interest’ in the ‘sensation’, who they view as a ‘star in the making’.

The source reveals that the Magpies have been ‘keeping tabs’ on the maestro ever since he netted a hat-trick of stunning goals against them in Premier League 2 in April.

It’s stated that the Blues, meanwhile, regard the prospect as a ‘huge talent’ who they feel would be an ‘ideal fit’ for their club as they look to freshen their youth system.

The Verdict: Huge loss

If Southampton were to lose Dibling, it would be a real hammer blow considering he seemingly has the potential to go on and become a regular in Hasenhuttl’s starting XI in years to come.

Last season, the youngster, who was once hailed one of the academy’s ‘shining’ stars by the Austrian boss himself, made 13 goal contributions in just 22 appearances across all of the Saints’ youth competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Dibling may feel that making the move to perennial trophy-challengers Chelsea or newly-rich Newcastle is the right next step to take in his career though, which could make it extremely difficult for Southampton to stand in his way.

Manchester United have ‘shown some interest’ in AC Milan centre-back Fikayo Tomori, according to Italian outlet Calciomercato (via Sport Witness).

The lowdown

The Guardian reported in April that signing a centre-back would be one of the summer priorities for new United manager Erik ten Hag. The Red Devils have made one new signing so far, bringing in left-back Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord for an initial £13m.

Tomori came through the youth ranks at Chelsea before moving to Milan for £25m in 2021 following a successful loan spell. In his first full season with the Rossoneri, the England international helped them to win Serie A for the first time since 2010/11.

The latest

Calciomercato reported (via Sport Witness) that Milan are planning to commit Tomori to a new contract which will run until 2027, warding off any suitors in the process.

United have expressed their admiration for the 24-year-old, but he has apparently told his agent that he isn’t interested in leaving the San Siro this summer.

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The verdict

You can see why United might be interested in Tomori. He started 30 out of a possible 38 league games for Stefano Pioli’s champions last season, with their defensive record the strongest it’s been for a decade.

The Englishman defends on the front foot, ranking in the 92nd percentile for pressures per 90 minutes,. He also reads the game well, placing in the 80th percentile for interceptions among centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues (via FBRef).

Milan technical director Paolo Maldini has called him ‘quick’ and ‘hard-working’, while another Rossoneri defensive legend in Franco Baresi said that the ‘skilful’ 24-year-old is is ‘definitely one of the most promising prospects out there’.

A move may not be possible this summer, but who’s to say that Tomori won’t want another crack at the Premier League in a couple of years’ time?

Tottenham Hotspur are more likely to sign another defender than a new attacker as they target more additions…

What’s the word?

That’s according to talkSPORT’s transfer expert Alex Crook, who dropped an interesting claim to GIVEMESPORT this week, where he revealed:

“I’ve been told that a centre-back is more of a priority [than a number ten].

“Obviously, they’ve signed [Clement] Lenglet but I think they will sign one more as well because they’re going to play a back three, ideally with [Djed] Spence and [Ivan] Perisic as the wing-backs.”

Defensive depth

Spurs are yet to complete a deal for the Middlesbrough right wing-back, with talks thought to be continuing over the ‘finer details’ of a deal, but after that one gets over the line, then the north Londoners may well target another central defender.

They have been linked to plenty of exciting names throughout the off-season, including Antonio Conte’s former Inter Milan gem Alessandro Bastoni and RB Leipzig star Josko Gvardiol. Both of those are likely to prove to be too expensive, with the former wanting to stay at the Serie A club, too.

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Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres has also been mooted with a switch to Hotspur Way, whilst Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde is the latest name to emerge.

Conte deploys a three-at-the-back system, so it certainly makes sense for him to want to sign more defenders. It remains to be seen whether Clement Lenglet is the first choice but he – or Ben Davies – could be featuring alongside Eric Dier and Cristian Romero. After that, there isn’t much quality in Joe Rodon and Davinson Sanchez.

Now with the new Premier League campaign less than a month away, Lilywhites supporters will be hoping that sporting director Fabio Paratici can deliver another addition to Conte’s squad as he will need to keep his team competitive when balancing both domestic and European competitions.

Given his tactics and immense desire to win, the Italian will surely be delighted to know that the club are prepared to back him with further defensive signings.

Having already brought in five new players, this latest claim from Cook will surely also leave the Spurs faithful absolutely buzzing as it will help keep Conte a very happy man, as well as helping them contend across all competitions.

AND in other news, Conte could solve major Spurs issue and save ENIC millions with 20 y/o “coach’s dream”…

Aston Villa could seal two more signings at Villa Park before the window closes on September 1st…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Birmingham Mail reporter Ashley Preece, who delivered an exciting Aston Villa transfer claim to supporters during an online Q&A session, having arrived in Australia for their pre-season training camp.

“I believe Johan Lange is back at base in the UK drawing up a shortlist. I’m not expecting any transfer activity this week. SG [Steven Gerrard] wants to further strengthen the engine room so I fully expect one midfielder to come in. Transfer window still has more than six weeks left to run,” he said before adding:

“I’d say two more; midfielder and possibly one more…”

Villa not done yet

It’s clear that the Midlands outfit are by no means finished with their transfer business just yet, having already signed Diego Carlos, Boubacar Kamara and Ludwig Augustinsson, on top of the permanent arrivals of Philippe Coutinho and Robin Olsen.

Despite adding the Marseille powerhouse to Gerrard’s squad, it is interesting to see that another midfielder is among the priorities as he also has John McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Morgan Sanson, Marvelous Nakamba and Jacob Ramsey at his disposal.

However, the Brazilian star has been linked with an exit in recent weeks, with Serie A champions AC Milan thought to be keen on his signature.

It’s also believed that Gerrard is after a new striker to rival Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings, having been mooted with moves for Jonathan David and Mauro Icardi, among others.

With less than a month to go until the start of the new Premier League season, Lange will need to act quick to get the players in before it’s too late for them to adapt to Gerrard’s system and training.

But it is rather exciting to see that Preece is banking on the Midlands side making two more additions, so his latest claim should leave the Vila Park faithful absolutely buzzing.

It’s certainly a thrilling time to be a Villa fan right now.

AND in other news, Preece delivers Keinan Davis update…

Nottingham Forest are in ‘talks’ to sign Watford forward Emmanuel Dennis this summer, according to The Athletic’s Adam Leventhal.

The Lowdown: Dennis’ departure expected

According to The Athletic, Watford are willing to sell the 24-year-old this window, which has been their stance since their relegation from the Premier League was confirmed.

The Nigeria international expects to leave this summer and the club seem to be in agreement that this will be the case.

The Hornets striker is available for a fee in the region of £20m, guaranteeing the club a considerable profit on the player, given they paid £3m for his services just last summer.

The Latest: Leventhal’s news

Leventhal has shared the latest news surrounding Dennis’ heavy transfer interest. Taking to Twitter, the reliable journalist claimed West Ham, Fulham, Everton and Forest are all in “talks” over a move and both Watford and the player are “optimistic deal will still be struck before end of window”.

The Verdict: Great signing for Forest

When analysing the Nigerian’s underlying stats, it is easy to see why Steve Cooper’s side are keen on bringing the striker to the City Ground this summer.

As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe over the past year, Dennis ranks in the 95th percentile for aerials won, in the 89th percentile for dribbles completed and in the 81st percentile for non-penalty goals.

Having scored 46 goals throughout his senior career, the forward continued to impress after arriving in the Premier League, for which he was hailed “a superb signing for Watford” by members of the media.

And he could be an equally great signing for Forest, given that he is a proven source of end product in the English top-flight.