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Ajax manager Erik ten Hag has been urged to turn down any advances from Newcastle and only consider offers from ‘clubs like Manchester City or Manchester United’. 

The lowdown

The Northern Echo’s Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson reported over the weekend that the Magpies had sounded out the possibility of appointing the 51-year-old, as well as his sporting director Marc Overmars.

Ten Hag, who has previously turned down Tottenham Hotspur, is still under contract at the Johann Cruyff ArenA for another two years, so Newcastle would need to pay a compensation package if they are to entice him to Tyneside.

The 51-year-old led Ajax to the semi-finals of the 2018/19 Champions League, claiming the scalps of Juventus and Real Madrid along the way. He has also steered the team to two Eredivisie titles and twice been named the Dutch league’s manager of the year (via Transfermarkt).

The latest

Speaking on Studio Voetbal, Dutch journalist Arno Vermeulen admitted that he was baffled by the links and feels that the ‘much smarter’ move for Ten Had would be to wait for an offer from a club which has already ‘established’ itself at the top level.

“Why in God’s name would he go to Newcastle, I wonder?” he said, as quoted by Ajax Showtime. “He’s really smart. He started working at Ajax in the top of the Netherlands.”

Vermeulen later added: “Wouldn’t it be much smarter to wait for clubs like Manchester City or Manchester United? Clubs that are established. If you win prizes with that for a few years, that is very valuable.”

The verdict

The attraction of Newcastle is clear. It’s a transformative project being bankrolled by immensely wealthy owners, and while they may not be ‘established’ now, they may well have the means to be challenging for the top prizes by the end of the decade.

Will Ten Hag be interested in the job? It’s almost surprising that he’s still at Ajax more than two years on from that incredible Champions League run, but this might be the opportunity which tempts him away from Amsterdam. His CV certainly makes for good reading.

In other news, read this major update on an another managerial candidate

Everton have had a rather dismal season in the Premier League under Rafa Benitez with just five wins, four draws and nine defeats under their belt after 18 games played.

One figure that hasn’t been a particular regular player for the Toffees in the league this season that has failed to impress on the occasions that he has played is midfielder Andre Gomes.

With just seven league appearances and two starts under his belt in this current campaign, Gomes has only managed to earn himself an overall performance rating of 6.2/10 from WhoScored, making him the lowest-rated Everton player to have started more than one league game.

Despite scoring a goal and putting in a respectable performance in their recent FA Cup win over Hull City at the weekend, one good outing against a Championship club may not be enough to convince the fans that he’s good enough to continue in an Everton shirt, even though his current contract at Goodison Park isn’t set to expire until the summer of 2024.

Having been linked with a move to Benfica during the previous summer transfer window, Gomes’ days at Everton could be numbered if he doesn’t fix up his form in the Premier League and help the team turn their fortunes around throughout the remainder of the season.

With the Goodison Park outfit reportedly interested in Manchester United’s 20-year-old midfielder James Garner, who is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest and was part of the team that beat Arsenal in the FA Cup, this potential move could pave the way for Rafa Benitez to axe Gomes and replace him with a young prospect that could be a long-term figure for the Toffees.

Labelled as an “aggressive” player on the pitch by Red Devils midfielder Bruno Fernandes, Garner has proven himself to be more of a useful midfield option for Forest than Gomes has for Everton this season with the loanee racking up a higher average of passes per game and pass succession than the Portuguese international has managed to do in the Premier League according to WhoScored.

While it could be seen as a risk to sign the youngster when his loan deal at Forest ends in the summer given his small amount of experience in the Premier League, it could end up being a risk worth taking for Benitez if he can push Gomes out the door and hit the ground running at Goodison. Should that happen, then the Everton manager will have undoubtedly struck gold in the transfer market.

In other news: “My understanding is”: Alan Myers drops EFC transfer claim that’ll have fans buzzing – opinion

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!

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United’s pursuit of Montpellier forward Stephy Mavididi…

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Mail, the Magpies are among the clubs interested in a deal to sign the former Arsenal attacker this month.

The report claims that Brighton and Crystal Palace are also monitoring his progress, with a fee in the region of £15m being touted.

Imagine him & Wood

Imagine a strike force of Wood and Mavididi lining up for Newcastle in the Premier League in the coming weeks with Callum Wilson out injured!

If Howe can secure a deal for the 23-year-old, he could be an ideal player to slot in alongside the New Zealand marksman due to his style of play and physique. The 5 foot 9 forward is in a similar mould to Wilson in the sense that he is more likely to cause problems with his pace and footwork than physically or in the air, which could complement Wood brilliantly.

Former Charlton boss Lee Bowyer once compared Mavididi to a greyhound because of his electric pace, saying: “There was one time we broke and we had Stephy and Sullay (Kaikai) breaking and it was like two greyhounds in a race – look at how quick they are.

“We’re very fortunate, we’ve got these types of players at the club., if we can get them right and get them all fit for the remaining eight games, it’s going to be exciting times.”

This suggests that the 23-year-old could be the perfect partner for Wood if Howe wants to play a 4-4-2 system, as he could be the one to make runs in behind and play off of the former Burnley man. The 6 foot 2 New Zealand international has won 5.5 aerial battles per game in the Premier League this season, which suggests that Mavididi could have numerous chances per match to run in behind and create chances from Wood’s flick-ons.

Karl Robinson, a former manager of his during a loan spell at Charlton, previously claimed that the young striker has a “bright future” , and this mooted transfer could be an investment for the future as well as one to make an immediate difference. At the age of 23, Mavididi has plenty of scope for development left in him, and he could be a player with whom Howe works over time to improve his game.

He is capable of playing through the middle or out wide and has been in fine form this season, with six goals and three assists in Ligue 1, after scoring nine goals last term, suggesting that he could have the end product to make the most of his prospective partnership with Wood.

That tantalising propsect means that Newcastle must do everything in their power to try and lure Mavididi back to England.

AND in other news, Player keen: Howe must seal NUFC deal to land “world-class” maestro, he’s Cabaye 2.0…

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

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!

James Tarkowski is one of the players that Newcastle United have a realistic chance of signing in January, according to The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards. 

The lowdown

Edwards and Telegraph colleague Mike McGrath reported in October that Newcastle would have a budget of around £50m for the mid-season transfer window.

The Magpies find themselves 19th in the Premier League after picking up only five points from their first 11 matches and Eddie Howe, whose appointment was confirmed on Monday, has been tasked with keeping them in the top flight.

The latest

Tarkowski will be into the final six months of his contract in January and has been told that he can leave if Burnley’s valuation is met.

Edwards also names four other potential options, including Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard, who he feels would be an ‘excellent addition’. Meanwhile, Harry Winks is ‘the sort of defensive midfield player Eddie Howe liked at Bournemouth’ and is a peripheral figure at Tottenham Hotspur.

A loan move for Chelsea’s Ross Barkley could also interest the new manager, while Atletico Madrid’s Kieran Trippier is ‘very keen’ to come back to England and would represent a ‘major upgrade’ on the existing full-back options, according to Edwards.

The verdict

If you add up the Transfermarkt valuations of the five players mentioned, it comes to £93.6m.

Loan moves for players like Barkley and Lingard could be possible, but it’s clear that the Mapgies will need to prioritise if they are to keep to that aforementioned budget.

Their biggest concern should be strengthening defensively given that their goal concession record is the second-worst in the Premier League. Adding top-flight proven players in Tarkowski and Trippier, as well as the protection of Winks, could be enough to keep them up if they can provide greater solidity to Newcastle’s back line.

In other news, one of Newcastle’s top Director of Football targets has reached a decision

With 25 strikes conceded in the Premier League so far this season, Aston Villa have let more goals in than Burnley, Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Taking this into account, the upcoming January transfer window could provide the Midlands club and Steven Gerrard with the opportunity to bring some reinforcements into the club, particularly in the defensive areas.

One deal that the club could look to do to strengthen the squad up at the back is by signing Rangers centre-back Connor Goldson, who Villa are reportedly in the frame to sign in January according to journalist Peter O’Rourke.

It was previously reported that Goldson had rejected the chance to sign a new deal with the Scottish club in an effort to join a Premier League club, which could pave the way for Gerrard to reunite with the defender after the 29-year-old made a total of 182 appearances under the current Villa boss at Rangers, scoring 17 goals and providing five assists in the process.

Labelled as a player with “incredible leadership” on and off the pitch by Gerrard, signing Goldson in January could be a dream move for the Villa manager to help give some guidance to Villa’s younger defenders such as Ezri Konsa, Kortney Hause and Axel Tuanzebe.

Since joining Rangers back in the 2018 summer transfer window from Brighton in a deal worth a reported fee of around £3m, Goldson has gone on to make 188 appearances for the club across all competitions, showing how vital he has been for the team since his arrival and why they would presumably prefer to keep hold of him for the remainder of the season.

This season has seen the defender, who is currently earning a weekly wage of £27k-per-week according to Salary Sport, play in all but two of Rangers’ games across all competitions, completing the full 90 minutes in all of them, highlighting him importance to the club.

With Villa also linked with a move for Liverpool centre-back Joe Gomez, Goldson could be a much cheaper alternative than the England international.

That’s when you take into account his advanced age and the presumption that the Reds would want more money for their player than Rangers would want for their asset, especially with his contract set to run out at the end of the season.

In other news: Lange must avoid transfer catastrophe at AVFC over “magnificent” £28.8m-rated machine – opinion

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…

To coin a classic phrase, Manchester United have made their top-four challenge a mountain out of a molehill.

The Red Devils are a far cry from the side that dominated so fiercely under the tutelage of a certain Sir Alex Ferguson but one particular signing could help steer them along the right path again.

What’s the word?

Man United have long been in the market for a holding midfield player and it would appear that won’t change heading into the summer.

That’s the word of transfer guru Fabriano Romano who commented on their transfer plans this summer.

Speaking to Hammers Chat, the Italian reporter said:

“He is top of the list for Man United since a long time. Man Utd dream of Declan Rice, they consider him the perfect player for their approach for the new season. Man United will sign a defensive midfield and Declan Rice is the player they want.”

Rice heading to United?

Acquiring the West Ham titan this summer would be a monumental sign of intent from the Red Devils.

First of all, it’s evidently clear that Ralf Rangnick’s midfield is not the greatest when it comes to complete overall quality. Secondly, with Paul Pogba seemingly destined to leave, bringing in Rice makes total sense.

The Irons gem could be freed from the shackles of the bubbles that surround the London Stadium in 2022 to offer whoever the new manager is at Old Trafford talents that very few reign more supreme in throughout the continent.

For instance, as per FB Ref, the England international ranks in the top 30% for every single passing metric barring key passes, expected assists and progressive passes.

However, what Rice makes up for in a lack of forwardness with his passing, he certainly makes up for when driving with the ball instead.

The West Ham bulldozer ranks in the top 6% in Europe’s top leagues for progressive carries per 90 (7.01) and in the top 2% for both total carrying distance and progressive carry distance per 90 (178.76).

Also ranking in the top 5% in Europe for interceptions per 90 (2.76) and the best 5% again for a percentage of aerial duels won (65.3%) per 90 minutes, it’s clear to see that Rice would offer a great deal to United particularly when it comes to dribbling and doing the dirty work.

If a deal is there to be done, they simply have to swoop. It’s a deal, considering his qualities, that would leave supporters absolutely elated.

AND in other news, “Bad news..” – Fabrizio Romano update is worrying for Manchester United…