All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Brendan Rodgers returned to Parkhead for a second spell last month to replace Ange Postecoglou as Celtic manager and has been backed by the board during the summer transfer window.

Who have Celtic signed this summer?

The Hoops officially confirmed the signing of Polish central defender Maik Nawrocki on a five-year deal from Legia Warsaw on Wednesday, which has made him the fifth arrival so far.

Australia international Marco Tilio, Norwegian midfielder Odin Thiago Holm, and South Korean duo Hyun-jun Yang and Kyeok-kyu Kwon have also joined the Scottish giants ahead of the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership campaign.

However, that may not be the end of their business as Rodgers may look to strengthen his side further before the deadline passes, which is in over a month's time.

One ambitious target the Bhoys have been linked with a possible swoop for is Manchester United central midfielder Donny van de Beek, who is also being eyed up by the likes of Milan, Sevilla, and Crystal Palace, among others.

How good is Donny van de Beek?

The Netherlands international has struggled during his time in England with the Red Devils but his Ajax form indicates that the quality is there for him to be a terrific signing for the Hoops to partner Liel Abada in attack.

Van de Beek has only started 11 Premier League matches in three years since his move to Old Trafford in 2020, which included a loan spell with Everton at the start of 2022.

Prior to that, the 26-year-old whiz, who former Scotland defender Alan Hutton recently claimed would be an "outstanding" signing for Celtic, produced 41 goals and 34 assists in 175 first-team outings for Ajax from a central or attacking midfield position.

The Dutch gem could be a brilliant fit for the number ten role in Rodgers' 4-2-3-1 system, which would see Abada line up alongside him as part of the trident of midfielders behind Kyogo Furuhashi.

Celtic's Israel international was one of the team's top performers last season.

He plundered ten goals in 13 Premiership starts, alongside 21 appearances as a substitute, and ended the campaign as the club's third-top scorer – only behind Jota (11) and Kyogo (27).

Abada also created ten 'big chances' for his teammates and was only rewarded with five assists, which suggests that the other attackers within the squad failed to make the most of his creativity.

Van de Beek, however, could come in and provide the 21-year-old wizard with a reliable scorer alongside him in the attacking midfield positions to finish off the opportunities that he creates.

The former Ajax star scored 28 goals across his last three Eredivisie seasons, which works out at around nine goals per league term.

This could make him an upgrade on Celtic's current options in that position if he is able to translate that form over to Scotland as no central midfielder managed more than six Premiership strikes.

Van de Beek also created 1.8 chances per game during his final league term with Ajax in 2019/20, which only Matt O'Riley (2.1) and Jota (1.9) outperformed for the Hoops throughout the 2022/23 campaign.

Therefore, Abada and the Manchester United man could form a lethal partnership as part of Rodgers' three attackers behind Kyogo due to their respective ability to score and assist goals on a regular basis.

Of course, there is a question mark over whether van de Beek can return to the form he showcased at Ajax but his impressive statistics in his home country suggest that is a gamble worth taking.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly preparing for the potential exit of free-scoring talisman, Harry Kane, with the Lilywhites believed to be showing an interest in Lille striker, Jonathan David.

What are the latest Tottenham transfer rumours?

With Kane now into the final year of his contract, the likes of Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are believed to be eyeing up a possible summer move, with it yet to be seen if the Englishman will be leading the line for Ange Postecoglou's side next term.

As a result, French outlet L'Equipe (via Sport Witness), are reporting that the north London outfit are eyeing a possible successor to the 29-year-old in the form of David, with the Premier League side said to be 'observing' the Canadian international.

If Spurs are to strike a deal for the former Gent starlet, the belief is that the Ligue 1 side have slapped a €60m (£51m) asking price on the 23-year-old, with the likes of Newcastle United, Chelsea and PSG all showing an interest at present.

How good is Jonathan David?

Lauded as a "phenom" by journalist Tony Marinaro, the Brooklyn-born marksman has undoubtedly sparked some real excitement due to his displays in France of late, having netted 58 goals in just 136 games for his current side.

The 5 foot 9 ace – who also boasts 25 goals in just 42 outings for his country at senior level – had also previously sparkled during his time in Belgium after bagging 37 goals in only 83 appearances in all competitions, proving that he can offer a clinical presence in attack.

That being said, however, transfer insider Dean Jones recently suggested that top-flight rivals Manchester United had been left rather unimpressed after watching David in action, having not been "wowed" by the in-demand hitman.

That may be a cause for concern for Postecoglou and co, as should the fact that the Lille man is also said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities with former Chelsea flop, Timo Werner, according to FBref.

That likeness is notably seen by the pair's inability to offer a real physical focal point in attack, with the RB Leipzig asset ranking in just the bottom 2% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for aerial duels won, while his Canadian counterpart ranks in just the bottom 4% in that regard.

The two men are also alike due to their desire to run in behind at any given opportunity, rather than dropping deep to link play, with David ranking in the top 10% for progressive passes received, while Werner is only just ahead as he ranks in the top 5% in that regard.

In the case of the latter man, that desire to rely on his speed and ability to stretch a defence ultimately failed to prove fruitful during his time at Stamford Bridge, with the German hotshot scoring just ten goals in 56 Premier League games after signing from Leipzig on a £45m deal in 2020.

Despite being a player who can "devastate with his pace" – according to talkSPORT's Tony Cascarino – Werner was unable to match his prior goalscoring exploits in the Bundesliga, having scored 28 league goals during the 2019/20 campaign, prior to moving west London.

Much like the "erratic" 27-year-old – as described by pundit Gabby Agbonlahor – David has also blossomed outside of England thus far, although his reliance on utilising his speed may not pay off in the Premier League, having been noted for his "directness" by ex-Arsenal man, Thierry Henry (CBS Sports, 22/02/2022, 19:45) – who also suggested not to "ask him to come to play or assist", as that doesn't appear to be his game.

For the £51m fee that has been suggested, Spurs may wish to acquire a more proven, all-round option to lead the line next term, with it yet to be seen if David could truly be a worthy successor to Kane at N17.

Liverpool's chances of signing Benjamin Pavard this summer have been handed a boost, with Sky Sports, via TeamTalk, reporting that Bayern Munich are willing to sell the defender.

How many games has Benjamin Pavard played for Bayern Munich?

The 27-year-old has starred in France and Germany so far in his career but has really thrived in the Bundesliga with his current team. He joined the Bavarian outfit back in 2020 and has since gone on to appear in 111 league games for Bayern. Even more impressive, is that he has won the division title in every campaign since he arrived there – showing that he can perform at the very top and do a job in a team that is regularly fighting for silverware. He even contributes offensively, having bagged eight goals and six Bundesliga assists over the course of his time there.

Pavard is also experienced on the international stage to boot. He won the World Cup back in 2018 with France and, during the tournament, bagged a screamer that was ultimately awarded the Goal of the Tournament trophy. To round out his list of achievements, the versatile ace has also won the Champions League with Bayern – meaning he has won both World and European titles before has even reached his prime.

Are Liverpool signing Benjamin Pavard?

Pavard's continued showings at the back for Bayern have now led to interest in his services from Liverpool. The Reds want to bolster their backline this transfer window and have seemingly identified Pavard as the man to come in and help shore up their defence. A few weeks ago, it was reported that the Premier League side already had an offer ready to go for the player, but as of yet there has been no official bid tabled.

Now, according to a report from Sky Sports, via TeamTalk, Liverpool have been handed a fresh boost in their efforts to land the Frenchman this summer. That's because his current side, Bayern Munich, are now prepared to offload the 27-year-old this transfer window. The German outfit want around 35 to 40 million Euros (£30-35m) for the defender in order for any deal to happen.

The Bundesliga giants though are not afraid to let go of the Frenchman though, as it's been identified that they may need to sell some of their squad to fund a move for one of their own targets in Harry Kane. It means that Pavard could now be sacrificed – and that is positive news for the Reds.

The Frenchman has been hailed as a solid option at the back by new Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel, even though it appears the German side are ready to let him leave. Having only arrived in the Bundesliga not too long ago, the manager has already been impressed with Pavard. He called the defender "underrated" and added that he is a "top team player". It shows that he is still able to do a job in an elite backline, having shone with his current club, and if he did join Liverpool he could instantly upgrade their defence, allowing Trent Alexander-Arnold to shift further forward on a regular basis.

Rio Ferdinand has given an update on the "very complex" takeover at Manchester United, with the help of his "great source" at the club.

What's the latest on the takeover?

When Man United were put up for sale in late November last year, fans would have hoped to know who their club's new owners were by the end of the season.

Now in July, there is still significant uncertainty over the club's future, with the Glazers yet to make a final decision on United's ownership.

There are still two bids on the table for control at Old Trafford. One belongs to Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the CEO of INEOS, and the other belongs to Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani.

The former reportedly wants to buy a majority stake in the club, allowing the Glazers to stay as minority shareholders, while Sheikh Jassim wants to buy 100% of the club, which would push the Glazers out of the door completely.

Sheikh Jassim submitted a fifth and final bid for United in early June according to Ben Jacobs, with the bid reportedly worth approximately £5bn, and the Qatari is now considered the favourite to take over at Old Trafford.

What did Ferdinand say?

Former United defender Ferdinand has now issued a recent update on the club's potential takeover, owing certain information to his inside source at Old Trafford, with some suggestions that there may be greater clarification on the takeover soon.

Speaking on the FIVE YouTube channel, Ferdinand claimed: "You know what, the biggest thing is I had some news from a very good source, my great source at Manchester United.

"Things were running quite smooth and it was going down the right path but then obviously…I think the biggest issue is when you're dealing with a group of people rather than an individual it makes things very complex and difficult at times.

"You're not dealing with one individual with the Glazers, I think Jim Ratcliffe said it today, and I think that's been the issue behind the scenes. I didn't want to come out and say it but you're dealing with siblings in the Glazer family who are there to make a collective decision. I don't think one person can just make a decision on their own."

He added: "So, therefore, that makes it very difficult to kind of say yes immediately, just like that. It's a process they have to go through."

However, at the end of the podcast, contributor Joel Beya says: "You know what it's funny because there's definitely some takeover news happening. I know you can't say too much for whatever reasons, we spoke off air, but even from someone that's not in it as much as you I am hearing some big things happening tomorrow (Tuesday)."

Ferdinand responded: "I was talking to [David] Ornstein as well. Man he's got good knowledge as well but we've got good sources so."

The implication from Ferdinand is that there may be imminent news on the horizon regarding the takeover, with Sheikh Jassim supossedly leading the race. However, Ferdinand did make a point of saying that Ratcliffe is not yet out of the running, while it is still possible that the Glazers choose not to sell after all.

United supporters will be hoping that everything is sorted as quickly as possible with the current uncertainty adversely affecting the club's transfer plans heading into next season.

Chelsea are interested in acquiring the services of Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic this summer, according to a fresh transfer rumour.

Who is Sergej Milinkovic-Savic?

The 28-year-old has been arguably one of Serie A's outstanding midfielders in recent years, standing out as a dominant presence for Lazio in the middle of the park. The £75,000-a-week star has now scored 69 goals and registered 59 assists for the Italian giants, coming in a total of 341 appearances, and he is also a 43-cap Serbia international, catching the eye at international level as well.

Milinkovic-Savic is a player who is right at the peak of his powers, and while Lazio will no doubt be desperate to keep hold of arguably their most prized asset, he is out of contract there next summer, at which point he would be allowed to leave on a free transfer, acting as a blow to them.

That situation could force them to sell him before the start of the 2023/24, considering this would be the last chance for them to receive a good amount of money for his signature.

Chelsea continue to look hard at new signings, with Real Madrid star Federico Valverde the latest to be player to be linked with a move to Stamford Bridge – Moises Caicedo looks like the top Blues target currently – and it could be that they make a move for Milinkovic-Savic too.

Are Chelsea signing Milinkovic-Savic?

That's according to Il Tempo [via Sport Witness], who claim that Milinkovic-Savid has been offered to "half of Europe" by his agent, former Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman, but Lazio "won’t go below €30m (£25.7m)" when it comes to his price tag.

The Blues "have shown interest" in signing the Lazio ace, even though they are pursuing "other negotiations" currently, with the current situation believed to be "driving his fans crazy".

Milinkovic-Savic could be a fantastic option for Chelsea this summer, especially as it looks as though he could even be available on a cut-price deal. He is now a very experienced footballer, but still someone who is in the best years of his career, and his physical style means to could make a seamless move from Serie A to the Premier League.

He has been hailed as "one of the best" by ex-Blues manager Maurizio Sarri, who went on to add that he "really is a complete player with great quality", and his aforementioned goal and assist tally outlines the end product he could bring to Chelsea's midfield.

Last season, Conor Gallagher was the Blues' top-scoring central midfielder with just three goals in the Premier League, showing how goal-shy they were in the middle of the park, so Milinkovic-Savic could be such an attacking upgrade in that area of the pitch.

At 28, there is an argument to say that Mauricio Pochettino may possibly want to sign younger options, given the fact that the Serbian is only actually a year younger than Kovacic, but Chelsea should be able to get three or four years out of him before his peak years potentially drift by.

Journalist Dean Jones has suggested that Manchester United are still uncertain about David de Gea's future at the club, with Erik ten Hag not willing to "pin everything" on the goalkeeper's form next season.

Is De Gea leaving Manchester United?

With his contract expiring in a matter of hours, De Gea looks set to leave as a free agent.

The Spaniard has even been willing to take a signifcant pay cut to stay at the club, but Ten Hag's scepticism about De Gea's ability to implement his passing philosophy is edging the goalkeeper towards the exit door.

The fact that Andre Onana is currently in talks with the Red Devils about a move from Inter suggests that De Gea's time is running out, with a 12-year-old Trafford career potentially coming to an abrupt end.

Despite winning the Premier League Golden Glove last campaign, serious question marks have been raised over the Spaniard's inability to play out from the back, as well as some of the high-profile mistakes he made last season.

Speaking to Football FanCast, Jones suggests that there is still great uncertainty over De Gea's future, stressing the difficulty of this period for the 32-year-old.

Jones said: "Yeah, there has clearly been a briefing of some sorts over De Gea. And it's a tough moment for him, you know, and nobody ever wants to hear that they are not seen through the same eyes as they once were, and that's clearly the case with David de Gea right now.

De Gea has made 545 appearances since joining United in 2011 and will likely go down as one of the club's greatest goalkeepers, winning the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award at Old Trafford four times, including three seasons in a row between 2013 and 2016.

Onana appears the most likely candidate to succeed De Gea, with the Cameroon international having helped Inter all the way to the Champions League final last term.

Who else is potentially leaving Manchester United?

The Red Devils are expecting a fair few defensive departures this summer, with Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe leaving the club when their contracts expire.

It is also expected that Alex Telles and Eric Bailly will follow suit, having both spent last season on loan at Sevilla and Marseille respectively.

Harry Maguire has also been touted with a move away from Old Trafford, with midfield duo Fred and Scott McTominay (via the Metro) potentially departing the club as well.

Leeds United seem to be closing in on their top manager target, with imminent talks expected…

What's the latest on Patrick Vieira to Leeds United?

That's according to journalist Sami Mokbel who, writing for the Daily Mail, suggested in an article that ex-Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira had emerged as a serious contender to take over from Sam Allardyce at Elland Road despite others remaining in the frame.

Daniel Farke and Scott Parker are both referenced, and yet it is the Frenchman who is reportedly well-admired in Yorkshire, with talks planned for the coming days.

The 46-year-old head coach has been out of work since his dismissal in March, but seems raring to return to management according to reports in France.

Would Patrick Vieira suit Leeds United?

A drop down to the Championship could prove the perfect platform to rebuild a budding career, as the 49ers seek to instil a winning mentality in this fragile squad. Given his playing days, there are arguably few better placed to disseminate such ideals.

Although last term turned into something of a disaster for the former Arsenal midfielder, having failed to win in 11 before his sacking, his work the season prior must be remembered when measuring how successful Vieira could be in Leeds.

After all, many expected the worst when he was brought into Selhurst Park, only for him to secure a 12th-placed finish and an FA Cup semi-final spot.

The Premier League legend is still in the infancy of his coaching career, yet remains aligned with a 4-3-3 formation that seeks to dominate possession. Given how the Whites have often struggled when on the ball to seize the impetus, the Frenchman will be hoping to transfer his killer instinct that made him such a revered player.

During his playing career, he was a powerful central midfielder but boasted a touch of class beyond most for his era. As such, he captained the Gunners to great success, including a Premier League title in which they were not beaten once.

This came amongst two other league titles in England, a World Cup and European Championship triumph and a Champions League across his glittering career, further emphasising the claims of Ray Parlour that he is a "winner".

Having converted that mentality into a fine tactical intelligence now, he bred a free-flowing Eagles team that captured the eye for a whole year. Journalist Omar Muhammed even noted: "Crystal Palace are really fun to watch. Talent coursing through the entire side with a really smart manager in Patrick Vieira. We need to start giving them their flowers."

Perhaps his installation into Elland Road could hand him that vital second chance in English football, to iron out his errors of the past and return this famous institution back to where it belongs, with his winning pedigree sure to be a vital factor.

A big update has emerged on Arsenal and their efforts to lure Chelsea centre-forward Kai Havertz to The Emirates ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

What's the latest on Kai Havertz to Arsenal?

According to the Daily Mail, the Gunners have made a second offer to sign the German international after they had a £50m proposal turned down by their London rivals.

The report claims that Mikel Arteta's side have submitted a £60m bid, with a guaranteed £55m, in the hope of convincing the Blues to part ways with the talented attacker.

It states that they have the contract ready for the 24-year-old marksman as they are prepared to offer him at least £210k-per-week to make the switch across the city.

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano followed up on this story by tweeting: "Understand deal could be done around £65m fee. Talks to follow. Havertz has been clear: he wants Arsenal move."

The reporter then added that a five-year deal is actually "already agreed" with the player and that the Gunners are hoping to strike an agreement with Chelsea this week.

Where would Havertz fit in at Arsenal?

The German maestro is far from a prolific number nine who will come in and lead the team to the Premier League title in the same way that Erling Halaand did for Manchester City.

However, Havertz could provide value to Arteta's side in a false nine role as Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have shown that they have the quality to carry the goalscoring burden from out wide – they managed 29 top-flight goals combined last term.

He could be a Dennis Bergkamp-esque player for Arsenal in the sense that the 24-year-old magician could feature as more of a second-striker, with the Dutch legend having scored 118 goals and assisted 95 in 416 matches for the club.

In 2021, former Blues boss Thomas Tuchel compared the left-footed whiz to the former Arsenal star:

"I see a bit of Dennis Bergkamp, Robin Van Persie, [Dimitar] Berbatov kind of player. He can play in the half position because he has good runs, but also feels free from the nine and creates overload to one side."

Havertz has only scored 32 goals in 139 games for Chelsea but has showcased his ability to help the team in other, less direct, ways.

Over the last 365 days, the mercurial ace ranks in the top 9% or higher of players in his position in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions for passes attempted, pass success rate, and progressive passes per 90.

This shows that Havertz excels at progressing the ball up the pitch and is actively involved in matches even when he is not on the scoresheet, which means that the £65m-rated marksman could thrive with two goalscoring wingers on either side of him in Arteta's system, as they would be able to provide direct running and goals to complement his playmaking.

Sporting CP midfielder Pedro Goncalves would be a "great" signing for Aston Villa this summer, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Has Goncalves been linked with Villa move?

The 24-year-old enjoyed a superb 2022/23 season for the Portuguese giants, catching the eye with his relentless end product in the final third. Goncalves scored 15 goals and registered 11 assists in the Primeira Liga, and he also found the net three times in the Europa League, including an outrageous long-range effort away to Arsenal.

The £25,000-a-week Portuguese could well be a wanted man this summer, and while his current Sporting deal doesn't expire until 2026, they could find it difficult to keep hold of him, especially if he has decided that he wants to enjoy a new challenge.

Villa have been linked with a move for Goncalves in recent times, as NSWE look to provide plenty of transfer funds this summer, and a new update has now emerged regarding his future.

What's the latest on Goncalves to Villa Park?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, transfer expert Jones admitted that a move for Goncalves could be difficult for Villa to get over the line, but talked up his brilliance as a player:

"I think he would be great. But he’s got a big release clause. And even with Villa pushing the boat out at this next transfer window, I would be surprised if they can jump into this sort of territory. I kind of hope they can, because he’s an extremely exciting talent."

While this isn't necessarily the most positive update in the world, it does still suggest that Villa have genuine interest in Goncalves, with Unai Emery seeing him as someone who could provide great quality in attacking areas.

The Sporting hero was described as "incredible" by former striker Kevin Campbell, following his aforementioned goal against Arsenal, and he is someone who could relish life in the Premier League, proving to be a talismanic figure in attacking midfield areas, having won two caps for a star-studded Portugal team.

Given the money being discussed, though, it will clearly be hard for Villa to acquire the services of Goncalves – he could also be eyeing a move to a club who are in the Champions League or Europa League next season – but if they could get a deal over the line, it would be a signing that makes the rest of the country sit up and take notice.

There is much work to do at Liverpool.

The club will have to postpone its love affair with the Champions League, having missed out on qualification for the competition for the first time since 2016.

On top of this disappointment, the Reds have had to deal with multiple departures in the midfield – James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Naby Keita have all left Anfield upon the expiry of their contracts.

Alexis Mac Allister has already been purchased to soften this blow and Nicola Barella is someone who has been linked to follow his footsteps to Merseyside.

What’s the latest on Nicolo Barella to Liverpool?

According to Sport Mediaset (via FC Inter News), Liverpool, both Manchester clubs and Newcastle are all keenly tracking the 26-year-old.

Last month, Football Insider revealed that Jurgen Klopp’s outfit were the frontrunners for the Inter midfielder, who is open to leaving Northern Italy and could be lured away for a fee of £61m.

Who could Nicolo Barella replace at Liverpool?

Since making his debut for the Neazzurri in 2019, the Italian has been an imperious asset that has made vital contributions to his side’s recent success.

In the title-winning 2020/21 season, Barella recorded 12 goal involvements and then crafted the joint-second highest number of assists (12) in Serie A in the following campaign, as his side also won the Italian Super Cup and the Coppa Italia.

His importance hasn't deterred, as he’s started 11 Champions League games during Inter’s unlikely journey to the final.

He has developed a reputation as a competent all-rounder, with a punishing ability to break up play and dance past opponents.

The box-to-box titan ranks within the top 11% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for progressive carries, non-penalty goals, and shot-creating actions per 90.

Barella’s arrival could spell danger for Harvey Elliot, who fell down in his manager’s pecking during the latter stages of the campaign – the Reds went 11 league games unbeaten, winning eight in a row at one stage, but the former Fulham ace started just once in this period.

This term, the Euro 2020 winner has averaged 1.4 tackles, 1.6 key passes, and 1.1 dribbles per game, whereas Elliot only manages 0.8, 0.8, and 0.6 for the same metrics.

As Klopp seeks to pinpoint his main creative influence from midfield, it seems that Barella is the stronger, more well-rounded candidate.

Described as a “top-class” player by Klopp, the signing of Barella would be a massive statement of intent and a sizeable indication of the direction Liverpool are intending to head.