Everton are on the hunt for reinforcements for their forward line as David Moyes looks to build on the momentum he built when re-joining the team last year.
The Toffees had been pushing to sign Southampton’s young star boy, Tyler Dibling, but negotiations between the two sides seem to have collapsed. Dibling was one of the only bright sparks at Southampton last season as they were relegated, having only accrued 12 points.
When the transfer window opened, clubs like Manchester United were interested in Dibbling, and so the Saints wanted an astronomical £100 million for the winger, but their price demand has dropped since then. Everton had reportedly put in a number of bids for the youngster, with the first starting at £27 million and their final bid being £35 million plus a further £8 million in potential add-ons.
Southampton sent a counter offer of £45 million plus £5 million in add-ons and a 25% sell-on clause. This was evidently more than Everton are willing to spend, and so they have now set their sights elsewhere.
Everton turn their attention to Grealish as loan talks begin
Following their impasse with Southampton over Dibling, Everton have turned their attention to Jack Grealish. It’s become clear that a move away from the Etihad may be on the cards for Grealish following decreasing game time at Manchester City last season, and David Ornstein reports the clubs are now in talks over a “complicated” loan deal.
The England international joined Manchester City from Aston Villa for £100 million in 2021, but he never lived up to the expectations that came with his Villa success or his price tag.
As recently as last season, he was being touted as a “generational talent” by City legends like Shay Given, while his creative flair and ball control has led to comparisons with superstars like Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal.
The main issue in terms of finances is Grealish’s wages; Everton’s current highest-paid player is Jordan Pickford, who, on £125,000-a-week, makes less than half of Grealish’s wages of £300,000-a-week.
Grealish vs Dibling
Everton walking away from the Dibling deal may make Southampton consider lowering their asking price, in which case Moyes may have the ability to pick which player he’d rather sign, Dibling or Grealish.
In terms of goal involvements, both players had very similar seasons, but nothing close to the level of output Everton fans might expect from two players who’d both previously been valued at £100 million.
2024/25 Stats
Grealish
Dibling
Games (All Competitions)
32
38
Goals
3
4
Assists
5
2
Total Goal Involvements
8
6
Although Grealish leads Dibling for goal involvements, he arguably had the easier of the two jobs as he was featuring for a City side that had just won four back-to-back Premier League titles where whereas Dibling was playing for the second-worst team in Premier League history.
The biggest difference between the two is their career trajectories. Dibling is a youngster who shows a lot of promise but is as yet unproven, whereas Grealish has proven that he can do it at the highest level, but it is whether or not he can return to that level of form.
Good things come to those who wait. That’s an aphorism firmly printed in the minds of Newcastle United’s fanbase, for sure.
The Magpies have endured another frustrating start to a summer transfer window, with the likes of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Joao Pedro all opting against moves to St. James’ Park.
But Eddie Howe has bounced back from last summer’s failed bid for Anthony Elanga by signing the Nottingham Forest winger for £55m, thus filling a gaping hole in his first-team squad.
Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga
Now, he’s planning something special. Something emblematic of the club’s ambitions, their desire to not just to upset the Premier League hegemony but to destroy it, establishing themselves as part of a new ‘big six’.
Having won the Carabao Cup and qualified for the Champions League for the second time in three years, the Toon are well on their way to achieving this, and the signing of Hugo Ekitike would only rubberstamp this new position of strength.
The latest on Hugo Ekitike to Newcastle
Make no mistake, Newcastle would send shockwaves rippling across the footballing world if beating Liverpool and Chelsea, among others, to Ekitike’s signature.
The Frenchman is a rare breed of centre-forward, truly dynamic and creative in his approach to his craft. Already, he has been described by analyst Ben Mattinson as being “one of the best strikers out there”, and yet we’re looking at a player who still has a mountain to climb before completing his development.
And it’s hard to imagine that evolution will simply cease upon a move to Tyneside. Eintracht Frankfurt have overseen the 23-year-old’s progress since he arrived from Paris Saint-Germain in January 2024 as a loanee before becoming a fixed feature at the prow of the ship.
Newcastle’s interest runs deep, of course, for United had a £33m bid accepted back in 2022, but for the Reims prospect’s head to be turned by PSG’s late interruption.
And now, according to top sources such as The Athletic’s David Ornstein and Fabrizio Romano, Newcastle are pushing ahead, looking to close a deal.
Such news represents a double-edged sword: Ekitike has the makings of a world-class forward, but his acquisition heightens fears surrounding Alexander Isak’s future, with Liverpool having already made an attempt to lure him to Anfield in a staggering £130m deal. That’s the word of Times journalist Martin Hardy, anyway.
Especially since Howe is looking to take Newcastle’s summer expenditure to the next level, with a move for a Premier League star in the pipeline.
Newcastle discussing move for Premier League star
According to The Athletic, Ekitike isn’t the only former transfer target back on Newcastle’s radar, with Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi’s name being continually discussed in internal recruitment meetings.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehireacts after the match
Newcastle saw four bids for Guehi rejected by Eagles chairman Steve Parish last summer, but they could now return, with the Three Lions star in the final year of his contract and with no plans to renew.
Liverpool are also firm admirers, looking to sign the 25-year-old for £40m. However, as with Ekitike, Newcastle’s long-standing interest could hold sway in negotiations.
Why Marc Guehi would be a brilliant signing
Over the past several years, Guehi has established himself as one of the leading central defenders in English football, crowning his time at Crystal Palace, 155 senior appearances deep, with a reputation-raising victory over Manchester City to win the FA Cup in May.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehicelebrates after the match
His time at Selhurst Park looks to be reaching its end, though, with the Eagles likely to want to cash in on their “elite” talent, as he’s been called by writer Eddie Gibbs, rather than lose him on a free next year.
Hailed as a “monster in defence” by reporter Bobby Manzi, Guehi is quite literally the perfect defensive profile for Howe’s system: he’s combative, collected, and quietly authoritative.
Moreover, the England international’s surpassing technical qualities could see him charge the transitional emphasis, enhancing the system to a degree that could see him prove to be a signing just as exciting as any move for Ekitike, which is certainly saying something.
Ekitike is one of the most talented young strikers around, but he’s also got work to be done. There are blemishes in his ball-striking, weaknesses in his intuitiveness, though these are small things, outweighed by the scale of his potential.
Guehi, conversely, has shaped into the complete package under Oliver Glasner’s wing in the capital and would be expected to hit the ground running at Newcastle.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehiin action
When fit and fully functional, Sven Botman is patently Newcastle’s best centre-half. His 2022/23 campaign was a thing to behold, but his last two terms have been disrupted by setbacks.
Looking at how Guehi ranks up against that giddy height is quite a thing. This might be a player who moves over and instantly establishes themselves as the cream of Newcastle’s crop.
Sven Botman vs Marc Guehi in the Premier League
Stats (* per game)
Botman (22/23)
Guehi (24/25)
Matches (starts)
36 (35)
34 (34)
Goals
0
3
Assists
0
2
Clean sheets
11
11
Touches*
58.4
64.9
Pass completion
87%
84%
Key passes*
0.3
0.5
Dribbles (success)*
0.1 (100%)
0.4 (86%)
Tackles + interceptions*
2.0
2.6
Clearances*
3.3
4.6
Duels (won)*
3.5 (67%)
4.9 (59%)
All data via Sofascore
We can extrapolate the data above to posit Guehi’s signature being of equal merit, equally as exciting, to any deal for Ekitike in the coming weeks.
Guehi, after all, has been named as “England’s best centre-back” by one analyst, the evidence of which lies in his fixed position in the Three Lions starting line-up over the past couple of years.
As is starting to become a frustrating theme, it looks like a deal for Guehi will indeed include fending off Liverpool. But, with Howe building an incredible project and Guehi sure to assume a leading role under the St. James’ Park lights, the Englishman might just feel that a move to Newcastle represents the best move for his career at this stage.
Considering the calibre of player the Palace man is and the need for a centre-back, there’s certainly an argument that Guehi could be the defining success of a tremendous transfer window on Tyneside.
A dream for Bruno: Newcastle likely to see £50m bid accepted to sign new CM
As Newcastle United look to bolster their midfield options, the Mapgies are reportedly set to see a £50 million bid accepted to sig a great “leader”.
Glasgow Celtic are starting to make meaningful strides in the transfer market and could now be set to compete for the signature of a talented midfielder, according to a report.
Brendan Rodgers addresses Celtic's next steps in the window
Five signings have made their way to Celtic since the window opened, and plenty more will be expected from the Hoops support as the countdown to their curtain-raiser against St Mirren draws closer.
Speaking after his side’s 3-2 defeat to Estrela de Amadora in pre-season, Brendan Rodgers confirmed his side are working on securing new faces in midfield and attack, admitting his side are a little short amid the departure of Nicolas Kuhn.
Celtic manager BrendanRodgersbefore the match
He stated: “I think there’s work going on behind the scenes. It’s clear we need to improve the squad. A lot of work is going on behind the scenes, there are loads of names floating about.”
“I think the positions you’ve mentioned, we’re clear that we need to improve our frontline. We lost Kyogo in January and another player with Nicolas gone. That’s a lot of goals that’s gone out of the team. So for us, we need to strengthen that area of the field. But the guys back home are working hard on that.”
Kawasaki Frontale striker Shin Yamada is set to join Celtic next week. However, their search for attacking reinforcements is unlikely to end there due to their pursuit of Napoli forward Giuseppe Ambrosino.
The next Jota: Celtic are now attempting to sign "very exciting" £3.2m star
As Celtic continue their busy summer transfer window activity, could the Hoops win the race to sign a “very exciting” £3.2m-rated Portugues youngster?
Jul 13, 2025
Admittedly, there is a growing feeling among some supporters that Celtic are yet to really kick off the summer window in earnest, but that could all be about to change if recent developments are anything to go by.
Celtic fighting rival suitors for Salvatore Esposito
According to The Boot Room, Celtic are one of several clubs in the race to sign Spezia midfielder Salvatore Esposito, who could be allowed to leave his homeland on loan with an option to make any move permanent.
Salvatore Esposito for Italy vs England.
The scenario of an outright sale hasn’t been ruled out. Nevertheless, Brighton & Hove Albion, Burnley, Brentford, Fulham, Everton, Sunderland, and Rangers are also reportedly pursuing the one-cap Italy international.
Salvatore Esposito in Serie B – 2024/25 (Fotmob)
Chances created
78
Pass completion
85%
Dribble success
81.1%
Tackles won
36
Recoveries
207
Despite predominantly operating in a deep-lying midfield role, Esposito chipped in with seven goals and ten assists in 37 appearances across all competitions for Spezia, even if his sizeable contribution wasn’t enough to win his side promotion.
Previously, the 24-year-old has been likened to former Arsenal midfielder Jorginho by Jacek Kulig, so it will come as no surprise to see a lengthy list of clubs in the mix for his services.
Celtic have long sought another body in the six position to dictate play, albeit it would be intriguing to see whether Esposito and Callum McGregor could fit in the same side.
After a generally positive Premier League Summer Series campaign, can West Ham United start to build some positivity ahead of the new season?
On Sunday, goals from Niclas Füllkrug and Jarrod Bowen saw the Hammers beat Bournemouth 2-0 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
Four days earlier, Graham Potter’s team had also defeated Everton 2-1 in Chicago, thereby finishing second in the Summer Series standings, below only Manchester United, who they’d narrowly lost 2-1 against in their US-tour opener in East Rutherford.
After being appointed in January, Potter won only five of 19 matches in charge, thereby picking up fewer points-per-game than his sacked predecessor, Julen Lopetegui, so will come into this new campaign under serious scrutiny.
West Ham United manager GrahamPotter
If the Irons are going to get back to challenging for European qualification, they still require a few more signings, so could one be about to arrive?
West Ham United's transfer search
Following the release of veteran Łukasz Fabiański, West Ham have been in the market for a new goalkeeper throughout the summer, seeking to upgrade Alphonse Areola, following the Frenchman’s underwhelming campaign.
The Hammers have been interested in Mads Hermansen of Leicester City, Viktor Johansson of Stoke City and Sheffield United’s Michael Cooper, but have seemingly settled on their number one target to become number one.
That’s because, as reported by Fabrizio Romano, West Ham are “in advanced talks” with Botafogo to sign their shot-stopper John Victor.
Romano adds elsewhere that the Hammers are now “advancing to key stages” of the deal, and that John “wants the move”, subsequently stating that they have reached a “verbal agreement”. He will cost around £9m.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Botafogo, for their part, “have reached an agreement” to sign Neto from Bournemouth, as reported by David Ornstein of The Athletic, thereby securing a replacement, suggesting further that John is set to swap Rio de Janeiro for East London.
How John Victor will improve West Ham
As already outlined, goalkeeper is certainly a position of need at West Ham, and the table below documents why.
Minutes
2,260
18th
1,160
22nd
Saves
77
15th
50
21st
Save %
64.3%
20th
74.6%
2nd
Goals conceded per 90
1.63
6th
1.63
7th
Clean sheet %
20%
13th
15.4%
17th
Post shot xG – goals conceded
-2.6
36th
+1.6
12th
% of crosses prevented
3.8%
21st
4.5%
18th
Punches
10
17th
9
19th
High claims
15
19th
9
24th
Average SofaScore rating
6.87
34th
7.08
18th
As the table outlines, it was actually the now-departed Fabiański who largely boasted better numbers in the Premier League last season, most notably when it comes to save percentage and xG prevented, but neither he nor Areola covered themselves in glory.
Thus, John will surely arrive to be the starter and, assuming the deal is done in time, meaning the Brazilian will be donning the gloves at the Stadium of Light against Sunderland on the opening day of the season.
The 29-year-old joined Botafogo from Santos in January 2024 and picked a good time to move to the Engenhão, a key figure as Fogo won their first Brasileirão title since 1995, as well as their first-ever Copa Libertadores trophy, with John the number one throughout the campaign.
He then captured global attention during the Club World Cup earlier this summer, starting all four matches as his team reached the knockout stages, most notably defeating European champions Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 at the Rose Bowl.
Saves
13
11th
Save percentage
81.3%
2nd
Goals conceded per 90
0.69
2nd
Punches
9
1st
High claims
7
2nd
Average SofaScore rating
7.48
6th
These statistics at a high-level competition are certainly encouraging, hence why teammate Philipe Sampaio, who is a centre-back, described his goalkeeper as a “warrior”.
Meantime, Matt Pyzdrowski of the Athletic was certainly impressed, first praising the ‘quality of his distribution’ and ‘technical ability’ in terms of in possession with the ball at his feet.
Furthermore, they go onto comment that John ‘makes full use of his physical presence’ as well as the fact that the 29 year old is a ‘high-level performer’ when it comes to shot-stopping, concluding that he would be a ‘smart’ and affordable addition for whichever European club are able to get their hands on him.
So why will he prove to be a better signing than future teammate Callum Wilson?
Well, while the England international’s quality has never been in doubt, he can never be fully relied upon when it comes to fitness and availability, seeing just 458 minutes of action for Newcastle last season due to a back and then hamstring injury.
Callum Wilson applauds the Newcastle fans.
On top of this, Wilson is not a guaranteed starter, especially after Füllkrug and club captain Bowen linked up very nicely as a front two during the pre-season friendlies out in America. Despite the bonus of arriving on a free, the 33-year-old’s record of just 11 goals in all competitions across the last two seasons is hardly the most encouraging.
Thus, while Wilson could still prove to be a shrewd addition, fitness-permitting John could turn out to be a transformational signing, not only as a result of his own quality, but given that he will be filling a position of genuine need.
Better than Wilson: West Ham agree personal terms with "unreal" £35m star
After Callum Wilson was unveiled as West Ham United’s new striker on Saturday, the Irons have now agreed personal terms to sign an “unreal” £35m star.
Leeds United are now racing to sign a sought after midfielder who is “definitely” world-class, and his club have made him available, according to a report.
Leeds looking to improve midfield options
Leeds are still in the market for an attacking midfielder, having mainly bolstered their options in more defensive areas up to this point, and Leicester City’s Bilal El-Khannouss has now emerged as a target, with talks set to take place soon.
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Having already brought in Sean Longstaff and Anton Stach this summer, strengthening in deeper midfield areas may no longer be a priority for Daniel Farke, but there may still be room for one more addition in that area of the pitch.
Newcastle United's SeanLongstaffin action with Bromley's Jude Arthurs
That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which reveals Leeds are one of a number of Premier League clubs racing to sign Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz, who has now been made available for a transfer this summer.
A deal could be expensive, however, with the Italian club looking to receive €40m (£35m), amid widespread interest in Luiz’s signature, with the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and West Ham United also named as potential suitors.
Nottingham Forest are thought to be leading the race for the former Aston Villa man, and there are indications that he could be keen on a return to England, with his representatives turning down an approach from Turkish side Fenerbahce.
Leeds now racing to sign £26m striker who's scored 3 goals at Elland Road
He loves playing against the Whites.
ByCharlie Smith Aug 6, 2025 Luiz would be statement signing for Leeds
Upon the Brazilian’s arrival at Juventus, he received high praise from ESPN’s Leonardo Bertozzi, who said: “Douglas Luiz world class? Definitely yes, Douglas Luiz has been coveted by the big Premier League clubs and would have played at City with Guardiola if he had received his work permit earlier.
“On the national team level, he will be one of the leading names for the 2026 World Cup.”
The 27-year-old also has a proven track record of success in the Premier League, indicating he could be a real difference-maker in Leeds’ battle to avoid relegation, performing remarkably well across the 2023-24 campaign.
That said, it could be very difficult to win the race for Luiz’s signature, given the interest from some top clubs, and it is more important for Leeds to strengthen in more attacking areas, having already signed Stach and Longstaff.
‘I guess we’re really fortunate as well that we play last in our pool. So, we know exactly where the situation will lie before we play’
Shashank Kishore13-Oct-2024Only twice in eight previous editions of the women’s T20 World Cup has a side lost out on a semi-final berth because of an inferior net run-rate. Sophie Devine has been part of both those heartbreaks, in 2014 and 2023. As luck would have it, New Zealand are faced with yet another net run-rate scenario this time around as well.By Sunday evening, New Zealand would have a fair idea of what they should do to progress. An Indian win against Australia will mean they will have to beat Pakistan by a certain margin to qualify. India losing will mean they can beat Pakistan by any margin and qualify.This may seem like a potentially sticky scenario to face, but Devine, the New Zealand captain, doesn’t see it that way. “We’re really pleased with the position we’re in,” she said ahead of the Pakistan match in Dubai. “I think if you asked us at the start of the tournament that we’d have fate in our hands in terms of the semi-finals race going into our last game, we would’ve taken it.Related
Sana boost for Pakistan, Diana ruled out for must-win clash vs NZ
Plimmer beats the Sharjah conditions to give New Zealand what they need
What do New Zealand need to qualify for the semi-finals?
“I guess we’re really fortunate as well that we play last in our pool. So, we know exactly where the situation will lie before we play [Pakistan]. For us it’s simple, we reflect, review, watch the Australia game – “go, Aussie girls” – with a lot of interest. Hopefully our Aussie mates do us a favour.”New Zealand could’ve overtaken India’s net run-rate had they achieved their target of 116 in 14.3 overs against Sri Lanka. Asked if that thought ever crossed their minds, Devine was clear they weren’t “too focused” on that.”I’ve seen it so many times in different competitions and different leagues where you start focusing on those little things like net run-rates, I’ve seen teams lose completely when they’re in a position to win,” she said. “Cricket has a funny way of biting you in the bum.”We wanted to make sure that we won the [Sri Lanka] game, and we still did it comprehensively with a couple of overs to spare and wickets in hand. So, we’re in a really good position where we know exactly where our ball is going to lie before our last game.”If we’ve got to go about things slightly differently, we’ve got the options to do that with a squad that’s really flexible, that we’ve got an order that can change and we’ve got a lot of spinners, a lot of bowlers that can come in and out of the side and do a job.”Devine was equally mindful of what Pakistan could do to them. Only last December, they beat New Zealand in New Zealand by a 2-1 margin in the T20Is. In the subsequent ODIs, Pakistan managed to tie the third game and take it into a Super Over before winning.Monday’s fixture could be an emotional one for Fatima Sana, who has returned to the UAE from Pakistan after attending her father’s funeral. And Devine doesn’t want to leave anything to chance against a team that can sting them.”I think we’d be more concerned if there weren’t issues to work on,” she said. “So you’re right, Pakistan, they’ve got a lot to play for in terms of pride, and obviously with Fatima Sana, you know, regards to her family for their loss, and them wanting to play for her.”In World Cup games, you don’t need any more motivation to get out of bed. So, we certainly know, maybe it’s going to be a big ask and I guess our focus will be on us and making sure that we’re focusing on how we’re going to play.”The tournament has been up and down for New Zealand on the performances front. They broke a 10-match losing streak to beat India at the start of their campaign but stumbled against Australia to cancel out the net run-rate boost.Against Sri Lanka, especially with Chamari Athapaththu going strong at the 10-over mark, it seemed as if New Zealand may have been staring at a 130-plus target, but they bounced back to restrict them to 115, which they chased down courtesy Georgia Plimmer’s brisk half-century.Asked about the wild fluctuations in fortunes, Devine underlined how they’d been trying to remain neutral through the highs and lows, rather than letting the emotions drain them in an already intense competition.”It’s a very Kiwi nature that we stay pretty placid, pretty calm,” she said. “You can sometimes exhaust yourself riding the roller-coaster, especially at World Cups. Living on the emotions day to day can be pretty draining. So we spoke a lot about being really calm and level in this group and everyone’s doing it slightly differently.”
When Liverpool signed Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt this summer, Arne Slot welcomed a superstar in the making to his ranks.
Aged 23, the Frenchman was described by analyst Ben Mattinson as being “one of the best strikers out there” after his 22-goal and 12-assist campaign, compelling FSG to fork out £79m in July.
However, the name on everyone’s lips still belongs to Newcastle United superstar Alexander Isak.
The Premier League’s most complete number nine informed his club that he wishes to explore a move to Merseyside this summer, having opted against going on the Toon’s pre-season tour.
But will he sign for the Premier League champions?
Liverpool chasing new striker
Liverpool submitted their first official bid for Isak on Friday morning, but Newcastle swiftly knocked it back. Since then, there have been conflicting reports about what comes next, but reporter Ben Jacobs believes the Reds may not return at all over the coming month.
This is in keeping with the narrative. Don’t stress. Isak will only leave St. James’ Park this summer if the Magpies find themselves a suitable replacement, and that’s hardly a certainty.
Should Liverpool fail to secure their quarry, FSG might instead be tempted to target Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, who has been a top target at Anfield over the past few months.
Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez
Manchester United have also shown an interest in the former Manchester City star, who, like Isak, would cost a record sum to bring back to the Premier League; Atletico are looking for something in the region of £125m.
How Julian Alvarez would fit in at Liverpool
Liverpool might have thought that Darwin Nunez would be the heir to his countryman Luis Suarez’s long-vacated throne at Anfield, but it wasn’t to be.
Instead, Alvarez could be the man. The South American has a wealth of experience in the Premier League under Pep Guardiola’s wing, where he became rich with titles.
But having transferred to Atletico Madrid in La Liga one year ago in an £81.5m package, Alvarez has discovered a new level of prolific quality, scoring 29 goals and providing eight assists across 57 matches in all competitions.
As per FBref, he ranked among the top 15% of positional peers across Europe last term for goals scored, and the top 6% for passes attempted, shot-creating actions and progressive carries per 90. This blend of creativity, control and strength underscores his potential as a Suarez-esque forward at Liverpool.
Alvarez’s positional fluidity, moreover, aligns with what Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes are looking for: a dynamic forward with the capacity to work with or cover for Ekitike, who is versatile in his own right.
Julian Alvarez – Career Stats by Position
Position
Apps
Goals
Assists
Centre-forward
167
86
31
Attacking midfield
49
19
15
Right winger
49
12
8
Left winger
7
2
4
Data via Transfermarkt
His quiet power and physicality suggest he could become a striker for Liverpool who is every bit as good and unforgettable as Suarez, who is one of the greatest goalscorers of his generation, once even hailed by Steven Gerrard as “the best I’ve played with” for his utter dominance in the final third.
Alvarez might have a few floors to scale before reaching peak Suarez levels, but he was called “the best forward in the world” by journalist Roy Nemer last year, who was discussing the Argentine’s meteoric rise.
Isak might be Liverpool’s dream target for the remainder of the transfer window, but if he’s truly unavailable in spite of FSG’s best efforts, Alvarez wouldn’t be a half-bad fallback.
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Como não podia deixar de ser, um dos assuntos discutidos por Dorival Júnior com a diretoria do São Paulo foi Alexandre Pato. O sinal recebido para a integração do atacante, que se recupera de cirurgia no Reffis foi positivo. E com isso o Tricolor prepara um contrato a ser oferecido ao jogador, atualmente sem vínculo com qualquer outra equipe.
Ao LANCE!, fontes da cúpula são-paulinas apontam que o acordo a ser oferecido a Pato será de produtividade, até o final do ano, com metas a serem cumpridas para eventual renovação. A remuneração será abaixo do patamar a que o atacante está acostumado.
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Se desenrola um final feliz para as partes. Isso porque Pato sempre deixou claro nos bastidores que seu objetivo é atuar pelo São Paulo. Fator esse que o fez recusar sondagens de diversos clubes, como Santos, Cuiabá, Coritiba e Fortaleza.
Pelo lado do Tricolor, a contratação do atacante atende pedido feito pela Torcida Independente, principal organização do clube, e reforça o elenco para o novo treinador em meio ao fechamento da atual janela de transferências, que acontece nesta quinta-feira (20) e pela qual o clube do Morumbi passou com apenas duas peças trazidas: o lateral-direito Raí Ramos e o meia Michel Araujo, ambos com aval do ex-técnico Rogério Ceni.
Importante ressaltar que por estar parado, Pato poderia ser contratado e inscrito normalmente pelo clube para a disputa do Campeonato Brasileiro.
Sobre o treinador demitido pelo clube na quinta-feira (19), ninguém no clube confirma que havia, de fato, resistência de Ceni em contar com Pato no elenco. Assunto que chegou a ser tratado pelo mesmo em sua última entrevista como comandante tricolor, na terça-feira (18).
O atacante teve passagens no clube do Morumbi entre 2013 e 2015, e retornou em 2019, deixando a equipe em agosto de 2020. Somando suas duas passagens pelo time, disputou 105 jogos, com 35 gols marcados e 18 assistências.
Pato se lesionou em setembro de 2022, durante uma partida do Orlando City, dos EUA. Dois meses depois, anunciou a saída da franquia da MLS (liga estadunidense).
O jogador nunca escondeu seu apego ao Tricolor, frequentemente marcando presença em jogos no estádio do Morumbi.
Sobre Pato, Henrique Gomes, o Baby, presidente da Independente, destaca o fato de que o atacante ter aberto mão de algumas dívidas que o clube mantinha com ele é sinal de sua intenção de voltar a jogar pelo São Paulo.
– Alexandre Pato rescindiu seu contrato com o clube e diferente de muitos jogadores que recebem até até mesmo preso na Espanha, não quis receber o valor que tinha direito. Já se recuperou da lesão, fez o tratamento no Reffis e quer voltar a defender a camisa do SPFC – diz, alfinetando o lateral-direito Daniel Alves.
– Temos até o dia 20 de abril para contratar e inscrever atletas para o decorrer das competições, não é possível que essa diretoria de futebol não tenha encontrado dois jogadores. Camisa 10 e um meia atacante veloz – completou Gomes.
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Tottenham Hotspur are now plotting a move for an “elite” Premier League defender, who Micky van de Ven knows very well, according to a report.
Spurs looking to sign new centre-back
There has been a great deal of speculation surrounding the future of Cristian Romero, as the 27-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Atletico Madrid, but Thomas Frank has now indicated the defender is set to remain at N17.
That said, perhaps given that his predecessor, Ange Postecoglou, was left very light on options in defence at times last season, Frank remains keen on bringing in another centre-back, and AFC Bournemouth’s Illia Zabarnyi has now emerged as a target.
Spurs are ready to shell out over £60m to get a deal for Zabarnyi over the line, but with the Bournemouth defender keen on joining PSG, Frank may be forced to move on to alternative options, and a different Premier League centre-back is now on the shortlist.
That is according to a report from France (via TEAMtalk), which states Tottenham are now eyeing a move for Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix, less than one year after the defender’s £18m move to Selhurst Park.
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The way in which Lacroix has been able to adapt to the Premier League has caught Spurs’ eye, and the move would reunite the defender with former Wolfsburg teammate van de Ven, with the pair playing alongside eachother on 29 occasions in Germany.
With the 25-year-old contracted until 2029, however, Palace remain in a strong negotiating position, and there could be a great deal of rival interest, with the likes of Borrusia Dortmund and various Serie A clubs also keen.
"Elite" Lacroix could be excellent acquisition for Spurs
Hailed as an “elite defender” by journalist Tobias Kröger, the Palace star was a mainstay in Oliver Glasner’s side last season, making 35 appearances in the Premier League, while also starting in the victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
Crystal Palace's Maxence Lacroix in action with Ipswich Town'sLiamDelap
During his first season in England, the Frenchman’s defensive abilities were on display on a regular basis, with winning back possession his forte, suggesting he could now be ready to make the step-up to one of England’s biggest clubs.
Statistic
Average per 90
Tackles
1.96 (83rd percentile)
Interceptions
1.56 (89th percentile)
Clearances
5.98 (81st percentile)
Glasner is also clearly happy with the addition of the former Wolfsburg man, with the Palace boss saying: “It is great recruitment. The new players who came in this year, like Maxence Lacroix, like Daichi Kamada, showed an outstanding performance today and also at the Emirates.”
As such, Lacroix could be a solid signing for Tottenham, but it may be difficult to prise him away for Palace, given that the centre-back remains contracted until 2029.