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Liverpool will be hoping to gain an advantage during the second leg of the Champions League round of 16, whilst also continuing their fine league performances in the upcoming weeks.

It appears that within the next month or so, those adoring Liverpool fans will have a far clearer picture of whether silverware will be returning to Anfield this summer or not.

With a number of critical games coming up, this will be a massive test for Jurgen Klopp and his players.

As hard as it is to concentrate on anything else, Liverpool must also consider the bigger picture and the fact that they still need to recruit in the summer, whether they win anything or not.

Despite how brilliant they have been, all their title rivals will strengthen in the summer and Liverpool then have to ensure they do as well.

A weakness in the Reds side could arguably be up-front, where they have little in terms of quality back-up for Roberto Firmino.

In a bid to solve that, Liverpool must look at recruiting Bayer Leverkusen forward Kevin Volland.

Volland, (who is valued at £22.5 million on Transfermarkt) has been very consistent for Bayer Leverkusen this season and his side are reaping the rewards because of it.

With Europa League football again in sight, they have Kevin Volland’s goal contribution to thank for that especially, seeing as the German forward has so far accumulated nine goals and ten assists in all competitions.

At 26, Volland is set to reach his prime years in the game and as a versatile back-up in the forward department, playing anywhere from wide to the main man up-front, he would be a fine option for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Do you agree… Let us know!

Everton are eying a move for Ukraine international Mykola Matvienko, who could be the perfect replacement for Michael Keane.

What’s the story?

According to reports from 90min.com, Everton are one of several clubs interested in the 25-year-old who currently plays in his homeland for Shakhtar Donetsk. However, due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the league is currently suspended.

He is capable of playing at left-back and centre back and is rated at £9.9m, so could be available for a good price.

The Toffees will have to fend off interest from other Premier League clubs such as Brentford and West Ham who could also make the player a good offer.

He’s better than Keane

Everton have the fifth worst defensive record in the Premier League this season and as a result it has left them in a fight to stay up.

One of the players at the heart of that is Michael Keane. He has been described as a “liability” in the Everton backline and it’s about time they replaced him.

The £65k-a-week earning Keane simply hasn’t been the answer to Frank Lampard’s team’s defensive issues.

Signing Matvienko could be the perfect answer to their problems and could provide the club with much needed defensive reinforcements heading into next season.

The centre-back already has 47 appearances for his nation so is an experienced international. His versatility could also benefit the Toffees massively.

When you compare his defensive record directly to Keane’s he comes out on top. In his last full season Matvienko conceded an average of 0.68 goals per game compared to the Englishman’s 1.2.

The Ukrainian also has experience playing in the Europa League and Champions League which can only be a plus. He also kept 13 clean sheets in 29 appearances for his club last season.

Given the interest the player is attracting and has had in the past, it would be a coup for Everton if they were able to secure his services.

Their defence this season has been described as “championship level” by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, and given their record it’s hard to disagree.

If they do manage to retain their Premier League status then they’ll need to make improvements, and bringing Matvienko to Goodison Park would be a good start.

IN other news: Everton: Lampard can replace Richarlison with Luka Jovic…

West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Bruce has provided an update on the fitness of long-term absentees Kean Bryan and Kenneth Zohore as the Baggies approach the conclusion of their campaign.

What’s the story?

Speaking to the media ahead of today’s Championship clash against Stoke City at The Hawthorns, the Albion boss revealed that the duo are working hard to be fit in time for pre-season training in the summer, but has effectively ruled out any hope of either player featuring for the remainder of 2021/22.

Bryan required knee surgery after damaging his ACL in November, having played just 49 minutes of league action across three appearances after joining the West Midlands club on a free transfer from Sheffield United.

On the 25-year-old defender, the Albion manager said: “That’s a hard thing to deal with, especially when you’re a new player at a club and you do your ACL.

“I spoke to him the other day – his knee resembles a knee again, which three months ago it didn’t. He’s working extremely hard. It’s a big summer for him, too. He’s on track.

“I think it’s a crucial time, pre-season. Every club have had a struggle with it, because of the pandemic.”

As for Zohore, the striker has been limited to just two Championship appearances this term, featuring seven times in Premier League 2 for the under-23s.

A nightmare season was made even worse when he picked up a thigh injury and then got injured again upon returning to training.

Bruce stated of the Dane: “It was a bad couple of days for us, because unfortunately he broke down. It’s a reset for him, as well. He got a thigh injury, a muscle injury, and he’d been six weeks out. He got re-injured. It was horrible. He’d only trained for 20 minutes and then he broke down again. It’s a reset for him. I would think that’s his season.”

Bruce will be gutted

Having been in the job for just two months, the 61-year-old is still yet to be able to fully witness the capabilities of both Zohore and Bryan, a development which will no doubt leave the West Brom boss feeling gutted.

The West Midlands outfit have endured a tricky campaign after being relegated from the Premier League last term, with Bruce’s team sat in 11th going into Saturday’s meeting with the Potters.

With just six games to go and the play-offs seemingly beyond Albion this year, Baggies supporters will be keen to see the back end of a difficult season. They will also be keen to have as many players as possible available for the new campaign, as will Bruce, who might then be able to make a proper assessment of the squad at his disposal.

It’s vital that Bryan and Zohore ensure that they are fit in time for pre-season in order to make an impression on the manager in order to reignite their respective West Brom careers. Otherwise they may have to seek moves elsewhere.

In other news: West Brom now set for big disaster over “unbelievable” £7.2m-rated gem

Tottenham Hotspur could look to replicate their Gareth Bale masterstroke last season with a move for one of his fellow teammates…

What’s the word?

According to the Sunday Mirror (10th April, page 73), Spurs are among the first teams to have been offered the chance to sign Marco Asensio, who Real Madrid are trying to offload this summer.

The LaLiga outfit are looking for around £30m, despite the Spaniard’s contract being up in 2023.

He is yet to agree on terms over an extension to his £117k-per-week deal and that could be down to a lack of game time, having made only 15 league starts this season.

Bale 2.0

Valued at £36m by Transfermarkt, Asensio could prove to be quite the bargain at a cheaper price and Spurs’ move for Bale last term showed why a lack of game time and form at the Spanish giants can easily be ignored.

The Welshman, often left in the stands under Zinedine Zidane, arrived back in north London with little match fitness under his belt but that didn’t stop him from delivering 16 goals and three assists in all competitions.

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Only Harry Kane and Heung-min Son contributed to more goals.

The 26-year-old has arguably enjoyed one of his finer seasons at the Bernabeu, even despite him being in and out of the starting XI – as per Transfermarkt, he’s provided 11 direct goal contributions from 35 appearances.

However, he’s started just once since mid-February in LaLiga.

Asensio was once tipped to win the Ballon d’Or and has previously been lauded for his “magical” ability by teammate Casemiro – an average of 1.5 and 1.6 key passes per 90 across the past two seasons suggests he’s very much a creative influence in the final third.

Also dubbed a “special talent” by ex-Man City midfielder Joey Barton, the Madrid star could provide manager Antonio Conte with another depth option in the engine room, especially if Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele leave permanently in the summer following their loan stints away.

Just as Bale did, Asensio could make a considerable impact in a Lilywhites shirt and whilst £30m may be a stretch, it’s currently under his estimated worth.

AND in other news, “Tottenham sources”: Romano drops huge transfer claim that Spurs supporters will love…

Glasgow Rangers are reportedly now following Brazilian youngster Antony as Giovanni van Bronckhorst targets his first signing of the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Busy summer?

In his first summer transfer window at Ibrox, van Bronckhorst will want to put his own stamp on the squad, and so there should be expected to be plenty of incomings and outgoings before the new season starts.

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The Teddy Bears have recently been linked with a loan move for Billy Gilmour, but the likes of Alex Lowry, Joe Aribo and Filip Helander are reportedly attracting interest from the Premier League.

The Latest: Rangers following

As per A Bola, the Light Blues, as well as Basel, are now following young forward Antony ahead of a potential move in the summer.

Described as an ‘offensive weapon’, the Gers have ‘collected some notes’ on the versatile talent as they look to start their business straight away.

The Verdict: Exciting

It certainly is exciting for the supporters that the club seem to be looking at summer recruitment already, despite the season not being over.

A Brazilian who is just 20 years of age, Antony is an interesting albeit relatively unknown prospect, having scored two goals while on loan at Arouca in the Portuguese top flight from Corinthians.

Capable of playing virtually anywhere in the attack, from second striker to both wings, RFC will be hoping to add more depth to the squad once the window officially opens, and perhaps the young South American could be a good start.

In other news, find out what ‘disappointing’ Rangers update has now emerged here!

2022 has some incredible potential to be an extraordinary year for football.

Not only are there a plethora of highly-anticipated tournaments waiting for us just around the corner, but there are also a few rumours of some truly insane transfers that we may see in the near future.

There is some impeccable talent playing within the EPL at the moment, and as you will see, some teams are fighting tooth and nail to try and get their hands on said talent before it’s too late.

In this article, we will be telling you about three potential EPL transfers we may see in 2022 that are going to blow your mind, as well as giving a brief explanation as to why each player is so in-demand.

Duvan Zapata – Newcastle £25M

This transfer is one that has been brewing for a while.

It was only a matter of time until another team attempted to grab Duvan Zapata, and it looks as though this fateful day has finally arrived.

Newcastle has put a bid in for Duvan Zapata for £25 million, and if the rumours are true, it looks as though this deal is as good as closed.

There’s no doubt that Duvan will be able to do wonders at Newcastle, and many people believe he is a natural fit for their side.

Moreover, we all know just how much of an impact a new player can have when they join a squad, and this point is even more applicable when we are talking of someone of the calibre of Duvan Zapata.

Of course, it’s completely possible for Duvan to turn down this bid. However, this is extremely unlikely, and it is likely only a matter of time until we hear news about him joining Newcastle.

£25 million seems like more than a fair price for Duvan, and in reality, that is probably right around what he is worth as things stand now.

Milinkovic Savic – Man Utd £60M

Up next, coming in at £60 million, we have Milinkovic Savic who may end up going to Man Utd.

If you have tried your hand at premier league betting, you likely already know how successful of a team Manchester United are. It makes perfect sense for them to try and get a talented player like Milinkovic Savic, and there is no doubt that he will have exactly the effect that Man Utd are hoping he will have.

£60 million is an incredibly high fee, there is no debating that. However, for a team like Man Utd, this is something that they are able to afford.

Still, they must really think that Milinkovic is something special to offer this large of a sum, and if they have been willing to spend this much to grab Savic, then you can bet that they are willing to fight tooth and nail to get him into their ranks.

 Manchester United are trying to sign Milinkovic Savic as we speak, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to hear an announcement from either side stating that a deal has been made in the near future.

John McGinn – Man Utd £40M

Manchester United really are spending the big bucks at the moment.

As well as Milinkovic Savic for £60 million, it seems as though they are also trying to get John McGinn for a whopping £40 million.

Just this fact alone goes to show that Man Utd truly are a team that put performance above all else, and it is no wonder that they find themselves winning more games than any other team in the EPL.

John McGinn would be an excellent fit for Manchester United, and it seems as though many believe he was destined to end up at said team at one point or another.

John would be a fantastic addition for the legendary side, and it is only a matter of time until we find out whether or not it is meant to be.

If you are looking to bet on premier league at 10bet, you can rest assured knowing that Manchester United is still going to remain the top choice.

With their new additions of Milinkovic Savic and John McGinn, they are going to be truly unstoppable.

If any of the transfers we mentioned in this article end up taking place, you can bet it’s going to be massive news.

Moreover, from what we have heard from the rumours so far, it seems as though they are almost guaranteed to happen.

The EPL has just got so much on offer right now, and there has never been a better time to be a fan of football.

Have fun.

Image Source: Pixabay

Aston Villa transfer target Geoffrey Kondogbia looks likely to stay at Atletico Madrid this summer, according to journalist Jacque Talbot.  

The Lowdown: Gerrard scouting trip

Steven Gerrard is making preparations ahead of his first full season in charge in the Midlands, with midfield reinforcements seemingly high on his wish list.

The Villa manager personally made the trip to the Wanda Metropolitano earlier this month to watch Kondogbia in action against Manchester City.

Villa view the 29-year-old as a serious target and the club are thought to be confident of getting a deal over the line, but a worrying update has now emerged.

The Latest: Talbot’s post on Kondogbia

Talbot took to Twitter on Monday to share an update on Kondogbia for TEAMtalk, revealing that it seems probable that the midfielder will stay in Spain unless Villa were to come forward with ‘a massive offer’.

The reporter tweeted: “Have been told Geoffrey Kondogbia will likely remain at Atletico Madrid unless Aston Villa come in with a massive offer.”

The Verdict: Kamara is an alternative

Kondogbia isn’t the only midfielder Gerrard has recently watched live, with the Villa manager, Johan Lange and Christian Purslow all looking at Marseille’s Boubacar Kamara.

The 22-year-old is out of contract at the end of June, so Villa may well look to secure his services on a pre-contract agreement after this update on Kondogbia.

Kamara is primarily a defensive midfielder who can also line out at centre-back and is valued at £22.5m, so a free transfer to Villa Park could be a shrewd move given the concerning update from Talbot on Kondogbia.

In other news: Gerrard and Villa chiefs eyeing move for new defender with same agent as four AVFC players

Rangers have built an exciting squad at Ibrox with a perfect blend of talented young prospects and experienced professionals all in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s armoury.

The Gers have the likes of Allan McGregor, James Tavernier, Leon Balogun and Ryan Jack, among others, to lean on for their know-how on the pitch.

They also have players like Ryan Kent, Calvin Bassey and Ianis Hagi who are still progressing in their careers at Rangers, with a potential eye on making it at the very top level.

Shocker

Rangers have had a number of gems pass through Ibrox on a similar journey, and one player with whom they had a big shocker in 2004 was Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta.

He joined the Gers from Barcelona in 2002 at the tender age of 19, and then-Ibrox manager Alex McLeish sang his praises, saying: “Mikel is an excellent young player, and I’m sure he is someone who will really excite the Rangers fans.

“I think the fans will see a class act when he pulls on a Rangers jersey next season. He is very comfortable on the ball and he has an excellent touch – and the great thing is his best years are still ahead of him.”

Arteta went on to play seven UEFA Cup and Champions League matches for the Gers in two seasons, scoring one goal and failing to provide any assists. Reports in 2003 indicated that he was unhappy with being played out of position, which led to him being sold to Real Sociedad for a fee that Transfemarkt claims to be £3.6m in the summer of 2004.

He lasted half a season back in Spain before he was picked up Premier League side Everton on loan in January 2005, signing permanently for the English club in the summer of that year. This is where he really made a name for himself, as in 209 matches for the Toffees, he scored 35 goals and produced 35 assists.

His impressive performances in the middle of the park led to his value skyrocketing. In February 2009, Transfermarkt valued him at a whopping £18m, a full 400% more than the £3.6m that Rangers received for him. This valuation was just under two years prior to his move to another Premier League side in Arsenal for £10m in 2011.

He saw out the rest of his playing time with the Gunners and is now the current head coach of the London giants, having previously worked with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. This shows that he has excelled in management after a fine playing career and has gone on to achieve great things since leaving the Gers, as he is in charge of a team competing at the right end of the English top flight.

In conclusion, McLeish had a shocker with Arteta in 2004 in allowing the player to leave over issues with where he was being deployed on the pitch. The Scot was unwilling to compromise and make the best use of the Spaniard’s talents, and the Gers were left to regret this as they watched the player’s value rise and rise in the years after he left Ibrox…

AND in other news, Big setback as Van Bronckhorst dealt worrying Rangers injury blow, Ibrox faithful will surely be livid…

West Ham failed with a last-minute loan-to-buy bid for Atalanta striker Duvan Zapata, according to reports by Football Insider.

The Lowdown: January’s striker pursuit

One of David Moyes’ greatest failures of the January transfer window was the failure to secure fresh additions to their attacking ranks. As has been the case for some time, Michail Antonio is the only recognised senior centre-forward at the east London club.

Unsurprisingly, many supporters have become increasingly worried with this situation due to the Jamaica international’s lengthy injury history and the club’s failure to replace Sebastien Haller when he left the Irons for Ajax this time last year.

Despite being linked with Benfica youngster Darwin Nunez, West Ham saw their deadline day bid for the Uruguayan rejected, capping a hugely frustrating month on the transfer front…or so it seemed.

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The Latest: Irons agreed fee for Zapata before deal collapsed

According to Football Insider, West Ham had offered the £5.5m loan fee that Atalanta demanded for Zapata, and the two clubs came to an agreement regarding the option of making the transfer permanent in the summer.

A deal sheet was submitted to the Premier League but the paperwork could not be completed by the 11pm transfer deadline, causing the move to collapse – a calamity which perfectly sums up how the January transfer window went for the Hammers.

The Verdict: Too little, too late

Whilst West Ham and Moyes could come out and claim that they were doing all they could to secure a new striker, the matter of the fact is that they had the whole month to get business done.

Even if Zapata wasn’t their first choice, it wouldn’t have mattered, as a striker with abundant Serie A and Champions League experience would have provided much-needed rotation for Antonio.

Having been described as a ‘beast’ and ‘like a train’, Zapata’s failed move begs the question as to why Moyes and co did not try and get the deal done sooner, instead of waiting until it was all too late.

In other news: West Ham could still bring in this January transfer target in the summer

Newcastle United have reportedly now made ‘official enquiries’ over Mitchel Bakker ahead of a potential move before the January transfer window shuts.

The Lowdown: Defence needs work

The St. James’ Park faithful did well to bring in Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid earlier on in the window to fill the right-back position, but now they need to strengthen in the centre of defence and at left-back.

They have conceded no fewer than 43 goals in the Premier League so far this season, the second-most behind Norwich City, and so the defence needs to be tightened if they have any hopes of avoiding relegation down to the Championship.

Bakker is a player who is comfortable at centre-back and left-back, and so it is no surprise to see the North East club strongly linked with him.

The Latest: Bakker enquiries

Craig Hope reported this week that a deal looks ‘unlikely’, but according to De Telegraaf (via Sport Witness), the Tyneside outfit have now made ‘official enquiries’ with regards to a potential move for Bakker, and he has ‘been informed’ of their interest.

Bayer Leverkusen are apparently asking for a price of €12m (£10m) to let him go, lower than the £16m tag first reported by Hope, and if a deal is agreed, this report claims the player would be ‘willing’ to discuss terms with Eddie Howe and the Magpies.

The Verdict: Bargain

If the new owners can get Bakker in for just £10m, then it would certainly be a bargain.

He is playing at a high level in the Bundesliga, having also played for established European clubs in PSG and Ajax, and at 21 years of age, he still has so much potential left to fulfil.

Described as someone who has ‘pace and strength’ as well as ‘footballing ability’ (via The Chronicle) by Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller, Bakker has everything needed already for a modern day full-back, and the fact that he can play at centre-half too makes the deal a no-brainer for the Toon, who are in desperate need of both.

In other news, find out what big transfer twist involving two NUFC targets has emerged here!