Man Utd Hold Talks To Sign "Intelligent" £13m Eriksen Heir

Manchester United are reportedly plotting a move for Wolfsburg midfielder, Felix Nmecha, with the German maestro potentially set to be available on the cheap this summer.

What's the latest on Nmecha to Man United?

According to SPORT1, the Red Devils are said to have 'thrown their hat into the ring' with regard to the signing of the 22-year-old, with the Premier League giants ready to rival Borussia Dortmund in the battle for the playmaker's signature.

The report suggests that United have already held talks with the player's father ahead of a potential move to Old Trafford, with the youngster potentially set to be available for as little as €15m (£13m), due to his expiring contract.

This comes amid reports that Newcastle United are also readying a bid for the former Manchester City youth product, ensuring that Erik ten Hag and co may have a fight on their hands if they are to land an agreement.

Who is Felix Nmecha?

The one-cap Germany international – who previously turned out for England at youth level – began life on the books at the Etihad, before sealing a free transfer switch to Germany back in the summer of 2021, following his old brother, Lukas who had made an earlier £11m move to Wolfsburg.

In the case of the younger man – who made just three appearances for City at first-team level – the promising midfielder appears to have blossomed following that move to the Bundesliga outfit, with current boss Niko Kovac having recently stated:

"Previously, he never got into a rhythm. He played in so many different positions. Now he's playing in midfield and you can see his technical ability. He has [also] improved physically."

That consistent run in the side in a midfield berth appears to have paid dividends for the Hamburg native as he racked up three goals and six assists in 30 league games in 2022/23, having also received hefty praise from journalist Josh Bunting, who stated:

"He’s very quick,technical ability is good, a ball carrying number 8, strong in his duels and has an intelligent eye for a final pass."

Man United's Christian Eriksen

That latter trait could ensure that Nmecha proves to be a dream heir to current United man Christian Eriksen, with the 31-year-old having also been lauded as a "player who plays with intelligence" by club legend, Paul Scholes.

Having been signed on a free transfer last summer, the Danish ace went on to provide two goals and ten assists in 44 games in all competitions in the most recent campaign, thus mirroring Nmecha in that ability to be a creative spark from the centre of the park.

A more youthful alternative to the one-time Tottenham Hotspur man may be in order amid Eriksen's recent woes since returning from injury, however, with journalist Scott Saunders highlighting the 120-cap gem's physical shortcomings after stating that he is "bypassed too easily in a deep role".

Nmecha, therefore, could offer greater athleticism in that midfield berth – shown by the fact that he ranks in the top 19% among his European peers for successful take-ons – as well as a superior defensive presence, with the 6 foot 2 starlet ranking in the top 7% for aerial duels won.

Eriksen, by contrast, ranks in just the bottom 18% and the bottom 12% for those same two metrics, respectively, while the experienced asset also averaged just 0.8 tackles and 0.4 interceptions per game from his 28 league outings, while the former City ace averaged 1.4 tackles and 0.8 interceptions per game from his 30 league appearances.

With Nmecha evidently able to replicate Eriksen's creative brilliance as well as being able to offer a greater work ethic in midfield, the £2k-per-week ace could well represent a long-term successor and replacement for the gifted Dane.

Man Utd May Turn To "Hottest" striker

Manchester United could be a potential destination for Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic if he decides to leave his current employers in the forthcoming transfer window, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Dusan Vlahovic?

According to Corriere Torino via The Faithful MUFC, Manchester United are eyeing a move for Vlahovic and would need to pay around €90 million (£77.4 million) to land the Serbia international this summer.

The report states that Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal made proposals to try and land the 23-year-old in the January window; however, nothing came to fruition and he remained at Juventus.

ESPN claimed last month that Chelsea are said to have made an offer of €80 million (£68.8 million) as they look to sign a striker this off-season and Vlahovic is believed to be their preferred striking target at Stamford Bridge.

Vlahovic is unhappy at Juventus and has become a hot topic around Europe as many clubs look to capitalise on the fact Juventus will be plying their trade in the Europa Conference League next term rather than the Champions League, where they would've been situated if it wasn't for a 10-point deduction.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones thinks that Vlahovic could end up at Old Trafford this summer as speculation swirls over his future.

Jones said: “The situation around Vlahovic is very interesting. Potentially he’s one of the hottest frontmen on the market this summer – but we also have to consider Juve might change manager and my information is that could well sway his decision to stay if it happens.

“Let’s consider that he does leave Juve, there is good value to be had. Generally, there is a feeling he goes at around €70m, although I was told that he won’t leave for less than €80m (£70m). Even at that price, he holds good value in my eyes and would be worth the pursuit.

“A source in Italy told me he sees Bayern Munich and Manchester United as the two most likely landing spots for him but there are a few other clubs looking at this too so let’s see how it all opens up in the next few days as a decision is looming.”

Would Dusan Vlahovic prove to be a good signing for Manchester United?

Vlahovic, who has been hailed as a "monster", certainly knows where the back of the net is and would add a predatory instinct to a Manchester United side that did endure moments of profligacy in front of goal throughout this campaign.

In 42 appearances within 2022/23, Vlahovic managed to register 14 goals and four assists for Juventus in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Juventus'DusanVlahovicreacts

WhoScored show that the £216k-a-week ace was also a constant problem for opposition defenders to contend with, as he averaged 2.5 shots per match in Serie A.

The Serbia international also showed his capacity to lead the line effectively, successfully carrying out 63 shot-creating actions this season, according to FBRef.

Manchester United need to find a quality striker to add extra goals to their side heading into next term and Vlahovic could help the Red Devils to become genuine Premier League title challengers under Erik Ten Hag if they can get a deal over the line for the striker.

Chelsea Still Keen On Signing £215k-A-Week Attacker

Chelsea target Dusan Vlahovic "could definitely leave" Juventus during the summer transfer window, according to an update from journalist Ben Jacobs.

Is Vlahovic excelling at Juve?

The Blues are on the lookout for a new striker in the next few months, with that area of the pitch proving to be an issue this season. Kai Havertz has often led the line, but is arguably happier in a deeper role, and he topped the west Londoners' Premier League scoring charts with just seven goals.

For that reason, an elite centre forward is needed, in order to make Chelsea more potent in the final third, and Vlahovic has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge in the recent past. The £215,000-a-week striker scored 10 goals in 22 Serie A starts this season, and while it hasn't been the most productive campaign of his career, he is still a highly thought of young player.

His current Juve deals expires in the summer of 2026, but a fresh update suggests that he could well be on the move long before then.

Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic

Could Chelsea sign Vlahovic this summer?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs handed Chelsea a boost, saying that Vlahovic could "definitely" leave his current club for a new challenge this summer:

"I think Chelsea want a traditional number nine and they urgently need goals. Dusan Vlahovic is one player they've tracked for quite some time. The possibility that Vlahovic will leave Juventus hasn't become apparent after the points deduction. It's really been the case for all of 2023, and many suitors feel that there is a real possibility to get Vlahovic at value because he's just not as happy as he was at Fiorentina playing under Max Allegri.

"When you add the fact that Juve, with the points deduction, are not looking likely to get Champions League football, suddenly there is that possibility that somebody could come in. Obviously, we also have to wait and see what the other implications are from the cases against Juventus because there may be more things that impact the football club and their finances. Vlahovic could definitely move somewhere this summer."

Vlahovic could be a brilliant option for Chelsea ahead of next season, having been described as an "extraordinary" player by former Juve midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi in the past.

At 23, he is still a young player who could be a long-term addition, and his tally of 61 goals in 140 appearances in Serie A, as well as 13 in 21 caps for Serbia, speaks volumes about how prolific he can be.

The fact that Juve could be willing to sell is also a clear bonus, so if Mauricio Pochettino likes the look of him, and sees him as a strong and younger alternative to the likes of Victor Osimhen and Harry Kane, the Blues should acquire his signature and make him the focal point of their attack.

Rangers Can Ditch Colak In £4m Transfer Swoop

Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale is facing a busy few months of transfer business following the conclusion of his side's 2022/23 campaign on Saturday.

The Englishman failed to win a single trophy in his first season in charge of the club, although he did take over from Gio van Bronckhorst during the break for the 2022 World Cup, and could use the window to upgrade his squad.

Earlier this month, the Scottish Sun reported that the Light Blues will listen to offers for Croatian centre-forward Antonio Colak in the summer.

The report claimed that MLS and German sides attempted to sign the ace in the January window and that the striker would be interested in completing a move away from Ibrox if a Bundesliga team is able to agree a deal for his services.

Beale could now brutally ditch the ex-PAOK finisher by securing a deal to sign reported transfer target Jerry Yates from English side Blackpool ahead of next season.

Who is Jerry Yates?

He is a 26-year-old centre-forward who is valued at £4m by his current club, following their relegation from the Championship to League One.

The Englishman enjoyed a strong campaign in the second tier in spite of his side's struggles and eventual drop down to the third division and has shown promise as a goalscorer at that level.

Yates plundered 14 goals in 39 starts for the Tangerines and that was an impressive return when you consider that they only scored 48 times as a team in 46 matches, which means that the ace scored 29.17% of their goals.

Colak, meanwhile, found the back of the net 14 times in 25 outings in the Scottish Premiership. However, Rangers amassed 93 goals in the league and this means that the forward scored 15% of the club's goals in the division.

Rangers striker Antonio Colak.

These statistics suggest that Yates, who was once dubbed "dangerous" by journalist Josh Bunting, could improve his goal tally by playing in a side that can dominate games and score more as a team, as 29.17% of their strikes would roughly work as 27 goals in a side that scores 93 times.

The Blackpool star also created nine 'big chances' for his teammates and displayed his creativity from a number nine position, whereas the Gers dynamo only created three. This indicates that the English gem could offer far more in build-up play by providing the other attackers with opportunities to score.

Therefore, Beale could ruthlessly ditch Colak this summer by signing Yates to take his place as the now-League One marksman could be an upgrade on the 29-year-old.

Chelsea Incoming Boss Pochettino Eyeing Key Reinforcement

Chelsea will look to spend big on a striker this summer to help solve their goalscoring woes that have dogged them this season, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest Chelsea transfer news involving striker targets?

As per Football Insider, Chelsea are 'keen' on Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez and have assessed the possibility of bringing the Argentina international to Stamford Bridge.

Incoming boss Mauricio Pochettino is said to have spoken with the Blues in negotiations about signing Martinez, who will be available for around £70 million in the off-season.

talkSPORT report that Napoli forward Victor Osimhen is also a target for Chelsea and he is believed to be at the 'head of their summer shopping list.

ESPN understand that Juventus frontman Dusan Vlahovic is also someone being considered by Chelsea and state that the Premier League giants have made an offer worth €80 million (£69.4 million) to try and lure the Serbia international to England.

Harry Kane's current employers Tottenham Hotspur are also 'anticipating' that Chelsea will be part of the race to sign their talisman amid uncertainty over his future in N17, according to 90min.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs has backed Chelsea to throw some significant cash around to land a new striker this summer.

Jacobs told FFC: "The one thing that of Vlahovic, Osimhen and Martinez have got in common is that they're all capable of getting you 20-plus goals a season. If they settle and succeed in the Premier League, then the likelihood is that they would do that with regularity. That's what Chelsea ultimately are looking for as an urgent priority. At the time of recording, which is before the game against Manchester United this evening, they've scored 36 Premier League goals, which is a goal a game and last season, they scored 76. There's 40 goals difference at the moment between Chelsea last season and Chelsea this season. What they need is to be able to rely upon one name to add, at worst, 20 goals, because that 20 goals might make all the difference from being in mid-table mediocrity to being back in the Champions League. If that's worth paying a bit extra for as long as Chelsea can balance the books and get a deal done, I would expect them to do that because they know how important that goal scorer has become."

Do Chelsea have anyone in-house who could help to solve their striking issue?

One topic of conversation that has hit the headlines in recent times is the notion of loanee Romelu Lukaku potentially returning to Stamford Bridge next term from Inter Milan and playing a part in 2023/24, with The Telegraph claiming that Pochettino would be 'open' to re-integrating the Belgium star if he was keen to do so.

Nevertheless, Lukaku looks to have signalled his intention to stay at San Siro next season, telling Het Laatste Nieuws via The Daily Express: "I was good at Chelsea last season. But I knew then that if it didn’t work out at Chelsea, I still had Inter. When I signed again, I knew: I belong here. I had that too at Anderlecht. I take this club seriously. I want to do my best. The people here see that. Being encouraged here is the best thing there is."

Christopher-Nkunku

German outlet SPORT BILD also report that RB Leipzig attacker Christopher Nkunku is on his way to west London, which may offer some hope to Chelsea fans given that he has bagged 20 goals and seven assists in 34 appearances in 2022/23, as per Transfermarkt.

The Blues have a very busy window ahead and it wouldn't be a surprise to see even more high-profile names linked to the club as it draws ever closer.

Tottenham: Journalist shares Ronnie Edwards transfer update

Journalist Alfie House of The Daily Echo has shared a Tottenham Hotspur transfer update involving Peterborough United defender Ronnie Edwards.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye move for Edwards…

The exciting teenager has been on Spurs’ radar for quite some time, as revealed by Peterborough club director Barry Fry.

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Speaking in a recent interview, the Posh chief stated that Edwards is a player who has been watched by Tottenham for ‘a long time’ along with other clubs,including a ‘big’ German side (via football.london).

As per The Daily Echo reporter, that interest hasn’t waned as Spurs allegedly hold talks over a move for the 19-year-old.

The Latest: House makes Edwards claim…

Taking to Twitter, House explained that Tottenham are one of the Premier League clubs who have ‘talked’ over Edwards, although there is nothing yet ‘concrete’ in terms of a formal bid.

Sharing a corresponding report from The Daily Echo, he outlined: “On Ronnie Edwards, understand #SaintsFC interest is at a very early stage. The 19yo is expected to leave Peterborough this summer. Spurs, Villa, United and Palace all have talked but nothing concrete yet. One we will follow through the weeks.”

The Verdict: Don’t hesitate…

Edwards stands out as one of the most promising talents in England, with his former manager Darren Ferguson even calling him ‘incredible’.

His addition would also solve a glaring problem at Spurs in terms of their homegrown quota, in addition to ensuring that they have secured another real talent for the future.

According to WhoScored, despite his tender age, Edwards was one of Peterborough’s most reliable players in the Championship over the 2021/22 season as he averaged a colossal 3.7 clearances per 90, the second-highest of anyone in their squad.

He certainly seems like a brilliant talent and Spurs should be aiming to get at the front of the queue for him.

In other news: Journalist says Tottenham could sign £100m ‘big name’ this summer, find out more here

Celtic pulled a blinder with Furuhashi deal

Celtic not only secured the Premiership title this season and brought their arch-rivals’ reign as Scottish champions to an end, they also did it in style.

With 92 goals scored and only 22 conceded, Ange Postecoglou’s team boast the best attacking and defensive record in the division for 2021/22.

One man who has contributed a lot for the team from an attacking point of view is Kyogo Furuhashi.

Signed from Japanese club Vissel Kobe alongside a raft of other players during Celtic’s very busy 2021 summer transfer window, the attacker took to Scottish football like a duck to water.

With 33 appearances across all competitions this season, the 27-year-old found the net 20 times and delivered five assists in the process.

In the league, despite only making 20 appearances as a hamstring injury kept him out of action for a large chunk of the campaign, the Japan international still managed to score 12 goals.

To further highlight the summer recruit’s deadliness in front of goal, no other Celtic player who had more than one shot at goal racked up a higher percentage for shots on target than Furuhashi’s 52.2%.

Last June, shortly before he made his move to Parkhead, Transfermarkt had Furuhashi’s market value listed as £1.8m, whereas it now stands at £4.95m.

This highlight a significant increase of 175%, presumably as a result of his impressive goalscoring efforts for Celtic which have helped them to secure the league title.

Labelled “a hell of a player” by Postecoglou, who also said that the 27-year-old has “that little bit of magic about him”, it’s safe to say that the Hoops struck gold when they secured the attacker’s signature last summer.

It’s also safe to suggest that, had the Japan forward not been struck down with his hamstring issue, he could have scored even more goals than he did.

If the £18k-per-week star can replicate the same sort of goalscoring form from this season next time out and manages to stay fit, he could give Celtic a great chance of not only retaining the league title but also potentially getting their hands on even more silverware.

In other news – “From what I’m told..”: Journalist drops big Lennoxtown claim that Celtic supporters will love

James Pearce drops LFC transfer update

Liverpool are set for some changes this summer when it comes to their squad with some players out of contract and a reliable source has given an update on one transfer that will divide the opinion of supporters.

What’s the latest?

According to Liverpool reporter for The Athletic James Pearce, Divock Origi has now agreed on terms with AC Milan ahead of his contract expiry at Anfield this summer.

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Pearce wrote in an article for The Athletic that although a contract has not been signed as of yet, the Liverpool striker has come to an agreement on personal terms in a deal that will see him join the Italian club.

It comes after Origi failed to make enough appearances to trigger an extension clause on Merseyside, which means he will be free to leave this summer and now AC Milan are looking like the most likely club to secure a move for the player.

Supporters will be gutted

There is no doubt that Origi has become a cult hero at Liverpool despite being a fringe player. He has provided some of the biggest and most iconic moments during his time at the club and supporters will surely be gutted to see him leave this summer after eight years.

For the Reds, the 27-year-old has scored 41 goals and contributed 18 assists in 175 appearances, but it’s not his tally of goal contributions that has put him in the hearts of the supporters with his influence in big moments stealing the spotlight.

Origi scored one of the most iconic goals in the club’s recent history when Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped in a fast corner to land on the end of the striker’s foot against Barcelona in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final at Anfield, scoring the fourth and final goal to send Liverpool through to the final where they went onto win the entire competition.

Another reason he is so adored by the red side of Merseyside is that in the Premier League, the Belgian goal machine has scored 27.27% of his league goals against their fierce local rivals Everton, with his most recent winning goal coincidentally coming from the Merseyside Derby last month.

With that being said, it is no wonder that supporters would be gutted to see him leave the club this summer with the striker offering important goals and important moments in one of Liverpool’s most victorious periods over the last few years.

AND in other news: Klopp eyeing £150m “wonderkid” who “suits Liverpool’s style”, it may be bye-bye Salah

Newcastle: Dean Jones drops Lascelles claim

Transfer insider Dean Jones has given an update regarding the future of Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles. 

The lowdown: Stellar servant for Newcastle

Signed from Nottingham Forest in 2014, the defender was an instant hit at Newcastle and was appointed Magpies captain two years later by then-manager Rafa Benitez.

Overall, the 28-year-old Derby-born centre-back has amassed 212 appearances for the Tyneside club across spells in the Championship and the Premier League.

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However, as a new era dawns at St James’ Park following the takeover in 2021, Lascelles is in danger of being moved on under Eddie Howe, with reports that the club would listen to offers for him.

The latest: Lascelles ‘isn’t going to fit in’

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones suggested that the former England under-21 ace may well be on the way out of Newcastle.

The journalist explained how the club could deal with their long-standing central defender, saying: “He’ll be available for transfer in the summer. The circumstances just aren’t going to suit him at this stage and Newcastle are looking to transition beyond him.

“It’s just the vision that Newcastle have right now and, from what I understand, Lascelles probably isn’t going to fit in with it.”

The verdict: Bold call

While it is apparent that Howe will look to strengthen in all departments during the upcoming transfer window, selling a mainstay such as Lascelles is a huge statement of intent from the club and the manager about the direction in which they want Newcastle to go.

The skipper was hailed as ‘absolutely superb’ by Howe for his performance against Chelsea earlier in the campaign, one of 24 appearances he has made in the league in 2021/22. According to Sofascore data, he has won 72% of his aerial duels and 63% of his overall duels in the current top-flight campaign, marking him out as an uncompromising defender.

Under contract until 2024 and holding a market value of £9.9m (Transfermarkt), Lascelles would likely fetch a reasonable fee should a move indeed be on the cards this summer.

In other news, journalist reacts to NUFC starlet’s weekend heroics

Leeds: McGrath drops Raphinha update

Mike McGrath has dropped an update on the future of Leeds United winger Raphinha.

What’s the talk?

In a recent post on Twitter, The Telegraph journalist revealed that, despite reports claiming that Barcelona were planning to hold off their negotiations for the 25-year-old until it became clear which league Leeds will be participating in next season, this is in fact not the case, with Xavi’s side now believed to have stepped up their interest in the Brazil international – with the LaLiga side planning on initiating transfer talks with the Whites imminently.

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In his tweet, McGrath said: “Barca have stepped up [their] bid to land Raphinha in the summer, planning on imminent talks over the deal for the LUFC [player] in the event of his club staying in Premier League or not.”

Supporters will be devastated

While the vast majority of Leeds supporters are more than likely resigned to the fact that Raphinha will be moving onto pastures new this summer – something that is evident from a recent poll ran on Football FanCast – the news that Barca are now hoping to secure a deal for the winger in the near future will nevertheless have left the Elland Road faithful devastated.

Indeed, the 25-year-old has arguably proven himself to be one of the club’s best signings over the past 20 years, with the £17m 2020 arrival having scored 16 goals and registered 12 assists over his 63 appearances for the Whites.

And, despite Leeds’ struggles this season, it has been over the winger’s 31 Premier League appearances in 2021/22 in which Raphinha has truly proven his ability at the highest level, with the £40.5m-rated forward bagging ten goals, providing three assists and creating nine big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.5 shots, making two key passes and completing two dribbles per game.

These returns have seen the £63k-per-week winger average a highly impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.95, ranking him as Jesse Marsch’s second-best outfielder in the top flight of English football.

As such, while Raphinha’s potential £60m exit from Elland Road would undoubtedly represent fantastic transfer business by Victor Orta, the prospect of losing a player of the Brazilian’s ability in the coming weeks will nevertheless be a devastating thought for supporters of the Whites.

AND in other news: Victor Orta could “pick up a real gem” with Leeds bid for “complete” 17 G/A sensation

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