All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Newcastle United have identified West Bromwich Albion's Josh Griffiths as a potential signing, with the club targeting several names for the future, according to Dean Jones.

Having qualified for the Champions League for the first time in two decades, the Magpies have a crucial summer ahead, with plenty of talent on their radar as they look to bolster their squad.

Eddie Howe's side has done an incredible job in the transfer market since the club was taken over by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund in 2021, and don't expect that to change this summer.

What's the latest Newcastle United transfer news?

With Champions League football on the horizon, the Magpies have been linked to several high-profile names as they strengthen the squad ahead of their return to Europe's elite competition.

In a sensational move, the club are currently agreeing terms with AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali, ahead of a move to St James' Park, according to the Daily Mail.

The club have also been linked to Leicester City's James Maddison with the English midfielder looking for a way out of the Foxes after they were recently relegated from the Premier League, but according to Sky Sports, any deal for the star might be hurt by the signing of Tonali.

Newcastle aren't only targeting superstars for right now, though, with the club also having a firm eye on the future as they navigate the transfer market.

West Brom's young goalkeeper Griffiths has been identified as a potential signing by The Sun, with Jones believing the club will look at numerous names for the future.

What has Dean Jones said about Newcastle United's transfer business?

Having been linked to the likes of Tonali and Maddison, many will have been surprised to see the latest reports suggesting Newcastle were interested in a prospect like Griffiths, but Jones believes the club will be targeting more names of the future going forward.

Speaking to Football FanCast, the journalist said: "I think you should always remember that, every now and then, Newcastle aren't going to be linked with big names. They're going to be linked with names for the future. It's kind of a two-tiered approach here."

Furthermore, he compared the reports to the Magpies' previous interest in Paris Saint-Germain's Hugo Ekitike as proof that the club continue to have an eye on the future, saying:

"Goes all the way really back to when we first read about Ekitike, who we spoke about for months never actually arrived, but he was always seen as a striker for the future. And so they'll be continuing to look down that path actually unveiled a signing last week along the same lines. So yeah, definitely more signings like that coming too."

How did Josh Griffiths perform last season?

Having spent half of the season on loan at Portsmouth, the 21-year-old caught the attention of many in football after an impressive spell at the south coast side, that saw him keep seven clean sheets in 22 games.

His performances for Portsmouth caused West Brom to recall the goalkeeper, and he made his Championship debut shortly afterwards against Blackburn Rovers, and in his 10 league games for the Baggies, he kept another four clean sheets, bringing his seasonal tally to an impressive 11.

The 21-year-old also showed his fine ability as a shot-stopper, pulling off an average of 2.2 saves a game throughout all competitions, a similar number to Nick Pope's 2.3.

Leeds United seem to be honing in on the man to finally fill their dugout vacancy, with only a few key names left to choose from…

What's the latest on Daniel Farke to Leeds United?

That's according to journalist Phil Hay, who penned an article regarding the 49ers' search for a new manager.

As their first major move as the new owners of his huge establishment, there is understandable hesitation to potentially make an error. That could explain why it has been nearly three weeks since Sam Allardyce left his post and kickstarted this search which is yet to bear fruit.

Writing for The Athletic, he claimed that Daniel Farke is one of the names set to be interviewed, with his experience in the Championship vital alongside his status as a free agent.

Is Daniel Farke similar to Marcelo Bielsa?

Although three other candidates are also being sounded out, it could be argued that the German poses their best opportunity to gain an instant return to the Premier League, in a style that is closest to their last promotion legend, Marcelo Bielsa.

Having already masterminded two title victories in the Championship with Norwich City, only Scott Parker upon that aforementioned list can compare with the pedigree of the 46-year-old promotion specialist.

His 4-2-3-1 system is a huge part of that success, which prioritises a heavy metal football synonymous with many German coaches. He likes to push his players forward, risking leaving space in behind their defence with the confidence that, should they regain possession high up the pitch, they will then stand a better chance of scoring.

Such a philosophy, whilst likely not quite as drastic as his, does draw similarities with their old Argentine boss who helped mastermind their 2020 Championship title. It was one which caught the eye, but had its downsides. After all, they did ship 79 goals in the campaign where he was dismissed.

Farke's work, however, has caught the attention of his compatriot Jurgen Klopp, who went as far as to brand him a "world-class" manager.

When delving deeper into the German's time in a Championship setting, it is clear that he is the leading candidate for the role who will not only bring back consistent success but also that feel-good factor that accompanies such an exciting and all-action brand of football.

Across his 138 games whilst managing in the division, he boasts 71 wins and a points-per-match average of 1.82. This has even culminated in the scoring of 217 goals (via Transfermarkt), further emphasising the potency of such a style.

The hope will be that he can make Leeds' stay at this level a short one, and once again have fans excited to watch their team thrive rather than the struggles they endured in the top flight.

In the past two seasons, Crystal Palace have built a solid foundation largely based upon the ever-present and reliable central defensive partnership of Joachim Anderson and Marc Guehi.

The Eagles kept nine clean sheets last year, as their solidity has been one of the principal reasons for the consolidation of their mid-table Premier League status.

However, the latter could be set for a departure after impressing since his £18m move to Selhurst Park, with Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Liverpool all circling around the Englishman.

The 22-year-old has built a formidable reputation as one of the league's most consistent assets, who since playing for Palace, has also made his England debut.

Guehi’s possible exit would open the door for a defender in South London and Perr Schurrs has been tipped to be his replacement.

What’s the latest on Perr Schurrs to Crystal Palace?

According to the Daily Mail, the Eagles have stepped up their interest in the Torino centre-back, who is also being keenly tracked by Napoli and Newcastle United.

Even if Guehi chooses to stay, Schuurs may still move to the Premier League to reinforce the club's backline.

Can Perr Schurrs replace Marc Guehi at Crystal Palace?

Across 30 Serie A outings this term, the Dutchman has been a commanding pillar of reliability and has averaged 3.2 clearances, 1.7 tackles and was only dribbled past 0.4 times per game, without committing any errors leading to shots or goals.

The former Ajax man has, therefore, performed tremendously within his club, managing the most tackles and clearances within the Torino squad, as per WhoScored.

Described as a “mountain” by journalist Josh Bunting, the titan possesses all the attributes to replace Guehi, should he leave in the summer.

When comparing these two mercurial talents, the £29k-per-week titan has averaged more tackles per 90 (1.97 vs 1.41), clearances per 90 (3.95 vs 3.62) and aerials won per 90 (2.32 vs 1.46), to show that he has the physicality to fill Guehi’s shoes.

As well as this tenacity, Schuurs is also confident with the ball at his feet, ranking in the top 22% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for pass completion, whilst Guehi only ranks in the highest 53%.

It is difficult to find a weakness in his game, and he looks perfectly suited to English football.

Having played in 73 of the Eagles’ 76 Premier League games since he arrived, the Cobham graduate would undeniably be a monumental loss for the club, but Schuurs’ profile, attributes and relatively spritely age means he is more than capable of filling his void should Steve Parish make a move.

Wolverhampton Wanderers ended the 2022/23 campaign with a relatively comfortable 13th-placed finish in the Premier League table.

Julen Lopetegui's side were never in any serious danger of being relegated down to the Championship as they finished seven points clear of the bottom three, with Leicester, Southampton, and Leeds United all dropping out of the division.

The Spanish head coach now has a full summer transfer window to improve his squad with a view to competing further up the table, and potentially challenging for Europe again in 23/24.

One player who could come in is Stuttgart ace Konstantinos Mavropanos, who is a reported transfer target for the Old Gold as they look to improve their defensive options.

Who is Konstantinos Mavropanos?

The 25-year-old Greek centre-back enjoyed an excellent campaign in the Bundesliga in 22/23 and could come in to form a terrific partnership with current Wolves star Max Kilman.

The English defender played 37 of the club's 38 Premier League matches in the season just gone and averaged a solid Sofascore rating of 6.85. He proved himself to be a solid option at the heart of the defence and dominated opposition attackers as he won 63% of his duels.

This means that Kilman is capable of bullying opponents and keeping them quiet for the majority of games when it comes to battling for the ball, which is particularly useful in physical games where there may be a barrage of set pieces and balls into the box.

Mavropanos could form a "monster" pairing with the Wolves ace as Borussia Monchengladbach chief Pellegrino Matarazzo previously described the Greek gem, whilst also hailing him as a "gladiator".

The colossal Stuttgart enforcer averaged an excellent Sofascore rating of 7.26 across 28 appearances in the Bundesliga, which would place him top of the Wolves squad for outfield players, and won an impressive 66% of his battles, including 70% of his aerial contests.

This suggests that the former Arsenal prospect, who also made four tackles and interceptions per match, is also a dominant defender who does not give much away when competing with opposition strikers.

Therefore, the £22k-per-week brute could be an exceptional addition to Lopetegui's side as his form in the German top-flight suggests that the potential is there for him to be an outstanding performer for the club, whilst his dominance at the back could make him and Kilman a formidable pairing for strikers to come up against next season.

Manchester United are believed to have made contact regarding a summer move for Eintracht Frankfurt striker, Randal Kolo Muani, according to the latest reports.

What's the latest on Kolo Muani to Man United?

As per journalist Laurie Whitwell – in his piece for the Athletic – the Red Devils are said to have held 'discussions' regarding a move for the former Nantes man, despite having also shown an interest in Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund.

The respected insider revealed that United's director of football, John Murtough has 'held talks' with the Bundesliga outfit regarding a potential move for the 24-year-old, with a new centre-forward seemingly a real priority for Erik ten Hag this summer.

Whitwell also goes on to note that the seven-cap international would command a fee of around €80m (£69m) if he was to be sold ahead of next season, having only made the move to Germany a year ago.

Should Man United sign Kolo Muani?

Hailed as a "future superstar" by German icon, Lothar Matthaus, the Frankfurt speedster has unsurprisingly caught the attention of the Old Trafford hierarchy after contributing 40 goals and assists in just 46 games in all competitions during his debut season at Waldstadion.

That breakout campaign – which also saw the Bondy native score in Les Bleus' World Cup semi-final triumph over Morocco – would suggest that Kolo Muani would be an astute capture, helping to provide an ideal replacement for Anthony Martial, for instance, with the latter man having been linked with a departure.

That being said, however, United supporters may be concerned to learn that the one-time Boulogne loanee is said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities with Romelu Lukaku, according to FBref.

That likeness between the pair is best illustrated by their ability to offer a creative outlet when leading the line, with Lukaku ranking in the top 2% in Europe among those in his position for assists, while Kolo Muani ranks in the top 3% for that same metric.

Equally, the latter man also ranks in the top 15% for progressive passes received to further showcase his creative prowess, with the current Inter Milan ranking just ahead in the top 7% in that regard.

While a comparison to the latter man – who is the all-time leading scorer for Belgium and boasts 280 club career goals – is not solely negative, the 30-year-old did not exactly enjoy a happy stint at the Theatre of Dreams, having been shipped off to Italy in 2019 after just two years in Manchester.

The one-time Chelsea man did score 42 goals in 96 games for the Red Devils, although was criticised by journalist Samuel Luckhurst for his "woeful and costly finishing" during the start of his second season at the club, having seemingly failed to win over the Old Trafford faithful.

To think then that Murtough may sanction a move for a similar player to that of Lukaku in the form of Kolo Muani may have alarm bells ringing, with United no doubt wanting to avoid a repeat of that transfer mistake.

Leeds United are interested in making Blackburn Rovers boss Jon Dahl Tomasson their next manager this summer, according to a new update.

Who is in the running for Leeds job?

The Whites are experiencing a busy time of things at the moment, with so much happening both on and off the pitch, including 49 Enterprises' potential takeover of the club.

The search is also on to find a new manager before the start of next season, with Sam Allardyce departing earlier this week after a short stint in charge, in which he failed to keep them n the Premier League.

A number of individuals are believed to be in with a chance of landing the job, with the likes of Steven Gerrard, Brendan Rodgers and Carlos Corberan all thought to be in the running. A new name has now been thrown into the hat, though, as Leeds look to ensure that they nail their next appointment and seal a quickfire return to the Premier League.

Is Tomasson a target for the Whites?

According to Football Insider, the Whites "have shortlisted Blackburn Rovers boss Jon Dahl Tomasson in the search for their next manager", with the Dane "on their shortlist of targets". The report goes on to add that "Blackburn are braced for an approach from the recently-relegated giants and are already drawing up a list of potential replacements for the 46-year-old", with those inside Elland Road viewing Tomasson as "the next Bielsa".

Tomasson, who plays a 4-2-3-1 formation, has been in charge of Blackburn since last year, arriving in June, having previously been in charge of Swedish side Malmo, and he guided the former to a seventh-place finish in the Championship and within touching distance of finishing in the playoff positions.

He could be an interesting appointment by Leeds, not necessarily being as big a name as Gerrard and Rodgers, for example, but showing in a short space of time that he knows how to get positive results in the Championship, averaging 1.6 points per game in the competition. Tomasson also has experience at international level, albeit in an assistant manager role with Denmark between 2016 and 2019, meaning he knows how to work around big personalities and help get the best out of them.

It could be argued that a more proven manager could be needed at Leeds, such is the importance of this appointment, but the former striker did win two Swedish league titles in charge of Malmo, further highlighting his pedigree and why he is a contender to head to Elland Road.

Tottenham Hotspur are now pushing hard to sign Leicester City's Harvey Barnes, with the winger set to leave this summer, according to a report from The Sun.

Who will Tottenham sign this summer?

Tottenham are keen to bolster their attacking options in the upcoming window, and it has recently been reported they are ready to snap up James Maddison, with the Leicester midfielder set to be sold following the Foxes' relegation from the Premier League.

Despite not yet having a new manager in place, Spurs are still active in the transfer market, and they are set to complete a permanent deal for loanee Dejan Kulusevksi, having been impressed with the Juventus winger's performances.

CBS reporter Ben Jacobs claimed that Barnes was "on the list" of targets for the Lilywhites way back in February, having looked at him for a long time, and The Sun have now provided an update on their pursuit of the Leicester star.

According to the report, Tottenham and Newcastle United are the clubs pushing hardest to sign the 25-year-old, as well as Maddison, with both players set to leave Leicester after the relegation to the Championship.

Both players could command fees of around £40m in the upcoming window, but Leicester are hoping that a bidding war will break out, which will drive their prices up even further.

Having qualified for the Champions League, Newcastle are tipped to have an advantage in the race for Barnes' signature, while Spurs have no European football on offer, and they are currently without a permanent manager or director football.

Should Tottenham sign Harvey Barnes?

After being hailed as "incredible" by Micah Richards back in 2021, the 25-year-old has since developed even further, performing very well for Leicester this season, despite the club's relegation.

On a personal level, it was a fantastic campaign for the Englishman, registering three assists and 13 goals, with the latter proving to be the highest figure of any player in the Leicester squad.

The Burnley-born winger has most commonly featured on the left throughout his career, but he is also capable of playing through the middle, an area that Tottenham will need to strengthen, given that Rodrigo Bentancur is out until at least November.

Barnes could be a solid signing for Spurs, but the lack of European football and a permanent manager is likely to make it very difficult to win the race for his signature.

Tottenham Hotspur are now scrambling to find another leading managerial candidate, after suffering a blow in their pursuit of Feyenoord boss, Arne Slot…

What's the latest on Tottenham's manager search?

Following rampant speculation in recent days that the Lilywhites were readying an approach for the Dutchman, the 44-year-old has himself now confirmed that he is set to stay with the Eredivisie champions next season, putting paid to any possible move to north London.

That notable setback has ensured that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will have to consider an array of other candidates for the role, with 90min stating that out-of-work boss, Brendan Rodgers, is among the targets to have been 'discussed' by those at N17.

This follows a previous report from journalist Ben Jacobs who suggested that the Northern Irishman – who previously turned down Levy and co back in 2021 – is "extremely keen" on taking on the job, having been dismissed from his latest post at Leicester City back in April.

Should Tottenham appoint Brendan Rodgers?

There was undoubtedly excitement building at the prospect of seeing the aforementioned Slot named as the permanent successor to Antonio Conte, with the former AZ Alkmaar man having been lauded for his "ultra-attacking" style, as per journalist Marcel van der Kraan.

The former Leeds United target had emerged as an attractive option for Tottenham after guiding his current side to title glory this season, having previously taken the Rotterdam-based outfit to the Europa Conference League final last year.

Alas, Levy will have to look elsewhere to find a long-term managerial solution, albeit with it set to prove something of a blessing in disguise if this blow does lead to the appointment of Rodgers, with the 50-year-old seemingly a "great fit" for the club, as per Spurs icon, Clive Allen.

It could be argued that the experienced tactician would be an even better option than Slot for the vacancy, with the Carnlough native offering the benefit of having coached in the Premier League previously, enjoying spells at Swansea City, Liverpool and – most recently – Leicester.

Of course, Slot only recently claimed his first piece of silverware in the Netherlands, although it is Rodgers who boasts the greater winning experience, having won the FA Cup with the Foxes back in 2021, while also swooping seven domestic honours in just under three seasons during his stellar stint at Celtic.

That spell at Parkhead notably saw the one-time Reading boss – who has been hailed as "unbelievable" by former Royals asset, Michail Antonio – enjoy an unbeaten domestic campaign during the 2016/17 season.

The 4-2-3-1 boss also seemingly "plays a brand of football that is the Tottenham way" – according to club legend, Darren Anderton – with that again making him an appealing prospect for Levy and co.

With Rodgers having over a decade of coaching experience under his belt in British football, he could well be a better fit than Slot to lead Spurs for the foreseeable future.

West Ham are plotting a bid for Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill in the summer transfer window as David Moyes aims to bolster his squad.

What’s the word?

According to 90min, the Irons will follow up on their long-standing interest in the 26-year-old this summer.

With the Clarets’ Premier League status in jeopardy, the Hammers may be able to sign the player for a fee of around £15m.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-this-weeks-latest-west-ham-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-more” title= “Read the latest West Ham news!”]

Other Premier League clubs such as Aston Villa, Wolves, and Everton have all been linked with the player previously, but West Ham now appear to be the frontrunners.

Moyes needs to strengthen the West Ham midfield

Moyes needs players to occupy the central midfield role, as the Hammers have relied on Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek for the majority of this season.

With the news that the England international won’t sign a new deal and the future of the Czech Republic ace uncertain following his contract talks being put on hold, then a new midfield addition is a must.

Brownhill would make the perfect heir to the latter as they both have similar attributes, and Moyes could pull off a masterstroke by signing the “energetic” Burnley maestro, as hailed by Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie.

Both players have similar defensive stats, with Soucek making 66 tackles compared to Brownhill’s 64, while the Englishman makes more interceptions (76 to 52).

The Czech international offers more of a threat going forward, having scored five goals this season, whereas Brownhill only has two, but the Burnley midfielder has provided two more assists than the West Ham colossus.

These figures suggest that Brownhill could be the perfect replacement for Soucek if the 27-year-old were to leave the London Stadium, with his offensive and defensive abilities being very high.

The £6.3m-rated Clarets midfielder won’t come cheap, but Moyes could well have a wonderful talent on his hands if he makes the move.

AND in other news, Forget Rice: Moyes now set for West Ham disaster on “remarkable” £125k-p/w giant

Tottenham Hotspur could be set for a huge boost in their attempts to land the signing of Joao Palhinha this summer, as the price tag of the Sporting Lisbon star plummets.

The Lowdown: Spurs’ interest in Palhinha

According to a story published by O Jogo last week [via Sport Witness], it was claimed that Antonio Conte’s outfit are currently monitoring the 26-year-old’s situation in Portugal and are eyeing the signing of a player in his midfield position ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

It still looks highly likely that the Lisbon club are planning on selling the 12-cap international at the end of the season, but following a new update, it seems as though Sporting are resigned to the fact that they might have to let him leave for less than they initially wanted.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-newest-updates/” title=”Tottenham newest updates…” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Latest: Huge price reduction

In a fresh article by Correio da Manha (via Sport Witness), it has been reported that Palhinha is at the ‘top of the list’ to depart the Primeira Liga club, with the previous demand of the €40m (£33.5m) price tag now seeming ‘impossible’ to be reached by those interested.

The source added that Sporting are set to reduce the asking fee to €30m (£25.1m), resulting in an appealing price drop of just over £8m.

The Verdict: Get it done

The £23.4m-rated talent has made 36 appearances in all competitions for Ruben Amorim’s side this term, netting three goals in that time (as per Transfermarkt), but he hasn’t had the best campaign, with injuries and suspensions prompting multiple spells out of the team.

As a result, Palhinha has lost his place in the Portugal national team, so it’s little wonder that Sporting have been left with no choice but to decrease their asking price for the 26-year-old.

Nonetheless, having once described as an “aggressive” player by former Sporting and Manchester United winger Nani, the 6 foot 2 maestro could be a worthy prospective capture for Spurs, and now would be the perfect time to make a move for him given the reduction in his asking price.

In other news… a source has made some fresh claims regarding this Tottenham transfer target