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Even those in charge of bringing Alfredo Morelos to Rangers in 2017 would perhaps not have predicted the impact he would have at Ibrox, but Ross Wilson may be thinking he can repeat that masterclass this summer by signing HJK Helsinki striker Kai Meriluoto.

What’s the word?

According to reports from Finland, Rangers are interested in signing the 19-year-old forward and could make a move for him during the transfer window.

Football Scotland claim that the highly-rated teenager is attracting a lot of interest from other clubs as a result of his impressive form so far this season, while the report from Finland describes him as a “sharp moving and straightforward goal scorer.”

While fellow striker Antonio Colak is set to seal his move to Ibrox in the coming days, Meriluoto would perhaps be a signing for the future and could even replace Morelos in the future, should the Colombian complete a rumoured transfer away this summer.

Another “world-class” transfer?

Since signing for Rangers five years ago, Morelos has gone on to make 224 appearances for the Teddy Bears, in which he has contributed an impressive 113 goals and 51 assists.

‘El Bufalo’ also became Rangers’ all-time top scorer in Europe, smashing Ally McCoist’s long-standing record, which emphasises just how impressive a signing he was.

After an incredible performance against Porto in the Europa League in 2019, former manager Steven Gerrard was full of praise for Morelos, saying:

“Buff’s composure and finish was world-class. I think tonight you see the importance he is to me, to Rangers.

“It’s the reason why there’s so much fuss and so much talk about Alfredo and why he’s linked with so many teams – because he’s an outstanding footballer.”

While there is no guarantee that Meriluoto’s career with Rangers would follow the same trajectory, his form in Finland certainly suggests that he knows where the back of the net is.

The teenage striker was prolific in HJK Helsinki’s reserve side, hitting 31 goals in 56 appearances, while he also popped up with one goal in three appearances for the senior side.

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He was sent out on loan to fellow Finnish side Ilves Tampere for the 2022 season and has hit an impressive eight goals in 15 appearances thus far, so it is easy to see why he is attracting interest from abroad.

If Wilson can bring him to Ibrox this summer, then it may well prove to be a repeat of the inspired signing of Morelos in 2017.

And, in other news… Wilson plotting Rangers bid to sign £6m wizard, he would be a dream Aribo replacement

Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Nelson Semedo is on the radar of numerous clubs, according to a report from a Spanish news outlet. 

The lowdown: Big-money arrival

Signed for £36.8m from Barcelona two years ago (Sky Sports), the 28-year-old has been a regular feature under both Nuno Espirito Santo and Bruno Lage.

The Portugal international has made 63 outings for the Old Gold since arriving at Molineux, although he was absent for the end of the 2021/22 campaign due to the recurrence of a hamstring injury.

Now into the final 12 months of his contract, albeit with Wolves having a two-year extension option (Transfermarkt), it appears as though an imminent decision could be forthcoming on Semedo’s future…

The latest: Transfer interest in Semedo

As per Spanish sources, Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Chelsea are all keen on signing the 24-cap right-back this summer.

It is claimed that Semedo is ‘one of the most famous names in the current transfer market’ as clubs take a close look at the Portuguese ace.

The report also states that it is ‘certain’ that the man who was branded ‘classy’ and ‘relentless’ by Ryan Leister, Wolves columnist for Birmingham Live, ‘will leave’ during the current transfer window.

The verdict: Cash in

While it might seem ruthless, selling Semedo at this juncture regardless of whether or not the contract clause is triggered would be the best move from the Molineux hierarchy.

Prior to his fitness issues last term, the £19.8m-valued full-back scored once and provided one assist in 29 appearances across all competitions for Lage’s side, earning a 6.77 Sofascore rating whilst winning an impressive 5.4 duels on average per Premier League outing in the process.

However, the 29-year-old has also been the recipient of criticism from the likes of Tim Spiers over some unconvincing performances during this time at Molineux.

Despite already sending Ki-Jana Hoever out on loan to PSV Eindhoven this summer, leaving Wolves bereft of alternatives at right-back, Lage and executive chairman Jeff Shi should go in search of at least one marquee option and therefore be willing to sanction the departure of Semedo should suitable offers be forthcoming.

A huge Everton transfer update has been dropped which their supporters will surely love.

What’s the news?

According to journalist Matt Law (via The Telegraph), Tottenham Hotspur are willing to let Lucas Moura join Everton if a move for Richarlison can be agreed.

The Toffees will be looking to get as much as they can for the Brazilian, with a fee in excess of £50m being reported.

This could work out to be a good deal for Everton, receiving a player of the calibre of Moura while also selling someone who wants to leave.

Everton fans will love it

Everton manager Frank Lampard should be doing all that he can to ensure that this move goes through, as he can reinvest the funds from the Richarlison sale into other areas of the squad, plus he will have Moura added to the squad.

The Brazilian played 45 times for Spurs last season, scoring six times and recording eight assists, still his lowest goal tally since he joined the north Londoners in 2018.

Despite the decreased output, he still impressed in a team which had a transitional season under Nuno Espirito Santo and then Antonio Conte, making one key pass and taking 1.1 shots per match and creating 11 big chances.

The 29-year-old also completed an impressive 61% of his dribbles, won 60% of his aerial duels and made 0.7 tackles per match.

His abilities at both ends of the pitch were on display last season and his versatility will surely be a big bonus for Lampard. With Everton already reported to have secured the signing of defender James Tarkowski on a free transfer, there will be ambitions of more deals being completed over the next few weeks.

The Goodison Park faithful will surely love to see the potential addition of Moura, and there will be genuine hopes that the club can improve on their dreadful 16th-placed Premier League finish from last season.

AND in other news, Everton now given green light for “sensational” £25m target, it would be an “unreal” coup

Tottenham Hotspur could look to sign Benoit Badiashile amid interest from his club, AS Monaco, in backup centre-back Davinson Sanchez…

What’s the word?

That’s according to ever-reliable football.london reporter Alasdair Gold, who delivered the intriguing claim during a recent Q&A with supporters.

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Speaking about Spurs’ left-sided defensive targets, he said: “I understand Monaco have shown an interest in Davinson Sanchez and I do wonder whether Spurs might look at Benoit Badiashile, their France U21 international left-sided centre-back if any discussions take place.”

The 21-year-old, who stands at a whopping 6 foot 4, has attracted interest from Premier League rivals Chelsea in recent weeks.

Bye-bye Sanchez?

Antonio Conte and his recruitment staff are certainly in the market for a new left-footed central defender, but the likes of Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni and Josko Gvardiol of RB Leipzig are proving to be expensive or out of reach thus far.

That means their attention is likely to soon turn elsewhere, so Gold’s suggestion that they could move for Badiashile is certainly plausible and perhaps something they should be looking at instead.

Valued at £27m by Transfermarkt, the Monaco colossus may well cost half the price of either of the aforementioned names, whilst he is surely a better option to some of the other alternatives named, largely Barcelona flop Clement Lenglet.

The France U21 gem has been lauded as a “great talent” by ASM vice president Oleg Petrov, whilst scout Jacek Kulig has suggested that Badiashile is the “definition of a complete centre-back, adding that the 21-year-old is “known for his ball-playing ability and composure.”

Indeed, this certainly appears to be the case as he ranks amongst the top 7% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues for progressive passes per 90 (4.56), meaning he is consistently playing the ball forward into the opposition’s half rather than sideways or backwards.

The Frenchman also ranks inside the top 8% for interceptions (2.96 per 90) and the top 12% for aerial duels won (3.86 per 90), via FBRef, who also make him most comparable to Dortmund veteran Mats Hummels.

Given the fact that Sanchez, who cost a whopping £42m, has often been slammed as a “liability” around north London, it would be wise to try and swap him for an elite talent with bags of potential in Badiashile.

Sporting director Fabio Paratici must now consider the Monaco sensation heading into next season.

AND in other news, talkSPORT man delivers Youri Tielemans to Spurs verdict…

West Ham United insider Claret & Hugh has shared some interesting transfer news out of Rush Green involving Brighton star Yves Bissouma.

The Lowdown: West Ham prepare…

Tasked with maintaining his team’s incredible rise over the last two seasons, Irons manager David Moyes is currently weighing up how best to strengthen his squad for the 2022/23 Premier League season.

The Scotsman reportedly plans to strengthen in key areas amid a real shake-up at West Ham with four departures having already been confirmed.

Andriy Yarmolenko, David Martin, Ryan Fredericks and the retired Mark Noble have all departed Rush Green, with many now wondering who could come in to take their place.

The Latest: Agents offer Bissouma…

According to Claret & Hugh, Moyes has been ‘offered’ the chance to sign Bissouma from Brighton, with representatives making an ‘approach’ to West Ham.

However, the Scotsman is believed to have turned down the chance, as he has earmarked Southampton star James Ward-Prowse as a priority target.

The Verdict: Right call?

This report claims the Seagulls now value Bissouma at £25m, a seismic 50% drop from his £50m valuation in January (The Daily Mail).

The Mali midfielder is about to enter the final year of his contract at the Amex Stadium and could now be snapped up for a reasonable fee, potentially making his signing a really good opportunity for any interested suitor.

Called a ‘monster’ by members of the media (Aaron Stokes, The Chronicle), the 25-year-old finished 2021/22 as one of Brighton’s best-performing players, making more tackles and interceptions per 90 than any of his team-mates (WhoScored).

Indeed, turning down the opportunity to lodge a cut-price bid for Bissouma could certainly be considered a bold move by Moyes.

In other news: West Ham officials dispatched as GSB eye ‘superstar’ signing for Moyes! Find out more here.

According to reports, an exciting Tottenham Hotspur transfer rumour has come to light involving Everton forward Richarlison.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye Richarlison move…

As per reliable sources, Spurs and their manager Antonio Conte hold an interest in signing the Brazil international, with journalist Bruno Andrade of UOL Esporte even claiming that advanced talks have been held.

While the likes of David Ornstein (The Athletic) have said things aren’t moving quite so quickly, some of his sources ‘close’ to the Toffees believe that a Tottenham move for the 25-year-old is inevitable (Twitter).

Conte is eyeing a alternative centre-forward option to Harry Kane, with one reporter now sharing an exciting rumoured Premier League development involving Richarlison.

The Latest: Tottenham rumour emerges…

According to a Turkish journalist who writes for Italian news outlet Calcio In Pillole, the South American is ‘closer to joining Tottenham than he is Arsenal’.

Spurs’ north London rivals are apparently in the chase as well, but it is now believed that the Lilywhites have leaped ahead of them in the pursuit to sign the 25-year-old.

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The Verdict: Promising…

Richarlison would be a brilliant signing for Conte, especially if Everton sell for less than their desired transfer fee, which is reported by Ornstein to be a possibility,

The Brazil international finished 2021/22 as Everton’s top scorer and provider of assists, marking himself out as a potent threat in the final third. He also ranked as Frank Lampard’s best overall performer by average match rating, whilst taking more shots at goal per 90 minutes than any other Everton player (WhoScored).

If Spurs can get a deal over the line for the 25-year-old, it’s safe to say that Conte would be more than pleased.

In other news: ‘Confirmation…’ – Alasdair Gold makes Spurs transfer claim with ‘early’ developments expected…find out more here

Wolves have been given fresh hope of signing Valencia winger Goncalo Guedes, with the La Liga club in need of generating money this summer.

The Lowdown: Guedes linked with Wolves move

The 25-year-old enjoyed an impressive 2021/22 season for Valencia, scoring 11 goals and registering six assists in La Liga and standing out as his side’s best player – none of his teammates registered a higher average match rating, managed more goals or provided more assists.

Wolves have been linked with a move for Guedes in the recent past, as Bruno Lage looks to make attacking reinforcements, but a move is yet to be sealed.

That could be about to change, however, following a new update from Spain.

The Latest: Wanderers given fresh hope

According to Plaza Deportiva [via Sport Witness], Wolves ‘have already sounded’ Guedes out as a summer target, with Valencia needing to generate €30million (£25.5m) in the coming months.

They need funds ‘as soon as possible’, potentially playing into Technical Director Scott Sellars’ hands.

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The Verdict: Snap him up Scott

Wolves were lacking attacking thrust throughout last season, scoring 38 goals in as many matches in the Premier League, and Guedes could be someone who improves that area of weakness.

The Portuguese gem has 66 goal involvements in 178 appearances for Valencia (36 goals and 30 assists), highlighting the end product he possesses, and he could provide great competition for the likes of Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence.

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With Adama Traore possibly moving on permanently this summer, the funds would likely be available for Wolves to snap up Guedes, with his peak years still likely to be ahead of him.

In other news, a key Wolves transfer update has emerged. Read more here.

Aston Villa could well be nearing a notable summer setback, following an update on the future of assistant coach Michael Beale.

What’s the word?

As per the Telegraph’s John Percy, the Englishman is close to leaving his post at Villa Park, with Championship side Queens Park Rangers said to be keen on appointing the 41-year-old as their new manager.

Having previously reported that Beale was a potential candidate for the Loftus Road outfit, the respected journalist has now taken to Twitter to reveal that an agreement is now imminent: “QPR are close to appointing Michael Beale as manager. Beale is very keen to become a No 1 and AVFC have known there was always a chance of this happening since appointing Steven Gerrard.”

The west Londoners have been searching for a new permanent appointment following the departure of former Brentford boss Mark Warburton at the end of the 2021/22 campaign, after three seasons at the helm.

Gerrard fuming

After the highs of Villa’s early summer transfer business, this latest news will no doubt bring manager Steven Gerrard crashing back down to earth, with the Liverpool legend set to lose his trusty right-hand man in the coming days or weeks.

Formerly a part of the youth set-up with the Merseysiders, Beale was plucked by Gerrard following the latter man’s appointment as Rangers boss in the summer of 2018, with the duo going on to help guide the Old Firm outfit to a first league title in ten years in 2021.

The highly-rated coach then linked up with the former England captain again in the Midlands following Dean Smith’s sacking in November, with the expectation seemingly having been that he would remain a key part of the coaching set-up moving forward.

As it is, the Villans’ number two is now set for pastures new, leaving behind a notable void that will have to be swiftly filled before the Premier League resumes in early August.

For those on the outside looking in, it may not be too great a setback to lose an assistant coach, although Gerrard is acutely aware of the impact that his colleague has on the training pitch, previously stating of his compatriot that: “It would take me 15 to 20 years to become as good as Michael Beale as an on-pitch coach, delivering sessions on a daily basis, so I let Mick be Mick because he’s the expert.

“What I’ll never do is try to do someone else’s job when they are better than me at doing it. A lot of people won’t have a clue what Michael Beale does on the training pitch, but what he does is really quite special.”

Dubbed a “genius” by former Gers striker Jermain Defoe, Beale has also been credited as the “brains” behind the operation in Gerrard’s coaching staff, according to Northern Ireland international Kyle Lafferty.

That glowing praise highlights just what a loss the Bromley-born gem will be to his current employers, with the Villa boss, in particular, set to be impacted the most by a man who has been integral to the early success of his managerial career.

Gerrard may be getting the backing at boardroom level in terms of transfers, yet he will be enraged by potentially losing such a dressing room and training ground asset.

IN other news, Gerrard can land AVFC’s next Southgate with move for “outstanding” £120k-p/w warrior

Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Luka Ivanusec to Elland Road in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Croatian media outlet Germanijak, who claim that Victor Orta has now restarted his pursuit of the GNK Dinamo Zagreb attacking midfielder ahead of Leeds’ 2022/23 campaign.

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The report goes on to state that the Whites were believed to have agreed a €15m (£12.5m) deal for in the January window, only for the 23-year-old and his representatives to back out as a result of the Whites’ precarious position in the Premier League table at the time.

Imagine him & Aaronson

With Victor Orta having recently sealed the £25m signing of Red Bull Salzburg starlet Brenden Aaronson, the prospect of the Spaniard adding yet another extremely impressive addition to Jesse Marsch’s attacking options in the shape of Ivanusec is sure to be one that will excite the Elland Road faithful.

Indeed, despite his season being hampered by a groin injury, the £11.25m-rated talent still managed to catch the eye over his 27 1.HNL appearances, scoring three goals, registering five assists and creating four big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.9 shots, making 1.4 key passes and completing 1.7 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the £6k-per-week attacker – who can also comfortably operate in central midfield and on either flank – average a SofaScore match rating of 7.09, with the 23-year-old playing a key role in Dinamo’s title-winning campaign.

The player who Sacha Pisani dubbed “exquisite” also impressed in European competition, scoring one goal and providing two assists over seven appearances in Champions League qualification, as well as bagging one goal and one assist over six Europa League outings.

As such, it is clear to see that the signing of Ivanusec – especially for a fee of around £12.5m – would be a fantastic piece of business for Orta to get over the line this summer, with the Croatia international undoubtedly possessing the potential to form a deadly partnership with Aaronson in Marsch’s new-look Leeds midfield.

AND in other news: Orta can unearth next Raphinha as Leeds now eye “spectacular” £12.5m-rated “marvel”

Everton will travel to London to take on Arsenal in their final game of the season after securing safety in the Premier League for next season following a victory over Crystal Palace earlier this week.

Frank Lampard will be relieved and feel that a weight has been lifted going into the game at the Emirates this afternoon, and it will be the first game that the Toffees boss will manage that doesn’t have detrimental repercussions if the side fails to take all three points.

With that being said, Lampard could make some drastic changes in his team to give players who have been rarely seen the golden opportunity to put their mark on the final Premier League game, and Anwar El Ghazi should be unleashed in the starting line-up against Mikel Arteta’s side.

The Aston Villa loanee made a six-month move to Merseyside in January when Rafa Benitez was still the Everton manager, but since his signing the management team has changed with Lampard appointed on Deadline Day, leaving El Ghazi as the forgotten man in the squad.

The £38k-per-week ace who was hailed “unstoppable” by former Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton, has only been given 11 minutes of football at Goodison Park over the last five months but has proven back at his parent club that he has the quality to positively affect the game against Arsenal today.

Last season El Ghazi scored 11 goals in 31 appearances, matching Richarlison’s goal tally for Everton this season, but it’s not just his goal-scoring capabilities that make him a danger against opponents.

According to SofaScore, in his 28 Premier League appearances for Aston Villa last season, the 27-year-old was successful in the majority of his dribbles (53%), taking 2.3 shots on goal on average per game, creating one big chance and making 0.9 key passes per game, proving that if given the chance he can terrify Arsenal.

Considering his lack of game time it would seem highly unlikely that Everton will extend his stay at Goodison Park beyond his loan deal this season, however, if Lampard does give El Ghazi the nod against Arsenal it could be the perfect opportunity for the player to prove he has what it takes to play first-team football back at Aston Villa next season.

AND in other news: Frank axes 28 y/o “walking red card” & starts “remarkable” ace: Everton predicted XI