All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Wolves’ hopes of signing David Carmo this summer appear to have been handed a boost, with reports claiming that he could be on his way out of Braga.

What’s the word?

In a recent interview with GiveMeSport, journalist Jacque Talbot discussed the defender’s future, saying: “I think David Carmo would be an interesting one. He’s picked up a lot of interest there. I have asked about him.

“But basically, he didn’t want any noise and just wanted to concentrate on international football. But now he’s back, I imagine he’ll be making a move away from Braga.”

Wolves have regularly been linked with the Brazilian in recent weeks, with reports suggesting that he has a release clause of £34.3m in his contract.

Lage would love him

Bruno Lage will likely be looking to recruit a reliable left-sided defender this summer after the departure of Morgan Saiss.

The Moroccan has signed for Besiktas after a five-year spell at Molineux in which he featured 206 times, contributing 15 goals and three assists.

If Lage prefers a five-at-the-back formation again next season, then he will surely be looking to sign someone to fill the void left by Saiss, and Carmo certainly seems to have the credentials.

The 22-year-old had limited game-time last term after recovering from a long-term injury but returned in impressive fashion, playing a big part in Braga’s Europa League run as he averaged an impressive 7.06 rating from WhoScored for his performances in the tournament.

According to FBRef, Carmo scores very impressively against other centre-backs in Europe for clearances, interceptions and aerial duels won, ranking in the top 18% for each metric, which suggests that he could improve on Wolves’ already impressive defensive record from 2021/22. Lage’s team conceded just 43 Premier League goals last term, the fewest of any team to finish outside the top four.

The 22-year-old also looks dangerous going forward, scoring in the 99th percentile for non-penalty goals, while he is strong on the ball as well, as illustrated by his excellent rate of assists and shot-creating actions.

Braga manager Carlos Carvalhal was full of praise for the young defender when he made his return to action last season, saying: “He is a fantastic centre-back, one of the best in the country. He gives us a lot defensively, but offensively he is a super player, has speed on the ball, gives speed to our game and finds players near and far with long passes. We need a player like him and we will continue to operate with him in the team.”

Therefore, considering that Wolves’ strong season last year was built around a resolute defence, it seems clear that Lage would love to have a player such as Carmo in his team; and with the player reportedly set to leave Braga, the Old Gold appear to have been handed a significant boost in their pursuit of him.

In other news… The Athletic shares Wolves latest on “outstanding” star, supporters will be buzzing

Leeds United YouTuber Joe Wainman has been reacting to a Twitter update from Fabrizio Romano regarding Raphinha.

The Lowdown: Romano’s update on Raphinha

The Brazil international has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona in recent months, with his agent Deco reaching a ‘full agreement’ with the Catalan giants over a five-year deal.

However, agreeing on a fee with the Whites for the 25-year-old has proven tricky for the La Liga club, especially due to their current financial issues.

Romano stated on Sunday morning that ‘Leeds want €55m’ (£47.2m) for their star man and won’t change their price tag. That is a different figure from what was previously reported by Phil Hay, who stated earlier this month that it would likely take a bid between £60m and £70m to get Raphinha out of Elland Road.

The Latest: Wainman left fuming

Wainman, who is known for his JustJoeFootballShow on YouTube, was one of many who replied to Romano’s update regarding Raphinha on Twitter.

He voiced his frustration with the journalist’s update by saying: ‘This €55m tag best be a joke, man.’

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-45/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: He’s right

The Whites hold all the cards when it comes to a potential exit for Raphinha after he played a major role in keeping the club in the Premier League. There is no release clause in his deal as a result, with the 25-year-old still having two years remaining on his Leeds contract.

A number of Premier League clubs are now also keen on the winger, so selling for anything under £50m – as Romano has suggested – would be a disappointment, and Wainman is right to feel aggrieved.

In an ideal world, if Raphinha were to depart, multiple clubs would end up in a bidding war which would see the Whites receive a fee in the region of £60m-£70m, as Hay previously mentioned.

In other news: The Athletic share weekend transfer news as Leeds and Orta now eye ‘exceptional’ Premier League attacker

Liverpool have taken another step closer to securing the services of Aberdeen defender Calvin Ramsay, as a fee has been agreed between the two clubs.

What’s the word?

That’s according to Football Insider, who stated that a fee of £4m plus add-ons has been agreed, with a medical set to occur in the next couple of days.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-liverpool-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-salah-gnabry-isak-romano” title= “Read the latest Liverpool news!”]

Liverpool appear to have beaten Leeds United to the signing of the talented right-back, and Jurgen Klopp will expect to announce him as a Reds player within the next few days.

Klopp will be ecstatic

Despite Liverpool enjoying one of their finest seasons in recent memory, winning two trophies and coming so close in the Premier League and Champions League, Klopp is clearly still looking to improve his squad.

The Reds have already made one signing so far for the off-season, with Fabio Carvalho joining from Fulham, and they appear tantalising close to bringing in Benfica striker Darwen Nunez.

Klopp’s diligent recruitment over the previous few seasons has largely been excellent, and he could well work his magic again with the signing of Ramsay.

Although Trent Alexander-Arnold is the undisputed first choice at right-back, there appears to be an opening for a reliable backup in that position. The futures of Joe Gomez and Neco Williams are uncertain ahead of next season, and Ramsay could yet become Alexander-Arnold’s protégé.

Ramsay ranked sixth in the Aberdeen squad with a rating of 6.92 on SofaScore as he played 24 matches in the Scottish Premiership, scoring once and registering four assists. The 18-year-old also made 1.8 key passes per game and was dribbled past only 0.5 times per match, underlining his defensive qualities.

With a higher percentage of shots on target (46.2% to 27.5%) and delivering more crosses this season (154 to 127) than Alexander-Arnold, there is no doubting Ramsay’s attacking abilities, and he could learn a lot from watching the Englishman’s up close next season.

For a fee of around £4m, Klopp looks to be on the brink of securing yet another bargain for Liverpool.

AND in other news, Terms agreed: FSG are now “close” to making LFC’s first summer signing, Klopp will be delighted

Reputable journalist Christian Falk has backed reports of Liverpool’s interest in Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic this summer. 

The lowdown: Klopp connection

Despite never playing under Jurgen Klopp, Pulisic has often been indexed to the German, having come through the ranks and being given a first senior training session by the 54-year-old before representing Borussia Dortmund on 127 occasions.

Klopp hailed the USA captain as a ‘fantastic skilled boy’ in 2018, whilst the 23-year-old reciprocated the praise in describing the Reds manager as a ‘great guy’ when asked for his opinion on potentially playing under him in the future.

Having initially been linked with a move to Anfield prior to spending three years at Chelsea which have been truncated by injuries, Liverpool could be about to reignite their interest in the American…

The latest: Falk backs Liverpool links with Pulisic

Taking to Twitter, SPORT Bild’s chief football reporter Falk has seemingly confirmed that the Reds are considering a move for the 23-year-old.

He stated: “TRUE @LFC is interested in Christian Pulisic (23) as replacement for Sadio Mané (@FCBayern) @ChelseaFC”

The verdict: Assurances needed

Despite Pulisic’s talents, any move for the versatile forward would need to firstly see fitness concerns were allayed, as the American has missed an eye-opening 44 matches over his three seasons in London.

Recently praised by journalist Kyle Bonagura for a ‘world class’ goal for the USA against Morocco, the 49-cap ace scored eight times and provided five assists in 38 appearances across all competitions this season.

Equally adept on either wing or as an attacking midfielder, Pulisic – who holds a perceived market value of £40.5m from Transfermarkt – would offer a supreme versatility to the Anfield squad that would be a welcome addition to Klopp’s ranks.

Although the American has only made 10 career outings as a striker, the role in which Sadio Mane ended the 2021/22 campaign, his age and his ability to adapt to new roles could lend themselves to another noteworthy transformation under Klopp if the 23-year-old swaps west London for Merseyside.

In other news: Liverpool are preparing to up their chase for PL ‘magician’ this summer, read more here

Rangers boss Gio van Bronckhorst is set for a busy few months working alongside Ross Wilson in his first summer transfer window in charge of the Glasgow giants.

The Dutchman joined after the end of last summer’s market and was backed in the January window as Aaron Ramsey, Amad Diallo, James Sands and Mateusz Zukowski all came in.

One of the first pieces of business he may need to worry about is the possible departure of defender Calvin Bassey.

Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor has backed the Nigeria international to reunite with his former manager Steven Gerrard. He recently told GIVEMESPORT: “Bassey is clearly highly rated by Villa. I think that deal will happen; I can see it happening. Obviously, [Diego] Carlos coming in might change the picture, but it’s clear Villa rate him highly, and for me, it’s just a no-brainer.

“The way he played in the Europa League, he looks like a player that’s just naturally ready to step up and perform.”

Unearth Bassey 2.0

If the defender does end up at Villa, Rangers could unearth Bassey 2.0 in a deal for left-back Matthew Sorinola, who was touted with a move to Ibrox last year.

Like the current Gers man, who came through the ranks at Leicester, he is eligible to play for England or Nigeria at international level and can come in as a full-back option for van Bronckhorst, which is why the club must now return for his services and agree a deal.

He spent the 2020/21 campaign in the first team at MK Dons in League One and caught the eye with a string of impressive displays.

In 34 appearances, he registered four assists and created an eye-catching eight ‘big chances’ as he showcased his ability to provide an attacking threat from left wing-back.

This shows that he has the ability to burst forward down the left flank in attack, which is something Gers fans have been able to watch with their own English/Nigerian defender this year as Bassey registered three assists in the Premiership.

Former Dons manager Russell Martin once took the time to hail the gem’s talent, saying: “He’s technically right up there with anyone in the squad – he wants to play. I love his calmness too – for a young lad, he’s so composed.

“He defended really well. People may question his size but when you’re as brave as he is to play with the ball and get in people’s faces and shut them down, he has so much ability and potential.”

At the age of 21, he has plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and he can join with a view to him improving over time, rather than being expected to be the finished article straight away.

Rangers have already enjoyed success in bringing Bassey over as a young left-back from an English club in a similar deal and they can now repeat that trick by signing Sorinola, albeit he would be arriving from Belgian side Royale Union Saint Gilloise after joining them from MK Dons.

Van Bronckhorst can take his time with Sorinola and help him to fulfil his potential and become a first-team regular at Ibrox, with the gem potentially following in Bassey’s footsteps at left-back.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Weston: Rangers can form deadly future duo in deal for highly-rated teen…

West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Bruce has not been shy when it comes to discussing the squad overhaul that he feels is needed at the Midlands club during the upcoming summer transfer window.

One move that could be on the horizon may see Baggies midfielder Romaine Sawyers wave goodbye to the club after it was recently reported that they will not be using their option to extend his contract beyond this summer.

While the Hawthorns outfit will undoubtedly be looking to dive into the transfer market to bring some new faces into the squad this summer, it turns out that they may already have their ideal replacement for Sawyers in their ranks.

Back in July, the club announced that they had secured the services of “highly-rated teenager Quevin Moises Castro on a two-year deal following a successful trial period at the club.”

Described by the club’s official website as “an energetic and powerful central-midfielder”, the 20-year-old also received praise from former West Brom manager Valerien Ismael, who had this to say about him.

He said: “Quevin has a lot of quality. He has a lot of principle, aggression for the six position, he’s on the front foot. Technically he is very good, he’s a young player who needs to learn a lot but he plays a part in our process.”

In 15 league appearances for West Brom’s U23 side, the Portuguese youngster got himself on the scoresheet on two occasions as well as making three senior appearances.

The first of those senior appearances came back in August during West Brom’s disappointing 6-0 defeat against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup.

Despite the unfortunate scoreline, Castro managed to show glimpses of what he’s capable of.

With 90 minutes under his belt, the midfielder won four duels, completed one dribble and made 14 passes with one key pass.

The Birmingham Mail then said that the summer recruit showed “some silky skills when on the ball and he carried it with a swagger, but sometimes tried to do too much.”

Taking this into account, it’s safe to say that Castro certainly has talent and potential in him.

Moving forward, it’s just a case of him convincing Bruce that he has what it takes to be a regular figure in the senior squad.

With Sawyers now facing the exit door, the upcoming pre-season period will give the Portuguese prospect the chance to do just that.

In other news: Imagine him & Mowatt: Bruce can form scary WBA duo by signing “outrageous” 24 G/A star

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is now ‘ready to pursue’ an agreement as he eyes a ‘sensational’ new transfer target, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Guardiola set for overhaul?

Erling Haaland’s summer signing from Borussia Dortmund ahead of City’s next Premier League campaign appears to be the tip of the iceberg going by recent claims.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/man-city-latest-developments-3/” title=”Man City latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Guardiola is believed to be on the hunt for more new additions as the English champions ahead of the 2022/2023 season, including an heir to the departing Fernandinho and a possible new left-back.

Despite being in the midst of a fierce title battle with rivals Liverpool, with a crucial last remaining matchday set to determine the victor, Eastlands officials have allegedly started their transfer work behind-the-scenes.

The Daily Mail and journalist Dominic King, sharing some news, now have an interesting City development as they eye a new target in Brighton defender Marc Cucurella.

The Latest: King makes Cucurella claim…

As per The Mail reporter, taking to Twitter, the Sky Blues and Guardiola are ‘ready to pursue a £30m deal’ for the Seagulls star as they seek to solve their left-back issue.

Despite the phenomenal form of Joao Cancelo, who can operate on that flank, his natural position is on the right and City’s boss allegedly wants a natural left-footer on that side for ‘balance’ – as written in the report.

The Verdict: Priority?

As well as Cancelo, Guardiola has a brilliant makeshift option in Oleksandr Zinchenko at his disposal who has proven reliable and an underrated member of the team over these last few campaigns.

His regrettable most recent display away to West Ham aside, the Ukraine international is often a more-than capable deputy when called upon and we believe signing a left-back is more of a problem for the future.

That being said, Cucurella may well be one to monitor over the next couple of seasons.

The Spaniard, still just 23-years-old, has impressed in England since joining Brighton from Getafe last summer and no full-back has won possession more times over 21/22.

Called a ‘sensational player’ by members of the media (Josh Bunting, Islington Gazette), pundit Paddy Kenny was also in awe of how Cucurella ‘tore’ City’s arch rivals Man United ‘apart’ in a 4-0 victory recently (Football Insider).

The defender notched a goal in that game against the Red Devils and proved menacing, and if he were to do the same against them in a Sky Blue jersey, there is little doubting Cucurella would soon become a fan favourite.

In other news: £100,000-per-week ‘phenomenon’ could be Man City’s next star signing after Haaland, he’s ‘tempted’ to join…find out more here.

Fabrizio Romano has dropped an update on Manchester United’s pursuit of Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong after news of financial troubles at Camp Nou.

The Lowdown: 95% possibility

De Jong, who worked under new United boss Erik ten Hag at Ajax, has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent days.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-man-utd-updates/” title=”Latest Man Utd updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Spanish journalist Gerard Romero revealed that there is a 95 per cent chance of the Dutch midfielder reuniting with Ten Hag in Manchester, adding that Barcelona need to sell this summer.

The 25-year-old has been at the Nou Camp since 2019 and has made 138 appearances for the Catalan giants, but it looks as if his days in Spain are now numbered.

The Latest: Romano’s update

Transfer expert Romano dropped an update regarding De Jong on Thursday morning. He revealed there ‘has been contact with Manchester United’, but added that ‘sources say there’s no full/close agreement with Barcelona’ as of yet.

Romano also backed up Romero’s financial news, suggesting Barcelona’s situation could have an impact on the midfielder’s future.

The Verdict: Pogba replacement

Plenty of incomings and outgoings are expected this summer, with Paul Pogba expected to fall into the later of the two when his contract expires this summer.

Therefore, De Jong, primarily a central midfielder who can also turn out in a holding role, could prove to be a replacement for the Frenchman.

However, Fred will be the only central midfielder available to Ten Hag should Pogba depart, and if De Jong is the marquee midfield addition, you could argue that a few more reinforcements in the centre of the pitch will be needed ahead of the 2022/23 season.

In other news: ‘Important’ – Romano also drops this Man Utd update as Ten Hag close to first piece of business. 

Former Scotland manager Alex McLeish has tipped Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart to finish his long and distinguished career at Parkhead.

The Lowdown: Hart excelling at Celtic

The 35-year-old joined the Hoops from Tottenham last summer, with Ange Postecoglou seeing him as someone who could aid their Scottish Premiership charge.

Hart has proven to be a superb signing to date, starting 32 league matches and playing a key role in his side topping the table late in the campaign.

The former England stopper’s current Celtic deal expires in the summer of 2024 and it looks likely that he will stay until at least that point.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/key-latest-celtic-updates-5/” title=”Key latest Celtic updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Latest: McLeish makes key claim

Speaking to Football Insider, reacting to news from a Celtic source that the Hoops are on the hunt for a new shot-stopper signing, McLeish claimed that Hart could now see out the rest of his career at Parkhead, given the manner in which he has slotted in there:

“I don’t think he needs the competition. It’s good for the club, of course, but the mentality of Joe Hart means he won’t be affected by someone coming in.

“He’ll be playing for Celtic until he decides to hang his boots up. It’s a big club. Not many come bigger in the world, and the challenge of playing for such a big club has revitalised him. They’ve helped him find his mojo again.

“He’s got a touch of the Allan McGregor genes about him, and I can see him seeing out his career in Scotland.”

The Verdict: Best for all parties

The idea of Hart remaining at Celtic until he calls it a day feels like a no-brainer for all parties, with the Englishman still a force between the sticks, having once been hailed as ‘one of the best goalkeepers in the world’ by legend Gianluigi Buffon.

At 35, he is still far from done as a ‘keeper and his influence for the Hoops can continue to shine through beyond this season, with Buffon himself still playing at the age of 44.

Hart seems to have found a great level of form and confidence again, having lost his way a little in the Premier League, and Postecoglou will be delighted with the impact he has made.

In other news, a financial expert has dropped a key Celtic claim. Read more here.

Liverpool are interested in signing “entertaining” Napoli winger Hirving Lozano this summer amid reports that Napoli are winning to sell the player.

Reports from Italy (via El Futbolero) said the Reds are ‘monitoring’ the situation of the winger with a view to making a move for him ahead of next season.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-liverpool-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-salah-gnabry-isak-romano” title= “Read the latest Liverpool news!”]

Reports in La Gazzetta Dello Sport (via Get Italian Football News) also confirm that Lozano could be sold and that the Napoli president is willing to listen to offers for him. He is rated at £31.5m but is contracted at the club for another two seasons so might fetch a higher fee.

The 26-year-old joined the Italian side in 2019 from Dutch club PSV Eindhoven and has impressed greatly since. He’s made 113 appearances for the club in total and been directly involved in 39 goals.

He told Mexican TV last year that he would like to play for a club “stronger” than Napoli with it seeming as though he has ambitions to win more silverware. However, this season Napoli have been in a title race and currently sit third in Serie A just five points off the top of the table Milan.

Lozano has played a key part in that success, which is why he’s attracted admirers across Europe. With Napoli having now qualified for next season’s Champions League he could be tempted to stick with what he knows, but the prospect of moving to Liverpool would be hard to turn down.

One player he could turn out to be like is Luis Diaz. Similarly to Lozano, the Columbian was relatively unknown before his move to Liverpool but has since proven more than capable of stepping up to the plate. If Lozano moved to Anfield and was able to do the same, then he would be a great signing for Klopp.

If you compare both players, their statistics read pretty similarly, suggesting precisely why he’s been described as “unplayable” when playing for his country.

Lozano has a higher number of goal creating actions per 90 minutes at 0.65 compared to Diaz’s 0.34, which proves his creative ability. However, the Colombian has a higher number of goals per shot on target at 0.45 compared to 0.26.

Ultimately if Lozano signed he would only improve under a coach as good as Klopp, and his ability to create goals alongside Diaz who can score, could see a greater partnership form.

IN other news: Klopp must finally axe Liverpool “cheerleader” who lost possession every 5 mins on Sat…