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Leeds United appear to be preparing for life after Kalvin Phillips, if recent claims are to be believed…

What’s the word?

According to transfer insider Dean Jones, the Yorkshire outfit are taking a look at Sheffield United midfielder Sander Berge as interest in the England international ramps up this week.

Writing for GIVEMESPORT, the Eurosport journalist said that the 24-year-old was one of the names on Victor Orta’s radar, though he’s thought to be valued at around £25m by the Championship side.

Meanwhile, as per Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, Premier League champions Manchester City are expected to push ahead with their plans to try and sign Phillips as a successor to Fernandinho.

Perfect Phillips replacement

If Pep Guardiola is able to secure the 26-year-old ahead of next season, then it leaves Whites boss Jesse Marsch with a huge gap to fill as he has been integral to the side defensively and with his passing ability.

Phillips was joint-second for tackles (2.7 per game), fourth for interceptions (1.2 per game) and third for long passes (3.5 per game) in 2021/22, as per WhoScored.

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The Blades, meanwhile, were unable to secure a return to the Premier League but the Norweigen played a big role – not only adding six goals and four assists from midfield but he also averaged 1.1 tackles and 1.5 long balls per game.

During his time at Bramall Lane, Berge has emerged as quite the favourite, with former manager Chris Wilder singing his praises in November 2020 to VG.

He described the 6 foot 5 titan as the “complete midfielder,” adding: “He can play as an 8 and as 6. He can play in different formations.”

Journalist Conor McGilligan can also see his fit for Leeds, recently urging Victor Orta and co to sign him. He said: “[Berge] sorts out our midfield massively and is therefore worth that money.”

Also lauded as a “Rolls-Royce” by teammate Rhian Brewster, it’s clear that the £14.4m-rated powerhouse would be a very welcome and much-needed addition at Elland Road, especially if Marsch loses his star man Phillips.

Leeds must make their move if the Englishman joins the Etihad Stadium this summer.

AND in other news, Leeds United can land their own Adeyemi with Junior Adamu transfer…

Manchester United are interested in signing Brighton & Hove Albion forward Leandro Trossard, according to reports in Belgium (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown: A new dawn

Following the official appointment of Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford, United have been linked with a plethora of players in the ensuing weeks.

Most notable are the links with a move for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, however, the Dutch manager is expected to take a close look at every department of the squad.

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In order to bolster the attack, the 52-year-old could be about to make a surprise attempt to prize a bring a rather under-the-radar Premier League star to Manchester…

The latest: United ‘interested’

As per a late-night report from Voetbalkrant, translated by SW, the Red Devils are believed to be keen on the 27-year-old attacker.

It’s claimed that Ten Hag is ‘interested’ in signing Trossard – who was described as an ‘underrated player’ by journalist Alessandro Schiavone this week in the wake of a brace against Poland in what was a stunning 8.4/10 rated display with a 100 per cent pass success rate (Sofascore).

The report makes no mention of a fee but having been signed for £15million (Sky Sports), Brighton would likely demand a profit on their ace despite the Belgian international’s admission of a desire to take the ‘next step’ in his career.

The verdict: Worth the gamble

Capped on 17 occasions by Belgium at the senior level, Trossard certainly appears to be entering the peak of his career right now.

Last season, the supremely versatile forward scored eight times and provided three assists in 32 Premier League outings for a side that struggled to score for the most part. He was also man of the match, per Whoscored, destroying his new suitors in the Seagulls’ 4-0 thumping of Ralf Rangnick’s United.

Capable of operating as a centre-forward, number ten and on either wing, adding the former Genk man would be a smart move from Ten Hag, particularly following the departure of Juan Mata, who was equally useful at carrying out numerous roles.

Heading towards the final 12 months of a deal on the south coast and sharing stylistic similarities with Jonathan Ikone, Said Benrahma and United’s own Jadon Sancho (Fbref), making a genuine move the diminutive forward would be an affordable and worthwhile venture.

In other news, Erik ten Hag could be key in luring this star to Old Trafford

Aston Villa are eyeing up a swoop for Peterborough United defender Ronnie Edwards this summer as Steven Gerrard looks to build his own team in the Midlands.

What’s the word?

The Birmingham Mail have reported that the teenager has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs, with Villa amongst them.

The report added that an unnamed top-flight side have had a £2m bid rejected for the player, as Peterborough’s director of football Barry Fry appears to be demanding a club record fee of £15m in order for them to sell the 19-year-old.

Forget Tarkowski

Gerrard has already made a few signings ahead of next season, capturing Philippe Coutinho, Diego Carlos and Boubacar Kamara as the spine of his new-look team begins to take shape.

Another defender would be a welcome addition to the squad, with James Tarkowski being heavily linked with the Villans, although the manager could well go for youth and potential over signing the more experienced Burnley defender.

Edwards has already made his England under-19s debut against France last year and seems set to leave relegated Peterborough this summer.

His former manager Darren Ferguson lavished him with praise in the past, stating that the 19-year-old is an “incredible talent”; and with clubs such as Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham Hotspur sniffing around the youngster, Gerrard might need to act quickly.

Edwards has a slightly better temperament compared to Tarkowski, receiving only six bookings last season compared to 11 for the Burnley defender. The 19-year-old also committed just 14 fouls in 34 matches, an impressive number when you compare it to the 34 fouls for which the Clarets centre-back was culpable.

Edwards might still be slightly raw, but a move to a club like Aston Villa could prove to be the catalyst that he needs to kick on and reach his potential.

An outlay of £15m might seem a lot to Gerrard for a 19-year-old centre-back in the here-and-now, but he could well make Villa a fortune further down the line if they can persuade Peterborough to sell this summer.

AND in other news, Gerrard must axe “frustrating” Aston Villa liability in deal for “unreal” £10m dynamo

Celtic saw their move to appoint Ange Postecoglou as their new manager last June ultimately pay off, as the Australian helped the Hoops to reclaim the Premiership title.

Over 38 league games, the Bhoys won 29, drew six and lost only three, ultimately leaving them with 93 points on the board.

One other impressive feat in Celtic’s season was the fact that they conceded fewer goals (22) than any other side in the Scottish top flight, and one man who contributed a lot to give the Hoops the best defensive record in the league was Carl Starfelt.

Signed from Rubin Kazan last summer in a deal worth £4.5m, the centre-back went on to make 49 appearances for the Parkhead club across all competitions.

With the second-highest number of interceptions (42) and tackles won (30) in Postecoglou’s squad, the 27-year-old also had the joint-second highest average of clearances (3.5) and joint-highest average for aerial duels won per game (4.2) among the Bhoys’ ranks.

Now that Postecoglou and Starfelt’s debut season at Celtic has come to an end, the upcoming summer transfer window will give the Parkhead club the chance to strengthen their squad and get them ready to take on the next campaign.

In terms of potential incoming transfers, one player with whom the Hoops have been linked and who could be a potential upgrade on their current defensive hero is Joseph Okumu.

Similarly to Starfelt, the 25-year-old has enjoyed a rather busy season with a new club after making 46 appearances for Belgian side Gent following his transfer from Swedish outfit Elfsborg last year.

To compare the defenders’ individual domestic campaigns, the Kenyan racked up more interceptions and won more tackles than the Celtic man, while also giving away far fewer fouls and completing more crosses than the Swede despite making fewer appearances. Okumu also averaged 3.2 clearances and 0.9 blocks per game in the Belgian top flight.

Labelled a “perfect” player by Dan Egner, Okumu certainly seems to have the defensive capabilities to be a solid prospective addition to Celtic’s ranks and potentially pose a risk for Starfelt and his place in the team moving forward.

Also, with the 27-year-old having to be stretchered off during Sweden’s recent win over Slovenia after picking up an injury, this could well force Celtic into action and bring in a player like the Gent colossus to help give them some extra depth at the back.

In other news: Celtic eyeing swoop for £810k-rated “thing of beauty”, it could be bye-bye Soro

The sports betting industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors worldwide. It is already generating billions of revenue and is projected to grow further. Cricket and football are two of the most popular sports among people who are interested in sports betting. If you are someone new to this industry, you may have various doubts and related questions. You may not have complete knowledge of the odds, and technicalities of the betting. If you’re planning to bet for the first time, it will be ideal to understand the basic technicalities. It will help you determine which bet is worth taking. The free spins no deposit bonus is an effective strategy that most new players adopt, according to Crikeyslots.com. 

+ and – Meaning in Sports Betting 

It is necessary to note that odds are displayed in different forms. You may find them in American, Fractional, and Decimal formats. Most of the odds are easy to understand and will help you analyze how much money you will be able to make with that particular bet. However, odds are influenced by various other factors and you should pay attention to each of them. Replying to the odds is not the only way to win big in sports betting.  

+ and – signs are commonly used in sports betting and you may have seen them multiple times. When you find + and – signs, you should be aware that you’re dealing with American Odds. These two critical signs set the entire foundation for the betting process. Whether you’re into football, basketball, cricket, or any other sport, having knowledge of this will help you make the right bet. These signs can also be used to indicate the probability of the outcome of the bet. Therefore, it is necessary that new players should invest their time and learn more about these signs. 

Favorites are –  

When betting, you should note that the favorites are always denoted by – sign. The negative sign indicates the number of favorites on the betting line. It will help you understand how much you need to bet in order to win. It is because the team is expected or has the chance to win. Therefore, looking at this term will give you an idea of how much you need to invest to win $100. 

For instance, what does – 400 mean in betting? It simply implies that you will have to invest $400 in order to win a bet of $100. Therefore, it is an indicative sign that you can consider for making the right bet. 

+ indicates the Underdog 

On the other hand, the positive sign indicates that you’re looking at the underdog. It means that the person or the team you’re looking at is certainly an underdog. If you’re not aware, you should note that an underdog is a group or individual that probably has a lesser chance of winning. Many people often consider taking the bet on the underdog and it can be an excellent way to go. However, you have to be very sure of the bet you’re taking or your underdog pick will certainly win the event. The positive sign indicates the amount you may be capable of winning if you invest $100 on your bet. 

For instance, what does odd + 400 mean? 

It may mean that it is likely that you may win $400 if you bet $100. 

You should even note that the higher the number after the positive sign, the more chances of winning. However, you should also keep in mind that the team may have fewer chances of winning the game or event. Therefore, you should consider both aspects before you proceed with the betting. 

Odds can always change

A lot of times you may find that underdog will be the right bet. However, there are chances that it may not be the case always. You should always look for value in the underdogs and make your decision carefully. Similarly, a negative sign doesn’t necessarily imply that it is a massive favorite and you will win. There have been instances where both the teams have a negative sign and it may get difficult to choose. Another thing that you must keep in mind is that the odds keep changing. Therefore, it is necessary that you research and learn about them to understand them properly. 

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Manchester City duo Ko Itakura and Taylor Harwood-Bellis could both leave the club this summer, according to a report from Sky Sports. 

The lowdown: Eternal loanees

Both Ikatura and Harwood-Bellis have spent much of their careers out on loan away from the Etihad in recent times, including the majority of the 2021/22 campaign.

Japan international defender Ikatura signed for City in 2019 but has since had two spells at FC Groningen before joining FC Schalke 04 for the recent season.

Meanwhile, academy graduate Harwood-Bellis has spent time on loan at Blackburn Rovers and Anderlecht but finished the term at Championship outfit Stoke, having joined in January.

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As both are set to return to Manchester for pre-season, their longer-term futures could be in jeopardy.

The latest: Celtic interested

As per Sky Sports, Scottish Premiership champions Celtic are believed to be ‘monitoring’ Manchester City’s 25-year-old Ikatura and 20-year-old Harwood-Bellis.

Both central defenders are on the radar of the Glasgow giants as it’s believed Schalke are struggling to meet a £6million option to buy for the eight-cap Japan ace.

The report confirms at present ‘no contact’ has been made, however, Celtic may look to utilise a ‘good relationship’ with the club in an attempt to sign the City pair.

The verdict: Double departure possible

Allowing the permanent transfer of Ikatura seems the best move for all parties at this stage as the Japanese centre-back approaches three years at the club without so much of a sniff at first-team action under Pep Guardiola.

Signed for just £990,000 from J1-League side Kawasaki Frontale (Transfermarkt), the Citizens will make a profit on their expenditure and as such should be willing to sanction the sale.

The exit of Harwood-Bellis is a more complicated situation, as the starlet hailed for a ‘fantastic’ display against Oxford United in 2019 by Raheem Sterling clearly has a bright future and Guardiola may yet see a pathway to the senior side for the Stockport-born defender.

Perhaps a loan move to Celtic could be negotiated as the best option for the four-cap England Under 21 prospect.

In other news… a Sky Sports pundit has backed one of Man City’s first-team stars to put pen to paper on a new contract

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.

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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.

Wolves host already-relegated Norwich in the Premier League this afternoon with Bruno Lage’s men looking to end the season strongly after a run of five games without a win.

The Molineux outfit have been in poor form of late, shipping ten goals in their last three matches having conceded just 29 in the 33 games prior.

But against a side whose fate is already sealed in the Canaries, Wolves have an excellent chance to sign off in front of their home fans with a victory.

But who is available for Lage’s side and how will the Portuguese opt to set his team up?

Injury News

According to Premier Injuries, both Max Kilman and Nelson Semedo have been ruled out for the season with respective issues whilst defender Romain Saiss could also miss the final two games of the campaign.

However, the Moroccan’s absence will be particularly painful for the Wolves faithful. The defender is likely to leave this summer with his contract set to expire next month.

The only other likely absentee is Daniel Podence who is nursing a foot injury.

Wolves Predicted XI

After a thumping 5-1 defeat by Manchester City at Molineux on Wednesday night, Lage could be tempted to make wholesale changes. However, we expect the 46-year-old to make just a few alterations…

Wolves XI: Sa, Jonny, Coady, Boly, Chiquinho, Dendoncker, Neves, Moutinho, Marcal, Silva, Jimenez

The defensive trio keep their place with Saiss still absent whilst Chiquinho also stays in the side after an impressive full Premier League debut on Wednesday despite the heavy defeat and registered two assists in the draw with Chelsea.

Dendoncker, Neves and Moutinho all keep their spots in midfield too whilst there is a change at left-wing-back with Marcal coming in for Rayan Ait-Nouri.

The £33k-per-week 20-year-old, labelled as “immature” by Wolves legend Steve Bull in an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, had a poor outing vs Manchester City and has struggled for consistency of late.

As for Marcal, the 33-year-old is set to leave Molineux with his contract expiring next month and therefore deserves the chance to play in front of the Wolves supporters one last time.

Then the second change comes up front as Fabio Silva comes back into the fold in place of Pedro Neto alongside Raul Jimenez.

Although the 19-year-old is yet to score this season, he was crowned as Wolves’ player of the month for April and has shown glimmers of the potential that tempted to the West Midlands club to fork out a club record £35.6m almost two years ago.

This afternoon’s match proves to be a good opportunity for Wolves to sign off at home with a victory whilst also allowing players set to depart the opportunity to say goodbye one last time.

AND in other news: Forget Neto: Lage must now unleash Wolves £26k-p/w “top player” who’s “got everything”

Former Scotland striker Frank McAevnnie has made a claim involving Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch’s future beyond the end of the current campaign. 

The lowdown: A tough act to follow

Appointed in February following the departure of Elland Road favourite Marcelo Bielsa, the American was always swimming against the tide somewhat in Yorkshire.

The 48-year-old has taken charge of 11 matches since arriving at the club, picking up three wins and an average points per game ratio of 1.09, better than his predecessor’s 0.88 during the 2021/22 season.

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Despite the slight upturn in fortunes since his arrival, Marsch is still under extreme pressure as Leeds stare down the barrel of relegation, with just one point separating the Whites and 18th-placed Burnley.

The latest: Writing on the wall?

Speaking to Football Insider, former West Ham United and Celtic striker McAvennie claimed that Marsch won’t be at the club next term.

The 62-year-old said: “It’s not looking good, is it? Burnley and Everton look like they have turned a corner and Leeds are getting worse.

“They are pretty much going down in my opinion. The manager has done absolutely nothing. The whole thing about him coming in was that he was meant to stop Leeds conceding loads of goals, that hasn’t happened.

“I don’t think it’s worked out for him and it seems like the fans have turned on him. I don’t expect he will be there next season either way, it hasn’t worked.”

The verdict: Stay of execution needed

Having been handed a late lifeline by Pascal Struijk’s last-gasp equaliser against Brighton over the weekend, the Whites’ survival hopes have been lifted heading into the final week of a testing campaign.

However, regardless of whether or not Leeds preserve their top-flight status, Marsch will surely be granted the opportunity to oversee a rebuild in the summer.

Both Bielsa and the former RB Leipzig boss have had to cope with squads decimated by injuries to key players and more recently suspensions, making the job almost impossible with such a small pool of Premier League-ready players available.

Whilst it would be a bitter pill to swallow should Leeds make an untimely return to the Championship, Marsch wouldn’t wholly be to blame and therefore would be deserving of the chance to bring the Whites straight back, and he certainly must stay in situ should the drop be avoided.

In other news: Leeds want this powerful 12-goal striker who is ‘ideal’ for the Championship

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…