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The Rangers Review and Sky Sports journalist Joshua Barrie has now revealed some fresh Glasgow Rangers transfer news on Borna Barisic.

The Lowdown: Exit links

Barisic has been linked with a move away from Ibrox this summer, while Stoke City left-back Josh Tymon is thought to be a potential replacement for the Croatia international should he leave.

It is not clear whether he is in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s plans, although it has seemed as if he could be sold if the right offer were to come in for him, given the interest in a replacement.

The Latest: No contact

Taking to Twitter, Barrie has revealed that no contact or confirmed interest has been shown by other clubs with regards to Barisic, although it is not guaranteed that he will stay at the Teddy Bears beyond this summer:

“Understand there is nothing happening regarding Borna Barisic at present. Rangers have not had any contact or confirmed interest from other clubs. It’s not guaranteed that the Croatian definitely stays this summer, but there is no current movement.”

The Verdict: Sell

Barisic is 29 years of age, and so now provides the best time for the Light Blues to sell for the highest possible price.

He only has two years left remaining on his deal, meaning that his market value is only going to decrease over the next two seasons, to the point where he could end up leaving for free.

The Gers already have Calvin Bassey who can play at left-back, and with Tymon potentially coming in as well, Barisic will not be missed too much.

In other news, find out how RFC could now sign Erling Haaland’s best mate here!

Sunderland won promotion back to the Championship last season and are now set to compete in the second tier for the first time since the 2017/18 campaign.

Alex Neil replaced Lee Johnson at the helm earlier this year and hit the ground running on Wearside as he led the team to glory via the play-offs.

Kristjaan Speakman and the Scottish boss will now be looking to shape the Black Cats squad in the coming weeks, with outgoings and incomings potentially taking place ahead of the 2022/23 season.

One player who may be on his way out of the club is versatile American gem Lynden Gooch. The 26-year-old is out of contract at the end of the month and is reportedly attracting interest from fellow Championship side Swansea.

Gooch played in a multitude of roles for Neil and Johnson throughout the 2021/22 campaign, featuring out wide, in central midfield and at wing-back in League One. He was able to fill in wherever he was needed and this made him a reliable option for the head coach to call upon.

However, the consistency in his performances was not always there as he averaged a solid, albeit unimpressive, SofaScore rating of 6.77 in the third tier. The dynamo failed to score a single goal but did provide six assists as he played 41 times in the league.

Whilst losing him may be a concern at this moment in time, Speakman can allay any fears that Gooch’s exit will be a blow by signing free agent Robbie Brady.

He spent the second half of last season at Bournemouth and is now set to be available on a free. Sunderland are one of the teams reportedly keen on the Irishman and he can be a big upgrade on the American heading into the 2022/23 campaign.

The £33k-per-week wizard was recently dubbed “fantastic” by Swansea boss Russell Martin and he showed glimpses of what he is capable of with an average SofaScore rating of 7.03 in six matches for the Cherries.

He has previously shown that he can be a valuable asset at Championship level and has already worked with Neil at Norwich. In the 2016/17 campaign, he averaged a score of 7.11 as he managed four goals and four assists in 22 matches for the Canaries.

The gem is capable of playing at left-back, on either wing – as a winger or wing-back – and has played in central midfield during his career.

This shows that he is as versatile as Gooch whilst also having a history of performing to a higher standard in the league above the one the American gem played in last season. Therefore, Sunderland must sign Brady as he can be a big upgrade on the 26-year-old.

AND in other news, Speakman has held SAFC talks to sign “effortless” £9m magician, he’s McGeady 2.0…

Glasgow Rangers are reportedly now fighting a club in the Premier League to bring Ivan Lepinjica to Ibrox this summer.

The Lowdown: Defensive midfielder needed

Giovanni van Bronckhorst is lacking a natural defensive midfielder in his squad at the moment, and so this is an area of the pitch that the Gers will be expected to strengthen in this summer’s transfer window.

Although Lepinjica can play in more advanced roles too, he is naturally a holding midfield player, and so would fit the profile needed.

The Latest: Wolves interest

As per Football Insider, Wolves are now working on a deal to sign Lepinjica, who is a ‘hugely regarded talent’ in Croatia.

The Light Blues have also been tracking the six-foot-three colossus however, after first considering a move back in 2021.

The Verdict: Get it done

The lure of the English top flight will certainly attract Lepinjica, and so the Teddy Bears need to get this deal done as soon as possible.

He is a real leader on the pitch despite being just 22 years of age, evidenced by him captaining Croatia at youth level, and is part of a ‘very talented’ generation of Croatians, according to renowned Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig.

Kulig highlights Lepinjica’s strengths as passing, vision, positioning, tackling, heading and anticipation, and so he seemingly has everything needed both on and off the ball to succeed as a holding midfielder.

This is certainly one to look out for as the window progresses.

Manchester United are interested in signing Portuguese striker Joao Felix from Spanish side Atletico Madrid this summer but face competition from Premier League rivals.

What’s the story?

According to Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha, United want to bring Felix to Old Trafford, but they face competition from Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur who are also interested.

The report also explains how United’s failure to qualify for the Champions League could complicate the deal and give the London clubs an advantage.

With The Red Devils now without Edinson Cavani who has departed, they are short of options up front so are looking to recruit a striker.

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He’s what Erik Ten Hag needs

Last season the little United relied heavily on Cristiano Ronaldo for goals. He scored an impressive 24 and although he couldn’t propel them to Champions League qualification he was the reason they qualified for the Europa League.

However, if United are to recapture their past successes under new manager Erik Ten Hag, they can’t rely on a 37-year-old who is probably only going to be around for one more season.

They need to plan ahead, and signing Felix would represent that. The striker grabbed headlines when he moved to Atletico Madrid from Benfica for £113m in 2019.

As a teenager, it was always going to be difficult to live up to the price tag, although he has been directly involved in 44 goals in 110 appearances for the club which isn’t a bad return.

The £63m-rated star has been described as “outstanding” by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

It’s easy to write him off as he has been around for a few years and not yet reached the levels expected, but at only 22 years of age, he has got a lot more to give, and working under a coach like Ten Hag would benefit him.

The Dutch manager has a record of nurturing young players while managing Ajax – with the club having produced names such as Frenkie de Jong, Hakim Ziyech and Matias de Ligt during his tenure.

Moving to Manchester would allow Felix to take advantage of what playing for a big club brings commercially as well as being a catalyst for the re-build.

Once more, he can spend his first season at the club learning from his compatriot – and one of the best strikers of all time – Ronaldo.

If he were to move to Chelsea then he would have the pressure of coming straight in and being expected to score 20 plus goals to try and lead them to a title.

He needs to move to a club where he will be afforded time to develop and reach the potential he undoubtedly has, and United is the perfect place for that at the moment.

AND in other news: Ten Hag closes in on Man Utd swoop for £54m-rated “genius”, he’s a big upgrade on Fred…

Leeds United are considering a move to bring a backup goalkeeper to Elland Road this summer.

What’s the talk?

In a recent report for The Athletic, Phil Hay revealed that, with Victor Orta having already made a number of additions to Jesse Marsch’s first-team squad this summer, the Spanish director of football and his Leeds transfer team are also discussing the possibility of a move to bring a recognised number two to the club in the coming weeks – with one shot-stopper reported to be of interest to the Whites being the out of contract Ben Foster.

In his article, the journalist wrote: “Leeds have spoken about sourcing a more experienced second-choice goalkeeper but that would be a more peripheral signing, a move that made no material difference to their strongest line-up on paper. Their plan is a long way down the line, so far avoiding the risk that a busy and delicate window becomes messy or gets out of hand.”

“Unreal” signing

While it is undeniable that Illan Meslier will remain as Marsch’s first-choice goalkeeper heading into the 2022/23 campaign, with the relatively unproven Kristoffer Klaesson as the 48-year-old’s only realistic backup to the France U21 international, it would indeed appear an extremely wise move for Orta to bring in an experienced option in the position this summer.

And, while he is very much in the twilight of his career at the very top of the English game, considering his availability on a free, coupled with his impressively long career spent in the Premier League, Foster would very much look to make a fantastic addition to the American’s options between the sticks next season.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more-2″ title=”Read the latest Leeds news, transfer rumours and more!”]

Indeed, with £30k-per-week stopper is one of the most experienced ‘keepers still playing the game, enjoying largely successful spells with the likes of Watford, West Bromwich Albion, Birmingham City and Manchester United in the top flight.

Furthermore, the former Leeds United number one, Paul Robinson, quite clearly believes the 39-year-old who Alexander Abnos dubbed “unreal” would make an excellent addition to Marsch’s side this summer, stating in an interview with MOT Leeds News last month:

“Illan Meslier has been excellent and I think he’s the out-and-out number one simply because he’s got no competition.

“Next season, if he gets injured or suspended, they’ve got no quality number two. And if he has a dip in form – which will happen at some point – the manager’s got no choice but to stick with him and ride it out because he hasn’t got a good enough number two to put in.

“They have to go for a quality one. If you look around the Premier League, the other teams have quality goalkeepers. Everyone carries a top-quality number two who can do the job.

“I heard a link with Ben Foster and I think that would be an outstanding signing if they were able to pull it off. He’s somebody with experience who Meslier can learn from. But he’s also equally as good to step in and play should Meslier not be able to or wasn’t in form. It’s an area they have to address this window.”

Indeed, it is difficult to disagree with the former England stopper’s opinion, as, with Meslier demonstrating last season that he is not immune to a dip in form – something that is only natural for a ‘keeper as young as 21 years of age – the signing of a more experienced pair of gloves ahead of the upcoming Premier League campaign would appear a must for Orta – leading us to believe that Foster on a free would be an outstanding signing for the Spaniard to get over the line in the coming weeks.

AND in other news: “They are still in for…”: Transfer insider drops Leeds update supporters will love

Everton have been linked with a move for Adama Traore this summer and now a new update has emerged on the club’s pursuit of the player.

What’s the latest?

According to Football Insider, Wolverhampton Wanderers have told Everton that they will need to pay £10m to sign winger Traore.

As per the report, Wolves have green-lighted the player’s suitors to make a move as they are now willing to accept offers for the player this summer with his contract expiring in 12 months and Goodison Park sporting director Kevin Thelwell is a huge admirer of Traore.

 Walcott 2.0

Farhad Moshiri has earned a reputation for making poor transfer decisions and the signing of Traore could be another player added to the long list of disaster signings at the Merseyside club over the last six years.

The Spanish winger struggled for game time with Wolves last season as he failed to be effective in his position over the first half of the season, scoring just one goal over 20 appearances before he was shipped off to his former club Barcelona for a six-month loan with the La Liga giants.

Again, over 11 appearances the forward only managed two assists under Xavi’s wing and ultimately, the powers at the Nou Camp decided not to exercise their option to buy the player following his loan spell, which again speaks volumes.

The last thing Everton needs right now is a player who cannot be effective in front of goal, especially with Richarlison making the move to Tottenham Hotspur, so Moshiri should be looking for a much more consistent and reliable attacking threat who can finish his chances to put the side in a better position to compete in the Premier League next season.

Traore, who has been a liability for Wolves over the last season, was dubbed “really poor” by journalist Tim Spiers, and if Frank Lampard was to deploy the player into his team next season, Everton could be heading for a similar outcome as they had with Theo Walcott.

Walcott made 85 appearances for the Toffees but failed to offer a consistent output during his time at the club scoring just 11 goals and delivering nine assists, with a goal contribution every 243 minutes, and last season Traore had a goal contribution every 371 minutes in all competitions.

With that being said, Moshiri is treading on thin ice after Everton’s narrow survival from Premier League relegation last season and can’t afford to make any more mistakes, so signing Traore should be avoided at all costs.

AND in other news: Thelwell readying Everton bid to sign £25m “exciting talent”, he’s a big Dele upgrade

Former Premier League striker Frank McAvennie has claimed that Liam Delap could become a forgotten man at Manchester City following the arrival of Erling Haaland.

The Lowdown: Man City open to Delap exit

The 19-year-old still has four years remaining on his contract at the Etihad Stadium after penning an extension to his deal last summer, but he spent the whole of last season playing for the under-23s without being able to make a genuine breakthrough into the first team.

Journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano revealed last week that the Sky Blues are willing to let the forward go in the coming weeks, with both Burnley and Southampton the two main clubs to have emerged as serious potential suitors.

The Latest: McAvennie’s comments

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie was quick to insist that Delap should have been given a chance to shine in Man City’s senior squad last term, but now fears for the youngster’s first-team prospects following the summer arrival of the hugely prolific Erling Haaland.

The former Aston Villa forward said: “I don’t know why, if he’s that good a striker and spoken so highly of, he didn’t get a game. They played so many games last year without a striker.

“You’re not getting in the team now that Haaland’s there. I would be a bit concerned for myself if I was in that team, I’d be wondering why, if I’m supposed to be a good striker, why he wasn’t playing me.

“I’d have left before now. I’d have been knocking on Pep’s [Guardiola] door before now.“

The Verdict: He could go

Oleksandr Zinchenko looks like he’s on his way out as he closes in on a move to Arsenal; and if McAvennie’s comments about his game-time prove prophetic, Delap could be next to head for the Etihad exit door in what would be a real blow for the champions.

The Winchester-born talent, who was once dubbed an ‘exceptional’ striker by City manager Pep Guardiola, missed chunks of last season due to injury but still managed to score eight goals and provide two assists in ten Premier League 2 appearances when involved in the action, as per Transfermarkt.

Delap is arguably one of City’s most exciting young talents coming through the ranks, and whether it happens on loan or on a permanent basis, it would be a shame for the club to lose the services of someone who has so much potential for the future.

However, if he struggles to get a look-in for the first team again next season, the 19-year-old could indeed seek to move on from the Etihad.

Celtic have cashed in on numerous players over the years when suitable offers have arrived at the Parkhead club.

One player on whom the Hoops made a tidy profit a few years ago is Victor Wanyama.

Signed from Germinal Beerschot in 2011 for a fee of around £1m, the midfielder then joined Premier League club Southampton in 2013 in a deal worth £12.5m.

During his time at Parkhead, the Kenyan made 91 appearances for the Bhoys across all competitions, chipping in with 13 goals and nine assists along the way.

Wanyama also proved himself to be a tough defensive figure as well as an occasional threat in front of goal.

Specifically, in his seven Champions League appearances during Celtic’s 2012/13 season, the midfielder ended the tournament with a higher average for tackles per game (four) than any other Hoops player.

In addition, his overall European performances in that season earned him a solid rating of 7.13/10 from WhoScored, making him the second-highest rated player in Celtic’s squad at the time.

Back to the present, with the likes of Tom Rogic, Nir Bitton and Ismaila Soro having left Parkhead this summer, the remaining weeks of the current transfer window could give Ange Postecoglou the chance to bring in what may be Celtic’s next version of Wanyama.

Earlier this month, the Premiership champions were linked with a move for Argentine midfielder Fausto Vera.

In 73 appearances for his current club Argentinos Juniors, the 22-year-old has found the net seven times and supplied three assists for his team-mates.

The midfielder, who has a reported price tag of €6.5m (£5.5m), has also made 23 youth appearances for his country on the international stage, scoring two goals in the process. This shows the attacking prowess that he has, in a similar fashion to Wanyama during his time in Glasgow.

From a defensive point of view, Vera has made 11 interceptions and won seven tackles in his seven league appearances so far this season.

This backs up why he has been hailed as a “complete” player by commentator Pablo Carrozza on Twitter, and why he could be an ideal next version of Wanyama at Celtic.

AND in other news – “Still working…”: Ange drops huge Celtic transfer update, supporters will be buzzing

Former Glasgow Rangers manager Alex McLeish has dismissed the possibility of Glen Kamara leaving Ibrox this summer. 

The lowdown: Kamara in demand

Having played his part in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Scottish Cup-winning side last season and in the Premiership title-winning campaign in 2020/21, the 26-year-old has become hot property in Glasgow.

A recent report from the Daily Mail claimed that Turkish giants Galatasaray are the latest club to show an interest in signing the experienced Finland international.

That came after transfer expert Graeme Bailey revealed that Brighton and Hove Albion had also been keen on acquiring Kamara’s services earlier in the summer, leading to one former Ibrox boss having his say on the midfielder’s future with the Light Blues.

The latest: McLeish makes Kamara plea

Speaking to Football Insider, McLeish claimed that the Glasgow giants were no longer in a position where they needed to sell their prized assets such as the 46-cap star and has urged sporting director Ross Wilson not to blindly cash in on Kamara.

The ex-Gers manager said: “There are a lot of people out there who are still very instrumental and are putting money into Rangers.

“I have a few friends who are doing that. They are a very attractive proposition for wealthy fans, Rangers will always make money.

“These bits of business are really good. The Bassey one is a cracker. Chelsea have done that with their academy, bringing boys through and selling them. They have made a fortune doing that.

“Rangers, being in Scotland, they have to think among those lines as well.”

The verdict: Fingers crossed

Having lost one influential star in the shape of Calvin Bassey, who completed his move to Ajax this week, Van Bronckhorst cannot afford to lose many more of his most important players so close to the 2022/23 campaign.

Once dubbed a ‘Rolls Royce of a player’ by former Light Blues manager Steven Gerrard, the ex-Arsenal prospect – who was brought to Ibrox from Dundee – has amassed 158 appearances for Rangers and has become somewhat of a stalwart within the club in his three years.

Last season, Kamara Sofascore rating, he won 3.9 duels, played 1.3 key passes and averaged a 91% passing accuracy per Premiership outing.

With the 26-year-old valued at £6.75m and under contract at Ibrox until 2025 (Transfermarkt), given McLeish’s positivity around the finances and the Gers’ apparent position of strength, it would surely take an extraordinary offer in order for Wilson and co to even contemplate cashing in on Kamara at this juncture.

West Ham United have been left scrambling to find a new centre-back addition following the cruel injury blow to summer signing Nayef Aguerd.

What’s the word?

As per journalist Toby Cudworth on Twitter, the Hammers’ “major priority” for the remainder of the window is to find cover for the Morocco international, with the 26-year-old – who only signed on a £30m deal last month from Rennes – having limped off in the recent pre-season defeat to Rangers.

In his attached piece for 90min, the transfer insider revealed that, while no timescale has been given as yet by the east Londoners, there are fears that Aguerd could potentially be absent until the start of 2023, ruling him out of the World Cup which is set to take place this winter.

While the 25-cap gem has undergone successful surgery, the report suggests that the possible length of his absence has forced David Moyes into the market once again, with the former Everton boss seeking an addition who offers ‘tactical versatility’ to be able to feature in a back four or a back three.

The wait to find a suitable stand-in could also see Issa Diop’s proposed move to newly-promoted Fulham put on hold, with the Irons surely not wanting to leave themselves short as the new season approaches.

Moyes must act

It is proving a nightmare scenario for both Aguerd and West Ham, with Moyes likely ruing his luck at having lost one of his crucial summer additions to injury before competitive action has even begun.

The 59-year-old had seemingly earmarked the £10.8m-rated man and former Chelsea colossus Kurt Zouma as his preferred centre-back pairing for the upcoming campaign, although he will now be forced to rip it up and start again with just over a week to go until the Premier League resumes.

It will be no easy re-introduction to top-flight football for the Irons either, with ruthless champions Manchester City lined up as their first opponent of the 2022/23 season, Pep Guardiola’s outfit having strengthened even further this summer with the signing of prolific youngster Erling Haaland.

The Hammers boss does have the likes of Craig Dawson and Angelo Ogbonna to call upon as reliable alternatives to the stricken Aguerd, although in the Italian’s case it remains to be seen if he can recapture his previous impressive form after missing the bulk of last season with a knee injury.

Having just three fit senior centre-back options – including the potentially departing Diop – is far from an ideal situation heading into a season which will see the club once again competing both domestically and in Europe, hence the urgent need to strengthen.

In truth, Moyes and co simply need to act now with the new campaign looming large, as not doing so could well prove costly.

AND in other news, Moyes can now form “unreal” duo as West Ham given green light for “limitless” £13m signing…