Tag Futebol

Manchester United are believed to be contemplating whether to make a move for Barcelona forward, Memphis Depay, as the Red Devils seek a low-cost centre-forward option this month.

What’s the word?

According to The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell, the Dutchman could well ‘come under consideration’ for the Red Devils in the current window, with the 28-year-old seemingly an attractive prospect with just six months remaining on his existing deal at Camp Nou.

That expiring deal should ensure that the 86-cap gem is ‘available for a modest financial commitment’, as per the report, while Manchester Evening News previously suggested that the playmaker could even be available on a ‘loan basis’, as United target a temporary, short-term option this month.

As per Whitwell, Erik ten Hag’s side did hold talks with Depay’s camp regarding a possible return to Old Trafford, albeit with that move said to have been driven by the player’s representatives, rather than the Premier League outfit.

Martial upgrade

While the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo has heightened the need for a new striking addition, the recent woes of Anthony Martial have also illustrated that further firepower could well be a necessity if the club are to maintain their top-four push.

The long-serving Frenchman was something of a “no-show” in the recent win over Bournemouth – in the words of respected journalist Samuel Luckhurst – having also missed a clear-cut chance in the victory away to Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend.

With Ten Hag and co having waited months to have the 27-year-old back to full fitness after an injury-plagued start to the campaign, the former Monaco man was expected to hit the ground running, although is once again proving somewhat unreliable.

Having scored just eight Premier League goals since the start of the 2020/21 campaign, Martial appears to have shown few signs of truly solidifying that centre-forward berth, hence the desire to get a new face in the door.

Turning to Depay could well be an affordable and astute upgrade as far as United are concerned, with the £177k-per-week ace likely chomping at the bit to improve upon his previous spell at the Theatre of Dreams.

The one-time PSV Eindhoven starlet scored just seven times in 53 games after joining during Louis van Gaal’s tenure back in 2015, although subsequently went on to sparkle after sealing a move to Lyon 18 months later, having scored 76 goals and registered 55 assists in 178 games in all competitions for the Ligue 1 outfit.

The once “maverick” talent – as described by club legend Rio Ferdinand – showcased far greater consistency during his time in France, while also impressing in flashes during his stint in Catalonia with 14 goals in just 41 games.

Depay may not be an out-and-out striker in the traditional sense, although he still shows a willingness to make the difference where it matters as he averages 7.32 touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, while Martial averages just 4.42 for that same metric.

The Netherlands international could also potentially offer a greater creative presence as he averages 11.61 progressive passes received per 90, while the current Red Devils man averages just 5.79 in that regard.

As such, bringing the Barcelona man back to Manchester could well be the much-needed upgrade that United are craving.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are interested in a move to sign Osasuna defender David Garcia and are ready to pay his release clause in January, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Release clause available

The Spaniard still has four years remaining on his contract in La Liga, but after an impressive start to the 2022/23 season, has been attracting interest from several potential suitors.

The centre-back does have a €20m (£17m) release option included in his deal at the El Sadar Stadium, and following a new update, it sounds like Fosun are ready to splash the cash to bring their target to the Premier League.

The Latest: Wolves eyeing Garcia

According to Spanish outlet AS (via Sport Witness), Wolves ‘would like’ to sign Garcia in the New Year and are ‘willing to pay’ his release clause.

Julen Lopetegui has made it ‘no secret’ that he has ‘always liked’ his compatriot, and Osasuna are ‘aware’ of the interest to take him to Molineux.

No official offers have yet been put on the table, though a transfer could ‘take shape’ should the owners decide to put the stated £17m on the table.

The Verdict: Get it done…

Garcia has been praised for his ‘commanding’ presence by journalist Josh Bunting, and looking at his numbers, this is a deal that the Old Gold need to get over the line as quickly as possible.

The 6 foot star currently averages 4.7 clearances and 2.6 successful aerial duels per league game, highlighting the rock he can be at the heart of a backline (WhoScored).

Wolves are bottom of the table after a poor start to the campaign and could certainly use some defensive reinforcements, so Garcia could be the perfect candidate to come in and sure up the goal leakage.

Journalist Manuel Veth has revealed that Celtic are ‘closing in’ on the signing of Canada right-back Alistair Johnston.

The Lowdown: World Cup star

Johnston put in an impressive performance for Canada despite their 1-0 loss at the hands of Belgium in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The SofaScore).

He plays his club football in the MLS with Montreal, where he has scored four goals and made four assists in 39 appearances in total over all competitions (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Celtic ‘closing in’

Taking to Twitter, Veth has revealed that ‘multiple sources’ have confirmed that Ange Postecoglou’s side are ‘closing in’ on the signing of Johnston, with a deal now ‘advanced’:

“Multiple sources! Alistair Johnston is closing in on a move to Scottish giants #CelticFC. A deal is now advanced. The #CanMNT star also has a UK passport. He is under contract at #CFMTL until 2023 with 2 option years. He is currently starring at the World Cup.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/key-latest-celtic-updates-9/” title=”Key latest Celtic updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=“none”]

The Verdict: Another good signing

Following the signing of Japanese central defender Yuki Kobayashi, who the Hoops described as a ‘hugely exciting talent’ in their announcement, Johnston looks set to be another smart acquisition at Parkhead.

He has recently received glowing praise from former Scottish Premiership full-back and Canadian legend Colin Miller, who claims that he would ‘suit’ the division, and is ‘very quick’, ‘very aggressive’ and ‘competitive’. Miller adds that he would be a ‘great signing for Celtic’, as he is ‘very ambitious’ going forward, but also ‘loves a tackle’.

With Johnston looking like he will join Kobayashi at the Celts, they could both give them a big push going into the second part of the season.

Leeds United could still sack manager Jesse Marsch despite some improved form, according to Football Insider. 

The Lowdown: Leeds beaten at Spurs

Marsch’s side played their part in a thrilling Premier League encounter on Saturday afternoon, eventually losing 4-3 away to Tottenham.

The defeat came off the back of memorable victories away to Liverpool and at home to Bournemouth, with Leeds showing signs of a resurgence.

It has suggested that Marsch is doing enough to keep his job, although a fresh update suggests he should be worried.

The Latest: Sacking still possible

According to Football Insider reporter Wayne Veysey prior to the defeat in north London, the American is ‘still on shaky ground’.

Those high up at Leeds are reportedly ‘still not convinced’ that Marsch is the man to take the Whites forward and some ‘fear’ the club could be dragged into another relegation battle if they do not make a managerial change during the break.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-updates-copy/” title=”Latest Leeds United updates” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Matter of time?

Sadly for Marsch, it seems as if there is a lingering feeling of when and not if he is sacked unless a staggering run of form comes their way.

The fact that there is now a six-week break for the World Cup is arguably not a good thing for the 49-year-old, acting as a chance for the owners to make a possible change of manager.

Doing that would arguably feel unfair, though, considering the recent upturn in fortunes, and it would be nice for Leeds to show some loyalty to Marsch, at least until the end of the season. Whether or not the fans want that is up for debate, though, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him sacked.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly in the mix to land a future transfer deal for Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez. 

The Lowdown: Still on Spurs’ radar

The Lilywhites have been linked with the striker in the past, so much so that they apparently had a £76.5m bid rejected by Inter for the player back in 2021.

Moving on from that period, it appears as though the north London club still hold interest in the Argentine sesnation, along with some other clubs in the Premier League.

The Latest: Premier League competition

According to a recent report from Inter Live, Spurs are one of the clubs interested in signing Martinez, but alongside the likes of Manchester United, Newcastle United and Chelsea.

The report also adds that a fee of around €90 (£77m) would be needed for the Inter hierarchy to sell the player.

The Verdict: Time to act

With 197 appearances under his belt for the Italian club across all competitions, the 25-year-old has scored 81 goals and delivered 28 assists along the way. In 11 Serie A appearances for the club this season, Martinez has found the net six times and supplied two assists.

In addition to that, the £183k-per-week attacker has had more shots at goal (42) and more shots on target (14) than any other player at Inter.

Previously lauded as a “ridiculous” player in terms of his skill on the pitch by journalist Luis Miguel Echegaray, Martinez is truly an elite talent and Spurs should do all they can to convince Inter to sell their star striker.

Bearing in mind how the Argentine has shared his admiration for Antonio Conte in the past – saying that the Italian is a “great coach” – this could help Spurs in persuading Martinez to finally make a move to north London and reunite with his former manager.

Tottenham Hotspur bounced back from their recent north London derby defeat with a narrow victory away at Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday evening, with talisman Harry Kane getting the game’s only goal in what was an entertaining encounter at the Amex.

The England skipper had produced an instinctive header to turn home Heung-min Son’s whipped cross, with that lethal pairing yet again combining to good effect, having broken the Premier League record last season for most goal combinations in the competition’s history – ahead of Chelsea’s Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard.

That stunning Lilywhites duo were again the key figures in that triumph over the Seagulls, although there was another individual who also proved their worth in that clash, with summer signing Yves Bissouma having made his mark on what was just his second top-flight start of the season so far.

The Mali international – who had signed on a £25m deal from Brighton in the recent window – has been forced to bide his time under Antonio Conte to date, although showcased his talent in what was an encouraging performance in a midfield three against his former side.

The absence of Dejan Kulusevski due to injury had seen the title-winning coach deploy a 3-5-2 formation for the meeting with Roberto De Zerbi’s men, with Bissouma lining up alongside Rodrigo Bentancur and Pierre-Emile Hojberg.

The 26-year-old made a “big difference” to the side – in the words of journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke  – as he helped to bolster the centre of the park, notably winning two of his three ground duels and recording one tackle and one interception in that 70-minute outing.

As journalist Dan Kilpatrick noted in his post-match player ratings piece for the Evening Standard, Bissouma proved an effective presence at the base of the midfield, having ‘offered Bentancur and Hojbjerg a platform to push on’, before being withdrawn in place of fellow new addition, Richarlison late on.

Having that ability to deploy a different system to what’s become Tottenham’s typical 3-4-3 approach could well be vital for Conte, with the former Inter Milan boss having used that tactic to good effect during his title-winning stint at San Siro.

The £31.5m-rated machine offers a real ball-winning presence in that deeper role having notably recorded the second most tackles in the top flight during the 2020/21 campaign, while he also ranks in the top 10% for interceptions made among those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues.

While the former Lille man had looked somewhat ‘rusty’ at times at the weekend – in the words of Football.London’s Alasdair Gold – that is perhaps to be expected due to his lack of game time, with a more regular role in the coming weeks likely to allow his talents to truly shine.

Steven Gerrard made the bold decision to keep Cameron Archer at Aston Villa during the summer but his lack of first-team action suggests it might have been a big mistake by the Villa boss.

The 19-year-old academy graduate enjoyed a superb breakthrough campaign last season, first catching the eye with four goals in the League Cup for Villa’s first team, including a hat-trick in a win against Barrow.

He was sent on loan to Preston North End in the Championship and continued his impressive form in the second tier, hitting seven goals in just 20 appearances for the Lancashire club, taking his tally to 15 goals in 56 senior appearances.

Manager Ryan Lowe was full of praise for the young striker’s impact in the second tier, saying:

“Cameron has got an abundance of talent.

“It is getting him in the right places, I don’t want him coming short all the time, I want him to be on the shoulder, sniffing around, being proactive, not reactive.

“His quality levels are fantastic, he’s bullish, strong, he can roll, he has got that little burst of pace too.”

Archer’s fine form would continue during the summer, as he managed four goals in just four outings for England U21s, and it all seemed set for the 20-year-old to have a big 2022/23 campaign.

Gerrard confirmed during the summer that Archer would remain with the first team and was expected to challenge the likes of Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings for a starting role.

However, that hasn’t come to fruition, as despite Villa’s poor start to the season, the academy graduate has featured in just 17 minutes of action this term, making three appearances from the bench.

Even against lower league opposition in the League Cup, Archer was afforded just eight minutes of playing time, and this lack of first-team action is surely harming his potential, as he wasn’t called up to the England U21 squad for the current international break.

It makes little sense that Archer is warming the bench when he was attracting so much Championship interest during the summer and Gerrard looks to have made another blunder in keeping him at the club without giving him any real chances.

Newcastle United are currently looking upwards under Eddie Howe after a revival in 2022, although there are still remnants of the old regime who are cluttering the 44-year-old’s squad.

One such figure is that of defender Javier Manquillo, with the Spaniard having become something of a forgotten figure at St James’ Park after sliding down the pecking order in recent times.

The 28-year-old is now in his sixth campaign with the Tynesiders, having been signed by compatriot Rafael Benitez from Liverpool in July 2017, just a matter of months after spending a season on loan at bitter rivals Sunderland.

The versatile asset – who can feature on either side of the defence – has since gone on to rack up 104 appearances in all competitions for the Magpies, albeit while netting just once and laying on only seven assists in that time.

That is a rather measly return for any full-back, with his solitary strike having come in the 4-1 defeat to Manchester United last season, briefly spoiling the party on Cristiano Ronaldo’s Old Trafford homecoming.

A rare bright moment in a largely underwhelming stint with the Premier League side, the £2.7m-rated defender has achieved 20 top-flight starts in only one season during his time at the club, having largely been restricted to a supporting role.

The appointment of Howe has only further emphasised Manquillo’s place on the periphery, as he has featured just 13 times since the former Bournemouth boss arrived last November, recording a mere 683 minutes of action under the incumbent manager.

The former Spain under-21 international has seemingly failed to impress whenever he has been handed a rare chance of late, having notably been criticised for his “awful defending” by journalist Luke Edwards following a 4-0 defeat to Leicester City last season.

Unsurprisingly there have been suggestions that the one-time Atletico Madrid man would be moved on this summer, although he was ultimately spared the axe as deadline day came and went, with a long-term injury to fellow right-back Emil Krafth potentially a factor in the Spaniard staying put.

With Kieran Trippier firmly established as the first choice in that role, however, Manquillo will almost certainly find it difficult for minutes this term, having so far failed to make a single appearance in 2022/23, even including the Carabao Cup triumph over Tranmere Rovers.

Frustratingly for those at Newcastle, the 5 foot 10 dud still has just under two years left to run on his current deal, with the club likely having no choice but to pay his reported £35k-per-week salary for a little while longer at least.

As per FBref, by the end of the current campaign the full-back will have raked in almost £9.1m in wages, a rather hefty amount for a player who has hardly ever been a regular fixture in the team over the past five years or so.

After just over half a decade of ‘service’ to the club, an exit for the defender is now long overdue.

Everton are among the clubs interested in signing Valencia striker Maxi Gomez this summer, according to Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg. 

The lowdown: Wanted man

The 26-year-old has been the subject of interest from multiple Premier League clubs already this summer, with Wolves and Newcastle both heavily linked.

Spanish giants Atletico Madrid are also believed to be keen on the Uruguay international, who was once a target for West Ham.

Despite all of that reported interest, Gomez remains in situ in Spain, and it now appears as though the Toffees could be ready to make their intentions known…

The latest: Plettenberg shares Gomez update

Taking to Twitter, Sky Germany’s Plettenberg has claimed that Everton and a host of other clubs are now ‘in’ for the wantaway 27-cap frontman.

He stated: “Excl. News Maxi #Gomez: The 26 y/o striker wants to leave Valencia. Gladbach bosses should like the player (next to Beljo), talks took place. But: Price tag around €12m at this stage. Still too expensive for Borussia! Also in: Everton, Newcastle and Fenerbahce. @SkySportDE”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/everton-news-7/” title=”Everton news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The verdict: Fingers crossed

Everton are in desperate need of adding a new centre-forward, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin sidelined by injury and Salomon Rondon unable to impact matches consistently at the elite level.

So far this term, Frank Lampard has utilised Anthony Gordon as a false nine in their first two league games at home to Chelsea and away at Aston Villa respectively, whilst Rondon led the line in the 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Therefore, adding a genuine centre-forward option is imperative before the September 1 deadline, and Gomez – who was hailed by Premier Sports for a ‘clinical’ finish against Real Valladolid in 2020 – could be the answer.

Sharing similar stylistic traits to Thomas Henry, Callum Wilson and Chris Wood (FBRef), the striker with 82 club career goals boasts a style of play which would make him the ideal candidate to bolster Lampard’s options.

Valued at £10.8m by Transfermarkt and earning a mooted £49,000 per week at Valencia, this is a deal which shouldn’t prove too expensive for the Goodison Park hierarchy, and one that they should be working hard to try and execute.

Arsenal transfer target and PSV Eindhoven winger Cody Gakpo would be ‘attainable’ for the Gunners if they make a move to complete a deal, according to Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor.

The Lowdown: Gakpo linked with Arsenal

Throughout the summer, Mikel Arteta’s side have been linked with a move for the 23-year-old.

According to a report by The Mirror, Manchester United have now joined Leeds United and the Gunners in the race for the Netherlands international, who was named Dutch Footballer of the Year last season.

It is said that PSV will only listen to offers for Gakpo once their Champions League fate has been decided on Tuesday night, as they face off against Monaco in the second leg of their third-round qualifier.

The Latest: Taylor’s claim

Taylor believes that a reasonably-priced deal could be agreed for Gakpo, meaning that Arsenal would be able to bring him to the Emirates this summer.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, the journalist claimed: “We know that he is attainable, because he’s reasonably priced around about £30m-£35m, potentially a little bit more.

“So, if that was one Arsenal wanted to do, then there is scope to do that. But it’s important to be clear that, at the moment, there doesn’t seem to be any concrete names, unfortunately.”

The Verdict: Great long-term target

Having produced 12 goals and 13 assists in the Eredivisie last season, Gakpo earned nine Man of the Match awards, finishing the campaign having averaged a hugely impressive 7.79 match rating (via WhoScored). That unsurprisingly put him top of the pile among PSV’s squad.

As per The Mirror’s report, the 23-year-old has been likened to Arsenal legends Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie due to his stature and elegance on the ball.

Having been hailed a ‘constantly threatening’ presence on the pith by De Telegraaf journalist Valentijn Driessen, this could be the addition that Arsenal have been so desperate to secure after missing out on Raphinha to Barcelona.

Therefore, given the fees which have been mooted by Taylor, this appears to be a great deal for the Gunners to capitalise upon if Gakpo is indeed “attainable”.