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Wrexham have been trolled on the back of their shock FA Cup first-round exit, with Harrogate revelling in their role as slayers of the Red Dragons.

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• Hollywood co-owners have had plenty to celebrate
• Another cup run brought to an end in 2024-25
• Parkinson's side still in the hunt for third promotion

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have had plenty to celebrate during their time in North Wales – including back-to-back runs to the fourth round of the FA Cup alongside successive promotions.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Phil Parkinson’s side have gone one and out in that competition this season, with a disappointing 1-0 defeat suffered at the hands of League Two opposition. Despite fielding a strong side in West Yorkshire, while firing 21 shots on goals, Wrexham were undone by a solitary strike from Jack Muldoon.

• WHAT HARROGATE POSTED

  An inevitable "Welcome to Harrogate" celebration post on social media followed the final whistle, in a nod to Wrexham’s award-winning documentary, while the Sulphurites have also mocked a pre-match message that claimed “The Dragon is coming”, with light work made of said fabled beast.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

  Wrexham have secured safe passage into the last-32 of the EFL Trophy, offering them a shot at silverware there, but are now out of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup as collective focus at SToK Racecourse begins to narrow on a push for promotion out of League One.

Deals may not have been finalised yet but Aston Villa will sell Douglas Luiz to Juventus, collecting cash, midfielder Enzo Barrenechea and talented winger Samuel Iling-Junior in return.

The Premier League's profit and sustainability (PSR) rules have dictated the summer but the June 30 deadline looms large. Luckily, Villa's prudency has seen them successfully circumvent the possibility of breaching such rules. Now, with Champions League football lying ahead, Unai Emery's outfit can make real headway.

Aforementioned signings are augmented by the nearly-completed move for Ross Barkley, but Luiz's sale marks the loss of a true linchpin, and Emery looks eager to push ahead and sign another replacement.

Villa eyeing Douglas Luiz replacement

According to Spanish outlet AS earlier this week, Aston Villa are tussling with a number of top European clubs for Real Sociedad midfielder Brais Mendez, who has a €60m (£52m) release clause in his contract.

The Spaniard is considered a fundamental, near irreplaceable member of Imanol Alguacil's team, but if Villa endeavour to meet his buyout price, he may well find himself pulled toward the English Midlands.

Why Villa are interested in Brais Mendez

Last season, Sociedad finished sixth in La Liga and Mendez proved his level as one of the standout performers, making good on past praise from journalist Zach Lowy that he is a player of "sensational" quality.

Across 44 appearances in all competitions, he scored eight goals and added nine assists, also winning 1.3 tackles and 4.6 duels per match average in the Spanish top flight, as per Sofascore, to underscore his multi-strength skill set.

A dynamic midfielder, Mendez would emulate Luiz's impressive attacking instinct, with his goal and assist tally from last season ranking him among the top 3% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 10% for assists and the top 13% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

This could compensate for the departure of Luiz and then some, who ranks among the top 16% of midfielders for goals, the top 22% for assists and the top 17% for shot-creating actions per 90 himself.

As you can see, he's not shackled to one position, instead enjoying sweeping success across a range of roles – even competent on the right flank when called upon.

But he'd principally be utilised in the centre of the park, pulled into a more industrious, but still forward-moving, role to tailor toward Emery's system.

In this sense, he truly would be a fantastic replacement for Luiz. Barkley too offers a range of versatile tools to ensure success at Villa Park but Mendez has proven himself to be a player of flair and unique ability from the middle.

A "smooth operator" – as noted by an effusive Lowy – the £36k-per-week ace is daring and deadly from behind the frontline, something that Luiz has also demonstrably succeeded in being at Aston Villa.

Moreover, given the nature of the Brazilian's (soon former) modus operandi under Emery, he averaged 1.7 tackles and 4.2 successful duels per Premier League match in 2023/24, Mendez would be a terrific heir.

Further players Mendez could replace

With Barkley joining a talented group of forward-thinking midfielders consisting of John McGinn, Jacob Ramsey and, sometimes, Morgan Rogers, it might feel a tad congested, with Luiz never really deployed further up the field, instead moving forward at an apt opportunity to wreak chaos.

Might another sale be necessary? According to The Times, Aston Villa have recently rejected a £20m offer from Tottenham Hotspur for Ramsey, with the player-plus-cash trend this summer at the centre once again, with Giovani Lo Celso offered.

Lo Celso has never nailed down a starting spot at Spurs since signing for an eventual total of £42m in 2018, despite his patent passing pedigree. He might prove to be a square peg in a round hole under Emery, simply a number and unable to perform the many-faceted jobs to the desired standard.

Ramsey, however, is not unexpendable despite Emery's desire to retain his services, with the Lions making it known that the homegrown attacking midfielder would require a fee of £40-50m to prise from Villa Park.

Mendez could prove to be an upgrade on the 23-year-old, who is talented but inconsistent and marred by setbacks, starting only eight Premier League matches last season and last completing a competitive appearance in early March due to a toe injury.

Still, Ramsey is a good player and excels when unshackled and pointed toward the opposing penalty area, using his wheels to drive forward and strike on goal or thread balls into the path of striking teammates.

Furthermore, he carries a robust and defensively aware style of play that mirrors that of Mendez, with the boyhood Villan averaging 2.0 tackles and 4.6 successful duels per game during the 2022/23 season, when he enjoyed far brighter fortunes on the injury front and posted six goals and seven assists from 31 starting appearances in the English top flight.

There's no question that Villa wish to keep Ramsey at the club but given the need to continue to appease PSR rules and the fact that Mendez could be brought in as a more complete and clinical replacement, it might be worth allowing him to leave, should the lofty price tag be met by a team like Tottenham.

Clearly, Mendez might just be the full package to fire Aston Villa toward new levels of success. With Champions League football beckoning, the Spain star would be a fitting replacement for an outgoing stalwart in Luiz, and potentially even Ramsey too.

New bid incoming: Aston Villa lining up "monster" Cash upgrade

Unai Emery is aiming to sign a talented Italian defender this summer…

By
Ross Kilvington

Jun 26, 2024

Mohamed Salah is into the final year of his contract at Anfield and Liverpool have identified two potential targets in case the Egyptian leaves.

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• Salah future at Liverpool uncertain
• Reds scouting potential targets
• Have two Premier League forwards in mind

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Liverpool have been scouting potential replacements for Salah and have earmarked Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo and Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo as possible targets, according to . Mbeumo has impressed this season with eight goals in nine Premier League appearances and has "been monitored by Liverpool for some time". Semenyo has also emerged as an option and is well known to Liverpool's new sporting director Richard Hughes as he brought him to former club Bournemouth from Bristol City back in January 2023.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Replacing Salah will be an extraordinarily difficult task for Liverpool as the 32-year-old has been vital to the club's successes since joining from Roma in 2017. Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush has also been linked with a possible move to Liverpool, along with Dortmund star Karim Adeyemi. Salah is one of three key players into the last year of his contract at Anfield alongside Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold and manager Arne Slot has admitted the trio "could become a problem" for the Reds.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Mbeumo has netted eight Premier League goals this season from an xG of just 3.79, the biggest xG overperformance in the competition (+4.21).

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL

  Salah has continued to shine for Liverpool this season despite the uncertainty over his feature. The forward has six goals and five assists in nine Premier League outings and will hope to add to his tally next time out against Brighton.

Pep Guardiola has revealed Kevin De Bruyne's thigh injury is still causing him pain as Manchester City await the playmaker's return.

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• De Bruyne absent since September 18
• Nursing a problematic thigh injury
• Guardiola keen for injured stars to return

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  City have been without De Bruyne since he suffered a thigh injury in the 0-0 draw against Inter Milan on September 18. Guardiola expected to have the Belgian back by now but, although he has returned to training, the 33-year-old isn't yet ready to play a competitive game and will miss Wednesday's League Cup tie at Tottenham.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Perhaps nobody is feeling De Bruyne's absence more than Erling Haaland, who has netted just once in his past four league games. The Belgium international makes City tick and, while they've been able to move to the top of the table without him, Guardiola admitted his side will "struggle" if his injured players do not return quickly, with Kyle Walker, Jeremy Doku, Jack Grealish and Oscar Bobb also sidelined.

• WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID

  “I would like to tell you, especially I would like to know it, but I don’t know right now," Guardiola said when asked when De Bruyne will be back. "He feels that he can train, but not to go to that level that we need in competition. When you kick the ball or something, he still has pain and he doesn’t feel [right]. Kevin has to feel good to express his huge talent that he has. He’s feeling better, but not the best.”

  On City's injury list, Guardiola added: "For sure, if these guys don’t come back as quick as possible, we’ll struggle, because we cannot sustain with just 14, 15 players for the season. We need the players to come back.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CITY?

  City have the chance to heap more pressure on Ange Postecoglou when they take on Tottenham in the League Cup on Wednesday evening. It's the first of four successive away games for Guardiola and his players, with a trip to Bournemouth to come on Saturday.

After an exceptional Championship campaign saw them clinch promotion to the Premier League, Ipswich Town look set to bring in a host of quality players to bolster Kieran McKenna's side.

Tractor Boys target top flight talent

The latest rumours out of Portman Road have linked Ipswich with a move for Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Carl Rushworth. The England youth keeper spent last season on loan with Swansea City, and now looks set to become McKenna's number one in the Premier League.

Ipswich could smash transfer record to sign star who's perfect for McKenna

Ipswich Town could show they mean business moving up to the Premier League with this record purchase.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jun 25, 2024

Joining Rushworth on McKenna's shopping list is free agent Ben Johnson. Ipswich have reportedly entered advanced talks with the representatives of the 24-year-old, who was most recently on the books at West Ham. The full back brings with him bags of top flight experience from his time with the Hammers.

A central defender is aslo high on the Tractor Boys' list of priorities with Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jacob Greaves the two names most commonly assocaited with a move to Portman Road. The latter has long been regarded as Ipswich's top target, however Fabrizio Romano has now dropped some new information on the club's quest to sign one of his Hull City teammates.

Romano drops update on Philogene transfer

As reported by The East Anglian Daily Times, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has dropped some new information in Ipswich's pursuit of Hull City's Jaden Philogene. Speaking on his Here We Go podcast, Romano provided an update on the transfer, telling listeners: "There is interest from several Premier League clubs – let me mention especially West Ham and Ipswich Town.

"These two clubs have already reached out to the player's side to understand the conditions of the deal. Let's see what's going to happen in terms of negotiations, but for sure, he's going to be one to watch in the next weeks."

Philogene joined the Tigers in a £5 million move from Aston Villa last summer. Since touching down in East Yorkshire the winger has been electric, contributing 12 goals and 6 assists as Hull finished seventh in Championship last season.

Whilst the 22-year-old had been setting the MKM Stadium alight for much of the season, Philogene caught the attention of the wider footballing world with a fantastic rabona goal during Hull's 2-1 victory over Rotherham back in February. Speaking on the effort, former boss Liam Rosenior waxed lyrical about the goal.

"Ridiculous. His ability is something we missed for a long time. He’s only going to get better with the more games he plays. It’s not just his goal or his showreel moments, it’s his energy levels he gives the team – he works so hard.

“He’s got real belief he can be a top player but the reason he can be a top player is because he works so hard on his game. Jaden’s was one of many really good performances.”

Whilst the Tractor Boys are taking steps towards making Philogene an Ipswich player there may be a couple of hurdles in their pursuit. Firstly is the £25 million fee that Hull owner Acun Ilicali wants for the player and the second is the reported interest from Spanish giants Barcelona.

Newcastle United have seemingly sealed two senior signings for Eddie Howe already this summer and PIF have also beaten Man Utd to a potential star in the making.

Newcastle transfer latest

The Magpies are already making preparations ahead of the 2024/25 season, and with the summer transfer window set to open, Howe has already admitted the club need to be “smart” with their business.

"I think with our current situation and the landscape of the financial position I am not sure we are able to recruit ready made elite players. The players you are trying to get across, I don't think we are in a position to do that and I don't think we were in a position to do that last year.

"So I think we have to be really smart with our recruitment. I think we have to be maybe different to some of the other clubs we are in and around. It is all about the individual player not what bracket they're in. And what they can do for us and how they can take the team or squad forward."

Two permanent signings already appear to be waiting in the wings, though. Lewis Hall’s loan move from Chelsea is set to become a full-time transfer, whereas Newcastle appear to have won the race to sign defender Lloyd Kelly on a free after he left AFC Bournemouth.

After Hall and Kelly, Newcastle appear to be targeting a new goalkeeper, with Burnley’s James Trafford a top target at St James’ Park. A cut-price move could also be on the cards for Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho, and by the looks of things, the club have also won the race to sign a teenage gem ahead of a number of clubs.

Newcastle to sign teenage midfielder ahead of Man Utd

According to NUFC Blog, Newcastle are set to secure the signing of Chukwudi “CJ” Afumuzor from Portsmouth. Aged just 14, Afumuzor will go into Newcastle’s academy and has already completed a medical with the Magpies, with a fee being agreed with Portsmouth last month.

Aston Villa, Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion were also keen on Afumuzor, but it is Newcastle who have won the race after presenting the best offer.

Report: Newcastle make move to seal significant off-field appointment

Talks have accelerated over a move to St James’ Park.

By
Henry Jackson

Jun 11, 2024

The teenager is described as a ‘combative midfielder who operates best as a No.8’. They add that Afumuzor, who already stands at 5ft 9, ‘has been praised for his engine, ball-winning qualities and ability to drive forward at opposition defences’, scoring more than 20 goals for Portsmouth’s youth teams last season.

He looks set to go into Newcastle’s U15 ranks next year, and who knows, in years to come, we could see him make the first team breakthrough at St James’ Park, with the report adding that Afumuzor will be ‘the first of many Academy signings set to arrive this summer’.

Aston Villa have completed the signing of teenage midfielder Ewan Simpson.

The Lowdown: Busy summer

Villa have been proactive in the transfer market ahead of Steven Gerrard’s first full season in charge with a number of first-team signings at a cost of just under £50m.

More could be on the way before the transfer deadline, with a new midfielder and new forward thought to be on the agenda for Johan Lange.

The club have also bolstered their academy ranks by signing forward Rory Wilson from Rangers, and another exciting talent has now made the move from Scotland to the Midlands.

The Latest: Simpson signs

Birmingham Live shared a story after both Villa and Hearts confirmed a move for Simpson in the last 48 hours.

Villa academy manager Mark Harrison labelled Simpson as an ‘intelligent midfielder’, with the Premier League side paying an undisclosed fee to Hearts.

The Verdict: Good news

The news regarding Simpson’s move may go under the radar with no official confirmation on the club’s main social media channels, however, it looks like a shrewd move by Villa officials.

Simpson was first linked with a move to Villa Park towards the end of April after some outstanding displays for Hearts at U18 level.

He was attracting interest from a number of English sides and is thought to be a ‘potential star-in-the-making’, so it will be interesting to see how he progresses over the coming years.

Newcastle United hold a ‘serious’ interest in Brazilian youngster Angelo, according to The Chronicle’s Lee Ryder.

The lowdown

Angelo, 17, plays as a right winger in his homeland for Santos, the club who produced Neymar (now of Paris Saint-Germain) and Rodrygo (now of Real Madrid).

He may not be an adult yet, but he already has a release clause of £52million in his contract.

Angelo has already made 76 appearances for the club, and the majority of those (57) have come at national or even continental level, as opposed to state level.

The latest

Newcastle’s head of recruitment ‘Steve Nickson flew out to Brazil to watch him in action’, and Ryder takes that as ‘a big indication’ that their ‘interest is serious’, per Chronicle Live.

He adds that fending off elite competition for the prodigy would be a ‘big statement’ and ‘a real sign of progress’.

The verdict

The sheer amount of senior football Angelo has played at such a young age bodes incredibly well.

One of his standout achievements is becoming the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Copa Libertadores at the age of 16 years and 105 days. He broke a record that had stood for 59 years. (via Goal).

One of the player’s former coaches even says he’s ‘like Neymar in terms of his dribbling at speed and his change of direction’.

And he could certainly follow in his footsteps by making a big move to Europe. Could this be the player Newcastle build their next generation around?

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring James Maddison to north London this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Paul O’Keefe, who revealed on Twitter that, despite a deal for the 25-year-old appearing dead in the water earlier this month, Fabio Paratici is now ‘seriously considering’ making a move for the Leicester City attacking midfielder in the coming weeks.

The Spurs insider went on to clarify his earlier statement that Tottenham were out of the running for the England international’s signing this summer, revealing that his previous information was incorrect and that Antonio Conte’s side are now moving towards the Foxes playmaker.

In response to a supporter asking for an update on Spurs’ attacking midfield targets this summer, O’Keefe said: “They are very seriously considering James Maddison.”

Supporters will be buzzing

Considering just how impressive Maddison has been for Leicester in recent years, O’Keefe’s claim that Spurs are hugely interested in pursuing a deal for the 25-year-old this summer is sure to have left the Tottenham Hotspur faithful buzzing.

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Indeed, over his 35 Premier League appearances in 2021/22, the £45m-rated talent was in magnificent form for Brendan Rodgers’ side. He scored 12 goals, registered eight assists and created 11 big chances for his team-mates, along with taking 2.1 shots (one on target), making 1.4 key passes and completing 0.9 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the one-cap England international average a hugely impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.32, not only ranking him as the Foxes’ best performer in the league but also as the joint 13th-best player in the entire top flight.

The £110k-per-week midfielder also caught the eye in Europe last season, scoring one goal, providing two assists and averaging a quite astonishing SofaScore match rating of 7.68 over his five outings in the Europa League.

He also scored three goals, created one big chance and averaged a SofaScore match rating of 7.28 over his eight Europa Conference League outings, which saw him rank as Leicester’s best and second-best player in the respective competitions.

As such, it is clear to see that the versatile Maddison – who can operate from central and attacking midfield, and on either flank – would make a fantastic addition to Conte’s options in north London next term, even if his reported £60m price tag would be yet another hefty fee for Daniel Levy to cough up this summer.

AND in other news: Conte eyeing “very tempting” £7.1k-p/w Spurs target, he’s a “tactical evolution” dream

Leeds United have reportedly received a bid from Barcelona for Raphinha, amid reports that the Yorkshire club have already accepted an offer of around £60m from fellow Premier League club Chelsea.

What’s the news?

In a recent Twitter post, CBS journalist Ben Jacobs had this to say on the matter, after SPORT claimed the Spanish side had made an offer for the winger.

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He said: “Told Barcelona’s offer for Raphinha matches Chelsea’s in total. The base fee is less but the total package now the same. Leeds and Barcelona have been in advanced talks for the past 24 hours. Nothing accepted yet but a fast resolution now expected due to Leeds pushing it.”

In a following tweet, Jacobs added this.

He said: “Told Raphinha won’t remain at Leeds beyond this window, and Leeds therefore don’t want a transfer to drag on. Barcelona (as they have throughout) feel they will reach an agreement, but with door remains opens for Chelsea if they don’t get this offer accepted.”

Marsch will be gutted

Leeds signed the Brazilian back in October 2020 from Rennes in a deal worth a reported fee of £17m.

Since then, the winger has gone on to make 67 appearances for the Whites, scoring 17 goals and delivering 12 assists along the way.

With his goalscoring record in mind and the fact that he is now being touted with a £60m move away from the club, this shows just what a great bit of business it was from Leeds to sign him in the first place, and how much of a significant profit they could make on him.

However, from a footballing perspective, potentially losing the 25-year-old would surely come as a gutting blow to Jesse Marsch.

Bearing in mind how the winger not only scored more goals (11) in the Premier League last season than any other Leeds player, but he also had more shots at goal (85), more shot-creating actions (119) and more successful dribbles (59) than any of his teammates.

With an overall WhoScored performance rating of 6.97/10 for his efforts last season – making him the highest-rated outfield player at the club – this shows just how pivotal he was in keeping Leeds in the top division.

Moving forward, with an exit now looking likely for Raphinha, the Leeds boss will have to hope that the other players in his squad, and the new recruits that have joined this summer, have what it takes to continue the club’s Premier League journey without the star winger.

AND in other news: “Next month”: Phil Hay relays big Leeds injury update, it’s great news for supporters