All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Manchester United have already wrapped up their first piece of summer business ahead of next season, with the Red Devils having agreed a £60m deal to sign Mason Mount from Premier League rivals, Chelsea.

The signing of the England international will seemingly provide some much-needed quality and depth to a midfield department that has looked rather threadbare of late, with Marcel Sabitzer having made his return to Bayern Munich, while Fred has been heavily linked with a move to Fulham.

That fact could suggest that Mount may not be Erik ten Hag's only midfield recruit over the coming weeks, with reports in Spain having only recently claimed that the United boss has sent club officials to try and negotiate a deal for Real Madrid starlet, Aurelien Tchouameni.

The belief is that the former Monaco maestro – who only made the move to the Spanish capital for a reported fee of €100m (£85.3m) last summer – could make way following the signing of Jude Bellingham, thus opening the door for the Red Devils to pounce.

Having already snapped up Raphael Varane and Casemiro from the La Liga giants in each of the previous two summer windows, the Old Trafford outfit could now look to Tchouameni – who is valued at around €80m (£69m) – as their next high profile addition from the Bernabeu.

Would Tchouameni be a good fit for Man United?

Despite failing to truly establish himself as a regular starter under Carlo Ancelotti last season, the 23-year-old did still enjoy a positive debut campaign in Madrid, recording an average matching of 7.13 from his 33 league outings, as per Sofascore – a figure that would've placed him third among Ten Hag's squad last term.

Lauded as a "superb talent" by United legend, Rio Ferdinand, Tchouameni could well be able to replicate that level of performance in the Premier League were he to make the move to the Theatre of Dreams, with that rubberstamped by his apparent likeness to Brighton and Hove Albion sensation, Moises Caicedo.

The latter man has been on the Red Devils' in recent years with the club memorably missing out on his signature back in January 2021, while more recent reports revealed that Ten Hag and co had made contact regarding a possible summer swoop, albeit with a move to Stamford Bridge looking more likely for the 21-year-old.

To then be able to find an alternative to the Ecuadorian machine in the form of Tchouameni could prove to be a dream scenario for the Carabao Cup winners, with the pair seemingly sharing a number of statistical and stylistic similarities, according to FBref.

The two defensive-minded talents have proven themselves to be particularly effective at winning back possession in front of the back four, with the towering Frenchman ranking in the top 1% among his European peers for interceptions made, as well as in the top 22% for tackles, while Caicedo ranks in the top 11% and the top 13% for those same two metrics, respectively.

What also sets the two promising talents apart is their composure in possession and their desire to trying and dictate the tempo of a game from their deep-lying roles, with Caicedo ranking in the top 6% for pass completion and the top 15% for attempted passes, while Tchouameni ranks in the top 1% pass completion and the top 5% for attempted passes.

With Ten Hag seemingly keen on bringing in a younger midfielder this summer, both of those players would perfectly fit the bill, hence why the signing of the Madrid rock could prove a perfect alternative if the Brighton gem opts for a different destination.

Chelsea are reportedly interested in Olympique Lyonnais midfielder Rayan Cherki, as Mauricio Pochettino gets to work on crafting his side ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The Blues will be eager to right their wrongs after a disastrous season, seeing them finish 12th and gaining just 11 wins all term in a shocking year for the club.

Despite spending around £600m on new signings across last year’s transfer windows, Pochettino is expected to have a busy summer in order to get his team to his liking, with the latest talent linked to Stamford Bridge posing as a less expensive upgrade.

What’s the latest on Rayan Cherki to Chelsea?

As reported by journalist Simon Phillips, Chelsea hold an interest in Lyon’s teen sensation Cherki who is contracted to the French side until 2025.

After penning a new deal in April, the 19-year-old is highly valued by Les Gones however could depart this summer with the Blues “exploring” the idea of signing the midfielder.

That said, they may well have to pay Lyon's £43m asking price in order to conclude a deal.

What could Rayan Cherki offer to Chelsea?

Having just sold Kai Havertz to Arsenal, the west Londoners could identify a worthy replacement for the German in Cherki, who has similar attributes to the 24-year-old.

Hailed as being a “magnificent talent” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the teenager has been influential to Lyon’s Ligue 1 campaign, recording 34 appearances in the French top division last season.

Scoring four goals and contributing six assists, via Sofascore, the Frenchman cemented himself as being one of his side’s best creative outlets, as highlighted by his average of making two key passes per game. That happens to be a great deal better than Havertz who could only manage 1.1 in the Premier League last term.

Having abilities in the final third in both creating and finishing suggest that the teenager could be a perfect replacement for the German, who added an encouraging outlet for the Blues in a poor season.

Ending the term as Chelsea’s top scorer in the league with seven goals, the 24-year-old leaves a gap requiring replenishment this summer, with Cherki displaying similar strengths to the versatile attacker.

Similarly to Havertz, the 19-year-old has the ability to be deployed in most areas across the attacking line, however, boasts a superior range of talent in progressive play, operating behind the striker.

When comparing the two players based on their statistics over their respective 2022/23 campaigns via FBref, it’s clear to see the added threat Cherki could offer to Pochettino in Havertz’s place.

Averaging 52.60 attempted passes per 90 to the German’s 31.32, the Lyon ace flexes an innate passing ability and desire to be on the ball, as highlighted by his 0.35 xAG (expected assists) per 90 to Havertz’s 0.13.

Chelsea lacked significantly in front of goal last season, as explained by their 38 goals scored in 38 games, which are fortunes that could be changed by introducing a maestro of progressive play to Pochettino’s attack.

As per FBref, Cherki could install a greater threat than the likes of Havertz in his eye to move towards the final third, averaging a monstrous 6.39 progressive carries per 90 to the Arsenal new recruit’s 2.07 per 90.

A similar pattern is evident in his rate of progressive passes, averaging 6.92 per 90 to the Aachen born gem’s 3.12, suggesting the ways he could rejuvenate the future attack at Stamford Bridge.

It’s integral that Pochettino gets Chelsea firing again, which is something he could do by introducing a creative bomb as effective as Cherki.

Arsenal hold an advantage in the race to sign PSV Eindhoven star Xavi Simons thanks to great ties with his agent, according to reports.

Who will join Arsenal this summer?

The summer transfer window is in full flow and reports claim that manager Mikel Arteta is refusing to rest on his laurels, despite fiercely contending for the title last season and securing Champions League qualification.

Arsenal appear determined to end their near-20 year wait for a Premier League title and reports suggest they're set to be very ambitious this window.

Two bids have already gone in for West Ham United star Declan Rice, and although they were rejected, it is believed Arsenal will lodge another offer for their top target.

Meanwhile, some sources have claimed that the north Londoners could spend in and around £300 million this window, with talks ongoing for Ajax defender Jurrien Timber and Southampton's Romeo Lavia alongside Rice.

As per reliable reports, Arsenal have already sealed a £65 million deal to sign Chelsea forward Kai Havertz, who will join the club as their first major signing of the summer.

However, despite adding a versatile attacking option in the German, Dutch news outlet De Telegraaf (via Sport Witness) claims they're well in the race to sign Simons from PSV.

Arsenal are joined by a host of rivals, including Manchester United and Tottenham, but it is the Gunners who have an edge and may be in pole position.

Indeed, this is because they already have "good" ties with Simons' agent, Darren Dein, who is the son of their former director, David Dein.

However, Arsenal will need to formalise their interest fast, as PSV are currently in discussions with Simons and his agent over fresh terms.

How good is Xavi Simons?

The 20-year-old, despite his young age, was truly a star in the Eredivisie last season.

Simons, according to WhoScored, even managed more attempts at goal and key passes completed per 90 than anyone in PSV's squad over 2022/2023.

Scoring 19 top flight goals and weighing in with eight assists over that time, former Spurs star Rafael van der Vaart has also tipped him for stardom.

"When I look at his potential, I see that he can become the best soccer player in the world,” said van der Vaart.

"Believe me: In a few years we'll all be saying: 'It's good to be able to have this kid in our national team.’"

Wolverhampton Wanderers could make an 'interesting' move for Atletico Madrid midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia this summer as part of an 'overhaul in their midfield' under Julen Lopetegui, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Geoffrey Kondogbia?

As per AS via Sport Witness, Wolves courted Kondogbia in the January transfer window and have now decided to return to try and secure his signature this summer.

Old Gold boss Lopetegui is seemingly keen to strengthen his engine room in the off-season and Kondogbia has been identified as someone who 'fits' the bill at Molineux. It is believed that Atletico Madrid expect to accumulate between €5-6 million (£4.2-5.1 million) for the £113k-a-week ace.

According to RMC Sport via Get French Football News, Lyon are also targeting a move for Kondogbia as they look to acquire a defensive midfielder at the Groupama Stadium.

Nevertheless, Lyon will not compete in continental competition next term, which may put a spanner in the works for the French giants in their attempts to land the Central African Republic international.

Football scout and agent Berk Bekgoz recently spoke about the latest state of play involving Kondogbia's future on the Taktik Mania YouTube channel, which translated to:

"Geoffrey Kondogbia will meet with Wolverhampton this week. If an agreement could not be reached, the player's manager made an appointment with Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş. He will come to Istanbul and the meeting will be held."

Speaking to Football FanCast, transfer insider Jones believes that Kondogbia would be an 'interesting' addition at Molineux this summer.

Jones told FFC: "It's an interesting name to be thrown in there. I think that obviously Wolves are looking at a bit of an overhaul in their midfield this summer and so they need some new spirit in there and I think that that could potentially be a name that fits."

Would Geoffrey Kondogbia be a good signing for Wolverhampton Wanderers?

Kondogbia is an experienced figure – hailed a "monster" – who has starred at the elite level for the likes of Inter Milan, Sevilla and Valencia in the past and would be a potential bargain for Lopetegui as he looks to reshape his midfield at the Old Gold.

As per Transfermarkt, the 30-year-old enforcer made 27 appearances in all competitions for Atletico Madrid in 2022/23, registering two goals in the process.

WhoScored also takes into account that Kondogbia was strong in the tackle in La Liga and successfully won around 1.9 challenges per match for his side in the Spanish top-flight.

According to FBRef, the Nemours-born midfielder excelled in comparison to his positional peers across Europe's top five divisions concerning interceptions, nipping in to steal the ball 2.41 times per 90 minutes across the last 365 days, putting him in the first percentile for this metric.

Looking forward, bringing in Kondogbia may be a wise move from Wolves as they eye consolidation in 2023/24 following a close shave with relegation.

Everton are keen on a deal to bring Leeds United goalkeeper Joel Robles back to the Premier League, according to reports.

Where is Joel Robles now?

The Whites shot-stopper arrived at Elland Road last summer from Real Betis and has, the majority of the time, been the second-choice, having only made six senior appearances during his debut season. He was however selected to take the gloves from Illan Meslier for the final four top-flight games of last term under Sam Allardyce.

The 32-year-old’s deal is set to expire at the end of the month meaning that he is set to depart and become a free agent on the market having not been offered the chance to extend his stay, which has alerted Sean Dyche, but it wouldn’t be his first rodeo at Goodison Park.

The Spaniard was previously on the books with the Toffees from 2013-2018 before leaving to go back to his homeland, though with him now on the hunt for his next destination, there’s a chance that he could be about to return to Merseyside.

Are Everton re-signing Robles?

According to reports (via Goodison News), Everton are lining up a shock swoop for Robles ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. Dyche has the goalkeeper firmly on his radar and is keen to add competition for the number one spot between the sticks. The Leeds titan would reportedly not be expensive when it comes to wages.

Where could Robles fit in under Dyche?

Everton’s long-serving number one Jordan Pickford has been attracting significant interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United so could secure a big-money move elsewhere this summer, and should he depart, Robles could be the ideal successor costing literally nothing, allowing the Pickford funds to go on a new centre-forward.

Since the start of his career, the 6 foot 4 colossus has kept 71 clean sheets from 204 games and during the previous term, made 16 saves from 27 shots on target against, form which has previously seen him hailed a “solid” player by journalist Josh Bunting.

The InterStarDeporte client, who knows what it takes to be successful having secured six trophies at club and international level since professionally bursting onto the scene, would also be cheap to recruit pocketing £20k-per-week. That would make him the third-lowest earner behind Andy Lonergan and Ellis Simms, so this seems like a no-brainer of a deal to complete should the opportunity present itself.

Arsenal could be set to immediately replace an outgoing star, with rumours swirling surrounding their interest in one European gem…

What's the latest on Mohamed Simakan to Arsenal?

That's according to The Guardian, which outlines a number of this summer's biggest targets and the various clubs that are showing interest.

Whilst many will rush to see the future of Victor Osimhen or Kylian Mbappe, it is RB Leipzig defender Mohamed Simakan who has instead caught the eye of Mikel Arteta and Edu.

His versatility is a prime asset that has drawn 'strong interest' from both the Gunners and Newcastle United, yet he will likely not come cheap. Football Transfers value the Frenchman at €33.3m (£28m).

Given Cedric Soares is seemingly being ushered towards the exit door with just one year left on his £75k-per-week deal, this summer would mark the final chance to cash in on the Portuguese defender.

How good is Mohamed Simakan?

At just 23 years old, immediately Simakan marks a better option to have in the squad than the 31-year-old who has never really shone in north London. Arteta has already crafted a squad laden with young talent, with this acquisition sure to add to that.

Having only ever really been a backup, the former Southampton ace has made just 59 appearances across three and a half years with the Gunners.

With 16 starts being the most he has made in one Premier League season at the Emirates, maintaining an underwhelming 6.86 average rating too, the struggles of the man once dubbed a "defensive liability" by writer Mike White have only been exacerbated.

Meanwhile, RB Leizpig's young full-back has shone this year in a term where they claimed the DFB Pokal and once again secured Champions League football for next season.

His role in that cup victory was massive too, with a 7.26 average Sofascore rating feeding into his three goal contributions in just five games.

Current Strasbourg reserve team manager Francois Keller had recognised his talents way before he began shining in Germany though, noting: "We quickly realised that we were dealing with a phenomenon. He tore the place up… I said to myself that we had the new Varane. He was athletic, powerful, assured and calm."

This has led to Simakan, when being ranked against other full-backs in Europe, sitting in the top 3% for aerials won per 90, the top 14% for assists per 90 and the top 18% for progressive passes per 90, via FBref.

When comparing that with Cedric's rankings inside the Premier League throughout the 2021/22 campaign, it's clear just what an upgrade they'd seal. Indeed, the right-back was in the bottom 19% for aerials won and the worst 60% for rate of assists, illuminating his status as a player who rarely contributes to anything of note in defensive or attacking phases.

Thus, given how clearly impressive Simakan is in so many facets of the game, his entrance would prove fine cover across most of the back line, and oust one of their underperforming higher-earners in one fell swoop.

Michael Beale heads into the summer transfer window knowing he has to get it spot on if he wants Glasgow Rangers to return to the summit of Scottish football once again.

Two major trophies in 12 years is far from good enough for the Ibrox faithful, but with a change in the dugout at their Old Firm rivals, the Gers could take advantage of the uncertainty from across the city.

Beale has made a solid start in terms of transfers since arriving at the club, making five signings in all. However, it is the deal to bring Todd Cantwell to the Light Blues, a snip at just £1.5m, that could prove to be one of the finest he will make.

The Englishman registered 11 goal contributions across just 20 matches from January until the end of the season, already showcasing the talent which nearly secured him a £20m transfer to Aston Villa back in 2021.

It’s been a wonderful start, no doubt about it and next season will surely see the 5 foot 9 gem further improve, while he could also be Beale’s very own version of Alexis Mac Allister.

Will Todd Cantwell be Rangers' most important player next season?

Mac Allister has enjoyed a whirlwind 12 months. His impressive performances for Brighton & Hove Albion led to him securing a place in the Argentina squad for the 2022 World Cup, going on to score during the tournament as the Albiceleste secured their third world title.

The 24-year-old finally got his big move, as Liverpool recently announced him as their first signing of the summer, and for a fee of just £35m, it could well be a bargain.

Analyst Ben Griffis demonstrated on Twitter that Cantwell is statistically similar to Mac Allister, and if he kicks on next term, he could truly become an excellent player for Rangers.

Indeed, last season, Mac Allister and Cantwell registered similar stats with regard to goal contributions (12 to 10), shot-creating actions per 90 (3.66 to 3.31), tackles won (30 to 33) and interceptions (26 to 22), showing that not only do they pose a solid attacking threat, but they can also chip in defensively by winning a lot of tackles and making plenty of interceptions.

According to WhoScored, Cantwell and Mac Allister both like to tackle, showing their tenacious sides, while the duo both have passing noted as a key strength, being able to circulate the ball well throughout the pitch.

Following the 3-0 win against Celtic last month, Beale stated: “Todd is highly motivated to be here. I couldn’t be happier with him.”

And if he continues to demonstrate the abilities which have seen him compared to the new Liverpool sensation, his performances will surely only improve.

Manchester United owners, the Glazer family, could change the guard in swift fashion once they choose to go ahead with the proposed takeover of the club, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest news involving Manchester United's takeover situation?

As per Sky News, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his petrochemicals firm INEOS are believed to be the front-running candidate to take over at Old Trafford despite having an inconclusive meeting with board executives last week.

Ratcliffe is proposing taking a majority stake in the club that would allow two members of the Glazer family to stay on in some capacity while rival bidder, Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani, is seeking to buy out 100% of the Premier League giants with no external involvement.

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has criticised the Glazer family for their approach towards running Manchester United, stating in an interview with Football Insider: "The Glazer family have always adopted a parasitical approach to football ownership. It manifests itself in the fact that Avram Glazer is more than happy to watch Man United play at Wembley for the glamorous matches. Yet he shows very little interest in attending matches on a regular basis."

Red Devils boss Erik Ten Hag has commented on how much financial backing he may have to direct towards new recruits this summer amid the ownership debacle, as per The Mirror, stating when asked if he knows how much money he will have to spend: "No, I don’t have influence on that, I don’t have and also I don’t know. The only thing I know is that Manchester United is one of the biggest clubs in the world, one of the biggest two or three from a fanbase perspective."

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jacobs thinks that there will be a quick turnaround in getting the new owners in the door once the Glazers elect to sell the club.

Jacobs said: "These kinds of deals take as long as they take in many ways. Until a singular group is chosen, it's very difficult for things to progress.

"The upside is that a lot of what has gone to date is in many ways transactionally backwards and would be traditionally associated with a period of exclusivity. Those logistical elements, including preparation for a Premier League Owners' and Directors' Test and due diligence, are sometimes the time-consuming things.

"Because they've been done ahead of a preferred bidder at large, it does mean if the Glazers choose to green-light something, things could still move reasonably quickly by takeover standards."

What next for Manchester United?

Manchester United will take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final this weekend at Wembley Stadium as they look to inherit a second piece of silverware this campaign following their Carabao Cup triumph.

Once the trip to London is over, focus will soon turn towards concluding their transfer business, with Ten Hag keen to strengthen his side in the summer ahead of 2023/24.

As per The Sun, Tottenham Hotspur marksman Harry Kane is a main target for Manchester United and is said to be keen on a move to Old Trafford.

Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount and West Ham United captain Declan Rice have also been shortlisted by Manchester United heading into the off-season, as reported by Sky Sports, indicating that the Red Devils may be in for an exciting time of things in the market.

Yosuke Ideguchi could end up being Celtic’s long-term answer to Parkhead legend Scott Brown in midfield, according to former Hoops striker Frank McAvennie.

The Lowdown: Ideguchi’s injury problems

The 25-year-old made the move to Glasgow during the January transfer window but struggled to play a key role in the Hoops’ Premiership title win.

Ideguchi’s progress has been halted by injury problems, meaning that he failed to make a single start in the league and has been limited to just 134 minutes of action across six appearances for the club in all competitions thus far.

The hope is that the Japan international becomes a key player moving forward, and there is one man who believes that will certainly be the case.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/key-latest-celtic-updates-7/” title=”Key latest Celtic updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Latest: Ideguchi backed to be Brown’s successor

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie has backed Ideguchi to end up being the ideal replacement for Brown at Celtic in terms of his style of play in the middle of the park. The 62-year-old claimed:

“I have been saying this for a while, Celtic are missing Scott Brown. He was the catalyst in that midfield for so long. He dictated everything that went through there.

“I just wonder if Ideguchi could be that guy. He has barely played really, we don’t know what kind of player he is. Maybe he is that kind of perfect player we need. Next season will be a big one for him because the jury is still out.

“Rogic and Bitton are going so there will be a chance for him and we know he wouldn’t have come if the manager didn’t rate him. He has been so unlucky with that injury so hopefully we see a bit more of him in pre-season.”

The Verdict: One to watch

Ideguchi has become something of a forgotten man at Parkhead because of others excelling during Celtic’s title triumph, but he could yet become a formidable player in his own right.

Ange Postecoglou has described the midfielder as the ‘hardest worker’ at the club, and that is something for which the legendary long-time captain Brown was famed during his time with the Hoops.

With Tom Rogic leaving this summer, a gap will open up in Celtic’s midfield, and a strong pre-season and return to full fitness could yet see Ideguchi fill that void.

Having averaged 2.3 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 2.7 successful duels per game in his final season in the J-League last year (Sofascore), the evidence is there to suggest that the 25-year-old could be the industrious Brown-like presence in the Hoops’ engine room over the coming months and years.

In other news, Celtic are reportedly eyeing up a move for one player this summer. Find out who it is here.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in Napoli striker Victor Osimhen ahead of the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Calcio Mercato reporter Daniele Longo has revealed that the Magpies are set to swoop for the Nigerian centre-forward.

He Tweeted: “Il #Newcastle pronto a fare una offerta al Napoli per Osimhen.”

This roughly translates to “The Newcastle ready to make an offer to Napoli for Osimhen.”

It has been reported that the Italian club will be looking for a fee in the region of €100m (£85m) but it remains to be seen how much the Toon are willing to offer.

Eddie Howe would love him

The Magpies head coach would love the attacker at Newcastle next season as he has proven his quality throughout the season with Napoli and has the potential to get better.

In the Serie A this season, he has scored 13 goals in 22 starts for the Italian side and averaged a sublime SofaScore rating of 7.18. He has been a consistent performer, and goalscorer, in the division as he has been able to deliver the goods on a regular basis, earning plenty of plaudits along the way.

Former Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo previously showered his international teammate with praise, saying:

“He’s the future, he’s going to do so well in football. I love him, he’s down to earth, he’s hard-working, he has a future and he has the mentality of a winner, that’s what I love about him.

“He has that lion’s heart. I love him, I just want him to keep working hard the way he’s doing, he’s going to break so many records in Europe and Nigeria.”

He was also dubbed a “thoroughbred bomber” by Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti and these comments from his manager and teammate highlight how impressive he has been.

Meanwhile, Callum Wilson is Newcastle’s top scorer in the Premier League with six strikes this term and this illustrates how badly Howe needs a consistent goalscorer to bolster his squad. He would, therefore, love Osimhen as the forward is exactly what he is missing, as proven by his excellent form so far for the Serie A giants this season.

At the age of 23, the Nigerian also has time on his side to continue his development. He can hone his finishing skills and improve his consistency, with the ex-Bournemouth boss potentially getting the chance to play a part in helping him fulfil his potential.

AND in other news, Howe plotting NUFC swoop for £9m-rated “goal machine”, he’s a huge upgrade on Wood…