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Manchester United are eyeing a deal for Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski as Erik ten Hag aims to boost his attacking options.

With plenty of areas on the pitch that needs improving, it’s arguably the attacking third that needs bolstered the most.

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Cristiano Ronaldo was the only United forward to score more than ten goals last season (24) and this is what contributed to the side finishing in sixth place in the Premier League. The overreliance on Ronaldo is something that needs changed going into next season, with the club only winning one match while he wasn’t in the squad.

This problem could soon be solved, with the Sun reporting that Man United have joined the race to sign Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski this summer, but this will depend on Barcelona and their interest in the player.

The German heavyweights are demanding a fee of up to €80m (£68m) and this shouldn’t be much of a problem for the club.

Judging by his goalscoring record over the previous few seasons, it could well turn out to be a bargain, especially if he can settle into life in the Premier League.

The superlatives don’t do the player enough justice, he has been dubbed “extraordinary” by Tony Cascarino and “world-class” by former Borussia Dortmund manager Marco Rose.

He could certainly have the same impact as Ronaldo did when he joined last season and Ten Hag urgently needs goals, and to make a signing which would signal a statement of intent.

In 44 Bundesliga and Champions League matches last season, the Pole scored a staggering 48 times, double the number of Ronaldo.

The 33-year-old wants to leave Bayern this summer, despite having a year left on his current contract and Barcelona remains the favourites to secure the services of the striker.

If, and it’s a big if, Ten Hag can somehow pull off the move, it would surely rejuvenate the squad and get Old Trafford rocking again.

AND in other news, MUFC now in talks to sign £51m-rated “incredible talent”, he’s a huge Rashford upgrade…

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United’s pursuit of Nathan Ake heading into the upcoming summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to talkSPORT, the Netherlands international is one of the centre-backs on the Tyneside club’s radar as Dan Ashworth plots his first deals as the Magpies’ new sporting director.

The report claims that the 27-year-old has been told that he is free to leave Manchester City ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, although it remains to be seen whether it will be on a loan or permanent basis.

Eddie Howe needs him badly

A deal for the defender will surely delight Toon manager Eddie Howe, as he badly needs Ake at St James’ Park heading into next season.

The Dutchman is a progressive defender who can help the Magpies to evolve their style into a dominant, possession-based system.

As per FBRef, Ake ranks in the 93rd percentile or higher for progressive carries, passes attempted, pass success rate, non-penalty expected goals + expected assists and non-penalty goals per 90 in his position across Europe’s top five leagues in the last 365 days.

Meanwhile, Dan Burn does not rank higher than the 58th percentile in any of those statistics and Fabian Schar ranks in the 45th percentile or lower in carries, passes completed and pass success rate. Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles sits in 54th percentile or lower in all of the aforementioned categories.

This suggests that Ake can be the centre-back that Howe needs in order to deploy a possession-based style of play, as the Dutchman has the ability on the ball to progress attacks out from the back.

The Citizens’ director of football Txiki Begiristain previously praised the 27-year-old, saying: “Nathan is a quality defender. He was a leader during his time at Bournemouth, and I am so pleased we’ve managed to bring him here. He’s strong and quick, and we feel he has the technical and intellectual attributes needed to excel in Pep’s setup.”

He has also been dubbed “underrated” by his fellow countryman and Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk, with these comments highlighting how much he is valued within the footballing community.

Signed from Bournemouth for £41m, Ake has played in nine Premier League seasons by the age of 27 and averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 7.08 in the 2021/22 campaign for Man City. He won 66% of his duels, including a whopping 73% in the air, as he showcased his ability to defend strongly as well as progress the ball.

Ashworth must now get a deal for the defender over the line, as Ake could be a vital cog in Howe’s system at Newcastle next season.

AND in other news, “I’m told..”: Journo drops “exciting” NUFC transfer claim that supporters will love…

Liverpool have given up on attempting to sign Barcelona prodigy Gavi in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh report.

The Lowdown: Liverpool keen on Gavi

The Reds will hopefully have a productive summer ahead of them as Jurgen Klopp looks to further build upon the excellent squad alerady at his disposal.

One player with whom Liverpool have been linked is Gavi, with the 17-year-old considered one of the most exciting young talents in world football.

The Spaniard has already made 46 appearances for Barcelona despite his tender years, with his manager Xavi describing him as a ‘spectacular’ player, and on Sunday he became his country’s youngest-ever goalscorer when netting against Czech Republic.

The Latest: Reds ‘give up’ on signing Gavi

It looks as though that transfer is now dead in the water, though, with Sport reporting on Monday morning [via Sport Witness] that Liverpool now ‘give up’ on signing him.

The Reds are the one club who have been ‘most aware’ of the teenager’s potential availability and ‘would have paid’ his buyout clause, but he now looks set to stay put at Camp Nou.

The report claimed that Gavi is close to signing a new contract at Barcelona, with a final meeting scheduled between his entourage and the club this week which would see his release clause skyrocket from €50m (£42.7m) to an incomprehensible €1bn (£853.8m).

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The Verdict: Was never going to happen

In truth, this was a transfer which always felt like more a pipe dream than a reality, with Barcelona absolutely desperate to keep hold of such a prized asset.

La Masia graduates also generally stay loyal to the club – the likes of long-serving Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets are all proof of that – which is a further reason for Gavi remaining with the Catalan giants.

It would have been special to see him plying his trade at Liverpool, given his enormous potential, but with FSG being notoriously frugal and the teenager’s release clause reaching an astronomical figure, this now looks like a lost cause for the Reds.

In other news, Paul Joyce has dropped a fresh Liverpool transfer claim. Read more here.

Former Leeds United defender Danny Mills believes the Whites will make numerous new signings this summer, following a quiet January window.

The Lowdown: Big summer at Leeds

The Whites managed to avoid relegation from the Premier League by the skin of their teeth, beating Brentford away on the final day of the season.

It was a huge moment for the club, not only in terms of their top-flight survival but also in a financial sense and the ability to make signings moving forward.

It is going to be a key summer at Elland Road, as Jesse Marsch looks to thrive in his first transfer window as manager and surely wants to bring in players to reflect his system and vision.

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The Latest: Mills predicts plenty of signings

Speaking to Football Insider, Sky Sports News pundit Mills claimed that a busy summer lies ahead for Leeds, following comments he heard from Whites legend Eddie Gray:

“I was listening to Eddie Gray on talkSPORT. He’s obviously very close to the club. He was effectively saying that Leeds United wanted to make signings in January, but Bielsa said no.

“He obviously felt his coaching was enough to see them through. However, we saw that towards the end of his time – that just wasn’t the case.

“I think we’ll see a lot of those signings this summer that were in the pipeline then.”

The Verdict: Have to get it right

The hope is that this proves to be true and that Leeds are able to splash the cash this summer, in order to pull away from those threatened by relegation.

It is a vital summer, in that respect, with Marsch having to nail his transfer business and make the Whites an established Premier League club rather than one scrapping at the bottom, as looked to be the case after 2020/21.

Shrewd signings are required in various areas of the pitch, especially if influential heroes such as Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha end up moving on.

In other news, Jesse Marsch is intent on signing one type of player for Leeds. Read more here.

West Ham United could be preparing for life without midfielder Tomas Soucek, according to reports.

What’s the word?

As per ExWHUemployee, the Hammers are said to be willing to part ways with the Czech international should the right offer emerge, with talks regarding a new contract for the 27-year-old said to have hit a roadblock.

Writing on Twitter, the club insider quashed suggestion of a ‘falling out’ with manager David Moyes, although admitted the 6 foot 4 giant could be allowed to leave: “Contract talks have not progressed. Not a falling out as such but apparently prepared to listen to offers.”

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This corroborates with a report from Claret and Hugh which also suggests that the former Slavia Prague man could be allowed to leave if a suitable offer comes in, with Moyes said to believe that Soucek has been a ‘shadow’ of the player he was a year ago.

Supporters livid

That shock revelation will likely not go down well with the club’s supporters, with the £40.5m-rated gem having proven a hugely popular figure since his arrival at the club on an initial loan deal in January 2020.

After signing permanently on a £15m deal a few months later, the 48-cap colossus went on to enjoy a stellar first full campaign in the Premier League, netting ten times as the Irons secured Europa League qualification.

While he netted half that amount in the most recent season, it would seem his performances have not drastically reduced, having averaged 1.5 interceptions, 1.9 tackles and 2.8 clearances per game in his 35 outings, compared with 1.6 interceptions, 2.1 tackles and 2.7 clearances from the year prior.

In comparison to fellow midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues, the £47k-per-week powerhouse also continues to impress, ranking in the top 1% for clearances and in the top 2% for blocks, while also showcasing his threat in the final third as he ranks in the top 8% for touches in the attacking penalty area.

A player capable of impacting the game in both boxes, it would seemingly be a total error were Moyes and GSB to cash in this summer, particularly with club captain Mark Noble calling time on his playing career.

That would simply leave a shortage of central midfield options to partner talisman Declan Rice – who himself has been linked with a departure – potentially threatening the club’s ability to compete in and around the top-six.

Moyes may well have proved himself an astute market operator in his second spell at the helm, although he’d be making a colossal blunder were he to let Soucek depart, while also risking the wrath of the club’s fanbase.

IN other news, “Another target…”: Ex drops big WHU summer transfer claim that supporters will love

Everton have survived their desperate relegation battle and will remain in the Premier League next season after a disastrous campaign, but Frank Lampard and his team can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

It wasn’t a comfortable game for the Toffees by no means, but the manager will be proud of the resilience his team showed in the second half of the game to come back from 2-0 down against Crystal Palace to score three in the final 45 minutes at Goodison Park.

Despite being at home Everton had less possession (43%), fewer big chances and completed over 100 less accurate passes than Patrick Vieira’s side yesterday evening, but even without domination of the ball, the team took their chances when they needed to.

In the first half, the Toffees struggled to impose themselves on their visitors and started massively on the back foot which ultimately cost them when Jean-Philippe Mateta found the back of the net in the 21st minute but the first goal wasn’t enough to wake the home team up as they conceded a second 15 minutes later when Jordan Ayew scored to double Palace’s lead.

Lampard quickly realised that he needed to make some ruthless changes to his team if he was going to have any chance of securing safety ahead of the final game of the season, swapping out an uninspiring Andre Gomes for Dele Alli and that one change may have been the catalyst in changing Everton’s fate on Merseyside.

Michael Keane and Richarlison brought their team back into the game with goals in the second half, but it was Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s killer goal in the 85th minute that made every Blues supporter’s dreams come true, with a goal that has now saved Everton in their penultimate game of the campaign.

One player who deserves a huge amount of credit for the win tonight is Demarai Gray, who came on the pitch for Anthony Gordon in the 61st minute, a substitution that was worth its weight in gold.

The 25-year-old who was hailed a “game-changer” by former manager Gary Rowett proved just how effective he can be in important moments even with just 13 touches of the ball he made every single one count.

Gray won 100% of his ground duels, was successful in 100% of his dribble attempts, creating one big chance and making one key pass proving that although he didn’t make many touches he was effective in achieving what he was brought onto the pitch to do.

Lampard, the squad and the supporters will be massively relieved and overjoyed to have taken themselves out of the relegation fight ahead of the last day of the season, but now the club must focus on the future and there is some serious work to do to make sure they don’t fall into the same situation again next season.

AND in other news: Everton eye a move for 18 y/o “shining light”, he could be the next Calvert-Lewin

Manchester United could land their very own Kevin De Bruyne with a move for Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, as Erik ten Hag looks set for a busy summer ahead of his first season as Red Devils manager.

What’s the word?

In his recent Caught Offside column, Italian super-agent Roberto de Fanti wrote: “I believe this summer could be the time that Milinkovic-Savic leaves Lazio and I wouldn’t be surprised if the destination is Manchester United. I can say for sure that there are already whispers in the industry that he could move to Old Trafford in time for next season.”

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The club has been linked with the midfielder as of late, but Lazio have confirmed that he isn’t for sale as United aim to bolster their squad ahead of next season.

Ten Hag could unearth United’s own De Bruyne

Incoming manager Ten Hag has a massive rebuild ahead of him if he wants to take United back to winning trophies and competing in the Champions League.

With Paul Pogba’s contract set to expire in the summer and the ever-increasing likelihood that he will depart the club, with Juventus set to offer him a contract, the onus is on the 52-year-old to replace him.

A move for Milinkovic-Savic would make a lot of sense for the club, as he is very similar in style to De Bruyne (as per FBRef); and with the success the Belgian has had at the blue half of the city, Ten Hag may want to break the bank for the Serbian.

Both players have reached double figures for league goals this season, Milinkovic-Savic has 10 in Serie A whilst De Bruyne has netted 15 times in the Premier League, proving that the Serbian can be a goalscoring threat from the centre of the midfield, something that United are severely lacking. Aside from Bruno Fernandes (10), no Red Devils midfielder has reached the five-goal mark in the league this term.

The 27-year-old earns £75k-p/w at Lazio and will surely enjoy a pay rise if he moves to Manchester; and with Sky Sports reporter Anton Toloui dubbing him a “complete midfielder”, this prospective transfer makes perfect sense.

It could be an exciting summer ahead for the Old Trafford faithful, particularly if United can entice the Serbian monster to the Premier League.

AND in other news, Man Utd eyeing move for £130m-rated genius, just imagine him & Ronaldo

Manchester City supporters have now been given a significant update in the club’s hunt to sign Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong this summer, according to a Spanish source.

The Lowdown: City eye move for De Jong…

After securing a blockbuster agreement to sign Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland in the summer, the Sky Blues seemingly won’t stop there, with a new midfielder reportedly on the agenda.

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Pep Guardiola wants to strengthen his options in the middle of the park, as club legend Fernandinho is set to draw the curtain on a nine-year stay in the Premier League.

The Brazil veteran, who is a major presence behind the scenes as well as on the pitch, will be a sore miss for Sky Blues, who are set to say goodbye to a faithful servant.

Barcelona midfielder De Jong is said to be a target for City, with Sport now sharing the latest.

The Latest: City hold talks over De Jong…

According to the Spanish outlet, Guardiola’s side have held talks and made contact with the Catalan giants over signing their marquee midfielder, mainly to find out his asking price and whether Barcelona could be open to a swap deal.

The answer to the latter question is a resounding no, with club president Joan Laporta ‘only interested in money’ as he ‘marks the figure’ at a seismic €100m (£85m).

The Verdict: Worth the money?

The Netherlands international has no shortage of pedigree, as evident by the fact that only Marc-André ter Stegen, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba have played more minutes for Barcelona than De Jong this season (WhoScored).

Xavi’s faith in his midfield maestro is testament to the 25-year-old’s obvious quality, with the Dutchman also racking up one of the highest passing accuracies in the Barca squad in the current La Liga campaign (WhoScored).

Lauded as a ‘phenomenal’ player by former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell, these numbers and plaudits point to a star who could seriously strengthen Guardiola’s options for 2022/23.

However, for £85m, it is a move that Etihad Stadium officials must seriously consider, with other capable targets perhaps available for far less.

In other news: Man City ready to move for ‘unbelievable’ star who’s turned Pep’s head, he played his last game yesterday… find out more here

Rangers carried over their European momentum into the Premiership as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s won 2-0 on Sunday.

The Gers made their way to a major European final on Thursday night with a 3-1 win at Ibrox and the manager took the opportunity to make a number of changes to his team for this domestic clash.

James Sands, Aaron Ramsey, Leon King and Steven Davis were among the players who were given a chance to impress but it was a familiar face on hand to open the scoring as James Tavernier scored from the spot.

Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo then came off the bench in the second half to make sure of the three points, moving the Light Blues back to within six points of their rivals at the top of the table.

Whilst it was an assured, dominant, performance from Rangers against Dundee United, not every player on the pitch gave a good account of themselves. One dud who was a passenger throughout the match was Canadian midfielder Scott Arfield.

The former Burnley man lined up in an advanced role and failed to impress on or off the ball as he struggled to make a positive impact on the game.

Rangers have a Europa League final against Frankfurt coming up and players will be playing for their places ahead of such an important match. With this in mind, Arfield did nothing to strengthen his cause for a start as van Bronckhorst will surely be disappointed with his display.

Out of possession, he offered nothing. Via SofaScore, he did not win a single duel, or even compete in any, during his 65 minutes on the pitch. He also failed to make a clearance, tackle, block or interception, although the Gers did have 73% of the ball and limited what Dundee United could offer.

On the ball, he was far from good enough. As per SofaScore, he had fewer touches (23) than Jon McLaughlin (44) and did not create a single chance or complete a dribble. He also missed a ‘big chance’ – his ninth of the campaign in the Premiership – and only completed 15 passes.

Therefore, he was a passenger throughout the game as he failed to showcase his quality on the ball or his strength off of it. Van Bronckhorst will not be able to trust him to start in a European final if he continues to produce performances like this one.

AND in other news, Rangers played an Ibrox blinder with £22k-pw “cornerstone” who’s like “Graeme Souness”…

Sunderland still have some big games left in their latest League One campaign to try and force their way into the Championship.

However, with the summer transfer window on the horizon, it seems as though a clue has emerged over one potential deal that the Wearside club would be involved in.

What’s the news?

According to journalist Paul Davis, on-loan Sunderland striker Will Grigg has “been offered a deal” to stay with his current club Rotherham United on a permanent basis once his loan spell ends in the summer.

Sunderland signed the striker back in early 2019 from Wigan Athletic in a deal worth £4m.

Two years later, the Northern Irishman joined MK Dons on loan until the end of the 2020/21 season before then joining Rotherham shortly after.

Great news for Sunderland fans

This season has seen the 30-year-old score just two goals in 19 appearances for his current side.

To highlight how disappointing he’s been for the Millers in this campaign, out of the 28 shots he’s had at goal, only nine of them have even been on target.

Additionally, the striker has committed more fouls and been caught offside more times than the number of crosses, interceptions or tackles he’s made.

In terms of his overall performances, WhoScored currently list him as one of Rotherham’s lowest-rated players with a rather underwhelming overall rating of 6.45/10.

With that in mind, it’s rather surprising to hear that the club have reportedly offered him a permanent deal.

With 62 appearances to his name in a Sunderland shirt, the centre-forward only found the net on eight occasions and delivered just three assists.

Taking all of this into account, it’d be safe to assume that plenty of Black Cats supporters would be rather pleased to see Grigg finally leave the club on a permanent basis this summer.

Although, with his contract at the Stadium of Light set to expire at the end of the season, this means that they won’t be picking up any sort of fee for him from Rotherham.

Overall, while it would be good to get his wages off their books, it’s hard to deny that their £4m move for him has been rather unsuccessful.

In other news: “Has a chance”: Sunderland set for big injury boost that’ll leave supporters buzzing