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An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their pursuit of Lucas Paqueta in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

FootMercato reporter Sebastien Denis has claimed that the Magpies “are ready” to offer at least €40m (£34m) to sign the Brazilian midfielder.

The journalist has reported that they are willing to bid between €40m and €50m to land the Lyon man, although it remains to be seen if that is enough to tempt the Ligue 1 club into selling.

He has also stated that Paqueta is their number two choice after Leicester’s James Maddison, who the club have already had an offer of £40m rejected for.

Joe Willock upgrade

Newcastle could land a big upgrade on central midfielder Joe Willock by swooping to sign Paqueta before the end of the window.

Since the start of the 2021/22 campaign, the former Arsenal man has struggled to make a significant impact at the top end of the pitch. He has played 32 Premier League matches in that time and contributed with just two goals and one ‘big chance’ created – failing to register a single assist.

Paqueta, on the other hand, has scored nine goals and set up six in Ligue 1 in that time – playing 37 games and creating nine ‘big chances’.

This suggests that he could offer a far greater threat in the final third, both in terms of scoring goals and creating them for others. Both of them played in a major European league and the Lyon talent’s statistics dwarfed the Englishman’s.

Defensively, Willock got stuck in last season as he made 2.7 tackles and interceptions per game but he lost 52% of his overall duels, which suggests that he had a high volume of actions rather than high quality. Meanwhile, the Lyon man made 2.2 tackles and interceptions per match and won 50% of his overall duels last term.

Howe wants the Magpies to be a pressing team and Paqueta’s 23.10 pressures made per 90 over the last 365 days is similar to Willock’s 23.58 – showing that they are both suited to how the manager wants the team to play out of possession.

Therefore, the Brazil international – who Peter Bosz dubbed “extraordinary” – would offer similar qualities to the current Magpies midfielder in his play off the ball, whilst being a huge upgrade in what he is able to provide with the ball at his feet in the final third.

This is why Newcastle must press ahead with a swoop to sign him from Lyon as he could elevate their attack without compromising their defensive structure.

Tottenham Hotspur could add a mystery forward to their ranks before the end of the summer transfer window, journalist Paul Brown has told GiveMeSport. 

The lowdown

Spurs have already made an attacking signing this summer, splashing out £52.2million on Everton forward Richarlison.

They have hit nine goals across their first four matches of the season, bettered only by Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool.

In terms of outgoings in the offensive department, Steven Bergwijn has sealed a £28.1million move to Ajax, and Bryan Gil is awaiting the green light to join Valencia on loan.

The latest

Brown explains that Spurs have created vacancies and freed up funds by moving players on.

And he thinks Conte is open to bringing in further reinforcements for his frontline, though who that person is remains a secret.

“Getting rid of all of the players they have done will add room in the squad and take some salaries off the wage bill, but bear in mind at all of his clubs, Conte would always say, even if they weren’t in his plans, we need to replace him,” he tells GMS. 

“Conte always demands signings and while Spurs have made several, he’s never going to say no to getting another one in, so it wouldn’t surprise me if Spurs sign another forward.”

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The verdict

Before Spurs allow Gil to head to Valencia, they want to find a replacement (as per Fabrizio Romano), so that looks like the area they will focus on.

Who, then, might Spurs look at in a bid to ensure they have a full attacking roster?

Yannick Carrasco, the subject of talks between the Lilywhites and Atletico Madrid, could play a handy role as both wing cover and a competitor for wing-back roles (via Irish Independent).

There’s also the ‘open’ race to sign Dan James, with Spurs lodging a loan-to-buy enquiry with Leeds United last week.

They already rank fourth in the Premier League for summer spending, with the £45million permanent deal for Cristian Romero taking them past the £150million mark.

The fact that Fabio Paratici and Conte are still on the lookout for a potential ninth signing speaks to the extent of their ambition.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is facing one of the trickier periods of his seven-year Anfield tenure.

His first few years on Merseyside were all about building a team to compete with Manchester City and challenge for trophies, so the setbacks which occurred were expected and managed well.

Since he has led the club to Champions League and Premier League glory, amongst a host of other trophies, expectations have risen exponentially.

With only two points from their opening three league matches until Saturday’s 9-0 romp against Bournemouth, Klopp might well be about to perform a transfer U-turn and delve back into the market for a midfielder.

This marks a contrast from him recently claiming that Liverpool don’t need to make any more signings this summer, but with his midfield uncharacteristically moribund and overrun against Manchester United, it could be a decision which alters the Reds’ season.

With the problems in midfield and injuries to the likes of Thiago, Naby Keita and Curtis Jones, Liverpool are definitely light on options in the middle of the park.

Jurgen is a Red! Show how happy you are about it with this awesome t-shirt! Click here to buy…

Klopp is reportedly keen on Paris Saint-Germain’s Leandro Paredes, who could be available for just €20m (£17m); and with the transfer window to close on Thursday, Reds owners FSG need to act quickly.

The 28-year-old made 15 Ligue 1 appearances last season, and although mainly deployed in a defensive midfield position, the Argentine has a range of attacking attributes which would make him an excellent fit in the Liverpool engine room.

He averaged 68.1 touches per game while having an incredible 96% pass success rate, proving his importance in the PSG team, frequently circling the ball and constantly getting himself involved in the action.

Defensively, he made 1.5 tackles, won back possession 0.5 times and won 61% of his duels per game, providing adequate protection for the back four when required.

Considering the sheer volume of injuries at Anfield, Paredes could form a solid duo in the middle of the park alongside Fabinho, and this could be crucial to enabling Liverpool to control matches again following three poor performances to start their season.

Former PSG player Fabrice Pancrate described Paredes as “perfect” in an interview, and the 28-year-old’s performances last season back up this high praise.

It’s a tense time for Liverpool supporters as the clock ticks down on the summer transfer window, which shuts on Thursday, but Klopp could solve his midfield problem with a late swoop for the Argentine.

Manchester United have churned out a whole host of top-class talent from their academy set-up over the years, boasting an impressive record for continually discovering gem after gem who have gone on to thrive in the first-team.

That being said, like at any side, not every exciting prospect that has been on the club’s books has gone on to star in the senior ranks, as for every success story, there is a notable tale of woe. For every Paul Scholes, there is a Ravel Morrison…

The latter man is arguably one of the greatest examples of what might have been, with the Wythenshawe-born starlet having sparkled in the Red Devils’ youth ranks, earning rave reviews from all across the game for his obvious talent.

Although he was subsequently unable to fulfil that unique potential – making just three first-team appearances during his time at the Theatre of Dreams – to this day his former teammates and coaches still speak glowingly about his rare gift as a footballer.

Having played a key role in the club’s FA Youth Cup triumph in 2011 – as part of a team that included both Jesse Lingard and Paul Pogba – Morrison has since been dubbed as the “best player of that generation” by former United midfielder Quinton Fortune.

The now-retired ace had been asked if the playmaker was better than teammate Pogba, before subsequently stating: “Not even a question. It was effortless. It was a once-in-a-lifetime talent. It was like watching Xavi, Iniesta, Neymar, all those guys put together. We were mesmerised by him.”

Former club scout Phil Brogan has also insisted that Morrison “was better” than the World Cup-winning Frenchman, with the club’s other young stars having been in “awe” of a talent who looked “destined to be the best.”

Club legend Gary Neville notably likened the 5 foot 9 ace to the great Paul Gascoigne due to his quality in possession, while even the great man himself Sir Alex Ferguson had seemingly never encountered a talent such as the then-youngster’s.

Unfortunately for all concerned, the midfielder’s tough upbringing and off-field lifestyle appeared to simply get the better of him – in the view of Ferguson – as he has since struggled to ever truly perform at a string of clubs across the globe.

Now something of a journeyman, the 29-year-old is at the 13th professional club of his career, having departed the Red Devils permanently back in 2012 to join West Ham United, with the aforementioned Pogba also moving on to Juventus in that same summer.

While the 91-cap France international has gone on to win major honours and be recognised as one of the best in his position in the world, it is a somewhat sad state of affairs that Morrison has been unable to enjoy a similar career trajectory.

Having left the east London outfit in 2015, the Jamaica international has endured stints in Italy, Sweden, Holland and Mexico – as well as at other clubs in England – although has rarely ever managed to nail down a consistent run of games.

Arguably his most fruitful spell came following a reunion with former United teammate Wayne Rooney at Derby County last season as he netted five goals and four assists in 38 games in all competitions for the Rams – the most appearances he has ever made at one club – before following the former England captain to MLS side DC United back in July.

The £450k-rated man has since netted once in 12 games for the American outfit, with it yet to be seen if he will buck the recent trend and remain with the club for longer than just a solitary season.

As his former Hammers boss Sam Allardyce stated, he was the “biggest waste of talent I ever worked with”, with that seemingly encapsulating what has been a frustrating decade for both the player and those that have had to witness such an undoubted talent fall by the wayside.

Leeds United must pursue a January deal for Philadelphia Union left-back Kai Wagner. 

The links

CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs reported in August that the Whites were holding talks with the Major League Soccer club over a deal for the German, with Jesse Marsch the driving force behind that interest.

MLS insider Tom Bogert, who has worked for The Guardian and FourFourTwo, has recently spoken of the ‘expectation’ that Wagner ‘will absolutely be sold to Europe this winter’.

Leeds are interested in the 25-year-old, but they’re ‘far from the only club’ in the running. Therefore, while the deal will be ‘difficult’ to pull off, the Whites should push hard for it.

The manager

Wagner’s manager Jim Curtin regards him as the best player in his position in the MLS, and in addition to raving about the German’s quality, he has also hailed his attitude.

Curtin outlined how the 25-year-old has been able to retain absolute focus amid ‘constant noise’ around his future, something with which many other players would struggle.

He told the Philadelphia Inquirer last month (via Leeds Live): “He’s the best left back that we have in MLS, and we’re lucky to have him here in Philly.

“He continues to get better and better as the season goes. When there’s constant noise in and around, transfers and this and that, to be as professional as he’s been and just put his head down and play is not easy to do. He’s done a great job of that.”

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The sporting director

Philadelphia sporting director Ernst Tanner, who brought Wagner to The City of Brotherly Love, says that his compatriot stood out as ‘special’ when he was assessing a whole host of left-back options.

He told The Athletic: “I’ve known Kai since he was a youth, and I was checking so many left fullbacks and it was always the question of what you could get and what you want to sign. It made him in a way so special, and I’m always looking out for players that can do that next stage in their development. And that’s the reason I went for Kai.”

The former team-mate

Finally, Aurelien Collin – who played alongside Wagner from 2019 until his retirement earlier this year – said he was impressed with the battling spirit that the German has shown from a young age, believing that the defender’s willingness to put himself in the firing line is curicla.

He said of the 25-year-old, via The Athletic: “He has the mentality. He’s young. He’s a fighter. He’s not scared of the contact, which is something very important in this league, and I think that’s why right now he’s adapted very well.”

The verdict

It’s clear to see from these testimonies that Wagner would bring proven quality, a desire to get even better and a tremendous attitude with him to Leeds, if Marsch can lure the player to Elland Road.

From a Whites perspective, the 25-year-old would also bolster a part of the squad where the club are very light in the wake of Junior Firpo’s injury, with Leo Hjelde still quite raw and Pascal Struijk being shunted across from his customary centre-back role.

With all that in mind, Victor Orta simply must do everything within his power to convince Wagner to join the Marsch revolution in Yorkshire.

West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice is set to be available to face Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League this weekend, according to insider Claret and Hugh.

The Lowdown: Injury concerns

The Irons captain has been away on international duty for the past fortnight, though fears were sparked earlier this week when it looked like he’d potentially injured himself.

The 23-year-old appeared to have overstretched and taken a knock in England’s Nations League game against Germany on Monday evening, and no further details on his fitness have been revealed since, causing concern for the London Stadium outfit.

The Latest: Rice fitness update

According to West Ham insider Claret and Hugh, a close source has confirmed that Rice is ‘expected to be fit’ to take on the Old Gold this Saturday.

It’s stated that the club’s medical staff are ‘reasonably confident’ that he will be available to maintain his place in David Moyes’ starting XI.

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The Verdict: Boost for Moyes

Having Rice at his disposal will come as a huge boost for the Scotsman who will know how much of an integral squad member his skipper is.

The maestro, dubbed a ‘dominator’ by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, currently averages three tackles per top-flight game and has an 88.5% pass success rate (WhoScored).

Rice also has two assists to his name, highlighting his contributions in the final third, and the Irons will need this kind of attacking intent if they want to lift themselves out of relegation with a win against Wolves.

Crystal Palace are struggling to make their presence known in the Premier League this season after their first seven outings in the top flight, and are currently on the edge of the relegation zone in 17th.

One of the contributing factors to their demise after last season’s promising campaign could be losing Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher who lit up Selhurst Park with his star quality in the centre of the pitch.

He was electrifying in the capital last term, scoring eight goals and supplying five assists, numbers which are evidently incredibly hard to replace.

Despite having an entire transfer window this summer to replace the talented youngster in the heart of the team, Vieira and the powers at the club were unable to find a suitable successor.

However, Vieira may already have the solution to reviving his team in the midfield waiting in the youth academy, as David Ozoh is showing promising signs he could be the answer to the Frenchman’s prayers over the season ahead.

The 17-year-old midfielder who was hailed “talented” by U18s manager Rob Quinn, penned his first professional contract with the club in August after rising through the ranks of the south London club’s academy and is clearly in Vieira’s thoughts as he was invited on the pre-season tour in Australia and Singapore this summer.

Ozoh has also been tipped to be considered for a spot in the senior team very soon by presenter Dan Cook when speaking on the HLTCO podcast last month:

“We may well see David Ozoh be thrown in at the deep end. I think he is someone who has shown a real upward mobility in the last year or so.

“He has been given chances to impress over on that tour of Singapore and Australia and done very well. And he is that combative and quite physically imposing presence, despite his tender age.”

The rising star has tallied up 40 appearances across the U18s and U21s teams scoring three goals and delivering one assist so far since joining Palace at just eight years old. Thus, finally signing a professional contract at the club is no doubt a dream come true for the youngster and he will be hoping a first-team bow is inbound soon.

Over his two most recent appearances in the EFL Trophy, the central midfielder has given glimpses of his capabilities and talents, making four tackles, two interceptions and winning 5.5 duels per game, as well as tallying up an 85% pass completion rate.

With that being said, Vieira will surely be keeping a close eye on Ozoh as the season progresses, and although a more defensive asset in the centre of the pitch, he could be the dominating midfield presence Crystal Palace need in the absence of a certain Gallagher.

Manchester City have joined the hunt for in-demand Lyon sensation Malo Gusto, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Exciting times at Eastlands…

The Premier League champions have started this 2022/2023 campaign with a flourish, scoring more goals than any other top flight side whilst also boasting the least conceded.

City are the only remaining side left unbeaten in the league and have already secured their place in the Champions League last 16, following Tuesday evening’s 0-0 draw away to FC Copenhagen.

Sporting director Txiki Begiristain is handed the task of somehow improving this high-flying squad as he sets out possible future transfer targets.

Lyon starlet Gusto, as per recent reports, is now on the Sky Blues’ radar as a recent update sheds light on City’s off-field plans.

The Latest: Sky Blues join Gusto hunt…

According to 90min, Pep Guardiola’s side have joined the flurry of interested clubs keeping close tabs on the 19-year-old right-back.

Etihad officials, alongside other top teams from England, have sent officials to run the rule over Gusto in recent weeks with the teenager emerging as one of Europe’s most in-demand talents.

As well as City, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus are eyeing the flying full-back from abroad with Man United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham also in the hunt.

The Verdict: Make the move?

Gusto is certainly a fine talent and has already managed to keep a lid on PSG superstar Neymar in a one-v-one display.

He’s been called ‘one of the most exciting’ right-backs in football and a ‘real player’ by members of the media, potentially making him a candidate to take over from Kyle Walker once the England international needs more rotation.

Joao Cancelo and Sergio Gomez operating on the left with Walker and Gusto on the right wouldn’t exactly leave Guardiola short of full-back options.

Life after Steven Gerrard got off to a superb start for Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon as they thrashed Brentford 4-0 at Villa Park.

Leon Bailey opened the scoring in just the second minute before Danny Ings’ brace had the home side 3-0 up before there were 15 minutes on the clock.

Ollie Watkins made it 4-0 against his former club in the second half to ensure that Villa moved away from the bottom three under the guidance of interim manager Aaron Danks.

Considering Villa had scored just seven goals in the top flight prior to today, it was a hugely impressive performance from Danks’ side and there were plenty of man-of-the-match contenders.

While Ings grabbed an important brace, it was arguably Bailey who stole the show, as he produced arguably his best performance in a Villa shirt.

The Jamaica international kicked things off with a well-taken finish from Douglas Luiz’s pass inside two minutes, before picking up an assist for Ings by cutting the ball back for the former Burnley man to slam past David Raya.

Bailey also played a huge role in Villa’s fourth and final goal of the game, as he went on a storming run from essentially his own corner flag before crossing for Watkins, who was able to find the net on the third attempt after being initially denied by Raya and then the post.

The former Bayer Leverkusen man, who cost a whopping £30m, was very consistent with his passing at Villa Park, completing 14/15 passes to register a 93% success rate, which is a significant increase on the 70.7% he has averaged in the Premier League so far this season.

The Villa winger also contributed two key passes and two dribbles, which again is an increase on the 0.9 key passes and 1.3 dribbles he has averaged in the top flight so far this campaign.

Gerrard hinted at the 25-year-old’s quality earlier in the season but he was never really able to produce Sunday’s level of performance under the Liverpool legend.

He said:

“We’ve signed a talent who has produced at his previous clubs and he’s shown flashes. Leon’s focus has to be on staying fit, getting himself in the best physical condition and allowing his talent to flourish. He’s a fantastic player and we need to see more of it.”

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Therefore, while Ings may dominate the headlines after his double, Bailey’s role in three of the four goals suggests that he should be recognised as Danks’ star performer on Sunday.

Saudi Arabian consortium PIF completed their takeover of Newcastle United in 2021 and some supporters lined up outside of St. James’ Park to celebrate the news.

It ended Mike Ashley’s 14-year reign on Tyneside and the Sports Direct supremo’s exit from St. James’ Park seemingly pleased a contingent of the fanbase.

He endured his fair share of shockers and gaffes in the market in his time at the club. In one of his first windows as the owner, Ashley sanctioned the sale of midfielder James Milner to Aston Villa in the summer of 2008.

Former Magpies assistant Terry McDermott once revealed that the Englishman left for a fee of £15m because it was believed that German ace Bastian Schweinsteiger would come in to replace him.

Speaking on the 5times podcast, the former Toon coach said: “We were actually at the club when we sold him, myself and Kevin Keegan.

“We sold him for £15m. The story goes – and this is a true story – we didn’t want him to leave but we needed to get other players in because we’d had a bid of £15m.

“The idea of accepting the bid of £15m for Milner, which was a lot of money then, and then we’re looking to get Schweinsteiger it’s a no-brainer. But after he’s signed for Villa – the day after – we’re trying to sign Schweinsteiger and the answer was: ‘Absolutely no chance, it will cost you £50m if you want to buy Schweinsteiger’.”

The German midfielder had already broken into Bayern Munich’s first team and established himself as an international player for his country, making his debut in 2004, by this point.

However, Ashley seemingly believed that he would be able to secure his signature to replace Milner for Keegan and McDermott. Instead, the asking price ended up being far more than Newcastle were willing to pay.

It is unclear exactly what went down in negotiations but the club going in for Schweinsteiger after cashing in on one of their own midfielders for £15m could have played a role in Bayern coming back with a £50m valuation.

The German giants knew that Newcastle needed a replacement and that they had just received a hefty sum of money from Villa, which allowed them to set their stall out.

Whereas, Ashley may have been able to negotiate a better deal with Bayern if he had gone in for the gem prior to the sale of Milner becoming official.

Philipp Lahm previously hailed his fellow World Cup winner as “sensational” and ESPN journalist Archie Rhind-Tutt once dubbed him a “German football legend”.

Schweinsteiger went on to play 500 matches for the Bundesliga side in all competitions, winning the Champions League, and was capped 121 times by Germany, whilst also enjoying a stint in the Premier League with Manchester United towards the end of his career.

Therefore, Ashley dropped a shocker for Newcastle as he did not wrap up a deal for the Bayern hero prior to selling Milner and then refused to match the valuation set when he did go in for the midfielder.

The career that the former Red Devils man went on to have suggests that he would have been an incredible signing for the Magpies if they had managed to bring him in, which is why the farce around this failed move was a nightmare for the former Toon owner.