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Everton need to use their summer transfer window to add depth and quality to their squad, and now they have been linked to a new potential transfer target.

What’s the latest?

According to Italian news outlet Calciomercato, Everton have joined the race to sign Roma midfielder Jordan Veretout.

As per the report, Everton are thinking about plotting a move for Veretout and his current club would expect no less than €15m (£12.8m) to part ways with the player this summer.

Fabian Delph replacement

Frank Lampard will surely be hoping to strengthen his squad during his first full transfer window at the club and signing Veretout would be the perfect replacement and upgrade for Fabian Delph who will leave the club after his contract expires at the end of this month.

The 29-year-old midfielder who was dubbed “wonderful” by journalist Mina Rzouki has been a consistent performer for his Italian club in the Serie A this season over his 36 league appearances.

Veretout scored four goals, contributed eight assists and created nine big chances, all while making 1.6 key passes and completing 0.9 tackles on average per game.

He also won the majority of his duels (56%) and was successful in the large majority of his dribbles (74%), whilst also completing a 93% pass accuracy in his own half.

The midfielder ranked tenth for the most assists in the Serie A, and ranked sixth for assists via set plays in the entire top five European leagues, proving that he is extremely influential in creating goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates, something that would be highly valued at Everton.

Everton are in need desperate need to score more goals next season after conceding 23 more goals than they scored last season which ultimately contributed to the Toffees’ difficult relegation battle, so adding Veretout’s prolific playmaking abilities into the team would surely be a huge boost for the team’s chance creation.

That’s an area where he certainly betters Delph too, with the former Man City man failing to provide an assist last term while supplying just 0.4 key passes per match.

With that being said, Kevin Thelwell should be making a move for the midfielder as soon as possible as he could be a real asset for Lampard to deploy in the centre of the pitch next season at Goodison Park especially if he can emulate or even better his output in the Serie A in the Premier League next season.

AND in other news: Contact made: EFC in talks to sign “untouchable” £18m-rated gem, Frank will love him

Liverpool are interested in making a surprise move for Chelsea forward Timo Werner this summer, according to a fresh transfer claim.

The Lowdown: Werner disappoints at Chelsea

The 26-year-old moved to Chelsea from RB Leipzig back in 2020, with big things expected of him after his goalscoring exploits in the Bundesliga.

There is no doubt that Werner has been a disappointment for the Blues overall, however, scoring 23 goals in 89 appearances and rarely justifying his price tag after netting an incredible 93 goals in 158 matches for Leipzig.

It could be that the German leaves Chelsea this summer following their takeover and a shock Liverpool transfer rumour has emerged.

The Latest: Reds eye up move

According to Football Insider, a Reds source has informed them that Jurgen Klopp is eyeing up a move for Werner in the coming months, after showing interest back in 2019.

It is claimed that ‘no discussions have taken place’ over a move yet but that there is genuine interest in the forward.

Klopp and Julian Ward believe Werner is ‘better suited’ to their style of play than Chelsea’s.

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The Verdict: Is he worth it?

Werner is a dangerous attacking player when he wants to be, possessing electric pace and being hailed as ‘amazing’ by Thomas Tuchel, but signing him would still feel like a risk by Liverpool.

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Too often, the Germany international has flattered to deceive in a Chelsea shirt, and given the wage demands he would likely still have, it could easily end up being money wasted by the Reds.

The departures of Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino have admittedly lessened the depth in Liverpool’s attack slightly, but the player would have to accept arriving as a back-up option at best if he makes the move to Merseyside.

Aston Villa transfer target Gabriel Barbosa could be a ‘really good’ acquisition for the club, in the view of transfer insider Dean Jones. 

The lowdown

According to a recent report from 90min, the striker was a target for Villa during the January transfer window, and NSWE are still thought to be ‘keeping tabs’ on his situation with a view to a potential move.

Nicknamed ‘Gabigol’, Barbosa currently plays for Brazilian giants Flamengo after making a £15.75m move from Inter Milan in January 2020.

The Athletic’s Gregg Evans has already written that Steven Gerrard wants to add another centre-forward to his ranks in the coming weeks.

The latest

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones pointed out that Barbosa has been representing Brazil, the world’s top-ranked international team. The 25-year-old made Tite’s squads in September and October 2021 and January 2022, scoring against Venezuela and Uruguay.

Jones said of the Flamengo marksman’s links with Villa: “I think Gabigol could be [good enough], to be honest. I mean, he’s a Brazilian No.9. If he’s good enough to get into that set-up, he’s got to be good enough to play for Aston Villa, surely.

“We don’t obviously know yet if he’s Champions League class, but he’s kind of proven that he’s world-class on an international basis, so I feel Gabigol might be a really good get for a club like Aston Villa.”

The verdict

Barbosa’s record for Flamengo is sensational – 158 games, 131 goal involvements (103 goals, 28 assists).

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that he was named in the IFFHS South American Team of the Year in 2021, alongside Neymar, Lionel Messi and Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez.

However, it would still be a gamble to move for the £23.4m-rated marksman, who struggled during his previous stints in Europe with Inter Milan and Benfica. He made just 15 appearances combined across those two spells, netting only two goals.

Therefore, you might wonder whether he can deliver in the Premier League, the top-ranked division on the continent.

A major update has emerged on Aston Villa’s pursuit of Ludwig Augustinsson in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the club have agreed a deal to sign the Sweden international ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

He Tweeted: “Aston Villa have reached an agreement with Sevilla to sign Ludwig Augustinsson as new left back. Deal now in place, been told it’s a loan move with an option to buy included. #AVFC There’s still something to be resolved on player side, final details before deal completed.”

The full-back is set to become the fifth signing of the summer, following on from Philippe Coutinho, Boubacar Kamara, Robin Olsen, and Diego Carlos.

Supporters will be buzzing

Villa supporters will be buzzing with this news as it means that the club have finally snapped up a replacement for Matt Targett, who joined Newcastle earlier in the window.

Lucas Digne will now have competition for his place in the side and that will, hopefully, drive both players on to improve. It will create a healthy battle to start in the back four and give Steven Gerrard a welcome selection headache, which is why this can be a very smart move.

Augustinsson struggled for game time at Sevilla last term – starting nine times – but previously showcased his quality in the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen.

In the 2020/21 campaign, he averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 7.14 in the German top-flight. He started 21 matches and created an impressive 1.8 key passes per match – recording four assists in total.

The gem also caught the eye in the recent Nations League matches for his country. In three games for Sweden, he averaged a phenomenal rating of 7.43 as he made 3.3 tackles and interceptions per game and won 78% of his individual duels.

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These statistics suggest that the 28-year-old has the potential to be a top performer for Villa as he can make an impact at both ends of the pitch from left-back.

Even if he does not end up being the first-choice and playing every week in the Premier League, his presence will be vital to avoid Digne becoming complacement.

Fans will, therefore, be buzzing with this prospective loan deal for the Swedish full-back and will be delighted with the club’s willingness to bolster the depth of their squad ahead of next season.

AND in other news, Lange can seal “great talent” as Villa’s fifth summer signing, imagine him & Coutinho…

A behind-the-scenes transfer claim has emerged regarding recent rumours linking West Bromwich Albion defender Dara O’Shea with a move to fellow Championship club Burnley.

What’s the latest?

After the defender was linked with a move to Turf Moor earlier this week, a recent report from Lancashire Live has claimed that no contact has been made by the Clarets towards the Baggies over a potential deal for the player.

The centre-back joined West Brom’s under-18 squad in 2015 and has gone on to make 103 appearances for the Midlands club across their senior and youth teams, chipping in with seven goals and providing four assists along the way.

Over 59 matches across the Championship and Premier League, the Irishman has won 60 tackles and made 84 interceptions.

Also, despite missing a significant chunk of last season through injury, the 23-year-old still ended the campaign with a higher performance rating (7.09/10) than any other player in Steve Bruce’s squad according to WhoScored.

Taking this into account, it’s safe to say that it would be a big blow for the Baggies to potentially see the defender wave goodbye to The Hawthorns this summer, especially having seen Cedric Kipre leaving the club recently to sign for fellow Championship side Cardiff City on a season-long loan deal.

Great news for Bruce

Bearing in mind how Burnley have seen the likes of James Tarkowski, Ben Mee and Nathan Collins leave Turf Moor this summer, it makes sense for them to be looking at a player like O’Shea to add some defensive strength to their squad.

However, if West Brom were to sell one of their key assets to another club trying to win promotion back to the Premier League, it surely wouldn’t go down well with Baggies supporters.

Now that this latest update has emerged, it should definitely be a weight off Albion fans’ shoulders and certainly music to the ears of Bruce, who will presumably see O’Shea as a key part of his squad this season.

Should Burnley, or any other club, look to sign the Baggies defender this summer, West Brom should not consider any offer which comes their way, no matter how lucrative it may seem.

AND in other news – Deal agreed: West Brom closing in on “tenacious” £29k-p/w target, it’s a massive coup

Celtic are reportedly ‘preparing’ an offer to sign Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Edouard Michut this summer, according to Sky Sports journalist Lyall Thomas.

The lowdown: Hot prospect

A product of the youth system at PSG having joined the French giants in 2016, Michut made a first-team league debut in February 2021 against Dijon.

The 19-year-old France youth international has made eight senior outings for the French top-flight champions to date and was on the substitutes bench for three UEFA Champions League matches last season.

Under contract until 2025 in the French capital (Transfermarkt), claims have emerged suggesting that the Hoops are looking to bring Michut to Glasgow…

The latest: ‘Preparing an offer’

Taking to Twitter, Thomas, alongside Sky Sports colleague Anthony Joseph, claimed that Celtic are already looking to get the ball rolling on this deal.

He stated: “Exclusive: #CelticFC are targeting a deal for #ParisSaintGermain midfielder Edouard Michut. One source has told @SkySportsNews they’re preparing an offer in the region of £2m (€2.5m) for the 19-year-old.”

Those claims have been further backed up by RMC journalist Loic Tanzi, who himself took to Twitter to state that the Hoops ‘would like to sign’ the nine-cap France Under 19 starlet.

The verdict: Money well spent

Holding a market value of £2.7million, snapping up a gifted youngster such as Michut – who predominantly operates as an attack-minded midfielder – for the suggested fee would be an exceptional piece of astute business from the Parkhead hierarchy.

This transfer would also be another nod towards the growing penchant at Celtic Park under the helm of Ange Postecoglou to sign bright youth prospects after the recent addition of Alexandro Bernabei and the potential arrival of St Mirren ace Dylan Reid.

Described as a ‘very interesting talent’ by reputable football scout Jacek Kulig, Michut was named in The Guardian’s 60 best young talents in 2020 and has previously been touted as a target for Manchester City, Juventus and Barcelona.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp ‘really wants’ to sign Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham, CBS journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed.

The Lowdown: Bellingham staying put

The 19-year-old is a player of enormous promise, having burst onto the scene for both Dortmund and England, being described as ‘scary’ by international team-mate Jack Grealish.

Bellingham has been strongly linked with a move to Liverpool in recent weeks, with midfield seen as the one area in Jurgen Klopp’s squad which could do with another strong signing.

The teenager looks set to stay at Dortmund for another year, though, before departing for pastures new in 2023.

The Latest: Liverpool still keen on Bellingham

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jacobs talked up Liverpool’s interest in Bellingham, claiming that Klopp is desperate to snap him up at some stage.

The reporter stated:

“Liverpool could still add another midfielder, and they will also plan ahead for future windows, with Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham a player Jurgen Klopp really wants.”

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The Verdict: More likely next summer?

While it would be a big surprise if Bellingham ends up leaving Dortmund this summer, it does feel as though Liverpool could be the favourites to snap him up this time next year.

The England international looks like he’d be a perfect addition to a Reds midfield which is beginning to age, possessing the athleticism, technical brilliance and team ethic to thrive in a Klopp team over many years.

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At 19, he is already a key figure for Dortmund, registering three goals and eight assists in 32 Bundesliga appearances last season, and he could eventually become be the next great addition to Liverpool’s midfield.

Nottingham Forest have been very active and wasted no time getting their deals done this summer with 11 new signings, and now a reliable source has revealed the next steps in the club’s transfer plans.

What’s the latest?

According to 90min journalist Graeme Bailey, Nottingham Forest could be set to sign up to 15 new players throughout this transfer window.

Speaking on the Talking Transfer Podcast, Bailey claimed:

“I’ve been told up to 15 (signings), that sounds odd but they already have 11, they want another striker, they like Emmanuel Dennis who can play up front next to Awoniyi who is his international colleague with Nigeria. They want another centre-half as well I’m told.”

It’s good news

There is no doubt that supporters will be delighted with the transfer business so far, as it is clear that Forest are doing their best to build a squad fit to compete in the Premier League next season, and now they will be even more excited by this latest update.

Forest have made a number of signings across multiple positions from striker to goal-keeper there is a new face in almost every position in the team, however, if Bailey’s comments are true then it looks like the club are still not finished strengthening their squad.

Signing 15 new players in one transfer window is relatively unheard of when a club is promoted to the Premier League, however, it shows the determination the Reds have in their pursuit to retain their top-flight status.

Morgan Gibbs-White, Levi Colwill, Emmanuel Dennis and Maxwel Cornet are just a few of the players still linked with a move to The City Ground this summer, so it would be no surprise if they did make a few more signings.

The club’s most recent signing of former Manchester United gem Jesse Lingard is a great coup for the newly-promoted side as his 165 Premier League appearances will be a valuable asset for Steve Cooper when the top flight returns in under two weeks’ time.

With that being said, signing a few more players with experience in the Premier League could be the key to building a team that can compete comfortably next season, it will be interesting to see who will be the 12th new face to join Cooper’s new look Forest.

AND in other news: Cooper plotting Forest bid for “versatile” £6.8m target, imagine him & Lingard

Celtic midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi looks highly likely to leave the club during the summer transfer window, according to former Scotland manager Alex McLeish.

The Lowdown: Ideguchi’s injury struggles

The 25-year-old has suffered plenty of injury problems at Parkhead, making just two Scottish Premiership appearances in the whole of last season after joining in January.

Ange Postecoglou has enjoyed a strong summer in the transfer market, with Aaron Mooy arguably the most high-profile midfield signing, as he looks to make up for the loss of Tom Rogic.

With Ideguchi seemingly not looking like a key part of the manager’s plans this season, it could be that he departs a quick-fire fashion.

The Latest: Midfielder backed for Celtic exit

Speaking to Football Insider, Sky Sports pundit McLeish claimed that it is easy to envisage the Japanese moving on to pastures new in the coming weeks, due to his injuries and lack of football:

“He seems to be plagued by injuries. It just seems as though it isn’t going to happen for him at Celtic. You kind of get that feeling when you don’t see a player appearing for such a long time and then about niggles.

“Very rarely does that end in a happy ending, in terms of his Celtic future. It would strike me that he may not be able to fulfil what Postecoglou has seen in him.

“He’s now got to go to a certain standard to get into that Celtic team, they are the league champions.

“The players who won that title will be more determined than ever to hold onto their places. So unless Ideguchi performs a minor miracle then his days are numbered at Celtic.”

The Verdict: Too soon to leave?

While selling the 15-cap Japan ace permanently this summer would feel a little knee-jerk, loaning him out could be a shrewd decision and one that benefits all parties, affording the Celtic man more playing time.

He is already set to miss the start of this season through injury, and as McLeish alludes to, it is difficult to see how he will force his way into the title-winning team’s plans.

Ideguchi will need to hit the ground running upon his return and prove his worth to Postecoglou, or risk his spell at Parkhead being an extremely short one.

Nottingham Forest have had three bids rejected for Morgan Gibbs-White so far this summer, but a new claim from a reliable source has injected some hope into the club’s pursuit of the 22-year-old.

What’s the latest?

According to journalist Jacque Talbot, the Reds’ proposed deal for the Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder “will get done” this summer.

He tweeted: “Nottingham Forest fans – feeling is that Morgan Gibbs-White will get done now. As reported a couple of months back, this one would go to the wire. Player is eager to join, may push it through. No info on bid, etc, as of yet.”

Cooper surely frustrated

Steve Cooper will surely be frustrated that Forest haven’t been able to secure the 22-year-old’s signing yet, especially as they are now underway in their Premier League campaign, but Talbot’s update does give Forest some hope despite Gibbs-White starting for Wolves yesterday.

It was reported earlier this week that the Garibaldi had a £35m bid rejected (£25m transfer fee with £10m in add-ons), but Forest are showing no signs of giving up on their number one transfer target despite already signing 12 new players over the transfer window so far.

The Forest boss is no stranger to the young midfielder after managing Gibbs-White in the World Cup-winning England under-17 side and signing him on a six-month loan spell at Swansea City, showing that the manager is clearly a huge admirer of the player and experienced in getting the best out of him.

Gibbs-White has gone from strength to strength in his career so far, and most recently impressed over a season-long loan with Sheffield United in the Championship last term.

The 22-year-old scored 11 goals, delivered nine assists and created a whopping 16 chances, making 1.6 key passes, winning 4.9 duels and completing 1.3 dribbles per game over 35 appearances as Sheffield United’s promotion push ended on penalties in the play-off semi-finals against Nottingham Forest.

Gibbs-White has two years left on his current contract and has so far refused to extend that despite Wolves reportedly being keen to secure the midfielder’s future at the Molineux, and Bruno Lage has made it clear that the player is part of his plans by starting him this weekend and speaking out ahead of the new season.

Lage revealed in his pre-match press conference ahead of their clash against Leeds: “We keep Morgan – how much would you pay for Morgan? £50million. Tell me one player who can play like Morgan and how much do you pay for him?

“Since the first day I have seen a top player. When I want to find a player like him, I need to spend £50million. We have a strong team and with patience we will create a strong squad.”

The powerbrokers at the City Ground will need to present something special for Wolves to part ways with their rising star, but if Forest can somehow secure a deal before the transfer window shuts in a few weeks, it would be a major coup for the Garibaldi and a reward for their persistence.

For now, though, it’s nothing but frustration for Cooper in the Reds’ pursuit of the 22-year-old.