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Everton have been previously linked with a move for Rodrigo Becao, and now a new update has emerged from a reliable journalist on the club’s progression with their potential transfer target.

What’s the latest?

According to Mirror Football editor Rich Jones, Everton are ramping up their interest in signing the Udinese centre-back this summer.

Jones tweeted: “Udinese defender Rodrigo Becão is attracting interest from Everton.

“Understand negotiations have not yet started but Everton have sounded out the centre-back over the prospect of a move this summer.”

Lampard will be excited

Everton have almost completed a deal for James Tarkowski ahead of next season and adding another defender into the squad at Finch Farm alongside the former Burnley star will surely leave Frank Lampard excited at the prospect of having more depth to work with in his backline at Goodison Park.

Farhad Moshiri’s plot to move for Becao comes as it was reported Everton could be willing to let injury-prone Yerry Mina depart, whose lack of availability in the team last season contributed to the Toffees troubles in their relegation battle.

Becao impressed this season in Serie A, ranking first for success in completion of tackles (103) and fourth for tackles made in the entire Italian top flight. That’s as well as ranking tenth for tackle success in the entire top five European leagues.

The 6 foot 2 machine scored two goals and delivered one assist, made 2.3 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 2.5 clearances on average per game, whilst winning the majority of his duels (61%) and proving successful in completing the majority of his dribble attempts too (63%) in 35 league appearances for Udinese.

With that being said, Becao would be a superb signing for Everton as they attempt to strengthen the team in a bid to avoid a similar situation to the one they found themselves last season and the Brazilian defender could be the perfect signing to make a positive impact on the Toffees next season.

The Merseyside club must act fast if they want to secure of the defender as Tottenham Hotspur are also reported to be interested this summer.

AND in other news: Lampard “wants to land” the signing of “impressive” £4.5m-rated gem, Everton need him

A huge update has emerged on Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos as speculation continues to grow over his future at Ibrox beyond the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

According to Fanatik, the Gers are locked in discussions over a deal to sell the striker ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

The report claims that talks are set to continue throughout the week after Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas made contact with the Premiership outfit.

Morelos has one year left to run on his current contract in Glasgow and it remains to be seen how much they will be willing to sell him for.

Ross Wilson will be scrambling

The Light Blues sporting director Ross Wilson will now be scrambling to secure the best deal for the club, whether that comes in the form of a transfer fee from Besiktas or a new deal for Morelos.

Losing the Colombia international would be a major blow and the Gers would need to be compensated accordingly for it to be worth them selling. He has proven himself domestically and in Europe and would be difficult to replace, which is why they cannot afford to let him leave on the cheap.

In the Premiership last season, the 26-year-old was sublime as he produced 11 goals and seven assists in 25 starts for the club. The gem also excelled in the Europa League as he found the back of the net four times in eight starts throughout the competition.

These statistics show that he has the quality to score goals on a regular basis and that is why losing him would be such a big blow. Gio van Bronckhorst and Wilson would then need to bring in a replacement and there is no guarantee that anyone coming in will be able to hit the ground running and replicate Morelos’ form.

Therefore, Wilson will now be fighting hard to agree a new contract with the striker to ensure that he remains at Ibrox and is not tempted by a move to Besiktas.

Signing him to a fresh deal would also allow them to demand more money for his signature as they would not have the threat of him leaving for nothing looming over them. As a result, they’d hopefully be able to bring in enough money to sign a player who has a good chance to take over from Morelos.

AND in other news, “The edge..”: Transfer insider drops big Rangers claim that’ll delight supporters…

The summer transfer window is now well underway and Newcastle have bolstered their squad with the signings of Matt Targett and Nick Pope.

Journalist Ben Jacobs recently told The Football Terrace that the Magpies are one of the clubs who are keen on a deal to sign Richarlison from Everton, as PIF plot a swoop for the Premier League striker.

Jacobs said: “[He is] a player that is available in the market. And there’s a few clubs currently looking at him. Newcastle United are considering a swoop as well if they don’t get Ekitike.”

However, it remains to be seen whether or not the Magpies will now firm up their interest with an offer for the £50m star, after the news that they are set to back out of a deal for the Reims attacker.

Big Saint-Maximin upgrade

It has been reported that Newcastle may look to cash in on Allan Saint-Maximin in order to bolster their squad this summer.

A number of Premier League clubs are said to be keen on the French winger, who is valued at £40m, and his head has reportedly been turned by the prospect of raking in a hefty wage increase by moving to another club.

PIF can now seal a masterstroke by selling Saint-Maximin and replacing him with Richarlison, as the Toffees talisman would be a big upgrade on the dynamic Magpies winger.

Both players are capable of playing out wide on the left or through the middle, but the former Watford man has had far more joy in the final third.

Current Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, who worked with the Brazilian at Everton, previously lauded the player’s ability, saying: “Richarlison is a modern striker, a complete striker, because he works really hard. His physical statistics are really high, like a midfielder – but he has speed and he is really clinical in the box.

“He is fantastic with the head and clinical in front of the goalkeeper and his movement without the ball is really good.”

The 25-year-old scored 17 goals and provided eight assists, along with creating 11 ‘big chances’, in the last two Premier League campaigns combined, showing that he has the quality to make a big impact at the top of the pitch.

Meanwhile, Saint-Maximin produced just eight goals and nine assists and created 13 ‘big chances for the Magpies in that time.

This shows that they are similar in terms of how much they create chances for their team-mates, but Richarlison offers a far greater goal threat.

Therefore, Newcastle can land a big upgrade on their current number 10 by bringing in a player who can make a bigger impact in front goal in the top flight next season, with the duo’s respective statistics showing that the Toffees star is the superior player.

AND in other news, Newcastle can seal big Targett upgrade with “eye-watering” move for “class” £30m star…

Former Premier League striker Kevin Campbell has backed Liverpool to win the race to sign Borussia Dortmund wonderkid Jude Bellingham. 

The lowdown: Big admirers

Signed as a 17 year-old for £30million in 2020 (BBC), Bellingham had already made 44 senior outings for Birmingham before making the switch to Germany.

Since arriving in the Bundesliga the mercurial youngster has been a smash hit for Jurgen Klopp’s former side, making 89 senior showings and already becoming a fully-fledged England international.

Given the ever-burgeoning reputation, the Reds, alongside other potential suitors, have been perennially credited with a long-standing admiration for the 19-year-old midfielder and are expected to step up their pursuit next summer…

The latest: Pulling power

Speaking to Football Insider, former Everton frontman and regular talkSPORT contributor Campbell has suggested that Liverpool have the wherewithal to fend off interest from all comers for Bellingham.

He said: “Listen, to come back to England for a club like Liverpool would appeal to Jude Bellingham I’m sure.

“The question is, what kind of feeling does he have towards Real Madrid. Real Madrid has that mystery. They are a juggernaut of a club. When a Real Madrid comes in, it is very difficult for players to turn them down.

“Bellingham might want to come back. If he wants to come back to England I’m sure there will be a lot of clubs interested. Liverpool would be in pole position if he does. There is only a few teams he could come back to. It would be a good move for Liverpool. It has been talked about for 18 months or so now.

“Bellingham is at Dortmund as well, Klopp has very good links there. I’m sure he has been well studied.”

The verdict: Marquee signing

Truly a transformational signing for almost any team in world football for potentially the next decade, any European superpower worth its salt will be interested in signing the 15-cap revelation when the time arises.

Last season, Bellingham – who was branded a ‘generational talent’ by journalist Darren Lewis earlier this year – scored six times and provided 14 assists in 43 appearances across all competitions, once again showcasing an ability to influence games at the highest level.

Whilst Jurgen Klopp is currently relatively well-stocked in terms of midfield options, Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Thiago are all either in or approaching the twilight of their respective careers and therefore the next major expenditure from FSG, spearheaded by Julian Ward, should be on the £72million valued English teenager.

Albeit often labelled as frugal operators in the market, the Anfield ownership group have been winning to splash out on eye-watering outlays such as the £76.19million for Virgil van Dijk and the recent £67million expenditure to bring Darwin Nunez from Benfica, a category of deal Bellingham would certainly justify being involved in.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Public Investment Fund (PIF) are reportedly now eyeing a move to bring Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Consistent performer

The 27-year-old has been a consistent performer throughout his time at Lazio, reaching double figures for goals and assists combined in five of the last six seasons in Serie A (Transfermarkt).

The 2021/22 season was his best in terms of assists, recording 11 in total, while his 11-goal tally was second only to the 12 that he managed in the 2017/18 campaign (Transfermarkt).

The central midfielder also has six goals and seven assists in 34 games for the Serbia national team, further emphasising how much of a threat he carries from the middle of the park.

The Latest: Newcastle interest

As per Calciomercato, Newcastle have already submitted a bid of just over €50m (£42.3m) for Milinkovic-Savic, but Lazio are holding out for at least €70m (£59.2m).

Arsenal have also been rebuffed with the same offer, and it could turn out to be a two-way fight between the two Premier League clubs for his signature.

The Verdict: Statement signing

Milinkovic-Savic would certainly be a statement signing which would help really kick-start the new era under Saudi ownership at St James’ Park.

The 27-year-old is a player in his prime, and judging by this report, he would surpass the club-record £40m that Newcastle paid for Joelinton back in 2019.

Described as ‘dynamic’, ‘stunning’ and ‘electric’ by journalist and Lazio supporter and writer Jerry Mancini, the Magpies would be getting a real coup if they can bring the Serbian to Tyneside.

ExWHUemployee has dropped an update on reported West Ham United transfer target Armando Broja.

What’s the latest?

In a recent interview with The West Ham Way editor Mark Carlaw, the Hammers insider revealed that, following a number of reports linking David Moyes with a move for the Chelsea centre-forward this summer, the Scot is indeed interested in a move for the 20-year-old.

Ex went on to state that, should Thomas Tuchel manage to land his own attacking targets this summer, the Blues could be willing to part with the Albania international for a figure in the region of £30m, with West Ham said to be hopeful that an agreement can be reached with their west London rivals.

Regarding the Irons’ interest in Broja, the club insider said: “He is still very much David Moyes’ and the club’s number one target for that position.

“As of right now, Chelsea are unsure and reluctant as they are currently short on strikers having just loaned [Romelu] Lukaku back to Inter Milan. They are about to go on a pre-season tour in America, and Broja is expected to feature for Tuchel to review.

“Now, if they can bring in some of their front-line targets then the chances of signing him will increase as they’ll be more relaxed in letting a striker leave. All I can say is that West Ham are still actively working on this and the club is hopeful that a deal can be done at some stage.”

Supporters will be buzzing

Considering just how exciting a prospect Broja undoubtedly is, Ex’s confirmation that West Ham are pursuing a move for the striker this summer is sure to be news that will have left the London Stadium faithful buzzing.

Indeed, with 32-year-old Michail Antonio having been Moyes’ only recognised centre-forward since the sale of Sebastien Haller back in January of 2021, the Hammers’ rather desperate need for a backup centre-forward is clear for all to see.

And, considering just how impressive Broja has been in his short career thus far, the 20-year-old would appear something of a perfect addition to the 59-year-old’s attacking arsenal ahead of West Ham’s 2022/23 campaign.

Indeed, the £19.8m-rated talent has consistently proven his extraordinary ability in the final third, scoring 16 goals and registering five assists over 35 appearances for Chelsea U18s, three goals in 13 fixtures for Chelsea U23s and 11 goals and three assists over 34 outings while on loan at Vitesse Arnhem.

The £8.5k-per-week hitman also highly impressed during his season-long spell at Southampton in 2021/22, bagging six goals and providing two assists over his six outings in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

As such, should Moyes be successful in his bid to get a £30m deal over the line for Broja this summer, it would very much appear as if the Scot will have not only solved the issue of his lack of depth at centre-forward, but also could well have secured Antonio’s long-term successor in leading the West Ham line – a prospect that is sure to delight the London Stadium faithful.

AND in other news: In talks: West Ham eye swoop for 20 y/o “huge talent”, he could become a £85m star

Sky Sports journalist Tim Thornton is expecting Leeds United winger Jack Harrison to remain at the club despite conversations over a possible exit from Elland Road.

The Lowdown: Newcastle linked with Harrison

Harrison is part of the 26-man Leeds squad who have headed to Australia for three pre-season fixtures, whereas Raphinha has remained in England looking to resolve his future.

The Englishman has been a regular over the last four seasons, contributing to 50 goals in 166 appearances for the Whites. However, he has recently been linked with Premier League rivals Newcastle, with Eddie Howe’s side weighing up a move for the 25-year-old.

Harrison is entering the final two years of his contract at Elland Road and Thornton thinks that he will remain at the club ahead of Jesse Marsch’s first full season in charge.

The Latest: Thornton’s comments

Talking to GiveMeSport, Thornton said that there ‘have been conversations’ regarding a potential exit for the winger, but he added that Harrison is ‘happy’ in Yorkshire and expects him to stay put.

The Sky Sports reporter said of the 25-year-old:

“I would expect him to stay. There have been conversations; there’s been interest.

“I think there was a bit of interest back in the January transfer window as well, but I think Jack’s happy at Leeds. His stats are good, his goals record; his assists.”

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The Verdict: Need to keep him

With Raphinha seemingly closing in on a move to Barcelona, it is vital that Leeds keep hold of another attacking regular in Harrison.

He has been a reliable member of the squad, missing just two games through injury over the past four seasons, and he appears to be happy at Elland Road judging by Thornton’s insight.

The winger has also gone from strength to strength, with his Transfermarkt valuation rising from £3.15m in 2018 to a career-high £16.2m at Leeds, so it makes sense to resist any potential offers from Newcastle over the coming weeks.

Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Sekou Mara to Elland Road in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Mail on Sunday (via Leeds Live), who claim that Victor Orta has made contact with FC Girondins Bordeaux regarding a deal for the 19-year-old centre-forward – for whom the recently relegated French side are believed to be demanding a figure in the region of €15m (£13m) plus add-ons in order to part with this summer.

The report goes on to state that the likes of Newcastle United, AS Monaco and Olympique Lyonnais are also keeping a very close eye on the situation of the France U20 international ahead of a potential move of their own, while Leeds Live suggest Orta could view Mara as an alternative for both Club Brugge’s Charles De Ketelaere and Paris Saint-Germain’s Arnaud Kalimuendo.

Leeds’ next Cantona

Considering the sheer amount of potential Mara undoubtedly possesses, it is not difficult to understand why Orta would be keen on a deal to bring the 19-year-old to Elland Road ahead of the Whites’ 2022/23 Premier League campaign.

Indeed, over his 26 Ligue 1 appearances last season – only eight of which came as starts – the £2.7m-rated talent highly impressed, scoring six goals – an average of one every 151 minutes – and creating one big chance for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.5 shots – 0.7 of which hit the target – making 0.3 key passes and completing 0.4 dribbles per game.

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These returns saw the 19-year-old who Jacek Kulig dubbed a “complete” attacker average an eye-catching SofaScore match rating of 6.77, with the youngster being one of the few bright sparks in a campaign that saw Bordeaux finish rock-bottom of the table.

Furthermore, the teenager was also in extremely fine form over his five outings in this summer’s Toulon Tournament, bagging five goals and providing one assist as France U20s went on to lift their 13th title in the youth competition.

As such, while it would be insincere to suggest that Mara is anywhere near the same level as Eric Cantona was – with the Frenchman having scored 29 goals and registered two assists over £1.35m move to Elland Road back in 1992, there are clear similarities that can be drawn between the duo.

Indeed, should Orta manage to get a deal over the line for Mara this summer, both the 19-year-old and Cantona will have joined the Whites from lesser-known French clubs, while Bordeaux’s reported insistence on including a big sell-on clause in a deal for the 19-year-old would also suggest they believe he is destined for the very top of the European game – something which, unfortunately for Leeds, was also the case for the Manchester United legend.

So, while Mara undoubtedly has a long way to go before he can truly be compared to the 56-year-old who boasts five top-flight winners medals, should the teenager continue his remarkable rise after a move to LS11 this summer, Orta could well have unearthed the Whites’ next Cantona – something that is sure to be an incredibly exciting thought for all involved with the club.

AND in other news: “Since 10 days..”: Romano reveals Leeds transfer development, supporters surely gutted

Liverpool are not interested in signing Sporting Lisbon midfielder Matheus Nunes in the summer transfer window, journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed.

The Lowdown: Nunes rumours continue

The Reds have had a good summer window so far, bringing in Darwin Nunez, Fabio Carvalho and Calvin Ramsay, but their business might not be done yet.

Some want to see one more central midfielder come in, and with Jude Bellingham staying at Borussia Dortmund for another season, attention has turned to Nunes.

The 23-year-old is arguably considered one of the Primeira Liga’s best midfielders, and various reports have linked Liverpool with an imminent move for him.

The Latest: Romano provides Nunes update

Taking to Twitter on Friday, however, Romano claimed that there are no negotiations in place over a move for Nunes to Anfield, pouring cold water on the rumour in the process.

The Italian outlined:

“No bid or negotiations for Matheus Nunes to Liverpool, as things stand. Nothing has changed around this deal.

“Liverpool asked for Jude Bellingham in June, but it was impossible deal – not even a negotiation, as Dortmund consider him ‘untouchable’ this summer.”

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The Verdict: Midfield overkill?

While Nunes is clearly an excellent player – he enjoyed an 86.2% pass completion rate in the Portuguese top flight last season – it could be argued that Liverpool already have enough midfield options currently.

Granted, signing another player in that area wouldn’t be a bad thing, but Jurgen Klopp not only has experienced heads such as Fabinho, Thiago, Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita and James Milner to call upon but also exciting youngsters Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and Carvalho.

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If Nunes were to come in, it would potentially block the paths of those aforementioned young players, all of whom have looked bright during pre-season so far.

It would therefore be a surprise if a move were to happen this summer, with Klopp perhaps making a marquee midfield signing in 2023 instead.

After a dramatic end to the 2021/22 Premier League campaign where Manchester City were forced to fightback from a two goal deficit in their final day clash with Aston Villa to secure the Premier League title, everyone in the wider world of football is expecting another tough and close race between Pep Guardiola’s side and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

It has been an interesting summer transfer window so far with plenty of big domestic, and European names, signing on for English top flight football in the coming campaign and both Manchester City and Liverpool have been pretty active in the market so far with both managers looking to strengthen their options on the pitch. Both sides have also made marquee signings with Erling Haaland’s reported £51.2 million arrival at The Etihad Stadium, and Darwin Nunez’s reported £64 million arrival at Anfield.

With the build up well underway to this Friday evening’s big 2022/23 kick off when Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace side welcome Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal to Selhurst Park, former Premier League stalwarts Glen Johnson and Richard Dunne recently sat down with Betway Insider to discuss the upcoming campaign and to rate both Manchester City and Liverpool’s credentials for the title race this year.

Guardiola and Klopp naturally come into the campaign as strong favourites for the domestic title once again, but the destination of the trophy will not just hinge on who settles quicker out of Haaland and Nunez, the overall business done by each over the summer will have a massive effect given the quality that each side already boasts.

As former Republic of Ireland and City centre half Dunne, and former Liverpool and England right back Johnson sat down to discuss topics like the title race, which side boasts the best manager and which side now has the best front three, they did not agree on everything but one thing that they did agree on, was that Guardiola had had the best transfer window so far.

Dunne commented:

“Haaland for 50 million is an unbelievable deal. Kalvin Phillips for 40 plus million is a great price. Julian Alvarez, centre forward they got from South America is, sort of Craig Bellamy – dead fast, works really hard – yeah so they’ve probably, with those players, replaced the likes of Jesus, Zinchenko and Sterling.”

With Johnson adding:

“City’s squad is fantastic anyway and you go and put arguably one of the best strikers in the world in that equation, whatever the deal took, I think it’s a fantastic signing.”

However, they did disagree on which team, and which front line, would hit the ground running first.

Dunne stuck with his former club, City:

“Foden is an unbelievable footballer, Jack Grealish is going to improve massively this year, then you add in Erling Haaland – I don’t think Nunez is going to have the same impact as Haaland, so yeah I’m going to go for City.”

Whereas, Johnson sided with his old side:

“So I’m doing it with Haaland out of the equation as he hasn’t done anything yet, but obviously Nunez is my gamble. I think Diaz is top class, Mo Salah is probably the best striker in the league. If Nunez can get it right with the other two, I think that three will be more dynamic than the others until Haaland performs.”

Fans do not have long to wait and we will find out which one of them is proved correct.

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