Takeover May Halt £400k-p/w Man United Transfer

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Manchester United are not speaking to Harry Kane yet over a summer transfer amid takeover uncertainty.

What's the latest on Harry Kane and Man Utd?

It's quite possible that the Red Devils could have new owners in the very near future. Indeed, a number of different parties have made their interest public.

The likes of Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and Finnish entrepreneur Thomas Zilliacus have placed bids, while Elliott Management wants a minority stake.

However, it remains unclear if the Glazers will actually sell. This means Erik ten Hag and co don't quite know who will be writing the cheques this summer to pay for any major transfers.

Consequently, while the club's football staff may be keen on landing Kane from Tottenham Hotspur, they don't yet know how much they can bid.

When speaking on The United Stand, Romano explained his full understanding of the latest situation on the Spurs star.

He said (6:30): “At the moment, first of all, there are no negotiations. So Harry Kane is not speaking to United yet. It's very early, so we have to see what's going to happen at the end of the season. But at the moment there are no direct conversations yet.

"And at the moment everything is about the internal discussion because again Man United have to make clear how much they can spend on the striker. That is going to be absolutely crucial.

"So who is going to be the owners? The Glazers, any other group? How much they want to spend on the striker?”

How much will Harry Kane cost?

According to a January report from The Daily Star, it could cost in the region of £300m for Man United or anyone else to land Kane this summer.

Their report explains that a weekly-wage demand could now be close to £400k, while Spurs would also want a transfer fee of about £120m to sell the 29-year-old.

The Glazers might not be willing to spend all that on one player this summer but somebody like Sheikh Jassim could be open to it if he can complete a takeover.

Harry Kane plays for Tottenham Hotspur as they beat Chelsea in the Premier League.

After all, he is part of Qatar's ruling royal family, – who reportedly have a collective net worth estimated to be around £275bn – so a move for Kane could well be affordable.

For the time being, though, with the takeover still up in the air, United may not be able to make any concrete move for the Englishman for some time yet.

Aston Villa Could Sign Exciting Youngster James Wilson

Aston Villa could reportedly be set to pip fellow Premier League side Leeds United to the signing of exciting Hearts youngster James Wilson.

Could Villa spend big this summer?

Unai Emery's side are riding on the crest of a wave at the moment, having picked up five victories in a row in the league to take them into sixth place in the table. There is a feel good factor at the club, with the manager doing a superb job since replacing Steven Gerrard back in October.

This summer, the hope is that Villa are able to go to another level, with NSWE potentially providing Emery with plenty of funds to spend on new signings to make his squad even more formidable. On current form, and with some key additions made at the end of the season, a European push could be expected again in 2023/24.

While experienced heads will need to come in during the summer window, it is also important that the Villans also plan for the long-term future, rather than focusing solely on the here-and-now. A new update suggests that that is the case, with a move for a highly-rated young player looking on the cards.

Is this the Emery effect?

According to Football Insider, Villa "are working on hijacking Leeds United’s deal for Hearts sensation James Wilson", with the Whites "leading the chase" up until this point. The Scotland Under-16s captain is a big attacking prospect north of the border, having already scored once in three caps for his country.

The report claims that the Scot is "understood to have visited Villa over the weekend for talks and to view the club’s facilities and their Bodymoor Heath training headquarters", and while Hearts have offered him a new three-year deal, his heart could be set on a move to the Premier League.

This could be a great coup by Villa if they managed to swoop in under Leeds' noses and snap up Wilson, given his reputation as a huge future prospect. It could even be that Emery's brilliance as manager has made the club a more appealing proposition than the Whites, who in comparison, remain threatened by relegation back to the Championship currently.

If Wilson does end up picking Villa, it will be a further sign that things are heading in the right direction and that the club is capable of luring some of the best talent in Britain to Villa Park.

VAR Misses Big Penalty Claim In 3-3 Arsenal Draw

Referee Simon Hooper and his VAR team may have made a big mistake as they missed a possible foul on Gabriel Jesus late on in the latest Arsenal game.

What's the latest on VAR and Arsenal?

The Gunners suffered another setback in their hunt for Premier League glory as they were held to a third conservative draw last night.

Indeed, after picking up just a point from Liverpool in a 2-2 draw and then doing the same against West Ham United, Arsenal repeated the trick against Southampton.

This time, however, instead of going two goals up, they went two behind and eventually had to claw back a 3-3 draw thanks to two late goals from Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.

Indeed, the club captain netted in the 88th minute and the Saints conceded again just two minutes later. Then, with just seconds left on the clock, the ball fell to Jesus inside the penalty box.

As the footage shared on Twitter shows, the Brazilian takes a touch and is about to shoot before an opposition player clumsily bundles him over.

Was it a penalty on Jesus for Arsenal?

The replay shows that the ball isn't won clearly and Jesus is knocked to the ground without getting his shot away. It's the sort of decision where had Hooper pointed to the spot, VAR likely wouldn't have overturned it.

However, the Gunners didn't have any luck here as the referee decided against awarding a penalty and those in charge of the technology didn't feel as though it was a big enough mistake to get involved.

And so, Southampton cleared their lines and hung on to a point. This could prove costly for Arsenal now, as they've failed to extend their league at the top of the table quite as much as they would have hoped.

Indeed, they next travel to the Etihad to play Manchester City just five points ahead of Pep Guardiola and co, despite having played two more games.

With that being the case, the situation is simple. Mikel Arteta and his team almost certainly need an away win on Wednesday night if they are to do the improbable and actually lift the Premier League at the end of May.

No doubt they'll be hoping for a little bit more luck with the officials in Manchester – though they'll also need a vastly improved performance from the whole team.

Leeds Eyeing Up 46-Year-Old To Replace Javi Gracia

Leeds United are considering appointing Lee Bowyer as their new manager to replace Javi Garcia, according to a new report.

Have Leeds sacked Gracia?

The Whites find themselves in a pitiful run of form currently, with their Premier League status seriously under threat heading into the final few games of the season. Sunday's 4-1 defeat at Bournemouth was another dreadful day at the office, and they are now sitting 17th in the table and only out of the relegation zone on goal difference.

Gracia came in as Jesse Marsch's replacement earlier in the campaign, and while there were some positive results early on, things have got much worse over the past month or so, with both performances and results simply not good enough. For that reason, it is being reported that Leeds could even part ways with the Spaniard before the end of the season, appointing a third in manager in the same campaign in the process.

While Sam Allardyce is believed to be strongly in the frame to replace Gracia – some reports this morning even claim he's agreed a deal – another name has also now been thrown into the hat, as the club weigh up a huge decision.

Is Bowyer also in the mix?

According to The Guardian, Bowyer is also in the conversation to become Leeds' next boss, having enjoyed spells in charge of Charlton Athletic and Birmingham City in recent years. The 46-year-old enjoyed a great playing career at Elland Road, scoring 51 goals in 256 appearances and being a key part of the team that reached the Champions League semi-finals back in 2001.

Bowyer could certainly be an interesting option for the Whites, coming in as a younger, more bold alternative to someone like Allardyce, who would likely be more of a quick fix than a long-term success story. Leeds have to decide if they want to take a gamble on a manager who has no Premier League experience at all, backing him to avoid relegation and then push on next season, or if they want a safer pair of hands in these final weeks of the season.

There is argument for both sides, but it would be nice to see the club back Bowyer if they believe he is the right man for the job, showing faith in him steering his former club to safety and then proving himself in the top flight moving forward. That being said, the appointment of Allardyce or someone similar, or even sticking with Gracia, would make an element of sense, too, at a time when only results matter.

Man United In Advanced Talks For £22k-p/w "Exciting Talent"

Manchester United are in advanced negotiations to bring Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong to the Premier League, according to reports.

What's the latest on Frimpong to Man United?

The Netherlands international has been a standout star at the BayArena this season, making himself Xabi Alonso’s second overall and offensive best-performing player with a WhoScored match rating of 7.20, and despite his contract not expiring for another two years, it’s believed that he’s open to a move elsewhere during the upcoming window.

The Bundesliga right-back is a player that the Red Devils have scouted for a long period of time, as per journalist Fabrizio Romano, and after hearing that he’s looking for his next destination, they have wasted no time in trying to bring him to Old Trafford.

Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg revealed in April that the M60 outfit have opened talks with the 22-year-old’s agent regarding a summer deal and claimed that Erik Ten Hag “admirers” him, and it would appear that discussions have since been rapidly progressing.

According to German outlet SportBILD (via Sport Witness), Manchester United’s negotiations with Frimpong are now “fairly advanced”. Bayer Leverkusen’s £22k-per-week defender is expected to turn down a move to Real Madrid at the end of the season because he is more “drawn to England rather than Spain”. Ten Hag is “keen” to add a new right-back to his ranks having not been impressed by Diogo Dalot or Aaron Wan-Bissaka since joining and therefore has identified his Dutch counterpart as the ideal target.

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong.

Would Frimpong be a good signing for Man United?

Manchester United will be aware that Frimpong was an academy graduate at Manchester City, but it seems like the “exciting talent”, as lauded by reporter Stefan Bienkowski, is ready to transition to the red side of the city, and he would be a fantastic acquisition for Ten Hag.

The World Cup and Europa League participant has posted 19 goal contributions (ten assists and nine goals) in 42 appearances across all competitions this season, with this form having seen him receive four man-of-the-match awards.

The Puma-sponsored gem, who has the versatility to play in right midfield and on the opposite flank at left-back outside of his natural role, also ranks in the 99th percentile for six different statistics, including successful take-ons and number of touches in the attacking penalty area, so isn’t afraid to take on his marker and get forward, making him the perfect profile of player to put pen to paper at Old Trafford.

Chelsea In Talks Over Blockbuster Transfer For £955k-p/w Star

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is in talks with Paris Saint-Germain chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi over a potential move for Neymar, French football expert Julien Laurens has claimed.

What's going on with Neymar?

The Brazil superstar is set to leave PSG this summer, having been targeted by the club's fans, who called for him to depart the French capital.

In what has been an injury-hit campaign, he has 18 goals and 17 assists in 29 games, and the 31-year-old would be a statement signing for anyone.

Speaking on ESPN FC (5.30), Laurens claimed that Chelsea are in talks over a potential deal for the attacker, even though they will not be playing European football next season.

"We know that Todd Boehly has had meetings already with the Al-Khelaifi to talk about Neymar, talking about the possibility of bringing him to Stamford Bridge next season," he stated.

"I don't think this is a strategy from Newcastle to go and get someone like Neymar, their strategies in recruitment have been very different despite the money that they have.

"For Chelsea. however, the bling-bling has been the strategy, that's what they want. So I think Neymar on that point would fit well."

Could Neymar solve Chelsea's problems?

Although he is still prolific in front of goal, Neymar, who has been described as a "special talent," may not solve Chelsea's issues in attack.

Chelsea have already invested a large sum of money in left-winger Mykhailo Mudryk, and Neymar's arrival could block the Ukrainian's pathway to the team.

The Blues have struggled all season, scoring just 34 times in 34 matches, and as he is not an out-and-out striker, Neymar may not be the striker Chelsea need to lead the line.

If Chelsea keep loanee Joao Felix, then they will have two expensive, younger players in Neymar's favoured positions, and signing the Brazilian on a big-money deal would not solve their other issues.

On a wage of around £955k-per-week, he would cost the club a huge amount of money during a time when they need to cut costs, with an inflated squad that needs trimming as well as a lack of Champions League revenue.

At 31, Neymar would be a short-term signing, and whilst his arrival would be a huge statement, his poor injury record would likely mean Chelsea get little value for money, and given that other areas of the team need investment, it is a signing that they should avoid.

Chelsea Could Sign New Hazard In £51m Sensation

Chelsea have had a nightmare of a season, with just four games remaining of the Premier League season, the Blues sit in 11th, 21 points below the top four.

It couldn’t have gone worse for Frank Lampard’s side this year, who have suffered the consequences of change, whether it be through ownership, managers or players.

One thing the club have done this season is spend, breaking the winter transfer window spending record, bringing in £291m worth of players – to no avail.

This summer will be one of reflection and an opportunity to de-clutter the club behind the scenes in an attempt to change outcomes on the field.

There is an outstanding amount of talent in Chelsea’s ranks, however, it’s speculated that the club could introduce more flair to their squad – and who in world football has more of that than Neymar.

What’s the latest on Neymar to Chelsea?

Sources at ESPN have reported that the Brazilian hopes to leave PSG this summer, despite his contract running until the summer of 2025, with the option to stay a further year.

French journalist Julien Laurens reported on ESPN FC that Todd Boehly has “had meetings” with Nasser Al-Khelaifi regarding the “possibility” of bringing the player to Chelsea in the summer.

The Blues aren’t afraid to spend, which theoretically makes them one of the most likely Premier League club for the £51m-rated forward to sign for.

What can Neymar bring to Chelsea?

Neymar could be the missing piece to Chelsea’s puzzle, and could reignite the power the club had in attack when Eden Hazard was at the centre of everything at Stamford Bridge.

The two forwards were compared frequently during their primes and the Blues have never found a replacement for the Belgian, who was called “spectacular” by Zinedine Zidane during his time at Chelsea.

Despite being past his best at Real Madrid, Hazard was the catalyst to Chelsea’s success during his time in England, which could be replicated to an extent by the potential signing of Neymar.

Although not in the limelight as he was at Barcelona alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, the 31-year-old Brazilian has contributed to 24 goals in 23 games this season in Ligue 1 (13 goals and 11 assists), showing that his time is far from up in terms of being past his best.

In Hazard’s final season at Chelsea, the Belgian was operating at outstanding levels, being one of the best on the ball and averaging 4.22 successful take-ons every game, as well as 0.37 goals per 90 – as per FBref.

Neymar is still hitting numbers close to those recorded in Hazard’s prime, with 2.25 successful take-ons per game as well as a huge 0.58 goals every 90 minutes.

The two are most comparable for their movement on the ball and flair on the flanks, in the 2018/19 season, Hazard averaged 6.90 shot-creating actions per 90, and the Brazilian has recorded 6.24 this season in Ligue 1, showing that he continues to perform as one of the best in his position.

Indeed, the Brazilian really is an "out of this world" talent – as he has been dubbed his fellow professionals, and would be an outstanding first signing under potentially incoming boss Mauricio Pochettino.

With a huge wage bill and uncertainty regarding his status at PSG, only time will tell if Chelsea can pull off another monumental signing.

Arsenal: Gunners Ready "Sensational" Player Bid After Talks

Arsenal are preparing an official bid to sign West Ham United star Declan Rice after Mikel Arteta and Edu internally discussed his signing.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

Following a combination of poor April results, injuries and Man City's imperious run of form, Arsenal are now, at best, outside contenders for the 2023/2024 Premier League title.

It is all in Pep Guardiola's hands and the Blues could even seal their domestic crown on Sunday with a win over Chelsea, regardless of what Arsenal do against Nottingham Forest.

Despite the likelihood of missing out on this year's title, there is a compelling argument to be made that this season has been a success overall for the north Londoners.

Just 12 months ago, Arteta was pipped to a top four finish and Champions League qualification by Tottenham, yet this time round the gap between both these sides is hugely in Arsenal's favour.

The north Londoners are guaranteed European football next season and they quite simply must get preparing for what will be a crucial transfer window.

Arsenal are reliably believed to be chasing a central midfield star, leading to links with Brighton's Moises Caicedo and Rice, with the latter coming as a major target.

West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice.

Reports have suggested that the 24-year-old is even keen on a move to the Emirates Stadium, and reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano shared an update via CaughtOffide's Substack.

The transfer reporter claims both Edu and Arteta internally discussed his signing as far back as January, with Arsenal now readying an official bid.

Romano wrote:

"Declan Rice has always been a top target and he remains their priority. There have been conversations between Arsenal and Rice, while Arteta and Edu were already discussing him internally back in January. Arsenal now plan to prepare an official bid for the West Ham star in the next few weeks."

Who is Declan Rice?

According to WhoScored, Rice stands out as West Ham's best-performing player by average match rating – making their highest number of interceptions per 90 in the top flight.

The midfielder has also been called "utterly sensational" by members of the media, and because of his quality, the Irons are apparently set to demand a marquee sum.

Sky Sports recently claimed that Rice could cost as high as £120 million, regardless of his deal running out in 2024 – with West Ham manager David Moyes actually quoting £150m last summer.

Everton Could Ditch Calvert-Lewin For Special Academy Talent

Everton find themselves in a precarious position in the Premier League with relegation to the Championship still a possibility heading into their final game of the season next weekend.

The Toffees took a point away from their clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers yesterday with a last-minute goal from Yerry Mina at Molineux keeping their chances alive to retain their top-flight status next season.

However, with Nottingham Forest securing safety they will now need to keep an eye on Leicester City and Leeds United for the final spot.

Sean Dyche will be incredibly relieved that his team managed to share the spoils with Wolves, but it didn't eliminate the mounting pressure as Dominic Calvert-Lewin made an early exit from the pitch after suffering hamstring issues.

The £100k-per-week Everton striker has had a constant battle with injury issues over the last 18 months, becoming an inconsistent presence in the forward line, which has ultimately contributed to the club's plight with goals too few and far between.

This latest concern for Calvert-Lewin should now send Dyche a clear message that the club's talisman can no longer be relied upon to deliver in the most crucial moments for the Merseysiders, and the summer will present an opportunity for the manager to improve the attacking threat.

Indeed, the recruitment strategy will heavily depend on how Everton's fate is sealed on the final day of the season, nevertheless, it is time for the club to move on from Calvert-Lewin and prioritise bringing in a striker who can offer availability and quality in front of goal, something they may not need to look far for.

Will Tom Cannon start for Everton next season?

Everton could save millions this summer whether they drop down to the Championship or get a second chance in the Premier League by unleashing youth academy graduate Tom Cannon, a young striker who has been thriving whilst out on a six-month loan with Preston North End.

Over 20 Championship appearances, the 20-year-old Irishman – hailed a "fantastic talent" by manager Ryan Lowe – has scored eight goals, registered one assist and created four big chances, as well as averaging 1.1 shots on target, 1.1 successful dribbles and 3.4 duels won per game, proving that he could be a huge asset for Dyche next season.

In less than six months with Preston, Cannon has scored double the number of goals than Calvert-Lewin, Ellis Simms and Neal Maupay combined (4) over the entire season in all competitions, which is a demanding indictment of the dire situation Everton find themselves in when it comes to deploying a quality centre-forward.

tom-cannon-everton-championship-transfers-sunderland

Cannon deservedly earned an international call-up to the Northern Ireland U21s squad this week which will surely only boost the youngster's development and confidence ahead of next season.

With that being said, there is no doubt that Dyche should be planning to include Cannon in his plans for next season and if he could continue to thrive, it will give Everton the greatest opportunity to finally move on from the inconsistency of Calvert-Lewin.

Spurs Could Replace Dier With £2.7k-p/w "Wall"

With the summer transfer window now on the horizon, Tottenham Hotspur will no doubt be looking to strengthen their squad following what has been a turbulent campaign thus far, with the Lilywhites still seeking to find a suitable successor to Antonio Conte in the dugout.

One area that any new manager may well be looking to address is the defensive ranks, with the north London outfit having been particularly porous this season after shipping 62 Premier League goals to date – the sixth-worst record in the division.

While not solely culpable for those woes, one man who has been under the microscope of late is long-serving asset, Eric Dier, with journalist Ryan Taylor having suggested that the 29-year-old is "nowhere near the required level for what Spurs are trying to achieve".

Although it has been revealed that the England international had been playing through an injury in recent months, there will still be concern over the £85k-per-week man's woes, with pundit Alan Hutton only recently stating that he is "not so sure" that supporters would be happy to see the centre-back handed a new contract, amid talk that an extension is on the cards.

As Hutton also noted, the struggling side "need reinforcements" as they look "poor defensively", with Dier, in particular, having 'played poorly since the World Cup', in the words of pundit Tony Cascarino.

Tottenham's Eric Dier

Amid that need for fresh faces, a potential dream target for chairman Daniel Levy could have presented itself in the form of England youth star, Ronnie Edwards.

Who is Ronnie Edwards?

The 20-year-old is a promising centre-back who currently plies his trade for League One side, Peterborough United, with Football League World recently reporting that the one-time Barnet man has been watched by those at N17 for an extended period of time.

The report suggests that the 5 foot 11 ace could be among those to depart London Road this summer following the club's failure to secure promotion to the Championship, with Darren Ferguson's men having squandered a four-goal advantage to crash out in the play-off semi-finals.

While that grim defeat to Sheffield Wednesday would have been particularly disappointing for Edwards and co, the exciting youngster was something of a shining light despite the end result, having been a "one-man defensive wall" in the second leg, according to journalist Ben Jones.

That outing epitomised what has been a fine season for the £2.7k-per-week gem in the third tier, having averaged two tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game from his 42 league outings, while also keeping 15 clean sheets in that time.

Such defensive prowess from the young "Rolls Royce" – as hailed by Peterborough chairman, Barry Fry – is seemingly superior to what Dier has achieved in the top-flight this term, with the 49-cap dud having averaged just 0.9 tackles and 1.1 interceptions from his 33 league appearances, keeping nine clean sheets in that time.

With the latter man having spent almost a decade in north London it could well be an opportune time for Spurs to consider acquiring a younger replacement, such as Edwards, to lead the club forward for the foreseeable future.

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