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Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah is wanted by Paris Saint-Germain ahead of a potential summer move, according to a recent transfer report.

The Lowdown: Salah having a tough season

The Egyptian has been one of the Reds’ greatest players of the Premier League era, scoring 175 goals in 289 appearances in total for the club, but this season has been a struggle for him.

While he has still bagged a total of 19 goals in all competitions, his performances have often lacked a spark, and he is part of an out-of-sorts Liverpool team, while his last eight top-flight matches have yielded just one goal.

The 30-year-old only signed a new long-term deal at Anfield last summer, keeping him there until 2025, but there is a possibility that he could depart Merseyside before then.

The Latest: PSG eyeing move for Salah

According to Football Insider, PSG are interested in a move for Salah this summer as they look to bring in a new attacking superstar.

It is claimed that there are doubts over the future of world-renowned trio Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, and the Liverpool icon is seen as a potential option to bring in at the Parc des Princes.

Earlier this month, Football Insider claimed that FSG could be willing to cash in on Salah, who could reap a vast transfer fee for the Merseyside club, and discussions have taken place internally over a potential big-name sale at Anfield.

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The Verdict: Would be a huge loss to Liverpool

While Salah’s performances this season have not been at the level that we have seen before, he remains absolutely priceless for Liverpool, with his goal tally in 2022/23 still quite impressive.

At 30, some may argue that his very best days are behind him, but he is a physical machine and there is no reason why he can’t play at the top level well into his 30s, having previously been described as ‘world class’ by Jurgen Klopp.

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The £350,000-a-week earner is someone around whom the manager needs to keep building his attack at Liverpool, and losing their top scorer this summer would be a massive blow for the Reds.

The team’s struggles have perhaps been a contributor to his own dip in form, and there is no reason why he couldn’t return to his elite standards further down the line at Anfield.

Leeds United have now named former Watford head coach Javi Gracia as their next manager, with the 52-year-old taking over from Jesse Marsch at Elland Road.

It’s believed that the Spaniard has agreed to a ‘flexible’ contract that is initially until the end of the current campaign, tasked with the sole objective of keeping the west Yorkshire giants in the Premier League, according to The Guardian.

Having achieved a similar feat with the Hornets in the past, there is some logic behind the, perhaps controversial, appointment, for the time being.

At Vicarage Road, Gracia largely utilised a 4-4-2 formation to great effect and that’s something that he could look to replicate at the Whites, with them in dire need of scoring more chances and being more rigid defensively.

As a primarily pressing-based system, the current squad should be used to the energy and relentlessness of such demands but not everyone will be able to fit into this scheme.

At full-back, the Spaniard likes his players to get forward to provide width, which means the two wide midfielders are given a little more license to drift inside and roam freely.

This means there is no natural no.10, something that both Marsch and interim boss Michael Skulbala had utilised this season. It also means that summer signing Brenden Aaronson is in even greater danger of becoming a forgotten man already.

His form since his £25m arrival from RB Salzburg has somewhat fallen off a cliff.

Initially, the signs were promising as the USMNT international scored against Chelsea in his third-ever Premier League outing and then two games later, provided an assist to snatch a point against Everton.

Since those first five outings, though, the 22-year-old dynamo has suffered, registering only the one goal contribution in the subsequent 17 games, most of which being starts, via Transfermarkt.

One game against West Ham United, in which the attacking midfielder drew a 5.9 rating on Sofascore, saw him lambasted as “sloppy” by Sky Sports News pundit Jay Boothroyd [4th January, 20:51], whilst another 5.9 display, this time against Aston Villa, had Joe Donnohue highlighting his struggles.

Given the fact that the £45k-per-week is primarily a no.10, combined with his poor form this term, he could very much be in grave danger with Gracia now through the door at Thorp Arch.

AND in other news, Orta could finally replace Raphinha in Leeds summer swoop for £16m-rated “phenomenon”…

Liverpool should start Curtis Jones in the Merseyside Derby if Thiago is injured, according to Ian Doyle.

The Lowdown: Merseyside Derby

Jurgen Klopp could be set for one of the biggest Merseyside Derbies of his Liverpool tenure with the Reds sat in tenth following Chelsea’s 1-1 draw against West Ham United, offering the chance to leapfrog them.

Whilst at the other end of the table Sean Dyche will be looking to turn up the heat on the German with a win seeing Everton climb out of the relegation zone after the new boss beat Premier League leaders Arsenal in his first game in charge.

A livewire atmosphere is expected on Monday night with this derby proving key in both sides’ seasons as they both struggle to reach the expectations this campaign that the fans demand.

The Latest: Doyle’s comments

Speaking on Blood Red, Doyle suggested that the Reds could deploy a wildcard option in midfield who has proved in the past he can handle the fixture, should Thiago be absent after Klopp admitted he’d been unable to train, Doyle said:

(33:24) “You’ve got someone like Curtis Jones, who loves playing in this game, he’s got a winner in the past.”

“I think the time has come given how the midfield has not been functioning properly, if Thiago’s not fit, I said it the other week that he should be playing, he’s left footed, he has to be on the left hand side.”

“Anything’s going to be better than what’s been going on recently, so the legs and a bit of you know, with Curtis Jones, he’s obviously a local lad, he’ll be quite keen to make an impression.”

The Verdict: Jones to start?

Liverpool’s midfield has been a troubling position this season for Klopp and Thiago’s absence as their brightest spark in the engine room, with him averaging the third highest rating at the club (via WhoScored), is a real worry.

Jones’ lack of minutes throughout the entirety of the campaign is a huge concern for the 22-year-old who has found his career at Anfield stagnating, with him appearing just eight times in the league and Champions League so far, only two of them starts.

It could prove a risk bringing a player who’s featured just 15 minutes in the league since the World Cup into the engine room after Everton’s incredible showing against Arsenal, which saw all five midfielders break into the top seven for distance covered in a single match (via Sky Sports), showing how energetic Dyche is making his Toffees side.

This could be a worry on the unlikely fully fit Jones despite having positive memories over the fixture after scoring a show-stopping FA Cup winner against Everton back in 2020.

Alasdair Gold has shared a transfer update on Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni.

The Lowdown: Spurs linked with Bastoni…

Spurs have been linked with a move to sign the 23-year-old in previous months, with reports dating as far back as last summer.

Antonio Conte is apparently a fan of Bastoni and potentially sees the defender as someone who could seriously upgrade Tottenham’s central defensive options.

The Nerazzurri ace’s contract is slowly winding down, too, with Bastoni now entering the final 17 months of his deal at the San Siro.

The Latest: Gold shares Bastoni to Spurs update…

Speaking in a football.london Q&A, reliable transfer reporter Gold claims that Bastoni is among Spurs’ top summer transfer targets as they eye a move for him.

However, much will depend on his contract situation, especially since the player’s price could drop a ‘fair bit’ if Bastoni doesn’t renew terms with Inter.

Gold explained: “Much depends on these new contract talks and whether Bastoni signs on at Inter again. Spurs have retained their interest in the Italy international and he is still among their top summer targets. Of course, with just a year left on his contract at that point, his price tag also drops a fair bit.”

The Verdict: Get it done…

Bastoni would be an undoubted asset at Tottenham, so Conte and Spurs supporters will surely be hoping that these new contract talks with Inter eventually lead nowhere.

As per WhoScored, the centre-back ranks among Inter’s top four players in terms of tackles won, interceptions made, successful clearances and blocks attempted per game.

The Italian would bring both youth and dynamism to the Spurs backline as a signing of real longevity for future seasons – even beyond Conte’s reign at the club.

Bastoni has already been heralded as a defensive ‘genius’ for his exploits in Serie A, with Transfermarkt valuing him at around £49m. As he approaches the final year of his Inter deal, this value could drop significantly, leaving little wonder as to why Spurs are keeping close tabs.

Newcastle United have reportedly now positioned themselves to sign Roger Fernandes.

The Lowdown: Busy already

Having already confirmed the signing of Matt Targett on a permanent deal from Aston Villa, it looks like the Magpies may now be close to securing their second signing of the summer in Lille defender Sven Botman.

That would cover two positions on the pitch, meaning that the Tynesiders could then look for other targets to further strengthen Eddie Howe’s starting XI.

The Latest: Fernandes interest from Newcastle

As per A Bola (via Sport Witness), Newcastle are now preparing an offer of €20m (£17.1m) to sign Braga winger Fernandes.

The Portuguese club have already turned down offers from both Ajax and Borussia Dortmund, and the Tynesiders have now positioned themselves for a potential move.

Their offer could reach as much as €25m (£21.3m) if certain targets are met, and the Magpies could even let him stay in Braga to continue his development after signing him.

The Verdict: Worth a punt?

Indeed, Fernandes is still so young at just 16 years of age, so signing him would be quite a punt from Newcastle.

He became a record-breaker during the 2021/22 season when he became the youngest player to feature in the Portuguese top flight when he was just 15, but he has made an impression at that level, scoring three goals in 11 games (Transfermarkt).

Nonetheless, while spending as much as £21.3m on him would be a gamble, money is no object to the wealthy owners at St James’ Park, so Fernandes could be worth it in the long-term.

In other news, find out who is now ‘on verge’ of leaving St James’ Park

Reliable journalist Matty Jones has revealed that Glasgow Rangers have now been ‘contacted’ over the possible signing of Josh McPake.

The Lowdown: Rangers return

The 20-year-old is back at Ibrox after his loan spell at English League Two outfit Tranmere Rovers, his fifth temporary move away from his parent club.

He has only made one senior appearance for Rangers, a first round Europa League qualifier against St Joseph’s in July 2019, casting his long-term future into doubt going into the summer transfer window.

The Latest: Contact made over McPake

Taking to Twitter, Jones has revealed that Hartlepool United have now ‘contacted’ the Light Blues over potentially signing McPake on loan, with a number of other clubs also thought to be ‘interested’ in doing the same.

Sharing a corresponding article from The Northern Echo, he outlined: “Reliably informed that Pools have contacted Rangers about signing winger Josh McPake on loan. He’s made 64 senior appearances at the age of 20 with 37 of those games being played in League Two. Other clubs also interested.”

The Verdict: Just get rid

McPake has already been out on loan five times already in his fledgling career so far, so another such move is unlikely to benefit him or Rangers much further.

Thus, the Teddy Bears should just be looking to get rid at this point, assuming that he is not in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s plans going into the new season.

Dubbed a ‘really exciting’ signing by Morecambe manager Stephen Robinson when they acquired him on loan last July, perhaps a permanent move to the lower leagues of English football would best suit the 20-year-old, and then the Gers could finally get the winger off their books for good.

In other news, find out who is now ‘close’ to leaving Ibrox here!

Liverpool are among a number of elite European clubs interested in signing Benfica striker Darwin Nunez this summer, according to a fresh transfer report.

The Lowdown: Nunez linked with Liverpool

The 22-year-old has enjoyed a wonderful season for the Portuguese giants, scoring 26 goals and registering four assists in just 28 Primeira Liga appearances.

Nunez has been linked with a move to Liverpool in recent days, with the Uruguayan potentially seen as a replacement for Sadio Mane, who seems set leave Anfield this summer.

A fresh transfer report suggests that the youngster could indeed be a Reds player next season.

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The Latest: Liverpool ‘interested’ in Nunez

According to Sport Witness, a source has informed them that Liverpool are one of ‘several interested’ clubs when it comes to Nunez.

Real Madrid, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are also mentioned in the report, with the possibility of a summer bidding war for the highly-rated striker.

The Verdict: Reds’ next attacking superstar?

Nunez certainly looks like a player with incredible potential – Diego Forlan has called his compatriot ‘spectacular’ – so Liverpool’s interest in him is exciting as Jurgen Klopp looks to build his next great attack.

The Uruguay international outlined his brilliance against the Reds twice in 2021/22, scoring home and away against Klopp’s side in the Champions League, and he looked a lively presence throughout that quarter-final tie in April.

At 22, there is still plenty of time for Nunez to mature into an even more formidable striker, especially if he is playing under Klopp and alongside world-class forwards like Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz.

In other news, Liverpool are reportedly still in the hunt to sign one player. Find out who it is here.

Newcastle United have made an enquiry for Bayer Leverkusen star Moussa Diaby with the Magpies keen to invest heavily this summer.

What’s the story?

That’s according to the Telegraph, who claim that Newcastle boss Eddie Howe wants to add a wide forward to his squad this summer with the northeast club making enquiries over a deal for the 22-year-old winger.

Diaby is now a senior French international and helped Leverkusen qualify for the Champions League this season with the German outfit finishing third in the Bundesliga.

The Frenchman still has three years left on his current deal at the BayArena and is therefore expected to cost in excess of £40m if a deal is to be struck this window.

Newcastle must sign Diaby

With Allan Saint-Maximin a firm fan-favourite whilst being one of Newcastle’s best players, having Diaby on the opposite flank alongside his fellow countryman would be a mouthwatering concept for the Toon Army.

Having spent three seasons in Leverkusen after joining from Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, this campaign has been Diaby’s best to date.

Described as “clever” by teammate Kerem Demirbay,  the 22-year-old finished the season with 17 goals and 14 assists in 42 appearances across all competitions, an improvement on last term’s ten goals and 15 assists in 43 appearances.

There is plenty of interest surrounding the Frenchman, who now has five caps for his country, with the wide man one of Europe’s hottest prospects on the flank.

Newcastle are expected to be busy this summer with the upcoming transfer window the first summer window under the ownership of PIF who have already demonstrated how deep their pockets really are.

The captures of Bruno Guimares and Kieran Trippier in January laid down a marker for what is to be expected from the Magpies over the coming seasons as they look to build a monstrous proposition.

Had it not been for a woeful start to the season under Steve Bruce, Howe’s side could’ve genuinely been in with a shout of securing a place in Europe with Newcastle finishing 11th, despite not winning their first league game of the campaign until December.

With Diaby alone, the Toon Army would massively upgrade their attack with the 22-year-old surely set for plenty of speculation this summer with numerous suitors keen.

AND in other news, Howe can ruthlessly axe £63k-p/w deadwood as PIF plot “insane” £40m Newcastle signing…

Leeds United have reportedly enquired about the availability of Barcelona starlet Ez Abde, according to Spanish newspaper Sport (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown: Top talent

Signed by Barcelona B in 2019 from Hercules, the 20-year-old winger progressed into Xavi’s first-team plans during the 2021/22 campaign.

Abde ended the season with 11 senior outings for the Catalan giants, having scored twice and provided seven assists in 20 appearances for the B team.

Despite seemingly having a bright future in Spain, it appears that Leeds are keen on bringing the Moroccan to the Premier League…

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The latest: Leeds interested in Abde

As per Sport, translated by Sport Witness, Leeds have ‘mentioned’ the name of Abde whilst discussing other deals with Barcelona – perhaps the widely-speculated transfer of Raphinha to Camp Nou.

It is suggested that Wolves – who loaned Adama Traore to the La Liga club in January – also enquired about the possibility of signing the 20-year-old.

Under contract at Camp Nou until 2024 (Transfermarkt), the report makes no mention of a desire from Barcelona to sell the youngster, who was hailed as ‘extraordinary’ by Xavi following a 2-2 draw against Osasuna in which the versatile attacker scored and also completed five successful dribbles in a 7.2-rated performance from Sofascore.

The verdict: Smart move

Equally adept on either wing, signing Abde amidst the possibility of either or both of Raphinha and Jack Harrison departing would be a smart piece of business from Jesse Marsch and Victor Orta.

The talented starlet completed 3.4 dribbles per game during 10 La Liga outings in his breakthrough season at that level, highlighting a penchant for beating defenders which would be welcomed with open arms at Elland Road, where nobody averaged more than two successful dribbles per match in 2021/22.

Boasting stylistic similarities with the likes of Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha, Sevilla ace Lucas Ocampos and the aforementioned Traore (Fbref), Abde is certainly one to watch as the next generation of talent comes through at Barcelona, and Leeds would be wise to remain attentive to the possibility of this capture.

In other news, Leeds are eyeing up another signing after Aaronson. Find out who it is here

Leeds United remain interested in Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino, according to a report from David Lynch, writing for Anfield Watch. 

The lowdown: Long-standing admiration

Leeds were heavily linked with a move for Minamino during the January transfer window and even had approaches turned down, while there was also interest elsewhere from French Ligue 1 club AS Monaco.

Since then, the Japan international has remained a bit-part player on Merseyside despite scoring in the midweek Premier League victory over Southampton.

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Now, perhaps unsurprisingly, Whites’ boss Jesse Marsch could be weighing up a possible reunion at Elland Road with the versatile ace whom he selected on 22 occasions during their time together at Red Bull Salzburg.

The latest: Marsch loves him

As per the report from Anfield Watch, Leeds were indeed ‘among the clubs’ that attempted to make a deal happen in January.

It’s claimed that Liverpool will demand a fee in the region of £17million for Minamino and the former Southampton loanee is still ‘attracting interest’ from Yorkshire and Inter Milan.

The report also states that should Leeds avoid relegation this weekend then Marsch will ‘renew their attempts’ to land the 39-cap ace who is said to be ‘receptive’ to the possibility of making the switch.

Marsch is a huge fan of the player, having gushed over his abilities when Liverpool first signed him.

The verdict: Go all out

Despite a lack of regular opportunities since joining Liverpool, Minamino continues to prove his quality when called upon, scoring ten goals and providing one assist in just 24 appearances across all competitions this season.

In truth, the inability to break into Jurgen Klopp’s first team has been through no fault of the gifted Japanese attacker and was instead caused by a lengthy settling in period as the pandemic struck followed by the arrival of instant superstar signings Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz.

Dsecribed as being a ‘very clever’ operator by Marsch following his transfer to the Premier League, Minamino’s ability to play in both wide and central positions would make him a huge addition to the Leeds squad and Director of Football Victor Orta should desperately be attempting to make this deal come to fruition.

In other news: Orta now finally set to accept defeat as Leeds plot exit for Bielsa ‘mistake’ – opinion.