All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Aston Villa were given a green light in their pursuit of PSV’s Ivorian midfielder Ibrahim Sangare last week.

Earlier this month, a report from Sky Sports issued a claim from a close source detailing Sangare’s ambition that he wants to play in England’s top flight.

Those claims have been reiterated by the player himself who said: “Playing in the Premier League is not only a dream of mine but a dream of every footballer. That is the biggest and most important league in the world.”

In what is a double boost for Villa, it is said that the 24-year-old has a €35m (£30m) release clause in his contract.

Imagine him & Kamara

Considering his contract expires in the summer of 2025, this is a relative bargain for a player of his standard.

In Sangare, we are talking about a player that Gerrard is crying out for. A hardworking and positionally smart midfielder who can stabilise Villa alongside Boubacar Kamara, both in the possession-oriented and transitional phases of the game – more so in the defensive third.

He would also make for a phenomenal alternative to Yves Bissouma – a very similar kind of player who they seem to have missed out on, with the Malian almost certainly heading to Spurs.

The Ivorian, who has been described as the “complete package”, shines as a ball-winner, achieving 2.8 interceptions per 90, whilst drumming up an average of 2.2 successful tackles per game also. Compared to Bissouma, he edges his 2.34 interceptions per 90 and falls short of the Brighton midfielder’s elite average of 3.11 tackles per game.

Though they are indeed similar players who stabilise the midfield with their defensive solidity and allow others in the engine room more space and opportune to get forward.

With an average of 65.1 accurate passes per 90, he offers stability in possession and would allow a more attack-minded player like John McGinn some attacking freedom, due to his desire to sit deep.

He’s the exact type of player that Gerrard would love and he could well be the cherry on top in what has been an astute bit of business at Villa Park this summer.

In other news: AVFC now given green light to seal “huge” £10m summer signing, Gerrard will love him 

Leeds United look set to miss out on midfield target James Garner to Nottingham Forest, according to Jacque Talbot.

The Lowdown: Leeds interested in Garner

Phil Hay revealed shortly after the end of the season that the 21-year-old was on the club’s list of midfield targets this summer. The Whites even made an enquiry to Manchester United over a possible move.

Garner, who was labelled ‘superb’ by Midlands journalists earlier this year, helped Forest to reach the Premier League last month after contributing to 14 goals in 49 games, but it looks as if a move to Elland Road won’t materialise.

The Latest: Talbot’s update

Talbot took to Twitter on Friday afternoon to provide an update on Garner, sharing a report from Football Transfers.

He revealed that Manchester United want to keep the midfielder permanently but will once again sanction a loan move back to the City Ground, tweeting: “Exc: Told Manchester United will fend off interest for James Garner as they wish to keep him permanently – but he will be loaned back to Nottingham Forest. Don’t think Everton or Leeds have a chance at this point.”

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The Verdict: First real transfer blow

Talbot believes that Leeds don’t have a chance when it comes to signing the 21-year-old, so it looks as if Victor Orta and co are set for their first big transfer blow of the summer.

The club had it their own way in securing deals for Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen, but it looks as if they’ll be facing Garner next season instead of securing his services.

Midfield reinforcements are urgently needed at Elland Road, especially with Kalvin Phillips linked with an exit, so hopefully the club have better luck in their pursuit of Bayern Munich’s Marc Roca.

In other news: ‘In the last few minutes’ – Sky Sports drop live TV news; Leeds now free to secure third signing

Former Leeds United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has been reacting to the club’s proposed move for RB Salzburg right-back Rasmus Kristensen, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Kristensen close

The Whites have already brought Brenden Aaronson to Elland Road from the Austrian giants and have now held more talks over a move for Kristensen.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed on Thursday morning that the 24-year-old is ‘expected to join Leeds in the coming days’.

Kristensen is due to undergo medical tests after international duty with Denmark and then a full agreement is set to be reached.

The Latest: Kenny’s comments

Kenny, formerly of Leeds, was talking to FI regarding the club’s next summer swoop.

He said that Kristensen ‘sounds like a quality player’ and praised Leeds for not hanging around.

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“I have touched on this with Leeds plenty of times.

“By not signing anyone in January they put themselves in a position they should not have been in.

“The squad was so thin and it nearly cost them their Premier League status.

“It makes sense for the squad to be made bigger and to have people fighting for positions.

“That means they actually have replacements when there are injuries and suspensions.

“It’s another early signing as well so they aren’t waiting around which is what you want to see from Leeds now.

“He sounds like a quality player so I’m looking forward to seeing him play.”

The Verdict: Good start

Aaronson has become the club’s first permanent senior midfield signing since 2018 and Kristensen looks set to take over from the injured Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas at right-back.

It’s a positive sign knowing that Andrea Radrizzani, Victor Orta and Jesse Marsch are looking to get deals finalised quickly following a serious scare last season.

However, more is required after Kristensen, with a new striker and central midfielder two more areas where the club want to add to, along with an experienced goalkeeper to help Illan Meslier.

In other news: ‘Sources…’ – Journalist drops news on ‘quality’ Leeds striker target; ‘club reps’ in country. 

Bruno Lage’s first season in charge of Wolves looked rosy for such a long time but once the campaign was said and done in May, supporters will have been disappointed.

What’s the word?

That’s because they ultimately finished tenth in the Premier League table, missing the chance to qualify for European football.

A lack of goals can be attributed to that so it’s crucial the Old Gold act in the summer transfer window.

TEAMtalk have reported that Blackburn Rovers forward Ben Brereton Diaz is a target for Lage and co but they face plenty of competition.

It’s thought the likes of Leeds and newly-promoted Nottingham Forest are keen on the player who was valued at around £30m in January.

Best signing since Neto

Last summer Lage made some valuable acquisitions to the squad with players like Jose Sa impressively greatly as Wolves conceded the fifth-fewest goals in the Premier League.

Sadly, the goals didn’t particularly flow in at either end if you attended Molineux this season.

That’s due to the fact that Raul Jimenez finished the campaign as the club’s top scorer with just six goals.

Granted he had just returned from a horrendous skull injury but it’s clear to see the Mexican isn’t the same potent threat he once was.

Neither was young forward Pedro Neto who struggled with his own injuries in 2021/22, registering just the two goal involvements in 13 matches and 463 minutes of top-flight action.

However, this is a player who in the previous campaign ended the term as Wolves’ player of the season after bagging five and claiming six assists.

A new player of his dynamic qualities being added to the squad would only benefit their struggles in goal and thus, Diaz could be their best signing since the aforementioned Neto.

Described as “extraordinary” by former Blackburn boss, Tony Mowbray, the Chile international was in devastating form for the Championship outfit in 2021/22.

He scored a whopping 22 times, proving that he’s got the talent and hustle to become a Premier League regular.

With a goal tally like that it’s hardly a surprise that he’s caught the imagination of the top-flight.

It also explains why he’d be the club’s best acquisition since Neto as Diaz would be arriving at a crucial time with goals dry and options limited.

Adama Traore will return to Wolves this season while Hwang’s temporary stay has been made permanent too but the pair only contributed to seven goals themselves.

As a result, both of them fail to offer the consistency that Lage needs right now so a more deadly threat simply has to be added to the squad. It’s time for Jeff Shi and co to act on their interest in Diaz.

AND in other news, Wolves can seal dream summer swoop in “special” £36m-rated gem, he’s better than Neto…

An update has emerged involving Rangers and their attempts to bring a young striker to Ibrox in the upcoming summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Record, there is strong interest in Gers academy duo Kai Kennedy and James Maxwell, with prospective suitors looking to snap up both players on loan next season.

The report claims that the Light Blues may use Partick Thistle’s interest in the pair to secure a deal to sign Cameron Cooper from Firhill. Rangers want to bring the striker to Ibrox and are working on a compensation agreement with the Championship club, which could now include Kennedy and Maxwell.

It is claimed that the Ibrox giants want to improve the quality of their youth teams, and the centre-forward is among a number of players in their sights.

Imagine him & Tony Weston

By sealing a deal to sign the Thistle hitman, Rangers can form a deadly duo for the future by pairing Cooper with Weston in the Light Blues’ B team.

The current Gers gem scored five goals in nine cup matches for the youth team in 2021/22 and ended the campaign with 21 goals in the Lowland League, placing him second in the top scorer charts.

He was also rewarded for his form with a first-team appearance against Hearts in the Premiership last month, which indicates that Gio van Bronckhorst sees him as a senior player further down the line. Therefore, the Ibrox gem has the potential to be an asset for the club in the years to come, and he could develop alongside Cooper in the youth teams for the foreseeable future.

Cooper is reportedly highly-rated ‘up and down the country’ and he has clearly done enough to convince Rangers that he is a player who can come in and be one that they look to bring through in the future.

His statistics at youth level for Partick Thistle are unavailable but the 16-year-old is a Scotland under-17 international and has scored one goal in three games. This shows that he has also caught the eye for his country and has been rewarded with caps at youth level, which means that he is impressing domestically and internationally.

Therefore, by having Weston and Cooper in the B team, Rangers can form a deadly strike partnership for the club to develop over time. Van Bronckhorst can keep a watchful eye over their progress and bring them through to the senior team if and when they are ready.

AND in other news, Wilson can replicate Old Firm masterclass in Rangers swoop for “excellent” 299-appearance tank…

Glasgow Rangers are reportedly now fighting their Old Firm rivals to bring Tom Lawrence to Ibrox for Giovanni van Bronckhorst this summer.

The Lowdown: Rangers busy?

The Gers look set to be busy in this upcoming window, having recently been linked to the likes of Joe Rothwell and Ross Stewart, while they could also lose one or two of their key players, notably Ryan Kent and Calvin Bassey.

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Calls from the Premier League may be too hard to turn down, but after their recent Cup win and UEFA Europa League run, the Light Blues will now be hoping that those players will have been persuaded to stay.

The Latest: Lawrence interest

Writing in his latest piece for TEAMtalk, transfer insider Graeme Bailey has revealed that the Teddy Bears are now ‘keeping tabs’ on Lawrence’s situation at Derby County, but will also face competition from Celtic.

Southampton, Leeds United, AFC Bournemouth, Fulham, Watford, West Brom and Nottingham Forest are also thought to be ‘keen’ on his signature, with his contract set to expire this summer.

The Verdict: No-brainer

It is a no-brainer for RFC to sign Lawrence on a free transfer, not to mention the fact that they would be getting one over their city rivals.

Described as a ‘magnificent‘ player by his manager Wayne Rooney earlier this term after two goals in an impressive display against Sheffield United, the winger managed 11 goals in total and a further five assists in the Championship for the Rams (Transfermarkt).

Considering that he was playing for a relegated side, these are impressive numbers indeed, and at 28 years of age, Rangers would be getting a player bang in his prime.

Nonetheless, as captain of his club, Lawrence possesses leadership qualities that would be so useful to the Gers going forward, especially if they find themselves going into big cup finals next campaign.

In other news, find out what ‘huge’ boost Rangers are now set to gain here!

West Ham looks set to make their first summer signing, and it’s one which will please David Moyes as he assembles his squad for for next season.

What’s the word?

Fabrizio Romano tweeted that the Hammers are planning to have ‘new direct contacts’ with Alphonse Areola’s agents, with an option-to-buy for £11m or to extend his loan deal from Paris Saint-Germain for another campaign. As it stands, the French goalkeeper is due to return to his parent club over the summer.

The journalist claimed: “West Ham are planning to have new direct contacts with Alphonse Areola’s agents to keep him at the club, negotiations are already underway. There’s a buy option worth £11m – or an option to extend loan deal from PSG for one more season.”

This would represent an excellent move either way for Moyes, as he will have one less incoming transfer to make during the summer.

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Moyes will be ecstatic

West Ham have had a wonderful season and Moyes has brought the feel-good factor back to the London Stadium for the first time in a long while. With a brilliant Europa League run being ended by Eintracht Frankfurt at the semi-final stage and continental qualification being secured for next season, they will want to continue building momentum.

Areola joined on loan from PSG at the beginning of the current campaign and has featured 18 times in all competitions this season, conceding 15 goals and keeping eight clean sheets.

The goalkeeper arrived with a big reputation, having been part of France’s World Cup-winning squad in 2018 and claiming league medals for both Real Madrid and PSG. He has played primarily in the Europa League as West Ham embarked on their memorable run to the last four. achieving second leg shutouts as both Sevilla and Lyon were put to the sword.

Compared to other positional peers in Europe’s big five leagues, Areola is ranked in the 95th percentile for save percentage (76.9%), the 99th percentile for goals against (0.73 per 90) and the 92nd percentile for clean sheet percentage (41.7%).

These figures clearly prove why Moyes will be buzzing if he can keep the Frenchman at West Ham, and the 29-year-old could be an integral player for them next season as well. Securing him for another year would represent an ideal first summer signing for the Irons.

AND in other news, GSB can sign West Ham’s own Van Dijk in “cerebral” £20m brute who’s the “real boss”

Nottingham Forest will host Sheffield United in the second leg of their Championship play-off semi-final clash, and Steve Cooper will be hoping they can continue their momentum after their 2-1 victory at Bramall Lane.

What’s the latest?

The Forest manager took to his pre-match press conference to give a promising injury update on his team ahead of the important challenge facing them this evening.

Cooper told the press (via Nottinghamshire Live):

“There isn’t anything new from the game. We were carrying a few injuries going into it, with the players who were unavailable yesterday. There’s no changes from yesterday. There’s the normal bumps and bruises, and a little bit of fatigue from the game.”

The manager continued: “But that’s very normal for the day after a game. I’m fairly sure we’ll be as we were for the first leg.”

Cooper will be delighted

At this stage of the season after playing 46 games as well as a short turnaround in the play-offs when it comes to fixtures, Cooper will surely be delighted that his team are still fit and raring to go with just one game standing in the way of joining Huddersfield Town at Wembley for the final in just under two weeks time.

Despite having less possession (39%) Nottingham Forest took their chances and offered a superior attacking threat than their Premier League promotion competitors with over twice as many shots on target, five more big chances created and ultimately scoring two goals to secure a lead ahead of their home leg this evening.

If Cooper could lead his team to the final at the end of this month it would be an incredible achievement considering the position they were in when he inherited the side from Chris Houghton in September 2021.

Upon appointment, Forest were bottom of the Championship table, suffering their worst start to a campaign in over a century and Cooper has since completed a turnaround supporters would have felt was impossible when he joined the club seven months ago.

Thus, to get to the final and potentially return to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years would be a dream. With a lack of injuries, that could well become a reality.

AND in other news: Forest can land the new McKenna in “outstanding” 19/yo prodigy, Cooper surely ecstatic

Liverpool could be facing a major departure this summer, according to the latest reports coming out of Germany…

What’s the word?

As per Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, the Reds could be set to lose influential forward Sadio Mane at the end of the season, with Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich believed to be keen on the Senegalese international.

Writing on Twitter, Plettenberg revealed that Julian Nagelsmann’s side are interested in pursuing a deal for the £72m-rated man: “[sporting director Hasan] Salihamidzic wants him! He is the desired ‘statement transfer’ in summer! No negotiations between Bayern & #LFC so far. [Salihamidzic] met his agent over the weekend. Mané was a topic. Talks about a contract extension between LFC & Mané difficult.”

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This revelation comes amid mounting uncertainty over the future of the 30-year-old with just a year remaining on his existing deal, meaning he could well depart for nothing in a year’s time, or be moved on for a fee in the coming months – if a contract extension with the Anfield outfit cannot be struck.

Klopp will be fuming

Such news will come as a significant blow to the club’s supporters, with the £200k-per-week gem having proven an integral cog in Jurgen Klopp’s relentless machine in recent years, since his £34m arrival from Southampton in 2016.

Over the past six years, Mane has netted 118 goals in 265 games in all competitions for the Merseysiders in all competitions from his left-wing berth, while also playing a key role in the club’s romp to the Premier League title two years ago, as well as their Champions League triumph in 2019.

Dubbed “insane” by his manager earlier this season, the former Red Bull Salzburg gem has been a revelation for the Reds in recent times, forging part of an immense forward line alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.

Although the arrivals of both Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz have helped to shoulder the burden away from that devastating trio, they remain integral members of Klopp’s current squad, hence the imaginable fume amongst the manager at Anfield.

All three of that famed attack are in fact out of contract in 2023, with it unclear as present as to who will be moved on and who will remain at Anfield for the long haul.

With regards to Mane, in particular, his displays this term have illustrated he is not yet on the decline, having chipped in with 21 goals and eight assists across all fronts thus far, while also helping to drag his side to yet another European showpiece.

Winning against 13-time champions Real Madrid in that final could potentially be the perfect end to his time in English football, although Klopp and co would be wise to do all they can to retain his services for the years to come.

Nevertheless, it may prove hard to turn down the serial-winning menace that is Bayern if they do make their interest concrete this summer, with the Bavarian outfit offering an almost guaranteed supply of silverware, having swept the last ten league titles in Germany.

IN other news, Sources: Liverpool register interest in signing “complete” £50m star, Klopp needs him

Fabrizio Romano has relayed an update from Kalvin Phillips concerning his future at Leeds United.

What’s the latest?

In a recent post on Twitter, the Italian transfer insider and journalist relayed recent comments made by the defensive midfielder concerning the increasing speculation regarding his future at Elland Road, in which the 26-year-old appeared to suggest that is he more than happy in LS11.

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Romano tweeted: “Kalvin Phillips tells Sky Sports News on his future: ‘Speculation on my future [doesn’t] really bother me. I’ve always said that I’m Leeds through and through, I wanna be at Leeds and I’m focused on keeping this club in Premier League’.”

Supporters will love Romano’s update on Phillips

Considering just how important Phillips has proven to be for Leeds in recent years, the midfielder’s suggestion that he wants to be at the club despite being linked with a £50m move away is sure to be news that the Elland Road faithful will love.

Indeed, over his 29 Premier League appearances last season, the £45m-rated talent was undoubtedly the Whites’ star player, making 1.6 interceptions, 2.6 tackles and 1.7 clearances and winning 5.3 duels (at a success rate of 52%) per game.

The £38k-per-week England international also impressed going forwards, scoring one goal, registering two assists and creating five big chances for his team-mates, along with averaging 1.2 key passes, 4.7 long balls and 41 passes per match.

These returns saw the Thorp Arch academy graduate average a quite breathtaking SofaScore match rating of 7.21, not only ranking him as his club’s best performer in the top flight but also as the ninth-best midfielder in the league as a whole.

While injury has severely limited the 26-year-old’s involvement in the current campaign, he has nevertheless impressed over the 16 league fixtures in which he has featured, making 1.2 interceptions, 2.6 tackles and 0.8 clearances and winning 4.6 duels per game.

As such, while it would appear all but certain that Phillips will move onto pastures new if the Whites fail to secure their place in the Premier League next season, the midfielder’s latest comments regarding his future are sure to come as a huge boost to supporters’ hopes that the Englishman’s long-term future could yet still be at Elland Road.

AND in other news: Leeds now plotting bid for “fabulous” £45k-p/w target, Orta should “take him all day”