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An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in Tomas Soucek in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to The Sun, the Magpies are one of the teams keen on a deal to sign the Czech Republic international ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Aston Villa and Everton are also said to be eyeing him up as West Ham struggle to agree to terms on a contract extension this summer.

The report claims that he could be available for a fee in the region of £30m, with PIF now plotting a swoop for the 27-year-old.

Big Isaac Hayden upgrade

Eddie Howe sanctioned Isaac Hayden’s loan exit to Championship side Norwich earlier this month and they now have the chance to bring in the perfect replacement.

In Soucek, Newcastle can land a big upgrade on the Englishman by bringing in a proven Premier League enforcer who can excel in the middle of the park.

Hayden averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.60 in 14 top-flight appearances last term. He made 3.0 tackles and interceptions per game and scored one goal, whilst only creating one chance for his teammates.

Soucek, meanwhile, enjoyed a superb campaign with the Hammers as he averaged a score of 6.97. The gem was once dubbed a “superb” player by Kevin Phillips and journalist Deji Faremi called him a “monster”, which shows that he has caught the eye of pundits and reporters alike. 

Defensively, the machine was a rock in the middle of the park for David Moyes. He made 3.4 tackles and interceptions and 2.8 clearances per game – winning an eye-catching 6.5 duels per match.

This shows that he has the athleticism and strength to consistently put pressure on the opposition to win the ball back for his team.

Alongside his impressive defensive qualities, Soucek has shown that he can also offer a threat at the top end of the pitch. In 2021/22, the midfielder scored five goals and created one – after scoring 10 and assisting one in 2020/21 – as he proved that he can excel from box to box.

The West Ham star, therefore, would be a big upgrade on Hayden as he has been able to perform to a higher standard in the Premier League; in his general play, his defending, and his attacking.

Howe would love to have the battler as an option in midfield alongside the likes of Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes next season and he will surely be pushing PIF to get this deal over the line in the coming weeks.

AND in other news, Howe can form “spectacular” duo as Newcastle eye “beautiful” £49.5m-rated dynamo…

Former Premier League defender Alan Hutton has backed Liverpool to pursue Chelsea forward Timo Werner as a replacement for Sadio Mane. 

The lowdown: Long-standing interest

Prior to a £45million switch from RB Leipzig to Chelsea in 2020 (Sky Sports), Werner was extensively linked with a move to Anfield and it had at one stage appeared to be nailed on.

Since arriving in England the 26-year-old hitman has struggled to live up to his billing having scored 93 times in 158 appearances for Leipzig. However, the pacey German has still directly contributed to 44 goals in 89 outings for the London club despite a well-documented major drop-off in form.

As the Reds regroup following the departure of Mane to Bayern Munich, a recent report has suggested that Jurgen Klopp could rekindle his admiration for Werner and are eyeing a ‘shock’ move – with one pundit backing how he could fit in at Liverpool.

The Latest: Hutton reacts…

Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton, who works as a commentator for BBC Radio 5 Live claimed that Liverpool would be able to get the best out of the 53-cap Germany star.

He said: “I think Werner can bring something with his pace and his trickery. I think he could fit into the system. I think if you look at the way Liverpool have played over the years Klopp has been there, he likes that type of winger coming in from the side of the pitch and I think that’s where he’s better.

“I don’t think Werner’s an out and out number nine to me, I think he misses too many opportunities but he’s a problem out on the wing, he’s a problem for defenders, the way Mane was and obviously with him leaving there’s possibly room.

“I’d be very surprised if Chelsea just let him go. With Lukaku leaving they won’t want to leave themselves short so I can’t see it happening.”

The verdict: At the right price

Although the double capture of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez from Portugal means Klopp is still blessed with an embarrassment of riches in the attacking department, Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi have also both left this summer and therefore the squad is one down in terms of frontline options.

Clearly a one-time top target for the recruitment team at Anfield, there is certainly a level of fascination with what Werner has to offer and at the right price, a move would make an abundance of sense for all parties as the £272,000-per-week man described as being ‘Michael Owen-like’ in his style by Tony Cascarino looks to recapture his best Bundesliga form that earned the big-money switch.

Last season the versatile frontman scored 11 times and provided six assists whilst playing across the frontline, numbers that Klopp would no doubt be confident of improving should this somewhat surprising move become a reality.

Despite the exit of Romelu Lukaku at Chelsea, strong links with Raheem Sterling and Raphinha mean that a departure for Werner could remain a possibility and as such, Julian Ward and FSG should remain attentive to the situation.

It is a matter of time until Nottingham Forest sign goalkeeper Dean Henderson on loan this summer, renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has claimed.

The Lowdown: Henderson heading to Forest?

The Englishman has found himself behind David De Gea in the goalkeeping pecking order at Manchester United, so a move away this summer makes perfect sense.

Forest have been strongly linked with signing Henderson on a temporary basis, as they prepare for the likely loss of current stopper Brice Samba.

A fresh update from Romano now suggests that the deal is essentially done, in what is surely music to the ears of Reds supporters.

The Latest: All but done

Taking to Twitter on Thursday, Romano dropped a short and sweet update when discussing Forest’s pursuit of Henderson:

“Dean Henderson will join Forest, matter of time.”

The Verdict: Perfect move for all parties

Barring a surprise late twist, this feels like a move that is a certainty in the coming days, with all parties benefiting moving forward.

For Forest, it will allow them to acquire the services of a top-class ‘keeper who has one cap to his name for England, and has been hailed as ‘insane’ and ‘exceptional’ by former Sheffield United teammate Sander Berge.

As for Henderson himself, it may give him a chance to make a late push for England’s 2022 World Cup squad, should he excel at the City Ground, while United could see it as great experience for one of their most talented young players.

Leeds United are close to sealing their third signing of the summer transfer window this week…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, who claims that a medical will take place on Friday after a deal was reached with Bayern Munich for midfielder Marc Roca.

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“Update #Roca: His medical will take place tomorrow! After that he will sign a contract until 2026, transfer fee €12m guaranteed + €5m bonuses,” he tweeted.

The former Espanyol and Spain U21 international is now set to join RB Salzburg duo Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen at Elland Road next season.

Summer of change

The Yorkshire giants are certainly conducting their business early in a bid to ensure that a repeat of last season does not happen – the Whites sealed Premier League safety on the final day with a dramatic 2-1 win over Brentford.

After bringing in two players he knows well from his days in Austria, manager Jesse Marsch will surely be delighted to be on the verge of sealing another player, this time one he hasn’t worked with before but one which does fill a key area of concern.

It’s the first time since January 2018 that Leeds have signed someone in a deeper-lying midfield role, that being Adam Forshaw from Middlesbrough – and he’s part of the reason why a new signing is needed.

He has suffered with a plethora of injuries, the latest of which ended his 2021/22 campaign early. When you throw in the coveted interest in Kalvin Phillips, who could go to Manchester City, and the poor form of Mateusz Klich, it’s easy to see why Roca has been targeted.

As Football FanCast have previously suggested, the Bayern Munich outcast could be the Whites’ very own Jorginho-like presence in the engine room.

Well-respected journalist Joe Donnohue has since described Roca as a “smooth operator” who can “steady the tempo & pick valuable forward passes,” whilst BBC Sport’s Raj Choba believes he’s “the best Kalvin Philips replacement as a 6.”

Whether the England international stay or goes remains to be seen but either way, if Roca can stay fit, then he’ll be a solid addition for March’s squad heading into the new season.

He’s surely buzzing with the club’s ambition in the transfer market.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano delivers update on Leeds target Takumi Minamino…

Sky Sports journalist Manuele Baiocchini has now made a promising Tottenham Hotspur transfer claim involving central defensive target Sven Botman.

The Lowdown: Bastoni alternative?

Inter Milan star Alessandro Bastoni was a top target for Spurs manager Antonio Conte but both the Italian and club chief Fabio Paratici were dealt a major blow on Wednesday afternoon.

The player’s agent confirmed that he seems set to stay at the San Siro with it now seeming like the Lilywhites must turn to alternatives if they wish to back Conte ahead of his first full Premier League season.

One of these possible targets is thought to be Lille star Botman who has been attracting serious interest from Newcastle United, Manchester United and AC Milan.

The Latest: Baiocchini shares promising update…

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Sky Italy reporter Baiocchini, sharing news on Twitter, has made a promising claim involving Spurs – going on to state that the north Londoners have emerged as ‘stronger and stronger’ contenders for Botman.

This comes as Milan fall behind in the race to sign Ligue 1’s sensation but Tottenham will still face competition from Newcastle and The Red Devils.

The Verdict: Battle on?

Still just 22-years-old, Botman has been a colossal defensive presence for Lille in the French top flight – making more clearances per 90 than anyone in their squad (WhoScored).

He also finished 2021/2022 as their third-best performer by average match rating, just behind star men Renato Sanches and Benjamin Andre (WhoScored).

The in-form Dutchman could also leave his current club for the very reasonable price of €40 million (£34m), potentially marking Botman out as a real standout alternative to Bastoni.

In other news: ‘Better and better’ – Insider says Tottenham could make announcement ‘in the coming days’…find out more here.

Celtic will be ‘trying to do everything’ they can to seal the permanent signing of Cameron Carter-Vickers this summer, according to Noel Whelan.

The Lowdown: Carter-Vickers excels at Celtic

The 24-year-old was loaned out to the Hoops last summer, with Tottenham never granting him regular football

Carter-Vickers’ move to Parkhead proved to be a match made in heaven, as the American flourished at the heart of Ange Postecoglou’s defence, achieving the fourth-highest WhoScored rating of anyone in the squad after last summer’s transfer window.

Celtic are now trying to seal a permanent move for the centre-back, although there has been interest in him from other clubs in recent months.

The Latest: Whelan talks up permanent move for Carter-Vickers

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan claimed that the Hoops will be doing all they can to acquire Carter-Vickers’ signature, with the player likely to reciprocate that, given how well the 24-year-old has done at Parkhead.

The former BBC radio pundit said:

“I think happiness to a player is very important, feeling wanted and belonging in a place. I think he’s definitely got that from Celtic as a football club and the fans.

“He plays regularly, we’ve seen the progression and how good he’s looked in the Celtic shirt. It’s an exciting team to be involved with as well with the style of play and the players they have been brought in.

“They won’t be looking to sit on that either, they’ll be looking to strengthen. With Carter-Vickers, he’s been an integral part of that defence. That’s why they’ve been so solid over the past season as well.

“I think Celtic and Carter-Vickers will be trying to do everything to make it happen, for him to stay there.

“They’re a European club, they’re massive, they’ve just won the Premiership. Why would you not want to be at a successful side who are playing in the Champions League as well?”

The Verdict: Simply has to happen

Given Carter-Vickers’ influence at Celtic this season – he has been lauded as ‘immense’ by Chris Sutton – it is imperative that they get a permanent deal over the line.

He has already looked at home at Parkhead, slotting in seamlessly next to Carl Starfelt, and he could be a fixture in green and white for many years to come. An average of 4.2 successful aerial duels per game and a pass completion rate of 89.5% in the Premiership is a testament to his quality.

With Champions League football returning to Celtic in 2022/23, that should surely be enough to persuade him to sign permanently, rather than head elsewhere and risk undoing all the progress he has made in Glasgow.

In other news, Celtic have reportedly set their sights on another signing. Find out who it is here.

According to transfer insider Dean Jones, Tottenham Hotspur are now ‘going after’ Inter Milan centre-back Alessandro Bastoni after being highlighted as the ‘one they would want’ in defence heading into the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Top of Conte’s wish list

It has been claimed that bringing in a new left-sided central defender is a priority for the Lilywhites this summer, and the 23-year-old was one of just several names who had been linked with a move to the Premier League giants last month.

However, as reported by the Evening Standard earlier this week, Spurs appear to have suffered a huge blow in the race for the Italian, who is seemingly be keen to remain at the San Siro. This hasn’t shut down any interest from N17, though, with the defender believed to be at the very top of Antonio Conte’s wish list.

The north London club aren’t the only ones wanting to secure Bastoni’s signature, with top-flight rivals Manchester United also considering a move for the centre-back, despite him still having two years remaining on his current contract with Inter.

The Latest: Jones confirms Spurs’ Bastoni interest

Jones has now claimed that Tottenham are completely focused on completing a deal for Bastoni in the coming weeks.

He told GiveMeSport: “Bastoni is clearly the one they’re going after at Tottenham at the moment.

“It’s hard to look beyond that and it’s clearly a prime position that they’re looking to fix quickly. Bastoni is the one they would want.”

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The Verdict: Reunion on the cards?

It comes as no surprise to see that Conte is targeting a move for the 13-cap Italy international given that they worked alongside each other in Serie A, where Bastoni made 74 appearances under the 52-year-old during his Inter reign.

This season, Ben Davies has typically been the man to regularly feature as Spurs’ left-sided centre-back following Conte’s arrival in N17 last November, but you could argue that the £122k-per-week Inter starlet is viewed as an upgrade on the starting XI.

In their respective 2021/22 league campaigns, the Italian won more tackles, made more pressures and put in more crosses than the Wales defender (via FBRef).

Bastoni, who was once dubbed a “tenacious” tackler by talent scout Jacek Kulig, might well be tempted into reuniting with his former boss. Also, considering that Spurs will be playing Champions League football next season, this could be a huge factor when it comes down to the 23-year-old deciding where his next destination will be.

In other news… a Sky Sports pundit has reacted to this transfer update on one Spurs player

If there is one person on this earth who has lived and breathed the very mantra of never giving up, it’s former Arsenal star Ian Wright.

The ex-striker was a marvel in the red and white at Highbury, scoring as many as 185 times in 288 outings for the Gunners.

That record puts him second only to Thierry Henry on Arsenal’s list of all-time goal scorers.

However, the move to north London came relatively late in his career. Wrighty as he’s become affectionately known was a late bloomer, as he laid down the foundations for the Jamie Vardy’s of this world to show that no matter how old you are, there is always more potential to be extracted.

When it comes to players who found their touch late into their career, Wright and Vardy are two of the most famous examples of the Premier League era.

Back in March, the Leicester forward overtook the former with 94 goals after turning 30 – the most out of any player who has played Premier League football.

They both have Arsenal in common too, although Vardy’s association is that of rejection, with the jovial attacker once turning them down.

But what, I hear you ask, is the relevance to this in the modern-day?

Well, Wright joined Arsenal from Crystal Palace and this summer, the Gunners could raid their fellow Londoners again.

They have previously been interested in a deal for Wilfried Zaha but it’s not the Ivorian on their radar this time. Instead, it’s Michael Olise who has captured the interest of Arsenal according to reports.

The young France youth international joined Palace last summer in a bargain £8m deal and it’s thought as though his valuation has now risen to around £35m.

It’s a considerable sum of money but one Arsenal won’t be afraid to pay. After all, France and the Islington club go hand in hand after Arsene Wenger’s time in the English capital.

Although Olise is a winger by trade, a different position to Wright, there would be shades of the deal that Arsenal successfully completed to bring the latter to Highbury back in 1991.

Over 30 years later and Olise could become the club’s new Wright.

Scoring as many as the now television pundit would be quite the accomplishment but the Palace youngster has the same sort of swagger and confidence to his play.

He is a joy to watch and is learning the game from a certain Patrick Vieira. Wherever you look, the former Reading man is beginning to smell Arsenal and he’ll have certainly picked up a few of the club’s philosophies given his current manager.

Throughout the current campaign, the 20-year-old found the net on four occasions and registered nine assists in 32 games. It’s a fine record for someone who was playing at the highest level for the first time in his career.

So good have been his performances that he’s even earned the praise of Wright himself.

“When you watch what Zaha brings to the team, Wilf is what 29 now? Here you are talking about a youngster that has a massive future,” the former Gunner began.

“When you look at what he does in the final third. Go and do what you want. He is going to be somebody that is going to do unbelievable things,” Wright concluded.

Olise has earned further praise from Reading defender Tom McIntyre who hailed his “special ability” while Squawka writer Muhammad Butt called him a “wizard”. On that evidence, he’d be quite the capture for Mikel Arteta’s men.

Crucially, he’d also fit the club’s philosophy of buying young players who are yet to reach their ceiling.

Should the chance present itself, it would surely be a no brainer for Edu and co to bring the dazzling French star to north London.

As Wright eludes to, this is someone who is going places within the world of football.

AND in other news, Signed at £6m, now worth £34m: Arsenal struck gold on gem with “a bit of Pires” to him…

Everton are reportedly now ‘at the front of the queue’ to sign James Tarkowski this summer.

The Lowdown: Wanted man

The 29-year-old is a wanted man this summer, with Newcastle United, Aston Villa and West Ham United among a number of clubs recently being linked with his signature.

This is not surprising given that Burnley have just been relegated from the Premier League and that his contract at Turf Moor is expiring soon.

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The Latest: Everton lead Tarkowski race

Taking to Twitter in sharing his article for The Telegraph, reliable journalist Matt Law has revealed that Everton are now ‘front of the queue’ to sign Tarkowski once his contract expires.

He tweeted: “Tarkowski would be a fantastic signing for Everton or Aston Villa. Everton are at the front of the queue at the moment.”

The Verdict: No-brainer

To get a player of Tarkowski’s experience and quality on a free is surely a no-brainer for the Merseyside club.

Once dubbed “outstanding” by former Clarets boss Sean Dyche, and a “real leader” at the back by former Premier League striker Noel Whelan, the 29-year-old could be the organiser that’s needed to sort out the Toffees’ defensive problems. Everton conceded no fewer than 66 goals in the top flight this season, the fifth-most of any team.

He should be able to settle in quickly at Goodison Park having played almost 200 times in the Premier League, and given that he is out of contract, it should be a relatively straight-forward deal to execute.

In other news, fresh Everton exit talks are now being planned

Newcastle United journalist George Caulkin thinks Matt Ritchie will depart the club this summer. 

The lowdown

Newcastle paid £10.8million to sign Ritchie from Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth ahead of the 2016/17 season while Rafael Benitez was manager, and he helped them win promotion back to the Premier League in his first season.

In all, Ritchie has made 187 appearances for the club, scoring 24 goals and providing 33 assists.

He was an unused substitute for Monday night’s 2-0 victory over Arsenal, and that’s become a regular occurrence for the 32-year-old.

Ritchie has watched the full 90 minutes from the bench in ten of the last 11 league fixtures.

It looks as if his last outing at St James’ Park, as a Newcastle player at least, will prove to be the 4-0 defeat against Manchester City back in December.

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The latest

Caulkin addressed Ritchie’s future on The Athletic’s matchday discussion board on Monday night.

While the Scot still ‘has another year left on his contract’, the journalist would ‘expect him to go’ when the transfer window opens.

The verdict

There will no doubt be some Newcastle supporters who are sad to see Ritchie go.

He’s been a useful player to have in the squad because of his immense versatility, operating as both a full-back and a winger on each side.

And he also seems to be an important figure in the dressing room, with Chronicle Live journalist Sean McCormick noting his ‘drive, leadership and vocal presence’ and Alex McLeish branding him a ‘real warrior’.

The £45,000-per-week man possesses ‘quality… in abundance’ too, with Jamie Carragher claiming ‘he was the best player in the Championship when Newcastle came up’.

He deserves credit for his key contributions on Tyneside.

In other news, Eddie Howe wants this goalkeeper.