Newcastle United have learned that they will have to pay £35m should they want to sign Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic this summer, according to reports.
What's the latest on Milinkovic-Savic to Newcastle?
Following Jonjo Shelvey’s move to Nottingham Forest, Eddie Howe is expected to bolster his ranks with at least a few new central signings ahead of the new term and has identified the 28-year-old as an ideal candidate to bring to St. James’ Park.
The Serbian will be out of contract at the Stadio Olimpico next summer meaning that the upcoming window will present Maurizio Sarri’s side with their final big opportunity to cash in for a decent fee. The Serie A star is currently his team’s overall top-performing player with a match rating of 7.25 so it’s no surprise that he’s caught the eye of the boss in the northeast.
Calcio Mercato reported in February that the Magpies, alongside Premier League rivals Arsenal and West Ham, had already put forward proposals to their target’s agent but that can’t have been the case as they are only now discovering what his asking price will be.
According to Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Milinkovic-Savic‘s representative, Mateja Kezman, is “on a mission” to receive offers worth €40m (£35m) for his client which could prove to be a roadblock. The Tyneside outfit would only likely place a bid in between €20-25m (£17-21m), certainly no more than €30m (£26m) as a result of him likely to be available on a cut-price deal. The high-flyers would have to table the fee being demanded in order for it to get accepted and whether he would be open to the switch yet remains to be seen.
Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
Should Newcastle splash the cash on Milinkovic-Savic?
Milinkovic-Savic’s Lazio teammate Ciro Immobile has claimed that the midfielder is on the “same level” as Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne, and looking at his numbers, it would certainly be worth Newcastle emptying their pockets to secure his signature.
The Nike-sponsored star has posted 12 goal contributions (eight assists and four goals) in 25 Serie A appearances this season and would add excellent versatility to the squad with his ability to play in defensive, central or attacking midfield alongside as a second striker.
Standing at 6 foot 4, Milinkovic-Savic also brings a strong physical presence to the centre of the pitch and is competitive off the ground ranking in the 96th percentile for most aerials won highlighting his desire to win back possession for his team so he would be the ideal reinforcement for the Magpies.
When Leeds United sold Jack Clarke to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2019 for a fee of £10m, the Elland Road outfit looked to have sealed a brilliant deal.
Why did Tottenham sign Clarke from Leeds?
The teenage winger had broken into Leeds' first team under Marcelo Bielsa and contributed two goals and two assists in 22 Championship appearances in the 2018/19 campaign.
Mauricio Pochettino's Spurs felt that they could take a gamble on Clarke's potential and paid £10m to bring him to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but he was never able to break into the first team in north London, making just four senior appearances in total.
He returned to Elland Road on loan for the 2019/20 season but saw his game time extremely limited under Bielsa in the first half of the campaign, managing just 19 minutes of Championship action, which saw him recalled and sent to QPR.
However, he would also struggle for regular minutes with the Hoops and managed just six substitute appearances, which will have left Leeds delighted that they had received such a significant fee for a player who had barely made a name for himself in the Championship.
Another underwhelming loan spell at Stoke City would follow, and when Sunderland came calling ahead of the 2021/22 campaign, it seemed that Leeds' decision to sell Clarke was a good one, as it appeared as if he would never be good enough to feature in the Premier League.
How is Jack Clarke performing now at Sunderland?
Despite managing just one goal and three assists in 20 appearances for the Black Cats as they won promotion back to the Championship, he was signed on a permanent deal last summer to end his Spurs nightmare.
That decision has certainly paid off for the north-east side, as he has been one of the most consistent players in the Championship so far this term, and at 22, the prospect of him playing in the Premier League is suddenly not an unrealistic one.
In 39 appearances for the Stadium of Light outfit, Clarke has contributed an impressive eight goals and eight assists, earning an impressive 7.05 rating from WhoScored, which sees him rated as the second-best player in Sunderland's squad.
The English winger added to that tally with a phenomenal performance in the 4-4 draw against Hull City on Good Friday, with his display in front of the Sky Sports cameras perhaps likely to attract interest from those in the top flight.
Clarke would contribute a goal and two assists in the exhilarating draw, while he would also win the penalty for Sunderland's third, so had a hand in nearly everything positive the home side did.
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Unsurprisingly, his performance saw him earn plenty of praise from journalists on Twitter, with Josh Bunting writing:
"Jack Clarke, Amad Diallo and Patrick Roberts outstanding there. Feel for all three of them, they deserved to be on the winning side.
"Clarke unplayable and that’s the games I love – with him just driving at the opposition defence, he’s a handful with his balance. Attack excellent."
Sunderland Echo journalist James Copley added: "I make that eight goals and eight assists for Jack Clarke (I think) in the Championship this season – plus two strikes in the FA Cup, too. Takes his contribution to 18 this campaign. The kid is mustard."
Considering no player in Leeds' squad has more than 12 goal contributions – albeit in the Premier League – so far this term, Leeds may soon come to regret selling Clarke so early in his career.
If he continues to dominate in the Championship, it is surely a matter of time until his market value shoots up and a top-flight side comes calling for the 22-year-old winger.
Manchester United's season of peaks and troughs reached a new low on Thursday evening, with the Red Devils crashing out of the Europa League following a dismal, 3-0 defeat at the hands of La Liga strugglers Sevilla.
Having already edged past Barcelona and Real Betis in the previous two knockout rounds, United's meeting with the Andalusian outfit proved a step too far, as they merely capitulated against a side who sit a lowly 13th in the Spanish top-flight.
That grim performance – amid a season that has been littered with shambolic showings away to the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Brentford – has only served to further showcase that Erik ten Hag has a way to go before truly turning the club into a competitive outfit once again, both in Europe and in the Premier League.
That shock defeat to the six-time winners of the competition has also raised "long-term questions" surrounding a handful of the players who started in Seville, according to journalist Laurie Whitwell, with the attacking duo of Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial among those facing an uncertain future at Old Trafford heading into the summer window.
As The Guardian's Jamie Jackson also revealed following that continental collapse, the £600k-per-week pairing are "under threat" with regard to their position at the club, with the respected journalist stating in his attached piece that the two men could be part of a mass squad exodus ahead of next season.
Man United boss Erik ten Hag
While clearly not the only figures to potentially be facing the axe, the possible exits of Sancho and Martial could represent the ruthlessness that has so often been lacking in recent years at the Theatre of Dreams, with the club routinely hanging on to players for far too long – Phil Jones being a case in point.
If Ten Hag is to lead the Carabao Cup winners to bigger heights next season, then the misfiring forwards should seemingly be among the first to be forced to walk the plank…
Will Martial be sold this summer?
In the case of Martial, the polarising Frenchman appears to have outstayed his welcome in Manchester, with it approaching almost eight years since the former Monaco man was snapped up on an initial £36m deal by Louis van Gaal back in 2015.
It had, of course, been a terrific start for the then-youngster in English football as he bagged 18 goals in all competitions in his debut campaign, memorably making his mark on debut with a fantastic solo goal against bitter rivals, Liverpool.
The commentary of Sky Sports' Martin Tyler during that goal will live long in the memory of United supporters, although significant time has passed since that stunning entrance at Old Trafford, with it difficult to say whether the striker's time at the club has ever got any better than that goalscoring bow.
Although the 30-cap enigma did enjoy a standout 2019/20 campaign in which he bagged 23 goals across all fronts, that has been something of an anomaly rather than the norm, with the £250k-per-week man having notably netted just nine Premier League goals since the start of the 2020/21 season.
For a club of United's stature to still be reliant on such an inconsistent goalscoring presence as their leading number nine is rather bizarre, with it easy to see why Ten Hag is said to be open to selling the fleet-footed dud this summer.
Man United's Anthony Martial
While the Dutchman has conceded that his side play their "best football" with Martial leading the line, the injury-prone asset has simply been unable to get on the pitch often enough, having made just 20 appearances across all fronts this term amid a stop-start campaign.
Albeit unfortunate, the sight of the marksman limping off yet again in Seville would have had the away supporters tearing their hair out, with the 5 foot 11 hotshot having only recently made his return from a lengthy injury layoff.
As club legend Paul Scholes noted, it would appear that Martial "doesn't quite have the heart for it" when the "going gets tough", with it time for Ten Hag to do what other managers could not and show the long-serving dud the door.
Will Sancho be at Man United next season?
As for fellow forward, Sancho, the Englishman made an even earlier departure from the pitch in midweek, with the 23-year-old having been hooked at half-time in place of the returning Marcus Rashford.
That unceremonious withdrawal marked what was yet another lifeless performance from the Borussia Dortmund man in the red jersey, with the £73m man having looked 'nowhere near sharp enough', according to the Independent's Jamie Braidwood.
In truth, such an anonymous performance has been what United have come to expect from the £350k-per-week man during his time at the club to date, having now scored just ten goals and provided only five assists in 69 games across all fronts.
That grim record comes despite Sancho having blossomed during his prior stint in Germany after providing 114 goal involvements in just 137 games for the Bundesliga side, having been hailed by former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the time of his capture as an asset who "will form an integral part of my squad for years to come".
By the start of next season, neither Solskjaer nor Sancho could be at the club as the Norwegian's predication has well and truly not panned out, with recent reports suggesting that Ten Hag is now growing 'increasingly impatient' with the winger's lack of impact.
Man United's Jadon Sancho
Despite having been afforded time away from the first team earlier this season in order to get himself physically and mentally ready for the second half of the campaign, the 23-cap dud has hardly pulled up any trees since his return, having totalled just five goals and two assists so far this season.
While unlike Martial the London-born trickster has not had as long to prove his worth in a United shirt, it is hard to see where he fits in the long-term plan, with Ten Hag said to favour Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho on the left flank, while £86m arrival, Antony, looks set to be the first-choice pick on the opposite wing.
As pundit Jamie Carragher brutally noted following the loss to Sevilla, the latter man appears to have "done more in six months than Sancho has in two years", with that a further indication of the one-time Manchester City youth product's inability to perform.
Although the once-promising talent still has plenty of years ahead of him to turn things around, the Red Devils don't appear to have the time to wait for the former Dortmund sensation to get back to his best.
As the Old Trafford outfit have learned with the case of Martial, holding out hope on a player based on what they have previously done in the game is folly.
In truth, continued faith in the Frenchman has grown to become something of a disaster, with United needing to avoid making the same mistake with the underwhelming Sancho.
Chelsea are believed to be eyeing up Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim as their potential next manager this summer, according to a new update.
What is Chelsea's current manager situation?
It has been a dramatic season at Stamford Bridge, with two managers arriving and being sacked between the beginning of the campaign and now. Thomas Tuchel was replaced by Graham Potter early on, but a lack of good performances and positive results ultimately led to his demise.
Frank Lampard is now back in charge for a second stint as Chelsea manager, although the Blues playing legend is only expected to stay on until the end of the season. At that point, a more high-profile appointment is expected to be made, with the likes of Julian Nagelsmann, Mauricio Pochettino and Jose Mourinho all linked with the job recently.
It is a key decision for the club to make, with next season having to be one that sees the team kick on, and now a new candidate has entered to the race to take charge in west London.
Could Blues appoint Amorim as next boss?
According to The Daily Mail, Chelsea have "spoken to" Sporting's "highly-rated" manager Amorim about becoming the next Blues boss in the summer. The 38-year-old is believed to be "among the names Chelsea's chiefs were keen to discuss the vacancy with", in what is described as an "'exhaustive' hunt for a new manager."
Nagelsmann and Enrique are mentioned as "leading candidates" to become manager, although it certainly appears as though Amorim is in the mix with "talks" being held. He has been in charge of Sporting since 2020, having arrived from Braga, and in that time he has won the Primeira Liga once, not to mention tasting Portuguese Cup glory three times – twice at his current club and one with his previous team.
The Portuguese may not be as big a name as some of those mentioned, but he could potentially be a really shrewd acquisition by Chelsea. At 38, he is a young manager with fresh ideas and tactical nous, and he has already picked up a winning mentality at Sporting, given his aforementioned trophy haul. He also has a chance of winning the Europa League this season, although his side trail 1-0 going into their quarter-final second leg clash at home to Juventus.
Amorim has been described as "one of the best" coaches in the game currently by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, which is high praise, so it is a move Chelsea should consider.
Chelsea may target a surprise pursuit of Tottenham Hotspur forward Harry Kane this summer to solve their striking problems, according to journalist Dean Jones.
What's the latest transfer news involving Harry Kane?
LondonWorld have claimed that Kane is a wanted man this summer amid uncertainty over his long-term Tottenham future, with Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Chelsea said to be keeping tabs on his situation.
All three interested suitors are looking to add more firepower to their respective frontlines, though Chelsea could well hold an advantage in the race for Kane's signature due to the impending arrival of former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, who is close to taking the reins at Stamford Bridge as manager.
The Telegraph have revealed that Manchester United have launched 'initial moves' to try and scope out the possibility of bringing the England international to Old Trafford; however, it is said that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy will seek at least £100 million before weighing up whether to sell his prize asset.
The Sun have signalled that the Red Devils could be set to offer Kane £300,000 per week to swap north London for Manchester, which would be a £100,000 increase on his current £200,000 salary he earns per week at his current employers.
Kane has yet to win a major honour at Tottenham, though Spurs chairman Levy recently suggested in an interview that he can achieve that feat if he stays in N17.
As per The Athletic, the 61-year-old stated: “He can absolutely win a trophy at Spurs. But being a legend is also important. The fact that he’s top scorer of Tottenham Hotspur, he’s making history. I hope one day that there is a statue of Harry Kane outside our stadium.”
What has Dean Jones said about Harry Kane?
Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones believes that Chelsea could have a decent chance of signing Kane this summer and thinks he would 'prefer to stay in the Premier League' rather than move to a club abroad.
Jones told FFC: "Chelsea need a centre forward; if they are going to go and spend any money in the transfer window, that is probably where they would invest. Kane is absolutely proven and able to provide goals at this level. He would prefer to stay in the Premier League, if he was to make a transfer away from Tottenham."
What are Harry Kane's stats like this season?
Kane has been in brilliant form for Tottenham this season despite their struggles on the pitch, netting 26 goals and claiming four assists in 43 matches across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt. Compared to Romelu Lukaku, who has just nine goals and three assists, there would be little competition.
Unsurprisingly, the 29-year-old also ranks as Spurs' best-performing player this term, gaining a match rating of 7.45/10 for his exploits on the pitch, according to WhoScored.
His ability to be more than just a focal point in attack cannot be questioned. FBRef shows that Kane has successfully performed 111 shot-creating actions in 2022/23, demonstrating his ability to be a reliable creator of chances well as possessing a killer instinct in front of goal.
With his contract set to expire in 2024, it will soon be decision time for Kane as he ponders whether his future will lie at Tottenham or indeed elsewhere. Interest is likely to be vast for his services, which promises to make for an exciting summer as the talismanic figure prepares to finalise his next steps.
And with Pochettino potentially set to take on the job at Stamford Bridge, could this be an opportunity for Kane to reunite with his former boss who previously called him "special"?
Arsenal cruised to victory last night, bouncing back from their string of poor results to claim their first Premier League win since early April. Conversely, it marked yet another loss for Frank Lampard's Chelsea team, who have now managed to taste defeat across all of his six games in charge.
It was a game the hosts were expected to win, and thus Mikel Arteta saw fit to slightly rotate his outfit in key areas. Whilst picking his moment carefully, it also showcased the highest level of disrespect, to decide that this home derby against a London rival was an easy enough fixture to do so.
Therefore, the likes of Leandro Trossard, Jorginho and Jakub Kiwior all came into the side, having previously seen their play time limited.
However, it was the latter in particular who showcased his class in front of a packed-out Emirates crowd.
Fresh from their disappointing loss to Manchester City, it might have seemed like the title was slipping away from them. Despite this, the professionalism shown to continue pressing onwards suggests that the fight is not yet done, despite things looking bleak.
What those aforementioned changes did prove was that for all his success this campaign, Arteta's decision to persist with Rob Holding instead of his Polish centre-back could have been the main factor in costing them silverware.
How did Jakub Kiwior play vs Chelsea?
When asked why the £58k-per-week talent was started last night, the Spaniard claimed: "He looked ready, he looked fresh. Better and better every day. He’s got the potential to be great."
That freshness could have been imperative in making up for the key absence William Saliba had been, yet instead the 27-year-old continued to start.
With a 6.5 rating or lower in each of his last five appearances, and the sole 7.0 rating buoyed by a consolation strike, it is clear to see where the Gunners' main problems lie, via Sofascore.
Meanwhile, against the Blues, Kiwior recorded a 7.0 rating in which he showed defensive efficiency combined with comfort on the ball that would have been key in upholding their system.
arsenal-chelsea-jakub-kiwior
He would record four clearances, three interceptions, one tackle and one block, yet married this with a 93% pass accuracy too, as per Sofascore.
Had they enjoyed this kind of classy presence at the back in the games with Southampton, West Ham United and maybe even Liverpool, Arsenal would surely have cruised to victory rather than dropped key points.
Whilst the Premier League is likely still out of their reach, Arteta must now see the error of his ways that has cost them dearly.
Kiwior is evidently light years ahead of Holding, and at just 23 years old, is the future of the club. He should have played in his place and perhaps, the Gunners wouldn't have crumbled defensively in the last few weeks.
Liverpool have been strongly linked with a move for Manuel Ugarte this summer and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player ahead of the transfer window.
What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Manuel Ugarte?
According to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo via Sport Witness, Liverpool are believed to be preparing a bid to sign the Sporting CP star this summer.
As per the report, it is claimed that despite the Portuguese club being keen to retain the services of Ugarte this summer, they will have no choice but to concede defeat to Liverpool or any other interested parties due to a €60m (£52m) release clause in his current contract.
Would Ugarte be a good signing for Liverpool?
Jurgen Klopp has already made it clear that big changes are coming when their disappointing campaign comes to an end in a few weeks and a midfield rebuild looks to be the highest priority for FSG.
Whilst James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will all depart when their contracts expire this summer, it leaves Klopp with ageing options such as Thiago Alcantara and club captain Jordan Henderson who are both well into the latter stages of their careers at this point.
The Liverpool boss – who extended his contract to 2026 last year – will surely be keen to bring in fresh faces and high-quality performers in the wake of his once successful team turning stale over this season, and Ugarte could be the perfect player to link up with young prospect Stefan Bajcetic during what will be a much-needed revolution at Anfield.
The 22-year-old – hailed a "midfield machine" by scout Jacek Kulig – ranks in the top 1% of his positional peers in the Men's Next Eight Competitions for pass completion, tackles and interceptions.
To complete a wonderful all-round skill set, he also ranks in the top 12% for blocks and successful take-ons, making him the perfect understudy for Fabinho whilst working alongside Bajcetic in the number 8 role.
In fact, if Ugarte can continue his impressive form at Anfield, he could quickly replace his Brazilian positional peer and sit alongside Bajcetic in the middle of the park.
It's clear the once bullish midfield star has not been in the best form over the season so far and as such, ranks poorly compared to Liverpool's big-money target.
When comparing the young Uruguayan's output to Fabinho's this season, Ugarte has outperformed the Liverpool star in several attributes including pass completion rate (91.3% v 88.3%), tackles and interceptions won (167 v 91), successful take-ons (53% v 46.2%), shot-creating actions (52 v 50), ball recoveries (229 v 169) and aerial duels won (66.7% v 57.1%), as per FBref.
With that being said, there is no doubt that the Sporting ace would be a fantastic signing for Liverpool this summer and if he could form a midfield partnership with Bajcetic, it could provide the club with a spectacular central force for years to come.
Newcastle United are considering a summer approach to sign Manchester City defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis, according to reports.
What's the latest on Harwood-Bellis to St. James' Park?
The Sky Blues centre-back is an academy graduate at the Etihad Stadium, but having only ever made eight senior appearances, has spent the majority of his career out on loan to receive regular game time, carrying out spells with Blackburn Rovers, Anderlecht, Stoke City and most recently Burnley, where he played an integral role in helping them achieve promotion back to the Premier League.
The Stockport-born talent’s contract with his parent club is set to run out at the end of next season meaning that the upcoming window will be Pep Guardiola’s final big opportunity to cash in should he not believe that the 21-year-old has a future under his guidance, and if that turns out to be the case, Eddie Howe appears to have identified him as an ideal transfer target.
Back in April, 90min reported that the Magpies have placed the England U21s international onto their radar, and whilst he is keen to fight for his place at his boyhood outfit, he accepts that he is low down in the pecking order and might be forced to complete a permanent move elsewhere, and one potential destination to have been touted is St. James' Park.
According to Football Insider, Newcastle are "among" several clubs in the Premier League that are "plotting" a summer approach for Harwood-Bellis. PIF have been put on alert following his impressive performances at Burnley, with West Ham United and Fulham also believed to be "tracking" the promising defender.
The Clarets are "ready to launch" a move to bring him to Turf Moor on a permanent basis and are hopeful that the "mutual admiration" between the player and Vincent Kompany will hand them the advantage, though Man City are "yet to make" a decision regarding his future.
Burnley defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
Where would Harwood-Bellis fit in at Newcastle?
Newcastle’s captain Jamaal Lascelles has been heavily linked with an exit this summer, so should he depart, Harwood-Bellis would be the perfect long-term successor, having been dubbed the “real deal” by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
At Burnley, the 6 foot 2 colossus was averaging 3.1 clearances and 2.8 aerial wins per second-tier game, via WhoScored, and ranked in the 99th percentile for passes attempted by centre-backs, so is a rock at the heart of the backline but is also always looking to play out and keep his team in control.
The £7.5k-per-week ace, who has the versatility to play at right-back alongside his natural centre-back position, also has experience of playing in the Champions League with City so is the perfect profile of player to fit what Howe is aiming to achieve moving forward, and still being so young, he would be a fantastic investment for PIF.
Manchester United have been strongly linked with a move for Declan Rice and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player ahead of the summer transfer window.
What's the latest on Declan Rice's future?
According to talkSPORT's transfer expert Alex Crook, Manchester United have the West Ham United captain on their shortlist.
As per the report, the Hammers are hoping to spark a bidding war with several Premier League clubs vying for the midfielder's signature this summer, with Chelsea and Arsenal also named as potential suitors who will need to meet the player's £120m price tag.
Would Declan Rice be a good signing for Man United?
It is safe to say that the Red Devils are on course to return to their winning ways with a League Cup already secured this season and an FA Cup final ahead of them in the coming weeks, but Erik ten Hag will surely be keen to continue refreshing the squad when the transfer window opens.
In midfield, Man United boast some of the best midfield talents in the Premier League, with Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes all comfortable in dominating the centre of the pitch, however, injecting some youthful prospects will ensure that high quality is maintained to avoid another trophy drought in the future.
As a result, the opportunity to snap up the services of Rice would be monumental for the Reds this summer with it potentially set to provide Ten Hag with his very own Sergio Busquets.
The Hammers midfielder is often referred to as the 'Basmati Busquets' by the supporters and has been compared on numerous occasions with the outstanding Barcelona legend over his career so far, with former Manchester City star Sergio Aguero most notably making the comparison:
"For me he is a great player and is at the same level as the best midfielders like Busquets, Rodri and Casemiro.
Not only that, the 24-year-old once claimed that he studies the legendary midfielder to implement his qualities into his own game: "Busquets is the one I’ve watched since I was a kid," Rice said. "He doesn’t move from the centre circle. He plays with 360 vision."
Premier League, Manchester United, Manchester United news, Manchester United transfers, Manchester United transfer news, MUFC, Declan Rice
Like his role model, Rice is blessed with an extraordinary talent for reading the game alongside unrivalled composure that helps him to comfortably control play in the centre of the pitch, both attributes that have not only made him a standout performer at both club and international level, but earned him comparisons to Busquets.
Over 34 Premier League appearances, the England star – hailed for his "immense" and "monster" performances by David Cartlidge – has scored three goals, tallied up an 88% pass completion rate and successfully completed 61% of his dribble attempts.
It shows he is the complete midfielder, with his 1.1 key passes, 1.8 interceptions and 2.3 tackles per game only adding to that.
With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for Man United to sign Rice this summer as the talented midfielder could offer the club years of service and outstanding quality in the centre of the pitch.
Newcastle United chiefs have promised to enter negotiations regarding a deal to bring Flamengo midfielder Matheus Franca to the Premier League, according to reports.
Who is Matheus Franca?
Franca is an academy graduate at the Maracana Stadium having worked his way up through the various youth ranks to get promoted to the first-team in January 2022, and has since gone on to make 50 senior appearances. His performances have caught the eye of Eddie Howe ahead of the summer window, though this is not the first time a move for the youngster has been explored.
The Sun has reported that the Magpies saw three offers for the 19-year-old – who has a £176m release clause – rejected in January, but speaking to Football FanCast, transfer insider Dean Jones believes that he is still firmly on the radar heading into the upcoming summer window.
Are Newcastle signing Franca?
Now, according to Brazilian outlet Coluna do Fla (via Sport Witness), Newcastle officials have “promised” to “open new negotiations” to sign Franca ahead of the 2023/24 term. The player “continues to be a target” for PIF, but they are set to face a “lot of competition” for his services, with Crystal Palace, Juventus and another unnamed club from France also “in the mix”.
The South American outfit hold an “expectation” that their starlet will be the subject of bids at the end of the season, though it remains to be seen whether any of the listed potential suitors will be able to get a deal over the line.
Flamengo midfielder Matheus Franca.
Newcastle will know that Franca doesn’t yet have any experience competing at the highest level or even in England, but having been lauded a “sensation” by journalist Aaron Stokes, he could yet be a fantastic acquisition for the long-term future should he decide to put pen to paper at St James’ Park.
The Nike-sponsored ace, who currently pockets £1.9k per week, has clocked up 14 goal contributions (11 goals and three assists) in 55 appearances throughout his career, and as per FBref, ranks in the 99th percentile for three various statistics compared to his peers at a similar level of competition, including successful take-ons – showing he loves to get past his marker and make the magic happen up top.
The Rio de Janeiro native would also add wonderful versatility to the north-east outfit’s squad with his ability to operate in five different positions across the pitch, including two in the midfield and three across the final third, so he’d be a great option for the manager to have at his disposal.