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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.

Leeds United could make one more attempt to sign Charles De Ketelaere…

What’s the word?

That’s according to journalist Alexandre Braeckman, who claimed to MOT Leeds News that the Yorkshire giants have submitted a final proposal for the Club Brugge maestro.

It’s thought that the Premier League side have offered a better package than that of Serie A champions AC Milan and are ready to swoop in should a move to the San Siro fail to materialise.

“Leeds will react immediately if a deal is not found,” the reporter revealed.

The Jupiler Pro League outfit reportedly want around €40m (£34m).

Best signing yet?

De Ketelaere has been a key target for manager Jesse Marsch all summer – the 48-year-old recently told reporters (via The Express): “I think it’s been well-documented that De Ketelaere was a goal of ours and it’s not finished yet with him.”

Indeed, director of football Victor Orta must continue to pursue the Belgium international as he could well become Leeds’ best signing yet, having already brought in six new players, including Red Bull trio Tyler Adams, Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen, and Luis Sinisterra from Feyenoord.

The Whites have, of course, also lost two key players in Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha, and the latter’s influence will be hard to replace, but that is something that De Ketelaere can help to alleviate.

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Capable of playing in a multitude of attacking positions, the 21-year-old dynamo can provide creativity and goal threat wherever he’s deployed. Last season, he was played in seven different roles and still managed to produce 18 goals and ten assists from 49 appearances, via Transfermarkt.

“He is actually an infiltrating No 8 or No 10, but rarely plays in this position,” claimed Belgian journalist Sven Claes to The Athletic. “He is already really phenomenal in handling the ball. His decisions under pressure are often very impressive.”

Also lauded as a “complete package” player by scout Jacek Kulig, De Ketelaere has also earned comparisons to Kevin De Bruyne, which only adds to the furore behind potentially signing him at Elland Road.

In terms of progressive passes (3.45 per 90), expected assists (0.29 per 90) and pressures (22.14 per 90), the Belgian star ranks inside the top 5% of his positional peers across Europe, and that makes him a superb fit for Marsch’s high-intensity system.

As such, the 6 foot 3 gem could be Leeds’ best signing this summer, and with a move to Milan stalling, it would make sense for Orta to come in with a late raid from their grasp.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano drops Leeds transfer update…

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

Rangers are one of several sides said to be interested in signing Oscar Gloukh this summer and it seems as if Giovanni van Bronckhorst has now been given the green light to try and bring him to Ibrox.

What’s the word?

The 18-year-old has been linked with Rangers in recent days after catching the eye at the U19 European Championships this summer and his father has now suggested that it is likely that he will depart Maccabi Tel-Aviv.

He said: “I feel he is more ready than a couple of years ago to make the move to a big league. I see him as a player who can cope in Europe. I’m not saying he will have an easy life. He will have to compete with a lot of players for his place. (But) if it’s possible to leave, he will leave.”

Imagine him and Colak

The report claims that the teenage sensation has been likened to Mesut Ozil and considering his impressive goal against England in the final last week it is easy to see why.

Gloukh received the ball on the edge of the box and turned his man with a delicate touch, before taking the ball onto his right foot to beat the defender, finding the top corner with a powerful finish.

Reports have suggested that he could cost as much as £8m this summer and while it is unusual to see Rangers spending as much as that on such a young player, they arguably need to shell out some transfer fees if they are to compete with their Scottish rivals next season considering their transfer business thus far.

The club should have benefitted financially from the run to the Europa League final and Gloukh could be a great investment if he lives up to his “wonderkid” status.

Rangers look to be close to their first summer signing in Antonio Colak and the striker could be one to benefit from Gloukh’s signing should both arrive at Ibrox ahead of next season.

If the attacking-midfielder does perform a similar role to Ozil, he will offer Rangers should real creativity in the final third with intricate passing and dribbling ability, which will surely create a lot of chances for the forwards in van Bronckhorst’s attack.

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Therefore, Rangers should definitely look at bringing Gloukh in this summer, as he clearly has a lot of potential and could combine well with Colak at Ibrox for the next few seasons.

And, in other news… Wilson can repeat Kent masterclass at Rangers in swoop for “stunning” £3.1k-p/w gem

Leeds United have already spent a significant amount of money on bringing new players to Elland Road in the summer transfer window.

According to Transfermarkt, the Whites have spent just over £52m by securing deals for Marc Roca, Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen.

Another Premier League club that have also been busy in the window is Liverpool.

In addition to Calvin Ramsey and Fabio Carvalho, the Reds broke their club-record transfer fee by splashing out a hefty fee of £85m to bring Darwin Nunez to Anfield from Benfica.

With some weeks still left before the summer window closes, Leeds have the chance to secure what could be their own version of Nunez before their 2022/23 campaign kicks off.

Earlier this week, it was reported that the Whites are looking to launch a move to sign Club Brugge attacker Charles De Ketelaere.

In 120 senior appearances for the Belgian club, the 21-year-old has scored 25 goals and delivered 20 assists across all competitions, highlighting the attacking talent he has at a fairly young age.

Having played in 33 league games last season, the youngster found the net 14 times and provided seven assists for his teammates.

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This, in a similar sort of way, mirrors how prolific Nunez was for Benfica last season that eventually caught the eye of Liverpool.

With 41 appearances to his name across all competitions last season, the Uruguayan racked up 34 goals and four assists.

In fact, the new Liverpool attacker is included on a list of similar players to De Ketelaere according to Football Transfers, further highlighting the connection between the two.

Speaking to Het Nieuwsblad (via Goal) about the young Belgian, former Brugge midfielder Gert Verheyen had this to say about him: “His versatility is a huge asset. He is complete, with a mix of physical and technical qualities.”

This versatility was on full display last season as the Belgian international played in numerous attacking and midfield positions for his side.

Moving forward, the prospect of Jesse Marsch getting his own version of Nunez this summer in the shape of De Ketelaere is one that the Leeds hierarchy should do all they can to make a reality.

AND in other news: Jesse Marsch can from “outstanding” duo in Leeds United swoop for £6.75m-rated target

Portuguese newspaper Record (via Sport Witness) has provided an update on the Wolverhampton Wanderers’ pursuit of Sporting CP midfielder Matheus Nunes. 

The lowdown: Hot property

A reported target for Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and a host of other elite clubs this summer, Nunes has certainly caught the eye with an astronomical path to stardom in Portugal so far.

Born in Brazil, the stylish midfielder has made 99 first-team outings for Sporting and recently became a fully-fledged Portugal international, having flourished for the Lisbon-based outfit.

Despite the eye-opening interest from across Europe, the Wanderers could now be set to win the hotly contested race to sign Nunes…

The latest: Offer ‘prepared’

As per Record, translated by SW, Wolves are now ‘prepared’ to make an offer worth €45million (£38million) plus €5million (£4million) in bonuses to make the deal happen.

It’s claimed that all parties have ‘everything forwarded’ to see a switch to Molineux come to fruition as Bruno Lage attempts to bolster the ranks and prepares for life after the highly sought-after Ruben Neves.

The report also states that the ‘process should really advance’ over the coming days as the Old Gold look to tie up a transfer for the man dubbed ‘tenacious’ by football analyst EBL, who holds a Master’s degree in Sports Performance Analysis.

The verdict: Sensational signing

Given the levels of illustrious interest, if the Wanderers can indeed beat the competition to his capture then Lage will have added a bonafide superstar in the making to the mix at the Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground.

Predominantly operating as a box-to-box midfielder, last season the eight-cap Portugal ace scored four times and provided five assists in 50 appearances, highlighting an eye for goal as well as durability that would be a welcome addition to the Molineux ranks as another long, truncated, campaign looms.

When compared to Neves in the 2021/22 campaign, Nunes, two years younger than the 25-year-old, earned a higher average rating than his compatriot (7.08 vs 6.85), completed more successful dribbles (2.5 vs 0.8) and was booked on five fewer occasions having made an identical number of league outings (WhoScored).

Already seemingly an adequate replacement for Neves, if Nunes replicates the wantaway fan favourite and continues on his career trajectory then Wolves may have landed a player with the ability to become a force on the biggest stage possible in years to come.

Leeds United have initiated talks to bring Tyler Adams to Elland Road this summer.

What’s the word?

That’s according to The Transfer Exchange Show, who revealed in a recent post on Twitter that, following a number of recent reports linking the Whites with a move for the RB Leipzig central midfielder in the summer transfer window, Victor Orta has now started talks with the Bundesliga side concerning a deal for the 23-year-old.

In their tweet, The Transfer Exchange Show said: “Leeds United have started talks to sign Tyler Adams this summer. The RB Leipzig midfielder is seen as a replacement for Kalvin Phillips who has already stated his wish to join Manchester City.”

Sky Sport Deutschland journalist Florian Plettenberg also recently revealed that Leipzig would be willing to part with the USA international this summer, while the journalist also confirmed that the former New York Red Bulls starlet – who is believed to have a release clause in the region of €40m (£34m) – is on Leeds’ transfer wishlist ahead of the upcoming Premier League campaign.

In his tweet, Plettenberg revealed that any suitor for his services has now received the green light for a move, saying: “News Tyler Adams: Despite the transfer of [Brenden] Aaronson and [Marc] Roca, the midfielder from Leipzig is – next to other players – on the shortlist of LUFC confirmed. Leeds are considering the situation of the 23-year-old. Leipzig wants to sell him.”

Imagine him & Roca

While depth in the middle of the park was been something of an issue for Jesse Marsch’s side throughout 2021/22, should Victor Orta go on to complete a deal for Adams in the coming weeks, following the Spaniard’s earlier summer signings of Marc Roca and Brenden Aaronson, it would very much appear as if Leeds have well and truly solved this problem heading into the new Premier League campaign.

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And, while it is true that Adams did not enjoy the best season of his career last time out – starting just 12 Bundesliga fixtures – the £26m-rated American still managed to impress in a number of eye-catching metrics, with FBref ranking the 23-year-old in the top 2% of midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues for blocks per 90 minutes, as well as the top 18% for passes attempted, the top 25% for passes completed, the top 20% for pressures and the top 25% for progressive carries over the last 365 days.

Furthermore, with the midfielder who Marsch himself dubbed a “massive” talent being able to operate from a variety of different positions – including right-back, defensive, central and right midfield, as well as on the right-wing – it is clear that the 23-year-old’s impressive versatility would be a huge plus for the Whites’ 48-year-old head coach.

As such, the news that Leipzig are willing to part with Adams this summer is sure to come as a major boost to both Orta and Marsch, as it is clear to see that, with the American alongside Roca in the middle of the park, Leeds will have formed an incredibly solid first-choice pairing ahead of the new Premier League campaign – even if Kalvin Phillips does end up moving onto pastures new in the coming weeks.

AND in other news: Reliable journalist now reveals big Leeds transfer twist, supporters will be gutted

Tottenham Hotspur could look to swoop for James Ward-Prowse to bolster their homegrown quota this summer…

What’s the word?

That’s according to football.london reporter Alasdair Gold, who claims the Southampton skipper is among the options to replace Harry Winks, should he leave the north London outfit.

It’s thought that Spurs had agreed on a deal to sign the England international three years ago but did not pull the trigger – he’s now worth a lot more than then.

CIES Football Observatory currently estimate his worth to be in the region of €50m (£45m).

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Shades of Eriksen

Spurs have long lacked a playmaking talent capable of delivering from dead-ball situations and open play – ever since the departure of Christian Erisken in January 2020, to be more precise.

The likes of Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso and Dele Alli have all struggled to cement their place as a creative, attacking midfield option, with all three failing to end the 2021/22 campaign in a Spurs shirt.

Ward-Prowse, however, has continued to deliver on the Premier League stage, all for a somewhat struggling Saints side.

In each of the last four top-flight seasons, the Englishman has delivered at least five goals and three assists, including ten goals and five assists last season, via WhoScored.

Furthermore, the 27-year-old maestro ranks amongst the top 15% of his positional peers in the Premier League for shot-creating actions (3.16 per 90), as well as the top 1% of inswinging and outswinging corners and top 3% for passes from free-kicks, per FBref.

It’s no wonder he has been lauded as a “machine” by Southampton boss Hasenhuttl and compared to David Beckham by ex-Spurs striker Peter Crouch.

As such, it would be a very wise move for sporting director Fabio Paratici to make, given the need to bolster homegrown numbers, particularly if Winks does indeed depart.

AND in other news, talkSPORT transfer expert drops Djed Spence update…