Everton: "Quality" £20m star will be "veering away" from joining Dyche

Everton target Anthony Elanga is 'veering away' from a move to Goodison Park and will instead keep his 'options open' this summer as he finds himself out of favour at Manchester United, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Is Anthony Elanga moving to Everton?

As per BBC Sport, Everton have been interested in Elanga this window and Manchester United are believed to be open to letting him go for a fee in the region of £15-20 million.

Nevertheless, The Daily Mail report that Elanga isn't keen on a move to Goodison Park this summer and has in fact turned down the chance to work under Sean Dyche as he assesses his options.

The outlet claim that Elanga and Everton have held discussions over a potential switch; however, the player has 'ruled out' the possibility of heading to the Toffees over doubts over his suitability as a player to Dyche's tactical framework.

Elanga has previously been linked with Everton and was close to joining the club on loan in January before his move was blocked by Manchester United at the last minute, according to The Manchester Evening News.

Intriguingly, the same publication state that Nottingham Forest have also expressed a desire to try and take Elanga to the City Ground and it is rumoured that Manchester United could half their asking price to £10 million.

And, it now looks as if he is set to join the Nottinghamshire club.

Last term, Elanga, who was hailed as a "quality" player, made 26 appearances in all competitions for Manchester United, registering two assists in total, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to Football FanCast, transfer insider Jones doesn't think that Elanga will envisage himself moving to Everton any time soon.

Jones stated: "Elanga looked like he was going to be, not a central figure at Man Utd, but certainly a first-team figure at Man Utd at one stage and he was probably enjoying being part of that trajectory. If he's going to contemplate a move. I think that he'll want to be veering away from the side that has been so much of the game on the back foot and that are going to be relying a lot on set pieces and moments in games rather than dominating them. Maybe he's just trying to keep his options open to make sure that he lands a move that actually suits him, but from an Everton point of view, yeah, I think it'd be quite disappointing as he holds good value in this market."

Who else does Sean Dyche want to bring to Everton?

Renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has detailed that Villarreal forward Arnaut Danjuma is closing in on a move to Everton, stating on Twitter: "Danjuma will undergo medical tests as new Everton player in the next days, it could be weekend — not today. Agreement reached on loan deal from Villarreal until June 2024, as reported earlier. Danjuma has accepted — he already spoke to Sean Dyche. Here we go."

Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto is reportedly willing to swap Elland Road for Goodison Park this summer, though a fee is still to be agreed by both parties, as per FootballTransfers.

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Ajax striker Brian Brobbey is being lined up as a potential solution to Everton's goalscoring woes and boss Dyche is keen on pushing a move through for the Dutchman, as per Football Insider.

Everton look like they're about to start ramping up their transfer business and it could be an exciting few weeks for Toffees' supporters as new arrivals draw closer.

Chelsea Closing In On Signing Of £80m Midfielder

Chelsea are reportedly closing in on the £80m signing of Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo, according to an exciting new transfer update.

Do Chelsea want to sign Moises Caicedo?

The future of the £15,000-a-week Seagulls star has been one of the biggest transfer sagas of the summer window so far, with numerous clubs interested in signing him.

Caicedo was one of Brighton's top performers last season, shining under both Graham Potter and Roberto De Zerbi, seeing his stock rise hugely in the process. While his current club are desperate to retain his services, having already lost Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool, it is looking increasingly difficult for them, especially as he wants to leave.

Chelsea has emerged as the strong favourites to acquire the 21-year-old's signature, with the Blues and by extension new manager Mauricio Pochettino seeing him as the ideal replacement for N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic in the middle of the park. Now, it looks as though his move to Stamford Bridge could be nearing its conclusion, in what represents a positive update.

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Are Chelsea signing Moises Caicedo?

According to a key claim from Football Insider, Caicedo is now closer than ever to joining Chelsea, with an £80m move on the verge of coming to fruition:

"Chelsea are confident of securing a deal for Moises Caicedo worth £80million in total, sources have told Football Insider. Caicedo has already agreed personal terms with the Blues and his potential move to Stamford Bridge is now edging closer. The 21-year-old has been a long-term target for the London club and is believed to be keen on the move.

"Mauricio Pochettino’s side have been pushing hard to sign the midfielder and are closing in on an £80m deal following new discussions in the last hours."

This is great news for Chelsea, who have seen Caicedo as a top target for some time now, and he has the potential to be a game-changing signing in midfield, assuming the move does go through.

The Ecuadorian has the rare talent of being a top-class midfielder both in and out of possession, proving to be equally adept at pressing opponents and winning tackles as he is at keeping the ball ticking over. Last season, no Brighton player averaged more tackles per game in the Premier League than his tally of 2.7, while of those to have started 10 games or more in the competition, only Lewis Dunk (90.4%) had a higher pass completion rate than his 88.8% for the Seagulls.

It still isn't guaranteed that Chelsea will get Caicedo – a move to Liverpool isn't completely out of the question, amid rumours are several experienced stars moving on, including Jordan Henderson and Fabinho – but it would be a big surprise at this point if he wasn't plying his trade in west London next season.

He could be seen as a fantastic option alongside Enzo Fernandez in midfield – Jamie Redknapp has hailed him as both "brilliant" and "magnificent" – in what could be a vibrant young partnership for many years to come. Big strides are needed from Chelsea in the Premier League next season, in order to get back into the top four, and snapping up Caicedo could go a long way to making that happen.

Newcastle Could Replace Schar With £15m Warrior At St James’

Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon capped off a long season with a winner’s medal at the U21 European Championship on Saturday.

The Toon winger helped his country to win the tournament as they beat Spain U21s 1-0 in the final in Georgia, with Liverpool’s Curtis Jones scoring the only goal of the match.

Eddie Howe will surely have been paying attention to his attacker’s performances across the competition but other players may have caught his eye in the process.

The Magpies were linked with interest in Manchester City central defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis earlier this summer and the U21 captain was a rock at the back throughout the Euros.

He started five of their six matches, only missing out on their last group-stage clash with Germany, as England managed to end the tournament without conceding a single goal.

PIF must now free up the funds to allow Dan Ashworth and Howe to sign the 21-year-old as he could be the dream heir to Fabian Schar at St. James’ Park in the years to come.

How good is Taylor Harwood-Bellis?

The 21-year-old's performances for club and country over the last nine months suggest that the colossal defender, who is reportedly valued at £15m by City, has the potential to be an excellent player for the Magpies.

He averaged a phenomenal Sofascore rating of 7.26 at the U21 Euros and won an impressive 86% of his ground duels, while also boasting a 90% pass accuracy.

His form for England came off the back of an exceptional season with Burnley in the Championship where the 6 foot 2 ace averaged an impressive Sofascore rating of 7.21 over 32 league appearances for the Clarets and came out on top in 65% of his battles on the ground.

Harwood-Bellis, who his former manager Tony Mowbray claimed has a "warrior mentality", is yet to make his Premier League debut, which means that it remains to be seen whether or not he will be able to translate his form for Burnley and England in the top-flight.

Burnley loanee Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

However, the potential is clearly there for an exciting youngster who could be the dream heir to 31-year-old Fabian Schar if he can make the step up.

The Switzerland international averaged a Premier League Sofascore rating of 7.13, which placed him fourth in the squad, and won 62% of his individual ground duels last season.

This indicates that the defensive titan could be an upgrade on the current Toon star if he can replicate his Championship form at the top level.

Schar also ranks above the average for players in his position in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions for progressive passes and progressive carries per 90 over the last 365 days, although he does not crack the top 25% in either statistic.

To put that into context, Harwood-Bellis is among the top 25% of centre-backs across the Men's Next Eight Competitions during the same period for both, while he sits in the top 4% for progressive passes per 90.

This suggests that the towering Englishman is capable of producing consistently excellent and dominant performances at the back while being superb at progressing play through his ability on the ball.

Therefore, the Manchester City prospect would be the perfect player to replace Schar as he has the potential to be a fantastic long-term signing for Newcastle.

Arsenal Plot Move For £26m Gem This Summer

Arsenal look to be plotting a move for Wolfsburg centre-back Micky van de Ven this summer as Mikel Arteta aims to strengthen his defensive options ahead of another Premier League title challenge next term.

What’s the latest on Micky van de Ven to Arsenal?

According to one recent report, the Gunners have been watching the Dutch defender ahead of a potential move, although it looks as though Tottenham Hotspur appear to be in the driving seat when it comes to signing him.

The north Londoners could secure themselves a bargain however if they were to make their interest concrete, with the Bundesliga outfit looking for a fee of around €30m (£26m) and this may tempt Arteta in making a swoop.

Could Arsenal sign Micky van de Ven?

Although Spurs do hold the upper hand, the Gunners could offer him Champions League football and this could be a major incentive with regard to any potential deal.

Arsenal conceded just 43 goals in the Premier League last term, the joint second lowest in the top flight, however, when they lost William Saliba to injury in March, they conceded 18 goals in just 11 matches, missing the presence of the Frenchman, and it is vital Arteta improves the depth at centre-back.

The 22-year-old was a positive influence last season for Wolfsburg, ranking first for accurate passes per game (44.6), sixth for tackles per game (1.4) and third for clearances per game (3.1), and throughout the whole Arsenal squad, only four players completed more accurate passes and only one made more clearances, suggesting that he could shine in their first team.

What could convince Arteta to make a move for the defender however is his forward-thinking mentality, as across Europe’s top five leagues, Van de Ven ranked in the top 10% for progressive carries per 90 (1.30) and in the top 7% for successful take ons per 90 (0.58) showing that he likes to bring the ball forward as often as possible and has the confidence to take players on regularly.

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He was lauded by journalist Ronan Murphy at the start of the year, who tweeted: “Van de Ven’s performances for Wolfsburg this season have him knocking on the door of the Netherlands international team. A giant on the pitch, he’s flourishing under head coach Niko Kovac.”

With 11 appearances for the Netherlands U21 side, a step-up to the senior team surely isn’t far away and given Arteta’s penchant for developing young players, signing the Dutchman this summer could give the club another potentially world-class option over the next few years.

Having clearly been 'flourishing' in Germany of late, Van de Ven could well continue that stellar rise at the Emirates next season.

Man United Transfer Update; Kylian Mbappe Bid Considered

Manchester United are considering entering the race to sign Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe, according to reports.

Could Man United sign Mbappe this summer?

The Red Devils appear to be on the hunt for a new marquee striker this summer ahead of Erik ten Hag’s second season in charge.

The club have a shortage of centre-forward options and could even move on Anthony Martial over the coming months, with the Frenchman one of 13 players up for sale.

Mbappe has been a player that has been mentioned, with potential new owner Sheikh Jassim reportedly planning a sensational move for the PSG forward.

Jassim feels like Mbappe “belongs” at Old Trafford, however, the Qatar group are still awaiting to see if their takeover bid will be accepted by the Glazers. However, there has been a further update on Mbappe regardless of who is in charge of United, with the forward entering the final 12 months of his PSG contract.

The Sun provided an update on Mbappe’s future, claiming any club who want to sign him over the coming months will need to pay £250m-plus – a figure which would smash the current transfer record at Old Trafford.

Manchester United are named alongside Liverpool and Real Madrid, with the report stating that the Red Devils are considering entering a transfer bidding war, although they add that the ongoing ownership questions at Old Trafford could hamper their ability to do business at that level.

PSG starKylian Mbappe

Has Kyllian Mbappe ever scored against Man United?

Mbappe, dubbed "electric" by journalist Matt Lawton, is a name known around the world and has contributed to an incredible 310 goals in 260 games for PSG. Still just 24 years of age, the France international also has 40 goals in 70 games for his country, including a hat-trick in the World Cup final last year.

Therefore, you can see why the forward would command such a huge fee and why Jassim would want to bring him to Manchester, possibly winning over supporters straight away, should a takeover go through.

Mbappe has played against United on four occasions in the Champions League, winning twice and losing the other two. He scored his first goal against the Red Devils back in the 2018/19 season at Old Trafford, and who knows, he could be looking to find the back of the net in Manchester on a regular basis if a transfer gathers pace.

Aston Villa Send Chiefs To Watch £15m "Turkish Messi"

Aston Villa have sent scouts to watch Fenerbahce star Arda Guler in action ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Arda Guler?

Guler is naturally an attacking midfielder who currently plies his trade in the Super Lig having graduated from his club’s academy back in 2021 where he’s since gone on to become a regular feature of Jorge Jesus’ first-team, registering 51 senior appearances to date.

The Turkey international still has another two years to run on his contract with his homeland side, but having emerged as their overall second-best-performing player last season with a WhoScored match rating of 7.28, appears to have caught the eye of Unai Emery.

Still just 18 years of age, Guler is still very much in the early development stages of his career, but having already started to show what he’s capable of on the main stage, numerous clubs are interested in securing his services to progress his skill set even further.

Are Aston Villa signing Guler?

According to TEAMtalk, Aston Villa chiefs were “in attendance” to watch Guler during Turkey’s 2-0 victory over Wales last Monday, making their first move ahead of a potential transfer. Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Brighton and Newcastle scouts were also present to assess the midfielder, alongside several other clubs around Europe.

Fenerbahce are “working hard” to get their prized asset to remain at his boyhood club for at least one more season and are ready to give him a “big pay rise” in return for increasing his release clause which currently stands at €17.5m (£15m).

Fenerbahce midfielder Arda Guler.

What could Guler bring to Villa Park?

Aston Villa and new president of football operations Monchi will know that Guler is naturally stronger in the offensive aspect of his game where his impressive performances throughout his career have seen him nicknamed the ‘Turkish Messi’, whereas Andrea Pirlo has called him a "very talented player" who has "quality" so he would bring a creative flair and prolific threat to B6.

The 2022/23 Europa League participant clocked up eight goal contributions (four goals and the same number of assists) in 20 Super Lig outings last season, with this impressive form during that time seeing him receive four man-of-the-match awards.

Fenerbahce’s gem also averaged two key passes and dribbles per league game during the previous term so is always looking to produce moments of magic for his teammates, and should he put pen to paper in the weeks ahead, he would only continue to excel under the guidance of Emery.

Arsenal Could Sign Sanchez 2.0 In ‘Electrifying’ £65m Star

Arsenal are reportedly leading the race for a Bundesliga ace, as Mikel Arteta aims to strengthen his side this summer.

The Gunners have been linked with a host of talent following the official opening of the transfer window last week, with one player showing signs of a once-loved hero in north London.

As reported by French outlet L’Equipe, relayed by Get French Football News last week, Bayer Leverkusen forward Moussa Diaby has been linked with a move to Arsenal.

The news suggested that the Londoners are ‘ahead’ of Premier League rivals Newcastle United in the race for the 23-year-old talent, who is valued at £65m by his club as reported by Evening Standard last month.

What could Moussa Diaby offer to Arsenal?

Lauded as “electrifying” by journalist Aaron Stokes, the right-winger could add essence to Arteta’s squad of a player that was once adored at Arsenal.

Indeed, Alexis Sanchez lit up Islington during his four seasons at the club, recording an outstanding 87 goals and assists in 122 Premier League appearances after signing from Barcelona in the summer of 2014 for £35m.

The winger was integral to Arsene Wenger’s plans at the club at the time, acting as the star man in a steadily progressing side.

Hailed as a “fighter” by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, the Chilean gave the club some of the best moments of the Emirates era before controversially departing for Manchester United with two FA Cups to his name.

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While his departure hurt in the capital, the talent and excitement that Sanchez provided won't be forgotten, and could be emulated in the near future by Diaby.

As highlighted by WhoScored, both Sanchez and Diaby share similar attributes. Chiefly, they are both deployed as wide players, with strengths in dribbling and attacking the final third.

In his final season at Arsenal, the Tocopilla-born gem averaged 3.6 shots per game, as well as 2.1 dribbles and 2.7 key passes per match, showcasing his fine abilities as a winger in his prime in the Premier League, via WhoScored.

At just 23-years-old, Diaby has recorded numbers that imply he could live up to the heights of Sanchez one day, as per WhoScored, the Frenchman recorded 2.4 shots, 1.8 key passes and 1.5 dribbles per game in the Bundesliga.

Still quite a raw asset, the Frenchman will need to improve his game to become a more creative player but it's clear that Leverkusen's star man has a lot of talent in his arsenal, as highlighted by his threat in front of goal.

As per FBref, the Paris-born ace averages 0.35 non-penalty xG per 90, placing him in the top 8% of wingers in Europe in this area. Like Sanchez, therefore, he is a potent threat capable of generating magic in the final third.

To make matters even more exciting, he could arrive as one of the quickest players in the team, with his top speed of 36.10 km/h trumping that of Gabriel Martinelli's 35.85 km/h but falling slightly below Bukayo Saka's 36.36 km/h.

Arteta could add to the talent that he already possesses at the club by signing Diaby, who is already demonstrating attributes similar to Sanchez during his time at Arsenal. However, with Newcastle also eyeing the forward, only time will tell if a deal materialises for the lively speedster.

Everton In The Race To Sign £60k-A-Week PL Midfielder

Everton are expected to be "in the race" to sign Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay this summer, according to a new transfer update.

Have Everton been linked with McTominay?

The £60,000-a-week Scot has had to accept being a bit-part player at Old Trafford this season, following the signings of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen last summer.

While McTominay clearly still did his bit in helping United win the EFL Cup and finish third in the Premier League, he only made 10 starts in the latter and came off the substitutes' bench 14 times, highlighting his squad role.

For that reason, it could be that the 26-year-old decides a fresh challenge needs to come his way this summer in order to become a key man elsewhere, rather than a solid cog in the machine. Everton have been linked with a move for him in the past, with the Blues eyeing him up as a strong option to bolster their midfield.

Now, a new update has emerged that further suggests the United man could be heading to Goodison Park in the near future.

Are Everton still in the hunt to sign McTominay?

According to Football Insider, Everton are "likely to be in the race to sign" McTominay in the summer window, with United "ready to listen to offers for the Scotland international following his limited involvement in the 2022-23 campaign".

That being said, the report does go on to add that he would cost the Blues "in excess of £20million", meaning it would be "very hard" for them to complete a move for him.

Should the situation resolve itself and Everton emerge in a strong position to sign McTominay this summer, he could be exactly what they are looking for, having been hailed as a "special" player by Jose Mourinho during his time at Old Trafford.

While he is arguably no longer at the level required to be a key figure at United, there is no shame in that, and his quality could really shine through at a lower-ranked club such as Everton. He has now racked up 209 appearances for the Red Devils, not to mention winning 38 caps for Scotland, and his box-to-box dynamism could boost the Blues at both ends of the pitch.

In 2022/23, McTominay averaged 1.9 clearances per game in the Premier League, as well as scoring seven goals for club and country, two of which came in a famous 2-0 win for Scotland over Spain back in March, showing how effective he can be in attack and defence, which could be the key to Everton's fortunes improving after another close shave with relegation.

Sheff Wednesday Can Repeat Ihiekwe Trick With £1.5-p/w Ace

After defeating Barnsley in the play-off final to seal a return to the Championship, Sheffield Wednesday look set to raid another of their South Yorkshire rivals this summer.

The Yorkshire Post suggests Wednesday are one of at least three Championship clubs; Millwall and Swansea City being two of the others – to have eyed up a move for Rotherham United forward Chiedozie Ogbene.

Who is Sheffield Wednesday target Chiedozie Ogbene?

Since arriving from Irish football in 2017, Ogbene has spent six seasons bouncing between League Two, League One and the Championship.

The Nigeria-born forward spent the 2022/23 campaign in the Championship with Rotherham, scoring eight goals in 39 appearances as the Millers suffered relegation back to the third tier.

Despite playing for a team struggling at the bottom end of the division, Ogbene continued to be picked by the Republic of Ireland last season, having pledged his allegiance to the nation in July 2020.

With four goals from 15 senior international caps, plus his team-high eight goals for Rotherham last season (Conor Washington was next highest with five), Ogbene will clearly feel he is better than a League One player.

Indeed, Ogbene was lauded as "spectacular" by Ireland boss Stephen Kenny last year after scoring one and assisting another in a 2-2 draw with the world's top-ranked national side Belgium.

Where would Ogbene fit in at Wednesday?

Wednesday are no strangers to poaching players from Rotherham, having signed Michael Ihiekwe and Michael Smith from their neighbours last summer. As regulars in the Owls' promotion-winning side, it is fair to say those two transfers paid off handsomely.

As pointed out by manager Darren Moore earlier this week in an interview with talkSPORT, it is imperative Wednesday get their transfer business spot on again as Championship football returns to Hillsborough.

"We have to consistently move forward and with the recruitment process it's essential that we bring the right ones in to keep the continuity of the club moving forward," he said.

As a free agent who was earning £1.5k-per-week this past year, according to Capology, the 26-year-old appears to be a smart gamble worth taking by second-tier clubs such as Wednesday.

There is room for Ogbene in the Wednesday side, too, with the former Cork City and Limerick player particularly impressing in terms of progressive carries (2.97 per game) and dribbles (1.5 per game).

To put that into some context, only one Wednesday player – Alex Mighten (1.1) – managed more than one successful dribble per game on average last season in League One.

Indeed, Ogbene ranks in the top 3% for progressive carries and top 7% for successful take-ons among his positional peers, so he is clearly a player who knows how to beat his man and get the ball forward.

After crossing paths with Rotherham by returning to the Championship last month, Wednesday are now well positioned to strike another blow and land one of their rivals' key assets.

Journalist Drops Big Wolves News Over £199k-A-Week Target

Wolves look highly unlikely to sign Barcelona youngster Ansu Fati this summer, according to an update from reliable journalist Steve Madeley.

Have Wolves been linked with Fati?

Wanderers managed to steady the ship last season, thanks to the arrival of Julen Lopetegui, who steered them clear of the Premier League relegation zone. There is no doubt that improvements are required next term, however, and for that to happen, top quality new faces need to arrive at Molineux.

One individual who has been linked with a move to Wolves a number of times is Fati, with the £199,000-a-week winger potentially leaving Barca during the summer transfer window.

The 20-year-old has been a highly-rated young star for a number of years now, but he has struggled to be a key man under Xavi in 2022/23, starting only 12 of his side's 38 La Liga matches.

While the idea of the Spaniard in a Wolves shirt is exciting, given the talent he possesses, an update on the situation explains why it now doesn't look like coming to fruition in the next few months.

Ansu Fati in action for Barcelona.

Do Wanderers still want Fati signing?

Taking to Twitter, Madeley claimed that Fati is not interested in joining Wolves this summer, while the club themselves won't entertain the idea of signing a player who doesn't want to be there:

"On Fati: he doesn't want to join Wolves, Wolves don't want players who aren't fully on board and they aren't expecting to do big-money deals this summer. So unless things change dramatically, it's a non-starter."

This is the right stance for Wolves to take, in fairness, with an unhappy player at Molineux having the potential to have a detrimental effect on team morale and the general happiness within the club.

In an ideal world, Fati would be jumping at the chance to be in a Wanderers shirt and he would be snapped up, considering teammate Eric Garcia has hailed him as a "magic" footballer, but he seemingly sees Wolves as too big a step down.

Lopetegui needs to focus on alternatives instead now, and eye up players who believe in his project in England, coming in and bolstering his attacking options in the process. A disappointing tally of just 31 goals in the Premier League has to be improved upon – it was the lowest amount in the division, which says a lot about their struggles and highlights the need for attacking reinforcements.

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