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Lord of the Rings star & Real Madrid fan Viggo Mortensen wrote to El Pais condemning Vinicius Jr as a "spoilt child" over his Ballon d'Or boycott.

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• Rodri edged out Vinicius Jr for the Ballon d'Or
• Real Madrid's entourage decided to snub the ceremony
• Mortensen slammed the decision in his letter to El Pais

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Real Madrid initially planned to send a delegation to the Ballon d’Or awards. However, when it became clear that Vinicius Jr. would not win the award— despite a remarkable season with Los Blancos that included a second Champions League title – the club chose to stay away from the ceremony. The Brazilian had been considered a frontrunner for the accolade, but the award ultimately went to Rodri, the Spain and Manchester City midfielder who enjoyed an exceptional season with City, culminating in Premier League and Euro 2024 victories.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Real Madrid’s decision to withdraw from the Ballon d’Or gala has drawn criticism from football insiders and former players. Now, the celebrated Lord of the Rings actor and longtime Real Madrid supporter has joined the bandwagon. Living much of the year in Madrid, Mortensen is deeply familiar with Spanish culture and football, and his opinion struck a chord with many Madridistas. The actor criticised both Vinicius and the club’s response to his snub, accusing Real Madrid of lacking sportsmanship and showing arrogance.

• WHAT MORTENSEN SAID

  Mortensen’s letter in left little room for interpretation. He openly criticised Vinicius Jr. and Real Madrid’s response, describing it as an unsportsmanlike act motivated by entitlement.

  “Real Madrid, after finding out that their spoiled child was not going to win the Ballon d’Or and the child was furious and sad, said that the club does not go where it is not respected," he wrote "And the decision was made to support Vinicius Jr. and his tantrum about not going to Paris for the awards ceremony.

  “It’s being a bad loser, period. I am a Real Madrid fan, but I think that if the club does not go where it is not respected, it is the club’s fault for this type of stupidity, this unsportsmanlike and arrogant conduct. Hala Madrid! always, but how embarrassed this makes me."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR VINICIUS?

  Despite the controversy, Vinicius is set to make his return to the field this weekend as Real Madrid face Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium. However, concerns have arisen about the fixture, as heavy flooding in the Valencia area may cause a postponement. If the match goes ahead, it offers Real Madrid and Vinicius Jr. an opportunity to shift focus back to the field and potentially regain momentum after a turbulent week marred with controversy.

When Erik ten Hag arrived at Manchester United in 2022, the summer plan was clear: rebuild the midfield.

Casemiro joined, and so did Christian Eriksen, but fast forward to today and the Dane’s future at the club – according to reports – is in doubt.

The creative midfielder only made 12 Premier League starts last season, which clearly proves that he’s now viewed as a squad player.

However, United are now on the lookout for a new midfielder to upgrade from Eriksen, who has also been compared to a certain English superstar in Jude Bellingham.

Man Utd’s search for a new midfielder

According to a report from CaughtOffside, Man Utd will attempt to sign Adrien Rabiot from Juventus this summer.

The French star is said to be admired by Ten Hag, with him being viewed as ‘his priority in midfield.’

Rabiot’s contract in Turin expires soon, which would inevitably make him available on a free transfer.

However, what will give the Red Devils an advantage over other potential suitors is the fact that it’s been reported that the midfielder is waiting for the Manchester club.

Why Rabiot would be a huge upgrade on Eriksen

It’s fair to say that ever since his arrival in Turin, Rabiot has performed consistently, despite rarely receiving many plaudits for his impact.

His role at Juventus isn’t to be the best passer in the side, the most dominant defender, or even the most threatening in the final third, but his ability to tick all the boxes is vital.

Last season, the Frenchman started 30 games in Serie A, operating as a box-to-box in a midfield three for almost all of those.

However, it seems that Rabiot is someone who’s made for the big occasions, as shown by his performance for France against the Netherlands at Euro 2024, where he made four key passes and won all his duels, as well as during his most recent Champions League campaign.

Firstly, there’s no debating that Rabiot and Eriksen are the polar opposite when it comes to their strengths and approach to the beautiful game.

The Juve ace is far less involved in the possession side of play in terms of progression and creativity, often making runs off the ball to create space, which is one reason stats platform FBref classified him as a ‘similar player’ to Bellingham.

Just like the Real Madrid superstar, Rabiot provides an endless amount of energy in the middle of the park, with his intensity levels among the very best, whereas United’s Dane has been described as a “passenger” by football creator Liam Canning for his lack of manoeuvrability.

The fact that the 29-year-old’s goals, progressive carries, and tackles are so high proves that he covers the entire field during each game, and that athleticism would make him an upgrade on Eriksen alone.

On top of that, what makes Rabiot such a "monster," as dubbed by journalist Robin Bairner, is that he has the ability to pop up with goals, which would add another dimension to the United attack; that’s just another attribute that makes him similar to Bellingham.

Overall, considering that Rabiot could be snapped up on a free transfer, and he offers so many desirable traits, it would be crazy for United to pass on the opportunity of making him a replacement for Eriksen.

What Man Utd's dream XI could look like after £230m spending spree

Marcus Rashford doesn’t make the best eleven.

1

By
Tom Lever

Jun 7, 2024

Celtic have just over two months left to bolster their playing squad before the summer transfer window, which opened earlier this month, slams shut.

The Hoops are yet to make their first signing of the summer as they prepare to strengthen Brendan Rodgers' team ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

They are coming off the back of winning a domestic double last season in the Northern Irish head coach's first year back in the dugout at Parkhead.

The Bhoys secured the Scottish Premiership title for the third year in succession and then won the SFA Cup, with a 1-0 win over Rangers at Hampden Park, thanks to a goal from loanee Adam Idah.

It was recently reported that Celtic want to sign the Irish striker on a permanent deal but Norwich's new manager, Johannes Hoff Thorup, wants to take a look at him in pre-season before making a decision on his future.

If they fail to convince the Canaries to part ways with the 6 foot 3 marksman then they could go into next season with Kyogo Furuhashi as their main source of goals once again.

They could land the Japan international an exciting partner at the top end of the pitch to ease the goalscoring burden as they are reportedly in the market to land a new forward.

Celtic's interest in exciting young winger

According to GhanaSoccerNet, Celtic are one of a number of clubs competing to land a deal for Sogndal Fotball winger Edmund Baidoo this summer.

The report claims that there is 'significant' interest in his signature from several teams thanks to his impressive form in the second tier in Norway this year.

It states that Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion have made their move to speak with the player and his representatives ahead of a possible transfer.

GhanaSoccerNet adds that Leeds United, Celtic, and Club Brugge are also in the mix to sign the talented youngster to bolster their attacking ranks.

The report also reveals that his contract does not expire until the summer of 2027 and this means that Sogndal are under little pressure to cash in on him.

Although, it remains to be seen how much the Norwegian side are likely to demand for the teenage whiz, amid interest from a host of clubs across Europe this summer.

If the Hoops can strike an agreement with them and win the race for his signature then they could land an exciting partner for Kyogo in the Premiership next season, if the young talent can make the step up to Scottish football.

Kyogo Furuhashi's struggles last season

You could have forgiven Celtic supporters for expecting big things from the Japanese forward last season after his terrific performances under Ange Postecoglou the previous year.

He had just won the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award for the 2022/23 campaign after a staggering return of 27 goals in 31 Premiership appearances.

Unfortunately, the 29-year-old attacker could not replicate that success under Rodgers last term as he struggled in front of goal throughout the 2023/24 season.

As you can see in the table above, the Japan international's form fell off a cliff from the 2022/23 campaign to last term, with his goalscoring touch seemingly deserting him.

Kyogo spurned a staggering 24 'big chances' and only found the back of the net 14 times in his 38 games, whilst he underperformed his xG of 18.39 by 4.39 – the largest underperformance in the squad.

This shows that the experienced dud did not make the most of the chances that his teammates were consistently creating for him in the Premiership.

His lack of form in the final third meant that Celtic needed their wingers to step up and make up for his struggles by getting on the scoresheet themselves.

Unfortunately, however, Daizen Maeda and Luis Palma only combined for 13 league goals between them and Nicolas Kuhn managed two in 14 outings after his January move from Rapid Wien.

Rodgers, though, could now land a winger with the potential to provide a bigger goal threat from the flank by securing a deal to sign Baidoo to ease the pressure on Kyogo to be a consistent goalscorer for the Scottish giants.

Why Celtic should sign Edmund Baidoo

The Hoops should swoop to sign the 18-year-old phenom as his form in the second division in Norway this term suggests that the potential is here for him to develop into a fantastic attacker.

It is worth adding that this move would be a risk for the Premiership champions, though, as he is a teenage talent who is yet to play in a top-flight or in a major European country, which means that there is no guarantee that his form will translate over to Scotland.

However, his sublime form during the 2024 campaign suggests that it is a risk worth taking as he could emerge as a brilliant, and much-needed, partner for Kyogo at the top end of the pitch.

The young whiz, who only turned 18 in January, has enjoyed an eye-catching start to the season with Sogndal, with Norway's leagues running through a calendar year, rather than from August to May.

As you can see in the table above, the Ghana-born starlet has provided a strong goal threat from the right wing with a conversion rate of 19% – better than Kyogo's 14% in the Premiership last season.

The right-footed ace has racked up eight goals and six assists, 14 involvements, in 17 appearances in all competitions this term, which is a direct goal contribution every 1.21 matches on average.

Baidoo, who GhanaSoccerNet founder Sannie Daara lauded as "in-form", has showcased his ability to score and create goals at an impressive rate, but in the second tier in Norway.

Celtic could forget Idah in swoop for SPFL star who's "unplayable at times"

The Hoops are reportedly interested in a deal for the centre-forward this summer.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 26, 2024

If he can carry that goalscoring form over to the Premiership then he could be the efficient goalscorer from the wing that the Hoops need to make up for Kyogo's struggles.

Manchester United have sacked Erik ten Hag with immediate effect, less than a day after the team's damaging defeat by struggling West Ham.

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• United officially confirm Dutchman's sacking
• INEOS patience finally runs out
• Red Devils lost four of nine PL games

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Devils announced in an official statement that the manager had been relieved of his duties on Monday following the dismal defeat at the London Stadium, their fourth loss in nine Premier League games. The statement read: "Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager. Erik was appointed in April 2022 and led the club to two domestic trophies, winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024. We are grateful to Erik for everything he has done during his time with us and wish him well for the future."

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  United have made their worst-ever start to a Premier League season, with Sunday's defeat by West Ham leaving them 14th in the Premier League table after nine games. They have also failed to win any of their three Europa League games, drawing against Twente, Porto and Fenerbahce.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Ten Hag was in serious danger of losing his job late last season as United came eighth in the Premier League, their worst finish since 1990. The club spoke to numerous candidates including Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna and Thomas Tuchel but Ten Hag eventually clung on and was given a one-year extension of his contract. It means that United are likely to have to pay an estimated £7 million in compensation to Ten Hag, which could have been avoided in the summer.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

  Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of the team as interim head coach while United look to recruit a permanent successor to Ten Hag. The legendary ex-Red Devils striker will lead the team in Wednesday's game at home to Leicester City in the Carabao Cup.

Arne Slot says Liverpool's upcoming clash with high-flying Chelsea is their "biggest challenge" of the season so far.

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• Liverpool face Chelsea this weekend
• Slot compares Blues to Man Utd
• Says clash is "biggest challenge" so far

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ahead of Liverpool hosting Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday, Reds boss Slot likened the Blues' spending to Manchester United's. The Red Devils and the Stamford Bridge team have the biggest net spend over the past five years in the Premier League and splashed around more than £200 million ($261m) each on transfers this summer. In the run-up to the clash between first and fourth in the Premier League, Slot has prepared his team for a stern test this weekend.

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  WHAT ARNE SLOT

  He told reporters: "If you look at the league table, it is [the biggest challenge of the season]. I think Manchester United is a very good team, a top club in England that has spent a lot of money to even make the team better again. Same for Chelsea in this season. Chelsea does really well. If you look at the league table then they are the ones that might be our toughest opponent. But it's not always about the league table. Sometimes it's about the form of the day, it's about their game plan. We had some difficulty with Wolves as well, who are bottom of the league, I think. But it is a challenge, that's for sure."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Slot has made a seamless transition at Anfield since replacing legendary manager Jurgen Klopp in the summer. They sit top of the Premier League and have impressed in the Champions League, but Enzo Maresca's Chelsea have made a strong start to the campaign, too. This encounter will be a true test of their credentials on Sunday.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  After Liverpool's clash with Chelsea, the Reds return to Champions League action next Wednesday when they travel to Bundesliga side RB Leipzig. The tests get even tougher as they then take on Arsenal at the Emirates on October 27.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers may look to use the upcoming summer transfer window to ensure that his squad can compete domestically and in Europe next season.

The Hoops boss won a domestic double in his first year back at Parkhead this term, having replaced Ange Postecoglou in the dugout last summer.

Rodgers secured the Scottish Premiership title last month before going on to win the SFA Cup final against Rangers at Hampden Park, thanks to a late strike from Adam Idah.

However, the Bhoys were knocked out of Europe during the first half of the 2023/24 campaign as they finished rock bottom of their Champions League group.

They also failed to win the League Cup as they were beaten 1-0 by Kilmarnock back in August and this suggests that there is scope for the Scottish giants to improve next season.

Rodgers may now dip into the market to add fresh faces to his squad to help his team to compete for more trophies, and one former player is reportedly being eyed by the Northern Irish coach.

Celtic's interest in reunion with Scotland international

According to Football Insider, Celtic are eyeing up a reunion with former academy graduate and first-team star Kieran Tierney this summer.

The report claims that the Scotland international is not a part of Mikel Arteta's plans at Arsenal and looks set to move on from The Emirates before the end of the window.

It states that the experienced left-back would 'love' to move back to Parkhead and is desperate to rejoin his former club following a loan spell with Real Sociedad in Spain.

The outlet reveals that both parties, Celtic and Tierney, are keen on making it work but it is a difficult deal for the Scottish side to get done this year.

Football Insider claims that the Premiership champions are unlikely to afford the fee that the Gunners would want for him, and his 'huge' wages could make a loan deal complicated.

Arsenal signed the defender from the Hoops for a fee of £25m in 2019 and it remains to be seen how much the Premier League giants would demand for his services five years on from that transfer.

If the Hoops can manage to iron out a deal with the Gunners, possibly with the help of Tierney's reported desire to make the deal happen, then Rodgers could land a left-back who would be perfect for Daizen Maeda down the left flank.

Daizen Maeda's contrasting fortunes for Celtic

The Japan international is an interesting forward as he does a lot of excellent work out of possession but often leaves a lot to be desired on the ball.

Rodgers once described having him in the team as like having 'two players' due to his immense work rate, as the effervescent attacker works his socks off for the team to either win the ball back or close down opposition players.

This was on show less than a minute into the Old Firm clash at Ibrox in April as he sprinted to close down James Tavernier, who seemingly thought he would have more time to clear the ball, and deflected the full-back's clearance past Jack Butland and into the back of the net.

However, his work on the ball was not quite as impressive over the course of the campaign. Only Kyogo Furuhashi (-4.39) underperformed his xG by more than Maeda (-2.78) in the Premiership, as the winger scored six goals from 8.78 xG.

As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old whiz also struggled when it came to creating chances for his teammates on a regular basis, as he ranked outside of the top five in the three key creative metrics in the Premiership.

These statistics suggest that Maeda does not offer a consistent or big attacking threat as either a scorer or a creator of goals from the left flank.

However, he does, in Rodgers' eyes at least, offer vital running for the team in and out of possession to either win the ball back or cause problems for opposition defenders.

Why Kieran Tierney would be perfect for Daizen Maeda

Tierney would be the partner for the Japanese dynamo down the left flank as he has the attacking mentality and ability to brilliantly complement him.

Whilst Maeda does not have the ability to carry the burden of the attack on the left side on his own, as shown by his aforementioned struggles as a finisher and as a creator, he does work hard and chip in with contributions at times.

The 26-year-old winger could use his movement and pace to drag the opposition's full-back infield or out of position in order to create space for Tierney to then bomb on from a left-back position to use his crossing as another weapon in Celtic's armoury.

During his time in the first-team with the Hoops, the now-Arsenal defender racked up eight goals and 37 assists in 170 matches in all competitions.

That is an average of one assist every 4.59 games, compared to Maeda's return of one every 6.69 outings with 16 in 107 clashes in all competitions.

This shows that the £10m-rated whiz, who was once lauded as a "warrior" by Ashley Cole, has the potential to provide assists far more regularly than the current Celtic attacker.

As you can see in the table above, Tierney racked up at least five league assists in four straight Premiership seasons with the Hoops, which speaks to his impressive creativity from left-back.

Whereas, Maeda has not managed more than five league assists in a single season with Celtic and produced four assists in all competitions this term.

Celtic could save millions by unleashing "exceptional" 6 ft 2 colossus

The Hoops could avoid splashing out cash on a new signing by bringing through this young talent.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 6, 2024

Therefore, Tierney would be perfect for the winger as his partner down the left wing as he has the creativity and quality to provide a big threat in the final third, which would take some of the pressure off the forward – who has struggled in that respect.

Arsenal may finally have made a breakthrough in negotiations for Bukayo Saka’s contract. 

What’s the word?

Speaking to CaughtOffside, Fabrizio Romano had the following to say on a new deal:

“The talks between Arsenal and Bukayo Saka’s camp have been going on since February. Arsenal consider Saka a key player and think his contract extension is like a new signing, it is a priority for this summer.

“The top English clubs have been monitoring the situation for some time but the good news for Gunners supporters is that Arsenal is the player’s priority: Saka loves the club and there is a negotiation in progress.”

Supporters will be delighted

Since bursting onto the scene in 2019, the youngster has been the talk of north London as Mikel Arteta nurtured him into the first team.

He has repaid the Spaniard back tenfold and looks to further thank him with his signature on a long-term contract.

Saka has quickly become one of the Gunners’ most important attacking assets, and he bagged a remarkable 11 goals and seven assists as he featured in every single one of their 38 Premier League games.

His average SofaScore rating of 7.04 is indicative of a solid performer, yet his pace and trickery make him something of a maverick coming onto his favoured left foot from the right flank.

The England international can score screamers or he can offer up a cultured close-range finish, and at just 20 years of age, he has the world at his feet.

Even after his disappointment at Euro 2020, his manager was quick to jump to his defence and sing his praises: “I think it was great for his career because the football world showed how much they like him and how much they respect him.”

He continued: “Then it’s about giving him that space. What he is already doing is phenomenal and he needs that room.”

To secure him at the Emirates for the foreseeable future is a huge statement of intent and a sign that Saka has bought into the project that Arteta is building. Supporters should be delighted to see that their star boy is set to stick around.

AND, in other news: Arteta can land Arsenal’s own Rio Ferdinand with bid for “magnificent” £18m-rated gem.

Everton are working on a move for Wolves’ Morgan Gibbs-White, despite the midfielder being a primary target for Nottingham Forest.

What’s the word?

That’s according to The Athletic, who claim that Everton have shown a fresh interest in the player, who spent last season on loan to Sheffield United.

Forest, who have been active in the market since their promotion, are keen to add Gibbs-White to their ranks.

He is seen as a primary target for Steve Cooper.

Everton then followed up their interest on Monday with a bid according to John Percy. He took to Twitter to say: “Wolves have rejected a bid in excess of £20m from Everton for Morgan Gibbs-White. NFFC and CPFC also interested in signing the England under-21 international.”

He could be their new Dele

Since signing on a free transfer from Tottenham, opportunities for Dele Alli have been few and far between.

The former two-time Premier League young player of the year has seen his career stunted after a blistering start, as he struggled to announce himself to the many managers he featured under.

In Gibbs-White however, Frank Lampard could provide ample competition to hopefully propel the 26-year-old back to his old ways, and in the meantime develop his own version of that youngster who burst onto the scene.

Last season for Sheffield United, the man who Wolves rate at £30m excelled in their promotion bid.

He managed 20 goal contributions for the Blades on their way to the playoffs, where they were beaten on penalties by those who now seek to sign Gibbs-White.

Not only this but his average SofaScore rating of 7.16 marks an incredibly high performer across his 35 league appearances.

His performances in the Championship earned him huge praise from his teammates, with David McGoldrick claiming “he’s got the world at his feet”.

He continued: “He’s got all the ability in the world. He just needs to play games and he’s doing that here. He’s expressing himself, got the license and free spirit to go out there.

“We want him to go and create. He’s going to lose the ball sometimes. All good players do that but as long as he’s in the right positions and scoring goals like that I don’t mind what he does.”

If Lampard is willing to give a free role to either him or Dele, both the young and the experienced could push one another to bring out their best performances.

Everton could strike gold if they swoop for this Wolves youngster, and could secure both the Dele of old and the potential new Dele in Gibbs-White.

AND, in other news: Everton plot bid for £50k-p/w “outstanding talent”, he can be Lampard’s very own Lahm.

Arsenal have been handed a huge boost in their pursuit to sign Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez. 

What’s the word?

That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, who had the following to say to GIVEMESPORT on the Argentine:

“The player is pushing with Ajax because Ajax are asking for a €50 million fee and the player is pushing for them to let him go this summer as he wants this Premier League move as soon as possible.”

With Manchester United also interested, Mikel Arteta must act quickly to secure another summer signing.

Supporters will be buzzing

The Gunners appear to have been embroiled in this transfer battle for weeks now, as they trade blows with their bitter Mancunian rivals over who will get the player and the bragging rights.

However, with this newest revelation, it appears the saga draws to its conclusion. The player will join the Premier League, it is just a matter of which club.

If Arteta was to tempt the Argentina international, it would prove a smart coup and add some bite to an otherwise soft Arsenal defence. He won 69% of his total duels last season for Ajax, further outlining his aggressive nature and love of defending.

Boasting an impressive average SofaScore rating of 7.61, it is certain that the defender would add consistency as well as incredible versatility. The 24-year-old can feature across the whole back line, and even deputises in midfield on occasion.

With regards to his nastiness, despite his 5 foot 9 frame, he still loves to get stuck into a tackle. It, therefore, fits the bill that journalist Casey Evans would label him a “bulldog”.

He sits in the 99th percentile for tackles per 90, averaging a further 1.9 interceptions and 2.8 clearances. His gritty and workmanlike play style is married with a capability to progress his team, as he also sits in the 99th percentile for progressive passes per 90.

Supporters can begin to delight in the prospect of this hard-working South American joining the Emirates, however, Arteta will have to be wary that the pull of Erik ten Hag does not tempt his main target away for a reunion at Old Trafford.

AND, in other news: Arsenal favourites to sign “outrageous” £25m “phenomenon”, supporters will love it.

According to reliable journalist James Hunter, Sunderland are now in pole position to sign Arsenal defender Daniel Ballard.

The Lowdown: Burnley move breaks down

A product of the Gunners youth system, the 22-year-old had recently come close to signing for Burnley and even made the trip to Lancashire to put pen to paper on a deal with Vincent Kompany’s Clarets, but the move broke down at the last minute due to not being able to agree personal terms.

And the Black Cats, alongside Championship rivals Blackpool and Millwall, the two clubs where the centre-back had been on loan, were all said to be interested in securing his services.

With the news that the Stevenage-born talent is officially back on the market, it now sounds as if the Stadium of Light outfit are intensifying their efforts in a bid to try and fend off their competitors.

The Latest: Sunderland in pole position

In an article written for ChronicleLive, Hunter claims that Sunderland are now ‘leading the race’ for Ballard, with the club having ‘stepped up their interest’ following Burnley’s setback.

The source further states that whilst the deal is ‘not yet done’, the hierarchy ‘remain hopeful’ that they can convince him to complete the move to Wearside.

The Verdict: Rock at the back

Alex Neil will now be looking to bolster his ranks with some new additions as he revamps his squad ahead of Sunderland’s long-awaited return to the second tier, and Ballard would be an impressive signing to get over the line.

The Northern Ireland international, who’s recently been dubbed an “outstanding” potential signing by journalist Josh Bunting, was an absolute rock at the back for Millwall last season, winning 3.9 of his aerial duels and averaging 3.4 clearances per league 90 minutes, via WhoScored.

Once a teammate of the Black Cats’ Elliot Embleton when they were both on loan together at Bloomfield Road, a reunion for the duo could soon be on the cards in the north east.